News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Video: Rare, endangered mammal safely rehabilitated in Phuket
PHUKET: A night guard working in Rawai discovered a rare and endangered mammal early yesterday morning, and quickly sprang into action to protect the creature from harm. Guard Sanya Ritto noticed a creature in the undergrowth during one of his security rounds at the Rawai Villas development. Recognizing it as a Sunda pangolin, he approached it. However, following its natural…
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Thai official released after paintings theft in Japan
JAPAN: A senior-level Thai Intellectual Property Department official, who has admitted to stealing three paintings worth 15,000 yen (4,684 baht) from a Japanese hotel, was released from custody in Japan yesterday, a Thai Foreign ministry spokesman says. The release came after representatives of the Royal Thai Consulate General in Osaka negotiated the payment of compensation to the Kyoto hotel that…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Wearing cold weather gear
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Employers of drug suspect issue statement after his arrest
KRABI: The British International School of Krabi (BISK) today released a statement regarding the arrest of an American teacher cum alleged drug dealer employed at their school (story here). Kwanta Suksai, a director at the school, said that every teacher employed by BISK had to undergo pre-employment screening. “Criminal and other records of the teacher, named Alexander Jonathan Rosen, checked…
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Police stumped as Russian found dead under ‘mysterious circumstances’
PHUKET: Police are working to unravel the mystery of a Russian man’s death at a Bang Tao house yesterday evening. Lt Col Sakon Krainara of Cherng Talay Police received a call from the victim’s wife, Elena Yasen, at about 5:45pm. Rescue workers and police arrived at the house to find her unconscious. “We had to revive her when we arrived.…
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Inaugural ‘Phuket RendezVous’ slated for next year
PHUKET: Royal Phuket Marina (RPM) is set to host the inaugural ‘Phuket RendezVous’ from January 4-7, 2018. Partnering with one of Asia’s most experienced luxury lifestyle event organizers, Asia RendezVous, the Phuket RendezVous showcase event will replace the Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX) and build on its 14-year legacy. Hosted by RPM, the four-day-event will showcase a diverse range of…
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Govt denies digital surveillance as report alleges ‘spying’
BANGKOK: The government dismissed allegations yesterday that it had violated people’s privacy by conducting surveillance of telephone and Internet communications. Government spokesman Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the government was too busy and did not have time to spy on people. He was responding to a report by the London-based organization ‘Privacy International (PI)’ regarding surveillance in Thailand. The organization,…
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Snatch and run suspect arrested in Phuket
PHUKET: A Phang Nga man was arrested on Tuesday for multiple thefts in the Wichit and Kathu areas earlier this month. Col Nikorn Somsuk of Wichit Police presented the suspect Parkpoom Thinglim, 35, at a press conference yesterday. “We received several reports of snatchings by a man on a motorbike, three times in Wichit and once in Kathu. At about…
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“Professional’ pickpockets beaten by Phuket locals
PHUKET: Two pickpockets were caught and beaten to a pulp by locals at Wat Chalong Fair last night. Col Anantachai Piyapanun of Chalong Police received a report from locals present at the scene at about 9:30pm. “The two victims named Nunthicha Sermjabog and Jenjira Somboon were walking amid crowds at the fair when the two men, named Duangden Punna and…
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Marine experts: action needed to counter Phuket beach erosion
PHUKET: Officers from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) and experts from academia have suggested two ways to counter the issue of erosion on Phuket beaches. However, they have yet to state when will they take action, and say they are waiting for ‘help’ from local, provincial and national authorities. On Tuesday, a team from the…
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Bus crash in Phuket injures 16 Indian tourists
PHUKET: A bus carrying Indian tourists crashed against a concrete divider in the hills of Kata this morning, toppling to one side and taking down a street light with it. Lt Col Sakkarin Sangchareon of Chalong Police received the report at about 8:10am. “The bus was heading from Kata to Chalong. One tour guide and 16 Indian tourists were injured…
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Video: Foreign boat hunted for anchoring on coral off Phuket
PHUKET: The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is hunting for a foreign boat that was captured on video anchoring on a coral reef at Koh Racha. “We received the report and video clip from a tour guide who wishes to remain anonymous,” Suchat Rattanaruengsri, head of the Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Division Region 6, told the Phuket Gazette.…
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Infant found dead hours after being fed
PHUKET: A 20-day-old baby girl was found dead at a Burmese worker camp in Thalang last night. Col Chattri Choowichien of Thalang Police received the report at about 10:30pm from Soi Na Yao in Pa Khlok. “Ms Soo, 31, told us that she was breast-feeding her new-born daughter in their room at about 6pm. The baby started choking on the…
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Phuket tourist detained two days for capturing fish
KOH RACHA: A tourist was arrested and jailed yesterday for catching and keeping two fish at a beach on Phuket’s Racha Island. The arrest was made after locals reported the man collecting live fish in a water bottle at Plub Pla Beach. At about 2pm, Fisheries Officer Nares Choopueng, along with Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Department (DMCR) officials, confronted…
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EducationUSA Thailand to host informational fair
PHUKET: EducationUSA Thailand, a program of the US Department of State and US Embassy Bangkok, is inviting high school and university students, parents, and educators to its annual series of higher-education fairs. The Phuket fair is slated for February 1 at Satri Phuket School, with Chiang Mai scheduled for February 2 at Le Meridien Chiang Mai, and Bangkok on February…
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Rawai Mayor warns against swindler
PHUKET: Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos has issued a warning about a possible swindler posing as a Phuket City Municipality officer. Mr Aroon said that a man who called himself Raywat Chanakeaw called him to ask for money yesterday morning. The caller claimed to be a Phuket City Municipality officer and said that he had been in an accident and needed…
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Canadian tourist dies in single-vehicle accident, friend severely injured
PHUKET: A young Canadian woman faces months of rehabilitation and huge hospital bills after being severely injured in a single-vehicle accident that claimed her friend’s life in Phuket last week, the Vancouver Sun reported yesterday. Nezabravka (Nezi) Borislavova, 24, from Vancouver, suffered internal injuries, two broken shoulders, a broken arm and broken wrist, according to her family friend Patrick Parenteau.…
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Parents protest closing of municipality kindergarten
PHUKET: At least 200 parents and students gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday morning to protest against the closing of the Phuket City Municipality kindergarten. The group was led by Chanakan Nansang and Pranee Thongkao, with several protesters carrying signs that read ‘Why close the kindergarten and open a secondary school?’ Ms Chanakan said that Phuket Municipality School had not…
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Thai immigration to deport alleged pedophile, sex-offender today
PHUKET: Authorities will today deport a suspected Czech pedophile back to his home country where he is wanted for allegedly committing sexual crimes. “Czech authorities will provide five policemen to escort him during his flight back,” Immigration Bureau chief Nattorn Prohsunthorn said yesterday. The suspect, Zdenek Pfeifer, 49, was arrested in Phuket last week in response to a request from…
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Italian man killed on Phuket road bend
PHUKET: An Italian man was killed after his motorbike crashed into a roadside barrier while he was heading toward Promthep Cape this afternoon. Lt Col Thada Sodarat of Chalong Police received the report at about 12:30pm. “The victim’s body was lying on the side of the Nai Harn-Laem Promthep Hill road and a Yamaha motorbike was wedged under the barrier.…
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Blood test for Lucky the elephant goes awry
PHUKET: An agitated elephant injured two people and damaged two vehicles while officers were drawing his blood as part of a general health and DNA check on Saturday. A total of 219 elephants were given blood tests at Nakkerd Hills camps by officers from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), who are currently investigating elephant trafficking…
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Pick-up stuck after drunk Phuket man drives onto beach
PHUKET: Rescue workers spent more than seven hours freeing a pick-up truck from the sands of Bang Tao Beach yesterday morning. The owner of the Isuzu pick-up, Supot Muthina, 32, reported his predicament to Cherng Talay Police at about 8am. He said that he had gotten drunk about 3am and decided to drive to the beach to listen to some…
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Phuket tuk-tuk driver injured after crashing into police box
PHUKET: A tuk-tuk driver sustained serious injuries after crashing into a police box situated atop a median in Kathu this morning. The accident occurred at about 8am near the Kathu-Patong junction, on the way down from Patong Hill. The driver had no identification documents with him, but police believe his name is Faad Yayi, aged between 70-80 years. They also…
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Taxi and tuk tuk operators’ requests denied
PHUKET: The Provincial Committee turned down requests from both taxi and tuk tuk operators to either expand their services to other areas or bring more vehicles to the Island. Phuket Vice Governor Sanit Sriwihok presided over the meeting with concerned officials regarding the requests at the Provincial Hall yesterday afternoon. “Taxi operators in Phuket City are asking for permission to…
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Fisherman drags ashore ‘disappeared’ 4 million baht speedboat
PHANG NGA: A speedboat that went missing on Thursday was found floating off Koh Yao, Phang Nga Bay, by a local fisherman yesterday afternoon. The speedboat belonged to the Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra resort and reportedly ‘disappeared into thin air’ after being anchored off Krabi (story here). The fisherman, Apichat Singharoon, 32, reported his discovery to the Klong Prasong village headman,…
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Business Buzz: Social media trends to look out for this year
PHUKET: As we begin another new year, it is a timely opportunity to consider what we should look out for in 2017. It is always important to reevaluate your digital footprint on a regular basis.Here are my 2017 tips to have a successful year in social media and beat your competition, increase your revenues and improve customer loyalty. Remember, an…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Investigating death
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Hotel speedboat communication goes dark after dropping anchor
KRABI: A speedboat ‘disappeared into thin air’ after being anchored off Krabi last night. The speedboat, that belonged to Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort, was reported as ‘missing’ by hotel staff at about 10am today to Somsak Tepbhud, village chief of Baan Koh Kwang. “The staff told us that they had been in contact with the boat crew…
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BREAKING NEWS: One seriously injured after explosion on yacht
PHUKET: Two men were injured after a fire extinguisher exploded inside a yacht at the Boat Lagoon at about 2pm today. The yacht, named Serenity, is on the hardstand at the marina for repairs. Both men, who are employees of Marine Engineering Co, were taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital where one is reported to be in critical condition. Maj Somchai…
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Elephant “sees red’ during blood test, rams into pick-up
PHUKET: Visitors and officers watched in horror yesterday as an elephant became agitated during a blood test at a camp in the Nakkerd Hill, damaging a pick-up truck parked nearby. The 15-year-old elephant, named ‘Plai Kong Thong’ was undergoing a general health and DNA check by officers from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), who are…
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