Thailand News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, January 3
Changes to universal healthcare system | Super Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan | Latest death toll from Seven Dangerous Days | DSI uncovered 9 billion baht of unpaid taxes on imported cars | Governor visits Rassada Pier | Idiot arrested over random gunfire on NYE.
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Puppies rescued from roadside
Two women rescued five puppies found beside their mother’s bloated dead body on a roadside in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin district. One of the woman, Chutima Singruang, posted on her Facebook wall on Wednesday that she and her friend spotted the puppies on the Hua Hin-Nong Plub road near the roadside Nong Sor market on Tuesday morning. Chutima said…
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Two suspects in custody over Trang murder case
Two suspects allegedly involved in the murder of Trang-based salon owner Phakin Sornnarai are in police custody. Phakin’s body was found on Monday in his car parked at a sports stadium in Muang Trang. He’d been missing since December 29. Police believe robbery was the motive because more than 160,000 baht worth of gold accessories, 80,000 baht in cash and…
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Corruption, graft, misconduct. And watches.
By Wasamon Audjarint While the junta continued to claim that fighting corruption was on its agenda over the past year, the state-centric approach brought into question whether junta leaders were truly serious about dealing with graft – or were instead using the issue for their own benefit or to attack particular parties, an anti-graft watchdog has said. “This especially creates…
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DAY FOUR. Nearly 60 people dying each day during the Seven Dangerous Days.
After four days, the official death toll for the ‘Seven Dangerous Days’ reporting period is 239 with 2,500 injuries. The statistics are compiled by the Road Safety Centre. On Sunday, new year’s eve, 65 people were killed and 714 were injured in 678 separate traffic incidents. Drink driving remains the scourge of Thailand’s roads causing most of fatal accidents. This…
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Royal Crematorium exhibit exceeds 3.89 million visitors
More than 3.89 million people visited the Royal Crematorium exhibition between November 2 and December 30. People visited the exhibition in remembrance of the much-revered HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The late monarch passed away on October 13, 2016. A one-year mourning period followed, with the Royal Cremation Ceremony held over five days in October. Exhibits detailing the ceremony…
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Prawit’s watches. They are from a ‘third party’.
Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan has submitted a letter explaining his possession of luxurious watches and a diamond ring, which he failed to include in his assets declaration, to the anti-graft agency. The letter named a third party who would be called upon to testify in the case, according to the anti-graft agency, the National Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday. A meeting…
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DAY ONE – Seven days of danger. Road toll down.
As Thai holidaymakers journeyed to their hometowns for the annual New Year Festival with accompanying high traffic volumes on highways and crowded transport hubs, the Road Safety Operation Centre on Friday reported a slight decrease in accidents, deaths and injuries on the first of the seven-day road safety promotion period ending January 3. Thursday saw 41 deaths and 500 injuries…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, December 29
Another roadside bomb in Narathiwat | Smart Visa arrives mid January | Top overseas tourist arrivals for 2017 | Krabi Airport install new explosives detectors | Super Moon next Tuesday | Toon heading back to BKK, in a passenger van.
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, December 28
New short cut from Kathu to Saphan Hin | Two arrested over suspicion of bomb preparation | Provincial Hall launches road & marine safety campaign | Krabi residents calling for action over pam oil plant waste water | Lowest death toll in 13 years – southern insurgency | Driver almost squashed by unsecured container.
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16 year old Thai taking aim at an F1 career
Story from PaulPoole.co.th A young man from Pattaya is on track to becoming Thailand’s first Formula One driver. Born and raised in Pattaya, Kane Shepherd started racing at the age of 10, competing in various Thai championships and winning national titles every year. He won his first Asian championship in 2014 and again in 2015. His obvious talent qualified him…
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Smart Visa available from mid-January
PHOTO: world nomads.com Are you smart? Earning a high-salary? Firstly, congratulations! Secondly, you might be eligible for the new four year professional visa, known as the ‘smart visa’ from the middle of January, 2018. According to Lt. Col. Thanarak Boonyaratkarin of the Immigration Bureau, the new Smart Visa will provide more benefits and privileges than any other visa. He says, “you’ll…
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19 students injured in Chiang Rai van accident
A van carrying students overturned on a road in Chiang Rai province on Wednesday morning, injuring everyone on board. The accident took place on Paholyothin Road in the Mae Chan district at about 6.40am. Most students sustained minor injuries and were allowed to return home following treatment, but some remained hospitalised as of press time. The van had collision insurance…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, December 27
‘Silly Season’ starts tomorrow | Government has new year ‘gifts’ | German detained over Krabi vandalism | Four hour waits for visa-on-arrival at BKK airport | Seven Dangerous Days ‘rules’ | Militants attack twice in Narathiwat.
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The ‘silly season’ is upon us
New year’s celebrations will soon begin with millions of people hitting the road and revellers gathering at festive venues. But before the celebrations begin, authorities came forward yesterday to advise the public about permitted and prohibited activities. “We will be lenient with the ban on passengers in pickup beds but drivers must be very careful, especially when applying the brakes,”…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, December 26
Toon crosses the finish line | Overpass links the two Central Festival buildings | 60 year old British man drowns at Similans | Free helmets being handed out to kids in Phuket Town | Tropical depression heading our way for the weekend.
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Toon to cross the finish line tonight
Rock star runner, turned national hero, Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai will reach his destination at the northernmost tip of Thailand night in Mae Sai district near Chiang Rai (December 25). Toon and his support team are expected to arrive at around 9pm at the border crossing at the end of Phahon Yothin Road in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district, more than…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, December 25
Car overturns in Kathu | Tragic accident killing two on Saturday night | Thailand’s 13 best beaches announced | 37 dead in Davao City blaze | Toon heads for the finish line today | Another illegal tour guide arrested at Ao Po | Drink driving still the #1 cause of our road deaths.
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Toon ploughs on in 8 degree temperatures
Charity-run hero Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai continued his run in Chiang Rai amid thick morning fog in chilly 8 degrees Celsius weather, determined to cover the final 60 kilometres stretch on Sunday to reach the finish line by December 25 as planned. So far, Toon – who has been voted in a Bangkok Poll survey as the most admirable person of…
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Is Phra Dhammachayo living abroad?
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has found a clue that Phra Dhammachayo, the ex-abbot of Pathum Thani’s Dhammakaya Temple, wanted for a high-profile money-laundering case and separate land encroachments, was hiding abroad. (Read earlier story HERE) The agency is checking the credibility of the clue before doing anything that might waste the state budget, DSI deputy chief Pol Major…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, December 21
New Drink Drive Death campaign | Laypang finds her new home | Police still investigating pick-up fatality | EU demands release of journalists | Toon gets some celebrity encouragement.
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Less than 200 Km to go – Toon reaches 2,000 Km milestone mark on Day 52
Rock star Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai reached the 2,000km mark of his 2,191km charity run early this morning (Friday) amid chilling weather of 10 degrees Celsius. Toon and his group started the day’s first lap at 3:20am from their rest point in Ban Mae Prao village in Tambon Ban Huad in Lapang’s Ngao district when the mercury was about 10C or…
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Tiger-poking at a Pattaya Zoo sparks social media outrage
A Thai zoo in Pattaya is sparking outrage after a video of staff repeatedly prodding a tiger to elicit roars for tourist photos went viral, renewing criticism of Thailand’s notorious animal tourism industry. https://www.facebook.com/edwin.wiek/videos/10154902077257443/ Video by Edwin Wiek, the founder of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand The clip, which has garnered more than one million views since it was posted on…
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40 year old kiteboarder dies off Hua Hun beach
An Irish tourist has drowned in the sea at Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin District after a kiteboarding accident during rough seas. Pol Captain Jaruak Khongkarien, Hua Hin Police Station investigative officer, said on Wednesday that police received a report of a drowning in the sea near the beach at Soi Hua Hin 77. When they arrived, they found that…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, December 20
Prayut backs his deputy over watch scandal | Air Asia uniforms ‘too revealing’ | Help comes to Krabi 9 year old | Baan Yamu monkeys to be shifted | National police chief vows to track down bus burners | Tanyakan family file official police complaint | Diphtheria hits young refugees in camps in Bangladesh.
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Blade Runner ‘Cola’ sets a good example
Remember our story about the ‘blade runner’ dog Cola, the soi dog who had a bad start in his life as a pup with both paws amputated? Story HERE. The story has gone viral since then with all the major news agencies picking up the good-news tale about a soi dog who was lucky to be adopted by Soi Dog…
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Malaysian MPs say AirAsia, Firefly stewardess uniforms too sexy
Two Malaysian ruling party lawmakers have chided homegrown low-cost airlines AirAsia and Firefly for dressing their stewardesses in uniforms that are “too revealing”. Senator Abdullah Mat Yasim, a division chief of the ruling Umno party, said in Parliament the fitted attire of AirAsia’s and Firefly’s female flight attendants can “arouse passengers”, the New Straits Times reported. The “eye-catching outfits” also…
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Cadet “Meay’s” family takes case to police
The family of a cadet whose death caught national attention turned up at a police station on Tuesday to “fight for justice”. Supitcha Tanyakan, the elder sister of Phakhapong “Meay” Tanyakan, said she still had faith in the country’s judicial system. She was speaking as her parents stood by her side at Muang Nakhon Nayok Police Station. The Tanyakans have…
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There’s trouble brewing
The Alcohol Control Board is suing open air beer gardens, specifically the one at Central World Plaza in Bangkok, for ‘violating advertising laws’. But that’s not all. The Board’s Director, Nipon Chinanonwait, says he’s now on a mission to target other such venues and events around the country. His reason? These locations and events “encourage people to drink” and that…
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Expensive bling and bad-taste comments about ‘Meay’ case put pressure on Prawit
The PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha has been urged to exercise his absolute powers to suspend Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan from duty as the deputy premier remains mired in controversy. “We call on Prayut to use Article 44 to temporarily suspend Prawit from his posts as deputy premier and defence minister without pay until the investigation conclusion,” Srisuwan Janya,…
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