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.
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Eagle wood smugglers nabbed at Suan Pa Bang Kanun, Thalang
Royal Thai Navy officers along with Forestry officials have arrested Assanai Sato, from Prachinburi province, while he was trying to cut the restricted crop, eagle wood with an accomplice. The team led by Rear Admiral Uthai Thongdee from Royal Thai Navy and Chief of Suan Pa Bang Kanun, Sorakrissana Singkham, arrested Assanai in the National Preserved Forest, Suan Pa Bang…
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FRIDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your news in 3 minutes
Wet, wet, wet start to the day but the forecast says rain should ease during Friday but more on the way tomorrow. Thepa Power Plant update The Government has not made a final decision about the Thepha coal-fired power plant project, according to the PM yesterday. At the same time, an opposition group is promising to carry on its campaign…
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Miss Pinky Promise debuts to help reconcile the nation, or scare children.
With the Government keen to find a winning strategy to help heal deep political wounds, you’d wonder why they’ve unveiled this creepy costume character to come to their aid. “Nong Kiew Koy”, or “Miss Pinky Promise”, has become an overnight social media sensation after being introduced at the Defence Ministry as a “mascot for reconciliation”. Netizens have not been kind…
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Two civilians injured in Narathiwat bomb attack
Two civilians have been injured after Muslim insurgents detonated a homemade bomb to ambush a team of soldiers from a development corps in Narathiwat’s Joh I Rong district on this morning (November 30). The explosion occurred at 8.45am on Joh I Rong-Ban Yaning Road in Moo 2 village in Tambon Juab. The homemade bomb, assembled in a cooking gas cylinder,…
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Phuket setting up tourist service centres along the west coast beaches
Phuket’s Vice Governor, Sanit Srivihok, held a meeting yesterday (November 29) to discuss locations for the tourist service centres on each of Phuket’s main beaches. The implementation of tourist service centres is a policy from Phuket’s Governor aiming to give information to travellers as well as providing support for any issues such as first aid in an accident or a…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, November 30
Bali airport re-opens to clear back-log | Government opens its budget pockets | Songkhla protesters released on bail | Army checks for Phuket beach-rules compliance | HM The King grants extension to viewing time at Royal Crematorium | Cheap jet for sale.
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Songkhla floods destroy road – car falls into hole
Floodwaters damaged part of a four-lane road in Songkhla’s Thepha district, leading to a car plunging into a hole in the pavement. The driver was not injured in the accident on the southern-bound Highway No 43 in Tambon Sakom at 4am. The two remaining lanes of the northern-bound road were divided to accommodate southern-bound traffic pending road repairs. Songkhla Governor…
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THURSDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your news in 3 minutes
Protesters released on bail All 15 activists involved in the protest against the proposed Thepha coal-fired power plant have been freed on bail as Songkhla Provincial Court allowed university scholars to use their civil-service status to guarantee their temporary freedom. However, the activists will still have to defend themselves in court as police had prosecuted them with four charges. On…
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The Boathouse reveals its stunning make-over
By Pattarawadee Saengmanee Anchored at the end of Kata Beach, the venerable Boathouse Phuket has been freshly refurbished as a boutique hotel and a base for cruise holidays. Extra-comfy beds, first-class hospitality and relaxing beach activities round out the inviting picture. The Boathouse opened in 1991 under the umbrella of the Montara Hospitality Group. This year it was transferred into…
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Observations on the demise of the Phuket Football Club
Tim Newton, camera-in-hand, filming commentary from Steve Johnston at Surakul Stadium, circa 2013. In 2013 and 2014 I was attending most of the Phuket FC matches held at Surukul Stadium as part of my work, reporting stuff for my employer at the time. I had no particular interest in soccer but it was local, it was something our company sponsored…
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Bull elephant warning in Kanchanaburi
Tourists have been warned about wild elephants in a forest plantation in Kanchanaburi province, particularly a male that has been nicknamed “Nga Lek, the bully”. “Nga Lek” translates as “short tusk”. Sadet Hui-oun, chief of Thong Pha Phum Forest Plantation, which covers about 20,000 rai (3,200 hectares) in Thong Pha Phum district, said there were about 60 to 70 elephants…
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Butt pic boys face jail sentence over ‘offensive’ Instagram posts
A couple of Americans who author the Instagram page “Travelling Butts” have been arrested at Don Mueang International Airport for having taken photos showing their backsides with the respected Temple of the Dawn in the background. Police have so far only identified the two as Joseph and Travis, as their identities have yet to be confirmed with the Bangkok Yai…
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WEDNESDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
PHUKET FC hangs up its boots Phuket Football Club has hung up its football boots for the last time and announced its dissolution after getting sued by 3 foreign players for a total of 83 million Baht. The President of Phuket FC held a press conference yesterday announcing the club is being forced to disband. The 3 players, including Roland,…
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Super Full Moon this Sunday (but we may have too many clouds in Phuket)
The biggest Super Full Moon this year will occur on Sunday, December 3, and will be visible from 6pm onward in Thailand, a leading astronomer said on Tuesday. Saran Poshyachinda, the director of the National Astronomical Research Institute, said next month’s phenomenon will occur when the moon’s orbit is closest to the earth, and will be about 357,973 kilometres away.…
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End of an era – Phuket FC dissolves under burden of debt
The island’s local football team, Phuket FC, has announced its dissolution after being sued by 3 foreign players for a total of 83 million Baht. Today (November 28), at the Tourism and Sports Office, the President of Phuket FC, Pitipol Nukulpanichwiwat, alongside Phuket FC’s consultant, Sunanta Krajang, held a press conference to announce the dissolution of the Club. The 3…
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Charges levelled against 16 anti-power plant activists in Songkhla protest
All 16 activists arrested on Tuesday for protesting against the planned Thepa coal-fired power plant face four charges and will remain in detention at Songkhla Provincial Court, unless they are granted bail. Provincial Police Regional 9 acting commander Pol Lt-General Ronnasin Phusara disclosed that the 16 prominent anti-coal-fired power plant activists, who were currently in police custody, had been arrested…
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Maya Bay is Number 9. What is the World’s Best Beach?
And Maya Bay isn’t the only Tai beach included in the list. FlightNetwork.om rated the world’s best beaches. Thailand’s Maya Bay, on Koh Phi Phi Ley came in at #9. Maya Bay has been closed for rehabilitation since the middle of 2018 and is scheduled for limited re-opening some time in 2021. Tourists and boats will be limited to less…
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Phuket King’s Cup Regatta will be hosted at Beyond Resort Kata from December 2-9
The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is back this year at the Beyond Resort Kata with a particular focus on growing the sport of youth sailing in Thailand. The Opening Ceremony will be held on December 3, 2017 at Beyond Resort Kata. The Prize Giving Ceremony will be held on December 9, also at Beyond Resort Kata, part of Kata Group (rebranded…
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TUESDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Surin Beach vendors are revolting About 100 beach vendors and retailers gathered on Surin Beach yesterday calling for a long-term solution after 3 years of beach ‘management’ where they were promised, but still haven’t received, a venue to make a living. The group of locals filed letters of complaints, as well as suggestions, to the President of Cherngtalay OrBorTor, Thalang…
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Surin Beach vendors call for a management solution
About 100 beach vendors and retailers gathered on Surin Beach today (November 27), calling for a solution after 3 years of beach ‘management’ where they were promised, but still haven’t received, a venue to make a living. The group of locals filed letters of complaints, as well as suggestions, to the President of Cherngtalay OrBorTor, Thalang District Chief, Phuket’s Governor…
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Elephant kills mahout at Chiang Mai Zoo
A 32 year old male elephant fatally attacked its keeper at Chiang Mai Zoo yesterday morning, acting zoo director Wutthichai Moungman later confirmed. Senior mahout Somsak Riang-ngern died instantly. The attack at the elephant camp on the hill outside the display zone took place at 8am when the five-tonne Plai Ekkasit, which has apparently been in rut since Sunday, suddenly…
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Toon-fever hits Prachuap Khiri Khan today
An Air Force flyover and 20,000 cheering admirers greeted Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Monday as he resumed his cross-country run to raise money for hospitals. After several days off to let a pulled tendon heal, Toon began Day 27 of what’s become a more challenging campaign than expected, leaving Ban Wa Tone in Tambon Klong Wan…
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Elephant attacks and kills mahout in Krabi
A 35 year old female elephant ‘Sao Nui’ has attacked her mahout, 50 year old Amorn Morakot, while they were walking in forests behind Krabi. A rescue team brought the body of Amorn out of the forest of Khao Panom district, Krabi, after his relatives found his body at the scene yesterday. “At about noon the mahout took his elephant…
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Marijuana valued at 2 million Baht – crackdown in Phang Nga
Phang Nga police have arrested 6 local fishermen with 456 kilograms of dry marijuana leaves. The 6 fishermen include 31 year old Boonkum Bohmuang, 27 year old Rachan Thong-Iad, 25 year old Sakrit Thong-Iad, 36 year old Thalerngsak Thanyupak and 37 year old Manoch Thintalay. After being informed about the drugs being transported by boat through the Andaman Sea, an…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, November 27
Military cadet family want answers | Thai Airways open new Vienna route | Floods in south while Petchaburi clears | Shocking road death statistics | Miss Universe Thailand into final five.
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Miss Universe Thailand gets into the Top Five. Miss South Africa wins.
Thai beauty queen Maria Poonlertlarp, who was selected as one of the final five contestants in the 66th Miss Universe 2017, smiled bravely through her disappointment as she watched Miss South Africa’s Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters crowned Miss Universe this morning (Bangkok time) at the Axis, Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas in the world’s biggest beauty pageant. Colombia’s Laura Gonzalez was first…
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MONDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your news in 3 minutes
All your main news stories to get you ready for your Monday… Family demands answers The family of the dead teen cadet Phakhapong Tanyakan is demanding that the military bring to justice the people who committed whatever crimes that led to their son’s death after an autopsy indicated that he probably didn’t die from cardiac arrest. Phakhapong’s parents and his…
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Marcus Rolli & Imogen Simmonds win the Foremost IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand 2017
A bumper edition of the second Foremost IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand saw almost 1,500 triathletes turnout for the iconic half ironman distance race and the newly introduced Sunrise Sprint today (26th November) on Phuket island, a mecca for triathlon in Asia with a history of triathlon events dating back almost 30 years. With 31 Pros from around the world on the…
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Toon inspires a nation. Prawit has a lot of explaining to do.
Two Thai men, probably at the peak of their careers. One inspiring a nation. The other making disgraceful comments and ‘mis-speaking’ about the death of a young cadet and laughing off the serious issue of hazing in Thai military culture. It’s been a busy week for the country’s elderly Deputy PM and Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and musician/marathon runner, Antiwara…
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Relatives claim bodies of Myanmar workers killed in van fire
Relatives of some of the 13 Myanmar workers who were killed in a fiery van accident in Sing Buri early on Friday were in Bangkok yesterday (November 25) to claim the bodies. The Police Hospital’s Forensic Medicine Institute opened a room on the first floor to provide assistance to the relatives. The 13 workers were killed along with a Thai…
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