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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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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‘Dead’ man visits home in Si Sa Ket seven months after his own funeral
Metropolitan Police Division 1 Chief Pol Maj-General Zenith Samransamruadkit has assigned a team to investigate the misidentification of a corpse, resulting in a Si Sa Ket man being declared dead and his family holding a funeral and cremating an unknown dead male almost seven months ago. Sakhon Sacheewa, a 44 year old fisherman, returned to visit his hometown on Sunday…
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THURSDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFS – All your local news in 3 minutes
We welcome Thursday and are enjoying the continuing good weather but know there’s a bit of possible rain on the way with a weakening tropical depression. From the TMD… “During 22-24 December, it is forecast as a tropical depression moving near Malaysia and the lower South of Thailand.” Let’s check today’s main news stories… Protesters threaten to go to BKK…
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Impounded fishing boats destroyed in blaze
A fire broke out early on Wednesday, damaging six of seven impounded Vietnamese fishing trawlers and sinking the seventh. The fishing trawlers were moored two kilometres offshore at Songkhla. Witnesses say the blaze started at about 2am but there were no fire-rescue boats available to go to the spot. As the fire engulfed the trawlers, the ropes that bound them…
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How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?
It’s a question asked by an article nearly a year ago. Tim Newton ponders if much has changed in the last 12 months…. “In the worst of the incidents, 25 people died on Monday in Chonburi province after a pick-up truck and a minivan collided and burst into flames. In all, 426 people died on Thailand’s road between Dec 29…
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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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Pick-up truck loses control killing Khon Kaen driver
Kathu police received a report at 1.35am this morning (December 20) about a car crash in Phra Phuket Kaew Road. The officers and Kusoltham Phuket Foundation rushed to the scene and found a bronze pick-up truck wrapped around a lamp post in the middle of the road, near the coconut plantation curve heading east towards the Samkong Underpass intersection. Inside,…
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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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Paklok monkeys to be sterilised and moved away
After a second public hearing gathering about 50 locals of Baan Yamu in Paklok, who have all had problems with monkeys destroying their valuables, the Chief of Khao Phra Theao non-hunting area, Pongchat Chuahom, says the monkeys will be sterilised, receive a health checkup and then moved to a new home. The meeting chaired by Paklok’s Mayor, Punya Sampaorat, agreed…
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WEDNESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFS – All your local news in 3 minutes
More sunshine with a few clouds, more cool evenings and more fresh north-easterly winds. It’s the middle of the week in Phuket. There’s been a great reaction to our story about the young 9 year old Krabi boy who’s been having to spend much of his days in a cage. More about that in today’s daily briefs… Suspects being questioned…
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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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Krabi kid fenced at home after tragic accident
A Krabi man, Chamnan Duangchan, the father 9 year old Poramet Duangchan, is crying out for help after his son was hit by a car and become so worried that he feels he has to keep his son in a cage while working away from home. The 9 year old Poramet was hit by a car 5 years ago while…
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Hi-lo gambling crackdown in Koh Kaew
Police have arrested ten gamblers at a construction camp today (December 19) in Koh Kaew, east of Phuket Town. The six men and four women were found with several pieces of gambling paraphernalia – such as 12 dice, a scoreboard, one set of Hi-Lo gamble equipment, 18,000 baht in cash and some other valuables. The ten gamblers have been sent…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, December 19
9 year old in a cage in Krabi | Reprieve for Thai fishing industry | Police suspect ‘business’ behind Sunday’s bus torching | Alcohol Control Board goes after beer gardens | English proficiency on the improve in Thailand | Bad weather on the way this weekend.
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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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TUESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
A perfect sunny day ahead for your Tuesday with moderate to fresh north-easterly winds up to 25 kph. The fresh winds are expected to continue during the week with an approaching storm arriving this weekend. In the meantime, let’s check out the stories making headlines today… ‘Business conflicts’ might be behind bus attack in Yala The Fourth Army regional commander…
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Chalong Circle construction update
Chao Fah West road, approaching the underpass construction works at the Chalong Circle, heading south towards Rawai, is being reduced to one lane. People travelling north from Rawai to the middle of the island are advised to use Chaofa East Road instead to help reduce congestion on Chao Fah West (outside Home Pro/Villa Market). Chao Fah West, approaching the Chalong…
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Satellite imagery shows new destruction in Rakhine State
Analysis of satellite imagery reveals new destruction of Rohingya villages during October and November 2017 in the northern Rakhine State in Burma. This latest report, along with their evidence, has been released by Human Rights Watch today. Human Rights Watch have identified 40 villages with building destruction occurring in October and November, increasing the total to 354 villages that have…
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Pretty in pink – the OrBorJor expands the Potong bus services
‘Potong’, the traditional open pink ‘busses’ of Phuket operated by the OrBorJor, will now be available every day from 6 am to 7 pm featuring four new routes. be ‘Potong’, the traditional non-air conditioning busses of Phuket that can be always seen in pink operated by the OrBorJor, will now available every day from 6 am to 7 pm featuring…
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Southern militants torch passenger bus
Militants armed with rifles yesterday torched a coach heading to Bangkok after removing the passengers in Yala’s Bannang Sata district in the latest violence in the South. Prior to the attack, the militants, who authorities said were trying to create chaos, also set up roadblocks with trees that they had cut down and set fire to villagers’ houses. Officials were…
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Phuket City getting ready to join the Euro Cake League T3
Following the winding up of the former Phuket Football Club last month (story HERE), we now have a new team in town. And they’ve been auditioning players under the watchful eye of their new coach. The new football team for the island, Phuket City, welcomes its new head coach, Sarit Wuttichuay, from Bangkok while more than 100 football players attended…
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Khao Lak crackdown – more than 300 counterfeit items seized
The Economic Crime Police together with the Department of Intellectual Property Officials have arrested counterfeit retailers in Khao Lak, Phang Nga, yesterday (December 17) after the retailers had been in business for 10 years. Officials from more than 20 government departments are also alleged to be involved in bribery. At the scene, an alien worker who was offering products to…
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MONDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in a 3 minute read
Welcome to the start of the final week before Christmas. A mainly fine day with a bumper sunset on the way this evening. We have news & weather updates, all day, seven days a week, on The Thaiger 102.75 FM. Let’s head to today’s main news stories… Militants set fire to a bus in Yala Militants armed with rifles have…
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Targeting rubber encroachments in our forests
Amid the plunging price of rubber latex to below 50 baht per kilogram, concerned officials are now eyeing the potential for eliminating the encroachment of rubber trees in forests. As well as returning forests back to nature, the move would help reduce the volume of latex and thus push up prices. The Rubber Authority of Thailand recently contacted Natural Resources…
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New bar-coded traffic tickets start today around Thailand
If you get caught without a driving licence, infringing road rules or not wearing a helmet from today, you might be getting one of these. Thailand’s traffic police are now issuing E-traffic tickets for traffic violations from today. You’ll be able to pay the fines online two days after the issue of the ticket. Commander of the Special Branch Police…
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“Army has distorted the truth” – Phakhapong’s mother
The mother of Phakhapong “Meay” Tanyakan yesterday raised suspicions about the military investigation committee’s report into the 18 year old cadet’s death, saying it distorted the truth. Sukanya Tanyakan also pointed out in a Facebook post that the committee had slandered her son by saying that he did not respect seniority. Her comments came after the results of a military…
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SUNDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Sunday, Sunday. Rain, sunshine, clouds. Will the weather please make up its mind! The forecast is for some early rain clearing as the day goes. Mostly cloudy and a top of 30. Let’s check today’s main local headlines… Trang school gangs extorting students The director of a well-known private school in the southern province of Trang has admitted some students…
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‘Open to all suggestions’ – Thai PM
The Thai PM says that he’s listened to all suggestions but would not be able to carry out all of them, reacting to a proposal by political heavyweight Somsak Thepsuthin of Matchimathipataya Party to free MPs from parties and make a charter amendment to that effect. “I listen to what people say about politics and think them through. But I…
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Vietjet kicks offs new direct route, Phuket – Ho Chi Minh City
At Phuket International Airport yesterday (December 15), Phuket authorities hosted the welcoming ceremony of a new direct flight, Phuket – Ho Chi Minh City by Vietjet Air. The flight VJ 809 was the first ever flying the route. Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Phuket Office, Kanokkrittika Kritwuttikorn, says that Vietnam is an excellent potential market. There are more…
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