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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Toon thanks the north-east for amazing support
PHOTOS: facebook.com/pg/kaokonlakao Bodyslam lead singer, and mega charity runner Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai, has expressed gratitude for the support and donations his Foundation received from Isaan residents at the end of the two day running event to assist small public hospitals in the north-east. Toon, other Thai celebrities, local north-eastern identities and leading officials, ran a staged 187 kilometre route from Nong…
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Unidentified body found floating in Ranong lake
The body of an unidentified Thai man has been found floating in a small Ranong lake this morning. The body, without any obvious signs of identification, was found on the lake in Moo 2 village in Tambon Bang Bon in Muang district at 8.50am. Police say the man appeared to be around 40 to 50 years old without any identification…
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Thailand to sit on UN committee from 2020
PHOTO: Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Don Paramudwinai Thailand has been selected as a member of the UN Economic and Social Council from 2020 to 2022 on behalf of Asia and the Pacific region, alongside China, South Korea and Bangladesh. Thailand won 186 votes in the selection process. Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Don Paramudwinai also participated in the session. Last time…
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Arrests over weekend’s taxi gang violence in Bangkok, two dead – VIDEO
Two people are dead following the weekend’s violence between rival motorcycle taxi thugs. More video has emerged showing a man on the ground with others beating him with metal bars and other weapons. Police say the violent battle was between the “Udomsuk 1” and “Udomsuk Rungruang” taxi ranks, one aggrieved that the rival gang had started up close to their…
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“Not one of Chiang Mai’s traditional massage ladies” – Porn video investigation
PHOTO MONTAGE: Daily News Thai police and the Department of Public Health in Chiang Mai have been investigating the porn video featuring a foreigner that has caused ‘outrage’ among northern Thai netizens who claim the video gives the wrong impression of Thai massage culture. Read The Thaiger story HERE. But police say that only the front of buildings was depicted…
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6 month free trial for Bang Wa-Tha Chang ferry service, Bangkok
PHOTO: Thai PBS A new route has been launched today between Bang Wa (Khlong Phasi Charoen) and Tha Chang (Chao Phraya River). The route has been announced by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Marine Department for a 6 month trial. The boat service will be free of charge during its 6 month trial run and aims at providing new…
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Chinese move their purchase power away from Bangkok condo market
Chinese condo buyers are veering their purchase power away from the Bangkok property market citing the strong Thai currency, overpricing and a supply glut. 2015 – 5.8 Yuan to the Thai Baht 2019 – 4.4 Yuan to the Thai Baht The rise of the baht and the weakening of the Chinese Yuan over the past four years, have culminated in…
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Russian tourist dies after being hit by motorbike in Pattaya
A 35 year old Russian tourist has been knocked over near the bridge leading to the Bali Hai port in South Pattaya on Saturday night. Meanwhile, two Kuwaiti nationals were in Bangkok Pattaya and Pattaya Memorial hospitals with multiple fractures and other injuries following the apparent collision. Pattaya media report that they were part of a gang of ten middle eastern…
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Russian tourist drowns in red flag swimming zone in Trat
PHOTOS: The Pattaya News | Siam Rath A Russian tourist has drowned at a beach on Koh Chang in Trat, far east Thailand, in the red-flagged, no swimming zone yesterday. Navy officers on Koh Chang are warning tourists going to beaches with red flags along the shore to stay out of the water when there are high waves in the…
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Body found off Saphan Hin on Koh Tapao Noi, Phuket
An unidentified body has been found on Koh Tapao Noi off Saphan Hin along Phuket’s east coast yesterday afternoon. Wichit Police were notified that the body was found on Tapao Noi beach at 5 pm. Police and Kusoldharm Rescue workers arrived at Saphan Hin in Wichit and four rescue workers headed out on a an inflatable dinghy to Koh Tapao…
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Two Chinese and two Thais arrested over huge ‘ice’ haul
PHOTO: The Nation Authorities have intercepted a container carrying a tonne 11,000 kilograms) of crystal methamphetamine (ice) with a street value estimated around 2 billion baht, before it could leave the country. Police also announced the arrest of suspects involved in the drug haul as Chinese nationals 24 year old Huang Guoxion and 44 year old Zhou Qingchu, along with…
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Italy’s ‘Bonny & Clyde’ arrested in Pattaya, Thailand
Local Chon Buri police have caught up with two Italians who have been on an Interpol red notice since 2012 after they fled Italy after being sentenced to eight years in jail for fraud. 58 year old Francesco Galdelli had been parading himself as George Clooney chewing investors into buying into his bogus clothes business. His wife, 45 year old…
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Two arrested on human trafficking charges in Koh Samui
Two suspects have been arrested on human-trafficking charges for allegedly prostituting girls under the age of 18 on Koh Samui, under the guise of operating a karaoke bar. 18 year old ‘ladyboy’ Chaiyasit Nijkham and 28 year old Sukanya Phadaeng were arrested in a raid when undercover officers visited the bar as customers. While at the bar, the officers were…
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US Navy veteran locked up in Thai prison, family pleas for help
by Lauren Talarico A US Navy veteran from Texas remains locked up in a Thai prison for something his family says he didn’t do. Derrick Keller was arrested on August 20, 2018. But his family says the allegations against him are not true and they desperately want him home. Derrick Keller’s family doesn’t know what to do next after their…
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‘Fast and Furious 9’ to be partly filmed in southern Thailand, including Phuket
The latest sequel of the ‘Fast and Furious’ movie franchise will partly be filmed in Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Surat Thani next month. Yesterday Piya Petonji, the film’s production manager, met with Krabi Governor M.L. Kitibadee Prawit at the Krabi City Hall before the cast arrives and filming begins. The filming will be from July 1-27 in locations around…
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Chiang Mai netizens outraged after porn movie released online
Chiang Mai locals are sharing their outrage over a porn video shot in a local massage shop where the massage ends up in a lot more than just a happy ending. The clip is called “Thai VIP Massage” and is credited to ThaiSwinger.com. Manager Online reports that netizens are calling for the police to investigate the adult movie shot in…
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Bystander killed by stray bullet as taxi motorcycle gangs clash – VIDEO
VIDEO: บ้านเราบางนา ลาซาล แบริ่ง A bystander was killed by a stray bullet yesterday when two taxi motorcyclists gangs clashed in a fight in Bangkok’s Bang Na district. Rival motorbike taxi gangs were caught on video viciously attacking each other with knives and other weapons. Police say 20 year old Weerawat Pheungkrut, a courier with Kerry Express, was killed when a…
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Missing German DJ identified after being found dead in Krabi villa this week
PHOTOS: Hannover DJ, Christopher Faust, found dead in a Krabi Villa this week – thesun.co.uk More information has come to light about the German man found dead in a Krabi luxury villa this week. Read The Thaiger report HERE. The 39 year old tourist was found dead with his head bound in a green plastic bag and red duct tape…
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Police seize illegal mosquito repellents and fake nutritional supplements
The Consumer Protection Police Division and the Food and Drugs Administration has raided illegal factories producing dangerous mosquito repellent and fake nutritional supplements. Investigations are underway to find the people responsible. Officials confiscated illegal Kwang Thong (golden dear) brand mosquito repellent coils factory in Nakhon Ratchasima, north-east Thailand, where 1,300 boxes of coils containing more than 10,000 packages were confiscated. The…
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Toon’s latest run-for-charity raises 15 million baht in the first hour for north-east hospitals
PHOTO: Facebook.com/kaokonlakao Such is the star-power and respect Thais have for rocker-turned-charity-warrior Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai, that his latest fund-raising effort raised 15 million baht in the first hour of yesterday moorning’s run. His latest project called Kao Kon La Kao-Kao Tor Pai Duay Palang Lek Lek Phak Isan (One step each by each person, move on with a small force in…
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Some secondary students use Wai Khru to make ‘controversial’ floral tributes
High school students have used an annual Wai Khru ceremony to make political statements via they floral tributes. The students were from the Chumphol Phon Phisai School in Nong Khai, north-east Thailand, and Phitsanulok. The floral protests came to the attention of the current Thai deputy PM and defence minister Prawit Wongsuwan who was said to have ‘taken offence’. He…
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35 year old arrested over Pattani Big C bombing and other insurgency-related crimes
PHOTO: Remnants of a car bomb that exploded in front of a Big C in Pattani on May 9,2017 A suspect has been arrested by Thai security forces in Songkhla’s Thepa district. The man is believed to be a wanted insurgent – the subject of four arrest warrants in relation to violent incidents in the deep South. He’s been identified…
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change.org petition calls on Phuket locals to take action on construction dump
Locals have launched a petition on Change.org to draw attention to a construction dump operating in central Phuket, in the suburb of Cherng Talay, which adjoins the coastal towns of Bang Tao, Layan and Surin. We print the article verbatim, spelling and all. The article is titled “Close burning dump near Laguna Phuket” and has been penned in English and Russian…
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70 million baht set aside for planning and EIS for new light rail in Pattaya
PHOTOS: Pattaya Watchdog Pattaya City Hall has is putting aside 70 million baht for preliminary planning, design work and Environmental Impact Statements for a proposed tram (light rail) project. The trams are part of the Thai government’s huge Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) budgets to develop Pattaya and other areas along the Eastern Seaboard. The first part of the proposed project,…
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Thailand’s dengue fever cases “double the five year average” – epidemic declared
“The situation is also the same in Thailand’s neighbour countries.” The Department of Disease Control on Friday has declared a dengue fever epidemic this year. From Jan 1 to June 11 this year there has already been 28,785 reported cases and 43 deaths from the mosquito-borne virus. The deputy director-general of the department says the number of patients was double the…
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Bangkok to Hua Hin van operators blame Prayut but passengers say the service was “terrible”
PHOTO: NewsBeezer A minivan service from Bangkok to Hua Hin has been forced to conclude services by the end of June. “June and James Transport” are blaming the military government and NCPO leader Prayut Chan-o-cha. But Manager Online says reviews from customers shed a different light on the story saying the service was “terrible”. Customers say the vehicles were terrible…
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True Digital Park opens in Sukhumvit 101 Road, Bangkok
Under the concept of ‘One Roof, All Possibilities’, the new True Digital Park is now ready to support the country in driving the digital economy. The “Work Space” is a workplace and digital innovation development space. The True Digital Park says they will collaborate with government agencies, enterprises and global tech giants including The National Innovation Agency, Digital Economy Promotion Agency,…
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ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement comes into force
The ASEAN – Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement (AHKFTA – that acronym’s never going to fly!), came into force this week for Hong Kong and five ASEAN member states, namely, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Under the AHKFTA, Hong Kong and Singapore will grant tariff-free access and keep their customs duties at zero upon entry into force of…
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British Hua Hin bar owner overstays visa by eight years
Prachuap Khiri Khan immigration officials have arrested a 50 year old British expat, Michael Gary Doyle. His passport expired in 2011 and he’d overstayed his welcome for 2,917 days since June of that year. He was arrested at his house in Phoonsuk Road, Hua Hin. Banmuang reports that Mr. Doyle was the owner/operator of a beer bar in Hua Hin and…
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Reconstructed Pattaya Beach officially opened
PHOTOS: Pattaya Unlimited | Pattaya Mail The Thai Transport Minister and senior marine-management officials have hailed the rebuilding of Pattaya Beach as a great success at the official opening of the reclaimed beach and shoreline. The reconstruction was completed early this year to muted applause from the locals, but the ceremony was the official recognition of Pattaya and Marine Department…
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