Thailand

  • Thai LifePlain tobacco packaging by September 2019

    Plain tobacco packaging by September 2019

    The Thai government has made a new legislative announcement regarding plain packaging for cigarette packets, making it the first country in Asia, and first low and middle-income country to do so. This legislation adds to the 2017 Tobacco Control Act, which currently mandates an individual must be 20 or older to purchase tobacco, bans tobacco advertising in the media, sponsorship,…

  • Bangkok NewsPolitical parties throwing extravagant dinners to raise election funds

    Political parties throwing extravagant dinners to raise election funds

    The pro-Junta Palang Pracharat political party is expecting to raise 600 million baht from a grand fund-raising dinner named “One Thailand”. The event will be held tonight at Muang Thong Thanee in Bangkok. The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) appears to be winning over business leaders and the elite after selling most of the tables for tonight’s event. The event will…

  • Phuket NewsNumber of tourists visiting Phuket still high – TAT Phuket

    Number of tourists visiting Phuket still high – TAT Phuket

    In response to a number of completely fabricated negative stories about Phuket’s current tourism situation, Kanokkittika Kritwuttikorn, the director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office says, “Number of tourists visiting Phuket is still good when compared to last year’s numbers. We’ve also spoken to many regional tour operators who say that bookings are ‘solid’ for this time of…

  • Thailand News“The Election Commission can decide” – PM on foreign observers for election

    “The Election Commission can decide” – PM on foreign observers for election

    Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is making it clear that the Election Commission (EC) are the sole authority to decide whether or not to allow foreign observers to monitor the election scheduled for February 24, 2019. But, Gen Prayut insisted that Thailand must solve its own internal problems to ensure transparency and fairness in order to restore international community’s confidence in…

  • Phuket NewsBig leatherback sea turtle lays eggs in Phang Nga – VIDEO

    Big leatherback sea turtle lays eggs in Phang Nga – VIDEO

    PHOTOS: Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat | VIDEO: โชติ ครัวโชติรส / Newshawk Phuket A big leatherback sea turtle has laid eggs on a beach in Phang Nga this morning. Officials at the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), Phang Nga, were informed this morning that a big turtle has laid eggs at the Kuek Kak Beach in Khao Lak. Officials went to the beach…

  • Koh Samui NewsSouthern provinces battered by heavy rains and floods

    Southern provinces battered by heavy rains and floods

    PHOTO: Flooded Samui roads – Facebook/Thunder Road Reporters “The city Mayor says the municipality had arranged for medical staff to be on stand-by to help patients at evacuation centres already set up to deal with potential flood crisis in Nakhon Si Thammarat.” Heavy rain has been battering the southern regions of the Gulf coast for the past few days and…

  • Northern Thailand NewsPTT Thailand Grand Prix in Buriram voted best of 2018

    PTT Thailand Grand Prix in Buriram voted best of 2018

    “The race weekend at Buriram was the most attended and has been voted the best of the season on its debut.” There was a lot of expectation but the Thai GP was an incredible success and has now been named the best of the season by the MotoGP Paddock and the decision communicated to the Grand Prix Commission. The event…

  • Bangkok NewsSuspect arrested over grenade attacks during Bangkok protests in 2014

    Suspect arrested over grenade attacks during Bangkok protests in 2014

    PHOTO MONTAGE: Thai PBS Back in early 2014 the street protests were in full swing on selected streets in the capital. In the midst of the sometimes violent protests a hand-grenade attack. Now, four and a half year’s later, a man suspected of throwing the hand-grenades into the anti-Yingluck government protests at the Victory Monument and on Banthadthong road has…

  • South Thailand NewsSouthern militants escape after gunfight in Narathiwat

    Southern militants escape after gunfight in Narathiwat

    by Santhiti Khorjitmet Fighting between soldiers and eight armed militants has erupted on a remote mountain range in the southern province of Narathiwat in the Taway mountains. According to reports, both sides fired more than 100 rounds of ammunition during the confrontation near a suspected insurgents’ base in the Rangae district. Though two suspects were believed to have been injured, all…

  • Bangkok NewsTourists complain about thin elephant being forced to do party tricks

    Tourists complain about thin elephant being forced to do party tricks

    PHOTOS: Mail Online dailymail.co.uk is reporting that an adult elephant has been photographed performing in front of deserted audience seating at Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo, just south of Bangkok. With its bones clearly visible, a female elephant is seen balancing on two wooden tables before being led down and forced to walk across a metal tight rope. She…

  • HealthFloating clinic opens in Kanchanaburi

    Floating clinic opens in Kanchanaburi

    PHOTO: Pattaya Mail Last week saw residents and visitors to Srinakaring Dam in Sri Sawat district, Kanchanaburi, in Thailand’s west, witness the first day of operations of a new floating medical unit. The Bangkok Post reports that the dam is a huge tourist magnet which attracts 800,000 tourist a year in an area where 140 businesses operate and over 600…

  • Northern Thailand NewsNew book recounts Thai cave rescue of Wild Boars

    New book recounts Thai cave rescue of Wild Boars

    PHOTOS: CNN.com, The National, Amazon.com On June 23 2018, the world first heard about the disappearance of 12 Thai boys, the young Mu Pa football team and their assistant coach, in a cave system in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand. “When the cave was unexpectedly flooded, the boys, aged between 11 and 16, and 24 year old Ekapol “Coach Ek” Jantawong,…

  • Thai LifeCleaning the concrete and paving in Thailand

    Cleaning the concrete and paving in Thailand

    With the wet season comes the rain. And with the rain, plus the ongoing hot weather, mould and algae growing on all our outdoor walls and paving. Rain + algae + mould looks awful and can be very slippery. Stains can also make your investment look old and unwanted. Black mould can cause allergies for some people You have two…

  • Thailand NewsElection date confirmed for February 24 next year

    Election date confirmed for February 24 next year

    PHOTO: Deputy PM Wissanu Kreangam arrives at the Army Club in Bangkok – The Nation Make it a date. February 24 is now the official date of the next Thai general election. The poll date has now been confirmed after years of delays, mis-starts and excuses. The NCPO has now announced that the ban on political activities will be lifted…

  • EntertainmentDystopian Thai film approved by censor board

    Dystopian Thai film approved by censor board

    A new Thai movie ’10 Years Thailand’ will screen nation wide next week after having finally been approved by the censor board last Monday. The film is a dystopian anthology made by four Thai film makers and is based on the 2015 Hong Kong film ‘Ten Years’. The film is directed by Aditya Assarat, Wisit Sasanatieng, Chulayarnon Siriphol and Apichatpong…

  • Northern Thailand NewsVIDEO: Seven injured – Surin Fair fireworks goes wrong

    VIDEO: Seven injured – Surin Fair fireworks goes wrong

    A 47 year old Thai man sustained serious burns and six others suffered minor injuries when fireworks, being lit near a pond in Wat Jumphon in Surin’s Muang district as part of a local festival, exploded into the audience last night. The Nation reports that the seven victims were watching stage performances at an outdoor cinema at the fair when…

  • Phuket NewsTwo workers’ camps go up in flames within four hours

    Two workers’ camps go up in flames within four hours

    PHOTOS: Newshawk Phuket, Khun Patong8144 and The Thaiger There have been two separate fires today, in different areas in Phuket. At this stage The Thaiger believes that both were Burmese workers’ living accommodation, or work camps. There has been no immediate reaction from police about any connection between the two fires, both at workers camps within four hours of each other.…

  • Chiang Mai NewsFirst ever ‘Elephant Travel Mart 2018’ to promote ecotourism in Thailand

    First ever ‘Elephant Travel Mart 2018’ to promote ecotourism in Thailand

    A new ecotourism event, Elephant Travel Mart 2018, jointly hosted by ‘Save Elephant Foundation’ and ‘Asian Elephant Projects’, aims to bring together ethical elephant tour operators and tour agencies in Chiang Mai on December 14. The event, taking place at Khum Kan Toke, Chiang Mai, is conceived by the founder of ‘Save Elephant Foundation’, Sangduen Chailert (Lek), who works tirelessly…

  • Thailand NewsThai PM foreshadows coming Royal coronation

    Thai PM foreshadows coming Royal coronation

    The Thai PM has announced that His Majesty’s coronation will take place after the next general election, slated for February 24 next year. Gen Prayut says the government is waiting for the King to issue a royal command which would announce the date and set in motion the schedule for the coronation ceremonies. As part of the traditional ceremony, water…

  • Thai LifeRemembering King Bhumibol, the musician

    Remembering King Bhumibol, the musician

    In remembrance of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Thaiger is proud to share one of His Majesty’s many talents, his musical prowess. A renown Jazz musician, he started at age ten with the clarinet and, due to his talent, learned to play the saxophone and trumpet as well. Late in his life he jammed alongside some of the jazz greats…

  • Business NewsGovernment poised to cast tax net over online transactions

    Government poised to cast tax net over online transactions

    As the world continues its relentless move online, and away from traditional retail, governments are having to find new ways to track and tax online transactions. The Thai Revenue Department is poised to cast a wider net over online vendors and other businesses that have been evading taxes. The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) is soon to approve amendments to the…

  • OpinionDecember 4 – Thailand’s national day of shame

    December 4 – Thailand’s national day of shame

    Today is Thai Environment Day. Today convenience stores, trade stores and shopping malls will refrain from providing single-use plastic bags to shoppers and at the same time will campaign for donation of cloth bags to be distributed to hospitals for containing medicines. Whether any of this actually happens, we will see. The proposed plastic bag-free day is the outcome of…

  • Bangkok NewsFive dead and five injured from two families in head-on collision

    Five dead and five injured from two families in head-on collision

    PHOTO: The Nation A tragedy for several Chachoensao families last night ager a collision killed five. Chachoensao is just east of Bangkok. Five people were killed and another five critically injured after the pick-up truck of a family returning from a shopping trip collided head-on with an another pick-up truck just one kilometre before reaching the family’s home. Police and rescue…

  • Krabi NewsKoh Phi Phi has to address critical water problems

    Koh Phi Phi has to address critical water problems

    Special Report by Pratch Rujivanarom – PHOTOS: Sitang Pilailar “The groundwater is currently unsafe for consumption and a threat to health. Harmful pathogens and heavy metals originating from water pollution offshore have contaminated it.” The administrative authority of the Phi Phi Islands has once again called for help from the central government and state agencies to help address the chronic house…

  • EntertainmentMinister promises a year of ‘Khon’

    Minister promises a year of ‘Khon’

    “The ministry will next year nominate nuad thai (Thai massage) and the southern traditional dance nora for inclusion on the UNESCO list.” The Culture Ministry is planning a year of activities to further promote ‘khon’, the classical masked-dance theatre that has now been added to UNESCO’s list of ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’. Members of the UN Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation…

  • Thai LifeThais need to have more babies to reverse declining population

    Thais need to have more babies to reverse declining population

    A government advisory body is urging the Government to come up with measures to encourage Thais to have more babies. The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has urged the government to implement additional measures to improve the birth rate in Thailand, following a recent study detailing the impact of a shrinking population. Thailand, with the fertility rate of…

  • Krabi NewsSingapore businessman’s Porsche hits Krabi Police officer

    Singapore businessman’s Porsche hits Krabi Police officer

    A Singaporean businessman, driving a luxury sports car, has hit Krabi police at a checkpoint yesterday in Krabi. The Krabi City Police were conducting a scheduled checkpoint at about noon yesterday on Petkasem Road in Krabi City. The Porsche was driven by 65 year old Simon Ong Chin Sim, a Singaporean businessman, His vehicle struck traffic police Sen Sgt Maj…

  • Northern Thailand NewsAlleged drug mule shot dead in clash with troops in Chiang Rai

    Alleged drug mule shot dead in clash with troops in Chiang Rai

    PHOTO: Chiang Rai and Myanmar border at Mae Sai A drug mule has been shot dead on the border between Chiang Rai and Myanmar, and 350,000 methamphetamine pills were seized following a clash between an Army task force and a group of drug smugglers. The commander of the Pha Muang Taskforce says the incident happened at 12.30am along the Myanmar…

  • Bangkok NewsMinister raises ethical concerns of private schools listing on the SET

    Minister raises ethical concerns of private schools listing on the SET

    PHOTO: Singapore International School of Bangkok Trading in the shares of SISB Company Limited, the manager of the Singapore International School, begins today in the SET’s (Stock Exchange of Thailand) Market for Alternative Investment. The Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin says that although the move does not violate the Private School Act 2007, there was a question of ethics. The Minister has assigned…

  • South Thailand NewsSurat Thani monk arrested over molestation allegations

    Surat Thani monk arrested over molestation allegations

    Surat Thani police have served an arrest warrant on a 35 year old monk at the Wat Dang Nai. Sanook is reporting that Phra Mongkhon faces charges of molesting under 15 year old boys. The arrest of the monk follows an official complaint made by a parent to police back in April who claimed her 13 year old son had…