Yala

  • Thailand News

    Yala police officer critically wounded in midnight ambush

    A police officer was critically injured in a late-night ambush while on patrol in Banang Sata, Yala province. The incident occurred around midnight close to a 7-Eleven store adjacent to Krung Thai Bank in Banang Sata sub-district. The officer, identified as Wacharaphong Chaiyaphan from the Banang Sata Police Station, was shot by an unidentified gunman and suffered a gunshot wound…

  • Crime News

    Security volunteer shot dead at father’s grave in Yala

    A fatal shooting incident took a grim turn in Yala when a security volunteer was brutally assassinated while he was reading the Quran at his father’s grave. The 43 year old victim, Ruslee Daleng, was a ranger volunteer who received a fatal headshot at a Muslim graveyard situated in Tambon Than To of Yala’s Than To district. The Than To…

  • Thailand News

    PM Srettha’s surprise visit to Yala province sparks tourist frenzy

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, flanked by a cadre of ministers, paid a surprise visit to Yala Province yesterday, igniting a blaze of excitement aimed at boosting the region’s tourism. This high-stakes visit, part of an expansive tour spanning Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, aims to catapult Yala’s tourism sector into the stratosphere, setting a bold target of 2 million visitors, both…

  • Thailand News

    DSI seizes 10 million baht in uncertified goods in southern Thailand

    The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) conducted a raid today in the warehouse of a renowned online merchant in Yala province, seizing over 10 million baht worth of uncertified goods. The operation was led by Chayaphon Saitawee, the director of the Special Case Operations Center in the Southern Border Provinces. The DSI, alongside the administrative officials of Mueang Yala District…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand’s newest UNESCO learning cities revealed, Bangkok on the list

    Bangkok, Khon Kaen, and Yala have clinched spots in UNESCO’s 2024 Global Network for Learning Cities (GNLC), heralding a new era of lifelong learning across Thailand. Education Minister Permpoon Chidchob unveiled the exciting news, showcasing Thailand’s commitment to fostering continuous education and development. Joining the ranks of previously listed cities such as Chiang Rai (2019), Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Chachoengsao…

  • Crime News

    Armed men spark terror in Yala, two officers seriously wounded (video)

    A group of armed men sparked terror in Yala‘s Bannang Sata district when they targeted a pickup truck carrying border patrol police officers. The terrifying incident, which occurred yesterday afternoon, resulted in two officers being seriously wounded and caused locals to flee the scene in panic. The assault took place in broad daylight outside a local grocery store in Buesu…

  • Thailand News

    Rare Malayan tiger spotted in Thailand’s Bang Lang National Park

    The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) recently reported the sighting of a Malayan tiger in Yala‘s Bang Lang National Park. The news surfaced on the DNP‘s official Facebook page, revealing that the Malayan tiger is among several sub-species found in the southern border regions of Thailand and Malaysia. Bang Lang National Park and Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary…

  • Crime News

    3BB worker fatally injured by hidden explosive while repairing Internet line in Yala

    A 3BB worker tragically lost his life at Yala Hospital after stepping on a concealed explosive while working on an Internet signal line on Sunday. Police Lieutenant Colonel Asrun Hamu, an investigative officer at Yala Police Station, was alerted to the incident by locals who reported hearing an explosion near a former insurgent target area. The scene of the incident,…

  • Thailand News

    Yala’s sizzling vegetarian fest: A spicy stir of cultures draws tourists like dim sum buffet

    The Yala Vegetarian Festival is now sizzling hot like a stir-fry wok. It kicked off with a spicy city-wide procession circling Betong in southern Thailand, and yellow flags popping up like corn in a kettle. This cultural fusion extravaganza, blending Thai spice with Chinese nice, is attracting more tourists than a dim sum buffet. Today, the festival kicked off at…

  • Thailand News

    New flower species discovered in Thai wildlife sanctuary by researchers

    In the lush Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in the Betong district of Yala province, researchers have made a remarkable discovery, two new species of flowers, belonging to the Annonaceae family – which hosts the well-known custard apple – have been identified by a team from Prince of Songkla University (PSU). The finding was announced this week by Charan Leeratiwong,…

  • Crime News

    Police nab 2 more members of notorious loan shark and abduction gang

    Two more gangsters associated with notorious loan sharking and drugged abduction practices across three Thai provinces have been apprehended. The suspects, both denying the charges so far, were apprehended at a regional court and reputable hotel. One individual confessed at around 9am today. Police led by Lieutenant Colonel Montri Thedkhan ordered the apprehension of the individuals. With assistance from regional…

  • South Thailand News

    Yala craft beer uses Betong pomelo peel, garnering nationwide interest

    A local craft beer originating in Yala province has gained popularity across Thailand due to its unique blend, which includes peel from the local Betong orange. The product’s demand consistently increased after being featured at Sol Bar. This bar is located at the headquarters of the Move Forward Party in Bangkok and is discussed heavily on social media platforms. The…

  • Thailand News

    Former Yala governor sentenced to 8 years for malfeasance in GT200 bomb detector case

    Former Yala governor, Teera Mintrasak, aged 59, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for malfeasance in connection with the purchase of fraudulent GT200 bomb detectors from 2007-2009. The sentence was delivered by the Region 9 Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. Teera was among 12 defendants involved in the case, with the other 11, all of whom…

  • South Thailand News

    Man runs race in South Thailand wearing Forrest Gump costume

    Run Forrest run! One participant in a 160 kilometre race in South Thailand made a splash with his unique attire. The man donned a Forrest Gump costume, complete with a plaid shirt, khaki pants, and a red cap, to the Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB 2023. The photo of the runner taken at the starting line in Betong district of…

  • South Thailand News

    SWAT officers shoot dead suspected insurgent in southern Thailand

    Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T) officers killed a suspected insurgent in a shootout in Yala province, southern Thailand, early this morning. The deceased was suspected to have had a role in the ambush that killed a police officer on Friday, as well as the bombing of a PTT gas station in Than To district. At 4.30am today, a S.W.A.T team…

  • South Thailand News

    Police major killed in Yala bomb blast

    The police major killed in a Yala bomb blast has been named Pol Maj Prasan Kongprasit, an inspector at Bannang Sata District Police Station. Prasan succumbed to injuries yesterday sustained when a homemade explosive device went off earlier in the day. Four others were wounded by shrapnel when the bomb exploded as they examined a crime scene in the southern…

  • Thailand News

    Four Thai teens win award for pioneering parasite-killing invention

    Four high school students from Yala in southern Thailand won the New Gen Inventors Award 2023 for inventing a herbal product made from galangal leaves which kills parasites in raw foods in less than six minutes. Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha praised the children for creating a practical product from readily available herbs which will improve the Thai population’s physical…

  • World News

    Anwar’s visit to Thailand brings ‘Deep South’ to top of agenda

    Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is due in Bangkok today to meet Thai PM Prayuth Chan-o-cha. Anwar’s visit to Thailand brings issues in the “Deep South” to the top of the diplomatic agenda. The provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and parts of Songkhla are an important crossroads for trade between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. China’s plans for high-speed trains from…

  • South Thailand News

    Tragic hero – lifeguard, 10 year old, drowned in new year beach tragedy

    The body of a 10 year old girl who had been swept away by strong waves from a Songkhla beach, was found washed ashore this morning, near the scene of the new year beach tragedy. Rescue teams searched the area throughout last night and this morning for the lost child who was washed away as she was playing with two…

  • South Thailand News

    Patani Colonial Territory not played in Chiang Mai

    Law students at Chiang Mai University cancelled a game night during which they planned to play the card game Patani Colonial Territory, following a visit by a mysterious “officer.” Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) report that a plainclothes “officer,” visited the Faculty of Law and other university administrators on December 26 after a student group announced that they were…

  • South Thailand News

    Petrol pump blown up in Yala terrorist attack

    A petrol pump was blown up by suspected insurgents at a PTT petrol station in the southern province of Yala on Saturday night. There were no casualties. Shortly before midnight on Saturday, an explosion was heard at the PTT petrol station by Highway 410 in tambon Thanto, according to Pol Capt Palakorn Srichai. Police were dispatched to the scene to…

  • South Thailand News

    Patani Colonial Territory designer summoned for game of truth or dare

    The designer of Patani Colonial Territory, a game based on the recent history of Thailand’s southern regions, is believed to have been summoned by police after the game was confiscated from a café in Yala. Chachiluk Games said that the game designer was not involved in the conceptualisation and production process. Reporting on Thailand involves at least one truly absurd story…

  • Thailand Weather Updates

    Flood warning for 11 southern provinces

    Southern Thailand has been soaked with rain over the past week. Now, the National Water Command Centre is warning 11 provinces of possible floods this coming weekend. They are expecting heavy rains from Thursday, December 8 through Sunday, December 11. Strong storms have been flickering power in some provinces in the south of Thailand, with high winds blowing debris and…

  • Thailand News

    Police seize board game after claims it could cause insurrection in Thailand

    Police officers in Yala yesterday seized a fun board game called Patani Colonial Territory from a coffee shop after a government official claimed that it could cause insurgency throughout the kingdom. For conspiracy theorists, this is up there with Elvis still lives. Officers in the southern Thailand province confiscated the offending game at the Life Coffee Slow Bar in the…

  • Road deaths

    Sleeping driver unharmed after seemingly deadly crash

    Yesterday morning saw what looked to be a grizzly car crash in Nakhon Si Thammarat but, surprisingly, the driver walked away unharmed. A pickup truck brimming with durian fruit smashed into a power pole on the highway yesterday morning after the driver fell asleep at the wheel. A man from Phang Nga had been driving down Highway 41 in Thung…

  • South Thailand News

    OIC commends treatment of Muslims and quality of life in Thailand

    The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation hailed Thailand as a shining example of how well a multicultural society can coexist during a visit to the Deep South provinces. Delegates from the OIC visited 3 of the southernmost provinces in Thailand on June 29 and 30 after the Thai government invited them to come and see local religious activities, education programs, and…

  • Tourism News

    Thailand tourism: 9.3 million arrivals predicted, south busy

    In its latest estimates, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports predicts that the second half of 2022 will bring more than 7 million travellers to Thailand. The first 6 months nearly hit the 2 million tourist mark, with 1.987 million visitors arriving from abroad from the beginning of January until June 28. Tourism generated around 114 billion baht so far…

  • Thailand video news

    Thailand News Today | CCSA confirms possible easing of mask mandate

    The CCSA has acknowledged that face masks in Bangkok may soon be dropped. Although no date has been announced yet, the CCSA says the easing of mask-wearing in some public locations is on the table, as well as allowing night venues to stay open until 2 am. Nightlife venues were allowed to “officially” open until midnight starting June 1, although…

  • South Thailand News

    Southern Thai man sentenced to almost 5 decades for terrorism and other charges

    Southern Thailand doesn’t look like it’s headed towards peace any time soon. In the latest report on violence in the region, a man in Yala province has been sentenced to 46 years in prison yesterday after he was charged with terrorism, criminal association, and violating the firearms and explosives law. The man, along with 8 other people, was found guilty…

  • Thailand News

    Man becomes first person ever to rollerblade across Thailand

    A Thai man set a new record on Sunday by becoming the first person in the world to rollerblade from the northernmost to the southernmost tip of Thailand. The man’s journey from Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai to Betong district in Yala covered 2,051 kilometres and took 55 days. People have famously run the same route and many Thai’s…

  • Thailand News

    Court lifts 4 year hijab ban at Pattani school

    The court has lifted a ban on hijabs set four years ago at a school in Pattani, southern Thailand. The school claimed that wearing a hijab – or Islamic headscarf – to school went against the Education Ministry’s regulations. Four years of court battles between the school and parents finally ended yesterday when the Yala Administrative Court announced a ruling…

  • Thailand video news

    Thailand News Update | Thunderstorm destroys brand new passenger building at Don Mueang Airport

    The Thai public health ministry says it intends to stick to its schedule of declaring the Covid situation in Thailand ‘endemic’ by July 1. Since April 1 the number of new daily infections has fallen sharply but a ministry spokesperson yesterday noted that the number of daily deaths is continuing to rise and has been over 100 people each day…

  • Crime News

    Police arrest murder suspect on the run for 15 years in southern Thailand

    Police arrested a man on suspicion of a murder which took place nearly 15 years ago this morning in Yala province, southern Thailand. Police found the suspect on the side of the road in Betong district and arrested him on a warrant issued by Chiang Rai Provincial Court back in 2007. Police believe the murder was a politically motivated attack.…

  • South Thailand News

    Both sides in Thailand’s Southern Insurgency agree to 40 day ceasefire

    The Thai government and the most influential rebel group in Southern Thailand have agreed to stop violence for 40 days, from April 3 – May 14, for the holy month of Ramadan and the Songkran holidays. For the first time in the decades-long conflict, unarmed rebels will be allowed to visit their families during Ramadan. The agreement was made at…

  • South Thailand News

    Businesses in Betong offer to guarantee seats on flights if Nok Air drops price

    Tourism firms in Betong are trying to strike a deal with Nok Air in order to get commercial flights operating again at the southern town’s airport. According to a Bangkok Post report, businesses have offered to guarantee 60 seats on every Nok Air flight to Betong if the airline drops the cost of a round-trip ticket. Nok Air’s round-trip fare…

  • South Thailand News

    Director of Betong Airport transferred to inactive post

    Oh dear, it all looked so promising… Following on from Nok Air’s declaration that it was suspending services to the newly-opened Betong Airport due to low uptake, the airport’s acting director has now been sacked. According to a Nation Thailand report, Duangporn Suwanmanee was removed from her position just 4 days after Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha arrived on the airport’s…

  • South Thailand News

    No flights to new Betong airport, Yala tourism officials talk promotions to boost travel

    After the highly-publicised launch of the new airport in Southern Thailand’s Yala went sour, with Nok Air suspending flights to the airport due to a lack of passengers, tourism officials in the Betong area plan to offer discounts on hotel rooms and food for travellers to help the flights takeoff. Nation Thailand says the Betong Airport was “built to boost…