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UPDATE: Fire on Koh Phi Phi
The fire zone following the blaze on Phi Phi last night is being cleared since early this morning (January 7) while Ao Nang Sub-district Administration Organization (OrBorTor), tourism businesses and Phi Phi Island Protection and Conservation Club have set up a registration list for fire victims. The area where the fire is thought to have started remains limited access, waiting…
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Nine injured in Koh Phi Phi guesthouse inferno
A fire broke out at a row of shophouses on Ko Phi-Phi around 9.30 last night, prompting evacuation of local residents and tourists. The fire is believed to have started at a small hotel, the October Guesthouse, in Soi Slinky and quickly spread out to about 25 adjoining shophouses and restaurants. National Park officials, Navy officers and rescue workers rushed…
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Limiting tourists on the most popular islands
Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) held a meeting today (February 6) to discuss the excessive numbers of tourists visiting famous islands at the Pearl Hotel. The Chief of National Park Office, DNP, Songtham Suksawang, who chaired the meeting, said that the amount of tourists in the marine national parks is directly affecting the environment. “Those national parks,…
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Two charged with murder over Surat Thani Detention Centre murder
The case of a 17-year-old juvenile found strangled to death in a Surat Thani juvenile detention centre today (Tuesday) stemmed from a pre-existing dispute between two rivals, according to Sahakan Phetnarin, director general of the Juvenile Observation and Protection Department. The two teenage rivals, whose names have been withheld due to their age, have already been charged with the juvenile’s…
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Taxi OK project in Krabi
Following its implementation in Bangkok last month, ‘Taxi’ OK’ is now coming closer to Phuket. The latest taxi ‘Taxi OK’ campaign has been launched in Krabi, aiming to ensure that no passenger would be rejected no matter where they request to travel to, amongst other new improvements to taxi services. Krabi Land Transport Office Chief, Laddawan Chinnasatian, said today (January…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, February 6
Chinese year brings 18% rise in tourists year-on-year | A new ban from the ‘fun police’ | Tokyo Stock Market opens down 4% today | Smog a problem for Central and Northern Thailand | Woman survives awful crash in north-east | Van and pick-up crash in Krabi kills one, injures 10.
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Four houses destroyed, one badly damaged, in Phuket Town fire
A fire consumed four Phuket houses and partially damaged another on Monday morning, police said. The Muang Phuket police station was alerted of the fire in Tambon Talad Mai at 6.45am. The crew from four fire engines took about an hour to put out the blaze, which burned down four connected houses and damaged a fifth. Police said no one…
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Going Green: Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon achieves Gold Green Globe status
Guests enjoying the resort’s electric tuk-tuk Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket has become a certified Green Globe Gold member in 2017 having recently received the coveted eco-sustainable certification for the sixth consecutive year, achieving some of the best rankings in Southeast Asia. “We are very proud of our achievements in sustainable operations at the resort and of our…
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Pick-up and van crash in Krabi kills the driver and injures 10
Yesterday (February 4), Klong Thom Police (Krabi) received a report about a pick-up truck crashing into van, resulting in 1 casualty and 10 injuries. The accident occurred at Namkhao-Koh Lanta Road, where police and rescue teams found the Chevrolet pick-up badly damaged from its front all the way to the driver seat. About 20 metres away, a van with Trang…
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Property boom – firms acquire land worth nearly 100 billion baht
Twelve listed property firms have announced investment budgets worth between 98.04 and 99.04 billion baht to acquire land to develop residential projects worth between 385.15 billion and 385.64 billion baht during 2018, according to a survey by The Nation. Over half of the investment budget from the firms will come from their initial cash while others will issue debentures worth…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, February 5
Thammasat and Chulalongkhorn University students mock Thai politics | 24 year old Ukranian stabbed by boat crew | Strong winds ravage Songkhla coastal communities | Unidentified body found floating in BKK along | US Labour department puts Thai fishing industry on notice | Thepa and Krabi power plants put on hold.
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Saucy coffee shop PR stunt backfires
Police are considering pressing charges against the owner of a coffee shop in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district, who posted a video clip and photos of two models wearing not much more than a barista apron and underwear while serving coffee to customers. The photos and video clip, meant as an advertisement to attract more visitors to the coffee shop, have…
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Anonymous attack in Patong
A 27 year old man, Natchasak Satitrong from Surat Thani province, was attacked while sleeping in a sala near the Loma Park football stadium in Patong early yesterday morning (Sunday). At 4 am Kusoldham Foundation received a report about a man being attacked by a sharp item. They found Natchasak with knife wounds on his scalp, his left fingers, right…
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Boat crew arrested after slashing tourist
Phuket Tourist Police and Thalang Police arrested a boat crew, 24 year old Thanakorn Sechana from Sakon Nakhon province, after he slashed a Ukrainian passenger with a knife yesterday (February 3). The passenger, 24 year old Vitalii Kuzmichov, was traveling back from Phi Phi Island with a Best Travel Club tour boat and got slashed near his left elbow by…
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Introducing Thaiger Property – 8,000+ listings for Phuket
Phuket Gazette/The Thaiger are proud to launch our new ThaigerProperty.com website. In Phuket, alone, there are more than 8,000 properties for sale on the website and, around Thailand, nearly 40,000 listings – by far the largest selection available. Some of the properties are exclusive, some are ‘motivated sellers’ and there’s also rental listings as well, making it a very comprehensive…
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Coal power plants shelved for at least three years
The Thai Ministry of Energy has decided to put on hold two coal-fired power plant projects in Krabi and Thepa district of Songkhla for three years pending additional environmental and health impacts assessments and environmental impact studies. Energy Minister Siri Chirapongphan says the ministry would inform the cabinet its decision to put off the two controversial projects and, at the…
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January’s national road carnage up 65% – year on year
With the Christmas/New Year road madness out of the way it’s now time to assess the road toll numbers for the first month of the year. After all the publicity leading up to the Christmas/New Year period the numbers are sure to drop. Right? No. In January 2017, 947 died on Thailand’s roads. For January 2018 the number jumped to…
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‘Big drug dealer’ arrested in Rawai
Phuket police have held a press conference to reveal a drug network which included the arrest of one man and seizure of 1.39 kilograms of methamphetamine, worth 5 million Baht. Police allege the drugs belong to a ‘big drug dealer’, 26 year old Nakarin Chaweewongprateep. The police initially arrested 49 year old Suth Saekang in Rawai with 307 amphetamine pills…
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‘No can find’ – police investigate an alleged sex show in Soi Bangla
Pol Col Akanit Danpitaksat has revealed recent checks in Soi Bangla after receiving a report about a sex show at an entertainment venue. However, police couldn’t find any evidence of a sex show despite checking the venues for a few nights. He explained that the Anti-human trafficking Police went to check the place and it was open normally with tourists…
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Baby crocodile found in Chalong
A baby crocodile has been found at an old mine in Chalong yesterday (February 1) by local fishermen. Specialists say the reptile appears to be about 1 year old. The two men who found the crocodile, Suchatee Anoma and Pansak Chantawang, say that they were catching fish at the old mine in Soi Nakok and spotted a baby crocodile on…
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Case dismissed against four accused of launching grenades against PDRC demonstrators in 2013
By Kesinee Tangkiaw The first court on Thursday has dismissed a case against four people accused of firing 40mm grenades at demonstrators from the now–defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) at the Government Complex in early 2013, citing insufficient witnesses and evidence. Chatchawawn Prabbamrung, 49, Taweechai Vichakham, 43, Sunthorn Piphuannok, 53, and Somsri Marit, 44, were accused of contempt of…
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Baby crocodile found in Chalong tin mine lake
A local fisherman has found a baby crocodile at an old mine in Soi Nakok, Chalong. Fisheries Officers have been visiting the area and speaking to the man this morning. The question on everyone’s lips…’Where’s the mother?!” More information coming soon.
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Woman escapes an alleged sexual assault in a BKK mall
A woman escaped an alleged sexual assault by a Bangkok mall security guard on Thursday morning thanks to the timely aid by passers-by, according a Thai user of Facebook, who shared a video clip of the incident and told the story as a precautionary tale. A Facebook user named “Atom Kamolphu” warned that women should beware going alone to public-access…
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Chinese couple photo shoot no-no at temple crematorium
Pictures of Chinese couple taking their pre wedding photos at the crematorium at Chalong temple have gone viral among Thais social media users. People are criticising the couple and their entourage about the inappropriateness of this photo location, showing a proposal with a man kneeing down in front of a woman in red bride dress right in front of the…
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Butt out on 24 Thai beaches
Officials on Thursday began strictly enforcing a ban on smoking on beaches, with offenders facing a possible year in prison and a 100,000 baht fine. The Marine and Coastal Resources Department announced a strict ban on smoking at 24 beaches in 15 provinces to begin with. The aim is to protect the environment, such as by reducing the number of…
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Thaiger Today February 1
Smoking ban enforcement starts today | Yingluck’s assets seized | British Embassy sold in BKK for record amount | Lunar eclipse put on a show, but not in Phuket | ‘Last kiss’ for French and Thai murder plotters | Government uses strategic lawsuits to quell dissent.
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A very ‘Thai’ blood moon
Residents of Bangkok enjoyed the rare sight of a super blue blood moon rising in the sky on Wednesday. The event was unique because it combined a lunar eclipse, a blue moon (when a second full moon occurs in a single month) and a Super Moon (with the moon at its closest orbit around the earth). It’s been a long…
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Activists report Thepa power plant concerns to UN
Representatives of the Thepa coal-fired power plant opposition group went to the UN offices in Bangkok yesterday to report their concerns about the project. The group also emphasised in a statement that it would continue its prolonged peaceful demonstration in front of Government House every day until the government definitively revokes the 2,200 megawatt coal-fired power plant project in Songkhla’s…
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Phuket Hotels Association award their first six scholarships
The PHAB (Phuket Hotels Association Benefit) fundraising event was held last year on May 13 and raised approximately 4 million baht. Since then, the Phuket Hotels Association’s Education Working Group has placed advertisements, shortlisted candidates and interviewed the prospects for its scholarship program. The three institutions they will be working with are Phuket Vocational College, Rajabhat University and Prince of…
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THAIGER TODAY January 31
Frenchman and Thai accomplice re-enact murder | Viet Jet back-pedal over PR stunt | Thai PM admits falling popularity | British expat needs triple by-pass – no health insurance | Krabi province investigates marine ambulance | AMLO clamps down on Bitcoin.
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