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. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Sponsored How one hospital visit in Thailand could cost more than your whole trip
Thailand is a favourite spot for travellers who want to enjoy more while spending less. From cheap street food to low-cost hotels and fun attractions, it’s easy to stretch your budget here. But there’s one thing many people don’t think...
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Officials seize decorative corals in Chatuchak, Bangkok
Thai PBS are reporting that police and officials in Bangkok have swooped on shops in Chatuchak, in Bangkok’s northern suburbs, and seized a substantial haul of decorative corals and coralline algae. A member of the Yiew Dong (forest hawk) task force of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment received lots…
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Bangkok driver threatens woman with machete
“The clip shows a man at the wheel of a black Toyota Camry, repeatedly trying to cut in front of a car whose dashboard cam is recording the incident, by driving against the traffic.” Netizens are condemning a male driver caught on video threatening a female driver with a machete after he drove against the traffic to cut in front…
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Tesla investors demand apology from Musk over ‘pedo’ comment
PHOTO: Fortune London’s Evening Standard is reporting that Tesla investors are demanding an apology from Elon Musk after he branded a British cave diver who rescued children from a cave in Thailand a “pedo”. The billionaire business magnate’s Twitter post sparked a huge backlash from shareholders in his firm, who later hit out further at Mr Musk in an open…
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Ex-insurance broker arrested for alleged 10 million baht credit card scam
A 27 year old former insurance broker has been arrested along with information on approximately 20,500 credit-card accounts, some of which Police allege he used to make online purchases. Police estimate the amounts involve more than 10 million baht over recent years. Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Intelligence Analysis and Special Tools Sub-Division cooperated with Bank of Ayudhya’s investigation and…
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“Phoenix might have reduced safety standards to save costs” – Surachate Hakparn
In the ongoing investigation into the sinking of ‘Phoenix’, it’s emerged that the boat may have cut back on safety equipment in efforts to save costs. We now know that the ‘Phoenix’ is owned by TC Blue Dream, with 26 year old Thai Woralak Rerkchaikan as its biggest shareholder. She is now in detention after Phuket Provincial Court denied her bail…
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Search for a jet-ski operator missing off Ao Po
A staff member of a jet ski business has disappeared after he was hit by a wave near Koh Naka in Pa Khlok at 3pm yesterday (July 17) while a search continues today (July 19). The Thalang Police were notified that the staff member was hit by a wave while riding on a jet-ski between Koh Naka Yai and Koh…
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Fisherman washed off rocks near Kata found floating near Cape Promthep
The body of a man who was washed off rocks by a wave while fishing at Kata Viewpoint yesterday (July 16) has been found floating near Cape Promthep today (July 17) Rawai’s Mayor Aroon Solos was notified by locals that a body was found floating near Promthep Cape in Rawai. Officers from Rawai Municipality headed to the area on a…
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Drive-by shooter kills Muslim man riding ‘saleng’ in Pattani
A Muslim pillion rider has died following a shooting in Pattani late last night. Masore Dueha was travelling with is wife in the ‘saleng’ on a main road in Klang Thung Na village in Kolor Tanning, Nong Chik district, Pattani. The man was shot three times in his chest and died at the Yarang district hospital. His wife, Wilailak Yingcharoen, suffered…
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Ranong: Nine Pakistanis arrested for overstay on their way to Ranong
Ranong remains a popular visa run location for expats and tourists, a five hour drive north of Phuket. A 30 minute trip across the water to Myanmar and, bingo, new visa stamp. But Daily News is reporting that nine Pakistani nationals have been arrested in Ranong when trying a visa run last week. None of the men told Daily News…
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Pattaya foreigners claim damage caused by next door condo construction
A group of European residents bought houses in Pattaya only for a an unexpected large condominium complex to be built next door. They say they’ve suffered damage to their houses in the construction phase and now claim they can’t even rent out their properties due to the noise. Complaints to the local authority and the police have fallen on deaf ears…
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Rain forecast this week, just about everywhere
Northern and north-eastern parts of Thailand will get lots of rain this week with isolated heavy rain forecast for the North, the Northeast, the Central, the East and west coast of the South, including Phuket. This is today’s news out of the TMD (Thai Meteorological Department). They say there is a monsoonal trough lying across Myanmar, the upper North of Thailand…
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Three injured in Phuket wedding party fight
Three men have sustained injures after a fight at a wedding party in Koh Sirey early this morning (July 17). The Phuket City Police were notified of the incident at 2am at Baan Laem Tukkae in Koh Sirey. Local residences told police, when they arrived, that the two people injured had already been taken to the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation…
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Court refused bail for ‘Phoenix’ owner and chief engineer
The ‘Phoenix’ boat captain, chief engineer and boat owner are now in custody at the Phuket Provincial Prison. The Thai ‘owner’ of ‘Phoenix’ remains in custody after she surrendered following the issuing of an arrest warrant over the weekend. Read more HERE. The Chalong Police have already pressed charges of a reckless act causing death, serious injuries, mental and bodily harm…
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Death sentence handed down on southern insurgent
File photo Thai PBS is reporting that a Muslim militant has been sentenced to death for his involvement in three violent incidents. The incidents took place around Pattani province where seven people were killed and eight others injured. Speaking to the media yesterday, Col Thanawee Suwannarat, from the Region 4 Internal Security Operations Command, identified the militant as Ibrohem Sungaibaru. In…
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The team were ‘heavily sedated’ – Australian diver
PHOTO: thewest.com.au The team of 13 rescued from the Tham Luang caves last week were ‘heavily sedated’ to assist in their successful recovery and to avoid panicking. One of two Australian experts who were with the Mu Pa football team and helped in last week’s rescue from the Tham Luong cave in Chiang Rai says the boys and their coach…
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Body of missing fisherman found, following July 5 Phuket storm
The body of a Rawai fisherman was found yesterday (July 16) near Koh Racha. Two local fishermen from Rawai have been missing since heading out fishing on Thursday (July 5), the same day of the boat disaster when two tour boats sank and 47 Chinese tourists drowned, including 16 children. The Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command (NAC3) officers were…
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Phuket man arrested with 20,000 methamphetamine pills
A man has been arrested with methamphetamine pills, crystal methamphetamine, a gun and ammunition. A team of the Border Patrol Police last week arrested 22 year old Tanaset ‘Fluk’ Kraimaneelert at a housing estate in Rassada. Police seized 1.06 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 20,000 methamphetamine pills, a gun and 21 bullets. Tanaset was taken to the Phuket City Police Station and…
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Every Phuket tour boat is being checked
Deputy Commander of the Tourist Police Bureau, Maj Gen Surachet Hakparn, with the help of the Marine Department, are checking about 400 tour boats in Phuket. Any boat found not fully compliant to leave port with all its safety equipment in working order, will remain at port. Maj Gen Surachet says, “All about 300 to 400 tour boats in Phuket are…
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“They’ll grow up to work for country’s benefit” – Dr Pak
“I’m confident that the Mu Pa boys will grow up to be excellent citizens of the country and work for the benefits of the country’s future and reputation,” wrote Dr Pak Loharnchun in a Facebook post. The Army doctor played a leading role in helping the boys. The doctor also posted photos of himself giving the boys goodbye hugs in Chiangrai…
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Unhinged Elon Musk calls cave rescuer a ‘pedo’
A bizarre tirade of Twitter posts from Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk over the weekend has angered netizens. The genius CEO behind several of America’s most high-profile tech companies Tweeted to his 22 million social media followers on Sunday an unfounded and disparaging claim about an expert caver who criticized a miniature submarine he made. According to CNN, Musk called…
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Chumpon: Policeman shot dead by pick-up driver
The Nation is reporting that a policeman was shot dead in Chumphon province last night after the driver of the car he was in apparently angered a truck driver by cutting in front of him. The shooting occurred at about 11.30pm at the Pathomporn Intersection in Muang district. Police Cpl Phayungsak Maidee, from the province’s narcotics suppression subdivision, was shot…
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Pattaya condo fire causes 500,000 baht in damages
PHOTO: Niran condos, Pattaya – HipFlat.com Sanook is reporting that 27 year old Satchada says she nearly fainted when she rushed home to find her condo ablaze in Pattaya. She says she headed to work at 9pm on Saturday night. When she was told of the fire at Niran Condo in Central Pattaya she rushed home. The fire was centered around…
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Thai owner of ‘Phoenix’ now in custody
The Thai ‘owner’ of ‘Phoenix’ remains in custody after she surrendered following the issuing of an arrest warrant. Arrest warrants for the ‘Phoenix’ owner, 26 year old Woraluck Rueakchaiyakan from Phuket and boat chief engineer, 56 year old Onjan Kanhayotee from Phetchabun, were issued last Friday (July 13). They face charges of a “reckless act causing death, serious injuries, mental…
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“Leave the kids alone” – Child psychiatrist
(4 minute read) The global attention drawn to the dramatic rescue mission has shone a glaring spotlight on the 12 young footballers from the Mu Pa Academy, making them unwitting public figures. Psychiatrists are stressing that the boys should draw on their own personal strength and support from their families to avoid becoming tainted by fame. Child psychiatrists are advising…
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Last body from the Phuket boat disaster recovered
Last night (July 15) divers recovered the final body from ‘Phoenix’. The body had been wedged under the boat. The body was brought back to the Phuket Deep Sea Port before transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital. The body arrived at the port at 8:50pm. Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Lyu Jian, the Chinese Consul-General in Songkhla Zhou Haicheng and Phuket Governor Norraphat…
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Pavilions Hotels & Resorts announce two important acquisitions
The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts has made two important appointments as it continues to expand its portfolio and strengthen its management team. Scot Toon takes on a new role as the company’s Managing Director, Asia while Tim Sargeant becomes the Director of Marketing for The Pavilions Phuket. Both are highly skilled and experienced hospitality professionals who join The Pavilions Hotels…
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Phuket’s hotel bookings starting to wane in wake of boating disaster
(4 minute read) The Nation is reporting that Thai tourism authorities are expressing concern following an increase in cancellations of hotel room bookings by Chinese tourists following the tragic July 5 boat accident. So far, 7,300 Phuket hotel room bookings for July and August have been cancelled by Chinese tourists in just 16 hotels that have reported figures so far,…
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Multihull Solutions Regatta wraps up with ‘Fugazi’ claiming top honours
The 10th annual Multihull Solutions Regatta wrapped up today with another good day of sailing. Principal Race Officer Simon James ran two races today, a three-lap windward-leeward and then a triangle course for all classes except Cruising, which did a loop around nearby Koh Lon. Dan Fidock’s trimaran Fugazi claimed the Racing Multihull division winning six of the eight races…
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Chiang Rai: “I thought it would be a recovery rather than a rescue”
PHOTO: Perth vet and craig diver Craig Challen An Australian diver from Perth, Craig Challen, has spoken exclusively about the Tham Luang cave rescue and why he had fears that some or all of them mightn’t get out of the caves alive. Here are some of the main points from The Sunday Times interview: • When Craig arrived in Thailand he thought…
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