- Business News
Goodbye e-commerce, hello ‘new retail’
PHOTOS: Alibaba Group Our lifestyles are quickly evolving as the digital age kills off the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ inexorably creeps in to our daily life. Goodby Kodak and Polaroid – hello smartphone cameras and Facebook. Goodbye newspapers – hello instant news websites, blogs and live-streaming. The same is happening to retail as the shopfront moves to websites and screens…
- Bangkok News
BMA backs down to allow Khaosan traders, sort of…
by Kornrawee Panyasuppakun “From around 9pm to 3am, backpackers use Khaosan as “party central”, rather than a shopping fair. Electronic dance beats can be heard blaring from clubs and bars.” There’s been a back down in the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration yesterday after vendors from Khaosan Road convinced a committee that their stalls, whilst illegal in the past, were a huge…
- Thailand News
More rain = more Dengue fever
The wet season has provided a spike in new Dengue cases around the Kingdom. The Disease Control Department chief says a total of 3,301 new cases of dengue fever have been reported nationwide during the past week. Dr Suwannachai Watanayingcharoenchai says the number of people infected with dengue was an average of 10,000 patients a month during the rainy season…
- World News
Boracay closure dents Philippine’s economic numbers
PHOTO: Wikipedia The Philippine’s economy has slowed in Q2 2018, this year’s second quarter, and fell well short of predictions. Some are blaming policy decisions including the shutdown of tourist magnet Boracay Island. The quarter’s 6% expansion was the weakest in three years and ends a run of 10 consecutive quarters where growth was at least 6.5%. AFP reports that…
- Thailand News
Thaksin slams Thai ‘democracy’ on the celebration of his birthday
Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra is vowing to keep on his “battle for Thailand’s democracy”, despite living in self-exile overseas for around a decade. This announcement from red-shirt media yesterday (August 9). The Peace News Facebook page reports that the ex-premier, overthrown by a military coup in 2006, made a speech during his belated birthday party with his sister, another…
- Thailand News
Storms raise flood threats in 37 provinces
Whilst the flood situation in the far north of the country, bordering the Mekong River, has abated over the past week, the situation is still dire for many other communities around the Kingdom today. Disaster warnings have now been issued as heavy downpours threaten to bring flash floods and landslides to 37 provinces across Thailand. A monsoon storm is predicted…
- Chiang Mai News
Flash mobs staged to protest the buildings on Doi Suthep
By Nisanart Kangwanwong The Doi Suthep protesters in Chiang Mai had their campaign to remove the Thai judges housing development interrupted by the rescue mission at the Tham Luang Caves in nearby Chiang Rai. Now the “Rak Chiang Mai” community network has organised four flash mobs at four key locations of Chiang Mai’s Muang district to highlight what they says…
- South Thailand News
Songkhla hospital saves 78 year old British man
The Prince of Songkhla University Hospital has performed special surgery valued around 1 million baht to save the life of a retired Briitish naval officer for humanitarian reasons and is organising donations to send him back to the UK. 78 year old Kenneth George Smith told reporters from his hospital bed that he appreciated the help from the Songklanagarind Hospital,…
- Chiang Mai News
Now everyone can fly – from CNX to Hanoi
It’s getting easier and easier to get around the region with new start-ups opening up the skies and current operators always introducing new routes. Now, the people that brought us the slogan “now Everyone Can Fly”, Air Asia, is launched four direct flights a week between Chiang Mai and Hanoi, Vietnam’s northern capital. The Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday flights start…
- Hua Hin News
Phetchaburi town prepares for a soggy weekend
Phetchaburi town residents have their mops, buckets and sandbags ready for a wet weekend as they fend off the run-off from upstream dams. The Royal Irrigation Department say they’ve done their best to stem the flow from the overflowing dams but expect the remaining floodwaters to hit the Muang district over the coming weekend. The department expects the volume of…
- Northern Thailand News
Four of the Mu Pa 13 become Thai citizens
PHOTO: Adul Samon, Mongkol Boonpium, Pornchai Khamluang and assistant coach Ekkapol Chantawongse. Good news for four of the stateless Mu Pa Academy footballers. During their time in the cave it was revealed that four of the team were officially stateless – unable to get a bank account, get legally married, start a business, etc. Tonight the four officially became Thai…
- Thailand News
Two drug gangs busted
Two big drug hauls today in different parts of the country. Firstly, police arrested six suspects including the alleged drug-trafficking gang leader Phusinthorn Jomtharak, along with over 68,000 methamphetamine pills in Chaiyaphum province. 24 year old Phusinthorn, a Nong Bua Dang district native, was nabbed yesterday (Tuesday) while visiting a drug inmate friend at Chaiyaphum Prison. Police say that Phusinthorn…
- Thailand News
PM says mandatory conscription still required in Thailand
PHOTOS: The Nation Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has reaffirmed the importance of retaining mandatory conscription for Thai men “as soldiers form an indispensable force in time of crisis or emergency”. Thai PBS is reporting that the PM was speaking at a press conference after the weekly Cabinet meeting in response to criticism that mandatory conscription should be scrapped as there…
- Hua Hin News
Update: Phetchaburi dam overflows reach town
Downstream communities in Phetchaburi’s main business and residential districts are expected to be flooded for about two weeks after run-off from the overflowing Kaeng Krachan Dam hit the area last night “Although we must discharge water from the dam, we are trying to reduce the volume that will go into the river by diverting some 55 cubic metres of runoff…
- Northern Thailand News
Good news from dams in the north-east
Whilst provinces bordering the Mekong River, and areas in Phetchaburi downstream of the hillside dams, are all under threat from flooding at the moment, the situation is a lot better in the lower north-east provinces. The Irrigation department has issued assurances today about the water situation covering some 77 dams in the region. The Nation reports that 77 reservoirs in…
- Bangkok News
Online romance scam gang busted
Nigerian nationals are again being rounded up in a concerted effort to get rid of some of the Nigerian-based scams operating inside Thailand. In the latest sting, 8 Nigerians and 6 Thai suspects have been arrested for alleged collusion in an online romance scam, swindling nearly 2 million baht from Thai women in Ratchaburi, Samut Sakhon, Phitsanulok, Chon Buri and…
- World News
Earthquake toll rises to 91, state of emergency announced
PHOTO: Jakarta Post The death toll from the powerful earthquake to hit Lombok and Bali on Sunday evening has climbed to 91. The latest figures announced this afternoon by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) in Jakarta. North Lombok island suffered the largest number of fatalities with 72 people killed, while Bali has so far recorded two fatalities. Most victims…
- Phuket News
Phuket hotels group aims to step up environmental education
By Sirivish Toomgum All members of the Phuket Hotels Association have jointly committed to eliminate plastic water bottles and drinking straws from rooms by 2019 as part of an effort to ensure a sustainable future for Phuket, said association president Anthony Lark. The association has also provided information to its hotel members about companies that provide alternatives to plastics for…
- Hua Hin News
Phetchaburi dams poised to overflow today
PHOTOS: The Nation Dams in the western region of Phetchaburi province are rapidly filling up due to continuing heavy rain with the situation at Kaeng Krachan Dam now at critical levels. The reservoir reached maximum capacity last night (Sunday). The provinces of Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Kanchanaburi have been to told to brace for floods, as the Royal Irrigation…
- Thailand video news
Thaiger Radio News – Monday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere.
- Northern Thailand News
The miracle at Tham Luang Caves
The Thaiger would like to thank the incredible dedication, skill and commitment of all the rescuers, from around the world. Thank you.
- Northern Thailand News
4.8 million meth pills and nearly a tonne of ‘ice’ seized in Chiang Rai
The Nation is reporting that a suspected drug mule has been arrested along with a huge haul of 4.8 million methamphetamine pills and 978 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (ice). The drugs were seized after two pickup trucks sped through a checkpoint in Chiang Rai early this morning. Army rangers made the arrest after giving chase from the checkpoint in Ban Sai…
- South Thailand News
Peaceful Pattani – the other side of the southern province
By Pattarawadee Saengmanee, The Nation Weekend The former capital of the ancient Langkasuka Kingdom, Pattani province in Thailand’s far south has traditionally been feted for its multiculturalism, though sadly the ongoing violence has kept it well off the tourist map for more than a decade. But his southern province bordered by Narathiwat, Yala, and Songkhla has plenty to offer the…
- Thailand News
Jobs for the boys – Women’s groups attack rampant gender bias
“Out of over 10,000 police officers in Thailand, only 400 are women.” Despite the country’s ‘sabai sabai’ attitude towards many issues, rampant sexism and gender-bias still exists across the board, especially in the higher levels of Thai army and police ranks. Three women’s rights groups are urging the Office of the Ombudsman to rule on the validity of a move…
- Thailand News
Yingluck flies to Dubai – “Dubai flight was pre-planned”
“Yingluck reportedly flew from London on Wednesday, just a day after the media reported the Thai government’s extradition request to the UK government.” Former PM minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s flight from London to Dubai on Wednesday had nothing to do with the Thai government’s extradition request to the UK. This explanation from a Pheu Thai Party member yesterday. The flight was…
- World News
Muslim father’s online petition inspires Thai anti-child marriage activists
In the wake of the ‘marriage of a 41 year old Malay man and an 11 year old Thai girl, Malaysia’s government and netizens are proposing ways to ban child marriages. Meanwhile, an online petition by a UK-based Malaysian Muslim father to ban child marriages has triggered an activist to begin a similar petition to ban them in Thailand too.…
- World News
Human trafficking, especially prostitution, still rife in Thailand – New report
The Nation is reporting that human trafficking remains a serious issue in Thailand despite years of efforts to tackle the problem by the military government. A report released yesterday by rights groups. The report by Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF) and Anti-Labour Trafficking Project (ALT), focusing on the situation in 2016 and 2017, says that cases of labour trafficking…
- Northern Thailand News
Korat dog gets shot with an arrow
A poor dog in Korat had a bad day earlier but it ended up a better day thanks to some good Samaritans. The stray dog in Nakhon Ratchasima underwent emergency treatment this morning (Thursday) after it was found crying in agony with a fish-hunting arrow embedded in its side. 51 year old Natthawut Chuckling heard the dog in distress and…
- Bangkok News
Khao San Road vendors openly defy the new pavement ban
PHOTOS: The Nation Vendors on Khao San road, Bangkok’s popular back-packer magnet and tourist trap, are openly defying the BMA ban on sidewalk vendors and markets. Officials of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said they wanted to impose order in the area which for years has been occupied by vendors who ply their trade on both side of the roads, blocking…
- Bangkok News
University lecturer and ‘hi-so’ man arrested for soliciting sex with U18 males
The Royal Thai Police’s Anti Trafficking in Persons Division has arrested two men for allegedly buying sex from two males under 18 year of age. The two are said to be a ‘famous Thai university lecturer’ and a ‘hi-so man’. A police investigation concluded that the two men – who claim their innocence – were among some 200 members of…