Top

Top is a multifaceted news writer with a keen interest in real estate and travel. Top currently covers local Thai news at Thaiger. As a travel buff, Top blogs about his travels- around the world and Thailand- during his free time.
  • Crime NewsPattani police thwart potential Ramadan terrorist attack

    Pattani police thwart potential Ramadan terrorist attack

    On a typical early morning, in Sai Buri, Pattani, over 50 members of the Southern Border Provinces Rangers encircled a rented property, following a tip-off about the presence of wanted criminals. The operation kicked off yesterday, March 14 at 5am, with officers taking position around the dwelling and cordoning off the Pattani-Narathiwat Road, to safeguard locals from potential harm during…

  • Politics NewsFormer Thai PM Thaksin returns to Chiang Mai after 17 years

    Former Thai PM Thaksin returns to Chiang Mai after 17 years

    A remarkable event unfolded in Thailand’s northern city of Chiang Mai when former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra returned to his hometown. Accompanied by his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who also leads the Pheu Thai party, and other family members, Thaksin arrived via private jet at precisely 9.28am on March 14. On his arrival, the Deputy National Police Chief, Surachet Hakparn,…

  • Thailand NewsThai workers set to transform South Korea’s shipbuilding industry

    Thai workers set to transform South Korea’s shipbuilding industry

    Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn secured an agreement during his recent visit to Seoul as 3,000 Thai workers are set to revolutionise South Korea’s shipbuilding sector. The minister, in a high-stakes meeting at Lotte Hotel Seoul, clinched a deal with representatives from five top South Korean shipbuilders: HD Hyundai Heavy Industry, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, Hyundai Samho, Samsung Heavy Industries, and Hanwha…

  • Thailand NewsBeach umbrella operator sparks outrage on Jomtien Beach

    Beach umbrella operator sparks outrage on Jomtien Beach

    Residents and tourists on Jomtien Beach were left fuming after a beach umbrella operator was accused of monopolising parking access to their designated area, despite being a public space. The conduct of the operator sparked concerns among the beachgoers, prompting Deputy Mayor Wuthisak Rermkijakarn to take swift action. Expressing dismay at the reported behaviour, Deputy Mayor Wuthisak personally visited the…

  • Thailand NewsThailand health minister announces booze measures for Songkran

    Thailand health minister announces booze measures for Songkran

    Thai Minister of Public Health Cholnan Srikaew recently addressed the public following a meeting with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee. The meeting centred around the development of guidelines for alcohol control during the World Songkran Festival, with a key focus on preventing road accidents related to drunk driving. The Department of Disease Control and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Network in…

  • Thailand NewsTeenager high on marijuana causes motorbike crash in Nan

    Teenager high on marijuana causes motorbike crash in Nan

    In the municipality of Nan, a collision between two motorbikes yesterday resulted in a chaotic scene involving a teenager high on marijuana. An intoxicated 17 year old male, under the influence of marijuana, crashed into a 15 year old girl at the Fa Mai intersection in Mueang Nan, Nan Province. Upon receiving the distress call, emergency services from Nan promptly…

  • Politics NewsThailand eyes visa-free agreement with EU countries

    Thailand eyes visa-free agreement with EU countries

    Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently announced the country’s ambitions to boost its tourism industry and international relationships, following a promising discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron. Held at the prestigious Élysée Palace in Paris, the meeting centred around a visa-free agreement with Schengen area countries, a strategic move that France has expressed support for. The Thai prime minister’s announcement…

  • Tourism NewsThailand adds 38 flights to soar past Songkran price surge

    Thailand adds 38 flights to soar past Songkran price surge

    Thailand’s Civil Aviation Office (CAAT) has decided to add 38 new flights to its schedule, in an attempt to combat inflated airfare prices during the Songkran festival and improve the overall travel experience for holidaymakers. Deputy Director of the CAAT, Sarun Benjanirat, brought this development to light as a direct response to the call from Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit for…

  • Pattaya NewsHomeless man rescued at sea on makeshift raft in Pattaya

    Homeless man rescued at sea on makeshift raft in Pattaya

    An unconventional rescue mission took place in Pattaya, where authorities came to the aid of a homeless man drifting in the sea on a self-constructed raft made of plastic bottles. The incident unfolded around 11am yesterday, March 12, when speedboat operators spotted a lone figure sitting atop a makeshift raft roughly 2.4 kilometres off Bali Hai Pier. Alerting the Pattaya…

  • Thailand NewsFish fiasco: Truck topples, fresh catch chaos on Pattaya highway

    Fish fiasco: Truck topples, fresh catch chaos on Pattaya highway

    A pickup truck overturned on Highway 331 near Pattaya on Monday, creating a spectacle that left fresh fish strewn across the roadway. The mishap, occurring in Baan Pong Saket, Moo 5, Takhian Tia sub-district, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province, saw emergency responders from the Sawangboriboon Thammasathan Rescue Foundation swiftly rushing to the scene. Upon arrival, rescue teams discovered a bronze…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya serves up first IFBT beach tennis comp: sun, sand, serve & volley

    Pattaya serves up first IFBT beach tennis comp: sun, sand, serve & volley

    The vibrant fun-filled city of Pattaya is all set to host its annual beach tennis tournament amidst the sun-soaked beaches and scenic beauty of the city. From April 5 to April 7, you will find Jomtien Beach, in front of the D’varee Hotel, teeming with tennis enthusiasts and spectators. What sets this year’s tournament apart is that it’s the first…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s Islamic authority announces Ramadan start

    Thailand’s Islamic authority announces Ramadan start

    The Office of Chularajmontri, Thailand’s highest Islamic authority, has declared that the holy month of Ramadan will start on today, March 12. This is the time of the year when Muslims across the globe, including those in Thailand, participate in a month-long period of fasting, spiritual introspection, and charity. Ramadan, known as the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is…

  • Thailand NewsNortheast Thailand: Former boxer’s son kills father over farming dispute

    Northeast Thailand: Former boxer’s son kills father over farming dispute

    A former boxer’s son murdered his father yesterday in a fit of dissatisfaction over a farming dispute. The son, after finding only two plots ploughed instead of the expected complete field for vegetable farming, locked his father’s neck and used a steel rod, typically carried by oxen, to stab him multiple times in the neck and abdomen, leading to the…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman arrested for trafficking protected rat snakes

    Thai woman arrested for trafficking protected rat snakes

    In a covert operation, police apprehended a 45 year old Thai woman at her residence in Phichit, where a trove of Indo-Chinese Rat Snakes was stashed away. Seven sacks brimming with the slithery reptiles, weighing 34.26 kilogrammes, were confiscated alongside four sacks containing snake carcasses, tallying 5 kilogrammes, concealed in a freezer. Two mobile phones linked to the clandestine snake…

  • Thailand NewsThai-Cambodian joint operation successfully combats PM 2.5 crisis

    Thai-Cambodian joint operation successfully combats PM 2.5 crisis

    A collaborative operation between the Thai and Cambodian governments was launched on March 6, to combat the PM 2.5 problem. This joint initiative was in line with the Thai government’s policy to proactively deal with PM 2.5 dust and hotspots in both nations. The Thai government has recognised the issue of PM 2.5 as a national crisis that requires immediate…

  • Thailand NewsThaksin’s parole travel requires probation officer approval

    Thaksin’s parole travel requires probation officer approval

    The Thai Department of Probation’s Deputy Director-General, Montree Bunyayothin, addressed the matter of Thaksin Shinawatra’s recent release on parole on March 6. Montree confirmed that Thaksin, a former Thai Prime Minister, could potentially travel to Chiang Mai to visit family and pay respects to his ancestors. However, this would require prior approval from probation officers. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s daughter and…

  • Aviation NewsThai government questions credibility of UK’s airport ranking

    Thai government questions credibility of UK’s airport ranking

    Thailand’s government spokesperson recently took to social media to question the legitimacy of a ranking released by Business Financing, a UK publisher. The ranking, published in 2023, listed Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports as among the worst in Asia, placing them at the seventh and tenth positions respectively. The ranking also hailed Noi Bai International Airport in Vietnam as the…

  • Thailand NewsDrunk taxi driver’s wild ride ends in bar smash in Pattaya

    Drunk taxi driver’s wild ride ends in bar smash in Pattaya

    A female taxi driver admitted to being intoxicated after causing chaos on Khao Talo Road, East Pattaya in the early hours of this morning. Arriving at the accident scene at the entrance of Soi 10, Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province, officers from the Nong Prue Police Station discovered a yellow-and-blue taxi from the Pattaya Taxi Cooperative…

  • Thailand NewsVaping crackdown: 10,000 devices seized in Bangkok market raid

    Vaping crackdown: 10,000 devices seized in Bangkok market raid

    Authorities in Bangkok have apprehended eight suspects and confiscated a staggering haul of over 10,000 e-cigarettes and vaping gadgets in a targeted operation near Ramkhamhaeng University. In a joint effort between the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) and the Royal Thai Police, dubbed the Vape Operation, the crackdown aims to stem the tide of illegal vaping sales flourishing…

  • Pattaya NewsBangkok police address transgender conflict in Bangkok

    Bangkok police address transgender conflict in Bangkok

    In an intriguing turn of events, a conflict between Thai and Filipino transgenders captured the attention of Bangkok, transpiring in Soi Sukhumvit 11, Watthana. On March 5, the commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 5, Police Major General Wittawat Chinkham, held a press conference to shed light on the situation that has led to legal actions and police investigations. Unfolding…

  • Pattaya NewsChinese tourists flock to Pattaya amidst new free visa policy

    Chinese tourists flock to Pattaya amidst new free visa policy

    Pattaya‘s hospitality sector is witnessing a notable influx of Chinese visitors, a development credited to the newly introduced Thai-China free visa policy. This detail was shared by Boonkerd Suksrikan, Vice President of the Eastern Thai Hotels Association. Boonkerd noted a significant increase in hotel reservations made by Chinese tourists, particularly those planning to stay until April, which is when Thailand’s…

  • Thailand NewsCISW medical cannabis festival comes to Pattaya

    CISW medical cannabis festival comes to Pattaya

    In a groundbreaking announcement, Dr Kampon Sriwatanakul, chairman of the Thailand National Charter of Health and other industry bigwigs, unveiled plans for the much-anticipated CISW MedCann Festival International (CMCF) 2024 for medical cannabis. This year’s CMCF pledges to dazzle attendees with an array of innovative products, exclusive items, and exhilarating activities, all centred around the burgeoning medical cannabis sector. Acting…

  • Thailand NewsBangkok governor inspects Soi Nana post-transgender fracas

    Bangkok governor inspects Soi Nana post-transgender fracas

    In a recent inspection sweep in Watthana, Bangkok’s Soi Nana Nuea neighbourhood, the city’s governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, alongside several agencies, carried out a comprehensive check for illegal activities. The activities under the microscope included the so-called taxi mafia, supposed prostitution, and unauthorised tour guides operating in the area. This operation was carried out on March 5 and attracted national media…

  • Pattaya NewsThai trio arrested in Ban Bueng raid with drugs and firearms seized

    Thai trio arrested in Ban Bueng raid with drugs and firearms seized

    A trio of Thai men, hailing from the Ban Bueng area in Chon Buri, were apprehended by local law enforcement during a police raid. Police from the Ban Bueng Police Station conducted the operation, which resulted in the seizure of drugs and firearms from the suspects’ abode. The raid was set into motion following an informant’s tip-off. The primary suspect,…

  • Thailand NewsThai PM sets sail with plans for exclusive mid-sea airport in Hua Hin

    Thai PM sets sail with plans for exclusive mid-sea airport in Hua Hin

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin plans to create a cutting-edge mid-sea airport in Hua Hin, exclusively catering to the jet-setting elite. This visionary project aims to connect Thailand’s most stunning destinations, promising unparalleled luxury and convenience for affluent travellers. But the innovation doesn’t stop there. The Airports of Thailand (AOT) is gearing up for a groundbreaking seaplane terminal at Phuket International…

  • Thailand NewsFormer salesman’s illegal bullets seized by Thailand police

    Former salesman’s illegal bullets seized by Thailand police

    The Thai authorities apprehended a former ammunition salesman for allegedly engaging in illegal bullet sales online, unearthing an arsenal of 31,800 cartridges at his residence in Khlong Toei district. Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Police Major General Theeradet Thumsuthee, disclosed today that 66 year old San Panjitkaeo was apprehended while dispatching parcels of cartridges to buyers at a courier…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya woman injured by glass thrown in dog-caused dispute

    Pattaya woman injured by glass thrown in dog-caused dispute

    A 37 year old local woman named Amawalee Tongfark, found herself in an unfortunate altercation when a glass, thrown by a foreign man, left her with an arm injury in Pattaya. The incident, which was sparked by an agitated response to a barking dog, occurred at a cafe near Jomtien Beach where Amawalee and a friend were spending time. The…

  • Pattaya NewsDrunken altercation in Pattaya ends in injuries and property damage

    Drunken altercation in Pattaya ends in injuries and property damage

    In Pattaya, a heated altercation escalated into a violent incident in a rented room in the Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chon Buri province. The incident, which occurred at around 2am yesterday, ended in multiple injuries and a considerable amount of property damage. The police were first alerted to the situation when they received a call from the Nongprue Police Station…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya introduces safe swimming zones at popular Tawaen beach

    Pattaya introduces safe swimming zones at popular Tawaen beach

    The thriving beachfront city of Pattaya, known for its bustling tourism scene, has recently taken a significant step towards ensuring the safety of beachgoers. The authorities of Pattaya City have put measures in place to establish dedicated swimming zones at Tawaen Beach, an immensely popular spot located on the island of Koh Larn. These zones are expected to cater to…

  • Pattaya NewsThai man shoots wrong car in road rage incident

    Thai man shoots wrong car in road rage incident

    A startling incident unfolded in Pattaya over the weekend when a local man turned himself in at the Nongprue Police Station. Supakrit Wannajinda confessed to discharging a firearm at a vehicle, only to realise later that he had targeted the wrong car. The event occurred on March 2 and has since sent ripples to the local community. The 33 year…