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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How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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School teacher humiliates student over unpaid school fees
A mother is crying foul after she claims her son was humiliated by a teacher who stuck a note on his shirt saying he owed 700 baht in unpaid school fees. The names of the mother, her son and the school have been withheld although you can trace back the original post on Thai Facebook pages. The mother posted the…
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Loose plastic chairs and locked exit door – Krabi-Phi Phi ferry
There is no doubt a lot of infrastructure is at critical ‘overload’ stage where tourist attractions are struggling to cope with the sheer number of tourists and visitors coming to the region. This applies to the transport infrastructure getting people here and there as well. While there has been an announcement about new ferry services linking the golden tourist triangle…
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Man drowns in Phuket jet-ski accident
A man has died after falling off from a jet-ski at a lagoon in Thalang yesterday (June 21) Thalang Police were notified about the incident at a lagoon on Srisoonthorn Road near the Valley Housing estate in Thalang at 4.30pm. Phuket Marine Police, diving rescue workers and the Thalang Police were involved in the search for the body. The search was…
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Cheap plastic chairs being used on Krabi-Phi Phi ferry
There is no doubt a lot of infrastructure is at critical ‘overload’ stage where tourist attractions are struggling to cope with the sheer number of tourists and visitors coming to the region. This applies to the transport infrastructure getting people here and there as well. While there has been an announcement about new ferry services linking the golden tourist triangle…
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Motorbike driver dies exiting Bang Khu underpass
A 43 year old Thai man died in a motorbike accident when he was driving out of the Bang Khu Underpass in Koh Kaew yesterday (June 21). Police were notified of the accident at Bang Khu Underpass on Thepkrasattri Road at 3.40pm. They arrived at the scene with rescue workers to find a man who was later identified as 43…
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Fake goods seized at a Patong warehouse
Yesterday afternoon (June 21) police raided a warehouse at SB Plaza market in Patong and seized counterfeit goods valued at many hundred thousand Baht. A team of officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD), together with a search warrant, raided the warehouse. Police found counterfeit goods including fake brand name bags and clothes. Officers arrested a man named ‘Bobby…
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One Chinese drowns, two others rescued at Koh Racha
Yesterday (June 21) strong waves battered three Chinese swimmers who went swimming, unattended, at Patok Beach on Koh Racha. Two of them were rescued while the third drowned. The body of a Chinese man was identified by the Phuket Tourist Police as 30 year old Su Wang when his body was brought back to Chalong pier. No signs of struggle…
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Monkeys released at Koh Payu – video and photos
Yesterday morning (June 21) 80 monkeys were released at Koh Payu, off the coast of Phuket. This island covers 26 rais plot of land. Water tanks were also installed on Koh Payu last week. Read more HERE. Pongchart Chouehorm, the Director of the Natural and Wildlife Education Centre and his team released 80 monkeys on their new home on Koh Payu.…
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Sansiri launches THE BASE Central – Phuket
Sansiri launched another one of their ‘BASE’ branded condos with the launch of ‘THE BASE Central Phuket’. Quoting from their media release, “The design is influenced by an enchanting lifestyle where the native people and Chinese from across the seas come together to create the Peranakan culture under the new concept ‘MARK MY BASE’.” Poomisak Julamaneechot, Vice Managing Director of…
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Krabi: Chinese tourist drowns at Railay Bay
After all the heavy monsoonal weather along our coasts in recent days, we’re lucky we haven’t had more reports of risky swimmers getting into difficulty. Sadly, Krabi has reported a drowning. Thai Rath reports that a 32 year old Chinese tourist staying in the Railay Beach area drowned after ignoring officials’ warnings not to go into the water. The report says…
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Pretties, 500 World Cup punters and ‘influencers’ arrested over illegal betting
It was only a matter of time before we’d have some arrests related to illegal betting during the World Cup. Among 500 suspects being rounded up, police are also summoning 20 ‘influencers’ who have been posting on Facebook about the ‘Net Idol’ betting page and attempting to persuade youth to engage in soccer betting. Police have arrested 484 suspects – including…
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Phuket to hold Digital Innovation Summit 2018: Big Data
Digital Innovation Summit 2018. The event will be held on June 29-30 from 10am to 6pm at Central Festival Phuket East (Home Works ground floor) The main purposes of the event is to build awareness and to drive more understanding about the digital economy and smart city projects in Phuket and nearby. The keynote speaker is Dr. Pichet Durongkaveroj, Minister of…
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British fraud gangs in Thailand – Pattaya, Porsches and prostitutes
Living the high life in Pattaya whilst funding the Porsches, champagne and girls with money stolen by cloning people’s credit cards. That was the life of just one of several Brits covered in a The Sun report. A vicious turf war between British gangs over stolen millions burst into the open last year when one was gunned down in cold…
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Chiang Mai: 33 year old found hanged in Nong Pa Khrang
A man has hung himself in a Chiang Mai apartment. On June 19, police were informed about a body found at a residence in Nong Pa Kerang, to the east of the Chiang Mai city centre. The deceased, later identified as 33 year old Worawut Srichaiwong, was found hanged from window bars. There was reportedly no sign of assault injury…
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Summer solstice – the longest day of the year in Thailand
It’s a special day of the year and we’re glad the sun is out so we can enjoy it. And, if all is well, we’ll see more sunshine today than any other day of 2018. So what will you do with all the extra daylight? The summer solstice is today (June 21) – the longest day in the northern hemisphere.…
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Chiang Rai: Province tackling pineapple oversupply
It’s not only Phuket where the popular fruit crop, pineapple, is in oversupply. A glut is causing prices to drop, but not only in the southern provinces. In Chiang Rai the provincial government is taking a pro-active approach to try and support farmers through the short-term supply/demand problem. Chiang Rai Governor, Narongsak Osotthanakkorn has told Thai media that both short-term…
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Some stingray and sawfish species now declared ‘protected’
PHOTO: Green sawfish. Survival, Self Sufficiency and Sustainable Living Some types of the stingray and sawfish family will now be declared as protected species. The Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has now declared eight types of stingray and three types of sawfish as protected. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Gen Surasak Kanchanarat issued a ministerial announcement to…
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Bank of Thailand braces for trade war fallout
By Wichit Chaitrong “The trade row has increased the uncertainties for Thailand’s economy because it could have a negative impact on Thai exports, businesses, employment, consumption and investment.” Central bank keeps policy rate unchanged to facilitate growth; forecasts for GDP and export growth revised upwards amid weakening of the baht. Protectionism, stirred by the trade disputes between the United States…
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Clear the streets! Bangkok Airways Phuket Half Marathon – August 5.
The streets are cleared, the roadways barren of traffic, all is ready. The Bangkok Airways Phuket Half Marathon 2018 coming up on August 5 is more than just a race. It is a chance to observe the local way of life and appreciate the area’s landmarks and Sino-Portuguese architecture from a different perspective in busy Phuket town – from the…
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Executed 26 year old had grilled chicken and rice for final meal
In the wake of Thailand’s first execution in nine years, a few more details have emerged about the prisoner’s last moments and of his family. According to witnesses, the first man to be executed in Thailand in nine years was calm during the last few moments of his life. Identified only as Thirasak by authorities, the 26 year old remained…
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Sadvertising: The art of making us cry and selling stuff
“Sadvertising is a consumer advertising trend in which ad creators are using a certain set of strategies to play on people’s emotions and touch off feelings of sadness, melancholy or wistfulness. Touching or emotional advertising has become increasingly popular in recent years as companies work to create strong emotional ties around their products. This is based on a belief that…
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2.8 million tourists visit Thailand in May
Tourist arrivals in Thailand gained 6.3% to 2.8 million in May 2018. This compares to May tourist arrivals in 2017. The Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports, Pongpanu Svetarundra, said the majority of visitors last month were from East Asia, followed by Europe, South Asia, and the United States. Pongpanu said the Chinese remained at the top of international arrivals. For…
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Krabi bridge washed away in heavy rain
Officers from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Krabi Office brought in machinery to Tupprik Sub-District yesterday (June 19) to fix the Huay To Bridge after it was damaged by flash flooding yesterday. The damage of the bridge blocked a local community of 30 houses near Khao Panom Benja National Park as well as officers at the national…
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Death penalty for child rape cases in Myanmar voted down
PHOTO: A campaign calls for death penalty for child rape – The Irrawaddy In the wake of Monday’s surprise execution of a convicted murderer in Bangkok by lethal injection, the Myanmar Lower House has voted down a proposal for the death penalty to be imposed in child rape cases, The Irrawaddy News Online reported on Tuesday. The proposal was spearheaded…
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Measures to control the use of herbicides being developed
The Biotechnology Alliance Association (BAA) recently held a meeting to develop measures to control the use of certain herbicides before proposing them to the Department of Agriculture (DOA). The BAA meeting looked into the use of paraquat, chlorpyrifos and glyphosate herbicides and how to use them in the farming industry. Experts from educational institutions, health and agriculture-related organizations also participated…
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Dead dolphin washed ashore at Surin Beach
A dead dolphin, 1.26 meters long, has been found on Surin Beach this morning (June 20). Officials at Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) were notified that the dolphin had been washed up on Surin Beach in Cherng Talay. MaAnn Samran, chief of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor) headed to Surin beach to head the inspection with officials. Khun…
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Missing Ranong woman found after Saturday’s flash floods
The Thaiger reported about a woman who went missing on Saturday night amongst the torrential rain when the pick-up truck she was in got caught in a flash flood. Sadly, she was found dead. Searchers have recovered the body of the Ranong woman who was a passenger in a pickup truck that had been swept into a canal. The four-day…
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Monkey update: Rassada locals say returned monkeys happy to be home
Tha Chin locals in Rassada say they’re satisfied with the way the monkeys were captured last Friday (June 15) while locals say sterilised monkeys at Soi King Kaew in Rassada can get back into their groups now that they’re been released into their area. Yesterday (June 19) Pongchart Chouehorm, the Director of the Natural and Wildlife Education Centre at Khao…
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Pattani: Suspected insurgent shot by southern troops
The Nation is reporting that suspected Muslim insurgent has been killed during a gunfight with Army troops from the Pattani Taskforce in the Kapor district on Wednesday morning. Troops from the Pattani Taskforce surrounded a house in Moo 3 village in Tambon Karubee after they learned that the suspect, Sulaiman Muhammad, was hiding there. Troops claimed that the suspect shot at…
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French expat rescued off Phuket, jet-ski and parasail ban remains in force today
A French expat on a dinghy has been rescued in Ao Yon, Wichit yesterday (June 19) while the Phuket Marine Office has announced that jet-skis and parasails will remain beached until today (June 20). Maj Eakkachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police was notified at 1.30pm yesterday that a French man, 78 year old Claude Gasca, had been rescued off…
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