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.
-
Sponsored Thailand vs. the West: What expats save on healthcare each year
Healthcare in Thailand is much cheaper than in Western countries, making it a great choice for expatriates looking for affordable medical care. Both public and private healthcare options offer high-quality services, with savings of up to 80% on procedures like...
-
IKEA Thailand launches full online store
“…it took IKEA about two years to study the market demand, develop the infrastructure, and prepare everything before launching their e-commerce service in Southeast Asia.” by Kwanchai Rungfapairsarn IKEA Thailand has announced the official launch of its IKEA Online Store as it gets set to better provide for individual customers across the Kingdom. IKEA Thailand say the seamless online shopping…
-
Watch out Thailand, here comes Vietnam
“Vietnam is poised to take advantage of the next wave of digital technologies such as blockchain, AI (artificial intelligence), internet of things and cloud-based services to become Asia’s next high-performing economy and improve the living standards of its residents.” Dr Lucy Cameron, from Australia, lead author of the report “Vietnam’s Future Digital Economy Towards 2030 and 2045”, says the country…
-
Thanathorn is able to attend this afternoon’s opening of Parliament
PHOTO: Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, heading to the opening of Parliament today? Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has been told he can attend the opening of parliament today by His Majesty the King in the conference hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But the 41 year old leader of Future Forward is yet to confirm his attendance…
-
Chinese, Taiwanese and Singaporeans dominate Asia’s cruise market
Chinese travellers continue to dominate Asia’s passenger cruise market, but Taiwanese and Singaporeans aren’t far behind. This according to the 2018 Asia Cruise Industry Ocean Source Market Report. Commissioned by the Cruise Lines International Association, the report looks at the growth, demographics and trends of the top source markets in Asia. While China continues to dominate the passenger share of…
-
Vietnamese woman dies after falling from hotel in Pattaya
PHOTOS: Pattaya Message / Siam Rath A Vietnamese woman has died after falling from a hotel room in Pattaya. Two children, presumed to be hers at this stage, were found in the Pattaya hotel room early this morning. She has been identified as 25 year old Miss Dang Thi Anh Van. The hotel’s name in Thai is R-Con Hotel @ Siam. Mueang…
-
“Very dangerous” Huawei could be part of a US-China trade deal
President Donald Trump has reiterated his complaints against China’s Huawei Technologies but conceded that they could be resolved as part of a negotiated US-China trade deal. Without providing evidence, he went on to call the Chinese telecommunications giant “very dangerous.” The US has virtually banned firms from conducting business with Huawei, the world’s largest telecom manufacturer, citing unspecified national security…
-
Drivers injured as minivan collides with pickup in Krabi
A driver has sustained injuries after a minivan collided with a pickup truck in Krabi. Plai Phraya Police were notified of the incident yesterday on the southern Seaboard Road in Plai Phra. Police and emergency responders arrived to find the damaged minivan in a roadside ditch. The minivan driver, 43 year old Somnuek Mueangthong, was stuck inside the minivan. Rescue workers used…
-
Ministry looks at tourist levy to fund infrastructure
A tourist levy is being considered amongst a raft of changes to improve the amenity of local tourist attractions. The Tourism and Sports Ministry is floating the initiative after the National Tourism Policy Act was enacted and published in the Royal Gazette this week, according to the Bangkok Post. The Ministry is now in talks with universities and insurance companies to research…
-
Two charged with attacking an ambulance and driver in Phuket
Two men were have been charged with attacking a moving ambulance and the volunteer ambulance driver along the ByPass Road in Phuket earlier this week. The two assailants were easily identified as 22 year old Sagib Yomyai and 29 year old Sutthi Sripoon, both from Trang province, were arrested at a rented house in Tambon Wichit, Muang district, with an…
-
No injury as trailer truck loses control in Phuket Darasamut Underpass – VIDEO
PHOTOS/VIDEO: Newshawk Phuket / อาสา ของ ประชาชน A trailer has skidded and lost control, and then collided with concrete barriers at the southern entrance to the Darasamut Underpass this morning. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident. Wichit Police were notified of the incident at 10am. Police and emergency responders arrived at the scene to find the…
-
What to do in Phuket – A Unique Guide
A modern Holiday Membership Club with its flagship office at the luxurious Patong Bay Hill Resort on Hasibpee Hill, Club Unique offers members an endless choice of possibilities as well as an almost limitless array of luxuries across a global platform. While a stay with Club Unique is exceptional in itself, the staff are eager to offer members & guests…
-
UPDATE: Suspects arrested over ambulance attack
Phuket police today have arrested suspects who attacked and harassed an ambulance and the driver. The suspects tried to stop the ambulance and were captured on video attacking the ambulance whilst chasing it along Phuket’s roads. Read more about the attackers HERE. Police today have arrested two suspects following their attack on the ambulance and drivers this week after the issue…
-
OrBorTor president shot dead in Yala
PHOTOS: Work Point News An OrBorTor president in Yala’s Raman district has been fatally shot while riding his motorcycle home last night. Police say 55 year old Sama-ae Sama was shot on a main road in Moo 2 village in Tambon Tha Thong at 8.15pm. He was rushed to the Raman Hospital but died later. Police said Sama-ae was returning home…
-
Phuket police hunting for suspects who attacked an ambulance – VIDEO
VIDEO: Detnarong Songsang Phuket police are hunting for suspects who tried to stop an ambulance and attack rescue workers. They have good photos of the attackers and say it will be easy to track them down. The Wichit Police were notified of the incident earlier in the week. 41 year old Detnarong Songsang, a rescue worker, was driving the ambulance…
-
Second night of violence over election results – Jakarta
Indonesian police have again fired water cannon and rubber bullets at protesters who were setting fires and trying to breach barbed wire barricades yesterday as demonstrations over the results of the presidential election hit the capital for a second night. The riots followed the announcement by the General Election Commission confirming that President Joko Widodo had had won the election…
-
Chiang Mai Song Thaew drivers see red over Grab
Chiang Mai’s Grab vs traditional public transport continues. The issue has simmered for two years with occasional outbreaks of violence and an ongoing war of words on social media. Thai PBS reports that the spat has become a major problem again between the public Red Song Thaews and Grab Cars in the northern city. On the one hand members of…
-
French man arrested stealing mobile phone in Pattaya – VIDEO
VIDEO: Pattaya Message A French man has been charged after snatching a smartphone in a department store in Pattaya. The Pattaya Message reports that Mueang Pattaya Police were notified of the incident yesterday evening. Police arrived and took the suspect into custody after other shop-holders helped to catch the suspect. The man was identified by police as 40 year old…
-
14 smuggled Burmese migrants rescued and alleged trafficker arrested
PHOTO: Bang Klam, Songkhla Immigration police in Songkhla have arrested an alleged Burmese human trafficker and rescued 14 smuggled Burmese from a rented house in Bang Klam district. Police arrested the alleged ring leader, 29 year old Aung Chanai, not far from the rented house on the Asia highway in Moo 4 village in Tambon Tha Chang where he allegedly…
-
UPDATE: Ancient cannon found off Koh Racha aged from Rattanakosin period
An object found near Koh Racha Noi off Phuket’s southern coast yesterday is believed to be ancient cannon from the Rattanakosin period (1782-1932). An investigation has been launched after the object, similar to an ancient cannon along with an accompanying ‘base’, was found underwater just off the coast of Koh Racha Noi. Read more about the discovery HERE. Divers from the…
-
Thai businesses locked out of potential $237.2 million medical cannabis market
by Daragh Anglim Thailand is emerging as a frontrunner in the nascent Asian cannabis market. With 175 clinicians now qualified to prescribe cannabis-based medicines in the country, Thailand is at the cusp of a major breakthrough in realising the commercial and societal benefits of medical cannabis. The Asian Cannabis Report published in May by leading market analysts and advisors Prohibition Partners,…
-
Chinese ‘red notice’ fugitive arrested at Suvarnabhumi
A Chinese fugitive wanted on an Interpol red notice has been arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport, acting Immigration Police chief Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang said. 48 year old Lu Dayang was arrested on Sunday while trying to fly to Macao. Sompong said the Chinese Embassy informed his staff that Lu was wanted for allegedly smuggling illegal goods into China. He said Lu…
-
The really, really crazy solution for Pattaya’s sewage and wastewater problem
PHOTO: Manager Online We kid you not. THIS is the solution to the torrents of black sewage and untreated wastewater gushing into Pattaya’s Jomtien Beach’s coastline over the weekend. The sight of sandbags jammed into the gushing ocean outlet takes ‘TIT’ to a whole new level. Read the story and check out the video HERE. The picture on the Manager…
-
“Cannabis Walk Thailand” heads south on its 268 kilometre march
PHOTO: Thai PBS 11 civic groups set off yesterday from Phichit in northern Thailand embarking on a 268 kilometre “Cannabis Walk Thailand”. It started yesterday at the Wachiraphotiyarn Monastery. The march will end at Wat Bang Pla More in the central province of Suphan Buri. Campaigners are using the walk to raise awareness of easier access to medicinal cannabis. They’re also highlighting…
-
Police and drug courier injured in shootout at Chiang Mai checkpoint
FIL PHOTO: A police checkpoint set-up in the Chiang Mai city area – Chiang Mai Citylife Three alleged drug couriers have been arrested this morning following a gunfight that injured a suspect and a police officer. The incident happened in the Mae Rim district of Chiang Mai. Police say they monitored road checkpoints last night until officers at a traffic booth in…
-
An ‘ancient cannon’ found underwater off Koh Racha Noi
An investigation has been launched after an object, similar to an ancient cannon, was found near Koh Racha Noi off Phuket’s southern coast. Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos says he was informed that the object looked similar to an old cannon and was found underwater off the island. Mayor Aroon dived under water to check out the object for himself. He…
-
Fallen light pole blocks traffic in Thalang after truck rolls over – VIDEO
PHOTOS/VIDEO: Newshawk Phuket Two people have sustained injuries after a truck overturned in Thalang this morning. Newshawk Phuket reports that at about 8.50am this morning the Thalang Police were notified of an accident on Thepkrasattri Road, southbound, in Baan Ko-en, Thalang. Police and emergency responders arrived at the scene to find the overturned trailer truck on the road. A light…
-
Banyan Tree Samui goes ‘retro’ with the new Tuk-Tuk Bar
Banyan Tree Samui resort has opened what might be the quirkiest if not the cutest bar in Thailand, a cocktail caravan remodelled from a classic 1960s tuk-tuk. The MP4 Midget is virtually unseen on the streets of Thailand these days. But once upon a time, the “frogs”, as they were commonly nicknamed, were everywhere. Thousands of these 12 HP 350cc…
-
OPINION: The Phoenix shouldn’t be auctioned off today
The Phoenix is going up for auction today. The auction is being held by Thailand’s AMLO (Anti Money Laundering Office) as the investigation is now complete and the vessel is no longer needed for evidence. Interested bidders have been able to inspect the vessel as it sits at the Rattanachai Shipyard in Phuket. The Phoenix is the boat that sank…
-
US temporarily ease restrictions on Huawei
PHOTO: Huawei’s founder Ren Zhengfei and Chinese President Xi Jinping – SCMP The US has temporarily eased some of the restrictions on China’s Huawei, the world’s largest phone and telecom equipment maker, to minimise disruption to its customers. But Huawei’s founder, Ren Zhengfei, says it means little because the company was well prepared for any US restrictions to their trading. The…
-
Mother disappears after abandoning newborn in rubber plantation
FILE PHOTO A mother is on the run after delivering her own baby boy in a hut on a Loei rubber plantation yesterday, just a day before her husband, who was in custody for two years, was to be released. Loei is in far north-east Thailand near the Laos border. The baby, with its umbilical cord still attached, was found…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.