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 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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Yingluck says she’ll stay out of politics
Fugitive former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra is in Dubai and has promised not to be involved in any political activities, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said on Thursday. Authorities in Dubai have also promised the Thai Foreign Ministry that they would keep an eye on Yingluck and ensure she did not take part in any political campaigns, Prawit said. Prime…
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Tourist Police getting ready for high-season
Today (September 28), the tourist police rehearsed aerial transportation of injured people to improve their readiness for the forthcoming high season. The rehearsal took place on the football field of Baan Sapam Mongkol Wittaya School, demonstrating the transportation of injured patients by helicopter. “We got a great cooperation for this rehearsal. The safety of tourists in Phuket is our priority…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, September 28
PM says Yingluck is in Dubai | Polish man suspected of blowing up an ATM ‘planning more attacks’ | Crisis meeting in Pattaya to sort out Taxi/Uber turf wars | UN Aid agencies visiting Rhakine State today
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Don’t hold your breath! Unless it’s for a good cause.
Today in Rawai Phuket, a rather unusual challenge took place with Krix Luther, founder of Clean The Beach Boot Camp, Phuket taking to the water in an attempt to hold his breath underwater. For 10 minutes! The purpose of the challenge was to raise funds, through sponsorship, for the Clean The Beach Boot Camp now in its 4th year. The…
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DSI checking alleged Phang Nga National Park encroachment
The DSI (Department of Special Investigations) are checking two luxury houses located on Pa Kuantohla and Pa Laemsam mountains alongside another 2,000 rai of land that is alleged to have an illegal land deed. After checking the land document at the local land office, DSI have found that the names of landlords are a famous millionaire and his children who…
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Yingluck guilty
Fugitive former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been sentenced to a five-year jail term. The Supreme Court took almost three hours to read the verdict on Yingluck’s alleged negligence in her government’s rice-pledging scheme. The former Prime Minister, ousted by the current military-led Government in 2014, wasn’t at the Court to hear today’s verdict. She fled the country on August…
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Crisis unfolding on our doorstep
PHOTO: Voice of America A significant regional humanitarian crisis is underway only a few thousand kilometres from our tropical island. Whilst the situation for the Rohingya has been parlous for decades, it’s only recently become acute after a group calling itself the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army attacked several Myanmar Army outposts on August 25 – the Myanmar Army has…
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UPDATE: Phuket Lifeguard boycott of OrBorTor contract
The Governor said today (September 27) that there is no auctioneer joining the bid so far, possibly because of the lower budget of this year. “I can see that the budget has been cut down every year, from 25 million to 22 million and this year 19.8 million Baht. Today is the last day for interested auctioneers to file their…
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Thai PM promises to shorten his weekly Friday night address
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says he’s going to continue with his weekly “Returning Happiness to the People” address on Friday nights, but is promising to cut the speech down by 50%, to around 20 minutes. In a rather candid speech at a seminar in Pattaya, the Thai PM apologised for “not talking politely sometimes with the media”. General Prayut has…
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HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn extends time to pay respects at Grand Palace
His Majesty the King has ordered an extension of the final day Thais can pay their last respects to His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in the Grand Palace from this Saturday to next Thursday, October 5. The Royal Household Bureau had initially set this Saturday as the last day people could pay their respects before the late King’s…
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Kite-boarding accident at Patong Beach injures Chilean tourist
A Chilean man in his late 20s was lucky to escape more serious injuries after his kite board canopy finished up in trees after dragging the man along the ground and into several parked motorbikes. The incident happened at 3.30 this afternoon (September 26) at Patong Beach. Kusoldarm volunteers attended the scene and the man has been taken to Patong…
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Karabi’s Bok Koranee Waterfall closed
Than Bok Koranee Waterfall in Krabi has been closed due to possible flash flooding. The Chief of Than Bok Koranee National Park, Weerasak Srisajjang, has ordered national park officers to closed down the waterfall today (September 26) after muddy water was found along the swiftly flowing waterfall. In front of the waterfall signage has been installed to strictly prohibit the…
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UPDATE: Another 17 bodies found in mass graves – Rhakine State
Update from Voice of America Mass graves of dozens of slain Hindus have been found in Myanmar’s troubled Rakhine state, according to government officials. Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Minister Dr. Win Myat Aye told VOA’s Burmese Service he witnessed another 17 bodies recovered Monday, after 25 bodies were found in two mass graves a day earlier. Aye said most…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, September 26
Phuket Lifeguards taking a stand against OrBorTor budget | Yingluck’s verdict from Supreme Court handed down tomorrow | Mass grave of 28 Hindus found in Rhakine | TaT reveal August tourist arrivals | Mt. Agung showing signs of erupting.
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78 year old German killed in his Chalong home
Last night (September 25), 52 year old Niran Pratumsin surrendered herself to police confessing that she had killed her husband in the house they lived. At the scene, police found 78 year old Johann Friedrich Speckbacher dead on the floor, next to a dining table with traces of rope still around his neck. There was no other injury found on…
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Phuket Lifeguards finish this Saturday – not renewing contract
There will be no more lifeguard on Phuket beaches from the end of this month according to Phuket Lifeguard after 7 years of duty. The meeting of the Phuket Lifeguards announced that the Company won’t be joining the auction organised by the Phuket OrBorJor this year. Their final duties finish at 6.30 pm on September 30. “We will finish the…
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Thailand’s tourism numbers continue to soar
The tourists keep arriving, the numbers keep soaring. Assuming the numbers have to plateau at some stage, when will that be? For the past 20 years, through floods, bombings, coups, political upheavals and a few unsolved, mystery murders, Thailand’s tourist arrival numbers just keep rising and rising, heading into unfamiliar territory. So many people have predicted doom and gloom –…
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Fire jellyfish washing up on Koh Phi Phi beaches
A large number of jelly fish have been found washed up on the shores of Koh Phi Phi. The chief of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park warns for swimmers to be aware of the jelly fish around Phi Phi after a lot of them were found washed up on the beaches. “on Ao Ling (Monkey Beach) on…
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Phuket expecting 5 – 7 percent increase in high-season tourists
Phuket Hotels Association President Anthony Lark The Phuket Hotels Association is expecting the number of international direct passenger arrivals at Phuket International Airport for the high season of 2017 to 2018 to increase by between 5 per cent and 7 per cent year year-on-year. This, according to Association President Anthony Lark. The latest figures show that from January to April…
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Krabi couple need your help
66 year old Jiam Chusuan and 52 year old Prasert Akabut have been found in a small decayed shack in a palm plantation and are in dire need of help. The couple also have about 40 dogs and the lady is disabled from a car crash. The couple live in a shack on the plantation that belongs to Chalerm Kerdsuk,…
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Hi So Hill in Chiang Mai ends up being an expensive scam
Story from Thai language ‘Manager Online‘ The enticing advertisement online promised a dream: quiet retirement in the beautiful hills of Chiang Mai. Many foreigners thought this was what they deserved after a life of saving so they eagerly signed up to buy houses in the luxurious, quality development. Now they are left with illegal properties that they can’t sell and their dreams are over.…
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Ditch the car. Get on your bike. Phuket Car Free Day.
Phuket Car Free Day 2017 Early this morning (September 24), Phuket hosted the Phuket Car Free Day 2017 chaired by Vice Governor Siwaporn Chuasawat, who joined the ride alongside local authorities, including Phuket Mayor and Phuket Police Station Deputy Chief. The event took place at the 72nd Anniversary Queen Sirikit Park (in front of Limelight Avenue mall), which was the starting and…
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Five die – Truck crashes into electricity workers in Saraburi
https://www.facebook.com/516059381928376/videos/751343475066631/ A truck crashed into a vehicle carrying four on-duty electricity authority employees who were changing high-voltage transmission lines in Saraburi province, two hours north of Bnagkok, at 11.40am on Sunday, causing five deaths. Killed at the scene on the Paholyothin Road were four electricity authority workers and the truck driver. Witnesses said the driver lost control of the truck…
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First bird photograph exhibition@ Limelight – Vachira Hospital fund
Yesterday (September 23) at 4pm, at Limelight Avenue Mall, was the launch of the first bird photograph exhibition aiming to raise funds to assist final-stage patients at Vachira Hospital. The opening ceremony was attended by heads of sections involved including the Hospital Director, Dr Chalermpong Sukhonthapol and Chief of Nature and Wildlife Education Centre at Khao Phra Thaeo Non-Hunting Area,…
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Alleged US pedo arrested in Samui
Breaking news from The Nation Samui police Saturday arrested an alleged American paedophile while he was buying a ticket for a ferry boat to travel to Bangkok, said Surat Thani Immigration Police Chief Pol Col Wanchana Borwornboon. Wanchana said 28 year old Jackson Mathew Hall was apprehended under US arrest warrants and a letter from the US embassy. He was…
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Rang Hill road closure following large cracks appearing
Phuket Municipality has announced that Kosimby Road on Rang Hill, from behind of Khao Rang Hill restaurant all the way to Khao Rang Temple at the bottom, will be closed down soon to fix the road and build up landslide protection systems. This follows a large crack of about 50-80 meters on one side of the road. Police have already…
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“Show us the evidence” – Pheu Thai Party
Update from The Nation The caretaker secretary-general of Pheu Thai Party, Phumtham Wechayachai, on Friday urged authorities to show clear evidence whether policemen who were interrogated on Thursday night were involved in the flight of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra. He asked for evidence such as pictures showing Yingluck in the suspected car or the detained suspect, a police Colonel,…
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UPDATE – Weather damages Ton Sai, some beaches remain closed
Ton Sai Waterfall has been affected from the recent downpours while some beaches along the west coast remain closed. Chief of the Nature and Wildlife Education Centre at the Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area, Pongchat Chuahom, along with his team, visited Tonsai Waterfall which is a part of a popular trekking route and found some damage. However, there’s no report…
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BREAKING NEWS – Another Pattani bomb attack
Violence continued in the southern province of Pattani on Friday, the holy day observed by Muslims, when insurgents detonated a roadside bomb to ambush a patrol unit of rangers in Sai Buri district, killing six and injuring another ranger and a civilian. The attack occurred on highway No 42 ion Ban Tabing road in Tambon Tabing at 6.40am. The rangers…
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UPDATE – Three police questioned over Yingluck’s disappearance
At of this morning (Friday), three police officers, including a deputy commander, appear to have been involved in helping the former PM Yingluck Shinawatra flee Thailand, two days before she was set to appear to hear the verdict of the Supreme Court over her and her Government’s involvement in the failed rice-pledging scheme. A police colonel, who hasn’t been named…
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