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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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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UPDATE: 4 motorcycle thugs surrendered
The four members of a motorcycle gang who attacked 40 year old Romy Navio, who tried to stop them from hurting three other young men, have surrendered. Yesterday (December 3) at 2pm, the four, including 18 year old Nattawut ‘Fad’ Plighin, 18 year old Sarun ‘Yak’ Muenkla, 18 year old Panuruj ‘Tiw’ Sudpangyang and 18 year old Kajorn ‘Ben’ Raya,…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, January 4
‘Somtam Index’ shows Krabi most expensive | Deluge of new year drink-driving prosecutions causing paperwork nightmare | Tourist pest from Jungceylon was at it again the afternoon before | Thai auto industry doing well | Official stats after six days of ‘seven day’ reporting period | BKK cracking down on noisy vehicles.
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THURSDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your news in 3 minutes
Settling into the routine for 2018. Traffic was busy this morning, a sure sign we’re returning to work and doing our best to avoid the high-season tourist traffic. Here’s today’s main new stories… Thai auto industry getting behind electric cars The Thai automobile industry say they finished 2017 with sales rebounding reporting that a large number of new models helped…
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‘Election all go for November’, according to the Thai Embassy in Finland
PHOTO: Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai surprised by the Thai Embassy in Finland mis-speaking about possible elections this year. Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai yesterday ordered an investigation into a Facebook post from the Thai Embassy in Finland giving advice about preparation for an election tentatively to be held in November. Don said he never ordered the embassy to do so. “I’m not…
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Phuket ‘gangster’ arrest warrants to be issued
A group of motorcycle ‘gangsters’ who attacked local innocent residents in Yoo Sabai Village during the New Year night will be issued with arrest warrants soon. After a post by Facebook user Techa Tubthong, releasing a 3 minute footage of a group of motorcyclists attacking their opponents and harming the villagers who tried to stop the fight, one of the…
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Drunk female tourist refuses to pay bill at Jungceylon
A video has posted on a popular Phuket Facebook page that showed an altercation between a female tourist and several people outside a Fuji Japanese restaurant in Jungceylon. The video shows a woman, apparently from Europe (some say Norwegian), arguing with security as a crowd of shoppers gather. Amid claims that the tourist is drunk the poster of the footage…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, January 3
Changes to universal healthcare system | Super Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan | Latest death toll from Seven Dangerous Days | DSI uncovered 9 billion baht of unpaid taxes on imported cars | Governor visits Rassada Pier | Idiot arrested over random gunfire on NYE.
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Puppies rescued from roadside
Two women rescued five puppies found beside their mother’s bloated dead body on a roadside in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin district. One of the woman, Chutima Singruang, posted on her Facebook wall on Wednesday that she and her friend spotted the puppies on the Hua Hin-Nong Plub road near the roadside Nong Sor market on Tuesday morning. Chutima said…
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WEDNESDAY NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Sort of back to normal today, whatever that means. The news never stops and there’s plenty of it around today. Let’s see what news stories are in our inbox this morning… PM urges big effort on final day of reporting period PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha is urging officers to strictly enforce traffic laws and provide security for people on the…
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Governor visits Rassada Pier to inspect improvements
Phuket’s Governor, Norapat Plodthong, along with a team from the Provincial offices, visited Rassada Pier this morning (January 2), to encourage the staff and promising to upgrade the security and services at the pier. Rassada Pier is one of the most important piers in Phuket, apart from Chalong Pier and Ao Po Pier, and welcomes more than a thousand passengers…
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DAY FIVE REPORT: Phuket road accidents and casualties
FILE PHOTO Total accidents on fifth day of the ‘Seven days of danger’ campaign have been announced for Phuket. The total number of accidents for the first five days of the New Year season is 31, with 31 injuries and 2 casualties. Today (January 2), at the Provincial Hall, Phuket’s Governor Plodthong chaired a meeting on road accident reduction and…
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Corruption, graft, misconduct. And watches.
By Wasamon Audjarint While the junta continued to claim that fighting corruption was on its agenda over the past year, the state-centric approach brought into question whether junta leaders were truly serious about dealing with graft – or were instead using the issue for their own benefit or to attack particular parties, an anti-graft watchdog has said. “This especially creates…
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New year’s eve diving tragedy in Koh Phi Phi
FILE PHOTO A tragic accident off Koh Phi Phi yesterday (December 31) where a 25 year old Indian tourist, Alok Kumar Shukla, was attempting his first scuba dive. According to the scuba company running the tour, the incident happened during the pick up following the group’s first dive. “The customer returned to the boat already and got out of his…
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Heading into 2018 with a BANG.
Bullets fired into the air during New Year’s celebrations damaged many people’s property late Sunday night, although no injuries were reported as of on Monday, as the dangerous activity continued despite a campaign against the irresponsible discharging of guns during holidays. To celebrate the arrival of the New Year, many people set off fireworks while others fired guns into the…
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DAY FOUR. Nearly 60 people dying each day during the Seven Dangerous Days.
After four days, the official death toll for the ‘Seven Dangerous Days’ reporting period is 239 with 2,500 injuries. The statistics are compiled by the Road Safety Centre. On Sunday, new year’s eve, 65 people were killed and 714 were injured in 678 separate traffic incidents. Drink driving remains the scourge of Thailand’s roads causing most of fatal accidents. This…
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Happy new year in Old Phuket Town
The Amazing Thailand Countdown 2018 around Old Phuket Town was hosted by Governor Norapat Plodthong together with the Phuket Mayor Somjai Suwansuppana. There family-oriented festivities included a walking street with local food, clothing, accessories, street performances and a list of entertainment on stage before the crowd count down to the new year at the intersection of the old Standard Chartered Bank.…
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6 missing men safely home
The 6 men, reported missing earlier yesterday (December 30), have been rescued by Royal Thai Navy Area 3 today (December 31). All safe and back home. This morning at 8.50 am, the Air Force from Royal Thai Navy Area 3 made an aerial servey around the area where the crew last had made their last contact and after an hour…
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Royal Crematorium exhibit exceeds 3.89 million visitors
More than 3.89 million people visited the Royal Crematorium exhibition between November 2 and December 30. People visited the exhibition in remembrance of the much-revered HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The late monarch passed away on October 13, 2016. A one-year mourning period followed, with the Royal Cremation Ceremony held over five days in October. Exhibits detailing the ceremony…
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2017 – Phuket’s year in review
2017. What a year. As the clock is about to click over into 2018 we look back at another busy year on the island. From scams to bus crashes, corrupt officials to shootings, boat crashes to lifeguard contracts, we remember the biggest news stories on the island for the past 12 months. January The year started with the first of…
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SUNDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Last day for 2017. But it’s the middle of the ‘Seven Days of Danger’ and the road carnage continues despite an all out effort of Thailand’s police to stem the flow. Not surprisingly, drunk-driving is still the leading cause of deaths on our roads. PLEASE be safe tonight, make arrangements ahead of time for your safe return home after celebrations.…
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Thailand Yacht Show. Returns to Ao Po Grand Marina February 22 – 25, 2018
It is that time of the year where we make resolutions; promises about the year to come and how we will approach it. Rather than ploughing through a northern hemisphere winter to get to the gym or sourcing for fresh fruits during a juice cleanse, why not enjoy the best of the southern tropical lifestyle and head to the Thailand…
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Phuket Governor announces first casualty for new year period
At Provincial Hall this morning (December 30), Phuket’s Governor, Norapat Plodthong, chaired a meeting to follow up on the accidents for the first 2 days of the 7 days of danger over the New Year season. There were 10 accidents in total, with 9 injuries and 1 casualty in the past two 2 days (December 28 – 29). The ‘7…
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Prawit’s watches. They are from a ‘third party’.
Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan has submitted a letter explaining his possession of luxurious watches and a diamond ring, which he failed to include in his assets declaration, to the anti-graft agency. The letter named a third party who would be called upon to testify in the case, according to the anti-graft agency, the National Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday. A meeting…
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SATURDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
A weekend, a new year’s weekend and a long weekend with Monday and Tuesday public holidays this year. Welcome to your Saturday. The threat of rain is still there but enjoy the sunny bits in between. Here’s the main news stories circulating today… Extra public holiday on Tuesday This year the Thai Government has declared one extra day – next…
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Woman attempts to smuggle in over a kilo of cocaine at Phuket Airport
A woman from Ivory Coast, flying in from Doha, was arrested at Phuket International Airport after an airport X-ray found more than one kilogram of cocaine that she’d swallowed, wrapped in small plastic packets. The 27 year old was stopped by officials at the Phuket international airport after landing on a flight from Doha. She was escorted to a room…
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Soi Dog to open one Saturday per month
Soi Dog will now open its door one Saturday per month, welcoming dog and cat lovers for an amazing experience around the shelter. Cannot join the fun weekdays from 8am to 5pm? You now also have a chance to visit the foundation one Saturday per month from 9.30am to Midday with a tour that starts at 10am. Not only will…
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Phuket’s Governor follows up on stray dog shelter renovations
Phuket’s Governor hosted a meeting with the Phuket Dog Shelter Management Committee today (December 29) at Provincial Hall in Phuket Town to follow up on the progress of its renovation, together with the Chief of Phuket Provincial Livestock Office and a representative of Phuket’s Soi Dog Foundation. “There are 460 dogs in the shelter by now and the shelter opens…
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Who’s coming and what are they spending? Tourist numbers for 2017.
The figures for foreign tourists arrivals in the Kingdom during 2017 are going to reach 35 million visitors, according to statistics from the TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand). There are a few surprises in the top ten list, including Laotian visitors at #4. China is still the number one source of foreign tourists with 9.92 million visits over the past…
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Krabi Airport installs EDS weapon detectors
Krabi International Airport has just fitted new Explosive Detection Systems weapon detectors at each checkpoint scanner to improve security measure over the New Year period. The security measure by Department of Airports follows the safety 7-7-7 measure of the Ministry of Transport which targets 7 days before New Year (December 21 – 27), 7 days during the New Year (December…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, December 29
Another roadside bomb in Narathiwat | Smart Visa arrives mid January | Top overseas tourist arrivals for 2017 | Krabi Airport install new explosives detectors | Super Moon next Tuesday | Toon heading back to BKK, in a passenger van.
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