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 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...
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Chinese tourist drowns off Koh Samet
by Achara Wisetsri A 58 year old Chinese tourist, who got into difficulty whilst swimming off Koh Samet on Saturday, has died while being transported to a district hospital. Koh Samet is off the coast of Rayong province, east of Bangkok. Witnesses say he was “battered by waves” in the sea off Sai Kaew Beach. The victim was swimming with a…
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China edges Thailand out of Asian Cup after penalties
Thailand has gone down to China 2-1 in last night’s Asian Cup Round-of-16 match, eliminating them from the tournament. The match was decided by a penalty awarded after a foul charged against Thailand in the 72nd minute. China’s forward Gao Lin slotted home his shot to finish Thailand’s chances. The slow start to last night’s game gave way to more…
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Belarusian ‘Anastasia’ will be in Moscow detention another 3 days
Anastasia Vashukevich, aka. Nastya Rybka, the Belarusian model/sex-educator/Instagramer who spent a year in a Thai jail awaiting last week’s Court case, and was then deported, remains in a Moscow jail as of last night after the presiding judge decided to extend her detention by 72 hours. She was arrested at Moscow airport on Thursday after being deported from Thailand on…
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New 500 baht fine for drunk cycling
Up to now drink-driving cyclists have not been included in the laws governing drunk drivers of other vehicles in Thailand. But with the rising popularity of cycling as a fitness trend, that’s about to change with a new 500 baht fine if bought drunk in control of a bike. Drunk bicyclists who are currently immune to litigation because there is…
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Club raid in Bangkok. Everyone detained tested positive to drug use.
PHOTOS: The Nation Another Bangkok night spot is is being threatened with closure after an early morning raid found it open too late, unlicensed and with patrons stocked up and pumped up with illicit drugs. A team from the Provincial Administration Department and other officials raided the 56 Arena Music Hall on Charoenrat Road in Bang Kho Laem district, south…
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Bangkok Airways celebrates the arrival of its 40th aircraft
Bangkok Airways has welcome the latest Airbus A319 as the local airline’s 40th aircraft when it arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The event was led by Dechit Chareonwong, vice president of Flight Operations and joined by Nijjapat Piyapant, vice president of Ground Operations. This aircraft type, the latest incarnation of the short-haul A320, consists of 144 economy class seats and will serve popular…
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Top 10 countries in Asia – DataLeads report
PHOTO: Travelience “Japan is ranked the best country in Asia and fifth globally. Thailand ranks 27th globally” DataLeads reports that a survey conducted in 80 countries shows that Japan and Australia are the only Asia-Pacific countries that features in the top 10 best countries of the world. The ranking of countries is measured through factors like entrepreneurship, openness to business,…
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Bangkok smog: Sunday awakes to another day of ‘unhealthy’ air in the capital
As promised, Bangkok and the central region have been battling with enduring smog this weekend. On Friday the Thai Meteorological Department warned of smog and haze continuing over the weekend in parts of the capital and in nearby Pattaya due to a weakening cold front in the north of country, bordering Laos. Given the fingers pointing at Bangkok’s old buses,…
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UPDATE: 4000 villagers attend funeral rites for slain monks in Narathiwat
Over 4,000 villagers, including more than 300 monks from several temples in southern provinces and border provinces of Malaysia, have attended a bathing ritual for the two monks slain by gunmen who stormed Wat Rattananuparb in Narathiwat on Friday night. Read more about the raid HERE. The bathing rites for Phra Khru Prachote Rattananurak, the abbot of Wat Rattananuparb, and…
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Police hunting for driver in hit and run – Patong
WARNING: Extreme graphic content Patong Friday, January 18, 2.06am – Police are trying to locate the driver of this hit and run silver sedan in Patong. If you have any information please contact the Tourist Police or Patong Police – 1155 or 191 (Thai) VIDEO: Newshawk Phuket https://www.facebook.com/thethaigernews/videos/288527705179718/
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UPDATE: Narathiwat temple murders – Security increased while PM condemns shooting
PHOTO: Slain Abbot Phra Khru Prachote Rattanarak The national police chief is ordering police regional units in Narathiwat to ramp up security in the province to hunt down the culprits behind last night’s deadly attack at a temple. Police spokesman Pol Lt General Piya Uthayoh says the motive behind the attack on monks at Rattananuparb Temple in Sungai Padi district…
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UPDATE: Response to Rabies zone in Chalong
‘Following the earlier reported rabies incident in Chalong, the Soi Dog Foundation yesterday (Friday, January 18) teamed up with The DLD and Chalong OBT to carry out vaccinations in the area the infected dog was discovered. Jointly, the team was successful in vaccinating 128 dogs in a swift response to what is hoped to be an isolated case. Working alongside…
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Police searching for the killer after shooting near Saphan Hin
A Thai man has been shot dead near Saphan Hin in eastern Phuket earlier today. The arrest warrant has already been issued for the suspect. The Wichit Police were notified of the incident on Rattanakosin 200 pi Road near Saphan Hin at 3.40am this morning. Police and rescue workers arrived to find the body of 30 year old Teerasak Saeong…
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Danish tourist dies in Phuket road accident
A male Danish tourist, driving a motorbike, has died after colliding with a truck in front of a market in Kathu. The Kathu Police were notified of the incident on Phra Phuket Keaw Road in front of the new outdoor Vintage Market in Kathu at 3am yesterday morning. Police and Kusoldharm rescue workers arrived at the U-turn to find the…
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Malaysia mulls curfew for Under 18 year olds
PHOTO: Malaysian Deputy PM Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail – Proplegacy The Malaysian Government, in another backwards step as it caves in to conservative religious factions, is considering a new curfew on Under 18 year olds. Authorities are mulling the possibility of setting a curfew for young Malaysians to be out of the house without adult supervision. They claim it…
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Cave divers reunite to retrieve equipment at Tham Luang caves
Divers involved in last July’s rescue of the 13 young Mu Pa footballers from the flooded Tham Luang caves in Chiang Rai, are to reunite to retrieve around 100 tonnes of equipment left behind from the rescue. The Thai navy SEALs and Finnish diver Mikko Paasi re-united this week for the first time since July 2018 when the last members…
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Two monks killed in temple shooting at Narathiwat
PHOTO: The Nation “We believe that at least six assailants were involved in the shooting and are at large,” – police spokesman in the Su-ngai Padi district. Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has condemned the latest violence in southern province Narathiwat where two monks were gunned down and others injured last night (Friday). Narathiwat is Thailand’s southern-most province. Government spokesman Puttipong Bunnakun…
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Australian woman deported for overstaying visa by over 100 days
PHOTOS: Facebook/Claire Johnson An Australian woman, who was caught overstaying her visa by 111 days, will be released from detention and deported by Thai authorities tonight. She came to the media’s attention on Monday after sending urgent messages to a friend saying that she was being taken to a detention centre and that “they are taking my phone”. 46 year…
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British man pioneers cannabis tom yum, police are not happy
PHOTO: Khaosodenglish A 58 year old real estate developer, living in Koh Samui for 22 years, is facing some trouble with the police for his ‘medicinal’ innovations in the kitchen. Police have arrested and charged Gary Coughlan with drug offenses after they noticed he was acting a little ‘unusual and erratic’ this morning (Wednesday). He later tested positive for drug…
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Students huddle under desks in Narathiwat as insurgents fight with soldiers
by Narong Nuansakul, Nakarin Chinworakamon Students huddled under desks and screamed in fear as they could hear guns being fired near their school in Narathiwat province, bordering the Malaysian border, yesterday. The gunfight erupted after rangers and police confronted a group of suspected insurgents in a rubber plantation nearby. One suspect was killed in the clash, and authorities believe other…
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Eight year wait for Chiang Mai’s proposed Light Rail
Whilst Phuket has got a tentative go ahead for its Light Rail system (for a start of contraction in 2020), people in Chiang Mai will have to wait eight years for their local version of a modern public transport system. The Chiang Mai News reports that a ministerial level government meeting in Lampang this week reported on the latest developments.…
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Swiss man accused of overstaying visa and theft charges
by Kamthon Kongsombat PHOTO: Security footage from the Phuket jewelry store in December 2018 – Facebook The Immigration Bureau says they’re going to blacklist and deport a Swiss man who overstayed his visa and is also accused of series of thefts in Nongkhai and Phuket. The Nongkhai deputy immigration police chief Colonel Prasit Somjaiprasong says that Julien Andre Junior Cotting,…
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Experience the creative vibe during Bangkok Design Week with Airbnb
Thailand is a hub of creativity; a country filled with artisanal culinary gems and art galleries that boasts creativity and innovation allowing cultural tradition to sit comfortably alongside the embrace of new ideas. Thailand never tires, and Bangkok remains popular, with Airbnb seeing an influx of guests during festivals and events such as Bangkok Design Week, which returns for its…
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What to do if a pet tests positive for Rabies
PHOTO: PR Department An announcement about animals in a Rabies Outbreak Zone. These are things that pet owners must do when it has tested positive for rabies. • Pet owners must follow Animal Epidemics Act 2015. • No person may move an infected animal or carcass specified in such announcement into, out of, through or within such zone unless they…
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Australian man found hanged outside home in Thalang
An Australian man has been found hanged outside his house in Thalang. The family of the victim told police that the man had been suffering from extreme stress brought on by financial concerns. He was worried that he might not be able to afford their school tuition and was further affected by his children’s lack of attention and time spent…
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VIDEO: Thai netizens outraged as school makes student cut hair
A student at a school in Kanchanaburi, western Thailand, has uploaded a video to social media sparking a meltdown on Thai social media. In the video, the student films a school teacher measuring her friend’s hair, while another teacher cuts it to follow the rules which state students cannot grown hair more than 9 inches from the top of the ears.…
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International Hip Hop sensation at Sugar Club Phuket
Sugar Club Phuket is hyped to host the Thailand premier of US Hip Hop sensation Rae Sremmurd, live on Tuesday, January 22. Ever since Rae Sremmurd exploded onto the scene with SremmLife bangers “No Flex Zone”, “Unlock the Swag” & “No Type”, Hip Hop parties just haven’t been the same. Brothers Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi may be relative new-kids…
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Japanese family asks Thai authorities to raise reward for murder of daughter in 2007
PHOTO: SBS News Eleven years have passed since the murder of a Japanese woman in Sukhothai province (central Thailand) in 2007 and, with no developments, an existing cash reward for any information leading to an arrest is expected to be raised from 1.6 million to 2 million baht. In 2007, 27 year old Tomoko Kawashita arrived in Thailand alone and headed to…
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Bangkok’s weather is not helping the smog problem
PHOTO: Thai PBS The Thai capital’s air pollution is expected to remain bad, and maybe even get worse, over the seven days. The TMD (Thai Meteorological Department) has forecast the onset of low pressure from China which will keep the city’s PM2.5 dust particles hovering in the area and not dispersing, or being blown or washed away. But the Deputy…
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New Thai E-Driving licences are 95% complete
Thailand law makers are looking to amend the 1979 Land Transport act to bring together databases from the Road Transport and policing departments as registrations and enforcement combine to make a digital traffic violation ticketing system. The National Legislative Assembly held a reading of the new bill yesterday (Thursday), which requires the Royal Thai Police and the Land Transport Department…
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