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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    Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run

    Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...

  • Weather warnings out for mid-week

    Weather warnings out for mid-week

    The Meteorological Department is warning people living in the East and Lower North-east regions of Thailand to be mindful of rain-related dangers. The TMD is forecasting heavy rains in those regions until September 29. Bangkok and adjacent provinces are expecting rain to fall on 40 per cent of the area today. The weather bureau has also issued warnings for fishermen in…

  • New Hong Kong to Shenzhen high speed train launches today

    New Hong Kong to Shenzhen high speed train launches today

    It’s the first day of the new HK to Shenzhen high speed train service. At 7am the first hundreds of passengers departed the former British colony for mainland China at speeds up to 200 kph. The project, costing US$11 billion, is seen by some as a new, convenient and speedy track into mainland China and beyond. Others see it as…

  • Surat Thani oyster farmstay burns down

    Surat Thani oyster farmstay burns down

    PHOTO: Daily News The Sinmana Farmstay oyster farm and resort has burned down after staff unwittingly sprayed the entire property with an accelerant to keep away mosquitos on Friday. Sinmana Farmstay is located in the Kanchanadit District, Surat Thani, and was popular with tour groups who stay at the resort and caught oysters during their trip there. According to staff at…

  • Natural alternative to elephant tourism in Prachuap Khiri Khan

    Natural alternative to elephant tourism in Prachuap Khiri Khan

    An elephant-tourism alternative has made headlines near Hua Hin. A Prachuap Khiri Khan hamlet where visitors can leisurely observe about 200 wild elephants has been selected as one of 50 Otop “Local Way of Life” tourism villages. Kui Buri district chief Chatree Chanweerachai says that Ban Ruam Thai, adjacent to Kui Buri National Park, had been selected for the Otop…

  • TAT criticises operators of suspended Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry

    TAT criticises operators of suspended Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand is criticising the operator of the Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry service over the suspension of boat trips on the grounds that it is low season and too few passengers. The Prachuap Khiri Khan Harbour Office announced this morning that the Royal Passenger Line would suspend the service from September 20 to October 31 and would resume…

  • Bangkok’s gone to the dogs

    Bangkok’s gone to the dogs

    by Wong Chun Wai, The Star, Malaysia PHOTOS: TrueLove at Neverland The routine holiday to Bangkok, Thailand, for seasoned Malaysian tourists (like me) will probably include eating, massages and shopping. We have visited most of the tourist spots, and they are no longer appealing. Yes, we’ve been there, done that… you know the drill. It’s become obvious to us that there…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Sunday

    Thaiger Radio News – Sunday

    Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…  

  • Exports rise nearly 7% in August, the highest this year

    Exports rise nearly 7% in August, the highest this year

    Thai exports have gown at 6.68% to US$23.8 billion during the month of August, the highest gain so far this year. The announcement from Ms Pimchanok Wornkhorporn, director of Trade Policy and Strategy Office of the Commerce Ministry. Exports for the first eight months of this year rose 10.03% and, for the rest of 2018, are expected to grow 8…

  • Koh Tao finds a way to get rid of its trash

    Koh Tao finds a way to get rid of its trash

    PHOTO: Thai PBS – Koh Tao rubbish Koh Toa has some good news today, for a change, after it’s been revealed that the Surat Thani dostrict of Poonpin has agreed to accept the island’s pile of 45,000 tonnes of rubbish for disposal. About 30 tonnes of trash is added to the garbage disposal plant of the island. The island has…

  • Hong Kong celebrity seeking the return of his valuables after Pattaya lady boy scuffle

    Hong Kong celebrity seeking the return of his valuables after Pattaya lady boy scuffle

    Just another day in Pattaya’s Walking Street in the ‘World Class Family Resort’. Pattaya Update News is reporting that a Hong Kong celebrity approached local media this morning after failing to get his bag with watches and cash back after an altercation with a group of lady boys in Walking Street. The incident happened last Tuesday around 5am. The case…

  • ‘Stereotype’ problems for single Thai women travelling out of Thailand

    ‘Stereotype’ problems for single Thai women travelling out of Thailand

    A Thai woman has gone online to describe her experiences of being locked in a Johur Bahru immigration jail for three days. She said that Thai women travelling abroad alone, especially to other places in Asia, are often assumed to be working in the sex industry. The woman made her comments on the Pantip website under the name “Fernchiu” and said…

  • Eating your way around Songkhla

    Eating your way around Songkhla

    by Pattarawadee Saengmanee – The Nation Weekend As we come in for landing at Hat Yai International Airport, I see clear sky reflected in the azure waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Despite the weather App warnings, the sun was out. Sightseeing is first on the agenda though and after a pleasant 40-minute drive from the airport to Songkhla Old…

  • Thailand’s air quality measurement standards raise concerns

    Thailand’s air quality measurement standards raise concerns

    by Chularat Saengpassa From next month, the Pollution Control Department (PCD) will set PM2.5 particles as an indicator of Thailand’s air quality, but the move does not ease the concerns of people in the know. “I must tell you that the PCD intend to use the ‘24-hour mean’ as the indicator and that may be misleading,” said Tara Buakamsri, the…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Saturday

    Thaiger Radio News – Saturday

    Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…    

  • Phuket Tourist Police stop to help at a road accident

    Phuket Tourist Police stop to help at a road accident

    PHOTOS: The Phuket Tourist Police / Newshawk Phuket Lt Col Milin Peanchang and Capt Eakkachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police were on the way to meet the Phuket Governor, Norraphat Plodthog. But it wasn’t going to be a normal drive to meet the Governor today. Lt Col Milin Peanchang ordered his team to stop and help a man injured…

  • Top 10 Museums in Asia

    Top 10 Museums in Asia

    Asia has a lot of museums but many are a reminder about rough days in the past, moments in time remembered so they’re not repeated. Some of these Top 10 museums are just downright creepy. But they’re all interesting. Trip Advisor’s readers have ranked the Top 10 Asian museums. Thailand didn’t make it into the Top 10 but has a…

  • Kata Rocks ends the use of plastic straws

    Kata Rocks ends the use of plastic straws

    Kata Rocks has launched its new sustainability and social impact initiative as it moves to eliminate single-use plastics in the luxury resort which has already started and will reach its broader goal within one year. Guests staying at Kata Rocks are increasingly eco-conscious and are a driving force behind the shift in demand for sustainable travel options. The decision to…

  • Four men arrested over sex act broadcast on mobile app

    Four men arrested over sex act broadcast on mobile app

    Four men have been arrested for broadcasting a sex act live via a China-based application. This was discussed at a media briefing today by deputy tourist police chief Pol Maj Gen Surachete Hakparn. Surachete did not identify the men or the app used. He says the four men, who are from Thailand and Myanmar, were charged with violating the Computer…

  • Most rape cases ‘settled’ by police, says foundation

    Most rape cases ‘settled’ by police, says foundation

    by Kornrawee Panyasuppakun – The Nation We are all familiar with Thai police ‘settling’ small misdeamours, mostly road, on the spot – acting as judge and jury and keeping many minor potential court cases away from lawyers and the Thai court system. But the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation claims that most rape case, including child rape cases, are…

  • More sea snakes sighted along Patong Beach

    More sea snakes sighted along Patong Beach

    PHOTOS: ได้หมด ถ้าสดชื่น / Newshawk Phuket Many sea snakes have been found along the shores of Patong Beach this morning (September 21). About five sea snakes were caught by boat operators, Patong lifeguards and locals in the early hours of Friday. Local fishermen say sea snakes are usually found in open seas and swimming on the water surface. Their food is…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Friday

    Thaiger Radio News – Friday

    Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…    

  • Phuket woman arrested with over 20,000 methamphetamine pills

    Phuket woman arrested with over 20,000 methamphetamine pills

    A Phuket woman has been arrested with 20,772 of methamphetamine pills and 73.43 grams of crystal methamphetamine in Chalong. A team of patrol police arrested 39 year old Jiraphon ‘Sao’ Chauykerd. She was arrested in front of a house in Soi Luang Por Cham in Chalong. Police seized 20,772 of methamphetamine pills and 73.43grams of crystal methamphetamine from the residence.…

  • Pattani Big C bombers sentenced to death

    Pattani Big C bombers sentenced to death

    FILE PHOTO: The Nation The Pattani Provincial Court yesterday sentenced Su-ai-mee Sama-ae and Sama-ae Mamah to death for their role in the 2017 Big C department store bomb attack that injured 61 people, including children, and caused millions of baht worth of property damage. Here’s the original story of the bomb blast HERE. The attack on May 9, 2017, took…

  • Plastic straws to be banned in some Malaysian territories from January 1

    Plastic straws to be banned in some Malaysian territories from January 1

    Plastic straws are to be banned in all the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan in Malaysia from January 1 next year. Businesses which are still found to be using plastic straws in 2019 risk having their business licences terminated. Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Adnan Mohd Ikhsan says, “The ban on plastic straws is in addition to the…

  • Anatomy of a photo

    Anatomy of a photo

    PHOTO: หญิง’ โลนลี่ / ¥.OunG.¥ / เหยี่ยวข่าว ภูเก็ต Yesterday a dramatic photo of an approaching storm front was a big hit, being shared many thousands of times. It was taken at the Phuket International Airport at 14.39, according to the time stamp. The photo was taken by members of the Newshawk news team in Phuket, news partners with The Thaiger.…

  • Man arrested for alleged attempted rape of nine year old girl

    Man arrested for alleged attempted rape of nine year old girl

    by Kornkamon Aksorndech and Supachai Phetchthewee Police have arrested a motorcycle taxi driver for allegedly luring a nine year old girl into a Bangkok temple toilet yesterday in an attempt to rape her. The alleged incident took place at 5pm at the Wat Yoo Dee Bumrungtham (Wat Or Ngern) toilet in the Saimai district. The alleged assault was stopped when the…

  • Russian tourist stung by ‘fire jellyfish’ at Patong Beach

    Russian tourist stung by ‘fire jellyfish’ at Patong Beach

    PHOTOS: Patong Lifeguards / Newshawk Phuket A female Russian tourist has sustained a painful sting on her leg from a ‘fire jellyfish’ at Patong beach today (September 20). Patong lifeguards are warning of jellyfish known locally as the ‘fire jellyfish’ at Patong Beach. Fire Jellyfish or Morbakka fenneri can be discovered in tropical watersa. The physical appearance of this jellyfish…

  • Former Malay PM Najib to face up to 20 charges over 1MDB scandal

    Former Malay PM Najib to face up to 20 charges over 1MDB scandal

    by The Star – Asia News Network Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak is expected to face “nothing less” than 20 charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act. A mountain of legal challenges lies ahead of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as authorities bring fresh charges against the former PM over the multibillion-ringgit 1Malaysia Develop­ment Bhd…

  • Koh Payu monkeys have a fruit feast

    Koh Payu monkeys have a fruit feast

    PHOTOS: Pongchart Chouehorm A team of officers from the Natural and Wildlife Education Centre headed out to Koh Payu where monkeys were released to their new home over two months ago. The visit was to check on their welfare and give them a fruit-fest – LOTS of bananas. Today (September 20), 80 monkeys, which had already been sterilised and released onto…

  • Seven arrested with illicit drugs

    Seven arrested with illicit drugs

    The Phuket City Police have arrested 7 drugs suspects with quantities methamphetamine and kratom leaves this week. The seven unrelated cases were all aged between 20 and 63 years old. • 63 year old Sanom Netsawang was arrested with 19 of methamphetamine pills. • 24 year old Kosin Daman and 20 year old Wirat Nookun were arrested with 1,250 millilitres of…