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.
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Sponsored What do you need before moving from the US to Thailand?
The Thaiger key takeaways The most common medical emergencies for expats in Thailand include motorcycle accidents, tropical diseases, and food or water-borne illnesses. Air pollution and heat-related conditions like heatstroke also pose serious seasonal health risks, especially in northern and...
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No more coups, unless we need one – Commander in Chief
With the country heading for elections in February, or sometime soon in 2019, the hope is for a new, democratically elected government following four and a half years of military rule. But would the army rule out another coup? Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong has refused to rule out the possibility of another coup if the country is plunged into…
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Thaiger Radio News – Thursday
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Final night of Vegetarian Festival in Phuket – Photo montage
The final night of the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket Town is one of the most exciting, out-of-control, intense and noisy public events in the world. It’s also very dangerous. But, somehow, the participants, mostly, remain unscathed by the sense-assaulting final night activities which sends the nine emperor gods back to their home in the skies. For three hours firecrackers…
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Islamic anti-vaxxers in the south causing measles outbreak
by Pratch Rujivanrom Anti-vaxxers in Thailand’s deep south are causing widespread discomfort and even death with a current measles outbreak sweeping through the three southern-most provinces. Vaccine denial is common in some Muslim communities and has contributed to the deaths of at least six patients, including children, over the past three months. Though vaccines are proven to prevent diseases – they’ve…
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Man rapes teen then forces her to withdraw money from ATM
PHOTOS: Sanook.com The national police spokesman Pol Col Krissana Pattanacharoen says that an arrest warrant has been issued for the man who raped a 19 year old woman then forced her to withdraw money for him at an ATM in Bangkok. The theft at the ATM was captured on CCTV. Sanook reports that the crime happened in the Mahadthai 2…
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No caving to Similan tour operator pressure
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation is refusing to bow to pressure from tour operators in Phang-nga for it to ease current restrictions on the number of visitors to the Similan Islands. Songtham Suksawang, director of the National Parks Division of the department, says the decision to limit the number of daily visitors to the island at…
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Chiang Mai abbot defrocked over sexual abuse charges
FILE PHOTO An abbot in Chiang Mai has been arrested and defrocked for allegedly sexually abusing “more than 10” boys at his temple in Hang Dong district. 37 year old Phra Phansak Thitsilo, has now had his title reverted back to his lay name, Phansak Saenkhamwang, following his arrest at Wat Sriwaree Sathan in Tambon Sob Mae Kha. The warrant…
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Maya Bay recovering says marine biologist
Marine biologist Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat says Maya Bay is starting to recover after many Blacktip reef sharks were found swimming around yesterday. Dr Thon has commented on a video showing the Blacktip reef sharks found swimming near the shores of Maya Bay yesterday, “I have seen them about 2-3 times in the past week that I have been there. This…
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Invacio going global: AI company based in Phuket taking their message to the UN
Invacio, an artificial intelligence company based in Phuket, is attending a development event in Geneva, Switzerland. Invacio Research Analytics a group subsidiary of Invacio founded by William J D West and led by Linleeya West (Thai – Swiss Educated) will be attending this auspicious event, organised at the UN headquarters in Geneva. Linleeya West sees this as a great opportunity…
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‘Rape never happened’. Thai police conclude Koh Tao probe
A teen who claimed to have been drugged and raped on Koh Tao in June has failed to confirm the site of the attack, identity of the attacker or how the attack happened while being questioned in the UK, Thai police officers said. British police also handed over a T-shirt the 19 year old woman wore on June 25, the…
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Fake goods seized and two arrested at Patong market
Soon we’ll all have to buy the ‘real’ branded items as the fakes are getting more difficult to find. The authorities and vendors continue to play a cat and mouse game in the ‘intellectual property’ crackdown. Officers yesterday raided another market in Patong and seized more than 4,000 counterfeit goods valued more than a million baht. A team of officers…
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Leatherback turtles face extinction
by Pratch Rujivanarom It may be too late to save leatherback turtles from extinction in Thailand’s seas, as a legal deadlock prevents a conservation status upgrade to protect this critically endangered turtle species and three other rare marine animals. Wildlife conservationists are warning that the slow pace of stepping up the conservation of the leatherback turtle, whale shark, Bryde’s whale…
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Chinese arrivals down by half in Chiang Mai
PHOTO: Chiang Mai News A crisis meeting for tour operators has been held in Chiang Mai where they learned that Chinese tourism was down 50% in the first nine months of 2018. Some measures were put forward to woo them back – including setting up Chinese language classes to improve communication with the tourists from China. Reasons blamed for the…
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Koh Tao alleged rape case wrapped up
According to Thai PBS, Thai police have wrapped up an investigation into allegations by a 19 year old female British backpacker that she was drugged, raped and robbed on Koh Tao. Police claim that, following their investigations, there is simply a lack of credible evidence. Speaking at a media gathering this morning, national police chief, Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda, declared…
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Mu Pa drops in on Gen Prayut at Government House
PHOTO: Thai PBS Members of the Mu Pa football Academy and team are back in Thailand following their whirlwind overseas tour of Argentina and the US, including an appearance on one of the most popular talk shows in the world. This morning they had a meeting this morning with the Thai PM Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Government House. Accompanied…
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Thai-flag footwear NOT ok
Thai social media is all in a lather today after photos of the latest fashion footwear in Paris were posted depicting Thai flags on the shoe designs. Well, so they thought. Not only were they outraged and angry, they are demanding apologies and jail for the perpetrators. But a legal spokesperson in Thailand points out that these are foreigners parading…
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Can Thailand lure the Chinese back?
After half a decade of incredible growth in Chinese tourism to Thailand, the numbers are now in a tail-spin as numbers drop off around the country. With annual rises of 20-50% per annum for half a decade there has been a big drop off in the last quarter (Q3) of 2018. This is the key statistic as compiled in two…
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Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday
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More than 80 dance groups from around Thailand compete in “SHOW DC Dance Battle Revolution”
Dancers from all around Thailand took part in the recent SHOW DC Dance Battle Revolution 2018, which saw more than 80 dance groups going head-to-head for the inaugural championships crowns in three categories: B-Boy, Hip Hop and Cover Dance. Held at the popular shopping mall and entertainment mega-complex in Rama 9 area of Bangkok, prizes worth more than 100,000 baht…
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Phuket Immigration wind up ‘Operation X-ray Outlaw Foreigner’ crackdown
Phuket Immigration officers say they’re committed to the national crackdown called Operation X-ray Out Law Foreigner, especially on overstayers. As a show of force yesterday, more than 252 officers from the Phuket Immigration Office, the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Navy, the Phuket Provincial Police, Highway Police, Tourist Police and Marine Police assembled at the Phuket City Police Station.…
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‘Monk’ tries some alternative enlightenment
Thai Rath has shared a widely viewed CCTV clip featuring a man, apparently a monk, in saffron robes swinging a beer bottle at a man in a food market. The alleged monk appears to be holding a beer bottle. According to Thai Rath, the layman, believed to be a store-holder, confronted the monk asking why he was drinking beer in the…
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Mai Khao’s ‘West Sands’ CEO being quizzed by police following last week’s death on Thepkasattri Road
PHOTO: Facebook.com – Paul John Mercer The British CEO of a luxury hotel along Mai Khao Beach in Phuket, is going to be quizzed by police in Phuket after running over and killing a roadside scavenger in his luxury Mercedes last week. Original report about the Wednesday morning incident HERE. The British expat is being investigated by Thai police after his Mercedes-Benz…
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Man kills himself outside his home in Thalang
A Thai man has shot himself at a house in Thalang today. When Police and rescue workers arrived at the Suppamas housing estate in Paklok about noon, they discovered the body of 66 year old Somnueak Chanapan, a former staff member of the Khao Phra Thaew Non Hunting Area, on a chair in front of the house. Bullet wounds were found on…
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Two hour chase for escaped suspect in Krabi
Krabi Police took two hours to catch a suspect who successfully escaped whilst being prepared for a visit to court yesterday. The suspect is 20 year old Tanin Pueakkhwan from Krabi. Tanin was arrested on October 12 after stealing a truck battery. He was waiting to be transferred to the Krabi Provincial Court. While officers were preparing the court documents,…
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Thaiger Radio News – Monday
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Saturday night suicide linked to Hua Hin murder
by Wimon Thabkhong and Apichat Hongsakul A 26 year old man, thought to have to committed suicide, is the main suspect in the murder of a 39 year old Bangkok woman in Hua Hin, according to local police. Read the original story of the crimes HERE. The Thai man, who allegedly committed suicide by letting a train run over him on…
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Minivan driver escapes serious injury after colliding with an ice truck in Thalang
A minivan diver has escaped serious injury after colliding into the back of an ice truck yesterday in Thalang. Thalang Police were notified about the incident on Thepkrasattri Road, southbound, near the Srisoonthorn Temple (Wat Baan Pohn). Police and rescue workers arrived to find a minivan driver with the front almost totally destroyed. No passenger were inside the minivan at…
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Similans re-open with tight new restrictions
by Pratch Rujivanarom The number of visitors to the Similan Islands will be capped at 3,850 people per day as part of new tourism management reforms to preserve the pristine natural beauty of the islands and promote sustainable eco-tourism. When Mu Koh Similan National Park reopens today, tourists will discover some changes on the islands; they will find more tranquil beaches…
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Man attacks woman in the street, captured on video
A video of a man publicly punching a woman in the face has gone viral on Thai social media. There is no indication where the incident happened. The clip, viewed 3.8 million times (as of Sunday 5pm), shows a man in a black t-shirt punching a woman in the face before taking her away. The woman then gets on the…
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Thailand – most visited destination among Chinese for Golden Week
The National News Bureau is reporting that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says Ctrip.com, China’s largest and most influential online travel agent, has ranked Thailand the number one global destination among Chinese tourists during this year’s National Day vacation – the Chinese Golden Week 2018. Thailand comes out on top of Japan, Hong Kong SAR, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, and…
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