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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Surachate reports to the Royal Thai Police HQ
…but there was nothing to say from the man that’s had a lot to say in the past. Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, you know, the guy who’s been in our news almost every day for the past year, has reported to the RTP HQ today, but soon after was seen leaving the building. No talking to the media today, strange…
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BTS conclude their record-breaking Love Yourself world tour in Bangkok
Seven young South Koreans came to Bangkok over the weekend to complete a sell-out world tour and the finish of a year that saw them rise from a K-Pop anomaly to a global pop sensation. BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan – Bulletproof Boyscouts) have toured the world with their ‘Love Yourself’ tour in an eventful year that has seen them break through…
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Man arrested with over 30K methamphetamine pills in Phuket
A man has been arrested with 30,894 methamphetamine pills in Phuket. The Phuket City Police report that they arrested 23 year old Supot ‘Boy’ Numnuan over the matter. Police seized 30,894 of methamphetamine pills, a handmade handgun and 77 bullets. He has been charged with illegal possession of a Category 1 Drug, as well as gun and ammunition with intent to…
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Students drowns at Krabi island during school trip
A student from a school in Narathiwat has drowned at Koh Poda in Krabi while she was on school trip yesterday. Emergency responders were notified of the incident after girl fell unconscious while she was playing in the water at Koh Poda yesterday afternoon (Sunday). The female student was later identified as 16 year old Sutanya Narakunmongkon from Narathiwat. She…
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Baby elephant being moved to specialised care after falling in drain
Officials have relocated a baby elephant rescued from a drain in a Bueng Kan village on the weekend to a wildlife protection facility to receive treatment for an infection.Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary officials moved the young elephant from an open pen at the edge of the forest in Bung Kla district to the Kokkwang Forest protection base nearby. The base…
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24 year old confesses to the rape and murder of German tourist on Koh Si Chang
A 24 year old Thai man has now been formally charged over the rape and murder of a German woman on Koh Si Chang. Police on the Chon Buri island, north west of Pattaya, claim Ronnakorn Romruen, a resident of the island village of Moo 2, confessed to killing the German tourist after raping her to prevent her reporting the…
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Costs rise for northerners as they struggle with smoke haze – Nida Poll
People in the North are being hit by additional costs as they struggle with the ongoing haze crisis even as more forest fires erupted in some areas of the north yesterday. A Nida Poll survey of 1,253 respondents shows that nearly 57% of respondents are having to bear additional costs to protect themselves from the pollution. It was not revealed…
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US Navy and Royal Thai Navy conduct maritime enforcement exercises – PHOTOS
The US Navy and Royal Thai Navy are joining annual maritime enforcement exercises ‘Guardian Sea 2019’ up to April 11 in the Andaman Sea around Phang Nga and Phuket. The Royal Thai Navy in Phang Nga and the Third Area Command based at Cape Panwa is responsible for maritime security along the Andaman coast. Joining the five-day maritime enforcement exercises…
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Moral and social media support pours in for leading medical marijuana researcher
Khao Kwan Foundation president Decha Siripat has been receiving moral and social media support after a combined force of police, military and anti-narcotic officials raided the foundation’s offices in Suphan Buri last Wednesday, seizing about 200 marijuana plants, cannabis oil, dried marijuana seeds and marijuana powder. Some foundation staff were also held in police custody on charges of illegal possession of narcotics whilst a summons…
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“Nong Gee” turns heads at Koh Samui military conscription
Thai media’s fascination with ‘ladyboys’ continues with Daily News reporting about the military conscription event in Koh Samui and, as usual, getting diverted by the one or two “kathoey” who role up, as required by law, to draw lots to see if they will get conscripted into the national Army. “Thai men screamed their appreciation as a very attractive lady…
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“Thailand Travel Shield” insurance scheme to continue – TAT
The TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) says that the Thailand Travel Shield insurance project will continue. The service provides online travel insurance for foreign tourists. Reported in Phuketify, TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn, says that the TAT had initiated the creation of the Thailand Travel Shield project as a local insurance scheme alternative back in July 2014. “This year marks the fifth…
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“Toxic air pollution shortens children’s lives by 20 months”
In the wake of the PM’s visit to Chiang Mai this week, and more than two months of high levels of hazardous air pollution, a report emerges that links air pollution to the life expectancy of children. The international report says that air pollution will shorten life expectancy of children by up to 20 months on average. The 2019 State…
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British passports have removed the words ‘European Union’
Britain has now begun issuing passports with the words “European Union” removed from the front cover. It’s a pre-emptive move, even though the contentious Brexit is currently delayed and no clear date has been set when Britain will leave the bloc. The Home Office has confirmed that some passports introduced after March 30 no longer include references to the EU.…
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Regular street racing crackdown nets 79 motorbikes
FILE PHOTO Police arrested 83 motorcyclists and seized 79 motorcycles in this week’s regular crackdown on the streets of Bangkok. The motorbikes were found to have been illegally modified for road racing. 4 of the arrested were of people under the age of 18 and one was arrested over illicit drug abuse. Pol Maj Gen Nithitorn Jintakanon, traffic police chief…
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Counting down PM’s 7 day deadline in Chiang Mai – so far no change
by Piyaporn Wongruang, Tim Newton Last week PM Prayut Chan-o-cha issued an order to end the haze crisis in the North within seven days and declared the situation part of the national agenda. Two days to go and there is still no respite of the hazardous levels of smoke and smog besetting the northern capital and adjacent provinces. The PM met…
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Protest at London’s Dorchester Hotel as international protests against Brunei ramp up
Anti-discrimination demonstrators staged a protest outside the Brunei-owned luxury Dorchester Hotel in London yesterday. The protest is part of ongoing protests around the world over the tiny South East Asian Sultanate of Brunei’s adoption of harsh new Sharia laws. The new laws include death by stoning for gay sex and amputation of hands for theft. The Dorchester Hotel is majority…
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Surachate Hakparn “transferred”? No joke.
Various media are reporting that immigration chief and “Batman” of the Thai police Lt -Gen Surachate Hakparn has been transferred to RTP headquarters. Sanook reports there are no official written confirmation of the news under their headline “Lightning Transfer”. Thai media report say he had been transferred “until further notice”, according to Sanook. Surachate’s Facebook page and the Thai Immigration Facebook…
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Smoke haze hits northern Songkran hotel bookings
By Sakaorat Sirima, Nattawat Laping The Northern smog crisis is taking its toll on the popular tourist region, with officials admitting a significant drop seen in hotel-room bookings, even in Chiang Mai, which is otherwise hugely popular as a destination for Songkran celebrations. “Thai tourists are worried that the haze will harm their health,” La-iad Boonsrithong, the president of the…
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Six arrested for drug use after raid on illegal Bangkok pub
Six customers have been arrested in a raid early today after troops and police, led by the Internal Security Operations Command, raided a Bangkok pub. The 2.30am raid on the New Jazz 2 pub in the Bangkok Noi district was made following complaints that it violated closing hour law and disturbed the neighbourhood. The six customers were arrested on drug charges.…
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Thanathorn urged to ‘fight on’ as he surrenders to Bangkok police
Hundreds of supporters gathered around the Pathumwan police station this morning as Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit handed himself in to police to face sedition charges. Barriers were placed around the police station and 620 policemen were deployed to control the crowd. When Thanathorn arrived at 10am he used a megaphone to thank his supporters who had been waiting…
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Is your web page ‘mobile first’? If not, you’re losing out.
Mobile devices have become the main points of accessing information, news, bookings and retail across South East Asia. This is now the case for more than 90% of digital users in the region. It’s not just a move to the internet from traditional media portals (TV, papers/magazines, radio), it’s a move away from desktops and laptops onto mobile platforms. According…
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Bangkok’s bye bye to Boyzone and hello to BTS
by Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul and Tim Newton In a stark reflection in the massive changes in musical tastes, music business models and the spread of world music in the last 20 years, Bangkok has witnessed the passing of one boyband icon and welcomes the next frenzy, all within 10 days. In both cases, Irish crooners Boyzone and South Korea’s BTS (Bangtan…
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Bangkok officials promise to move the communication cabling underground, again
The BMA (Bangkok Metropolitan Authority) says it will again attempt to clear the ubiquitous tangled mess of cables that hang over BKK streets. But this time they are saying they are going to put the communication cabling underground only, not the power supply. Bangkok Gov. Aswin Kwanmuang says the administration is working with the national broadcasting regulator (NBTC) to move…
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No foam parties for Songkran
by Suriya Patathayo, Jessada Chantharak Songkran foam parties are being banned this year in the interest of public safety. The announcement today from the national police deputy commissioner Pol General Chalermkiat Srivorakan.Chalermkiat says there had been several deaths and injuries by electrocution at foam parties during previous Songkran festivals. Police have also been instructed to provide security at Songkran celebration…
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ASEAN launches $1 billion investment for green projects
South East Asian governments, the Asian Development Bank and major development financiers have launched a new US$1 billion (32 billion baht) initiative to spur green infrastructure investments across the region. The launch ceremony was witnessed by Thailand’s Minister of Finance Apisak Tantivorawong and ADB President Takehiko Nakao. Senior officials from ASEAN and private sector partners also joined the ceremony. ADB…
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Boeing reveals another software problem in 737 MAX jets
US jet manufacturer Boeing says it has found a new but “relatively minor” software error in its 737 MAX jet models. The aircraft’s anti-stalling system, the MCAS, is already being investigated as the possible cause of two deadly crashes. In both cases all passengers and crew died when the Boeing 737 MAX model jets fell out of the sky after…
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Protests turn to Royal Brunei Airlines
PHOTO: Paddle Your Own Kanoo Protests over Brunei introducing draconian new laws with brutal punishments for gay sex, adultery and theft are now being aimed at the nationally-owned Royal Brunei Airlines. Virgin Australia Airlines has already confirmed it has cancelled its staff travel deal with the national carrier over the new anti-gay laws. Royal Brunei Airlines also have code-share agreements…
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Russian tourist rescued off Patong Beach
PHOTOS: Patong Surf Life Saving A Russian tourist has been rescued after getting into difficulty while swimming at Patong Beach this morning. Patong Surf Life Saving report that around 10.45am at Patong Beach a Russian tourist was spotted in the water, choking and fighting to stay afloat after being hit by a breaking wave. Lifeguards dived in and brought him…
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False Killer Whales sighted of Koh Similans in Phang Nga – VIDEO
VIDEO: Wow Andaman About ten killer whales have been sited off Koh Similans in the Andaman off the Khao Lak coast this week. Thai Rath reports that tour guides from the Wow Andaman Tour were on a speedboat with tourists in the morning at Koh Similans this week. They say they sighted about ten False Killer Whales near the boat. The…
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Motorcyclist dies after slamming into power pole in Wichit – VIDEO
A male motorcyclist has died instantly after trying to overtake a minivan and colliding with a power pole in Witchit this morning. Wichit Police report that they were notified of the incident in Soi Thep Anusorn, Wichit at 5.45am this morning. Police and emergency responders arrived to find the body of a man who was later identified as 26 year…
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