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 Bangtao, Phuket: The neighbourhood expats and investors are eyeing in 2025
Bangtao didn't become Phuket’s most talked-about neighbourhood overnight. For a long time, it was a quiet place on the island’s west coast where locals walked their dogs at sunrise and tourists flocked to sunbathe along its eight-kilometre stretch of beach....
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Two Russians arrested after visas cancelled over threat to blow up consular offices
Two Russians have been arrested for refusing to leave Thailand after their visas were cancelled for threatening to blow up the honorary consular offices of Russia in Chon Buri and Rayong. Pol Colonel Songprode Sirisukha, chief of the Chon Buri Immigration Office, said Dmitry Revtovich and Ilia Gilev had been arrested under a Pattaya Court warrant dated September 6 on…
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Rawai Mayor confirms lifeguards patrolling Nai Harn Beach everyday
Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos has confirmed that Nai Harn Beach has lifeguards to keep an eye on beachgoers every day. The Mayor claims that some news agencies have stated that four famous Phuket beaches, including Nai Harn Beach, don’t have lifeguards. “This news has damaged Phuket tourism a lot. All 12 beaches have lifeguards every day.” Mayor Aroon says, “We…
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No more smoking in public in Thailand
Smokers heading outside the front of buildings in Thailand for a quick cigarette will soon be a thing of the past. New laws have been enacted that will shortly come into force. New regulations have been issued by the Department of Public Health which will force smokers to stay well away from public buildings and public areas. The ban will…
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I am not racist – Surachete Hakparn
by Kornkamon Aksorndech The acting Immigration Police chief Pol Maj-General Surachate Hakparn, who recently was promoted to the job because of his relentless crackdowns on foreigners, is vowing to continue with his mission of removing overstaying or illegal foreigners. But netizens are raising questions of racism, as a large proportion of the foreigners nabbed in recent months were of African…
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Taxi operators want new rates to apply to all taxis
Taxi companies are urging Thailand’s Department of Land Transport (DLT) to apply a new taxi fare to all taxis, not just members of the TAXI OK program. According to DLT Deputy Director General, Kamol Buranapong , a meeting was recently held between the DLT and taxi companies which are facing rising operating costs. The DLT proposed that either a 3 baht…
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Meliá Hotels International signs up Meliá Phuket Karon
Meliá Hotels International, a leading Spanish hotel company, has announced the signing of Meliá Phuket Karon, the second property in Thailand, followed by Meliá Phuket Mai Khao. Meliá Phuket Karon will be the group’s sixth property in Thailand, continuing their dedication in providing exceptional hospitality with a Spanish touch, to the island’s thriving accommodation market. Scheduled to open in 2021,…
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Facebook adds income stream for Thai gamers
Geek alert. Facebook is going to allow gamers in Thailand to earn income off their ‘livestreams’. Facebook currently has 51 million users in Thailand, the Kingdom’s favourite social media platform At the Thailand Game Show this year, the social media giant said it will allow viewers to send “stars” to the gamers as the livestream progresses. Each star is worth 0.99 baht…
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Thai 11 year old wins women’s world drone racing championships
Go Wanraya!! An 11 year old Thai girl, Wanraya Wannapong, has won the women’s title in the World Drone Racing Championships held last Sunday in Shenzhen, China. The event is organised by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. The Thai drone ‘master’ beat 12 other women to become the youngest winner in the category, as reported in the Bangkok Post. She won a…
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Public hearings planned for bill to legalise transgender cohabitation
PHOTO: Coconuts BKK Public hearings are to be held in the capital and other provinces on November 12-16 to gauge opinions from stakeholders about the ‘partnership bill’. The Bill would, for the first time in Thailand, legalise the cohabitation of transgenders. In Bangkok the hearing will be held at the Miracle Hotel while in the provinces, hearings are to be…
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Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
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Phoenix salvage team walks away from contract – police to take over
A private sector company has walked away from the contract to salvage the ‘Phoenix’ and bring it back to the surface after numerous failed attempts and two months of excuses why they were unable to resurface the vessel. The company continually complained about weather and strong currents despite many calm days during their fruitless two months of operations. They have…
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Central Floresta and overpass officially opened
The ‘soft’ opening for the new Central Floresta was on September 10. Now the new shopping centre has had its official endorsement. The Thai Minister of Transport yesterday officially opened the Central Floresta and walkway, linking Central Festival and Floresta. The opening ceremony was lheaded up by the Minister of Transport Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, the Phuket Governor Pakkapong Tawipat and Wallaya Chirathivat,…
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UPDATE: Investigation into Lion Air crash – one week later
A few key new facts have emerged in recent days as the search for the plane fuselage and the investigations continue… • Lion Air Flight 610 was intact with its engines running when it crashed at high speed into the Java Sea • Investigators have already determined that Flight 610 did not explode in the air and was in “good shape”…
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University Dean hands over iPad evidence in Chiang Mai upskirt case
by Thanakorn Wongnang A Chiang Mai University dean has turned over to police an iPad belonging to a former lecturer at the school who has been accused of using it last month to take photos beneath female students’ skirts. The lecturer has not been publicly named at this stage. It’s understood that Associate Professor Prapa Sukkasem, dean of the Faculty…
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Blacktip reef shark found dead in a bag at Maya Bay
National Park officers are investigating following the death of a blacktip reef shark found in a bag at Maya Bay at Koh Phi Phi Ley. A foreign dive instructor at Phi Phi Island posted a picture of a blacktip reef shark found dead inside a bag in a LINE group ‘Phi Phi Island news informs’ with a message reading “a…
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Man questioned over bestiality “club” in northern Thailand
PHOTO: The alleged organiser of the Bobo bestiality club (right) is interviewed by police at his home (Image by Watchdog Thailand, censored to comply with Thai law) A man who was allegedly running a bestiality “club” near the northern Thai capital of Chiang Mai has been questioned by police after an investigation lasting more than a year by animal rights…
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Thaiger Radio News – Monday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
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The ‘war on drugs’ is a complete failure
Authorities are losing the war against methamphetamines – pills and crystal meth. The demand for both crystal meth and ‘yaba’ is escalating as is the production to meet the increasing demand. The much-publicised ‘Wars on Drugs’ being waged from time to time in south east asian countries are doing little dent the rising popularity and production of the drugs, whilst…
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Boats warned to avoid the area of the burnt out yacht
The Phuket Marine office is warning boats to be careful when going near the area where the ‘Emmjay’ yacht was destroyed after burins to its waterline on Saturday. The announcement states that, due to the ‘Emmjay’ yacht catching fire on Saturday afternoon while traveling between Koh Ngam and Koh Payu in Paklok, and later sinking, boats should be very careful…
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UPDATE: Man dies during Thai massage
Relevant authorities are investigating a massage parlour where a client died during a massage. The Health Establishment Bureau director Dr Pattarapon Jungsomjatepaisal said they are checking the business. “We will check if it is operating with a proper licence and if its masseur or masseuse is certified.” He noted that the victim’s wife has not filed a complaint with police…
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Cash for sea turtle eggs
by Pratch Rujivanrom Cash for spotting sea turtle nests. That’s the promise from national parks officers along the Andaman coast who are offering cash rewards for anyone who discovers sea turtle nests and notifies park officers. The innovative scheme is another attempt to protect the local endangered species from extinction. Marine National Park Operation Centre 2 in Phuket has announced…
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Event round-up November 2018
by The Sponsorship Experts, Paul Poole (South East Asia) The month kicks off with the last Spartan Thailand race of the year, held in Hua Hin on 3 November. Participants can choose between two different courses, the 21km Spartan Beast race with more than 30 obstacles designed to really push people to their limits, and the 5km Spartan Sprint race…
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Pattaya – Hua Hin ferry service back again for high season
PHOTO: Talk News The Pattaya – Hua Hin ferry service has started again for the high season. The Hua Hin deputy chief Chareewat Phramanee has confirmed that Royal Passenger Liner will operate a daily service again between Hua Hin and Pattaya during the high season. The service was suspended in September, with Royal Passenger Liner blaming the drop in numbers…
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7/11 to add laundry and dry-cleaning
PHOTO: Spring News 7/11 are rolling out another new service in Bangkok from this week. You’ll be able to get a raspberry slurpie, hot toastie and drop off your laundry and dry cleaning at the same time. The 24 hour service is expected to expand to the rest of the country’s 7/11 stores in the middle of 2019. Netizens have…
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Pattaya expat dies from injuries suffered during WBC Bangkok fight
SCREENSHOT: Christian Daghio fighting Don Parueang on October 26 – ทีเคโอ มวยโลก An Italian man, and former world champion in Muay Thai and boxing, has tragically died following a fight in Bangkok. Thai Visa reports that 49 year old Christian Daghio died on Friday in a Bangkok hospital after being put in a coma due to injuries suffered during a WBC Asia…
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Customer dies during Thai massage
Questions are being posed on social media, “how safe is a Thai massage?” Thai media is sharing the story after a video was posted of a Thai man who died while having a massage. “Ton”, the younger brother of the victim, explained what happened to Sanook. Ton says that his brother had been playing football with friends and suffered a twisted…
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Nine British passengers escape luxury yacht fire
PHOTOS: Newshawk Phuket / The Phuket PR Office. VIDEO: ออส สมทิพย์ A luxury yacht has been completely destroyed after catching fire north off Koh Ngam in Phang Nga Bay yesterday. Nine Bristish passengers were saved and unhurt in the incident. The Phuket Marine Police were notified by rescue workers that a boat had caught fire after being hit by lightning.…
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Thailand drops in English proficiency levels
English proficiency in Thailand is getting worse. The latest EF English Proficiency Index ranks Thailand in 64th place out of 88 countries, with an overall ranking of ‘low proficiency’. In 2017, Thailand ranked in 53rd place out of 80 countries and in 2011 Thailand was #42. The rating has been seesawing over the past six years but the trend has been…
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Luxury yacht completely destroyed by fire in Phang Nga Bay
VIDEOS: ออส สมทิพย์ / Newshawk Phuket A luxury yacht caught fire yesterday afternoon (Saturday) off Koh Ngam, near Laem Sai in Paklok on the north-east coast of Phuket in Phang Nga Bay. The white sloop, called ‘Emmjay’, was 51 feet in length. The fire started around 4.45pm. At this stage investigators believe it was hit by lightening, setting off the…
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900,000 meth pills and 3 kilos of ‘ice’ seized after brief shoot-out
Two suspected drug smugglers have been arrested at a Chiang Rai hotel following a short shootout with police. Police also seized 900,000 methamphetamine pills and three kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Acting on a tip-off, a team of narcotics suppression police staked out at a border point in Ban Tham Phatong in Tambon Tha Sud in Chiang Rai’s Muang district. They…
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