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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Police hunting for thief who snatched a restaurant TV
Thalang Police were notified of a thief who snatched a television from ‘Jae Jeab’ restaurant on Thepkrasattri Road, 300 metres from the Heroines Monument last night (June 5). Police arrived at the scene to find 49 year old Usa ‘Jae Jeab’ Silapa, the restaurant owner. Police checked CCTV footage of the restaurant (on another TV obviously). A man age between…
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Last hurdle to Thai election cleared
FILE PHOTO: The Nation Activists sceptical over a promise of a poll next February, say they’re still insisting on Thailand going to an election this year. After several postponements, the Thai PM has promised Thailand’s first election in five years is set to be held next February. All legal hurdles were finally cleared yesterday with the approval by the Constitutional…
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Thailand Event Round-Up – June 2018
by Paul Poole, PAUL POOLE (SOUTH EAST ASIA) June is the month for runners in Thailand. One of Thailand’s most hotly anticipated sporting events take place on June 9 & 10, the popular Laguna Phuket International Marathon. Now in its 13th year, the race is one of the most well-attended races in Asia with runners flying to Phuket from all…
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Thai industry declares war on plastic pollution
It seems the relentless media reporting, photo evidence, social media and horrendous stories about sea creatures being washed ashore consumed by plastics, has now forced Thai leaders to push the issue of plastic use to the top of their priority list. 20 ministries and the private sector have launched a campaign to reduce the use of plastic bags to mark…
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Kids aged six and seven swamping tourist police emergency line with prank calls
Prank calls are a problem for emergency hotlines everywhere in the world. Even the demure, outwardly polite Thai kids are getting in on the act these days. Three children, aged just six and seven, were among eight callers that have made 644 calls in total to the tourist police’s emergency line, keeping the 1155 number needlessly occupied. This was announced…
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Kalasin pagoda collapse – Initial investigation points to three factors
The collapse of an ancient pagoda under restoration at Wat Kud Wa in Kalasin’s Kuchinarai district yesterday morning, resulting in the death of one worker and four others being injured, stemmed from three main causes. Authorities begun a probe into the Pagoda’s collapse almost immediately yesterday. Kalasin’s public works and city planning officer, Weerachai Kaewhawong, cites three factors: construction work…
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Two rangers injured in grenade attack – Yala
Two para-military rangers in Yala have been injured after two M79 grenades, launched by suspected militants, exploded in their barracks. The attack took place near a village in Bannang Sata District of Yala province last night (Monday). The two rangers, Cpl Thoranin Insuan and Witthaya Sriraksa, were on duty in the barracks when the two grenades were fired into…
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Two suspects arrested with 250,000 methamphetamine pills
Police have arrested 40 year old Manasae ‘Sae’ Toebu and 40 year old Hama ‘Ma’ Lasae, both from Yala. Police seized 250,000 methamphetamine pills as part of the raid. Police made the announcement today at a media conference at the Provincial Region 8 headquarters based in Mai Khao. The pair have been taken to Sai Khao Police Station in Krabi where…
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Rabies confined to one puppy in Prachuap Khiri Khan
PHOTO: File Photo Authorities in Prachuap Khiri Khan are playing down a rabies threat after the death of an American bulldog puppy from the disease in Kui Buri district, south of Hua Hin, last month. The Prachuap Khiri Khan Livestock Development Office says that it has found no other infected animals in the area. It says its taken action to control…
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Now, THAT’S a mushroom!
Doi Tao, south of Chiang Mai, is where a five year old has found a giant mushroom, known locally as ‘hed jan’. Local villagers from the Ban Ko Luang, Pong Thung in Doi Tao were astonished when a five year old local, called Bell, turned up at home with an enormous mushroom on his shoulder that he says he collected…
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Protests planned outside Government House over ‘hazardous chemicals’ decision
Anti-paraquat protesters are going to rally out the front of Government House today. Around 300 rubber planters are set to join members of a network of organisations protesting against anti-hazardous substances being allowed in Thai agriculture. They say they are protesting against the continued use of the agro-chemicals paraquat, chlorpyrifos and glyphosate. President of the association of rubber planters, Sunthorn…
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Phuket thunderstorms bring floods and a landslide
Heavy rains across Phuket this morning (June 5) have caused peak hour road flooding, congestion and landslides. Just south of the Heroines Monument, Thepkrasattri Road was flooded in front of the Muslim Wittaya Phuket School in Koh Kaew. In Kathu there was flooding on a chaotic Phra Phuket Kaew Road. Adding to this morning’s traffic woes were the daily drop-offs…
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Tropical depression over South China Sea
PHOTO: Rain sweeping across Da Nang, Vietnam Travellers planning to head to Vietnam and China’s Hainan Island during June 5-8 are being urged to check the weather before their departure. The Thai Meteorological Department says… “the tropical depression over the upper South China Sea was centered about 255 km. east of Da Nang, Vietnam, or latitude 16.5 degree North, longitude…
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“I was just aiding the Thai Government”. Cambodian arrested over alleged cybercrime.
A Cambodia man, escorted to Thailand for questioning last week, denies he had been arrested saying he went voluntarily to assist in the cybercrime investigation relating to the Thai PM. Thai Tourist Police say that Heng Ratanak, thought to be the owner of the Thai-language click-bait website ratstas.com, had uploaded allegedly false information that “is likely to damage the country’s security…
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Phuket’s Ao Kung residents oppose marina project
Locals from the Ao Kung community, in the far north of the Phuket, along with environmentalists, are expressing serious concern about the building of a new marina. The 120 million baht marina project will have the capacity to accommodate up to 72 yachts. Locals say the proposed marina is very close to the Ao Kung bay and will threaten coral…
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Phuket film festival honours the late King Rama 9
Phuket is honouring the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej by presenting nine Thai movies made during his reign for an exhibition being held at SFX Cinema Central Festival Phuket from June 4-6. It’s part of a national film exhibition, selecting films produced during King Rama 9’s reign and showing them around the country. Yesterday (June 4) the opening ceremony was held…
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Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa donates hundreds of helmets for annual road safety event
Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa is teaming up with several leading hotels and resorts in Hua Hin teach Thai schoolchildren about the importance of motorcycle safety – and specifically, wearing a helmet. On May 30, 2018, the hotel’s associates joined a major CSR activity at the Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, during which hundreds of kids from local…
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TECNO Mobile and Manchester City Football Club developing Thai youth football talent
Football inspires Thai people like no other sport. Whether a player, spectator or follower of an English Premier League team, Thai people are passionate about the sport and unwavering in support of their team. Thai youngsters play football from an early age at schools, on the streets, in the parks and dream of one day becoming a professional like their…
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Phuket taxi driver disappears after Thalang road accident
A taxi has had a collision with a power pole in Thalang this morning but when police arrived there was no one in the car. Thalang Police were notified of an accident this morning (June 4) at 6.30am on Don Jom Tao Road in Thalang. Thalang Police and emergency responders arrived at the scene to find a white Toyota Fortuner…
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Pilot whale beaches itself in Songkhla
PHOTOS: ThaiWhales’ Facebook page A pilot whale has died in Songkhla after being cared for by a team of vets and villagers over four days. What they found in a subsequent autopsy shocked everyone. The 4.5 metre pilot whale beached itself on the shore in the Chana district of Songkhla on May 29. Villagers and veterinarians from the local marine and…
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The evolution of an island – Phuket’s rise and rise
PHOTO: Banyan Tree Phuket “Thailand’s great push forward on mega-transportation projects is seeing strong dividends being paid in its tourism industry. One key example is Phuket, where passenger arrivals grew by nearly 19% in the first four month of the year at the newly upgraded and expanded international airport.” By Bill Barnett Why Phuket? One only has to look at…
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Southern monsoon has arrived – rain predicted around the country
All parts of Thailand are likely to see heavy rains this week with the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) ordering its offices to prepare accordingly. During June 4-7, according to the Thai Meteorological website, the southwest monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand. They say this will cause more rain and isolated heavy showers. “The…
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17 year old motorbike driver dies in Paklok accident
Thalang Police were notified of an accident on Saturday night (June 2) at 11.30pm near the Heroines Monument – Paklok Road in front of Sitti Srisoonthorn Bamrong School (Baan Pak Cheed School) in Thalang. Rescue workers arrived at the scene to find a teenager who was later identified as 17 year old Wasurat ‘Oat’ Palapon from Khon Kaen. Wasurat had…
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BMW eyes bright future for electric cars in Thailand
That growth makes Thailand number three in the world in terms of market acceptance of PHEVs, according to Krisda Utamote, BMW Group Thailand’s director of corporate communications. Christian Wiedmann, president of BMW Thailand, says the German carmaker would continue churning out new electric vehicle models due to confidence in its global market expansion, with Thailand included. “In Thailand, BMW is…
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‘Phuket City of Gastronomy’ festival underway
The Phuket City of Gastronomy event is back for the fourth year and being held this week in Phuket Town. Read more about Phuket’s street-foodie fest HERE. The event was officially opened last Friday (June 1) at the 72nd Anniversary Queen Sirikit Park on Thalang Road in Phuket Town by Phuket’s Governor Norraphat Plodthong and the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) Deputy…
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Phuket light rail and Patong tunnel project update
The Phuket light-rail-project is now in the process of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) update while the Patong tunnel project is hunting for investors. A meeting’s been held between the Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong and Wilairat Sirisoponsil, the deputy director of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP). Ms Wilairat says, “the Phuket light rail project is to…
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Thai teen pregnancy education gets real
The Education Ministry will include a test on sex education and life skills in the Ordinary National Educational Test (Onet) from this year forward as a part of efforts to prevent teen pregnancy. “We will soon inform all students about this decision via their schools,” Deputy Prime Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya said on the weekend. The decision was reached at…
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Sorry, we’re closed for maintenance
The closure of Maya Bay and Boracay island in The Philippines is part of a brave new management strategy to save these, and other, mass tourism magnets from long-term vandalism – to a point where they are beyond reclamation and salvation. Maya Bay closed on June 1 for four months. During this time tour boats will be able to travel…
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Two race finale wraps up successful 2018 Samui Regatta
PHOTO: Java Yachting The sun teased and the wind held steady on the final day of the 2018 Samui Regatta. Race Officer Ross Chisholm set two windward/ leewards for the keelboat and multihulls classes while it was a three-race showdown for the Hydrofoil Kites off Mae Nam Beach. It’s been a week of dominance by Kevin and Tom Whitcraft and…
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Air Asia flight arrives in Hua Hin. Hey, it’s a really big deal!!
One flight a day, four times a week. Hua Hin Today goes grand with its headlines about the inaugural Air Asia flight. It’s straight out of the 1930s… “Hua Hin Realises the Age of International Flight” “In what may prove to be a game-changing event for the local tourism industry, Hua Hin airport has welcomed the inaugural Air Asia direct flight…
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