Thailand News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.
-
Sponsored 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
-
Mae Hong Son: Plane crash. Injured trooper rushed to hospital, bodies retrieved.
Rescuers have rushed an injured Army trooper to hospital and retrieved three bodies after an Army Cessna 182 light aeroplane crashed in Mae Hong Son province near the Myanmar border on Thursday. A rescue team from the 17th Infantry Regiment, local defence volunteers from Ban Huay Pheung village, the Mae Hong Song Disaster Mitigation Office as well as a medical…
-
Interview with Ben Reymenants – Phuket diver diving at the Tham Luang caves
Transcript of an interview on The Thaiger 102.75 between ‘Waking the Thaiger’ host Garry Holden and Rawai cave-diving specialist Ben Reymenants. Ben has been volunteering his experience, skills and time up at the Tham Luang caves as part of the enormous rescue effort. Here is some of Garry’s conversation with Ben – a fascinating insight into what’s been happening in…
-
Open letter from His Majesty The King
Letter from His Majesty Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun I am pleased and greatly relieved to learn that, on 2nd July, 2018, the rescuers have reach all 12 youth footballers of Moo Pa (Wild Boar) Academy Football Club and their coach who were trapped inside Tham Luang caves in Tham Luang – Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park on 23rd June, 2018. This…
-
Koh Chang: Chinese swimmers rescued off Sai Khao beach
Thai PBS is reporting that three Chinese tourists have been rescued off Koh Chang, near the Cambodian border off the coast, south of Pattaya. Rescue workers saw the three of them caught by a rip current while swimming in the sea off Sai Khao beach on early this afternoon (Wednesday) in defiance of red flags along the beach. One of the…
-
Chiang Rai: A crash course in swimming and diving
PHOTO: Thai Navy SEALS “Rescue teams have been giving crash courses in swimming and diving as part of complex preparations to evacuate the footballers trapped in Tham Luang cave.” Chiang Rai’s Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn says he still can’t be specific as to when and how the survivors would be taken out of the cave where they have been stranded since…
-
Chiang Rai: “How to get them out” – Jonathan Miller reports
Jonathan Miller from Channel 4 in the UK provided an on-the-scene look at what’s been happening just outside the Tham Luang caves as the rescuers get ready for the evacuation process.
-
Woman’s ex steals car in Pattaya
Sophon Cable reports that the Pattaya police station chief has announced the arrest of a man who stole his ex girlfriend’s car from outside her apartment. Pol Col Apichai Krobpetch says the white Yaris went missing in April and 26 year old Jinda Cheuyphonklang suspected her ex who she had just split up with. It was taken from an apartment…
-
Chiang Mai: Wife follows husband to short time hotel. It didn’t end well.
PHOTO: Sanook Sank is reporting that a Chiang Mai woman has caught her husband in bed with his mistress in a San Sai ‘short time’ hotel. The 27 year old woman, Chaweewan, created a racket outside the hotel room. Her 19 year old rival, Thitiya, eventually opened the door. Chaweewan was brandishing an automatic .380 and an argument and struggle…
-
His Majesty sends a special message to cave rescue teams
“When the mission is over, they should receive good hospitality as the Royal guests until they depart from Thailand.” – His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn His Majesty has sent a message, passed on to PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, to those working to ring the footballers out of the cave. “Initial praises are good but please remain focused on the operation, which will…
-
Thai Tourism Ministry pays 66,000 baht to Norwegian shark attack victim
PHOTO: ThaiVisa The Thai Tourism Ministry has paid out over 66,000 baht to the Norwegian shark attack victim who was attacked by a mysterious sea creature back on April 1. NewTV is reporting that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports paid the man bitten on the leg near Hua Hin in April 66,966 baht. 54 year old Werner Danielson received…
-
British paedophile bragged about abuse of Thai girls, is jailed
“The offences are very serious. It is hard to argue against the serious psychological harm.” British paedophile Stuart Bull has been sentenced to jail for more than 16 years at the Bristol Crown Court in the UK after admitting to sexually abusing children. The offences took place in the UK. He also bragged about getting young Thai girls “to do anything”.…
-
Chiang Rai: We meet the 13 trapped footballers
Video from inside the Tham Luang caves, courtesy of the Thai Navy SEAL. https://www.facebook.com/ThaiSEAL/videos/1634041306719262/
-
Chiang Mai: Convenience store robber arrested
Chiang Mai City Life is reporting that a man has been arrested after being tracked down following a robbery in Chiang Mai’s Mae Rim area. The man was dressed in grey with his face hidden with a motorcycle helmet. He was later arrested following the robbery of a convenience store on July 2nd. A 7-Eleven store at a petrol station…
-
Chiang Mai: Songtaew drivers bully a Grab car driver
PHOTO: Chiang Mai City Life The ‘old guard’ continues to try and bully the newer forms of public transport that are gaining traction around the world. Tuk tuk, taxi and songtaew thugs should probably resort to co-operating and working with Grab/Uber, etc rather than threatening them. Officials need to amend the laws as well to suit the brave-new-world of public…
-
Artwork inspired by the rescue effort in Chiang Rai
Internat art has come up with some inspiring graphics to help spur on the rescuers and their skilled work at the Tham Luang caves. Lots of tweets under the hashtags #ThamLuang, #13LivesMadeIt and #TeamWildBoarAcademy. Here’s just some.
-
Chiang Mai: High speed crash results in a roadside lychee salad
A high speed crash in Chiang Mai has resulted in a wrecked lychee truck. The incident accident happened last night (Sunday) near a school in Chiang Dao. The pick-up truck, travelling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, was found overturned with crates of lychees scattered across the road. When police found the ruck the air-bag had been deployed, such was the…
-
Chon Buri: Cambodian woman cuts off Thai husband’s penis
PHOTO: Sanook Police have arrested the jealous Cambodian wife of a Thai man this morning (Monday) after she allegedly cut off his penis. And then hid it. By the time the severed penis was found, it was too late for reattachment. The wife, identified only as 24 year old Karuna, called an emergency hotline at 6.20am asking that her 40 year…
-
Hua Hin: Seven dead after morning collision
PHOTO: Khaosod English By Jintamas Saksornchai Seven people have died, just outside the Prachuap Khiri Khan township, following a collision between a car and pick-up truck. From the police’s early investigations it appears that the truck lost control and drove into the opposite lane, trying to avoid colliding into a vehicle in front. The truck crashed into a car then the…
-
Chiang Mai: Singaporean cyclist killed in Hang Dong district
PHOTO: The New Paper 57 year old Denison Seah from Singapore was killed in an accident yesterday morning (July 1) while on a casual ride in Chiang Mai. He had lived in the northern city for the past three years. The Straits Times out of Singapore reports that he was a competitive cyclist who had taken part in numerous regional…
-
Chachoengsao: Traffic chaos – six crashes in two hours. Six injured.
Six accidents, six injured. 24 vehicles damaged. A busy morning in Chachoengsao, just to the east of Bangkok. Traffic chaos reigned in the Muang district this morning (Monday) after 24 vehicles were involved in six accidents. Six people were injured, three of them severely. The first accident occurred in the heart of Muang district at 7.30am when a pickup truck…
-
Chiang Rai: Rescuers poised to reach ‘Pattaya Beach’
Rescuers are poised to reach the so-called ‘Pattaya Beach’ chamber in the Tham Luang caves in Chiang Rai province. Efforts continue to locate the young football team missing in the cave complex for over a week. Despite strenuous efforts, the very difficult conditions have meant the rescuers have not yet been able to make any contact with the 12 missing…
-
Hopes and prayers unanswered – time is running out.
By Tim Newton Now into the ninth day. Hopes and prayers unanswered. The 12 teenagers and their coach went into the caves last Saturday afternoon (June 23) following their weekly practice. We are told they were carrying with them basic provisions, water and a first aid kit. Any provisions would now be long finished. Luckily water is in plentiful supply.…
-
Malaysian man takes 11 year old Thai girl as third wife
The Star Online is reporting that a 41 year old Malaysian father of six has is poised to marry an 11 year old Thai girl, more than 30 years younger than him, as his third wife. He went to Golok, a town on the border of Malaysia and southern Thailand, two weeks ago during Hari Raya to have the marriage…
-
Poll: 54% happy with the prospect of an election next year
According to the latest Suan Dusit poll, most Thais think it’s good news that an election is likely to be held between February 24 and May 5 next year. But they also say they’re not sure if it will actually take place at the time the Government is currently specifying. The poll of 1,136 people was held after the Government…
-
Chiang Rai: Deeper and deeper. Navy SEALS get to the 3rd chamber.
PHOTOS: The Nation A SEAL unit of the Royal Thai Navy has reportedly reached a spot inside the Tham Luang, closer to where the stranded 13 are believed to be taking refuge. The search for the 12 young football players and their coach trapped in the Chiang Rai caves enters the second week today. A report on the Thai Navy SEAL webpage…
-
Chiang Mai: Tomato truck overshoots corner in Hod district
Chiang Mai City News is reporting that a pick up delivery truck, loaded up with tomatoes for the market has over-shot a curve in the Hod District, Chaing Mai and ended up right next to a police box. Around 10pm on June 28 the incident occurred in Hod near the Tesco Lotus on the main road. A pickup truck was…
-
Chiang Rai: Border patrol policemen searching cave shafts today
Officials resumed the search operations for the 13 missing footballers in Chiang Rai’s Tham Luang Cave at 7am. Forestry officials, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation officials, border patrol policemen and officials from other agencies started preparing equipment and foods to survey shafts leading to the cave. Some prepared equipment to climb down a 40 metre deep shaft after they climbed down…
-
Bangkok: AMLO seizes bank accounts worth 134 million baht
The Anti-Money Laundering Office has sequestered about 134 million baht in bank accounts of four former senior monks implicated in the temple fund embezzlement scandal. Thai PBS is reporting that, according to the AMLO website, the seized cash deposits and bank accounts included: seven bank accounts worth 132 million baht of Phra Phrommasith, former abbot of Wat Saket; one bank…
-
Songs of hope
Messages of support are pouring in from all corners of the country as the rescue mission for 12 boys and their football coach missing in a Chiang Rai cave reached its sixth day yesterday. Popular singers, YouTube stars and a national artist have lent their moral support to rescue efforts. National artist and a Sea Write winner Nawarat Pongpaiboon penned…
-
Accessing from above. Scientists add their knowledge to the search.
By Pratch Rujivanarom in Chiang Rai Academics, experts in the local geography and local people are pitching in to provide scientific data about the Tham Luang cave network. This local intel will support the official rescue mission for the youth football team believed trapped inside. Those working on the rescue speak of a tough operation, a battle against nature, in…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.