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.
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Sponsored Answers to the most common questions about international health insurance
If you’ve been thinking of staying in Thailand long-term, you’ve probably already asked the big question, “Do I actually need international health insurance?” It’s a question that often comes up among expats, digital nomads, retirees, and even frequent travellers. Sure,...
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Scoot airline flight returns to Singapore after alleged bomb threat
File Photo Channel News Asia is reporting that budget carrier Scoot Airlines say that one of its flights bound for Thailand has returned safely to Singapore after an alleged bomb threat. Scoot say flight TR634, heading for Hat Yai, was escorted back by Singapore’s air force and that the airline was “working closely with the authorities” for necessary follow-up to ensure…
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20% of Yala men reporting for the conscription lottery test positive for drugs
It’s conscription season where Thai men over 21 have to submit for the annual lottery. Military personnel were shocked to find a hidden problem with Yala’s young men who fronted up for the military conscription lottery yesterday. More than 100 young men appearing for the first day of military conscription in Muang Yala on Tuesday tested positive for illicit drugs,…
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Narathiwat policeman shot whilst PM heads to Pattani in the south
A police captain has been shot dead in Narathiwat’s Sungai Padi district this morning in what is believed to be another insurgent attack. Pol Capt Wutthisak Poonsawat was killed behind the house of his mother-in-law in Tambon Sakor in Sungai Padi at 8am. Wutthisak, a deputy inspector of Sakor police, went to the house to take care of his fighting…
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Arms smuggler or getting ready for a crime? Songkhla resident nabbed in Satun.
PHOTO: Thai PBS A 35 year old resident old has been arrested for being found in possession of a submachine gun and 4,500 rounds of ammunition. He was nabbed at a checkpoint in Satun. Police thought he was behaving suspiciously so checked the back of his pick-up and discovered the cache of ammunition hidden in the spare tyre compartment. Along…
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“Junta has a report card for each and every critic” – Vanchai
Veteran journalist Vanchai Tantivitayapitak posted on Facebook on Monday that the ruling junta has a “report card” for each and every critic who is influential on social media, and will pay them a visit after a certain limit was reached. The post came after his resignation at the end of March from news station PPTV, where he was a senior…
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Won’t lift the ban. Might amend it – PM Prayut
PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha has dismissed a concerted call by major political parties to lift a controversial junta order that prevents political activities. He said the directive “may be amended on certain issues” in order to help get rid of “administrative problems” raised by the various existing and new parties. Prayut, in his capacity as head of the National Council…
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Three die, three injured, in Bangkok apartment blaze
Three people have died and three others injured after a fire broke out in a Bangkok apartment early today (Tuesday), trapping 24 tenants. The fire started at the 15-storey Ratchathewi Apartment building on Soi Phetchaburi 18 off Phetchaburi Road in Ratchathewi district at about 2am. Ten fire engines responded to the emergency call. However, as the soi is…
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Trucks and buses caught speeding more than 17 million times last year
Cargo trucks and public transport buses in Thailand were found to have been speeding beyond the legal limit on more than 17 million occasions last year, according to a GPS-based study by a Bangkok-based university. The study puts definitive proof at the feet of the Thai government and transport officials in the wake of several appalling weeks on Thai roads,…
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30,000 people line up for free herbal cancer ‘cure’
People will go to any lengths in desperation to find a cure for a life-threatening disease. When it comes to cancer, fear and mis-information are a dangerous combination and can lead to people taking risks with almost anything or anyone offering a remedy to their condition. An estimated 30,000 cancer patients and their relatives showed up yesterday (Sunday) outside the…
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‘Daeng’ on the mend after being shot with arrow in Udon Thani
A stray dog living in a public park in Udon Thani’s Muang district, which was seen with an arrow piercing its left eyebrow on Friday morning, was captured, sent for treatment at Bamrungraks Animal Hospital and now recovering from its adventures. The whole sad story of Daeng, the stray dog, was captured by Facebook user Napassorn JowYing Hodges. Napassorn, who…
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Border-bound train shot at by suspected militants
Gunman are reported to have opened fire at a train in Narathiwat last evening (March 31). No passengers have been reported as injured. At about 5.30 pm, the Surat Thani/Sungai Kolok train had just left Cho Airong district railway station. After approximately 500 metres from the station gunfire was heard by the driver and some passengers. The train driver didn’t…
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Abandoning the cap – Campaign to get rid of bottle cap seals starts today
By Pratch Rujivanarom Thai bottled water producers have responded well to a plan to stop using cap seals, which will not only decrease plastic waste but also reduce unnecessary production costs. In a campaign kicking off today, the Pollution Control Department plans to totally abandon the use of cap seals on bottled water by the end of 2019. Five giant…
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Driver says fire started in luggage compartment – Tak bus tragedy
A news story from Thai Residents is saying that the driver of a tour bus in Tak which was completely destroyed by fire and killed 20 Burmese workers and injured 3 others, claims a cigarette butt which got into the luggage compartment sparked the blaze. His claim has not been confirmed by forensic police at this stage. 47 passengers, all…
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82-year-old assault victim dies – Assailant faces new charges
A 21 year old motorcyclist, alleged to have assaulted an 82 year old tricycle-riding scavenger over a minor collision in Bangkok’s Huai Kwang district on March 13, has been hit with an additional charge of causing death to another person by inflicting injury without intent to cause death. The new charge was filed against Narathorn Sodetiyung, son of a Pratunam-based…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, March 30
NACC non-commital on Prawit’s watches | Maya Bay closes down over monsoon season | Songkran back-flip over water throwing from pick-ups | Calls to end the duty free monopoly at Thai airports | Yingluck & Thaksin show up together in Japan | More crackdown on illegal foreign teachers at international schools. As this is the final Thaiger Today episode for…
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UPDATE: Tak bus disaster – 20 Burmese workers burned to death
PHOTO: Thai PBS The badly-burned bodies of 20 Burmese workers killed in a bus fire in Tak’s Muang district early on Friday will be sent about 150 kilometres to two hospitals in Phitsanulok for identification. The bodies were initially sent to the Tak provincial hospital. Due to a lack of equipment required for the disaster victim identification process, that hospital…
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Songkran back-flip
Songkran revellers are welcoming news the government will relax its ban to allow them to splash water from the beds of pickups this year – just one of a number of back-flips on previously announced prohibitions for the 2018 Thai New Year celebrations. The water festival in mid-April, the hottest month of the year, is known worldwide. One tradition sees…
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Police junior officers revolting over AC contributions
A junior policeman is crying foul over his supervisors’ demand that he contribute money for the purchase of a new air-conditioner at their police station. Pol Sgt-Major 3rd Class Lersak Nonkhuntod, who works at the Phaholyothin Police Station in Bangkok, lodged a complaint with both the Metropolitan Police Bureau and the Office of Public-Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). Due to the…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, March 29
NACC hands down decision on Prawit case today | Patong and Kamala are #1 in international affordable 5 star hotel survey | Snake under a taxi | French tourist dies after visit to Emerald Cave | Woman push back on calls for females to ‘dress appropriately’ during Songkran | Police juniors complain about their wages being docked for boss’s air…
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Sexual harassment isn’t our fault, it’s mens’ – Sirinya “Cindy” Bishop
A well-known model has launched a social-media campaign to tackle the widespread and erroneous belief that sexual harassment stems from a woman’s choice of clothes. Sirinya “Cindy” Bishop, who is also an actress, has used social media to counter recent messages propagated by authorities that sexual harassment can be stopped by urging women not to dress in a revealing way.…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, March 28
Dos and Don’ts for Songran this year | Red Cross calling for blood donations leading up to the Thai New Year holiday | PM confident of the election road-map timing | 2 drown off Songkhla | Report card for Phuket Airport, and it’s not good | Charges against bus company for last week’s Nakhon Ratchasima crash | Human rights campaigner…
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Thai disability sailing gets a boost
In exciting news for the disabled sailing community worldwide, the S\V14 organisation are proud to announce that FarEast Yachts will produce the S\V14 at their production base in China and in a remarkable offer, will supply the first one thousand S\V14’s at a subsidized price of US$ 3,000 for the base boat ex works Shanghai. FarEast Yachts have also agreed…
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Torching hornets nest causes 20 rai forest fire in Mae Hong Son
Two men from Myanmar have been arrested for inadvertently causing a forest fire that damaged some 20 rai of forest in the Khun Yuam district of Mae Hong Son province. Firefighters, district officials and rangers of the Ranger Company 3605 rushed to the forest in Moo 1 village in Tambon Khun Yuam, Khun Yuam district at 4.30pm after they saw…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, March 27
Premchai being sued in civil case | New type of ‘start up’ visa on the way | Amorous Russians have left the country | Grab taking over Uber in South East Asia | Underwater gamblers in hot water | New Mae Hong Son flights from DMK | Arsonist lit fires on 10 vehicles in Chonburi | Road resurfacing magic in…
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Thailand Number 14 in road accident ratings. Which is the most dangerous country on the roads?
Compiling data from the World Health Organisation, World Bank and UNESCO, here is the latest ranking for road deaths around the world. Of course the situation changes every day but Thailand is in very poor company indeed with countries having a rate of more than 30 deaths per 100,000 people from road accidents. Thailand is, today, in 14th position around…
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Four Malaysians arrested over alleged call-centre scam
Tourist police have arrested four Malaysian men who allegedly worked for a call-centre scam gang by transferring victims’ money to Dubai. The arrests were announced today at the Phaholyothin police station in Bangkok today (Monday). Police say the four suspects collaborated with Thai accomplices to steal Internet banking account details and OTPs (one-time passwords) from three Thai victims. They allegedly…
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New ‘Start Up Camp’ visas on offer soon
The Thai government is to offer ‘Start-up Camp’ visas to foreign IT and tech experts, this from the PM’s Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakool. Areas affected will include Phuket, Chiang Mai, Bangkok and the Eastern Economic Corridor. The government will also revamp the tax law to encourage start-ups to stay here instead of later moving to low-tax regime countries such as…
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Earth Hour saves power, lowers emissions – Bangkok
Bangkok saved 2,002 megawatts of electricity as a result of observing the 2018 Earth Hour last night (Saturday). Deputy Bangkok Governor Chakkapan Phewngam revealed the results, explaining further that the figures meant savings of 7.9 million baht and the reduction of 1,026 tonnes of carbon monoxide emissions. In the capital, the Earth Hour event was held at Central Plaza Grand…
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Bus driver admits taking methamphetamine before fatal journey
The 44 year old driver (reported to be 45 in other media) of the bus which crashed in Nakhon Rachasim on Wednesday night, killing 18, was arrested in roadside buses where police found him hiding after he fled the crash-scene as emergency responders dragged the dead bodies from the wreckage. Krissana Juthachuen has admitted that he used methamphetamine to keep…
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Air Asia mea culpa over bike unloading
AirAsia has apologised to cyclists whose bicycles were seen to be poorly handled by ramp staff in a viral video. As a gesture of goodwill the low-cost airline is waiving all fees to transport bicycles for April, said its CEO Riad Asmat. “As a cyclist myself, I was pretty disturbed when I saw the actions of our staff. Rest assured,…
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