News
Stay up-to-date with the latest news from across Thailand and beyond with The Thaiger. Our dedicated team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from this stunning part of the world, covering a diverse range of topics, including local politics, business, culture, and tourism. Keep yourself informed about the Kingdom’s rich history, stunning landscapes, and thriving expat communities, as well as updates on events, attractions, and transportation.
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5 hidden healthcare costs in Thailand and how to avoid them
Thailand's healthcare system is affordable and supported by the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme, offering essential services to most citizens. However, hidden healthcare costs can surprise patients and lead to unexpected expenses. These include specialist fees, insurance gaps, emergency services,...
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No tickets. No travel agents. Back in 2001 the new Air Asia was a gamble.
Stepping onto an Air Asia plane these days, or one of its regional affiliates, it’s hard to imagine that back in 2001, ex-music business executive had to mortgage his house and raise venture capital to buy a failed airline. That new airline would revolutionize the aviation business. Re-lanching it as Air Asia, the airline has re-shaped the Asian aviation industry…
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Freak needle-fish accident kills Thai Navy cadet
Photos: Khaosod, Wassana Nanuam / Facebook Thai navy special forces have reported the tragic loss of one of its cadets during a ‘freak’ training accident on Thursday. While in training to join an elite Navy unit, 22 year old Navy trainee Kriangsak Pengpanich was struck in the neck by a needlefish moving at high speed. The carnivorous shallow water fish are…
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Diamond thief captured on Thai border
by Kittipong Maneerit He read about a gem-seller wanting to sell a diamond valued at 10 million baht. So he set up a fake gem shop in Bangkok for the sole purpose of preparing a sting to lure the seller into his ‘shop’. The man fell for it and was robbed of his precious stone. The 59 year old thief…
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Blood is thicker than water. But not always in Thai politics.
PHOTOS: The Nation, Thai PBS The Juangroongruangkit family may share genes and parts of the family empire. But there’s one thing they can’t agree on. Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the young and charismatic leader of the new Future Forward party, has tow members of his immediate family show have teamed up with the pro-government Palang Pracharat party. In an interview, Thanathorn says he regretted…
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Thaiger Radio News – Saturday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
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Saman Kunan’s bronze statue arrives in Chiang Rai
The bronze statue made in commemoration of Lieutenant-Commander Saman Kunan, aka. Ja Sam, a former Navy SEAL member who died in the dramatic rescue operation at Tham Luang caves, has arrived at Wat Rongkhun. The wat is a famous temple of the Chiang Rai province. The statue arrived on a truck from a foundry in Ayutthaya province where it was…
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10 million baht gem heist getaway motorcycle belonged to dead Thai man
The getaway motorcycle used in the theft of a 10 million baht diamond from a fake jewelry store, set up for the heist, in Bangkok’s Bang Rak district on Tuesday belonged to a long-deceased Thai man. The motorcycle, which the two suspects abandoned at Soi Wat Doung Khae in Pathumwan district, was found yesterday. Police are now investigating how it…
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“Meute” House/Techno marching band at Wonderfruit
PHOTO: Steffi Rettinger Just drums and brass, that’s all they need. Hailing from Hamburg, Germany this modern take on the marching band concept is comprised of eleven musicians and, boy, are they good! With their iconic red jackets this group dares to rearrange house and techno music to bring it to the street. Started in 2015 by trumpet player Thomas Burhorn, this…
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‘Wonderfruit’ so far – in pictures
Photo: Monocle.com Wonderfruit music festival is taking place right now in Pattaya, and you should be there. Founded by Pranitan “Pete” Phornprapha alongside musician friend Montonn “Jay” Jira in December 2014 the festival prides itself in its go green attitude and pledge to social responsibility and raising awareness. Photo: Mont LD Watanasiriroch (Facebook) Photo: Instagram/Bitoeysiam A blend of burning man and…
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506 more people rounded up and arrested in latest immigration sting
PHOTO: The Nation Police have rounded up and arrested another 506 foreigners in their X-Ray Outlaw campaign, mostly for living illegally in the Kingdom. The results of the recent operations, checking foreigners nationwide, were announced at another late night media conference at the Grace Hotel on Soi Sukhumvit 3 at 1:30 am today by the deputy Immigration Bureau chief. He said…
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Krabi man arrested after shooting his friend with an M16 rifle
The Plai Praya Police in Krabi have been notified that a man has sustained serious injuries after being shot at a house in Plai Praya. Police and emergency responders arrived to find blood all over the floor. Bullet holes were found in the windows and doors of the residence. Four M16 rifle cartridges were found on the ground 23 year…
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Thaiger Radio News – Friday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
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Vietnam’s sixth airline takes off on December 29
The local airline business in Vietnam is hotting up with Bamboo Airlines poised to take to the skies. The new airline says it intends to fly its first domestic service on December 29. The first flight will depart Hanoi for the resort town of Quy Nhon where the airline’s parent company operates a hotel. ttrweekly.com is reporting that Vietnam’s fifth…
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Fake goods seized in Patong and Central Festival
Officers have raided shops near Patong Beach and the Central Department Store. Officers seized counterfeit goods and arrested suspects yesterday. In Patong, the team of officers raided shops near Patong Beach and Soi Bangla. 468 counterfeit items were seized from 11 shops. All seized items have now been taken to the Patong Police Station. Officers also raid shops at the Central Department…
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PM comes under attack after political bans lifted
Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and his governmental coming under attack from politicians taking advantage of the junta’s lifting of political restrictions. The ban was officially lifted on Tuesday allowing commentary about politics, including criticism of other politicians and parties. Most of the parties who have been speaking up so far are linked to fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin has…
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Thailand’s Islamic council bans children under 17 from marrying
by Kornrawee Panyasuppakun The Central Islamic Council of Thailand (CICOT)’s has passed a new regulation banning children under the age of 17 from marriage. But there is a loophole in the new regulation. Thailand’s Islamic council has, for the first time, issued a ban on child marriage nationwide. This follows public anger sparked by the marriage back in July of…
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Noodle sellers dodging police bullets in Chiang Mai
PHOTOS: Manager Online When people fire guns, the bullets that miss still end up somewhere. Like into the cooking pot of a surprised noodle seller in Chiang Mai! The man selling noodles was working the late night shift on a road leading to Mae Rim, according to Manager Online. He had a very lucky escape after a bullet shell-casing hit…
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17 year old student arrested for running porn site
PHOTO: The Nation A young male university student has been arrested over charges of running a pornographic photo website in which paid members were given access to some 300,000 pictures of net idols and other celebrities. Using VK, Line and Facebok the 17 year old (name withheld due to age) uploaded the pictures to the “Kodwarp” page which could then…
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UPDATE: Man arrested for possessing exotic wild cats
In a follow up to our article yesterday about the man being arrested ‘in possession of exotic mixed wild cats;, Junie Kovacs, the Founder of the Lanta Animal Welfare has sent The Thaiger an update, saying… “Even though members from Lanta Animal Welfare and wild life officers tried to convince the man that it would be best to sterilise the kittens, he…
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Assets valued at 39 million baht seized in Magic Skin case
And there’s more to come, according to investigators… The AMLO (Anti-Money Laundering Office) seized 19 million baht cash and two luxury cars in the ‘Magic Skin’ scandal. The seizure was ordered after they allegedly supplied sub-standard cosmetics and weight- loss products. The AMLO have also seized two luxury cars worth 10 million baht each. A spokesperson for the AMLO says that the case…
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Chinese man who allegedly murdered wife now in custody
A Chinese man who allegedly murdered his wife, is now in custody at the Phuket Provincial Court. The alleged crime happened in October. The Kamala Police Chief says he will face a murder charge if police find that he killed his wife to collect on insurance payments. The Chinese husband is from Tianjin, China and is alleged to have murdered…
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Finance Minister foreshadows slowing economy in 2019
“We expect the GDP growth for 2019 to be at least 4 per cent. However, the economic growth for 2019 is expected to be slower than 2018,” Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong predicts Thailand will encounter slower economic growth in 2019,. The Minister cites uncertainty from the trade war between China and the US, the upcoming Thai election and a slump…
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Thaiger Radio News – Thursday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
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Chinese man murders wife in 143 million baht life-insurance scam
“…in the months leading up to the trip, Zhang had bought more than a dozen life insurance policies for his wife…” A Chinese husband from Tianjin is alleged to have murdered his wife during a family vacation in Phuket after buying up more than 30 million yuan (US$4.3 million) in life insurance policies in her name. Shanghai.ist reports that the…
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Phuket’s New Year ‘seven days of danger’ announced
PHOTOS: The Phuket Provincial Police / The Phuket PR Office Phuket Police are gearing up for the annual ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road safety period that will this year runs from December 27 to January 2. Phuket’s Vice Governor Supot Rodrueang Na Nongkhai says, “We are aiming for people to be happy over the festive season with safety during their…
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Samut Prakan zoo denies mistreatment of elephant
by Suthinan Kongsin The Samut Prakan Livestock Development Office have inspected Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo after media reports and photos on social media revealed a thin elephant performing tricks for tourists. “I’ve been visiting the zoo for a long time because I like to look at the animals. But when I visited last week I was upset when…
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Southern militants escape after gunfight in Narathiwat
by Santhiti Khorjitmet Fighting between soldiers and eight armed militants has erupted on a remote mountain range in the southern province of Narathiwat in the Taway mountains. According to reports, both sides fired more than 100 rounds of ammunition during the confrontation near a suspected insurgents’ base in the Rangae district. Though two suspects were believed to have been injured, all…
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New WHO world road death report – Thailand drops to number 8 but still high
Thailand’s roads remain some of the deadliest in the world. But the Kingdom has dropped from its previous number two position to number eight, behind a collection of backwater African states and other undeveloped countries. A new report by the World Health Organisation shows that the road safety situation in Thailand hasn’t improved. The shocking news is outlined in a…
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Taxi motorbike driver found dead in Phuket room
A taxi motorbike driver has been found dead in a room in Thalang today. The Thalang Police were notified about the incident at the National Housing Authority in Thalang around midday today. Police and rescue workers arrived to find the body of a man who was identified as 39 year old Toemorn Suwan. Nearby they found empty bottles of whisky.…
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John Mayer coming to Bangkok for the first time
IMAGE: John Mayer Instagram, Billboard.com John Mayer will be playing in Bangkok on April 3, 2019 for his newly announced ‘Australia & Asia Tour 2019’. The 41 year old American, hailing from Connecticut isperforming for the first time in Thailand. Tickets will be released at a later date but put a circle in your calendar. Mayer’s most famous songs include…
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