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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The 5 most common travel emergencies in Thailand and how to be prepared
Thailand is a popular destination known for its dynamic culture, stunning beaches, and bustling cities however, travellers can face unexpected travel emergencies that include medical issues, road accidents, petty theft, and natural disasters. To ensure a safe and enjoyable trip,...
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Taxi driver arrested for cheating South Korean tourist in Bangkok – VIDEO
A taxi driver in Bangkok has been arrested after allegedly intimidating and overcharging a South Korean tourist passenger. The arrest from Tourist Police follows a user tagging the Tourist Police Bureau in a post in his Facebook post accusing a taxi driver of allegedly intimidating and overcharging the South Korean passenger using the taxi service from Siam Square to Rangsit…
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Two week+ wait for visa appointments at Thai Embassy in Vientiane, Laos
PHOTO: Waiting to get into the Thai Embassy in Vientiane Expect to wait up to two weeks if you want to visit the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane, Laos to apply for a tourist or non-immigrant visa. ThaiVisa reports that, since February 1, foreigners applying for tourist, non-immigrant or transit visas, will need to make an online appointment before submitting…
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Maya Bay – no plans to re-open The Beach
That was before. This is now. The future remains uncertain for any re-opening of the southern Thailand tourist magnet, Maya Bay at Koh Phi Phi Ley. Thai authorities say they have no plans to re-open Maya Bay at this stage but that they continue to monitor the situation on Koh Phi Phi Ley and the island’s famous beach. Blacktip reef…
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76 Pangolins intercepted in Prachuap Khiri Khan
by Piyarat Nildee Police have seized 76 live pangolins with an estimated street value overseas around 10 million baht from a smuggler in Prachuap Khiri Khan. 45 year old Sompol Mekchai from Ratchaburi was stopped in Sam Roi Yot district early this morning after police suspected he was trying to evade their checkpoint on the Phetchkasem Highway.Seeing his pickup suddenly swerve onto…
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14 injured in bus crash in Prachuap Khiri Khan
PHOTO: ปูดำนิวส์ A tour bus has flipped over in the middle of the main road through Prachuap Khiri Khan last night around midnight. The accident happened at the Phetkasem Road 371 kilometer marker (distance from Bangkok). Up to 14 people have been injured in the incident, four of them seriously. The injured were rushed to hospital as rescuers helped free…
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Five metre king cobra caught in Kathu
PHOTOS: Pannakorn Pongpao/Kathu Rescue Foundation/Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation A five metre king cobra has been caught at a worker’s house in Kathu. Kusoldharm Rescue workers were notified of the king cobra discovered by a worker next to his house in the Kathu – Nakoh road in Kathu last night. Nokoh Road runs behind the Loch Palm Golf Course, between Kathu and…
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The Koh Samui tunnel – “it definitely had all the proper documentation”
The 84 metre tunnel, rediscovered last week by a foreign tourist visiting the north of Koh Samui, is starting to reveal more of its secrets. This week island authorities announced they would prosecute the builders of the tunnel because they were unable to find any supporting documentation or permissions for the construction. The Koh Samui land office could, however, confirm…
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Chinese resurgence, Russian stability feature in tourist arrivals for the start of 2019
The Chinese returned in numbers at the start of 2019 giving the Land of Smiles a spectacular start for the year with a total of 3.7 million visitors in January 2019. This was a nearly 5% rise in total tourist numbers from the same month last year. Mainland China continues to lead Thailand’s source market with just over a million arrivals…
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Five Thais die after their car plunges into a Laos ravine
Five Thai tourists were killed in a car accident just over the north-eastern border in Laos. The incident occurred when their car plunged down a deep ravine in Luang Prabang. The popular tourist region is approximately 300 kilometers north of the Lao capital Vientiane. Yesterday’s fatal crash was reported at 10pm last night by Lao authorities to the rescue unit…
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The Patong Bay Hill Resort – where your holiday begins!
Nestled into the hills above Phuket’s popular Patong Beach, the modern Patong Bay Hill Resort is a luxurious resort which overlooks the ocean and the eclectic neighborhood below. Welcome to Patong Bay Hill Resort Set in a beautifully landscaped garden, Patong Bay Hill Resort is set amongst the natural, tropical environment of Patong’s Hasib-pee Hill. The resort offers majestic panoramic…
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126 Grand Palace taxi and tuk tuk drivers, and local vendors, arrested
PHOTOS: The Nation One of the biggest targets for scammers has always been the Grand Palace in Bangkok, mostly because it has such a high concentration of tourists visiting any time of the year. Google ‘scams in Thailand’ and you’ll always be reading about the creative ways taxi and tuk tuk drivers, and local vendors, have of parting tourists from…
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Drunk pickup driver kills one, injures two others in Chalong
A drunk pickup truck driver has collided with cars and motorbikes at a traffic light in Chalong. One person has died, two others are injured and six vehicles are damaged. Chalong Police were notified of the incident at an intersection on Chao Fa East Road near Wat Tai (Ladthiwanaram Temple) at 1.50pm yesterday. Chalong Police and emergency responders arrived to…
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Beware: Dangerous jellyfish. Just don’t tell the Chinese.
Dozens of signs have been erected, in multiple languages on Cha-Am beach in Petchaburi, warning swimmers about potentially dangerous jellyfish and ‘stingers’. Manager Online reports that, despite Chinese being frequent visitors to the area, someone forgot to include the warnings in Chinese language. The sign contained Thai and English, Japanese and Korean. But no Chinese. Three large signs and some other…
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Woman attacks Lottery MC during draw in Phatthalung – VIDEO
The live broadcast of the government’s bi-weekly lottery draw was interrupted when a 35 year old woman threatened one of the MCs with a screwdriver. The lottery draw, held in Phatthalung province’s City Hall yesterday, was being broadcast live on Channel 5. The hall was full lottery enthusiasts and government officials when the attack happened. The attacker, later identified as…
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Landowners could face jail – Koh Samui ‘mystery tunnel’ case
PHOTOS: Manager Online Koh Samui authorities are planning to pursue a case against the landowners on either side of a tunnel that was allegedly constructed without permission. The tunnel connects the beach at Ban Tai with a private road and undeveloped piece of forest land two hundred metres from the island’s main ring road in the Mae Nam district. It was earlier…
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Thai Airways hope to clear backlog of stranded passengers over weekend
PHOTOS: EPA-EFE Around 2,000 passengers were still stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday as the national airline struggled to clear the backlog caused by Pakistan closing its airspace due to rising tensions with India. Thai Airways has been trying to transport the stranded passengers to their destinations ‘as quickly as possible’ according to Thai Airways president Sumeth Damrongchaitham. More than 4,000…
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479 arrested on immigration offences
More than 400 foreigners plus 79 Thais, involved in a range immigration offences, were arrested after raids across Thailand this week. The Immigration Police Bureau deputy chief announced at a press conference in Bangkok today that Thai authorities carried out simultaneous searches at 227 locations. Of the 417 foreigners who were arrested, mostly from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, 248 were…
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Canadian motorbike driver killed in Phuket road accident
A female Canadian motorbike driver has died after her head was crushed under a truck’s wheels after trying to overtake a truck in Kata today. Karon Police were notified of the incident on Kata Hill at 11am. Police and emergency responders arrived to find the truck stopped on the road. Nearby they found a motorbike on top of the body…
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Wanted Russians walk into Pattaya immigration office
Two Russians wanted on an arrest warrant originating in Phuket have been found and arrested hiding in Pattaya. Immigration police had no trouble in locating 48 year old Artur Stotskii and 34 year old Iaroslav Scherobatyk. The pair made it very easy by showing up for visa extensions at the Chonburi Immigration Office on February 18. The January 16 arrest…
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Distraught 17 year old mother finds dead child by her side
PHOTO: Daily News Daily News report on the tragedy of a 17 year old mother who inadvertently suffocated her four month old child. The mother put her four month old son to sleep by her side in their room in Bo Win, Sri Racha, Chon Buri yesterday afternoon. He was lying on his front with his head to one side,…
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Chiang Mai massage worker has baby in the police toilets, abandons the child
Thai Rath reports that police in Chiang Mai have located and arrested a 43 year old woman who snuck into the city district police station and had a baby in the toilets there. After giving birth last weekend, the mother left with her child still in the toilet bowl. The baby was found soon after, survived, and is now stable and…
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Italian couple killed as truck rolls on top of them in Chumphon – VIDEO
PHOTO: Screenshot from Thai Rath’s video Two Italian tourists have been killed after an oil truck’s brakes allegedly failed coming down a hill. The truck overturned and rolled onto the pair in Chumphon. Workpoint News reports that the incident happened at an intersection in Paknam, Chumphon yesterday afternoon. Emergency responders arrived to find the overturned oil truck lying on the…
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Flight attendant alleges he was assaulted by Thai Airways captain
Thai Airways have ended up in the news again, for all the wrong reasons. Police in Chiang Mai report that a Thai Airways cabin attendant has filed a report claiming he was assaulted by the captain on his flight. But he says he doesn’t want to pursue a criminal conviction at this stage. He told police that he made the…
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Persian cats perish in Bangkok apartment fire
Two Persian cats suffocated to death during a fire in a room at the National Housing Estate in Nonthaburi’s Pak Kret district yesterday. The two cats were found barely breathing in the flat after 10 fire engines took about 40 minutes to put out the blaze. The cats died shortly after they were taken out of the room despite attempts…
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Weather for March 1
Bangkok Generally clear. High 34ºC. Winds S at 15 to 25 km/h. Phuket Generally clear. High 32ºC. E winds shifting to SSW at 15 to 25 km/h. Chiang Mai Partly cloudy. High 36ºC. Winds S at 10 to 15 km/h. Pattaya Generally clear. High 31ºC. Winds SSW at 15 to 30 km/h. Hua Hin Generally clear. High 33ºC. Winds…
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Foreign motorbike racer arrested in Patong
PHOTOS: Patong Police Patong Police yesterday arrested another foreign motorbike racer driving erratically around Patong’s roads. Police report that they arrested the man who was driving his motorbike at high speed and doing ‘wheelies’ (front wheel raised off the ground) yesterday. “He doesn’t care for other people’s safety and was annoying other road users. He was been taken to Patong…
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Brush fire near the Khao Rang view point – VIDEO
VIDEO: Newshawk Phuket A bush fire spread quickly around Khao Rang, overlooking Phuket Town, near the main view point yesterday. Fire fighters were notified of the incident by a restaurant operator on Khao Rang at 3.30pm. Emergency responders arrived at the Khao Rang summit with two fire engines. The brush fire was already well underway on the south-western slopes underneath…
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Kim-Trump summit ‘fail’ over North Korea’s demands to lift sanctions
by Choi He-suk, Korea Herald – Asia News Network US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un’s summit ended abruptly with both sides failing to reach an agreement. The second day of talks kicked off at 9 am yesterday at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi but the event was cut short when Kim and Trump departed at 1:25 pm.…
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American man and Thai woman arrested in Chiang Mai cannabis factory raids
PHOTOS: The Nation Narcotics police in Chiang Mai have arrested a 44 year old American man and a 37 year old Thai woman in separate raids on two houses in Mae Rim district. Police alleged the houses were used as cannabis production facilities. Police allegedly found cannabis in multiple forms – dried, liquid, tablets as well as plants. Inside one…
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Alleged Bangkok money truck robber arrested
PHOTOS: The Nation Police have arrested a 19 year old man who allegedly stole 7.27 million baht from a Bangkok money truck last Saturday. His accomplice is still at large. At a press conference today police announced that suspect Jirayus Suanmi was arrested yesterday (Wednesday). He allegedly robbed a money truck outside the Big C Extra shopping mall on Phetkasem…
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