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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    What’s not covered by health insurance in Thailand?

    Health insurance in Thailand has important limits that everyone should know. Many policies do not cover pre-existing conditions, motorcycle accidents, extreme sports, or specific treatments. These gaps can lead to unexpected costs during emergencies. Coverage for outpatient care and hospital...

  • Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday

    Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday

    Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…  

  • Phoenix salvage team walks away from contract – police to take over

    Phoenix salvage team walks away from contract – police to take over

    A private sector company has walked away from the contract to salvage the ‘Phoenix’ and bring it back to the surface after numerous failed attempts and two months of excuses why they were unable to resurface the vessel. The company continually complained about weather and strong currents despite many calm days during their fruitless two months of operations. They have…

  • Central Floresta and overpass officially opened

    Central Floresta and overpass officially opened

    The ‘soft’ opening for the new Central Floresta was on September 10. Now the new shopping centre has had its official endorsement. The Thai Minister of Transport yesterday officially opened the Central Floresta and walkway, linking Central Festival and Floresta. The opening ceremony was lheaded up by the Minister of Transport Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, the Phuket Governor Pakkapong Tawipat and Wallaya Chirathivat,…

  • BKK Conference tackles rising road toll

    BKK Conference tackles rising road toll

    by Pratch Rujivanrom Country can learn from Vietnam on promoting safety, say who experts Leading international road safety experts are urging Thai authorities to follow Vietnam’s example by setting up a central agency to directly mitigate the country’s severe accidents problem as well as create a digital traffic database to enhance traffic-law enforcement. Some of the world’s top experts and…

  • University Dean hands over iPad evidence in Chiang Mai upskirt case

    University Dean hands over iPad evidence in Chiang Mai upskirt case

    by Thanakorn Wongnang A Chiang Mai University dean has turned over to police an iPad belonging to a former lecturer at the school who has been accused of using it last month to take photos beneath female students’ skirts. The lecturer has not been publicly named at this stage. It’s understood that Associate Professor Prapa Sukkasem, dean of the Faculty…

  • Blacktip reef shark found dead in a bag at Maya Bay

    Blacktip reef shark found dead in a bag at Maya Bay

    National Park officers are investigating following the death of a blacktip reef shark found in a bag at Maya Bay at Koh Phi Phi Ley. A foreign dive instructor at Phi Phi Island posted a picture of a blacktip reef shark found dead inside a bag in a LINE group ‘Phi Phi Island news informs’ with a message reading “a…

  • Man questioned over bestiality “club” in northern Thailand

    Man questioned over bestiality “club” in northern Thailand

    PHOTO: The alleged organiser of the Bobo bestiality club (right) is interviewed by police at his home (Image by Watchdog Thailand, censored to comply with Thai law) A man who was allegedly running a bestiality “club” near the northern Thai capital of Chiang Mai has been questioned by police after an investigation lasting more than a year by animal rights…

  • Chinese tourists escape serious injury in Karon minivan incident

    Chinese tourists escape serious injury in Karon minivan incident

    PHOTOS: Nok Rai Rang / Newshawk Phuket Four Chinese tourists and a minivan driver have escaped serious injury in an accident in Karon this morning. The Karon Police were notified of the incident at a curve on Patak Road in front of Hilton Hotel entrance in Karon around 2.30am. The Karon Police reported that the minivan driver, 25 year old…

  • The ‘war on drugs’ is a complete failure

    The ‘war on drugs’ is a complete failure

    Authorities are losing the war against methamphetamines – pills and crystal meth. The demand for both crystal meth and ‘yaba’ is escalating as is the production to meet the increasing demand. The much-publicised ‘Wars on Drugs’ being waged from time to time in south east asian countries are doing little dent the rising popularity and production of the drugs, whilst…

  • Boats warned to avoid the area of the burnt out yacht

    Boats warned to avoid the area of the burnt out yacht

    The Phuket Marine office is warning boats to be careful when going near the area where the ‘Emmjay’ yacht was destroyed after burins to its waterline on Saturday. The announcement states that, due to the ‘Emmjay’ yacht catching fire on Saturday afternoon while traveling between Koh Ngam and Koh Payu in Paklok, and later sinking, boats should be very careful…

  • UPDATE: Man dies during Thai massage

    UPDATE: Man dies during Thai massage

    Relevant authorities are investigating a massage parlour where a client died during a massage. The Health Establishment Bureau director Dr Pattarapon Jungsomjatepaisal said they are checking the business. “We will check if it is operating with a proper licence and if its masseur or masseuse is certified.” He noted that the victim’s wife has not filed a complaint with police…

  • Rap song, a reflection of Thai society – Survey

    Rap song, a reflection of Thai society – Survey

    More than 51 percent of respondents in the latest Nida Poll said the song “Prathet Goo Me” (My Country Has These…) simply reflected some truths in Thai politics and society, according to results of the survey released yesterday. The song has been viewed more than 28 million times. Most people say that a controversial rap song, criticising Thailand, as a…

  • Event round-up November 2018

    Event round-up November 2018

    by The Sponsorship Experts, Paul Poole (South East Asia) The month kicks off with the last Spartan Thailand race of the year, held in Hua Hin on 3 November. Participants can choose between two different courses, the 21km Spartan Beast race with more than 30 obstacles designed to really push people to their limits, and the 5km Spartan Sprint race…

  • Pattaya – Hua Hin ferry service back again for high season

    Pattaya – Hua Hin ferry service back again for high season

    PHOTO: Talk News The Pattaya – Hua Hin ferry service has started again for the high season. The Hua Hin deputy chief Chareewat Phramanee has confirmed that Royal Passenger Liner will operate a daily service again between Hua Hin and Pattaya during the high season. The service was suspended in September, with Royal Passenger Liner blaming the drop in numbers…

  • 7/11 to add laundry and dry-cleaning

    7/11 to add laundry and dry-cleaning

    PHOTO: Spring News 7/11 are rolling out another new service in Bangkok from this week. You’ll be able to get a raspberry slurpie, hot toastie and drop off your laundry and dry cleaning at the same time. The 24 hour service is expected to expand to the rest of the country’s 7/11 stores in the middle of 2019. Netizens have…

  • Central Group set to open new lifestyle mall in Cherng Talay

    Central Group set to open new lifestyle mall in Cherng Talay

    RENDERINGS: From Phuketify website Cherng Talay has become the new ‘go to’ area with an exciting array of new retail and entertainment options opening up at the end of this year and into next year. Including this one… A new lifestyle shopping mall is set to open by the end of 2019 in Cherng Talay, with Central Group investing a…

  • Customer dies during Thai massage

    Customer dies during Thai massage

    Questions are being posed on social media, “how safe is a Thai massage?” Thai media is sharing the story after a video was posted of a Thai man who died while having a massage. “Ton”, the younger brother of the victim, explained what happened to Sanook. Ton says that his brother had been playing football with friends and suffered a twisted…

  • Nine British passengers escape luxury yacht fire

    Nine British passengers escape luxury yacht fire

    PHOTOS: Newshawk Phuket / The Phuket PR Office. VIDEO: ออส สมทิพย์ A luxury yacht has been completely destroyed after catching fire north off Koh Ngam in Phang Nga Bay yesterday. Nine Bristish passengers were saved and unhurt in the incident. The Phuket Marine Police were notified by rescue workers that a boat had caught fire after being hit by lightning.…

  • Thailand drops in English proficiency levels

    Thailand drops in English proficiency levels

    English proficiency in Thailand is getting worse. The latest EF English Proficiency Index ranks Thailand in 64th place out of 88 countries, with an overall ranking of ‘low proficiency’. In 2017, Thailand ranked in 53rd place out of 80 countries and in 2011 Thailand was #42. The rating has been seesawing over the past six years but the trend has been…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Sunday

    Thaiger Radio News – Sunday

    Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…  

  • 900,000 meth pills and 3 kilos of ‘ice’ seized after brief shoot-out

    900,000 meth pills and 3 kilos of ‘ice’ seized after brief shoot-out

    Two suspected drug smugglers have been arrested at a Chiang Rai hotel following a short shootout with police. Police also seized 900,000 methamphetamine pills and three kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Acting on a tip-off, a team of narcotics suppression police staked out at a border point in Ban Tham Phatong in Tambon Tha Sud in Chiang Rai’s Muang district. They…

  • Some Thais finding it difficult to save

    Some Thais finding it difficult to save

    A survey commissioned by the Government Savings Bank has revealed that grassroots incomes in Thailand are too low for most Thais to make savings for the future. The survey indicates that people earning under 15,000 baht have a real struggle to survive. Only 32.2% made any saving at all. About 56% of that number put a little away each month. This…

  • Rap raising debate in the lead up to February election

    Rap raising debate in the lead up to February election

    “As artists, we want to reflect the truth of the society we are living in under dictatorship,” a RAD member identified only as Hockhacker told The Nation Weekend. “Thailand seems to be caught in a loop of dictatorship. We want to voice what the majority cannot say directly. The lyrics were based on information we collected on social media, reflecting…

  • Pakistani terror suspect arrested in Pattaya

    Pakistani terror suspect arrested in Pattaya

    PHOTO: The Hindu A Pakistani terror suspect has been arrested in Pattaya following eleven years on the run after escaping prison in India. Pattaya One reports that Jagtar Singh alias Tara is now likely to be extradited to India for his alleged role as a ‘mastermind’ in the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in 1995. Security sources say…

  • Pattani mosque still a popular pilgrimage for Malaysians

    Pattani mosque still a popular pilgrimage for Malaysians

    32 were killed there 14 years ago in a Thai army attack. PHOTO: New Straits Times The Kresek mosque in Pattani, the locations where 32 suspected Muslim insurgents were killed in a stand-off 14 years ago, continues to be a popular place for visitors from Malaysia. This is reported in the New Straits Times of Malaysia. The mosque’s Imam, Zakaria…

  • Narathiwat officials swing into action to combat deadly measles outbreak

    Narathiwat officials swing into action to combat deadly measles outbreak

    by Narong Nuansakul The southern province of Narathiwat is stepping up vaccinations against measles as the disease has already claimed up to twelve lives in Yala and Pattani since June this year. A huge number of youngsters aged between one and five in Yala and Pattani have come down with measles in recent months, claiming the lives of 12 children.…

  • Education Minister moves school tests to clear way for election

    Education Minister moves school tests to clear way for election

    In another indication that the government is firming up the date of the next general election for February 24 next year, the Education Minister has formerly moved the date of the annual school and university-entrance aptitude tests back one week. The GAT/PAT (General Aptitude Test and Professional and Academic Aptitude Test) tests for pre-university students will be held one week…

  • Army’s helicopters ‘much larger, included pilot training’

    Army’s helicopters ‘much larger, included pilot training’

    PHOTO: thaidefense-news “His information is inaccurate and he could be viewed as making unfair allegations against the Army.” An anti-graft activist came under attack from the military after he alleged that the Army had bought helicopters at inflated prices. Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Thai Constitution, earlier filed a petition with the Office of…

  • Bus driver and company charged after reckless driving in Krabi – VIDEO

    Bus driver and company charged after reckless driving in Krabi – VIDEO

    A Krabi- Surat Thani driver and his bus company have been charged after a case of reckless driving being caught on video. The video clip of the reckless Krabi –Surat Thani bus driving on a road spread in social media during the week. The Krabi Land Transportation Office Chief Ronnakorn Songin contacted the bus driver to meet. The bus driver,…

  • Patong Carnival schedule

    Patong Carnival schedule

    For those interested in getting involved in the Patong Carnival festivities, here is the latest schedule released by Patong Municipality for this year’s events.. November 2 9am – 6pm Kite show 3pm – 4pm Puppet (Marionette) show 6pm – midnight Performance from Pida Dance Academy, Yamaha music contest, shows from Hotels Patong Association, shows from Cowboy group. November 3 9am…