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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    10 biggest challenges retirees face in Thailand (and how to overcome them)

    Retiring in Thailand comes with many benefits, like warm weather, affordable living, and a rich culture. However, it also brings challenges. Retirees must deal with visa rules, healthcare costs, language barriers, and cultural differences. Rising medical expenses, required insurance, and...

  • 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…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Monday

    Thaiger Radio News – Monday

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

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Cash for sea turtle eggs

    Cash for sea turtle eggs

    by Pratch Rujivanrom Cash for spotting sea turtle nests. That’s the promise from national parks officers along the Andaman coast who are offering cash rewards for anyone who discovers sea turtle nests and notifies park officers. The innovative scheme is another attempt to protect the local endangered species from extinction. Marine National Park Operation Centre 2 in Phuket has announced…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Pattaya expat dies from injuries suffered during WBC Bangkok fight

    Pattaya expat dies from injuries suffered during WBC Bangkok fight

    SCREENSHOT: Christian Daghio fighting Don Parueang on October 26 – ทีเคโอ มวยโลก An Italian man, and former world champion in Muay Thai and boxing, has tragically died following a fight in Bangkok. Thai Visa reports that 49 year old Christian Daghio died on Friday in a Bangkok hospital after being put in a coma due to injuries suffered during a WBC Asia…

  • 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.…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Sunday

    Thaiger Radio News – Sunday

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

  • Luxury yacht completely destroyed by fire in Phang Nga Bay

    Luxury yacht completely destroyed by fire in Phang Nga Bay

    VIDEOS: ออส สมทิพย์ / Newshawk Phuket A luxury yacht caught fire yesterday afternoon (Saturday) off Koh Ngam, near Laem Sai in Paklok on the north-east coast of Phuket in Phang Nga Bay. The white sloop, called ‘Emmjay’, was 51 feet in length. The fire started around 4.45pm. At this stage investigators believe it was hit by lightening, setting off the…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Australia joins UK and USA with withdrawal of income verification

    Australia joins UK and USA with withdrawal of income verification

    The Australian Embassy in Thailand has declared that from January 7, 2019 it will NOT witness Statutory Declarations for proof on income for Thai Visa extensions. Here’s the official announcement…      

  • 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.…

  • 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…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Saturday

    Thaiger Radio News – Saturday

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

  • 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…

  • Drought declared in five Khon Kaen districts

    Drought declared in five Khon Kaen districts

    Whilst parts of Thailand suffered floods and overflowing dams during August and September, other parts of the country are now facing drought conditions as we head into the dry season. Khon Kaen Governor Somsak Jungtrakul has declared five districts drought disaster zones. Somsak said on Friday there had been no rain for months in Pol, Nong Song Hong, Ban Had, Waeng…

  • Local tour guides protest over illegal tour guides

    Local tour guides protest over illegal tour guides

    Phuket tour guides today protested at the Phuket Provincial City Hall over illegal tour guides they say are taking their jobs. About 100 Phuket tour guides protested in front of the Phuket Provincial City Hall and handed a letter to Phuket’s Vice Governor Tanyawat Chanpinit pleading for fairness in the situation. President of Andaman Tour Guide Association, Krit Thepbamrung, who…

  • Poll restrictions to be relaxed in December

    Poll restrictions to be relaxed in December

    The Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has distanced himself from a claim by his deputy Somkid Jatusripitak that the next head of government would “look similar” to the current one. General Prawit Wongsuwan, another deputy premier, said Somkid had shared the same thoughts as “many of us” although he would not specify what he thought regarding the matter. General Prayut was…

  • 9 years of providing Phuket’s lifeguards comes to an end

    9 years of providing Phuket’s lifeguards comes to an end

    PHOTO: Constant training and up-skilling was at the core of the Phuket Lifeguard Service The nine year relationship between the Phuket Lifeguard Service and the Phuket provincial and Thesaban administrators is over. The contract for providing professional lifesavers at Patong beach, the final beach under their watchful eye, finished yesterday. Speaking to the MD of the Phuket Lifeguard Service Company,…

  • 730 more foreigners rounded up in nationwide crackdowns

    730 more foreigners rounded up in nationwide crackdowns

    Immigration police have carried out their latest nationwide raid, rounding up foreigners living illegally in Thailand. There were 730 more arrests yesterday. Pol Maj Gen Itthipol Itthisarnronnachai, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, told the media at 1am this morning (Friday) the results of the 38th “X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner” operation. Itthitpol said the operation focused on 238 areas around the…

  • “Pilots were very funny, very smart, very nice guys” – Lion Air boss

    “Pilots were very funny, very smart, very nice guys” – Lion Air boss

    PHOTO: Indonesian media agency Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency says it’s located the crashed Lion Air plane’s landing gear, wheels and a large section of the fuselage. Investigators have also found the flight data recorder, the “black box,” from Lion Air Flight JT610. The data recorder, more than anything else, will likely provide vital information about the plane’s functions…