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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  • Ministries collaborate on rehabilitation of tourism sites

    Ministries collaborate on rehabilitation of tourism sites

    Maya Bay and Boracay Island aren’t the only tourist magnets to be suffering from too much tourist love. Thai ministries are now looking at all the tourism hot spots in an effort to find a more sustainable way forward. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has joined the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in looking for ways to rehabilitate…

  • Phuket: Thailand Amazing Durian and Fruit Festival

    Phuket: Thailand Amazing Durian and Fruit Festival

    Jungceylon Patong yesterday (June 18) hosted the launch of ‘Thailand Amazing Durian and Fruit Festival’ which will last until June 24. Phuket Vice Governor Prakob Wongmaneerung and Deputy-director of Department of Internal Trade Chatchai Saksinchai presided over the opening ceremony. Khun Chatchai says, “The Ministry of Commerce has supported building businesses together with tourism. The festival is being launced in…

  • Pattaya: Australian arrested for selling sex tours on yachts

    Pattaya: Australian arrested for selling sex tours on yachts

    “On December 31, under the name of “AUSTHAI TOURS”, he advertised a boat trip with women supplied in the waters off the coast of Pattaya.” An Australian man has been arrested who police say offered a sex tour in Pattaya. They also say they believe 49 year old  Stephen Allan Carpenter is mixed up in smuggling cocaine into Australia hidden in…

  • Chiang Mai: Court asked to halt Doi Suthep construction and kick out the residents

    Chiang Mai: Court asked to halt Doi Suthep construction and kick out the residents

    Residents living in the controversial judicial buildings constructed on the slopes of Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai will have to drive past signs saying it’s a ‘NO MAN’S LAND’ every time they enter the property. The Doi Suthep Forest Reclamation Network is asking the Court of Appeals Region 5 to stop the ongoing construction at the controversial site. “We will…

  • 52 monkeys captured in Koh Sirey, 42 sterilised monkeys released in Rassada

    52 monkeys captured in Koh Sirey, 42 sterilised monkeys released in Rassada

    52 monkeys have been captured at Koh Sirey for sterilisation while 42 sterilised monkeys have been released back to Soi King Kaew in Rassada yesterday (June 18). Meanwhile the monkey sterilisations continued, as they have since June 12. So far there are 216 monkeys captured as part of the capture-neuter-rehome program for some of Phuket more mischievous monkeys. 42 monkeys that…

  • Bangkok: Taxi driver returns 270,000 baht cash

    Bangkok: Taxi driver returns 270,000 baht cash

    The Nation is reporting that a Bangkok taxi driver found cash worth 270,000 baht in Thai, Cambodian and US banknotes in a handbag at the weekend and handed it over to a radio station, which later managed to locate the Cambodian owner and return it to him. The passenger, 24 year old Op Simony Odum, got the money back from…

  • Koh Samui: British tourist apologises for insurance scam

    Koh Samui: British tourist apologises for insurance scam

    PHOTO: Surat Thani Immigration The Daily Mirror is reporting that a British tourist is being forced to apologise after being caught out in an insurance scam while holidaying in Koh Samui. 35 year old Adesanya Olamide Omolaja had told police he was robbed at knife point by three men who stole his backpack. Omolaja claimed the robbers escaped on motorbikes with his…

  • Bamboo Island in Krabi floods with rising sea level

    Bamboo Island in Krabi floods with rising sea level

    The sea level has risen up to 30 centimetres and caused flooding at Bamboo Island (Koh Mai Pai) in Krabi yesterday (June 18). Red flags have been put along the beach. Officers of Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, stationed at Koh Mai Pai, have set red flags along the beach to prevent swimmers going into the water…

  • Phuket: Areas to have water shut off for one week

    Phuket: Areas to have water shut off for one week

    The Phuket Water Authority (PWA) has announced that water supply in some areas of Patong, Kata and Karon will be shut off from 9am to 5pm on June 25 to July 2. Water will be shut off while work is being carried out conducting maintenance on the Reverse Osmosis (RO) water pumping station in Karon. Areas to be affected are…

  • Chao Fah West road closure for Chalong Underpass construction

    Chao Fah West road closure for Chalong Underpass construction

    Parts of Chao Fa West Road will close at night from June 29 to July 28 as the the Chalong Underpass construction staggers along. A meeting was held yesterday (June 18) at the Phuket Highway Office hosted by Phuket Vice Governor Snith Sriwihok and Phuket Highway Office Chief Somwang Lohanut. Vice Governor Snith says, “Traffic problems during the peak hours…

  • Ride4Kids – Interview with Darren Scherbain

    Ride4Kids – Interview with Darren Scherbain

    Tim Newton speaks to Darren Scherbain at the welcome home dinner at Mezzos.

  • Ride4Kids – Interview with Romeo Perthuis

    Ride4Kids – Interview with Romeo Perthuis

    PHOTO: Romeo presenting Ride4Kids Organiser Donna Toon with a cheque for money raised at a fund-raiser at his school, Headstart International. Romeo speaks to Tim Newton on Saturday night at the welcome home dinner at Mezzos. Read more about Romeo’s involvement in the Ride4Kids HERE.

  • Chiang Mai: Controversial housing estate to be ringed with ‘No Man’s Land’ signs

    Chiang Mai: Controversial housing estate to be ringed with ‘No Man’s Land’ signs

    The Government brokered a deal where all but four apartments would have to be removed las month. Yet people are now living in the 45 houses on the slopes of Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai. So what’s going on? The Doi Suthep Forest Reclamation Network said it would post “No Man’s Land” signs around the Chiang Mai mountain housing estate…

  • Samui: Woman arrested for running illegal dental clinic

    Samui: Woman arrested for running illegal dental clinic

    Of all the things you probably wouldn’t ever want to use – a self-taught dentist. So thanks to the police on Samui for tracking down this alleged ‘cosmetic tooth doctor’. A self-taught dental practitioner has been arrested on Koh Samui yesterday (Sunday) for opening an illegal clinic to attach fashion braces for clients. Pol Lt-Colonel Sompol Buranathet, deputy commander of…

  • 90 houses damaged, power cables down on main roads – Phuket storm

    90 houses damaged, power cables down on main roads – Phuket storm

    There have been about 90 houses across Phuket that have been damaged from storms whilst eight power cables have been brought down in Thalang today (June 18). This is the latest in our coverage of the unusually wet and windy storms to hit the island. Officials have surveyed all the districts and found that there are about 90 houses which…

  • APEX launch Phuket’s most exclusive address

    APEX launch Phuket’s most exclusive address

    The Residences at Sheraton Phuket Grand Bay on Phuket’s east coast, a four billion baht development, includes a 5-star Sheraton resort and Phuket’s first Sheraton-branded residences of which 70% are already sold. Panoramic views across Po Bay to Ao Phang Nga National Park and the Phi Phi Islands beyond are what greet residents and visitors to Phuket’s most exclusive residential…

  • Controlled use of kratom and marijuana to be decriminalised

    Controlled use of kratom and marijuana to be decriminalised

    By Pratch Rujivanarom There may be a time in the near future where local police aren’t required to chase around and arrest people using kratom and marijuana, in some situation and in small quantities. Decriminalisation has worked in some countries where it is followed by solid public education. How will Thailand handle decriminalisation of these drugs? New narcotics laws to…

  • The Thaiger Briefing – June 18, 2018

    The Thaiger Briefing – June 18, 2018

  • Phuket lifeguards warn about Portuguese man-o-war

    Phuket lifeguards warn about Portuguese man-o-war

    Phuket Lifeguards are warning swimmers after Portuguese man-o-war have been spotted on Phuket’s west coast beaches today (June 18). “Warning to all beach swimmers that a Portuguese man-o-war was found on Nai Yang beach, Mai Khao Beach and Patong Beach. If you feel pain on your skin it may caused by their sting. Please contact a lifeguard on your beach…

  • Bangkok: 30 sex offenders nabbed at Thai airports since the start of 2018

    Bangkok: 30 sex offenders nabbed at Thai airports since the start of 2018

    Thai Immigration are reporting successes using the new Advance Passenger Processing System where warnings come up on the screens of Immigration staff as people are processed on arrival at Thai airports. Daily News is reporting that Thai Immigration says 30 sex offenders have been arrested at five Thai airports since the start of this year. They claim that this represents about…

  • Chonburi: Emotions spill onto the streets during World Cup match

    Chonburi: Emotions spill onto the streets during World Cup match

    Where there’s a World Cup match playing at a pub, there’s going to be alcohol. And where there’s long games there’s going to be some pent-up emotions. According to Sanook, violence erupted between a group of Thai and Chinese men during the Argentina vs Iceland World Cup match on Saturday night in Phanat Nikom, north of Pattaya and east of…

  • Coastal erosion experts ringing alarm bells

    Coastal erosion experts ringing alarm bells

    “This is a big problem needing urgent solution.” Erosion is eating away five metres of land every year along a combined 42 kilometre long stretch of Thailand’s coastline. The situation is now so serious that a consulting firm is proposing that the government invoke an already-passed environmental law to protect the hard-hit coasts. Kittipoj Permpul, a public-participation expert at a consulting…

  • Jungceylon Patong issues urgent safety order following Phuket storm

    Jungceylon Patong issues urgent safety order following Phuket storm

    Jungceylon department store executives have issued a safety order after storms hit Phuket yesterday (June 17). The storm has damaged the front part of the shopping centre on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road. No injuries were reported. The notice says, “two safety orders for customers and pedestrians nearby are” The entrance of the store on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road has been…

  • 38 more monkeys captured in Rassada, water tanks installed on Koh Tanan

    38 more monkeys captured in Rassada, water tanks installed on Koh Tanan

    Water tanks are now being installed on Monkey Islands and 38 monkeys have been captured in Rassada for sterilisation in the ongoing Monkey move from Phuket to uninhabited outlying islands. 38 long-tailed macaques were caught at Soi Tha Chin in Rassada on Friday (June 15). Water tanks were also installed on Koh Tanan in Paklok last week. Pongchart Chouehorm, the…

  • Police hunting for arsonist who allegedly torched ex-girlfriend’s car

    Police hunting for arsonist who allegedly torched ex-girlfriend’s car

    Police are hunting for an arsonist who set a Mitsubishi Mirage on fire in Chalong yesterday morning (June 17). Chalong Police were notified of the incident at Baan Nakok in Chalong. Police and firefighters arrived at the scene to find a black Mitsubishi Mirage completely gutted by fire. It took about 20 minutes to put out the fire. The car…

  • Phuket storm tears down trees and power poles

    Phuket storm tears down trees and power poles

    “This is the strongest wind he has ever seen.” Heavy rains and strong wind across Phuket yesterday (June 17) have caused trees and power cables to be torn down across the island. At about noon, a big banyan tree, aged around 100 years, fell down and blocked Narisorn Road in Phuket Town. 56 year old Wuttichart Na Pangchang says, “While…

  • Two escape serious injuries in Phuket storm

    Two escape serious injuries in Phuket storm

    Two people have escaped injures after a big tree toppled by high winds landed on their moving car as they were travelling through Thalang on Saturday (June 16). Thalang Police were notified of the incident on Pru Sompan Road at the entrance of Soi Baan Ja in Thapkrasattri, Thalang at 8.30pm. The fallen tree had blocked the road with the…

  • Wife missing after pickup is swept into a Ranong canal

    Wife missing after pickup is swept into a Ranong canal

    By Kanita Seetong Storms, high winds and flash flooding have wreaked havoc across the Andaman region over recent days. Flash floods have swept a pickup into a canal in Ranong’s Suk Samran district last night (Saturday), with one of the victims missing and feared dead. Ranong’s disaster prevention and mitigation chief Kittipon Wuttipongpat said the accident happened near the Wang…

  • Thai economic growth forecast projections up to 6% – World Bank

    Thai economic growth forecast projections up to 6% – World Bank

    The World Bank is looking to boost projections for growth in the Thai economy. In the last financial quarter, expansion of the Thai economy hit a five-year high. Ulrich Zachau, the World Bank’s director for Thailand and regional partnerships, says that a stable outlook and signs that Thai business is investing again domestically are among the positive factors for the…

  • Is a fresh crackdown on alcohol-related sales and businesses on the way?

    Is a fresh crackdown on alcohol-related sales and businesses on the way?

    The Thai junta is warning that it intends to enforce harsh measures regulating the advertising and promotion of alcohol, in a move that will affect thousands of businesses throughout the country. Details of the law, which affected business claim is vague and open to interpretation, are provided below. There has been a number of raids on pubs, clubs and hotels…