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.
-
Sponsored
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...
-
Brits behaving badly
British nationals are more likely to be arrested in Thailand than in any other overseas country, official figures reveal. However, it’s in Spain and the USA where the highest number of arrests of British nationals were recorded. According to the most recent stats available, which record the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016, a total of 194…
-
Day Three: Top of the Gulf Regatta 2018
PHOTOS: Guy Nowell All the fleet are playing catch-up in their respective series after two days of unseasonal weather in the Gulf of Thailand and race officers on the keelboat and multihull, dinghy and Optimist courses were eager to get going today. Two quick windward/leewards for all in classes 1-6 (keelboats, multihulls) and two quick races for the dinghies (classes…
-
Peeling back the red tape – Thailand 4.0
A committee tasked with propelling needed reforms under the Thailand 4.0 policy on Monday heard progress updates from state bodies in a meeting chaired by PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha. A series of measures must be implemented to aid in the nation’s digital transformation including, this August, cancelling state agency requirements for photocopies of the Thai national ID card and household…
-
Officials raising the yellow flags on Krabi beaches
Officials raised yellows flags at two popular beaches warning tourists against swimming following strong winds and high waves that kicked up from Sunday evening. Champen Phomphakdee, chief of two national parks – Mu Koh Hong National Park and Than Bokkhoranee National Park – said officials put up yellow flags on the beach in front of Koh Hong beach to warn…
-
Police look into deaths linked to Lyn-brand weight-loss products
Fresh on the heels of an investigation into Magic Skin beauty products, police are now looking at another well-known brand, Lyn, after its weight-loss products were allegedly found to contain two dangerous substances. Deputy national police chief Pol General Weerachai Songmetta says the products might contain the appetite suppressant Sibutramine and the laxative Bisacodyl. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…
-
Phuket’s Nepalese community commemorate the Buddha’s birthday
Buddha’s Birthday celebrations vary from place to place according to the different schools of the faith that have developed over the years, but regardless, the birthday of Lord Buddha remains one of the largest Buddhist festivals wherever and whenever it’s celebrated. In Nepal, Myanmar and India the Buddha’s birthday is being celebrated today. In Thailand, South Korea and Hong Kong,…
-
20 injured after bus flips over near Surat Thani
A Bangkok – Khanom bus has ran off Highway 41 and crashed into a tree alongside the road injuring about 20 passengers this morning (Monday). (UPDATE: 19 confirmed injured) Thai PBS reports that the bus was heading from Bangkok on the way to Nakhon Si Thammarat with 36 passengers when it ran off the highway in Chaya district of Surat…
-
Dutch tourist falls from ladyboy’s condo balcony
PHOTO: Ivy Residence Pinklau, Hipflat.co.th A Dutch tourist has fallen to his death from a condo room of a ladyboy he had just met at a drinking party on Khao San Road, Bangkok early this morning. The tourist has been identified by his driving licence as 21 year old Salmans Rik W F. Police say he fell from the room of 37…
-
Huge rally in Chiang Mai protesting judges’ homes on Doi Suthep mountain
PHOTO: Chiang Rai Times Around 1,000 people have rallied in Chiang Mai yesterday to protest the homes being built for Thai judges on forested land on Doi Suthep mountain. The protest is one of the largest protests against the government ever staged. Public frustration has been mounting over the project since aerial images started circulating on social media earlier this…
-
A man killed by a boar in Kathu
A 48 year old man Somsak Pengsata was attacked by a boar after kicking it. After the attack, he bled to death. According to witnesses who are fellow workers there in Kathu area, there were 4 boars, each of them has a pair of 2 inch long tusks living in the same sty. The workers were sitting in front of…
-
Day Two – Top of the Gulf Regatta
PHOTOS: Guy Nowell What a difference a day makes. Yesterday’s grey skies and consistent rain was replaced with hope this morning as blue skies hinted of a better day to come. A full fleet of boats headed out to their respective start lines as 120+ Optimists and more than 70 in the Single-Handed Monohull Dinghy and Double-Handed Monohull Dinghy classes…
-
Half a ton of marijuana seized in Mekong sting
A total of 490 kilograms of dried marijuana worth 15 million baht in street value has been seized by Thai authorities in Bung Kan province in the far north-east of Thailand on the Mekong River, Saturday, but the suspected Laotian smugglers managed to flee. Bung Kan Customs checkpoint head Prasongsak Boonma said the four Laotian smugglers, who were bringing sacks…
-
Day 1 of 2018 Top of the Gulf Regatta
PHOTOS: Guy Nowell The blue skies and tropical conditions for which the Top of the Gulf Regatta is known failed to show up on Day 1 as a downpour which started the evening before never let up all day, making it a grey and wet start to the regatta. That, however, didn’t dampen spirits as the Race Officer kept the…
-
Bike crashes into a van killing one
A 35 year old man from Chiang Mai, Warat Liewrungrot, has crashed his motorcycle into a van, killing him instantly. He was driving without a helmet. The accident happened in front of Soi Suksan 1 in Rawai heading towards the Chalong Circle. Witnesses told Chalong Police that Warat was riding his motorcycle at high speed from Rawai Pier towards Chalong…
-
27 Cobras found in a Krabi rubber plantation
The owner of a rubber plantation in Lumtub District in Krabi, 45 year old Prapai Yaithong, revealed today (April 28) that he found a den* of cobra on his land. While a worker was using a tractor to level the land surface and to remove a pile of wood in the rubber plantation, the worker saw that the blades from…
-
Chinese man arrested with 57 fake ATM cards in BKK
FILE PHOTO A Chinese man has been arrested for allegedly stealing ATM card identities to make fake ones and steal from bank accounts. Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakpal, the deputy commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau (and earning a reputation as an International Crime Terminator), said the 27 year old Chinese man, named as Xen Dazui, was arrested while he was…
-
Who’s keeping Thailand’s beaches clean?
PHOTO: Daily News Every week there are volunteers heading to the beaches of Phuket to pick up rubbish, mostly washed ashore and landing on the beaches. Some of it has washed out Phuket’s drains and just making its way back to shore. Other rubbish comes from passing boats and fishing fleets. One group, Clean The Beach Bootcamp, organised bi-weekly by…
-
Romance gang busted by tourist police
Tourist Police and 191 Special Branch Police have busted an alleged Nigerian romance scam gang and arrested a Negerian man for fraud charges during the ongoing investigation. Thai PBS are reporting that Light Chinezurum was presented to the media yesterday (April 27) after being caught by tourist police for luring several women into an online relationship and convincing them to transfer…
-
Storms hit Bangkok and Central regions
The Big Mango got a battering last night whilst rains are expected sometime on Phuket during Saturday and Sunday, but not the torrential rains that hit Bangkok. Heavy rains and strong winds hit several areas of the capital last night. A bus stop on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, outside the head office of petroleum giant PTT, collapsed as a result of strong…
-
Environment Minister presented with 5 demands to protect the Andaman coast
The Natural Resources and Environment Minister General Surasak Karnjanarat has appointed volunteer marine rangers for six coastal Andaman provinces today (Friday). The provinces are: Trang, Phang Nga, Krabi, Phuket, Satun, and Ranong. He officially handed marine ranger badges to the volunteers as he met with the Network for Participation-based Management of Marine Resources, which comprises communities from the Andaman provinces.…
-
Police interview Magic Skin ‘spokespersons’ and ‘influencers’
Four Thai actresses have testified “as witnesses” to police about their role in product review advertisements for the Magic Skin cosmetic and food-supplement brand at the centre of allegations of fraudulent and misleading product labelling and marketing, according to national police deputy chief Pol General Weerachai Songmetta. Pitchanart “May” Sakhakorn, Napapa “Patt” Tantrakul, Orapan “Aoffy Maxim” Dansiriwattanakun, and Nonthaporn “Ying…
-
Boat propeller strike suspected death of baby dolphin – Samut Prakan
A rotting carcass of a baby dolphin was found on the seashore near a temple in Samut Prakan’s Muang district, south east of Bangkok, this morning (Friday). Monks living at the Asokaram Temple in Tambon Taiban noticed a stench coming from the direction of the erosion prevention dam at the seaside behind the temple. Laymen sent by the monks to…
-
Heavy penalties on the way for drivers blocking ambulances
Motorists failing to get out of the way for ambulances may face harsher punishments for “endangerment to others” as netizens join with the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and the police to get tough on offenders. The fine for blocking an ambulance could be raised from the current 500 to 10,000 baht or as high as 20,000 baht if the NLA…
-
Woman’s throat slit by hanging cable in Khon Kaen
Police are investigating how a fibre optic cable detached from overhead attachments and ended up killing a woman motorcyclist. 40 year old Maneenetr Charoenngao was killed when she ran into the dangling cabling, almost decapitating her and slashing her throat. Muang Khon Kaen deputy inspector Pol Capt Singha Hong-on said it was a small, sharp, fibre-optic cable insulated with hard…
-
Kayak and tour ad signs on Koh Phi Phi being moved off the beaches
The Krabi Tourism Association President, Wattana Rerngsamut, has commented following complaints from tourists in Krabi about the large amount of tour companies’ advertising signs and kayaks on the beaches of Koh Phi Phi. “Some beaches in Krabi have become like a crowded market. People who are making their own businesses there do not see the importance of management for all,…
-
Phuket’s 233 Year Anniversary launched
The official opening ceremony for Phuket’s 233 year anniversary celebration was launched last night (April 25), chaired by the Phuket Governor, Norapat Plodthong, the President of Phuket Red Cross and the Vice Governors along with local authorities. The opening ceremony brought together a number dignitaries and business people from the local community, tourist industry, foundations, local clubs and associations. The…
-
Fake food and cosmetic products in Thai markets
Thai PBS is reporting that the FTI’s food supplements industry club is coming under scrutiny following police and officials from the Food and Drugs Administration raided several major manufacturing plants and found huge quantities of substandard and fake cosmetic and food supplements. The Federation of Thai Industries is claiming that 40% of food supplements and cosmetic products sold in markets…
-
Korean summit kicks off tomorrow
The Korea Herald is reporting that a momentous meeting is about to take place, tomorrow in fact, between the leaders of two (technically) warring nations – North Korea and South Korea. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will meet at the Military Demarcation Line in Panmunjeom at 9:30am Friday, Moon’s chief of staff Im Jong-seok…
-
Two villagers shot dead in Yala
In the most recent violence in Thailand’s deep south, a former village head and his friend have been gunned down in Yala province last evening (Wednesday), according to Police. The two were shot by an unknown number of suspected insurgents using M16 rifles on the main road in Ban Kuber Kuaroh village, Tambon Jakwa, in Raman district at around…
-
37 billion baht motorway planned – Had Yai to Malaysian border
PHOTO: Had Yai commercial district The Thai government plans to build a 62km motorway in the southern province of Songkhla, from Had Yai to the Malaysian border in a bid to boost bilateral trade and cross-border tourism Estimates put the trade value in the region at around 500 billion baht per year according to the Transport Minister Arkham Termpitayapaisit. The…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.