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 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,...
-
THAIGER TODAY Monday, September 18
Two more arrested over Phang Nga rape case | Australian woman dies after ignoring red flags on Kamala Beach | Border controls on the look out for cigarette/alcohol smuggling after excise increases | 1,100 lone children cross the border into Bangladesh | Lonely Planet report pilot ‘Upcycling’ program on Koh Samet.
-
Aussie woman dies after swimming at red-flagged Kamala Beach
Yesterday afternoon (September 17), Kamala Beach lifeguards rescued 65 year old Barbara Fistrovic from the sea after she went swimming in the red flagged zone part of the beach. She was swept by a big wave and disappeared before her husband, 75 year old Ivan Fistrovic, rushed to call for help. The lifeguards provided CPR and first aid and send…
-
Upcycling the Oceans – sustainable solutions for Thailand’s ocean plastic
Photo from Marca España Thailand says it will be the first Asian country to join a global initiative to clean up its oceans and waterways around Bangkok, Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Phuket. Lonely Planet reports that Upcycling the Oceans is an effort spearheaded by the Ecoalf Foundation. The projects gets local fishermen removing plastic from the waters. Once collected,…
-
UPDATE – Phang Nga gang rape case
Two more men have been arrested yesterday (September 16) after Phang Nga Provincial Court issued 3 additional arrest warrants after 8 of them were issued earlier over the Phang Nga rape case. The village has also been found to play an important part in transporting various drugs to Phuket, according to police. Phang Nga police, led by Pol Maj Gen…
-
The Thai Canal – cutting through the project’s hype
(Photo from mothership.sg) September 11, 2017 was the latest gathering of minds related to the challenges in establishing the much-discussed Kra Canal (now referred to as the Thai Canal) in Bangkok. The canal, if it happens, would slice a new shipping canal through the the slimmest section of the Malay Peninsula, anywhere from Chumpon to south of Phuket. The Thai…
-
UPDATE – What the new tax increases mean for you
Update from The Nation New excise taxes have affected prices across industries ranging from beverages to cars, with the new tax regime causing higher prices for some items but lower prices for others. The Excise Department expects to collect additional tax revenue of 12 billion Bt from the changes. New excise taxes will cause “moderate” rises in the prices of…
-
UPDATE – Landslides, potholes and budgets. Aftermath from Phuket’s floods.
Today (September 16) a team from Phuket Provincial Highway Office has closed and is fixing Bangpae Bridge, which is on Tharua road, on the way towards Baan Para in Thalang, after the bridge collapsed due to the flood. The bridge is expected to be finished by 8pm. Another team led by Vice Governor, Siriporn Chuasawad, also visited and helped the…
-
Major tax hike for alcohol and cigarettes
A new excise tax rates effective starting Saturday, September 16, hits alcoholic beverages hard. The rates, published in the Royal Gazette, adjust the tax rate for beer to 22 per cent of retail price and 430 Bt per litre of alcoholic content For wine made from grapes, the tax rate is 1,500 Bt per litre of alcoholic content for a…
-
September 30 – Final day to pay respects
The Royal Household Bureau is allowing people to pay their respects to HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej before his Royal Urn inside the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall only until the end of this month. The bureau announced the decision yesterday, citing the need to prepare for the Royal Cremation Ceremonies that will be held next month. Reigning over…
-
The mopping up starts in the wake of ‘Doksuri’ in Vietnam
Typhoon Doksuri battered the central coastal areas of Vietnam with strong winds and heavy rains today, causing electrical blackouts, damage to houses and trees being uprooted and thrown around like toothpicks. The high winds prompted mass evacuations after officials had predicted it could be the ‘most powerful storm in a decade’ to hit Vietnam. The typhoon made landfall on the…
-
Release of 1.5 million marine creatures in Krabi
Today (September 15), Krabi locals across the province released 1.5 million sea creatures as a pre-National Fisheries Day activity. National Fisheries Day is coming up on September 21. The animals released consist of many different types, such as freshwater fish and giant freshwater prawns. Krabi Fisheries Office also announced September 21, the National Fisheries Day, to be a non-fishing day…
-
THAIGER TODAY Friday, September 15
Flooding around Phuket whilst Typhoon ‘Doksuri’ slams into Vietnam | Patong Tunnel underway next year – maybe | Bomb attacks in Yala kill two | And Thais welcome the ‘departure’ of the TM6 Immigration Form.
-
Wet feet at Patong Police Station again – Photo essay
Patong traffic police are warning people to avoid traveling on Patong’s roads following the floods and small landslide across the road to Kalim after a sustained downpour. The Patong Police station has been inundated by 60 cm of water. The roads affected include Phra Metta Road in front of Patong Hospital up to Banzan Market, Rat Uthit 200 Pee Road…
-
4 year old Chinese boy drowned in Patong Beach
Family and friends assist The Rawai Municipality Rescue Team at Nai Harn in another near-miss yesterday One drowning and two other ‘near misses’ in the past 24 hours. A 4 year old Chinese boy, Wu Muyang, was taken to hospital from Patong beach last night (September 14) after he was washed into the rough seas by a big wave near…
-
Landslide in Kamala destroys new villa construction
Landslide at a construction of a planned 9 villa complex in Kamala after heavy rains overnight and this morning. The landslide appears to have happened near Baan Hua Kuan, Kamala. The building was planned to be a complex of 9 pool villas but only the foundations and one floor were completed when it collapsed with the land slide. No injuries reported…
-
UPDATE – Typhoon ‘Doksuri’ about to hit Vietnam’s coast
DATELINE: 8.50am Thai Time • Typhoon Doksuri reaching the coast of Vietnam around midday today. Gusts up to 125 kph. • At least 100,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate in Vietnam as Typhoon Doksuri approaches. • A quarter-million soldiers are on standby for what may be Vietnam’s worst storm in a decade. • Doksuri killed four and left six…
-
‘Boonrod’ – the only survivor of the Racha Island turtle hatching
After the first turtle hatched on Racha Island last week, STORY HERE, officers have now found the other 86 eggs, which unfortunately didn’t make it. After the first hatch on September 8, officers from Marine Endangered Species Unit (MESU) and locals on Racha Island have waited for four days but there was no sign from the other baby turtles. The MESU…
-
Tiger Muaythai instructor dies from an apparent electric shock
Last night (September 13), Chalong police found 37 year old Nipon Jaiwangchana (Taweesak Sit-O) dead in his room in Soi Nakok on Chaofa West Road. He was found laying down next to a small rice cooker wearing black and orange Muaythai pants with the Tiger Muaythai logo. Police initially checked his body and assumed that he had died at least…
-
Patong tunnel to start April/May next year
Looks like the island’s long-awaited tunnel through Patong Hill might actually be becoming a reality. Authorities say it will be the first of its kind in Thailand. The Daily News is reporting on the progress of the Patong tunnel project which, it is hoped, will eliminate much of the carnage and delays experienced by drivers on the hill everyday. Sutthisak…
-
Double bomb attack in Yala injures nineteen
Nineteen rangers, soldiers and police officers were injured this morning (September 14) when insurgents in southern Yala province launched a double bomb attack. Rangers patrolling Moo 1 village in Tambon Katong in Yaha were ambushed in the first attack at 9.26am and briefly exchanged gunfire with the assailants. Two rangers – Sgt Thanet Puttho and Pvt Avudh Uppapong – were…
-
THAIGER TODAY Thursday, September 14
New eco-tourism area for Phuket | AMLO chasing ex-PM Thaksin’s son | Bangkok ATM exploded opened with TNT | Radio Free Asia silenced in Cambodia | Tropical storm Doksuri heading our way affecting our weather this weekend.
-
US Ambassador Glyn Davies gives his support for this weekend’s beach clean
US Ambassador to Thailand, Glyn Davies Phuket’s biggest beach clean up is on this weekend with hotels around the island hosting many of the beach cleaning efforts along with locals and expats. You’re invited. Keep Phuket Clean “ภูเก็ตสวยด้วยมือและใจเรา” has been initiated by the Phuket Hotels Association’s Environmental & Sustainability Working Group members and supported by Phuket’s Governor and TAT Phuket:…
-
Kalasin man arrested over hotel room robbery
Patong police have arrested 28 year old Aekkapan Ketna from Kalasin province (north east Thailand) yesterday (September 13) after he stole a room keycard from 50 year old Australian Donna Lee and used it to sneak in and steal valuables from her hotel room on Patong’s beach front. Her keycard was stolen on Patong Beach while she was swimming in…
-
The AMLO files complaints against Thaksin’s son, Panthongtae
The Anti Money Laundering Organisation is filing a complaint with the Department of Special Investigation against Panthongtae Shinawatra, the son of fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, in a money-laundering case connected with the multi-billion-baht loan fraud linked to the state-owned Krungthai Bank. The AMLO says Panthongtae allegedly received a 10 million Baht cheque from a staff member of the Krisada Mahanakorn…
-
Truck driver killed in Surat Thani crash
A drive was killed after his 18 wheel trailer truck went off the road and crashed into a palm tree in Surat Thani’s Phra Saeng district early Wednesday, police said. Police said the accident happened on a road in Ban Khuan Sawang village in Tambon Sai Khueng. The truck driver was identified as 44 year old Eng Muangkaew. Police said…
-
Share-bike comes to Phuket Town
Phuket’s Governor chaired a meeting with Phuket City Development (PKCD), the Phuket Municipality and two bicycle companies who are sponsoring the initiative, aiming to launch the bicycle sharing project on September 20. The project hopes to help reduce the crowded traffic and parking space issues around Phuket Town. “The project is organised by PKCD, a joint venture between government and…
-
THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, September 13
Share-bike scheme launched for Phuket Town | Dramatic video of the Fresno County rescue | Two cars were used in former PM Yingluck escape | NCPO use Article 44 in four cases | National drug sting results in 734 arrests.
-
Sai Yuan crash – a flipped car and one motorcyclist injured
Last night (September 12), at Soi Saiyuan in Rawai, a Russian man named as 35 year old Julian Ranmer crashed his Honda Jazz into the back of a car parked on the side road before flipping it and hitting a motorcycle riding in the opposite lane. The injured, 36 year old Ampa Noo-on who rode the bike, was found with…
-
Major narcotics sting reveals 27 drug networks
A crackdown on 27 drug-dealing networks across Thailand has delivered 734 arrests and the confiscation of a huge amount of illicit drugs. This, according to the Royal Thai Police’s Narcotics Control Coordinating Center. The stings all took place between September 2 – 11. The suspects included 15 alleged narcotics producers, 52 alleged drugs distributors and 256 persons accused of having…
-
Show and tell – Governor in BKK to promote Phuket Street Food
Phuket’s Governor attended a press conference regarding the Phuket Street Food Festival 2017 in Central World Mall, Bangkok. The events will take place during the green season on September 16 and 17 at the 72nd Anniversary Commemoration of Queen Sirikit Public Park in Phuket Town. Phuket is one of 18 cities across the globe that are given the special title…
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.