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.

  • Toon-fever hits Prachuap Khiri Khan today | Thaiger

    Toon-fever hits Prachuap Khiri Khan today

    An Air Force flyover and 20,000 cheering admirers greeted Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Monday as he resumed his cross-country run to raise money for hospitals. After several days off to let a pulled tendon heal, Toon began Day 27 of what’s become a more challenging campaign than expected, leaving Ban Wa Tone in Tambon Klong Wan…

  • Elephant attacks and kills mahout in Krabi | Thaiger

    Elephant attacks and kills mahout in Krabi

    A 35 year old female elephant ‘Sao Nui’ has attacked her mahout, 50 year old Amorn Morakot, while they were walking in forests behind Krabi. A rescue team brought the body of Amorn out of the forest of Khao Panom district, Krabi, after his relatives found his body at the scene yesterday. “At about noon the mahout took his elephant…

  • Marijuana valued at 2 million Baht – crackdown in Phang Nga | Thaiger

    Marijuana valued at 2 million Baht – crackdown in Phang Nga

    Phang Nga police have arrested 6 local fishermen with 456 kilograms of dry marijuana leaves. The 6 fishermen include 31 year old Boonkum Bohmuang, 27 year old Rachan Thong-Iad, 25 year old Sakrit Thong-Iad, 36 year old Thalerngsak Thanyupak and 37 year old Manoch Thintalay. After being informed about the drugs being transported by boat through the Andaman Sea, an…

  • Bali evacuates 100,000 and tourists stranded as island goes to red alert over volcano | Thaiger

    Bali evacuates 100,000 and tourists stranded as island goes to red alert over volcano

    If you were about to rush over to Bali for a bit of pre-Christmas island hopping, forget it. The airport in Denpasar is closed, people are being evacuated as a precaution and many travellers, already on the island, are stranded. Authorities on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali have raised the volcano alert to the highest level as Mount Agung…

  • Miss Universe Thailand gets into the Top Five. Miss South Africa wins. | Thaiger

    Miss Universe Thailand gets into the Top Five. Miss South Africa wins.

    Thai beauty queen Maria Poonlertlarp, who was selected as one of the final five contestants in the 66th Miss Universe 2017, smiled bravely through her disappointment as she watched Miss South Africa’s Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters crowned Miss Universe this morning (Bangkok time) at the Axis, Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas in the world’s biggest beauty pageant. Colombia’s Laura Gonzalez was first…

  • MONDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your news in 3 minutes | Thaiger

    MONDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your news in 3 minutes

    All your main news stories to get you ready for your Monday… Family demands answers The family of the dead teen cadet Phakhapong Tanyakan is demanding that the military bring to justice the people who committed whatever crimes that led to their son’s death after an autopsy indicated that he probably didn’t die from cardiac arrest. Phakhapong’s parents and his…

  • Marcus Rolli & Imogen Simmonds win the Foremost IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand 2017 | Thaiger

    Marcus Rolli & Imogen Simmonds win the Foremost IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand 2017

    A bumper edition of the second Foremost IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand saw almost 1,500 triathletes turnout for the iconic half ironman distance race and the newly introduced Sunrise Sprint today (26th November) on Phuket island, a mecca for triathlon in Asia with a history of triathlon events dating back almost 30 years. With 31 Pros from around the world on the…

  • NGO taking the government to court over food pesticides | Thaiger

    NGO taking the government to court over food pesticides

    More than 60 per cent of five popular vegetables sold in local markets contain excessive levels of harmful chemical residue, according to a testing by the Thailand Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN), a non-governmental organisation working on food safety. About 64 per cent of khana (Chinese kale), tua fak yao (long beans), prik daeng (red chili), bai kaprao (basil leaves) and…

  • Relatives claim bodies of Myanmar workers killed in van fire | Thaiger

    Relatives claim bodies of Myanmar workers killed in van fire

    Relatives of some of the 13 Myanmar workers who were killed in a fiery van accident in Sing Buri early on Friday were in Bangkok yesterday (November 25) to claim the bodies. The Police Hospital’s Forensic Medicine Institute opened a room on the first floor to provide assistance to the relatives. The 13 workers were killed along with a Thai…

  • SUNDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes | Thaiger

    SUNDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    26 Chinese tourists have a lucky escape Police are speaking with the bus driver and witnesses as emergency service volunteers clean up the mess from last night’s bus fire in Koh Keaw. 26 Chinese tourists had a lucky escape after their tour bus burst into flames as they were headed southbound along Thepkasatri Road around 6pm last night, just opposite…

  • 26 Chinese tourists escape bus fire without injury | Thaiger

    26 Chinese tourists escape bus fire without injury

    26 Chinese tourists have had a lucky escape after their tour bus burst into flames as they were headed southbound along Thepkasatri Road around 6pm tonight, just opposite the Isuzu Showroom. The group was returning from a trip to the islands off Phuket and headed for their hotel. The tour group only arrived in Phuket last night. The driver…

  • More than 100 take part in Foremost IRONKIDS Thailand 2017 @ Thanyapura | Thaiger

    More than 100 take part in Foremost IRONKIDS Thailand 2017 @ Thanyapura

    Over 100 young athletes were greeted with perfect race weather at Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort in Phuket on Saturday 25th November, 2017, as they competed in the second edition of the Foremost IRONKIDS Thailand. A total of 140 children took part in the event, which was broken into four age categories; 6-8 years old, 9-10 years old, 11-12 years…

  • Ten in, nine out, eight reassigned – Thai Cabinet reshuffle | Thaiger

    Ten in, nine out, eight reassigned – Thai Cabinet reshuffle

    His Majesty the King has endorsed the new Thai Cabinet after a reshuffle that saw 10 new faces, nine removed and eight members given new assignments. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha removed… General Tanasak Patimapragorn and Admiral Narong Pipatnasai as his deputies, as well Minister attached to Prime Minister’s Office Omsin Chivapruek, Deputy Defence Minister General Udomdej Sitabutr, Tourism and Sport…

  • Two officers transferred over death of 18 year old cadet | Thaiger

    Two officers transferred over death of 18 year old cadet

    The family blames injuries from punishment at school. The Army vows to conduct a transparent investigation Two senior military officers have been transferred out of the Thai Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (AFAPS) in the wake of a scandal surrounding the death of a teenage cadet. Supreme Commander General Thanchaiyan Srisuwan yesterday ordered the transfers of Colonel Chatchai Duangrat and…

  • Another van tragedy – 14 die after crash in Sing Buri | Thaiger

    Another van tragedy – 14 die after crash in Sing Buri

    Thirteen Burmese workers and a Thai driver were killed when a chartered van burst into flames after it crashed into the rear of a truck in Sing Buri early yesterday. The bus was taking the workers from Tak back to Mahachai, police said. The victims’ bodies were taken to Bangkok’s Police General Hospital for identification. So far, only Thai driver…

  • SATURDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes | Thaiger

    SATURDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    Welcome to Saturday. The forecast promises a 100% chance of rain but we’re sure there will be plenty of sunny breaks. Here’s this morning’s briefing.. Deputy PM apologises Two senior military officers have been transferred out of the Thai Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School in the wake of a scandal surrounding the death of an 18 year old cadet on…

  • THAIGER TODAY – Friday, November 24 | Thaiger

    THAIGER TODAY – Friday, November 24

    Phetchaburi inundated | PM defends his Deputy’s comments about dead cadet | Seven youth arrested over drugs bust in Paklok | Airport getting ready for high-season influx | Navy FC Chairman threatens the players in the alleged match-fixing scandal.

  • THAIGER TODAY – Thursday, November 23 | Thaiger

    THAIGER TODAY – Thursday, November 23

    National taxi crackdown… again | Four confess to football match-fixing | Phang Nga woman arrested over Erawan Shrine bombing | US says Rohingya crisis IS ‘ethnic cleansing’ | Bruno Mars coming to BKK.

  • Domestic terminal opens another section for the high season | Thaiger

    Domestic terminal opens another section for the high season

    Phuket International Airport will open the domestic terminal on the north side of the old terminal to welcome travellers during Phuket’s tourism high season starting November 28. The south section, which is currently used as the domestic terminal, will be closed down for renovation. The opening will offer more convenience to the passengers, both departures and arrivals, with a wider…

  • Thalang Police uncover 400+ kilos of drugs | Thaiger

    Thalang Police uncover 400+ kilos of drugs

    Last night (November 23), Thalang police arrested 7 alleged drug dealers with 20,000 amphetamine pills alongside 220 kilograms of kratom leaves, 2 guns and bullets. The 7 suspects were arrested in the Paklok area. Police received a report about drugs being sold in the area and found juveniles, including Kacha Kuekkong and Anuchit Khamsee, who were outside their room but…

  • Police roles could be moved to other Government departments | Thaiger

    Police roles could be moved to other Government departments

    The police force is looking to transfer many of its current key missions to other agencies if the reform plan approved by the National Reform Committee on Judicial Affairs goes ahead. The regulation of traffic flow and enforcement of traffic laws, for example, will be handed over to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Pattaya City Administration and some 30…

  • Phang Nga mother in court as suspected accomplice in Erawan Shrine bombing | Thaiger

    Phang Nga mother in court as suspected accomplice in Erawan Shrine bombing

    Wanna Suansan, accused of facilitating the 2015 Erawan Shrine bombing, appeared in Bangkok Military Court on Thursday morning to apply for her first 12-day detention period. She is one of 17 suspects in the bomb attack that killed 20 people and wounded 163 others. Wanna, 29, was taken into police custody at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Wednesday evening as she…

  • Thursday Morning Briefing – everything you need to know in 3 minutes | Thaiger

    Thursday Morning Briefing – everything you need to know in 3 minutes

    The Thai woman implicated in the deadly Erawan Shrine bomb attack is now in Thai police custody. Phang Nga resident, Wanna Suansan was arrested when she walked off a plane at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday. She was taken to the National Police Office headquarters where she was interrogated. Wanna is among suspects wanted over the fatal explosion that rocked the Erawan…

  • Thailand hosts ASEAN Environment Conference in Phuket | Thaiger

    Thailand hosts ASEAN Environment Conference in Phuket

    The Reducing Marine Debris in ASEAN Region 2017 hosted by Thailand is being held at JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa today (November 22). The meeting gathers the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), Kasetsart University and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with about 200 participants from many sectors in order to find solutions to reduce marine…

  • Boat explosion at Chalong Pier | Thaiger

    Boat explosion at Chalong Pier

    An explosion on a speed boat called ‘Choksomboon’ at Chalong Pier has injured two boat staff while the bottom of the boat has also been damaged. At about 4 pm yesterday (November 21), Chalong police got a report about an explosion and blaze near Chalong Pier. At the scene police found a 2 outboard engine speedboat docked at the port…

  • THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, November 22 | Thaiger

    THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, November 22

    Big rains in Hua Hin | Horrible crash in Thalang overnight | Football game-fixing exposed | Huge methamphetamine pill haul in Samut Prakhan | 5 of the 20 escapees caught in Songkhla.

  • Wednesday Morning Briefing – everything you need to know in 3 minutes | Thaiger

    Wednesday Morning Briefing – everything you need to know in 3 minutes

    How many methamphetamine tablets!? PHOTO: The Nation The Kathu Police Station Superintendent is heading to Patong to be the acting Patong Police Station Superintendent. This follows the transfer of several officers over the ongoing bribe scandal including former Patong Superintendent, Pol. Col. Tassanai Oladirek. Pol. Col. M.L. Pattanachak Chakrabhan will move from Kathu Police Station to be acting Patong Police…

  • Kathu Police Chief to move in as Acting-Chief of Patong Police | Thaiger

    Kathu Police Chief to move in as Acting-Chief of Patong Police

    Today (November 21), Phuket Provincial Police Commander, Pol. Maj. Gen. Teerapol Thipcharoen, signed the approval for the Kathu Police Station Superintendent to be acting Patong Police Station Superintendent. This follows the transfer of several officers over the ongoing bribe scandal including former Patong Superintendent, Pol. Col. Tassanai Oladirek. Pol. Col. M.L. Pattanachak Chakrabhan will move from Kathu Police Station to…

  • THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, November 21 | Thaiger

    THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, November 21

    Stabbings in Thalang and Phuket Town | US 7th Fleet Admiral and Thai PM attend Sail Past in Pattaya | 20 escape from Songkhla detention | ‘Spotlight Phuket’ dumps the dirt on Patong corruption | MRT Blue Line in BKK ditches passenger seats.

  • Phang Nga sets example for managing plastic waste | Thaiger

    Phang Nga sets example for managing plastic waste

    Ao Phang Nga National Park will be cited at a regional meeting this week as an example of Pracha Rath (public-private partnerships in development) being put to use in managing seaborne plastic waste. The success that officials and residents have enjoyed in curbing waste in the waters of the Phang Nga park will be outlined at the ASEAN and China…