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Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.

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    Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run

    Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...

  • Jeans and T-shirts banned for Government House journalists and photographers | Thaiger

    Jeans and T-shirts banned for Government House journalists and photographers

    PHOTO: A group of Thai journalists and photographers learning how to put on a tie Tatty old jeans and a T-shirt – OK for a night out in Sukhumvit but not good enough when attending pressers with the Thai PM. If you want to attend media conferences or take photos of junta leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, then you need to…

  • Gang violence flares up at a pub, ends up at hospital – Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Gang violence flares up at a pub, ends up at hospital – Chiang Mai

    PHOTOS: Sanook Two gangs of young people went at it late into last night in Chiang Mai. When all the dust had settled one victim was recovering at the Chiang Mai Medical Centre. Sanook is reporting that the trouble started outside a pub in the Nimmanhaemin area of the city. A 21 year old was taken to Chiang Mai Medical Centre…

  • University students arrested with 14K methamphetamine pills | Thaiger

    University students arrested with 14K methamphetamine pills

    Eight suspects have been arrested with over 14,000 methamphetamine pills and 104 grams of crystal methamphetamine over the past two days. Two of them are senior university students. 28 year old Tanapat Naoprai and Sarocha Horgiean were living at a house in Rawai. Both are senior law students of a university in Phuket. Officers seized 14,000 methamphetamine pills from their…

  • Tourists give a thumbs-down to the ‘new’ Khao San Road | Thaiger

    Tourists give a thumbs-down to the ‘new’ Khao San Road

    PHOTO: The Nation “You are destroying the life and soul of the city – and we are not coming back!” Take that BMA! as tourists give a big thumbs down and slap in the face to authorities who have tried to sanitise the trashy tourist magnet. For decades Khao San Road has been a mecca for back-packers and tourists looking for…

  • Emergency water shut off hits Kamala | Thaiger

    Emergency water shut off hits Kamala

    The Phuket Water Authority (PWA) says that water supply in some areas of in Kamala will be shut off today (August 14) as the mains pipe broke earlier this morning. The mains have been shut off from 11am until repair works can be completed. The PWA says that water supply in some areas of Kamala will be shutoff while work is being…

  • Rise of the Phoenix – sunken tour boat to be raised today | Thaiger

    Rise of the Phoenix – sunken tour boat to be raised today

    Attempts to salvage the Phoenix have been struggling with the recent strong winds and waves. It’s hoped that the boat will be raised by the end of today (August 14). The owner of Phoenix failed to recover their boat after it sank on July 5, which resulted in 47 Chinese tourists drowning. The company that owns the boat will now be sued for…

  • World’s most liveable cities 2018 – Two Asian cities in the Top 10 | Thaiger

    World’s most liveable cities 2018 – Two Asian cities in the Top 10

    PHOTO: Vienna pips Melbourne for the top spot this year The popular, and often-quoted ‘World’s Most Liveable Cities’ have been announced for 2018 and there’s only two Asian cities in the list, both in the same country. After seven years at the top of the list, Australia’s southern capital, Melbourne, has lost its crown as the world’s most liveable city. The…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday

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

  • Ouch! Pickup collides into 15 million baht car | Thaiger

    Ouch! Pickup collides into 15 million baht car

    If you’re going to collide with another vehicle your best bet is a small dent on a Honda Jazz or Toyota – cars which have lots of cheap spare parts around. And no one harmed of course. Just don’t crash into one of these. Dash cam footage from a road in Bang Pakong, halfway between Bangkok and Pattaya, shows a…

  • The battle of Phuket’s boat shows | Thaiger

    The battle of Phuket’s boat shows

    Phuket’s next boat show season has hit stormy seas with the proposed new Thailand Yacht Show Rendezvous being ambushed by a revitalised ‘PIMEX’, now called the Phuket Yacht Show.

  • Teen drowns at privately run tourist attraction in Nakhon Nayok | Thaiger

    Teen drowns at privately run tourist attraction in Nakhon Nayok

    PHOTOS: The Nation A senior Nakhon Nayok provincial official visited a privately run tourist attraction in the district’s Tambon Hin Tang today (Monday) to inspect the scene where a female Thai tourist drowned yesterday after being swept away when playing in a river. Nakhon Nayok is an hour’s drive north east of Bangkok. The official, Khomthat Tantiyamas, said that he would…

  • Thailand takes over the chair for ASEAN next year. What’s at stake? | Thaiger

    Thailand takes over the chair for ASEAN next year. What’s at stake?

    “As Thailand takes over the ASEAN chairmanship next year, it is important for the country to drive ASEAN forward to achieve the utmost benefits for Thais and peoples across the ASEAN region.” The integration story of Southeast Asian nations, widely known as ASEAN, began in 1967 and has since brought about significant changes to the Southeast Asian region. For decades,…

  • Broken promises – Mong Thongdee still waits, nine years later | Thaiger

    Broken promises – Mong Thongdee still waits, nine years later

    by Thai PBS It was nine years ago when this young stateless boy was the media poster boy for a week with his story and dreams to represent his country in an international paper plane contest. In the wake of the granting of citizenship for four of the Mu Pa team, Mong Thongdee’s story didn’t end the same way and deserves…

  • More rain and flood warnings for the north and north-east | Thaiger

    More rain and flood warnings for the north and north-east

    The north-east regions have just been mopping up over the last week and now the TMD (Thai Meteorological Department) are warning that there’s more on the way. Residents in the North and North-east are bracing for more rain with isolated torrential downpours on Wednesday and Thursday (August 15-16) that could trigger flash floods in the region. TMD chief Wanchai Sakudomchai,…

  • Speedboat explodes into fire in Phang Nga | Thaiger

    Speedboat explodes into fire in Phang Nga

    A parked speedboat which originated in Phuket has caught fire in Phang Nga today (August 13). One injury has been reported. The Takua Thung Police in Phang Nga were notified of the incident at 10.30am on Ao Man in Takua Thung. The speedboat captain told police that they were travelling with 20 middle eastern tourists and departed from Laem Sai…

  • Storm damaged houses and shops in Krabi | Thaiger

    Storm damaged houses and shops in Krabi

    Storms arrived with heavy rain in Krabi over the weekend, damaging local houses. Heavy rains and strong winds hit Lam Thap in Krabi. Many local have reported that their houses have been damaged with roofs ripped off and trees falling. 51 year old Sopapohn Chormanee, owner of a fertiliser shop says… “heavy rains and strong winds started on Saturday in…

  • Chalong Police warn of beach thief at Nai Harn | Thaiger

    Chalong Police warn of beach thief at Nai Harn

    Chalong Police are warning about a Nai Harn Beach thief after a tourist’s bag was stolen over the weekend. The Chalong Police were contacted after a Chinese tourist’s bag was stolen at Nai Harn Beach. Police say that the tourist reported that there was three mobile phones, 5,000 baht cash and a passport inside the bag. The Chinese tourist went into…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Monday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Monday

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  • Chiang Rai venue chosen to move the buildings for judges on Doi Suthep | Thaiger

    Chiang Rai venue chosen to move the buildings for judges on Doi Suthep

    PHOTO: Thai PBS Thai PBS is reporting that judicial administrators have agreed to ask the Agricultural Techniqe Department in Chiang Rai for the use of a 40-rai plot of their plants research centre to construct new offices and housing tor the Region 5 Appeals Court. The request follows a protracted protest from Chiang Mai residents about the special housing for…

  • Big surf and high tides pound Phuket’s west coast beaches | Thaiger

    Big surf and high tides pound Phuket’s west coast beaches

    Phuket’s west coast was being pounded by big waves along the island’s beaches this morning. A mid-morning high tide, compounded with the 30 kilometre winds and south-west monsoonal waves, are washing away parts of some of the island’s most popular beaches. The International Surf Life Saving Association says today’s conditions are very hazardous for beachgoers and swimmers. At Surin Beach…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Sunday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Sunday

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

  • Damage toll continues to rise on Lombok | Thaiger

    Damage toll continues to rise on Lombok

    Whilst the death toll continues to rise – and will rise as rescuers scramble through the rubble – the toll mounts on those that remain to try and rebuild their lives. It’s now nearly a week after the 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the Indonesian island. Damages and loss caused by last week’s earthquake in Lombok and Bali are estimated to…

  • More delays for next February’s election? | Thaiger

    More delays for next February’s election?

    PHOTO: On the lookout for next year’s election – The Nation February 2019 is just six months away, the deadline for the long-awaited, and must postponed, Thai general election. Although the junta have ‘promised’ that THIS will be the date for Thailand’s return to democracy, an increasing amount of politicians are starting to wonder if the deadline will be met.…

  • Phuket’s bank robber surrenders to police | Thaiger

    Phuket’s bank robber surrenders to police

    Thursday’s Thalang bank robber has surrendered himself to police this morning (August 11). Police found that the suspect is also a known gold snatcher. Read about the armed bank robbery on Thursday HERE. Yesterday police tracked down the 27 year old suspect’s home in a housing estate which is not far from the bank. Police continued the search at his…

  • Twinpalms hotels & resorts celebrate their 14th anniversary | Thaiger

    Twinpalms hotels & resorts celebrate their 14th anniversary

    PHOTO: Collard Studios One of Phuket’s home-grown brands, Twinpalms is inviting members, guests and residents to join the revelry at Catch Beach Club on Saturday, September 22, to mark 14 years of offering luxury hospitality and entertainment on Thailand’s largest destination island. Bang Tao Beach will once again be adorned with party- goers beautified in white clothing (as is the…

  • “Phuket, a little piece of paradise” – US News & World Report | Thaiger

    “Phuket, a little piece of paradise” – US News & World Report

    PHOTO: thailandtravel.agency Whilst the annual south-west monsoon continues to kick up dangerous surf along its west coast, the southern island of Thailand has picked up another award. The island has been named the ‘Second Best Beach in the World’ by business publication US News & World Report. Phuket beat Maui, Kauai and Costa Rica in the world standings, according to the…

  • UNHCR praises decision to issue Thai citizenship to four Mu Pa boys | Thaiger

    UNHCR praises decision to issue Thai citizenship to four Mu Pa boys

    Through all the drama and an international team of rescuers to recover them, some good has come from the Mu Pa football team story. Thai PBS reports that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has welcomed the Thai Government’s decision to grant Thai citizenship to three stateless Wild Boars boys and their football coach this week. “By providing…

  • Eight Thai dams on ‘floodwatch’ | Thaiger

    Eight Thai dams on ‘floodwatch’

    The Mekong River is steadily dropping, but a ‘flood watch’ is on for some central north-eastern dams as well as two dams south of Bangkok. The Office of National Water Resources secretary-general Somkiat Prajumwong says the department is keeping a close watch on eight large-sized dams which are holding water at alarming levels. The eight dams are Nam Phung dam…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Saturday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Saturday

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

  • More rain = more Dengue fever | Thaiger

    More rain = more Dengue fever

    The wet season has provided a spike in new Dengue cases around the Kingdom. The Disease Control Department chief says a total of 3,301 new cases of dengue fever have been reported nationwide during the past week. Dr Suwannachai Watanayingcharoenchai says the number of people infected with dengue was an average of 10,000 patients a month during the rainy season…