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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.

  • Thaksin slams Thai ‘democracy’ on the celebration of his birthday | Thaiger

    Thaksin slams Thai ‘democracy’ on the celebration of his birthday

    Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra is vowing to keep on his “battle for Thailand’s democracy”, despite living in self-exile overseas for around a decade. This announcement from red-shirt media yesterday (August 9). The Peace News Facebook page reports that the ex-premier, overthrown by a military coup in 2006, made a speech during his belated birthday party with his sister, another…

  • Storms raise flood threats in 37 provinces | Thaiger

    Storms raise flood threats in 37 provinces

    Whilst the flood situation in the far north of the country, bordering the Mekong River, has abated over the past week, the situation is still dire for many other communities around the Kingdom today. Disaster warnings have now been issued as heavy downpours threaten to bring flash floods and landslides to 37 provinces across Thailand. A monsoon storm is predicted…

  • Man charged after 21 month old stepson’s death | Thaiger

    Man charged after 21 month old stepson’s death

    A 21 month old child has died after being repeatedly hit by his stepfather with a broom. The man has been charged with bodily harm causing death. Thalang Police were notified by Thalang Hospital medical staff at 5.30am yesterday (August 9) that the child was at the hospital and doctors suspected the child had been beaten to death. Police arrived…

  • Ban for jet-skis and parasail rides continues until August 14 | Thaiger

    Ban for jet-skis and parasail rides continues until August 14

    If you were planning to head down to the west coast today for a quick jet-ski dash and parasail ride, forget about it, they won’t be operating. The Acting chief of the Phuket Marine Office yesterday announced a ban for jet-skis and parasail ride operators using Phuket’s west coast beaches until August 14. The Phuket Marine Office Acting Chief, Wiwat…

  • Former tattoo shop owner killed in Krabi | Thaiger

    Former tattoo shop owner killed in Krabi

    A former famous Phi Phi tattoo shop owner has been shot dead. Ao Nang Police were notified of an incident at 4am this morning (Thursday) at a hut in Khao Kram in Krabi. Krabi Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find the body of a man who was later identified as 42 year old Preecha ‘Bangtos’ Boatmen,…

  • Flash mobs staged to protest the buildings on Doi Suthep | Thaiger

    Flash mobs staged to protest the buildings on Doi Suthep

    By Nisanart Kangwanwong The Doi Suthep protesters in Chiang Mai had their campaign to remove the Thai judges housing development interrupted by the rescue mission at the Tham Luang Caves in nearby Chiang Rai. Now the “Rak Chiang Mai” community network has organised four flash mobs at four key locations of Chiang Mai’s Muang district to highlight what they says…

  • Songkhla hospital saves 78 year old British man | Thaiger

    Songkhla hospital saves 78 year old British man

    The Prince of Songkhla University Hospital has performed special surgery valued around 1 million baht to save the life of a retired Briitish naval officer for humanitarian reasons and is organising donations to send him back to the UK. 78 year old Kenneth George Smith told reporters from his hospital bed that he appreciated the help from the Songklanagarind Hospital,…

  • Former Thai actor arrested over Bitcoin scam | Thaiger

    Former Thai actor arrested over Bitcoin scam

    A once-popular actor has been charged with convincing foreigners to transfer to him more than 5,500 bitcoins as an investment. (5,500 Bitcoin are worth around 210,000 baht or US$6,300 each as of today) Police picked up 27 year old Jiratphisit Jarawitchit today at midday at a shopping mall in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district. The Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for him…

  • MultiHull Solutions Regatta 2018 – Phuket Yacht Club, Chalong | Thaiger

    MultiHull Solutions Regatta 2018 – Phuket Yacht Club, Chalong

    Sea Focussed Productions have put together a terrific video showcasing the action from this year’s successful MultiHull Solutions Regatta hosted by the Phuket Yacht Club. Congratulations to the winners and organisers of the event. Watch and enjoy highlights from this year’s event. https://www.facebook.com/thethaigernews/videos/1830314000379753/    

  • Sony’s new Xperia XZ2 Premium with ultra-high sensitivity dual camera | Thaiger

    Sony’s new Xperia XZ2 Premium with ultra-high sensitivity dual camera

    ADVERTISEMENT Sony Thailand steps up its game with new smartphones introduced to compete offerings from some of the Chinese companies as well as Samsung and Apple. Sony have announced the new XZ2 Premium, which has one of the most remarkable cameras ever integrated into a smartphone. The new phone boasts the world’s highest ISO 12800 sensitivity for video recording in…

  • Weather warnings for 37 provinces | Thaiger

    Weather warnings for 37 provinces

    The 2018 wet season has been taken literally by Mother Nature in many parts of Thailand. Heavy rain is affecting many provinces of the country. The Thai Meteorological Department is warning of outbreaks of rain and isolated heavy downpours to hit the North, Northeast, Central, East and South regions today – that’s just about everywhere! The TMD says the poor…

  • Now everyone can fly – from CNX to Hanoi | Thaiger

    Now everyone can fly – from CNX to Hanoi

    It’s getting easier and easier to get around the region with new start-ups opening up the skies and current operators always introducing new routes. Now, the people that brought us the slogan “now Everyone Can Fly”, Air Asia, is launched four direct flights a week between Chiang Mai and Hanoi, Vietnam’s northern capital. The Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday flights start…

  • Police drag man out of Pattaya school after ex-wife clams he was carrying a gun | Thaiger

    Police drag man out of Pattaya school after ex-wife clams he was carrying a gun

    The father at the centre of a viral video has brought along his lawyer to the Bang Laming Police to discuss, what he claims, was an excessive use of force at a primary school in Pattaya yesterday. The issues relate to a long-term domestic custody issue. 35 year old Thara Welajaeng says he was having lunch peacefully with his daughter…

  • Navy help 177 tourists back from Koh Racha | Thaiger

    Navy help 177 tourists back from Koh Racha

    The Royal Thai Navy was called by tour operators on Koh Racha Yai yesterday (August 8) to help bring 177 Thais and tourists back to the Phuket Deep Sea Port following strong winds and high seas in the Andaman Sea. The Royal Thai Navy Third Area Commander Admiral Somnuek Prempramot says, “At about noon yesterday (August 8) we were asked…

  • Thailand to adopt some of Japan’s road safety measures | Thaiger

    Thailand to adopt some of Japan’s road safety measures

    PHOTO: The Nation “It was found that Japan had placed importance on measures related to public transports which focus on the standard of transports and equipment and the safety of drivers and passengers.” In an effort to reduce the country’s shameful road toll, the Ministry of Transport says it’s started to implement some of Japan’s road safety measures in Thailand.…

  • Eight arrested with drugs, firearms and ammunition | Thaiger

    Eight arrested with drugs, firearms and ammunition

    A team of Mueang Phuket District officers led by Danai Jaikheang have arrested eight male and female suspects with a variety of illicit drugs, firearms and ammunition. The eight suspects arrested are 27 year old man Watanyu Jaiyen, arrested at a house in Soi King Kaew, Rassada. Officer seized 4.34 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 6 methamphetamine pills, 3 handguns and…

  • Lombok earthquake toll climbs to 347 | Thaiger

    Lombok earthquake toll climbs to 347

    PHOTO: VOA News The death toll from Lombok’s devastating earthquake last Sunday evening rose alarmingly yesterday following the discovery of many bodies buried under rubble in the island’s northern towns. The death toll has now climbed to 347. Rescue networks report that around 200,000 people live in northern Lombok, a mountainous region away from the more touristy southern and western…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Thursday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Thursday

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

  • Chinese call centre gang raided in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Chinese call centre gang raided in Chiang Mai

    PHOTO: Chiang Mai City Life Thai police have had a lot of success recently tracking down call centre gangs in all parts of the country. This time in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai City Life is reporting that a Chinese call centre scam operation was raided yesterday. Four Chinese citizens were arrested. The arrests occurred on August 7 at a housing…

  • Four of the Mu Pa 13 become Thai citizens | Thaiger

    Four of the Mu Pa 13 become Thai citizens

    PHOTO: Adul Samon, Mongkol Boonpium, Pornchai Khamluang and assistant coach Ekkapol Chantawongse. Good news for four of the stateless Mu Pa Academy footballers. During their time in the cave it was revealed that four of the team were officially stateless – unable to get a bank account, get legally married, start a business, etc. Tonight the four officially became Thai…

  • Two drug gangs busted | Thaiger

    Two drug gangs busted

    Two big drug hauls today in different parts of the country. Firstly, police arrested six suspects including the alleged drug-trafficking gang leader Phusinthorn Jomtharak, along with over 68,000 methamphetamine pills in Chaiyaphum province. 24 year old Phusinthorn, a Nong Bua Dang district native, was nabbed yesterday (Tuesday) while visiting a drug inmate friend at Chaiyaphum Prison. Police say that Phusinthorn…

  • Special welcomes for Chinese tourists at Krabi Airport | Thaiger

    Special welcomes for Chinese tourists at Krabi Airport

    The Krabi Immigration Office at Krabi Airport has provided special warm welcomes for Krabi Chinese tourists including more exclusive Visa checkpoint lanes. Krabi Immigration Office Chief Col Suparueak Pankomon led the warm welcome for 138 Chinese tourists who were arriving with a charter flight on Uron Airlines from China. It’s all part of the recent ‘charm offensive’ to encourage Chinese…

  • Invacio Research Analytics: Pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence and embracing cryptocurrencies | Thaiger

    Invacio Research Analytics: Pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence and embracing cryptocurrencies

    Newly established in Phuket, Invacio Research Analytics, a group subsidiary of Invacio founded by William J D West and led by Linleeya West (Thai/Swiss educated), are bringing Artificial Intelligence to Thailand and also bridging the gap between established currencies and the emerging world of cryptocurrencies. Through a sister subsidiary company, Invacio AAP Holdings (Seychelles), under the Invacio umbrella are all…

  • Warning out for Samui ferry as waves reach 3 metres in Gulf of Thailand | Thaiger

    Warning out for Samui ferry as waves reach 3 metres in Gulf of Thailand

    The Samui Harbour Office has issued warnings to the ferry operator to be careful in both directions on the Surat Thani run with waves up high as three metres today in the Gulf of Thailand. The office has also prohibited small boats from leaving the shores of Koh Samui. The ferry boat operator was warned to check lifejackets and all…

  • ‘If in doubt, don’t go out” – ISLA warnings | Thaiger

    ‘If in doubt, don’t go out” – ISLA warnings

    The International Surf Lifesaving Association (ISLA) is recommending that Phuket’s exposed west coast beaches be closed to swimmers, until current conditions subside. The following warnings are in effect: • High surf • Dangerous shorebreak • Severe rip currents in some locations • High winds • Sudden squalls • Rapid beach erosion in some areas A warning means these conditions are…

  • ‘Serenata’ captain and company manager charged | Thaiger

    ‘Serenata’ captain and company manager charged

    A law suit has been filed against the Serenata’s boat captain and the Chinese marketing manager of the company that owns the yacht. The Serenata was found to be of alleged ‘defective maintenance’. Serenata sank on the same day as Phoenix, July 5, but didn’t suffer any casualties with all passengers saved. Phuket’s Provincial Police commander Maj Gen Teerapol Thipjaroen says… “for…

  • PM says mandatory conscription still required in Thailand | Thaiger

    PM says mandatory conscription still required in Thailand

    PHOTOS: The Nation Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has reaffirmed the importance of retaining mandatory conscription for Thai men “as soldiers form an indispensable force in time of crisis or emergency”. Thai PBS is reporting that the PM was speaking at a press conference after the weekly Cabinet meeting in response to criticism that mandatory conscription should be scrapped as there…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Wednesday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Wednesday

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

  • Phuket’s beach lifeguard situation is not sustainable | Thaiger

    Phuket’s beach lifeguard situation is not sustainable

  • Man arrested with drugs (not very well) hidden in his underwear | Thaiger

    Man arrested with drugs (not very well) hidden in his underwear

    Police have arrested a man with 4,000 methamphetamine pills hidden inside his underwear at Phuket checkpoint this week. A team of police at the Phuket Checkpoint in Mai Khao arrested 22 year old Kriengkrai Jongrak from Krabi after found the 4,000 methamphetamine pills. Kriengkrai was taken to the Tha Chatchai Police Station where he was charged with illegal possession of…