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.
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Sponsored 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...
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Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere.
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Renewed demands to ban paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos in Thailand
Despite years of completely conflicting evidence, on both sides, and even the World Health Organisation coming up with its wobbly ‘probably carcinogenic’ finding, glysophate (RoundUp), and two other herbicides and pesticides used in Thailand, are coming under renewed fire. Thai activists are planning to launch lawsuits against local policymakers for their failure to ban three key agri-chemicals in Thailand, following…
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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…
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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.
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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,…
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Protesters demand removal of the court-owned properties on Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai
The fight over the Doi Suthep houses, deemed illegal several months ago, has taken a new tack over the weekend with an approach to the Department of Agriculture in Chiang Rai to build new offices and housing for judges there. But Doi Suthep protesters that’s not good enough. They say that the resolution to build new offices and residences for the…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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Don’t ride elephants in Thailand – warning to Kiwi tourists
by Alex Baird Elephant rides in Thailand are coming under increasing international pressure as stories of abusive training practices reach mainstream news and travel sites. NewsHub reports that New Zealand travellers are being told to steer clear of elephant riding due to the severe abuse the animals face. Intrepid Travel co-founder Geoff Manchester released shocking footage on Sunday – which happens to…
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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…
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Thaiger Radio News – Monday
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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…
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Indonesia all set for the Asian Games
Having taken on the responsibility for hosting this year’s Asian Games after Vietnam pulled out, Indonesia says it’s ready for the sporting expo starting next week. Jakarta and Palembang in Sumatra will be host to over 11,000 athletes and 5,000 officials from 45 Asian countries for the Asian Games, the world’s largest multi-sport event behind the Olympics. Indonesia has set…
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Thaiger Radio News – Sunday
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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…
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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…
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Goodbye e-commerce, hello ‘new retail’
PHOTOS: Alibaba Group Our lifestyles are quickly evolving as the digital age kills off the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ inexorably creeps in to our daily life. Goodby Kodak and Polaroid – hello smartphone cameras and Facebook. Goodbye newspapers – hello instant news websites, blogs and live-streaming. The same is happening to retail as the shopfront moves to websites and screens…
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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…
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“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…
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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…
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BMA backs down to allow Khaosan traders, sort of…
by Kornrawee Panyasuppakun “From around 9pm to 3am, backpackers use Khaosan as “party central”, rather than a shopping fair. Electronic dance beats can be heard blaring from clubs and bars.” There’s been a back down in the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration yesterday after vendors from Khaosan Road convinced a committee that their stalls, whilst illegal in the past, were a huge…
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Thaiger Radio News – Saturday
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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…
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Boracay closure dents Philippine’s economic numbers
PHOTO: Wikipedia The Philippine’s economy has slowed in Q2 2018, this year’s second quarter, and fell well short of predictions. Some are blaming policy decisions including the shutdown of tourist magnet Boracay Island. The quarter’s 6% expansion was the weakest in three years and ends a run of 10 consecutive quarters where growth was at least 6.5%. AFP reports that…
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The mystery of Myanmar’s missing airlines
PHOTO: Asian Wings Airways Any trip on a local airline usually means planes either full or mostly full. But some of Myanmar’s smaller local airlines have been struggling through this year’s wet season along with a drop in tourism to the country of around 6% for the past 12 months. At least three airlines appear to have thrown in the…
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Police are hunting for a Phuket bank robber
Phuket Police are now hunting for a suspect who has robbed a bank and got away with 26,900 baht cash in Thalang this morning (August 10). Thalang Police were notified of the incident at the Government Hosing Bank on Thepkrasattri Road, 300 metres north of the Heroines Monument in Thalang. The incident happened just after the bank opening time. Police…
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11 year old Thai child bride sent back to Thailand
The 11 year old Thai girl, caught up in the middle of a ‘child marriage’ storm, has been sent back across the border to Thailand. The girl’s ‘marriage’ to a 41 year old Malaysian man caused a social media meltdown and strong negative response from human trafficking groups, human rights groups and the Malaysian government. A Malaysian social activist claims…
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Who is this week’s Champion of Overstayers? – Operation X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner
PHOTOS: Thai Tourist Police Bureau The Thai Tourist Police have executed the 20th raid in their “X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner” campaign. Again, they’ve turned up dozens of foreigners on overstay and people entering the Kingdom illegally. Eighteen schools were raided for illegals including three international schools and 2 language institutes. Pol Maj Gen Surachete Hakpal – aka ‘Big Joke’ in the…
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Parts of Krabi flooded as heavy rains continue
The Than Bok Khorani National Park in Krabi has been temporarily closed due to strong water flows. More than 50 families are suffering from flooding around the area. Yesterday afternoon (August 9) soldiers went to Khao Panom district in Krabi after water level in canals were rising fast. Water is overflowing and flooding many areas. A palm plantation has also been…
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