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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...

  • Jet-skis and parasail rides banned until August 9

    Jet-skis and parasail rides banned until August 9

    The Acting chief of the Phuket Marine Office has announced a ban for jet-skis and parasail ride operators using Phuket’s west coast beaches, including today (August 7). Phuket Marine Office Acting Chief, Wiwat Chitcherdwong says, “according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) Office, heavy rain and high waves, up to three metres are still affecting the Andaman Sea until Thursday…

  • 98 confirmed dead. Rescuers fear more as relief pours into Lombok.

    98 confirmed dead. Rescuers fear more as relief pours into Lombok.

    International aid organisations are now seeking assistance some of the key groups get people onto the ground to start providing much-needed relief to the northern parts of the island. Following the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Indonesia’s Lombok Island on Sunday evening, rescue workers are actively searching the province to rescue and aid victims. According to The Guardian, Katy Flay, who…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday

    Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday

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

  • British tourist freaks out after being told she’d overstayed her visa by 160 days

    British tourist freaks out after being told she’d overstayed her visa by 160 days

    An ‘aggrieved’ tourist by the name of Auj-e Taqaddas, holding a British passport, assaulted a patient and calm immigration officer in Bali, Indonesia after being told she’d overstayed her Indonesian visa. A British tourist has been caught on camera screaming and slapping an immigration officer at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport today (Saturday) after being told that she had to…

  • Hua Hin gets funding to expand airport

    Hua Hin gets funding to expand airport

    The AoT director-general says they will spend 3.5 billion baht to upgrade Hua Hin’s International Airport over the next five years. Darun Saengchai says the upgrade was part of the “Riviera Thailand” and Southern Economic Corridor projects. Work at the airport would take up to five years and include enlarging the passenger terminal and building a second one. The number of…

  • Emergency water shut-off hits Koh Kaew and Thalang

    Emergency water shut-off hits Koh Kaew and Thalang

    FILE PHOTO: PWA The Phuket Water Authority (PWA) has announced today (August 6) that water supply in some areas of Koh Kaew and Thalang will be shut off as the mains pipe broke earlier today. The mains have been shut off from 9am until repair works can be completed. The PWA says that water supply in some areas of Koh Kaew will…

  • Earthquake toll rises to 91, state of emergency announced

    Earthquake toll rises to 91, state of emergency announced

    PHOTO: Jakarta Post The death toll from the powerful earthquake to hit Lombok and Bali on Sunday evening has climbed to 91. The latest figures announced this afternoon by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) in Jakarta. North Lombok island suffered the largest number of fatalities with 72 people killed, while Bali has so far recorded two fatalities. Most victims…

  • Man arrested over Phuket FamilyMart armed robbery

    Man arrested over Phuket FamilyMart armed robbery

    Police yesterday (August 5) have arrested a man who robbed a FamilyMart convenience store last Thursday (August 2) in Phuket Town. On Thursday the Phuket City Police were notified that a suspect used a gun to rob a FamilyMart on Maeluan Road in Phuket Town at 3.40am. The suspect threatened a staff member with a BB gun to hand over…

  • 132 aftershocks recorded in aftermath of 7-magnitude earthquake on Lombok

    132 aftershocks recorded in aftermath of 7-magnitude earthquake on Lombok

    Around 132 aftershocks have shaken up Lombok Island following the 7-magnitude earthquake that left 82 people dead and hundreds of others injured when it hit the Indonesian holiday island last evening. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reports that the quake was centered in the slopes of Mount Rinjani. This is in a similar area as the shocks that hit Lombok on…

  • Phetchaburi dams poised to overflow today

    Phetchaburi dams poised to overflow today

    PHOTOS: The Nation Dams in the western region of Phetchaburi province are rapidly filling up due to continuing heavy rain with the situation at Kaeng Krachan Dam now at critical levels. The reservoir reached maximum capacity last night (Sunday). The provinces of Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Kanchanaburi have been to told to brace for floods, as the Royal Irrigation…

  • Chinese media invited to Phuket to check on marine safety updates

    Chinese media invited to Phuket to check on marine safety updates

    Deputy Commander of the Tourist Police Bureau based in Bangkok, Maj Gen Surachete Hakparn, was in Phuket over the weekend (twice) and yesterday (Sunday) led Chinese media to follow up on marine safety measures on the island. A team of officers led 24 Chinese journalists from 12 Chinese media outlets were invited to Phuket to follow up on marine safety measures…

  • Phoenix owner fails to meet deadline to salvage the boat

    Phoenix owner fails to meet deadline to salvage the boat

    PHOTO: Director General of the Marine Department Jirut Wisanjit The owner of Phoenix has failed to recover their boat, after it sank on July 5 killing 47 Chinese tourists. The boat company will now be sued for salvage expenses estimated to be around 10 million baht. Director General of the Marine Department Jirut Wisanjit flew down to Phuket from Bangkok…

  • Lombok earthquake kills 82 and injured hundreds

    Lombok earthquake kills 82 and injured hundreds

    An earthquake has struck the Indonesian holiday island of Lombok killing 82 people (the toll is expected to rise) and wounded hundreds. The tremor was measured at a magnitude of 6.9, triggering panic among locals and tourists. The quake hit last night (Sunday) and shook up the neighbouring island of Bali. An initial tsunami warning, which was later cancelled, had…

  • New VIP lane at Suvarnabhumi, as long as you’re Chinese

    New VIP lane at Suvarnabhumi, as long as you’re Chinese

    PHOTOS: Thai Tourist Police Arriving on an international flight at Suvarnabhumi airport? Long lines at Immigration? No problem – please use the new special VIP lane, as long as you’re Chinese. As the Ministry of Touristm and Sport and the Tourist Police go on a charm offensive to restore confidence in the Thai travel market, a new special Chinese Immigration…

  • Morning fire at the Chiang Mai post office

    Morning fire at the Chiang Mai post office

    The local precinct superintendent, Pol Colonel Chuwit Kongkaew, says a fire, suspected to have been caused by a short circuit, broke out this morning (Sunday) in the local post office. The incident happened at the one-storey post office building of the San Khamphaeng branch. The fire, which occurred at around 7am, took fire-fighters 30 minutes to get under control at…

  • 670,000 fewer Chinese tourists – Thailand counts its losses after the Phoenix boat disaster

    670,000 fewer Chinese tourists – Thailand counts its losses after the Phoenix boat disaster

    Some of the fallout from the Phuket boat disaster is now starting to hit home, with more to come as cancellations bite into tourist arrivals, principally Chinese tourists. Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has officially revised down its forecast for July to December by nearly 670,000, to 5.1 million Chinese tourists. The South China Morning Post reports that Thailand…

  • Will Bamboo Air grow as fast as the real bamboo?

    Will Bamboo Air grow as fast as the real bamboo?

    A new player is about to enter the regional airline market. Based out of Vietnam, Bamboo Airlines is a fresh start-up under the patronage of Trinh Van Quyet who currently presides over a Vietnamese property empire and is betting billions on his new airline. The 43 year old property tycoon says his company has a market capitalisation of around US$200 million. He…

  • 4 million baht of ‘Fakes’ seized at the Thep Prasit Night Market in Pattaya

    4 million baht of ‘Fakes’ seized at the Thep Prasit Night Market in Pattaya

    The deputy Tourist Police Bureau chief, Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakpan, has led a raid with the Technology Crime Suppression Division and seized over 10,000 items of pirated merchandise at Pattaya’s Thep Prasit Pattaya Market – a popular tourist magnet for fake goods. The raids started around 11pm last night (Saturday). Goods confiscated included fakes of various ‘name’ brands –…

  • PWA announces Chalong water shut off tomorrow

    PWA announces Chalong water shut off tomorrow

    The Phuket Water Authority (PWA) has announced that water supply in some areas of Chalong will be shut off from 9am tomorrow (August 6) until the work is finished. The PWA says that water supply in some areas of Chalong will be shutoff while work is being carried out on main pipes at the entrance of Soi Tanuthep on Chao Fa…

  • Latest ‘Operation X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner’ nets UK and Nigerian overstayers, both over 1,000 days

    Latest ‘Operation X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner’ nets UK and Nigerian overstayers, both over 1,000 days

    File Photo The crackdown on serial overstayers continues across the country, including a British national arrested in Phuket. 53 year old Chris Michel was bundled up on Friday morning after it was revealed that he had overstayed his visa by 1077 days, nearly 3 years. 62 foreign nationals were detained in the latest ‘Operation X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner’, targeting 75 locations…

  • British cave rescuer honoured in his home town

    British cave rescuer honoured in his home town

    Another of the international rescue team, who flew into Chiang Rai last month to assist with the cave rescue, has been honoured. Richard Stanton, one of the British cave divers involved in the risky Tham Luang rescue operation, has been bestowed with the Coventry Award of Merit. The award was made in his home town of Coventry, where he lives.…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Sunday

    Thaiger Radio News – Sunday

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

  • The miracle at Tham Luang Caves

    The miracle at Tham Luang Caves

    The Thaiger would like to thank the incredible dedication, skill and commitment of all the rescuers, from around the world. Thank you.

  • Nigerian drug suspect arrested after police chase

    Nigerian drug suspect arrested after police chase

    PHOTO: Matichon Thai-language daily Matichon has reported that a Nigerian drug suspect did a runner after being tracked down by Samui police today. In a scene straight out of an action thriller, Koh Samui policemen and soldiers had to chase down a Nigerian drug suspect who jumped out of a window of his rented house, climbed over the fence and…

  • Phuket boat show rumbles – a new show announced

    Phuket boat show rumbles – a new show announced

    There used to be one Phuket boat show, then there was two, then there was the two coming together as one… and now there is a new event. Royal Phuket Marina are putting together their own show with Andy Dowden, of PIMEX fame, the principle organiser of the new Phuket Yacht Show. The new show is being planned for January…

  • 11 of the Mu Pa team complete their ordination, coach Ekkapol stays on

    11 of the Mu Pa team complete their ordination, coach Ekkapol stays on

    A provincial committee is being set up to screen approaches made to the 12 Mu Pa football players and their coach to attend various events and activities. Chiang Rai’s new Governor Prajon Pratsakul was speaking to reporters after the team made a courtesy call on him. They were accompanied by Phra Khru Prayut Jetiyanukarn, acting abbot of Wat Phra That…

  • English retiree electrocuted while mowing his lawn in Khon Kaen

    English retiree electrocuted while mowing his lawn in Khon Kaen

    Chiang Rai Times report that Brit Anthony Stratton has died whilst mowing the lawn in his garden in Khon Kaen. The 76 year old retiree was electrocuted while he was mowing the lawn on Wednesday afternoon. His wife discovered the body. Pol Lt Col Gritided Supan of Chum Phae Provincial Police Station said, “We received a phone call from a woman…

  • 4.8 million meth pills and nearly a tonne of ‘ice’ seized in Chiang Rai

    4.8 million meth pills and nearly a tonne of ‘ice’ seized in Chiang Rai

    The Nation is reporting that a suspected drug mule has been arrested along with a huge haul of 4.8 million methamphetamine pills and 978 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (ice). The drugs were seized after two pickup trucks sped through a checkpoint in Chiang Rai early this morning. Army rangers made the arrest after giving chase from the checkpoint in Ban Sai…

  • Thavorn Hotels & Resorts receives Thailand MICE Venue Standard Award

    Thavorn Hotels & Resorts receives Thailand MICE Venue Standard Award

    Thavorn Hotels & Resorts is proud to announce its certification of Thailand MICE Venue Standard (TMVS) by Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). The certification assesses venues in three key areas – physical, technological, and service requirements. Certified venues appear on an Approved List and are publicised worldwide as venues that meet international standards. MICE – Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and…

  • Peaceful Pattani – the other side of the southern province

    Peaceful Pattani – the other side of the southern province

    By Pattarawadee Saengmanee, The Nation Weekend The former capital of the ancient Langkasuka Kingdom, Pattani province in Thailand’s far south has traditionally been feted for its multiculturalism, though sadly the ongoing violence has kept it well off the tourist map for more than a decade. But his southern province bordered by Narathiwat, Yala, and Songkhla has plenty to offer the…