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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Each year, many expats living in Thailand see their health insurance premiums go up and often without a clear reason. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan your budget. But by understanding why prices rise and learning...
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PM comes under attack after political bans lifted
Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and his governmental coming under attack from politicians taking advantage of the junta’s lifting of political restrictions. The ban was officially lifted on Tuesday allowing commentary about politics, including criticism of other politicians and parties. Most of the parties who have been speaking up so far are linked to fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin has…
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Thailand’s Islamic council bans children under 17 from marrying
by Kornrawee Panyasuppakun The Central Islamic Council of Thailand (CICOT)’s has passed a new regulation banning children under the age of 17 from marriage. But there is a loophole in the new regulation. Thailand’s Islamic council has, for the first time, issued a ban on child marriage nationwide. This follows public anger sparked by the marriage back in July of…
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200,000 methamphetamine pills seized in Pattaya
Police have arrested a 46 year old alleged drug muler along with 200,000 methamphetamine pills in Pattaya. The suspect, 46 year old Sopon Saimee, has reportedly confessed to police that he was delivering drugs for a gang leader who was based in northern Thailand. He claims he was paid 3,000 baht per delivery of each 20,000 meth pill package. Following a…
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Noodle sellers dodging police bullets in Chiang Mai
PHOTOS: Manager Online When people fire guns, the bullets that miss still end up somewhere. Like into the cooking pot of a surprised noodle seller in Chiang Mai! The man selling noodles was working the late night shift on a road leading to Mae Rim, according to Manager Online. He had a very lucky escape after a bullet shell-casing hit…
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UPDATE: Man arrested for possessing exotic wild cats
In a follow up to our article yesterday about the man being arrested ‘in possession of exotic mixed wild cats;, Junie Kovacs, the Founder of the Lanta Animal Welfare has sent The Thaiger an update, saying… “Even though members from Lanta Animal Welfare and wild life officers tried to convince the man that it would be best to sterilise the kittens, he…
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Assets valued at 39 million baht seized in Magic Skin case
And there’s more to come, according to investigators… The AMLO (Anti-Money Laundering Office) seized 19 million baht cash and two luxury cars in the ‘Magic Skin’ scandal. The seizure was ordered after they allegedly supplied sub-standard cosmetics and weight- loss products. The AMLO have also seized two luxury cars worth 10 million baht each. A spokesperson for the AMLO says that the case…
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Four arrested with guns and drugs in Chalong
Officers have arrested four suspects and seized two illegal guns, 26 bullets, 319 methamphetamine pills and half a kilogram of marijuana in Chalong. Officers first arrested 28 year old Dawrueang Pomsuwan. Officers seized 3.68 grams, 319methamphetamine pills and 20 bullets. He has been charged with illegal possession of Category 1 Drugs with intent to sell and illegal possession of ammunition.…
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Chinese man who allegedly murdered wife now in custody
A Chinese man who allegedly murdered his wife, is now in custody at the Phuket Provincial Court. The alleged crime happened in October. The Kamala Police Chief says he will face a murder charge if police find that he killed his wife to collect on insurance payments. The Chinese husband is from Tianjin, China and is alleged to have murdered…
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Thaiger Radio News – Thursday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
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Chinese man murders wife in 143 million baht life-insurance scam
“…in the months leading up to the trip, Zhang had bought more than a dozen life insurance policies for his wife…” A Chinese husband from Tianjin is alleged to have murdered his wife during a family vacation in Phuket after buying up more than 30 million yuan (US$4.3 million) in life insurance policies in her name. Shanghai.ist reports that the…
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Wandering crocodile found at Krabi restaurant
A crocodile has shown up last night at a restaurant in Krabi (without a booking). Krabi rescue workers were notified that there was a stray crocodile hanging around the ‘Wangtong’ restaurant in Ao Luek, Krabi. Rescue workers and police headed to the rear of the restaurant to find three dogs were barking at the 1.7 metre crocodile. There was a…
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Phuket’s New Year ‘seven days of danger’ announced
PHOTOS: The Phuket Provincial Police / The Phuket PR Office Phuket Police are gearing up for the annual ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road safety period that will this year runs from December 27 to January 2. Phuket’s Vice Governor Supot Rodrueang Na Nongkhai says, “We are aiming for people to be happy over the festive season with safety during their…
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Southern militants escape after gunfight in Narathiwat
by Santhiti Khorjitmet Fighting between soldiers and eight armed militants has erupted on a remote mountain range in the southern province of Narathiwat in the Taway mountains. According to reports, both sides fired more than 100 rounds of ammunition during the confrontation near a suspected insurgents’ base in the Rangae district. Though two suspects were believed to have been injured, all…
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New WHO world road death report – Thailand drops to number 8 but still high
Thailand’s roads remain some of the deadliest in the world. But the Kingdom has dropped from its previous number two position to number eight, behind a collection of backwater African states and other undeveloped countries. A new report by the World Health Organisation shows that the road safety situation in Thailand hasn’t improved. The shocking news is outlined in a…
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Bangkok police officer kills French citizen following bar brawl
A French tourist was killed in his Bangkok apartment in the early hours of Wednesday by a local Policeman. The two were seen at a Lucky Shot Food and Sports Restaurant on Sukhumvi Soi 11/1 Tuesday evening. Witnesses say a bar brawl broke out between the two men in which the tourist was getting the upper hand, the reason for…
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Taxi motorbike driver found dead in Phuket room
A taxi motorbike driver has been found dead in a room in Thalang today. The Thalang Police were notified about the incident at the National Housing Authority in Thalang around midday today. Police and rescue workers arrived to find the body of a man who was identified as 39 year old Toemorn Suwan. Nearby they found empty bottles of whisky.…
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Kata Rocks Superyacht Rendezvous 2018 – Raises the bar again
Kata Rocks Superyacht Rendezvous 2018 (KRSR 2018) was, again, a leader in superyacht events in Asia. This year’s event has been hailed as an outstanding success both in terms of the strength of the yachting brands on display and the relaxed and productive business atmosphere. Over 350 invited personalities, including local and international VIP guests, major trend-setters in yachting and…
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Foreign Ministry assisting wife of Thai slain in France
Thai Foreign Ministry officials are working with French authorities to assist the wife of a Thai tourist who was among three people killed by a gunman last night at a famous Strasbourg Christmas market in France. A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Busadee Santipitaksat says the Thai embassy in Paris had reported the death of 45 year old Anupong Suebsamarn, and contacted…
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Cave-rescue mural now moved to official Tham Luang memorial
by Natthawat Laping The large mural depicting “The Heroes” from the dramatic cave rescue in Chiang Rai in June/July this year has now been installed at the new memorial pavilion at the mouth of the Tham Luang cave. The 14×3 metre canvas was moved from Wat Rong Khun this morning, along with another two paintings of the smaller size (each…
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Two youths arrested over bag snatching in Phuket Town
Phuket Police have arrested two suspects after they snatched a bag containing cash and a mobile phone from pedestrian in Phuket Town. Phuket Police have arrested 19 year old Chanatiip ‘Lip’ Samartkit from Phuket and a 15 old boy from Nakhon Si Thammarat. They were both arrested at a rental room in Rassada, east of Phuket Town. The arrest follows…
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Krabi rescue workers stop a python and cobra fight – VIDEO
Rescue workers have stopped a fight between two snakes. Rescue workers in Nuea Klong, Krabi were trying to stop a fight between a two metre python and a one and a half metre cobra while they were fighting inside a local house. Rescue worker used a snake snare to move the python and the cobra out of the house. It…
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Is the Kathu Temple involved in a zero dollar Chinese tour scam?
Hundreds of Chinese tour buses are clogging the tiny streets around ‘old Kathu’ on the northern side of Phra Phuket Kaew Road every day to drop the tourists off at the Kathu Temple. The temple now has a full commercial operation offering religious amulets, some of them selling for 20,000 baht and more. Tourists are guided around some of the…
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Testimony continues during poaching trial of Premchai Karnasutra
PHOTOS: The Nation The provincial court in Kanchanaburi’s Thong Pha Phum district heard testimony from three policemen yesterday. This was the seventh prosecution-witness session in the “black leopard” trial for alleged poaching against Italian-Thai construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta and three associates. With the court having set aside 10 sessions for the prosecution witnesses to take the stand, 15 witnesses had…
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US ambassador shares concerns about tourism in Phuket
The acting US ambassador has met with Phuket’s Vice Governor to discuss long-term tourism and environment issues whilst visiting the island. Peter Haymond, the acting US Ambassador, met with Phuket’s Vice Governor Prakob Wongmaneerung at the Phuket Provincial Hall today. The Phuket PR Office reports that Vice Governor Prakob says, “The ambassador is interested in Phuket as it is an…
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Motorcyclist crushed by truck in Thalang
PHOTO: Kusoldharm Foundation A motorbike passenger has died following an incident with a truck in Thalang this morning. Thalang Police were notified of the accident on Thepkasattri Road southbound in Mueang Mai, Thalang. Police and rescue workers arrived to find the body of a woman, identified by police as Boonnam Thepnui from Pattalung. Her body was taken to the Thalang…
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33 cats mauled to death at Hat Yai temple
“The animals were apparently tranquillised and so were helpless when attacked by the dogs.” Police in Hat Yai have been hunting for the driver of a pick-up truck seen dropping off 36 cats at a temple yesterday before 33 of them were mauled to death by stray dogs. A villager filed a complaint with police after finding the 33 cat…
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BTS sweeps first night of Asian Music Awards
BTS did not attend the first night of the 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards, but the group’s presence was still felt, as its team swept four awards at the event. The AMAs are being spread across three events in three countries this year. Held Monday at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, the first part of the three-day event saw awards…
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Political ban lifted ahead of February 24 election
The Thai Junta, aka NCPO, has today lifted restrictions on political activities that have been in effect since the May 2014 military coup. The Nation reports the the lifts a previous prohibition on political parties holding meetings or organising political activities. The cancelled restrictions include the ban on political gatherings of five or more people. The Royal Gazette has published…
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Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
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Wealthy Thai woman boasts online about her welfare card
PHOTOS: Sanook Thais have take to social media slamming an apparently woman boasting about using a Thai welfare card intended for the poor. The woman was wearing a gold necklace and other expensive looking jewelry, was showing money to the camera and sitting in the driver’s seat of a car. Netizens say she was ripping off the state and depriving the needy. But some are…
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