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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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    Moving to Thailand? Here are the health documents you should prepare before you go

    The Thaiger key takeaways Valid passport, visa documents, health certificate, and vaccination records are essential for immigration and medical care in Thailand. Health insurance that meets visa requirements, like Cigna, provides protection, direct billing, and access to a wide hospital...

  • Thailand finalising ‘Vaccinated Travel Lane’ details with Malaysia, to open mid-March | Thaiger

    Thailand finalising ‘Vaccinated Travel Lane’ details with Malaysia, to open mid-March

    Thailand and Malaysia tourism officials are finalising the details of a “vaccinated travel lane” entry scheme, which would eliminate quarantine for vaccinated travellers arriving by plane between the two Southeast Asian nations. The new travel scheme is projected to open from mid-March, with at least 10 daily return flights. Good progress is reportedly being made in finalising the details at…

  • 112 endangered green sea turtle eggs found at Koh Surin National Park | Thaiger

    112 endangered green sea turtle eggs found at Koh Surin National Park

    A nest containing 112 eggs from an endangered green sea turtle was found by park rangers at Koh Surin National Park in the southern province of Phang Nga on Sunday. Since the nest was in a potential flood zone, and the eggs were at risk of being eaten by animals, park rangers decided to relocate the eggs to a safe…

  • Family and fun Sunday brunch with the live jazz at Four Points by Sheraton Phuket returning to Sears & Co | Thaiger

    Family and fun Sunday brunch with the live jazz at Four Points by Sheraton Phuket returning to Sears & Co

    Press Release Phuket, Thailand, February 17, 2022 – A favoured afternoon activity for family and friends, Sunday brunch at Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort is back on March 6, 2022. Bringing the taste of the world’s weekend brunch scene to Patong beach with live saxophone and cool DJ vibes. Enjoy contemporary and classic cuisine combining the freshest…

  • 1 billion baht in assets seized in human trafficking cases, officer “Big Joke” reports | Thaiger

    1 billion baht in assets seized in human trafficking cases, officer “Big Joke” reports

    Assets valued at more than 1 billion baht have been seized from human trafficking operations in Thailand where Burmese people were trafficked from the northern province Tak down to the Malaysian border. The Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, made the announcement at a recent press conference, adding that authorities are still investigating and plan…

  • Department of Medical Science seeks FDA approval for two types of Covid-19 tests | Thaiger

    Department of Medical Science seeks FDA approval for two types of Covid-19 tests

    The Department of Medical Science is seeking FDA approval for two types of Covid-19 tests known as LAMP and CRISPR. Reports say the tests are quick and just as precise as the RT-PCR test, which is the primary test being used in Thailand to confirm Covid-19 infections. Officials are also looking into using “machine based assay” or “MBA” antigen testing…

  • Mario Kleff designed the longest steel box girder used in residential construction in Thailand | Thaiger

    Mario Kleff designed the longest steel box girder used in residential construction in Thailand

    It was early March 2022 in Pattaya when the delivery of 50 tons worth of custom fabricated steel, in the form of box girders and cellular beams arrived at the Majestic Residence construction site, Khao Phra Tamnak. The architect Mario Kleff and his construction company Wandeegroup Asia Co Ltd continue to set new standards in residential construction in Pattaya and…

  • UKRAINE UPDATES: Civilians unable to evacuate; UN calls for safe passages; new ceasefire proposed; Moscow threatens to cut off natural gas to Europe | Thaiger

    UKRAINE UPDATES: Civilians unable to evacuate; UN calls for safe passages; new ceasefire proposed; Moscow threatens to cut off natural gas to Europe

    Here’s the latest from Ukraine, as the Russian invasion enters its 13th day… • Russian shelling continues to prevent the evacuation of civilians from besieged cities including Kyiv, Mariupol, Volnovakha, Sumy and Kharkiv. Fears are mounting for civilians trapped in Ukrainian cities as the Russian onslaught continues. • Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, has called on Russia and…

  • Asia News Today | Japan looks for oil alternatives, floods in Malaysia | Thaiger

    Asia News Today | Japan looks for oil alternatives, floods in Malaysia

    Japan’s imports of Russian crude would not be able to be replaced immediately, as discussions continue globally about the possibility of cutting Moscow’s oil from overseas markets. Russia is Japan’s fifth-biggest supplier of crude oil and liquefied natural gas, but Japan is now actively looking for alternatives as the sanctions bite and the pressure is on countries to cut economic…

  • Som tum seller arrested for allegedly luring Thai women into sex work in Malaysia | Thaiger

    Som tum seller arrested for allegedly luring Thai women into sex work in Malaysia

    A som tum vendor in Bangkok was arrested on sex trafficking charges for allegedly luring a woman into prostitution in Malaysia. The victim had contacted the Royal Thai Embassy in Malaysia for help after she got caught up in a prostitution ring. Authorities helped send her back to Thailand. The victim provided information to the Anti Human Trafficking Division, saying…

  • Motocross rider dies, another injured after falling from cliff in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Motocross rider dies, another injured after falling from cliff in Chiang Mai

    A motocross rider died and another was severely injured after driving off a cliff in Chiang Mai and falling more than 50 metres. The two were on a motocross trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and were driving near the scenic village Mae Kampong and up to a mountain viewpoint when they fell from the cliff. The riders were going…

  • Bangkok governor summoned by PM, asked to explain Covid treatment complaints | Thaiger

    Bangkok governor summoned by PM, asked to explain Covid treatment complaints

    The governor of Bangkok has been summoned by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and asked to explain why residents in the capital are unable to access Covid-19 treatment. According to a Nation Thailand report, Governor Aswin Kwanmuang met with the PM and was asked to explain the complaints from Bangkok patients. Addressing the media, the PM confirmed the meeting took place at…

  • Fire breaks out at luxury Koh Kut resort burning villa to the ground, guests narrowly escape | Thaiger

    Fire breaks out at luxury Koh Kut resort burning villa to the ground, guests narrowly escape

    A fire broke out at a luxury resort on Koh Kut, an island off the coast of Trat by the Cambodian border on Sunday morning, burning a villa to the ground where a group of 15, including a famous paediatrician, were staying. The Soneva Kiri resort released a statement saying all guests staying at villa 63 were evacuated and the…

  • Will Songkran be wet or dry? CCSA to discuss restrictions on March 18 | Thaiger

    Will Songkran be wet or dry? CCSA to discuss restrictions on March 18

    The question of whether or not to allow massive water fights to celebrate Songkran, the Thai New Year, will be discussed on March 18 at a Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration meeting. The celebrations with water guns and splashing have been called off for the past two years to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Recently, the Department of Disease Control…

  • Booking.com predicts bumpy recovery for travel in Asia-Pacific region | Thaiger

    Booking.com predicts bumpy recovery for travel in Asia-Pacific region

    Online travel agency Booking.com says travel in the Asia-Pacific region will be slow to recover as a number of countries adopt a more cautious approach to re-opening. Laura Houldsworth, MD for Asia-Pacific, says while some countries in Southeast Asia are starting to re-open, with various levels of paperwork and restrictions, most North Asian destinations still have significant entry restrictions in…

  • US government tells citizens to avoid travel to Hong Kong, New Zealand – and Thailand | Thaiger

    US government tells citizens to avoid travel to Hong Kong, New Zealand – and Thailand

    Americans are being told to avoid travel to Thailand, Hong Kong, and New Zealand, due to the rise in Covid-19 infections in each country. According to a Reuters report, the travel advisory was issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has raised its travel alert for Thailand to “Level Four: Very High”. In total, the US…

  • Thai government looking at ways to help stranded Ukrainian, Russian tourists | Thaiger

    Thai government looking at ways to help stranded Ukrainian, Russian tourists

    The Thai government says over 7,000 Ukrainian and Russian tourists affected by flight cancellations will be allowed to extend their visas free of charge. It’s one of a number of measures officials are implementing to help visitors stranded as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Other measures potentially include offering shelter and access to a Chinese payment platform, according…

  • Wild bull attack injures two park rangers in Phetchabun | Thaiger

    Wild bull attack injures two park rangers in Phetchabun

    A wild bull charged at a group of five park rangers patrolling in Tat Mok National Park in Phetchabun province on Sunday afternoon. The bull hit squadron leader Woraphot Piraksa head-on, knocking out some of his teeth and injuring his face, mouth and body. Team member Jiraphong Nakrabum was also injured. The team made it to Phetchabun hospital by Sunday…

  • Monk survives 50 metre fall inside mountain cave in Kanchanaburi | Thaiger

    Monk survives 50 metre fall inside mountain cave in Kanchanaburi

    A monk fell 50 metres down into a cave and was rescued after a 10-hour mission. Reports say 29 year old Phra Thada was descending into the cave when a rope on the ladder snapped, hurling him down to the cave floor. He suffered serious injuries to his hips and legs. The monk, from a temple in the Khlong San…

  • Excessive news consumption causes stress – Thailand’s Department of Mental Health | Thaiger

    Excessive news consumption causes stress – Thailand’s Department of Mental Health

    Don’t read too much news, at least that’s what Thailand’s Department of Mental Health is saying. The spokesperson told the media the department concerned with Thais that obsessively monitoring the news and social media updates to the point of stress, particularly while major events are occurring. The warning from the department comes at a time when the investigation into the…

  • Commercial flights at Thailand’s newest airport in Yala to take off on March 14 | Thaiger

    Commercial flights at Thailand’s newest airport in Yala to take off on March 14

    Commercial flights at Thailand’s newest airport in the southern province Yala are set to take off on March 14. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha announced that the first flight to Yala’s Betong Airport will depart from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport this month. The new airport is a part of the government’s strategy to strengthen the economy and stability in the three southern provinces,…

  • Event Announcement: Sustainable solutions for Southeast Asia’s recovery to be held on 16-17 March | Thaiger

    Event Announcement: Sustainable solutions for Southeast Asia’s recovery to be held on 16-17 March

    Press Release The Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS) 2022—Sustainable Solutions for Southeast Asia’s Recovery will be held on the 16th and 17th of March by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). SEADS 2022 brings together a powerful lineup of thought leaders, decision-makers, and insight influencers to discuss new insights, innovative solutions, and policy responses that can help Southeast Asian nations “build…

  • UKRAINE UPDATES: Russia allows civilians to flee — to Russia, as 95% of its amassed forces now in Ukraine; China to provide humanitarian aid | Thaiger

    UKRAINE UPDATES: Russia allows civilians to flee — to Russia, as 95% of its amassed forces now in Ukraine; China to provide humanitarian aid

    Here’s the latest headlines from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine… • Russian sate media has announced a new ceasefire proposal, which would allow civilians to flee key cities via humanitarian corridors. But the Ukrainian government has denounced the plan as “immoral,” as civilians in Kyiv would be offered safe passage north to Belarus, while those in Kharkiv would have a corridor…

  • Cannabis is Thailand’s “secret weapon” to bring back tourists, health official says | Thaiger

    Cannabis is Thailand’s “secret weapon” to bring back tourists, health official says

    One public health official says Thailand has a “secret weapon” to bring back tourists… It’s cannabis. Some experts and officials hope that decriminalising marijuana, alongside declaring Covid-19 as endemic, will help tourism in Thailand bounce back to pre-pandemic levels. The public health official made the statement over the weekend at a medical marijuana conference at Surin’s Rajamangala University of Technology.…

  • Philippines to raise the minimum age of sexual consent from 12 to 16 | Thaiger

    Philippines to raise the minimum age of sexual consent from 12 to 16

    The age of sexual consent in the Philippines is being raised from 12 to 16 years old. President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a bill raising the minimum age in an effort to protect adolescents from rape and sexual assault. The bill says statutory rape is when an adult has sexual contact with a person 16 years old or younger, unless the…

  • Bystander struck in the head by rubber bullet in Bangkok rally dies | Thaiger

    Bystander struck in the head by rubber bullet in Bangkok rally dies

    A 64 year old man who had been struck by a rubber bullet fired during one of the violent clashes with police at Bangkok’s Din Daeng area back in August died after several months of being bedridden. The Din Daeng area had been the site of numerous clashes between police and anti-government protesters, particularly a young group called “Thalugas” which…

  • Prices for instant noodles, condensed milk to rise next month | Thaiger

    Prices for instant noodles, condensed milk to rise next month

    Prices for instant noodles and condensed milk are set to rise next month as the Ukraine-Russia conflict has affected imports and exports in Thailand, according to the Ministry of Thai Commerce. The ministry says that the situation could cause inflation, but says the state would try to control the price of food and necessary products as much as possible. Commerce…

  • Asia News Today | Shares in Asia-Pacific decline & oil prices to surge | Thaiger

    Asia News Today | Shares in Asia-Pacific decline & oil prices to surge

    Shares in Asia-Pacific have declined in today’s trade as oil prices continue to surge, with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war continuing to weigh heavily on investor sentiment. The Hang Seng led losses across the region, dropping more than 4% at one point before a small bounce back. Shares of HSBC plummeted 6%. China’s Shanghai composite shed 1.42% and the Shenzhen composite…

  • Thousands of Thais trafficked to Japan for prostitution each year | Thaiger

    Thousands of Thais trafficked to Japan for prostitution each year

    Thousands of children and women are trafficked from Thailand to Japan for prostitution every year, a recent study shows. A senior Thai police officer says he found that Japan has been the largest market of Thais trafficked into the sex industry. “In the case of illegal trafficking of women and children for prostitution, Japan has been the largest market for…

  • Global oil prices hit 14-year high as Western nations consider import ban on Russian oil | Thaiger

    Global oil prices hit 14-year high as Western nations consider import ban on Russian oil

    Global oil prices have risen more than 6%, surging to the highest prices since 2008 on Monday, as the US and European allies consider an import ban on Russian oil. Meanwhile, fears of a global oil supply shortage are being further compounded by the delay of Iranian crude’s potential return to global markets, as the Kremlin demands a guarantee that…

  • National police chief suspects Tangmo’s death was an accident | Thaiger

    National police chief suspects Tangmo’s death was an accident

    Thailand’s national police chief says the death of actress Tangmo seems to have been an accident. He says evidence shows the death of the celebrity in Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River appears to have been an accident. An autopsy report shows the actress died from drowning. Her body also had a large cut on her leg, possibly from the speedboat’s propellor.…