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Thailand hot news, breaking stories, crime, politics, tourism, and business—stay updated with in-depth reports and exclusive interviews on the latest events across the country. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Thailand news source.

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    What do you need before moving from the US to Thailand?

    The Thaiger key takeaways The most common medical emergencies for expats in Thailand include motorcycle accidents, tropical diseases, and food or water-borne illnesses. Air pollution and heat-related conditions like heatstroke also pose serious seasonal health risks, especially in northern and...

  • Cyber police nail Facebook ‘fake job’ hackers | Thaiger

    Cyber police nail Facebook ‘fake job’ hackers

    PHOTO: Chiang Rai Times Thailand’s Cyber Police have arrested two hackers who stole personal data from Facebook and conned victims out of money. The scammers posted ads for jobs to entice victims into applying and divulging data from their ID cards, their phone numbers and other personal information. The scammers got close to 34 million baht. Complaints from Facebook users…

  • Bank clerk sacked for allegedly stealing millions, bank reimburses customer | Thaiger

    Bank clerk sacked for allegedly stealing millions, bank reimburses customer

    A 34 year old Bangkok Bank clerk has been sacked amid claims she stole millions of baht from a wealthy customer. The woman denies the charge and says she plans to fight the matter in court. Earlier in the week Hia Maa, the owner of a well known restaurant in Samut Prakan province, south east of Bangkok, went to the police…

  • American arrested for sexually assaulting Chiang Mai school girls | Thaiger

    American arrested for sexually assaulting Chiang Mai school girls

    FILE PHOTO Chiang Mai police confirm they have arrested a 75 year old American pensioner who allegedly groped and sexually assaulted a Thai girl on her way home from school. The man was already wanted on a warrant issued from September after an incident outside a school in August. The warrant was for the “forceful molestation of a child under…

  • Behold, the Papal Pick-up – Thai popemobile revealed | Thaiger

    Behold, the Papal Pick-up – Thai popemobile revealed

    In either a step down for the Pope or a coup for troubled car-maker Nissan, Pope Francis will take to the streets of Thailand in a locally-manufactured open-top Papal Pick-up. Pope Francis visits Thailand from November 20–23. The vehicle was unveiled yesterday at Assumption Cathedral in Bangkok. For shorter trips, the Papal Golf Cart was also revealed. The Thai “popemobile”…

  • Chonburi man high on drugs stabs friend to death with a sword | Thaiger

    Chonburi man high on drugs stabs friend to death with a sword

    A man has been arrested in Chonburi province for allegedly stabbing his friend to death while drunk and high on drugs. The Pattaya News reports that the 21 year old man, named as Paitoon Kaewsanot, was hallucinating at the time of his arrest and so intoxicated he could hardly talk, and was unable to cooperate with police. He eventually claimed…

  • Deputy PM claims US tech giants eager to invest in Thailand | Thaiger

    Deputy PM claims US tech giants eager to invest in Thailand

    The Deputy Thai PM and government ‘Finance Tzar’ Somkid Jatusripitak claims that Amazon and an unnamed American digital company are both keen to invest in the Kingdom. Somkid says both organisations have enquired about meeting the relevant ministers and have been advised to hold talks with the Finance Ministry and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society. The Deputy PM…

  • Bank of Thailand scammers arrested | Thaiger

    Bank of Thailand scammers arrested

    “If it appears too good to be true, it probably is.” Ten individuals are now in custody, after being arrested, accused of scamming investors by claiming to be from the Bank of Thailand and persuading them to invest in a fake foreign currency transfer business. The Nation reports that victims were each invited to invest 1,000 baht in the business…

  • “Does Thailand plan to continue swinging between military coups and civilian rule?” Thanathorn | Thaiger

    “Does Thailand plan to continue swinging between military coups and civilian rule?” Thanathorn

    PHOTO: asia.nikkei.com “It is about time we make some noise and guide our society out of this cycle.” Appearing at the Thai Constitutional Court, in defence of his media shareholding case, Future Forward’s party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit used his written closing statement to ask judges if they were happy for Thailand to continue swinging back and forth between civilian rule…

  • Prostitution, the CIA, David Bowie and Patpong – Undercover in Bangkok infamous red light district | Thaiger

    Prostitution, the CIA, David Bowie and Patpong – Undercover in Bangkok infamous red light district

    PHOTO: patpongmuseum.com Let’s start from the very beginning, a very good place to start. Where did Bangkok’s Patpong get its name? It actually goes back to a Chinese immigrant named Luang Patpongpanich. He purchased the land when it was just a banana plantation (I can hear the Benny Hill theme already). During World War II, so the story goes, Patpongpanich’s son and…

  • Now paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos are banned, what do farmers use? | Thaiger

    Now paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos are banned, what do farmers use?

    PHOTO: sugar-asia.com In just two weeks the ban on paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos kicks in – a total ban on the three controversial agri-chemicals. Now officials are ramping up efforts to find effective alternatives for the popular agricultural herbicides and pesticides, especially the two herbicides (maybe this would have been a good idea before they imposed the ban?). Thai PBS…

  • Facebook hackers steal 34 million baht in online scam | Thaiger

    Facebook hackers steal 34 million baht in online scam

    PHOTO: INN News “…never set your password with your phone number or personal information that is easy to hack.” Thais Wuttiwat Chuenmanoh and Chawan Kornraknugpai have now been arrested after many victims filed complaints that the pair had been stealing their identities. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society’s Puttaphong Punnagun, and Police Colonel Ek Siriwat from the Technology Crime Suppression…

  • Thai PM will sit down with rebel members of coalition | Thaiger

    Thai PM will sit down with rebel members of coalition

    Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is again being forced to sit for chats with leaders of the 20 coalition parties to patch up differences ahead of a no-confidence debate being brought against the fragile government. The no-confidence debate is likely to happen early next month. Given the close numbers between the multi-party government and the opposition, a full quorum for the…

  • American fugitive, Bart Helmus, taken off life support in Sa Kaew hospital | Thaiger

    American fugitive, Bart Helmus, taken off life support in Sa Kaew hospital

    PHOTO: Bart Helmus and his Thai wife during an earlier police questioning session in Pattaya 39 year old American Bart Allen Helmus has finally been taken off life support at the Sa Kaeo hospital at 6pm last night. He had been reported to be ‘braindead’ by police sources since his admission to hospital a week ago. After having been declared…

  • Man arrested over armed robberies in Bang Lamung | Thaiger

    Man arrested over armed robberies in Bang Lamung

    PHOTO: Re-enactment of the alleged crimes held yesterday – The Pattaya News A suspect is now in custody following a series of armed robberies in the Bang Lamung area. Bang Lamung police arrested 33 year old Weerayut ‘Aun’Keandee earlier this week. According to the police report, on November 7 the suspect robbed local residents in Soi Plaifan in Nong Plalai. The…

  • 5 million baht vanishes from Samut Prakan bank account | Thaiger

    5 million baht vanishes from Samut Prakan bank account

    PHOTO: Sanook A well-known restauranteur in Samut Prakan, south east of Bangkok, 61 year old Ekkaphat, has filed a report with the Samut Prakan Police over a missing 5 million baht from his bank account. Ekkaphat told police that he had previously deposited 5 million baht into a bank in the Bangpoo Industrial Estate. He went to update his bankbook…

  • Inaugural Thailand Charter Week in Phuket opens tomorrow | Thaiger

    Inaugural Thailand Charter Week in Phuket opens tomorrow

    PHOTO: Phuket Yacht Haven, ready for the inaugural Thailand Charter Week – asia-marine.net The Tourism Authority of Thailand has signed up as a Supporting Sponsor of the first Thailand Charter Week in a huge boost for the inaugural six-day event, held at Phuket Yacht Haven from tomorrow to November 21. Organisers were also facing the ‘good problem’ of over demand for berths,…

  • Future Forward calls for an end to compulsory military conscription | Thaiger

    Future Forward calls for an end to compulsory military conscription

    PHOTO: Thai Army Conscriptees are selected with a lottery system – Al Jazeera Pongsakorn Rodchomphu and several other members of the opposition Future Forward Party have submitted a formal draft revision to the Conscription Act that would make military conscription voluntary, except in emergency situations. The Nation reports that the proposal was put forward to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai yesterday.…

  • Two Thai companies caught producing banned agri-chemicals | Thaiger

    Two Thai companies caught producing banned agri-chemicals

    PHOTO: INN News The Department of Special Investigations has discovered two companies producing toxic chemicals, including the recently banned Paraquat and Glyphosate agri-chemicals. Thai Residents reports that production was taking place across five different sites, with the companies mixing the banned substances with organic fertilisers without informing customers. The result was products that were not registered or approved by any…

  • Thailand ranks in top five economies for salary increases | Thaiger

    Thailand ranks in top five economies for salary increases

    PHOTO: iglu A report in Thailand Business News says Thailand is among the top five countries in the world for salary increases. The Annual Salary Trends Report, carried out by ECA (Employment Conditions Abroad) International, looked at salary trends for 60 countries and forecasts a 2020 salary increase of 4.1% for Thailand, up from 3.9% this year. In general, Asian nations…

  • Russian nabbed for 7 year overstay in Samui | Thaiger

    Russian nabbed for 7 year overstay in Samui

    PHOTO: Matichon Online A Russian man has been arrested for overstaying his visa by 2,861 days, 7 years and 9 months. The man was arrested on Koh Samui. In a completely serendipitous inspection, immigration and tourist police were doing spot inspections on the island hen they were checking a man on Soi 3, off Maenam Road, in the north of…

  • Thailand’s beaches now more expensive than European resorts – report | Thaiger

    Thailand’s beaches now more expensive than European resorts – report

    PHOTO: Ministry of Villas The cost of a holiday in popular Thai beach resorts is now on par with, or even higher than those in Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and Egypt – all closer to home for Europeans with lower flight costs and less travel time. Diethelm Travel Group report that the cost of a five-star resort in Koh Samui,…

  • Anti-corruption commission says government officials guilty of taking bribes in power plant agreement | Thaiger

    Anti-corruption commission says government officials guilty of taking bribes in power plant agreement

    The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is accusing the Thai government of accepting bribes from Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, the Japanese company awarded the contract to build a power plant in the southern Thai city of Nakhon Si Thammarat. NACC secretary-general, Worawit Sukboon, alleges that four government officials accepted a 20 million baht bribe from the Japanese firm in exchange for…

  • Government confirms 2020 ban on single-use plastic bags | Thaiger

    Government confirms 2020 ban on single-use plastic bags

    In a move that some would say has been a long time coming, the Thai government has announced that single-use plastic bags will be banned at shopping malls, convenience stores, and supermarkets from January 1, 2020. Thai Residents says the ban was confirmed by government spokesperson Traisulee Traisoranakul, who says the move is part of Thailand’s plans to eliminate plastic…

  • School funding challenge for bilingual curriculum | Thaiger

    School funding challenge for bilingual curriculum

    The secretary-general of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Amnat Wichayanuwat, says plans to introduce a bilingual school curriculum at all grade levels have thrown up an obstacle for meeting funding requirements. The bilingual curriculum plans were announced by the Education Minister last week in an effort to improve English proficiency among the Thai population. It’s hoped to…

  • Immigration nabs foreign criminals | Thaiger

    Immigration nabs foreign criminals

    Three foreign nationals have been arrested, as well as a Thai man supplying fake documents. The Immigration Bureau held a press conference Tuesday giving details of the arrests. The first suspect is 45 year old Chen Ying, a Chinese national who allegedly used forged documents to get bank loans. Chen is wanted by Chinese authorities for using fake documents in…

  • Utopia Music Festival: Dare to Dream! | Thaiger

    Utopia Music Festival: Dare to Dream!

    On November 11, 2019, Utopia Corporation arranged the Utopia Music Festival at their condominiums in Nai Harn Beach, using a theme of superhero. The concept of ‘Dare to Dream’ showcases the outstanding and unique properties under Utopia Corporation.   The music festival started with a speech from Utopia CEO Hachi Yin and Vice President Leo Li, who explained their various…

  • Cooler in the north, more rain for the south | Thaiger

    Cooler in the north, more rain for the south

    The north of Thailand is in for some thundershowers from today and for the next two days, as a result of another high-pressure system from China that is currently over the region. The showers will be followed by a further dip in temperatures and strong winds, according to a forecast issued by the Thailand Meteorological Department. Temperatures in the north…

  • Sugar industry expert says banning of 3 agri-chemicals will severely damage business | Thaiger

    Sugar industry expert says banning of 3 agri-chemicals will severely damage business

    The president of the Thailand Society of Sugarcane Technologists has criticised the recently- implemented ban on three agri-chemicals that were commonly used in the industry. The Nation reports that Dr Kitti Chunhawong insists the ban on Paraquat, Chlorpyrifos and Glyphosate will cripple business. “Currently Thailand is the world’s fifth sugar producer and second biggest exporter with more than 11 million…

  • Three die following court shooting in Chanthaburi, two more injured | Thaiger

    Three die following court shooting in Chanthaburi, two more injured

    PHOTOS: Twitter/happykaekamon and Nalinee_OPLE Three people are now dead after aa retired police officer opened fire inside a Chanthaburi courtroom on Monday/ The gunman died yesterday after being shot by a lawyer for the opposing counsel. Police are investigating how so many guns got inside the courtroom. Chantaburi is south east of Bangkok, neighbouring Rayong. Before the incident, both parties…

  • Pattaya purse snatcher arrested for robbing tourist | Thaiger

    Pattaya purse snatcher arrested for robbing tourist

    PHOTO: The Pattaya News A thief has been arrested in Pattaya for stealing a purse from a tourist unpacking luggage at a local resort. He has claims he needed the money for Loy Krathong. The incident happened last Saturday at a resort near the Nongprue public park. CCTV footage shows the suspect snatching the bag from a female tourist before speeding…