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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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    See the best of Northern Thailand this winter on a budget

    The Thaiger key takeaways Peak season brings higher prices, but smart planning and local know-how can help you experience Northern Thailand affordably. Chiang Mai, Pai, and Chiang Rai offer plenty of free or low-cost attractions, from temples and canyons to...

  • Woman arrested for scamming 500 Burmese workers, promising visa extensions | Thaiger

    Woman arrested for scamming 500 Burmese workers, promising visa extensions

    A woman has been arrested after allegedly promising more than 500 Burmese workers that she could extend their visas, collecting a total of more 6 million baht from the workers for her apparent “services.” The more than 500 workers filed a report with police after the woman allegedly falsely advertised that she could issue the Burmese migrants new passports and…

  • Man arrested for posing as air force pilot, conning woman out of 800,000 baht | Thaiger

    Man arrested for posing as air force pilot, conning woman out of 800,000 baht

    A 44 year old man has been arrested in the northern province of Sukothai, after claiming to be a pilot with the Royal Thai Air Force and cheating his girlfriend out of 800,000 baht. Thai Residents reports that the man, named only as Prapol, denies all the charges against him. The victim, named only as Miss A, says she met…

  • Thailand’s land bridge plan still floating | Thaiger

    Thailand’s land bridge plan still floating

    Deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul says the government is still mulling the idea of a land bridge between the southern provinces of Ranong and Chumphon. The project’s aim would be to improve the infrastructure in the region by connecting the Gulf of Thailand directly with the Andaman Sea, “thereby making the Kingdom more competitive”. In a report in the Bangkok…

  • Chiang Mai woman arrested for allegedly hiring hitman to kill her ex-husband | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai woman arrested for allegedly hiring hitman to kill her ex-husband

    A 63 year old Chiang Mai woman has been arrested for allegedly hiring a hitman to kill her ex-husband because she wanted his life insurance payout. Bualoi Tala is also being investigated for her alleged involvement in other possible murders after a number of people died after being poisoned and Bualoi received payouts from their life insurance policies. Police say…

  • The Pattaya to Hua Hin bridge. Government discusses 900 billion baht investment. | Thaiger

    The Pattaya to Hua Hin bridge. Government discusses 900 billion baht investment.

    The government is looking into a so-called “Thai Bridge” that would connect Pattaya to Hua Hin, an estimated 900 billion baht investment. The project would be part of the Eastern Economic Corridor development plan aimed at improving the transportation and infrastructure in Thailand. The 900 billion baht investment is expected to take 10 years to financially implement, according to chairperson…

  • UPDATE: 18 dead, 44 injured, bus collides with train in Chachoengsao | Thaiger

    UPDATE: 18 dead, 44 injured, bus collides with train in Chachoengsao

    A bus has collided with a train next to Khlong Kwaeng Klan railway station, killing 18 passengers and injuring 44. The incident happened just after 8am this morning. The chartered bus was carrying some 60 factory workers to a Buddhist ceremony and was crossing a railway track when it was struck by a freight train headed to Samut Prakhan, south of…

  • German politician raises questions about the status of Thailand’s Head of State | Thaiger

    German politician raises questions about the status of Thailand’s Head of State

    German politicians have raised questions in parliament about the status of Thailand’s Head of State as a part time resident in the state of Bavaria, after protests in Thailand have continued to make international news, drawing attention to Thailand and the Thai government’s fragile political situation. Frithjof Schmidt, from Germany’s Green Party, has questioned the German Foreign Ministry about its…

  • New Bangkok BTS line to start running in December | Thaiger

    New Bangkok BTS line to start running in December

    A new Bangkok public transport monorail extension, the BTS Gold Line, is expected to start running before the end of the year. The scheduled run is the first phase of the BTS Gold Line to be rolled out along the Chao Phraya River in the Bang Phlad district. The new 1.72 kilometre BTS line will link Krung Thon Buriskytrain station…

  • Bangkok residents not satisfied with floodwater management-Nida Poll | Thaiger

    Bangkok residents not satisfied with floodwater management-Nida Poll

    Bangkok residents are largely unsatisfied with the floodwater management in the capital, according to a recent poll. The National Institute of Development Administration conducted the poll on October 6-7 with 1,322 respondents from various levels of education and occupations. Almost 60% of people say they are not satisfied with 33% of those saying poor preparation and flood management contributed to…

  • UPDATE: 18 dead, 44 injured, bus collides with train in Chachoengsao | Thaiger

    UPDATE: 18 dead, 44 injured, bus collides with train in Chachoengsao

    A bus has collided with a train next to Khlong Kwaeng Klan railway station, killing 18 passengers and injuring 44. The incident happened just after 8am this morning. Earlier it was reported in Thai PBS World that 20 people had died. The incident in Chachoengsao province, about 50 kilometres east of Bangkok, occurred as passengers were on their way to…

  • Bangkok police warn protesters not to block King’s motorcade in October 14 protest | Thaiger

    Bangkok police warn protesters not to block King’s motorcade in October 14 protest

    Bangkok police are warning political demonstrators not to block His Majesty the King’s motorcade in their upcoming protest event on October 14. Thailand’s King is set to preside over the graduation ceremony for Level 6 and 9 Pali scholars at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Thailand’s deputy national police chief, Damrongsak Kittiprapat, says to cope with the demonstration, police…

  • Minor International Chairman calls for major overhaul of Thailand’s ASQ | Thaiger

    Minor International Chairman calls for major overhaul of Thailand’s ASQ

    Minor International’s outspoken Chairman, Bill Heinecke, has penned an open letter to Thailand’s Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul. The thrust of the letter is that the current ASQ and general quarantine requirements and restrictions, is making any recovery of the country’s tourism and hospitality industry. Minor hotels have already serviced 2,500 guest as part of the Thai government’s Alternative State…

  • China’s economy expected to grow 1.6% in 2020 – World Bank | Thaiger

    China’s economy expected to grow 1.6% in 2020 – World Bank

    Much the world is currently seeing continuing surges of new Covid-19 cases, some countries are well into their 2nd wave. Meanwhile China is quietly getting it’s industrial engine and economy going again as new cases. In fact China’s number of ‘active cases’ has been dropping since April, and now is fewer than 200 total cases across the country. Along with…

  • Progressive Movement party to recruit 32 local candidates for December local elections | Thaiger

    Progressive Movement party to recruit 32 local candidates for December local elections

    The Progressive Movement (code for “the-new-Future-Forward-party”), says it will recruit 32 local candidates for the upcoming December elections. Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the movement’s leader, and former Future Forward Party MP, says more provinces could be added later to the Provincial Administrative Organisation election. The party will use the slogan “Changing Thailand starts at home” for its campaign. The Move Forward Party…

  • Is it time for Thailand to restart its tourist industry? – SURVEY | Thaiger

    Is it time for Thailand to restart its tourist industry? – SURVEY

    It’s been 10 months since the first murmurings of a novel coronavirus emerged in China. Since then there’s been an unprecedented effort to control or contain the disease by governments around the world – some more successful in their efforts than others. Covid-19 has also had more words written about it, more conspiracy theories and more debate than any other…

  • “Low-risk” tourists could see quarantine period cut in half upon arrival | Thaiger

    “Low-risk” tourists could see quarantine period cut in half upon arrival

    Low-risk tourists entering Thailand under the Special Tourist Visa could see mandatory quarantine period cut in half down to 7 days, according to the Public Health Ministry. Tanarak Plipat, the deputy director-general of the Department of Disease Control under the ministry says the current quarantine system, however, must be “redesigned” if such measures are in place. “Seven-day quarantine is possible…

  • Phuket police to use hospital blood tests to confirm drivers’ alcohol levels | Thaiger

    Phuket police to use hospital blood tests to confirm drivers’ alcohol levels

    Phuket police are using hospital blood tests to confirm drivers’ alcohol levels after the national police chief suspended checkpoints due to “transparency issues”. Arayapan Pukbuakhao, the island’s police deputy commander, is warning that police will continue to arrest and charge drink drivers despite the absence of roadside tests. All roadside blood alcohol checkpoints were cancelled last weekend through to October…

  • Thai woman arrested for offering fake visa services to hundreds of migrant workers | Thaiger

    Thai woman arrested for offering fake visa services to hundreds of migrant workers

    A 45 year old Thai woman has been arrested after offering fake visa services 10 hundreds of migrant workers, valued about 7 million baht. The woman, Wassana Wongkhamjan, was arrested at her house where police found around 40 passports and receipts inside. The house was the registered address of KPS Management Company. Wassana denied the public fraud charge saying she…

  • Koh Chang hotel agrees to drop charges against American “if he issues public apology over his bad reviews” | Thaiger

    Koh Chang hotel agrees to drop charges against American “if he issues public apology over his bad reviews”

    A Koh Chang hotel has agreed to drop charges against an American if he issues a public apology over his bad TripAdvisor reviews. The American, Wesley Barnes, has agreed to the conditions put forward by Sea View Resort in exchange for avoiding up to 100,000 baht in fines and a possible jail time of up to 5 years. The hotel…

  • “Tourists arriving on Special Tourist Visa must be 100% Covid-free” – Tourism minister | Thaiger

    “Tourists arriving on Special Tourist Visa must be 100% Covid-free” – Tourism minister

    “If there’s even a single case, we cannot continue to the second phase.” Thailand’s sports and tourism minister of says the first phase tourists arriving under the Special Tourist Visa scheme must be 100% Covid-free. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn says if this is not achieved, then the reopening plan will be halted indefinitely. Given the number of infections the have surfaced from Thai…

  • Anti-government activists confirm details of October 14 protest | Thaiger

    Anti-government activists confirm details of October 14 protest

    Members of the Free People pro-democracy group have gathered in Bangkok to confirm the details of a protest planned for October 14. Human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa, one of the key leaders in the current anti-government protest movement, confirmed to those gathered at the Sanam Luang public square in Bangkok that the rally will kick off at 2pm next Wednesday.…

  • Economic think tank says shopping stimulus will only help in the short-term | Thaiger

    Economic think tank says shopping stimulus will only help in the short-term

    The research division of Kasikorn Bank says while the government’s planned shopping stimulus has its advantages, the benefits will only be short-term. The Kasikorn Research Centre points out that the scheme, which it’s hoped will run from October 23 to December 31, will only provide a temporary boost to the economy. The stimulus measure, which is being put to the…

  • Condé Nast Traveller ranks Thailand in Top 20 Best Countries in the World | Thaiger

    Condé Nast Traveller ranks Thailand in Top 20 Best Countries in the World

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand is delighted to announce that Thailand has ranked #7 in a ranking of the Top 20 Countries in the World by readers of Condé Nast Traveller in the 33rd Readers’ Choice Awards 2020. Some of Thailand’s most popular locations also scored well in the prestigious listing. Italy, Sri Lanka and Portugal scored the top 3…

  • Phuket Airport to see surge in domestic passengers during Vegetarian Festival | Thaiger

    Phuket Airport to see surge in domestic passengers during Vegetarian Festival

    The director of Phuket Airport says at least 15,000 domestic passengers per day are expected during the upcoming Vegetarian Festival. Thani Chuangchu says the event, which runs from October 16 to 25, will see an increase in domestic traffic at the airport, which normally receives around 13,000 domestic travellers per day during holidays and long weekends. During the week, Phuket…

  • Woman arrested for allegedly running illegal fashion braces business | Thaiger

    Woman arrested for allegedly running illegal fashion braces business

    Police arrested a 30 year old woman for allegedly selling and fitting fashion teeth braces. Officers say they seized more than 600 fashion braces and dental tools from the woman’s home in Nakhon Pathom, a province west of Bangkok. Natsuda Sriwichian ran the business out of room at the Salaya Eua Arthorn apartments in the Sam Phran district, according to…

  • 17 year old student allegedly raped 12 year old multiple times at Bangkok school | Thaiger

    17 year old student allegedly raped 12 year old multiple times at Bangkok school

    A 17 year old student allegedly admitted to police that he raped a 12 year old student multiple times at their school in Bangkok’s Nong Chok district. The teenager is facing charges of sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 15 and taking a minor somewhere against their will. The alleged sexual assault happened in August. The teenager…

  • Group of security guards allegedly gang up on 2 police officers | Thaiger

    Group of security guards allegedly gang up on 2 police officers

    A large group of security guards allegedly had a fight with 2 police officers at a popular seafood restaurant in Bangkok. It started when officers went to the restaurant as customers and started arguing with the table next to them. An officer poured water on a customer at the table and then security guards intervened, telling both men to come…

  • Anger as CCTV shows accused Sarasas teacher undressing female student in front of male teacher | Thaiger

    Anger as CCTV shows accused Sarasas teacher undressing female student in front of male teacher

    A furious mother is accusing Ornuma Plodprong, the teacher at the centre of abuse allegations at a private school, of sexually assaulting her daughter by undressing her in front of a male teacher. Ornuma, known as “Khru Jum”, already stands accused of the physical abuse of students at Sarasas Witaed Ratchapruek School, in the central province of Nonthaburi. Last week…

  • Anti-corruption commission to re-investigate handling of “Boss” hit-and-run case | Thaiger

    Anti-corruption commission to re-investigate handling of “Boss” hit-and-run case

    The “Boss” hit-and-run saga drags on, with the National Anti-Corruption Commission saying it’s received a copy of an independent report on the handling of the case and plans to compare it with its own findings. The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission has submitted its report to the NACC, with Niwatchai Kasemmongkol from the NACC saying it will be compared to the…

  • Thailand’s Health Ministry wants to reduce tourist quarantine to 10 days | Thaiger

    Thailand’s Health Ministry wants to reduce tourist quarantine to 10 days

    Thailand’s Health Ministry is seeking to reduce the mandatory quarantine period for foreign tourists, currently mandated at 14 days, to 10 days. The reduction would be assessed after one month and, if successful, quarantine could be further reduced to 7 days. However, this reduction would only apply to those arriving from countries considered “safe” from Covid-19. Those arriving from high-risk…