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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...

  • Thai monk denies fatal hit-and-run despite CCTV evidence | Thaiger

    Thai monk denies fatal hit-and-run despite CCTV evidence

    A Thai monk denied involvement in a fatal hit-and-run in the central province of Ayutthaya, despite CCTV footage showing his car at the accident scene at approximately 12.30am on Monday, January 27. Rescuers from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation reported the death of a 30 year old Thai motorcyclist, Kasemsan, on their Facebook page on Monday. Kasemsan’s body was found at the…

  • Inmate escapes from Thai prison, father urges surrender | Thaiger

    Inmate escapes from Thai prison, father urges surrender

    A 37 year old inmate escaped from Khao Phra Prison in Nakhon Ratchasima province on January 27, just three months before his scheduled release in April. His father is urging him to surrender, concerned that his son might be harmed while on the run. Somporn Promha, who was serving a sentence for drug-related offences, fled while participating in a community…

  • Thai taxi rider arrested for snatching Burmese woman’s gold necklace | Thaiger

    Thai taxi rider arrested for snatching Burmese woman’s gold necklace

    Police arrested a Thai motorcycle taxi rider for snatching a gold necklace from a Burmese victim as she was walking on a footpath in Bangkok on Sunday, January. 26 The Burmese woman, Moe Moe Win, lodged a complaint with Phetchakasem Police Station at around 9.40am on Sunday following the theft. The incident occurred outside the Nanyang shoe factory in Soi…

  • Pattaya’s tourism takes a hit after Chinese abduction (video) | Thaiger

    Pattaya’s tourism takes a hit after Chinese abduction (video)

    Thailand’s tourism industry has been rocked by the recent abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing, leaving popular hotspots like Pattaya eerily quiet. The star was allegedly lured to Thailand under false pretences before being trafficked across the border and held captive in Myawaddy, Myanmar. While Thai police scrambled to rescue the actor, the fallout was swift. News of the terrifying…

  • Thailand braces for final cold weather alert with strong winds | Thaiger

    Thailand braces for final cold weather alert with strong winds

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a final warning about cold weather, heavy rain, and strong winds affecting Thailand. Forecasts indicate a further temperature drop, with thunderstorm warnings for select provinces yesterday, January 28. A high-pressure system is expected to maintain cold conditions in upper Thailand. Residents in the affected areas are advised to take care of their health…

  • Bangkok prison scrutinised for bribes and Chinese inmate privilege | Thaiger

    Bangkok prison scrutinised for bribes and Chinese inmate privilege

    A Thai political activist and former inmate accused officials at Bangkok Remand Prison of accepting bribes from a Chinese inmate and granting them privileges. The activist, Ekkachai Hongkangwan, took to Facebook on Tuesday, January 21, to share his experiences in Bangkok Remand Prison between 2022 and 2023. His post highlighted the comfortable lives of Chinese call centre scam suspects and alleged…

  • Chinese New Year spending in Thailand hits 51 billion baht | Thaiger

    Chinese New Year spending in Thailand hits 51 billion baht

    Public expenditure during the Chinese New Year is projected to reach 51.78 billion baht, marking the highest level in five years, according to recent government estimates. Sasikan Wattanachan, deputy government spokesperson, noted that this figure signifies a 4.5% rise compared to the previous year. It is also the first occasion since the Covid-19 pandemic that spending for Chinese New Year…

  • Russian couple accused of dining and dashing at many Phuket restaurants | Thaiger

    Russian couple accused of dining and dashing at many Phuket restaurants

    A Russian couple reportedly dined and dashed at multiple restaurants in Phuket, sparking an online debate over the visa-free scheme, which some online users claim attracts low-quality foreign visitors. A restaurant owner in Patong, Phuket, shared his experience with the foreign couple, believed to be Russian nationals, via the news Facebook page Phuket Times ภูเก็ตไทม์ today, January 28. He warned…

  • Drowsy truck driver crashes into parked pickup, injuring woman and killing dog | Thaiger

    Drowsy truck driver crashes into parked pickup, injuring woman and killing dog

    A drowsy truck driver crashed into a parked pickup outside a tyre shop in the Isaan province of Roi Et, injuring a Thai woman standing near the pickup and killing her dog. The 20 year old victim, Siriporn, shared CCTV footage of the accident on her TikTok account, @siriporn_mos, last week. In the caption, she wrote… “A lesson learned. Even if…

  • Chiang Mai to join UNESCO’s World Heritage list | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai to join UNESCO’s World Heritage list

    Chiang Mai, the jewel of northern Thailand and the former capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, is inching closer to becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Officials from the Culture Ministry, the Fine Arts Department, and Chiang Mai Province are finalising a nomination dossier to submit to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Paris—a move that could cement the city’s…

  • Thailand to launch digital TM6 for tourists, delays 300-baht fee | Thaiger

    Thailand to launch digital TM6 for tourists, delays 300-baht fee

    Starting May 1, all foreign visitors to Thailand will need to complete a mandatory digital version of the TM6 immigration form, replacing the old paper-based system. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports confirmed the move, which aims to streamline immigration procedures and boost safety confidence among tourists. Natthriya Thaweevong, the ministry’s permanent secretary, explained that the online form will help…

  • China exposes 36 scam gangs targeting victims with 100k callers | Thaiger

    China exposes 36 scam gangs targeting victims with 100k callers

    Chinese police have revealed the shocking scale of international call scam operations, with 36 major gangs employing over 100,000 callers to swindle victims out of their money. The revelation came during a high-profile meeting between Chinese Assistant Minister of Public Security Liu Zhongyi and Thailand’s Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) in Nonthaburi yesterday. Leading a Chinese delegation, Liu sought Thailand’s…

  • Worker electrocuted in shocking Pattaya restaurant accident | Thaiger

    Worker electrocuted in shocking Pattaya restaurant accident

    Chaos erupted on Pattaya Beach Road as a restaurant worker suffered an electric shock while renovating a popular venue near Soi 13/3. Rescue teams rushed to the scene, where a crowd of locals and tourists had gathered around the injured man, identified as 34 year old Chatmongkol. He sustained severe electrical burns on both palms and was bleeding heavily. First…

  • Chinese nationals deny dine and dash, citing a misunderstanding | Thaiger

    Chinese nationals deny dine and dash, citing a misunderstanding

    Chinese nationals accused of a dine and dash claimed they did not intentionally evade a bill of 9,480 baht at a restaurant in the Isaan province of Udon Thani, but instead cited a misunderstanding. The 27 year old manager of a South Korean restaurant filed a complaint at Mueang Udon Thani Police Station yesterday, January 27, stating that 12 Chinese…

  • 3 poachers caught with wildlife carcasses in Kanchanaburi | Thaiger

    3 poachers caught with wildlife carcasses in Kanchanaburi

    Three Karen poachers were apprehended in the Thong Pha Phum National Park in Kanchanaburi province following a tip-off from a concerned citizen. The suspects were caught with homemade firearms and numerous wildlife carcasses. Yutthaphong Damsrisuk, the head of Thong Pha Phum National Park, reported that Chalermchai Sri-on, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, along with senior officials, have implemented…

  • Motorcyclist’s dangerous Pattaya stunt sparks outrage | Thaiger

    Motorcyclist’s dangerous Pattaya stunt sparks outrage

    Shocking footage has emerged of a motorcyclist pulling a jaw-dropping stunt on a busy Pattaya road, leaving other drivers stunned. The reckless rider was captured riding hands-free and sideways at high speed, putting lives at risk on Sukhumvit Road. A Facebook video, posted by an onlooker, shows the man casually turning his body sideways while letting go of the handlebars…

  • Elephants wreak havoc on Prachin Buri sugarcane farms | Thaiger

    Elephants wreak havoc on Prachin Buri sugarcane farms

    Farmers in Prachin Buri’s Kabin Buri district face significant challenges as wild elephants from the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary in Chachoengsao province have invaded their sugarcane fields. Over 50 sugarcane farmers from the subdistricts of Khao Mai Kaew and Wang Tha Chang gathered at the district office yesterday, January 27 to submit a letter to District Chief Thammarat…

  • Malaysian tourists die in motorcycle crash on Thai road | Thaiger

    Malaysian tourists die in motorcycle crash on Thai road

    A motorcycle skidded off a curve on a rain-soaked road in Prachuap Khiri Khan province yesterday, resulting in the deaths of two Malaysian tourists. The incident took place between kilometre markers 415 and 416 on the southbound Phetkasem Road in Bang Saphan Noi district. Police Lieutenant Pawarit Siriwat, the deputy inspector of Bang Saphan Noi Police Station, reported the accident.…

  • Phuket’s burning ban: Violators face 20 years amid smog crisis | Thaiger

    Phuket’s burning ban: Violators face 20 years amid smog crisis

    Phuket has joined the nationwide crackdown on burning as the country battles severe smog and PM2.5 pollution. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul ordered all provinces to implement burning bans, prompting Phuket officials to issue their strict measures last week. Phuket Vice Governor Adul Chuthong announced the ban last Friday, January 24, which prohibits all agricultural burning…

  • Thai motorcyclist hits South Korean man on zebra crossing | Thaiger

    Thai motorcyclist hits South Korean man on zebra crossing

    A Thai motorcyclist struck a South Korean pedestrian at a zebra crossing on a Bangkok road on Thursday, 23 January. The incident occurred at the same location as a case in 2022 when a Thai ophthalmologist was fatally struck by a motorcycle. The Facebook page เรารักด่านตรวจ (translating to “We Love Police Checkpoints”) shared dashcam footage of the accident on Phaya…

  • South Korean tourists outnumber Chinese in Chiang Mai amid direct flights boost | Thaiger

    South Korean tourists outnumber Chinese in Chiang Mai amid direct flights boost

    The South Korean market may surpass the Chinese in terms of tourist arrivals in Chiang Mai this year, attributed to the increase in direct flights and favourable winter weather, as reported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Patsalin Swetarat, director of TAT’s Chiang Mai office, noted that a decline in safety confidence among Chinese travellers has somewhat affected tourism…

  • Rare algae bloom turns Laem Bali Hai shoreline green | Thaiger

    Rare algae bloom turns Laem Bali Hai shoreline green

    A rare natural phenomenon transformed the rocky shoreline of Laem Bali Hai into a vibrant green landscape, attracting numerous visitors. Reporters noted that the area was covered with green algae, creating a visually stunning scene as it glistened under the sunlight. This remarkable sight drew a considerable number of tourists, as well as locals and students eager to capture the…

  • Khon Kaen police arrest two men with millions of meth pills | Thaiger

    Khon Kaen police arrest two men with millions of meth pills

    Police in Khon Kaen have arrested two men attempting to transport four million methamphetamine pills, believed to be linked to the network of Xaysana, a major drug dealer from a neighbouring country. The arrests occurred yesterday, January 27, at Ban Phai Police Station. According to Police Lieutenant General Chatchai Surachetpong, the commander of Region 4, the arrest was part of…

  • Critics slam 140m baht quick fix for Bangkok haze crisis | Thaiger

    Critics slam 140m baht quick fix for Bangkok haze crisis

    Critics have blasted the government for allocating 140 million baht to fund free public transport in Bangkok for one week, calling it a waste of taxpayers’ money that fails to tackle the root cause of the city’s haze pollution crisis. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra introduced the measure, which began last Saturday, January 25, to combat surging levels of hazardous PM2.5…

  • Fatal shooting at Nan land reform office leaves two dead | Thaiger

    Fatal shooting at Nan land reform office leaves two dead

    In the office of the Nan Provincial Land Reform, a shooting incident resulted in one fatality and one critical injury. The event unfolded yesterday, January 27, when a disagreement escalated. Police Lieutenant Colonel Wanatpong Santiphongsathorn and Police Major Danuwat Kittiyos led a team to the scene after being notified. The tragedy occurred on the second floor of the Nan Provincial…

  • Absent Thai doctors face penalties for endorsing clinics | Thaiger

    Absent Thai doctors face penalties for endorsing clinics

    The Medical Council of Thailand (MCT) has issued a warning that doctors allowing their names to endorse clinics without actively working there will face penalties under new regulations. The issue has gained attention from the public following a case involving Senator Keskamol Pleansamai, whose 126 million baht asset disclosure revealed that approximately 210,000 baht of her annual income was earned…

  • Tourist brawl in Phuket sparks debate on visa policy (video) | Thaiger

    Tourist brawl in Phuket sparks debate on visa policy (video)

    A video depicting an altercation between Italian and Indian tourists in Phuket’s Patong area has sparked significant social media discussion. The incident, captured in a 1.04-minute clip shared by the Facebook page Speednews Phuket, occurred yesterday, January 27, at the end of Bangla Road, Kathu district, Phuket. The video shows the tourists engaged in a fierce brawl, surrounded by onlookers…

  • Chulalongkorn University boosts AI collaboration with Cambodia | Thaiger

    Chulalongkorn University boosts AI collaboration with Cambodia

    Chulalongkorn University (CU) is seeking to enhance its academic collaboration with Cambodia, focusing on a future driven by artificial intelligence (AI). A delegation led by university president Wilert Puriwat recently met with Cambodian Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Hang Chuon Naron, in Phnom Penh. Minister Naron, a CU alumnus, was accompanied by 10 other CU alumni from Cambodia and expressed…

  • Thai police crack down on Chinese money laundering in Chon Buri | Thaiger

    Thai police crack down on Chinese money laundering in Chon Buri

    The Thai Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has initiated an extensive operation called “Operation Dragon Slayer” targeting over 40 Chinese businesses in Chon Buri that are suspected of laundering money through cryptocurrency and taking advantage of foreign tourists. Intelligence gathered by CIB officers suggests the involvement of Chinese nationals in call centre scam groups. These individuals allegedly used cryptocurrency to purchase…

  • Khon Kaen fish dispute leads to fatal shooting | Thaiger

    Khon Kaen fish dispute leads to fatal shooting

    A dispute over a fish led to a tragic incident in Khon Kaen, where a 63 year old man fatally shot his 41 year old nephew, following a disagreement about the fish being cooked without permission. The police have charged Sangha with intentional manslaughter. Yesterday, January 27, reports emerged of a shooting incident that occurred the day before at a residence…