Thailand News

Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.

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  • Thaiger Radio News – Saturday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Saturday

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  • Key suspect arrested in 800 million baht bitcoin ‘scam’ | Thaiger

    Key suspect arrested in 800 million baht bitcoin ‘scam’

    Parinya Jaravijit, a key suspect in an alleged 800 million baht bitcoin investment scam, was arrested last night at Suvarnabhumi Airport when he arrived back in Thailand. Parinya – who continues to maintain his innocence – was taken to Ratchadapisek Criminal Court today to apply for his first 12 day detention period (October 12-23). Police have objected to his bail…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Friday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Friday

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  • Pet registration bill rethink after public outcry | Thaiger

    Pet registration bill rethink after public outcry

    by Kornwaree Panyasuppakun A Bill approved by the Cabinet, making it mandatory to register dogs and cats, has ben derailed after pet lovers cried foul over the high fee for the registration documents, threatening to abandon their pets. The bill, approved by Cabinet on Wednesday, allows municipalities to charge a maximum fee of 450 – 500 baht for registration, 100…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Thursday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Thursday

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  • Thaiger Radio News – Wednesday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Wednesday

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  • Actor’s family assets confiscated over suspected bitcoin fraud | Thaiger

    Actor’s family assets confiscated over suspected bitcoin fraud

    PHOTO: Thai actor Jirachpisit ‘Boom’ Jarawichit – The Nation The AMLO (Anti Money Laundering Office) has confiscated assets worth 210 million baht belonging to an actor and his family suspected of involvement in fraud and money laundering. The case stems from a complaint by a Finnish investor, Aarni Otava Saarimaa, that he was defrauded of bitcoins valued at 797 million…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday

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  • Thaiger Radio News – Monday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Monday

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  • Senior official arrested over alleged poaching in Kanchanaburi | Thaiger

    Senior official arrested over alleged poaching in Kanchanaburi

    A new group has been arrested following alleged poaching in a Kanchanaburi national park, again involving high profile officers. A group, including a deputy district chief, who allegedly camped out overnight and shot a ‘binturong‘ at the Sai Yok National Park in Kanchaburi province over the weekend, has been arrested. An informed source said park officials checked the group after…

  • Event Round-Up – October | Thaiger

    Event Round-Up – October

    by Paul Poole – The Sponsorship Experts The end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat or Buddhist Lent is marked in October with a range of religious ceremonies across the country. One of them, the Chong Para Festival in Mae Hong Son from October 20-22, is particularly colourful. Wooden towers are decorated with colourful paper and fruit and carried in procession through…

  • Thai economy’s growth in 2018 projected at 4.5% – World Bank | Thaiger

    Thai economy’s growth in 2018 projected at 4.5% – World Bank

    Things are looking up for more economic smiles in the Land of Smiles with more positive news coming out of the World Bank. Projections are being revised upward, again. The World Bank says it’s adjusted its projections for Thailand’s economic growth upward, for the whole of 2018, to 4.5%, from the previous projection of 4.1%. The announcement comes from Kiattiphong…

  • Floods sweep away bridge in Mae Hong Son | Thaiger

    Floods sweep away bridge in Mae Hong Son

    by Tossapon Boonpat A bridge in Mae Hong Son crucial to tourism and trade was swept away in a flash flood on Sunday. “We urgently need a Bailey bridge [to replace it temporarily], or else the flow of tourists and goods into Myanmar will be disrupted,” said Trairat Wanasirisuk, chief executive of the Tambon Mae Sam Lab Administrative Organisation. The…

  • Japan tops Thailand as Chinese tourists’ top choice for Golden Week | Thaiger

    Japan tops Thailand as Chinese tourists’ top choice for Golden Week

    Watch out Thailand. Japan is stealing our tourists. Japan has now overtaken Thailand as Chinese vacationers’ top choice for the 2018 Chinese Golden Week holiday. This according to Ctrip.com, one of the biggest travel websites in China. This is the first time Thailand has lost its top destination status to Japan during the holiday season which expect at least 7…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Saturday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Saturday

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  • Foreigners nationwide being checked as visa changes being considered | Thaiger

    Foreigners nationwide being checked as visa changes being considered

    PHOTOS: INN The new immigration chief Maj-Gen Surachate Hakparn is making his presence felt promising to investigate 60,000 migrants in a crackdown on illegal workers. He is also promising changes in the way visa extensions are done. INN reports that the crackdown began mid week, with media in tow, in the Huay Khwang, Nana and Khao San areas with the arrest…

  • Tsunami risk is statistically very low | Thaiger

    Tsunami risk is statistically very low

    by Pratch Rujivanarom The chances of an imminent repeat tsunami in the Andaman Sea is remote, while the tsunami risk in the Gulf of Thailand is even smaller to nearly impossible chance, say leading seismologists in the wake of public tsunami fears triggered by the recent devastation in Palu, Indonesia. Nevertheless, say experts, the authorities, business sector and citizens in…

  • No more ‘tips’ at Immigration | Thaiger

    No more ‘tips’ at Immigration

    The new Thai immigration chief, Maj-General Surachate Hakparn, has implemented his first promise at immigration stations. The signage going up nationwide is clear and unequivocal. No Tips. That means no more payments to corrupt immigration officials or the agents who collect the tea money from tourists and either pass it on or keep it for themselves. It’s also a tacit…

  • Thai public hospital system under stress | Thaiger

    Thai public hospital system under stress

    Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Sukhum Kanchanapimai yesterday admitted that the country’s hospitals were overwhelmed, following an outspoken doctor’s comments that the system was “close to collapse”. Sukhum told a press conference in Nonthaburi province yesterday that crowded conditions were a reality and the bed occupation rate in many big hospitals was beyond full capacity. To tackle this long-standing…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Thursday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Thursday

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  • Villager missing following flash floods south of Surat Thani | Thaiger

    Villager missing following flash floods south of Surat Thani

    FILE PHOTO A villager has been swept away by strong currents after trying to escape from his house during flash floods in Surat Thani’s Phra Saeng district. The area is two hours drive, north of Phuket. The man remains missing as of this morning. Rescue officers and villagers searched for 55 year old Arunrat Phetcharat for over six hours until…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday

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  • Thanathorn says he’s ready to be the next Thai PM | Thaiger

    Thanathorn says he’s ready to be the next Thai PM

    PHOTO: Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit “Thanathorn added that he would not talk to Prayut while he was head of the junta.” The Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit says he’s ready to become the next Thai PM and highlighted the campaign “Thailand 2X” that promotes equality among Thais and to make the country fit to compete with others. The…

  • No tips and a crackdown on visa agents – Surachete takes over Immigration top job | Thaiger

    No tips and a crackdown on visa agents – Surachete takes over Immigration top job

    Thailand’s famous crime buster Surachete Hakparn, aka “Big Joke”, has been welcomed to his new job as head of Thai immigration during a ceremony this afternoon. He kicked off with some tough words, promising action against visa agent rip-offs and officers under his new command. Thai Rath reports that he says he’s determined to stamp out ‘paper bags’ and that…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Monday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Monday

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  • Junta goes for lighter touch on lese majeste laws | Thaiger

    Junta goes for lighter touch on lese majeste laws

    with Kai Chanwanpen – The Nation iLaw experts say they see changes for the better and courts given more leeway in Thailand’s lese majeste cases. Thailand saw the most aggressive enforcement of the lese majeste law after the junta came to power in 2014, but current trends point to an unprecedented relaxation, according to iLaw. “There was a time, after…

  • Director and security chief of Don Mueang suspended over assault of Chinese tourist | Thaiger

    Director and security chief of Don Mueang suspended over assault of Chinese tourist

    “Immigration police dismissed the tourist’s claim that immigration officials had demanded 2,000 baht from him for a visa on arrival in addition to the normal fee of 2,000 baht.” The Director of Bangkok’s Don Mueang international airport, as well as the director for security, have been suspended from active duty for at least 30 days pending an investigation into an…

  • Fireworks factory explodes in Chachoengsao | Thaiger

    Fireworks factory explodes in Chachoengsao

    PHOTOS: The Nation Extremely hot weather is suspected of causing an explosion at a fireworks factory in Muang Chachoengsao on Saturday afternoon that left one person injured. The roof of the factory owned by 47 year old Karun Raksanont was blown off in the explosion, with the debris raining down on the neighbourhood. The explosion, which could be heard a kilometre…

  • Wet wet wet at the Phetchabun’s ‘Um Phra Dam Nam Festival’ | Thaiger

    Wet wet wet at the Phetchabun’s ‘Um Phra Dam Nam Festival’

    The ‘Um Phra Dam Nam Festival’, one of the world’s most unique Buddhist festivals held annually in Phetchabun in Central Thailand. It’s scheduled from October 7 to 12 at Trai Phum temple and at the pier of Bot Chanaman temple. Translated from Thai, Um Phra Dam Nam literally means ‘diving while holding Buddha’s image’. According to local legend, the festival began when…

  • Thai mothers caving to superstition or private hospital wishes when having babies | Thaiger

    Thai mothers caving to superstition or private hospital wishes when having babies

    by Kornwaree Panyasuppakun and Tim Newton “Many babies in Thailand are born to suit ‘auspicious days’ or the Obstetrician’s golf plans.” The expectant mother reported to the private hospital in Phuket where she and her husband had decided to have their first baby. When she walked in for her appointment with the Obstetrician the first question was when she wanted to…