Hot News
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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French mafia chaos: Phuket residents slam tourists’ alley blockade (video)
A fiery video posted on the popular Facebook page โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต has ignited outrage, branding a group of foreign tourists as the “French Mafia” for blocking a public alley with their motorcycles in Phuket. The clip, accompanied by a stinging caption, lambasted the tourists for their arrogant behaviour and questioned the local police’s inaction. “Admin would like to question #PatongPolice: are…
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Power play: Thailand set to slash electricity bills with tariff tweak
In a shock move that could see electricity bills slashed, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is eyeing a reduction in the power tariff by 0.17 baht per kilowatt-hour. This welcome change hinges on the government trimming its budget for renewable energy promotion. At present, the power tariff stands at 4.15 baht per unit, with a chunk earmarked for renewable energy…
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Body of foreign man found in sea off Jomtien Beach
The body of a foreign man was found floating in the sea near Jomtien Beach, Pattaya yesterday afternoon. At 1.30pm, yesterday, January 16, Pattaya police officers were alerted to the presence of a foreign man’s body floating face-down in the sea near Jomtien Beach, opposite Soi Jomtien 14. Police officers, along with rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation promptly…
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Chinese housekeeper suspected in 100 million baht theft in Pattaya
Police suspect a Chinese housekeeper is behind a theft at the house of a Chinese businessman in Pattaya, resulting in a loss exceeding 100 million baht. Officers from Huay Yai Police Station were called to the house in the Bang Lamung district of Pattaya at 1.30am yesterday, January 16, to investigate the theft. The two-storey luxury house is located on a…
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Tying the knot: Pattaya hosts free LGBTQ+ weddings
Royal Garden Plaza Pattaya is gearing up to host a significant event on Valentine’s Day, February 14, marking Thailand’s historic Marriage Equality Law with free wedding ceremonies for LGBTQ+ couples. Pattaya Marriage Equality Celebration 2025 honours the law’s official enactment on January 23, with support from Pattaya City and various partners. Seven LGBTQ+ couples will be chosen to have their…
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Chill factor: Thailand braces for cold, frosty spell as mercury dips
Thailand is braced for a cold, frosty spell as temperatures plunge by an additional 1-2 degrees Celsius across the nation. Frost dusts the peaks of high mountains while strong winds batter the seas, turning up the tumultuous weather conditions. As winter tightens its grip, the South sees relentless rainfall, adding to the weather woes. Forecasts from the Meteorological Department of…
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Phuket man arrested for sexually exploiting young boys
The Phuket Provincial Administration Promotion Office arrested a Thai man for sexually assaulting more than 10 young boys and distributing explicit videos of the victims on X (formerly Twitter). More than 1,400 indecent videos were found in his possession. Officials received a tip-off from the non-governmental organisation Scientia that a 15 year old victim sought help from the organisation after…
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Fire in Bangkok’s Min Buri destroys warehouse and 8 vehicles
A fire broke out in Soi Rom Klao 7, Min Buri district, Bangkok, spreading to a chemical storage warehouse and destroying eight vehicles, including six cars and two motorcycles. The incident occurred at 3.05am today, January 17, when the Rama 199 Radio Centre was alerted to a grass fire in Rom Klao 7, Saen Saep subdistrict, Min Buri district. Upon…
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Phuket netizens slams half-naked foreign man on red baht bus
Thai netizens criticised a foreign man after a photograph of him standing half-naked on a red baht bus in Phuket circulated on Thai social media platforms. The Phuket Times shared the images yesterday, January 16, with a caption that read, “#Patong. A foreign tourist pulled his shorts down and revealed his bottom. Doesn’t care about anyone.” The two images shared…
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US nominee Rubio vows to stop Uyghur deportations from Thailand
Donald Trump’s nominee for the position of US Secretary of State expressed intentions to persuade Thailand against deporting 48 Uyghurs to China, where they may face persecution. Marco Rubio, during his confirmation hearing in Washington, stated his commitment to this cause. The Republican senator from Florida is anticipated to be confirmed as the leading diplomat under the incoming Trump administration.…
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Roti rebellion: Thai police rescue Burmese teenager from trafficking
In a harrowing tale of courage and justice, a Burmese teenager hailed the Government of Thailand for rescuing him from a nightmare of forced labour and trafficking. The 17 year old’s ordeal ended with the conviction of his captor in Bangkok last year, bringing a glimmer of hope to the youth as he waits to return home to Myanmar. The…
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Herd mentality: Thai activists stomp on elephant birth control plan
Conservationists gathered yesterday to oppose the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s proposal to administer birth control injections to wild elephants. The Soo Phua Chang Network, advocating for elephants, convened at the ministry, urging a delay in the plan until comprehensive studies and reviews of the contraceptive injections are completed. They presented their petition to Minister Chalermchai Sri-on, and Naraphat…
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What to do in Bangkok this weekend (January 17 to 19)
The cool weather’s sticking around, so it’s the perfect excuse to get outside this weekend. As you’d expect, Bangkok never runs out of things to do. Art exhibitions? A festival in the park? Maybe a garden market? There’s so much happening right now that the only hard part is deciding what to do. So, to help you with your weekend…
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British explorer uncovers shocking truth at abandoned Phuket Zoo (video)
A British explorer got more than he bargained for during a visit to Thailand’s abandoned Phuket Zoo, uncovering a hidden and haunting secret that left him and his viewers stunned. British content creator Sean King, known for exploring deserted attractions on his YouTube channel @SeanKing5150, ventured into the defunct zoo. What he found was both extraordinary and deeply troubling. “I…
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Thai man shoots cat with harpoon, allegedly to eat it
Police are searching for a Thai man who shot a cat with a harpoon in the Isaan province of Buriram, allegedly intending to eat the animal. The cat’s right eye was left blind following the severe attack. The 68 year old Thai man, Narong Sookprasert, brought the injured cat, Kuay Tiew (meaning noodles), in a cage to a shelter at…
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Bangkok steals top spot for Chinese New Year celebrations
Bangkok has emerged as the top destination for Thai and foreign tourists planning to celebrate Chinese New Year in Thailand, according to data from the digital travel platform Agoda. The vibrant capital outshone other popular spots, with accommodation searches surging ahead of the festivities starting January 29. Agoda revealed yesterday, January 15, that Bangkok topped the list for Thai tourists,…
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PM perfects ‘Salaam’ greeting on helicopter to Muslim south
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra prepared for a visit to Thailand’s southern Muslim-majority provinces by practising the universal Islamic greeting, “as-salaam alaykum” (peace be upon you), aboard an air force helicopter. Assisted by Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong, the PM repeated the greeting several times to perfect her pronunciation. “I practised this earlier too, but I want to get it just right.”…
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Rawai woman busted in 36 million baht fake investment scam
A 36 year old woman in Rawai has been arrested for her alleged role in a massive investment scam that defrauded victims of over 36 million baht. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), in collaboration with the Highway Police Division, apprehended the suspect, identified as Wipha, at a residence in Soi Samakee 2 following a detailed investigation. Wipha faces multiple charges,…
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British fraudster nabbed in land scam at Bangkok airport
A British national was arrested at Suvarnabhumi International Airport upon returning to Thailand, accused of orchestrating an elaborate property fraud worth nearly 20 million baht. Officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD), led by Police Colonel Theeraphast Yangyuen and Police Lieutenant Colonel Woraphot Lalitjirakul, apprehended the 57 year old British man, Quentin (surname withheld) yesterday, January 15 under an…
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South Thailand unrest: Defence chief demands strategy overhaul
Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Minister of Defence Phumtham Wechayachai called for a bold rethink of Thailand’s southern border strategy following a recent motorcycle bomb attack in Pattani that left defence volunteers and civilians injured. In a scathing critique of current measures, Phumtham urged the National Security Council (NSC) to replace the ineffective cycle of lifting and reinstating emergency decrees with a more…
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Family feud in Prachin Buri leaves man critically injured
A family dispute in Prachin Buri province resulted in a severe injury when a 20 year old man allegedly shot his 36 year old brother-in-law, with a homemade firearm. The incident took place yesterday, January 15, in front of a house in Mueang Nadi district, but the family has not disclosed the reason behind the altercation. Police Lieutenant Colonel Yutthaphum Damrongtham…
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Dim sum drama: Hungry tourist rides into restaurant for a bite (video)
A hungry foreign tourist made an unforgettable entrance into a dim sum restaurant in Chalong in Phuket yesterday driving his motorbike straight into the eatery and causing a stir on social media. CCTV footage captured the bizarre moment yesterday, January 15, as the tourist lost control of his bike, crashing into a parked motorcycle and a table at Mangmee Dim Sum,…
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Thai man attacks Swiss man with cue stick over pool game dispute
A Thai man attacked a Swiss tourist with a cue stick at a bar in Pattaya, accusing the foreigner of cheating during a game of pool. Rescuers from the Sawang Borriboon Dhammstan Foundation responded to the incident at a bar on Soi Khao Ta Lo in Bang Lamung district, Pattaya, last night, January 15, following reports of a physical altercation.…
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Customs seizes 256 tonnes of smuggled e-waste at Thai port
Thai Customs officials uncovered a haul of over 256 tonnes of hazardous electronic waste smuggled into the country from Japan and Hong Kong via Laem Chabang Port. The seizure, announced at a press conference by Customs spokesperson Panthong Loykulnanta, highlights ongoing efforts to combat illegal waste imports under Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s directive to prioritise public health and environmental safety.…
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Second post-mortem to be conducted on death of Indian woman
A chilling twist has emerged in the alleged murder of a 32 year old Indian woman whose body was flown back to India from Thailand late Tuesday night, January 14. Lucknow police, acting on her family’s complaint, are set to conduct a second post-mortem today to uncover the truth behind her suspicious demise. The woman, Priyanka Sharma’s husband, city-based doctor…
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Mother arrested for gold theft amid lender threats in Thailand
A 27 year old mother was arrested for stealing a gold bracelet after facing dire financial straits. She resorted to stealing following threats from a lender who intimidated her by threatening her four month old child. The incident occurred on January 12 in a gold shop in Hua Ro, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district, Ayutthaya province. Suwichada Ongying, who works…
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Israel to open 13,000 agriculture jobs for Thai workers
Some 13,000 jobs in the agriculture sector are set to be made available for Thai workers, as announced by Israeli Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Avi Dichter. In recent discussions held in Jerusalem, senior Thai officials, including Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn and Department of Employment Director General Somchai Morakotsriwan, met with Dichter. The Thai delegation visited Beit Hilkia Moshav on…
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Chiang Rai schools warn over child abduction vehicle alert
A warning has been issued regarding a suspected child abduction vehicle, leading to the closure of schools and increased vigilance among locals in Chiang Rai. The alert follows reports of a suspicious man attempting to abduct children yesterday, January 15. Bunsong Tinaree, the district chief of Mueang Chiang Rai, announced an urgent radio message, labelled as ChR.0118/01, to the local…
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Fake doctor and lawyer swindle 2.75 million baht from Thai nurse
A Thai nurse from the Isaan province of Udon Thani lost 2.75 million baht in two separate investment scams, leaving her unable to afford the care of her bedridden mother and daughter. The victim, 48 year old Bee, filed a complaint with the Provincial Police Region 4 and shared her experience with news agencies to warn others about falling victim…
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Former English footballer caught in drug smuggling own goal
A former footballer from Liverpool confessed he deeply regrets smuggling drugs from Thailand after quitting the professional game to allegedly look after his cancer-stricken grandparents. The former Tranmere Rovers footballer was arrested by immigration police while transferring through customs at Manchester Airport. Jamie Kilcourse, returning from a holiday in Bangkok with friends, was stopped by Border Force officers upon arrival…
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