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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Barking bad: Bangkok dealer’s pitbulls mask meth smells with poop
In a barking mad drug bust, police uncovered a cunning scheme where a Bangkok dealer used his pitbulls to poop and pee to hide his methamphetamine operation. The dogs’ pee and poop were more than just a mess – they were meant to mask the whiff of a massive meth haul stashed right under their noses. Today, January 15, a…
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Thailand boosts durian export checks after China ban
Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is set to enhance its contamination screening processes for durians before export to China, following a temporary ban imposed by the country. Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat announced yesterday, January 14, that each durian shipment will undergo testing for Basic Yellow 2, a cancer-causing dye, along with cadmium and durian borers, prior to…
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Young woman dies after jumping from moving vehicle in Ranong
A tragic incident occurred when a young woman jumped from a moving vehicle after an argument with her boyfriend, a police lance corporal. She suffered a fatal neck fracture. Before her death, she secretly shared her location to a friend who overheard the incident. The incident took place today, January 15 at 1.30am, on the road near Khlong Hat Som…
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Jet ski crash in Phuket leaves Chinese man dead, another injured
A Chinese man lost his life in a jet ski crash in Phuket yesterday while another Chinese national sustained minor injuries. The accident occurred in the waters off Patong Beach, in the Kathu district of Phuket, at around 2pm yesterday, January 14. The two injured Chinese men were identified as 33 year old Liu Hong Chao and 28 year old…
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Cold weather and heavy rain hit Thailand as monsoon intensifies
The Thai Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) reported today that a strong high-pressure system continues to cover upper Thailand and the South China Sea, resulting in cold weather across the regions. Northern and northeastern areas are experiencing cold to very cold conditions, with temperatures dropping to 9°C, while Bangkok and surrounding provinces have temperatures ranging from 18°C to 20°C. Residents…
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Retail therapy: Tops looks for Lunar New Year discounts, tourists
Central Food Retail Co., (CFR), the powerhouse behind Tops grocery stores, is banking on a flurry of government stimulus and a tourism boom to set tills ringing as the Lunar New Year approaches. Chakkit Chatupanyachotikul, the marketing maestro at CFR, is upbeat about the impact of the government’s Easy E-receipt tax deduction scheme, a nifty initiative running from January 16…
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Thai schools to shift lessons online amid severe air pollution threat
Schools in Thailand may transition to online classes if fine dust pollution reaches critical levels, according to the Thai Education Ministry. Teachers are advised to monitor students’ health as PM2.5 haze pollution affects several provinces, including Bangkok. Siripong Angkasakulkiat from the Education Ministry stated yesterday, January 14, that Minister Permpoon Chidchob urged the creation of appropriate plans to organise classes…
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Forks of fury: Woman seeks justice after nightspot stabbing drama
A Thai woman is seeking justice after being accused by a group of nearly 10 women of pouring water over them before they attacked and stabbed her in the back with a fork at a nightclub in the southern province of Songkhla. The 24 year old victim, Tar, brought the matter to Channel 7 after the police failed to update…
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Thailand slashes barriers for elite visas: LTR programme
Thailand is making bold moves to attract wealthy foreigners and digital nomads by easing visa restrictions to position the country as a global hub for long-term residency. The Cabinet approved sweeping changes to its Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa programme, streamlining the application process and eliminating outdated Smart visa categories, a Government House source revealed. The revised LTR visa rules target…
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Chinese couple beg for help in Bangkok amid son’s trafficking fears
A distraught Chinese couple has made a desperate plea outside the Chinese embassy in Bangkok, seeking help to find their missing son, suspected to be a victim of human trafficking in Southeast Asia. The couple, 64 year old Sun Maoxing and his wife 60 year old Wang Weiju, travelled from China’s Shandong province to Thailand on their first-ever trip abroad,…
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Brrr-illiant care: Chiang Mai Zoo keeps animals cozy at 10°c
As temperatures in Chiang Mai drop to a chilly 10 degrees Celsius (°C), Chiang Mai Zoo is stepping up to ensure its animals stay warm and healthy. Located at the foot of a mountain, the zoo faces sharp nighttime and early-morning temperature dips, prompting a range of protective measures for its residents. Zoo director Wutthichai Muangman revealed that heat lamps…
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Bangkok chokes on toxic air as PM2.5 levels hit danger zone
Bangkok’s air quality plummeted to hazardous levels, with PM2.5 dust particles soaring to the orange health-threatening category across all 50 districts, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported today. The average PM2.5 concentration in the city reached 47.6 µg/m³ this morning, significantly exceeding the safe limit of 37.5 µg/m³. The five worst-affected districts are Nong Khaem (56.7 µg/m³), Khlong Sam Wa…
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Baht bus brawl: Phuket driver and foreign man row over fare
A physical altercation broke out between a Thai baht bus driver and a foreign man outside a hotel in Phuket after the foreigner refused to pay the agreed transport fare. The Phuket Times shared a video of the altercation today, January 14. However, the page did not specify when or where the incident occurred. The accompanying post read… “Fighting! The…
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Scrambled spat: Egg row ends with knife attack in Pattaya
Pattaya police and rescue workers rushed to a chaotic scene on Sunday where a domestic dispute over frying eggs took a violent turn, leaving a man with a knife lodged in his head. Officers arrived at a rental room in Soi Paniadchang 8, Central Pattaya, yesterday, January 12, to find 36 year old Krisada Matcha, bleeding profusely and stumbling down…
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Fatal collision scatters chicken parts on Thai road
A collision involving a six-wheeled truck and a trailer truck yesterday on the Pho Phra Ya-Tha Ruea road in Mueang district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, resulted in one fatality. The impact led to fresh chicken parts scattering across the road. Police Lieutenant Banchoed Jongphitakphong of the Tha Ruea Police Station received the accident report yesterday, January 13, at 12.30pm,…
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Rolling the dice: Thailand to legalise online gambling
In a landmark move, the Thai Cabinet approved amendments to ministerial regulations aimed at legalising online gambling, with changes expected to be completed within a month. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DES) Prasert Chantararuangthong revealed the decision today, following discussions at the Cabinet meeting yesterday, January 13. The amendments, spearheaded by the Ministry of Digital…
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Sinful: Ex-nun claims reveal monk-key business at Isaan temple
A former Thai nun exposed the inappropriate behaviour of an abbot at Dan Phra In Temple in the Isaan province of Mukdahan, claiming the monk engaged in sexual activities with her for over seven years and gave her large sums of money donated by Buddhists. The former nun, Phorn, urged the news Facebook page เจ๊มอย v+ (J Moi V+) to…
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Over 200,000 mule accounts targeted in scam gangs crackdown
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) launched an all-out crackdown on scam networks using over 200,000 mule bank accounts to siphon off approximately 100 billion baht from Thai citizens since 2022. The scale of the financial crimes has prompted an urgent collaboration between the RTP, the Bank of Thailand (BoT), and other agencies. At a high-level meeting yesterday, January 13, Police General…
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Chinese tourists cancel Thailand trips amid safety concerns
Hotels and airlines are experiencing widespread cancellations from Chinese tour groups ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday, with independent tourist bookings also slowing due to safety concerns in Thailand. Eason Chan, a singer and actor from Hong Kong, cancelled a planned concert in Thailand last week, citing safety concerns for Chinese fans visiting the country. Additionally, Hong Kong’s Security…
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Police raid reveals sim box scam in Bangkok apartment
Police in Region 1 raided an apartment in the Lat Phrao area, uncovering eight sim box devices used for scam calls to defraud victims out of millions. The apartment was rented by a foreign national. Efforts are underway to expand the investigation and make arrests. Police Major General Worachat Saenkham, commander of the Region 1 Investigation Division, along with other…
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Phuket tourists smash wheel lock with rock, sparking outrage (video)
Foreign tourists in Phuket sparked a social media firestorm after blatantly disregarding Thai law by smashing a police wheel lock with a rock in broad daylight. The brazen act occurred outside a shopping mall on Rat Uthit 200 Pi Road in Patong today, January 14. A 23-second video of the incident was shared by the Phuket Newshawk Facebook page, captioned:…
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Hat Yai gears up for Chinese New Year with parades and contests
Hat Yai is pulling out all the stops for a dazzling Chinese New Year celebration, promising a week of vibrant festivities from January 28 to February 2. This iconic festival, a highlight for Thailand’s Chinese community, will take over Srinakorn Foundation School with parades, dragon and lion dances, fireworks, and breathtaking lantern sculptures. The festival is packed with activities to…
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Accident claims life of motorcyclist in Nakhon Si Thammarat (video)
A tragic accident occurred in Mueang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, yesterday, resulting in the death of 48 year old Chitlada. The incident involved an 18-wheel truck and a motorcycle driven by Chitlada, who was returning home from rubber tapping. Police Colonel Phadungphong Duksukkaew received the report yesterday, January 13, and instructed investigators to examine the scene with a local…
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Is it too late for Thailand’s dugongs?
Long ago, dugongs were hunted across Southeast Asia for their meat, tusks, and bones. In some regions, their body parts were thought to hold magical powers. Dugong tears, in particular, were said to bring good fortune or even love. But in Thailand, these gentle sea cows often inspired more reverence than harm. Along the Andaman coast, dugongs became symbols of love,…
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Chinese woman accuses Thai police of 7 million baht extortion
A Chinese woman accused Thai police officers in Bangkok of extorting 7 million baht from her. However, several Thai nationals came forward to accuse the Chinese woman of operating an investment scam. The woman, identified only as Yujin, released a livestream video alleging corruption by officers at Prawet Police Station in Bangkok and urged her followers not to travel to…
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PM Paetongtarn slams 4.4 billion baht asset allegations
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has come out swinging against allegations of falsifying her assets statement, branding the claims as baseless and politically motivated. The accusations stem from a report by the Isra News Agency, suggesting that she misrepresented a staggering 4.4 billion baht debt owed to close family members. “It’s a debt between me and my relatives,” the premier insisted…
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Former police officer accused of laundering 1.7 million baht
The Office of Anti-Money Laundering (AMLO) lodged a complaint against a former senior police officer, accusing him of money laundering. This follows an investigation by Thung Maha Mek Metropolitan Police Station into a group involved in illegal online gambling, which revealed financial connections implicating certain individuals. Police Major General Nopasilp Poolsawat, deputy commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau and spokesperson,…
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Tuk tuk crashes into timber truck in Surat Thani, driver dies
A tragic accident occurred involving a tuk tuk and a parked timber truck yesterday in Mueang Surat Thani district. The collision resulted in the death of the tuk tuk driver and injuries to seven passengers, six of whom were seriously hurt. Police Lieutenant Thanongsilp Kayannoi from the Mueang Surat Thani Police Station received the report of the accident yesterday, January 13…
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Tragedy in Isaan: Century-old tree kills teen, injures another
A 100 year old sugar palm tree fell during recent strong winds and fell onto a passing motorcycle, killing a 15 year old Thai girl and leaving another with an amputated leg, on a road in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham on Saturday, January 11. The incident occurred on a rural road in a community within the Kantharawichai district…
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Pattaya panic: Turkish tourist tied, robbed in condo heist drama
A Turkish tourist was discovered bound and robbed in his Pattaya condo, sparking a major police investigation. In the early hours of today, January 14, the quiet corridors of the upscale condominium were disrupted as security staff stumbled upon 36 year old Masis Erkol, a Turkish national, in a dire state. Tethered with handcuffs and cable ties by a trio…
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