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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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  • Tsunami guardian: How one man guards Thailand from the waves (video)

    Tsunami guardian: How one man guards Thailand from the waves (video)

    Nearly 20 years after the devastating Boxing Day tsunami, one man in Phang Nga province has become a beacon of hope and safety for his community. Meet 59 year old Banlue Choosin, a former fisherman turned guardian of the Andaman Sea. Ban Nam Khem village, where Banlue lives, was one of the hardest-hit areas in the 2004 disaster, which claimed a…

  • Husband strangles wife to death in Phuket tragedy

    Husband strangles wife to death in Phuket tragedy

    A tragic incident unfolded when a husband strangled his wife to death in their rented home in Pa Khlok, Thalang district, Phuket. Colleagues of the victim expressed sorrow, revealing that she had recently mentioned feeling relieved after her husband had moved out with his belongings. However, he returned and committed the heinous act early this morning, December 24, at 5.05am.…

  • Phetchabun: Big bike stunt sparks online backlash (video)

    Phetchabun: Big bike stunt sparks online backlash (video)

    A young motorcyclist’s daring stunt on a big bike in Phetchabun province has captured widespread attention on social media. The footage, showing him riding with one foot on the seat and one hand off the handlebar, sparked significant online criticism. The individual involved admitted to the act, claiming ignorance of the potential consequences. The afternoon of the same day saw…

  • Where to see the iconic Squid Game ‘Gogowa’ Doll in Bangkok

    Where to see the iconic Squid Game ‘Gogowa’ Doll in Bangkok

    Netflix Thailand is launching “Squid Game” Season 2 with a grand event in Bangkok. The event features the world’s largest “Gogowa” doll sailing along the Chao Phraya River. The iconic “Gogowa” doll, known as “Younghee” from the series, appears at key landmarks along the river. Where to see the Squid Game Doll? The sailing schedule is as follows: 11.30am –…

  • Thailand to revise minimum wage across provinces from January

    Thailand to revise minimum wage across provinces from January

    Thailand is set to implement a new minimum wage structure across its 77 provinces from January 1, 2025. The decision was made following an extensive meeting led by Boonsong Thapchaiyuth, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour. The meeting, which took place yesterday, December 23 and lasted over five hours, resulted in a unanimous agreement on the new wage rates,…

  • Pattaya crackdown: over 50 arrested in major anti-drug operation

    Pattaya crackdown: over 50 arrested in major anti-drug operation

    Police in Pattaya have executed a large-scale operation resulting in the arrest of over 50 individuals as part of a concerted effort to combat drug use and criminal activity in the Jomtien area. The operation, named Parasite Clean-up Part 2, was led by Police Major General Thawatchakrit Jindakwanasong, Chief of Chon Buri Provincial Police, and took place in the early…

  • Foreign man assaults Pattaya transwoman over noise dispute

    Foreign man assaults Pattaya transwoman over noise dispute

    A foreign man physically assaulted a Thai transwoman on Sunday, December 22, following an alleged dispute over a loud noise caused by the victim in an apartment in Pattaya. A group of Thai transwomen alerted officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station to the apartment on Pattaya Sai 3 Road, Banglamung district after one of their friends was assaulted. Police arrived…

  • Pattaya Beach bags world-class glory with safety and eco awards

    Pattaya Beach bags world-class glory with safety and eco awards

    Pattaya has officially cemented its place as a top-tier beach destination after snagging three prestigious certifications for safety, cleanliness, and eco-friendliness. The big announcement was made by Pattaya Mayor, Poramet Ngampichet, who proudly declared, “This certification is a proud achievement for Pattaya and its people.” The accolades come after a rigorous evaluation process under the ISO 13009 standard—a globally recognised…

  • Pattaya guesthouse horror: Foreign man found with decomposing body

    Pattaya guesthouse horror: Foreign man found with decomposing body

    A troubling discovery unfolded in Pattaya as a foreign man was found living in a guesthouse with his partner’s decomposing body for over three days. Police were alerted to the situation when police were called shortly after 11.30am on December 22. The grim find was made in a room on the fifth floor of a guesthouse located at Soi Somprasong…

  • Russian tourist’s gold necklace stolen by trans duo in Pattaya

    Russian tourist’s gold necklace stolen by trans duo in Pattaya

    A Russian visitor in Pattaya reported a theft involving his gold necklace, allegedly stolen by two transgender individuals. The incident unfolded in the early hours of December 22, when police received a report at 3.19am about a tourist being pickpocketed in a hotel parking lot on Soi Wong Amat, Pattaya-Naklua Road. Upon reaching the location, officers encountered Andrei, a tourist…

  • Royal Orchid Sheraton Bangkok promises a magical Christmas this year

    Royal Orchid Sheraton Bangkok promises a magical Christmas this year

    The most wonderful time of the year is almost here! While Christmas in Bangkok doesn’t come with snow or frosty mornings, it has its own special kind of magic. And nowhere does the spirit come alive more vividly than the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers Bangkok. With the glittering Chao Phraya River as their backdrop, this iconic hotel is…

  • Phuket’s traffic revolution: New roads to transform island travel

    Phuket’s traffic revolution: New roads to transform island travel

    Phuket is gearing up for a major infrastructure facelift with a slew of secondary road developments aimed at easing traffic woes and boosting tourism. Officials unveiled the ambitious plan at a press conference chaired by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwanarat at Provincial Hall on Friday, December 20, showcasing a roadmap for smoother travel and economic growth. Jakkrapong Thamuntree, Director of Phuket’s…

  • PM Paetongtarn embraces political moniker amid press scrutiny

    PM Paetongtarn embraces political moniker amid press scrutiny

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been nicknamed “Paetongphoey” by Government House reporters, as part of their tradition of assigning monikers to senior officials at the year’s end. The nickname combines the first two syllables of her name with the Thai word “phoey,” meaning “script,” referencing her reliance on prepared speeches during significant events. When asked about the nickname, the 38…

  • Thai father allegedly kidnaps 11 year old daughter for begging

    Thai father allegedly kidnaps 11 year old daughter for begging

    A Thai man allegedly kidnapped his young daughter from her aunt’s home in Bangkok for begging. The man is expected to be hiding in Chachoengsao province near Bangkok. The aunt of the missing girl, Na, filed a complaint at Romklao Police Station yesterday, December 22, that her older brother Phon took her 11 year old niece named C (pseudonym) away…

  • Thai mother tries to assault Grab driver, mistaking him for daughter’s boyfriend

    Thai mother tries to assault Grab driver, mistaking him for daughter’s boyfriend

    A Grab car driver shared dashcam footage showing his passenger’s mother mistaking him for her daughter’s boyfriend and attempting to assault him. He posted the video as a warning to other app-based drivers. The driver, Tanapon “Benz” Chumwong, shared the footage on the Facebook group Grab Car Driver Club Thailand yesterday, December 22. Benz captioned the video… “Warning for Grab…

  • Thai teen pregnancy leads to clash between families at hospital

    Thai teen pregnancy leads to clash between families at hospital

    An unplanned pregnancy of a 15 year old Thai girl led to a clash between her mother and her boyfriend’s older sister at a hospital in the northern province of Nakhon Sawan on December 20. A viral video showed two women, 42 year old Phatcharee and 28 year old On-anong, fighting in a hospital, later reported to be Nakhon Sawan…

  • Thailand’s massage therapist shortage outlined by Health Ministry

    Thailand’s massage therapist shortage outlined by Health Ministry

    Thailand’s Public Health Ministry has unveiled plans to train 7,000 new massage therapists, addressing a significant workforce shortage in an industry worth 200 billion baht annually. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin announced the initiative yesterday, December 22, emphasising the goal of elevating Thai traditional massage as a complementary treatment alongside conventional medicine. The programme will focus on developing specialists who…

  • Shots fired at cockfighting arena after million baht bet (video)

    Shots fired at cockfighting arena after million baht bet (video)

    Shots rang out at a cockfighting arena in Nakhon Pathom as a group reportedly lost a high-stakes bet of around a million baht. Law enforcement launched a manhunt for three armed suspects involved in the incident. Two suspects have already been detained, with police vowing to bring the remaining perpetrators to justice. The incident, which occurred when a group lost…

  • Thai police removed after video exposes traffic fine misconduct

    Thai police removed after video exposes traffic fine misconduct

    A viral video on Thai social media led to the temporary removal of a traffic officer from the Rattanathibet Police Station in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok, for allegedly collecting traffic fines personally. The Facebook news page Social Hunter 2022 yesterday, December 22, shared the video, which shows a traffic officer from Rattanathibet Police Station collecting an unofficial fine from a…

  • MPs urged to prioritise urgent bills in packed Parliamentary session

    MPs urged to prioritise urgent bills in packed Parliamentary session

    Chief government whip Wisut Chainarun is optimistic that the House will successfully scrutinise approximately 20 urgent bills during the current Parliamentary session. This session, which commenced yesterday, December 22, has a packed agenda with bills of significant economic and social impact awaiting approval. The urgent bills include legislation on fisheries, aimed at tackling industry challenges, and a bill to introduce…

  • Crackdown in Jomtien, Pattaya, nabs over 50 for drug offences

    Crackdown in Jomtien, Pattaya, nabs over 50 for drug offences

    A major crackdown operation dubbed Purge the Parasites Part 2 was conducted in Jomtien, Pattaya, targeting crime and drug-related offences. Over 50 individuals involved in drug possession and consumption were apprehended during the raid, which took place yesterday, December 22. The operation was spearheaded by Tawatchai Jindakawornsanong, the Chon Buri Provincial Police Commander. The operation involved a massive deployment of over 900…

  • Jealous husband shoots wife over infidelity suspicions

    Jealous husband shoots wife over infidelity suspicions

    A tragic domestic incident unfolded yesterday, December 22, in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, where a jealous husband used his stepson to lure his wife into opening a bedroom door before fatally shooting her. The woman, identified as 38 year old Dusadee was found critically injured in her home and later succumbed to her injuries at Chonprathan Hospital Pak Kret. The incident occurred…

  • Underage Mercedes-Benz driver and girlfriend survive after crashing into truck

    Underage Mercedes-Benz driver and girlfriend survive after crashing into truck

    A 16 year old Thai boy and his 17 year old girlfriend survived after the underage driver lost control of his black Mercedes-Benz, causing it to be launched onto the back of a parked six-wheel truck at a road construction site in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok. Officers from Mueang Nonthaburi Police Station were alerted to the accident at about 12.30am…

  • Dutch tourist allegedly escapes bills and steals from many Phuket hotels

    Dutch tourist allegedly escapes bills and steals from many Phuket hotels

    A Dutch tourist reportedly evaded paying bills and stole room keys, along with other items, from several hotels in Phuket but remains at large. The Facebook page Phuket Times reported on Saturday, December 21, issuing a warning to hotels in Phuket… “Naughty tourist! He stayed at multiple hotels in Phuket and left without paying. He even stole the room key…

  • Japan dethrones Thailand as top tourist spot

    Japan dethrones Thailand as top tourist spot

    Japan’s rise as a favoured tourist destination over Thailand is attributed to a weaker currency and its preparedness to welcome independent travellers. In response, tourism operators in Thailand are urging the government to enhance attractions and improve service quality to achieve the target of 40 million visitors. For the first eleven months of this year, Japan received over 33.3 million…

  • Irishman denies involvement in Thai girlfriend’s death in Pattaya

    Irishman denies involvement in Thai girlfriend’s death in Pattaya

    An Irishman denied any knowledge of his Thai girlfriend’s death after reportedly staying with her body for three days in an apartment in Pattaya before other residents noticed the unpleasant odour. Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station were called to the five-storey apartment in Banglamung district, Pattaya, to investigate the mysterious death of 45 year old Thai woman Duangta. Police, accompanied…

  • Thai weather: Cool mornings, thunderstorms, and changing temps

    Thai weather: Cool mornings, thunderstorms, and changing temps

    Severe weather conditions are expected in various regions of Thailand today, December 23, as the Meteorological Department (TMD) issues warnings for freezing temperatures and thunderstorms covering 20% of certain areas. Despite a slight rise in temperatures across northern Thailand, mountainous areas remain extremely cold. TMD attributes the fluctuating weather to a weakening high-pressure system over the upper parts of Thailand,…

  • This Christmas, give the gift of health: essential options for expats in Thailand

    This Christmas, give the gift of health: essential options for expats in Thailand

    The holiday season is here, bringing warmth, joy, and a chance to reflect on the year gone by. As an expat in Thailand, this Christmas is a great time to invest in something that truly matters: health. Whether for you or your loved ones, prioritising health ensures security and peace of mind in the long run. In Thailand, medical costs…

  • Foreign women begging in Pattaya raise concerns over enforcement

    Foreign women begging in Pattaya raise concerns over enforcement

    Foreign women accompanied by young children were witnessed begging on the bustling streets of Pattaya, reigniting concerns about the city’s reputation and the effectiveness of law enforcement. These women, previously apprehended and deported for similar offences, were observed once again soliciting donations from passersby, highlighting a persistent issue that locals believe requires more stringent measures. Yesterday, December 21, at 8.06pm,…

  • Pipe bomb attack injures four officers at Narathiwat base

    Pipe bomb attack injures four officers at Narathiwat base

    A brazen attack occurred yesterday, December 21, as assailants hurled a pipe bomb at the Border Patrol Police base in Narathiwat, leaving four officers with minor injuries. The incident, captured on CCTV, has prompted a manhunt ordered by local police. At approximately 6.37pm, the incident unfolded at the Border Patrol Police Operation Base 934, located in Bura Pue, Kokkien subdistrict,…