Hot News
Stay updated with the latest Hot News in Thailand, featuring in-depth reporting and analysis of local events and goings on! We bring you breaking news, in-depth reports, and exclusive interviews covering a wide range of Thailand-focused topics, from Crime and Politics to Tourism and Business.
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Sponsored 8 Pneumonia prevention tips for expat families in Thailand
With World Pneumonia Day on November 9, it’s the perfect time to consider how you can protect your family from this serious illness, especially in Thailand, where unique climate and seasonal factors come into play. Pneumonia can be especially dangerous...
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Thai police chief ordered to protect prosecutors in online gambling case
The national chief of police has been instructed by the attorney-general to prevent eight implicated officers in an online gambling case from intimidating two senior prosecutors, disclosed Prayut Phetcharakhun, spokesperson of the Office of the Attorney-General. In the previous week, Attorney-General Amnat Chetcharoenrak penned a letter to police Chief Police General Torsak Sukvimol, requesting him to halt threats from the…
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Phuket taxi drivers accused of threatening Grab driver
A fresh police complaint has been filed against a group of taxi drivers in Soi Cherng Talay 14, close to the Maya Beach Club, in Phuket. The drivers stand accused of intimidating a legally operating Grab taxi driver who was stationed to pick up passengers from the club. The complaint was lodged by 42 year old Jakkree Thummee, a resident…
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Phuket passenger van drivers’ brawl sparks public outrage
A violent altercation between two passenger van drivers erupted at the Ratsada Pier exit in Phuket. The incident, which was captured on video, circulated rapidly on social media yesterday, February 18, sparking widespread outrage. The video footage revealed a heated exchange between the drivers that eventually escalated into a physical brawl. One driver was seen being kicked while he lay…
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Homeless veteran found dead under Bangkok expressway
A homeless veteran was found dead under the Sri Rat Expressway in Nonthaburi, with a fractured skull, sparking a police investigation to capture the assailant. In a sombre discovery beneath the Sri Rat Expressway in Nonthaburi province, authorities found the lifeless body of a homeless veteran with severe injuries to his head. The incident, which occurred under the shadow of…
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Thailand’s fiery plight: 400+ hotspots spark concern
Thailand is currently grappling with more than 400 hotspots, with the highest concentration in the provinces of Chiang Mai, Lampang, and Mae Hong Son, each reporting over 40 incidents. In comparison, neighbouring countries are also facing significant challenges, with Myanmar recording 3,065 hotspots, Cambodia 1,341, Laos 704, and Vietnam 414 as of February 18. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development…
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Teenage Thai girl accuses tattoo artist of sexual assault
A 16 year old Thai girl filed a complaint against a male tattoo artist in Chon Buri province, accusing him of drugging and sexually assaulting her during a tattoo session. The girl reported the sexual assault to Saensuk Police Station in Chon Buri province and also urged the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive to share the story with the public. The…
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Late onset of Thai summer predicted with extreme heat
The onset of summer in Thailand is set to be late this month, as projected by the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD). The upcoming months of March and April are forecasted to experience extreme heat, with temperatures potentially soaring as high as 43-45°C in certain provinces. According to the department, the latter part of the week will witness a surge…
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Community mourns as drunk driver kills two 12 year olds in Thailand
A recent tragedy gripped the local community of Satuek following a fatal traffic incident involving two 12 year old students, needlessly killed by a drunk driver. The accident occurred at 3pm yesterday, when a 67 year old man, identified only by his first name, Banchong, struck the children with his black Mitsubishi pickup truck, leading to their immediate death at…
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Chinese man’s gambling site bust leaves billions in losses
The Immigration Bureau of Thailand arrested a Chinese man for running an illegal gambling website that caused more than 2.5 billion baht in losses to people in China. The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Thailand requested cooperation from the Immigration Bureau to apprehend a 32 year old Chinese suspect named Huang who escaped an…
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Thailand battles rising PM2.5 levels, Bangkok breathes easier
Northeastern Thailand is currently grappling with hazardous levels of PM2.5, surpassing the standard values and affecting public health, while Bangkok enjoys relatively clear skies. Northeastern Thailand is currently enveloped in a haze of fine particulate matter, with PM2.5 levels exceeding the safety standards in 40 provinces. This has placed the health of millions at risk, particularly affecting the respiratory system.…
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Phuket boat operators nabbed for unlicensed fishing
At the heart of Phuket’s pristine waters, two boat operators found themselves ensnared by the law on a fateful day earlier this week. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Marine Police, in a display of concerted action, apprehended the duo for carrying out commercial fishing activities in a restricted zone and for steering an unlicensed fishing vessel. The incident…
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Thai mum’s plea for aid after daughter’s car crash in Taiwan
A Thai mother is seeking help from the Government of Thailand after her daughter was seriously injured in a car accident in Taiwan. She has received no assistance from the Taiwanese authorities or the driver’s family. The mother contacted the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive, saying her daughter was in hospital in Taiwan following a car accident on February 7, but she cannot…
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Phuket hookah bar raided in ongoing clampdown on illicit tobacco trade
In the bustling city of Phuket, a hookah bar in Cherng Talay was stormed by a team of ten officials from the Thalang District. Following the crackdown on the illicit tobacco trade, authorities have apprehended and charged the venue operator involved in the illegal activity. The operation was initiated late into the night at 11.09pm on Friday, February 16. This…
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Thailand teenager’s tragic stabbing leads to police pursuit
Police arrested a Thai man for fatally stabbing a 16 year old boy in the central province of Suphan Buri. Another suspect is still at large. Officers at U Thong Police Station in the U Thong district of Suphan Buri received a report of the stabbing on the evening of Saturday, February 17. Officers rushed to the scene and discovered…
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Thailand’s GDP sees modest growth amid calls for interest rate cut
Thailand’s economic growth in 2023, as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP), registered a 1.9% increase, according to the National Social and Economic Development Council (NESDC). This growth, however, was tempered by a decline in manufacturing and public spending, despite an upswing in private consumption and visitor numbers. This growth bolsters the argument for an interest rate slash during…
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AWS plans to democratise generative AI as global fight heats up
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon’s cloud computing division, unveiled its plans to make technology and generative artificial intelligence (AI) readily available. This initiative comes as the global generative AI sector becomes increasingly competitive. Jaime Valles, AWS Vice President of the commercial sector for Asia-Pacific and Japan, highlighted the transformative influence of cloud computing in granting global access to technology and…
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Thaksin sparks online debates for being released on parole
Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand, was released on parole following six months in hospital. He returned to his home, Ban Chan Song La, in the Bang Phlat district of Bangkok yesterday, February 18. His parole sparked an online debate regarding his privilege and issues of inequality. Thaksin arrived in Thailand on August 22 last year after 15 years…
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Drunken foreigner turns heads in Pattaya pandemonium
Pattaya residents witnessed more quality tourists at the weekend when a half-naked drunken foreigner caused chaos on the bustling roads of the popular holiday destination. Responding promptly to reports, Pattaya police arrived at the scene on Saturday, February 17, where the drunken foreigner was seen creating a public disturbance at the intersection of Pattaya Klang Road. Upon arrival, officers encountered…
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Bangkok airport battles congestion with tech amid tourism recovery
Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand’s busiest, is facing daily traffic congestion as vehicles compete for parking spaces. The problem is compounded by long queues at immigration and baggage claim areas due to inoperative kiosks and staff shortages. Tourist complaints prompted an unannounced visit from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who has since ordered airport authorities to quicken procedures to under…
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Bangkok’s Mo Chit 2 bus terminal enhances safety with arrival area closure
Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak), or Mo Chit 2 as it is commonly referred to, announced the closure of its arrival area on March 1. The decision is part of a broader initiative to enhance passenger safety and curb the activities of illegal motorcycle taxis targeting travellers. The government and the Transport Ministry previously instructed Transport Co, the operator of the…
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Thailand braces for intense heat with temperatures soaring
Thailand is bracing for a severe heatwave, with weather maps turning a deep red, verging on black, indicating extreme temperatures are on the way. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts this year to be hotter by approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius compared to the previous year. Some areas may experience highs of up to 44.5 degrees Celsius. The five provinces expected…
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Content creator clash with gang leader goes viral in Bangkok
A heated altercation escalated to a bout of fisticuffs between content creator Jack Papho and Melai Ratchada, leader of the notorious Unbathed Gang, following a dispute over damaged property. Jack, known for his humorous and sometimes controversial content, found himself at odds with the famed gang leader, leading to an incident that ended at the police station. The drama unfolded…
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Drunk driver kills traffic officer in hit-and-run on Rama 4 Road
A tragic incident unfolded on February 16, when a Chevrolet Captiva sped through a police checkpoint on Rama 4 Road, striking and fatally injuring a traffic police officer before fleeing the scene. The driver, later apprehended by police, was found to have a blood alcohol concentration of 187 milligrammes percent, far exceeding the legal limit. On the night of February…
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Woman hijacks rescue truck in Bangkok, sparks police chase
In a bizarre incident this morning, a Japanese woman seized a rescue pickup truck in front of the Lumpini Police Station while the vehicle was assisting an injured foreign man. The woman, whose identity is yet to be determined, drove off with the vehicle at approximately 8.10am, leading authorities on a chase that concluded near the large roundabout in the…
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Thailand’s democracy index ranking drops due to unelected govt
The yearly Democracy Index compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has seen Thailand’s ranking fall by eight places, a change largely ascribed to the latest government formation by unelected senators rather than voters. The EIU placed Thailand in the 63rd position among 167 countries and territories in 2023, a drop from its 55th position in 2022. The country’s score…
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Kanchanaburi to benefit from 12 billion baht water diversion project
Kanchanaburi’s five districts are set to benefit from a water diversion tunnel project that aims to alleviate drought problems. The project, which is valued at 12 billion baht (US$335,746,080), seeks to transfer 378 million cubic metres of water from the Srinagarind Dam, the largest dam in the western region, to an area of 200,000 rai in the Huay Krachao, Lao…
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Thai security academic calls for transparency in government assets
An independent security academic, Panitan Wattanayagorn, recently suggested a closer examination of the assets of military and government agencies in Thailand. His proposal aims to enhance transparency through regulated financial accounts and the disclosure of expenditures. Panitan, who specialises in security and foreign affairs, expressed his concerns, highlighting the ministries of Education, Higher Education Science Research and Innovation, and Finance…
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Joint Thai-US operation to salvage sunken HTMS Sukhothai begins
A joint operation to salvage HTMS Sukhothai, which tragically sank approximately 35 kilometres off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan on December 18, 2022, will kick off this Thursday, as announced by the Thai and US navies. The vessel was victim to a fierce storm that led to its sinking. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) spokesperson, Rear Admiral Veerudom Muangjin,…
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OpenAI breaks barriers with ‘Sora’ project
Artificial intelligence (AI) juggernaut OpenAI unveiled its groundbreaking project dubbed Sora, a text-to-video model set to democratise video creation as we know it. Gone are the days of pricey equipment and inaccessible know-how. With Sora, all you need is a prompt and a dream. Sora operates much like its predecessors, ChatGPT and DALL·E, responding to written cues by conjuring up 60…
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Surrogacy to be covered by health insurance in Thailand
The Health Service Support Department is joining forces with the Office of Insurance Commission and insurance providers to integrate surrogacy into the health insurance scheme. This move comes in response to Thailand’s plummeting birth rates and the looming spectre of an ageing population. According to Dr Sura Wisedsak, the department’s director-general, a whopping 114 hospitals and clinics across Thailand are…
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