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Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Thinking of retiring in Thailand long-term? Here’s your health checklist before the move
Thinking of retiring in Thailand long-term? Thailand is a popular choice for retirees because of its beautiful landscapes, warm climate, and affordable living. Cities like Chiang Mai and coastal areas offer a relaxed lifestyle with friendly communities. The country also...
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Fugitive Thai man finally arrested after murdering British man in Pattaya 17 years ago
A Thai man on the run for 17 years after murdering a British man in Pattaya was finally arrested after a hospital checkup exposed his identity. Three other suspects involved in the crime were jailed, served their time and subsequently released. The incident occurred in 2006 when 47 year old British tourist Stephen Parkinson encountered four Thai men while riding…
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Japan sees fastest wage growth in 30 years but weak household spending persists
In April, Japan experienced a rise in wages as major companies increased pay at the fastest rate in 30 years, responding to workers’ demands for higher salaries to cope with inflation. However, household spending remained weak, highlighting an uneven economic recovery. The wage data offers an early insight into the effects of the spring labour negotiations, known as “shunto,” and…
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Deadly accident in Lampang: 1 killed and another severely hurt
A tragic accident occurred in Lampang province, where a man lost his life and another was severely injured after attempting to move a broken-down pickup truck. Another truck, coming from behind, failed to notice the emergency situation and crashed into them. On the evening of June 5, Ban Aeuom police station in Lampang was alerted to a horrific collision near…
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US SEC sues Binance for deception, crypto market takes a hit
Cryptocurrencies and shares in blockchain-related firms experienced a sharp decline following the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) lawsuit against Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange. The SEC accused Binance and its CEO Changpeng Zhao of secretly controlling Binance.US, inflating trading volumes, diverting customer funds, and failing to restrict US customers from its platform. This has led to a drop…
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Ageing population may slow global GDP but not per capita income
As the global population ages, concerns about the future of the economy are growing. By 2050, the number of people aged 65 and above is expected to double, reaching 1.6 billion. This shift in demographics has led to fears of a potential slowdown in economic growth. However, there is evidence to suggest that if advanced economies can maintain the health…
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US senator urges declassification of report on journalist Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing
US Senator Chris Van Hollen has urged the Biden administration to declassify and release a government report on the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. The Al Jazeera correspondent was killed on May 11, 2022, while covering an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin. Initially, Israeli officials falsely accused Palestinian gunmen of fatally shooting Abu…
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Oklahoma approves first US publicly-funded religious school despite legal warnings
In a controversial move, the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board in Oklahoma has given the green light for the establishment of the first publicly-funded religious school in the United States, despite the state attorney general’s warning that such a decision is unconstitutional. The board approved the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma’s application to create the St Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter…
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Mike Pence announces 2024 presidential bid against Trump
In a move that pits him against his former boss, ex-Vice President Mike Pence has officially declared his intention to run for the Republican nomination in the 2024 US presidential race. The 63-year-old’s campaign submitted a declaration of candidacy to the Federal Election Commission, with a formal launch expected in Iowa on Wednesday. Pence, a firm social conservative and evangelical…
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Chinese research ship exits Vietnam’s EEZ after US-China talks
A Chinese research vessel and its escort, which had been operating in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea for nearly a month, left the area on June 5. The departure coincided with high-level talks between the US and China. The Chinese vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10 had been sailing in Vietnam’s EEZ since May 7, often…
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Green pit viper’s visit to Thai home sparks lottery frenzy
A woman was startled by an unexpected, metre-long green pit viper crawling around her window at her home in Phayao province, sparking a social media frenzy where many believe the snake may have brought good luck. The resident, Kannanat Prompao, shared a video clip on her Facebook account of the snake approaching her window, with a caption stating, “It just…
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Prescription for resignation: Workload forces nearly 900 new doctors to quit
Nearly 900 new doctors quit within six months in Thailand with a heavy workload and poor work systems cited as contributing factors. Meanwhile, the Medical Council has issued guidelines for working hours to help alleviate the situation. Thai medical professionals are concerned about the high number of doctors who resign after a few months. This year, 2,700 newly graduated doctors…
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Missing Phuket fisherman found dead amid weather alert
The lifeless body of a 59 year old Pa Khlok resident was discovered floating in the sea by a local fisherman yesterday. Prachoen Thammawong had gone missing after failing to return home from his fishing routine the previous day. Upon receiving the news, Thalang Police Station officers and rescue workers arrived at the scene, where they found the body of…
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Taliban crackdown causes 80% drop in Afghan opium cultivation
Armed with AK-47 assault rifles and large sticks, a Taliban anti-narcotics unit in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province is on a mission to eradicate poppy farming. In April 2022, Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada issued a decree prohibiting poppy cultivation, with violators facing crop destruction and penalties under Sharia law. The ban was imposed due to the harmful effects of opium…
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Ukrainian forces advance in Bakhmut amid fierce fighting and symbolic importance
Ukrainian forces have made advancements in the area surrounding Bakhmut, according to Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar, who referred to the eastern city as the “epicentre of hostilities.” It remains unclear whether the anticipated counter-offensive has commenced. In a separate development, Russia’s military announced that it had thwarted a new attack in the eastern Donetsk region on Monday. Bakhmut has…
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Thai MFP pledges higher welfare, minimum wage, and economic growth
The Move Forward Party (MFP) in Thailand announced its commitment to increasing welfare spending and raising the minimum wage, while simultaneously promoting economic growth through opening up the market to competition and reducing corruption. The Thai economy experienced a 2.6% growth last year as it gradually recovered from the global pandemic. The MFP, which is striving to lead a coalition after…
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Cowardly cop dismissed after attacking wife and smashing her car (video)
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) sacked a cowardly cop attached to Mueang Satun Police Station after he viciously attacked his wife and smashed her car in the middle of the road in southern Thailand. The incident took place on the road in the Sadao district of Songkhla province at 1.20am on Saturday, June 4. The cop, 51 year old squad…
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China plans AI regulation after Elon Musk’s productive discussions
Chinese authorities are planning to introduce regulations for artificial intelligence (AI) in the country, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk. He shared this information during a Twitter Space conversation with Democratic presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr, following his recent visit to China. Musk mentioned that he had “very productive discussions” with senior Chinese leadership regarding the risks of AI…
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Thai King sends condolences to India after tragic train collision
King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua of Thailand has expressed his condolences to Indian President Droupadi Murmu following the devastating rail accident in Balasore, State of Odisha, which claimed the lives of over 270 individuals last Friday. In the message, the King stated… “Queen Suthida and I are shocked and deeply saddened by the catastrophic collision of trains in Balasore, State…
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Golden surge: Thailand witnesses 100 baht spike in gold prices
Gold prices in Thailand saw a strong surge today, with prices for gold bullion and gold ornaments rising by 100 baht compared to their closing levels on June 5. Data from the Gold Traders Association revealed that the price for gold ornaments stood at 32,750 baht per baht weight, while gold bullion was being bought at 32,150 baht and sold…
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Thai Move Forward Party vows 100-day push for same-sex marriage bill
The leader of Thailand’s Move Forward Party (MFP) pledged to introduce a bill legalising same-sex marriage and promoting gender equality once the party forms a government. In a recent Facebook post, MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat stated that the party’s marriage equality bill would be pushed for passage within 100 days of forming a government, as part of a memorandum of understanding…
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Floor tiles fright: Thai woman in Malaysian condo gets explosive surprise (video)
A Thai woman residing in a condominium in Malaysia was shocked when her floor tiles suddenly exploded, initially fearing the building was collapsing. Neighbours reassured her that this has occurred before and is common in the area due to extreme weather conditions. The woman, known as @cake.lansi on TikTok, posted a video capturing the terrifying moment when the tiles violently…
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Southern Thai tourism seeks eased regulations for Malaysian tour buses
The tourism association representing 14 southern provinces in Thailand has urged the Transport Ministry to relax regulations, allowing Malaysian tour buses to travel beyond the border province of Songkhla. This move could potentially stimulate the region’s economy through promotional campaigns, as discussed at a recent forum on tourism organised by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). Jarun Kaewjeesub,…
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US diplomat’s China visit stirs controversy
The US State Department reported that senior US diplomat Daniel Kritenbrink had candid and productive discussions with Chinese officials during his visit to Beijing. Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, met with Chinese foreign ministry officials Ma Zhaoxu and Yang Tao, alongside US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns and National Security Council official Sarah Beran. The…
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Drunk Frenchman detained after sleeping naked at restaurant in Krabi
Officers from Muang Krabi Police Station detained a drunken Frenchman after they found him sleeping naked in front of a restaurant in the southern province of Krabi. A restaurant owner, near City Market in Krabi, reported to the police at 8pm on Sunday, June 4 that a naked, intoxicated foreigner, aged about 40 years old, was sleeping in front of…
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Ghosts or coincidence? DJ’s death adds to haunted room’s dark history
A former popular DJ was found dead in his haunted room, leaving a haunting note about ghosts and previous deaths. Neighbours were unaware of the tragic incident until a foul smell led rescuers to investigate. On June 4, the Sawang Phon Kuson Rayong Rescue Foundation, local authorities, and police officers from Muang Rayong Police Station responded to a rented room…
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Postman faces 200,000 baht baht bill for lost parcel
In the Nang Rong district of Buriram province, a postal worker has reported the disappearance of a valuable parcel worth over 200,000 baht (about US$5,800). Seeking fairness and assistance, the postman is uncertain about the fate of the package. The customer who lodged the complaint is demanding compensation for the lost merchandise. Uthai, the postman, admits he signed for the…
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5 trapped as house collapses in Samut Sakhon; rescue efforts underway
A house collapse in Samut Sakhon province left five people trapped under the wreckage, prompting swift action from rescue officials. Two of the victims suffered severe injuries, while preliminary investigation reveals that the house condition had been in bad shape, posing a hazard to its inhabitants. Authorities in Samut Sakhon were alerted to a single-storey wooden house collapse within Soi…
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India’s deadliest train crash sparks criminal investigation
Families of victims of India’s deadliest train crash in recent memory gathered at a hospital in Bhubaneswar city on June 5, as railway officials called for the country’s premier criminal investigation agency to probe the accident that claimed 275 lives. Relatives of passengers who perished in the crash on Friday queued outside the eastern city’s All India Institute of Medical…
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Yellow Line monorail trial attracts 80,000 passengers, plans expansion
Nearly 80,000 passengers took advantage of the Yellow Line’s trial run over the weekend, as the Department of Rail Transport (DRT) plans to extend the trial to all 23 stations by mid-month. Pichet Kunadhamraks, the DRT’s director-general, stated that the current trial run includes 13 stations from Hua Mak to Samrong. Pichet noted that a large number of people participated…
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