News
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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Sponsored How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Bangkok’s YMID initiative drives Thai medical innovation to meet Asian demand
The National Innovation Agency (NIA) is continuing to push forward the Yothi Medical Innovation District (YMID) initiative in Bangkok, aiming to meet the growing demand for a central medical hub in Asia, according to NIA’s executive director, Pun-Arj Chairatana. Situated in Bangkok’s Yothi neighbourhood, the YMID project seeks to decrease imports of medical innovations and establish a Thai medical innovation…
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Soldier death sparks rumours: Mother refutes claims of hazing over e-cigarette incident
A 21 year old Thai soldier was found dead in the barracks of an army camp in Saraburi Province, sparking rumours that he was punished for bringing an electronic cigarette into the camp. However, the deceased soldier’s mother has refuted these claims, stating his cause of death was unrelated to any physical abuse or a ruptured spleen, and the truth…
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Lorry driver survives crash while transporting corn, credits protective spirit
A lorry driver miraculously survived after losing control and crashing his pickup truck, loaded with corn, into a tree in Thailand‘s Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The driver, 27 year old Patinya Muangsri, was unharmed during the incident, while his girlfriend sustained a minor injury. The accident occurred along Phet Kasem Road, near kilometre 314 in Nong Bua Village, Kho Lak,…
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Inflation plummets to 21-month low in Thailand as fuel and electricity prices drop
Inflation in Thailand reached its lowest point in 21 months last month, primarily driven by declining fuel prices and electricity bills, along with a higher price base in May of the previous year. Experts predict that the inflation rate will further decrease throughout June. Wichanun Niwatjinda, deputy director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, expects inflation for June to…
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Heritage Foundation seeks Prince Harry’s immigration records over drug use
The Heritage Foundation, an American conservative think tank, has called for the release of Prince Harry’s immigration records in light of his past drug use revelations in his memoir, Spare. The organisation has appealed to US District Judge Carl Nichols for a faster response to a records request, which the US government has currently deemed private. Judge Nichols advised the…
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Foreign investors sell 100 billion baht in Thai stocks and shares amid global rate rise
In the first five months of this year, foreign investors offloaded almost 100 billion baht worth of Thai shares, with 33.4 billion baht sold in May alone, due to increasing global interest rates and uncertainties surrounding the formation of a new government. Despite this, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) expressed optimism yesterday, believing that the recent easing of the…
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Depressed woman kills partner with hammer, hangs herself in tragic double death
A shocking tragedy unfolded as a Thai woman discovered her sister’s lifeless body hanging under the stairs at their home in Nakhon Nayok province. The search for her sister’s partner led her to find a second body, brutally beaten in the bathroom. Yesterday, authorities were called to a gruesome scene in a house near Mongkol Tham Park, in the Phrommani…
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A question that matters: What is a woman?
The question that had so many politicians stumped recently, a question that five years ago would make you think, why are you asking me such an obvious question? Well, it’s not 2018 anymore and the definition of a woman is no longer based on chromosomes and one’s ability to menstruate and mother a child. As we see in the recent…
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Thai Shippers’ Council eyes 0-1% export growth amid new government push
The Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) maintains that the nation’s exports can achieve a growth of 0-1% this year, calling for the swift formation of a new government to boost trade competitiveness and tackle economic challenges. TNSC Chairman Chaichan Chareonsuk anticipates that Thai exports from May to June will experience a slight year-on-year contraction, leading to a 5-6% decline for…
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Thai family plagued by swarms of beetles struggles to eat and sleep
A family in Thailand‘s western Ratchaburi province faces a severe infestation of beetles, making their daily lives difficult as they struggle to eat, sleep, and conduct their regular routines. The 70 year old wooden house is the only one in the area affected by the insects, which have invaded various parts of the home, resulting in a desperate cry for…
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Shanghai court freezes £200m in Dalian Wanda unit shares
A Shanghai court has imposed a freeze on 1.98 billion yuan (US$278.18 million) worth of shares in a subsidiary of Dalian Wanda Group, the largest commercial property developer in China. The affected shares were issued by Dalian Wanda Commercial Management Group, the property management division of Dalian Wanda Group. Two court notices, dated June 5, revealed that the shares were…
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Older Thai woman’s abandoned bike found on bridge, personal belongings left behind
A 61 year old Thai woman suspiciously abandoned her vehicle on the Bang Pakong River Bridge, leaving shoes and personal belongings behind. Her 49 year old niece is uncertain of any problems she might have faced, which caused her to disappear in Thailand’s central Chachoengsao province. Officials from the Chachoengsao Police Station and Chachoengsao Rescue Unit examined an abandoned Honda…
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China’s CCP accused of spying on TikTok users with ‘god credential’
In a recent lawsuit, a former ByteDance executive has alleged that China’s Communist Party (CCP) can access user data collected by TikTok through a “god credential” that was used to monitor and track Hong Kong activists and protesters in 2018. Yintao “Roger” Yu, the former head of engineering at ByteDance in the United States, claimed that a special committee in…
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OECD warns Vietnam on handouts to offset global tax rule impact
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has expressed concerns over Vietnam’s plan to provide subsidies to large companies to offset higher taxes under the new global tax rules. A person familiar with the discussions revealed that the OECD warned Vietnam of the risks posed by such arrangements, potentially undermining the purpose of the tax reform. Last week, Reuters…
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Pattaya officials make waves, eyeing a ‘shore’ bet for new tourism landmark
Pattaya City officials yesterday gathered to discuss the possibility of creating a new tourism landmark on Pattaya Beach. The meeting was attended by various leaders, such as Pattaya Mayor Poramese Ngampiches, Surat Thepchaito, Director of the Tourism and Sports Office, and Nuttawut Iamsaad, Creative Director of Siam Commercial Company Limited. The proposed landmark would serve as a central point for…
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Blinken and Saudi Crown Prince discuss stabilising relations and human rights
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in an effort to strengthen relations between the two countries after years of increasing disagreements on various issues, including human rights, Iran, regional security, and oil prices. The talks took place during Blinken’s diplomatic mission to the oil-rich kingdom. Following the meeting, US State…
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Malaysia wins Paris court case against $15bn colonial-era land deal
The Malaysian government has achieved a significant victory in a Paris court, which upheld their challenge against enforcing a partial award of US$15 billion to the heirs of a former sultan in an arbitration case concerning a colonial-era land deal. This decision implies that the final award will be annulled, and the descendants’ attempts to seize Malaysian assets will come…
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China’s May exports plunge as domestic consumption falters
China experienced a sharp decline in exports in May, with a 7.5% year-on-year drop, marking the largest decrease since January. This slump in exports is attributed to weakened demand for Chinese goods, while imports also fell by 4.5%. The decline in exports has led to increased pressure on the government to boost domestic consumption for the remainder of the year,…
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Mahathir Mohamad won’t contest in state elections, cites age and senility
Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the former Malaysian prime minister, stated that he will not participate in the upcoming state elections, citing his age and the effects of senility. The 97-year-old made the announcement during a press conference following a meeting on the Malay Proclamation, a document he authored that aims to protect the interests of the Malay community and restore their…
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Facebook foul play: Cyber-criminal floods Thai government pages with explicit content
An unidentified cyber-criminal hacked several official Facebook pages belonging to Thai government agencies and flooded them with explicit videos and pictures. The Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry, Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, admitted that he could not solve the issue in time and urged the new government to take action. One of the affected pages, the Bangkok Provincial Education Office,…
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Mystery surrounds drowning of missing 2 month old found under home
A 19 year old mother reported her 2 month old child missing before the baby was found drowned under the house. Police are investigating how the child fell as there was no apparent gap in the sleeping area for the baby to have fallen through. Veena (surname withheld), 19, informed the Pak Kret Police that her 2 month old son…
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Pattaya Beach vendors petition city to reverse parking ban impacting business
Pattaya Beach vendors have united in requesting the city of Pattaya to revoke a parking ban imposed on the beachside of Pattaya Beach in early March. The vendors, led by Wirawit Charoenrit Taweechok, claim that the ban has significantly impacted their businesses. They recently met with Pattaya Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai to discuss their concerns and issues with the order.…
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Aussie tourists support Pattaya restaurant owner after dine-and-dash incident
A heartwarming turn of events unfolded as a group of friends came together to support a local restaurant owner who had previously experienced an unfortunate incident in Pattaya, Thailand. The owner, Jinwara Rebedef, had recently fallen victim to a dine-and-dash customer at his Kin Kab Kia restaurant on Thepprasit Road. The story (read HERE) caught the attention of Paul Kinsey…
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Blinken likely to reschedule China visit amid easing tensions
A rescheduled visit to China by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is anticipated in the coming weeks, as both nations attempt to ease tensions. Blinken’s initial trip in February was cancelled after the US detected and subsequently shot down a Chinese espionage balloon over its territory. However, recent talks in Beijing involving senior US officials, including Daniel Kritenbrink, the…
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Thailand’s TPIPP allocates 14 billion baht to phase out coal by 2026
TPI Polene Power Plc (TPIPP), the leading waste-to-energy project developer and operator in Thailand, is set to continue its five-year capital expenditure plan of 14 billion baht. The plan, which began last year, aims to replace coal usage with renewable energy sources and increase the company’s power generation capacity. TPIPP has earmarked 3 billion baht for projects focused on reducing…
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Richmond shooting: Two dead, five injured after high school graduation
A tragic shooting incident unfolded in Richmond, Virginia, as a man opened fire on a crowd following a high school graduation ceremony, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to five others. The attack took place on Tuesday near a theatre adjacent to the Virginia Commonwealth University campus, where the graduation had been held. Police apprehended a 19-year-old…
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Record 13 million Chinese students tackle gaokao exams after zero-COVID rules lifted
A record-breaking 13 million Chinese students are set to take the notoriously challenging “gaokao” college entrance exams this year, following the lifting of the country’s zero-COVID rules. These exams, which test high school students on subjects such as Chinese, English, mathematics, and their preferred science or humanities subjects, play a crucial role in securing places at China’s top universities. “I’ve…
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Weight-loss jabs offered by GPs may ease NHS obesity crisis
Weight-loss injections may soon be offered to some patients by GPs in England as a means to combat obesity-related illnesses and alleviate pressure on hospitals. The drug Wegovy has been approved for use within the NHS after studies indicated that users could lose over 10% of their body weight. Wegovy works by suppressing appetite, causing users to feel full and…
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Phuket orders small boats to stay ashore until Saturday amid heavy weather
In Phuket, a ban has been issued on boats shorter than 10 metres leaving the shore until Saturday, June 10, due to heavy weather conditions. The order, issued by Phuket Marine Office Chief Natchaphong Pranit, applies to all sailing and motor yachts up to 32.8 feet. The ban comes as a reminder of the importance of safety measures in the maritime industry,…
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Ex-official’s wife testifies in US trial over China’s Operation Fox Hunt
A former Chinese official and his wife, who had relocated to the United States and kept their address private, experienced a disturbing encounter when two strangers attempted to enter their New Jersey home. The wife later discovered a threatening note on their doorstep, stating that if her husband returned to China and served ten years in prison, their family would…
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