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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Attempted murder suspect stabs Thai police officer during arrest
A Thai man stabbed a police officer during an arrest for attempted murder in the Isaan province of Phichit yesterday, August 1. The injured police officer, Pairat Saenamart, and an investigating team from Mueang Phichit Police Station discovered the wanted suspect, 40 year old Manit Chimthong, hiding in a house in the Tha Luang sub-district in Phichit after a previous…
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Bangkok requests extension to settle BTS Skytrain debt
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced yesterday that the city will require additional time to address its substantial debt owed to Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC), the operator of the BTS Skytrain. The debt, amounting to billions of baht, was accumulated through hiring BTSC to manage the electric train service on two extended sections of the BTS, known as the…
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Butterbear brings joy to children battling cancer at Siriraj Hospital
Butterbear, the popular mascot beloved by teens and office workers, recently visited Siriraj Hospital to lift the spirits of children battling cancer. The visit was warmly received by doctors, nurses, and the young patients themselves. Butterbear made a special appearance at Ananda Mahidol 6 Ward, engaging in charitable activities to support young cancer patients. The event was documented by the…
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Thai senators pledge better welfare for media professionals
Senators from professional group No.18, specialising in mass communication and literature, have committed to enhancing the status and quality of life for media professionals. One of the leading senators in this group, Chaiyong Maneerungsakul, revealed that the recently elected Senate candidates come from diverse media backgrounds, including roles such as public relations officers in hospitals. As the most senior senator…
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Community chief ends life after shooting ex-girlfriend in Phetchaburi
A Thai community chief in the southern province of Phetchaburi committed suicide after shooting his ex-girlfriend at her beauty salon. Fortunately, the woman survived the shooting but remains in a critical condition. A Thai man, Luechai, rushed to his girlfriend’s beauty salon in the Banlat district of Phetchaburi after hearing two gunshots while talking to her on the phone. Upon…
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Pattaya City achieves 99.41 score in anti-corruption assessment
Pattaya City achieved a significant milestone by securing a score of 99.41 in the Integrity and Transparency Assessment (ITA) conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). This assessment evaluates ethical practices and transparency among local administrative organisations across Thailand. Pattaya Mayor Poramese Ngampichet proudly shared the results for the fiscal year 2024, highlighting the comprehensive evaluation by the NACC. A…
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AIS, Oracle Alloy unveil Thailand’s first hyperscale cloud service
Advanced Info Service (AIS) announced a partnership with Oracle Alloy to introduce Thailand’s first locally owned and operated hyperscale cloud infrastructure services. This significant collaboration aims to enhance the country’s cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, currently valued at around 100 billion baht. The newly formed partnership, confirmed to involve a joint investment of up to 8 billion baht by…
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Pattaya seeks public input on Red Line Monorail Project
Pattaya City held a public consultation to gather feedback on the proposed Red Line Monorail Project. The meeting featured presentations on environmental impact mitigation measures and the planned route. Residents attended the session to review the details and provide suggestions to ensure the project meets community needs. Local officials revealed that the Red Line Monorail will stretch from Dolphin Roundabout…
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Belgian thief’s key to crime: Unlocking 200,000 baht (video)
Songkhla Provincial Immigration Police yesterday arrested a Belgian man after he stole hotel key cards from Thai and Malaysian victims and robbed them of 200,000 baht. Police arrested the 26 year old Belgian thief, Abdelali, at a hotel in the Hat Yai district of Songkhla province yesterday, August 1, after the Thai and Malaysian victims filed a theft complaint with…
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Thailand to increase forest ranger salaries and workforce
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment plans to bolster its forest protection efforts by increasing the number of forest rangers, aiming to alleviate the current workload and enhance forest conservation across the nation. Ratchata Pisitbannakorn, assistant to Environment Minister Phatcharavat Wongsuwan, highlighted the ministry’s appreciation for the diligent work of rangers during a World Ranger Day event on Wednesday,…
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Thailand’s bike boom hits a brake with debt drag
Thailand’s motorcycle manufacturing output is expected to continue its decline in the second half of the year due to high household debt and a weak economy, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The FTI Vice-Chairman and spokesperson for the federation’s Automotive Industry Club, Surapong Paisitpatanapong, commented on the challenging economic conditions. He noted that while the motorcycle industry…
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Phatthalung named agricultural product development hub
Phatthalung has been designated as the southern hub for an agricultural product development initiative by the Thailand Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trade of Thailand, and the Provincial Chamber of Commerce. This decision aims to bolster the agricultural sector by showcasing and distributing quality local products nationwide. At least eight agricultural products from Phatthalung have received the government’s Product…
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Thailand invests 1 billion baht to boost AI skills and startups
Thailand is poised to harness the momentum of the global artificial intelligence (AI) trend, aiming to transition from an AI user to an AI application creator, as stated by the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC). The country’s strategy involves leveraging its robust ecosystem, which includes high-performance computing infrastructure, thriving data centres, and ongoing development of skilled employees, research…
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Top nightclubs in Phuket
Thailand is a country where it is clearly defined what is allowed in terms of entertainment and what is not. For example, even though the country’s neighbours have more or less relaxed gambling policies, this type of entertainment is almost completely banned in Thailand. Neither visitors nor locals have a chance to enter a casino. The policy also applies to…
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Prize winner takes home 6 million baht in Thai lottery draw (video)
The latest lottery draw took place today at the Government Lottery Office (GLO) building in Nonthaburi. The winning numbers for today’s draw (August 1) have been announced, with the grand prize winner taking home 6 million baht. The first prize comes with two adjacent prizes, each worth 100,000 baht. The second prize has five winners, each receiving 200,000 baht, while…
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Chinese-owned factory fined 1.8 billion baht for waste water in reservoir
Chachoengsao Provincial Court fined a Chinese-owned factory 1.8 billion baht for releasing waste water into the Jone Reservoir in the central province of Chachoengsao. THH Moly Processing Company’s illegal action came to light in 2019 after 2 million cubic metres of water in the Jone Reservoir was contaminated with multiple toxic substances. Locals could not use the water for consumption…
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Power play: Prawit Wongsuwan’s desperate bid for PM backfires
Palang Pracharath (PPRP)’s political manoeuvres seem to have backfired, with internal rifts threatening to tear the party apart. Samart Jenchaijitwanich’s attempts to bolster Prawit Wongsuwan’s chances of becoming prime minister by luring politicians from rival parties have caused an uproar. The latest recruit, Wan Yubamrung, was presented alongside Prawit on July 23, following his exit from the Pheu Thai Party.…
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Buffet restaurant Daidomon to close final branch in Thailand
Legendary buffet restaurant Daidomon will close its remaining branch on August 5, bringing an end to its 41-year history. This announcement has left buffet enthusiasts across Thailand disheartened. The Daidomon chain has faced persistent financial difficulties, which led to the closure of its Daidomon Korean Grill branch at Central Ubon Ratchathani on April 30. Until now, the only remaining branch…
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Severe flooding in Mae Hong Son threatens rice fields
Heavy rainfall in Mae Hong Son has caused the Mae Sa Nga River to overflow, flooding over 1,000 rai of rice fields. The famous Sutongpe Bridge, a well-known tourist spot, is also at risk of submersion, with landslides blocking several roads. Mae Hong Son is currently facing a crisis due to continuous heavy rainfall which has led to severe flooding…
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Japanese man arrested for attempted rape of drunk Thai woman
A Thai woman took legal action against a Japanese man for attempting to rape her while she was drunk at Royal City Avenue (RCA) in Bangkok in the early hours of Sunday. The victim and her boyfriend filed a complaint at Makkasan Police Station after the incident occurred at about 4.40am on Sunday, July 28. The couple also obtained footage…
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Thai man regrets career choice as peers earn higher salaries
A Thai man expressed feelings of failure after comparing his life to the successes of his peers. He chose a government job with a salary of 18,000 baht, while his university friends, who opted for private sector jobs, earned nearly 100,000 baht. The 28 year old Thai man took to the social media platform Pantip to voice his frustration. Seeing…
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Indonesian man killed over age-old ‘chicken or egg’ question
In a shocking twist to an age-old debate, a friendly discussion turned deadly in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. On the evening of July 24, what began as a casual argument over, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” escalated into a fatal altercation. The tragic incident unfolded in a village where two strangers, identified only as DR and 47 year…
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What is the current state of Thailand’s casino legislation, and how likely is it to change in the near future?
Thailand stands on the brink of a potentially transformative shift in its approach to gambling. For many years, casinos have been completely banned in the country, reflecting a conservative stance deeply rooted in cultural and legal traditions. However, recent developments suggest that Thailand might be on the path to legalising and regulating casino operations, marking a significant departure from its…
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Digital wallet scheme sees 5.8 million registrations in three hours
Registration for the digital wallet scheme surged to 5.8 million people within just three hours. Officials expected the number to hit 7 million by noon today, following the government’s launch of a scheme allowing citizens to claim 10,000 baht via a digital wallet through the Tang Rat application on smartphones. This initiative, open from today, August 1 to September 15,…
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Villagers seek fortune from mysterious ancient stone in Buriram
An elderly man and his family performed a ceremony to seek fortune from a mysterious stone resembling an ancient boundary marker, which they unearthed 10 years ago and have since remained safe. His son revealed experiencing unusual sensations upon first touching the stone. During a local ceremony yesterday, 86 year old Samran Kaewkhunthong, his family, and fellow villagers from the…
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Chiang Mai songthaew driver fined for aggressive road incident (video)
A driver of a red songthaew in Chiang Mai faces two serious charges after reacting aggressively to a car horn by brandishing a wooden stick. He admitted to overreacting and apologised for tarnishing the songthaew’s image. The incident, which gained attention on social media, involved the driver stopping in the middle of the road to drop off a passenger, prompting…
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Thai rice exports forecasted to drop below 8 million tonnes in 2025
Thai rice exports are projected to fall below 8 million tonnes next year, facing several challenges that threaten their competitiveness. Key issues include insufficient research and development (R&D) in rice varieties, a rising global supply of rice, and the potential lifting of India’s rice export restrictions by the end of the year. Charoen Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters…
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Korean Air’s new 787-10 takes flight to Thailand
Korean Air is set to dazzle travellers with the deployment of its first Boeing 787-10, taking off on the Seoul Incheon to Bangkok route from today, August 1. This marks a significant milestone, as Thailand becomes the inaugural Southeast Asian destination for the airline’s newest widebody jet. The SkyTeam Alliance member currently operates four daily flights on this bustling route,…
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9/11 plotters cut plea deal: No death penalty
Three of the key suspects in the September 11, 2001 attacks (9/11) on the United States have reached a secret plea deal. The US Department of Defence confirmed that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al-Hawsawi have agreed to plead guilty. In exchange, prosecutors will not seek the death penalty. The men have…
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Thai electricity tariff to remain at 4.18 baht per unit
The Thai Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) decided to maintain the electricity tariff at 4.18 baht per unit for the billing period from September to December this year. For consumers using no more than 300 units per month, the tariff remains at 3.99 baht per unit. Poonpat Leesombatpaiboon, Secretary-General of the ERC, revealed on July 1 that the commission resolved to…
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