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 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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Bhumjaithai Party led by Anutin records unofficial win in Buriram
Led by current Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the Bhumjaithai Party unofficially won in Burriam province in the northeastern province of Thailand. In the 2019 General Election Buriram was divided into eight constituencies all of which were won by the Bhumjaithai Party. In this year’s General Election Buriram was divided into 10 constituencies and Bhumjaithai was…
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Chinese envoy embarks on European tour to discuss Ukraine crisis settlement
Beijing’s top diplomat, Li Hui, is set to embark on a European tour, including Ukraine, Russia, Poland, France, and Germany, with the aim of discussing a political resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This visit has the potential to coincide with the start of Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive to regain territory occupied by Russia. Li Hui, China’s special representative for…
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Bangkok Police bust sex toy ring, seize over 1 million baht worth of items
Bangkok Police apprehended three individuals accused of selling sex toys and confiscated over 1 million baht worth of products on Friday. The suspects, only identified as Tanayong, 29 years old, Kanree, 27 years old, and Ilda, 32 years old, were detained at their residence in Foresta Village, located in Bangkok’s Nong Chok district. Their surnames have been withheld by the…
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Thailand’s economy grows faster than expected in Q1 due to tourism rebound
Data released today reveals that Thailand’s economy expanded faster than anticipated in the first quarter, with the return of private consumption and tourism helping to counterbalance slowing exports. As the country grapples with the effects of COVID-19, its recovery has been slower compared to regional neighbours. However, the resurgence of tourism – particularly the recent influx of Chinese visitors –…
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China sentences 78-year-old US citizen to life in prison for espionage
A 78-year-old US citizen has been sentenced to life imprisonment for espionage, according to a statement issued by the Intermediate People’s Court in the eastern city of Suzhou, China. John Leung Shing-wan, who holds an American passport and is a permanent resident of Hong Kong, was found guilty of espionage and will be deprived of political rights for life. Suzhou…
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Phuket power outage announced for Heroines Monument area
Phuket’s Thalang branch of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA Thalang) has announced a power outage scheduled south of the Heroines Monument. The disruption is expected to affect homes and businesses in the area. The power outage has been scheduled to take place tomorrow, May 16, between 9am and 4:30pm, and is necessary for workers to safely install load break switches…
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Pickup truck overturns and catches fire in Ban Lat district, killing two
A tragic accident occurred in Ban Lat district, Phetchaburi, when a heavily laden pickup truck overturned and caught fire, resulting in the deaths of a man and a woman. The incident took place near kilometer marker 157 on the south-bound Phetkasem highway in Tambon Samo Phlue and was reported to the 191 emergency center around 5:45am. Upon receiving the distress…
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Determined 19 year old leaves ICU to cast vote in Thailand’s General Election
The political drive of Thailand’s youth was exemplified by a resilient 19 year old who left the intensive care unit (ICU) at a hospital in Chanthaburi to exercise his right to vote in Thailand’s General Election yesterday. Staff at Bangkok Chanthaburi Province transferred Kampanat, aka “Boom,” – suffering from a severe allergic reaction – via wheelchair out of the hospital…
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Lottery predictions for May 16: Thai lucky numbers and tips
Top lottery predictions include a variety of prominent sources this week. Let’s take a look at some of the most standout tips and stories that have been gathered for your enjoyment. Mother River’s winning Numbers unveiled Mother River’s winning numbers for the draw tomorrow have been revealed, featuring a five-dentist number, two-digit numbers 45, 46, 56, three-digit number 456, and…
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Samut Prakan election turmoil as officials refuse recount amidst mismatched votes and cards
The District Chief of Samut Prakan, Somchak Kaewsena, visited the polling station located at the Daan Sam Rong Municipal District to oversee the vote counting process. Overall, everything went smoothly, and he expressed his gratitude to the Samut Prakan residents who exercised their voting rights. As of 10.30pm, the Move Forward Party (MFP) led in all eight districts. However, complications…
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Record breaking! Bangkok has highest turnout in voter history
The 2023 General Election witnessed the highest voter turnout in Bangkok’s history. According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), over 74% of eligible voters cast their ballots in the election yesterday. Representatives from the BMA announced the unofficial election result from 6,360 polling stations in Bangkok in the early hours of this morning. Out of the 4,479,155 eligible voters, 3,339,664…
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Storm damages Sukhothai polling station, officials flee with ballot boxes and 2 injured
A severe storm caused significant damage to a polling station in Sukhothai, Thailand, yesterday, injuring two officials and forcing them to quickly gather and secure voting materials. The incident took place at Polling Station No. 22, Area 4, located in the multi-purpose building of Sri Satchanalai Municipal School, in Sri Satchanalai District. Upon arriving, reporters discovered the remains of several…
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Body of missing Russian tourist found floating in Phuket sea
The body of the Russian tourist swept away by strong waves at Promthep Cape on Friday was found floating off the coast of Phuket, southern Thailand, yesterday afternoon. A fisherman spotted the body of a foreign man floating in the sea near Laem Saeng Nakhlay, about 200 metres from Phuket’s Kalim Beach, and informed the authorities at 12.50pm, reports DailyNews.…
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MFP wins all Phuket seats in General Election
In yesterday’s General Election, the Move Forward Party (MFP) claimed victory in all three constituencies in Phuket, according to unofficial results declared early today. In Constituency 1, which covers Phuket Town, Koh Kaew, and Ratsada, Somchart Techathavorncharoen from the MFP emerged as the unofficial winner. On the ballot, Somchart was assigned the number two and received 18,604 votes. He expressed…
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Seriphisut acknowledges election results, citing disapproval of military rule
Seriphisut, leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party, acknowledged the General Election results and congratulated the pro-democratic parties in a press conference after more than 20% of the votes were counted. He expressed hope that the Pheu Thai and Move Forward Party (MFP) parties would form a coalition government without needing support from other parties. This comes as the election…
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South Korea to raise electricity and city gas prices amid high inflation and cost of living
South Korea announced today that it will increase electricity prices by 5.3% in an effort to partly account for rising generation costs. This decision, initially slated for implementation on April 1, was postponed by over a month due to concerns about the potential impact on already high inflation rates and the cost of living. This will be the second electricity…
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Thailand Plus Package extension anticipated to attract 6 billion baht investment in three years
The Revenue Department anticipates that the tax measures designed to support the relocation of foreign investors’ production bases will generate investment of approximately 6 billion baht within three years, according to Deputy Director-General Vinit Visessuvanapoom. Visessuvanapoom explained that the cabinet has given its backing to an extension of the tax measures, also referred to as the Thailand Plus Package, which…
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National Telecom unlikely to set high-capacity specifications for first satellite
National Telecom (NT), formed from the merger of TOT and CAT Telecom, is focusing on providing satellite specifications for state agency demands, which are estimated to increase by 7% annually, as stated by a top-ranking executive. With the satellite set to launch in the 126° East slot within the coming three years, determining its specifications is paramount. The firm aims…
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Southeast Asia and China top destinations for overseas business expansion in Asia
Southeast Asia and China are now the top choices for overseas expansion, with 83% of Asian businesses expressing interest in venturing abroad, as revealed in a recent report. The Business Outlook report, conducted by United Overseas Bank (UOB), surveyed over 4,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as large organisations in Asia. The study showed that over four out…
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Thai airlines report surge in earnings as tourism rebounds
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited and Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited have experienced a significant increase in their earnings for the first quarter, as tourists have started to return to Thailand in increasing numbers. In the first three months up to March, Thai Air recorded a net income of 12.51 billion baht (US$370 million), a considerable turnaround from their…
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Funding populist policies: borrowing or tax hikes?
During the general election, political parties presented various populist pledges aimed at attracting voters. Among these were the controversial 10,000-baht digital wallet handout for individuals aged 16 and over, increasing minimum daily wages, raising minimum monthly salaries for university graduates, suspending debts for farmers, cutting electricity tariffs, and increasing the monthly allowance for people aged 60 and over. The Thailand…
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Thai opposition leader Pita Limjaroenrat set to play major role after voters reject army-backed rule
Thai opposition leader Pita Limjaroenrat, 42 years old, seems poised to play a significant role in politics following voters rejecting nearly a decade of army-backed rule. With the majority of votes counted from Sunday’s poll, Pita’s radical Move Forward Party led the popular vote, ahead of the more established opposition Pheu Thai party. This is a remarkable achievement for a…
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Vote-buying incidents highest in Bangkok during General Elections, says EC
The Election Commission (EC) reported that the majority of vote-buying incidents during yesterday’s elections took place in Bangkok, which boasts the highest number of constituencies among all provinces. Despite this, the EC noted that the overall number of poll-related violations was lower than in previous elections. EC secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee disclosed that the commission received 163 complaints yesterday, with 58…
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New government has room to spend 2 trillion baht on populist pledges
The upcoming government is expected to have around two trillion baht at its disposal for implementing its populist policies, according to an anonymous source from the Finance Ministry. The figure takes into account the 500 billion baht needed for the Pheu Thai Party’s pledge to provide digital wallet handouts of 10,000 baht to those aged 16 and over. Should the…
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Thai woman robbed of 300,000 baht to bag snatcher at SEA Games in Cambodia
A bag snatcher stole a handbag with assets worth 300,000 baht from a Thai woman at a restaurant in Cambodia last night. The victim suffered serious injuries to her arms and legs. The Thai woman spoke to KhaoSod about the theft that occurred at 9pm on Thursday, May 11. She revealed that she visited Cambodia to watch a football match…
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Malaysia’s human resource ministry corruption probe presents opportunity for migrant worker system reform
The ongoing investigation into Malaysia’s Human Resource Ministry over allegations of corruption in foreign workers’ recruitment has cast a shadow on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government, which came to power after the November 2022 general election on an anti-graft platform. Officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) have arrested three senior government officials connected to the Human Resource Minister Sivakumar’s…
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Vaping promotion on social media impacting youth in Australia
Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook predominantly exhibit vaping in a favourable manner, giving the impression that e-cigarette usage is widespread and socially acceptable. In Australia, traditional tobacco advertising has been prohibited for decades; however, e-cigarettes are extensively promoted on social media, undermining some of the progress made throughout earlier years. Most platforms have content policies explicitly prohibiting…
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Calm returns to Gaza as ceasefire holds
Calm returned to Gaza on Sunday as a fragile ceasefire held for the most part, with both Palestinians and Israelis counting the cost of five days of cross-border fire that resulted in dozens of casualties. Fishermen took to their boats in the coastal enclave, as Gazans emerged from their homes after sheltering during the intense exchange of fire. The fighting…
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Elderly voters inadvertently tear ballot papers, violating Thai election law
Instances of individuals tearing up ballot papers were reported in various provinces across Thailand. Most of those involved were elderly individuals who suffer from health conditions, and they maintained that they had no intention of damaging the papers. The Royal Thai Police revealed that the police’s election coordination centre had received around 20 reports of voters tearing up their ballot…
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Cyclone Mocha brings storm surge to western Myanmar and southeastern Bangladesh
Cyclone Mocha swept through Myanmar and southeastern Bangladesh yesterday, causing storm surges in western Myanmar, despite sparing large refugee camps. The cyclone made landfall between Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar and Sittwe in Myanmar, with winds reaching up to 195kph in the most significant storm to hit the Bay of Bengal in over ten years. Although communications with Sittwe were mostly cut…
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