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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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Sponsored Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Southern Baptist Convention expels churches over female pastors
In a move that highlights the conservative shift within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), two churches have been expelled due to having female pastors. Delegates at the SBC annual meeting in New Orleans voted overwhelmingly against the appeals of Saddleback Church in Southern California and Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. The decision showcases the SBC’s unwillingness to adapt…
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US seeks answers from Israel on citizen’s death, army avoids charges
US authorities are planning to address the case of Omar Assad, an 80-year-old American citizen who was killed by Israeli forces last year, directly with Israel. This decision comes after the Israeli military opted not to pursue criminal charges in the case, claiming there was no “causal link” between Assad’s stress-induced heart attack and the actions of the soldiers. The…
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Miami Mayor Francis Suarez enters 2024 presidential race as GOP contender
Tossing his hat into the ring, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has joined the race for the 2024 United States presidential elections from the Republican camp. The son of a renowned Cuban American politician, Suarez recently filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, marking the beginning of his campaign journey, as reported by various US media outlets. Suarez now becomes the…
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Fed halts rate hikes as inflation decline slows, growth outlook brightens
A halt in interest rate hikes has been announced by the Federal Reserve, reflecting a response to an unexpectedly robust economy and a reduced pace in inflation decline. In order to simultaneously tackle both economic risks and inflation control, the Federal Open Market Committee unanimously agreed to maintain the current interest rate range. In a statement following the announcement, Fed…
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Harvard morgue manager accused of trafficking stolen human remains online
Four individuals, including Harvard Medical School’s morgue manager, Cedric Lodge, have been accused of trafficking stolen human remains. Lodge allegedly took body parts, such as “heads, brains, skin and bones,” from corpses donated to Harvard University’s medical school and sold them online. His wife, Denise, is also among the accused, having sold the body parts to buyers in Pennsylvania and…
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Fed holds interest rates steady amid persistent inflation concerns
The Federal Reserve has opted to keep interest rates steady, marking the first time in over a year that it has not increased them. The decision, which holds the benchmark rate between 5% and 5.25%, allows officials time to evaluate the impact of ten prior rate hikes since March 2022. These measures were implemented in an attempt to control inflation.…
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Indian students facing removal in Canada granted temporary respite
A group of Indian students in Canada facing removal due to allegedly fraudulent college admission letters have been granted temporary respite. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced that “genuine students who are the victims of fraud” will be permitted to stay in the country pending further investigations. The students claim to have been deceived by an immigration agency in India and…
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Ex-Starbucks manager awarded £20m in racial discrimination lawsuit
A former Starbucks manager, Shannon Phillips, has been awarded $25.6m (£20.2m) in a racial discrimination lawsuit after she was fired in connection to the arrest of two black men at a Philadelphia branch in 2018. The incident led to significant protests, while a black colleague retained his job. A jury found that race played a role in Phillips’s dismissal, contrary…
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Ex-Marine indicted for NYC subway chokehold death of homeless man
A grand jury in New York has indicted a former US Marine, following an incident in which the Marine was filmed putting a homeless man in a fatal chokehold on a subway train. Prosecutors charged Daniel Penny with second-degree manslaughter for the death of street performer Jordan Neely. The grand jury decision allows prosecutors to officially charge Penny, who claims…
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Red Sea diving boat fire claims lives of 3 Brits, including hospice CEO
A tragic blaze onboard a diving boat in Egypt’s Red Sea claimed the lives of three British people, including Christina Quinn, 58 years old, the chief executive of St Luke’s Hospice in Plymouth. According to her family, she will be “missed beyond words” and was considered a “rock to many.” An electrical fault in the boat’s engine room at around…
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Partygate report release today; Boris resigns amid kangaroo court claims
The long-awaited report from the Privileges Committee, which examines whether former Prime Minister Boris Johnson intentionally misled Parliament about Partygate, is slated for release today. Johnson resigned as an MP after seeing an advanced copy of the report, stating that it found him guilty “regardless of the facts.” The investigation has been ongoing for a year, and yesterday Johnson requested…
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Dorries delays resignation amid honours list omission row
Nadine Dorries, a former cabinet minister and ally of Boris Johnson, has decided against immediately resigning as the MP for Mid Bedfordshire. Her decision follows the alleged omission of her name from Johnson’s resignation honours list by Rishi Sunak’s team. Dorries has demanded to see all correspondence related to the removal of her name and submitted Subject Access Requests to…
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South London police car chase ends with man’s tragic death on train tracks
Tragedy struck in south London when a 34-year-old man died on train tracks following a brief car pursuit with police officers. According to the Metropolitan Police, the incident began when the car failed to halt around 3:26am as it approached Streatham High Road. The Met statement explained the development of events: “A vehicle pursuit was authorised and officers followed the…
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Three UK tourists killed in Egypt dive boat blaze near Marsa Alam
A tragic fire recently claimed the lives of three British tourists on a dive boat trip in Egypt. One of the victims has been identified as Christina Quinn, 58 years old, the chief executive of St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth. A family spokesperson expressed their deep grief over her death, describing her as a sister, daughter, wife, aunty, friend, and rock…
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Wardrobe malfunction: Bangkok taxi takes fashion on the road
A viral photo of a taxi in Bangkok carrying a large wardrobe in its boot sparked amusement and concern among netizens. The image shows the yellow taxi driving through the city with the wardrobe sticking out of the open boot. The image was shared online today causing a stir among social media users. The photo was taken by a Thai…
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Thailand embraces nuclear fusion tech with Tokamak I milestone
Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed satisfaction with the progress of the country’s Tokamak I (TT-1) nuclear fusion energy technology, stating its significance in achieving sustainable energy goals. The 69 year old prime minister’s comments came during a presentation on the development of nuclear fusion energy in Thailand, given by Anek Laothamatas, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI),…
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Pattaya officials discuss opening Dongtan Beach Road to 24-hour vehicle access
In Pattaya, a recent meeting took place to discuss the possibility of opening Dongtan Beach Road to vehicle traffic 24 hours a day. This road, which connects Jomtien Beach to Pratumnak Soi 5, has been closed to traffic overnight for quite some time. However, due to significant growth in the area over the past year, particularly in the number of…
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Thai man trapped in a crooked web of deceit seeks media help after being swindled by cunning con artist
A Thai man sought help from a Thai media agency to highlight his plight after falling victim to a crooked Thai woman who spun a web of deceit and swindled over 300,000 baht from him. It was later discovered he wasn’t her only victim and that she had also deceived numerous men by manipulating romantic relationships. A 41 year old…
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Reality show ‘Keep Running’ to boost Chinese tourism to Pattaya, mayor says
In Pattaya, over the past few days, crowds of excited fans and camera crews have been spotted at various locations, such as Grande Centre Point Space Hotel and the World’s Largest 7-eleven in South Pattaya. The reason behind this excitement is the filming of episodes for the popular Chinese reality and variety show “Keep Running.” The show features famous Chinese…
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China-Africa Expo to boost trade, explore emerging sectors
The upcoming third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, set to take place in Changsha from June 29 to July 2, is expected to further enhance economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa. The expo, which occurs every two years in Hunan Province, has gained significance as a platform under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation framework. China currently holds the…
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Southern Thailand youth risk manipulation for political agendas
In Southern Thailand, concerns have been raised over the potential manipulation of young people for political purposes by certain groups. This follows a recent event organised by the Pelajar Bangsa “national student movement” where a controversial public vote on a potential separation from Thailand took place. The 4th Army Region has strongly condemned this move, calling it a threat to…
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Eeling lucky: Sausage seller reels in twin albino eels, locals hooked on fortune
Two albino eels caught within two days by a sausage seller have captured the attention of residents, who believe the eels are bringing good fortune. The fortunate fisherman also found lottery success in the last draw. At 1pm yesterday, reporters were informed that 42 year old Boonmee Marman, a sausage seller living in the Mueang district of Loei province, discovered…
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Thai government weighs extending diesel excise tax cut beyond July
The Thai government is considering extending the excise tax cut on diesel, which is set to expire on July 20. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha directed the Finance Ministry and other relevant agencies to evaluate the feasibility of prolonging the tax reduction. Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow revealed that the Finance Ministry has been tasked with determining the appropriateness of an extension.…
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Pattaya parades: International PRIDE and Festival march to be hosted simultaneously
Pattaya is gearing up for a spectacular day on June 24, 2023, as the city prepares to host two major parades simultaneously. The International PRIDE Parade and Pattaya Festival Parade are set to attract thousands of participants and visitors, while also causing traffic disruptions in the area. The International PRIDE Parade will kick off the day’s celebrations, with a colourful…
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Busted: Cops nab 89 suspects, seize drugs, weapons at party in South Thailand
Police arrested 89 suspects at a drug party at a resort in the southern province of Pattalung yesterday. Several types of drugs and weapons were confiscated. Pattalung Provincial Police Office received a tip-off that the members of a Facebook group planned to hold a party at a resort around midnight. Officers monitored each member until they checked in at a…
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Neo Pattaya project revitalises Old Town Naklua with multimillion-baht budget
Pattaya’s deputy mayor, Manoch Nongyai, yesterday oversaw a restoration project at Chalerm Phrakiat Public Park in Old Town Naklua. The initiative is part of the larger Neo Pattaya project, which aims to transform Pattaya into a central hub for commerce and tourism within the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) zone. This ambitious endeavour is supported by a multimillion-baht budget, and authorities…
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Pattaya bar workers and Indian tourists fight
In the early hours of this morning, a violent altercation took place between a group of bar workers and two Indian tourists at the entrance of Soi 16 and Walking Street in Pattaya. The incident occurred in front of Kamaa Club, located at the entrance of Walking Street from Soi 16 in South Pattaya, Nong Prue sub-district, Bang Lamung district,…
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Driver asleep at wheel injures 5, including 3 foreigners, in Phatthalung crash
A passenger van en route to Krabi met with an accident in Phatthalung, resulting in injuries to three foreign nationals and two Thai individuals. The incident took place yesterday on Petchkasem Road, with Sri Nakarin Police being notified in the afternoon. Emergency services discovered the damaged minivan on the side of the road, having crashed into a power pole. A…
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Thai elephant’s fate hangs on flight fitness decision
The fate of an ailing Thai elephant residing in Sri Lanka will be determined on June 28, as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment decides if the animal is fit enough to endure a six-hour flight to Chiang Mai. Minister Varawut Silpa-archa explained that a Thai caretaker team, consisting of veterinarians and two mahouts, has been preparing the elephant…
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Thai Cabinet supports Ethanol Bioplastic for eco-friendly transition
The Thai Cabinet has given the green light for the promotion of ethanol in the production of bioplastics, aiming to develop more eco-friendly materials, according to government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri. This decision supports the ethanol bioplastic manufacturing industry with tax exemptions for bioethylene, a key precursor in bioplastic pellet production. Current legislation states that domestically produced ethanol can only be…
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