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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Airport Rail Link suffers 70 million baht monthly loss amid 25% commuter drop
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) reports that the Airport Rail Link (ARL) service has been losing 70 million baht per month, as it continues to carry fewer passengers than before the pandemic in 2019. To address long-standing operational issues, the SRT chose to involve a private company, Asia Era One, in managing rail operations during the pandemic. An agreement…
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Thai homeowner haunted by ghostly tokay gecko, forced to flee
A homeowner in Surin province has been driven to spend sleepless nights away from her own home due to the ghostly presence of a dead tokay gecko. Jitapha Pothisa, the distressed owner, claims to frequently hear the eerie calls of the phantom lizard but has never actually seen it. The unsettling experience has compelled the 32 year old mother of…
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WhatsApp’s role in UK Covid-19 response under scrutiny in official inquiry
WhatsApp has been revealed to play a central role in communications between UK ministers during the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to the release of over 100,000 messages by former health secretary Matt Hancock and his memoir co-author Isabel Oakeshott. These messages, which were handed over to The Daily Telegraph, have raised questions about the transparency of government communications and the availability…
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Government blocks COVID inquiry access to PM’s WhatsApp messages and notebooks
The UK government faces accusations of attempting a “cover-up” as it seeks to prevent the COVID inquiry from accessing Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s unredacted WhatsApp messages and notebooks. Bereaved families and opposition parties have expressed their disapproval after the Cabinet Office announced its intention to bring a judicial review of Baroness Hallett’s order to release the documents. This move comes…
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Grab taxi driver threatens to harm former Thai singer
A former Thai singer took to social media to reveal that a Grab taxi driver, claiming to be a soldier, threatened to physically harm her. The singer, Jamila “Mila’ Panpinij, demanded that Grab takes responsibility for the incident and pay for treatment costs associated with her post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which was triggered by the incident. On Wednesday, May 31,…
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Brics foreign ministers demand global order rebalancing amid Putin arrest warrant
Foreign ministers from the BRICS nations gathered in South Africa, urging for a shift in the global order away from Western nations. The BRICS group, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, envisions providing global leadership in a world facing geopolitical tension, inequality, and global insecurity. However, the recent allegations of Russian war crimes in Ukraine have cast a…
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Luxury watch thefts surpass drugs as criminals’ top choice in UK
The theft of high-end watches has become a criminal enterprise more profitable than drug dealing, according to former dealer Paul Thorpe, who was forced to retire after being violently robbed three times. Thorpe claims that a week’s worth of stealing luxury watches in London could generate more money than some people earn in a lifetime. He believes that in many…
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US mass shootings spark fear, change lives and boost bulletproof backpack sales
The increasing frequency of gun violence and mass shootings in the United States is impacting the lives of millions of Americans, causing anxiety and prompting changes in daily routines. With National Gun Violence Awareness Day approaching, around 60% of US adults have discussed gun safety with their children or other family members, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family…
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Ukraine accused of shelling Belgorod as Russia claims thwarted invasion
Belgorod, a Russian region, has once more experienced attacks from across the Ukrainian border, with at least eight individuals injured due to shelling. Russia’s defence ministry asserts that it has prevented other attempts by Ukraine to “invade” the region. Kyiv has not responded to these claims but has denied involvement in previous cross-border attacks. This latest incident occurs over a…
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Elon Musk regains world’s richest title as Tesla value soars, Arnault slips
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has once again become the world’s wealthiest individual, surpassing LMVH founder Bernard Arnault. Musk’s net worth increased by US$55.3 billion since January, reaching US$192 billion, primarily due to the rising value of his electric car company, Tesla. Meanwhile, Arnault’s fortune dropped by US$24.5 billion to US$187 billion, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index. Jeff Bezos and Bill…
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Thousands jeer far-right minister at Jerusalem Gay Pride amid security fears
The Jerusalem Gay Pride march saw thousands of participants, despite security concerns due to online threats and counter-protests. This was the first march since the election of a hardline religious-nationalist government, which includes senior ministers with openly homophobic views. The event highlighted the deepening divisions within Israeli society, where secular Jews have long supported LGBTQ rights, but political and demographic…
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Biden trips at Air Force graduation, reigniting age concerns
US President Joe Biden stumbled and fell during a graduation ceremony at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado, where he was presenting diplomas to the graduates. At 80 years old, Biden is the oldest serving president in the nation’s history. He was assisted by Air Force officials in getting back up and continued walking to his seat without any…
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Phillip Schofield denies grooming amid affair scandal with younger colleague
Phillip Schofield, the former This Morning presenter, has denied being a “groomer” after admitting to having an affair with a younger male colleague. Schofield left ITV last week following the confirmation of the relationship and his dishonesty about it. In an interview with The Sun, he expressed deep regret for his actions and the impact on the other individual’s life.…
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Referee Anthony Taylor harassed by Roma fans at Budapest Airport
English referee Anthony Taylor and his family faced harassment from a group of Roma supporters at Budapest Airport following the Italian team’s loss to Sevilla in the Europa League final. Videos on social media depict Taylor and his family being escorted from a cafe to a secure area by airport security as fans targeted the referee after a contentious match…
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Schofield denies grooming in affair scandal, feels ‘broken and ashamed’
Phillip Schofield has expressed his remorse and shame following a scandal involving a relationship with a younger male colleague, while denying allegations of grooming. The 61-year-old resigned from ITV last week and was dropped by talent agency YMU after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with the younger colleague. In an interview with The Sun, Schofield emphasised that…
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British Airways fined £877k for delayed US flight refunds amid pandemic
United States regulators have imposed a fine of US$1.1 million (£877,000) on British Airways, following accusations that the airline failed to provide prompt refunds for passengers on flights to and from the US during the COVID-19 pandemic. The US Transportation Department issued the penalty, which British Airways contests. According to the department, the airline violated federal regulations by not processing…
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Nova Scotia battles largest wildfire in history, thousands evacuated
Nova Scotia firefighters are currently facing the largest wildfire in the history of the Atlantic province. The fire, located on the southern tip of the province, has burned over 17,000 hectares with flames reaching nearly 100m in height. In addition, another fire near Halifax, the largest city, has led to the evacuation of thousands of residents. As of Thursday morning,…
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Canadian socialite avoids jail for Belize police chief’s manslaughter
Canadian socialite Jasmine Hartin, 34 years old, has reportedly avoided prison time for the killing of Belize police chief Henry Jemmott with his own weapon. Local reports state that she has been given a £30,000 fine and 300 hours of community service. Hartin pleaded guilty to manslaughter in April after Jemmott’s death on 28 May 2021, which was caused by…
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US debt ceiling deal faces Senate race against time to avoid default
A deal to raise the US government’s US$31.4tn debt ceiling is urgently being pushed through the Senate to prevent the world’s largest economy from defaulting on its debt. The House of Representatives has already approved the deal with a 314-117 vote. However, it must pass the Senate and be signed by President Joe Biden before the deadline on June 5th.…
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Tate denies rape and exploitation allegations in combative BBC interview
In a recent interview with the BBC, influencer Andrew Tate has refuted allegations of promoting misogyny and defended his character. Tate is currently under investigation by Romanian prosecutors for accusations including rape, human trafficking, and exploitation of women. In his first television interview since being released into house arrest in Romania in April, he dismissed these allegations and claimed to…
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Belfast taxi driver sacked over firearm threats in dashcam video
A driver for Belfast-based taxi firm FonaCab has been dismissed following a video that surfaced on social media, showing him wielding what appears to be a firearm and threatening passengers. The Police Service of Northern Ireland has launched an investigation into the incident. The video, seemingly recorded by a dashcam inside the taxi, shows the driver pointing the suspected weapon…
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Ex-BBC presenter jailed for stalking banned from contacting two more
Alex Belfield, a 43-year-old former BBC radio presenter currently serving a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence for stalking, has been prohibited from contacting two additional individuals. Belfield had been charged with stalking eight people, primarily current or former BBC staff members, and was found guilty of stalking BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernard Spedding and videographer Ben Hewis. He was also convicted of…
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Madeleine McCann case: Objects found in Portuguese reservoir analysed
German officials have reported the discovery of several objects during a search of a Portuguese reservoir in relation to the Madeleine McCann case. The items are currently being analysed, but it is too early to confirm if they are connected to the British girl who went missing in 2007. The search was conducted at the Arade reservoir in Portugal last…
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Bournemouth beach deaths: No vessel contact, man arrested for manslaughter
New information has been released by Dorset Police regarding the tragic incident off Bournemouth beach on Wednesday afternoon, where a 12-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy lost their lives after being pulled from the sea. Police have confirmed that there was no contact with a jet ski or boat, and no one jumped from the pier. A man in his…
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Woman attacked with boiling water in Southwark; police seek suspect
Authorities have released a photograph of a man they wish to question in connection with a woman who was assaulted with boiling water in Southwark, south London. The incident occurred on November 10 last year, and the woman was hospitalised as a result. The Metropolitan Police and London Ambulance Service were alerted to the assault, which took place on Walworth…
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Labour MP suspended, accused of bringing sex workers to Commons bar
Allegations of sexual harassment have led to the suspension of a Labour MP, who has also been accused of bringing sex workers into parliament for drinks by two of his colleagues. A Labour MP and a Labour peer informed Sky News that it was common knowledge in Westminster that Geraint Davies would take women to one of the Commons’ bars…
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Influencer Andrew Tate denies rape and trafficking allegations in combative BBC interview
In a recent interview with the BBC, Andrew Tate, a controversial social media influencer, defended his reputation against allegations of misogyny and other accusations. Currently under investigation by Romanian prosecutors for rape, human trafficking, and exploiting women, Tate dismissed these claims during the interview. This marked Tate’s first television interview with a major broadcaster since being released into house arrest…
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ITV chief to face parliament over Schofield scandal and safeguarding concerns
ITV Chief Executive Dame Carolyn McCall has been summoned to appear before the parliamentary Culture, Media and Sport Committee to discuss the broadcaster’s approach to safeguarding and complaint handling. This development follows the recent departure of presenter Phillip Schofield from ITV after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with a younger male colleague. The committee has requested McCall’s…
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Prince William and Kate attend Jordan’s royal wedding unannounced
In a surprise visit, the Prince and Princess of Wales attended the wedding of Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein, 28 years old, and Saudi Arabian architect Rajwa Alseif, 29 years old, in Amman, Jordan. Prince William and Kate joined other foreign royalty at the ceremony held at Zahran Palace, a venue with historical significance for the Jordanian royal family. The unannounced…
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Funeral firm offers custom coffins to break death taboo
A funeral company, Go As You Please, is aiming to change the way people perceive death by offering custom-made coffins, including a casket designed to resemble a Greggs sausage roll. The firm believes that no idea is off limits in an effort to make a challenging day more bearable. Suggested designs include the Doctor Who Tardis, a pint of Tennent’s…
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