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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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Thai woman found dead in Chiang Mai condo, farang husband missing
This story has been updated. Police launched a murder investigation after the body of a Thai woman was discovered in a rented room at a famous condo in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand, this morning. The deceased’s “farang husband,” who also lives in the room, is nowhere to be found. At approximately 10.45am, officers at Mae Ping Police Station were…
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Phuket police chief inaugurates Punrak cafe at immigration office
National Police Chief Damrongsak Kittipraphat recently inaugurated the ‘Punrak Cafe’ at Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town, with immigration officers from across the island welcoming the country’s top police general. Several high-ranking officials arrived on the island for the event, including Immigration Bureau Deputy Commissioner Phanthana Nuchanart, Immigration Division 6 Commander Praphansak Prasarnsuk, Immigration Division 6 Deputy Commander Chalermchon Laemthong,…
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Uncle Tu offers prayers at Nakhon Si Thammarat main shrine before attending grand rally as lottery enthusiasts gather to buy lucky numbers
Yesterday in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, a prime ministerial candidate for the Palang Pracharath Party, spent the whole day campaigning and visiting five districts. Later, he concluded the campaign with a large rally at the city’s central sports field, ahead of the elections on May 14. Feeling tired from the continuous travel and rallies, Prayut took…
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Kasikornbank halts plans to sell stake in asset management business
Kasikornbank (KBank) Public Company Limited, the second-largest lender in Thailand, has put the plans to sell a share in its asset management business on hold, according to individuals familiar with the situation. Negotiations between KBank, based in Bangkok, and several prospective buyers have reached an impasse due to disagreements on terms of a potential agreement, said those familiar with the…
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Chinese mother laughs as son smuggles her gold bracelet as a gift for his preschool crush
A video of a Chinese boy admitting to taking his mother’s gold bracelet to primary school has gone viral online. In the clip, a young boy can be seen confessing to his mother that he took her valuable jewellery, worth nearly 48,000 baht (US$1,540), to school to give to his girlfriend. The mother’s laughter as she questions her son has…
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Acquittal of Philippine human rights campaigner Leila de Lima brings her closer to freedom
Philippine human rights advocate Leila de Lima, who has been imprisoned since February 2017, was acquitted of one of the two remaining drug trafficking charges against her on Friday, edging her closer to freedom. De Lima, 63 years old and a former senator and justice minister, has faced these charges as retaliation for investigating President Rodrigo Duterte and his controversial…
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BlockFi bankruptcy allows return of funds to non-interest-bearing account holders
Bankrupt cryptocurrency lender BlockFi has been granted court permission to return US$297 million to clients holding non-interest-bearing accounts. However, this does not include repayment to customers who made last-minute attempts to transfer funds into those accounts. It was concluded by the UK Bankruptcy Judge that customers owned their deposits in BlockFi’s Wallet programme, a non-interest-paying scheme that maintained customer deposits…
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Shooting instructor opens fire in Rayong, Thailand
A shooting instructor who is a former soldier fired gunshots from inside a house in Rayong province in eastern Thailand this morning. Police surrounded the house but the gunman still hasn’t surrendered. No injuries or fatalities have been reported. At 7am, officers at Mueang Rayong Police Station received a call from 70 year old “Rang” to help arrest his “manic”…
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Pakistan court appearance for ex-PM Khan after unlawful arrest ruling
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, 70, was due to appear in court today after the Supreme Court deemed his arrest earlier this week, which led to deadly clashes across the country, to be unlawful. Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial declared Khan’s arrest invalid yesterday, necessitating a review of the entire process. Khan was ordered to remain in the bench’s…
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Thai Bankers’ Association considers new fee structure for industry
The Thai Bankers’ Association (TBA), which represents the banking industry in the country, is contemplating the introduction of a new fee structure in response to increasing operating costs. Banks are planning to take into account expenses from traditional and digital banking services while finalising the updated fee structure. This will be done in conjunction with the Bank of Thailand. The…
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Nine executives apply for NBTC secretary-general role
A total of nine executives have applied for the position of secretary-general at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). Seven individuals submitted their applications during the initial application period running from March 20 to April 7, with a further two applying during the extended period, concluding May 7. According to Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck, NBTC chairman, the new secretary-general will…
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Teenage boy bitten by rat at food court in Bangkok shopping mall
A Thai mother sought help on social media after her teenage son got bitten by a rat while dining at a shopping mall food court in the Pathum Wan district of Bangkok after the mall refused to be held accountable for the incident. The Facebook page Oil Sri and the Gang (ออยศรีและผองเผือก) received a complaint about the shopping mall from…
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Brazil’s online disinformation regulation bill: What’s at stake?
Brazil’s controversial measure to regulate disinformation online, Bill 2630/2020, has drawn criticism from tech giants like Telegram and Google, who argue that it encroaches on free speech and democracy. Proponents, however, claim that it is a vital defense against fake news and online extremism. The bill, which was first introduced in 2020, aims to regulate how companies moderate content online.…
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Tattooed Thai gangster-turned-influencer Keng Laiprang sentenced to prison
UPDATE Thai gangster-turned-star Panya Yimumphai – better known as Keng Laiprang – was sentenced to 10 months and 40 days in prison yesterday for persuading his followers to gamble online in a TikTok clip. At 10am, police escorted 41 year old Keng Laiprang to Don Mueang District Court to face trial for the charge of “persuading others, directly or indirectly,…
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YouTuber pilot faces jail for crashing plane as stunt
A YouTube pilot who bailed out midair and deliberately sent his plane crashing into the ground to boost viewership on his channel could face up to 20 years in prison, US authorities announced recently. In a video watched by nearly three million people titled “I crashed my airplane,” Trevor Jacob, 29 years old, appears to experience engine trouble while flying…
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Thailand to tighten penalties for illegal surrogacy facilitators
The Department of Health Service Support (DHSS) is in the process of drafting an amendment to the “Protection of a Child Born by Medically Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, B.E. 2558 (2015)” to increase penalties against individuals involved in illegal surrogacy in Thailand. This includes brokers and women who are hired for the purpose of surrogacy. According to DHSS chief Sura…
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State banks offer higher deposit rates at Money Expo 2023
State-owned banks in the country are eager to offer customers higher deposit rates, with one scheme providing up to 17%. At the 23rd Money Expo 2023, Government Savings Bank (GSB) and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) unveiled campaigns to attract patrons to open short-term deposits for three-to-five months by presenting step-up interest rates. Monetary Policy Committee members…
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Rare ceremony for Jao Por Xiang Do brings luck and excitement to Surin community after 10 years
Yesterday, at 9am, more than 1,000 participants gathered for a ceremony at the Seiang Do Shrine near the Huay Kaew water storage in Rattnaburi, Surin province. This ritual was a part of the annual Boon Bang Fai ceremony for Surin province’s Ban Phue community in Rattanaburi. It serves to preserve ancient cultural traditions and is being held for the first…
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Proposal to tackle illegal tour guides and boost job opportunities submitted to prime ministerial candidates
Tour guides have presented a proposal to numerous prime ministerial candidates from various political parties, with the aim of eliminating unlawful tour guides and nominee businesses. They also hope that the proposed Tourist Guide Act will expand the scope of the profession, leading to increased employment opportunities. Yesterday, representatives from the Professional Tourist Guides Association of Thailand visited political party…
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Cops bust Bangkok gambling ring with over 150 million baht in circulation
Cops busted an online gambling ring in Bangkok with over 150 million baht in circulation. Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested 10 suspects who are believed to be part of a large online gambling network called “Hai Jiew Talat Noi.” According to the (CIB), the group had over 150 million baht in circulation. The 10 suspects are: 37…
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Thai father and son’s hilarious new alphabets video goes viral
Internet users have had a good laugh at a new dimension of the Thai alphabet, where the child misinterpreted certain characters, and a father got a taste of karma from his son. Reportedly, a mother from the Sam Yaek area in Wichian Buri District, Phetchabun Province, posted a highly amusing video clip of a father teaching his son, named Nong…
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NACC requires political parties to submit policy corruption risk assessments to EC
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has announced that it requires every political party to submit their policy corruption risk assessment criteria reports to the Election Commission (EC) urgently as the EC will forward the findings to the NACC after this Sunday’s election. The NACC stated that it wanted to clarify the urgent letter issued on May 3 to all political…
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Legal action against violent demonstrators at Samran Rat police station
Authorities have confirmed their intentions to take legal action against a group of demonstrators involved in a violent protest at Samran Rat police station. The demonstration occurred on Wednesday night and saw nine protesters arrested for their alleged role in leading about 20 people to spray paint the station in the Phra Nakhon district. The Metropolitan Police Division 6’s commander,…
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Kiwi tourist pleads guilty to ecstasy possession in Phuket, Thailand
A tourist from New Zealand pleaded guilty to drug possession at a court in Phuket, southern Thailand, on Monday. In September, police arrested 45 year old Ari Michael Salinger after finding two ecstasy tablets on his person. He was released on bail and his passport was confiscated while awaiting trial. On Monday, the court sentenced Salinger to a “small fine”…
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Election Commission to reveal unofficial results by 11pm on Sunday
The Election Commission (EC) anticipates that unofficial General Election results will be available by 11pm on Sunday. Results from ballot counts at polling stations across the nation will be compiled, verified, and subsequently published via the EC’s internet-based system called ECT Report starting at 7pm. The unofficial results will be published on a designated website, which can accommodate up to…
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Progressive Movement’s Piyabutr Saengkanokkul supports MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat amid election eligibility controversy
Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, an influential figure in Thailand’s Progressive Movement and a key helper for the Move Forward Party’s election campaign, encouraged the party’s supporters on Thursday to stand firm against attempts to discredit Pita Limjaroenrat, the 42-year-old leader and sole prime ministerial candidate for the MFP. He also urged them to fight against efforts to prevent the party from achieving…
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Chartthaipattana Party aims for 25 parliamentary seats and support of monarchy in election
The leader of the Chartthaipattana Party, Varawut Silpa-archa, said yesterday that his party would obtain at least 25 Parliamentary seats in the upcoming General Election on Sunday. He expressed the party’s desire to form a government with other parties supporting the monarchy. Varawut assigned all candidates from the party to participate in on-site campaign rallies. He commented on the complexities…
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Sudan’s warring parties commit to humanitarian principles amid ongoing conflict
Sudan’s warring factions signed a commitment to adhere to humanitarian principles in their intensifying conflict but did not agree to a ceasefire during challenging talks mediated by US diplomats in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Representatives of the military and paramilitary forces, responsible for a conflict that has claimed over 750 lives and displaced numerous citizens, signed the agreement while continuing negotiations.…
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Pakistan’s supreme court declares Imran Khan’s arrest invalid
Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled on May 11 that the arrest of former prime minister, Imran Khan, was “invalid”. This decision was made two days after his apprehension ignited severe protests and deadly clashes across the nation. For his safety, the court ordered Khan to remain in their custody under police protection until his appearance in court the following day. Chief…
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WhatsApp in-chat payments roll out in Singapore: A new chapter for SMEs or a security risk?
Digital payments are transforming rapidly, and WhatsApp’s recent decision to launch in-chat payments in Singapore highlights this change. The move by Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, is expected to have a significant impact on local businesses and increase competition among the region’s e-payment providers. However, concerns also arise around security, privacy, and the potential for scams and fraud. With a user…
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