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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Thai citizens swarm truck shop owner’s son’s ordination for chance to win over US$11,000
Crowds of Thai citizens gathered at the ordination ceremony of a prominent truck body shop owner’s son, hoping to win a cash prize exceeding US$11,000 (372,000 baht). Naka, short for Warapol Pensri, is 20 years old and the son of a major truck body shop business in Thailand. The ordination ceremony took place at their residence, followed by a traditional…
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Ukrainian man arrested for working illegally on Thai island
Royal Thai Immigration Police arrested a Ukrainian man on Thursday after he was allegedly discovered working illegally for a motorbike rental company on Koh Pah Ngan island in Surat Thani province in southern Thailand. Surat Thani Immigration revealed on Sunday that they arrested an unnamed 45 year old man from Ukraine on Thursday – the same day as the Full…
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Indonesia’s president condemns attack on ASEAN officials in Myanmar
Indonesia‘s President Joko Widodo, today, condemned an attack in Myanmar on ASEAN officials delivering humanitarian aid but did not provide further details of the occurrence. Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government, allied with the anti-junta militias, the People’s Defence Forces (PDF), stated that it was not aware of any attack. The PDF in Taunggyi District, Shan State, where the attack reportedly…
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Asia-Pacific cyber-attack risks in line with global trends but high attack expectations remain for 2023
Cyber-attack risks in the Asia-Pacific region decreased to a moderate level last year, mirroring the global trend, yet a recent survey found that 78% of organisations worldwide anticipate successful attacks occurring in 2023. Jon Clay, 42 years old, vice-president of threat intelligence at multinational cybersecurity software company Trend Micro, stated that the global cyber-risk index (CRI) shifted into positive territory…
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Voyeur captures Chinese students having sex behind a lorry in Wenzhou
Two Chinese students having sex behind a lorry was snapped by an opportunist voyeur in Wenzhou, a city in the southeastern province of Zhejiang, in the People’s Republic of China. Unsurprisingly, the video clip and snaps went viral on social media. The Chinese students, taking advantage of what they believed to be a hidden corner next to a lorry, thought…
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Bank of Thailand predicted to raise policy rate to 2% this month
Economists anticipate that the Bank of Thailand will raise its policy rate to a terminal level of 2% this month, following their estimation that the Federal Reserve’s funds rate has reached its peak. The research centre of TMBThanachart Bank (ttb) suggests that the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will increase the policy benchmark rate by 0.25 percentage points during…
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Thai organisations collaborate to develop AI-powered chatbot for multiple sectors
Thai artificial intelligence (AI) engineers from public and private organisations have joined forces to create a Thai-language generative AI-powered chatbot, which is set to benefit various sectors such as education and business. The National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (Nectec) revealed its partnership with the Artificial Intelligence Entrepreneur Association of Thailand (AIEAT), the Artificial Intelligence Association of Thailand (AIAT) and…
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Thailand aims to finalise free-trade agreements with EFTA, Sri Lanka and UAE by mid-next year
Thailand is keen to finalise free-trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by mid-next year, with the aim to boost trade and investment. The potential FTA between Thailand and Sri Lanka is particularly appealing due to Sri Lanka’s strategic location in South Asia, with connections to India, Pakistan,…
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Thai actress cleared of wrongdoing after buying cyanide to kill lizards
The Royal Thai Police found nothing criminal about a famous Thai actress’ online purchase of cyanide after calling her in for questioning last week, deputy national police chief Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn said yesterday. Preechaya “Ice” Pongthananikorn wept during an interview as she apologised for ordering cyanide without a permit on April 25 for a price of 3,132 baht –…
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Pattaya officials’ efforts to tackle city’s homeless issue show promise but lack results
Pattaya officials have demonstrated a consistent ability to sign agreements to address the city’s homeless issue, but have struggled to make substantial progress in resolving the problem. A new memorandum of understanding (MOU) is set to be signed later this month, which aims to establish a “protection system” for people living on the streets. This follows another MOU signed in…
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Election commission provides Braille campaign guide for visually impaired voters
The Election Commission of Thailand has recently launched a Braille guidebook to assist visually impaired citizens in voting for the upcoming general election. This initiative, carried out by the Office of the Promotion of Citizenship, is designed to ensure that visually impaired individuals are well-informed about the election process and can exercise their democratic rights on Sunday, May 14. The…
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Russian tourist killed in motorbike crash in Phuket prompts wet road caution
Phuket rescue workers issued a warning to motorists to be cautious and reduce their speed on wet roads after a fatal motorbike accident in Kata involving a Russian man earlier today following sporadic rainfall on the island. The accident report, issued by the Ruamjai Kupai Foundation rescue service, was shared on Facebook at 3.30am. While the exact time and location…
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Singapore increases COE quota for categories A and B cars to reduce supply volatility
Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced that it will increase the Certificates of Entitlement (COE) quota for cars in categories A and B as a one-time adjustment to reduce supply volatility. The quota will rise from 9,575 to 10,431 for the current quarter, with Category A increasing by 24% and Category B increasing by 15%. The LTA will redistribute…
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Donald Trump rejects final chance to testify in rape trial
Former United States President Donald Trump, who once claimed it was fine to “Grab ‘em (women) by the pussy,” declined his last chance to testify at a civil trial where he is accused of raping a US journalist in a luxury department store dressing room in 1996. The trial has been ongoing for two weeks, with Elizabeth Jean Carroll seeking…
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Banking job boom and surging salaries in Saudi Arabia
Despite ongoing global financial challenges, Saudi Arabia is experiencing a significant surge in banking jobs and salaries. This growth is attributed to the ambitious economic expansion plans by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who is utilising oil sales revenue to transform the nation’s economy. With over US$600 billion worth of assets, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is hiring swiftly, attracting…
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Thai business leaders’ wishlist for first 100 days under new government
Business executives are contemplating Thailand’s prospects for the first 100 days under a new administration as the election approaches. Key areas of focus for the incoming government include the appointment of suitable ministers and the prioritisation of business sector policies. Jareeporn Jarukornsakul, the 42-year-old chairman of industrial developer WHA Group, emphasises the importance of appointing knowledgeable and capable ministers to…
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Crafty Thai woman allegedly steals British tourist’s Rolex in Pattaya
A British man is warning tourists to keep their wits about them in Pattaya, Thailand, after he was allegedly deceived by a Thai woman who he claims stole his luxury Rolex watch worth almost 1 million baht. At 11pm yesterday, a 38 year old anonymous man of British nationality spoke to reporters about his bad experience with a Thai woman…
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Indian baby with rare case of third arm growing from her back cries when touched
A newly born baby girl at a local hospital in the northern Indian state has caused astonishment among the public as she has been born with a rare condition of a third arm protruding from the middle of her back. The phenomenon is extremely uncommon and has captured the attention of many. A video that was posted online soon after…
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Pattaya taxi drivers avoid charges after harassing and frightening Bangkok driver
A group of taxi drivers in Pattaya recently found themselves in hot water but avoided any charges or fines when they were caught harassing a Bangkok driver and frightening his passengers. The driver, 43 year old Jamnong Sutaboon, showed no remorse when summoned by the police on Thursday, May 4 to explain his actions. A video circulated online showed him…
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Thai stocks dampened by US interest rate hike concerns
Thai stocks are projected to face a challenging investment environment in the coming month due to the potential negative impact of the recent US interest rate hike on regional US banks. Tisco Securities has expressed concerns over the situation, with Apichart Phubancherdkul, Tisco’s head of strategy research, stating that “investment conditions in May are not bright”. The US Federal Reserve…
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At least 27 workers killed in remote Peruvian gold mine fire
In a remote region of southern Peru, a fire at the La Esperanza 1 gold mine has claimed the lives of at least 27 workers, marking one of the worst mining disasters in the country’s recent history. The grieving families of the victims have congregated near the mine, anxiously waiting for updates on their loved ones. The cause of the…
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Police arrest suspect in Cabine gang related shooting of father in trang, Thailand
Police yesterday arrested Akradej Numark, who is suspected of being involved in the Cabine gang responsible for the deadly shooting of a father in Trang province earlier this year. The arrest of the 35 year old was confirmed by Crime Suppression Sub-division 6 commander, Pongpanot Chukaew. Akradej Numark, also known as Tia Carbine, was apprehended by Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police…
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Singapore aims to shed stopover status and hit pre-pandemic tourist numbers by 2024
Australians, Bryan and Christine Mansfield were delighted to start their three-day holiday in Singapore, marking the beginning of their golden jubilee celebrations delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like other tourists, Singapore was their first foreign destination since 2020 when the pandemic halted international travel. Although Singapore served as a layover before proceeding to their main destinations within the Southeast…
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Digital bank runs: How social media fuels panic and threatens financial stability
A crisis of confidence in the US banking sector has led individuals to withdraw their money from financial institutions including Silicon Valley Bank, Credit Suisse, First Republic Bank, and California-based PacWest Bancorp. This series of events has given birth to a new term in the finance lexicon: digital bank run. In contrast to traditional bank runs, where people would form…
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7 killed as car ploughs into Texas bus stop crowd
At least seven people lost their lives yesterday in South Texas, and several others were injured when a vehicle crashed into a group of individuals waiting at a bus stop outside a migrant aid centre. The police currently consider the incident an accident; however, a witness claimed that the driver had shouted insults at the group before speeding up. The…
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Binance resumes bitcoin withdrawals after brief closure due to congestion issue
Binance, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange, recently announced that it had resumed Bitcoin withdrawals following a temporary halt due to a congestion problem. The exchange experienced an interruption in withdrawals for the most widely recognised cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, lasting for over an hour before the issue was resolved. The cryptocurrency exchange did not disclose additional information regarding the nature of the…
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Former monk denies embezzling 180 million baht from Nakhon Ratchasima temple
A former monk and two other individuals have been arrested on suspicion of embezzling 180 million baht from Wat Pha Dhammakiri in Nakhon Ratchasima. The accused ex-monk, Khom Khongkeaw, previously known as Phra Ajarn Khom Abhivaro, denies the allegations. During police questioning, Khom and his sister claimed that the money was used for “other purposes,” and that they had no…
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Electoral fraud: Man alleges he was tricked into filming controversial video
A man accused of manipulating electoral registration in a controversial video on the “Chuwit” Facebook page has filed a police report, alleging he was deceived into participating and was paid only 1,000 baht despite the agreed sum of 5,000 baht. He also revealed that someone wrote a script for him to recite in the footage. Recently, the video of a…
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Huge concrete slab falls onto Bangkok’s Rama II Road killing construction worker
A huge slab of concrete fell from the under-construction expressway elevated over the Rama II Road yesterday in Bangkok, Thailand, crushing a construction worker to death, injuring another person and damaging eight cars. At 5pm, officers at Tha Kham Police Station were informed that a concrete beam fell and killed someone along the outbound Rama II Road opposite the Snake…
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Today’s summer storm forecast, Thais warned of heavy rain, strong wind and hail
Today, Thailand’s Meteorological Department forecasted a 24-hour weather outlook, with the northern region experiencing summer storms characterised by thunderstorms, strong winds, and isolated hail. Some areas may also experience lightning. Residents in these regions are advised to exercise caution during summer storms, avoiding open spaces, large trees, weak structures, and billboards. It is also recommended to avoid wearing metallic items…
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