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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The 5 most common travel emergencies in Thailand and how to be prepared
Thailand is a popular destination known for its dynamic culture, stunning beaches, and bustling cities however, travellers can face unexpected travel emergencies that include medical issues, road accidents, petty theft, and natural disasters. To ensure a safe and enjoyable trip,...
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TikTok’s US trust and safety head Eric Han to leave amid ban threats
TikTok revealed that Eric Han, the head of US trust and safety, will leave the company on May 12, resulting in a loss of a key executive as the popular short-form video app faces the possibility of a ban in the US. Owned by Chinese tech firm ByteDance, TikTok has already been prohibited on government-issued phones in countries such as…
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Thai police target traffickers sending workers to South Korea
The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) of the Royal Thai Police is intensifying its efforts to investigate websites run by companies with the aim of deceiving Thais, known as “little ghosts,” into working in South Korea illegally. The ATPD has been investigating the websites operated by these firms since South Korea’s partial reopening after the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions. Sarut…
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Starbucks profits boosted by China business recovery
Starbucks Corp exceeded Wall Street predictions yesterday for quarterly earnings, primarily due to a strong recovery in business within China. However, shares dropped approximately 6% in after-hours trading, as the company did not raise its 2023 guidance. Consumer mobility and spending in China have significantly improved since most of the country’s COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. Despite a 29% drop…
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Indian and Thai couple behind Pattaya’s busted casino
An Indian and Thai couple were behind the recently busted Pattaya casino, which saw 93 people arrested early on Monday morning. The couple confessed to running the casino in a Pattaya hotel after being arrested, The Pattaya News reported last night. The couple, 32 year old Divyesh Ashokkumarr Pathar of Indian nationality, and 32 year old Sitranan Kaewlor of Thai…
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Match Group forecasts lower Q2 revenue but sees Tinder growth signs
Match Group recently projected second-quarter revenue below analysts’ expectations, yet indicated signs of potential growth at its dating platform, Tinder. The company implemented changes to product and marketing execution at Tinder and, although not yet evident in financial results, has observed early indications of increased momentum, according to a letter to shareholders. Following the announcement, the firm’s stock, whose revenue…
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Honesty prevails: Motorcycle taxi rider returns lost 100,000 baht cash found on road to owner in Nonthaburi
A motorcycle taxi rider in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok found 100,000 baht in cash on the road and returned it to its owner. The provincial governor is preparing the reward for the rider’s good deed. KhaoSod reporters interviewed the motorcycle taxi rider, 48 year old Akkadate “Toey” Jittayasothorn, today about the incident that occurred at noon on Thursday, April 27.…
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Lucky lottery winner in Thailand banks 36 million baht
Thailand‘s Government Lottery Office (GLO) revealed that one lucky winner scooped a life-changing 36 million baht (over US$1 million) in the digital lottery draw today (May 2) after purchasing six winning digital tickets. Today, the number 834019 was drawn in Thailand’s twice-monthly government lottery draw. Anyone who bought a ticket with this number wins the lottery’s first prize of 6…
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Rise in Covid-19 inpatients and deaths expected to increase during Thailand’s rainy season
The number of Covid-19 inpatients in Thailand increased to 1,811 in the last week of April, up from 1,088 in the previous week. Meanwhile, related deaths doubled from 5 to 10 over the same period, as reported by the Department of Disease Control (DDC). These figures saw a rise two weeks after the Songkran festival in mid-April and are anticipated…
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Thailand’s export forecast for 2023 suggests 1% growth due to China’s economic recovery
Thailand’s exports are predicted to experience a 1% increase in 2023, with a more significant improvement anticipated later in the year due to the recovery of China’s economy, according to the Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC). In a news conference, council chairman Chaichan Chareonsuk stated that although exports faced a downturn in the first quarter, a resurgence is predicted for…
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Japanese automakers struggle in China amid rapid shift to electric vehicles
The sales crisis for Japan’s automakers in China continues, as industry data reveals a rapid shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), resulting in a steep decline in gasoline-powered vehicle purchases. In the first quarter, total sales of Japanese auto brands in China dropped by 32% year-on-year, more than twice the rate of overall market contraction. While automakers such as Volkswagen AG…
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Battles in Sudan risks catastrophic humanitarian crisis
Intense fighting continues between rival factions in Sudan, escalating concerns of a humanitarian disaster, as hundreds of thousands of refugees are forced to flee. Clashes between the regular army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his rival, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, have been ongoing since April 15. Casualties continue to mount, causing the mass exodus of…
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Godfather of artificial intelligence quits Google, warns of technology’s dangers
A prominent computer scientist, frequently referred to as “the godfather of artificial intelligence,” has resigned from Google to voice his concerns about the potential dangers of the technology, according to yesterday’s US media reports. Geoffrey Hinton, known for creating a foundational technology for AI systems, expressed to The New York Times that advancements in the field could pose “profound risks…
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DLT recommends 6 ride-hailing apps to order a motorbike taxi in Thailand
One of the fastest and most convenient ways to get around Thailand is by motorbike taxi, and Grab isn’t the only option. The Department of Land Transport (DLT) recommends ordering a motorbike taxi (“Win”) safely and legally using six mobile applications. The DLT has certified six applications providing motorbike taxi services so far, reports BangkokBizNews… Hello Phuket Service Bonku Asia…
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Italy’s right-wing government rolls back anti-poverty subsidies
Italy’s right-wing government has decided to reverse the anti-poverty subsidies introduced four years ago, which provided assistance to around four million people last year. The move has been criticised as a ‘provocation’ on the international May Day labour holiday. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, leading the country’s most far-right coalition since World War II, announced that the “citizens’ income” benefits would…
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Pro-independence forces triumph in French Polynesia elections
Pro-independence parties have claimed victory in the recent elections on France’s Pacific territory of French Polynesia. According to results released, the Tavini Huiraatira party, led by the region’s former head, Oscar Temaru, won 44.3% of the votes in the second round, securing an absolute majority in the regional assembly. The party is now expected to nominate 53 year old Moetai…
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No justice for victim: Suspect in kidnapping, rape, and murder walked free on technicality
Doi Saket Police Station revealed they could not arrest a serial sex offender who later went on to kidnap, rape, and murder a woman because it was a public holiday and the court was closed. The case involving the murder of a 36 year old car showroom saleswoman known as “Aom” has gathered significant attention. Aom, who worked at a dealership…
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Maryland man finds his lucky number and wins the lottery three times with it
A Maryland man strikes lottery luck with the same numbers multiple times, claiming his third major prize in just under a year. The 52 year old man managed to win three separate lotteries using the same numbers in each game. The Maryland Lottery confirmed that the man recently collected his third prize of US$50,000, having won the same amount twice…
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Transwomen caught on CCTV stealing Buddha statue from Thai temple
CCTV footage last night caught two Thai transwomen stealing a Buddha statue from Tha Kharm Temple in Chachoengsao province in the eastern region of Thailand. A 52 year old monk, Tikhamporn Artsapo, noticed that a Buddha statue, Luang Por So Thorn, was missing from his temple today. So, he checked the temple’s CCTV footage and discovered that two transwomen stole…
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Top 5 nationalities investing in Thailand in Q1
Foreigners invested 33 billion baht into Thailand in the first quarter of the year, a government spokesperson revealed today. Investors from Japan invested the most, followed by investors from Singapore and the USA, respectively. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office and Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister Anucha Burapachaisri revealed that the government approved investment from 174 foreign investors…
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Internet idol Alice Wong criticised for starring in her first adult video
Alice Wong, half-Hong Kong, half-Malaysian Internet idol, has gained significant popularity for her sexy image and numerous followers. She is well-known for consistently sharing her sultry updates through various social media platforms. In a recent development that caused her fans’ hearts to race, Wong announced that she had released her first adult video, after deciding to take the plunge into…
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Thai cannabis vendors call out illegal importation practices
Thailand is known for its glittering beaches, bustling street food scene, expert Muay Thai fights, and full moon parties. But now it’s known for something that no one could have expected just a few short years ago – becoming the world’s home of the happy herb, marijuana. It’s been less than a year since Thailand decriminalised the growing of marijuana…
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Hong Kong tourist attractions overflow with mainland visitors during holiday
A significant influx of mainland tourists has filled Hong Kong’s top attractions, as queues stretched for hours outside the Peak Tram ticket office at Central. According to a staff member, many visitors resorted to waiting over two hours for a tram ticket to the Peak. This surge of visitors is attributed to the mainland’s five-day holiday, which commenced on Saturday.…
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Young boy saves coins to buy gold ring for his mother
Despite his young age, a big-hearted primary school boy saves coins to buy a gold ring for his mother, diligently collecting enough to fill a small safe. A TikTok user with the account name zumo4422 recently posted an inspiring video of a young boy carrying coins he had saved to buy a gold ring for his mother. The collected coins…
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Family ties turn deadly: Drug addict arrested for murdering sister-in-law in Chon Buri
Police in Chon Buri arrested a drug addict after he murdered his sister-in-law. The suspect claimed that he was angry because the victim accused him of spreading Covid-19 which led to the death of a neighbour. Officers from Baan Bueng Police Station were alerted to the shooting at a grocery shop on Nong Prue Kao-Baan Hua Kun Jae Road on Saturday,…
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Drunk cop abandons car blocking traffic in northeast Thailand
Yesterday, a drunk police officer parked his car in the middle of the road in Udon Thani province in northeast Thailand when he needed to pee. Upon his return, his wheel had been clamped. He attempted to drive the clamped vehicle before fleeing. Officers at Mueang Udon Thani Police Station were informed that someone with a police officer’s uniform was…
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Spanish agriculture’s future threatened by potential water cuts
Spanish farmers, like Juan Francisco Abellaneda, provide European supermarkets with fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the year. However, these intensive farms in arid Southeastern Spain may soon face a water crisis, threatening the sector that supplies essential produce across the continent. Spain tops the European Union list in fruit and vegetable production. Almost half of these exports come from farmers…
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Close Call: Dozy Thai driver survives after car plunges into ditch in Rayong
A Thai driver travelling from Chon Buri‘s Bowin sub-district to Rayong province suffered non-fatal injuries after his vehicle plunged into a ditch in the Banglamung district. The driver later admitted to having dozed off at the wheel. A black Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck veered off Highway No. 331 near the Forest Department, heading inbound to Sattahip district, before crashing into…
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Kenyan pastors face court over alleged forest massacre
In what is being referred to as the “Shakahola forest massacre“, two pastors are set to appear before Kenyan courts, suspected of being behind the deaths of at least 109 people discovered buried in mass graves. The shocking revelation has shocked deeply religious, Christian-majority Kenya. The two men, currently in detention, are scheduled to appear in courts in different towns…
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Thai woman killed in Chon Buri motorbike accident involving British driver
In Chon Buri, a Thai woman tragically lost her life after the motorbike she was riding on was allegedly rear-ended by a British driver. The collision led to her being projected onto the road and ultimately hit by another vehicle. Pornwalai Boonpok, a 37 year old golf caddy, was riding as a passenger on her friend Arunwan Wannawong’s motorbike when…
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Man with terminal cancer killed by train in Kanchanaburi
A 54 year old man in the final stage of tracheal cancer was tragically killed after being run over by a train in Kanchanaburi’s Muang district. The incident occurred yesterday afternoon when the man, identified as Suparp, lay down on the tracks near a railway station with a cloth covering his face. Police Captain Thammarat Sukhiwong, a Muang police investigator,…
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