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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Starting a new life abroad is exciting—new culture, new lifestyle, and new chances to grow. But living far from home also means taking steps to protect your health in unfamiliar surroundings. Without the right coverage, even small health issues can...
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Prince Harry defiant in tense court battle against Daily Mirror publisher
In a tense courtroom encounter, Prince Harry and Andrew Green KC, the barrister representing the Daily Mirror publisher, engaged in a heated exchange during the Duke of Sussex’s legal battle against the newspaper. The prince appeared weary and emotionally drained as he faced questions about his personal life and past relationships, including his time with Chelsy Davy and the late…
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UK house prices fall for first time in 11 years amid rising borrowing costs
UK house prices have experienced their first decline in over a decade, with increasing borrowing costs impacting potential buyers, according to mortgage lender Halifax. In May, the average property price saw a 1% drop compared to the same month in the previous year, with prices £7,500 lower than their peak in August. Halifax’s Director of Mortgages, Kim Kinnaird, highlighted that…
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China’s exports shrink, imports fall amid weak global demand
Chinese exports experienced a sharper decline than anticipated in May, while imports also fell, reflecting weak international demand and sluggish domestic consumption. In May, exports from the world’s second-largest economy dropped 7.5% year-on-year, the largest decrease since January, compared to 8.5% growth in April. Imports shrank by 4.5%, a slower rate than the 7.9% decline in the previous month. The…
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Sri Lanka dispels 5G threat to sacred tree after fake news frenzy
In Sri Lanka, the government’s concern for the country’s holiest tree, the 2,300-year-old Sri Maha Bodhi, resulted in a swift response to rumours that 5G mobile signals were causing harm. The tree, grown from a cutting of the Indian bodhi tree that sheltered Buddha when he achieved enlightenment, is a symbol of national sovereignty and an object of worship. The…
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PGA, DP World and LIV Golf merge, creating global golf entity
In a groundbreaking move, the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Saudi-backed LIV Golf have announced plans to merge operations, creating a new global golf entity. This marks a pivotal moment in the sport’s history, ending two years of litigation between the parties. The US-based PGA Tour and Europe’s DP World Tour revealed their intention to form a new collectively…
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EU’s geopolitical ambition hindered by technocracy and bureaucracy
The European Union has been striving to establish itself as a “geopolitical” force since December 2019, with French President Emmanuel Macron being one of the most prominent advocates for this vision. A key aspect of this strategy is the European Political Community (EPC), which encompasses 27 EU member states and 17 neighbouring countries. However, the progress towards achieving this goal…
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Hedge fund founder Alan Howard donates £1m to Conservative Party
Hedge fund founder Alan Howard has pledged a £1 million donation to the Conservative Party, marking his largest single contribution to the party thus far. Howard, co-founder of Brevan Howard Asset Management, is one of the UK’s most successful hedge fund managers and is based in Switzerland. He ranked 100th on this year’s Sunday Times Rich List with a fortune…
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Labour MP accuses party of gaslighting over sexual misconduct claims handling
Labour MP Charlotte Nichols has accused her own party of “gaslighting” her after she criticised its handling of sexual misconduct allegations. Nichols, the MP for Warrington North, claims that Labour only took action against suspended MP Geraint Davies after details about his alleged “unacceptable behaviour” became public knowledge. Additionally, she accused her party of “choosing not to act” over a…
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Man accused of murdering Met sergeant shot at close range, jury hears
Sergeant Matt Ratana was fatally shot in the chest at close range by Louis de Zoysa, 25 years old, at Croydon police station, according to the prosecution at Northampton Crown Court. De Zoysa had been arrested and searched on September 25, 2020, and was found in possession of cannabis and seven rounds of ammunition. However, officers failed to detect a…
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Clop ransomware group sets deadline for BA, Boots and BBC cyber attack victims
A cyber attack on companies such as British Airways and Boots has been attributed to the suspected Russian group Clop, which has issued a deadline for victims to negotiate before hacked data is published online. The attack targeted the MOVEit software, resulting in personal data of over 100,000 employees being compromised, including bank and contact details. Clop posted a notice…
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Heathrow security staff escalate strike action amid ongoing pay dispute
Heathrow Airport is bracing for a series of strikes by security staff, with walkouts scheduled nearly every weekend from mid-June until the end of August. The industrial action is a result of an ongoing pay dispute involving more than 2,000 members of the Unite union, which led to strikes last month and over the Easter period. This time, officers from…
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Teen dies after playground incident at West Lothian school
A 14-year-old student has died following an incident between two pupils at St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn, West Lothian. Emergency services were called to the school on Tuesday afternoon, and the teenager was taken to the hospital but passed away shortly after. Detectives convened with education authorities on Wednesday morning to discuss the tragic event, while fellow students receive emotional…
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Chinese employee sacked for excessive loo breaks causes online debate
A Chinese employee was dismissed from his job due to spending up to six hours a day in the restroom, leading to a widely discussed court case. Despite citing chronic health issues as the reason for his frequent bathroom visits, a Chinese court ruled the dismissal as valid and the employee was not reinstated. The case dates back to 2015…
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Thai investor confidence sinks as government formation uncertainty looms
Investor confidence in the nation’s stock market has dropped to an eight-month low due to uncertainty over the formation of a new government, according to the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organisations (Fetco). The overall investor confidence index has dipped to 77.70 from 110.09 in May, entering the “bearish zone” for the first time in eight months. Foreign investor confidence…
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OECD raises global growth outlook as inflation eases, warns of long road
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has marginally increased its global economic growth forecast to 2.7%, up from 2.6% in its previous report. This revision is attributed to easing inflation, China lifting Covid restrictions, falling energy prices, and supply chain improvements. However, the recovery remains below the 3.3% growth recorded in 2022, and the organisation warns of a…
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Frustrated man welds car park entrance after dispute with stubborn driver
A Chinese man, frustrated by a stranger repeatedly parking in his rented parking space, resorted to welding an iron barrier around the vehicle, demanding an apology before allowing it to be moved. The incident took place in Chaosheng in China’s Chaozhou province when the man, known as “Zasu”, found his space obstructed. Despite numerous requests to relocate the car, the…
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Woman boards Hong Kong Uber in towel, changes while driver watches
A video of a female passenger in a Hong Kong Uber car has gone viral, sparking debate on whether the incident is staged. The woman, seen initially wearing only a towel, changes her clothes in the car and seemingly irritates the driver, resulting in several exchanges of words. The clip’s duration is approximately five minutes and 52 seconds, showing the…
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Thai mother suspected in mysterious canal death of 2 month old son
Police suspect a Thai woman is responsible for the murder of her two month old son after the baby mysteriously drowned in a canal. The dead body was found floating in a canal nearby the family’s house. During the initial investigation, officers also uncovered traces of blood on the baby’s bed, adding to the complexity of the case. Yesterday at…
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SET and AIMC to use class action law to protect investors amid Stark fraud probe
The Association of Investment Management Companies (AIMC) and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) are set to utilise class action law to safeguard investors’ interests as the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) examines potential fraud involving former executives of Stark Corporation. Stark’s shares plummeted by approximately 90% after the SET allowed trading to resume on June 1, causing significant harm…
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Phuket bar raided for illegal operation, underage drinking and restricted hours
A crackdown on illegal entertainment venues in Phuket Town continued as a bar was raided by authorities in the early hours of yesterday. Muang Phuket District Chief Pairote Srilamoon led a team of officers from the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) in the raid on the ‘At Five’ bar at 1.30am. They were joined by Danai Jaikaeng, Deputy District Chief from…
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Canadian politicians’ China witch-hunt threatens democracy more than Beijing
In recent months, Canada’s capital has been gripped by a manufactured scandal involving alleged Chinese interference, leading to a wave of hysteria that has paralysed the city. The situation has been exacerbated by sensationalist reporting and hyperbolic politicians, who have claimed that Chinese agents are covertly undermining Canada’s democratic institutions. Amidst this panic, some have turned to Canada’s law-abiding spy…
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Sunak to discuss Biden’s green investment and subsidy concerns in US visit
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak anticipates discussing President Joe Biden’s flagship green investment package during his visit to the United States. En route to Washington DC, Sunak remarked that “subsidy races” are not the solution to achieving climate goals. Some UK ministers have criticised Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which includes US$370bn (£297bn) for green technology advancement in the US, as…
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Virginia graduation shooting kills two, injures five in chaotic attack
A graduation ceremony in Virginia turned tragic as two individuals were killed and five others injured in a shooting incident. The attack occurred outside the Altria Theater in Richmond, causing panic among the attendees, many of whom were dressed in graduation gowns. The police chief described the scene as chaotic, with people scattering in all directions. A 19-year-old suspect attempted…
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Pope Francis to undergo abdominal surgery at Rome hospital
Pope Francis is set to undergo abdominal surgery at Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Wednesday afternoon. The Vatican stated that the 86-year-old pontiff will remain in the hospital for several days to recover from the hernia operation. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni noted that the hernia has been causing “recurrent, painful and worsening” symptoms for the Pope. “In the early afternoon he…
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Acclaimed painter Francoise Gilot dies at 101, leaving vibrant legacy
Acclaimed painter Francoise Gilot, who was known for her turbulent relationship with Pablo Picasso, has passed away at the age of 101. Her daughter, Aurelia Engel, confirmed that Gilot died in a New York hospital, where she had been residing for many years. Engel praised her mother’s artistic talent, stating, “She was an extremely talented artist, and we will be…
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Drought hits Singburi: Turbo-charged pump aids fish, supports local agriculture
As drought continues in Thailand’s central Singburi province the a temple’s fish pond is experiencing a severe reduction in water levels, causing a shortage of oxygen for the fish. Consequently, the Pak Than Sub-district Administration Organisation (SAO) has urgently installed a turbo-charged pump to transfer water from a nearby canal into the pond, simultaneously supporting the aquatic life and allowing locals…
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Phuket shooting: Russian restauranteur targeted in daylight attack
The idyllic streets of Phuket were rocked today by a brutal act of violence as a man, believed to be a Russian restaurant owner, was shot inside his car outside a cafe. The incident unfolded in broad daylight, sending shockwaves through the peaceful neighbourhood. Police rushed to the scene on Boat Avenue in Cherng Talay, where they discovered a blue…
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Sam Altman dismisses public listing, discusses AI’s future and regulation
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has stated that the company, backed by Microsoft and known for its ChatGPT technology, has no intentions of going public in the near future. Speaking at a conference in Abu Dhabi, Altman expressed concerns about potential conflicts with investors’ expectations and the need for a unique structure to maintain OpenAI’s capped-profit model. OpenAI has raised US$10…
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Police Division 8 enhances gun training amid growing criminal confrontations
Thailand’s Police Division 8 enforces gun practice training for officers to effectively control situations involving criminals, as confrontations between police and criminals have seen a spike. The goal is to improve officers’ competence in handling weapons and their preparedness to face real-life scenarios. In recent times, conflicts between investigators and criminals have seen a sharp increase, which has caused concern…
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Alcoholic sets fire to his bedridden wife resulting in her death
In a horrifying incident that has left a community in shock, a Thai man set fire to his bedridden wife, resulting in her tragic demise. The disturbing crime unfolded in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. At 8am today, Banyat and Phatcharapha Ritthanusorn were startled by an argument they overheard. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, they promptly reported it…
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