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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Sponsored Where to travel in Thailand in April [2025]
Travelling in Thailand is peak during April if you are looking for a real taste of summer. With high temperatures, amazing beaches, and exciting events, April is an amazing time to visit the country as a whole. Due to the...
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Illegal logging gang caught in Thai wildlife reserve, drugs found
Authorities in Phayao, northern Thailand, yesterday arrested a group involved in illegal logging and seized various items, including processed timber and amphetamines. The suspects were apprehended in the Wiang Lor Wildlife Sanctuary in the province’s Choon district. Officials from the 15th Conservation Area Administration Office received a report from Thanatphatcha PrasomSap, the director of the wildlife conservation section, on the…
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Officer suspended after Tasering 95 year old woman in Australian care home
A 95 year old woman with dementia was critically injured after being Tasered by a police officer at a care home in Australia. The officer, a 33 year old senior constable, has been suspended with pay as an investigation into the incident continues. Clare Nowland is currently receiving end-of-life care in a hospital, and the police response has been widely…
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Dyson aims to double product range, expand beyond home innovations by 2025
Dyson, renowned for its innovative household appliances, has been focusing on making everyday tasks more efficient and convenient for users. The development of such cutting-edge products often takes years and numerous prototypes, with Dyson’s bagless vacuum cleaner taking over five years and 5,127 prototypes to perfect. The company’s entrance into the beauty market with its hair dryer involved four years…
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US declines Thai F-35 bid, offers F-16 and F-15 jets instead
The United States Department of Defense has informally declined Thailand’s request to buy F-35 fighter jets, according to a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) source. Instead, the US has offered F-16 Block 70 and F-15 E Strike Eagle fighter jets as alternatives. The Pentagon’s decision was announced by Robert F Gordec, the US ambassador to Thailand, during a meeting with…
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Seven arrested for smuggling Chinese nationals into Thailand for potential call centre scams
Seven Thai individuals have been detained for their alleged involvement in smuggling Chinese nationals from Laos into Thailand. Authorities are investigating whether these cases have any connection to call centre gangs. The series of arrests were disclosed in a press briefing held yesterday by Provincial Police Region 3 Commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Somprasong Yenthuan, which involved Highway Police, Immigration Police,…
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TikTok sues Montana over unconstitutional app ban violating free speech rights
TikTok has filed a lawsuit in a US federal court to prevent the state of Montana from implementing a ban on the video-sharing app, claiming the move violates the right to free speech. Set to commence in 2024, the ban was signed into law by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte on May 17, who cited the protection of Montanans’ personal and…
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Longtail boat capsizes in Thailand, 5 foreign tourists rescued from sea
A longtail boat capsized near Panyi Island in Phang Nga province in southern Thailand yesterday. Seven people, including five foreign tourists, were rescued from the sea. Two Irish nationals, one Swiss national, two Filipino nationals, one Thai guide, and one Thai boat driver were left floating yesterday afternoon when their longtail boat sank inside Phang Nga Bay National Park, reports…
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Philanthropist injured in multi-vehicle road accident in Nakhon Si Thammarat
A local philanthropist was badly injured when a truck crashed into the back of a pickup, spinning it into another lorry, causing harm to the driver. Passers-by came to assist the injured man trapped inside the damaged Toyota pickup with registration plate number บว-1721 Nakhon Si Thammarat, which was left immobilised in the middle of the road. The injured man…
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Phuket speedboat driver tests positive for meth after crash injuring 37 tourists
UPDATE The man who crashed a speedboat into a channel marker in Chalong Bay in Phuket, southern Thailand – injuring 37 Thai and foreign tourists – on Wednesday tested positive for methamphetamine. The 29 year old tour boat driver, Sathit Mardchai, underwent a blood test for alcohol and drugs following the incident, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police Pol. Maj. Gen.…
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Tragedy in rocklin: Man killed while rescuing ducks, teen driver involved
A tragic incident occurred in Rocklin, California, when a 41 year old man was fatally struck by a car driven by a teenager while attempting to help a family of ducks cross the road. The accident took place approximately 25 miles northeast of Sacramento. According to witnesses, Casey Rivara had ensured the ducks reached safety before the collision occurred. No…
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Chinese researchers discover evidence of ancient ocean on Mars
Chinese researchers have uncovered direct evidence of an ancient ocean on Mars’s northern plains, according to a team from the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan. The discovery, recently published in the journal National Science Review, has the potential to further solidify our understanding of the Red Planet’s geological history. Led by Xiao Long, a professor at the China University of…
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Chon Buri woman discovers priceless pearl in local market oyster
A lucky woman in Chon Buri found a valuable pearl inside a large oyster purchased from a local market. The resident, Thevalee Sitonwong, discovered the stunning orange pearl while preparing a meal for her and her husband. Thevalee revealed that she and her husband had gone to the market to buy some ingredients for their dinner, which included a popular Thai…
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Roof collapses at school in Thailand during storm, 7 killed
Seven people, including four children, died after a roof at a school in Pichit province, northern Thailand, collapsed during a storm yesterday. Eighteen more people are injured. Students at Wat Nern Por primary school in Sam Ngam district were playing football after school when the storm hit at around 6pm. Students, parents, and teachers were sheltering beneath the domed roof…
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Biden, McCarthy in debt ceiling talks as US default risk looms
US President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met at the White House yesterday to discuss raising the US government’s US$31.4 trillion debt ceiling, with the US economy at risk if no agreement is reached within 10 days. The Democratic president and the top congressional Republican have struggled to make progress on a deal, as McCarthy pressures the White…
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Democrats to elect new leader amid Abhisit and Watanya speculation
The Democrat Party is set to meet and establish guidelines for selecting a new leader, with Abhisit Vejjajiva and Watanya Bunnag, head of the party’s political innovations working group, being the potential candidates. Yesterday, party spokesperson Ramet Rattanachaweng announced that the caretaker executive panel would convene tomorrow to outline the process for choosing a new leader and appointing a new…
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Much-loved Thai police officer suddenly dies, hormone disorder blamed for 218kg weight
The unexpected passing of Manop Wongnaree, affectionally known as “Police Senior Sergeant Major Elephant” has left his family, friends and colleagues mourning. The 50 year old was a police officer with a body weight of 218 kilograms. He gained international attention when photos of him were shared online, accompanied by comments ridiculing his excessive weight. Assistant Police Captain Pichetpong Chaengkaikom…
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EU regulators apply old laws to control AI as new rules take years to enforce
The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) services like ChatGPT has led regulators to rely on existing laws to control a technology that could transform societies and businesses. The European Union is working on new AI rules to address privacy and safety concerns associated with generative AI technology, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT. However, it will take several years for the…
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China bans US Micron chips, escalating global chip industry risks
China’s recent ban on certain sectors using chips from United States-based Micron Technology has highlighted the potential risks faced by the global chip industry amidst rising Sino-US trade tensions. The move against Micron, the largest US memory chipmaker, is widely perceived as retaliation for Washington’s attempts to limit Beijing’s access to crucial technology. This comes as the Group of Seven…
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Lop Buri monkeys suffer heatwave, locals urge support
Concerned residents are urging government agencies to provide support to monkeys residing in Lop Buri province landmarks, the Phra Kan Shrine and Phra Prang Sam Yot, after a scorching heatwave restricted the movements of its monkeys. Lop Buri finds itself in the grip of an intense heatwave, with temperatures reaching a scorching 41 degrees Celsius. Residents are concerned because the…
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Farmer in Thailand puts buffalo up for sale for US$1.5 million
A farmer in Thailand put a giant water buffalo up for sale for 50 million baht (US$1.45 million) yesterday. Forget a pool villa in Phuket, for the same price you could bag yourself one of the biggest buffaloes Thailand has ever seen. “Petch Lamkhong,” a three year and five month old water buffalo (“kwai“) from “Big Ice Farm” in Phitsanulok, weighed…
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Lottery winner fulfills promise to Thai shrine, celebrates with movie screening
A Thai woman paid respects to a spirit shrine after she won several hundred thousand baht in a lottery draw by offering a traditional dance and a movie screening. The tribute took place today, May 22, at Wat Pa Pradu, Kabin Buri District, in Thailand’s Prachin Buri Province. The 46 year old woman, known as Srichan Sringarm, took a statue…
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Chinese Internet star dies after excessive alcohol drinking during livestream
A Chinese Internet star died after drinking an excessive amount of Chinese alcohol during a livestreaming PK competition. The 34 year old Wang Moufeng, also known as Brother Sanqian, is a popular Chinese celebrity from Jiangsu province in the northeastern part of China. He died on Tuesday, May 16 after he finished a livestreaming session with others in a competition…
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Debtor pawns 3 French bulldogs in Thailand
A loan shark in Thailand claims that a debtor who couldn’t make their repayments pledged three French bulldogs as collateral one year ago, but never returned to collect the dogs or repay the loan. The loan shark posted in the “French bulldog club of Thailand” to seek advice… “These are my three adopted kids. These three dogs did not do anything…
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Grandfather’s arranged marriage shatters woman’s fairy-tale dreams
Marrying into a wealthy family does not ensure a happy ever after as one Vietnamese woman found out after her grandfather organized an arranged marriage. The woman’s parents thought everything was tickety-boo despite little contact with their daughter over the past two years but all that changed when she issues a “come and get me” note hidden in some homemade…
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Cult in Isaan encourages women to worship vagina and penis statues
A religious shrine in the Pak Chong district in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima or Korat is encouraging followers, especially women, to worship vagina and penis statues for good fortune. A Facebook page, E Sor News 2 (อีซ้อขยี้ข่าว), shared a picture of some Thai people praying to the golden vagina statue with a caption that said… “Weird… Putting gold…
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South Sudan airport becomes camp for Eritreans fleeing conflict
Paloich Airport in South Sudan has become a makeshift camp for thousands of refugees fleeing the neighbouring Sudan conflict. They now live in dire conditions without basic amenities such as running water, toilets, or kitchens. Many of these refugees are Eritreans, who had sought asylum in Sudan before being displaced once again due to ongoing violence. They are now waiting…
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Statistical lottery results revealed: Check out past June 1 winning numbers
Lottery enthusiasts in Thailand are gearing up for yet another exciting draw on Thursday, June 1, with many keen to analyse the winning numbers over the past 10 years. These keen-eyed lottery buffs are using historical data to provide insight into the most frequently drawn numbers and use them to guess the upcoming Lottery draw. Looking back at June 1…
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Durian dispute turns violent after Chinese tourists accuse Thai vendor of selling fake fruit
Things quickly turned sour when three Chinese tourists accused a Thai vendor of selling “fake durian” at a market in Chon Buri province, eastern Thailand, on Saturday. Officers from Sattahip Police Station were called to de-escalate an altercation at Siwanat Nakorn 700 Rai Market on Saturday night which began when three Chinese tourists expressed discontent with the quality of their…
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Thailand unemployment rate drops to 1.05% as tourism industry rebounds
Thailand witnessed a decrease in its unemployment rate during the first quarter, reaching a three-year low of 1.05%, down from 1.15% in the final quarter of 2022, according to the state planning agency’s announcement on Monday. The improvement is attributed to the strengthening recovery of the vital tourism industry. The nation’s economy, which is the second-largest in Southeast Asia, experienced…
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Bangkok Pride parade aims to boost Thailand’s 2028 World Pride bid
Bangkok is set to host a Pride parade on June 4, with the theme “Door to Equal Asia,” as the city prepares to bid for World Pride 2028. Waaddao Chumaporn, the founder of Bangkok Pride, informed the Bangkok Post that this year’s event will be larger than the previous year, highlighting Thailand’s preparedness to host the global celebration in 2028.…
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