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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Ex-national parks chief’s complaint rejected in bribery scandal case
A bribery scandal involving a former director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation in Thailand took a new turn as the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases dismissed the complaint filed by the accused against the arresting police officers. Rutchada Suriyakul Na Ayutya accused members of the police Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) of malfeasance, fabricating…
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Abusive teacher faces arrest for tormenting 280 kids
A Thai nursery teacher faces arrest for allegedly abusing over 280 children at a childcare centre. On May 30, 2023, Wichit Boonchinwuttikun, the Saraburi Province’s police chief, disclosed the progress in the case; the suspect admitted their guilt and remorse. The investigation into the childcare centre abuse began when nine children were interviewed by a multidisciplinary team of prosecutors, police,…
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Thai exports decline for seventh month as global demand slows
The Thai Ministry of Commerce has reported a decline in the nation’s export value for the seventh consecutive month. In April, the value dropped by 7.6% compared to the previous year, a significantly larger decrease than the 2% fall anticipated by economists. April’s exports were valued at US$21.72 billion, a notable decrease from March’s 12-month high of US$27.65 billion. Despite…
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Woman rescued after lying naked in roadside forest
A 36 year old woman sought police help after she discovered herself lying naked in a roadside forest along Sri Waree Noi Road in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok. The police suspect she was violated by a couple of friends who she spent time with the previous night. At about 9am today, a member of the Bang Plee Rescue Team accompanied…
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A bug’s life: Century-old temple overrun by termites attracts lottery enthusiasts in search of lucky signs
A century-old temple in Phetchabun province, Thailand, has termites almost completely covering its ancient Buddha statues. News of this brought lottery enthusiasts dashing to the temple in search of lucky signs. Locals and temple committee members opened the ancient chapel at Noen MaKha Noi Temple in preparation for its renovation, yesterday, May 29. Upon entering, they witnessed large termites covering…
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Bank of Japan to maintain ultra-loose policy, downplays change expectations
The Bank of Japan’s Governor, Kazuo Ueda, has stated that the central bank will continue to maintain its ultra-loose monetary policy, as there remains a significant gap to achieve the 2% inflation target sustainably. Ueda’s comments downplay the expectations of a policy change in the near future. He told parliament, “We expect inflation to quite clearly slow below 2% toward…
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11 year old girl left distraught after hair raising buzz cut drama
An 11 year old girl was left distressed after a hairdresser mistakenly cut her hair into a short buzz style meant for boys in Pangmakha, Kamphaengphet province. Despite her grandmother’s explicit request for a “student’s haircut,” the stylist ignored their objections and continued cutting her hair. The girl’s mother turned to a Facebook group, “Free Legal Advice Forum” to seek…
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Brawl erupts between foreigners and Thai driver on road in Phuket (video)
A Thai minibus driver filed a complaint at Chalong Police Station yesterday after some foreigners broke two side view mirrors of his vehicle during a dispute on the road in Phuket. The Thai minibus driver, Monnaphan Makaraphan, told police that he was involved in a dispute with the foreign drivers and passengers of a red Toyota Yaris hatchback. He admitted…
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Teacher slaps student for chatting in class, unable to solve problem
A Thai secondary school teacher has come under criticism after slapping a 7th grade student for talking to a classmate during a lesson and failing to solve a problem on the board. A video of the incident went viral on social media, prompting the school and teacher to apologise. The incident took place at a school in Ubon Ratchathani province,…
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Thailand’s NRCT and Chulalongkorn University launch anti-corruption knowledge hub
The Knowledge Hub for Regional Anti-Corruption and Good Governance Collaboration (KRAC) has been established in Thailand through a partnership between the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) and Chulalongkorn University‘s Faculty of Economics. KRAC’s main objective is to develop an anti-corruption ecosystem in the country by applying academic knowledge and fostering international cooperation networks. Asst. Prof. Dr. Torplus Yomnak, director…
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Typhoon Mawar lashes Taiwan’s coast, heads towards southern Japan
Typhoon Mawar battered Taiwan’s eastern coast with strong winds, heavy rains, and large waves today, causing residents in the fishing town of Yilan to secure their boats and homes. Despite losing some of its strength since hitting Guam last week, the slow-moving typhoon remained dangerous with maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 190…
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Teen fights off crocodile while fishing with siblings in Australia
A 19 year old teenager in Northern Australia has had a miraculous escape after being dragged underwater by a giant crocodile while out fishing with his relatives on Groote Eylandt. Despite his terrifying experience, Zefha Butcher managed to survive the harrowing encounter with only minor injuries. Zefha had been fishing along with his 10 year old brother and another relative…
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Three students flee school, report older pupil abuse, spark local police search
Three primary school students in Udon Thani province fled their school premises after being physically abused by older students. They were found on the outskirts of a nearby village and later returned to the school, accompanied by their guardians and teachers. Yesterday, Veeraphol Raksameuwong, admin of the page “Ban Dung Update,” reported that officers from the Fao Rai Patrol Police…
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Asia-Pacific consumers to boost health and wellness spending post-pandemic
A recent survey reveals that approximately 70% of consumers in the Asia-Pacific region are prepared to increase their expenditure on health and wellness products, as the pandemic has heightened health consciousness. The study called the Asia-Pacific Health Priority Survey, was carried out by US supplement distributor Herbalife and highlighted a particularly strong interest in health improvement in Southeast Asia, specifically…
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Chinese driver injures three in Pattaya road accident, faces charges
A road accident in Pattaya resulted in injuries to three Thai nationals, including a 74 year old woman, after a Chinese woman’s car collided with their vehicles. The incident occurred yesterday, May 30, on Sukhumvit Road, inbound to Sattahip in Chonburi province. Na Jomtien Police and rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation were promptly dispatched to the scene…
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Teenager dies in Pattaya motorbike accident amid rainy conditions
A teenage motorcyclist tragically lost his life in an accident while driving home during rainfall in the early hours of this morning. Pattaya Police were alerted to the incident at 2.20am today and promptly arrived at Sukhumvit Road in the Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung District, Chon Buri province, to attend to the victim. Upon reaching the scene, authorities discovered a damaged red…
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Tragic discovery: Father finds son’s body in septic tank
In a heartbreaking turn of events, a father discovered the lifeless body of his nine year old in the septic tank of a house in Nong Bua Lamphu province, in the northeastern region of Thailand. The boy’s uncle confessed to the murder, saying the boy annoyed him. Thaworn, the grieving father, disclosed to Channel 8 that his son, Jay, had…
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Student denied college interview over methamphetamine vindicated by second test
The 19 year old student from Khon Kaen who was initially deemed ineligible for a college interview test due to a positive methamphetamine test has now been cleared after a second test came back negative. The family plans to submit the blood test results to Khon Kaen University’s Faculty of Pharmacy to confirm her eligibility for the interview test. Last week, Anama…
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Alcohol ban in Thailand on June 3 for Visakha Bucha and royal visit
A nationwide alcohol ban will be enforced in Thailand this Saturday, June 3, in observance of the Buddhist holiday Visakha Bucha. The ban coincides with a royal visit to Phuket by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana, celebrating Her Majesty’s birthday. Visakha Bucha commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Prince Siddhartha, which all occurred on the same date,…
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China snubs US invitation for defence meeting in Singapore
China rejected a US proposal for a meeting in Singapore between Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu, according to the Pentagon. The refusal to engage in military-to-military discussions raised concerns but the US Department of Defence remains committed to pursuing open lines of communication with the People’s Liberation Army. Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said……
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Kyiv targeted for third night as Ukraine intercepts 20+ drones
Kyiv was subjected to a third consecutive night of attacks as Russia targeted the Ukrainian capital, resulting in several buildings being set ablaze. Officials reported that falling debris caused the fires, while Ukraine’s air defences intercepted over 20 drones. At least one fatality has been reported. Ukraine claims to have downed all missiles and drones in the previous two assaults.…
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IRA agent Stakeknife admits to killing informer in uncovered 1990 court document
A BBC investigation has revealed that Freddie Scappaticci, the man believed to have been one of the British Army’s top agents within the IRA, admitted in 1990 to shooting a suspected informer. Scappaticci, who passed away in April, consistently denied being the agent known as Stakeknife. He is suspected of being involved in over 20 murders during the Troubles in…
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UK homeless charity St Mungo’s staff strike over pitiful 2.25% pay rise dispute
Homeless charity St Mungo’s is facing a month-long strike from its staff, beginning today, as workers protest against what they consider an insufficient pay increase. Unite union members will form picket lines outside the charity’s offices in London, Brighton, Bristol, and Oxford. According to the union, the employees are “taking a stand” following a “pitiful” offer of a 2.25% pay…
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UK supermarket inflation hits 9% due to coffee, chocolate, and non-food goods
Inflation at UK supermarkets reached a new peak in the year to May, driven by the rising cost of commodities such as coffee, chocolate, and non-food items. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and NielsenIQ reported that overall inflation at grocers climbed to 9%. Although fresh food prices have experienced a slight decrease, the government is considering asking supermarkets to cap…
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Pattaya City gears up for several exciting events
Pattaya City is gearing up for several exciting events taking place next month in June. On Saturday, June 17, there will be a thrilling lineup of activities to encourage drug-free lifestyles, particularly among youth. The festivities will kick off at 3pm near the sailing memorial across from Mike Shopping Mall and will continue until 10pm at Central Mall. The event…
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Thailand’s Cannabis Future Network warns parties against reinstating plant as narcotic
The Cannabis Future Network in Thailand has called upon three alliance parties not to reinstate cannabis as a narcotic drug, referring to the decision as “getting the first shirt button wrong” and potentially leading to further issues. The network leader, Prasitchai Nunual, expressed his concerns on their Facebook fan page, stating that the ad-hoc committee responsible for discussing the removal…
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China rotates crew on fully operational space station, sends first civilian
China has successfully launched three astronauts, including its first civilian scientist, to its fully operational space station as part of a crew rotation. The Shenzhou-16 spacecraft, carrying commander Jing Haipeng, engineer Zhu Yangzhu, and Beihang University professor Gui Haichao, lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert. The mission aims to conduct large-scale, in-orbit experiments, studying…
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Surat Thani sees 155% increase in international visitors, boosting revenue
Surat Thani sees a significant increase in international tourists, with over 1.5 million visitors arriving in the province so far this year, a 155% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the provincial governor. Governor Witchawut Jinto announced that since January, the province has welcomed a total of 2.05 million visitors, with 1.5 million being international tourists.…
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Thai man high on Yaba mistakenly fears Burmese army invasion, kidnaps son
A Thai man reportedly under the influence of Yaba (methamphetamine) confessed to police that he had rushed to pick up his son from a school in the southern province of Chumphon due to a false belief that a Burmese army had invaded Thailand. The man, identified as 29 year old Jirapong Janthong, had taken a rifle with him into Phubodin…
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Unemployed man found dead in vehicle amid struggle with depression
A 42 year old unemployed man was found dead in his pickup truck near Rama III Road, Soi 41, Yan Nawa district, Bangkok, reportedly suffering from depression. The initial investigation reveals he has been unemployed for almost a year and had a history of depression. At around 10pm yesterday, local authorities in the Bang Phongpang, Yannawa district received reports of…
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