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Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
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Sponsored What do you need before moving from the US to Thailand?
The Thaiger key takeaways The most common medical emergencies for expats in Thailand include motorcycle accidents, tropical diseases, and food or water-borne illnesses. Air pollution and heat-related conditions like heatstroke also pose serious seasonal health risks, especially in northern and...
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China aims for 5% growth amid economic slowdown
China is poised to set its growth target for the year at about 5%, according to a government work report obtained by Bloomberg News. This growth target hints at the possibility of the government introducing more stimulus to boost the economy’s confidence, which is currently slowing. Premier Li Qiang is expected to disclose the annual gross domestic product (GDP) goal…
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Retired official accused of sexually assaulting Laotian woman
An 18 year old Laotian woman accused her employer, a retired official from the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand, of imprisoning and sexually assaulting her. The accused official denies the allegations, asserting that he cares for her like a father loves his daughter. The older brother of the Laotian victim pleaded with officers from Mueang Udon Thani Police Station…
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5 Thai people injured in missile attacks on Israel-Lebanon border
Five Thai people suffered injuries after missile attacks at an agricultural community called Margaliot on the Israel-Lebanon border on March 4. Authorities advised Thai nationals in the area to evacuate. The conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah group has raged over the past four months at the Israel-Lebanon border in parallel to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The Ministry of…
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Thai government issuing smart ID cards to Buddhist monks
The Thai government has begun issuing smart ID cards to over 100,000 Buddhist monks across the nation, revealed Puangpet Chunlaiad, a minister in the Prime Minister’s Office. These ID cards contain crucial details about each monk’s history and are linked to the country’s citizenship database managed by the Interior Ministry. This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to enhance…
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Gold prices hit record high in Thailand, predicted to climb further
Gold prices in Thailand have reached a historic peak, with projections indicating a possible increase to 38,000 baht per baht weight within the year. This surge is largely attributed to the continued global increase in gold prices, which are nearing a two-month high of over US$2,080 per ounce, according to the Gold Traders Association (GTA). The price of gold bars…
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Swift deception leaves Thai influencer stranded outside Taylor gig
A deceptive concert ticket seller left a well-known Thai social media influencer, her friend, and eight other Thais stranded outside the venue of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Singapore on March 3. Thai netizens and social media influencers flooded a social media account of a 27 year old Natrada “Pluem” Thammapanya, known among her fans as Chopluem, with words of…
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Thailand Video News | Bangkok Brawl between Filipino and Thai trans groups, Tesla eyes Thailand for new EV factory
In this video, Alex and Jay delve into the latest news in Thailand. Beginning with a brawl between Thai and Filipino trans groups erupts in Bangkok, while Elon Musk eyes the country for a new EV factory. In a surprising turn, former PM Yingluck Shinawatra is acquitted by the Supreme Court, amidst a backdrop of political tension. Meanwhile, two extraordinary…
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Kia considers setting up electric vehicle factory in Thailand
Premium Korean car manufacturer, Kia, is exploring the possibility of setting up an electric vehicle (EV) factory in Thailand, as per an announcement made by Kia Sales (Thailand). The move comes in response to the rapidly expanding EV market in the country. If approved by Kia Corporation, the parent company which falls under the Hyundai Motor Group, Thailand would become…
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Thailand’s internal trade dept to cut pig production for price stability
The Internal Trade Department is looking to partner with the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) and the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand, with a plan to cut pig production down to an average of 8,000 piglets each day. This action aims to stabilise the price for livestock producers across the country. According to the director-general of the Internal Trade Department,…
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Loan rejections soar for Thai homes under 3 million baht
The Thai housing market is facing a significant challenge as a growing number of loan applications for homes priced below 3 million baht are being rejected. According to the Housing Finance Association, the rejection rate has spiked to 50%, highlighting the vulnerability of this segment despite its substantial market size. The association’s secretary-general and chairman of the executive board, Alangkot…
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Over a million Buddhists gather to venerate Buddha’s relics in Bangkok
Sanam Luang in Bangkok recently played host to over 1 million Buddhists who congregated to venerate the relics of the Lord Buddha and his chief disciples, Sariputra and Moggallana. The Ministry of Culture reported this mass gathering took place between February 24 and March 3. The Culture Minister, Sermsak Pongpanich, revealed that roughly 100,000 Buddhists visited each day during the…
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Thai economy set for revival amid global uncertainties
The Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations (FETCO) anticipates a revival of the Thai economy in the latter half of the year, supported by potential interest rate reductions. This optimistic outlook emerges amidst global economic uncertainties, with possible recessions in the UK and Japan, and China grappling with a prolonged property crisis. FETCO chairman Kobsak Pootrakool believes that the global…
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Foreign currency deposits surge in Thailand
The past year has seen a significant upturn in foreign currency deposits (FCDs), spurred by appealing interest rates due to global rate hikes. According to data from the Deposit Protection Agency (DPA), member financial institutions observed a surge in FCDs to a total value of 812 billion baht (US$22 billion) by November 2023, up from an earlier figure of 640…
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Rama II expressway construction issues prompt contractor downgrade considerations
The construction of the Rama II Road expressway, currently plagued by delays, substandard work and safety concerns, has prompted Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to consider downgrading contractors responsible for the project. The state budget office was instructed to investigate possible penalties for the contractors involved. Patricia Mongkhonvanit, director-general of the Comptroller General’s Department, was called to meet with the prime…
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Swiss national’s visa status under review following Phuket assault
The visa status of a Swiss national, embroiled in an assault case in Phuket, is set to undergo review by the immigration police, according to Deputy Phuket Governor, Adul Chuthong. The Swiss national, known as Urs Fehr or David, whose visa is due to expire on March 13, is the operator of several Thai businesses and has a registered foundation…
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Violent clash between Thai and Filipina trans groups rocks Bangkok
Chaos erupted early this morning outside a hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 11 when a violent confrontation broke out between Thai and Filipina ladyboys. The Thai group assembled in response to an incident today, March 5, where a Thai ladyboy was assaulted and robbed by a group of about 20 Filipina ladyboys. Tensions heightened as the Thai group demanded justice, leading…
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Pattaya woman injured by glass thrown in dog-caused dispute
A 37 year old local woman named Amawalee Tongfark, found herself in an unfortunate altercation when a glass, thrown by a foreign man, left her with an arm injury in Pattaya. The incident, which was sparked by an agitated response to a barking dog, occurred at a cafe near Jomtien Beach where Amawalee and a friend were spending time. The…
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Drunken altercation in Pattaya ends in injuries and property damage
In Pattaya, a heated altercation escalated into a violent incident in a rented room in the Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chon Buri province. The incident, which occurred at around 2am yesterday, ended in multiple injuries and a considerable amount of property damage. The police were first alerted to the situation when they received a call from the Nongprue Police Station…
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Suspect surrenders in Pattaya Bolt rider murder case
Pattaya experienced a shocking turn of events when a man suspected of a brutal murder yesterday voluntarily handed himself over to the police. Piriyapong Nampetcharoenphon, known locally as U, presented himself at the Nongprue Police Station at 12.30pm on Monday, March 4, following an arrest warrant issued by the Pattaya Provincial Court. The warrant was connected to the fatal shooting…
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British man dies from vitamin D overdose, spurs health warning
An 89 year old British man tragically passed away after nine months of consuming excessive amounts of vitamin D supplements, leading to a fatal case of hypervitaminosis D. This is characterised by elevated blood calcium levels, which ultimately caused heart failure. The incident has sparked medical professionals to raise alarms over the potential dangers of overconsumption of dietary supplements. David…
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Thai call center scam mastermind nabbed at border
The Thai authorities arrested a Thai national, on charges related to operating a call centre scam that duped victims into installing fake electricity utility apps and draining bank accounts of up to 1 million baht. The suspect, 24 year old Supharit, who received a 10-20% commission per scam, totalling over 500 million baht, is also linked to a case where…
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Thailand intensifies crackdown on illegal short selling
The Chairman of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), Pichai Chunhavajira, announced plans to intensify the country’s crackdown on illegal short selling as shares continue to underperform. Currently, the law permits penalisation of only the securities companies that initiate the short-selling order. However, the market authorities are contemplating amending the law to allow the prosecution of both individuals and companies…
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Bangkok hosts Lim Ko Niao spiritual event for devotees
Bangkok’s Po Teck Tung Foundation currently hosts a revered spiritual event, inviting devotees to venerate the goddess Lim Ko Niao from Hat Yai. The event at the foundation’s headquarters in Plabplachai is a collaborative effort with the Samakkhi Mitrapap Foundation (Thung Siang Tung) from Hat Yai. It runs from March 10 to 13 corresponding to the Western calendar. On Sunday,…
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Game over: Thai businessman loses millions to virtual love affair
A Thai businessman lost around 4 million baht to a woman he met through an online game and dated online for more than five years. The victim, 40 year old A, sought help from non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after discovering that the woman he had been dating online for five years cheated him out of around 4 million baht by…
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Thai minister ready to battle over funding for Russian helicopter
Thai Interior Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, is set to challenge the parliamentary subcommittee’s refusal to approve funding for a new Russian-made helicopter. The helicopter is intended to augment the capabilities of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), particularly in dealing with the country’s increasing wildfires and haze pollution. The subcommittee, tasked with scrutinising the fiscal budget for 2024, had…
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Thai racing champion faces backlash after gym altercation
A well-known Thai racing driver is currently facing scrutiny after a video surfaced online showing the athlete assaulting a Mahidol University student in a condominium gym. The incident, which occurred on February 27, stemmed from a dispute over the use of gym equipment. The altercation took place in the late afternoon at 5.45pm when Non, a 21 year old student…
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Tesla in Thailand: The future of green mobility and autonomous vehicles
Following its debut in Thailand at the end of 2022, US-based automobile giant Tesla continues to expand its influence in the Thai market and it is also exciting to purchase a new car in Thailand. With a test centre open in Ramkhamhaeng, customers can try driving various Tesla models as they wish, buy Tesla products, and pick up their ordered…
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Thai woman exposes half-naked motorbike rider (video)
A Thai woman shared a video of a half naked motorcycle rider from a ride-hailing application on social media to warn other users. The 20 year old victim shared a video of her ride on Facebook and Instagram. The video showed the indecent motorcycle rider wearing a black jacket without any underwear. The woman stated in the video caption… “Do…
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Bangkok’s Rama followed the deer as far as Paris
Khon Ramayana episode: “Phra Ram Tam Kwang” (Rama Followed the Deer) is one of the Thai performances that the Thai Arts and Culture Group from the Culture, Sports and Tourism Department performed at the activity area on the rooftop of the Galeries Lafayette department store, located in a major shopping area in the middle of Paris. It attracted a lot…
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Bitcoin nears all-time high, marking a 50% rise this year
Bitcoin’s value witnessed a steep rise today, reaching a two-year high of US$64,285, a mere 2% shy of its all-time record of US$68,999.99 set in November 2021. This surge marks a 50% increase in the cryptocurrency’s value since the beginning of this year, with the majority of this growth observed in recent weeks. The rise in Bitcoin’s value corresponds with…
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