- Bangkok News
Thai fugitive extradited from China for Dr Boon network fraud
Thai police have arrested a broker linked to the Doctor Boon Vanasin network at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. She was extradited from China yesterday to face charges of fraud and deception totalling over 14 billion baht. Thitiporn Chalermrattanaprateep was apprehended in China while fleeing these charges. She was returned to Thailand via China Southern Airlines flight CZ361, which landed at Suvarnabhumi…
- Phuket News
Holiday heartbreak: American dies in Phuket after night of drinking
A 22 year old American tourist from Washington State tragically died in Phuket Town after a night of heavy drinking, leaving behind stunned friends and a heartbroken girlfriend. The young man, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of his family, had been staying at the Rabbit Hotel on Phang Nga Road near Phuket Bus Terminal 1. He was travelling…
- Pattaya News
Chon Buri hospital simulates mass crash ahead of Songkran chaos
With the deadly Songkran road rush just around the corner, one hospital in Chon Buri isn’t taking any chances—staging a mass casualty drill to brace for the holiday’s inevitable accident surge. Samitivej Sriracha Hospital recently ran a full-scale emergency exercise simulating a horrific collision between a passenger truck and a motorcycle that left 15 people “injured.” The high-intensity drill, though staged,…
- Bangkok News
Steel firm faces axe over Bangkok quake collapse
A steel manufacturer under fire for producing substandard materials linked to the collapse of a Bangkok government building is now facing the axe—Industry Minister Akanat Promphan demands that their investment privileges be revoked. In a fiery Facebook post yesterday, April 4, Akanat announced he had signed a letter seeking the removal of benefits granted to Xin Ke Yuan Steel, accusing…
- Phuket News
Teen racers busted in Phuket midnight police crackdown
Reckless teen bikers got a rude awakening this week as Wichit Police swooped in on a notorious Phuket racing hotspot, hauling in 17 underage riders and seizing 10 souped-up motorbikes in a late-night sting. The crackdown, carried out in the early hours of yesterday, April 4 in the Laem Dinso area, was part of an intensified campaign to tackle illegal…
- Thailand News
Retiree surrenders after fatal shooting over dog dispute in Lamphun
A 62 year old retiree surrendered to the police after fatally shooting the owner of a dog that allegedly caused him to suffer an accident. The incident occurred yesterday, April 4 in a field located in Mueang Lamphun district, Lamphun province. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phanupong Songsuwan, from Ban Thi Police Station, reported a shooting at Ban Chae Son, Village 1,…
- Bangkok News
Mass grave unearthed at Bangkok train station site
Construction workers got more than they bargained for while digging near Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital—a chilling discovery of dozens of human skeletons beneath the ground, believed to be victims of a mass execution over two centuries ago. The remains were found during a survey at the future site of the MRT Orange Line’s Siriraj Station, which will link Bang Khun Non…
- Thailand News
Mild earthquake shakes Pai as Myanmar tremors surge nearby
Tourists in Thailand’s popular northern getaway Pai woke up to an unexpected jolt after a mild earthquake struck the area early this morning, April 5—part of a cluster of tremors shaking nearby Myanmar. At around 6am, a 2.1-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Pai district, Mae Hong Son province, at a shallow depth of just 1 kilometre. While the quake was…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya driver accused of misconduct by intoxicated passenger
A 24 year old woman reported being coerced by a driver into a non-consensual act after she was heavily intoxicated while returning home from a host bar in Pattaya in the early hours. Despite filing a complaint with Pattaya Police Station, she was initially told to gather her own evidence, causing considerable distress. Yesterday, Police Colonel Arut Saphanon and Pol.…
- Phuket News
Phuket lawyer arrested over harassment and multiple marriages
Police in Phuket apprehended a well-known lawyer following allegations of harassment and multiple marriages. An arrest warrant was executed yesterday, April 4, as the Phuket Provincial Investigation Unit detained Anantarak, a social media-famous lawyer, at a local car park. This comes after previous revelations on a television show regarding claims of harassment and his admission of being involved with over…
- Pattaya News
Fugitive thief and hit-and-run suspect captured in Pattaya
A sleepy fugitive’s midday snooze turned into a rude awakening after Pattaya police busted a 23 year old man wanted for theft and a fatal hit-and-run. The arrest unfolded while the suspect was dozing off beside a motorcycle repair shop. At 1pm on Thursday, April 3, officers from Pattaya Police Station arrested Mintada, who had been on the run from…
- Thailand News
US academic slapped with lese majeste charges in Thailand
A 58 year old American lecturer is in hot water after Thai authorities issued a rare lese majeste arrest warrant against him—sending shockwaves through the country’s academic and expat communities. The suspect, Paul Chambers, a long-time resident of Thailand and special adviser on international affairs at Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, is facing charges under Thailand’s strict royal defamation laws, known…
- Thailand News
Thailand heatwave hits 28 provinces with summer storms
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for today, April 5, highlighting intense heat in some areas and storms affecting 28 provinces, including Bangkok. Strong gusty winds and high waves in the sea are also expected, urging residents to exercise caution. In Thailand’s upper regions, low pressure from heat is causing overall hot weather, with extreme heat in…
- Phuket News
Phuket trials emergency alert system after earthquake failures
In the wake of the March 28 earthquake that rocked Thailand, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has swiftly rolled out a trial run of a new Cell Broadcast alert system in Phuket, aiming to overhaul the country’s emergency alert infrastructure. During the trial, the system showed promising results on Android devices, providing real-time alerts without delays. However,…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya hotels surge as Hua Hin struggles for tourists
Last weekend, local travellers flocked to Pattaya in the aftermath of the earthquake, causing hotel occupancy rates to soar to full capacity. However, the impact of the quake had a very different effect on Hua Hin, where concerns over road safety led to a sharp decline in bookings. “Travellers seeking refuge from the tremors in Bangkok drove a spike in…
- Phuket News
Dorm inspected in Phuket after quake sparks safety fears
In the wake of last week’s devastating earthquake in Myanmar, scrutiny has intensified on a Chinese contractor linked to multiple construction projects across Thailand, including a long-delayed female student dormitory at Phuket Rajabhat University. On April 3, officials from the Phuket branch of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT Phuket) carried out an urgent inspection…
- Thailand News
Thailand goes shadowless: Sun overhead phenomenon begins
Get ready to look up because Thailand is about to go shadowless. The rare and dazzling astronomical event known as the sun overhead phenomenon is sweeping across the country, starting today in Yala’s Betong district and continuing through to May 22 in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district. The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) confirmed that this solar spectacle…
- Pattaya News
Meth, mayhem and the macabre: Pattaya man busted
In a twisted tale straight out of a crime thriller, a Pattaya man was arrested after police caught him using methamphetamine (meth) in a junkyard, surrounded by stolen human remains. The shocking discovery left locals stunned and police scrambling for answers. At around 10.30pm on Wednesday, April 2, officers from Bang Lamung Police swooped in on a notorious abandoned area…
- Phuket News
Battery blast injures crewman off Phuket’s Cape Panwa
A fishing trip turned into a terrifying ordeal yesterday evening when a battery exploded on board a trawler off the coast of Cape Panwa, leaving one crew member injured and sparking a coordinated rescue mission. The incident occurred aboard the vessel L. Thanakorn, which was approximately 7.3 nautical miles south of Cape Panwa at the time. The Thai Maritime Enforcement…
- Thailand News
Miss Tourism Myanmar found dead as quake toll rises
The body of Miss Tourism Myanmar 2018 was pulled from the rubble of a collapsed condo in Mandalay, Myanmar, as the country continues to reel from the catastrophic earthquake that struck on Friday, March 28. The death toll has now surged to 3,145, with more than 4,600 people injured and over 220 still missing. Rescue operations remain underway in multiple…
- Pattaya News
Grim discovery: Pattaya vendor finds bloated corpse in jungle
In a chilling twist that sounds straight out of a horror flick, a papaya salad vendor stumbled across a bloated corpse while relieving herself in a remote thicket in Pattaya. What was meant to be a routine break from work quickly turned into a nightmare she’ll never forget. The grisly discovery was made yesterday, April 3 at 3.06pm. Police Lieutenant…
- Phuket News
Tourist sparks outrage in Phuket with fake cash stunt (video)
A foreign tourist has come under fire after being caught on video throwing fake dollar bills out of a moving car in Phuket, sparking outrage among locals and reigniting debate over Thailand’s visa exemption policy. The bizarre incident, believed to be a social media stunt, took place along Yaowarat Road in Samkong and quickly went viral. The footage, posted to…
- Thailand News
Rice and fall: Thai fragrant rice at risk as US tariffs give Vietnam edge
Thailand’s Hom Mali fragrant rice faces a major threat in the US market as new reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US could see the country lose its competitive edge to Vietnam. The Thai Rice Exporters Association has raised concerns after the US imposed a steep 36% tariff on Thai rice, which will push prices up to US$1,400 per tonne from…
- Phuket News
BoT launches debt relief and fraud crackdown in Phuket
To ease the financial burden on struggling debtors and combat rampant financial fraud, the Bank of Thailand’s Southern Office unveiled a new initiative in Phuket yesterday, April 3. The You Fight, We Help programme aims to provide critical support for citizens and small businesses facing financial difficulties while also tackling the growing issue of financial crime. Thatlap Paoleuangthong, Senior Director…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok’s ‘Ghost Tower’ survives 7.7-magnitude earthquake
The Sathorn Unique Tower, a 49-storey building abandoned for over three decades, has gone viral after surviving a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on March 28. The earthquake, which struck as Myanmar’s strongest in 100 years, sent shockwaves throughout Southeast Asia, including Bangkok, over 1,000 kilometres away from the epicentre. While the tremors caused significant damage, including the collapse of a…
- Bangkok News
Entertainment Complex Bill to be debated in Parliament by April 9
The much-discussed Entertainment Complex Bill is set to be reviewed in Parliament soon, with a likely discussion date of April 9, according to Chief Government Whip Wisut Chainarun. The bill, which was approved by the Cabinet on March 27, is designed to boost Thailand’s economy by diversifying tourism beyond its traditional seasonal peaks. Wisut, a Pheu Thai list-MP, provided an…
- Thailand News
Phayao’s 70-million-baht SAO building abandoned
A 70-million-baht government project in Phayao has been left incomplete and abandoned, sparking questions over its delayed construction. The building, intended to house the State Audit Office (SAO), remains unfinished, with no clear explanation for its stalled progress. Located near the provincial immigration office, the once-promising site now sits as an eyesore, with only the third-floor framework partially finished, surrounded…
- Bangkok News
Thailand offers rent waivers for earthquake-hit tenants
The Treasury Department has stepped up to support those impacted by the earthquake that struck Thailand on March 28. In an announcement made by Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul, tenants renting state land in earthquake-affected areas are now eligible for rent waivers, providing much-needed relief to those whose properties were damaged in the disaster. This initiative targets tenants of state-owned…
- Thailand News
Thai king and queen to make historic state visit to Bhutan
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida are preparing for their first official overseas state visit to Bhutan from April 25 to 28, marking a historic moment in strengthening ties between the two nations. The royal visit is in response to an invitation from Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, and it promises to be a grand cultural exchange. Upon…