- Thailand News
Korat calls for urgent donations amid major blood shortage
Residents across northeastern Thailand are being encouraged to donate blood to address a significant shortage, as highlighted by officials at Regional Blood Centre V. Hospitals in regions such as Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Buriram, and Surin are currently receiving only 30 to 40% of their required blood supply, according to Sirilak Piakkhunthod, head of the blood centre. Sirilak noted that 39…
- Thailand News
Ex-Yakuza member arrested in Thailand over call centre scam
A Japanese national, allegedly a former Yakuza member, has been detained in relation to a dismantled call centre operation in Thailand, as announced by the Immigration Bureau yesterday, January 15. Identified as 34 year old Yu Hamaji, police suspect him to have been the deputy leader of the Japanese gang that was intercepted in mid-December in Bang Lamung district, Chon…
- Thailand News
Thai FDA warns against deadly vape liquid mixed with ketamine
The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the dangers of Pot K, a vape liquid mixed with ketamine, which can be fatal. Selling this substance can lead to a prison sentence of up to 15 years and a fine of 1.5 million baht. This illegal product has become prevalent among nightlife enthusiasts. Dr Witit Srisuriyachayakul, Deputy…
- Thailand News
Thai cinema reels in the big bucks, outshining Hollywood
Eight Thai films surpassed 100 million baht in revenue in 2024, capturing a 54% share of the domestic market, surpassing Hollywood films. Surachet Asavarueng-Anan, Chief Executive Officer of M STUDIO, a film production and distribution company in Thailand and abroad, announced yesterday, January 15, that the Thai film industry achieved significant success last year. The industry’s market share exceeded that…
- Thailand News
Thai tax tangle: Expats warned of new rules on overseas income
A packed meeting of the Pattaya City Expat Club turned into a lively debate as members received crucial updates on Thailand’s controversial new tax policy regarding overseas income transfers. Hosted by Thomas Carden, director of American International Tax Advisers, and tax attorney Patcha Inkudanonda, the session offered clarity, and raised fresh concerns, about the Thai Revenue Department’s evolving guidelines. Patcha…
- Thailand News
Hong Kong sends task force to rescue citizens trapped in Thailand
In response to reports of Hong Kong residents being lured to Southeast Asia and forced into illegal work, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced that the Security Bureau has dispatched a task force to Thailand. The move comes as law enforcement agencies reveal that 28 residents have been trapped abroad since mid-2024, with only 16 successfully returned so…
- Thailand News
Infineon builds state-of-the-art semiconductor plant in Thailand
Infineon Technologies has begun the construction of a state-of-the-art backend semiconductor plant in Samut Prakan, just south of Bangkok, marking a significant milestone for Thailand’s role in the global tech industry. The highly automated facility, set to begin operations in early 2026, will focus on producing power modules essential for industrial applications and renewable energy systems. Supported by the Thailand…
- Pattaya News
Drunken chaos: Foreigner flees after Pattaya motorcycle wreck
A shocking hit-and-run incident involving a motorcycle in East Pattaya has left a Laotian housekeeper fighting for her life while a foreign national is accused of fleeing the scene. The crash occurred yesterday, January 14 in Soi Thung Klom-Tan Man 9, leaving behind a trail of carnage and unanswered questions. Police arriving at the scene found a Yamaha Grand Filano…
- Bangkok News
AI scam targets Thai PM: Paetongtarn exposes con attempt
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra issued a stark warning to the public about the dangers of AI-driven scams after narrowly escaping a sophisticated con involving a fake ASEAN leader. Speaking at a policy meeting for the 2026 fiscal budget, the 38 year old PM revealed she was targeted by a call centre gang using artificial intelligence to mimic the voice…
- Thailand News
Man arrested in Nonthaburi for driving stolen ambulance van
A man who took an ambulance in Chaiyaphum was apprehended in Nonthaburi after claiming he was only “driving without a destination.” Yesterday, January 14, police in Mueang Chaiyaphum district were informed by the Sawang Khunnatham Foundation rescue team about a stolen Toyota van with the registration 40-0244 Chaiyaphum. The vehicle was later tracked via GPS to Bang Yai district in…
- Thailand News
Charity event raises 4 million baht for Police General Hospital
Thailand’s Police Association donated 4 million baht from its second annual charity walk-run event, Police Run 2024, to the Police General Hospital. This donation, presented yesterday, January 14 at the hospital, will fund medical equipment to support patients and visitors. The event, organised by the Police Association and the Police General Hospital Foundation under Royal Patronage, took place last year…
- Pattaya News
Indian doctor accused of killing wife in Pattaya bathtub drowning
A romantic getaway in Pattaya turned into a nightmarish scene from a horror movie as an Indian doctor based in the city of Lucknow stands accused of murdering his wife by sedating her and causing her to drown in a hotel bathtub. The chilling allegations against the doctor, 38 year old Ashish Srivastava, were made by his father-in-law, Satyanarayan Sharma,…
- Thailand News
Family leaves Kanchanaburi café without paying for 240 baht cake
A cheeky family caused a more than a storm in a tea cup at a café in Kanchanaburi province after refusing to pay for their cake order. The café took to Facebook to recount the incident, revealing that the family tucked into two cakes before brazenly leaving without settling the bill. When staff confronted them to settle the bill, the…
- Bangkok News
Thai woman arrested in Bangkok for stealing luxury items
Police apprehended a 50 year old Thai woman at a clubhouse in Sukhumvit 31, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana district, Bangkok for allegedly stealing luxury items from her uncle, a judge. The stolen items, which include Hermes bags and diamond earrings, are valued at approximately 3.65 million baht. The incident came to light after the judge reported the theft to Mueang…
- Thailand News
Lufthansa and Thai Airways to revolutionise Eurasian travel
In a bold move to redefine travel between Europe and Asia, Lufthansa and Thai Airways International are supercharging their partnership with a codeshare expansion that’s set to shake up the aviation industry. Starting this month, travellers will have unprecedented connectivity to Southeast Asia, as flights from Bangkok to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Manila take on a Lufthansa flight…
- Bangkok News
Interpol joins hunt for Cambodian suspect in Bangkok shooting
Interpol has issued a red notice for the arrest of a 24 year old Cambodian man implicated in the fatal shooting of Lim Kimya, a former Cambodian opposition MP following a request from the Thai police. Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) commissioner, Police Lieutenant General Sayam Boonsom, stated that the warrant will enable Interpol and the Cambodian National Police to locate…
- Thailand News
Public health ministry urges vigilance amid rise in influenza cases
At the Ministry of Public Health yesterday, Dr Jurai Wongsawat and Dr Weerawat Manosutthi, a distinguished physician and government spokesperson, presented concerns over rising influenza cases this year and discussed the monitoring of hMPV and avian flu. They emphasised ways for families to maintain health and avoid illnesses. Last year, several major diseases required continuous observation, including Covid-19, influenza, dengue fever,…
- Thailand News
Chiang Rai border drug trafficking clash leads to 4 deaths
A skirmish erupted along the northern border, resulting in the deaths of four people involved in drug trafficking. The confrontation occurred late on Monday, January 13, leading to the seizure of 34 sacks of crystal methamphetamine (Ice), which weighed over 1 tonne. Major General Kidakorn Chantra, commander of the Pha Mueang Force, and Lieutenant Colonel Jakkrapong Sodsri, deputy commander of…
- Thailand News
PM Paetongtarn to visit southern provinces amid recent bombings
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will visit the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat tomorrow despite recent bombings in the region, as confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. Phumtham, who is also with the defence ministry, yesterday, January 14, addressed two bomb incidents: one in Ano Ru subdistrict, Mueang district, Pattani, which injured six paramilitary rangers on Monday morning,…
- Thailand News
Second phase of 10,000 baht handout for elderly starts January 27
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira announced that the second phase of the government’s 10,000 baht cash handout will start on January 27, two days earlier than initially planned. This phase will target approximately 3.5 to 4 million elderly citizens aged 60 and above, who will receive the funds through the government’s PromptPay app. The economic stimulus programme was originally designed to…
- Thailand News
Thailand boosts durian export checks after China ban
Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is set to enhance its contamination screening processes for durians before export to China, following a temporary ban imposed by the country. Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat announced yesterday, January 14, that each durian shipment will undergo testing for Basic Yellow 2, a cancer-causing dye, along with cadmium and durian borers, prior to…
- Thailand News
Thailand to welcome foreign couples for surrogacy under new law
Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is amending surrogacy legislation to align with the equal marriage law and to welcome overseas couples for surrogate births in Thailand. Director General of the Department of Health Service Support, Dr Panuwat Panket, shared updates yesterday, January 14, regarding the amendments to the Protection for Children Born through Assisted Reproductive Technologies Act. These revisions are being…
- Thailand News
Thai schools to shift lessons online amid severe air pollution threat
Schools in Thailand may transition to online classes if fine dust pollution reaches critical levels, according to the Thai Education Ministry. Teachers are advised to monitor students’ health as PM2.5 haze pollution affects several provinces, including Bangkok. Siripong Angkasakulkiat from the Education Ministry stated yesterday, January 14, that Minister Permpoon Chidchob urged the creation of appropriate plans to organise classes…
- Thailand News
Thailand slashes barriers for elite visas: LTR programme
Thailand is making bold moves to attract wealthy foreigners and digital nomads by easing visa restrictions to position the country as a global hub for long-term residency. The Cabinet approved sweeping changes to its Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa programme, streamlining the application process and eliminating outdated Smart visa categories, a Government House source revealed. The revised LTR visa rules target…
- Thailand News
Brrr-illiant care: Chiang Mai Zoo keeps animals cozy at 10°c
As temperatures in Chiang Mai drop to a chilly 10 degrees Celsius (°C), Chiang Mai Zoo is stepping up to ensure its animals stay warm and healthy. Located at the foot of a mountain, the zoo faces sharp nighttime and early-morning temperature dips, prompting a range of protective measures for its residents. Zoo director Wutthichai Muangman revealed that heat lamps…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok chokes on toxic air as PM2.5 levels hit danger zone
Bangkok’s air quality plummeted to hazardous levels, with PM2.5 dust particles soaring to the orange health-threatening category across all 50 districts, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported today. The average PM2.5 concentration in the city reached 47.6 µg/m³ this morning, significantly exceeding the safe limit of 37.5 µg/m³. The five worst-affected districts are Nong Khaem (56.7 µg/m³), Khlong Sam Wa…
- Bangkok News
HK singer cancels Bangkok concert amid Chinese safety fears
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan Yik-shun has abruptly cancelled his upcoming Bangkok concert, citing safety concerns for Chinese citizens travelling to Thailand. The February 22 show at Impact Arena was called off following the rescue of a mainland Chinese actor from a cross-border scam syndicate. Sunfan Media Group, the concert organiser, announced the decision last Friday, January 10. “After careful…
- Pattaya News
Scrambled spat: Egg row ends with knife attack in Pattaya
Pattaya police and rescue workers rushed to a chaotic scene on Sunday where a domestic dispute over frying eggs took a violent turn, leaving a man with a knife lodged in his head. Officers arrived at a rental room in Soi Paniadchang 8, Central Pattaya, yesterday, January 12, to find 36 year old Krisada Matcha, bleeding profusely and stumbling down…
- Thailand News
Leicester City helicopter crash inquiry begins
A long-awaited inquiry has been launched into the crash of a Leonardo AW169 helicopter at Leicester City Football Club on October 27, 2018. The accident claimed the lives of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Chairperson of King Power Group and Leicester City FC, along with two pilots and two others. The inquiry, led by Professor Catherine Mason at Leicester Town Hall, opened yesterday, January 13…
- Bangkok News
Over 200,000 mule accounts targeted in scam gangs crackdown
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) launched an all-out crackdown on scam networks using over 200,000 mule bank accounts to siphon off approximately 100 billion baht from Thai citizens since 2022. The scale of the financial crimes has prompted an urgent collaboration between the RTP, the Bank of Thailand (BoT), and other agencies. At a high-level meeting yesterday, January 13, Police General…
