Thailand News

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    5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)

    Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...

  • Brother fights to free US academic jailed in Thailand

    Brother fights to free US academic jailed in Thailand

    A Dallas man is fighting to free his brother, a respected American academic in Thailand, after he was jailed on charges of insulting the monarchy—something his family insists he didn’t do. Paul Chambers, an American scholar and college professor based in Thailand for over 30 years, was arrested last week after Thai military authorities served him with an arrest warrant.…

  • Drunk police officer kills mother and child in Narathiwat crash

    Drunk police officer kills mother and child in Narathiwat crash

    A police officer driving under the influence collided with a motorcycle carrying a family of three, resulting in the deaths of a mother and her child, while the father was injured. The officer’s blood alcohol content was found to be 177 milligrammes per cent, significantly above the legal limit. Yesterday, April 8, Police Colonel Suphachai Yiwangkon, the superintendent of Rangae…

  • Phuket immigration busts 5 Indians in crackdown on illegal workers

    Phuket immigration busts 5 Indians in crackdown on illegal workers

    Phuket Immigration officers, in collaboration with Region 8 Police, arrested five Indian nationals and a Thai woman involved in illegal employment. The operation, led by senior officers, highlights the province’s ongoing efforts to combat unlawful foreign workers and ensure the safety of residents and tourists. In a coordinated effort led by Police Colonel Kriangkrai Ariyaying, Superintendent of Phuket Immigration, along…

  • Dog rescued from cruel owner who dragged pooch along road

    Dog rescued from cruel owner who dragged pooch along road

    A Thai woman rescued a dog from its cruel owner, who dragged the animal along the road in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima, leading to injuries to its legs and body. The witness, Charuwan Phuangkham, shared the videos of an argument between the dog owner and a woman who rescued the animal on her Facebook account yesterday. April 8.…

  • Cheeky splash! Chiang Mai chief in hot water over G-string coyote rave

    Cheeky splash! Chiang Mai chief in hot water over G-string coyote rave

    A Chiang Mai district chief is facing a wave of backlash after a G-string-wearing coyote dancer was filmed shaking her tail feathers on a floating raft while stunned families and kids looked on from the water nearby. The family day out on the Ping River took a rather racy turn after a scandalous clip surfaced online showing a coyote dancer…

  • Thai army commanders face action over conscript abuse

    Thai army commanders face action over conscript abuse

    Commanders of army units where trainers are found guilty of conscript abuse will face disciplinary measures for neglecting their responsibilities, Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated yesterday. Phumtham yesterday, April 8, made these remarks during a visit to a conscript selection and recruitment unit at the Directorate of Joint Communications under the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters in Don Mueang district,…

  • Power bank explodes, sparking fire in Chachoengsao home

    Power bank explodes, sparking fire in Chachoengsao home

    A power bank exploded due to extreme heat, causing a fire in a bedroom that nearly spread throughout the entire house in south central Thailand. The incident occurred at 1.15pm yesterday, April 8 in Thata Kiab district, Chachoengsao province. Police Lieutenant Taweechai Chuchom, Deputy Inspector at Thata Kiab Police Station, received the fire report. Volunteers from Thata Kiab and firefighters…

  • Thailand video news | American academic denied bail under Thai royal defamation law, Vietnamese student visas to the US hit 10-year high

    Thailand video news | American academic denied bail under Thai royal defamation law, Vietnamese student visas to the US hit 10-year high

    In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover key stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. They discuss the denial of bail for American academic Dr Paul Chambers under Thailand’s royal defamation law, a sharp plunge in the Thai stock market following new US tariffs, and the arrest of a British tourist for overstaying her visa. Also featured are…

  • Russian man arrested for 332-day overstay in Phuket

    Russian man arrested for 332-day overstay in Phuket

    Officers from the Phuket Provincial Immigration Bureau arrested a Russian man yesterday for overstaying his visa by nearly one year. Immigration officials yesterday, April 8, informed Phuket Hotnews that they were conducting a crackdown on foreign criminals in the province from April 7 to 11. The operation is targeting foreigners who are residing in the province illegally, as well as…

  • Teens detained in Chiang Mai for Cambodian call centre scam

    Teens detained in Chiang Mai for Cambodian call centre scam

    Three teenagers were detained in Chiang Mai for allegedly operating an office to recruit people for work in a Cambodian call centre scam. They enticed people with promises of lucrative grey-area jobs, free accommodation, and natural border crossing. Yesterday, April 8, Police Lieutenant General Kritthapol Yisakhon, the commander of the Provincial Police Region 5, revealed a collaborative operation involving several…

  • Warning: Deadly mushrooms on the rise this rainy season

    Warning: Deadly mushrooms on the rise this rainy season

    Health officials in Thailand have issued an urgent warning about the lethal dangers of wild mushrooms, as the rainy season spurs their rapid growth across the country. With both edible and toxic varieties sprouting, officials urge the public to exercise extreme caution when foraging, as misidentification could result in deadly consequences. Thailand’s recent rainy season has caused an explosion of…

  • 370 million baht approved for disaster warning system upgrade

    370 million baht approved for disaster warning system upgrade

    The Thai Cabinet approved a budget of 370 million baht for the development of natural disaster warning systems, or early warning systems (EWS). The recent earthquake in Myanmar was a first-time experience for many Thai citizens. The incident sparked concerns about the public’s lack of knowledge regarding how to stay safe during a natural disaster and how to protect themselves…

  • Major drug dealer captured after dramatic canal chase in Tha Sala

    Major drug dealer captured after dramatic canal chase in Tha Sala

    Police in Tha Sala district yesterday arrested a major drug dealer after an intense pursuit. The suspect, identified as a key figure in the local drug trade, attempted to evade capture by attacking officers and fleeing into a canal. Police Colonel Thawatchai Sangkhamitkon of Tha Sala Police Station yesterday, April 8, had received reports of drug trafficking in the area.…

  • Contractor claims 3.7 million baht unpaid wages in DSI probe

    Contractor claims 3.7 million baht unpaid wages in DSI probe

    A construction contractor appeared before the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officers to discuss his knowledge of those associated with China Railway Number 10 and 9 PK company, major contractors in an ongoing investigation. The meeting occurred at the DSI headquarters on Chaeng Watthana Road at 9.30am, yesterday, April 8, where Thitiphong Pothiprom was questioned for more than three hours…

  • Koh Larn resort worker arrested for trespassing and assault

    Koh Larn resort worker arrested for trespassing and assault

    Police arrested a 40 year old resort employee on Koh Larn following accusations of trespassing and sexual assault made by his former girlfriend. The arrest took place yesterday, April 8, when officers from Mueang Pattaya district executed two warrants against the man, known only as Samarn, at his residence in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. The warrants, issued by…

  • No grounds for panic: No coffee shortage or price hike, says DIT

    No grounds for panic: No coffee shortage or price hike, says DIT

    The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has confirmed that there will be no shortage or price increase for a well-known coffee brand, despite rumours to the contrary. They are closely monitoring the market, ensuring retail outlets display prices clearly, with penalties for non-compliance. Witthayakorn Maneenate, Director-General of the DIT, addressed concerns over rumours suggesting a temporary halt in the supply…

  • Ex-Israeli soldier busted for moonlighting as Koh Pha Ngan guide

    Ex-Israeli soldier busted for moonlighting as Koh Pha Ngan guide

    An ex-Israeli special forces soldier swapped the battlefield for the beaches – but his jungle jaunts with kids have landed him in hot water, after being busted for playing tour guide on Koh Pha Ngan without a permit. Police Lieutenant General Saksira Phueak-am, Commander of the Tourist Police Bureau, yesterday, April 8, ordered a crackdown after receiving a tip-off that…

  • Bangkok’s Wat Arun nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status

    Bangkok’s Wat Arun nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status

    Thailand’s iconic Wat Arun temple is one step closer to global recognition, as the Cabinet has just approved its nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. The move highlights the temple’s rich architectural history and its significance to the Rattanakosin Kingdom. In a pivotal Cabinet meeting yesterday, Culture Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol announced that the Phra Prang of Wat Arun…

  • British man plays Russian roulette after gas, grass binge and loses

    British man plays Russian roulette after gas, grass binge and loses

    A British man is fighting for his life after a shocking game of Russian roulette went horribly wrong in a Pattaya condo, following a heavy session involving cannabis and nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas. Police revealed the incident unfolded in the early hours of yesterday, April 8 at a high-rise flat on Soi Chaiyaphruek 1, Pattaya City, where…

  • Thunderstorm warning: Thailand braced for a real down pour

    Thunderstorm warning: Thailand braced for a real down pour

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has sounded the alarm for today, warning tourists and residents to brace themselves as heavy rain is set to drench 49 provinces with thunderous booms and gusty gales, Bangkok included. Residents are urged to stay vigilant, as some areas could even see a surprise visit from hailstones. The current weather conditions are influenced by a…

  • Chinese steel firm delays Bangkok conference over safety

    Chinese steel firm delays Bangkok conference over safety

    Chinese steel manufacturer Xin Ke Yuan Steel has decided to postpone its much-anticipated press conference on steel quality, opting to await further clarification from Thailand’s Industry Ministry. The move comes amid growing scrutiny over the company’s involvement in the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district and concerns over the safety of its products. The…

  • Thailand and Bhutan sign landmark Free Trade Agreement

    Thailand and Bhutan sign landmark Free Trade Agreement

    Thailand and Bhutan have signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA), strengthening economic ties and paving the way for closer trade cooperation. The historic deal was signed during Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay’s visit to Bangkok last week, coinciding with the 6th BIMSTEC Summit. Bilateral trade between the two countries has already surpassed 460 million baht, and Tobgay expressed confidence…

  • Pattaya resort worker arrested for rape and burglary

    Pattaya resort worker arrested for rape and burglary

    A Pattaya resort employee has been arrested for burglary and the rape of a colleague, which has rocked the seaside resort community. At 10.30am today, April 8, Police Lieutenant Colonel Arun Saphanon, Deputy Director of Investigation at Pattaya City Police Station, along with a team of investigators, served two arrest warrants at the home of 40 year old Samart Nakthong.…

  • Watt’s next: Thailand powers up for electric vehicle revolution

    Watt’s next: Thailand powers up for electric vehicle revolution

    Thailand’s government is committed to transforming the nation into an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub, with a policy focused on stimulating demand to encourage consumer adoption. Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul emphasised the importance of building a domestic EV supply to meet this demand. The government has shifted from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle production to an EV focus through…

  • 2 Thai teenagers drown in Suphan Buri canal while washing hair

    2 Thai teenagers drown in Suphan Buri canal while washing hair

    Two Thai teenagers drowned in a canal in the central province of Suphan Buri after entering the water with a friend to wash their hair following a dyeing session. A seven year old girl ran from the Jorrakay Samphan Canal back to her community yesterday, April 7, to seek help after her two older friends, 15 year old Kate and…

  • Thai Airways expands fleet with 45 Boeing dreamliners

    Thai Airways expands fleet with 45 Boeing dreamliners

    Thai Airways International (THAI) has confirmed that fleet expansion is a key part of its strategy, with the airline set to procure 45 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners as part of a major deal to increase its aircraft numbers and strengthen ties with the United States. In a bold move aimed at both modernising its fleet and supporting Thailand’s trade negotiations with…

  • Worker crushed by crane in Sisaket pleads for help

    Worker crushed by crane in Sisaket pleads for help

    A distressing case emerged from a residence in Suk Sawat subdistrict, Phrai Bueng district, Sisaket province, as a worker claimed negligence following a severe accident. The incident involved a 55 year old man, Somboon, who is now bedridden and requires oxygen support after being crushed by a crane basket during a demolition job. The employer allegedly offered minimal financial assistance…

  • Chiang Mai prepares moat for Songkran with safety upgrades

    Chiang Mai prepares moat for Songkran with safety upgrades

    As the Songkran festival approaches, Chiang Mai is ensuring its historic moat is ready for the annual water splashing fun, with significant upgrades to water quality and safety. The city has taken crucial steps to improve both the environment and the safety of residents and tourists who flock to the moat to celebrate Thailand’s most famous water festival. Since March…

  • American professor denied bail on Section 112 charges

    American professor denied bail on Section 112 charges

    Paul Chambers, a prominent American academic from Naresuan University, has been denied bail by Phitsanulok Court following his arrest on charges under Section 112, the lese majeste law, sparking widespread outrage over academic freedom and human rights. Dr Chambers, an expert in Southeast Asian military-civilian relations, was apprehended after an arrest warrant was issued by the Phitsanulok Provincial Court. Today,…

  • Thai doctor accused of encouraging patient to die after suicide attempt

    Thai doctor accused of encouraging patient to die after suicide attempt

    A Thai woman battling depression and bipolar disorder accused a doctor at a hospital in Udon Thani, Isaan province, of urging her to end her life. This shocking claim surfaced after she was admitted following a suicide attempt on April 3. The 24 year old woman, Chompoo, shared her story with ThaiRath, seeking justice and calling for disciplinary action against…