THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News

In an up-to-the-minute peek at the bustling hustle and bustle of Thailand and its Southeast Asian neighbors, Alex and Jay are your dynamic duo diving into the hot news off the press. First stop: Thai royal defamation laws are making waves as American scholar Dr. Paul Chambers is denied bail. His alleged misdemeanors of royal defamation and the spread of erroneous information have pushed him headlong into a legal quagmire without even a courtesy subpoena. Rights groups are up in arms, hailing this as a significant throttle on Thailand’s academic discourse. Meanwhile, the financial seas are stormy as Thailand’s stock market feels the sting from fresh US tariffs, plummeting dramatically by 3.76% just yesterday. Heavyweights like Gulf Energy and Kasikornbank led the significant sell-offs, as jittery investors reacted to fears of a brewing global trade war. Tightened trading ropes are now in play as the SET Index spins down to…

In a recent string of successful cyber police operations in Thailand, a 41-year-old woman has been apprehended for orchestrating an elaborate online gambling enterprise that capitalized on the age-old sport of cockfighting. The arrest, conducted by the staunch cyber crime team in Bangkok, marks yet another step forward in the country’s ongoing battle against illegal gambling activities. The arrested woman, known as Duangdao, inadvertently caught the eye of law enforcement officials due to her social media presence. The first clue came from her TikTok account, aptly named Phone Nong Cher Taem, which suspiciously led enthusiasts to a LINE group titled Pichia 168—a digital haven for cockfighting aficionados looking to place their bets. According to Police Lieutenant General Trairong Phiewphun from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, the platform wasn’t limited to just cockfighting; it was a smorgasbord of gambling, showcasing other popular games like Hi-Lo and Pok Deng. This digital gambling…

Imagine a seemingly ordinary day turning into a scene straight out of an action movie. That’s precisely what unfolded yesterday near Soi Sahakarnpramoon in Bangkok when a young girl had a heart-stopping adventure that she, and those who helped her, will remember for a lifetime. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the tranquility was abruptly shattered. At exactly 5:49 PM, a call of distress echoed through the emergency hotline 199, reporting a girl ensnared in a deep, dark sewer within the Wang Thonglang district of Bangkok. It was a race against time as firefighters and the Bang Kapi rescue team sprang into action, their sirens wailing through the crowded city streets. Upon reaching the scene, the rescuers faced the formidable challenge of freeing the girl trapped within the bowels of the city. She was lodged in a narrow, grimy space that seemed more fitting for urban legends…

In the bustling district of Tha Sala, the usually serene canals became the epicenter of high-octane drama yesterday. The scene unfolded like a gripping movie script, as local law enforcement officers embarked on a mission to nab a notorious figure in the drug underworld. The operation was as intense as it was dangerous, culminating in a scene that saw uniformed officers diving into canals and clashing with the law-defying elements. Police Colonel Thawatchai Sangkhamitkon, a name well-known among the ranks for his unyielding stance against crime, had received troubling whispers about the rampant drug trade. With a resolve as solid as steel, he deployed two of his finest—Police Lieutenant Colonel Somchai Muaydee and Police Lieutenant Colonel Theerapol Phumchai—to investigate a suspicious abode nestled by a calm canal in Mueang Tha Sala. The house, however innocent it appeared, housed secrets far darker than one could fathom. As the officers tiptoed in,…

In a move reflective of Thailand’s commitment to public safety and technological advancement, the Thai Cabinet has given the nod to a significant investment—370 million baht earmarked for the enhancement of the nation’s natural disaster warning systems. This decision springs from a growing awareness of the need for a robust early warning system, especially after the unsettling wake-up call from the Myanmar earthquake that left Thai citizens questioning their preparedness for such natural calamities. The earthquake, a novel experience for many, highlighted a startling gap in public knowledge regarding emergency safety protocols. It underscored the importance of an effective communication system to guide citizens during such emergencies. While some people received SMS alerts with instructions on managing potential aftershocks, many found this information redundant, having already sought guidance from digital platforms and private advisories. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, in conjunction with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission,…

The lush landscapes of Thailand have recently been transformed into a vast, verdant mushroom haven, as the annual rainy season unfurls its magic across the country. While picturesque and alluring, this bounty of wild fungi holds a lurking peril—deadly mushrooms wearing an innocent facade. In light of this potentially lethal deception, health officials have sounded the alarm, cautioning residents and intrepid foragers of the venomous pitfalls hidden in nature’s harvest. The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has highlighted a concerning blitz in mushroom blooms. As the rainy season calls forth an explosion of both delectable and deadly varieties, the risk of misidentification is at an all-time high. Treading on the fine line between culinary delight and toxic disaster, even seasoned foragers could be fooled by these spherical enigma, as some of the most dangerous mushrooms adopt the guise of their harmless counterparts. Enter the cryptic champions of this lethal masquerade:…

In a twist that could rival the most intriguing detective story, the picturesque city of Chiang Mai recently became the epicenter of a police sting operation uncovering a recruitment ruse straight out of a Hollywood caper. This curious tale began with the arrest of three individuals whose youthful faces belie the serious nature of their alleged crimes. These young entrepreneurs, in their mid to late twenties, were allegedly at the helm of a scheme recruiting unsuspecting individuals into the murky world of Cambodian call centers. What made this ploy particularly sinister was the alluring promises that baited their victims—high-paying positions, free room and board, and a seamless natural border crossing. It almost sounds too good to be true, and indeed, it was. The promise of ‘easy’ admin work masked the reality of potentially unscrupulous activities. The wheels of this operation began turning when local authorities received an anonymous tip-off that…

In the sun-soaked paradise of Thailand, nestled among the throngs of tourists and sun-seekers in Phuket, an unexpected character emerged as the protagonist in a real-life drama. This tale began with an ambitious crack-down operation launched by the Phuket Provincial Immigration Bureau, set on flushing out foreign nationals overstaying their welcome on Thai soil. In this relentless sweep, little did they know they’d stumble upon an elusive Russian with a flair for the dramatic. The spotlight fell on Sergey, a 30-year-old Russian adventurer whose audacious antics had him overstaying his visa by a stunning 332 days. Phuket Hotnews, ever the vigilant gossip, was informed of his arrest at a posh hotel in the heart of Phuket. Clearly, Sergey had been on an adventure of his own, frequently flitting from one glamorous abode to another in a bid to dodge the eagle-eyed immigration officers whose eyes were peeled as part of…

Yesterday, the atmosphere at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) headquarters on Chaeng Watthana Road buzzed with anticipation as a key player, construction contractor Thitiphong Pothiprom, stepped into the spotlight. It was April 8, a date etched in significance for Thitiphong as he faced hours of questioning by the DSI officers. The focal point? Unpaid wages, a sizeable sum of 3.7 million baht, linked to the enigmatic 9 PK company, which had been a thorn in Thitiphong’s side. The DSI was on a mission to untangle a web potentially connected to a nominee case under the Foreign Business Act of 1999. Inside the interrogation room, Thitiphong sat across from the inquisitive officers. They were eager to probe his knowledge about the elusive China Railway Number 10 and 9 PK—the constructors mired in an investigation holding both intrigue and significance. The DSI’s interest? To piece together a puzzle of contractors woven…