In a chilling tale of vengeance, a quiet durian plantation in Thailand’s southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat has become the unexpected backdrop of a family tragedy. A 47-year-old man named Somchai met a gruesome end amidst the prickly fruits, and the cause of his demise was not merely the sharp spikes of the infamous “king of fruits,” but something far more human and sinister. On the fateful night of May 5th, Somchai was found lifeless under the verdant canopy of the durian trees, his head torch still flickering as testimony to his last hours spent in toil. He bore two marks of violence: a gunshot wound piercing his left side and a stab wound on his right—an unmistakable tableau of rage and retribution. The tragic irony of the scene was accentuated by the couple’s conflict over the durian plantation. This very orchard, jointly managed by Somchai and his wife,…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
Quite the awakening it was for the good folks in Nakhon Si Thammarat this morning! At the bleary-eyed hour of 5:31 a.m., an earthquake measuring 3.0 on the Richter scale decided to shake things up a bit in the serene Sai Ra subdistrict of Chawang district. Hearing about this, even the most committed of morning grouches had to lift an eyebrow—or perhaps both—as the ground did an unsolicited early morning shuffle. Dwellers from various subdistricts sprung to life with reports of unsettling trembles. If the shaking wasn’t enough to rattle their nerves, the accompanying loud noises certainly turned up the volume on morning chaos. Imagine sipping your morning coffee only to have it shimmy out of your cup! While most things stayed mostly upright, hospitals took no chances and quickly evacuated buildings, initiating drills that added a dramatic twist to their daily routines. One must tip the hat to the…
In a gripping tale of academic discord and legal entanglement, an American academic, previously teaching in Thailand, is embroiled in a heated battle to restore his position after what he deems an unlawful dismissal. This unfolding drama has ignited wide-spread debate over academic freedom and the delicate dynamics of foreign scholars navigating Thai legal frameworks. David Chambers, once a respected lecturer within the Faculty of Social Science at Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, finds himself at the center of controversy following a controversial chain of events. Initially, Chambers faced serious allegations under Thailand’s strict lèse majesté laws—charges that have historically been sensitive and can carry severe consequences. The Internal Security Operations Command, Third Army Region originally lodged the accusation, centering around an article authored by Chambers and published by Singapore’s ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute. Despite the gravity of these initial charges, they were eventually dropped by the Region 6 prosecutors’ office, reportedly…
The vibrant streets of Soi Bangla, renowned as the beating heart of Phuket’s nightlife, recently hosted another unscripted and rowdy spectacle. A now-viral video has captured yet another clash of tourist inebriation in all its tumultuous glory. Shared by Facebook user Kim Wan on May 7, the footage showcases a lively 20-second brawl in the wee hours of May 6, precisely at 3:30 am, unfolding in Patong’s bustling subdistrict within the Kathu district of Phuket. The explosive clip opens with a swift exchange of blows between two foreign tourists, both sporting the night’s favored attire – white shirts. As swings are thrown with reckless abandon, the action escalates swiftly. But as if awaiting his cue, a third reveler, donning a stark black shirt, leaps into the fray with commendable tact, pushing the initial attacker away with intentions to restore order. Alas, the night’s spirit cannot be so easily quelled, as…
As the vibrant city of Bangkok flickers with the neon hues of its nightly hustle, the buzz in town right now is about an ambitious commercial redevelopment plan set to transform a significant slice of the Bangkok Port in Klong Toey district. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri has unveiled this dazzling vision, where about 520 rai out of the extensive 2,353 rai that blankets the port area are getting ready for a fabulous makeover. This metamorphosis will breathe new life into the space with an entertainment section, a cruise terminal, sprawling retail spaces, modern office structures, luxurious residences, bustling shopping malls, and chic hotels ready to allure visitors and locals alike. The wheels are already in motion, with the Transport Ministry earmarking a cool 20 million baht towards an in-depth, year-long study of this grand redevelopment scheme. While this may spark the curiosity of avid gamers and casino enthusiasts, Ms.…
It seems that being an esteemed academic expert doesn’t always shield you from the vicissitudes of life, especially when you’re American academic Paul Chambers, living and working in Thailand. Paul found himself in the middle of a legal and bureaucratic tempest that threatened his career and residency in the tropical paradise he had called home since 1993. Paul Chambers, known for his insights and expertise on civil-military relations and democracy in Asia, faced a whirlwind of uncertainty when his employment at Naresuan University was suddenly terminated. But here’s the catch – all this occurred after prosecutors decided not to charge him with the grave offense of lese-majeste. Yes, you heard it right; he wasn’t going to face the fiery wrath of legal consequences that would have come from such a charge. Yet, his academic oasis seemed to be drying up. Things took a turn for the worse when his visa…
The buzz of chatter fills the air as news breaks about a significant crackdown, one that has sent ripples through the shadowy world of illicit trade. The Economic Crime Suppression Division, in a formidable alliance with the Excise Department, has successfully dismantled a formidable international syndicate responsible for the smuggling of illegal cigarettes, a move that has both enforcement agencies and the public breathing a collective sigh of relief. The Unveiling of the Illicit Network On a recent afternoon, the sun casting its golden hue over the bustling streets, officers made their move. Two Cambodian nationals, Chiva Chuoy and Nak Khoeun, both aged 35, found themselves in the spotlight. Charged with trafficking a staggering 50,000 packs of illicit cigarettes, they now face potential fines reaching up to an eye-watering 42 million baht, the equivalent of USD 1.28 million. This operation was led with military precision by the diligent Police Major…
What began as a typical night out at a beloved hotpot joint in Central Pattaya quickly turned into a scene from an action movie, leaving a trail of broken glass and a flurry of emotions. What was supposed to be a cozy dinner among the simmering aroma and lively chatter of a popular hotpot restaurant erupted into chaos, culminating in an unforgettable brawl that sent shockwaves through the heart of the city. The evening had all the makings of a great night until a verbal spat spiraled out of control, leading to pandemonium and three patrons finding themselves in the hospital. This all unfolded when a fiery argument between a transgender woman, a woman, and her brother escalated from heated words to physical confrontation, turning a sizzling dinner into a scene of mayhem and alarm. Responding swiftly to reports of a violent altercation at the bustling eatery, officers from Patrol…
In the quiet of the night, the Chon Buri province motorway bore witness to an unfortunate commotion that would render the tranquil surroundings a scene of heart-stopping tension. It was on May 6, 2025, when the unmistakeable screech of tires and the deafening crunch of metal against metal pierced the calm, as a pickup truck and trailer collided, transforming a routine drive into a nightmarish ordeal. The incident unfolded at precisely 10:30 PM under the dim glow of the streetlights at kilometre marker 80-400 in the Nong Khang Khok subdistrict, nestled within the Mueang district. Here, a white Isuzu D-Max pickup truck, boasting the registration number 5 กอ 6988 from Bangkok, fiercely rear-ended a white Hino trailer truck, recognizable by its Chachoengsao plates reading 72-0176. The pickup’s front lay crumpled and unforgivingly mangled, trapping three souls within its embrace. Enter the quiet heroes of the Tri Khunatham Foundation, the rescue…
In the bustling city of Bangkok, amid its myriad of sounds and colors, a tragedy has unfolded that’s gripped the hearts and attention of everyone. Rescue teams from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) are in a relentless pursuit to find the remaining 12 missing persons after the dramatic collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building in the vibrant Chatuchak district. The scene is like something out of an action-packed movie—with K9 rescue dogs leading the way through the chaos. These heroic hounds have picked up promising scents in Zone B, an area just beside the towering ruins, their noses guiding the brave efforts of the human rescuers. Suriyachai Rawiwan, the Director of the BMA’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, offered a sliver of hope in a gloomy setting, providing a beacon of optimism: “Our teams are working tirelessly, meticulously removing debris to reach those signal spots,” he reported earlier…