Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is due to be released on parole on Monday, a development that has reignited speculation over how much influence he could regain within the Pheu Thai Party as it struggles to retain political dominance.

Thaksin, 76, returned to prison late last year after the Supreme Court ruled that his six-month hospital stay could not be counted toward his sentence. Although his scheduled release date was Sept 9, he is among 859 inmates granted early release under general parole criteria.

He is expected to leave Klong Prem Central Prison on Monday and remain under probation until September. His electronic monitoring bracelet could be removed after about four months.

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Despite qualifying for early release after serving most of his term, and despite being over 70 with chronic health conditions, authorities have imposed strict probation controls, including the tracking device, mandatory reporting, and supervision, while leaving open the possibility of review, political activity, and even early release through a royal pardon.

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Thaksin's mob says he shouldn't have to have the ankle bracelet, due to age, health and 6 pages, of lawyers saying that, 27 different ways...

Coss say, if he really isn't going to go anywhere, then the bracelet will show him sitting quietly and enjoying his dotage in Thailand, not,  legging it to a jet and flying out of the country...

So if any soldiers out there were hoping for any chance of bonding with their pals over a joint, those dreams have now been dashed. Prayut has now ordered all units under the Defense Ministry, military branch, and Royal Thai Police, to raise awareness among officers about regulations, and the happy plant’s risks. Deputy Spokesperson of Defense Ministry Jitnat Punnotok said…

“All organisations under the Defence Ministry must follow the Public Health Ministry regulations on cannabis use. They are allowed to consume cannabis for medicinal purposes but not for recreational use,”

Servicemen are also strictly prohibited from posting pictures or videos of themselves using cannabis on social media, said the ministry, because it would be “inappropriate.”

Earlier this week the use of cannabis was also banned on campuses of universities and agencies in Thailand. However, a university can promote cannabis usage, only if it’s supported by medical professionals’ advice.

This week, Bangkok Governor Chadchart admitted he was concerned about the lack of clarity on cannabis policies after the decriminalisation of cannabis on June 9. He feared the lack of guidelines and accompanying legislation has led to confusion and incorrect assumptions following the announcement.

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https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/drugs/thailands-prayut-orders-ban-of-all-cannabis-and-hemp-use-on-military-premises

Thank buddha for that, I'd hate to think that persons under the influence, would be contributory to Thai Planes dropping out of the sky... Or submarines getting stuck in the Chao Praya....

The Thai monarchs took part in a thanksgiving service at the Royal Chapel and observed the ceremonial changing of the Royal Guards, as well as a choral tribute in honour of the Swedish King.

The visit forms part of Their Majesties’ official trip to Sweden, where they joined members of the Swedish royal family and dignitaries in commemorating the milestone birthday.

The Bureau of the Royal Household also released a congratulatory message from King Maha Vajiralongkorn to the Swedish monarch, expressing “heartfelt felicitations and very best wishes” for his good health and happiness.

In the message, the Thai King highlighted the longstanding friendship between Thailand and Sweden, noting more than a century of close relations and cooperation. He also underscored the strong ties between the two royal families, describing them as a key pillar of bilateral relations.

“May the Kingdom of Sweden long flourish and prosper under Your Majesty’s glorious reign,” the message read.

The King added that Thailand is confident both countries will continue to strengthen cooperation, both bilaterally and within the ASEAN–EU framework, for the mutual benefit of their peoples.... LINK

According to the Bangkok Post, the preschool, called Arki, was licensed to care for up to 18 children ages 2 to 5. In practice, authorities said, it was operating as a much larger school with more than 100 students from several countries, including 89 Israelis.

Authorities arrested an Iranian couple, Aydin Kishipour and Nadin Kishipour, both 45, and a Thai woman, Prathumthip Yuen, 61. They are suspected of illegally operating a private school, employing foreigners without work permits, failing to report foreign employees and violating child protection laws.

Several foreign teachers were also arrested on suspicion of working without permits and violating local employment rules. Authorities said some people at the site tried to flee during the raid.

The operation was carried out by police, immigration officers and local authorities after complaints circulated on social media about foreigners running an illegal educational institution.

The preschool’s website listed tuition of 64,000 baht per semester, but did not specify whether its curriculum was officially recognized....   LINK

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...The U.S.-based Stimson Center has used satellite photo analysis to identify nearly 800 suspected unregulated rare earth and other mining sites along Mekong tributaries in Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia...

/read at above link for more 

I'm wondering, declare myself as a far right guy, receive money from billionaires - get job in government.

Good idea?

The new surcharge rates will be almost 100% higher, effectively doubling this portion of the ticket cost for passengers on routes like Bangkok to London, Tokyo, and Sydney.

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Ya think?

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Panic swept through Krabi International Airport after a passenger’s bomb remark forced an emergency evacuation of a departing flight, triggering a full-scale security response, hours-long inspections, and swift police action. The incident, unfolding moments before takeoff to Suvarnabhumi Airport, saw passengers removed, baggage scrutinised, and explosive disposal teams deployed before authorities detained a 45-year-old man who later admitted the claim was a joke. The case has since escalated into criminal prosecution under Thailand’s strict aviation laws. This is the latest such incident at a Thai airport. Another casual but reckless remark by an idiot passenger was able to halt operations and trigger a costly security lockdown.....    LINK

Frankly, I try to avoid this time of year and if there during this time, I try to stay home…

The figures were released by the Road Safety Directing Centre, under the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, in its summary of road accidents for April 10 during the 2026 Songkran festival period.

According to the centre, the leading causes of accidents on the first day were speeding, which accounted for 37.78% of cases, followed by dangerous cut-ins at close range, at 22%.

Motorcycles were involved in the highest number of accidents. Most crashes occurred on straight roads and highways, with the most dangerous time period between 3.01pm and 6pm. The age group with the highest number of injuries and deaths was 60 to 69 years old.

Trang and Songkhla recorded the highest number of accidents, with eight cases each. Trang had the highest number of injured people, at nine, while Prachin Buri and Songkhla recorded the highest number of deaths, with two each. ...  LINK

(ABC News: Haidarr Jones)

When Captain Wongduen Meesamrong steered his fishing boat back to port through the Gulf of Thailand earlier this month after spending 15 days at sea, he was not expecting to return to unemployment.

Before he left, diesel was sitting at 83 cents a litre.

By the time he got back, it had more than doubled to about $2.22 a litre, a price that is far beyond the reach of most fishermen.

Iran war live updates: For the latest news on the Middle East crisis, read our blog

"I'll have to stop working for a long time," he told the ABC as his crew offloaded crates of squid and small fish in Samut Sakhon, Thailand's largest fishing and seafood processing port.

"The fuel price is so expensive. We can't go out.

"We're in big trouble. All over the sea, people are feeling it."

Wongduen Meesamrong says fishermen "all over the sea" are feeling the pain.(ABC News: Haidarr Jones)

Across the country, tens of thousands of small and commercial vessels working in Thailand's multi-billion-dollar fishing industry are stranded on shore as the war in the Middle East and the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz strangle fuel supplies and push up prices.

Thailand is vulnerable because it imports about 50 per cent of its energy from the Middle East.

And in Samut Sakhon, fishermen and fishmongers alike tell the ABC their problems are compounded by the fact that consumers are trying to save money, reducing demand for their catch.

From the markets to the docks

"Millions of people will feel the impact because fisheries is an upstream business — there are a lot of businesses connected to it," said Sombat Rungruangsakorn, who owns two vessels, including the one Mr Wongduen captains.

The industry is extremely fuel-intensive. Thailand's fishing boats consume about 80-90 million litres of fuel per month, with many making voyages that stretch for weeks and cover more than 100 kilometres offshore. Even a small hike in prices can be difficult to manage.

Mr Sombat said the last time he saw such sudden and astronomical price surges was more than 30 years ago, during the Gulf War in the early 1990s.

Consumers, feeling the impact of fuel prices too, are also buying less seafood.(ABC News: Haidarr Jones)

Once fuel prices climb above $1.30, he said, it is simply not profitable to send his boats out.

At stake is not only the livelihood of fishermen and their families, but also the hundreds of thousands of migrants, mostly from war-torn Myanmar, who work on the vessels.

Stolen fuel and jobs on the line

While the war has created this crisis, fishermen tell the ABC that unscrupulous actors are compounding it.

They are suspicious that at least some fuel is being hoarded on ships offshore as suppliers wait for prices to rise further before selling it on.

And they have good reason to be sceptical, with reports that up to 70 million litres of oil have gone missing from the southern port city of Surat Thani. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said it was examining transport records, vessel routes and possible ship-to-ship transfers at sea.

The fuel crisis is impacting on all parts of the supply chain in Thailand.(ABC News: Haidarr Jones)

Justice Minister Police Lieutenant General Rutthapon Naowarat told Thai media the fuel was unloaded from tankers onto smaller vessels, never to be seen again.

With anger mounting among small and large fishing businesses, the Thai government announced it was working on increasing supplies of B20, a cheaper fuel that mixes diesel with biodiesel, a type of alternative fuel usually manufactured from vegetable oil or animal fats.

This week, the government also began cutting retail diesel prices by roughly 9 cents per litre.

Mongkol Mongkoltrirak says thousands of workers could lose their jobs.(ABC News: Haidarr Jones)

But the measure has not been welcomed by fishermen, who say the discount will do little to alleviate their problem.

"The price of seafood won't catch up with the price of fuel, which has increased rapidly in one month," said Mongkol Mongkoltrirak, the director of the Samut Sakhon Fisheries Association.

"If more than 80 per cent of fishing vessels are grounded, 150,000 workers will lose their jobs."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-11/middle-east-war-hits-thailand-fishing-industry/106554192

The feat saw Hollywood stuntman and Red Bull Air Force athlete Miles Daisher leap from an aircraft and soar past Lebua at State Tower at speeds of 260 kilometres per hour before landing on a vessel along the Chao Phraya River, reinforcing Thailand’s position as a destination for experience-driven and high-adrenaline travel...  

(such as being chased down Sukhumvit at 3 am, by thieves of indeterminate gender)...

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1591-01-18 King Naresuan of Siam kills Crown Prince Minchit Sra of Burma in single combat, date is now observed as Royal Thai Armed Forces Day

1767-12-28 King Taksin is crowned King of Siam and establishes Thonburi as his capital

1782-04-06 Rama I succeeds King Taksin of Siam (modern day Thailand), who is overthrown in a coup d'état

Emerald Buddha Moved

1784-03-22 The Emerald Buddha is moved with great ceremony to its current place in Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand 

1826-06-20 Siam and Britain sign trade and peace treaty

1833-03-20 US and Siam sign the Treaty of Amity and Commerce establishing friendly relations and commerce between the two states

Now everything is OK

Party leader Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong called at a press briefing at the party’s headquarters on Friday calling for urgent action following the shooting that took place outside Kamonsak’s residence in Bacho district of Narathiwat on March 20.

Kamonsak was present at the briefing.

The attack occurred in the early morning as Kamonsak was returning from Hat Yai airport after attending a parliamentary meeting. Gunmen opened fire, seriously injuring his driver and his police escort, both of whom are still in hospital.

Tawee said that, while violence in the southern border provinces affects many people, authorities must ensure safety for all and conduct a transparent investigation to bring perpetrators to justice.

He acknowledged that police and relevant agencies have been working intensively, with reports of suspects being detained under special laws and arrest warrants issued.

He expressed concern though over reports that the vehicle used in the attack, a white car, was a government vehicle linked to the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC). The vehicle was dismantled and dumped in a body of water after the incident.

Tawee called on the prime minister, who oversees ISOC, to ensure accountability and explain how a state vehicle could have been used in such a crime.

Meanwhile, Kamonsak said dash-cam footage from his vehicle clearly captured the license plate of the attackers’ car, leading investigators to identify suspects and trace the vehicle, which was later confirmed to belong to ISOC in Narathiwat.

He stressed that the attack was clearly intended to take his life, despite attempts to portray it as targeting his driver, noting that he had been followed from Hat Yai airport.

According to the party, investigators found 30 shell casings at the scene, believed to have been fired from two M16 rifles. The suspects’ vehicle was identified as a white four-door pickup truck.

Police detained two suspects on March 30th, former marines Somporn Langdej and Yotsakorn Langdej. Further investigation led to additional detentions and evidence collection.

On April 1, authorities searched two locations in Tak Bai district, including a site where the vehicle used in the attack was dismantled was found, as well as weapons linked to the crime.

The party described the attack as highly organised, involving coordination, and said it posed a serious threat to the safety of MPs and public confidence. It also suggested the possibility of masterminds and financiers behind the operation.

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