Year: 2018
- Thailand News
Hat Yai: 18 students injured after school van crashes into ditch
Eighteen students were slightly injured when their school van crashed into a roadside ditch about one kilometre from their school in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district this morning (Tuesday). The accident occurred on the Hat Yai-bound Asia highway in Tambon Khor Hong. The van driver, 35 year old Yongyut Thongsalalluan, told police that he was driving the students from Songkha’s Chana…
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Pattaya: Re-invented destination? Not everyone is convinced.
PHOTO: Oriental Escape “Pattaya has reinvented itself for upscale travellers.” In recent years, Pattaya has been striving, perhaps even struggling, to show itself to be more of a upscale and family-orientated destination. Pattaya was under the spotlight again as this year’s host for the Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+), with organiser, Tourism Authority of Thailand placing an emphasis on romance…
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- Thailand News
Ministries collaborate on rehabilitation of tourism sites
Maya Bay and Boracay Island aren’t the only tourist magnets to be suffering from too much tourist love. Thai ministries are now looking at all the tourism hot spots in an effort to find a more sustainable way forward. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has joined the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in looking for ways to rehabilitate…
Read More » - Travel
The world’s longest flight needed new airline seats
PHOTO: Aviation International News Imagine sitting for 19 hours in one seat, travelling nearly 17,000 kilometres, from Newark to Singapore. The route, a return to long distances for Singapore Airlines since it canned the same route with the Airbus A340 in November 2013, will now be a lot more comfortable. The Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900 Ultra Long Range service is…
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Phuket: Thailand Amazing Durian and Fruit Festival
Jungceylon Patong yesterday (June 18) hosted the launch of ‘Thailand Amazing Durian and Fruit Festival’ which will last until June 24. Phuket Vice Governor Prakob Wongmaneerung and Deputy-director of Department of Internal Trade Chatchai Saksinchai presided over the opening ceremony. Khun Chatchai says, “The Ministry of Commerce has supported building businesses together with tourism. The festival is being launced in…
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Pattaya: Australian arrested for selling sex tours on yachts
“On December 31, under the name of “AUSTHAI TOURS”, he advertised a boat trip with women supplied in the waters off the coast of Pattaya.” An Australian man has been arrested who police say offered a sex tour in Pattaya. They also say they believe 49 year old Stephen Allan Carpenter is mixed up in smuggling cocaine into Australia hidden in…
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Chiang Mai: Court asked to halt Doi Suthep construction and kick out the residents
Residents living in the controversial judicial buildings constructed on the slopes of Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai will have to drive past signs saying it’s a ‘NO MAN’S LAND’ every time they enter the property. The Doi Suthep Forest Reclamation Network is asking the Court of Appeals Region 5 to stop the ongoing construction at the controversial site. “We will…
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Bangkok: First execution in Thailand in nine years
PHOTO: Thai Rath Thailand has conducted its first execution since 2009. The Department of Corrections has confirmed that a convict has been executed by lethal injection at Bang Kwang Prison in Bangkok. 26 year old Theerasak Longji was convicted of robbing and killing a person with a knife in Trang, southern Thailand, in July 2012. The victim was stabbed 24 times. A…
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52 monkeys captured in Koh Sirey, 42 sterilised monkeys released in Rassada
52 monkeys have been captured at Koh Sirey for sterilisation while 42 sterilised monkeys have been released back to Soi King Kaew in Rassada yesterday (June 18). Meanwhile the monkey sterilisations continued, as they have since June 12. So far there are 216 monkeys captured as part of the capture-neuter-rehome program for some of Phuket more mischievous monkeys. 42 monkeys that…
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Bangkok: Taxi driver returns 270,000 baht cash
The Nation is reporting that a Bangkok taxi driver found cash worth 270,000 baht in Thai, Cambodian and US banknotes in a handbag at the weekend and handed it over to a radio station, which later managed to locate the Cambodian owner and return it to him. The passenger, 24 year old Op Simony Odum, got the money back from…
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Koh Samui: British tourist apologises for insurance scam
PHOTO: Surat Thani Immigration The Daily Mirror is reporting that a British tourist is being forced to apologise after being caught out in an insurance scam while holidaying in Koh Samui. 35 year old Adesanya Olamide Omolaja had told police he was robbed at knife point by three men who stole his backpack. Omolaja claimed the robbers escaped on motorbikes with his…
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Bamboo Island in Krabi floods with rising sea level
The sea level has risen up to 30 centimetres and caused flooding at Bamboo Island (Koh Mai Pai) in Krabi yesterday (June 18). Red flags have been put along the beach. Officers of Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, stationed at Koh Mai Pai, have set red flags along the beach to prevent swimmers going into the water…
Read More » - Thailand News
Regional: Thailand pitching ambitious plan to co-host 2034 World Cup
PHOTO: stadiumastro.com The 2018 event has barely started and local pundits are already pondering a pitch for the 2034 World Cup, 16 years away! The Straits Times is reporting that Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam are set to launch a bid to joint host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, according to reports. Speaking at an event held on June 16, Fifa…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket: Areas to have water shut off for one week
The Phuket Water Authority (PWA) has announced that water supply in some areas of Patong, Kata and Karon will be shut off from 9am to 5pm on June 25 to July 2. Water will be shut off while work is being carried out conducting maintenance on the Reverse Osmosis (RO) water pumping station in Karon. Areas to be affected are…
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Chao Fah West road closure for Chalong Underpass construction
Parts of Chao Fa West Road will close at night from June 29 to July 28 as the the Chalong Underpass construction staggers along. A meeting was held yesterday (June 18) at the Phuket Highway Office hosted by Phuket Vice Governor Snith Sriwihok and Phuket Highway Office Chief Somwang Lohanut. Vice Governor Snith says, “Traffic problems during the peak hours…
Read More » - Thailand video news
Ride4Kids – Interview with Darren Scherbain
Tim Newton speaks to Darren Scherbain at the welcome home dinner at Mezzos.
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Ride4Kids – Interview with Romeo Perthuis
PHOTO: Romeo presenting Ride4Kids Organiser Donna Toon with a cheque for money raised at a fund-raiser at his school, Headstart International. Romeo speaks to Tim Newton on Saturday night at the welcome home dinner at Mezzos. Read more about Romeo’s involvement in the Ride4Kids HERE.
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Visa hassles for South African teachers
PHOTO: Study Abroad By Eric Haeg According to an official announcement from the Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, citizens from South Africa, “are advised to apply for visa (sic.) at the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General in their respective countries if they do not reside in Malaysia.” This list also includes citizens of dozens of other African, Middle…
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Chiang Mai: Controversial housing estate to be ringed with ‘No Man’s Land’ signs
The Government brokered a deal where all but four apartments would have to be removed las month. Yet people are now living in the 45 houses on the slopes of Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai. So what’s going on? The Doi Suthep Forest Reclamation Network said it would post “No Man’s Land” signs around the Chiang Mai mountain housing estate…
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Samui: Woman arrested for running illegal dental clinic
Of all the things you probably wouldn’t ever want to use – a self-taught dentist. So thanks to the police on Samui for tracking down this alleged ‘cosmetic tooth doctor’. A self-taught dental practitioner has been arrested on Koh Samui yesterday (Sunday) for opening an illegal clinic to attach fashion braces for clients. Pol Lt-Colonel Sompol Buranathet, deputy commander of…
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90 houses damaged, power cables down on main roads – Phuket storm
There have been about 90 houses across Phuket that have been damaged from storms whilst eight power cables have been brought down in Thalang today (June 18). This is the latest in our coverage of the unusually wet and windy storms to hit the island. Officials have surveyed all the districts and found that there are about 90 houses which…
Read More » - Property
APEX launch Phuket’s most exclusive address
The Residences at Sheraton Phuket Grand Bay on Phuket’s east coast, a four billion baht development, includes a 5-star Sheraton resort and Phuket’s first Sheraton-branded residences of which 70% are already sold. Panoramic views across Po Bay to Ao Phang Nga National Park and the Phi Phi Islands beyond are what greet residents and visitors to Phuket’s most exclusive residential…
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Monkey move to islands postponed due to inclement weather
The task to move some of the migrating monkeys to Koh Payu in Paklok has been postponed due to strong wind and waves while the monkey sterilisations continue. Some sterilised monkeys will be released in Rassada today (June 18). 38 long-tailed macaques were caught at Soi Tha Chin in Rassada last Friday (June 15). Water tanks were also installed on…
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Controlled use of kratom and marijuana to be decriminalised
By Pratch Rujivanarom There may be a time in the near future where local police aren’t required to chase around and arrest people using kratom and marijuana, in some situation and in small quantities. Decriminalisation has worked in some countries where it is followed by solid public education. How will Thailand handle decriminalisation of these drugs? New narcotics laws to…
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- News
Phuket lifeguards warn about Portuguese man-o-war
Phuket Lifeguards are warning swimmers after Portuguese man-o-war have been spotted on Phuket’s west coast beaches today (June 18). “Warning to all beach swimmers that a Portuguese man-o-war was found on Nai Yang beach, Mai Khao Beach and Patong Beach. If you feel pain on your skin it may caused by their sting. Please contact a lifeguard on your beach…
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Bangkok: 30 sex offenders nabbed at Thai airports since the start of 2018
Thai Immigration are reporting successes using the new Advance Passenger Processing System where warnings come up on the screens of Immigration staff as people are processed on arrival at Thai airports. Daily News is reporting that Thai Immigration says 30 sex offenders have been arrested at five Thai airports since the start of this year. They claim that this represents about…
Read More » - World News
ASEAN commits to tackling Dengue
The ASEAN region is the most vulnerable to the threat of potentially-fatal dengue fever, according to the World Health Organisation. Last year, more than 425,000 people in ASEAN nations came down with the disease, the highest number of any region in the world. ASEAN nations have stood united in their initiatives against dengue fever and for eight years now, June…
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Chonburi: Emotions spill onto the streets during World Cup match
Where there’s a World Cup match playing at a pub, there’s going to be alcohol. And where there’s long games there’s going to be some pent-up emotions. According to Sanook, violence erupted between a group of Thai and Chinese men during the Argentina vs Iceland World Cup match on Saturday night in Phanat Nikom, north of Pattaya and east of…
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Coastal erosion experts ringing alarm bells
“This is a big problem needing urgent solution.” Erosion is eating away five metres of land every year along a combined 42 kilometre long stretch of Thailand’s coastline. The situation is now so serious that a consulting firm is proposing that the government invoke an already-passed environmental law to protect the hard-hit coasts. Kittipoj Permpul, a public-participation expert at a consulting…
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Jungceylon Patong issues urgent safety order following Phuket storm
Jungceylon department store executives have issued a safety order after storms hit Phuket yesterday (June 17). The storm has damaged the front part of the shopping centre on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road. No injuries were reported. The notice says, “two safety orders for customers and pedestrians nearby are” The entrance of the store on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road has been…
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38 more monkeys captured in Rassada, water tanks installed on Koh Tanan
Water tanks are now being installed on Monkey Islands and 38 monkeys have been captured in Rassada for sterilisation in the ongoing Monkey move from Phuket to uninhabited outlying islands. 38 long-tailed macaques were caught at Soi Tha Chin in Rassada on Friday (June 15). Water tanks were also installed on Koh Tanan in Paklok last week. Pongchart Chouehorm, the…
Read More » - Thai Life
More than 4 million Asians took a cruise last year – a 20% increase.
PHOTO: Travel Daily Media More than 4 million Asians took to the seas in 2017, aboard an ocean liner. A record-breaking 4,060,000 Asians took an ocean cruise in 2017 according to Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) – a 20.5 per cent increase from the 3,370,000 Asian passengers who boarded a passenger ship in 2016. At 20.5 per cent, the 2017…
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Chonburi school hazing ceremony – Grounds for concern
School hazing ceremonies are a part of Thai culture. At schools it can be as innocent as the Wai Khru ceremony where students prostrate themselves in front of their teachers to show respect, to the more colourful ceremonies devised by older students and lecturers at universities which have also drawn concern from sections of Thai society. It’s all part of…
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Police hunting for arsonist who allegedly torched ex-girlfriend’s car
Police are hunting for an arsonist who set a Mitsubishi Mirage on fire in Chalong yesterday morning (June 17). Chalong Police were notified of the incident at Baan Nakok in Chalong. Police and firefighters arrived at the scene to find a black Mitsubishi Mirage completely gutted by fire. It took about 20 minutes to put out the fire. The car…
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Phuket storm tears down trees and power poles
“This is the strongest wind he has ever seen.” Heavy rains and strong wind across Phuket yesterday (June 17) have caused trees and power cables to be torn down across the island. At about noon, a big banyan tree, aged around 100 years, fell down and blocked Narisorn Road in Phuket Town. 56 year old Wuttichart Na Pangchang says, “While…
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