Year: 2019
- Tourism News
Indian visitors to Phuket surge whilst total numbers drop
by Bill Barnett from c9hotelworks.com The soaring number of Indian visitors to Phuket for the first seven months of 2019 has propelled Indian tourists into the Top 5 arrivals for the first time. Arrivals from India from January – July, compared to the same period in 2018, grew 354%, amassing a total of 186,360 arrivals. Mainland Chinese arrival figures continue…
Read More » - Crime News
Massage parlour busted in Pattaya providing sexual services and underage staff
PHOTO: Pattaya Mail Police have raided the Thong Dang Thai traditional massage parlour on Central Road, Pattaya. They allege that staff were offering sexual services to customers whilst employing underage girls. The sting operation was conducted by officers from the Centre for the Protection of Children, Women and Family and the Anti Human Trafficking, a division of the Royal Thai…
Read More » - Pattaya News
Thai police get tough on drivers at pedestrian crosswalks in Pattaya
Police in Pattaya have launched a campaign aimed at encouraging pedestrians to use crosswalks, and fining motorists who don’t stop at them. Speaking at the launch of the campaign, in front of Mueang Pattaya 8 School, Maj Arut Sapanon insists the 1,000 baht fine will be strongly enforced. “This campaign is to encourage pedestrians to use crosswalks in order to…
Read More » - Crime News
Large heroin bust announced in Bangkok
PHOTO: Naew Na The deputy national police has announced the arrest of two suspects in two large drug seizures. Heroin weighing 100 kilograms, plus one and a half kilograms of cocaine were seized. Deputy chief Pol Gen Chalermkiat Srivorakhan made the presentation to the media at the Crime Suppression Division headquarters in Bangkok. The media conference went through the long list of…
Read More » - Thailand News
Pet leopard not a hit with neighbours in Chonburi, Thailand
A couple in Chonburi, eastern Thailand, have not ingratiated themselves with neighbours after it was revealed they’re keeping a pet leopard in their home. It’s understood that a Thai woman known as Nittiya, and her foreign husband, nationality unconfirmed, have just recently moved to the area from Chiang Mai, and news of their unusual pet has put neighbours very much…
Read More » - Business News
Soaring baht continues to court investors and speculators
The Thai baht continues to be the best performing currency in Asia. On a year-on-year basis it has soared more than 8% against the USD and this year reached a six-year high. But the strong currency threatens the country’s exports and tourism, two major drivers of Thailand’s economy. Thailand continues to have solid economic fundamentals, a high current account surplus and…
Read More » - World News
The Thai charm-offensive on the South Korean President
Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is inviting South Korean investors to increase their investment and trade with Thailand. The PM says Cabinet will consider offering incentives for South Korean businesses to invest in the country. South Korean President Moon Jae-in capped off an official two day visit to the Kingdom yesterday. The Thailand-Korea Business Forum was held yesterday in Bangkok with…
Read More » - Health
Thailand by numbers
The National Economics and Social Development Council have prepared some snapshot infographics which provide a window into Thai society at the moment. The stats have been prepared from information relating to Q2 this year. Key facts are… • Thai people reading more than they were four years ago • People are moving away from the agricultural sector and into blue…
Read More » - World News
China sounds ominous warning to Hong Kong protesters
PHOTO: Vox.com Authorities in China have issued a stark warning to Hong Kong protesters, as reported by the country’s state-run Xinhua News. “The end is coming for those attempting to disrupt Hong Kong and antagonise China.” Beijing is also clear that its words are aimed not just at Hong Kong activists, but equally directed at Western governments attempting to undermine…
Read More » - Northern Thailand News
No direct hit from Kajiki, but heavy rain predicted for many parts of Thailand
PHOTO: My-thai.org The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) says tropical storm Kajiki will miss Thailand, but parts of the country are in for some very heavy rain over the next two days. With Kajiki moving west across the South China Sea in the direction of Vietnam, a TMD spokesman says there’s a good chance it may change direction, heading northward towards…
Read More » - Bangkok News
Chinese passenger detained on suspicion of theft at Suvarnabhumi airport
PHOTO: Bangkok.com Police and security officials at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport arrested a Chinese woman earlier this morning on suspicion of theft. The woman had picked up a money-belt dropped by an Iranian passenger, but failed to hand it in. It’s understood the bag contained US$1,441 in cash and a mobile phone. The Iranian passenger reported his bag missing to airport…
Read More » - Crime News
Police looking for Bangkok taxi driver who stole 3.6 million baht of valuables
FILE PHOTO Bangkok Police are hunting for a taxi driver who allegedly stole valuables valued over than 3.6 million baht from a Chinese businessman early on Sunday. Zhong Ai, a Chinese rubber exporter, told police he had been out drinking with friends in the Royal City Avenue area, and hailed a taxi to take him home at 5am. But he…
Read More » - Crime News
Final member of romance scam gang arrested after being on the run for 4 years
PHOTO: Daily News Immigration officials have announced the arrest of a Thai man who had been on the run for nearly four years after being allegedly involved with a romance scam gang. In the case, a Thai woman was ‘scammed’ to the tune of more than 17 million baht. ‘Suchart’ was named in a warrant issued in 2015 as one…
Read More » - Thailand News
“No more gang violence and sexy short skirts”
PHOTO: Sanook Thailand’s new education minister Nataphol Teepsuwan is attempting to address the behaviour of teenage students – the girls from wearing provocative’y short skirts and the boys from joining student gangs. The Minister seems to believe that the issue of overt displays of teenage female sexuality and the fights between young male students, are linked. He wants the girls…
Read More » - Bangkok News
The Suvarnabhumi shopping shambles
Retailers want ‘in’ at the world’s 21st busiest airport in the world. With through-traffic of 60 million+ each year, and growing, Thailand’s biggest retailers want a slice of the passenger spend. But if you can’t get a shop inside the airport, build your own shopping centre just outside to capture passengers, and some of their money, just before they arrive at the…
Read More » - World News
South Korean President in Thailand to sign trade agreements
PHOTOS: The Nation PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and his wife Naraporn Chan-ocha, have welcomed South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook to Government House in Bangkok this morning in the midst of an official state visit that continues tomorrow. A government spokesperson says that this was President Moon’s first official visit to Thailand since assuming his post in May…
Read More » - Entertainment
Super Junior กลับมาแล้ว!!
Super Junior กลับมาแล้ว!! : ข่าว K-pop หลังจากที่เหล่าแฟนคลับ หรือ เอลฟ์(E.L.F) รอคอยกันมาถึง 9 ปี ในที่สุดบอยแบนด์ Super Junior ก็เตรียมคัมแบ็คอีกครั้ง Super Junior เดบิวต์ในปี 2005 มีผลงานเพลงที่โด่งดังมากมายอย่าง Sorry Sorry ที่ฮิตกันทั่วบ้านทั่วเมือง รวมทั้งยังมาจัดคอนเสิร์ตที่ประเทศหลายครั้งแล้ว ก่อนที่สมาชิกคนแรกอย่างคิม ฮีชอล จะเข้ากรมรับใช้ชาติในวันที่ 1 กันยายน 2011 และสมาชิกคนอื่นๆ ก็ทยอยกันเข้ากรม และออกจากกรมกันเรื่อยมา แต่ละคนต่างก็ยังทำงานอยู่ในวงการบันเทิง เป็นพิธีกร เล่นซีรี่ส์ ออกผลงานเพลงเดี่ยว จนมาถึงสมาชิกคนสุดท้ายอย่างโจ คยูฮยอน ที่เพิ่งออกจากกรมในวันที่ 7 พฤษภาคม 2019 ก็ถึงเวลาที่วงจะกลับมาทำเพลงร่วมกันอีกครั้ง [#슈퍼주니어]티저1. SUPER JUNIOR has RETURNED!▶️https://t.co/7yYmkdkqRU#SUPERJUNIOR #슈주리턴즈3 #SJreturns3 — SUPER JUNIOR (@SJofficial) September 2, 2019 ตอนนี้เหล่าเอลฟ์ทั้งหลายเตรียมตั้งตารอผลงานอัลบั้มใหม่ของหนุ่มๆ…
Read More » - Health
Sexual harassment is rife in Thailand – survey
“I’ve seen women in Thailand begin to collectively speak out, sharing their stories and pushing back on this victim-blaming which previously has gone completely unchecked here.” A recent survey of 1,107 Thais found that 21% of respondents say they have experienced sexual harassment. The survey was conducted by YouGov, a UK-based market research company. Sexual assault was the most common form…
Read More » - Thailand News
British man found dead in Rayong condo
PHOTO: Sanook A 49 year old British teacher at a language college in Rayong, eastern Thailand, has been found dead in his Cherng Nern apartment. Work colleagues told police that it was unusual that the man failed to turn up for work and wasn’t answering phone calls. Security at the condominium checked on the man’s room and found his body…
Read More » - Thailand Weather Updates
Swimmers at Surin Beach left without lifesavers as Council removes funding
The President of the Cherng Talay OrBorTor (municipality), Ma Ann Samran, has not renewed the monthly contract for lifeguards protecting Surin Beach on Phuket’s west coast. As of yesterday, there are now no duty lifeguards keeping swimmers out of the water when the waves become dangerous, or saving them when they get into difficulty. Police arrived late yesterday afternoon at…
Read More » - Thailand Weather Updates
Rescuers evacuate residents from Phitsanulok villages in north central Thailand
PHOTO: Phitsanulok HotNews A village in Phitsanulok’s Wang Thong district in north-central Thailand, has been totally inundated after a river burst its banks early this morning. Water started rising in the Fuangfah village in the Wang Thong district around 2.30am when the Wang Thong River overflowed. Rescuers rushed to the village by boat to evacuate the residents. Levels rose very…
Read More » - Business News
World economy wakes up to a day when the US has imposed new tariffs on China
The US has rolled out new tariffs on Chinese products yesterday but some economists say the latest gamble is likely to backfire and hurt the US economy. Meanwhile they predict the ramping up of the tariff ti-for-tat will not tarnish China’s resilience or dampen development in the long run. Yesterday the US administration imposed 15% additional tariffs on about half…
Read More » - Transport News
Smile, you’re on red light camera
Bangkok’s new Red Light Camera Systems now in operation. The new cameras will be running 24/7 to protect against drivers running red lights at major Bangkok intersections. During trial period from August 1 – 14, 22,260 drivers were caught running the red lights, an average of 1,590 drivers per day. The punishment for such a violation is 1,000 baht fine…
Read More » - Northern Thailand News
New storm brings more rain to Thailand’s north-east
PHOTO: The Nation North-east provinces are being told to get ready for another bout of heavy rains that could last until tomorrow. Although ‘storm ‘Podul’ passed through the region on Friday and Saturday, another storm over southern China is impacting the weather in north-eastern Thailand. The storm currently is near Hainan Island in the northern South China Sea. The Thai…
Read More » - World News
Roadblocks disrupt traffic to Hong Kong airport in a weekend of violence
Protests have continued in Hong Kong over the weekend. Transport to and from Hong Kong International Airport was also disrupted yesterday as protesters barricaded roads, leaving traffic gridlocked and stranding hundreds of tourists at the airport terminal. It was the 13th consecutive weekend of protests in Hong Kong, concluding days of escalation in which a number of activist leaders and…
Read More » - Crime News
Alleged killer of British man wandering free around Phuket
PHOTOS: Gustavo Valiente, Bajaj Family The killer of a British father has been seen wandering free around Phuket just nine days after allegedly choking him to death in a frenzied 4am attack at the Centara Grand Resort on Karon Beach. 54 year old Norwegian Roger Bullman has been staying at a Phuket guesthouse on bail awaiting an appearance in court in…
Read More » - Thai Life
Changing Thailand’s helmet culture
by Patrick Mattimore On a recent trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, I was struck by an interesting phenomenon traveling from the airport to my hotel. I saw perhaps more than a thousand motorcycle riders and passengers, and only one person was not wearing a helmet. Yet, the entire two weeks I spent in that city, I didn’t see…
Read More » - Central Thailand News
Fried chicken worker stabs boss in the head in central Thailand
A fried chicken vendor needed medical treatment after being stabbed in the head by a young man working for him in Chonburi province, central Thailand. Yannawuth Prasomwangsub told police that he and his wife sell fried chicken at the Sattahip flea market and hired 16-year-old Nat to help them just a week ago. While setting up shop, Yannawuth was missing…
Read More » - Crime News
Thai Immigration police arrest two more “undesirables”
PHOTO: Immigration.go.th Immigration officials at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport have arrested a Syrian national travelling on a fake United Arab Emirates passport. The 18-year-old man was en route to London, with a layover in Thailand. He told officials he was planning to seek asylum in the UK but was also in possession of a plane ticket from London to Germany. The…
Read More » - Thai Life
Top 10 things to do in Phuket during the wet season
There’s a bit of rain around. No worries. It’s rainy season and the island looks a lot better when it’s all green and the dams are filling. Try something on our instant list of the ten things you can do when it’s wet and raining in Phuket. So here is our completely random Top 10 things to do whilst it’s…
Read More » - World News
Scenes of chaos in Hong Kong as protests continue
PHOTO: Sam Tsang/South China Morning Post Thai PBS World reports scenes of chaos and devastation in Hong Kong, following more violent protests in the territory. Police used tear gas and water cannon in Hong Kong’s financial district last night, as protesters defied a ban and ignored threats from China. This is the 13th weekend of such protests. The protests began…
Read More » - Expats
Thai Immigration announces improvements to online TM30 process
PHOTO: Bangkok Post Thai immigration officials say that improvements made to the online TM30 system will help reduce waiting times and that those using the system should now receive a username and password sooner. Until a user receives this information, he or she cannot report online, a huge source of frustration for many. Khaosod English reports that Col Thatchapong Sarawanangkul…
Read More » - Crime News
“How did my son die in Thailand?” A British father seeks answers.
PHOTO: Facebook/David Cornock The father of a 37 year old British man who died in mysterious circumstances in Koh Samui in May this year, has called in a former detective to sort out what happened. The British Foreign Office has already raised the case with both the Royal Thai Police and Interpol. The body of 37 year old David Cornock,…
Read More » - Politics News
PM’s oath-taking ruled unconstitutional
PHOTO: South China Morning Post The PM’s omission of an important sentence when taking his oath of office has been ruled unconstitutional by Thailand’s ombudsman. The matter is now being referred to the Constitutional Court to rule on whether the government was legally established. The controversy began on July 16, when PM General Prayuth Chan-o-cha left out a key sentence…
Read More » - Northern Thailand News
Torrential rain in Thailand’s north and north-east from Podul
‘Podul’, the tropical storm that came out of the South China Sea and headed westward through Vietnam into the north of Thailand, has now weakened but inundated parts of the north-east and northern Thailand in its wake. Flooding in and around Khon Kaen has been reported to be as high as three metres with over 1,000 houses inundated. Homes and cars…
Read More » - Events
New Central Village luxury outlet opens for business at BKK
Wonder if anyone from Airports of Thailand were invited to this morning’s opening? The Central Pattana president and CEO Preecha Ekkunagul, and directors Suthikiatis Chirathivat and Sudhitham Chirathivat, presided at the official opening ceremony of Central Village next to Suvarnabhumi airport this morning. Central Village has cost more than 5 billion and was five years in the planning. The new…
Read More » - Northern Thailand News
‘Podul’ batters Phrae as it weakens across northern Thailand
by Kanyasorn Thintip, Nisanart Kangwanwong – The Nation As former tropical storm “Podul” continued to weaken yesterday as it plodded westward across north -central Thailand, the Sun Men district in the northern province of Phrae was battered yesterday morning, with toppled trees and power poles, and roofs blown off houses. Provincial governor Pongrat Piromrat called an urgent meeting of all district…
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