Year: 2019
- Tourism News
Currency investors factor in no-deal Brexit as pound flounders
The world’s stock markets and economists think leaving the EU won’t have a sterling outcome. That’s the way the protracted Brexit negotiations are playing out in a slow, drawn out and economically painful rout of the GBP. The British pound hit a two year low of $1.212 against the USD on Tuesday, just another blow for the currency following several…
Read More » - World News
Dams, politics and greed are killing the mighty Mekong River
Original story by Piyaporn Wongruang – The Nation | PHOTO: Sophie et Fred Dr Chainarong Setthachua, a lecturer and ecology expert at Maha Sarakham University, was at a loss when asked to describe the ongoing Mekong crisis. “The most disastrous situation in history.” Little is being done by governments despite recent stories and stark photos of the dried-bed of a major…
Read More » - World News
Two suspects held over last night’s ‘fake’ bomb, security ramped up at ASEAN meeting
PHOTO: A suspect leaving the area of the Royal Thai Police headquarters last night captured on CCTV “I condemn the mastermind behind this morning’s bomb blasts, which destroy people and the country’s image. I have asked officials to beef up security for members of the public and take urgent care of those affected by the explosions.’’ – Thai PM Prayut…
Read More » - Crime News
Thai PM condemns the people behind Bangkok’s bomb explosions – UPDATE
PHOTO: Thai Rath Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has condemned those behind the bombings and Tweeted he had already ordered those responsible to protect the people and take care of injured people in a Tweet at 11.12am. Bombs have gone off around different parts of Bangkok this morning, following a fake bomb being placed in front of the Royal Thai Police…
Read More » - Crime News
Bombs rock Thai capital Bangkok during peak hour this morning, up to four injuries reported
Details are sketchy at this stage as we try and bring together all he reports coming in. At around 9.17am this morning there was an explosion near a white car parked in front of the Mahanakorn Building near the Chong Nong Si BTS station in the Bang Rak district. There was another explosion in a small flower shop, located under…
Read More » - Crime News
Four bombs go off around Bangkok this morning, two injured
PHOTO: Fourth explosion was near the entrance to a BTS Four bombs have gone off around different parts of Bangkok this morning, in the wake of a fake bomb placed in front of the Royal Thai Police HQ in Bangkok late last night. The first explosion this morning was in front of a Government Building, Building B, in the Lak…
Read More » - Bangkok News
National police chief is going to war with street racers
PHOTO: The almost weekly crackdown on motorcycle street racing around Bangkok. So far measures haven’t worked to curb the activities of the fast & furious Bangkok youth – Bangkok Post Despite weekly reports about late night weekend street racing around parts of Bangkok, and the sophisticated use of social media to promote the events, the national police chief Pol General…
Read More » - Crime News
Over 2 million meth pills, 83 kilograms of ice seized from a woman in Bangkok
PHOTO: The Nation Police have arrested a woman in Bangkok and seized more than 2 million methamphetamine pills. 26 year old Supalak Eiamthawee, from the Sasithorn housing estate in Bang Khae district has been arrested and 2.158 million methamphetamine pills, 83 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (ice) and 25 kilograms of ketamine seized. Police received tip-offs that the suspect rented a house…
Read More » - Crime News
Fake bomb left outside Police headquarters in Bangkok – two suspects arrested
FILE PHOTO: Front gate of the Royal Thai Police HQ in Bangkok Two men have been taken off a bus at a checkpoint and arrested early today on suspicion of placing two fake homemade bombs in front of the Royal Thai Police HQ in Bangkok. The Nation reports that they were heading south at the time and already in Chumphon province,…
Read More » - Business News
Thailand’s baht is getting stronger, and that’s a problem
Since the beginning of 2018, Thailand’s currency has jumped more than 5% against the US dollar. Year-on-year it’s bounced up nearly 8%. The Thai Central Bank may be forced to cut rates to curb the popular currency. The Thai baht continues to soar against the USD this year, significantly more than many other emerging market currencies. But the flexing Baht muscle…
Read More » - Northern Thailand News
Department ramps up cloud-seeding to ease drought in the Thailand’s northeast
“…he noted that drought in the middle of a wet season is very unusual.” The Department of Rain-making and Agricultural Aviation is stepping up cloud-seeding efforts to help generate much-needed rain for drought areas in the central-north and north-east regions of the country. Some areas need urgent rains to replenish the region’s eight major and 11 medium-sized reservoirs, where water…
Read More » - Transport News
Report motorcycles riding on footpaths today for a 1,000 baht reward
PHOTO: Daily News Bangkok motorcyclist, riding on footpaths, will be fined 2,000 on-the-spot from today. If someone reports a motorcyclist riding on the footpath they’ll get 1,000 baht fine. Officials doubled the fine and offered the reward after the previous 1,000 baht fine didn’t appear to act as a deterrent. Reports can be made through a Line application, a government…
Read More » - Crime News
Indian man frisked in Soi 6 by group of ladyboys
PHOTO: Facebook/Pattaya News Updates An Indian businessman has fallen victim to a gang of ladyboys in Soi 6 early this morning (Thursday), losing his 55,000 baht gold necklace in the process. 37 year old Aman Preet Bagga told police he was out with friends strolling down Soi 6 past the bars when his group was assaulted by a three ladyboys…
Read More » - Expats
Immigration in Chiang Mai continue crackdown on TM30 infringements
PHOTOS: Naew Na Thai immigration continue to roll out their nationwide crackdown on people failing to report foreigners staying at private addresses with 24 hours, as per the controversial TM30 form, which also applies to resident expats moving around the country for business or pleasure. A house owner in Ton Pao sub-district of San Kamphaeng has been fined after a…
Read More » - Crime News
Woman abducted at gunpoint in Central Bang Na car park
PHOTOS: Relatives of the victim try and attack the suspect – Daily News A driver working in Bang Na allegedly abducted a woman at gunpoint and forced her to drive to a ‘short time’ hotel. 33 year old Kasira, a cosmetic sales employee, was sitting in her car doing her makeup in the car park of Central Bang Na preparing…
Read More » - South Thailand News
Police find 8,400 pills when meth smuggler has car crash
PHOTO: INN News Rule #1 when you are trafficking drugs in your pick-up: Don’t have a crash when Thai police will be visiting the scene of the accident. There was an accident in Tha Pae District, Satun early this morning between 35 year old Wittichai from Phatthalung and 33 year old Pruksa. Wittichai was heading to Satun and Pruksa was…
Read More » - Tourism News
Phuket’s tourist bookings looking good – Diversity is the best option Part 3
by Guest Writer Over the past few months or so, we have read and noted much negativity in the world of tourism to Thailand’s most popular island of Phuket. As everyone is aware, May and June were particularly poor months for most tourism operators and hoteliers with several factors being mentioned to justify the drop which everyone is fully aware…
Read More » - Chiang Mai News
Chiang Mai’s Wat Suan Dok closed off after tourists take ‘inappropriate’ pics
PHOTOS: Workpoint News Tourists are being warned about taking photos at a “Royal Family Burial Site” in Chiang Mai province. Locals say tourist have been taking “inappropriate” photos at the Old Lanna Royal Family Burial Site located in Wat Suan Dok. The pictures were posted on Instagram. The photos, according to Worpoint News, have “caused great concern to living relatives…
Read More » - Politics News
PM holds urgent meetings with Thailand’s economic tsars today
The PM has put himself in control of Thailand’s economic matters nominating himself as Chairman of the Council of Economic Affairs. Today the PM Prayut Chan-o-cha holds talks with top officials of four key economic institutions on the budget bill as the economy, which has been a regional leader over the past decade, stutters. Academics are calling for cuts in military…
Read More » - Phuket News
Stormy weather approaching the Andaman provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department has announced that a regional tropical depression will affect provinces in the Andaman region including Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang, Ranong and Satun until August 6. The local ‘Met’ office says that people living in the affected areas should beware of dangers from heavy rain. There will be increasingly large waves in the Andaman sea, expected…
Read More » - Phuket News
Udon Thani woman still missing in Phuket
An Udon Thani woman has gone missing in Phuket since April. Today (July 31), Phuket People’s Voice reported that they are seeking any information that could lead to the missing woman. She is 27 year old Umarin Butwang from Udon Thani province in north-east Thailand. Her nickname is ‘Auy’. The woman was living in Phuket until she went missing in…
Read More » - Bangkok News
Chachoengsao woman sets herself on fire after divorce
PHOTO: INN News A 32 year old woman set herself on fire in Chachoengsao, east of Bangkok, yesterday (Tuesday). Doctors say she only has a 10% chance of survival and 60% of her skin has been badly burned. She poured benzil oil over herself outside her house and then set herself on fire. At this stage police speculate that the…
Read More » - Health
Thailand’s job market – popular job sectors
by Cita Catellya A new report on the most popular job in Thailand shows how the country’s job market is evolving. In this digital age, it may come as no surprise that IT roles are now one of the most popular job areas. Everyone is moving to a digital outlet, and companies continue to implement technology in the workplace to be able to…
Read More » - Crime News
Pattaya tourists take a quick swim, return to find their belongings gone
Am Iranian man and his Russian wife were tourists in Pattaya doing all the usual things when they had a sudden urge to go for a swim. They were swimming at Dongtan Beach, Jomtien. They left all their belongings on the beach – phones, cash, hotel keys – but when they returned everything was gone. The Pattaya Police were notified…
Read More » - Transport News
Proposal being prepared to raise the speed limit on Thai motorways up to 120 kph
Saksayam Chidchob, Thailand’s new transport minister, wants to raise the speed limit on main roads in Thailand to 120 kilometres per hour The proposal, just an idea at the moment, would mean four lane motorways and expressways would have an upper speed limit of 120 kilometres an hour, according to an article in Manager Online. Saksayam says he believes the…
Read More » - Events
Make it a date – Thai public holidays in 2020
Public holiday dates are out for 2020 with a few waiting to be announced. But it might be the start of you working out your holidays to Tahiti and Acapulco for the next year. The new holidays commemorate Coronation Day (held in May this year), and the birthdays of the King and the new Queen. The birthdays for King Bhumibol…
Read More » - Transport News
Two years of construction hell – residents on Rama II Road, Bangkok
Local residents living along the road upgrades to Rama II Road (Highway 35) are having to cope with worsening traffic congestion and air pollution. The construction works started in June and are expected to be completed by the end of next year. Piyaphong Jiwattanakulphisal of the Bureau of Planning, Department of Highways, said that the 11 kilometre Rama II Road upgrade…
Read More » - Thailand News
British Pound was close to the worst performing currency in the world
Nigel Green, the founder and CEO of the deVere Group, a leading independent international financial consultancy, says the GBP (Pound) is going to continue to be battered and bruised in the short-to-medium term, no matter who is leading the political fray. He spoke out after the Sterling dropped more than 4% yesterday in its worst performance since October 2016, based on…
Read More » - Events
Thailand’s biggest ballroom dancesport championship ‘Royal Siam Cup’ in Pattaya
They pouted, they cha cha’d, they chasséd and rhumbaed. Often backwards in high heels and sequins. Over 400 professional and amateur dancers of all levels from 23 countries around the world took part in the exciting 2 day event where they experienced a world class dancesport competition at the newly revamped Royal Summit Chamber of the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel.…
Read More » - Events
TAT’s #WeDareYouThailand online video campaign wraps up today
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) WeDareYouThailand online video sharing campaign that ‘dared’ foreign tourists and expats in Thailand to accept four challenges by creating videos to post on social media, finishes today. The campaign has been running since June 3. Each of the four activities allowed participants to discover more about Thai culture through four different types of challenges…
Read More » - Business News
Moody’s upgrades most Thai banks’ credit ratings from ‘stable’ to ‘positive’
Moody’s Investors Service upgraded the Baseline Credit Assessments of eleven Thai banks (1) Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited (BBL) (2) Bank of Ayudhya (BAY) (3) CIMB Thai Bank Public Company Limited (CIMBT) (4) Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIMT) (5) Government Housing Bank of Thailand (GHB) (6) KASIKORNBANK Public Company Limited (KBank) (7) Krung Thai Bank Public Company Limited (KTB) (8)…
Read More » - World News
Stormy weather for the Thai north and northeast later this week
The Thai Meteorological Department has issued warnings about possible impacts from a tropical storm expected to reach Vietnam tomorrow and Friday, August 1 and 2. The area of low pressure which formed west of the Philippines reaches southeast China from today. Should this system strengthen into a tropical storm, it will be given the name ‘Wipha’. The TMD reports that the…
Read More » - Expats
Thai Department of Land Transport brings better tech into the classroom
The Department of Land Transport is going to use fingerprint scanners, e-classrooms and CCTV as it aims to improve standards in the country’s driving schools. There are 275 DLT certified driving schools in 66 provinces across Thailand. Privately operated, they are given DLT quality guidelines which they must follow to maintain the level of their training and testing procedures. DLT…
Read More » - Northern Thailand News
Si Sa Ket province declares dengue emergency
The northeastern province of Si Sa Ket, on the Cambodian border, has declared that the prevention and control of dengue fever required urgent attention throughout its area. Local health officials say they are now especially concerned about what will happen during the last three months of the annual wet season. Governor Weerasak Wichitsaengsi signed a Memorandum of Understanding for dengue…
Read More » - World News
Southern rebel remains unresponsive in hospital following alleged torture
Thai security officials have confirmed that four more people were killed in a late-night attack on July 24 by Muslim insurgents on a military outpost in the southern province of Pattani. Militants struck the remote base throwing grenades and laying down nearly an hour of automatic fire. The attack is considered “payback’ for the alleged torture of Abdulloh Esormusor. Human Rights…
Read More » - Northern Thailand News
Four teenagers arrested for attacking police
4 teenagers were arrested and charged on Sunday with attacking 2 policemen in front of a nightclub in the north-east province of Nakhon Phanom, near the banks of the Mekong River. Sanook reports that the incident occurred happened around midnight on July 28 after an argument broke out between the teenagers and police. After the argument started to get physical,…
Read More » - Transport News
State offices and public spaces need to provide better access for the vision impaired
PHOTO: PPTV HD 36 Bangkok’s Governor Aswin Kwanmuang says he will coordinate with related agencies and public parks about making access for the disabled better around the city. He made the announcement after meeting with a visually-impaired person complaining about her guide dog not being allowed into state offices and other public sites. Sight impaired Kirin “Sai” Techawongtham, who created…
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