Month: January 2020

  • Crime News

    2 more alleged call centre scam suspects arrested in Japan

    Two men arrested in Japan yesterday stand accused of operating a large-scale call centre scam based in Thailand, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to 28. Japanese police believe 36 year old Kengo Yasutake and 34 year old Shimpei Hirata operated a luxury home in Pattaya, where a team of Japanese men would call people across Japan…

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  • Thailand News

    Thai political leader proposes legal brothels and sex shops

    A controversial Thai MP is proposing licenced brothels and sex shops as a way of addressing the problem of sexual abuse in Thailand. Mongkolkit Suksintharanont, leader of the Thai Civilised Party and a member of the House committee studying ways to reduce rape and other sexual violations, commented in a Facebook post that he would raise the proposal with committee…

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  • Health

    First ‘China coronavirus’ case confirmed in Japan

    As Thailand’s airports continue screening passengers arriving from China, Japan has confirmed its first case of the new China coronavirus that has killed one and attracted a travel alert from the US State Department. The patient, a man from Kanagawa prefecture near Tokyo, had recently visited the Chinese city of Wuhan, where an outbreak of a pneumonia strain is believed to…

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  • Food

    Street food returns to the streets of Bangkok in four districts

    Street vendors are not to be more rigorously controlled in relation to their location and conduct. Bangkok authorities are now set to apply its new registrations to hundreds of street side food vendors in four districts of the capital. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has agreed to the setup of 191 stalls. The registration process will be complete by February and before…

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  • Transport News

    Thai Airways’ pilot under investigation for botched landing at Frankfurt

    A Thai Airways International pilot, flying for Thailand’s national flag carrier, is currently being investigated by Germany’s BFU (Bundesstelle für Flugunfalluntersuchung), the country’s civil aviation investigators, for flying a Thai Airways plane below the standard altitude as the flight he was piloting, was approaching Frankfurt International Airport. The flight had originated in Phuket. The incident has been related through the…

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  • Crime News

    Former head of the National Office of Buddhism has assets valued at nearly 600 million baht

    Nice work if you can get it. Except you’re working for the National Office of Buddhism. Now the former director of the National Office of Buddhism, Nopparat Benjawattananant, has been pointed out by the National Anti-Corruption Commission for being “unusually wealthy”, having “suspiciously” amassed assets worth about 575 million baht during his four year tenure. NACC secretary-general Worawit Sukboon says that…

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  • Crime News

    British and Thai man arrested for flogging fake watches online

    A British and a Thai man are in custody after a sting operation in Pattaya caught them selling counterfeit brand name watches online to foreign buyers at a huge markup. Police identified them as 43 year old Mark Peter Dorey and 45 year old Virut Bua-raem. After a tipoff, an officer pretended to be a buyer and contacted Dorey. He…

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  • World News

    Top YouTube makeup artist reveals she’s transgender, says she was blackmailed

    One of the most influential makeup artists on social media (yes, it’s a big thing) rocked her fans Monday night with a video revealing she’s a transgender woman. 25 year old Nikkie de Jager, better known as NikkieTutorials, told her 12 million-plus subscribers she revealed her gender identity because she was blackmailed by people who wanted to take her story…

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  • Health

    More than 100 Chiang Mai students hospitalised with food poisoning

    There was chaos at Chiang Mai hospitals yesterday when around 130 students were hospitalised with food poisoning. The grade 8 students from Montfort College in Chiang Mai had eaten lunch at the San Sai scout camp when they began showing symptoms of food poisoning, including diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps. There were an estimated 400 students at the camp: about 89 were…

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  • Thailand News

    Thai teacher caught on video striking a student in Sa Kaew

    A teacher in Thailand’s east has been caught on video flogging a student whilst screaming invectives at the young girl. The girl was struck at least three times, although the video appears to have started during the midst of the punishment. The video was posted on the Education For Liberation of Siam Facebook page. The school has been identified as…

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  • Crime News

    Police track down “the great Bangkok pantie snatcher”

    One man’s been busy moving around Bangkok condos and apartments in the northern suburbs and ‘sampling’ a range of women’s underwear and lingerie. But police have curtailed his part-time activities and arrested a 55 year old and charged him with stealing more than 1400 pieces of women’s underwear. He was arrested at a condominium in Bangkok’s Don Muang District, according…

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  • Environment News

    10 ways Thailand is moving to a greener future

    “Green” is not usually the word that comes to mind when speaking of Thailand, especially when you are speaking through a PM2.5 face mask. But with recent attempts to improve the environment and tackle waste, here are some positive changes to shift your attention from air pollution and help you feel good about the decision to live, invest, or retire…

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  • Crime News

    Police shoot knife-wielding attacker in Phuket Town

    A police officer has shot dead a robber in Phuket Town early yesterday (Wednesday). The knife-wielding robber, 34 year old Aekkasit Kesorn, from Nakhorn Sri Thammarat, had attacked the officer whilst being interrupted in the middle of a robbery. The policeman ended up with a knife wound to the neck. The officer pulled out his firearm and shot the attacker…

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  • Crime News

    Pattaya police investigate a man’s shooting death, the day after his birthday

    A man in Pattaya has died after being shot. The 32 year old Thai man was found with a gunshot wound to the head. Police were notified of the incident yesterday at about 6:30am and are investigating to determine whether it was suicide or homicide. Police and emergency responders arrived at the scene on a rural road to find 32…

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  • Phuket News

    Smuggled cigarettes seized in Phang Nga valued at 6 million baht

    Cough, splutter, gasp… A former police officer has been arrested in Phang Nga, just north of Phuket, last night for his participation in a cigarette smuggling ring. The former officer was charged with possessing illegal foreign cigarettes worth nearly six million baht – the news from Khao Sod. A total of 74,327 ‘Blue Range’ cigarette packs valued at nearly 6…

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  • Road deaths

    Mother and baby killed in Nakhon Si Thammarat intersection

    A mother and her 19 month old son have been killed after their motorcycle was struck by a car in a collision in Nakhon Si Thammarat, southern Thailand. The incident occurred at a three-way junction on Therdphrakiat road in the main city district this morning around 8am, according to police. The 38 year old motorcycle rider, Supanrat Srisawang, was making a right…

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  • World News

    The US and China sign Phase One of new trade agreement today

    The United States and China are poised to sign a trade truce today after a protracted trade spat that has impacted both countrys’ economies and shaken spread unease through world trade links. Both sides describe the result of the ‘Phase One’ agreement as ‘hard fought’. The signing signals a fragile truce and a prickly period of reconciliation between the world’s two…

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  • Environment News

    Fishermen catch albino dolphins on video playing in the Gulf of Thailand

    A group of albino dolphins have delighted guests and fishermen in a fishing vessel off Songkhla’s Sathing Phra district in the Gulf of Thailand. “SOS”, a LINE group, has posted a video clip of the dolphins. The LINE group’s administrator related the story that three fishermen had seen the dolphins in the boundary area between Kradang Nga and Ja Ting…

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  • Northern Thailand News

    6 million baht lottery winner goes on drug-fuelled rampage, tries to burn down house

    A man who won a six million baht lottery prize in June is now in police custody in Sisaket, northeastern Thailand. His mother reported to police that “he’s become a berserk drug addict”. Police told Thai media that 56 year old Kom Poka called police to arrest her 32 year old son Chainarong in Sisaket after he went on a…

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  • Bangkok News

    British tourist punches and shoves Thai traveller on Bangkok public transport – VIDEO

    An angry British tourist has punched a young Thai MRT traveller in the face after the Thai man, apparently accidentally, knocked the British man’s iPhone 11 out of his hands. The ugly incident was captured by another passenger and has gone viral in Thai and British media. The incident occurred last Sunday in Bangkok, at the Wat Mangkorn station near…

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  • Northern Thailand News

    Thai PM says he wants to prevent political protests, from either side

    In a move that is sure to be seen as a bid to stifle opposition gatherings, protests and debate, the Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is voicing concern that opposition-organised political rallies, as well as those of his supporters. will “lead to fresh conflicts”. The PM told reporters yesterday that “…he has instructed security authorities to find ways to prevent such activities in…

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  • Crime News

    Man in custody after allegedly throwing grenade into Bangkok apartment

    A lovesick Lat Phrao man is currently being questioned by police after allegedly throwing a suspected grenade into the apartment of the 20 year old girl he had fallen in love with. The incident happened at a Lat Phrao district apartment in northern Bangkok on Monday evening. Lat Phrao police and officers from Explosive Ordnance Disposal headed to the apartment…

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  • Crime News

    Singaporean threatened with execution if he didn’t pay up a million dollar ‘debt’ in Thailand

    A Singaporean man stands accused of masterminding a plot to abduct a fellow Singaporean from Suvarnabhumi Airport last Thursday. Police report that the suspect, identified only as ‘Kim’, will be charged with conspiring to commit robbery, illegal possession of firearms, illegal detention and the physical assault of 32 year old compatriot Mark Cheng Jin Quan. Mark owns a software and application…

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  • Northern Thailand News

    Buri Ram gold and jewellery thief arrested whilst trying to flee the province

    A man was arrested in his car yesterday in the northeastern province of Buri Ram after allegedly stealing gold valued around two million baht from a shop at a local department store over two weeks ago, on the night of December 28. 22 year old Prawit Chaikheenee was arrested whilst sitting in his on the Buri Ram-Nang Rong Road while…

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  • Phuket News

    Russian tourist in coma after Patong hotel balcony fall

    A Russian tourist remains unconscious in hospital after falling four floors from the balcony of his Patong hotel. Police say the man, Daniil Solovev, is in “a serious but stable condition”. Police were called to the accommodation on Nanai Road hotel at 11am on Sunday morning. By the time they arrived, Solovev had already been rushed to hospital. Emergency responders say…

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  • Transport News

    Dramatic video shows high speed impact, eight British tourists injured on their way to Pattaya – VIDEO

    Dramatic highway CCTV has now been released of the crash of the passenger van, injuring eight British tourists travelling from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya. Three were seriously injured in the high speed crash which scattered contents of the van over the road and grassed verge between the two sides of the motorway. Eight British tourists are in hospital after their…

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  • Bangkok News

    Eight British tourists injured in Thai passenger van crash – VIDEO

    Eight British tourists are in hospital, three seriously injured, after their passenger van crashed into the median railing on the Bangkok-Chon Buri motorway. The incident occurred about 10:30am on the Pattaya-bound side of the road. The driver, 53 year old Thanakorn To-iam, said he picked up the passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok and was taking them to Pattaya when…

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  • South Thailand News

    Base jumper rescued after dangling from cliff in Phattalung – UPDATE

    The Austrian BASE jumper was dangling a cliff for eight hours in Phattalung province, 175 metres above the ground when his open parachute snagged on a rocky outcrop of a mountain before being rescued. ‘BASE’ stands for building, antenna, span, and earth. The base jumper, 28 year old Johannes Klauser, is safe after a harrowing rescue on Monday afternoon, when…

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  • Bangkok News

    61 year old Chinese tourist being treated for new coronavirus in Thailand

    A 61 year old Chinese tourist, found to be infected with the new strain of coronavirus dubbed “Wuhan or Chinese pneumonia” when she arrived in Thailand last week, is being treated in hospital and is expected to be discharged in a few days. This is from the Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The woman is recovering at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases…

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  • Health

    Cannabis oil gaining traction in Thai medical circles

    Last week’s opening of Thailand’s first two full-time clinics dispensing cannabis oil (cannabidiol, or CBD) for medical treatment has brought international attention, not only to the kingdom’s burgeoning cannabis industry, but to the oil’s many reputed benefits. Around 25 CBD clinics have been operating part-time since the government agreed in 2018 to amend drug laws to allow the use and…

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  • South Thailand News

    Base jumper rescued after dangling from sheer cliff face in Phattalung

    An Austrian base jumper is safe after a harrowing rescue Monday afternoon, when winds blew him onto a cliff face and left him dangling about 175 metres off the ground from his snagged parachute in the southern province of Phattalung. The jumper, 28 year old Johannes Klauser, went with his wife to the top of 250 metre high Khao Ok Thalu…

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  • Crime News

    Taiwanese husband arrested over death of Sri Racha woman in a suitcase

    Just days after the body of a foreign woman washed up in a travel bag on Sri Racha Beach near Pattaya, police say they’ve arrested a Taiwanese man for the murder of the woman, his Chinese wife. The gruesome discovery was made by an officer from the nearby naval base. Police yesterday arrested 38 year old Lu Ji Yang of …

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  • Northern Thailand News

    Poor air quality in Bangkok and northern Thailand today

    Poor air quality and persistent haze is plaguing much of Thailand’s north today, with the worst pollution in Lampang province, just south of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. Meanwhile, a bit further south, Bangkok residents had more of the fine-dust particles, aka. 2.5 microns, in eight of the city’s districts yesterday. The Pollution Control Department in the north has reported unsafe…

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  • Bangkok News

    First case of New Coronavirus Pneumonia detected arriving in Bangkok

    A first case of ‘New Coronavirus Pneumonia’ has been identified in Thailand, but the Public Health Ministry is assuring the public there is no wider outbreak of the virus. The mystery virus has now been identified by Chinese scientists and was earlier nicknamed as the mystery Wuhan pneumonia. Anuthin Charnvirakul, the Thai Public Health Minister has informed the media that…

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  • Crime News

    Gold shop gunman could have fled to Chon Buri

    The armed gunman who shot and killed three people, injuring another four during an apparent gold shop robbery in Lop Buri last week, could have fled to Chon Buri. Police are raising the possibility after the Thai army chief Apirat Kongsompong met with the heads of Provincial Police Regions 1 (Bangkok) and 2 (Chon Buri) in Bangkok yesterday. Some media and…

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  • Transport News

    New upper and lower highway speed limits to be introduced

    Motorists using the right lane of any Thai highway or motorway, with more than four lanes of traffic, and drive slower than 90 kilometres per hour, will face charges in the future. A proposal to raise the speed limit to 120 kilometres per hour is also being considered. The new regulations are expected to be ready by next month. The…

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  • Health

    Paying the price for beauty: Top treatments for women in Thailand

    As the thirst for plastic surgery in Thailand grows, this has led to many Thai females searching for alternative beauty solutions. In fact, Thai ladies are seeking better ways in order to achieve the ultimate look via cosmetic treatment. Now, who said beauty was only skin deep. Thanks to an emerging market where overseas patients benefit from top-notch surgeons at…

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