- Northern Thailand News
Burglar drowns Pomeranian puppy before stealing computer and cash
A 21 year old Udon Thani tertiary student has returned from Songkran to find her Pomeranian puppy drowned in a water bin and her boyfriend’s laptop computer and cash stolen. Muang Udon Thani police were contacted lunchtime yesterday (Tuesday). The dog’s owner was Monthira Anthapanya who told police she had locked the four month old puppy in her rented room while she…
- Thailand Weather Updates
Central Thailand hit by Songkran storms
Over 300 houses have been damaged after thunderstorms lashed seven districts of Kamphaeng Phet province, in central west Thailand, at about 8pm last night. Officials have visited the districts this morning and found 25 damaged houses in six tambon of Muang district. The storms also damaged 162 houses in seven tambon of Phran Kratai district and 92 more damaged in…
- South Thailand News
Parents offer reward to find the suspected killer of their innocent son
by Khanitta Sitong The parents of a Mathayom 4 schoolboy, shot dead in Trang’s Muang district last December, are offering a 50,000 baht reward to anyone who could provide information leading to the arrest of the 51 year old suspect. He was the innocent victim when bullets, intended for someone else, hit and killed him instead. Police say they have…
- Thailand News
Stateless Thais can now apply for birth certificates and Thai ID
PHOTOS: The Nation “Rootless” people, born in Thailand but abandoned at birth – so without any Thai identification number or household documents – are now permitted to file for a birth certificates and apply for Thai nationality. The new laws have been published in the Royal Gazette, effective this week. The new edition of Civil Registration Act also allows these…
- Thailand Election News
Pro-democracy coalition remains positive following weekend glitch
by Kai Chanwanpen The see-saw continues as the anti and pro-junta groups continue to tussle to form a coalition government. Meanwhile the Election Commission (EC) is no closer to announcing the allocation of Lower House seats… three weeks after the vote! They maintain that May 9 is the day they will announce the results although this deadline has been muddied…
- Environment News
New fires in the North likely to be arson – Army
by Nathawat Laping Some 1,000 combined professional and volunteer firefighters are battling a major forest fire in the mountainous area overlapping Chiang Mai’s Muang and Mae Chan districts.The fire started on Sunday night in the Doi Jorakhe area of Tambon Tha Sud in Muang before spreading to Tambon Pa Teung in Mae Chan, a densely populated area and home to…
- Bangkok News
Taxi bike driver asks for death penalty after murder of pregnant stepdaughter
by Supachai Phetchthewee A 57 year old motorcycle taxi driver has admitted to beating his seven-month pregnant stepdaughter to death out of jealousy. He told police he killed her at her home in Bangkok on April 11 and is asking the court to give him the death penalty for his crime. Phumjai Leungthong, who then allegedly tried to commit suicide on…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok traffic police sidelined because they don’t know the road rules
PHOTO: Thai Rath The deputy commissioner of the metropolitan police Maj-Gen Jirasan Kaewsaeng-ek says some traffic police have been transferred to office duties because they didn’t know the traffic rules. Thai Rath reports that they had been on duty directing the traffic and issuing traffic violation fines but had passed no courses on what the actual traffic rules were. The…
- Northern Thailand News
Forest fires destroy 2.7 million rai of land whilst Chiang Mai is back on top
by Tossapol Boonpat Bush fires have devastated nearly 2.7 million rai (there are 2.5 Rai in an Acre) of forests in nine northern provinces. The Mae Hong Son forest fire and haze control centre says that satellite imaging from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency shows that from January 1 to March 16, 2,680,634 rai was destroyed by wildfires.…
- Songkran News
The ‘Fun Police’ crackdown on posting ‘lewd’ Songkran pics and video
The Thai police have become Thailand’s fun police today as they warn Songkran revellers against posting photos of scantily clad people, or ‘invitations’ to consume alcohol’… pretty much everything you see during the madness of Songkran festivities in the main tourist hot spots. “No photos, video clips of live broadcasts of nudity, lewd acts or inviting consumption of alcohol should…
- Songkran News
Princess celebrates Songkran at Laos mission in Bangkok
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously attended a Songkran ceremony at the Lao Embassy in Bangkok yesterday. The Princess, who visits the Lao mission on Songkran every year, participated in the ceremonial tying of white thread on people’s wrists for good luck, and watched a performance of traditional Thai dance. Thailand and Laos mark the traditional New Year…
- South Thailand News
Police officer and wanted insurgent shot in Songkhla clash
One policeman has been injured along with an alleged insurgent when troops and southern insurgents clashed in Songkhla’s Sabayoi district today. The exchange of gunfire happened at 10:30am this morning when troops and police reportedly searched for suspects in Ban Long Khuan village in Tambon Khuha. The team received a tipoff that December 26’s Khuan Niang district bombing suspects might…
- Bangkok News
UPDATE: 2 confirmed dead, 20 injured in Central World Bangkok fire
The Erawan Medical Centre has confirmed that two people were killed and another 20 injured in last evening’s fire at Centara Grand Hotel and CentralWorld Shopping Centre at Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong Intersection. One person was found dead at the scene (a staff member who jumped out of a fourth storey window), whilst the other fatality, identified as 50 year old Arthit…
- Northern Thailand News
Rescued baby elephant transferred to specialist elephant hospital in Surin
PHOTOS: The Nation A baby elephant, rescued from an unused drain in Bueng Kan, on the Laos border near Vientienne, has been transferred to a specialist elephant hospital in Surin for treatment. Wildlife officials moved the baby elephant, now named ‘Chabakaew’, from Bueng Kan’s Bungkla district yesterday. It reached the elephant hospital in Surin this morning. A team of veterinarians…
- Thailand Election News
US Embassy responds to Don’s rebuke over Thanathorn case
PHOTO: The Nation The Thai Foreign Minister yesterday formerly summoned foreign diplomats yesterday afternoon, one by one, in a diplomatic dressing down about their appearance at a police station last Saturday morning. The official ministry memo objected to the presence of envoys at the Pathumwan Police Station on Saturday when the Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit reported in to…
- Hot News
Three people reported dead, others injured, 100s flee blaze at Central World Hotel Bangkok
PHOTO: Orchidmo A big fire has broken out on Ratchadamri Road, Pathumwan in the busy Sukhumvit shopping zone in Bangkok. Videos and photos posted online show the blaze and thick smoke spreading from the Centara Grand Hotel, located next to the CentralWorld shopping mall. The Bangkok governor has reported that the death toll of the blaze is three people. One…
- Krabi News
Two young men killed in Krabi hit-and-run
Police in Krabi are hunting for the driver of a pickup truck whose vehicle hit and killed two young boys riding a motorcycle. He failed to stop and drove away.The boys, 14 and 12 years old, who have not been officially identified, were killed just after midnight on Sai Khao-Klong Thom Road in the village of Ban Klong Raed, Klong…
- Northern Thailand News
Northern smoke haze easing slowly
Either by hard work, serendipity or pure luck, the smog and haze in the North has eased considerably within the seven-day timeframe set last Tuesday by the Thai PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha. The PM flew into the smoke-stricken Chiang Mai last Tuesday to meet with northern provincial governors to work out active solutions. During the visit, the premier made clear that…
- Hot News
Re-enacment of Koh Si Chang rape and murder case
A 24 year old Thai, charged over the rape and murder of a 27 year old female German backpacker on Chon Buri’s Koh Si Chang on Sunday, has re-enacted the horrific crime that has shaken public morale on the popular island. Koh Si Chang injuste north-west of Pattaya in the Gulf of Thailand. Ronnakorn Romruen, a resident of the Moo…
- Thailand Weather Updates
Situation critical for Phuket’s water supply
Phuket has an acute water shortage. But there has been no warnings or even suggestions of restrictions from the Phuket Water Authority. Instead residents are heading to the local media to vent their frustration. On February 6 the PWA foreshadowed odd/even day water restrictions for some residential areas of the island, only to rescind the action the next day saying…
- Thailand News
One killed, another injured after train slams into upside-down van in Ayutthaya
PHOTO: Matichon Online One man is dead and another severely injured after their van hit a road barrier and flipped onto railway tracks before being hit by a train in Ayutthaya, just north of Bangkok, early today. The Ayutthaya police station was alerted of the accident at the u-turn under the Ban Ma flyover on the Asia highway’s frontage in…
- Northern Thailand News
Ministry works towards ending sugarcane burning in three years
The Ministry of Industry is proposing to the Thai Cabinet a plan to end sugarcane farmers’ annual burn-off of their plantations before harvesting. The practice is being largely blamed for the north’s smog problems. But they are recommending a three year moratorium before completely stamping out the annual agri-burning. Thai PBS reports that the plan will be incorporated into a…
- Environment News
Hunters injured in Chiang Mai national park shoot-out
Two ethnic Lahu hunters have been injured in a clash with Sri Lanna National Park officials in Chiang Mai over the weekend. The Lahu are one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognised by the People’s Republic of China, where about 720,000 live in Yunnan province, mostly in Lancang Lahu Autonomous County. In Thailand, the Lahu are one of the…
- Northern Thailand News
Tourism dries up for Songkran in north this year
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says tourism levels during the Songkran break will be down by 10%, partly due to the northern haze problems. Chiang Mai is one of the country’s most popular Songkran festival locations. Meanwhile, the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) says the strong baht is encouraging Thais to travel overseas during this year’s Songkran festival. TAT…
- Bangkok News
Surachate reports to the Royal Thai Police HQ
…but there was nothing to say from the man that’s had a lot to say in the past. Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, you know, the guy who’s been in our news almost every day for the past year, has reported to the RTP HQ today, but soon after was seen leaving the building. No talking to the media today, strange…
- Northern Thailand News
Baby elephant being moved to specialised care after falling in drain
Officials have relocated a baby elephant rescued from a drain in a Bueng Kan village on the weekend to a wildlife protection facility to receive treatment for an infection.Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary officials moved the young elephant from an open pen at the edge of the forest in Bung Kla district to the Kokkwang Forest protection base nearby. The base…
- Pattaya News
24 year old confesses to the rape and murder of German tourist on Koh Si Chang
A 24 year old Thai man has now been formally charged over the rape and murder of a German woman on Koh Si Chang. Police on the Chon Buri island, north west of Pattaya, claim Ronnakorn Romruen, a resident of the island village of Moo 2, confessed to killing the German tourist after raping her to prevent her reporting the…
- Hot News
Surachate Hakparn “transferred”? No joke.
Various media are reporting that immigration chief and “Batman” of the Thai police Lt -Gen Surachate Hakparn has been transferred to RTP headquarters. Sanook reports there are no official written confirmation of the news under their headline “Lightning Transfer”. Thai media report say he had been transferred “until further notice”, according to Sanook. Surachate’s Facebook page and the Thai Immigration Facebook…
- Bangkok News
Six arrested for drug use after raid on illegal Bangkok pub
Six customers have been arrested in a raid early today after troops and police, led by the Internal Security Operations Command, raided a Bangkok pub. The 2.30am raid on the New Jazz 2 pub in the Bangkok Noi district was made following complaints that it violated closing hour law and disturbed the neighbourhood. The six customers were arrested on drug charges.…
- Thailand Election News
Thanathorn urged to ‘fight on’ as he surrenders to Bangkok police
Hundreds of supporters gathered around the Pathumwan police station this morning as Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit handed himself in to police to face sedition charges. Barriers were placed around the police station and 620 policemen were deployed to control the crowd. When Thanathorn arrived at 10am he used a megaphone to thank his supporters who had been waiting…
