- Thailand News
Broken promises – Mong Thongdee still waits, nine years later
by Thai PBS It was nine years ago when this young stateless boy was the media poster boy for a week with his story and dreams to represent his country in an international paper plane contest. In the wake of the granting of citizenship for four of the Mu Pa team, Mong Thongdee’s story didn’t end the same way and deserves…
- Thailand News
More rain and flood warnings for the north and north-east
The north-east regions have just been mopping up over the last week and now the TMD (Thai Meteorological Department) are warning that there’s more on the way. Residents in the North and North-east are bracing for more rain with isolated torrential downpours on Wednesday and Thursday (August 15-16) that could trigger flash floods in the region. TMD chief Wanchai Sakudomchai,…
- Health
Young Muay Thai fighters exposed to irrepairable brain damage
A swirling kick to the head, followed by some more leaps, direct head punches and dodges. The very Thai sport of Muay Thai is coming under increased examination, especially for younger fighters where evidence is emerging of irrepairable brain damage and developmental issues. Critics say that greedy parents and money is driving many youngsters into a dangerous sporting environment. “The…
- Thai Life
The world’s riskiest place to visit, if you’re British
PHOTO: worldatlas.com If you’re British, where in the world is the riskiest place for you to visit? New research by Endsleigh Insurance Services has unveiled the world’s riskiest holiday destinations. Thailand has been found to be the world’s riskiest holiday destination for British tourists, according to a new report. The report looked at data from 2017, ranking countries on where the most…
- Bangkok News
BMA backs down to allow Khaosan traders, sort of…
by Kornrawee Panyasuppakun “From around 9pm to 3am, backpackers use Khaosan as “party central”, rather than a shopping fair. Electronic dance beats can be heard blaring from clubs and bars.” There’s been a back down in the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration yesterday after vendors from Khaosan Road convinced a committee that their stalls, whilst illegal in the past, were a huge…
- Thailand News
More rain = more Dengue fever
The wet season has provided a spike in new Dengue cases around the Kingdom. The Disease Control Department chief says a total of 3,301 new cases of dengue fever have been reported nationwide during the past week. Dr Suwannachai Watanayingcharoenchai says the number of people infected with dengue was an average of 10,000 patients a month during the rainy season…
- World News
Boracay closure dents Philippine’s economic numbers
PHOTO: Wikipedia The Philippine’s economy has slowed in Q2 2018, this year’s second quarter, and fell well short of predictions. Some are blaming policy decisions including the shutdown of tourist magnet Boracay Island. The quarter’s 6% expansion was the weakest in three years and ends a run of 10 consecutive quarters where growth was at least 6.5%. AFP reports that…
- World News
11 year old Thai child bride sent back to Thailand
The 11 year old Thai girl, caught up in the middle of a ‘child marriage’ storm, has been sent back across the border to Thailand. The girl’s ‘marriage’ to a 41 year old Malaysian man caused a social media meltdown and strong negative response from human trafficking groups, human rights groups and the Malaysian government. A Malaysian social activist claims…
- Thailand News
Storms raise flood threats in 37 provinces
Whilst the flood situation in the far north of the country, bordering the Mekong River, has abated over the past week, the situation is still dire for many other communities around the Kingdom today. Disaster warnings have now been issued as heavy downpours threaten to bring flash floods and landslides to 37 provinces across Thailand. A monsoon storm is predicted…
- Chiang Mai News
Flash mobs staged to protest the buildings on Doi Suthep
By Nisanart Kangwanwong The Doi Suthep protesters in Chiang Mai had their campaign to remove the Thai judges housing development interrupted by the rescue mission at the Tham Luang Caves in nearby Chiang Rai. Now the “Rak Chiang Mai” community network has organised four flash mobs at four key locations of Chiang Mai’s Muang district to highlight what they says…
- South Thailand News
Songkhla hospital saves 78 year old British man
The Prince of Songkhla University Hospital has performed special surgery valued around 1 million baht to save the life of a retired Briitish naval officer for humanitarian reasons and is organising donations to send him back to the UK. 78 year old Kenneth George Smith told reporters from his hospital bed that he appreciated the help from the Songklanagarind Hospital,…
- Bangkok News
Former Thai actor arrested over Bitcoin scam
A once-popular actor has been charged with convincing foreigners to transfer to him more than 5,500 bitcoins as an investment. (5,500 Bitcoin are worth around 210,000 baht or US$6,300 each as of today) Police picked up 27 year old Jiratphisit Jarawitchit today at midday at a shopping mall in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district. The Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for him…
- Hua Hin News
Phetchaburi town prepares for a soggy weekend
Phetchaburi town residents have their mops, buckets and sandbags ready for a wet weekend as they fend off the run-off from upstream dams. The Royal Irrigation Department say they’ve done their best to stem the flow from the overflowing dams but expect the remaining floodwaters to hit the Muang district over the coming weekend. The department expects the volume of…
- Northern Thailand News
Four of the Mu Pa 13 become Thai citizens
PHOTO: Adul Samon, Mongkol Boonpium, Pornchai Khamluang and assistant coach Ekkapol Chantawongse. Good news for four of the stateless Mu Pa Academy footballers. During their time in the cave it was revealed that four of the team were officially stateless – unable to get a bank account, get legally married, start a business, etc. Tonight the four officially became Thai…
- Thailand News
Two drug gangs busted
Two big drug hauls today in different parts of the country. Firstly, police arrested six suspects including the alleged drug-trafficking gang leader Phusinthorn Jomtharak, along with over 68,000 methamphetamine pills in Chaiyaphum province. 24 year old Phusinthorn, a Nong Bua Dang district native, was nabbed yesterday (Tuesday) while visiting a drug inmate friend at Chaiyaphum Prison. Police say that Phusinthorn…
- Business News
Invacio Research Analytics: Pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence and embracing cryptocurrencies
Newly established in Phuket, Invacio Research Analytics, a group subsidiary of Invacio founded by William J D West and led by Linleeya West (Thai/Swiss educated), are bringing Artificial Intelligence to Thailand and also bridging the gap between established currencies and the emerging world of cryptocurrencies. Through a sister subsidiary company, Invacio AAP Holdings (Seychelles), under the Invacio umbrella are all…
- Hua Hin News
Update: Phetchaburi dam overflows reach town
Downstream communities in Phetchaburi’s main business and residential districts are expected to be flooded for about two weeks after run-off from the overflowing Kaeng Krachan Dam hit the area last night “Although we must discharge water from the dam, we are trying to reduce the volume that will go into the river by diverting some 55 cubic metres of runoff…
- Northern Thailand News
Good news from dams in the north-east
Whilst provinces bordering the Mekong River, and areas in Phetchaburi downstream of the hillside dams, are all under threat from flooding at the moment, the situation is a lot better in the lower north-east provinces. The Irrigation department has issued assurances today about the water situation covering some 77 dams in the region. The Nation reports that 77 reservoirs in…
- Bangkok News
Online romance scam gang busted
Nigerian nationals are again being rounded up in a concerted effort to get rid of some of the Nigerian-based scams operating inside Thailand. In the latest sting, 8 Nigerians and 6 Thai suspects have been arrested for alleged collusion in an online romance scam, swindling nearly 2 million baht from Thai women in Ratchaburi, Samut Sakhon, Phitsanulok, Chon Buri and…
- Hua Hin News
Hua Hin gets funding to expand airport
The AoT director-general says they will spend 3.5 billion baht to upgrade Hua Hin’s International Airport over the next five years. Darun Saengchai says the upgrade was part of the “Riviera Thailand” and Southern Economic Corridor projects. Work at the airport would take up to five years and include enlarging the passenger terminal and building a second one. The number of…
- Phuket News
Phuket hotels group aims to step up environmental education
By Sirivish Toomgum All members of the Phuket Hotels Association have jointly committed to eliminate plastic water bottles and drinking straws from rooms by 2019 as part of an effort to ensure a sustainable future for Phuket, said association president Anthony Lark. The association has also provided information to its hotel members about companies that provide alternatives to plastics for…
- Hua Hin News
Phetchaburi dams poised to overflow today
PHOTOS: The Nation Dams in the western region of Phetchaburi province are rapidly filling up due to continuing heavy rain with the situation at Kaeng Krachan Dam now at critical levels. The reservoir reached maximum capacity last night (Sunday). The provinces of Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Kanchanaburi have been to told to brace for floods, as the Royal Irrigation…
- Thailand video news
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- Chiang Mai News
Morning fire at the Chiang Mai post office
The local precinct superintendent, Pol Colonel Chuwit Kongkaew, says a fire, suspected to have been caused by a short circuit, broke out this morning (Sunday) in the local post office. The incident happened at the one-storey post office building of the San Khamphaeng branch. The fire, which occurred at around 7am, took fire-fighters 30 minutes to get under control at…
- Northern Thailand News
4.8 million meth pills and nearly a tonne of ‘ice’ seized in Chiang Rai
The Nation is reporting that a suspected drug mule has been arrested along with a huge haul of 4.8 million methamphetamine pills and 978 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (ice). The drugs were seized after two pickup trucks sped through a checkpoint in Chiang Rai early this morning. Army rangers made the arrest after giving chase from the checkpoint in Ban Sai…
- South Thailand News
Peaceful Pattani – the other side of the southern province
By Pattarawadee Saengmanee, The Nation Weekend The former capital of the ancient Langkasuka Kingdom, Pattani province in Thailand’s far south has traditionally been feted for its multiculturalism, though sadly the ongoing violence has kept it well off the tourist map for more than a decade. But his southern province bordered by Narathiwat, Yala, and Songkhla has plenty to offer the…
- Thailand News
Jobs for the boys – Women’s groups attack rampant gender bias
“Out of over 10,000 police officers in Thailand, only 400 are women.” Despite the country’s ‘sabai sabai’ attitude towards many issues, rampant sexism and gender-bias still exists across the board, especially in the higher levels of Thai army and police ranks. Three women’s rights groups are urging the Office of the Ombudsman to rule on the validity of a move…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok cat owner faces cruelty charges
WARNING: This story may be stressful for some readers The animal rights group Watchdog Thailand has filed a complaint with the police against a cat adopter for allegedly repeatedly abusing his pet by hanging it and beating it until it became “depressed”. Watchdog Thailand posted on Facebook that it has filed a complaint with Bueng Koom police, who had allowed…
- World News
Muslim father’s online petition inspires Thai anti-child marriage activists
In the wake of the ‘marriage of a 41 year old Malay man and an 11 year old Thai girl, Malaysia’s government and netizens are proposing ways to ban child marriages. Meanwhile, an online petition by a UK-based Malaysian Muslim father to ban child marriages has triggered an activist to begin a similar petition to ban them in Thailand too.…
- World News
Human trafficking, especially prostitution, still rife in Thailand – New report
The Nation is reporting that human trafficking remains a serious issue in Thailand despite years of efforts to tackle the problem by the military government. A report released yesterday by rights groups. The report by Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF) and Anti-Labour Trafficking Project (ALT), focusing on the situation in 2016 and 2017, says that cases of labour trafficking…
