- Thailand News
Thai Senator to sue cyberbullies after Prime minister bid fallout
In the face of escalating online threats against him and his kin, Senator Somchai Sawaengkan announced he is preparing litigation against the cyber-bullies responsible. The threats transpired after the failed bid of Pita Limjaroenrat, head of the Move Forward Party (MFP), for the position of prime minister. Somchai yesterday revealed that he, alongside other senators, is in the process of…
- Thailand News
Thailand detects new coronavirus subvariant EG.5.1
According to reports from the Department of Medical Sciences, a new and rapidly spreading Coronavirus XBB subvariant, named EG.5.1, has been identified in Thailand. Although fast-spreading, it has been observed to cause predominantly mild symptoms. Remarkable insights came to light yesterday when the Head of the Department, Dr Supakit Sirilak revealed that five individuals had been diagnosed with this subvariant…
- Thailand News
German man faces death penalty for premeditated murder
Royal Thai Police (RTP) have officially charged a man with premeditated murder in connection to the gruesome killing of Hans Peter Walter Mack, a 62 year old German real estate tycoon residing in Chon Buri, significantly intensifying the legal implications for the prime suspect. Deputy National Police Chief, Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, listed 52 year old German national Olaf Thorsten…
- Thailand News
Interpol sought over Stark Corp scandal as losses mount to 38 billion baht
Interpol is currently sought by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to issue a red notice for the pursuit of the former chairman of a company known as Stark Corp, on charges of financial misconduct. The DSI issued this plea after the chairman did not adhere to the call to report to the DSI for acknowledging charges related to Stark’s…
- Phuket News
Delivery driver charged after crashing into Phuket Heroines Monument
In a recent incident, police charged a 21 year old delivery pickup truck driver who crashed into the steel protection barrier installed around the illustrious Heroines Monument in Phuket. The accident occurred early today, and officers have now levelled charges on the driver for the perilous operation of the vehicle, leading to significant governmental property damage. Local police, led by…
- Phuket News
Flowing towards change: Phuket Old Town floods get a drain makeover worth 226 million baht (video)
Addressing the longstanding issue of recurring floods in Phuket Old Town, a public hearing was held yesterday chaired by the Mayor of Phuket City, Saroj Angkanapilas. The main agenda was the unveiling of a 226 million baht drainage system construction project, aimed at shielding the Old Town from the destructive impact of frequent floods. Set within the premises of the…
- Phuket News
The ‘forward’ march: Devoted MFP supporters unite in Phuket to back Pita Limjaroenrat’s PM bid
About 30 Move Forward Party (MFP) supporters yesterday gathered at the iconic Mingmongkol Statue in Queen Sirikit Park to offer their unwavering support for MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat and the prime ministerial candidate. The event transpired following Pita’s unfortunate denial of the coveted prime ministerial position in a combined voting session involving both the House of Representatives and Senate. Despite…
- Thailand News
ASEAN discussions: Ministers struggle to find Myanmar crisis resolution, Thailand charts own course
In the pursuit of calming the chaos ensuing in Myanmar, yesterday foreign ministers of the ASEAN nations carried on their discussions. These continued ASEAN discussions follow the conclusion of the bloc’s ministerial summit held previously. Myanmar has been subjected to detrimental turbulence since the military coup took control of the government that was previously led by Aung San Suu Kyi,…
- Thailand News
Bangkok councillor urges BMA to overhaul special needs education system
In a recent development yesterday, Surajit Pongsingwittaya, a councillor for the Lat Krabang district of Bangkok, put forward a proposal for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) council to enhance the education system. The reservation emphasised the need for tailoring it to accommodate and support children who have special needs. Surajit, a representative from Pheu Thai Party for the said district,…
- Crime News
Pattaya Police make waves: Murder suspect’s speedboat confiscated German businessman’s murder
Pattaya cops confiscated a speedboat owned by a main suspect in the brutal murder of German businessman Hans Peter Mack. The suspect, 52 year old Olaf Thorsten Brinkmann, is implicated in the murder of the 62 year old German property tycoon. Police believe that Brinkmann might have planned to use the speedboat to dispose of Mack’s butchered remains in the…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s pillar party: Three-day extravaganza to ‘pillar’ in the festivities
A renowned three-day ceremony has been planned for August 5 to 7 to mark the installation of a City Pillar, also known as Lak Mueang, at the site of the upcoming Phuket Provincial Hall. The decision and details regarding the ceremonial event were confirmed at a recent meeting. High-ranking governmental figures were present at the meeting, including Narong Woonciew, the…
- Phuket News
Close call: Young boys narrowly escape watery fate in Phuket
Phuket witnessed a distressing incident on Soi Naya, Nai Harn, in which two young boys narrowly escaped death by drowning. The incident, which occurred yesterday, resulted in the rushed transfer of the children to Chalong Hospital for immediate medical attention. The call for assistance reached local rescue units at around 4.32pm. Verifying the distressful event was Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos,…
- Thailand News
UNESCO nomination bid at risk as contractors flout Thai temple preservation orders
Deep in the heartland of Nakhon Si Thammarat, the tranquil expanses of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan are churning with concern as contractors persist with the dismantling of age-old cannons at the temple, regardless of instructions from the Fine Arts Department (FAD) to halt until an investigation is carried out. The fabled temple is on its path to being nominated as…
- Thailand News
Thai-China pact amplifies crackdown on Chinese fugitives in Thailand
A recent agreement between Thai and Chinese law enforcement signals an increased effort to crack down on Chinese criminals who have sought refuge in Thailand. Policymakers from both nations are keen on bolstering cooperation in dealing with significant instances of Chinese criminals fleeing from China to Thailand to evade apprehension. High-ranking officials of the Thai Immigration Bureau (IB), directed by…
- Politics News
THAI scandal sees corruption charges dropped against ex-PM Thaksin
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has aborted all charges against Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister, and three others in the Thai Airways (THAI) corruption saga. The case involved allegations of corruption linked to the acquisition of 10 Airbus aircraft by Thai between 2003 and 2004. This was revealed by former deputy transport minister Pichet Sathirachawal, who was also accused…
- Thailand News
Thai police intensify crackdown on international crime after German businessman’s murder
Police in the Thai province of Chon Buri are intensifying their efforts against international criminal organisations, an enforcement surge prompted by the grisly murder of a German businessman in Pattaya. Deputy national police chief, Police General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, spoke of these measures after an urgent meeting was convened with local police forces late on Tuesday. Following the gruesome…
- Phuket News
Phuket beachfront parking row escalates into machete threat (video)
What seemed like an ordinary day at Naithon Beach in Phuket turned into a spectacle as a local was accused of threatening a Grab taxi driver with a machete over a disputed parking spot. The location, allegedly reserved for taxis operated by locals, saw a heated exchange that escalated rapidly. Sakhoo Police Station yesterday became the arena of discussions where…
- Phuket News
Phuket forest reserve dwellers demand removal of RTN fence
In a recent event in Phuket, over 100 residents who have illegally occupied land within the Bang Khanun protected national forest handed over their formal request for the removal of a barbed-wire fence that the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has installed. The appeal yesterday was addressed to Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew and received by Vice Governor Anupap Rodkwan Yodrambam at…
- Environment News
Thai Court holds PM and NEB accountable for escalating Chiang Mai pollution
The Administrative Court yesterday decreed that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the National Environmental Board (NEB) were guilty of neglecting their duties in addressing the escalating toxic air pollution in the province of Chiang Mai. This denunciation originated from a case initiated by a local man named Wasuchart Pichai. Wasuchart argued that he has been adversely impacted by the haze…
- Thailand News
Thailand braces for 150,000 dengue fever cases
Health authorities in Thailand issued a warning about a potentially significant outbreak of dengue fever in the country. Predicted figures from the Department of Disease Control (DDC) suggest that up to 150,000 instances of infection may occur by year-end. Opas Karnkawinpong, the permanent secretary for public health, yesterday confirmed that this year has already seen a significant rise in dengue cases,…
- Thailand News
Thai elephant Sak Surin’s recovery promising despite tumour diagnosis
The health of a 30 year old male Thai elephant appears promising despite a recent diagnosis of five separate tumours. The Thai Elephant Conservation Centre based in Lampang noted Sak Surin’s surprisingly resilient recovery. After spending 22 years on non-native grounds in Sri Lanka, Sak Surin was returned home and admitted to the Centre’s Elephant Hospital for care on July 2.…
- Thailand News
Bangkok launches initiative to improve homeless facilities
Striving to enhance the overall aesthetics of Ratchadamnoen Avenue, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is preparing to consolidate facilities for the homeless residing in the area. This move follows a recent report from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, which conveys a significant improvement in the homeless situation, predicting a drop in numbers from 1,600 to about 1,400…
- Crime News
Phuket man arrested for gunshots in rubbish dispute, drunk driving
Late last night in Phuket, a 45 year old man was apprehended by police after he fired a rifle into the air near his neighbours due to a dispute over noise and waste disposal. He was also charged with drunk driving. According to Thalang Police Deputy Chief Pol. Lt. Col. Patiwat Yodkwan, officers were alerted of the incident at 10.18pm.…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok safeguarding students with fences around homeless-haunted buildings
To safeguard the students of Satriwithaya School in Bangkok, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) erected fences around a number of deserted buildings that have been used as makeshift homes by the city’s homeless. This measure follows the widespread online sharing of worrying images portraying homeless individuals occupying spaces on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue, near the school. Countering concerns raised by a multitude…
- Thailand News
BRT improvements: Bangkok’s bus service to continue with 455 million baht funding boost
In a bid to enhance the current quality of public transportation in the capital, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has announced BRT improvement plans to continue the city’s bus service after the concession held by the Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC) expires on the last day of August. The BMA’s commitment to maintaining and improving the BRT service was affirmed…
- Thailand News
Thai submarine to be powered by Chinese engine following German withdrawal
In a recent development, an American naval source revealed that a panel is expected to recommend a Chinese-designed engine for the Thai submarine as a replacement for the original German one intended for the under-construction S26T Yuan-class submarine in China. This comes on the heels of a committee chaired by the navy’s chief-of-staff, Adm Chonlathis Navanugraha, unofficially proposing the use…
- Thailand News
Dengue outbreak: Triple surge in cases challenges Thai healthcare system in first half year
A shocking surge in dengue patients has been recorded in the first half of this year, with numbers almost triple that of the same period last year, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC). The dengue outbreak continues to challenge the healthcare system, as the number of infected individuals soars. From January 1 to June 28, 27,377 dengue cases…
- Crime News
Serial rapist posing as transgender model recruiter arrested in Bangkok
Police in Bangkok apprehended a 60 year old man who allegedly impersonated a transgender to lure young women into fake modelling opportunities, where he would sexually assault them. He allegedly confessed to raping around 100 women. The Metropolitan Police Bureau’s investigative head, Theeradet Thumsuthee, yesterday confirmed the arrest of Sonthichai Yusuparp in a room within a slum community located in Bangkok’s…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s PM set to review Pink Line urban rail project progress
In a move to accelerate urban transport development, the Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha, is scheduled to examine the Pink Line urban rail project‘s ongoing progress tomorrow before it is set to commence its trial operations. This announcement came from Anucha Burapachaisri, the acting government representative. This inspection visit is centred on the Pink Line, a massive elevated monorail…
- Phuket News
Severe flooding hits Phuket prompting widespread road closures
Substantial flooding due to heavy rain last night and early this morning swamped the holiday resort of Phuket, prompting police to shut down several of its main roads. Streets across the town became untraversable, leading to police-imposed road closures. The water levels in Bang Yai Canal, the canal that transits through the city providing a key drainage channel into the…
