- World News
Amid economic turbulence, Malaysia’s illicit trade crackdown must stay the course
After an economically disappointing 2023, Malaysia faces further headwinds due to global economic and political uncertainties. New research published in late March has identified the country’s East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) among the Southeast Asian megaprojects affected by a $50 billion gap between China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) commitments and delivery for the region. Reflecting the broader ASEAN growth…
- Thailand News
Pattaya plagued by motorcycle wheel thieves
A criminal gang is targeting motorcycle wheels in a recent surge of thefts in Pattaya. The brazen escapades of the gang have left the community on edge, with urgent pleas for police intervention. The shocking incident unfolded at Government Housing Na Jomtien Village, captured in chilling detail by closed-circuit television cameras. The footage, which swiftly made rounds on social media,…
- Thailand News
Airfares drop for popular domestic routes ahead of Songkran
Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit announced a decrease in airfares for three popular domestic routes by 3.8% to 14% starting this Friday, in line with the Songkran festival. The fares for the six airlines offering flights between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Krabi, and Phuket have been set at a maximum of 3,000 baht (US$80) per one-way trip. The anticipated fares for…
- Thailand News
Thailand primes for haze mitigation ahead of Songkran festival
Responding to the escalating haze crisis, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has directed all provinces in the upper north, including Chiang Mai, to prepare their operation centres. This step aims to mitigate air pollution during the forthcoming Songkran festival, which traditionally sees a surge in tourist arrivals. According to Deputy Prime Minister and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Phatcharavat Wongsuwan, these…
- Thailand News
Thailand ready to host 100,000 Myanmar refugees amid conflict
Thailand’s readiness to accommodate an influx of 100,000 refugees from Myanmar, due to escalating conflicts, was recently confirmed by Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara. The announcement came in the wake of rebel forces capturing Myawaddy, a border town adjacent to Tak’s Mae Sot district. The minister’s statement followed a meeting held yesterday to discuss the evolving situation in Myanmar. The…
- Thailand News
Thai govt explores legalisation of casino entertainment complexes
The Thai Cabinet yesterday endorsed a House committee report, greenlighting the prospect of legalising entertainment complexes featuring casinos within the country. The Ministry of Finance received orders to conduct a further feasibility study concerning this potential investment within a 30-day timeframe. Kenika Ounjit, the deputy government spokeswoman, highlighted that the entertainment complex initiative constitutes a vital component in the government’s…
- Thailand News
Bangkok Port shipping scene sets sail for relocation
The Bangkok Port, located in the bustling Klong Toey district, is earmarked for a potential relocation, the Transport Ministry announced. Deputy Minister Manaporn Charoensri revealed plans for a feasibility study into the port’s relocation yesterday, to transform parts of the 32-rai site into a public park. Manaporn, responsible for overseeing the operations of the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), shared…
- Thailand News
Fun drought: Songkran water festivities scaled back, says tourism minister
Despite earlier announcements, the traditional water-splashing activities during the Songkran festival in Thailand will not run throughout the entire month-long celebration, according to Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, the Tourism and Sports Minister. The minister clarified that although the festival activities were scheduled from April 1 and set to end by the month’s close, water-splashing was not part of the whole duration. Sudawan…
- Thailand News
New Zealand PM to make official visit to Thailand
Christopher Luxon, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, is set for an official visit to Thailand between April 16 and 18, hosted by Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Luxon’s delegation includes Simon Watts, Minister for Climate Change, Paulo Garcia, Member of Parliament, and a host of officials from various New Zealand government departments, along with influential business leaders. PM Luxon…
- Thailand News
Thailand braces for influx of 100,000 Myanmar refugees
The escalating conflict in Myanmar has prompted Thailand to prepare for the potential influx of 100,000 displaced individuals, as stated by Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara. The announcement came before a Thai Cabinet meeting aimed at discussing the intensifying situation in their neighbouring country. Parnpree urged all parties involved in the conflict to pursue peace negotiations. Currently, Myanmar is grappling…
- Phuket News
Phuket RBC’s urgent call for blood donations ahead of Songkran
Phuket Regional Blood Centre (Phuket RBC) issued an urgent call for blood donors of all types to help increase the blood supply during the Songkran holidays. To incentivise donors, the centre is offering free Give Blood Save Life T-shirts to those who donate blood at their Phuket Town offices between April 9-11, from 8.30am to 7.30pm, or between April 12-16,…
- Thailand News
Thai PM announces feasibility study for Samui Airport expansion
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced yesterday that a feasibility study for the expansion of Samui Airport is currently being conducted. The proposed expansion aims to accommodate larger aircraft and an increasing number of visitors. PM Srettha, accompanied by Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol and Deputy Agriculture Minister Chaiya Promma, conducted an official visit to the airport as part of…
- Thailand News
Acidic anxiety: Lorry leak near Mekong raises contamination fears
A lorry incident in Laos, which resulted in a sulphuric acid leak into a tributary of the Mekong River, has sparked concerns about potential water contamination along the Thailand-Laos border. However, the water quality in this stretch of the river was deemed safe yesterday, April 8, with continuous monitoring set to persist until the end of the week. Somsak Thepsutin,…
- Thailand News
Bangkok Port relocation set to combat pollution and congestion
The Bangkok Port, a 32-rai facility located next to the Chao Phraya River in the Klong Toey district, is slated for relocation as per government orders. The decision aims to repurpose the area for public advantage. The directive was communicated through a letter issued by Thawatchai Chanpaisansil, adviser to the Cabinet Secretariat, on April 4 to the Ministry of Transport,…
- Thailand News
Bangkok prepares for Songkran with 1,600 safety officers
The Songkran festivities in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, are set to have more than 1,600 officials and volunteers on guard. This safety measure is particularly aimed at tourist hotspots like Khao San and Silom roads. The Phra Nakhon District Director, Kosol Singhanat, anticipates a substantial influx of tourists in three key areas during the holiday, namely Khao San Road, Sanam…
- Thailand News
Chiang Mai declares more districts as disaster zones amid wildfires
Wildfires continue to blaze through Chiang Mai, leading the local authority yesterday to declare three additional districts as disaster zones. These districts, Chiang Dao, Mae Taeng, and Chai Prakarn, have joined Fang and Phrao districts, which were declared disaster areas on April 4. The provincial governor has cited the fatigue of initial firefighters and soldiers as a significant obstacle in…
- Thailand News
Myanmar requests Thai clearance for evacuation flights
The Government of Myanmar recently filed a request with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seeking clearance for evacuation flights to land in the Mae Sot district of Tak. The motive behind this request is the evacuation of 617 military officers and their dependents, who are expected to flee Myawaddy, a city now under the control of rebel ethnic forces.…
- Phuket News
Monk’s naked beach dip in Phuket sparks misunderstanding
The Karon Municipality in Phuket has put to rest concerns raised by locals over an incident involving a 67 year old monk, Phra Manop Nonthakho, who was believed to have stripped naked at Karon Beach. A representative of the municipality, Adisak Phromsila, clarified that the monk originally from Nakhon Sawan province had not fully disrobed but kept on his half-length…
- Phuket News
Man seriously injured in Phuket after argument over dog
An argument over a dog in Phuket escalated into a violent confrontation, resulting in one man being seriously injured by a makeshift machete. The incident took place at the CSAL workers’ camp in Tha Sai, Moo 1, Srisoonthorn, on a Friday night. Police captain Thitiwat Asasingh, with the Thalang Police, was informed of the incident at approximately 8.30pm. Teams of…
- Phuket News
Explicit surfboard sex video off Karon beach sparks heated debate
A widely shared video of two foreigners engaging in sexual activity on a surfboard off Karon Beach in Phuket has sparked intense debate online. The footage, which was shared on the Facebook page of Hot Jung Phuket, has already received over 13,000 reactions and almost 2,000 comments since it was posted yesterday evening. The video elicited a variety of responses…
- Thailand News
Military lieutenant held in Nonthaburi woman’s murder case
A woman’s life was abruptly ended in her condominium in Nonthaburi’s Mueang district, with a military lieutenant now under arrest, facing accusations of her murder. The shocking event transpired yesterday, April 7, forcing the calm neighbourhood into an alarming situation. Responding to a distress call, law enforcement officials arrived promptly at the condo located in Tambon Bang Kraso in Mueang…
- Thailand News
Bangkok police raid notorious Don Mueang gambling den again
Bangkok’s Don Mueang district was the scene of a police raid on Saturday as an old futsal stadium, notorious for its continued operation as a gambling den, was targeted yet again. The site, known for its resilience in the face of repeated shutdowns, has seen at least ten raids over several years. Leading a 30-officer team was the Superintendent of…
- Thailand News
Cosmos Thai-Ming: Thailand and China sign MoU for space prowess
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing personnel capabilities in space science and technology has been inked between Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) and the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The MoU signing, which took place at the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Centre in Beijing, drew high-ranking attendees, including HRH Princess Maha Chakri…
- Thailand News
Thai-Lao QR payment system launched to boost border tourism
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) and the Bank of Lao (BoL) have initiated a QR payment system to facilitate electronic transactions, a move that promises to increase tourist spending at the Thai-Laos border. The system was launched on the fringes of the 11th ASEAN Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting in the Luang Prabang on April 3. Khemchat Somjaiwong,…
- Phuket News
Phuket police raid underground gambling den, 32 arrested
A clandestine gambling establishment in Talat Yai, Phuket, was stormed by the police in the wee hours of yesterday, resulting in the apprehension of 32 individuals. The raid, orchestrated by Police Colonel Prathueng Phonmana, superintendent of Mueang Police Station, unfolded just after 12.30am at a three-storey building on Chanacharoen Road. The police encountered an open-door venue, leading them to two…
- Thailand News
Chinese government awards US$4.1m for local projects in Thailand
A robust financial boost of US$4.1 million, equivalent to 151 million baht, is being awarded by the Chinese government to 18 local projects in Thailand. This generous funding is being dispensed under the 2021 Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund (MLCSF), as revealed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). A total of 106 projects were put forth for consideration by government…
- Thailand News
135 Myanmar nationals arrested for illegal entry in Kanchanaburi
Police in Kanchanaburi province have apprehended a total of 135 Myanmar nationals, including four juveniles, on charges of illegal entry into the country. The arrests were made in two separate operations. Deputy commander of the provincial police, Pattarachai Korsanan, along with investigative superintendent Mana Samrarnwong, received a tip-off on Friday around 5pm from a local about a suspicious pickup truck…
- Thailand News
Prompt inquiry ordered into 11,000 tonnes of vanished cadmium waste
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin issued a directive yesterday for a prompt inquiry into the vanishing of 11,000 tonnes of cadmium waste from a smelting factory in Samut Sakhon. The prime minister’s objective, as stated in his X account post yesterday, was to eliminate all dispersed tailings within a fortnight. The cadmium tailings were discovered last Thursday, stored illicitly at a…
- Northern Thailand News
Rising lung cancer deaths in northern Thailand linked to PM2.5 pollution
A surge in lung cancer mortality rates has been observed in the northern regions of Thailand, specifically in Chiang Mai and Lampang. The Faculty of Medicine at Chiang Mai University has linked this increase to the high levels of PM2.5 particles polluting the air. Chalerm Liewsisakul, an Associate Professor at the university, revealed that PM2.5 pollution has significantly worsened in…
- Thailand News
John Legend enjoys spring break in Phuket
Renowned American musician and actor, John Legend was spotted yesterday in Phuket, alongside his wife, 38 year old model and author Chrissy Teigen, and their four children. The family is in Thailand for a spring break holiday, visiting Teigen’s mother, Vilailuck Teigen, who recently moved back to her childhood town of Korat from the United States. The family’s holiday itinerary…
