- Phuket News
Phuket rescue team kept busy with surge in reptile sightings
Rescue workers at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation branch in Wichit Municipality (DDPM-Wichit), Phuket, have been kept busy with a surge in reptile sightings. Even before the onset of the rainy season, the task of managing the movement of these creatures has become a daily routine. Yesterday, a massive python and a baby monitor lizard were captured in…
- Thailand News
Prachuap Khiri Khan prison manages Covid-19 with emergency operations centre
The Covid-19 situation at Prachuap Khiri Khan prison in Thailand is set to be managed by an imminent emergency operations centre (EOC), following the identification of infection clusters. This development comes as the public health permanent secretary, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, reported intensified surveillance in the wake of 79 confirmed Covid cases at the prison. The first infection was detected on…
- Thailand News
Thailand consumers council calls for investigation into yellow line malfunctions
An urgent call for an independent examination of the Yellow Line’s recent malfunctions has been made by the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC). The TCC, led by Dr Anuchar Sethasathien who presides over the transport and vehicle sub-committee, has requested that transport experts along with the Rail Transport Department and Consumer Protection Board conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents that…
- Thailand News
Korea aerospace industries proposes to sell FA50 light fighters to Royal Thai Air Force
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has presented a proposal to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), offering to sell its FA50 light fighters. The RTAF has earmarked 19 billion baht for the procurement of new fighter jets in the forthcoming fiscal year, as revealed by an insider from the Defence Ministry. The pitch was made by the CEO of KAI, Kang…
- Thailand News
Workers get million-baht compensation for Rayong crane accident
Following a harrowing crane collapse tragedy in Rayong’s Pluak Daeng district where seven lives were lost, negotiations between workers and authorities have culminated in a million-baht compensation deal. The predominantly Myanmar workforce reluctantly reopened the site this morning only after the construction firm, under pressure, agreed to a compensation package amounting to 1.6 million baht for each fatality. The turmoil…
- Thailand News
Thailand and UK forge economic alliance
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Lord Dominic Johnson of Lainston CBE, along with British Ambassador Mark Gooding, engaged in a diplomatic meeting to discuss economic collaboration between the UK and Thailand. The crux of Thursday’s discussions revolved around fortifying economic ties, amplifying trade relations, and fostering investment opportunities. This pivotal dialogue laid the groundwork for signing a Memorandum of…
- Thailand News
Thailand, China, and Laos forge new routes
Thailand is in talks with China and Laos to revolutionise their airspace, with Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Co Ltd (Aerothai) president Nopasit Chakpitak revealing plans to accommodate a staggering 100,000 more flights. The proposed parallel routes aim to alleviate congestion in the current flight path, labelled a bottleneck in northwestern Laos by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Once the…
- Thailand News
Rayong fishing groups sue Star Petroleum over oil spill devastation
A class action lawsuit has been initiated by 14 individuals from Rayong, representing fishing groups and local businesses. They are suing Star Petroleum Refining Company (SPRC), the owner of an underwater oil pipeline that ruptured in 2022, claiming that the subsequent major oil spill has devastated their livelihoods. These individuals are part of a local fishing community known as Pak…
- Thailand News
Russian tourist arrested for violent conduct in Phuket hotel
A Russian man was apprehended at a hotel in Karon, Phuket, for causing a public disturbance and engaging in violent behaviour. The incident, which occurred earlier this week, prompted Karon Police to issue a stern warning to all foreigners against unruly, alcohol-fuelled conduct. The alert came in response to a Tuesday night altercation that resulted in a police officer resorting…
- Thailand News
Suvarnabhumi Airport rolls out Grab taxi services
To enhance passenger convenience and elevate service standards, the Airports of Thailand (AoT) unveiled the latest addition to Suvarnabhumi Airport: Grab taxi services. Positioned at Gate 4 on the first floor of the terminal, the newly inaugurated Grab service centre stands ready to cater to passengers around the clock, announced AoT Director Kirati Kitmanawat. Echoing Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s vision…
- Thailand News
Thai products flood Vietnam: Mini Thailand Week 2024
Hundreds of Thailand’s finest commodities are set to make waves in Vietnam as the third Mini Thailand Week 2024 kicks off in the seaside city of Ha Long. The event, part of Thailand’s strategic push to integrate its businesses into Vietnam’s booming economy, kicked off yesterday, March 28, at the Centre of Planning Fair and Exhibition in Ha Long, Quang…
- Thailand News
Thailand mulls over legalising casinos to boost economy
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin advocated for the establishment of entertainment complexes housing casinos in the country. The 62 year old prime minister stated his belief yesterday, March 28, that legalising casinos could potentially extinguish illegal gambling dens and divert gamblers’ money towards the state. The Thai PM further added that these complexes would operate under proper regulations, leading to…
- Thailand News
Taiwanese and Thai nationals charged for heroin smuggling
Taiwanese aviation police have cracked down on an international drug cartel smuggling heroin which involved one Taiwanese and four Thai nationals. The cunning scheme involved smuggling a whopping 36.644 kilogrammes of heroin into Taiwan, with an eye-watering value of over US$3.1 million (approximately 113 million baht), as disclosed in a press release by the Aviation Police Bureau (APB) yesterday. According…
- Thailand News
Malaysian tourists inquire Thai immigration arrival card exemption
Inquiries from Malaysian tourists have flooded hotel operators, eager for the inside scoop on Thailand’s immigration policy regarding the exemption of arrival cards for travellers from Malaysia. Songchai Mungprasitthichai, chairman of the Songkhla Tourism Promotion Association, revealed that Malaysians are particularly curious about potential extensions beyond the current expiry date of April 30. Travellers from all corners of the globe…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s international art festival showcases Thailand talent
A significant contemporary art festival is currently taking place in Phuket, displaying pieces from artists located in Thailand’s southern provinces. The Phuket International Contemporary Art Festival, coordinated by the Phuket Arts Association, kicked off yesterday at the Phuket Merlin Hotel in Talat Yai and will continue until Saturday. The festival showcases the work of 78 artists. Among these, 43 are…
- Phuket News
Phuket City initiates public consultation for new waste incinerator
Phuket City Municipality, in its quest to deal with the growing issue of solid waste, has initiated the first public consultation on its plan to build a brand new incinerator at the Saphan Hin waste disposal site. The meeting was led by Deputy Mayor Orapailin Trakulpriphon and took place at the meeting room of the Phuket Provincial Waste Disposal Center…
- Thailand News
Two dead in Baltimore bridge collision
The bodies of two construction workers were discovered submerged in the frigid depths of Baltimore harbour, trapped in their pickup truck after a cargo vessel careened into the bridge they were repairing. Maryland authorities, grappling with the grim revelation, revealed at a press briefing that sonar imaging suggests additional vehicles lie entombed amidst the rubble of the Francis Scott Key…
- Phuket News
Chalong police bust major drug operation in Rawai, Phuket
A swift operation by Chalong police in the sea gypsy village of Rawai, Phuket, led to the apprehension of three individuals and the confiscation of a significant quantity of drugs. The stash included over 1,700 methamphetamine tablets, colloquially known as Yaba, and more than 600 grams of crystal meth, or ya ice. The central figure in this Tuesday night raid…
- Thailand News
Exiled former celebrity minister Jakrapob returns to Thailand
A former television celebrity and one-time Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office has set tongues wagging with his unexpected announcement of returning to Thailand. This marks his comeback after a self-imposed exile lasting 15 years, undertaken to avoid lese majeste charges. Jakrapob Penkair posted on Facebook yesterday: “At 7.35 am on March 28, I will return to serve Thailand.” The…
- Thailand News
Thai labour unions criticise new daily minimum wage
The Thai Labour Solidarity Confederation (TLSC) and State Enterprises Workers’ Relations Confederation (SEWRC) expressed disapproval of the new daily minimum wage of 400 baht approved by the tripartite wage committee. The wage increase is only applicable to some areas in 10 provinces, initiating a wave of criticism from the labour unions, who argue that this decision is unjust. According to…
- Thailand News
Thai police forms special unit to tackle aggressive monkey menace
In the central plains province of Lop Buri, Thailand, a special police unit has been established to apprehend aggressive macaque monkeys causing havoc for the local populace. The head of the Lop Buri Provincial Police, 45 year old Apirak Vetkanchana, gave orders to 38 year old Kantaphon Wanna, the superintendent of Tha Hin Police, to organise a monkey suppression unit.…
- Thailand News
Thai government explores funding for digital wallet giveaway
The Thai government is currently exploring funding avenues for its digital wallet giveaway initiative, with final decisions on the funding source set to be determined next month. Lawaron Saengsanit, the permanent secretary for the Finance Ministry, revealed that the ministry and the Budget Bureau have been assigned by the digital wallet policy committee to assess possible funding sources for the…
- Thailand News
Fraudulent calls and messages surge by 18% in Thailand in 2023
Whoscall, the caller identification application, reported that fraudulent calls and messages plagued Thailand’s communication channels in 2023, with Thai citizens receiving an alarming 79 million dishonest messages and calls. This figure presents a notable 18% rise from the 66.7 million deceptive calls and messages recorded in 2022. The 2023 statistics were broken down into 20.8 million dubious calls and 58.3…
- Thailand News
Thai durians go hi-tech with Tencent
Thai trade representative Narumon Pinyosinwat held talks with a Tencent executive in Hong Kong, alongside a representative from Shanghai East Best Foreign Trade (SEBFT), a leading durian importer from China. In a post-meeting address to the press, Narumon revealed a monumental deal: SEBFT committed to purchasing a staggering 3,000 containers of Thai durians, amounting to a whopping 10 billion baht.…
- Thailand News
Thai state personnel to receive Chinese language training
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the King Prajadhipok’s Institute (KPI), the Thai-Chinese Cultural Relationship Council (TCCRC), and the Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College (BLCC). The agreement, centred on Thai-Sino cooperation, aims to provide Chinese language training for Thai state personnel. The signing ceremony took place at the King Prajadhipok Museum on Lan Luang Road in…
- Thailand News
Major drug network busted 5.6 million meth pills seized
A significant drug patrolling operation, conducted in Pathum Thani’s Lat Lum Kaeo district, resulted in the apprehension of six individuals linked to a major drug network. The operation also led to the confiscation of 5.6 million methamphetamine pills and 200 kilogrammes of ketamine. The individuals were arrested from a property within the Nattanun Home housing estate in Tambon Khu Kwang,…
- Thailand News
Monkey mayhem: Lopburi locals go bananas over macaque move
Khao Phra subdistrict residents and community leaders in Nakhon Nayok province protest a scheme to temporarily accommodate a group of 50 macaques from Lopburi province. Fearing potential attacks and chaos, locals stand firm against the plan proposed by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). The DNP’s strategy aims to address the escalating aggression of Lopburi monkeys,…
- Thailand News
Price surge in off-season rice boosts Thai farming
The president of Ban Mai Khao Farmers Group commended the recent increase in the price of fresh off-season rice, which has hit 10,000 baht (US$280) per tonne. This price surge not only encourages the traditional practice of rice cultivation among Thai farmers but also ensures a steady income for them. Suphan Phathom’s area of oversight includes the last remaining rice…
- Thailand News
Thai lawyer uncovers police-linked bribery network
A recent revelation has shaken the Thai law enforcement scene as a lawyer uncovered a gang, allegedly linked to the police, involved in an extensive bribery racket. The racket reportedly amasses over 100 million baht each month through illicit kickbacks. Sittra Biabungkerd, serving as secretary to the People’s Lawyers Foundation, brought this issue to light in a press conference held…
- Thailand News
Former prosecutor files lawsuit in Red Bull hit-and-run case
A former senior prosecutor from the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) filed a lawsuit against Police Colonel Thanasit Taengchan, a former forensic officer for the infamous 2012 hit-and-run incident involving Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya, also known as Boss. Chainarong, accompanied by his lawyer Paisan Chuarphon, lodged the lawsuit at Bangkok South Criminal Court yesterday. The case accuses Pol. Col.…
