Mitch Connor
- Thailand News
Elderly Swiss cyclist killed in hit-and-run in Sattahip district
A 73 year old Swiss cyclist, was tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident on Sukhumvit Road, in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri, late on Sunday night. The local police received a report of the incident around 11.30pm, near the vicinity of tambon Na Jomtien. On arrival, they found the senior cyclist in an unconscious state, but attempts at resuscitation…
- Thailand News
Power bank explosion sparks panic on Thai AirAsia flight
An explosion of a power bank on a Thai AirAsia flight destined for Nakhon Si Thammarat sparked alarm on a recent Saturday morning. Pimphattra Wichaikul, the Industry Minister, who was among the 186 passengers on the flight, witnessed the incident that filled the cabin with smoke. The crew, however, managed to extinguish the fire within two minutes, enabling the flight…
- Thailand News
Cobra Gold military exercise introduces Muay Thai training
Cobra Gold, the annual joint military exercise, kicks off today, and for the first time, it will feature Muay Thai training as an essential component. The decision is an integral part of the government’s strategy to elevate the Thai martial arts as a symbol of the nation’s soft power. The Defence Ministry announced that the 43rd iteration of Cobra Gold…
- Thailand News
New agricultural land reform policy to implement buffer zones
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow is set to propose a new agricultural land reform policy tomorrow. The policy seeks to establish a buffer zone between forest reserves and agricultural land, with the explicit specification that this zone will not be allocated to individual farmers. This comes in the wake of an ongoing dispute between the Agricultural Land Reform Office…
- Thailand News
Buddha sculpture found in Thai-US navy salvage operation of sunken HTMS Sukhothai
The collaborative salvage operation between the Royal Thai Navy and the United States Navy unearthed a Buddha sculpture and several documents from the sunken HTMS Sukhothai on its third day. This information was relayed by Royal Admiral Veerudom Muangjin, a spokesperson for the Royal Thai Navy, who shared that these items were found by a combined diving team near the…
- Thailand News
Bangkok breathes easier as PM2.5 levels fall but north faces rise
The upcoming week brings a breath of fresh air for Bangkok locals as levels of harmful PM2.5 pollutants, ultra-fine particulars, are expected to decrease. However, residents in the north and northeast are being warned of an imminent rise in air pollution due to prevalent wildfires in these regions. Sunday morning data from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) air quality monitoring…
- Thailand News
PM Srettha orders immigration control improvement at Suvarnabhumi
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has ordered improvements to the immigration control services at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, citing concerns over long queues and excessive waiting times. PM Srettha conducted an unexpected inspection of the airport on Saturday evening, his second unannounced visit since February 5. The prime minister revealed that he had personally timed the duration of various procedures from the…
- Thailand News
Thai citizens question Department of Corrections’ parole powers
A NIDA opinion poll reveals that a significant percentage of Thai citizens are in disagreement with the Department of Corrections’ authority to sanction reductions in prison sentences and approve parole. The survey sought public opinion on the department’s power to either reduce convicts’ imprisonment tenure or grant them parole. The responses were varied, with 40% categorically opposing it, 19.47% in…
- Thailand News
Betong tourism association pushes for airport runway extension
The Betong District Tourism Association is pressing for an extension of the runway at Betong International Airport. The expansion is integral to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s tourism enhancement agenda. The longer runway is anticipated to allow larger aircraft to land, subsequently increasing the influx of tourists. Deputy President of the association, Narin Ruangwongsa, expressed the intention to propose this expansion…
- Thailand News
Krabi national park makes astonishing revenue in tourism boom
In less than four months, Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi has become a gold mine, pulling in nearly 300,000,000 baht in entry fees from over 126,000 tourists. This meteoric rise in revenue dwarfs the previous fiscal year’s earnings, ringing in at 276 million baht. National park chief Yutthaphong Damsrisuk noted that the park has witnessed…
- Thailand News
Drunken argument leads to violence on Pattaya Beach
A domestic argument between a couple turned violent on the Pattaya beachfront, shocking onlookers on Wednesday evening, February 21. Responding promptly to distress signals, authorities and rescue teams discovered a 53 year old Thai man, Sommai, gravely injured and bleeding profusely near a trash receptacle, the aftermath of a fiery altercation with his spouse. Concerned bystanders had congregated around him,…
- Thailand News
Universal Health Coverage expands to eight more provinces
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme is set to empower members with unprecedented healthcare options across eight additional provinces. Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew, heading the National Health Security Board, announced the green light for expanding the UHC digital health platform. This expansion encompasses provinces such as Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan, Sing Buri, Phang Nga, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Amnat Charoen,…
- Thailand News
Controversial sticker-covered Pai highway sign sparks fury
In Mae Hong Son’s Pai district, the highway sign that reads Welcome to Pai has found itself at the centre of a heated controversy. Adorned with an array of stickers, the sign has divided opinion on whether it’s a quirky tradition or a potential road hazard. The viral photo, widely circulated on social media over the past week, showcases the…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s traffic crisis: over 500,000 vehicles clog the island’s roads
The Thai holiday resort of Phuket is grappling with a serious traffic problem. Senate Transportation Commission Chairman, General Yodyut Bunyathikarn, was informed on his recent visit to the island that over half a million vehicles are congesting the roads. Gen. Yodyut’s two-day visit aimed to understand the issues and challenges in implementing transportation and infrastructure projects in Phuket. During a meeting at…
- Thailand News
Thai foundation advocates green switch for Makha Bucha day
The Tree Planting Foundation is advocating for Thais tomorrow to make a green switch from the traditional practice of burning candles and incense sticks during the imminent Makha Bucha day candle processions. The campaign is aimed at fostering environmentally friendly merit-making customs that contribute to the expansion of green spaces in Thailand. Tawatchai Tositrakul, leading the Tree Planting Foundation, voiced…
- Thailand News
Thai and US navies kickstart mission to salvage sunken HTMS Sukhothai
A joint military exercise between the Thai and US navies initiated a challenging mission yesterday, involving a squad of 49 divers to salvage the sunken HTMS Sukhothai over 19 days. The operation is part of the Cobra Gold military exercise hosted in Prachuap Khiri Khan. Admiral Adoong Pan-iam, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) commander-in-chief, visited the mission base, the US…
- Thailand Weather Updates
Thailand’s summer sun takes the heat up a notch: Temperatures set to sizzle at 45°c
The summer sun has begun its sizzling reign over Thailand, officially declared by the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD), with temperatures set to soar to a scorching 45°C on some days. Daily averages are predicted to hover around a balmy 36°C. This surge in heat is credited to the blazing rays of sunshine blanketing the nation’s northern reaches, then whisked…
- Thailand News
South Korean man arrested by Thai police for fraud
Chon Buri Immigration Bureau arrested a notorious South Korean fugitive for fraud and a call centre syndicate on Wednesday. Acting swiftly on intelligence shared by foreign counterparts, immigration officers seized 51 year old Oh Suk Yeon in Pattaya for orchestrating a call centre fraud ring that preyed on unsuspecting victims back in South Korea. According to Chon Buri Immigration, this…
- Thailand News
Ex-politician’s son causes deadly accident in Sadao district
A devastating accident unfolded in Tambon Samnak Kham, Sadao district on Wednesday when 35 year old Wissanu Tongsai lost control of his pickup truck and ploughed into a group of students, resulting in two fatalities and 13 injuries. Wissanu, the son of an ex-politician from Samnak Kham Municipal Council, was later charged with reckless driving and illegal drug use. Chanaporn…
- Thailand News
Thai police chief denies involvement in online gambling scandal
Police General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, Deputy National Police Chief, yesterday refuted allegations of his involvement with online gambling networks. Despite the rumours that have been swirling since early this week, Big Joke clarified that no formal charges have been brought against him following the widely publicised house search conducted last year. Furthermore, he noted that only eight individuals, some…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s ex-PM Thaksin paroled raising legal questions
Convicted former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra has been granted parole in compliance with legal criteria, according to Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong, the Justice Minister. This comes following Thaskin’s return to Thailand last year, during which he did not serve any jail time. This development sparked questions from Nattacha Boonchaiinsawat, a Bangkok MP for the Move Forward Party (MFP),…
- Thailand News
Phuket’s Kamala Beach faces murky waters as main canal turns black
Kamala Beach in Phuket found itself in a murky situation, the main canal has turned black and is producing an unpleasant smell. Visitors to the beach, some international tourists, watched in dismay as the polluted water flowed freely into the sea. The sight of the blackened water has led to numerous headshakes and raised eyebrows. A particularly concerned tourist even questioned…
- Thailand News
Free drive on Bangkok expressways this Saturday
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) announces toll-free passage along three key Bangkok expressways on Saturday. This Saturday, February 24 marks the Buddhist holiday, Makha Bucha Day. It is observed on the full moon of the third lunar month in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar (on the full moon of Tabaung), ranks second only to Vesak in importance. It…
- Phuket News
Phuket Tourist Police target unregistered airport taxis
On the bustling island of Phuket, the Tourist Police have recalibrated their focus, zeroing in on unregistered taxi services that operate at Phuket International Airport. This renewed drive to combat illegal cabs was unveiled during a campaign launch and officers’ gathering at the airport. The campaign was spearheaded by Police Colonel Phisit Sawatthaworn, Commander of Tourist Police Division 2, flanked…
- Phuket News
Move Forward Party set to announce PPAO presidential candidate
Pita Limjaroenrat, a key figure in Thai politics, is poised to make an important announcement in Phuket this weekend. The Move Forward Party (MFP), under his leadership on Saturday, February 24, will be introducing its presidential candidate for the upcoming Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) election. Pita’s arrival in Phuket was confirmed via a Facebook post by Chalermpong Saengdee, a…
- Thailand News
Desperate father pleads for Thai worker’s release from Hamas
A Thai father is urging the government to intervene in the release of his son, who has been detained by Hamas militants in Israel for an excruciating five months. Wilas Tanna hailing from tambon Ban Khu in Na Pho district, voiced his anguish yesterday, February 21, expressing grave concerns for the safety of his 36 year old son Pongsak following…
- Phuket News
Unexpected jellyfish invasion hits Patong Beach in Phuket
The sandy stretches of Patong Beach in Phuket have recently become the unlikely landing spot for a multitude of jellyfish. Since yesterday, February 21, these jellyfish have been making waves amongst beachgoers, washing up on the shore in an unexpected turn of events. The lifeguards stationed at Patong Beach quickly took note of this unusual occurrence. They promptly issued a…
- Thailand News
Japanese mafia scandal: Allegations of nuclear weapon trafficking
Japanese mafia Takeshi Ebisawa stands accused of attempting to peddle uranium and plutonium under the belief that they would find their way to Iran’s clandestine nuclear arsenal. Ebisawa, alongside a Thai accomplice, previously tangled with the law over charges related to arms and narcotics in April 2022. Now, facing the prospect of life behind bars if found guilty of the…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s future electric vehicles industry workforce
Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) is gearing up to sculpt a formidable workforce of over 150,000 individuals poised to dominate the electric vehicle (EV) industry within the next five years. This electrifying initiative forms the nucleus of the ministry’s holistic strategy aimed at supercharging Thailand’s EV ecosystem. The ministry’s blueprint, announced with much fanfare, is…
- Thailand News
Thai aviation set for turbulence as CAAT navigates high air fares
Transport Minister Suriya Juangruangreangkit disclosed on Wednesday that the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is in active discussions with all six domestic airlines in Thailand. The aim is to increase flight frequency during holiday periods and lower the flight price ceiling, in response to the issue of excessively high fares. The CAAT convened a meeting on Tuesday with the…
