Mitch Connor
- Phuket News
Unidentified foreign woman’s body found on Phuket beach
In Phuket, a foreign woman’s body was discovered floating in the waters off Freedom Beach yesterday. Karon police received word of the grim find around 2.45pm. A subsequent recovery mission was swiftly assembled, with Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers utilising a rubber dinghy to retrieve the body and transport it ashore near Nong Harn Lake in Karon. The deceased is thought…
- Thailand News
South Africa and Thailand boosts agricultural ties
The agricultural sector has become a significant beneficiary of the thriving bilateral relationship between Thailand and South Africa, revealed South Africa’s Ambassador to Thailand, Darkey Africa in a recent interview. This conversation was held to commemorate three decades of South African democracy and the bilateral relationship between the two nations including a strengthening of agricultural ties. Africa underscored the positive…
- Technology News
Thailand’s govt backs AI industry and boosts digital infrastructure
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced that the government is ready to support the AI industry and enhance the country’s digital infrastructure. The statement was made at the Microsoft Build: AI Day Event at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, where he welcomed around 2,000 developers and business and technology leaders. “AI has changed many aspects of our lives, workplaces, and business…
- South Thailand News
Influenza outbreak in Thailand prison infects over 3,000 inmates
A devastating influenza outbreak at Nakhon Si Thammarat prison in Thailand has infected almost 3,500 inmates, leading to two fatalities, as reported by public health officials. The prison in Phra Phom district was inspected by a team led by Dr Kittisak Aksornwong, the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health, who confirmed the outbreak. From April 19 to April 28, 3,442…
- Thailand News
Khon Kaen school deputy caught for soliciting mid-term bribes
A school deputy director in Khon Kaen has been apprehended by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on the grounds of soliciting tea money from parents for mid-term admissions. The arrest was a result of a parent’s complaint against the deputy director. The school director, according to the complaint, is associated with a school under the Khon Kaen Primary Educational Service…
- Thailand News
AoT tee up 3 billion baht compensation swing for RTAF
Thailand’s Defense Ministry spokesperson, Jirayu Houngsub, revealed yesterday that the Airports of Thailand (AoT) could be liable for a compensation payment of at least 3 billion baht to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). This potential payment is in relation to the Kantarat Golf Course, a property currently owned by the RTAF, which the AoT is considering repurposing. Previously, the…
- Thailand News
Thammasat University appoints new rector
One of Thailand’s most prestigious educational institutions, Thammasat University, has announced the appointment of Professor Supasawad Chardchawarn as its new rector. He replaces Associate Professor Gasinee Witoonchart, who has held the role since 2018. This significant development was revealed yesterday at 9am during the University Council’s final selection round, as reported by the Thammasat University Student Union (TUSU) on their…
- Thailand News
AoT plans to boost Suvarnabhumi Airport into world’s top 50
Airports of Thailand (AoT) disclosed plans to elevate Suvarnabhumi International Airport into the league of the world’s top 50 airports within a year and subsequently to the top 20 by 2028. This announcement was made by AoT Director Kirati Kijmanawat. The director shared that Suvarnabhumi International Airport currently ranks 58th in Skytrax’s World’s Best Airport Rankings for 2024, a significant…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s major airports plan US$4.8 billion capacity doubling
Two of Thailand’s main airports, Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, are set to undergo significant expansions. The Airports of Thailand (AOT) Public Company Limited intends to invest approximately US$4.8 billion to more than double the airports’ capacity by the end of the decade. The expansion aims to accommodate a predicted surge in tourism as the world recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.…
- Phuket News
English tourist assaults tuk tuk driver over fare dispute in Phuket
An English traveller in Phuket has been caught in a troubling confrontation with a local tuk tuk driver over a fare dispute. The incident, which has been widely shared on social media platforms, shows the tourist physically assaulting the driver after accusing him of withholding change. The video clip reveals the English traveller forcefully gripping the driver’s neck and shouting…
- Phuket News
Patong police intensify crackdown on drink driving in Phuket
Patong Police, located in Phuket’s prominent tourist town, ramped up their efforts against drink driving, arresting nine people over the past five days for their reckless behaviour. Among those detained were a mix of Thai and foreign nationals, including 34 year old Spanish man Cabria Gonzales, who was charged for drink driving last Thursday after he was stopped between 1am…
- Thailand News
RTN ready to evacuate Thais in escalating Myanmar conflict
The escalating civil conflict in Myanmar prompted the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) to keep four ships on standby in the Andaman Sea, prepared to evacuate Thai citizens if required. Admiral Adung Pan-Iam, the RTN chief, has commanded the Region 3 commander, who oversees the Andaman coast, to ready two frigates, HTMS Saiburi and HTMS Prachuap Khiri Khan, along with two landing…
- Thailand News
Pheu Thai Party highlights achievements, outlines future vision
The Pheu Thai Party organised a significant event on Friday to shed light on the party’s accomplishments over the past 10 months and to share the vision of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The event is aptly named 10 Months Without Waiting, Moving Forward to Achieve 10 out of 10, as revealed by Pheu Thai’s secretary-general,…
- Phuket News
Turkish man in Phuket cuts chain on illegally parked motorbike
A Turkish national has been apprehended and charged by the Phuket City Police after he used pliers to sever a police chain on his motorbike. The motorbike was parked illegally in a no-parking zone in Phuket Town, and the police had secured it with a chain to prevent removal. The incident unfolded last Friday, April 26, and came to public…
- Thailand News
Big Joke and suspended officers summoned by Thai Police
A disciplinary investigation panel from the Royal Thai Police (RTP) announced its intentions to issue a summons for five of their officers, including the currently suspended Deputy National Police Chief, Surachate “Big Joke”Hakparn. The announcement, made by Deputy National Chief Sarawut Kanpanich, comes in light of a serious disciplinary violation accusation linked to the BNK Master gambling website. The investigation…
- Thailand News
Chiang Mai battles with deteriorating air quality due to wildfires
Chiang Mai is currently grappling with deteriorating air quality caused by a surge in wildfires throughout the region. This concerning situation has positioned the province among cities with the most compromised air quality worldwide, as it contends with dense smog enveloping its downtown area daily for the past month. In a recent report by the Wildfire and Pollution Control Command…
- Thailand News
RTN prepares for Myanmar evacuation amid conflict
In the face of escalating civil conflict in Myanmar, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has stationed four vessels in the Andaman Sea, ready to facilitate the evacuation of Thai citizens from Myanmar. The directive came from RTN Chief Admiral Adung Pan-Iam, who has instructed the Region 3 commander to prepare two frigates, HTMS Saiburi and HTMS Prachuap Khiri Khan, and…
- Thailand News
Fishing trawler catches fire in Andaman sea, 9 crew rescued
The Sri Thong Pae 7 fishing trawler was engulfed in flames while refuelling in the Andaman Sea, leading to a rescue operation that saved the lives of nine crew members. The incident occurred early this morning, 15 nautical miles southwest of Koh Surin islands, off Phang Nga. Upon receiving the distress signal at approximately 3.30am, the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre…
- Phuket News
Phuket van driver brandishes knife in road rage incident
An outbreak of road rage in Phuket yesterday saw a van driver brandishing a knife and menacing a taxi driver in the heart of one of the city’s busiest roads. The episode, which happened near the Central Phuket intersection of Chaloem Phrakiat Rama 9 Road, was promptly shared on social media by onlookers who captured footage of the irate driver…
- Thailand News
Laos considers Thailand’s proposal for ASEAN troika meetings
The Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Nikorndej Balankura, confirmed that Laos has received and is considering Thailand’s proposal for ASEAN Troika and Troika plus meetings, which aim to alleviate the ongoing crisis in Myanmar. The proposal is Thailand’s attempt to engage with Myanmar’s military junta to resolve the situation while simultaneously advocating for humanitarian aid and peace. Thailand put forth this…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok’s eastern flank gets a wetland forest for recreation
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is transforming an 86-rai plot of land situated on Bangkok’s eastern flank into a wetland forest, a green space designed to provide urban dwellers with fresh air and recreational facilities. This plot, found in the Bung Kum district, was previously recognised as Klong Lam Bung Kum. Its initial purpose was to act as a floodwater-retention…
- Phuket News
Outrage as man unlawfully removes wheel lock from bike in Phuket
A foreign individual sparked outrage on social media after he was caught on camera removing a wheel lock from his unlawfully parked motorbike in Phuket. The man, whose identity remains unknown, parked his bike outside the Kasikorn Bank on Phang Nga Road, an illegal parking area, around noon on April 26. This led to traffic police putting a wheel lock and…
- Transport News
EEC office finalises plan for high-speed railway districts
The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) office is on the brink of completing a commercial development plan for districts within Chon Buri and Chachoengsao. This initiative is a segment of the projected high-speed rail system set to connect Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports. After a recent discussion in Pattaya City, recommendations are now being collated into an actionable outline for…
- Environment News
Chiang Dao wildlife sanctuary closed due to man-made hotspots
The Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary in Chiang Mai province has been indefinitely shut down by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation. The decision comes in the wake of the discovery of several man-made hotspots in areas of key ecological importance. The department’s chief, Attapol Charoenchansa, announced the measure as an immediate response to the pressing issues of…
- Thailand News
Syrian nationals detained in Phuket for alleged forged passports
A trio of Syrian nationals were detained by the Immigration Bureau of the Royal Thai Police in Phuket for allegedly carrying forged passports. Law enforcement officials first apprehended a suspect at the Phuket International Airport when he attempted to leave the country using a fraudulent United Arab Emirates passport. Subsequently, two other individuals were taken into custody on the island.…
- Thailand News
Russian tourist loses bag on Pattaya’s Jomtien Beach
A Russian tourist lost her bag, which contained personal items and cash, had mysteriously vanished on Jomtien Beach, Pattaya on Wednesday night. The Russian tourist, Ksenia Testik, made a report at 11.06pm on Wednesday to Police Lieutenant Colonel Chonlawit Athipansi, the Deputy Inspector at the Pattaya Police Station. Testik was not alone during this ordeal. A special services officer was…
- Thailand News
Thailand revealed as best country to visit
Thailand has taken the top spot in the World’s Best Countries to Visit in Your Lifetime in 2024 list, as announced by the CEOWORLD Magazine yesterday. This noteworthy rank came to light following a comprehensive survey conducted by the magazine, which engaged the opinions of 295,000 users, marking it as the most participated survey on their website. The appeal of…
- Thailand News
Thai-Lao friendship bridge to open in November
The fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, connecting Thailand’s Bueng Kan province and Laos’ Pakxan town, has been scheduled to open in November. The announcement was made by Deputy Transport Minister, Manaporn Charoensri. The bridge will span from Bueng Kan, Khai Si and Wisit subdistricts in the Mueang Bueng Kan district, situated across the river from Pakxan. The construction project features a…
- Thailand News
Caught in the act: Drug offender’s escape foiled at Khon Kaen resort
In a sudden turn of events, a 35 year old convicted drug offender escaped custody at the provincial court on Wednesday but was apprehended this morning at a resort in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen. The accused, Ratchaphon Khiannok, was arrested along with his accomplice, 20 year old Palangwatchara Khunsinchairat. Acting on information that the pair were holed up…
- Thailand News
Thai anti-corruption commission lets go of Yingluck’s exoneration
Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has unanimously chosen not to contest the Supreme Court’s ruling, which exonerated former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and five others from malfeasance charges linked to a 240-million baht public relations campaign, according to an insider familiar with the situation. The NACC filed allegations against Yingluck, former Prime Minister’s Office minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan, Yingluck’s secretary-general at…
