Mitch Connor
- Phuket News
Turtle nest discovered on Koh Phra Thong beach, Phang Nga
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Region 6 office in Thailand has reported the discovery of a turtle nest on Koh Phra Thong island, located off the coast of Kuraburi District in Phang Nga province. Yesterday, a team of DMCR officials, along with a village chief assistant from Moo 3 Baan Koh Ra, inspected the turtle nest situated…
- Phuket News
Mai Khao authorities in Phuket enforce removal of illegally posted signs
Efforts to remove illegal roadside signs throughout the Mai Khao area have been ramped up, following orders given by Sarawut Srisakukham, the Chief of the Mai Khao Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor). As part of the ongoing crackdown, officials have been tasked with identifying and dismantling any unauthorised signage, to help maintain order and cleanliness in the region. The campaign commenced…
- Thailand News
PWO collaborates with NACC and Amlo for lawsuits over rubber glove corruption scandal
The Public Warehouse Organisation (PWO) is collaborating with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) to proceed with lawsuits against individuals involved in the corruption surrounding the procurement of 500 million boxes of rubber gloves worth 112 billion baht in 2020. PWO director Kriangsak Prateepvisut disclosed last week that the organization is preparing to file civil and…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s pollution control department to lower safe PM2.5 levels following WHO guidelines
The Pollution Control Department (PCD) yesterday announced plans to align with the World Health Organisation guidelines and reclassify the safe level for ultra-fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from 50 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) to 37.5 µg/m3 in an effort to address dust pollution concerns. Jatuporn Burutphat, the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, expressed the ministry’s…
- Thailand News
Karen villagers’ settlement in Kaeng Krachan National Park sparks public outcry
Protests have erupted among local residents in Phetchaburi over the Thai government’s decision to settle 150 Karen villagers in Kaeng Krachan National Park. The controversy was sparked on April 30 when the prime minister issued an order permitting the villagers to return to arable land located deep within the Bang Kloy Bon area of the national park. This decision has…
- Economy News
US and Thailand advance energy cooperation in recent discussions
The United States and Thailand have recently agreed to advance energy cooperation during talks in Washington, DC. The Office of the Spokesperson for the US Department of State issued a joint press statement revealing that the discussions took place during the third US-Thailand Energy Policy Dialogue, held from April 18 to April 20. Both nations aimed to deepen their ties…
- Phuket News
Proposal for more free legal advice at Phuket police stations
During a recent visit to Phuket, Chatchawan Suksomchit, the chairman of the Senate Standing Commission on Law, Justice and Police, reviewed a proposal aimed at increasing the availability of free legal advice at local police stations. The proposal was initiated by Rungnapha Putkaew, the President of the Phuket branch of the Lawyers Council of Thailand. Currently, 76 registered lawyers are…
- Thailand News
Thailand accelerates shift to renewables amid global energy crisis fallout
The global energy crisis has prompted Thailand to accelerate its transition to renewable energy after years of hesitation, joining other countries in adopting wind and solar power to reduce dependency on imported fuels. Thailand’s reconsideration of its renewable energy strategy came after a surge in natural gas prices last year caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Wattanapong Kurovat,…
- Phuket News
Two men arrested for illegal fishing, possession of baby sharks in Phuket
Two men have been arrested for illegal fishing in protected waters off Cape Panwa, in front of the Phuket Marine Resources Research Centre. One of the individuals was discovered in possession of four baby black-tip reef sharks, the Phuket News reported. Officers from the centre apprehended 22 year old Kasidit Saeju in the early hours of Tuesday. He was found…
- Thailand News
No political vacuum following May 14 election, says deputy PM
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam addressed concerns regarding the potential for political deadlock following the May 14 General Election. Despite foreseeing a delay in the formation of a new government, he dismissed the possibility of a political vacuum emerging. Wissanu’s remarks come as polls indicate that leading parties are continually growing closer in terms of popularity. While he acknowledges that…
- Thailand News
MFP’s popularity rising as election looms, new poll reveals
The Move Forward Party (MFP) is gaining momentum as Thailand’s General Election approaches, according to a recent pre-election poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA). While the Pheu Thai Party continues to lead in terms of constituency and party-list Members of Parliament (MPs), the MFP is rapidly gaining popularity. NIDA’s third pre-election poll was released on Wednesday,…
- Phuket News
Phuket marine office warns boat operators ahead of four-day weekend
Ahead of the four-day weekend, Phuket Marine Office Chief Natchaphong Pranit today released a series of safety notices urging boat operators to adhere to safety regulations. These notices come in the wake of an expected influx of tourists visiting Phuket from May 4-7. Phuket is anticipated to draw significant numbers of visitors due to the Coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn,…
- Thailand News
Former Yala governor sentenced to 8 years for malfeasance in GT200 bomb detector case
Former Yala governor, Teera Mintrasak, aged 59, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for malfeasance in connection with the purchase of fraudulent GT200 bomb detectors from 2007-2009. The sentence was delivered by the Region 9 Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. Teera was among 12 defendants involved in the case, with the other 11, all of whom…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya gears up for 600,000 Indian tourists this Year
At least 600,000 Indian tourists are anticipated to visit Pattaya this year, returning the visitor numbers to levels similar to those prior to the pandemic, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Anoma Vongyai, director of TAT’s Pattaya office, revealed that over 900,000 Indian tourists travelled to Thailand in the year preceding the pandemic, with approximately 600,000 of them…
- Environment News
Phuket government promotes solar energy with low-interest loans
In an effort to encourage more renewable energy use and lessen environmental impact, the Government Savings Bank of Thailand has unveiled the GSB Go Green loan. By providing financing for the installation and purchase of solar panels and other energy-efficient equipment, the bank aims to ease household energy costs in the country while helping to reduce global warming. Withai Rattanakorn,…
- Phuket News
Phuket prison inmates to train as boatbuilders in rehabilitation project
In a bid to provide vocational training and equip prisoners with valuable skills for their post-release lives, ten inmates from Phuket Prison are set to begin training as boatbuilders on May 8. The project comes after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Phuket Provincial Prison and Roeng Varee boatbuilders, based in Chalong. The signing took place at Phuket Provincial…
- Economy News
PPRP offers upskilling for welfare card holders to tackle poverty
The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) has proposed new initiatives for the holders of its Pracharath welfare cards aimed at empowering them to break free from the poverty trap. Charnkrit Detwithak, a spokesperson for the party’s election strategy committee, stated that the party leader and prime ministerial candidate, General Prawit Wongsuwon, is focused on core issues and the need to boost…
- Thailand Election News
Prayut Chan-o-cha not keen on minority government post-election
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha affirmed his preference for a majority government in the upcoming May 14 election, despite the constitution permitting the formation of a minority government. In an exclusive interview, the 67 year old, who is also the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party’s chief strategist and top prime ministerial candidate, explained that the formation of the next government would…
- Events
Thai King and Queen to attend UK coronation ceremony in May
Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand are set to embark on a royal visit to the United Kingdom between May 4 and May 7, following an invitation extended by His Majesty King Charles III. The purpose of this visit is to attend the coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, which will take place at…
- Crime News
Thai police target traffickers sending workers to South Korea
The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) of the Royal Thai Police is intensifying its efforts to investigate websites run by companies with the aim of deceiving Thais, known as “little ghosts,” into working in South Korea illegally. The ATPD has been investigating the websites operated by these firms since South Korea’s partial reopening after the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions. Sarut…
- Covid-19 News
Rise in Covid-19 inpatients and deaths expected to increase during Thailand’s rainy season
The number of Covid-19 inpatients in Thailand increased to 1,811 in the last week of April, up from 1,088 in the previous week. Meanwhile, related deaths doubled from 5 to 10 over the same period, as reported by the Department of Disease Control (DDC). These figures saw a rise two weeks after the Songkran festival in mid-April and are anticipated…
- Cannabis News
Thai cannabis vendors call out illegal importation practices
Thailand is known for its glittering beaches, bustling street food scene, expert Muay Thai fights, and full moon parties. But now it’s known for something that no one could have expected just a few short years ago – becoming the world’s home of the happy herb, marijuana. It’s been less than a year since Thailand decriminalised the growing of marijuana…
- Politics News
TDRI warns political parties of excessive campaign spending and economic risk
The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) has issued a warning to major political parties that their primary election campaign projects might be unnecessary as an economic stimulus, given that the country is not currently experiencing a recession. Yesterday, TDRI published a report intended to study and analyse the budget management of political parties, offering recommendations for adapting their future strategies.…
- Thailand News
Man with terminal cancer killed by train in Kanchanaburi
A 54 year old man in the final stage of tracheal cancer was tragically killed after being run over by a train in Kanchanaburi’s Muang district. The incident occurred yesterday afternoon when the man, identified as Suparp, lay down on the tracks near a railway station with a cloth covering his face. Police Captain Thammarat Sukhiwong, a Muang police investigator,…
- Thailand News
Mahidol University introduces CAR-T cell therapy for B-cell leukaemia in Thailand
Mahidol University has launched Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) modified T-cell therapy for the treatment of B-cell leukaemia, making Thailand the first country in the ASEAN region to adopt this advanced medical technique. Banjong Mahaisawariya, President of Mahidol University, noted that the university’s ability to implement a therapy currently used for certain blood cancers came as a result of a strategic…
- Covid-19 News
Thailand collaborates with US Vaccine Research Centre on tuberculosis vaccines
Thailand’s National Vaccine Institute (NVI) has formed a partnership with the US Vaccine Research Centre (VRC) to develop vaccines against tuberculosis, including those utilising Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. The collaboration was announced following a visit by senior officials from Thailand’s Public Health Ministry to the VRC on April 20. The VRC is a leading global organisation in vaccine research and…
- Thailand News
Thaksin’s tweet about grandchild seen as political gambit
Academics speculate that a recent tweet by fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was a political ploy to garner support for the Pheu Thai Party, as pollsters predict it may lose votes to the increasingly popular Move Forward Party (MFP) before the General Election scheduled for May 14. Yesterday, Thaksin tweeted that he would return to Thailand now that his…
- Thailand News
Protesters demand daily minimum wage increase, support for laid-off workers in Thailand
Labour advocates and human rights activists gathered at Government House yesterday, demanding that the government increase the daily minimum wage to 700 baht and establish a fund to support workers who have been laid off. The protesters, led by political activists Somyot Prueksakasemsuk and Thanaporn Wichian, 28 years old, marched to Phitsanulok Mansion and Government House to present their proposals…
- Thailand News
Annual Covid-19 booster shots planned for Thailand this year
The Public Health Ministry in Thailand aims to make this year the first in which individuals receive annual Covid-19 booster shots, akin to the seasonal flu vaccine. Deputy Government Spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek stated yesterday that Thailand must continue to monitor Covid infections, particularly after cases spiked twice last week due to the global spread of XBB.1.16, a substrain of the…
- Thailand News
Thai Sang Thai Party leader promises to resolve political divisions
Sudarat Keyuraphan, the leader of the Thai Sang Thai (TST) Party, addressed voters in Chiang Rai yesterday, stating that her party is the ideal choice to resolve deeply rooted political divisions. Speaking to an audience of around 3,000 people in the northeastern province, she explained that these rifts have held the nation back for over 17 years and hindered national…
