Neill Fronde
- Business News
Centi-millionaires: how rich is REALLY rich?
Are you rich? Super rich? The world’s first global study on the ultra-rich found a surprising amount of centi-millionaires – people with more than US$100 million in investible assets. A startling 25,490 of these super wealthy and powerful people pepper the globe. The number of heirs, CEOs, tech gurus and finance moguls worth over $100 million doubled amid a period…
- Transport News
Luxury yacht halts Bangkok traffic as Krungthep Bridge opens
Drivers were understandably miffed as a huge traffic jam built up when the Krungthep Bridge in Bangkok opened to let a boat through. It is common for the bridge to open a handful of times each month, but usually to let through a big vessel belonging to the Royal Thai Navy. This time though, cars along Rama III Road were…
- World News
Indonesian stadium to be demolished after stampede killed 133
It has been announced that the Indonesian football stadium will be demolished after it became the venue of one of the deadliest tragedies ever to occur in a sports stadium. The pandemonium cost 133 people their lives at the beginning of this month, causing Indonesian President Joko Widodo to announce plans to tear down the stadium and rebuild it to FIFA international…
- Pattaya News
Mountain B victims demand investigation of state officials
In the fallout of the Mountain B Pub fire tragedy, families of victims have filed charges against the club owners. But now they are expanding their litigation to include state officials who they say didn’t do their duty in allowing the pub to open illegally. The fire claimed the lives of 25 people in the months following the August 5…
- World News
Silly anti-cheating masks in university go viral
Taking a cue from a Bangkok university, students at Bicol University College of Engineering in the Philippines went viral for silly “anti-cheating” masks they wore for exams. A faculty member decided to bring some levity to the problem of cheating in schools by allowing her engineering students to design masks to prevent cheating, no matter how ridiculous they were. And…
- Transport News
Change in plane direction surprises Bangkok residents
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… it’s… oh, wait, it *is* a plane. Residents in Bangkok have been complaining about a sudden increase in commercial planes buzzing low over their homes. Now they finally have an explanation for why they are seeing all these low planes – an airport direction change. The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AEROTHAI), the agency…
- World News
UN Ambassador Princess Sirindhorn advocates food and equality
Acting as a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Special Goodwill Ambassador, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn called for a focus on food and equality in the Asia-Pacific region. She made remarks to commemorate World Food Day yesterday in a speech. She delivered the address via video as covered by the Bangkok Post and urged the Asia-Pacific region to…
- Politics News
Pheu Thai calls to dissolve Bhumjaithai Party over cannabis policy
The Pheu Thai Party is pushing to see rival Bhumjaithai Party go up in smoke, planning a petition to dissolve the party over the handling of their cannabis policies. The party plans on filing a petition to the Election Commission to consider the dissolution of all parties involved in the bungling of the decriminalisation of cannabis in Thailand. They claim…
- Crime News
UN expert says Russian army uses sexual violence as a tactic
A recent interview with a UN specialist asserts that, in the battle of the invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces are using sexual violence against women as a strategy. UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten called violence such as rape a tactic of war in the Russian army’s playbook. War is brutal, and soldiers from countries worldwide…
- World News
Singapore reviewing import of 16 insects for food
A host of new insects are up for approval to be imported into Singapore for human consumption. The Singapore Food Agency is reviewing 16 separate insects and insect products that can be imported now for use in animal feed and for people to eat. It may sound disgusting, but the insects underwent thorough scientific review before approval according to the…
- Crime News
Grieving mother calls for Dating App Killer’s execution
After being told her daughter had been seriously injured, a distraught mother relied on contact and details from her daughter’s new boyfriend. He said there had been a robbery and her daughter was in bad shape, in the hospital and needing money for treatment. She sent all her money and then sold her gold necklace to send more. Her daughter…
- Covid-19 News
Thailand finds 3 new subvariants, 4th in Hong Kong from Thai travellers
Three new Covid-19 subvariants have been found within Thailand’s borders according to Thai scientists. The global scientific community believes that the subvariants in the group found in the kingdom will become the dominant strains of Covid within the next few months. A separate strain, XBB, was found in three passengers from Thailand in Hong Kong, despite the variant not being…
- Thailand Protest News
Van Gogh painting makes a splash as activists throw soup on it
In a bizarre protest, climate change activists threw soup on one of the most popular paintings of all time, “Sunflowers” by Vincent van Gogh. The two women are members of the Just Stop Oil campaign and attacked the painting where it hangs at the National Gallery in London. The painting was fortunately not harmed, aside from some small damage to…
- Health
British man loses his eye to an infection from Pattaya
People complain that travel to Thailand these days costs an arm and leg, but for one British man, it cost an eye too. A dream trip to the kingdom was ruined for Raymond Kay by a fungal infection that required removing his eye. The 68 year old man was on holiday in Pattaya when he felt pain that became excruciating.…
- Thailand Weather Updates
Many areas of Phuket flooded, roads blocked
Phuket has been rocked with nonstop overnight rain, leaving many areas of the island flooded. Roads are underwater – including the popular party district Bangla Road in Patong. Phuket Town is flooded, and muddy landslides have closed roads in Kamala. People in affected areas are being assisted by rescue services while police have been dispatched to direct traffic on major…
- Health
Ebola outbreak locks down 2 districts in Uganda
An Ebola outbreak in Uganda has forced a three-week lockdown for two districts. The outbreak has recorded 58 infections with 19 deaths already, though authorities suspect that there are many more unseen infections and fatalities. Mubende is the epicentre of the outbreak and that district, along with the Kassandra district next to it, has been locked down. Yesterday Ugandan President…
- Tourism News
Infamous Tham Luang caves reopened after monsoon season
Tham Luang caves, where 12 boys and their football coach were dramatically rescued in 2018, reopened to the public today. The site had been closed since July 1 to weather the monsoon season. In late June 2018, a young football team exploring the caves became trapped when heavy storms brought flash floods that filled the cave with water. The caves…
- Crime News
Jealous man shot his wife’s lover in the chest in Bangkok
A love triangle resulted in murder charges after a man shot his wife’s lover multiple times in the street. The trio had met up to discuss the sticky situation when tempers flared and the husband pulled out a gun on the street in the Bangkok district of Lat Krabang. CCTV footage captured images of the shooting. The shooter was identified only…
- Thailand Weather Updates
UN says 50% of the world lacks disaster warning systems
A worrisome new report from the United Nations warns that half of the world is unprepared for potential disasters. With climate change increasing the number of natural disasters and creating extreme weather worldwide, half of the countries on the planet don’t have proper early warning systems. The lack of advanced indicators could potentially cost countless lives. Disaster risk and weather…
- Tourism News
Iceland considers a consulate in Phuket
Iceland is considering opening a consulate in Thailand on the island of Phuket. Currently, there are two Honorary Consuls of Iceland in Thailand, both based in Bangkok. But the European island nation sent their ambassador from China to discuss the possibilities of a consulate with Phuket authorities. The Icelandic ambassador from the Embassy of Iceland in Beijing was in Phuket…
- Koh Samui News
No foul play in death of missing Russian man in Pha Ngan
In an update to the tragic news out of Koh Pha Ngan yesterday, a body found in the woods has been confirmed to be that of a missing Russian tourist. Further, initial investigations point to no signs of foul play in the Russian man’s death. It appears that Nikita Grigoryev snuck out of Koh Pha Ngan Hospital into the woods…
- Thailand News
Phone use must be hands-free while driving
A new regulation went into effect this week requiring the hands-free use of mobile phones while driving. The law is now being enforced in all of Thailand according to a deputy government spokesperson. They issued a warning yesterday to make drivers aware that holding a phone while driving is now illegal. Section 43(9) of the Land Traffic Act of 1979…
- Crime News
Three arrested in India in occult human sacrifice case
In the southern Indian state of Kerala, police arrested three people accused of murdering two women allegedly as an occult human sacrifice. Authorities say that the people taken into custody confessed to the crime. A 60 year old traditional healer and masseur and his 52 year old wife were believed to have worked with an occult practitioner to improve their…
- Thailand Weather Updates
Ayutthaya temples at risk from flood damage
In Ayutthaya, about 70 historical sites and temples are at risk of collapse due to the heavy rains that have caused widespread floods all across the country. Ayutthaya is a province steeped in history and culture. Founded in 1350 and serving as the second capital of Thailand when it was known as Siam, the area is full of ancient historical…
- Crime News
Man used dating app to murder one woman, torture another
A man was arrested for murdering a woman he met on a dating app while police found another severely beaten woman in his room. The 27 year old man had been wanted for the torture of a woman that resulted in her death on July 21 in Bangkok Noi but had gone on the run. Police got a tip-off about…
- Koh Samui News
Missing Russian man in Koh Pha Ngan believed found dead
The Russian man missing in Koh Pha Ngan for a month has been reportedly found dead in the forest of the island. The man had been reported missing since September 13. On Wednesday a Burmese person stumbled upon a body in a dense forest area on the Pha Ngan and notified the police immediately. A friend took to Facebook to…
- Tourism News
Taiwan welcomes Bangkok travellers as first unrestricted flight
Taiwan has ended mandatory quarantine and welcomed a plane from Bangkok as the first international flight to land without Covid-19 restrictions. Just after midnight this morning, a flight from Bangkok arrived to fanfare as the first commercial flight where passengers were not required to quarantine on arrival. Taiwan lagged behind other countries in Asia in loosening restrictions as the Covid…
- Crime News
Drunk man holds baby hostage at knifepoint to get his wife back
Police in Samut Prakan were in an intense standoff with a drunken father who took his eight month old baby hostage. The man had been estranged from his wife who left to travel to the provinces. After apparently visiting his own parents, he grabbed a kitchen knife and his infant child in the middle of the night yesterday. North Samrong…
- Crime News
3 men arrested for drugs, selling fake cocaine
As officials continue to crack down on drugs and guns after the daycare centre massacre, three entertainment workers in Patong were arrested for possession of meth. They had real drugs on them when police stopped them, but are accused of selling fake cocaine to tourists. The three men, aged 25, 48, and 49 from Pattani and Narathiwat provinces were arrested…
- World News
Cambodia’s first motorway Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville deemed a success
This week a test run of Cambodia’s first motorway saw over 80,000 vehicles driving the route. After being under construction for over three years, the motorway opened its roadway to the public on October 1 as a one-month trial. The road is 187 kilometres long and runs from the capital city of Phnom Penh to the popular port and tourist…
