- Thailand News
Proposed Thai bill limits casinos to 10% of entertainment venues
The Office of the Council of State (OCS) has finalised amendments to the Entertainment Complex Bill, with an online public hearing scheduled until March 1, allowing stakeholders to voice concerns before its implementation. Atavit Suwanpakdee, chairman of an advisory board to the industry minister, noted that although the OCS has modified certain aspects of the bill, it has introduced technical…
- Thailand News
Thai durians remain China’s top choice amid safety upgrades
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has expressed confidence that Thai durians will continue to be the preferred choice in China, following enhancements to food safety and contamination screenings. Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat, after her recent visit to China, reported discussions with Sun Meijun, Minister of the General Administration of Customs of China, concerning Thai fruit imports. Thailand is the leading…
- Thailand News
Thailand considers lifting train alcohol ban to boost tourism
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) intends to propose lifting the current ban on alcohol sales on trains at the upcoming meeting of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee scheduled for Friday, February 21. Previously, the committee, under the Public Health Ministry, had rejected a similar proposal due to concerns it could prove more detrimental than beneficial. Public Health Minister Somsak…
- Thailand News
Bad gift: Samut Prakan police hunt Valentine’s gold thief
The provincial police chief in Samut Prakan has ordered a manhunt for a thief who allegedly stole a gold necklace, claiming it was a gift for his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day yesterday. Police from Bang Kaew Station in Samut Prakan province responded to reports of a robbery at a gold shop located in a market behind Wat Nam Daeng in Bang…
- Thailand News
Thai man dies falling from tamarind tree in Udon Thani
A 65 year old man fell from a tamarind tree and died in Mueang district, Udon Thani province. Police Lieutenant Colonel Peera Rasri from the Mueang Udon Thani Police Station was notified of the accident, which occurred in the backyard of a house in Village 5, Nong Na Kham subdistrict. Medical personnel from Udon Thani Hospital and rescue volunteers from…
- Thailand News
Police detain 141 Myanmar migrants in Cha-am truck operation
Police in Cha-am detained over 100 Myanmar migrant workers found crammed into the back of a six-wheeled truck. The driver confessed to transporting the workers from Damnoen Saduak district to a destination in the south. The incident occurred at 10am yesterday, February 14 when Police Major Chaiyachon Arunrojrangsi of the Cha-am Police Station was setting up a checkpoint on the…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya scrap yard inferno: Fire sparks 300K baht damage
A massive fire erupted at a scrap yard in Pattaya, causing up to 300,000 baht in damages and adding to growing air pollution concerns in the region. The Nong Prue Municipality’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department received reports of a raging fire at a scrap yard in Soi Thung Klom Tan Man 17 at 2pm on Thursday, February 13. Firefighters…
- Thailand News
Thai man falls from moving train in Lopburi, dies
Passengers on a train in Lopburi were startled when a man fell from a moving train and died. The incident occurred at 5.30pm yesterday, February 14, at Lopburi railway station. Police Lieutenant Thannadon Thiangsan from the Tha Hin Police Station, along with medical personnel from Ananda Mahidol Hospital and volunteers from the Por Tek Tung Foundation, were called to the…
- Thailand News
4-metre king cobra slithers into Chumphon woman’s kitchen
A 55 year old woman from Chumphon province was startled when a 4-metre-long king cobra, weighing over 8 kilogrammes, slithered into her kitchen while she was eating. She abandoned her meal and called emergency services for assistance. Sarawut Muangdaeng, head of the rescue unit of the Chumphon Charity Foundation in Sawi district, received a call from Jirawan, who resides at…
- Bangkok News
Thai hospital suspends doctor amid medication sale probe
The Veterans General Hospital in Bangkok has suspended a female doctor from her medical duties amid an investigation into allegations of selling medication outside the hospital. The hospital assures a fair inquiry for all parties involved. The incident came to light when Thanadet Phengsuk, a Bangkok Member of Parliament from the People’s Party and deputy chairperson of the Military Commission, shared a…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya’s iconic sign gets a dazzling upgrade
Pattaya City’s famous hillside sign is getting a stunning new look, with a high-tech lighting upgrade set to be completed by February 27. Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai recently inspected the site on Pratumnak Hill, where contractors demonstrated the state-of-the-art lighting system. “The Pattaya City sign has been a landmark for over 20 years, but time has taken its toll. This…
- Bangkok News
Police confiscate illegal sexual enhancers worth 1.5 million baht
Police have seized and confiscated a range of sexual enhancement products branded as “Nam Phueng Pueng Pang” containing the active ingredient in Viagra, posing a potential danger to users. The operation, conducted yesterday, February 14, successfully seized items valued at over 1.5 million baht. Police Major General Pattanasak Bubpasuwan, head of the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), led the operation…
- Phuket News
Azerbaijan eyes Phuket: Talks on direct flights and sister city plans
Phuket is on the radar for deeper ties with Azerbaijan. Governor Sophon Suwannarat rolled out the red carpet on Thursday, February 13, for Ambassador Elchin Rakub Ogul Bashirov of Azerbaijan at the Phuket Provincial Hall, where the two discussed ramping up diplomatic and tourism cooperation. With Phuket’s tourism boom in full swing: 13.1 million visitors raking in over 497 billion…
- Thailand News
Lottery fans turn to popular Facebook page for winning numbers
Lottery enthusiasts are paying close attention to the popular Facebook page Petchkla Dekchai Nam Chok for this week’s lottery guidance. The numbers for the draw tomorrow, February 16, have been revealed by the page, which has gained fame for its accurate predictions over multiple draws. For the upcoming lottery, Petchkla Dekchai Nam Chok has shared its favoured numbers for the…
- Thailand News
Bangkok braces for thunderstorms, high dust and hot afternoons
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts scattered thunderstorms in Bangkok and its vicinity, with cool mornings and hot, hazy afternoons. High dust levels persist. The next 24 hours will see weak high pressure over the upper northeastern region and westerly winds over the north, leading to cold mornings with fog in the north and northeast. Meanwhile, southerly and southeasterly winds…
- Phuket News
Phuket motorcycle taxi feud turns bloody in street stabbing
A long-standing rivalry between two motorcycle taxi drivers erupted into a brutal knife fight outside Vachira Phuket Hospital last night, leaving one man seriously injured. The violent altercation, which unfolded at around 9pm yesterday, February 13, saw the men stab each other in a heated dispute over passengers. Phuket City Police, led by Deputy Chief of Investigation Police Captain Pawinut…
- Thailand News
Thailand rolls out new tollway speed limits to enhance safety
Thailand’s transport ministry has introduced new speed limits for tollways, aiming to improve traffic flow and enhance safety. The regulation, issued under the Highway Act 1992, applies specifically to concession highways, marking the first time such roads have been subject to speed restrictions. Under the new rule, different vehicle categories must adhere to strict speed limits: Trucks over 2.2 tonnes…
- Thailand News
Tragic temple fire in New York kills Buddhist monk
A devastating fire tore through a Buddhist temple in The Bronx, New York City, early Wednesday morning, February 12, leaving two people dead, including a Buddhist monk. The blaze, which erupted around 6am, quickly engulfed the small temple and a neighbouring residence for monks, causing irreversible damage. FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito confirmed the tragedy. “We had fire throughout…
- Thailand News
Myanmar woman arrested for illegal e-cigarette sales in Chumphon
Cyber police in collaboration with local police in Chumphon arrested a 20 year old Myanmar national yesterday for allegedly selling illegal e-cigarettes near a prominent school. She was reportedly hired by a local politician’s child and had previously faced similar charges last year. The arrest involved multiple agencies, including Chumphon Provincial Investigation, Sawi Police Station, and other local bodies. The…
- Phuket News
Drunken tourist brawl erupts in Phuket, sparks online outrage (video)
A wild street brawl involving foreign tourists outside Cafe del Mar in Kamala has set social media ablaze, reigniting debates over the type of visitors Phuket is attracting. The 1-minute, 37-second clip, shared by the โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต Facebook page today, February 14, captures the chaotic fight, with drunk tourists trading punches as stunned onlookers watched. The altercation began outside the…
- Thailand News
Meth haul over 50 million baht seized in Nonthaburi drug bust
A drug trafficking network was dismantled in Nonthaburi yesterday, February 13 at 3pm. The police seized a substantial haul, including 560,000 methamphetamine pills, 218 kilogrammes of crystal meth, and 3,163 ecstasy pills, valued at over 50 million baht. The arrest took place at a dormitory in the Bang Kraso subdistrict of Mueang Nonthaburi district on February 12 at 8pm. The…
- Thailand News
Tricycle hit-and-run leaves rider critically injured in Phetchabun
A tricycle was severely damaged after being hit by an 18-wheel truck in Phetchabun province, leaving the female driver critically injured. The woman’s nine year old daughter has had to take a two-week break from school to care for her, while her husband, who is blind, also depends on her. Yesterday, February 13, a Facebook user posted about an incident…
- Thailand News
AirAsia soars to new heights with record passenger growth in 2024
AirAsia is flying high after recording a surge in passenger numbers throughout 2024, as the budget airline group expanded its fleet to meet booming travel demand. The carrier welcomed over 63 million passengers last year, an 11% increase from 2023, while its load factor climbed to 89%. The final quarter of 2024 was particularly strong, with 16.2 million passengers flying…
- Phuket News
Phuket forest fire sparks panic before firefighters contain blaze
A raging forest fire in Thepkrasattri subdistrict, Phuket, sent firefighters and locals scrambling to contain the fast-spreading blaze yesterday, February 13. The fire engulfed over 6 rai of land in Khao Kluay, Baan Pak Pli, before emergency crews managed to bring it under control after a tense four-hour battle. The Thepkrasattri Subdistrict Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) first reported the incident, which…
- Phuket News
Phuket mum on the run after wild high-speed chase
A high-speed rampage through Thalang district has left Phuket residents in shock after a pickup-driving mother smashed into multiple vehicles before fleeing the scene, leaving behind her terrified three year old son. The dramatic series of crashes began in front of a fresh market in Thepkrasattri, where municipal officers witnessed a pickup truck colliding with several vehicles and motorcycles. The…
- Bangkok News
Lao-American man arrested for stealing iPhone at Bangkok airport
A 58 year old man of Lao-American nationality was apprehended for allegedly stealing an iPhone 16 from a Japanese tourist at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Initially denying the accusation, he was confronted with evidence leading to his arrest. Police Lieutenant Colonel Seksanti Thiraruangrat and Police Lieutenant Colonel Papassorn Maituk, along with a team from the tourist police at Suvarnabhumi Airport, detained…
- Phuket News
Nigerian man arrested in Phuket for selling cocaine to tourists
Phuket Immigration officers detained a 37 year old Nigerian man in the Thepkrasattri subdistrict for possessing cocaine with the intention to sell. The individual, identified as John Paul, was arrested at a rented residence in Village 11, Thepkrasattri yesterday morning, February 13. The operation was a joint effort by Phuket Immigration and officers from Thalang Police Station. During the arrest,…
- Thailand News
DASTA backs Phu Kradueng cable car feasibility study
The Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) has expressed support for the government’s proposal to conduct a feasibility study on a cable car project within Phu Kradueng National Park in Loei province. DASTA director Thitipong Khiawpaisan stated that Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong instructed the agency to undertake the study of this contentious project. The study will encompass…
- Phuket News
Turkish man’s visa revoked in Phuket over Interpol notice
Phuket Immigration has withdrawn the visa of a 32 year old Turkish national due to an Interpol Red Notice. The notice was issued for alleged offences involving illegal firearms and unauthorised sharing of personal data. The Republic of Turkey’s arrest warrant accused the Turkish national, Taskin, of possessing firearms and ammunition unlawfully and disseminating personal information without permission. This led…