- Crime News
New law around Kratom plant comes into effect Thailand
A new law around kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia, has officially taken effect in Thailand yesterday (Saturday). Kratom leaves are used as a mild stimulant and painkiller. The new law, the Kratom Act of 2022, allows people to sell kratom-based products such as foods and drinks, online. In the past, people could sell only plants and leaves. This…
- Central Thailand News
Car goes flying out of third storey of car park in central Thailand
CCTV footage has captured a car flying off the third storey of a carpark of a shopping mall in Thailand’s central province of Nonthaburi. The footage shows the car going through the car park’s wall before the vehicle falls onto the street below. Even though Bang Bua Thong Police found the car upside down, the driver only had minor neck…
- Phuket News
Resort & local government to cooperate cleaning Phuket beach
Littering is a problem at many Phuket beaches, but several sectors are working together to fix this. There’s a new initiative between a resort, and the local government, to collect garbage on Kamala Beach. The initiative titled the ‘Proud Kamala Project’ is a joint project between the Kamala Sub-district Administrative Organisation, and the Intercontinental Phuket Resort. The two parties signed…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok police fail to stop fight between rival schools
Bangkok police tried and failed to stop a fight between about 110 students from two rival schools, Thai media reported on Friday. About 60 students from Pathumwan Institute of Technology clashed with about 50 students from the Rajamangala University of Technology in the area of Bangkok’s national stadium, located in the city centre. The Pathumwan students reportedly ran toward Rajamangala…
- Central Thailand News
Thai man reportedly stressed at work found stabbed to death in car
A Thai man who had reportedly been stressed at work was found stabbed to death in his car yesterday morning in the central province of Nonthaburi. The man, 30 year old Jetsit, was found in Bang Kruai district with two stab wounds in his neck, and seven on the left side of the chest. The police also found two knives…
- Koh Samui News
Vietnamese man to be deported after robbing Dutchman on Koh Samui
A Vietnamese man who stole 15,000 baht and an iPhone from a Dutch tourist on Koh Samui is set to be deported after he faces penalties. The suspect, Tueng, snatched the iPhone and cash from the victim’s bag at an entertainment venue, according to Bo Phut Police. The victim, 25 year old Hanifi Mert, filed a complaint on August 20.…
- Crime News
Masseuse claims she trafficked teen girls to feed her own children
Thai police yesterday arrested a masseuse who reportedly says she trafficked two teenage girls to feed her own two children. Officers from the Anti Trafficking in Persons Division arrested the woman in the eastern province of Rayong. Police said the woman, 28 year old Kwansiri Krathuanrat, had allegedly exploited two orphaned girls who were 13 and 16 years old. The…
- World News
VIDEO: Brazillian footballer thanks the wrong girlfriend in an interview
A Brazilian football player might have put a foot in his mouth this week when he was asked in an interview if he wanted to give a tribute to someone. The goalkeeper, Kainan, gave a seemingly noble reply. He said… “To my girlfriend, who’s working now, Thank God, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. Grazi, a hug to you!” But Kainan’s…
- Thailand News
In push for religious harmony, Thailand recognises more churches
In a push for religious harmony, Thailand has officially recognised three Catholic churches in the kingdom this week. The Ministry of Culture officially approved the churches on August 23, after the churches had reportedly waited 93 years for recognition. The newly approved churches are: Saint Thomas the Apostle Church in Bangkok, Saint Monica Church in Nan Province, and Saint Joseph…
- Tourism News
Thailand welcomed over 4 million foreign tourists this year, officials say
A Thai government spokesperson has said today that over 4 million foreign tourists have entered the kingdom this year. He said this number is expected to jump to 4.5 million within this month. The top five countries with the most tourists coming to Thailand, in order, are: Malaysia, India, Laos, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. The spokesperson, Anucha Burapachaisri, said…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s sixth monkeypox patient says symptoms started while she was in Qatar
A young woman in Thailand’s northeast province of Maha Sarakham is the kingdom’s sixth confirmed monkeypox patient, the Department for Disease and Control (DDC) announced yesterday. The 21 year old woman says her symptoms started while she was in Qatar for work. The woman had worked as a masseuse in Qatar and said that while she was there, she started…
- Bangkok News
Rain causes chaotic traffic for Bangkok commuters
Bangkok commuters had a tough time getting home from work last night. The rain started pouring down in the Thai capital at just around the time most people leave the office. At 6.45pm, the Thai radio station FM91 Traffic Pro confirmed that traffic was not moving at all on Petchaburi and Chidlom roads and in the Pratunam area. Phayathai Road…
- Central Thailand News
UPDATE: National park in central Thailand closes 5 waterfalls due to flash floods
UPDATE The national park in central Thailand, where a waterfall was devastated by flash floods this week, has closed five waterfalls as rain continues to pour down. Khao Yai National Park announced the closure in a Facebook post today. The Haew Narok waterfall, the park’s largest, will be closed until September 30. Meanwhile, four other waterfalls will be closed until…
- Thailand Weather Updates
More stormy weather headed for central and eastern Thailand
More stormy weather is headed for central and eastern Thailand this weekend and will last until August 31. Thundershowers and isolated heavy to very heavy rains are expected in several provinces, including Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi, Sa Kaeo, Chachoengsao, Chonburi (Pattaya), Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat. From Saturday to Wednesday (August 27-31), scattered thundershowers are expected. Southwesterly winds are expected to blow…
- Pattaya News
Jerk steals donation money from Pattaya noodle restaurant
A massive jerk has snatched money off of a donation tree at a Pattaya noodle restaurant this week. CCTV caught the thief breaking through a thin wall of the restaurant on Monday night, before grabbing the cash from the donation tree worth 2,000 baht. The suspect wore shorts and a t-shirt. The disheartened restaurant owner, 36 year old Chotika Chantakot,…
- World News
UPDATE: Burmese junta releases statement on charges for former UK ambassador
UPDATE The Burmese junta said in a statement yesterday that it has charged a former UK ambassador to the country with immigration offenses. This news comes after anonymous sources reported yesterday that the former ambassador Vicky Bowman and her husband had been detained in Yangon. Local media reports that the two had been detained on Wednesday night, and are being…
- Koh Samui News
Koh Samui man busted for allegedly opening illegal venue
One Koh Samui man’s new entertainment venue, which he named ‘Dream Land,’ has turned into the scene of his worst nightmare. Officers from Bo Phut Police station raided Dream Land yesterday, and the owner now faces charges of opening the venue without a permit. The man, 45 year old Puwanai, also faces charges of selling alcohol over the legal time…
- Pattaya News
More tourists are heading to Pattaya, but spending less cash, mayor says
As Thailand slowly rises from the ashes of Covid-19’s economic destruction, more foreign tourists are heading to Pattaya. The catch? They’re spending less money, according to the city’s mayor Poramet Ngampichet. Pattaya’s changing demographics in tourism may have something to do with the spending differences. The mayor said on Tuesday that this year, the million foreign tourists that have arrived…
- World News
Former UK ambassador and husband reported detained in Myanmar
The former UK ambassador to Myanmar and her husband have been detained in Yangon, two anonymous sources reported today. A spokesperson for the Burmese junta did not answer calls from Reuters seeking comment on the situation. A British embassy spokesperson has said the embassy is concerned about the arrest. She said… “We are in contact with the local authorities and are…
- Phuket News
Foreign woman in Phuket went for night swim, locals thought she had drowned
A foreign woman in Phuket gave locals a bit of a fright last night when she went out for a swim at Kamala Beach with her dog. Fifteen minutes later, the locals saw the dog alone on the beach without the woman. Fearing the worst, they called rescue workers to help search for her. But after the rescuers arrived, the…
- Covid-19 News
Thai authorities approve Pfizer for children under 5
Thai authorities have approved Pfizer’s Comirnaty Covid-19 vaccines for children between six months old to under five years old. The secretary-general of the country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval yesterday. For children in this age range, the dose will be adjusted to 10 micrograms per dose. For children 5-11 years old, the dose is 30mcg. Eight weeks…
- Koh Samui News
Koh Samui dwellers tell government to hurry & build bridge to mainland
Residents of Thailand’s island of Koh Samui are calling on the government to hurry up and build a bridge connecting the island to the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Thai media reported yesterday that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed to construct the bridge. Koh Samui dwellers are keeping a close eye on the bridge projects since ferry…
- Phuket News
Phuket landlord denies sexual assaulting his female tenant
A Phuket landlord is denying accusations that he sexually assaulted one of his female tenants in a dormitory. The woman, 26 year old Kwanruethai, told police that her landlord, 50 year old Sasin, got into her room at night with a spare key, and started touching her hips and private parts while she was sleeping. Kwanruethai said she woke up…
- Thailand News
The biggest Internet activity in Thailand is healthcare, survey finds
A new survey has found that the most common reason for using the Internet in Thailand is for healthcare consulting and services. For the Thailand Internet User Behaviour Survey of 2022, the Electronic Transactions Development Agency questioned 46,348 respondents from across Thailand between April and July. The results were announced yesterday. While Thailand has 24 million Internet users in 2012,…
- Phuket News
Local man discovers skeleton at viewpoint in Phuket Town
A local man going to plant coconut trees near a viewpoint in Phuket’s main city district stumbled upon something quite unexpected – a skeleton. The local man found the male skeleton covered with a cloth at the Khao Khad Viewpoint in the Wichit neighbourhood on August 20. The uniform on the skeleton was reportedly similar to a security guard’s uniform.…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya locals gather to promote road safety
A crowd of about 200 locals in east Pattaya gathered at a school on Monday to raise awareness about Thailand’s problems with road safety. Speakers discussed the kingdom’s poor driver training, and the even worse enforcement of motorcycle helmets, which riders often don’t wear. Among the crowd was Chon Buri Deputy Governor Naris Niramaiwong, along with teachers, students, and volunteers.…
- World News
Floods wreak havoc on northern India, killing over 30 people
Floods are wreaking havoc on two of India’s northern states, destroying homes and leaving people stranded. Since August 19, at least 32 people in Uttarakhand state and Himachal Pradesh state have been killed in floods and landslides, often due to houses collapsing in the floods. In the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, 27 people have been killed, and six were…
- Pattaya News
Chon Buri man on the loose after allegedly axing wife to death
Yet another incident of an enraged man allegedly killing his partner has emerged in Thailand, this time in the Sri Racha district of Chon Buri. Police yesterday found a woman, 40 year old Wanrat Ruabrat, lying dead on the floor of her kitchen with brutal head injuries. They also found a bloodied axe at the scene of the crime. Wanrat’s…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok governor wants to control crowds at train stations after accident
Following the accident where 27 people got injured falling down an escalator, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt is looking to decrease overcrowding at train stations. The governor said that one possibility could be to limit the number of people that can enter crowded stations. Chadchart said this would possibly be an option pending consultation with train operators. Chadchart said today that…
- Central Thailand News
Police seize fake designer products worth 50 million baht in central Thailand
Thai police yesterday seized 50 million baht worth of fake “designer” products in the central province of Nakhon Nayok. Officers from the Department of Special Investigation found 60,000-70,000 fake products following raids on 15 warehouses in the main city district. The products had counterfeit logos of some of the world’s most famous, pricey brands, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Coach,…
