- World News
HRW urges Japan’s PM to raise human rights issues on Thailand trip
For the first time in 9 years, Japan’s Prime Minister plans to visit Thailand. Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida plans to visit Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha on May 1-2 (Sunday to Monday) next week. Now, Human Rights Watch is calling on Fumio to raise concerns with Prayut about freedom of expression and assembly. This is part of a larger call that…
- Pattaya News
Crowds of Thais travel to Pattaya’s Koh Larn before new school semester
Officials on Koh Larn, an island off Pattaya, suspect that large crowds of Thais have recently swarmed there to get a bit of R & R before the new school semester begins. Thai schools are set to open on May 17. The Pattaya News reported yesterday that even though it was a week day, large groups of mostly Thai tourists came to…
- World News
Sri Lanka’s political crisis continues with huge walkout
After Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency earlier this month, the world has seen massive political unrest in the country as protestors call on the president and his powerful family to step down. Last week, Sri Lankan police shot and killed a protestor in an incident that quickly spread across social media. Today (Thursday), Sri Lankan workers participated in mass…
- Economy News
Survey says Thailand’s worker’s debt has hit a high after over a decade
A survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce says the average debt of each worker’s household in Thailand is 217,000 baht this year. This is a 14 year high for Thailand. At the end of 2021, the country’s overall household debt was 14.6 trillion baht, one of the highest in Asia, per capita. Most service sector workers…
- World News
Is Lazada coming to Europe?
Lazada might be coming to Europe! In efforts to target local European vendors, Alibaba Group reportedly plans to expand its Southeast Asian arm, Lazada, to Europe. Sources that told Reuters the news did not specify which European countries Lazada intended to expand to. Lazada is commonly known as an Asian version of Amazon. The sources said an overseas commerce head…
- Pattaya News
Robber arrested after attacking, stealing from disabled man in Pattaya
Police arrested a man in Pattaya yesterday who allegedly violently attacked and stole from a disabled man on Monday. The robber, 26 year old Tanaphon ‘Beer’ Janthamol, admitted to robbing the man, a lottery ticket seller who is in a wheelchair, while under the influence of methamphetamine. The ticket seller, 39 year old Surachet Sithong, said he was rolling down…
- World News
Pakistan terror attack kills 4, 3 victims Chinese teachers
The Baloch Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for a suspected suicide bombing in Kirachi, Pakistan which happened last Tuesday. The attack, which happened near a Chinese language centre, killed 3 Chinese teachers, and a driver. Kirachi police and the BLA say the bomber was a woman. The BLA is an armed separatist group which claims to be fighting to liberate…
- Pattaya News
Chon Buri residents hunt for lizard when crocodile bites them
Two Chon Buri locals in Ko Chan district were in for a shock when hunting down a monitor lizard yesterday. The locals noticed that two of their ducks were missing, and they thought a monitor lizard they saw days ago had eaten them. The locals searched for the monitor lizard in a lagoon, when out of nowhere, a croodile snapped…
- Northern Thailand News
Boxing champion joins Thailand’s Palang Pracharath Party in Khon Kaen
A big name in Thailand’s boxing scene has now joined Thailand’s Palang Pracharath Party, and will represent the next election in Constituency 10 of the Khon Kaen province. The boxer, 49 year old Somrak Khamsing, won a gold medal in the US in 1996. After he retired from boxing, he became an actor. He then moved into politics. The Palang…
- Phuket News
Phuket officials announce electric scooters to be used for security operations
Even though Phuket officials banned electric scooters from all public roads in February, they have now approved their use for security operations around Phuket Provincial Hall Complex. Yesterday, officials announced at Provincial Hall they have approved the use of electric scooters as a test phase to determine how safe they are. Representatives from Beam Mobility Team Co Ltd handed two…
- Economy News
Thailand’s postal rates to go up after nearly 2 decades
For the first time in 18 years, Thailand’s postal rates are going up. The country’s Digital Economy and Society Ministry said that according to data from 2011-2020, Thailand Post has a social service burden of up to 18.4 billion baht, and it’s likely to keep rising. Yesterday, the Cabinet approved a proposal by the ministry to raise rates. Thailand’s profit…
- Bangkok News
Truck drivers rally in Bangkok against spiking diesel price
Now that Thailand has announced the upcoming end of its diesel price cap, Bangkok truckers have rallied today to demand that the price cap continues. Currently, the price for diesel is capped is 30 baht per litre. But On Tuesday, Thailand’s Energy Minister said the retail price is now at 40 baht per litre, so the government have had to…
- Phuket News
Phuket gets ready to shift into ‘endemic’ stage
Phuket Governor Narong announced in a meeting yesterday that the island province is getting ready to shift into an ‘endemic’ stage for its Covid-19 situation. At the meeting, held at Phuket Provincial Hall, it was noted that Phuket recorded an average of 162 cases a day. 87.7% of those were local infections. Only 2-3% of people confirmed infected required hospital…
- Krabi News
Thai ex boxer allegedly steals British tourist’s bag in Krabi
Police in Krabi arrested a former boxer at a house in Meuang district today for allegedly stealing a British tourist’s bag. The British man, 23 year old Fraser William, said he left his bag on the beach when he and his friend went swimming on Sunday. The bag had 5,000 baht in cash, along with credit cards and the key…
- Pattaya News
As tourists return, Pattaya’s Walking Street set to close to cars again
Pattaya officials say that starting tomorrow (Thursday), the city’s tourist magnet, Walking Street, will close to cars again, as it did in pre-Covid days. This news comes as more former bars have opened as ‘restaurants’, a loop hole in the Thai government’s Covid restrictions that’s been forced on bar owners so they can get their businesses open again. From 7pm…
- World News
Canadian man to be deported from Bali for naked dance on volcano
They say fame comes at a price. It definitely did for one Canadian man in Bali who posted a viral video of himself dancing naked on a volcano believed to be sacred by the Balinese. After his little stunt, he is set to be deported from the Indonesian island. Craigen reportedly posted a video of himself doing a Maori dance…
- Thailand Travel
New Thailand Pass rules and registration coming up
Starting this Friday, travellers to Thailand can register for Thailand Pass under the new entry measures. Vaccinated travellers must attach documents including their passport, vaccine information, and proof of insurance with US$10,000. Unvaccinated, or ‘under-vaccinated’ travellers must also submit these materials, along with a negative RT-PTR test result issued within 72 hours before travelling, if they don’t wish to quarantine.…
- Economy News
Thailand’s labour ministry hopes to export 50,000 workers
Now that the Covid-19 situation across the world has calmed down a bit, Thailand’s Labour Ministry expects to send about 50,000 workers abroad this year. The Department of Employment’s PR office said now that restrictions have largely eased, Thailand’s labour exports are set to resume in large numbers. So far, labour export agreements have been signed with two countries, Saudi…
- World News
Amidst Indonesia palm oil crisis, farmers support export ban
Amidst an ongoing surge in the crude price of palm oil, Indonesian farmers support the country’s palm oil ban set to begin on April 28. While some politicians have criticized the ban, Indonesia’s Oil Palm Farmers Union said today that the ban is a “temporary ban” necessary for supply and affordability of cooking oil in the domestic market. Last month,…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya tourist found dead in rental room
Pattaya police found a tourist dead in his rented room, lying naked near the door to his bedroom, near a large pool of blood. There were also spots of blood in the bathroom, and the man’s neck was reportedly wounded. The man’s name and nationality have not yet been reported, however officers from Pattaya Police Station believe he is 40-60…
- World News
Car bomb and gun battle at immigration building on Thai/Myanmar border
A car bomb and a gun fight wreaked havoc in Myawaddy Township in Myanmar last night. The car bomb, suspected to have been left in a pickup truck, exploded at an immigration building near the border with Tak province in Thailand. The remains of the pickup truck suspected of carrying the bomb were found near a border checkpoint. After the…
- Phuket News
Phuket Yacht destroyed in fire, damage valued around 16 million baht
A massive on-board fire has destroyed and sank a yacht at the Yacht Haven Marina in Phuket’s Thalang province yesterday. Officials who inspected the 12 metre catamaran believe the fire may have been caused by an electrical short-circuit, however a further investigation is still underway. No passengers were on the vessel when it was scorched, and no injuries were reported.…
- Economy News
Thailand’s March exports spike nearly 20% year on year
Last month, Thailand’s exports surged at an unexpectedly high rate, jumping by 19.5% when compared to the same time last year. A Reuters poll conducted in March had predicted the country’s exports would only rise by 2.4%. According to the Thai customs department data, 2 major products contributing to the export jump were gold, and electronics. Gold exports in March were…
- World News
South Korea to allow eating at movie theatres, indoor gyms
Following South Korea’s move last week to lift several Covid-19 restrictions, the country’s PM announced on Friday that next week, people will be allowed to eat in many public spaces that were earlier prevented due to the country’s Covid restrictions. These include movie theatres, indoor gyms, religious centres, trains, and busses. The PM, Kim Boo-kyum, says the government will consult…
- Crime News
Pattaya’s ‘happy water’ drug problem under fire
After Pattaya police busted over 20 teenagers using ‘happy water‘ at a party last month, there’s now an increased effort to crack down on the ‘drug’ cocktail. The chief of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau said happy water is usually made by combining ecstasy, methamphetamine, diazepam, caffeine and painkillers, mixed into a curious liquid cocktail with hot water and mixing it…
- World News
Hong Kong to let in non-residents starting May 1, but with quarantine
After lifting suspensions on flights from 9 overseas locations on April 1, Hong Kong now plans to let in non-residents from all countries starting May 1. In the past month, average daily arrivals have risen in the territory to about 1,200 from a meagre 300, according to the Hong Kong government’s Covid website. The ban on non-residents has been in…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok taxi driver photographs himself raping 17 year old girl from Myanmar
A Bangkok taxi driver has photographed himself raping a Burmese teenager earlier this month. The girl had been in Bangkok seeking a job, and she told police her aunt made a Facebook post to try to help her find one. Investigators say the alleged rapist, 39 year old Adirek Sae Bae, commented on the post and said he would employ…
- Phuket News
Gunman intimidates at least one tourist in Patong
A gunman has intimidated at least one tourist in Patong in Phuket yesterday. Local CCTV footage and eyewitness statements helped police officers at Patong Police Station track down the gunman, 25 year old Kittipong Chanthawong, nicknamed ‘Bank’. Bank had allegedly accosted the unnamed tourist on Bangla Road. Bank surrendered to police near a water shop next to a university. Police…
- Economy News
Thai commerce chairman welcomes end of PCR test requirement
Following the announcement for major changes to Thailand Pass, a commerce leader is giving the government a great big thank you. Yesterday, the chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Sanan Angubolkul, thanked the government for getting rid of mandatory RT-PCR tests for visitors on arrival, starting May 1. “The private sector believes the decision will help trade, investment, services…
- Covid-19 News
Thailand’s venues to be allowed to ‘officially’ serve alcohol slightly later
Along with several back-peddles for the Thailand Pass, Thailand’s CCSA announced yesterday it also plans to ease another Covid-19 restriction- the alcohol curfew. Restaurants, and ‘restaurants’, will be able to serve alcohol until midnight, instead of 11pm. Like the Thailand Pass changes, the alcohol curfew change is set to start on May 1. Thailand’s 11pm alcohol curfew has given venue managers…
