- Tourism News
This South Thailand province’s unexpected beauty will wow you
“We hope to put Pattani on the world tourist map,” tour operator Fareeda Abdullah told Bernama. South Thailand’s Pattani province is not the first place people usually imagine for a holiday getaway. The province often makes headlines for sectarian tensions. But Pattani has an up-and-coming tourism industry. The province boasts breathtaking nature, including a beautiful mangrove forest in the Yarang…
- Phuket News
Officials to seek approval for late closing times in Phuket
Are later closing times finally coming to Phuket? Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to test a 4am closing time on several tourist hotspots, including Phuket’s Bang La Walking Street in Patong, Nation Thailand reported. The ministry will soon seek approval from the Thai Cabinet for the pilot project there, Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced yesterday. Other…
- Phuket News
Major road in Phang Nga flooded
A major road in Phang Nga was heavily flooded on Wednesday, with the flooded area almost 1 kilometre long. The flood on Petchkasem Road stretched from the fresh market in Takua Pa district to Khao Lak Medical Centre, with small cars unable to pass, Naewna reported. Phang Nga’s governor visited the flooded area, and said he had ordered Takua Pa’s…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya pool villa suspect’s girlfriend claims boyfriend just came to look around
UPDATE The girlfriend of one of the five Pattaya pool villa suspects claims her boyfriend was just there to look around. The unnamed girlfriend told Pattaya Police that her boyfriend “Rang,” was not involved in the shooting or assault, but was only there to look around because he was a friend of the suspects. Rang’s girlfriend claimed that Rang had…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya’s efforts to get tough on graffiti not going so well
Pattaya’s efforts to get tough on graffiti don’t appear to be going so well. The city’s Deputy Mayor Manote Nongyai promised on September 30 that he would go after vandals and people plastering advertisements on public property. Nongyai had said that electrical transformer cabinets around Pattaya were being defaced by spray paint and advertisements. But three weeks on, the intended…
- World News
Iran making moves to help train Russian forces, US sources say
US intelligence sources say Iran is making moves to help train Russian forces in Crimea, CNN reported. The Islamic Republic sent military personnel to Crimea, a territory occupied by Russia, according to two intelligence sources. The sources say Iran’s military personnel are training Russia’s military on the use of Iranian-made drones. This news comes after Russia launched “kamikaze drones” into…
- World News
“Interview” with Iranian climber believed to be forced confession
A video interview with an Iranian climber who competed in Korea without her hijab is believed to be one of the Islamic Republic’s notorious forced confessions. Forced confessions are a tactic the Iranian government uses against journalists, activists, and others who deviate from Iran’s strict religious laws. In the interview with 33 year old Elnaz Rekabi on the state media…
- Phuket News
Phuket police say residents should avoid Patong
Phuket’s floods are continuing to ravage the island province. Phuket police are urging residents to stay at home unless they have an emergency. The police also say that Phuket dwellers should avoid going to Patong, The Phuket Express reported. The road leading to Patong Hill suffered from a landslide last night, and another one this morning. Police had to redirect…
- Crime News
New Zealand gangster arrested in Thailand handed to FBI
UPDATE The New Zealand gangster who was arrested in central Thailand has now been handed over to the FBI for prosecution, Thai police said yesterday. The gangster, 43 year old Shane Ngakuru, had been on the run from the FBI and New Zealand Police. Ngakuru is a high-ranking member of the Comancheros Motorcycle Club gang. He was allegedly involved in…
- Pattaya News
“Big Joke” says he needs 2 more days to catch Pattaya pool villa gunmen
UPDATE The Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, says he needs just two more days to catch the five gunmen who allegedly opened fire at a Pattaya pool villa yesterday morning. Surachate visited the scene of the crime yesterday and reviewed CCTV footage. He said he already knew the identities of the gunmen, and they…
- Crime News
New Zealand gangster arrested in central Thailand
A gangster from New Zealand was arrested in central Thailand early this morning, after being on the run from the FBI and New Zealand Police. A New Zealand Police inspector confirmed to the New Zealand Herald that the gangster was arrested in Samut Prakan province in a joint operation with New Zealand Police, the FBI, and the Thai police. The…
- Thailand News
Amazon Web Services to invest billions of dollars in Thailand
Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced on Monday that it plans to invest billions of dollars in Thailand over the next 15 years. AWS, Amazon’s cloud computing division, plans to invest $US5 billion (about 190 billion baht) in Thailand during that time. AWS will carry out the investment in phases. In the first phase, 20 billion baht will be invested immediately,…
- Northern Thailand News
Locals search for missing crocs in northeast Thailand
Residents of northeast Thailand’s Khon Kaen province are on the hunt for a pair of missing crocodiles in the main city district. The two missing crocs are part of a group of four that went missing from a flood-stricken farm. A team of locals led by the headman of Nong Tum sub-district found one croc in a paddy field earlier…
- Northern Thailand News
Prayut sets “drug free” goal for Thai province where massacre happened
Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday set a goal for the northeastern Nong Bua Lamphu province, where the horrific October 6 massacre happened, to become “drug free” within 30 days. A government spokesperson told the Associated Press that Prayut had ordered relevant agencies to implement measures related to drug abuse and trading. Agencies have been instructed to monitor several areas of…
- South Thailand News
Thai Cabinet approves 6.6 billion baht for bridges in South Thailand
Two upcoming bridge projects in South Thailand have had a budget approved for them. Thailand’s transport minister announced yesterday that the Thai Cabinet has given the green light on the plans, which will cost about 6.6 billion baht. One bridge will cross Songkhla Lake in the Koh Yai sub-district of Songkhla’s Krasaesin district, to the Jong Tanon sub-district in Phatthalung’s…
- Pattaya News
5 men allegedly open fire at Pattaya pool villa
Five men allegedly opened fire at a Pattaya pool villa this morning. The suspects reportedly entered the villa located on Jomtien Second Road and fired shots at several parked vehicles. They also allegedly beat up a man, The Pattaya News reported. Before the alleged shooting, a man knocked on the door of one of the villa’s tenants, asked the renters…
- World News
Australia flip-flops on past decision around Israel’s capital
Australia today flip-flopped on a past decision it made around the capital of Israel, an infamously hot-button issue, several news outlets reported. While Australia recognised West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2018, the Australian government has now reversed this decision. Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that Australia is committed to peace between Israel and Palestine and that the country would…
- Thailand Weather Updates
Almost 20,000 households in central Thai province impacted by floods
Almost 20,000 households in one province in Central Thailand were impacted by floods this morning, The Pattaya News reported. Some 17,825 households, 10 communities, and 22 sub-districts in six districts were reportedly impacted by the floods in Sing Buri province. The floods were caused by the Chao Phraya River overflowing. Some villagers set up a temporary shelter by the roadside,…
- World News
Double bombing near Thailand-Myanmar border
A double bombing hit the Thailand-Myanmar border area on Saturday night. It has not yet been confirmed who was responsible for the two bombs, however, Thai officials said they were likely planted by a group opposing the Burmese military regime. Luckily, no casualties have been reported. The bombs detonated near the Thai-Myanmar Friendship bridge, over the border from Thailand’s Mae…
- World News
Death toll rises after Russia’s “kamikaze drones” hit Ukraine capital
UPDATE The death toll following Russia’s “kamikaze drone” strikes on Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv has risen. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said shortly after the attacks that at least one person, a woman, had been killed. The number of people killed has risen to four, according to Reuters. The victims include a woman who was six months pregnant and her…
- Thailand News
Arrest warrant for Thai activist who missed court hearing over lese majeste
Bangkok’s Southern Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for a young Thai activist and dance teacher after she failed to attend a court meeting over lese majeste charges. The woman, 29 year old Kanlaymon “Mint” was scheduled to appear in court on October 4, but failed to show up. She had been granted bail, and the person who bailed…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya thief nabs pricy gold jewellery in broad daylight
There’s been another gold jewellery theft in Pattaya, but this time, a few things are different from the usual stories. No ladyboys or tourists were involved, and the theft happened in broad daylight. The thief yesterday managed to steal a gold necklace and ring worth 46,000 baht from 54 year old Kulab Tansanthiayu, The Pattaya News reported. Kulab said the…
- World News
Russia launches “kamikaze drones” into Ukraine capital
Russia launched “kamikaze drones” into Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv this morning. This news comes just after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin claimed on Friday that there was no need for massive strikes on Ukraine. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that at least one person, a woman, has been killed in the attacks, Al Jazeera reported. Klitschko said another person remains under…
- World News
Prisoners killed in fire at Iran’s most notorious prison
Prisoners have been killed in a fire that broke out at Iran’s most notorious prison on Saturday. Four prisoners were killed by the fire that started at Evin Prison in Tehran on Saturday, state media reported. Another 61 prisoners have been injured, according to state media. State media reported that four of the injured prisoners were in critical condition. The…
- Phuket News
Strong winds interrupt island tourism in Phang Nga
Strong winds are interrupting travel to the Similan and Surin islands off Thailand’s southern Phang Nga province. The Similan Islands National Park chief announced on Saturday that the winds were making boat trips dangerous. Day trips to the islands have been halted from October 16-18, forcing several operators to cancel trips this weekend, Amarin TV reported. This news came on…
- Environment News
Phuket officials say contaminated seawater found last week not a hazard
Phuket officials insist that the contaminated seawater found last week in the south of the island has not caused environmental damage. The contaminated water was reportedly spotted near the Chalong Pier on October 13. It was spotted south of the pier leading to the Phi Phi Islands. After the contaminated water was reported, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya woman allegedly assaults Indian landlord over keycard fine
A woman staying at a hotel in Pattaya has allegedly assaulted her Indian landlord over a fine for losing her keycard, The Pattaya News reported on Saturday. The incident reportedly happened at the Honest Room Hotel in the Bang Lamung district. The woman allegedly hit the landlord, 53 year old Hitesh Shan, in the face with a metal hand sanitiser…
- Crime News
Pattaya police find gun and drugs at nightclub, 33 arrested
Pattaya Police found a gun and illegal drugs in a nightclub they raided in the early hours of this morning. Police said they seized three illegal objects including two small bags of undisclosed illegal substances, electronic cigarettes, and a pistol with six bullets. The nightclub is called “DIRTY” and it is located on Soi Ko Phai in Nong Prue. The bags…
- Crime News
Drug test results announced for Phuket’s defense volunteers
There’s been a drug testing campaign for defense volunteers in Phuket this week. The police chief of Phuket’s main city district led the campaign. The chief, Suwit Suriyawong, said that all the defense volunteers tested negative for drugs. He told The Phuket Express… “The campaign is to ensure that these defense volunteers who are working with us are not involved…
- World News
Vietnam’s breathtaking views, cliffs, rock formations
Five cliffs and rock formations offer breathtaking views for outdoor adventurers headed to Vietnam. The cliffs are located in the northeastern Quang Ninh province, the northern Yen Bai province, the northwest Lao Cai province, the northern Hà Giang province, and the northwest Son La province. Located in Quang Ninh province is a rock formation on Da Chong Mountain. It is…
