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  • Air quality for Thailand – February 27 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 27

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand It is a great day to be active…

  • PM disses debates “I just don’t see the necessity to take part” | Thaiger

    PM disses debates “I just don’t see the necessity to take part”

    by Kas Chanwanpen A prime ministerial candidate is refusing to take part in any of the televised political debates in the lead up to the election on March 24. Dismissing growing calls to join the up-coming round of debates, NCPO chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha has affirmed that he attached no importance to the calls for him to outline his vision,…

  • Southern ranger killed, two injured in Yala bomb ambush | Thaiger

    Southern ranger killed, two injured in Yala bomb ambush

    PHOTOS: The Nation Southern insurgents have detonated a home-made bomb in a roadside ambush of a patrol unit of rangers in Yala’s Bannang Sata district. The fatal incident happened this morning, killing one ranger and injuring another. Yala provincial police were informed of the blast at 9.25am. It occurred on the main road in Tambon Bacho’s Ban Ubae village. 33…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 26 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 26

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand It is a great day to be active…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 25 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 25

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to…

  • “New drug laws don’t legalise unlicensed marijuana cultivation” | Thaiger

    “New drug laws don’t legalise unlicensed marijuana cultivation”

    Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rushed to clarify that the new narcotics law does not legalise the unrestricted planting of marijuana in an apparent response to the Bhumjai Thai political party’s manifesto pledge to legalise marijuana cultivation. The party trotted out the election platform last week during their campaigning. FDA secretary-general Dr. Tharet Kratnairaveewong has clarified that the…

  • American backpacker refuses to pay for girl he brought back to hostel, punches staff | Thaiger

    American backpacker refuses to pay for girl he brought back to hostel, punches staff

    An American backpacker tourist, visiting Chiang Mai, had to be restrained after getting into a squabble with hostel staff after being asked to leave the premises. The video of the altercation was shared on Reddit by ‘EatPrayFart’. Following a night out, the backpacker brought a girl back to the mixed dorm room that he shared with nine other people. The report…

  • Poor air quality and smoke continue to dog Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Poor air quality and smoke continue to dog Chiang Mai

    PHOTO: Sanook Chiang Mai continue to suffer from a smog and haze crisis. Residents are suffering the affects of the poor air quality for the second week in a row in the northern Thai city. A high reading of 176 has been recorded just north of the city centre but the areas all around Chiang Mai are registering high readings recorded…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 22 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 22

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants…

  • Army chief’s intervention in election campaign backfires | Thaiger

    Army chief’s intervention in election campaign backfires

    by Jitraporn Sennawong and Nattaphat Phromkaew The Thai Army chief’s attempt to scare politicians from discussing the Army’s budget and reform by indirectly calling them “enemies of the state” has backfired. Many Thais have emerged with additional proposals for reforms of the military, and others are protesting the chief’s invocation of the jingoistic military anthem. Political critics and social media…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 21 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 21

    Central Thailand It is a great day to be active outside.   Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.   Southern Thailand It is a great day to be active outside.

  • Thai Raksa Chart say Princess was ‘nominated with her consent’ | Thaiger

    Thai Raksa Chart say Princess was ‘nominated with her consent’

    PHOTO: Prasert Thepsri – The Nation The embattled Thai Raksa Chart Party is defending its nomination of Princess Ubolratana as a prime ministerial candidate saying it was done at the wish and consent of the Princess. The party is fighting for its existence as the Charter Court mulls a dissolution of the party after a recommendation from the Election Commission.…

  • Army Chief spits the dummy and orders the playing of military song | Thaiger

    Army Chief spits the dummy and orders the playing of military song

    Contributors Jitraporn Sennawong and Kas Chanwanpen – The Nation If you’re the Thai Army Chief, and a bit miffed that some political parties are including scaling back military spending in their election policies, what do you do? Why of course you order Army radio stations in the Kingdom to play a jingoistic, and offensive to many, military-themed song, “Nak Phaendin”. Angry…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 18 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 18

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants…

  • Amnesty for possession of cannabis in Thailand? | Thaiger

    Amnesty for possession of cannabis in Thailand?

    The Government is looking at a plan to grant amnesty to those who have been using, or have, cannabis in their possession, But only if they report to authorities within a given time frame. The Drug Committee approved three draft legislations for amnesty yesterday. If the drafts become law even possessors of cannabis, who are not patients or research units,…

  • 2,810 MP candidates line up for March 24 election | Thaiger

    2,810 MP candidates line up for March 24 election

    107 candidates, for positions as Members of Parliament, and two prime ministerial candidates have been disqualified from running in the March Thai general election. Of the 2,917 party-list registered candidates, from 77 political parties, 2,810 candidates and 68 prime ministerial candidates from 44 parties have qualified after being checked by the Election Commission. While the EC didn’t disclose the names…

  • Thailand’s Constitutional Court accepts case to dissolve Thai Raksa Chart | Thaiger

    Thailand’s Constitutional Court accepts case to dissolve Thai Raksa Chart

    Thailand’s Constitutional Court has voted unanimously to accept the Election Commission’s ruling that the Thai Raksa Chart party be disbanded over its nomination of Princess Ubolratana as its prime ministerial candidate last Friday. The party will be given seven days to present its defence in writing before the Court deliberates on the party’s future. Meanwhile electioneering is continuing for the…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 15 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 15

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand It is a great day to be active…

  • Constitutional Court meets today to rule on future of Thai Raksa Chart | Thaiger

    Constitutional Court meets today to rule on future of Thai Raksa Chart

    PHOTO: Thai Raksa Chart party leader Preechaphol Pongpanit awaits the decision of the Constitutional Court today whether to proceed with the case to disband the party The Constitutional Court is meeting today to decide whether or not to consider the request of the Election Commission to have the Thai Raksa Chart Party dissolved for breaching the political parties act. The…

  • “Close down the schools” – Chiang Mai University academic | Thaiger

    “Close down the schools” – Chiang Mai University academic

    PHOTO: Measuring the PM2.5 particles and pollution from public transport in Chiang Mai With Chiang Mai making the list for worst air pollution in the world (Number 3), calls are growing for schools and educational institutes in the northern province to close down temporarily. “The Chiang Mai University, in particular, should suspend its classes until the situation improves. Not only…

  • New electric ferries to ply the ‘Venice of the East’ in Bangkok | Thaiger

    New electric ferries to ply the ‘Venice of the East’ in Bangkok

    by Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn A 1 billion baht project is under consideration to transform Bangkok into the “Venice of the East” (again?) and help ease the city’s air pollution problems. The project for electric-powered ferries to ply the Chao Phraya is backed by Energy Absolute, a Thai alternative energy technology provider, which yesterday said it will work with the Marine Department…

  • The day that shook Thai politics | Thaiger

    The day that shook Thai politics

    OPINION It was just another Friday except that it was also the final day that political parties were able to nominate MPs for the March 24 elections. And their proposed candidates for the role of the a Prime Minister following the election. PM Prayuth Chan-ocha would announce his candidacy sometime during the morning, the worst kept secret in Thai politics.…

  • Chiang Mai and Bangkok blanketed under Wednesday air pollution and smog | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai and Bangkok blanketed under Wednesday air pollution and smog

    Chiang Mai, and other north Thailand regions, are getting blanketed in dangerous smoke, haze and smog again today. For the capital, the poor air quality that ignited public response for January, has returned. The Pollution Control Department is urging people, including schoolchildren, to refrain from outdoor activities and to wear facemasks outside, while small children and the elderly, pregnant and…

  • Constitutional Court to have final say: EC votes to disband Thai Raksa Chart | Thaiger

    Constitutional Court to have final say: EC votes to disband Thai Raksa Chart

    The Election Commission has voted unanimously to ask the Constitutional Court to consider disbanding the Thai Raksa Chart party. The decision leaves the pro-Thaksin Thai Raksa Chart in tatters with the national poll only six weeks away. The EC statement says that the commission reached the resolution to recommend the party’s dissolution to the Constitutional Court last night after finding the…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 13 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 13

    Central Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand It is a great day to be active outside.

  • 169 million plastic bags unused at 7-eleven stores in two months | Thaiger

    169 million plastic bags unused at 7-eleven stores in two months

    More than 169 million plastic bags have been left unused at Thailand’s 7-eleven stores in the past two months – more than 33 million baht value alone but also a huge amount of single-use plastic not making its way into the environment. CP All Public Company, the sole operator of 7-Eleven convenience stores in Thailand, announced its intention to reduce…

  • AIR POLLUTION: Air quality for Thailand – February 12 | Thaiger

    AIR POLLUTION: Air quality for Thailand – February 12

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.   Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.   Southern Thailand It is a great day to…

  • General Prawit dismisses rumour of military coup as ‘fake news’ | Thaiger

    General Prawit dismisses rumour of military coup as ‘fake news’

    The Thai Deputy PM Gen Prawit Wongsuwan has dismissed a rumour in social media of a possible military coup against the government of Prayut Chan-o-cha as ‘fake news’. Rumours were rife following the sharing of a false announcement allegedly issued by the NCPO dismissing commanders of the three armed forces. Gen Prawit is ordering an investigation into the sources of…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 11 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 11

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.   Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.   Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for…

  • EC meets tomorrow to discuss Thai Raksa Chart’s controversial PM nomination | Thaiger

    EC meets tomorrow to discuss Thai Raksa Chart’s controversial PM nomination

    The Election Commission is expected to meet tomorrow (Monday) to deliberate the Thai Raksa Chart party’s future following their nomination of Princess Ubolratana as a prime ministerial candidate in the March 24 election. But the EC’s secretary-general, Jarungvith Phumma, has declined to comment on the matter when asked about the party’s surprise Friday PM candidate, saying only that “all issues would…