Thailand News
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Sponsored FBS celebrates 16 years with an adventurous Birthday Quest
Leading global broker FBS is marking its 16th anniversary with a special campaign — FBS Birthday Quest. Over the past 16 years, FBS has been on an incredible journey alongside its clients. Now, as a way to give back, the...
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Arms smuggler or getting ready for a crime? Songkhla resident nabbed in Satun.
PHOTO: Thai PBS A 35 year old resident old has been arrested for being found in possession of a submachine gun and 4,500 rounds of ammunition. He was nabbed at a checkpoint in Satun. Police thought he was behaving suspiciously so checked the back of his pick-up and discovered the cache of ammunition hidden in the spare tyre compartment. Along…
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Thai Meteorology warns about bad weather from tomorrow
The TMD are warning residents in the North, Northeast, and Central regions of Thailand, including Bangkok, as well as the East of summer thunderstorms with gusty winds, possible hail and isolated heavy rain tomorrow and Friday. In yesterday’s weather warning the Thai Meteorological Department says a high-pressure system from China would cover upper Thailand and a westerly trough would prevail…
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“Junta has a report card for each and every critic” – Vanchai
Veteran journalist Vanchai Tantivitayapitak posted on Facebook on Monday that the ruling junta has a “report card” for each and every critic who is influential on social media, and will pay them a visit after a certain limit was reached. The post came after his resignation at the end of March from news station PPTV, where he was a senior…
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Won’t lift the ban. Might amend it – PM Prayut
PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha has dismissed a concerted call by major political parties to lift a controversial junta order that prevents political activities. He said the directive “may be amended on certain issues” in order to help get rid of “administrative problems” raised by the various existing and new parties. Prayut, in his capacity as head of the National Council…
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Trucks and buses caught speeding more than 17 million times last year
Cargo trucks and public transport buses in Thailand were found to have been speeding beyond the legal limit on more than 17 million occasions last year, according to a GPS-based study by a Bangkok-based university. The study puts definitive proof at the feet of the Thai government and transport officials in the wake of several appalling weeks on Thai roads,…
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Nothing to see here… move on. Prawit opens up about wristwatches.
Up to now Deputy PM and Thai Defence Minister, Prawit Wongsuwan, has remained largely silent over ongoing allegations into the many luxury watches adorning his right arm over a series of months. And a flashy diamond ring. But today he says that the wristwatches were lent to him by Patthavart Suksriwong, a wealthy businessman who was his close former classmate at…
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30,000 people line up for free herbal cancer ‘cure’
People will go to any lengths in desperation to find a cure for a life-threatening disease. When it comes to cancer, fear and mis-information are a dangerous combination and can lead to people taking risks with almost anything or anyone offering a remedy to their condition. An estimated 30,000 cancer patients and their relatives showed up yesterday (Sunday) outside the…
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‘Daeng’ on the mend after being shot with arrow in Udon Thani
A stray dog living in a public park in Udon Thani’s Muang district, which was seen with an arrow piercing its left eyebrow on Friday morning, was captured, sent for treatment at Bamrungraks Animal Hospital and now recovering from its adventures. The whole sad story of Daeng, the stray dog, was captured by Facebook user Napassorn JowYing Hodges. Napassorn, who…
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Abandoning the cap – Campaign to get rid of bottle cap seals starts today
By Pratch Rujivanarom Thai bottled water producers have responded well to a plan to stop using cap seals, which will not only decrease plastic waste but also reduce unnecessary production costs. In a campaign kicking off today, the Pollution Control Department plans to totally abandon the use of cap seals on bottled water by the end of 2019. Five giant…
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90 bikes and 90 motorcyclists bailed up in Bangkok
Bangkok police arrested 90 motorcyclists and a pillion rider and seized 90 bikes in an operation to prevent racing on the capital’s streets. The arrests were made by police from 10 Bangkok police stations who manned road checkpoints late on Friday night and early on Saturday. At the end of the operation, Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakpal held a press conference…
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Driver says fire started in luggage compartment – Tak bus tragedy
A news story from Thai Residents is saying that the driver of a tour bus in Tak which was completely destroyed by fire and killed 20 Burmese workers and injured 3 others, claims a cigarette butt which got into the luggage compartment sparked the blaze. His claim has not been confirmed by forensic police at this stage. 47 passengers, all…
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82-year-old assault victim dies – Assailant faces new charges
A 21 year old motorcyclist, alleged to have assaulted an 82 year old tricycle-riding scavenger over a minor collision in Bangkok’s Huai Kwang district on March 13, has been hit with an additional charge of causing death to another person by inflicting injury without intent to cause death. The new charge was filed against Narathorn Sodetiyung, son of a Pratunam-based…
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UPDATE: Tak bus disaster – 20 Burmese workers burned to death
PHOTO: Thai PBS The badly-burned bodies of 20 Burmese workers killed in a bus fire in Tak’s Muang district early on Friday will be sent about 150 kilometres to two hospitals in Phitsanulok for identification. The bodies were initially sent to the Tak provincial hospital. Due to a lack of equipment required for the disaster victim identification process, that hospital…
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20 Burmese migrants die in Tak bus blaze
A chartered double-decker bus taking 47 registered Myanmar workers to Pathum Thani caught fire in Tak early today (Friday), killing 20 of them trapped inside. Tak shares a border with Myanmar, north west of Bangkok. Police report that three other people were injured when they jumped down from the bus while 24 others were able to run out in…
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Songkran back-flip
Songkran revellers are welcoming news the government will relax its ban to allow them to splash water from the beds of pickups this year – just one of a number of back-flips on previously announced prohibitions for the 2018 Thai New Year celebrations. The water festival in mid-April, the hottest month of the year, is known worldwide. One tradition sees…
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Police junior officers revolting over AC contributions
A junior policeman is crying foul over his supervisors’ demand that he contribute money for the purchase of a new air-conditioner at their police station. Pol Sgt-Major 3rd Class Lersak Nonkhuntod, who works at the Phaholyothin Police Station in Bangkok, lodged a complaint with both the Metropolitan Police Bureau and the Office of Public-Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). Due to the…
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Sexual harassment isn’t our fault, it’s mens’ – Sirinya “Cindy” Bishop
A well-known model has launched a social-media campaign to tackle the widespread and erroneous belief that sexual harassment stems from a woman’s choice of clothes. Sirinya “Cindy” Bishop, who is also an actress, has used social media to counter recent messages propagated by authorities that sexual harassment can be stopped by urging women not to dress in a revealing way.…
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French tourist dies after visit to Emerald Cave in Trang
A French tourist has died during a visit to the Emerald Cave on Koh Muk in the Trang province. 62 year old Jose Michel Rusebeker was reported by Daily News to be on a trip with his wife when he fainted whilst in the cave. Despite efforts of another person in the tour, tour crew and park rangers, he was…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, March 28
Dos and Don’ts for Songran this year | Red Cross calling for blood donations leading up to the Thai New Year holiday | PM confident of the election road-map timing | 2 drown off Songkhla | Report card for Phuket Airport, and it’s not good | Charges against bus company for last week’s Nakhon Ratchasima crash | Human rights campaigner…
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Thai disability sailing gets a boost
In exciting news for the disabled sailing community worldwide, the S\V14 organisation are proud to announce that FarEast Yachts will produce the S\V14 at their production base in China and in a remarkable offer, will supply the first one thousand S\V14’s at a subsidized price of US$ 3,000 for the base boat ex works Shanghai. FarEast Yachts have also agreed…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, March 27
Premchai being sued in civil case | New type of ‘start up’ visa on the way | Amorous Russians have left the country | Grab taking over Uber in South East Asia | Underwater gamblers in hot water | New Mae Hong Son flights from DMK | Arsonist lit fires on 10 vehicles in Chonburi | Road resurfacing magic in…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, March 26
Driver point demerit system proposed (again) | Taxi driver found dead | Thai Government seeking exemptions over US tax tariffs | Serbian tourists fined over ‘innapropriate’ clothing at temple | Box jellyfish warning in waters off Trat | French tourist beaten up by 5 men in Pattaya | NGOs seek extension for registration of migrant workers | 35 passengers have…
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Thailand Number 14 in road accident ratings. Which is the most dangerous country on the roads?
Compiling data from the World Health Organisation, World Bank and UNESCO, here is the latest ranking for road deaths around the world. Of course the situation changes every day but Thailand is in very poor company indeed with countries having a rate of more than 30 deaths per 100,000 people from road accidents. Thailand is, today, in 14th position around…
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Four Malaysians arrested over alleged call-centre scam
Tourist police have arrested four Malaysian men who allegedly worked for a call-centre scam gang by transferring victims’ money to Dubai. The arrests were announced today at the Phaholyothin police station in Bangkok today (Monday). Police say the four suspects collaborated with Thai accomplices to steal Internet banking account details and OTPs (one-time passwords) from three Thai victims. They allegedly…
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Earth Hour saves power, lowers emissions – Bangkok
Bangkok saved 2,002 megawatts of electricity as a result of observing the 2018 Earth Hour last night (Saturday). Deputy Bangkok Governor Chakkapan Phewngam revealed the results, explaining further that the figures meant savings of 7.9 million baht and the reduction of 1,026 tonnes of carbon monoxide emissions. In the capital, the Earth Hour event was held at Central Plaza Grand…
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Points system for traffic offences to be considered by Thai cabinet
A national road safety committee is pushing for a new points system that can be applied to drivers licenses as part of an effort to force better standards of driving and provide a blunt reminder of the importance of road safety. Under the points system, motorists who commit traffic offences will loose points from a starting total of 12 points.…
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Bus driver admits taking methamphetamine before fatal journey
The 44 year old driver (reported to be 45 in other media) of the bus which crashed in Nakhon Rachasim on Wednesday night, killing 18, was arrested in roadside buses where police found him hiding after he fled the crash-scene as emergency responders dragged the dead bodies from the wreckage. Krissana Juthachuen has admitted that he used methamphetamine to keep…
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Air Asia mea culpa over bike unloading
AirAsia has apologised to cyclists whose bicycles were seen to be poorly handled by ramp staff in a viral video. As a gesture of goodwill the low-cost airline is waiving all fees to transport bicycles for April, said its CEO Riad Asmat. “As a cyclist myself, I was pretty disturbed when I saw the actions of our staff. Rest assured,…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, March 23
Another bus crash of students in Ayutthaya | Ladyboys behaving badly in Pattaya | Phuket to become foam-packaging free| Top 25 toast destinations in Asia | Land Transport office wants to crack down on double decker buses | Thailand’s tourist numbers on the rise and rise.
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14 Thai Provinces off Rabies ‘red zone’ list
The Department of Livestock Development (DLD) has taken 14 provinces off its list of rabies outbreak zones. Another 24 provinces remain on the list because they contain areas where rabies is still suspected. Originally, zones in 38 provinces were announced in January, with the observation period expiring on Tuesday (March 20). The DLD Deputy Director-General Jeerasak Pipattanapongsophon says that, as…
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