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5 best wine bars in Bangkok offering rich and quality wine
It’s wine o’clock! Whether you’re all about fruity reds, sweet whites, or funky naturals, Bangkok has many great spots to sip your favourite varieties. But with an array of options to choose from, and the constant rise and fall of...
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UPDATE: Latest poll results, Monday 11am
RESULTS: Election Commission Updated poll results as of 11am this morning. The latest votes reveal some changes in the total seats each party has now won. There are also some changes to the wins of the small parties. Pheu Thai continues to pull ahead, Future Forward continues its very impressive showing as a brand new party and the Democrats, with their…
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Guyanese arrested over ‘magic’ bank note scam in Phuket
PHOTOS: Surachete Hakparn A Guyanese man has been arrested in Phuket after the owner of a local language school reported a money scammer with an unusual scam. The Immigration Bureau Chief Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn reports that they have arrested the Guyanese man named Abdul Kalam Azad Sattaur at a mansion in Phuket Town last Friday. The arrest follows a Thai…
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Russian ‘mafia’ suspect arrested in Phuket
PHOTO: Siam Rath/Immigration Bureau / Phuket Immigration A male Russian ‘mafia’ identity has been arrested in Chalong, wanted over a number of alleged offenses in his home country. Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn says, “Officers have arrested a Russian man named Igor Tretiakov (spelt as ‘Ior’ on the Immigration poster), at an apartment in Chalong last Friday.” “We were notified from…
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Thai poll results, for newbies
PHOTO: France 24 The numbers are still being counted but the trends are now quite defined so that any changes are unlikely to affect the final result. According to popular vote figures from the Election Commission, with 93% of the total votes counted, Palang Pracharat garnered the most votes with 7.5 million, with Pheu Thai following at 7.3 million. But…
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Counting continues today. Phalang Pracharat and Pheu Thai lead the way.
Pheu Thai and Phalang Pracharat were running neck-and-neck last night as ballots were counted around the country. The major parties swapped poll position as the night went on. As of 10.30pm, with 92 per cent of the votes counted, the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat appeared to have beaten Pheu Thai with a total of 147 seats – 92 constituency MPs and…
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Hermès opens its first store in Phuket at Central Floresta
Hermès has opened of its first store in Phuket at Central Floresta, the newly opened lifestyle shopping destination in the heart of the island, opposite Central Festival. As Hermès’ first venture outside the Thai capital, the new Hermès Phuket store makes a significant statement of expansion and confidence in the market. The new address in this world-renowned island will allow the…
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UN election monitors spread across Bangkok and beyond
PHOTOS: The Nation Foreign observers representing the United Nations have fanned out across the capital and its outskirts today to monitor the long-delayed election. Today’s national election, the first since 2011, is also the first since the military-backed NCPO seized power in May 2014. Four four-member teams wearing pale-blue vests were assigned to polling stations in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Pathum…
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Red car ‘gun flasher’ arrested in Phuket
Phuket police have arrested and are questioning the driver of a red sedan following Friday’s incident on Thepkasattri Road in Srisoonthorn where he appeared to wave a gun out of his driver’s window (video in the link below). Manop Sangpal was tracked down by police but they’ve confirmed that Mr Manop’s ‘gun’ was just a BB gun, not a firearm.…
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Tsunami advisory for Andaman Coast – all clear
An advisory was sent out last night about two earth tremors registering 5.0 and 5.2 magnitude centered on the Andaman Islands, 620 kilometres north west of Phuket. The National Disaster Warning Centre sent out an advisory to Governors of six Andaman Coast provinces to be on alert for tsunami warnings and more earthquake activity. There has been no tsunami activity registered along…
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His Majesty urges Thais to elect ‘good people’ in today’s election
His Majesty the King has quoted from a speech delivered by his father, the late King Bhumibol, to urge voters to elect “good people” to rule the country. The Royal Household Bureau announced at 8.44pm that His Majesty had instructed the Lord Chamberlain to quote from a royal speech delivered by King Bhumibol at the sixth gathering of National Boy…
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“A clean and fair election”, EC assures international delegates
Thailand’s Election Commission has assured representatives from 11 nations and one international electoral watchdog organisation of a clean and fair election tomorrow. The EC briefed representatives of election commissions from Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea, East Timor, and Vietnam at the Rama Gardens Hotel at 9.45am this morning. Representatives of the International Institute for Democracy…
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Eight Burmese migrants drown, two still missing in Kanchanaburi road crash
Eight Burmese migrants drowned along with two others that are missing, presumed dead, after a van they were travelling in was hit by a 10 wheel truck and both vehicles plunged into a canal in Kanchanaburi’s Tha Muang district in western Thailand today. Police say the accident happened at 12.10pm at the Sa Setthi Intersection in Tambon Ban Mai. About…
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Thailand ‘slightly impacted’ from a no deal Brexit
The EU has agreed to postpone Brexit from next Friday and give UK PM Theresa May time to get her deal approved in Parliament. The PM had hoped to persuade the EU to delay the March 29 Brexit date, set in law, to June 30. But the EU country leaders have offered her two dates… A delay until May 22…
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No sign of concrete policies for conflict in the far South
by Don Pathan Parties offer few if any answers for a 15 year old deadly insurgency that successive governments have failed to quell. Peace and conflict have never been significant parts of any political party platform in Thailand. This is because a sustainable solution calls for long-term commitment to a policy that could prove to be politically costly. Lasting peace requires…
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Doubt over ‘majority support’ in survey about drilling near Si Thep historical park
Locals are up in arms about results from a public hearing into oil drilling project near the Si Thep historical park in Phetchabun province (just north of Bangkok). They are expressing doubt and concern over results of a public hearing that appear to show support for the project. Thai PBS reports that Mr. Prachuab Narkthien, chairman of the club of…
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94 motorcycles seized, 88 arrested – BKK road racing clampdown
Police have arrested 88 motorcyclists and seized 94 motorcycles last night for illegally modifying their bikes for road racing. Pol Maj Gen Nithithorn Jintakanon, traffic police chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, called a late night media pack at the Metropolitan Police Division 3 at 11.30pm to announce the arrests. Police set up road checkpoints in Metropolitan Division 3 last…
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Motorbike driver smashes through glass window after accelerator malfunctions
A female motorbike driver has sustained injuries after her motorbike’s hand grip malfunctioned and she collided with a glass wall. Chalong Police were notified of the incident at an air conditioning shop at 6pm yesterday on Chao Fa West Road in Chalong. Police and emergency responders arrived and found the shattered glass wall and a damaged motorbike. The injured 40…
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Deputy PM promises ‘no coup’ after the election
Thailand’s Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan is hosing down speculation that there could be another coup after the March 24 general election if the votes don’t support the pro-military parties. Responding to questions about his role in maintaining peace and order around this Sunday’s election, General Prawit says there is “nothing to worry about”, including the situation in the three southernmost provinces of Yala,…
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American drug suspect impersonated ‘Mr Thomas’ for 25 years, arrested in Chiang Mai
PHOTOS: Surachate Hakparn, Immigration Bureau A 67 year old American man, wanted as a drug suspect, has been arrested in Chiang Mai this week. He had been living under the identity of another person with whom he shared a similar face, for more than 25 years. The Thai Immigration Bureau reports that they have arrested a 67 year old American…
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Police hunting for driver who threatened others with a gun on Phuket road – VIDEO
PHOTO: Tiw Tiw The Thalang Police are hunting for the driver who was threatening other motorists on Thepkrasattri Road by waving a gun around out of the driver’s window of his red sedan in Thalang this morning. A Facebook user ‘Tiw Tiw’ has posted the video with a message reading “where are the police, please follow him. The incident happened…
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Mu Pa football team helps recover equipment from Tham Luang Caves
PHOTOS: The Chiang Rai PR Office The 27 year old Coach Aek (left), and other members from the Mu Pa (Wild Boar) football squad, were on hand to help recover equipment from the Tham Luang Caves this week. Chiang Rai’s Tham Luang caves, the scene of the international cave rescue last July, remains closed to all visitors since February 19 to…
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Phuket’s hotel and property players look north
by Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com One of Greater Phuket’s real estate and hotel market’s that has a decided buzz of late is the area north of Phuket over the Sarasin bridge in Phang Nga. In Natai Beach, the entry of the Baba Beach Club and nearby Akyra has created renewed visibility for the broad West Coast stretch of white sand beach,…
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Alcohol ban again this weekend around Thailand
The election is two days away. That means Thais go to the polls for the first time since 2011. It also means there will be another 24 hour alcohol ban on this weekend. Alcohol sales and distribution will be forbidden again from 6pm on Saturday, March 23 until 6pm on Sunday, March 24. Officials say weddings, parties and other celebrations…
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Chiang Mai hit-and-barge-through pickup driver sought by police
SCREENSHOT: Facebook/เพจคลิปดังเฟซบุ๊ก Can you help? Video footage from a car dash cam on the San Dek intersection in Chiang Mai shows a white Mazda pick-up barging its way through some waiting motorcycles sitting in the traffic. The rear motorcycle rider gets thrown off his bike, his bike is damaged but the surprised rider gets up after the pick-up just keeps…
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Motorbike rider dies after colliding with ten wheeler truck in Thalang
A male motorbike rider has died after colliding into the back of a ten wheeler truck in Thalang early this morning. Thalang Police were notified of the accident along Thepkrasattri Road in the southbound lane through Thalang at 2am this morning. The conditions were dry and road was clear of traffic. Emergency responders arrived to find the ten wheelers truck…
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Boating no-go zone set for HRH Princess Sirivannavari visiting Phuket
Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana is visiting Phuket today to inaugurate a new marine research vessel. A boats no-go zone has been set. The Phuket Marine Office has announced “Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana is visiting Phuket today to inaugurate the new marine vessel at the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC)” “The official ceremonies is from midday to…
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Summer storm cell hits Bangkok
PHOTO: @fm91trafficpro A sudden and brief summer storm swiftly passed through Bangkok’s Lak Si and Don Mueang areas yesterday afternoon. The storm left some damage in its trail, including toppled small trees on Soi Vibhavadi 60, clogged drains and an under-construction Vibhavadi-Rangsit pedestrian bridge’s metal scaffold falling onto a car at Lak Si Intersection. The stormy weather took place around…
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Heavier traffic violation penalties being discussed by police
Heavier penalties for drink-drivers and repeat offenders on Thai roads are under scission between traffic police and other agencies. Maj-General Ekkarak Limsangkatt, a member of the committee reviewing of traffic-law enforcement, is calling for harsher punishments in line with the Japanese model that penalises both the drink-driver and any passenger who “abetted the wrongdoing.” Ekkarak was speaking after a meeting…
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Pattaya officials help a Finnish tourist sort out a lost passport and luggage
PHOTOS: Tourist Police Bureau Pattaya Tourist Police have coordinated with local agencies to help a 53 year old Finnish tourist Jussi Harri Tuokkola. He’d lost his passport, luggage, cash and other valuable items on Tuesday. The manager of the Grand Palazzo Hotel alerted Pattaya Tourist Police that Mr Tuokkola had sought help from the hotel as his luggage and passport…
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800 million baht of drugs seized in three recent busts
by Jessada Chantharak Police have seized a total of eight million methamphetamine pills, 2,070 grams of crystal methamphetamine and 1,546 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of 800 million baht from three recent drug busts. Four suspects were arrested and a fifth was killed during arrest. The report from the national police deputy commissioner Pol General Chalermkiat Srivorakan.…
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