Myanmar

  • World NewsIndonesian and Thai foreign ministers meet with Myanmar counterpart, seek peace after coup

    Indonesian and Thai foreign ministers meet with Myanmar counterpart, seek peace after coup

    To seek a peaceful solution in Myanmar after the country’s military seized power, foreign ministers of Indonesia and Thailand met with the new, military-appointed foreign minister of Myanmar Wunna Maung Lwinat at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport for a brief, 20 minute discussion. Both the Indonesian and Thai counterparts say they want peace, but the Indonesian foreign minister says Thailand has…

  • World NewsFacebook shuts down Burmese military news page, accuses it of inciting violence

    Facebook shuts down Burmese military news page, accuses it of inciting violence

    The “True News” social media page operated by the Burmese military has been shut down by Facebook, with the tech giant accusing it of inciting violence. Thai PBS World reports that the page was shut down yesterday as the authorities in Myanmar ramp up the violent response to citizens protesting the forced removal of leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The…

  • Covid-19 NewsBorder officials on alert for Burmese coup protesters fleeing military crackdown

    Border officials on alert for Burmese coup protesters fleeing military crackdown

    Border police have increased patrols in the northern province of Chiang Rai amid concerns that Burmese protesters may try to cross into the Mae Sai district. This follows a military crackdown in the Burmese border town of Tachilek as the army tries to quell anti-coup rallies. According to a Bangkok Post report, Sompong Chingduang from Thailand’s Immigration Bureau says the…

  • Politics NewsUS government urges Myanmar military to stop violence and step down

    US government urges Myanmar military to stop violence and step down

    The US government is urging Myanmar’s military to stop the violence against coup protesters and step down, after the death of a young woman. The recommendation comes as the US, along with Britain, Australia, and Japan, commit to issuing sanctions against the military regime in an effort to support the toppled democracy. Last November saw a landslide democratic, electoral victory…

  • World NewsBurmese nationals in Bangkok gather at US Embassy, call for action after military coup

    Burmese nationals in Bangkok gather at US Embassy, call for action after military coup

    Burmese people living in Thailand are calling on the United States government to step in and protect their fellow citizens after the military coup in Myanmar. A group of Burmese nationals gathered outside the US Embassy in Bangkok to submit a letter addressed to the US president. A demonstrator told Nation Thailand that they are worried about their families back…

  • World NewsHackers take aim at Myanmar government website

    Hackers take aim at Myanmar government website

    Myanmar’s government website is recuperating after hackers took aim in retaliation of the recent military-backed coup. The cyber war ignited after the internet was shut down for a 4th straight day by authorities, as thousands took to the streets to rally against the coup that brought down revered democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government from power. The group…

  • Covid-19 NewsHuman trafficking ‘gang’ arrested over Samut Sakhon outbreak | VIDEO

    Human trafficking ‘gang’ arrested over Samut Sakhon outbreak | VIDEO

    But are they scapegoats? Nearly 2 months after the Samut Sakhon outbreak put Thailand’s previously excellent Covid 19 record to the test, a series of people are now being rounded up and arrested as the key people behind the outbreak. A 45 year old Thai woman, known as Jay Phet, has been arrested for acquiring illegal Burmese migrants, getting them…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Pyramid scammer arrested, first vaccines arrive next week | February 16

    Thailand News Today | Pyramid scammer arrested, first vaccines arrive next week | February 16

    A 45 year old Thai woman, known as Jay Phet, has been arrested, along with several Burmese accomplices and nearly 400 of the trafficked migrants. She was arrested for acquiring illegal Burmese migrants, getting them over the border… undetected, and then sending them to the Central Seafood Markets along the coast of Samut Sakhon province, just south west of Bangkok.…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Week In Review | February 14

    Thailand News Today | Week In Review | February 14

    Thailand News Today covers five days of the news week, except this week which was the Chinese New Year on Friday. Now we have a weekend edition which goes over the biggest, or best stories, from the past week. Out every Saturday afternoon, catch up with Jett and Tim’s major Thai news stories from Thailand News Today. Welcome to the…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Home-made Thai vaccine ready to start trials | February 11

    Thailand News Today | Home-made Thai vaccine ready to start trials | February 11

    Thailand’s Health Minister, Anutin, is now claiming that the first stage of human trials of a locally-produced vaccine brew will get underway next month. The local Thai vaccine is a joint collaboration between the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation and the Faculty of Tropical Medicine of Mahidol University. It’s understood the vaccine has performed satisfactorily in animal testing, showing an ability to…

  • World NewsUS issues sanctions against Myanmar after coup

    US issues sanctions against Myanmar after coup

    US President Joe Biden is issuing sanctions against Myanmar’s military regime after it staged a coup which saw the country’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi placed under arrest along with other senior members of the National League for Democracy. The executive order will prevent Myanmar’s generals from accessing US $1 billion in assets in the US while keeping…

  • World NewsMyanmar military commander pens letter to Thai PM

    Myanmar military commander pens letter to Thai PM

    Myanmar military commander is opening a line of communication with Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha detailing why a coup was staged to seize power after a democratic election in the state. Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing explained why the Tatmadaw had to stage a coup and asked for help to support democracy. He alleged that fraud took place in the November 8…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Thai surrogacy ring, vaccine-passport | February 8

    Thailand News Today | Thai surrogacy ring, vaccine-passport | February 8

    An alleged illegal transnational surrogacy ring, posing as a cleaning company, has busted by Thailand’s cybercrime police after surrogate mothers were unable to deliver the children to buyers overseas due to the current travel restrictions. Officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau raided 10 locations suspected of being involved in the underground transnational surrogacy network, arresting 3 alleged agents and…

  • Bangkok NewsBurmese nationals rally outside UN office in Bangkok to protest against Myanmar coup

    Burmese nationals rally outside UN office in Bangkok to protest against Myanmar coup

    Hundreds of Burmese nationals gathered outside the United Nations office in Bangkok to protest against the military coup in their home country. Many raised their hands in the 3-finger salute, a symbol of resistance and democracy taken from the movie the Hunger Games and widely used in Thailand’s pro-democracy movement. Some protesters held photos of Aung San Suu Kyi, the…

  • Thailand NewsThailand blocks natural borders following Myanmar coup, bounty for human traffickers increases

    Thailand blocks natural borders following Myanmar coup, bounty for human traffickers increases

    With thousands of Burmese people expected to flee to Thailand following the military coup in Myanmar, Thai immigration police say they have blocked at least 7 natural border passageways. Thai immigration police chief Sompong Chingduang says he estimates around 400,000 Burmese migrants are looking to enter Thailand, adding that the bounty for the arrest of human traffickers has increased. “We…

  • World NewsThailand News Today | Thailand fallout from Burmese coup | February 3

    Thailand News Today | Thailand fallout from Burmese coup | February 3

    With potential sanctions and boycotts against Myanmar likely following the military coup, the Thai-Myanmar Business Council says Thai investors are concerned their businesses in the neighbouring country will be affected. As for now, it’s unclear what effect the coup will have on Thai-owned businesses in Myanmar. The country’s economy, already battered by the Covid-19 pandemic, is expected to slow down…

  • World NewsCourt rejects police request to further detain 2 activists from Burmese embassy protest

    Court rejects police request to further detain 2 activists from Burmese embassy protest

    A court has rejected a police request to further detain 2 of the 3 activists arrested following a protest at the Burmese embassy in Bangkok on Monday. Thai and Burmese activists had gathered to protest the military coup in Myanmar and the detention of several government figures, including Aung San Suu Kyi. Police arrested 3 suspects in total, who have…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Pattaya bank scam & Burmese coup update | February 2

    Thailand News Today | Pattaya bank scam & Burmese coup update | February 2

    CORRECTION: In the first story Jett referred to a Chinese man losing 130 billion baht. The correct amount was 130 million baht. We apologise for the error. Hundreds, perhaps more than 400, investors have been defrauded by a bank manager at a Kasikorn bank branch in Pattaya. The manager, named in a police report as “Mr. Gob”, was promising investors…

  • World NewsThai investors in Myanmar concerned with future business following the military coup

    Thai investors in Myanmar concerned with future business following the military coup

    With potential sanctions and boycotts against Myanmar likely following the military coup, the Thai-Myanmar Business Council says Thai investors are concerned their businesses in the neighbouring country will be affected. It’s unclear what effect the coup will have on Thai-owned businesses in Myanmar. The country’s economy, already battered by the Covid-19 pandemic, is expected to slow down with potential sanctions.…

  • Thailand NewsPolice chief transferred after protesters rally at police station, hang banner calling for monarchy reform

    Police chief transferred after protesters rally at police station, hang banner calling for monarchy reform

    A district police chief was abruptly transferred from his post after pro-democracy protesters staged a rally and hung banners at a police station in the Isaan province Chaiyaphum. Protesters called for monarchy reform in Thailand and democracy in Myanmar following the military coup. Protesters from the People’s Group, also known as Ratsadon, marched from a local school to the police…

  • World NewsThai Army boss plays down risk of migrant influx following military coup in Myanmar

    Thai Army boss plays down risk of migrant influx following military coup in Myanmar

    A Thai Army commander has moved to reassure citizens over fears that yesterday’s military coup in Myanmar may lead to a surge in illegal migrants. Apichet Suesat from the Third Army says forces continue to man the border between Thailand and Myanmar and anyone trying to enter the Kingdom illegally will be arrested. “We are closely monitoring the situation. Burmese…

  • World NewsThailand likely to have substantial trade losses following Myanmar coup

    Thailand likely to have substantial trade losses following Myanmar coup

    With Myanmar’s military now in power after a bloodless coup, Thailand is likely to see substantial losses when it comes to trade with the neighbouring country, possibly forgoing up to 50 million baht a day due to changes in transporting goods and strict military checkpoints. If the military’s tight security inspections continue in the long term, Thailand could lose more…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Burmese coup & tourist visa ’emergency extensions’ | February 1

    Thailand News Today | Burmese coup & tourist visa ’emergency extensions’ | February 1

    Myanmar’s military has taken control of the country in a political coup, deposing the elected government after reportedly detaining de-facto leader and ‘State Counsellor’ Aung San Suu Kyi, along with other politicians early this morning. The military-owned Myawaddy TV announced a state of emergency had been declared for 12 months and power transferred to the Junta. A news presenter referred…

  • World NewsUPDATE: Burmese Coup: Myanmar’s banks told to close “because of internet problems”

    UPDATE: Burmese Coup: Myanmar’s banks told to close “because of internet problems”

    All Burmese bank branches have been closed across Myanmar today after the bloodless military coup this morning. The Burmese army have declared a state of emergency for the next 12 months and have arrested and detained de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, along with other National League for Democracy politicians. The country’s banking association made an announcement this…

  • World NewsKanchanaburi police officer’s twin sons arrested for trafficking methamphetamines

    Kanchanaburi police officer’s twin sons arrested for trafficking methamphetamines

    Twin sons of a Thai police officer have been arrested and charged with trafficking methamphetamine, according to Thai-language daily Matichon. The arrests were made yesterday. Thai army and border patrol Police stopped a car driven by the two 20 year old twins at a routine checkpoint in western Thailand. A routine search of the vehicle uncovered 2,000 methamphetamine tables in…

  • Thailand NewsAustralian man wanted for allegedly sexually abusing children in Thailand

    Australian man wanted for allegedly sexually abusing children in Thailand

    A 44 year old Australian man is wanted by Thai police for allegedly sexually abusing children in Thailand. Adam James Fox financially supported some migrant children in poverty stricken areas and allegedly sexually abused them. Adam James Fox is wanted for allegedly sexually assaulting or abusing at least 3 Burmese boys, all under 15 years old, at his home in…

  • Crime NewsAt least 33 police officers, officials, implicated in migrant smuggling operation

    At least 33 police officers, officials, implicated in migrant smuggling operation

    At least 33 police officers and other government officials are being investigated for their role in the illegal smuggling of migrant workers into Thailand. The people smuggling operation is thought to be at the root of Thailand’s second wave of Covid-19, with countless migrants helped across the border without undergoing mandatory quarantine or any form of health checks. The Bangkok…

  • Crime NewsNew illicit drug cocktail on Bangkok’s streets | VIDEO

    New illicit drug cocktail on Bangkok’s streets | VIDEO

    Watch the video here… WARNING: This article contains content related to drugs and drug use. A cocktail of narcotics known to police as “K powdered milk” or “K Nompong’ in Thai, is suspected to be linked to a number of deaths among young Thais in Bangkok. The “K powdered milk” is a mixture of ketamine, heroin, methamphetamine and a sleeping…

  • Thailand NewsMigrant workers to be granted 2-year work permit and health insurance

    Migrant workers to be granted 2-year work permit and health insurance

    Undocumented migrant workers from 3 countries will be able to register for legal employment allowing a 2-year stay. The Cabinet approved the measure in an effort to control the spread of Covid-19 after an outbreak at a Samut Sakhon seafood market affecting a large migrant community who worked around the fishing hub. Migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar will…

  • World NewsBangladesh moves towards relocating Rohingya refugees, UN denies involvement

    Bangladesh moves towards relocating Rohingya refugees, UN denies involvement

    Despite rights groups advising not to relocate Rohingya refugees anymore, Bangladesh is pressing on to move a 2nd group of refugees from Myanmar to the remote island of Bhasan Char in the Bay of Bengal this month. The new group consists of about 1,000 refugees and is in addition to more than 1,600 refugees that were moved earlier this month,…