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Air pollution in Bangkok improved over the weekend, marathon goes ahead
PHOTO: Thai PBS Air quality around Bangkok had sufficiently improved for the running of a charity marathon in the capital yesterday morning. 16,000 runners took part in the marathon yesterday from the Ratchamangala stadium in Hua Mark, through central Bangkok and to the finish line at the Democracy monument on Rajdamnoen road. The race organisers say they were closely monitoring updates…
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Krabi officials in Ao Nang gear up for Chinese New Year
More than 100 officers from Krabi Immigration and other local officialdom have put on a show of force to assure locals, tourists and expats that authorities are well prepared for Chinese New Year public safety this year. Krabi Immigration Chief Col Supparueak Pankosol says, “There are many tourists visiting Krabi during this Chinese New Year.” “We are making sure that…
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At least another 60 days in Thai jail for Hakeem al-Araibi
SCREENSHOT from The Guardian video Australian refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi now has 60 days to prepare a defence against the Bahraini government’s attempt to extradite him from Thailand. Bahrain’s extradition request was formally accepted for consideration last Friday. The 25 year old will have to remain in Thai prison for the two months, on top of the two months he’s already…
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Chacheongsao rubber plantation fire under control after 15 hours
A huge fire, which had already destroyed more than half of a 400 rai rubber plantation in Chacheongsao province, was finally brought under control at 1.30pm yesterday. The deputy provincial governor Prasong Khongkhaoroptham said the fire had raised worries of adding to Bangkok’s air-pollution woes. Chacheongsao province is directly to the east of the Thai capital. Investigation into the cause of…
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Air quality for Thailand – February 4
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 Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Southern Thailand Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution…
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Fire destroys Moken Village in Phang Nga – VIDEO
A fire has destroyed a Moken Village (sea gypsies village) on Mu Koh Surin in Phang Nga last night. Around 8pm last night a fire started which engulfed the Moken Village on Mu Koh Surain National Park in Phang Nga. Mu Koh Surin National Park officials, Navy officers and locals helped to bring the fire under control. About 67 houses…
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Weather for February 4
Bangkok Sunshine and a few clouds. High 34C. Winds S at 10 to 15 km/h. Phuket Sunny skies this morning. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. High 88F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Chiang Mai Plenty of sunshine. High near 35C. Winds light and variable. Pattaya Scattered thunderstorms during the morning. Partly…
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Facebook bars overseas electoral ads for the March 23 election
The Thai government and Election Commission are imposing their own bans and restrictions for political advertising leading up to next month’s poll. Now Thailand’s favorite social media platform says it is banning ads posted from overseas for the poll as well. Facebook says it will bar foreign-based election advertisements in Thailand as the country heads towards the March 24 election.…
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Elephant Boat Race comes to Bangkok March 29
Anantara Hotels Director of Operational Excellence & Events Tim Boda has announced Thailand’s first “Elephant Boat Race & River Festival” to be held between March 29 – 31, 2019. “The new three-day festival offers a wide range of activities, races and concerts aiming to raise funds to support domestic and wild elephants throughout Thailand.” Located next to Anantara Riverside Bangkok, the…
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Chinese tourists flock back to Phuket for Chinese New Year 2019
Chinese tourists are flocking back to Phuket for Chinese New Year 2019 after a six month hiatus following last year’s Phoenix boat tragedy. 47 Chinese tourists drowned in the incident, including many children, after the boat capsized on July 5 in a late afternoon storm as the tour boat was returning to Phuket. In the following months hotels received thousands…
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Ridley sea turtles return to Phang Nga for breeding
PHOTO: World Wildlife Fund Ridley’s sea turtles, a protected species in Thailand, have returned to Phang Nga beaches to breed, following a 23 year absence from the beach in Thai Muang district. The turtle eggs have been collected and taken to the nursery at a turtle watch centre on Tha Sai beach for incubation. The nest on the beach has been…
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Thailand #1 for Chinese travellers heading overseas for Chinese New Year
Thailand, Japan and Singapore are topping the lists for Chinese travellers this Chinese New Year. The data comes from Hotelbeds.com, a leading accommodation booking platform. The website identified the top 10 international destinations for Chinese travellers for this year’s seven-day Chinese New Year holiday that starts tomorrow (Monday). Thailand was named the most popular destination followed by Japan and Singapore. The…
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Leopard cub smuggled on a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok to India
A one month old leopard has been found in a passenger’s hand luggage after landing in Chennai, India after a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok. The young leopard was weak and dehydrated when it was discovered. The leopard kitten was hidden in a grocery basket hidden put inside his carry on luggage. At this stage officials haven’t reported the nationality…
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Seven drug busts net 10 million meth pills, 4 kg of heroin
The more drugs police intercept, the more that pours across the borders. The Police Narcotics Suppression Bureau have reported on seven drug busts that netted 10 suspects and the confiscation of 10 million methamphetamine pills and nearly four kilograms of heroin. The NSB also seized other illicit drugs including crystal meth or “ice”, ecstasy pills and cocaine. Separate searches in…
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Nan blossoms in pink splendour
Tourists are flocking to the far northern province of Nan, on the Laos border, this weekend to witness the beauty of wild Himalayan cherry tree blossoms, widely known as “Thai sakura”, at a research station in Nanoi district. Kanyarat Natebutr, chief of Tonnam Kunsatan research station said that the areas around the station, where cherry trees, green maple and macadamia…
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Alleged ‘sex cult’ yoga retreat on Koh Phangan operating again
PHOTO: Narcis Tarcau, aka. Swami Vivekananda Saraswati – South China Morning Post The world’s “biggest tantric yoga school” has reopened on Koh Phangan with the accused leader back in charge amid accusations that management suppressed an investigation into the alleged abuse. The centre closed last September after 14 women alleged rape and sexual assault and made official complaints. At the…
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Criminal Court agrees to consider extradition of Bahraini footballer
The Criminal Court says it has agreed to consider the public prosecutors’ request to extradite former Bahrain national footballer Hakeem al-Araibi to his home country. The footballer currently holds Australian residency. The request was made after Bahrain supplied prosecutors with evidence and documents accusing al-Araibi of arson and possession of weapons. Bahrain had issued an arrest warrant for the footballer…
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Warning from Pattaya police about bogus charity collectors
Pattaya’s police chief is warning tourists against donating to street charity collectors. He claims many of the so-called charities are bogus and the money is lily going straight into their pockets. Speaking to Pattaya Mail, Pol. Col. Apichai Kroppech says that both Thais and foreigners are roaming the streets acting as charity collectors, hoping to take advantage of people’s good…
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Immigration officials push back against the new retirement visa guidelines
Days after new rules for the processing for foreign retiree visas were published, immigration officials are reportedly pushing back against them. The report was in Khaosod English citing inside sources. According to the Immigration department, starting March 1, foreign retirees must either show a monthly income of at least 65,000 baht or hold a minimum of 800,000 baht in Thai…
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Government apologises for Bangkok air pollution and smog
The Government has conceded to Bangkok citizens about the air pollution that continues to disrupt lives and threaten their health. “The government apologises for the inconvenience caused by the poor air quality and would like to thank everybody for support and cooperation,” said the PM yesterday. The blue sky typical of this time of year is hidden beyond a grey-yellow…
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400cc Nightclub raided in Bangkok. 92 test positive for drugs.
by Kittipong Maneerit Another Bangkok nightclub has been raided as police crackdown on some clubs on the city’s outer limits. The 400cc nightclub was raided revealing at least 40 patrons under the age of 20. Meanwhile, 92 patrons tested positive for substance abuse and 26 of them under the legal drinking age. Officers of Nong Khang Plu precinct, the Office…
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Rewards given to Thais who saved Lithuanian woman at Phuket Airport
Rewards from the management of the Phuket International Airport have been made to two quick thinking Thai citizens who saved the a young Lithuania woman from jumping from the international terminal’s upper road way ramp this week. Pilot Officer Thanee Chuangchoo, the General Manager of Phuket International Airport, today gave certificates and rewards to two the Thai people, Aphichart Intaraksa and Amornrat Ankhai.…
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Thai Immigration clamps down on requirements for Retirement visas
A story in ThaiVisa is providing a lot of concern for people making applications for ‘Retirement’ and ‘Marriage’ visas so they can remain in the Kingdom. The announcement follows several of the embassies last year explaining that they will no longer be issuing a ‘proof of income’ for the purpose of visa applications in Thailand. “Foreigners now need to keep…
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Man dies in Phuket road accident at Samkong underpass entrance
A car diver has died after losing control of his vehicle near the Samkong Underpass on Bypass Road. The Phuket City Police were notified of the accident on Chalerm Phrakiet Rama 9 (Bypass Road), southbound, near the entrance of the Samkong Underpass at 1.12am this morning. Police and rescue workers arrived to find a damaged black Honda sedan. The body of…
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Send in the drones – Bangkok Governor – Air pollution – VIDEO
Authorities in Bangkok launched 50 drones yesterday in an attempt to combat the ongoing air pollution that has gained international attention. The drones were equipped with sprinklers and water was sprayed to lower the PM2.5 particles in the atmosphere. The water was laced with molasses (a gooey, surgery syrup) help capture the fine particles of pollution and bring them to…
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Thai authorities decide on Bahrain detainee’s future next week
The Thai Attorney General is set to decide by next week whether to extradite a detained Bahraini footballer or allow him to travel to Australia as a refugee. Prosecutors have now received an official request from the Bahraini government to extradite the footballer, Hakeem Ali Mohamed Ali al-Araibi, and the request is being reviewed to see if it falls within…
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Conservationists call for the protection of Guitarfish and Electric rays
PHOTOS: จิตอาสา Go-Eco Phuket Phuket conservationists are calling for the protection of Guitarfish and Electric rays from fishermen after many of them have been found dead at Koh Racha Noi. A Facebook user ‘Go-Eco Phuket’, a local conversation Facebook page, yesterday posted pictures and a video with a message reading… “We were notified by our network that 11 metres under the sea…
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Chinese tourist couple found after getting lost in Thalang jungle
PHOTOS: The Thalang Police and The Phuket Tourist Police Officers were searching for about four hours for a Chinese tourist couple who were lost in the Khao Phra Thaew Non – Hunting area forest in Thalang district last night. The local Tourist Police and the Thalang Police were notified of the pair getting lost early in the evening after they called the Phuket Tourist…
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Monk defrocked and charged with child abuse
by Suriya Patathayo Another Buddhist monk has been arrested and defrocked. The allegations involve sexual violations against boys and posting pornographic content online. Leading the investigation, Pol Lt General Surachate Hakparn, deputy chief of Thailand’s Action Taskforce for Information Technology Crime Suppression says that the former monk has confessed that he has committed the crimes for more than 10 years.…
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Wastewater from Bang Tao Canal flowing into sea
Local residents near the Bang Tao canal in Cherng Talay are again pleading for help because of the ongoing bad smells and effects from wastewater flowing down the waterway. Local Rohem Taosakun says, “This problem has been particularly bad over the past five days. Related government officials have tried solving the problem but wastewater is coming back again. This problem…
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