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Phuket ‘Seven Days of Danger ‘ – final toll of six deaths
PHOTO: Sad death of a one month old in an accident on Thepkasttri Road, four days ago According to statistics issued by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Phuket Office, the island registered 4 accidents, 5 injuries and zero deaths on the final day (January 2) of the annual seven day road and marine safety campaign – the Seven…
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Pabuk: Moving past the southern coast of Vietnam
Vietnam has experienced heavy rainfall and strong winds as Pabuk hovers off the southern coast heading into the Gulf of Thailand. vnexpress.net reports that, as of Wednesday, tropical storm ‘Pabuk’ was stationed around 360 kilometers (223 miles) to the southeast of Con Dao Island off the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, with wind speeds of up to 75 kilometers…
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Pabuk: Koh Samui poised for first New Year tropical storm in 68 years
The mirror.co.uk is reporting that there are fears for residents and tourists on Koh Samui as the island braces for the onslaught of tropical storm Pabuk. Pabuk has formed within a mass of thunderstorms and could be the first cyclone to hit Thailand in January in 68 years. Southern Vietnam has already been hit by torrential rain and the cyclone…
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PABUK: Latest information on the path of the storm across the Gulf
Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada has designated six seaside districts of the central southern coast province as disaster zones and ordered the evacuation of residents by tonight. The evacuations are a safety precaution he said. He says that all schools in these districts will be closed today, while schools in the main city area of Nakhon Si Thammarat will…
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Angthong National Marine Park closed for 3 days due to approaching storm
The Angthong National Marine Park, off the coast of Surat Thani province, is closing for three days from tomorrow (Thursday) as tropical storm ‘Pabuk’ is expected to hit the southern Gulf coast. The decision has been based on weather warnings from the TMD, which says the storm “Pabuk” will bring unseasonal heavy downpours and high waves in the Gulf of…
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Phuket small boats ‘should not’ leave port – weather warning
The Phuket Marine Office has made an official announcement today for boats to be “careful when going to sea”. “Small boats shouldn’t leave from ports until Saturday”. The Phuket Marine Office Chief Wiwat Chitcerdwong says “on January 2, 2019, tropical storm “PABUK” is over the lower South China Sea located at latitude 6.1 degree north, longitude 108.7 degree east with…
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Pattaya golf course not ashamed of their dual-pricing
Thaivisa is reporting that an ‘anonymous’ tip from an expat golfer has shed light on some interesting pricing options at a Pattaya golf club. Pattaya Country Club recently shared images on social media of their new promotion ‘Swing & Stay’ which clearly shows a foreigner paying 4,600 baht, whereas on the left column it states Thai people pay 3,000 baht.…
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Power cuts scheduled for parts of Phuket
Power is scheduled to be shut-off in Phuket Town and in Thalang this week, according to the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA). A power outage is scheduled from 9am to 4.30pm on Saturday for part of Phuket Town on Phang Nga Road. Another power cut will be in Thalang this Friday from 9am to 4.30pm. Areas to be effected are Baan Thai…
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Two key tests for the Land of Smiles in 2019
Thailand faces two major challenges in 2019 – conducting a general election and chairing the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN). Mishandling either task would invite serious damage to both the country and the wider region, according to a New Year editorial in The Nation. “Junta chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha has made a bad start in tackling the first challenge,…
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Election Commission denies election date delays
PHOTO: EC Secretary General Jarungwit Pumm The Election Commission has been forced to again reiterate that there is no postponement to the February 24 election day. EC Secretary General Jarungwit Pumma said: “There is currently no royal decree for the election but this does not mean the election date will be postponed.” He was responding to widespread rumours that the…
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Lion Air passengers get a New Year surprise at Sepinggan Airport
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Balikpapan. Happy New Year,” Sepinggan Airport general manager Farid Indra Nugraha said with a big smile as he greeted passengers at the baggage claims area. Passengers of the first arrival of 2019 at Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, were delighted by the surprise. The estimated 150 passengers of Lion Air flight JT 858 on…
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Brother and sister plucked from surf in Nakhon Si Thammarat – VIDEO
VIDEO and PHOTOS: Keerati Songlerd A boy and a girl, who are brother and sister, have been hauled out from surf in Nakhon Si Thammarat, on the southern Gulf coast. Video clips and photos have been posted on a personal Facebook ‘Keerati Songlerd’ yesterday with a message reading “Two kids have been pulled out of the surf. An elder brother…
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Lampang serial masturbator caught red-handed
PHOTO: Sanook A Lampang man was reported to police for masturbating at public toilets at a local petrol station. 28 year old Theerasak was taken to the scene at the PPT station with police, hopefully not to re-enact the crime. According to police, the maid at the PTT petrol station in the city district had earlier “shrieked in horror” when she…
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Foreigners frolicking off Jomtien beach attract police attention
Daily News is reporting that two foreign tourists at Jomtien beach have been videoed by a passing Thai who noticed them ‘frolicking’ in the water on New Year’s Day. He asked them “What are you up to?” as the pair suspiciously bobbed up and down just off the beach. He says on the video…. “I don’t dare ask – they…
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Latvian tourist dies after falling from hotel in Karon
A female Latvian tourist has died after falling from the sixth floor of a hotel in Karon yesterday after returning from a New Year party. Karon Police and emergency responders arrived at the scene to find the body of a 29 year old female KRISTINA RESETNIKOVA, a Latvian national, on the ground. Police found no signs of a struggle on…
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Two more dead in Phuket. Day Six “seven days of danger” – Toll reaches 6
According to statistics issued by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket Office, the island registered 18 accidents, 16 injuries and two deaths on Day Six (January 1) of the annual road safety campaign. Total of the six days of the campaign in Phuket is now six dead, already three times last year’s total number of deaths over…
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Poll shows favour towards Prayut as next PM
• 39 percent of the respondents were satisfied with the efforts in solving ‘dark influence’ problems • 31.9 percent said they were satisfied with the achievement in tackling human trafficking problems Thirty-nine percent of more than 2,000 respondents in the latest Super Poll opinion poll are satisfied with the performance of the Prayut government and the NCPO in peace restoration and…
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Orchard road bans smoking
From The Straits Times – Asia News Network Singapore’s shopping paradise, Orchard Road is now smoke-free. A smoking ban kicked in on January 1 which prohibits smokers from lighting up in public areas. However there are designated smoking areas along the famous shopping strip. Enforcement officers from the National Environment Agency, dressed in white No Smoking Zone polo T-shirts, are on patrol in…
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Unseasonal storms predicted for the South
Southern provinces are under warnings from the Thai Meteorological Department following official notifications yesterday. They’re also predicting that other parts of Thailand will have cooler temperatures during the forecast period. “Downpours and waves up to four metres are expected in the Gulf of Thailand from Thursday, beginning with Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Krabi, Trang…
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Seven dead after murder/suicide at New Year party in Chumphon
PHOTO: Thinnakorn, right, speaks to his family following the murders by Prasit Leelahakhunakorn A 41 year old is dead after killing six of his relatives, including his two children aged 6 and 9 and then turning the gun on himself. The incident happened during a new year party at their home in Chumphon. Police were alerted to the shootings just…
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Coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn announced
A three day long coronation ceremony for His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn is to be held from May 4-6. The announcement was made by Palace staff today, nearly two years and three months after the death of his father, the revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX. The announcement was made in a televised special from the Royal Household Bureau. It…
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Day Five Phuket – ‘seven days of danger’
PHOTO: Karon Police / Kritsada Mueanhawong According to statistics issued by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket Office, the island registered seven accidents and one death on Day Five (December 31) of the annual road safety campaign. Total of the five days of the campaign in Phuket is four deaths. A motorbike driver has died at the scene…
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Helping Koh Samui fight the garbage glut
Photos and story by Laurie Maitenaz An article by guest writer Laurie Maitenaz, a resident of Koh Samui, seeks to focus attention on the long-term garbage accumulation problems on the island. Most of his 11-point-plan to reduce garbage are things we can all action around the Kingdom. Let’s make 2019 the year of garbage reduction – think globally but act…
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The legalisation of cannabis for medical use – more questions than answers
by Laura Villadiego “Despite what looks to be the biggest step in decades towards legalisation of cannabis in Thailand… the use of cannabis in Thailand without a licence is still punishable with jail terms.” Unclear licensing rules have given rise to fears foreign firms might apply for patents and squeeze out local players There are concerns the public might think…
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Happy New Year Thailand!
PHOTO: The Nation The Amazing Thailand Countdown 2019 was held at the new riverside shopping hub Iconsiam last night as a “New Year present” for Thais and tourists. It was a joint venture between the capital’s newest luxury shopping mall and the TAT. Large countdown crowds and fireworks kicked off 2019 at dozens of venues around Thailand, and a bright…
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King Maha Vajiralongkorn wishes Thais well for a prosperous 2019
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn has offered New Year blessings by wishing everybody happiness, prosperity, good health and wisdom for the coming year. “When you have love, goodwill, wisdom and reason, as well as moderation, patience, perseverance and problem-solving skills, you will be happy and satisfied with yourself. “As a result, there will be happiness within your family, society and…
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CAAT probe crash of light-aircraft that killed South African pilot
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has inspected the wreckage of a private light aircraft that crashed in Chon Buri’s Sri Racha district yesterday. The crash precipitated a fire that killed the 60 year old pilot, Mike Romberg from South Africa. The turboprop light aircraft crashed to the ground when it was about to make a landing at Rajamangala…
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Round the world handicapped pilot crashes in Chon Buri
A video has captured the final moments of a light aircraft that crashed in Sri Racha, Chon Buri yesterday. Footage also shows the aftermath of the crash. The aircraft was piloted by Mike Lomberg, a South African who was flying through Thailand as part of a round the world flying adventure. The private light aircraft crash-landed yesterday, killing the pilot. The…
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National death toll rises to 236 – Day Four in the “seven dangerous days”
A total of 236 people have killed and 2,265 others injured in 2,194 road accidents after number were released for the first four days of the New Year holiday period’s “seven dangerous days”. The tally includes deaths and injuries from last Thursday up to Sunday night. Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima had the highest cumulative fatalities of 12 deaths each,…
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Man killed in Phuket road accident
A motorbike driver has died at the scene after colliding head on with a pickup truck in Rassada earlier this morning. The Phuket City Police were notified about the accident at Soi Paneang in Rassada at 01.05am. Police and emergency respondents arrived at a curve in the road to find the damaged motorbike. Nearby they found the body of a…
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