Thailand
- World News
Opening of a rail service between Thailand and Cambodia in Sa Kaew
The Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is leading a delegation to officiate at the opening of a new rail service between Thailand and Cambodia at Klong Luek railway station in Sa Kaew province. The Thai government funded the maintenance and restoration of the two kilometre rail track between Klong Luek station and Poipet station in Cambodia. Rail services between Thailand and…
- Thailand News
Stateless Thais can now apply for birth certificates and Thai ID
PHOTOS: The Nation “Rootless” people, born in Thailand but abandoned at birth – so without any Thai identification number or household documents – are now permitted to file for a birth certificates and apply for Thai nationality. The new laws have been published in the Royal Gazette, effective this week. The new edition of Civil Registration Act also allows these…
- Bangkok News
Princess Chulabhorn recovers after cataract surgery and back pain treatment
The Palace is reporting that HRH Princess Chulabhorn is recovering satisfactorily at Ramathibodi Hospital after cataract surgery and treatment for back pain. The medical team at the hospital report that the Princess’s back pain had eased satisfactorily so that medication will now be taken orally, instead of intravenously, until April 30. The Princess underwent cataract surgery on March 22 and…
- Environment News
New fires in the North likely to be arson – Army
by Nathawat Laping Some 1,000 combined professional and volunteer firefighters are battling a major forest fire in the mountainous area overlapping Chiang Mai’s Muang and Mae Chan districts.The fire started on Sunday night in the Doi Jorakhe area of Tambon Tha Sud in Muang before spreading to Tambon Pa Teung in Mae Chan, a densely populated area and home to…
- Northern Thailand News
Severe localised storms predicted for central, north and north-east until April 16
FILE PHOTO The meteorological office (TMD) says there could be localised severe thunder storms for the entire upper area of the country until Tuesday. The north, north-east, eastern seaboard and central regions, including Bangkok and surrounding areas could all be randomly hit by tropical thunderstorms. The TMD office director Phuwiang Prakhammin has warned of rain storms, thunder and lightning, high…
- Bangkok News
The coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun
PHOTO: A younger King Maha Vachiralongkorn with his father, the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej May 5, 1950. King Bhumibol Adulyadej was coronated in a grand ceremony at the Grand Palace and around the streets of Bangkok. That’s nearly seven decades ago when the last coronation took place in Thailand. The 1950 coronation ceremony began the reign of King Rama IX,…
- Songkran News
Day Two: Songkran Seven Days of Danger
PHOTO: Thai PBS The Songkran road toll has now jumped to 105, with more than 1,000 injured on Thailand’s roads. The latest stats reported by the Centre for the Prevention and Reduction of Road Accidents. This includes incidents from days one and two in the seven day annual accident reporting campaign. Thai PBS reports that the centre reports 57 people were killed…
- Thailand Election News
US Embassy responds to Don’s rebuke over Thanathorn case
PHOTO: The Nation The Thai Foreign Minister yesterday formerly summoned foreign diplomats yesterday afternoon, one by one, in a diplomatic dressing down about their appearance at a police station last Saturday morning. The official ministry memo objected to the presence of envoys at the Pathumwan Police Station on Saturday when the Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit reported in to…
- Songkran News
400,000 take to the skies during Songkran
The Airports Department expects over 400,000 passengers to pass through the nation’s 25 airports during the Songkran holiday break. Ampawan Wannako, the director-general of the Airports Department, says passenger projections for the holidays was 404,778 for the period from April 11 (tomorrow) to April 17, or an average of 57,224 passengers per day. This projection is up on last year’s…
- Travel
“Thailand Travel Shield” insurance scheme to continue – TAT
The TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) says that the Thailand Travel Shield insurance project will continue. The service provides online travel insurance for foreign tourists. Reported in Phuketify, TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn, says that the TAT had initiated the creation of the Thailand Travel Shield project as a local insurance scheme alternative back in July 2014. “This year marks the fifth…
- Northern Thailand News
Counting down PM’s 7 day deadline in Chiang Mai – so far no change
by Piyaporn Wongruang, Tim Newton Last week PM Prayut Chan-o-cha issued an order to end the haze crisis in the North within seven days and declared the situation part of the national agenda. Two days to go and there is still no respite of the hazardous levels of smoke and smog besetting the northern capital and adjacent provinces. The PM met…
- Bangkok News
Sacred waters begin their journey to Bangkok for Royal Coronation
PHOTOS: Phuket – Kritsada Meuanawong Thailand’s 76 provinces have taken part in a nationwide ceremony to draw sacred water from 108 water sources to be used during the Coronation of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn on May 4. The ceremony began in all provinces at the same time of 11.52am. The only exception was Bangkok where the same ritual will be held on April 12 at the Haw Sastrakhom, inside…
- Bangkok News
KL Cobras capture top tier in Land of Smiles ice-hockey tournament
PHOTOS: Naratip Srisupab The New Delhi Sacred Bulls, the Shanghai Red Guard and 22 other teams competed in the City of Angels Ice Classic held March 27-30 in Bangkok at the Rink, Grand Central Rama IX. The Kuala Lumpur Cobras shut-out the Dubai Mighty Camels 3-0 to win the top tier in the tournament. Cobra captain Rich Hutson brought in…
- Thailand Election News
Election Commission admits they haven’t decided on the formula to determine lower house
by Kas Chanwanpen In a stunning admission yesterday, the Election Commission admitted they didn’t know the exact formula to work out the final make up of the lower house seats. The Election Commission secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma says that he expected the agency to make a decision this week on their interpretation of the new Charter that sets out, broadly, how…
- Hot News
Farmers Council helps growers, patients register for medical marijuana
The National Farmers Council is assisting farmers and patients register for medical marijuana, which was legalised late last year, so they have a better understanding of their legal rights and opportunities the new legislation offers. Since the legislation is already in place, the NFC is conducting a road show to educate the public about the issue. The deadline for registration is…
- Northern Thailand News
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai suffer haze and smoke until at least May
Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is flying to Chiang Mai tomorrow (Tuesday) to meet with with the northern provincial governors. Most of the northern provinces, including Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, are likely to face health-threatening haze problems from PM2.5 dust particles until at least early May according to meteorologists. The poor air quality has been a constant part of daily life…
- Thailand Election News
Parties race to cobble together a working coalition
Day Two following the election and the only thing that is clear is that nothing is clear at this stage. Pheu Thai and Phalang Pracharat are both claiming the right to form a government with support of like-minded parties. The two rival parties, the pro-democracy Pheu Thai and the pro-Junta Phalang Pracharat, are locked in a close battle to form…
- Environment News
Sea turtle dies after getting tangled in a fishing net – Prachuap Khiri Khan
PHOTOS: The Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand A series of photos that convey everything we should be concerned about in Thailand’s marine ecology. A Green Sea Turtle, tangled in a fishing net, has been washed up on a beach in Prachuap Khiri Khan. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources reports that they were notified that a dead sea…
- Thailand Election News
Pheu Thai wins the Lower House – Unofficial from the EC
The Election Commission has just announced the official tally for constituency MPs, showing that Pheu Thai Party has won 138 of the 350 seats on offer. Phalang Pracharat, meanwhile, came in second with 96 seats, trailed by Bhumjaithai with 39. The Democrats only won 33 seats, while Future Forward snared 30. The rest of the seats were shared between Chartthaipattana…
- Thailand Election News
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…
- Thailand Election News
Exit poll says Pheu Thai will get most votes but not a majority
The polls are closed, the ballot boxes secured and the counting starts. Time now for the fancy TV graphics and speculation as Thailand’s next government takes shape in the next 24-48 hours. No party is expected to win a majority of the seats so a coalition will need to be formed. That’s where the fun will start. Pheu Thai is…
- Northern Thailand News
Summer storms on the way for north, north-east
FILE PHOTO People living in the north of Thailand are being warned to brace themselves for some summer thunderstorms until Wednesday. The Meteorological Department issued an alert today saying the storms will be caused by a high-pressure system from China that will interact with the hot weather over upper Thailand. Outbreaks of summer thunderstorms will be likely from today to…
- Opinion
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…
- Thailand Election News
Ban on alcohol for 24 hours, starts today at 6pm
Thais go to the polls tomorrow (Sunday) for the first time since 2011, which also means there will be a 24 hour alcohol ban this weekend, starting this evening. Alcohol sales and distribution will be forbidden from 6pm on Saturday to 6pm on Sunday. Officials say weddings, parties and other celebrations can still be organised for these dates but there…
- Thailand Election News
Foreign Affairs denies attempts to extradite Thaksin from Hong Kong
PHOTO: The happy couple and ‘dad’, in HK for tomorrow’s wedding The director of the foreign affairs department of the public prosecutor’s office in Thailand says media reports that the Thai officials are trying to extradite former PM and fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra in Hong Kong, are wrong. Daily News reports that Chatchachom Akkhapin says there was no truth in stories…
- Northern Thailand News
TAT expects 2.3 million tourists for this year’s Songkran
The Tourism Authority of Thailand is expecting more than 2.3 million local and foreign tourists will join the various Songkran celebrations this year. They say that should generate 20 billion baht+ in revenue for tourism and tourism-related services. TAT’s Governor Yuthasak Supasorn says 300,000 international arrivals are expected to celebrate the five day festival starting April 12, along with two…
- Thailand News
One dead, kids injured in school bus accident in Prachinburi
Photo: Prachinburi PR Office A bus has crashed just north-east of Bangkok, killing one and injuring another 10. Wangkhon Police in Prachinburi were notified of the accident at 4:40am early today. The bus was travelling from Nong Bua Lamphu, north east of Thailand, to Prachinburi. The bus was carrying 20 high school students and 19 teachers. When the bus arrived…
- Best of
Top 10 restaurants in Phuket (2020)
There are many excellent restaurant experiences in Phuket in 2020. Now Phuket has a broad and sophisticated range of restaurants that befit a Michelin guide dedicated to the region’s best. From floating restaurants to fine-dining, southern-style Thai cuisine to European fusion, Phuket’s got some of the best these days. Here, in no particular order, is the list of the Top 10 restaurant…
- Phuket News
Court rules that National Park can limit numbers to Similan Islands
The Similan Islands national park will now be able to limit the number of visitors as a means to prevent ongoing environmental damage. This decision from the Supreme Administrative Court this week, overturning an earlier ruling from the Phuket Administrative Court. The Similan Islands are a popular diving spot in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Khao Lak. The…
- Northern Thailand News
Police claim they ‘had to kill’ north-east murder suspect
PHOTO: Police bring suspects to re-enact the motorcycle and body disposal in the two provinces – The Nation by Khamdee Phrommakong, Suriya Patathayo, Teerapol Khumsuk Police claim they “had to kill” a wanted murder suspect, 29 year old Somsak “Au” Ledlod, in Yasothon’s Kham Khuan Kaeo district as he stole a pickup truck to flee and may have hurt the…