Thailand

  • Pattaya News70 million baht set aside for planning and EIS for new light rail in Pattaya

    70 million baht set aside for planning and EIS for new light rail in Pattaya

    PHOTOS: Pattaya Watchdog Pattaya City Hall has is putting aside 70 million baht for preliminary planning, design work and Environmental Impact Statements for a proposed tram (light rail) project. The trams are part of the Thai government’s huge Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) budgets to develop Pattaya and other areas along the Eastern Seaboard. The first part of the proposed project,…

  • Northern Thailand NewsSeven injured after bus rolls over in Sisaket bus incident

    Seven injured after bus rolls over in Sisaket bus incident

    PHOTOS: หมวดทางหลวงภูสิงห์ Seven passengers have sustained injuries in a bus accident in Sisaket, far-east Thailand. Emergency responders were notified of the accident on No 24 Road in Sisaket yesterday. They arrived at the scene to find the bus rolled over in the centre-road ditch. The bus was heading from Bangkok to Ubon Ratcha Thani and carrying 15 passengers. Seven passengers…

  • Northern Thailand NewsRoi Et tractor driver injured after sedan embeds itself in the driver’s cabin

    Roi Et tractor driver injured after sedan embeds itself in the driver’s cabin

    PHOTOS: Asok Jaturapak Piman Rescue Foundation A tractor driver has sustained injuries after colliding with a sedan in Roi Et in north-eastern Thailand. Rescue workers headed to the accident scene on Jatura – Patumrat Road in Jatura, Roi Et yesterday. Rescue workers arrived to find a sedan embedded in a tractor off the main road. The tractor driver, 45 year…

  • Thai LifeVisa run to Penang – a personal experience in Thailand (2019)

    Visa run to Penang – a personal experience in Thailand (2019)

    This story was one person’s experience of the visa process in Penang. It should not be regarded as ‘typical’ or even used as a guide. But we provide Jim’s journey as warning to do your homework before embarking on getting or renewing your visa. Be aware that this seemingly simple trip to the former ‘Pearl of the Orient’ in Malaysia…

  • Bangkok NewsTaxi drives on wrong side of the road, collides with sedan, injures two

    Taxi drives on wrong side of the road, collides with sedan, injures two

    Two people have been injured after a Toyota Camry crashed into a taxi driving the wrong way along a road in Pathum Thani’s Lat Lum Kaew district, just north of Bangkok. The sedan overturned from the impact, injuring both the 38 year old driver Tamisa Pengchaem and front-seat passenger, 31 year old Amorn Yindeemak. The 42 year old taxi driver Weerachai…

  • EventsFilipino and Japanese battle the weather in the 2019 Laguna Phuket Marathon

    Filipino and Japanese battle the weather in the 2019 Laguna Phuket Marathon

    Full results below… The Laguna Phuket Marathon welcomed a record 12,000-plus runners from 73 countries for its 14th edition. The two-day festival of sport and fun was held over the weekend. The weather wasn’t kind to the event this year making the run additionally challenging for runners, and difficult for organisers. A boon for Phuket’s low season tourism, Laguna Phuket…

  • Bangkok NewsSex toys, fake Viagra and e-cigarettes rounded up in Bangkok raid

    Sex toys, fake Viagra and e-cigarettes rounded up in Bangkok raid

    SCREENSHOTS: TNA-MCOT Sex toys, fake Viagra and Kamagra pills, e-cigarettes and vaping fluids have been rounded up in a raid by the Internal Security Operations Command in Nana markets last night. Officials report 20,000 items valued at more than 5 million baht were seized during the raid between Sois 3 and 17. Officials also say they confiscated fake brand-name shirts being…

  • Bangkok NewsThai mother abandons newborn baby next to rubbish bins

    Thai mother abandons newborn baby next to rubbish bins

    PHOTO MONTAGE: Sanook A 29 year old Thai woman has been arrested after she drove with another son on a motorcycle and dumped her newborn baby boy next to rubbish bins, in a bag. The mother told police she already had four children and couldn’t afford another. Sanook reports that Pho Kaew, Nakorn Pathom police were called after the baby was…

  • Environment NewsFirst year report card for Thailand’s battle against plastics

    First year report card for Thailand’s battle against plastics

    “Plastic waste is a major environmental problem because it takes hundreds of years to degrade.” Yesterday was World Environment Day, a fitting day to give Thailand’s fight for a reduction on plastics a report card, after the first full year of campaigns to reduce single-use plastics. The Pollution Control Department says Thailand’s efforts have been successful after receiving general cooperation from…

  • Thailand Election NewsThanathorn and Prayut officially nominated as Thai PM candidates

    Thanathorn and Prayut officially nominated as Thai PM candidates

    “The current PM, Prayut Chan-o-cha did not attend today’s proceedings.” The Future Forward leader, 40 year old Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, and NCPO chief and current PM Prayut Chan-o-cha have been formally named as candidates for the position of Prime Minister by their parties in Parliament this morning. They were the only two names put forward after the new House Speaker (and…

  • Hot NewsFormer Democrat Party leader and Thai PM resigns

    Former Democrat Party leader and Thai PM resigns

    Former Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has announced his resignation as a parliamentary MP, saying he could not break his word and follow his Democrat Party’s resolution to support Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as the next PM. He announced his resignation in the lead up to today’s vote for a new PM, now a cakewalk for the existing PM Prayut after…

  • Business NewsAnd then there were three. Bidding for Airport duty free concession.

    And then there were three. Bidding for Airport duty free concession.

    Only three Thai bidders – King Power Duty Free, a consortium led by Bangkok Airways, and a bid by Royal Orchid Hotel – remain in play as the companies attempt to win the licence to run duty-free shops at the Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai international airports. The Central Department Store bid has formerly dropped out of the bidding…

  • South Thailand NewsGunman shoots and kills village head in Narathiwat mosque

    Gunman shoots and kills village head in Narathiwat mosque

    PHOTO: Nation Channel A gunman walked into the Ban Arware Mosque and shot dead the village head in Narathiwat’s Ra Ngae district last night, in southern Thailand. Stray bullets also injured a man praying next to the man at the mosque. Police report that 48 year old Pakruding Tohdeng, the village head of Ban Arwar in Tambon Mareubotok, was killed inside…

  • EntertainmentThailand Events – June 2019

    Thailand Events – June 2019

    with The Sponsorship Experts – Paul Poole (South East Asia) There are no shortage of food related events in Bangkok in June but if you’re only going to go to one, the third installation of Taan Bangkok’s Chef Table series will see Khun Kanaporn “Aum” Chancherdsak, the owner of Trang’s renowned restaurant Trang Ko’e, showcase her meticulous cooking on June…

  • Bangkok NewsFire at Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend Market destroys 30 shops

    Fire at Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend Market destroys 30 shops

    PHOTO: JS 100 radio Bangkok’s famous Chatuchak weekend market caught fire near the Gate 1 area last night. Traffic Police and JS 100 traffic radio stations first reported the blaze around 9.15pm at the sprawling Chatuchak market, north of Bangkok’s main city area. The intense blaze took about an hour to bring under control. Many people reported on their social media…

  • Business NewsThailand’s export growth expectations revised down to just 3% in 2019

    Thailand’s export growth expectations revised down to just 3% in 2019

    “Export trends are aligned with global sentiment and the outlook for other Asian countries, making export prospects murky because of the escalating trade war.” The government is massively revising down their export growth targets to just 3% this year from an earlier 8% growth estimate. Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak is blaming the global economic slowdown, the ongoing trade spat between the…

  • Chiang Mai NewsBus plunges off mountain road in Phrae, Thailand, 17 injured

    Bus plunges off mountain road in Phrae, Thailand, 17 injured

    17 passengers have been injured after a bus crashed off a mountain road in Thailand’s north last night. The bus was travelling between Chiang Mai to Phrae in Thailand. The accident happened in Tambon Bor Leng Long, Phrae. The accident happened at 8.30pm on the Den Chai-Lampang road. Rescuers struggled to rescue the injured passengers from the bus that had fallen…

  • Thailand Election NewsAnother week of negotiations and still no clear coalition emerges

    Another week of negotiations and still no clear coalition emerges

    PHOTO: The Nation – Palang Pracharat pose for a show of unity amongst complete turmoil Democrats walking out of meetings, deals made then broken days later, pending court cases over MPs’ eligibility – it’s never a dull day in Thai politics as we stumble towards a new parliament. Here are the current important milestones you need to know about… •…

  • Northern Thailand NewsWeather warnings issued for Thailand’s north, central, east and upper south

    Weather warnings issued for Thailand’s north, central, east and upper south

    Residents from the upper south to the north of the country are being warned to brace themselves for heavy monsoonal rains over the next couple of days. The Thai Meteorological Department announced in an alert this morning that there is a monsoon trough across the North and the upper Northeast for Thursday and Friday. “The confluence of the southeasterly wind…

  • Tourism NewsThailand travel tax. Good idea but…

    Thailand travel tax. Good idea but…

    by Don Ross – ttrweekly.com “The changes to the law came into effect on May 20. Now, the panic button has been pressed. A workable package and collection process needs to be hammered out and fast.” Thailand is looking to introduce a tourist tax, either on arrival or departure, that will be, according to officials, used to fund accident insurance and…

  • Thailand Election NewsDemocrats cancel meeting to decide if they will join coalition

    Democrats cancel meeting to decide if they will join coalition

    The posturing between Democrats and Palang Pracharat continues as a call for key ministerial positions by the Democrats is being met with resistance. The Democrats are threatening to pull out of a potential coalition with Palang Pracharat after cancelling a meeting yesterday where members were to decide if they’d join the pro-army alliance. A Democrat source says that there is still…

  • South Thailand NewsVillagers taken in under martial law for questioning over Yala shoot-out, Southern Thailand

    Villagers taken in under martial law for questioning over Yala shoot-out, Southern Thailand

    PHOTO: Charoon Thongnual Security officials have interrogated 18 people living near the site of this week’s clash between soldiers and suspected insurgents in Yala’s Yaha district. “They were brought in for questioning under martial law as authorities intend to go after the unidentified gunmen in Monday’s clash,” a source said yesterday. The Nation reports that the gunfight lasted several hours…

  • Phuket NewsNetizens say the policeman’s drunk. Police chief says he ‘is sick’. VIDEO

    Netizens say the policeman’s drunk. Police chief says he ‘is sick’. VIDEO

    A video clip of a policeman falling off a motorcycle onto the footpath on the roadside has gone viral in Thai social media. Netizens say the Phuket policeman was clearly drunk but the local police chief maintains ‘he was just sick’. The video clip of the policeman shows he was on a motorbike and was losing his balance. The incident…

  • Thai LifeAnti-Junta Thai rappers receive international human rights award

    Anti-Junta Thai rappers receive international human rights award

    …but don’t expect to be getting a letter of congratulations from the Thai PM. The anti Junta rapper group ‘Rap Against Dictatorship’ has won the 2019 Vaclav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent, awarded by the New York-based Human Rights Foundation, the band has announced on its website. Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent is an award established in 2012 by…

  • Thailand Election NewsDemocrats and Bhumjaithai offered deputy PM and cabinet positions

    Democrats and Bhumjaithai offered deputy PM and cabinet positions

    PHOTO: Apichit Jinakul Close, but not quite. Palang Pracharath Party paid a visit to Democrat party leaders yesterday with presents of cabinet portfolios that they are offering the Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties if they were to join the pro-Army coalition. The Bhumjaithai Party says they’ve already pledged allegiance to Palang Pracharat, but with four key caveats. Sources say the Palang…

  • Koh Samui NewsStellar fleet line-up on Day 1 of Samui Regatta, Thailand

    Stellar fleet line-up on Day 1 of Samui Regatta, Thailand

    Samui Regatta is a highlight event on the regional regatta circuit that attracts a high calibre fleet of boats and sailors from around Asia to enjoy some top racing off the tropical island, followed by nightly prize-givings on the beach. “Regattas don’t get much better than this” was the consensus at last night’s official opening of the 18th Samui Regatta,…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s hero of the day: Phitsanulok big-biker ‘Tik’

    Thailand’s hero of the day: Phitsanulok big-biker ‘Tik’

    PHOTO: Itthiphon ‘Tik’ Petchphibunpong – Daily News Kudos to Mr Big Bike, as he’s been nicknamed, the hero of the moment, who took matters into hand to help a family needing urgent help and was stuck in traffic in Phitsanulok in northern Thailand. 28 year old ‘Tik’, aka. Itthiphon Petchphibunpong, was riding his bike in heavy traffic when he was…

  • Technology News5G: Welcome to instant internet

    5G: Welcome to instant internet

    5G will change everything. What 2, 3 and 4G have improved on, 5G will revolutionise and open up even more online possibilities. The internet-of-things will become the virtual internet of everything! 5G’s lightning speed will operate in almost real time – so fast it will actually be almost 200 faster than a human’s usual reaction time. But most of us…

  • Tourism NewsThailand to see rise in tourists as fallout continues in the US-China trade spat

    Thailand to see rise in tourists as fallout continues in the US-China trade spat

    Thailand may end up being a beneficiary in the ongoing US-China trade spat as mainland Chinese tourists will decide to travel closer to home or could even find it difficult to gain entry into the US. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is monitoring the situation to see if Beijing blocks Chinese tourists from making trips to the US. The restriction…

  • Northern Thailand NewsMother disappears after abandoning newborn in rubber plantation

    Mother disappears after abandoning newborn in rubber plantation

    FILE PHOTO A mother is on the run after delivering her own baby boy in a hut on a Loei rubber plantation yesterday, just a day before her husband, who was in custody for two years, was to be released. Loei is in far north-east Thailand near the Laos border. The baby, with its umbilical cord still attached, was found…