By AFP and published by CNA Diyarbakir, Turkey – The most powerful earthquake in nearly a century struck Turkey and Syria early today (Feb. 6), killing more than 1,800 people in their sleep, levelling buildings and causing tremors felt as far away as Greenland. The 7.8-magnitude nighttime tremor, followed hours later by a slightly
Month: February 2023
Press association pushes for probe of TV channel after employee’s death
THE THAI Journalists Association today (Feb. 6) called for the investigation of a TV channel after an employee died at his desk upon having to work very hard putting in overtime without pay and being deprived of days off, Amarin TV and Matichon newspaper said. The unidentified 40-year-old deceased man, whose death was announced
Read moreJailed activist to refrain from sleeping in support of hunger strikers
A MALE POLITICAL detainee is going to start refraining from sleeping in support of two female activists who are on severe hunger strike to get their demands met, Matichon newspaper said this afternoon (Feb. 6). The Lawyers for Human Rights Centre said Mr. Sophon “Get” Surarittamrong who is facing charges under Criminal Code Section
Read moreThaksin to be put behind bars upon return: Nipit
By Thai Newsroom Reporters FORMER PRIME MINISTER THAKSIN Shinawatra will almost certainly be put behind bars and get under the judicial process if he returns home from self-exile overseas, confirmed former MP Nipit Intarasombat over the weekend. Thaksin, who was deposed in the 2006 coup and has been reportedly residing in Dubai, repeatedly vowed
Read moreParents alerted as hunger strikers’ condition worsen
DOCTORS at Thammasat Hospital called the parents of two young woman activists on a severe hunger strike as well as their lawyer to come over this morning (Feb. 6) as their symptoms have deteriorated, Matichon newspaper said. At 7.52 p.m. Mr. Kritsadang Nutcharat, or Lawyer Dang, from the Lawyers for Human Rights Centre, posted
Read moreNew highly addictive substance mixed in meth pills: ‘Zero baht’ doctor
A DOCTOR who runs a free clinic in Krabi warned today (Feb. 5) that he has come across methamphetamine pills with a new highly-addictive substance mixed in them that leads to immediate addiction, Naewna newspaper said. Dr. Somkiat Kijthamachet, owner of Dr. Somkiat Clinic in Mueang Krabi whose is fondly called “Doctor Jaiboon, Zero
Read moreAt least 50,000 revellers expected to attend tonight’s Full Moon Party
FOREIGN TOURISTS are rushing to catch a ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan to attend the world famous Full Moon Party at the latter’s Haad Rin beach tonight (Feb. 5) with the total number of revellers expected to reach 50,000, Matichon newspaper said. At 11.30 a.m. Lomprayah High Speed Ferries Co. Ltd.’s wharf
Read moreSurakiart now tipped as Pheu Thai’s top contender for PM
By Thai Newsroom Reporters FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER Surakiart Sathirathai will likely be proclaimed at the last minute as the top person among a trio of Pheu Thai partisan candidates for prime minister, said a partisan source today (Feb.4). Surakiart who currently chairs the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council Foundation, used to perform as foreign
Read moreChadchart: Air pollution will improve in the long run
By Matichon and Thai Newsroom Reporters WITH AIR quality having deteriorated in Bangkok and many others parts of the country over the past few days amid a forecast of the impact continuing over the next three days, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said today (Feb. 4) the situation will improve if everyone cooperates. At 5
Read moreAmerican tourists spend more money than Europeans in Thailand: survey
AMERICANS spend an average of 96,269 baht (US$2,887) per person while travelling in Thailand, higher than European visitors, who spend 89.484 ($2,684), a survey shows, said VN Express International newspaper today (Feb. 4). US tourists spend an average of 2,000-3,000 baht on accommodation a night and they always stay in the country up to
Read moreAssistant bank manager nabbed for stealing client’s money
AN assistant manager of an unidentified bank was arrested today (Feb. 4) for stealing 2 million baht from a client’s account last November, INN News said this morning, An Economic Crime Suppression (ECS) police team arrested Mr. Pornchai (surname withheld), 52, from his house on Phutthamonthon Sai 3 Road, Thawi Watthana district, under
Read moreBlinken postpones China trip over ‘spy balloon’ incident
By Reuters and published by CNA Washington – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed a visit to China that had been expected to start on Friday (Feb. 3) after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was tracked flying across the United States in what Washington called a “clear violation” of US sovereignty. The Pentagon
Read moreChina: Balloon over US skies is for research, wind pushed it
By AP and published by Yahoo!News Beijing – China said on Friday (Feb. 3) that a balloon spotted over American airspace was used for weather research and was blown off course, despite US suspicion it was spying. The discovery further strained already tense relations between Beijing and Washington. The Pentagon decided not to shoot down
Read moreRecurring lack of House quorum no excuse for dissolution: Wissanu
By Thai Newsroom Reporters RECURRING LACK OF A HOUSE quorum will not be an excuse for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to dissolve it, said Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam today (Feb.3). Wissanu categorically dismissed speculation that Prayut may be prompted to dissolve the House sooner than later in the face of repeated lack of
Read moreAbused dad kills drug-addicted son
AFTER suffering beatings for years, a Thai man today (Feb. 3) killed his drug-addicted son and then surrendered to police, TV Channel 7 said. At noon Pol. Lt. Col. Thanakorn Angkurawiroj, deputy chief for investigation at Pho Kaeo police station, was informed of a murder at a house in Om Yai subdistrict, Sampran district,
Read moreArtificial rainmaking for the North to alleviate PM2.5 pollution
WITH air pollution in Chiang Mai and the rest of the northern region having deteriorated from mid-January onwards, artificial rainmaking operation is now starting to help reduce the unhealthy air, Matichon newspaper said this afternoon (Feb. 3). Mr. Supit Pitaktham, deputy chief of the Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation Department, said after visiting Chiang
Read more‘I feel my eyes burn’: Thailand says stay indoors as air pollution spikes
By Reuters and published by US News & World Report AIR POLLUTION in Bangkok and neighbouring Thai provinces spiked past safe levels on Thursday (Feb. 2), prompting authorities to urge people to stay indoors and avoid strenuous outdoor activity. The concentration of small and hazardous airborne particles known as PM2.5 in the capital was
Read moreDeputy House Speaker tells Prayut to quickly dissolve House
By Thai Newsroom Reporters IN A RARE REACTION TO recurring lack of a quorum of the House of Representatives, Deputy House Speaker Supachai Bhosu today (Feb.2) bluntly told Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to promptly dissolve it once and for all. Supachai expressed his frustrations over the repeated lack of a House quorum and dutifully
Read morePing pong bomb thrown at Pheu Thai Party’s huge billboard in Don Mueang
A MOTORCYCLIST flung a ping pong bomb at a gigantic billboard put up in front of Pheu Thai Party’s election centre in Don Mueang district this morning (Feb.2) but fortunately there were no casualties, Naewna newspaper said. Mrs. Puangpetch Chunleaw, chairman of the party’s coordinating committee on political affairs in Bangkok, and her team
Read morePrayut urged to clarify private use of F-16 fighter jets
By Thai Newsroom Reporters PRIME MINISTER PRAYUT Chan-o-cha was today (Feb.2) told to clarify a private use of a couple of F-16 fighter jets, allegedly involving former air force chief Napadej Dhupatemiya. Move Forward MP Pijarn Chaowapattanawong called on Prayut in his concurrent capacity of defence minister as well as air force spokesman ACM
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