THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Thursday 19 January 2023

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Cannabis Bill second reading House meeting collapses again on Wednesday

 

A Palang Pracharath Party MP said Wednesday that there is no chance that the Cannabis Bill will ever pass its second reading in the House, because of stiff opposition to it from the Democrat, Pheu Thai and Move Forward parties.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283917-cannabis-bill-second-reading-house-meeting-collapses-again-on-wednesday/

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Beware, Thai police checkpoint on-the-spot fines jumped to 1000 baht

 

Police checking motorbike links at checkpoint

 

Phuket-GO have received several messages in recent days about the number of  foreigners being targeted by police for fines, usually in late morning checkpoints on busy west coast roads. And the fine appears to have increased too.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283885-beware-thai-police-checkpoint-on-the-spot-fines-jumped-to-1000-baht/

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Zero-dollar tourism not a concern for tourism sector in Phuket

 

 

Tourism businesses in Phuket are not worried about the return of zero-dollar cheap package tours, historically popular among Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, but are more concerned about the expensive air fares and limited direct flights available between Phuket and China’s cities.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283887-zero-dollar-tourism-not-a-concern-for-tourism-sector-in-phuket/

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Justice is meted out for ‘pretty’ woman who died in 2019 after a plot to get her drunk went wrong
by Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor

 

(Left) 27-year-old male model Rachadech Wongtabutr has a sentence of eight years confirmed as the court orders him taken into custody while three others including the host of an ill-fated party in Nonthaburi and his girlfriend are sent to prison for five years and four months following the tragic death of ‘pretty’ or hostess Thitma Noraphanpiphat (right), also known as ‘Lunlabelle’ in September 2019.

Male model must now serve eight years in prison while the host of the party in Nonthaburi and his girlfriend must serve 5 years and four months behind bars for the death of ‘Lunlabelle’ in September 2019.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283933-justice-is-meted-out-for-‘pretty’-woman-who-died-in-2019-after-a-plot-to-get-her-drunk-went-wrong/

 

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Robert Beijer, Suspect in Infamous Belgium Brabant Killers Case, Arrested in Pattaya for Alleged Visa Issues
By Adam Judd

 

 

Pattaya, Thailand-Robert Beijer, 70, a suspect in an infamous cold case in Belgium known as the Brabant Killers or the Gang of Nivelles, was arrested in Pattaya this week for alleged legal visa issues allowing him to stay in Thailand.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283934-robert-beijer-suspect-in-infamous-belgium-brabant-killers-case-arrested-in-pattaya-for-alleged-visa-issues/

 

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Reward of 100,000 Baht Offered For Missing Cat in Phuket
By Goongnang Suksawat

 

Phuket – A Chinese expat has offered a 100,000 baht reward for anyone who can find her missing cat, a white Persian cat.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283935-reward-of-100000-baht-offered-for-missing-cat-in-phuket/

 

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UPDATE:

 

House Meeting Only Spends 25 Minutes Due To Usual Lack Of Quorum
By Thai Newsroom Reporters

 

A meeting of the House of Representatives at parliament. Photo: NNT

 

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES yesterday (Jan.18) spent a record short period of time for a regular meeting due to the usual lack of a quorum.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283917-cannabis-bill-second-reading-house-meeting-collapses-again-on-wednesday/?do=findComment&comment=17849230

 

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UPDATE:

 

Eight bodies found after oil tank fire, search continues for one missing man

 

 

Rescue teams recovered five out of six bodies found on Wednesday in the Mae Klong River, bringing the confirmed death toll in the oil tanker fire and explosion to eight. One is still missing.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283758-oil-tanker-catches-fire-in-samut-songkhram-dockyard-four-injured/?do=findComment&comment=17849234

 

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Phuket Welcomes First Direct Chinese Flight of Tourists in Almost Three Years
By Goongnang Suksawat

 

Phuket-In total 182 Chinese tourists arrived at the Phuket International Airport on Wednesday (January 18th), 2023.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283936-phuket-welcomes-first-direct-chinese-flight-of-tourists-in-almost-three-years/

 

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NATIONAL NEWS from Surf 102.5 FM - Thursday January 19 2023

 

Listen to the news: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283949-national-news-from-surf-1025-fm-thursday-january-19-2023/

 

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Thai Cannabis Bill sinks again, current arrival restrictions : Tim Newton Today - Jan 19
 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283952-thai-cannabis-bill-sinks-again-current-arrival-restrictions-tim-newton-today-jan-19/

 

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10M baht theft from locker at Bangkok mall fitness center - man arrested who had key copied

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath reported that the thief who stole 10 million baht's worth of items from a locker at Fitness First in The Mall, Ngam Wong Wan, Bangkok, was arrested yesterday.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283955-10m-baht-theft-from-locker-at-bangkok-mall-fitness-center-man-arrested-who-had-key-copied/

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Bangkok teen ends up like this on the Bangkok expressway after "lap nai" - a microsleep

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath published several pictures of what happened to a 19 year old youth who fell asleep at the wheel and hit a roadside wall on the expressway in Bangkok.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283957-bangkok-teen-ends-up-like-this-on-the-bangkok-expressway-after-lap-nai-a-microsleep/

 

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Tourism fee back on the table, to be decided next week

By Peter Roche

 

Thailand tourism Pre-pandemic tourism in Phuket. Flickr/Werner Bayer

Officials will meet next week to once more discuss a possible “tourism arrival fee”, whose introduction has been repeatedly postponed since being proposed at the start of last year.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283958-tourism-fee-back-on-the-table-to-be-decided-next-week/

 

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Opposition parties call for an end to mandatory conscription

By Erich Parpart

 

Pheu Thai and Move Forward said they want to reform the military, including the lifting of conscription, should they come into power after the next election.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283959-opposition-parties-call-for-an-end-to-mandatory-conscription/

 

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Millions view Thai English teacher's tweet after boasting about line jumping at Los Angeles airport immigration in US

 

Daily News Thai Caption: Sorry for the misunderstanding

 

More than 1.7 million people viewed a tweet that was subsequently taken off Twitter by a well known Thai English tutor called "Khru Phee Ann".

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283961-millions-view-thai-english-teachers-tweet-after-boasting-about-line-jumping-at-los-angeles-airport-immigration-in-us/

 

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Thai tourism industry desperate for staff - Labour ministry arranges students to make High Season shortfall

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath reported that representatives from the Thai tourism and service industries had appealed for help at the Labour Ministry.

 

Full story:  https://aseannow.com/topic/1283964-thai-tourism-industry-desperate-for-staff-labour-ministry-arranges-students-to-make-high-season-shortfall/

 

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Six men arrested on extortion charges in Samut Prakan

 

 

Six men, including three claiming to be Excise Department officials, were arrested by police for allegedly extorting money from a Chinese shop-owner in Mueang district of Samut Prakan province yesterday (Wednesday).

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283965-six-men-arrested-on-extortion-charges-in-samut-prakan/

 

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Dogs attack yet again: Neighbor's four Pit Bulls savage gran, 76

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Siam Rath reported that a 76 year old grandmother called Thongphoon in Nong Yat sub-district was savaged by four Pit Bull dogs.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283969-dogs-attack-yet-again-neighbors-four-pit-bulls-savage-gran-76/

 

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Miss Tourism hopefuls put though their First Aid paces as contest reaches final round today

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath reported from the Hua Hin Grand Hotel and Plaza yesterday where the 13 finalists of the Miss Tourism Prachuap Khiri Khan took part in a first aid course.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283972-miss-tourism-hopefuls-put-though-their-first-aid-paces-as-contest-reaches-final-round-today/

 

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First group of 197 Chinese tourists arrive in Chiang Mai on direct flight from Shanghai

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath reported that Chinese tourists arriving in Chiang Mai from Shanghai were feted at the airport.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283973-first-group-of-197-chinese-tourists-arrive-in-chiang-mai-on-direct-flight-from-shanghai/

 

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NT to Lead Effort in Underground Cable Installation in Bangkok
by Krajangwit Johjit

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), and National Telecom (NT) have agreed to leverage NT’s underground cable conduits to support government efforts to move telecom cables underground and beautify the capital’s landscape.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283975-nt-to-lead-effort-in-underground-cable-installation-in-bangkok/

 

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19,000 dead and a million injured: Anti DUI chief calls on Thais to mark "Dr Kratai's" death with light show

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Siam Rath reported that it will have been a full year on Saturday since the death of Thai opthalmologist Dr Kratai on a Bangkok zebra crossing.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283977-19000-dead-and-a-million-injured-anti-dui-chief-calls-on-thais-to-mark-dr-kratais-death-with-light-show/

 

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Muderers of money lender in Lopburi to face death penalty

 

Daily News Thai Caption: Death sentence!

 

Daily News followed up on a gruesome murder of a money lender in Lopburi, central Thailand late Monday night.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283981-muderers-of-money-lender-in-lopburi-to-face-death-penalty/

 

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"I'm not mean" says forthright Som Tam lady after sign barring hawkers angers netizens

 

Picture: Sanook

 

A Som Tam seller in Muang Rayong has hit back after netizens called her mean.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1283983-im-not-mean-says-forthright-som-tam-lady-after-sign-barring-hawkers-angers-netizens/

 

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Sick wild elephant being treated in Chachoengsao

 

 

Wildlife officials and veterinarians used a tranquiliser shot to sedate a sick wild elephant before they could treat the animal in a forest in the Tha Takiap district of Chachoengsao Province on Wednesday.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284003-sick-wild-elephant-being-treated-in-chachoengsao/

 

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Bangkok Film Festival to Kick Off This Week

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Bangkok Film Festival 2023 is set to take place at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center on Rama I Road in Pathumwan district from January 20 to 22. The festival, which is part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) "Colorful Bangkok" campaign, aims to promote the city as a creative destination.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284006-bangkok-film-festival-to-kick-off-this-week/

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Man Crossing Road in the Dark Hit and Killed in Pattaya

 

 

A pedestrian was hit and killed by a car when he tried to cross a poorly lit road in Pattaya on Wednesday, January 18th.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284007-man-crossing-road-in-the-dark-hit-and-killed-in-pattaya/

 

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Workers in Pattaya Receive Covid-19 Booster Doses

 

 

400 doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered to workers in many businesses in Pattaya.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284008-workers-in-pattaya-receive-covid-19-booster-doses/

 

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Thai Excise Officials Arrested for Allegedly Abducting Phone Shop Worker for Ransom

 

PHOTO: Sanook

 

Thai Police arrested two excise officials and another suspect for allegedly kidnapping a worker from a Chinese-run phone shop in Samut Prakan on Wednesday, January 18th. The suspects allegedly demanded a ransom of 300,000 baht in exchange for the worker’s freedom.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284009-thai-excise-officials-arrested-for-allegedly-abducting-phone-shop-worker-for-ransom/