THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Friday 20 January 2023

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Passenger assistance robots introduced at Bangkok’s main train terminal

 

Passengers using the Krung Thep Aphiwat Train Terminal in Bangkok, formerly the Bang Sue Grand Station, for the first time will be assured of not losing their way in the massive station thanks to new service robots, which will help guide them.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284027-passenger-assistance-robots-introduced-at-bangkok’s-main-train-terminal/

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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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Tu Hao And 40 Others Hit With Several Charges, Face Death Penalty
by TNR Staff 

 

Mr. Chaiyanat Kornchaiyanant, alias Tu Hao, surrendering to police. Photo: Thai Rath

 

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL filed a string of charges against a key Chinese grey capitalist suspect and 40 others.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284040-tu-hao-and-40-others-hit-with-several-charges-face-death-penalty/

 

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PM hails China and Saudi Arabia as friends of Thailand as he unveils the return of Chinese tours 

by James Morris and Son Nguyen

 

General Prayut, attired in colourful Chinese clothes for the Chinese New Year, addressed supporters in Ratchaburi on Thursday as he revealed that Chinese tour groups are to return to Thailand. The prime minister, in a rousing speech, singled out both China and Saudi Arabia as key friends and partners of Thailand in these challenging economic times.

The comments by the prime minister about the closeness of the bond between China and Thailand are reminiscent of his Time magazine interview in 2017.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284041-pm-hails-china-and-saudi-arabia-as-friends-of-thailand-as-he-unveils-the-return-of-chinese-tours/

 

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Call for flexible visas to boost the economy as exports, output and business confidence falters
by Joseph O' Connor

 

The Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), Kriengkrai Thiennukul, warned that business confidence dipped in December 2022. This was the first time in seven months. It comes as the Secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), Danucha Pichayanan, called for more flexible visas to make it more attractive and easier for foreign tourists to come and stay in Thailand.

Downturn in exports and manufacturing is filtering into the wider economy while the recovery of the foreign tourism industry is still a slow and ongoing process with one Thai bank, Krungthai, estimating that it will be 2026 before the critical industry for powering the economy returns to 2019 levels.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284042-call-for-flexible-visas-to-boost-the-economy-as-exports-output-and-business-confidence-falters/

 

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Over 900,000 Foreign Tourists Came To Thailand During Jan. 1-15: TAT
by TNR Staff 

 

A composite picture of tourism in Thailand. Credit: Matichon

 

THE TOURISM Authority of Thailand (TAT) said altogether 913,013 foreign tourists came to the country the first 15 days of 2023 with Russians topping the list followed by Malaysians, South Koreans, Indians and Laotians.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284043-over-900000-foreign-tourists-came-to-thailand-during-jan-1-15-tat/

 

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Woman Senator Lashes At Prayut For Doing Nothing To Combat Corruption
By Thai Newsroom Reporters

 

Senator Pornthip Rojanasunand, left, and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, right. Photo: Matichon

 

SENATOR PORNTHIP Rojanasunand has today (Jan.19) taken Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to task for allegedly doing nothing to combat corruption among government personnel.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284044-woman-senator-lashes-at-prayut-for-doing-nothing-to-combat-corruption/

 

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UPDATE:

 

Chinese businessman “Tuhao” and 40 others indicted on multiple charges

 

 

Chinese businessman Chaiyanat Kornchayanant, aka “Tuhao”, and 40 other suspects, several of whom are Chinese nationals, were indicted on multiple charges, including drug trafficking and money laundering, at the Bangkok South Criminal Court.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284040-tu-hao-and-40-others-hit-with-several-charges-face-death-penalty/?do=findComment&comment=17851411

 

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Committee Set to Decide on Tourist Entry Fee
by Krajangwit Johjit

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The National Tourism Policy Committee is set to consider a proposal to levy a 300-baht entry fee on foreign tourists on January 24th.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284045-committee-set-to-decide-on-tourist-entry-fee/

 

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Car Carrying Six Migrant Workers Overturns and Catches Fire in Pattaya
By Tanakorn Panyadee

 

PHOTO: TMN Cable TV Pattaya

Pattaya — A sedan carrying six Burmese workers overturned and burst into flames yesterday, January 18th.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284046-car-carrying-six-migrant-workers-overturns-and-catches-fire-in-pattaya/

 

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Fourteen People Arrested in Phuket Gambling Raid at Nightclub in Phuket Old Town
By Goongnang Suksawat

 

 

Phuket – Fourteen people were arrested at a gambling den in a nightclub in Phuket Old Town.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284047-fourteen-people-arrested-in-phuket-gambling-raid-at-nightclub-in-phuket-old-town/

 

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Rider Dies After Motorbike Collision in Rassada
By Goongnang Suksawat

 

 

Rassada – A rider has been pronounced dead at the scene after two motorbikes collided in Rassada.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284048-rider-dies-after-motorbike-collision-in-rassada/

 

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Thailand’s tuk-tuks go green amid rising demand for electric models
Travel without the combustion-engine fumes and noise is increasingly popular in the country with some of the world’s worst air pollution

 

Rebecca Root in Bangkok

 

Electric tuk-tuks in Bangkok. Their number in Thailand nearly doubled to 498 last year. Photograph: Setthasiri Chanjarhatpong/MuvMi

Thailand’s iconic, gas-guzzling tuk-tuks are being replaced by a greener, more energy efficient model, offering travellers a more environmentally friendly way of getting around what is one of the world’s worst countries when it comes to air pollution.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284055-thailand’s-tuk-tuks-go-green-amid-rising-demand-for-electric-models/

 

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NATIONAL NEWS from Surf 102.5 FM - Friday January 20 2023
 

 

Listen to the news: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284057-national-news-from-surf-1025-fm-friday-january-20-2023/

 

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Math teacher who slapped student transferred pending investigation - video clip angers parents

 

Daily News Thai Caption: Teacher who slapped student transferred

 

Daily News followed up after a video clip secretly filmed by a student in a Math class at a school in Samut Prakan, central Thailand, showed a teacher slapping a student hard in the head.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284063-math-teacher-who-slapped-student-transferred-pending-investigation-video-clip-angers-parents/

 

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Bank, staff and daughter ordered to return 200 MB to grandmother - a wake up call to banks not to trust their staff, says lawyer

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath reported that the civil case brought by an old lady called Huay Sriwirat was settled at the Phrakhanong court yesterday.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284066-bank-staff-and-daughter-ordered-to-return-200-mb-to-grandmother-a-wake-up-call-to-banks-not-to-trust-their-staff-says-lawyer/

 

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Infant boy aged 1-2 months tossed out by "drug addict parents" - woman heard cries from roadside trash can

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Police in Ao Luek, Krabi, southern Thailand were called after a lady at the Klong Suk housing estate found an infant tossed in a roadside trash can.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284067-infant-boy-aged-1-2-months-tossed-out-by-drug-addict-parents-woman-heard-cries-from-roadside-trash-can/

 

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Chinese illegal businesses, crackdown on Thai nominees in companies : Tim Newton Today - Jan 20

 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284069-chinese-illegal-businesses-crackdown-on-thai-nominees-in-companies-tim-newton-today-jan-20/

 

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UPDATE:

 

41 suspects, including alleged Chinese crime boss, indicted on multiple charges

By Peter Roche

 

A Chinese national accused of being the leader of various Chinese triads operating in Thailand has been indicted on multiple charges. Chaiyanat Kornchayanant is one of 41 people indicted on charges that include drug trafficking and money laundering. Several of his fellow suspects are also Chinese nationals, according to a Thai PBS World report.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284040-tu-hao-and-40-others-hit-with-several-charges-face-death-penalty/?do=findComment&comment=17852046

 

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"Pit Bulls would have killed me if I was alone" says grandmother seriously hurt after attack in NE

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

The 76 year old grandmother who was attacked by Pit Bull dogs that got out of a house in Nakhon Phanom's Nong Yat community has spoken to the press from her hospital bed.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284071-pit-bulls-would-have-killed-me-if-i-was-alone-says-grandmother-seriously-hurt-after-attack-in-ne/

 

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Rayong market trader killed after driving pick-up into back of 18 wheel truck

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai media reported that Ban Khai police and rescue services in Rayong on Thailand's eastern seaboard responded after a Mitsubishi pick-up slammed into the back of a truck carrying steel.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284072-rayong-market-trader-killed-after-driving-pick-up-into-back-of-18-wheel-truck/

 

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One year old girl attacked by stepfather - she had dislocated arm and leg

 

Picture: INN

 

INN reported that Ruam Katanyu rescue services and Lam Hin police in Nong Chok, south eastern Bangkok, were called after a one year old girl was attacked by her stepfather.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284074-one-year-old-girl-attacked-by-stepfather-she-had-dislocated-arm-and-leg/

 

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Govt. assures sufficient fruit and veg for Chinese New Year’s celebrations
 

 

There are sufficient fruit and vegetables in Bangkok’s markets to meet the demands of Thai-Chinese residents during the Chinese New Year celebrations next week, according to Udom Srisongkram, deputy director-general of the Internal Department.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284075-govt-assures-sufficient-fruit-and-veg-for-chinese-new-year’s-celebrations/

 

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Wife of Ponzi Scheme Suspect Could Face Charge of Sheltering Him

 

 

BANGKOK, Jan 20 (TNA) – Officials of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) filed a complaint with the police against a Thai-Italian model Sarah Casinghini for illegally sheltering a suspect in the Forex-3D online Ponzi scheme, Daryl Cai Younghui, who is her husband.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284076-wife-of-ponzi-scheme-suspect-could-face-charge-of-sheltering-him/

 

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Bail denied in case of brandname bag fraud case against "Grandma Pecky"

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Siam Rath reported on the latest developments in an online fraud case involving an older woman called Sirilak or Pecky.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284077-bail-denied-in-case-of-brandname-bag-fraud-case-against-grandma-pecky/

 

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Thai police get result after passenger turns pale and shakes on tour bus - 148,000 yaba in the hold

 

Daily News Thai Caption: Suspicious behaviour...no escape

 

Daily News reported that Muang Chiang Rai police became suspicious of a passenger in Seat 3 of a tour bus heading for Nakhon Sawan.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284078-thai-police-get-result-after-passenger-turns-pale-and-shakes-on-tour-bus-148000-yaba-in-the-hold/

 

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Phuket ready to welcome Chinese tourists, with more direct flights expected

By Peter Roche

 

PHOTO: Chinese visitors arrive in Thailand

The first direct flights from mainland China touched down in Phuket on Wednesday, with more direct services expected to be introduced soon. China finally opened its borders on January 8, lifting nearly 3 years of some of the world’s toughest travel restrictions.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284079-phuket-ready-to-welcome-chinese-tourists-with-more-direct-flights-expected/

 

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Thailand’s Space Age in the Making
The country is committing significant amounts of resources toward becoming the space hub of Southeast Asia. Is it worth it?

By Tita Sanglee

 

Credit: Depositphotos

2023 is going to be a year marked by increased competition between states, big and small alike, to advance “territorial claims” in outer space.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284083-thailand’s-space-age-in-the-making/

 

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Russian Woman Injured After Colliding Her Motorbike With a Car in Kamala
By Goongnang Suksawat

 

 

Kamala – A Russian woman has sustained injuries after her motorbike that she was riding collided with a car in Kamala.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284084-russian-woman-injured-after-colliding-her-motorbike-with-a-car-in-kamala/

 

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Man "back from the dead" after funeral preparations made - locals ask if he has the lottery numbers

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath reported on the case of a NE man in Thailand who remarkably recovered as preparations for his funeral were underway.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284085-man-back-from-the-dead-after-funeral-preparations-made-locals-ask-if-he-has-the-lottery-numbers/