THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Saturday 15 February 2025

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Thailand Ranked 106th in English Proficiency Out of 116 Countries

 

Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Thailand's struggle with English proficiency has been highlighted in a global ranking, placing the nation 106th out of 116 countries, according to the EF English Proficiency Index released recently. This result underscores a significant challenge, positioning Thailand in the "very low proficiency" category.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1351753-thailand-ranked-106th-in-english-proficiency-out-of-116-countries/

 

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Thailand May Ease Overseas Income Tax Rules Amid Global Changes
 

Photo courtesy of Expatica

 

In a move that could significantly impact expatriates and Thai nationals alike, Thailand's government is contemplating adjustments to the taxation of overseas income. 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1351759-thailand-may-ease-overseas-income-tax-rules-amid-global-changes/

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Don't Drink and Drive: Police Crack Down on DUI Near Bars

 

Photo courtesy of KhaoSod

 

To curb road accidents, police have launched a campaign called "Breath Before You Drive, Get Home Safely," targeting intoxicated drivers near entertainment venues. Last night, law enforcement, led by Deputy Commissioner Police Major General Thawat Wongsanga and Traffic Police Major General Damrongsak Sawang-ngam, collaborated with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, the Don’t Drive Drunk Foundation, and Bangkok police at a checkpoint outside Onyx RCA, a popular entertainment spot.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1351799-dont-drink-and-drive-police-crack-down-on-dui-near-bars/

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Thai Monk Resigns Due to Scandalous Selfie Controversy

 

Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

A monk in Thailand has stepped down after a scandalous selfie with a woman came to light, shaking the religious community. The monk from Khon Kaen province has been asked to renounce his monkhood within a week after the photo's credibility was verified.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1351788-thai-monk-resigns-due-to-scandalous-selfie-controversy/

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Airport Smoking Room Debate: Health Minister Holds Off on Decision

 

PIcture courtesy: The Thaiger

 

Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) is pushing for the reinstallation of smoking rooms within international terminals, yet this proposal has hit a pause as Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin takes a cautious approach. His recent remarks suggest a thorough review is necessary before any definitive decision is made.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1351822-airport-smoking-room-debate-health-minister-holds-off-on-decision/

 

[Georgealbert]

Promising Student Dies in Collision with Cement Truck

A bright young vocational student lost his life in a motorcycle crash after colliding with a cement truck in Amphawa district, Samut Songkhram. The student, Ananda Khiewkalae, 20, was riding his motorbike to check on coursework before the term break when the fatal collision occurred.
 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351821-promising-student-dies-in-collision-with-cement-truck/

 

[Georgealbert]

Elderly Woman Falls to Her Death While Picking Mangoes

An elderly woman tragically fell to her death while attempting to pick mangoes from a tree outside her home in Amphawa, Samut Songkhram province. The 68-year-old, identified as Mrs. Somsri (surname withheld), had climbed a bamboo ladder to reach the fruit when she lost her footing and fell approximately three metres, suffering fatal head injuries.
 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351823-elderly-woman-falls-to-her-death-while-picking-mangoes/

 

[Georgealbert]

Bangkok Police Raid Illegal Poker Game at Chinese Restaurant: 13 Arrested
 

Bangkok Metropolitan Police have arrested 13 individuals, including 12 foreign nationals, following a raid on an illegal poker game at a high-end Chinese restaurant in the Yan Nawa district.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351825-bangkok-police-raid-illegal-poker-game-at-chinese-restaurant-13-arrested/

 

[Georgealbert]

Road Roller Overturns, Crushing 63-Year-Old Driver to Death in Chiang Rai
 

An incident occurred on the morning of 14 February, in Phaya Mengrai District, Chiang Rai, when a 63-year-old man operating a road roller lost control of the vehicle, causing it to overturn and fatally crush him.
 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351826-road-roller-overturns-crushing-63-year-old-driver-to-death-in-chiang-rai/

 

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Anutin Defends Family-Owned Golf Club Amid Land Encroachment Inquiry

 

 

Anutin Charnvirakul. Picture courtesy:Thai Rath

 

Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has swiftly responded to allegations concerning potential land encroachment by a golf course owned by his family. Located in the scenic Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima, the Rancho Charnvee Resort & Country Club faces scrutiny from Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives over its land title claims.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1351827-anutin-defends-family-owned-golf-club-amid-land-encroachment-inquiry/

 

[Georgealbert]

Chinese Fraud Gang Arrested After Scamming Thai Elderly Woman of Gold and Cash

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A gang of Chinese fraudsters has been arrested in Yala after deceiving an elderly Thai woman into handing over a substantial amount of gold and cash in an elaborate scam.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351828-chinese-fraud-gang-arrested-after-scamming-thai-elderly-woman-of-gold-and-cash/

 

[Georgealbert]

Fire Destroys Three Homes in Pattaya, Families Left With Nothing

A fire swept through a residential area in Pattaya, Chonburi, on the afternoon of 14 February, reducing three homes to ashes and leaving families homeless. The fire, which is believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, broke out in a densely populated community behind the Pattaya Housing Estate on Thepprasit Soi 5, Pattaya.
 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351829-fire-destroys-three-homes-in-pattaya-families-left-with-nothing/

 

[webfact]

French Motorcyclist Arrested for Daring Kamala Stunt

 

Picture courtesy: The Phuket Express

 

A French motorcyclist was recently apprehended after a viral video showed him performing a dangerous “superman” stunt—lying face down on his bike while riding through traffic. This reckless display caught the attention of local authorities who acted swiftly to arrest the man for endangering road users.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1351830-french-motorcyclist-arrested-for-daring-kamala-stunt/

 

[Georgealbert]

Motorcycle Bomb Explodes Outside Security Post, Injuring Seven

A motorcycle bomb exploded outside a paramilitary ranger post in Waeng district, Narathiwat province, injuring seven people, including security personnel and local residents. The blast caused significant damage to the building’s structure and several parked motorcycles.
 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351831-motorcycle-bomb-explodes-outside-security-post-injuring-seven/

 

[Georgealbert]

Senior Female Army Officer Seriously Injured in Expressway Crash
 

A senior female army officer was seriously injured after reportedly dozing off at the wheel, causing her vehicle to crash into a barrier on the Burapha Withi Expressway. The impact caused her car to flip, ejecting her onto the road.
 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351832-senior-female-army-officer-seriously-injured-in-expressway-crash/

 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Man, 32, Arrested for Fatal Shooting at Petrol Station After Hiding in Krabi

 

A 32-year-old man wanted for the fatal shooting of a truck driver at a petrol station in Surat Thani has been arrested after fleeing to Krabi.
 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351833-man-32-arrested-for-fatal-shooting-at-petrol-station-after-hiding-in-krabi/

 

[Georgealbert]

Irish, Brazilian, Israeli Musicians Arrested in Pai for Working Without Permits

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.
 

Authorities have arrested four foreign musicians for performing without work permits at a restaurant in Pai, in Mae Hong Son province. The arrests come amid increasing concerns from local residents about the impact of foreign visitors on their community.
 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1351834-irish-brazilian-israeli-musicians-arrested-in-pai-for-working-without-permits/

 

[Georgealbert]

Market Vendor Stabbed After Dispute Over Stall Placement

Picture courtesy of Matichon.
 

A shocking act of violence erupted in Si Khiu district of Nakhon Ratchasima, on the night of 13 February, when a poultry vendor, armed with a butcher’s knife, brutally attacked a fellow market trader in front of her daughter. The incident, which occurred outside a well-known shop in the local market, left the 47-year-old woman with severe injuries.
 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351835-market-vendor-stabbed-after-dispute-over-stall-placement/

 

[Georgealbert]

Elderly Man Miraculously Survives After Being Trapped Under Car

 

A 70-year-old man in Uttaradit province has defied the odds by surviving a car crash with only minor scratches after being hit and trapped beneath an overturned vehicle.
 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351836-elderly-man-miraculously-survives-after-being-trapped-under-car/

 

[Georgealbert]

Crane Collapse at Ang Thong School Leaves One Student Injured

Authorities in Ang Thong province are under pressure to implement stricter safety measures following a crane collapse at a school construction site that damaged a classroom while students were inside.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351837-crane-collapse-at-ang-thong-school-leaves-one-student-injured/

 

[Georgealbert]

Massage Shop Raided on Valentine’s Day: Myanmar Women Arrested for Prostitution

 

 

Police from Immigration Division 3 have raided a secret massage parlour in Nonthaburi, arresting Myanmar nationals for illegal sex work. The establishment, disguised as a massage parlour, had a thriving customer base and a hidden online network for illicit activities.
 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351838-massage-shop-raided-on-valentine’s-day-myanmar-women-arrested-for-prostitution/

 

[Georgealbert]

Emergency Services Successfully Rescue Woman from Suicide Attempt in Songkhla

A middle-aged woman was safely rescued after attempting to jump from the Ha Yaek Nam Krachai Bridge in Songkhla province. The swift and coordinated efforts of emergency responders ensured that the woman was saved from harm, leaving local residents relieved.
 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351839-emergency-services-successfully-rescue-woman-from-suicide-attempt-in-songkhla/

 

[Georgealbert]

Valentine’s Day: Man Shoots Wife in the Head Before Taking His Own Life

Valentine’s Day turns horrific  in Buriram province when a man shot his wife in the head before taking his own life. Miraculously, the wife survived the attack.
 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351840-valentine’s-day-man-shoots-wife-in-the-head-before-taking-his-own-life/

 

[Georgealbert]

2 Dead, 2 Seriously Injured in Fatal Collision Between Taxi and Lorry in Nakhon Ratchasima

A devastating road crash early morning on 14 February, claimed the lives of two Cambodian nationals and left two other persons critically injured when a Bangkok-registered taxi collided with a lorry at the Nong Takai intersection, on Chok Chai-Dej Udom Road in Nong Boon Mak District, Nakhon Ratchasima.
 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351841-2-dead-2-seriously-injured-in-fatal-collision-between-taxi-and-lorry-in-nakhon-ratchasima/

 

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Thai Minister Unveils New Strategy to Slash Electricity Costs

 

EErawan gas field // FIle photo

 

In a move to alleviate soaring electricity bills, Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga has introduced a strategy to cut costs by nearly 0.40 baht per kilowatt-hour. This proposal involves optimising the gas usage within the Pool Gas system, crucially reducing expenses related to power generation.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1351842-thai-minister-unveils-new-strategy-to-slash-electricity-costs/

 

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Task Force Launched to Tackle Substandard Product Influx

 

File photo for reference only

 

In a robust move to ensure consumer safety and uphold market standards, Thailand’s Commerce Ministry has initiated a task force dedicated to combating the influx of subpar products nationwide.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1351843-task-force-launched-to-tackle-substandard-product-influx/

 

[webfact]

Thai Scammers Now Claim to Be Victims—But Authorities Aren’t Buying It!

 

AP file photo for reference only

 

In a recent crackdown on international call center scam networks, a peculiar narrative has emerged—many Thai individuals, once complicit in deceiving unsuspecting victims, now claim to be victims themselves. The operation, which targeted scam call centers operating at the Thai-Myanmar border, has revealed a complicated reality.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1351844-thais-in-call-center-scams-shift-from-perpetrators-to-victims/

 

[Georgealbert]

Turkish Tourist Gets a Not-So-Romantic Valentine’s Day Gift in Pattaya

Picture courtesy of SiamChon.

 

A 56-year-old Turkish tourist had an unfortunate end to his Valentine’s Day celebrations after falling victim to theft in his hotel room in South Pattaya.
 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1351845-turkish-tourist-gets-a-not-so-romantic-valentine’s-day-gift-in-pattaya/

 

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Chinese Actor’s Kidnapping Sparks Major Crackdown—10 Gang Members to Be Sent Back!

 

Thai soldiers help foreign nationals brought back to Phop Phra district in Tak province after being freed from call centers in Myawaddy. File photo courtesy: Naewna

 

In a significant law enforcement operation, Thailand is set to extradite 10 Chinese nationals linked to the high-profile abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing back to China.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1351848-thailand-to-extradite-chinese-suspects-in-actors-kidnapping-case/

 

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Major E-cigarette Bust Near Pattaya Police Station

 

Picture courtesy: Daily News

 

Authorities have cracked down on three major illegal e-cigarette vendors near Pattaya Police Station, seizing 900 items of contraband.

 

On 14 February, following complaints about illegal e-cigarette and tax-evaded cigarette sales blatantly occurring just 200 metres from Pattaya Police Station, Bang Lamung district chief, Patcharapach Sritanyanon ordered a crackdown. The operation, led by district officer Nattapop Yomchinda, aimed to put an end to these flagrant violations.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1351849-major-e-cigarette-bust-near-pattaya-police-station/