VERY LATEST NEWS FROM THAILAND in English (8 November 2023) from Fabulous 103fm Pattaya

VERY LATEST NEWS FROM THAILAND in English (8 November 2023) from Fabulous 103fm Pattaya

– New opening hours for bars & clubs clarified following ‘mistake’
K Anutin, Thailand’s Interior Minister, faced the press yesterday and in an open and frank statement told us that he had made a mistake. Having previously gone on record to state that alcohol would remain on sale ONLY until 2AM in entertainment zones approved for new later hours, he confirmed that drink WOULD be available for sale through to 4AM. No cover up for sure as he went on to say that in his previous statement he had been covering several subjects at the same time, resulting in his confusion BUT that OBVIOUSLY, his words, any business allowed to remain open would be able to sell drinks too as otherwise the extensions would not make sense. The new extended opening hours are officially approved from a date, yet to be set, close to new year, and apply to 4 regions, Pattaya/Chonburi, Bangkok, Chiang mai and Phuket, but ONLY to those areas zoned as entertainment zones. Essentially, this restricts the extended hours to the Walking St area in Pattaya, 3 zones in the capital and one or two on Phuket and in Chiang Mai. The extensions are limited to a three month trial period, covering the high season and will be reviewed by the cabinet at a later date BUT do not go into effect until published by the state.

– Move Forward MP under threat amid harassment claims
As the Move forward party reviewed three cases of inappropriate behaviour toward females, initially the committee vote count didn’t reach the number needed for one Bangkok MP to be expelled. That changed yesterday as, despite a gagging order on him forbidding the revealing of his alleged victims name, it appears he did so anyway. Doing so in a roundabout way didn’t get him off the hook. He now has 30 days to find a party willing to adopt him as a member else his seat will go up for election locally. It’s unlikely that any worthwhile party would welcome him and so, unless he starts his own party.. he is likely out of parliament.

– Three arrested for selling data of over 15 million Thais
Cybercrime police teams have arrested 3 people suspected of dealing in the sale of the personal details of some 15 MILLION individuals within Thailand. Monday’s announcement came as we were told that a software engineer on Phuket had flogged off 2 MILLION personal files to what is expected to have been essentially boiler room operations. An insurance company employee is charged with selling his employers database information, and a 24 year old is charged with offering the personal details of millions to anyone willing to pay, via a facebook advertisement and page. This as their employers were scrambling to update their data security systems that had obviously failed.

– Thai Army denies forcing Burmese to return to conflict zone
Despite online reports to the contrary, the governor of Mae hong son province AND local military have denied reports that authorities have been busy FORCING Burmese who fled here due to the conflict in their own country, to return home. With the local task forces reporting that those returning were doing so of their own accord, it was made clear that thousands actually wanted to get home as soon as troubles there died down. Currently, Thailand hosts over 4000 burmese refugees in various purpose built camps that offer protection and provisions.

– Thai Car wash or Thai Cow wash?
CCTV is used by multiple businesses nationally to guard their premises and for self service operators to keep an eye on what’s what. So imagine, if you will, the surprise of one car wash operator in the South of Thailand, who spotted a customer shampooing and rinsing.. his cows. Social media yesterday was awash with the bubbling clip that showed the animal enjoying a wash and set.. you can’t make it up.

– Intoxicated Russian falls from Pattaya apartment window
A drunken Russian was being questioned yesterday after sobering up from a night of booze that led to him falling from an apartment, but just a few floors, landing on a tin roof below. The 37 year old had to be rescued with a hoist from his landing spot after medics established that he did NOT have life threatening injuries. No word on the state of the roof.

– Rival Pattaya taxi groups clash outside police station
A falling out between licenced motorbike taxis and private hire competitors turned into a fight this week, but was quickly stopped by authorities as it all kicked off outside the Pattaya City police station. This as the disputes with private hire drivers continues to escalate with registered taxi operators claiming that they are losing their incomes as many illegally tout in the streets for rides. Grab, bolt and the like, are normally allowed to operate with booked rides but are not licenced and cannot tout for business in the streets. The problems become more complex with the private operators claiming to be only waiting for their customers.. but attract unwanted attention.

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