TheNewsGuru

Tag: Thailand

  • Thailand becomes first Southeast Asia to approve same-s3x marriage

    Thailand becomes first Southeast Asia to approve same-s3x marriage

    Thailand has become the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage following a historic parliamentary vote, TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports.

    The Senate upper house pulled a total vote of 130, four against, and 18 abstentions, to amend the marriage law enabling same-sex couples to marry.

    King Maha Vajiralongkorn will receive the bill for royal approval, and it will be effected 120 days after being published in the official Royal Gazette.

    Thailand will join Taiwan and Nepal as the third Asian destination where same-sex couples can tie the knot, with activists eyeing possible wedding ceremonies starting in October.

    “We are very proud of everyone involved in this historic moment. You have helped to bring about a massive change.

    “Today love wins over prejudice,” an LGBTQ activist and member of the committee that scrutinized the law, Plaifah Kyoka Shodladd, told senators after the vote.

    Ahead of the vote, Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat, an MP with the progressive Move Forward Party, stated that the change in the law was “a victory for the people”.

    The recent legislation replaces mentions of “men,” “women,” “husbands,” and “wives” in marriage laws with gender-neutral terminology.

    It also grants same-sex couples equal rights to heterosexual couples regarding adoption and inheritance.

    “My partner has one boy and I want to have legal rights to formally adopt him as my child and to have a say about his well-being. This bill will allow it,” Kevin Pehthai Thanomkhet, 30, told AFP.

    A staunch supporter of the LGBTQ community and the bill,  Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will host celebrations at his official residence, welcoming activists and supporters later on.

    Activists are also planning an evening rally featuring a drag show in central Bangkok, where large shopping malls have been displaying the rainbow flag in support since the beginning of Pride Month in June.

    Thailand has long enjoyed a reputation for its tolerance of the LGBTQ community, and opinion polls reported in local media show overwhelming public support for marriage equality.

    More than 30 countries worldwide have legalized same-sex marriage since the Netherlands celebrated the first union in 2001.

  • 7 killed, 23 injured in school roof collapse

    7 killed, 23 injured in school roof collapse

    Thai Government on Tuesday said seven people were killed and 23 others injured after a school sports arena collapsed in northern Thailand.

    According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), the accident occurred at around 7:00 p.m. local time on Monday when the roof of a primary school sports arena in Phichit province collapsed in a heavy rainstorm.

    Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed condolences to the affected families and instructed relevant agencies to prioritise search efforts for the missing.

    Anucha Burapachaisri, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister and government spokesman, said efforts were being made to assess the extent of the damage and provide prompt assistance to victims.

    The injured individuals were transferred to two local hospitals, the DDPM said on its Facebook page.

    Local media reports indicated that a whirlwind struck the metal roof of the building, resulting in the collapse of the entire structure and trapping students, parents, and school staff under debris.

    Phichit Governor Payon Asavapichayon visited the affected site on Tuesday, where at least 100 local households reported damages due to the storm and further assessments were underway.

    The school and other affected areas have been declared as public disaster zones.

    As the rainy season begins, the Thai Meteorological Department has forecasted heavy and continuous rainfall in most areas of the country.

  • Klopp defends players after Man Utd thrashing in Thailand

    Klopp defends players after Man Utd thrashing in Thailand

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp defended his players after defeat to Manchester United in Bangkok today.

    United won 4-0 thanks to goals from Jadon Sancho, Fred, Anthony Martial, and Facundo Pellistri.

    Klopp said: “Obviously the game came a little bit too early for us, for some of our boys, so I think we agree that we saw a lot of good things in this game, but in the decisive moments we were not clear enough with finishing our situations off. We gave massive chances away, pretty much. Pretty much no-brainers, but United did well in these moments, they finished the situations off.

    “We admit that, but that’s it pretty much. The most important thing now after the game, even when I hate losing, everybody has 30 minutes in their legs now, for some on the third day of training [that’s] really harsh but that’s the life of a professional football player. So now we can work with that and will work with that.”

    He also said: “As I said, we could have scored the equaliser in the last four minutes! But that’s how it is. I know, football is a results game and we do it all for that, but we have to prepare for a full season. We had no chance to prepare for this game, really, so we had to do it like we did it like we did it with three teams, three times 30 minutes and we are now eight days in training with a big group and with all internationals, it is three days.

    “That’s it and from here we go, so of course I would have loved to have shown the people here a few goals. The chances were there, we didn’t use them, and that’s it.”

  • Evacuation criteria: FG broke, says Nigerians stranded abroad must pay N297k each for quarantine

    Troubled by the cost of evacuating its citizens abroad, the federal government has unveiled a new policy that requires Nigerians stranded abroad to offset their two-week quarantine bill as a prerequisite for possible evacuation.
    Before now, the returnees were only required to pay for their flight while the government took care of their two weeks stay in isolation.

    Returnees from United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States and the United Kingdom who are currently kept in Lagos and Abuja hotels are being taken care of by the government. The new guidelines stopped that.

    The new guidelines have been sent to Embassies and High Commissions which have communicated them to Nigerians wishing to return home.

    The government said it imposed the fees “due to measures that are beyond the control of COVID-19 local organizing team.”

    The new directive was revealed in a letter to the evacuees signed by the Head of Chancery, Nigerian Mission in Thailand, Nicholas Uhomoibhi, and dated May 14, 2020.

    There were indications last night that the government could no longer afford the cost of taking care for two weeks, of the estimated 4,000 Nigerians who have indicated interest to return.

    The letter said: “I am directed to bring to your attention due to measures that are beyond the control of COVID-19 local organizing team in Nigeria, all evacuees going to Nigeria henceforth are to now pay for their quarantine, isolation, accommodation centre or hotels before departure and arrival in Nigeria

    “In this regard, all prospective evacuees are to note the negotiated rate below: Accommodation (N15,000 x16 days=N240,000) and Feeding (N3,600 x16 days=N57,600). Total: N297,600 at N18,600 x16 days”

    Kindly be informed that these rates were negotiated in Nigeria and that the Embassy has been instructed not to airlift any evacuee who fails to pay the above fee.”

    A similar letter sent to all Nigerians in the State of Kuwait by the Embassy of Nigeria on May 13, 2020, said the evacuees will pay N297,600 for their quarantine in Nigeria apart from the air fares.

    The letter, titled “Re: Request for evacuation of Nigerian nationals in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.” said in part: “Further to our notice of 5th April 2020 on the above mentioned subject matter, the Embassy wishes to inform that all intending evacuees are to pay for their quarantine/isolation/accommodation/centre/hotels before departure and arrival in Nigeria.

    “The negotiated rate is as follows: Accommodation-N240,000 (N15,000 x16 days); Feeding-N57,6009( N3,600 x 16 days). Total- N297,600 (N18,600 x16 days).

    “All evacuees are to pay the aforementioned amount for their quarantine/isolation/centre/hotels directly to the airline along with their tickets. Evacuees have option to pay in dollars or its equivalent in Naira.

    “It is important to note that evacuees that do not pay for their quarantine/isolation/accommodation/ centre/ hotels will not be allowed to board the flight.”

    For Turkey, the Embassy in Ankara informed them with a May 13 memo to pay N297,600.

  • Thailand reports no new coronavirus cases for first time since March 9

    Thailand reports no new coronavirus cases for first time since March 9

    Thailand, the first country outside China to discover a case of the new coronavirus, on Wednesday reported no new daily cases for the first time in two months.

    Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for the government’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration, said the report made the government to consider easing more restrictions on businesses.

    “We all can be relieved but not complacent.

    “We need to continue with the main measures, wash hands, practice social distancing and wear masks,” Taweesin said.

    Thailand detected its first coronavirus case, a tourist from China on Jan. 13.

    Since then it has recorded a total of 3,017 infections and 56 deaths.

    Taweesin said areas that were still most at risk included Bangkok and surrounding provinces, as well as southern Thailand, where there has been a large number of cases in the past two weeks.

    Fuelling the rise in southern cases has been a cluster at an immigration detention centre in Songkhla province and in provinces bordering Malaysia.

    Thailand’s neighbour to the south has had 6,742 coronavirus cases and 109 deaths.

    The last day Thailand recorded no new cases was March 9, but within two weeks the daily numbers jumped to double digits and then to over 100 a day.

    That sharp escalation prompted the government to order the closure of shopping malls, restaurants, gyms and other businesses and to impose a 10 p.m. curfew.

    Recently, as the numbers of new cases fell, some of those restrictions were lifted, with businesses such as hair salons and pet groomers allowed to open.

    Report says the government is considering reopening shopping malls next week.

    It is, however, expected to meet on Friday to decide on the easing of measures.

  • Gov’t warns against April Fool’s coronavirus jokes

    Gov’t warns against April Fool’s coronavirus jokes

    Thailand’s government issued a warning Tuesday that April Fool’s Day jokes about the novel coronavirus are punishable by a law which carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.

    The government’s Public Relations Department posted an infographic on its Twitter account on Tuesday saying “it’s against the law to fake having Covid-19 this April Fools’ Day.”

    “People around the world are suffering from #Covid19 outbreak, and that’s reason enough why people should be more considerate and not use this as a prank or a joke,” the post’s accompanying text said.

    Thailand’s government had declared a state of emergency that became effective Thursday and will remain in place until at least April 30 as the country tries to halt the spread of the virus.

    One of the measures under the emergency decree states “scaremongers are warned not to spread false news or rumours concerning the Covid-19 pandemic through any media channels,” the Public Relations Department said in another Twitter post on Tuesday.

    It said violators would be prosecuted under computer crime laws which punishes those who input information deemed false into computer systems. It carries penalties of up to five years in prison or an up-to-100,000-baht (3,055-dollar) fine.

    Thailand reported 127 new coronavirus cases and one new death on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 1,651, with 10 deaths.

  • Alleged $322K romance scam: Thai police declare two Nigerians wanted

    Two Nigerians, John Oquejiofor Ugwu and Ugochukwu Geoffrey Ofoma, have been declared wanted in Thailand in connection with an online romance scam the police said they have busted.
    Court arrest warrants have been obtained for the Nigerians now on the run.
    Meanwhile, three Thais working for the Nigerian-led online scam in Udon Thani province have been arrested while fleeing to the South, Bangkok Post reported.
    Officers also seized bank account books and ATM cards in their possession.
    Pol Lt Gen Surachai said the three suspects were members of a romance scam network operated by Nigerians. Police had kept a close watch on the group after it was reported they had swindled money from victims in Udon Thani province.
    According to Bangkok Post, an extended police investigation found the gang had been running the scam for more than a year and had at least 10 million baht(about $322,000) in circulation in their accounts. Many people were believed to have fallen victim to the gang.
    “We are now hunting down the two Nigerian men, who are the leaders of the network. We have learned of their whereabouts in Thailand,’’ Pol Lt Gen Surachai said.
    A transgender woman had earlier filed a complaint with Muang Udon Thani police that she had been duped by a foreign scammer via Instagram into transferring money to him. The scammer used the Instagram name Cheong Xao and claimed to be a Malaysian national working in the US.
    After they had chatted over the internet for over four weeks, Cheong Xao said he would send brand-name goods to her via a courier firm, but she had to first transfer money to cover the tax charges, about 117,000 baht, to a bank account he nominated.
    The victim sent the money, and never heard from the man again, Pol Lt Gen Surachai said.
    “Police tracked the bank account number the victim sent the money to and found out it belonged to Mr Thanate”, one of the Thai suspects, he said.
    “The suspect then implicated Ms Wathinee as a person who withdrew the money, which was later deposited into two bank accounts held by Ms Kotchakorn and Mr Ugochukwu Geoffrey Ofoma.”
    Romance scams appear to be the past time of some Nigerians in Thailand. In the last month, three Nigerians have been arrested in the country for a similar offence.

  • Leicester City squad return from late owner’s funeral

    Leicester City squad return from late owner’s funeral

    Leicester’s squad have arrived back in England after attending the funeral of club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in Bangkok, Sky Sports report.

    Srivaddhanaprabha, 60, was among five people killed when his helicopter crashed moments after taking off from the King Power Stadium following the match against West Ham on October 27.

    The chairman was a hugely popular figure at the club and a large Leicester delegation including players and coaching staff travelled to Thailand for his funeral, which began on Saturday.

    In total, 18 players attended part of the week-long ceremony at Wat Thepsirin temple, including Kasper Schmeichel, who witnessed the crashed outside the King Power Stadium.

    Manager Claude Puel was also in attendance, along with director of football Jon Rudkin, chief executive Susan Whelan, and other Leicester directors.

    The delegation arrived back in England on Tuesday morning.

    Leicester next face Burnley on Saturday in their first match at the King Power Stadium since the crash.

  • Leicester City players to attend club owner’s funeral in Thailand

    Leicester City players to attend club owner’s funeral in Thailand

    Striker Jamie Vardy and his Leicester City team mates will travel to Thailand for the funeral of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha after Saturday’s English Premier League match against Cardiff City.

    The 60-year-old billionaire died last Saturday with four others when his helicopter crashed next to Leicester’s King Power Stadium.

    The funeral, likely to last a week, starts on Saturday in Bangkok.

    Former England international Vardy said on Friday that he and the other players had to be there.

    “That’s how we are — we are a close-knit group. We are one big family and one of the main reasons for that is Vichai,” he said. “For us to be there is massively important.”

    Vichai bought Leicester in 2010 and the team went on to stun the football world by winning the English Premier League title against the odds in 2016.

    Vardy said the last week had been the hardest of his life but the players, who will travel by road to Cardiff, were keen to play on Saturday.

    “We all spoke about wanting to play,” said Vardy. “It’s what Vichai would have wanted and that’s we are going to do.

    “We know what we have to do and we need to go out and honour his name and put in a performance which will hopefully get the win.

    “It is going to be tough and it will be very emotional, but we’ve all chatted about it. People are saying the result doesn’t matter, but for us lads we want to make it a positive result.”

    Leicester City are 12th in the table on 13 points, while promoted Cardiff City are 17th with five points from 10 games.

    Cardiff City fans are planning to unveil a giant flag with the Thai emblem at the match.

    FReuters/NAN

  • Court sentences ex-Thai Buddhist monk to 114 years in prison for fraud, money laundering

    Court sentences ex-Thai Buddhist monk to 114 years in prison for fraud, money laundering

    A criminal court in Bangkok on Thursday sentenced a former Thai Buddhist
    monk who provoked outrage with his lavish lifestyle to 114 years in prison for fraud, money laundering
    and computer crimes.

    Wirapol Sukphol, who was seen in a YouTube video in 2013 holding wads of cash on a private jet, returned to
    Thailand in July 2017 after being extradited from the U.S. where he had fled.

    Wirapol, formerly known by his monastic name Luang Pu Nenkham, was expelled from the monkhood in 2013 after
    the video surfaced.

    He was accused of having sexual intercourse – a grave offense for monks – with an underage girl, among
    other charges.

    He later fled to the U.S.

    Wirapol, though, he will only serve 20 years because Thai law stipulates that is the maximum for someone
    found guilty of multiple counts of the same offense.

    “He committed fraud by claiming to have special power to lure in people and he also bought many luxury
    cars which is considered a money-laundering offense,” an official at the Department of Special Litigation
    told Reuters.

    The official declined to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media.

    “The court found him guilty of multiple offences which resulted in a 114-year jail term when combined,
    which means he will actually serve 20 years in jail,” he said.

    Neither Wirapol nor his lawyer were available for comment.

    Wirapol faces separate charges of child molestation and child abduction. A verdict in that case is
    expected in October.

    Wirapol’s high-profile case highlighted a series of sex and money scandals that have rocked Thailand’s
    Buddhist clergy in recent years, resulting in calls for reforms of religious institutions.

    The military government that came to power after a 2014 coup has stepped up efforts to clean up Buddhism
    by arresting monks involved in corruption scandals.

    The military also introduced a bill that reduces the influence of Buddhism’s Sangha Supreme Council,
    the governing body of Buddhist monks.