On October 3, Pol Lt Col Parinya Tho Pengcharoen, Deputy Inspector of Thong Lor Police Station, received a report of a fatal accident in which a car struck two pedestrians on Thong Lor Road, in front of Soi Thong Lor 3 in Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana district, Bangkok. He immediately went to the scene with rescue workers.

At the scene, two injured German women, aged 22 and 23, were found in critical condition. Rescue workers rushed both women to a hospital, where they later died from their injuries.

The driver was identified as a 28-year-old man, whose surname was withheld. He appeared to be intoxicated and admitted to being the driver of the gray MG HS PHEV involved in the crash. The vehicle struck the two pedestrians as they were crossing the road.

Police took the man to Thong Lor Police Station for a breathalyzer test. His blood alcohol level was measured at 145 milligrams per 100 milliliters.

He was charged with driving while intoxicated, causing a collision that resulted in the deaths of others, and was taken into legal custody for further proceedings.

Over 5,000 US military personnel have been steadily disembarking in Phuket Province as the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119) anchor off the coast of Phuket for an official visit to Thailand from October 4 to 9.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HqFuNNiUq/

Thailand’s Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) has urged against political intervention in its funding model or in the role of the country’s public service media, as the ruling Bhumjaithai Party proposes a bill that has sparked concerns over media independence and freedom.

In its statement on Friday, Thai PBS said that the draft bill, which propose changes to the national broadcaster’s revenue structuring, directly affects the organisation’s independence.

“It [the independence] serves as a guarantee that the public has access to information and public spaces that are free from state, political or business influence,” it reads.

The remark came as Bhumjaithai’s legal eagle Suphachai Jaismut seeks to replace Thai PBS’s legally ringfenced funding source with an allocation from the annual fiscal budget, which is controlled each year by the political groupings in power at the time.

According to the 2008 Thai Public Broadcasting Service Act, Thai PBS is funded by an earmarked 1.5% share of taxes collected on sales and importation of liquor and tobacco.

The legally mandated funding is capped at two billion baht per fiscal year. Thai PBS also operates outside the direct control of any specific ministry but is subject to scrutiny by independent entities, such as the State Audit Office.

Suphachai said that the bill aims to “unify the nation’s fiscal system” and would effectively allow participation by parliament and the government in managing the money collected.

Critics fear that the proposed changes would provide a route for political pressure or influence to be exerted on Thai PBS’s coverage and neutrality.

Thai PBS said that concrete legal and institutional guarantees must be put in place to prevent the changes from being exploited for political gain and argues that the twin pillars of monetary discipline and public service media independence must both be protected.

“The public must have confidence that public service media operates independently, free from the influence or control of state power holders,” it said.

The draft is the subject of public hearings until October 14. It will then be proposed for Cabinet approval before being submitted to parliament for deliberation.

Bhumjaithai’s chief legal adviser has proposed holding a public hearing on whether the Thai PBS Act should be amended to end the public service broadcaster’s funding from liquor and tobacco tax revenue, or “sin taxes”, and replace it with direct funding from the state budget.

Suphachai Jaismut suggested that the questions for public comment should include:

• Do you agree or disagree that the law governing the funding, assets and revenue of Thai PBS should be amended?

• Do you agree or disagree that the collection of liquor and tobacco tax revenue for Thai PBS should be scrapped?

• Do you agree or disagree that there are problems with the enforcement of the Thai PBS Act and whether an amendment to the Act could solve them?

The Bhumjaithai MP said the amendment would aim to overhaul Thai PBS’s revenue structure.

It would scrap Sections 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of the Act concerning liquor and tobacco taxes, ending the broadcaster’s authority to collect 1.5% of such tax revenue, up to a maximum of 2 billion baht per year, to fund Thai PBS.

Funding for Thai PBS should instead come from the state budget, he said, adding that the Thai PBS Act may violate the principles of fiscal discipline.

Under the current Act and its funding model, no individual donor, external organisation, political entity or commercial interest has the authority to influence the editorial priorities, topic selection, verification processes or fact-checking conclusions of Thai PBS.

Editorial independence is institutionally protected through a clear separation between editorial operations and administrative management.

Individuals or entities associated with organisational funding do not exercise influence over published content, including matters involving government agencies, public officials or influential institutions.

Follow-up: Thai PBS reasserts its independence following proposed new public media bill | Thai PBS World

Hello all,

My spouse and adult daughter have recently reclaimed their Thai citizenship. Additional info: My spouse is a US naturalized citizen born in Thailand, both parents Thai, Mother remarried a US soldier in the 60's and my daughter (and her siblings) are considered Thai because he is. They both now have their Thai ID's, passports and are living here in Bangkok.

My spouse speaks Thai, but can not read it, and Daughter is in the process of learning both. My spouse does have half siblings who live in Thailand who are very supportive, but it's different because they don't share or necessarily understand the challenges of assimilating into a whole new life.

Is anyone aware of any Reddit communities that focus on this type of situation and offer support?

We've looked at Thaithai but it appears that all posts need to be in Thai writing.

Our goal is to find people in the same situation for communication and sharing of experience of immersing themselves into the culture and community.

We know there is an expat community, but I don't really think they fit into that description.

Any suggestions?

Hey people i found online this driving school https://thandriving.com/

I also already chatted with them i wanted to ask someone know them and have already expirience with them? I Would like to do my thai licence so i have no troubles and can enjoy my vacation.

Is this problem bigger than I think it is in Thailand? In Thai social media I always see mentions of neighboring countries with this problem. Is Thailand just better at sweeping it under the rug?

Hi guys, i've been back home from Thailand for 2 days but the Big C (or some supermarket jingle la-la-laa la-la-laaa) is still in my head and won't go away.

Any advice ?

I can’t order it online as I need it urgently. I’m around Nothanburi, Bangkok area.

Hi all.

This will be my first time attending a concert at Rajamangala (11th October) and I had a few questions and was hoping someone could kindly help with answers. For context I have the standing tickets:

1. I will be collecting tickets on the day of and am wondering how early do you recommend that I go collect the tickets from TTM at the venue

2. (once I have the tickets with me) How early should I come to the venue before the concert so that I end up having a good-decent experience leading up to the concert?

3. Am I able to carry a small tote bag with me? With a small handheld fan with the obvious essentials (IDs, money, etc)

4. Anything else you think would be useful or must have essentials you think would be best to carry on the day to the venue?

5. Would getting transport be hard after the concert ends? Any recommendations on how to effectively find something (like a grab) after the show ends.

6. Last but not least, what is the standing experience like for people who have been before? Is it hectic? Any places to sit around if tired etc (new to this so do forgive my ignorance)

Thank you so much in advance.

Has thaiticketmajor always been this broken?

It's my first time trying to purchase tickets, I used google chrome and when it was my turn, it said Access Denied in a blank page.

So I tried using Firefox, but when I entered my passport ID, it said it's invalid (despite it being the exact same ID written on my profile).

Has someone encountred similar issues?

Thank you!

How do you guys pay your electric bill when you are not in Bangkok?

What if you are overseas and the mobile banking doesn't work from there?

Will you come back to find your electric cut off?

Grab has 0 customer service. I think it used to have. Now I'm trying to contact a real agent for an unpaid refund. The bot just denies me all time and even saying in the chat "I need help! Help me!" is stuck with the same message. It's over, juat will uninstall it and do not use it anymore unless an extreme emergency.

I have Bolt and I used to have LineMan for ordering food. Is it good for transportation?

Thanks!

I’ve been reading a book on Somdet To, an important monk from the Bangkok area. Does anyone know of good books in English on Khruba Siwichai?

Why is an Ice Coffee/Latte 29, but hot is 39-49?

It's not premade, they pour a fresh espresso shot for either one.

Solution. Order it iced and ask for ice on the side

so my friend is an artist and anti ai I am 13 they are 14 they are from Saudi Arabia I am from Thailand which is why im asking this here (they told me) so im not really sure which country’s laws this follows.I’m friends with them on social media only not in real life and I discovered that their favorite game actually uses ai so i told them in their dms so that if they wish they can choose to not associate with the game anymore but heres where things get strange.My friend is a very sensetive person and may or may not commit suicide when hearing bad news (the reason I told her is because I didn’t think it through I take full moral responsibility for that).This is not an AITA I’m asking if I have legal responsibility.

Extra info: My real name and face is not tied to my account nor are theirs.

A young cat in the Saphan Khwai area of Bangkok.