Bangkok

A university in Bangkok is working on an exciting new potential cancer treatment. Mahidol University and Ramathibodi Hospital are collaborating to develop a biopolymer gel with a drug that can be directly injected into a brain tumour without affecting the surrounding area of the brain. This news comes after the two institutions have been collaborating on the potential treatment for 10 years. The dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital said that since brain cancer requires such risky surgery, it’s the hardest form of cancer to treat. But the newly developed gel has found success in its first clinical trials. One doctor, Professor Suradech Honging, says seven patients participated in the first trial, each with a large tumour inside their brain. If left untreated, they would not have lived for even 3 more months. Dr. Suradech told The Bangkok Post that patients had no side effects after the treatment. “Furthermore, we took some samples of the medicated tumour … [Read more...] about University in Bangkok developing new gel to treat cancer

Bangkok has flooded in many areas after 10 hours of torrential rain beginning at 3pm yesterday and continuing into the early hours of this morning, according to the Department of Drainage and Sewage. The most affected areas are Chatuchak, Lak Si, Don Mueang and Lat Phrao. In some places, the water level has reached higher than 1 metre. The floods caused traffic jams this morning, namely at Ratchayothin Intersection and Ratchadapisek – Lat Phrao Intersection. Now, the roads are starting to return to normal. However, some sections of the roads may still be flooded, so bear this in mind if you are driving in Bangkok today. The Department of Drainage and Sewage reported that flood solution projects are going ahead in Bangkok and should be completed in many areas by the end of May. The projects will definitely help alleviate Bangkok’s flooding situation this monsoon season, according to the department. SOURCE: CH7 Get more from The Thaiger FREE APP: ANDROID or iOS … [Read more...] about Flooding in Bangkok after 10 hours of torrential rain

After hours of heavy rain, deep floods disrupted traffic in the Bang Khen area of Bangkok yesterday afternoon. At first, officials from the Bureau of Drainage couldn’t understand why four pumps designed to pump flood water out of the road had stopped working. When they checked the machinery, they found a huge monitor lizard – or “tua hia” in Thai – stuck inside one of the pumps. The flood occurred yesterday afternoon on Ratchadapisek Road and Phahonyothin Road, in the area connecting Bang Sue and Chatuchak. The four broken pumps caused deep floods at Bang Khen roundabout, Soi Ram Inthra 21 and Khlong O – Rang Kaew pumping centre. Bang Khen district officials called staff from the Bureau of Drainage to the scene, who safely removed the reptile and got the pumps working again. Shortly afterwards, the water level and traffic returned to normal. You will often spot Asian water monitor lizards taking a swim in one of Bangkok’s klongs – or canals – or in the lake at Lumphini Park. … [Read more...] about Monitor lizard stuck in water pump causes flood in Bangkok

Thailand may be claiming ‘neutrality’ following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but representatives of 5 countries at a Bangkok event today certainly weren’t. Two Thai officials and 2 international diplomats told Reuters that at the Apec trade ministers’ meeting in Bangkok today, representatives of 5 countries walked out when Russia’s economic development minister Maksim Reshetnikov was speaking. The 5 who walked out were representatives of Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the US. Representatives from 21 countries attended the meeting, which aims to discuss economic prosperity. A Thai government source said the representatives walked out in protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the future, Thailand might see more protests like this. Thailand is the current chair of Apec, and is scheduled to hold a summit of the group’s leaders in November. It is reportedly unclear whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will be there. Deputy PM demands officals to … [Read more...] about 5 countries’ representatives walk out when Russian official speaks in Bangkok

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to set up a joint special committee to fine-tune matters related to the proposed High Speed Rail (HSR) project linking Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. The Transport Minister who had a bilateral meeting with his fellow counterpart from Thailand, Saksayam Chidchob, said that the committee would be discussing the finer points related to planning, route and other technical aspects of the proposed HSR project. "Following the visit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who met Thailand’s Prime Minister in February this year, we have also initiated talks on a proposed HSR project linking Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, as mooted by our respective prime ministers. "Saksayam and I have agreed to set up a joint special committee headed by the Transport Ministry secretary-general and the permanent secretary of the Thailand Ministry of Transport," he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (May 17). Ismail Sabri, … [Read more...] about Malaysia, Thailand to set up joint committee to discuss KL-Bangkok HSR project, says Dr Wee

Bangkok University is the first in the world to collaborate with MasterClass to provide over 150 streamed online classes by internationally renowned celebrities and experts in various fields. The university hopes the unconventional learning style will inspire students to develop their own skills, foster their creativity, improve their performance and set them up for success. Students will get the chance to take cooking classes with Gordon Ramsay, acting classes with Natalie Portman, and design classes with fashion designer Marc Jacobs. Former US President Bill Clinton will teach a class on “strategic planning.” The university will stream “MasterClasses” in the fields of arts & entertainment, business, design & style, sports & gaming and writing. Rector of Bangkok University Petch Osathanugrah said that courses on movie production will include lectures by leading directors such as Martin Scorsese, James Cameron and Werner Herzdog. In March, cinema students from … [Read more...] about Bangkok University to stream classes by Bill Clinton, Natalie Portman, Gordon Ramsay

A Reddit user has posted about an experience of using a Taxi service in Bangkok… “Bangkok Scam on Vesak Day” (the Visakha Bucha Day Buddhist holiday). The user claimed the driver overcharged him and asked for a toll fee for the highway even though the toll was waived on the day. On Monday the aggrieved passenger posted pictures of the taxi and explained how the driver “cheated” on a group called The Bangkok Community on the Reddit website. The passenger said he was picked up by a pink taxi car from Chatuchak for a trip to the MBK shopping mall in downtown Bangkok on May 15, or Visaka Bucha Day, a sacred Buddhist holiday for Thais. The passenger said the taxi meter started at 50 baht instead of a standard rate of 35 baht, and the driver tried to hide the meter screen with the car’s gear stick and his hand. Then the driver asked for a toll fee of 100 baht, but the fee had actually been waived over the four day long weekend. In total, this passenger was charged 209 for the … [Read more...] about Foreigner claims Bangkok taxi driver overcharged on a Thai holy day

PHOTO: Thai PBS World Thai PBS World reports that four dogs have been rescued from a house in Nonthaburi province, just north of Bangkok, after being found locked in a cage with no access to food or water. It’s understood that the dogs had been there almost a month. An additional 9 dead dogs were also found at the property, several of which were badly decomposed. It’s believed that the dogs had starved to death. Officials from the Health and Livestock Development department went to the house with the owner, after neighbours complained of a very strong smell coming from the property. The owner claims he and his wife had both been in hospital since August 9, following a road accident, and that he had asked a family member to look after the dogs. The surviving four dogs, who are severely emaciated, were provided with emergency first-aid, before being transported to a vet clinic for ongoing treatment. SOURCE: Thai PBS World Get more from The Thaiger FREE APP: … [Read more...] about Four dogs rescued in north of Bangkok after being starved for a month

Following Thailand’s alcohol ban for the Buddhist holiday of Visakha Bucha Day, Pattaya and Bangkok dwellers can prepare for yet another alcohol ban coming just a week later! The upcoming alcohol sales ban will begin on Saturday, May 21, at 6pm, and last for 24 hours until Sunday, May 22, at 6pm. The ban is in light of Pattaya’s Mayoral election, and Bangkok’s governor election, which will take place on May 22. The Pattaya News reports that in Pattaya, the ban will only apply to areas where the mayor has jurisdiction. This includes Pattaya proper, Koh Larn, and most of Jomtien and Naklua. Letters about the ban have been sent to business owners, warning them that those who violate the ban can face hefty fines, and even jail time. The ban applies to foreigners as well, even though they can’t vote. Thailand bans alcohol sales during provincial elections . The ban is reportedly supposed to discourage so-called ‘drink voting’ in Thailand, preventing people from voting for … [Read more...] about Alcohol sales ban planned for Pattaya and Bangkok elections

BANGKOK, May 20, 2022 (AFP): Millions of Bangkok voters will elect a new governor on Sunday (May 22) in the first major polls since pro-democracy protests rattled Thailand's capital, with a former minister ousted in the 2014 military coup leading the race. The poll comes as embattled Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha fights to hold his ruling national coalition together until a general election due within 12 months. The bustling, traffic-clogged metropolis of 10 million people last elected a governor in 2013. After seizing power as military chief in 2014, Prayut sacked the incumbent and appointed his own man. Leading the 30-strong field of candidates is Chadchart Sittipunt, a former transport minister in the civilian government kicked out of office in the most recent of the dozen coups to upend Thai politics since the birth of democracy in 1932. He is running as an independent and says Bangkok voters want to move on from the entrenched tribal fault lines that have dominated Thai … [Read more...] about Bangkok to choose governor on Sunday (May 22) as national election looms