Month: July 2021

  • Covid-19 NewsMonday Covid Update: 8,656 new infections and 80 deaths

    Monday Covid Update: 8,656 new infections and 80 deaths

    8,656 new Covid-19 cases were recorded today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, raising the total since April 1, the latest and most severe wave of infections in Thailand, to 316,164 confirmed cases. The CCSA also recorded 80 more Covid-related deaths. Out of the new cases reported today, 73 Covid-19 cases were found in correctional facilities. The latest wave…

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  • Thailand video newsGood Morning Thailand | Restrictions and curfews start today in Bangkok, Sandbox update

    Good Morning Thailand | Restrictions and curfews start today in Bangkok, Sandbox update

    Today Tim and Bill talk with Caitlin about the restrictions, curfews and roadblocks that start in Bangkok today (and other red zone provinces). Sandbox update. Also update on the ‘Stefanie’ situation, the German lady shuffled off to an ASQ hotel, at her expense, last week. You can watch the video about her story here… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_91SYF456UU

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  • World NewsMalaysian government urges media to double its efforts against fake news

    Malaysian government urges media to double its efforts against fake news

    The Malaysian government is calling on the media to double its efforts to fight fake news and inaccuracies across all platforms. Asia News Today reports that Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, the country’s Communications and Multimedia minister is calling on all media outlets to cooperate in the fight against fake news, whether that’s on television, radio, in print, or online. The minister…

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  • World NewsMalaysia daily vaccination rate exceeds world average as nation aims for herd immunity

    Malaysia daily vaccination rate exceeds world average as nation aims for herd immunity

    Officials in Malaysia are ramping up the rate of Covid-19 vaccinations administered daily, which is now more than the global average. According to a report from Asia News Today, the accelerated rollout means the country is on track to achieve herd immunity. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob says the goal of herd immunity will allow Malaysia to…

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  • Phuket NewsTougher checks for visitors arriving on Phuket from high-risk provinces

    Tougher checks for visitors arriving on Phuket from high-risk provinces

    As the southern island of Phuket grapples to keep its “sandbox” scheme running amid rising Covid-19 infections, tougher controls are being introduced for domestic visitors. From Thursday, until the end of the month, arrivals from the 10 “maximum controlled and restricted” and the 24 “maximum controlled” provinces, will need to meet stricter criteria if they want to visit Phuket. According…

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  • Technology NewsThe best digital cameras to buy in 2021

    The best digital cameras to buy in 2021

    Whether you need a camera for creativity or you simply want to document your life, a digital camera can provide better photos and videos than your smartphone. A great camera offers numerous things that a smartphone can’t, such as optical zooming and the ability to swap lenses. Digital cameras are also equipped with physically larger sensors than smartphones, so they…

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  • Covid-19 NewsRapid antigen tests to be made available to Bangkok public to relieve pressure on hospitals

    Rapid antigen tests to be made available to Bangkok public to relieve pressure on hospitals

    The Public Health Ministry has approved in principle for rapid antigen tests to be made available for the public to purchase from Bangkok clinics and pharmacies. The idea is to relieve the pressure on hospitals struggling to meet an increasing demand for PCR tests as infections rise. According to a Pattaya News report, officials will meet today to confirm the…

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  • Covid-19 NewsPressure mounts for effective boosters as fully vaccinated nurse dies of Covid-19

    Pressure mounts for effective boosters as fully vaccinated nurse dies of Covid-19

    The government is coming under increasing pressure to provide effective vaccine boosters to frontline medical staff, following the death of a nurse who’d received 2 doses of Sinovac. The Bangkok Post reports that the 30 year old nurse died a week after contracting Covid-19, despite being fully inoculated. Her cousin, Siwakorn Rattanakuntee, confirmed the death on Facebook, adding that the…

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  • Covid-19 NewsRevenue Department dispells rumour of VAT for private vaccines

    Revenue Department dispells rumour of VAT for private vaccines

    Thai government officials are moving quickly to quash a rumour being spread throughout social media that they are charging hospitals VAT for vaccines. A rumour being widely discussed around the internet accuses the government of Thailand of essentially profiteering off the importation of life-saving vaccines. A report claiming that the government is charging value-added tax on all the Covid-19 vaccines…

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  • Thailand NewsVaccines for foreigners: 105k AstraZeneca, 150k Pfizer

    Vaccines for foreigners: 105k AstraZeneca, 150k Pfizer

    As Bangkok heads into lockdown and protest groups declare the government’s handling of Covid-19 incompetent, the cry is spreading that only one thing really solves this crisis: vaccines. And as the Delta variant that Sinovac vaccines are ineffective against is poised to become the dominant strain of Covid-19 in Thailand over the next few weeks, Thailand is looking for AstraZeneca,…

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  • World NewsBurmese junta election commission claims 11 million fraud cases

    Burmese junta election commission claims 11 million fraud cases

    After the election in Myanmar last November, the military was unhappy with the results, claimed mass fraud, and overthrew the government, seizing power in a coup in February. Independent observers and analysts have yet to find any probable voter fraud in the election. But perhaps they weren’t looking in the right place because the military junta’s election commission just turned…

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  • World NewsKyiv hopes for more as Zelenskyy meets Merkel

    Kyiv hopes for more as Zelenskyy meets Merkel

    Angela Merkel is preparing for a special farewell. The outgoing German chancellor receives the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Berlin on Monday for what will likely be their last meeting in person. On several occasions, Zelenskyy has invited Merkel to Kyiv at the end of August to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ukrainian independence. He is also keen for the…

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  • Thailand NewsUPDATE: Beauty pageant scandal leads to Covid cluster, participants face potential prosecution

    UPDATE: Beauty pageant scandal leads to Covid cluster, participants face potential prosecution

    The beauty pageant women who participated in “Miss Grand Samut Sakhon” last month are possibly facing criminal charges for not wearing masks, say police. This, coming after a 22 person cluster arose after the show. 13 of the contestants’ tests positive for Covid, as well as 9 “others”, say police. Piya Tawichai, deputy commissioner of the metropolitan police told the…

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  • Northern Thailand News3 found dead in Nakhon Ratchasima mushroom nursery

    3 found dead in Nakhon Ratchasima mushroom nursery

    Today, 3 people have been found dead in a mushroom nursery in Nakhon Ratchasima, a northeastern Thai province. Police suspect their cause of death was probably due to inhaling carbon dioxide. The Khon Buri police chief, Prasit Premkamol, says the bodies of 27 year old Nathapol Akkhisamrong, 49 year old Boonlua Channok and his wife, 48 year old Saipin Akkhisamrong,…

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  • Covid-19 News618 Sinovac vaccinated medical workers get Covid-19

    618 Sinovac vaccinated medical workers get Covid-19

    After being fully inoculated with 2 doses of the Sinovac vaccine, more than 600 medical workers have been diagnosed with Covid-19 infections, according to the Public Health Ministry today. A total of 618 hospital and medical staffers have been infected with Covid-19 despite having received the Chinese-made vaccine. It was not confirmed whether they were infected with the Delta variant…

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  • Thailand NewsCovid infected mother gives birth to Covid-free son

    Covid infected mother gives birth to Covid-free son

    Today, a Facebook post declared that a mother who has Covid gave birth to a Covid-free son at the Mararak Hospital in Kanchanaburi, a western Thai province. The delivery of the Covid-free baby was posted to the hospital’s Facebook today. The post captured how a team of over a dozen doctors and nurses decked out in PPE suits took part…

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  • Thailand NewsPhuket order says visitors must test negative for Covid before granted entry, with exceptions

    Phuket order says visitors must test negative for Covid before granted entry, with exceptions

    The Phuket Governor, Narong Woonciew, issued an order today that stipulated that “anyone” who wishes to enter Phuket from a “red”, or “dark red” zone must test negative for Covid before they are granted entry. The restriction applies to those who have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from being infected. The order is set to take effect July 15…

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  • Thailand Protest NewsProtesters run “car mobs”, focus on eroding coalition parties | VIDEO

    Protesters run “car mobs”, focus on eroding coalition parties | VIDEO

    Anti-government protesters have continued their demands for the resignation of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and his Senate appointments (the entire upper house/Senate in Thailand – 250 members – were hand-picked by the former NCPO military government). But this weekend they’ve added some new protest techniques and tactics. With lockdown and surging Covid-19, they have taken to car mobs, assembling vehicles to…

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  • Covid-19 NewsCovid UPDATE: 9,539 new cases, provincial totals

    Covid UPDATE: 9,539 new cases, provincial totals

    The CCSA has confirmed 9,539 new Covid infections & 86 coronavirus-related deaths over the past 24 hours. 103 of today’s cases were reported from the Thai prison system. Here are today’s Thai provincial totals… • HERE is a list of restrictions starting tomorrow for all dark red provinces. It includes all the transportation restrictions, curfew details and provinces in the…

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  • Thailand NewsJustice Ministry looking for 411 people that were falsely imprisoned people, says they’re owed compensation

    Justice Ministry looking for 411 people that were falsely imprisoned people, says they’re owed compensation

    Today, the Justice Ministry announced it is seeking 411 people who were wrongly prosecuted and detained. The Ministry wants them to know they can be compensated for their erroneous incarcerations. The 411 people were tried and imprisoned in criminal cases but were eventually found to be not guilty and released, says Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin. 26 of the imprisoned people…

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  • South Thailand NewsPattani bomb and gun attack injures 5 police in their truck

    Pattani bomb and gun attack injures 5 police in their truck

    In the southern province of Pattani, where insurgency activity often erupts in violence and damage, an attack has left 5 police officers wounded. The incident yesterday afternoon involved gunfire and a bombing as police officers were attacked in their car. The preliminary reports believe that the police officers were responding to a call for backup support around 4:30 pm. They…

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  • Crime News2 days of Phuket drug raids takes in 7 suspects, 2,000 methamphetamine pills

    2 days of Phuket drug raids takes in 7 suspects, 2,000 methamphetamine pills

    Yesterday, Phuket authorities announced recent drug raids took in 7 suspects and 2,000 methamphetamine pills, and over 180 grams of crystal methamphetamine. The raids took place over 2 days. For Friday, police arrested 24 year old Wisit ‘Bao’ Kongsrisuwan from Nakhon Si Thammarat, 20 year old Panomkorn ‘Diew’ Petchkong. They allegedly had 98.77 grams of “ya ice” (crystal methamphetamine) stashed…

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  • Covid-19 NewsLockdown tomorrow: What to expect in Bangkok and beyond

    Lockdown tomorrow: What to expect in Bangkok and beyond

    Though the government won’t use the word, tomorrow sees 10 dark red zone provinces going into, essentially, a lockdown. Here’s a rundown of what to expect during the 2 week period beginning tomorrow (Monday). The restrictions apply to all 10 provinces, but the information below is focused on the lockdown in Bangkok. INSIDE BANGKOK Things are about to quieten down.…

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  • Thailand NewsBangkok beauty pageant suffers Covid scandal

    Bangkok beauty pageant suffers Covid scandal

    A formal complaint from the Huai Khwang district office in Bangkok been lodged against the organiser of the “Miss Grand Samut Sakhon 2021” beauty pageant, alleging the show violated the Communicable Disease Act. The complaint, lodged with the Makkasan police, alleges the pageant held on June 26 and June 27 at the Mirin Theatre RCA in the Huai Khwang district…

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  • Thailand NewsNew poll shows many have unfavourable feelings toward government’s handling of plastics factory fire

    New poll shows many have unfavourable feelings toward government’s handling of plastics factory fire

    A new poll shows that most respondents have unfavourable feelings over the government’s handling of the fire at the plastics factory in Samut Prakan. The Suan Dusit poll conducted by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University queried 1,266 people in Thailand from July 6 to July 9. Respondents had the option to pick multiple answers. The poll shows: 66.51% – of the…

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  • Visa InformationThe Sandbox Guarantee – taking the ‘what ifs’ out of travelling to Thailand

    The Sandbox Guarantee – taking the ‘what ifs’ out of travelling to Thailand

    OPINION “The ‘Sandbox Guarantee’, or a similar style of guarantee for incoming passengers, is an important step if the Thai government is honest about restarting the country’s vital tourism economy.” In Bangkok they are preparing to lock down the city, well, add extra layers of restrictions and a curfew, and stop people getting out and heading back to their provinces.…

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  • Covid-19 NewsCovid UPDATE Sunday: 9,539 new cases, news briefs

    Covid UPDATE Sunday: 9,539 new cases, news briefs

    Today the public health department reported 9,539 new Covid infections & 86 coronavirus-related deaths. 103 of today’s cases were reported from the Thai prison system. Today’s numbers indicate a flattening of new infections but still much higher than the week before. Provincial totals published just after lunch time. • The ministries of Public Health and Transport have prepared a 5,000-bed…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Sandbox woes: 2 more foreign Covid-19 cases, Delta variant

    Phuket Sandbox woes: 2 more foreign Covid-19 cases, Delta variant

    The Phuket Sandbox has hit a few hurdles with the revelation of 2 more international arrivals testing positive with Covid-19, as well as the first cases of the Delta and Beta variants on the island. The news comes in the wake of the Governor ordering most of the islands’ schools to close for 14 days due to the rising risk…

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  • Transport News80 Bangkok roadblocks to curb Covid-19 spread before lockdown

    80 Bangkok roadblocks to curb Covid-19 spread before lockdown

    “The law of unintended consequences has come to be used as an adage or idiomatic warning that an intervention in a complex system tends to create unanticipated and often undesirable outcomes. It is commonly used as a wry or humorous warning against the hubristic belief that humans can fully control the world around them.” – Wikipedia The last time the…

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  • Transport NewsAll buses from Bangkok to Phuket and south cancelled from today

    All buses from Bangkok to Phuket and south cancelled from today

    In response to Bangkok’s new lockdown measures from today, all bus service between Bangkok and Phuket has been cancelled, along with buses to the dark red zone southern provinces. Interprovincial buses will stop running, effective immediately until further notice, with no set end date. The announcement was made by the president of the public company Transport Co which supervises all…

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  • Covid-19 NewsAll Phuket schools closing for 2 weeks amid Covid-19 fears

    All Phuket schools closing for 2 weeks amid Covid-19 fears

    Ah, Thailand, where one city can simultaneously be reopening and reclosing. While the arrival numbers aren’t anywhere close to early predictions, the Phuket Sandbox has had relatively little Covid-19 issues and the people arriving are relatively happy. But the same cannot be said about schools in Phuket where, after numerous schools started closing due to infections, Governor Narong Woonciew announced…

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  • Covid-19 NewsPreparing for Bangkok lockdown measures from today on

    Preparing for Bangkok lockdown measures from today on

    The CCSA announced yesterday sweeping new Covid-19 lockdown measures for Bangkok and surrounding provinces, as well as 4 southern provinces, and now people and businesses are scrambling to prepare before provisions go into effect from now until Monday. Airlines have quickly implemented emergency measures for domestic travellers to handle the wave of cancellations and rescheduling due to Bangkok and other…

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  • Transport NewsAll Thai AirAsia July flights cancelled; airlines cope with lockdown

    All Thai AirAsia July flights cancelled; airlines cope with lockdown

    In light of Bangkok’s new Covid-19 lockdown measures, Thai AirAsia has cancelled all their domestic flights in Thailand, while Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Smile, and Vietjet have introduced emergency measures for flight rescheduling. AirAsia, the popular budget airline based in Malaysia, has suspended all domestic flights operated by Thai AirAsia effective immediately. They hope to resume service on August…

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  • Covid-19 NewsCovid UPDATE: 9,326 new infections, provincial totals

    Covid UPDATE: 9,326 new infections, provincial totals

    The provincial breakdown for Saturday which includes all the cases reported over the past 24 hours. Infographics from the NBT… Today the public health department has announced 9,326 new infections and 91 Covid-related deaths. 192 of the cases are from Thai prisons. The number, whilst only slightly higher than yesterday, is a continuation of the upward trend in cases, almost…

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  • Tourism NewsSamui and Phangan reopening: bars open, 5,000 baht Covid tests

    Samui and Phangan reopening: bars open, 5,000 baht Covid tests

    Koh Samui and the surrounding islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are preparing for their Samui Plus reopening beginning July 15. The rules for the reopening are more stringent, with 3 full days of quarantine required and then 4 days of being allowed to travel only on sealed routes to specific tourist destinations before finally being allowed to travel…

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  • World NewsIndonesia’s Sri Mulyani: A reformer working for women’s rights

    Indonesia’s Sri Mulyani: A reformer working for women’s rights

    She expected the path to power to be difficult. More difficult than for men. “The world is not fair for women,” Sri Mulyani said. And yet she has come a long way: In 2005 she was appointed Indonesia’s first female finance minister – a pioneer in the conservative, Muslim-majority country and since then a role model for countless women. DW…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket daily Covid-19 hits 10, 3 short of Sandbox threshold

    Phuket daily Covid-19 hits 10, 3 short of Sandbox threshold

    As Covid-19 surges throughout Thailand and the provinces in the south and around Bangkok enact curfews and other lockdown measures, Phuket has been relatively safe with just a trickle of infections. Yesterday for the first time in weeks though, Phuket recorded double-digit new Covid-19 infections, edging closer to the threshold for reconsidering the Sandbox scheme. Phuket Provincial Public Health Office…

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