Month: July 2021
- World News
Africalink 07.07.21 – 16 UTC – MP3-Stereo
U.N. urges Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan to recommit to dam talks+++ Zambia lays founding father Kenneth Kaunda to rest +++ Zimbabwe tightens COVID restrictions +++ Cameroon’s missing COVID relief funds SOURCE: DW News
Read More » - Tourism News
Bangkok Airways revises Koh Samui flights ahead of reopening
To prepare for the Samui+ reopening programme launching July 15, Bangkok Airways is revising its schedule to operate 3 inbound flights and 3 outbound flights daily between Koh Samui and Bangkok. The new schedule, released today and promoted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand in a press release this afternoon, will feature a morning, afternoon, and evening flight option beginning…
Read More » - World News
World in Progress: Lake Kivu, a ticking time bomb?
This in-depth feature by Thomas Kruchem is presented by Neil King. SOURCE: DW News
Read More » - Covid-19 News
New terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport to be field hospital
A new plan will have Bangkok residents heading to the airport, but not in a good way, as authorities have decided to convert Suvarnabhumi Airport’s new terminal into a field hospital. The recently built Satellite 1 facilities are large enough to house a minimum of 5,000 beds for Covid-19 infected patients as outbreaks surge in the capital city. With 216,000…
Read More » - World News
European Parliament demands action over Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ law
Members of the European Parliament are set to vote overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution demanding the EU fast-tracks legal action against Hungary over its new anti-LGBTQ law. During a debate on the issue in Strasbourg, German Green MEP Terry Reintke said “democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law are dismantled inside the EU before our very eyes.” The…
Read More » - World News
Taliban advances: Why are Afghans so skeptical about Pakistan?
Most media outlets and political commentators in Afghanistan are blaming Islamabad for the current turmoil in their country, alleging that the Pakistani military and its intelligence agencies are backing the Taliban amid the withdrawal of foreign troops, helping militants capture more territories. These are not new accusations; Afghan officials have long maintained that Pakistan provides shelter and military support to…
Read More » - Covid-19 News
Whispered but not proposed – could a lockdown be coming?
This week Thailand’s complicated relationship with Covid-19 finds the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration open to considering a lockdown. The CCSA indicated they would consider possible proposals from the Ministry of Public Health to stop the spread of Covid-19, up to and including a lockdown. National Security Council Secretary-General Natthapon Nakpanich clarified today that there are no official proposals currently,…
Read More » - World News
COVID: Indonesian hospitals grapple with shortages as cases surge
Indonesia’s health care system and hospitals are struggling to keep up with an influx of new COVID patients. One of the largest hospitals in Indonesia’s Yogyakarta province reported last week that dozens of patients died after the hospital ran out of oxygen due to the large numbers of COVID-19 patients coming in. Meanwhile, in the capital Jakarta, the daily funeral…
Read More » - Technology News
Top 8 wireless headphones to buy in 2021
Whether you are continuing your day-to-day lives at home during the pandemic or you have fully adapted to the new normal, headphones can provide some pure listening of your favourite tunes – wherever you are. A great pair of headphones should be versatile, full of features, well-built, and comfortable in addition to sounding lively and balanced. With so many brands…
Read More » - Technology News
Bluetooth speakers you must buy in 2021
One of the easiest and most affordable ways to spread sound from your phone or tablet across a room, backyard, or even a beach is by using a portable Bluetooth speaker. The best Bluetooth speakers are not only portable and waterproof but also come with the finest sound quality and battery life. Since Bluetooth speakers come in a wide range…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket governor orders investigation into complaints of taxi drivers overcharging
Taxi fares charged from the Phuket International Airport are now being investigated by provincial authorities. The Phuket governor ordered the probe after criticism over a Facebook post asking if the 900 baht fare from the airport, quoted by a hotel in Patong, seemed too expensive. Taxi prices in Phuket are notoriously high compared to other provinces. On the social media…
Read More » - Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Sandboxer infected, record community Covid cases, new Boss probe | July 7
A man who arrived in Thailand under the Phuket “Sandbox” has tested positive for Covid-19. The man is the first so-called “Sandboxer” to test positive for the virus since the island’s reopening last week. The Federation of Thai Industries is calling on the government to move factories away from residential neighbourhoods, following the devastating explosion and blaze in Samut Prakan,…
Read More » - Covid-19 News
Vaccine Update: With limited doses, Thai government focuses on “at-risk” groups
With limited doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, along with the rapid spread of the Delta Covid-19 variant, the Thai government’s mass immunisation campaign will first focus on using those doses to inculcate “at-risk” groups, starting with those in Bangkok, the epicentre of the latest wave. This month’s order of AstraZeneca vaccine doses was cut in half from 10 million to…
Read More » - Phuket News
Officials: Don’t believe viral video, Phuket bridge checking all entries
When the Phuket Sandbox launched, restrictions to enter the island by land were tightened to match, requiring any overland traveller to provide proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of arrival or be denied entry. Authorities are once again reinforcing that messaging after a video has gone viral appearing to show vehicles passing freely through the…
Read More » - Thailand News
Daily new Covid-19 cases could double in the next 2 weeks – CCSA
With the rapid-spreading Delta variant of the virus becoming more prevalent in Thailand, the CCSA says they expect the average number of daily new Covid-19 cases to double in the next few weeks. Health officials are now preparing for daily new cases to hit 10,000. With the emergence of the highly transmissible mutated strain in Thailand, not only has the…
Read More » - Hua Hin News
Hua Hin joins growing list of bar workers demanding aid
The girls in Hua Hin bars are revolting! They’re revolting in the streets against the government’s handling of Covid-19. Like their counterparts in Bangkok and Pattaya, bar owners and employees along with local musicians staged a demonstration to protest against the continued closures of nightlife and entertainment venues in Hua Hin. The fed-up nightlife workers carried signs calling on the…
Read More » - Covid-19 News
Wednesday Covid-19 Update: 6,519 new cases; provincial totals
6,519 new Covid-19 cases and 54 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Since the start of the pandemic last year, the CCSA has reported 301,172 total cases. The latest and most severe wave of the virus has accounted for 272,309 of those infections. Thailand now has 67,614 active Covid-19 cases. Of the patients being…
Read More » - World News
Covid digest: Germany’s Spahn doubts outright restrictions lift
Even as Germany allows people from the UK, India, Nepal, Portugal and Russia to enter the country without restriction, Health Minister Jens Spahn said it is unlikely that coronavirus restrictions will be lifted soon. On public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk radio, Spahn noted that everything depends on the vaccination rate. Nearly 90% of the elderly will soon be vaccinated. However, he noted,…
Read More » - Tourism News
3 travellers escaped Phuket Sandbox but were quickly caught
In light of the recent discovery of the first internationally imported case of Covid-19 in the Phuket Sandbox scheme, the news that 3 people so far have “escaped” from the strictly regulated accommodations might be a little unnerving. While the Sandbox may not be airtight, authorities successfully located and handled 3 tourists reported missing from Phuket hotels this week. The…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket Sandbox over 2000 arrivals; 1 Covid-19 infection
On day 7 of the Phuket Sandbox, international arrivals have surpassed 2,000 people, the first Covid-19 infection from abroad has been found, and a few hiccups have been addressed. Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew says the reopening is definitely benefiting the economy, but plenty of improvements are to be made. Government officials have been pleased to announce that with their strict…
Read More » - Bangkok News
Bangkok doctor in critical condition after being stabbed by patient, blood donations needed
A doctor at a Bangkok hospital is in critical condition after she was stabbed in the chest by a psychiatric patient. B positive blood donations are urgently needed to treat the Chulalongkorn Hospital doctor. Donations can be made directly at the hospital or through the Thai Red Cross Society. Police say a 24 year old psychiatric patient a the hospital…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket “Sandbox” traveller infected with Covid-19, tour group now in quarantine
A man who arrived in Thailand under the Phuket “Sandbox” reopening scheme has tested positive for Covid-19. The man is the first so-called “Sandboxer” to test positive for the virus since the island’s reopening last week under the scheme which allows travellers from overseas, who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, to enter the island province without undergoing quarantine. A Covid-19…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket Tourist Police announce taxi fares, ask travellers to report rip-offs
Following criticism and confusion over the notoriously high taxi prices in Phuket, particularly relating to those arriving in Thailand under the “Sandbox” reopening scheme, the Phuket Tourist Police have announced the maximum taxi fares from the Phuket International Airport to popular destinations on the island province. For a ride in a 4-seater taxi from the airport, the driver can charge…
Read More » - Crime News
Another new panel formed to investigate senior officers, prosecutors in “Boss” case
A new panel has been created to investigate 15 senior police officers, investigators, and public prosecutors, accused of mishandling the hit-and-run case against Red Bull heir, Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya. Among those being investigated are 2 police generals and 2 senior police officers. The Bangkok Post reports that all members of the National Anti-Corruption Commission will sit on the newly-created panel.…
Read More » - Crime News
More than 300 kilograms of heroin en route to Australia seized at Chon Buri port
More than 300 kilograms of heroin hidden in paint buckets was seized from a shipping container at a major port in Chon Buri just as it was about to be sent to Australia. Thailand’s Justice Minister ordered authorities to work with foreign agencies to investigate transnational drug trafficking with routes in Thailand after the May drug bust in Australia involving…
Read More » - Environment News
Calls for factories to be moved out of residential areas after blaze at plastics plant
The Federation of Thai Industries is calling on the government to move factories away from residential neighbourhoods, following the devastating blaze in Samut Prakan, outside Bangkok. According to a Bangkok Post report, FTI chairman Supant Mongkolsuthree suggests factory owners could be given incentives to relocate, such as a reduction in corporate income tax and land tax. “Factory relocation requires support…
Read More » - Thailand News
More than 80,000 people affected by chemical factory fire in Samut Prakan
The massive fire at the chemical factory on the outskirts of Bangkok, billowing toxic gas into the air, affected around 80,000 people. An explosion at the Ming Dih Chemical polystyrene factory in Samut Prakan, just outside the capital, led to a chemical fire that took more than 25 hours to put out. Those in Bangkok could see the smoke. A…
Read More » - Covid-19 News
Cabinet approves Pfizer purchase, plus another 10.9 million Sinovac doses
The Thai Cabinet has given the go-ahead for the purchase of 20 million doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, along with another 10.9 million doses of Sinovac. According to a Bangkok Post report, the PM’s spokesman Anucha Burapachasri says the budget for the Sinovac purchase would come from the executive decree loan and would not exceed 6.1 billion baht. The…
Read More » - Thailand video news
Good Morning Thailand | All about Samui, Covid update. Live from Cafe Waya
Today Tim and Able talk with James McManaman about Samui Plus, (Samui sandbox). The daily covid update. Welcome to the final day of our week long LIVE program @ Cafe Waya in Boat Avenue Cherng Talay, Phuket. Drop in and say hello! To follow Able, please visit her page @emceeable and @findyourvoiceasia on Facebook, instagram and Linkedin.
Read More » - Covid-19 News
Growing calls for healthcare workers to get Pfizer booster
A leaked document, which details the minutes of a meeting in which officials discussed how they would allocate the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, has caused uproar and led to calls for healthcare workers to be prioritised. The Bangkok Post reports that the meeting took place on June 30 and discussed the administration of 2 batches of the Pfizer vaccine. The first…
Read More » - Covid-19 News
Wednesday Covid update: 6,519 new infections+, 54 deaths
Today, Thailand records another bleak milestone in its ongoing battle against the Covid-19 pandemic. The 6,519 new cases reported today are the highest number of daily infections since May 17, when over 9,000 cases were reported. The big difference is that the vast majority of those were in Thai prisons. Just 55 of today’s new cases are from Thai prisons.…
Read More » - World News
Africalink 06.07.21 – 16 UTC – MP3-Stereo
Africa struggles under the new COVID-19 delta variant+++ Zambians prepare for the funeral of first president Kenneth Kaunda+++ +++Nigeria kidnappings+++ Ndikung: Someone to suit Berlin’s House of World Cultures SOURCE: DW News
Read More » - World News
Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa on the defensive
Arriving in Strasbourg, Jansa was greeted with a protest sign demanding his government “protects the rule of law.” He has attacked independent journalists from his Twitter account and supported former President Donald Trump’s claims that last November’s elections in the United States were rigged. Inside the European Parliament chamber, MEPs listened to Jansa outline his priorities for Slovenia’s six-month EU…
Read More » - World News
What is the future of democracy in the Philippines?
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has announced plans to run for vice president when his term ends in May 2022, raising concerns about how it could bypass presidential term limits and keep him in power, while granting immunity from criminal charges. “Consider me a candidate for the vice presidency at this time, maybe to maintain equilibrium for all,” Duterte told reporters…
Read More » - Thailand News
Let The Thaiger take care of your property insurance needs
Part of owning any type of property is the need to secure it with insurance. At The Thaiger, we are standing by to help you make sure your property and valuables are covered in the case of any damages. With property insurance, you can feel a sense of relief as an owner or renter, that the place you call home…
Read More » - Tourism News
Entry registration under “Samui Plus” reopening planned to open this week
The registration for entering Thailand under the slated “Samui Plus” reopening scheme is planned to open this week. Similar to the Phuket “Sandbox,” the programme will allow foreign tourists who are vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel to the trio of islands in the Gulf of Thailand off the Surat Thani coast. Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan, and Koh Tao are…
Read More » - World News
Cannes: Film spotlights one of Japan’s last WWII stragglers
An international production about a Japanese soldier who remained in the Philippine jungle for 29 years after the end of World War II, will make its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this month. “Onoda — 10,000 Nights in the Jungle,” which is set to debut on Wednesday, is expected to receive glowing reviews from foreign audiences. The movie will…
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