Year: 2021

  • Covid-19 NewsSunday Covid UPDATE: 17 more deaths, 2,101 covid infections, provincial totals

    Sunday Covid UPDATE: 17 more deaths, 2,101 covid infections, provincial totals

    For Sunday, the numbers for new infections and Covid-related deaths from Bangkok and the Thai provinces over the past 24 hours were announced early this morning. There has been 17 deaths and 2,101 new cases announced by the CCSA. Thailand has now reached 83,375 total cases since January 2020 and 399 deaths. Out of the 17 deaths, 8 were male and 9…

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  • Tourism NewsThailand ploughs ahead with plans for re-opening tourist areas

    Thailand ploughs ahead with plans for re-opening tourist areas

    The Thai government says they’re pressing ahead with plans to waive the current mandatory quarantine for vaccinated visitors to Bangkok and and 5 other major tourist destinations from October this year as an effort to reboot the country’s battered tourism industry. Dr. Traisulee Traisoranakul from the CCSA says the new measures will provide easier access to the main tourist locations…

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  • Covid-19 NewsPrivate Moderna vaccine price set at under 3000 baht

    Private Moderna vaccine price set at under 3000 baht

    Officials announced that private hospitals will offer the two shots of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine for a maximum of 3000 baht total. The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation expect to order Moderna first in the process of importing vaccines for paid usage, according to the Private Hospital Association. The GPO will act as the middleman because manufacturers generally only work with governments.…

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  • Crime NewsMurder of Thai wife may have been 2nd attempt by US man

    Murder of Thai wife may have been 2nd attempt by US man

    The American man accused of the murder of his Thai wife in Chiang Mai has now confessed to the brutal crime. And it may not have been the first time he tried to kill her. The 32 year old man, who was a computer programmer in the United States, admitted that he killed his wife while she was 3-months pregnant.…

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  • World NewsUPDATE: Chinese rocket debris plunges into Indian Ocean

    UPDATE: Chinese rocket debris plunges into Indian Ocean

    UPDATE: 10.30am (Thai Time) Trackers have confirmed that the debris has splashed down somewhere west of The Maldives in the Indian Ocean. 9.30am (Thai Time) The Chinese Long March 5B carrier rocket should land in this area… 72.47°E longitude and 2.65°N latitude, just west of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. That’s according to China’s National Space Agency. “Most of…

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  • Covid-19 NewsSunday Covid UPDATE: 17 more deaths and 2,101 covid-related infections

    Sunday Covid UPDATE: 17 more deaths and 2,101 covid-related infections

    For Sunday, the numbers are out tallying the new infections and Covid-related deaths from Bangkok and the Thai provinces over the past 24 hours. There has been 17 deaths and 2,101 new cases. Thailand has now reached 83,375 total cases since January 2020 and 399 deaths. • Meanwhile, Thai restauranteurs are pleading with PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to ease the Covid-19…

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  • Hot NewsToday’s Chinese rocket debris not expected to hit land

    Today’s Chinese rocket debris not expected to hit land

    A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson has assured the public that the debris from a large rocket re-entering the atmosphere today is not likely to do any harm. They said the majority of the Chinese rocket will mostly be burned up on re-entry. The Long March 5B rocket left the Earth on April 29th, launching from Hainan island in China. This…

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  • Covid-19 NewsFor travellers to Phuket, testing is out, quarantine is in

    For travellers to Phuket, testing is out, quarantine is in

    The on-again-off-again plans for testing people for Covid-19 as they arrive in Phuket will be replaced by quarantine after May 15, according to Vice Governor Piyapong Choowong’s latest announcement. In an online video broadcast last night, the vice governor confirmed the new scheme after Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew first mentioned it in an executive meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday.…

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  • Thailand NewsSaturday Covid UPDATE: 2,419 new infections and 19 deaths, provincial totals

    Saturday Covid UPDATE: 2,419 new infections and 19 deaths, provincial totals

    The tally for Covid-related infections and deaths reported over the past 24 hours reports 19 new deaths and 2,419 cases. There have been 52,411 confirmed Covid-19 infections in the recent outbreak with more than 16,000 cases in Bangkok, the epicentre of infections. Since the start of the pandemic last year, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has reported a total…

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  • Covid-19 NewsLike Songkran, Sri Lanka New Year’s brings Covid-19 wave

    Like Songkran, Sri Lanka New Year’s brings Covid-19 wave

    Sri Lanka has seen a huge wave of new Covid-19 infections in part due to large New Year’s celebrations in mid-April at the same time as Thailand’s Songkran Festival. From the beginning of April until now, the island nation has experienced a fivefold increase in daily cases, with 1,895 infections reported yesterday. February had previously been the worst month in…

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  • Covid-19 NewsWith Indian neighbours sealing borders, Maldives welcomes tourists

    With Indian neighbours sealing borders, Maldives welcomes tourists

    Tuesday saw a new Daily Record for Covid-19 cases in the 26 islands of the Maldives, with 601 new infections. The tiny nation’s Health Emergency Operations Centre reported this week that hospitalisations due to Covid-19 had tripled in a few days and they suspect that a new variant may now be present in the country. The capital city of Malé…

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  • Covid-19 NewsCovid-19 reaches new heights in Nepal with Mt Everest infections

    Covid-19 reaches new heights in Nepal with Mt Everest infections

    Nepal, India’s neighbour to the north, is facing a similar Covid-19 crisis with a 1200% increase in new infections, triggering hospital shortages. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the government had said that 44% of Covid-19 tests administered in Nepal had come back positive last weekend. The country is reporting about 20 new cases…

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  • World NewsOnce Covid-19 free, Cambodia eases lockdown amidst surge

    Once Covid-19 free, Cambodia eases lockdown amidst surge

    After remaining relatively unscathed during the global pandemic in 2020, Cambodia, like other countries in the region, is in the midst of a massive Covid-19 surge. As recently as late February, the country had only seen about 500 cases in their population of 16 million. But just two days ago, 650 new cases and 4 fatalities were recorded nationally. Cambodia…

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  • World NewsCovid-19 Indonesia: Indian variant, reused swabs, holiday travel ban

    Covid-19 Indonesia: Indian variant, reused swabs, holiday travel ban

    Indonesia is experiencing an average of 5,000 new Covid-19 cases each day over the past week, and the Indian variant has now arrived as well. The Health Ministry confirmed this week that 2 patients had been infected by what has been identified as the B.1.617 variant of the Coronavirus, commonly known as the more contagious Indian strain. Indonesia is often…

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  • Covid-19 NewsCovid-19: Thailand struggles with South and Southeast Asia

    Covid-19: Thailand struggles with South and Southeast Asia

    In 2020, Thailand was hailed worldwide for its iron-fisted lockdown that curbed Covid-19 spread almost completely. Thailand was the second country in the world after China to identify a Covid-19 infection in January of last year but managed to keep its numbers impressively low, at least until December’s second wave of outbreaks. That wave drove the numbers up to nearly…

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  • Covid-19 NewsKing and Queen of Thailand gift critical oxygen supplies to India

    King and Queen of Thailand gift critical oxygen supplies to India

    Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand are sending a gift of desperately needed oxygen supplies for Covid-19 patients to India today. The Royal Thai Air Force will deliver the oxygen along with care packages of aid and relief items donated by the Indian Institute of Technology Alumni Association, the India-Thai Chamber of Commerce, and the Indian Association of…

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  • World NewsSoutheast and South Asia struggling with rapid Covid-19 spread

    Southeast and South Asia struggling with rapid Covid-19 spread

    With outbreaks in many countries throughout the region, and India in a Covid-19 crisis, the World Health Organisation and other health bodies are urging action in South and Southeast Asia. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have joined the call to action to aid the Earth’s most populous region, and the pandemic now ravaging it. The…

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  • Covid-19 NewsCan foreigners get vaccines in Thailand? | VIDEO

    Can foreigners get vaccines in Thailand? | VIDEO

    There is a lot of confusion about the vaccination of foreigners in Thailand. Tim Newton tries to paint the current picture for you. Thailand reaching a 70% level of vaccination, I think is more wishful thinking than anything else. Even in the US it appears very unlikely they will be able to reach the 70% immunisation level. In some states…

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  • Thailand NewsAmerican arrested for alleged murder in Chiang Mai has past record of abuse in Colorado

    American arrested for alleged murder in Chiang Mai has past record of abuse in Colorado

    The American man who was recently arrested for allegedly murdering his pregnant Thai wife in Chiang Mai had been sentenced to 2 years of probation back in 2019 on assault charges after his gun went off while he was threatening a woman in Colorado. A report from the Associated Press says it appears to be the same woman. Jason Matthew…

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  • Crime NewsThai woman admits to stealing lottery tickets from blind ticket seller in Bangkok

    Thai woman admits to stealing lottery tickets from blind ticket seller in Bangkok

    A 57 year old Thai woman is admitting to stealing lottery tickets from a blind seller in Bangkok. The woman, Sumali Muangpluem, is now under arrest for allegedly stealing from the disabled seller in the underground Sutthisan Station train between November 25-27 of last year. Sutthisan police say they collected evidence of the same type of theft in many districts,…

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  • Thailand NewsThailand to remain on US Trade watch list over online piracy and intellectual property violations

    Thailand to remain on US Trade watch list over online piracy and intellectual property violations

    Thailand is to remain on the US Trade Representative’s watch list as it tackles intellectual property violations and online piracy. Director-general of the Intellectual Property Department, Vuttikrai Leewiraphan, says the USTR made the announcement in its annual report that was released April 30. The report includes findings for more than 100 trading partners after engaging with stakeholders and further research.…

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  • Covid-19 NewsWHO gives emergency authorisation to China’s Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine

    WHO gives emergency authorisation to China’s Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine

    China’s Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine has been given the green light by The World Health Organisation for emergency use. The director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, made the announcement yesterday in Geneva. The Chinese vaccine joins Pfizer/BioNTech, Astrazeneca-SK Bio, Janssen, Moderna, and Serum Institute of India in being authorised by the WHO for emergency use. “This afternoon, WHO gave emergency use listing to…

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  • Pattaya NewsChon Buri sees slight drop in new, daily infections today – Saturday, 72

    Chon Buri sees slight drop in new, daily infections today – Saturday, 72

    Chon Buri province, which includes Pattaya, is reporting 72 new, daily infections of Covid-19 this morning and 1 new death, a 19% drop from yesterday’s 89 infections. Today’s reported number of infections is the lowest since April 9. This makes a total of 3,202 cases and 8 deaths in the current wave of infections that begin in early April. 1,520…

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  • Thailand NewsSinovac Covid-19 vaccine now approved in Thailand for those over 60

    Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine now approved in Thailand for those over 60

    The Chinese-made Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine is now approved in Thailand for adults over 60 years old. Doctors had initially advised that the vaccine to only be for adults 18 to 60 due to limited research on the elderly. The recommendation from doctors led Thailand’s 67 year old prime minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, to wait and take the AstraZeneca vaccine. After Prayut…

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  • Covid-19 NewsChiang Mai sees 2 elderly deaths from UK Covid variant including French woman

    Chiang Mai sees 2 elderly deaths from UK Covid variant including French woman

    Chiang Mai province is reporting the deaths of 2 elderly women from the UK Covid-19 variant, including a French woman. The provinces death toll is now 9 according to the governor. The 81 year old French woman was suffering from high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. She fell down on April 22 and received treatment at a hospital. After coming…

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  • Bangkok NewsBangkok governor extends closure order due to high Covid-19 count

    Bangkok governor extends closure order due to high Covid-19 count

    Bangkok’s temporary closure order will be extended until May 17 to slow the spread of Covid-19. Since April, more than 16,000 coronavirus cases have been reported in the capital. Surrounding provinces Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, and Nonthaburi have also reported high numbers of cases. The temporary closure order, signed by Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang, was initially set to be in…

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  • Pattaya NewsPattaya fisherman surprised by friendly whale shark visit

    Pattaya fisherman surprised by friendly whale shark visit

    A local Pattaya fisherman had a shocking surprise visitor and was conscious enough to record a video to share with the world. The man, a fisherman for 10 years, posted 2 videos to Facebook on Wednesday of what appears to be a friendly whale shark casually visiting his fishing boat. Sightings in Pattaya of the majestic sea creature are relatively rare.…

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  • Phuket NewsThailand News Today | Pfizer vaccines on the way, Phuket’s July re-opening | May 7

    Thailand News Today | Pfizer vaccines on the way, Phuket’s July re-opening | May 7

    Disease Control Department back-peddled saying that that foreigners living in Thailand WILL also be vaccinated, governor of Chiang Mai is calling for the ban on dining in at restaurants in the northern city to be lifted and for eateries to be allowed to serve food on-site until 9pm, Tourism and Sports Minister insists the southern island of Phuket must record…

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  • Phuket NewsWe’re looking for a Video Editor/Production Assistant in Phuket

    We’re looking for a Video Editor/Production Assistant in Phuket

    The Thaiger is seeking a full time video editor and production assistant for a new project based in Phuket. The role is open to a Thai national but with great English skills as well. You will need to be able to work to deadlines with a crazy bunch of stressed out news hosts, guests and the rest of The Thaiger…

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  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket red zone list adds Krabi, Trang, Ranong, Phatthalung

    Phuket red zone list adds Krabi, Trang, Ranong, Phatthalung

    Visitors to Phuket from Krabi, Trang, Ranong, and Phatthalung will now have to prove they’re vaccinated or have a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of arrival, as they’ve been added to the red zone province list. People entering without those qualifications will have to take a rapid antigen test on the spot before being allowed into Phuket. The 4…

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  • Economy NewsStimulus package gives more back the more you spend

    Stimulus package gives more back the more you spend

    A new stimulus package targeting middle and high-income people aims at increasing spending by offering more e-voucher the more you spend. Ying Chai Ying Dai, which translates to “the more you spend the more you get”, will reward those who spend between 46,000 and 70,000 baht with a 7,000 baht e-voucher. This part of the government’s 225 billion baht stimulus…

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  • World NewsLaos prime minister orders an extension on lockdown measures

    Laos prime minister orders an extension on lockdown measures

    While the majority of countries across the globe have been grappling with Covid-19 outbreaks for the past year, Laos, just North of Thailand, has only reported 1,177 cases with the vast majority of the infections detected over the past month. Laos PM Phankhan Viphavanh says ordered an extension on lockdown measures, now until May 20, saying it is essential in…

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  • Politics NewsDeputy PM declares Thammanat Prompow controversy finished

    Deputy PM declares Thammanat Prompow controversy finished

    Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam says that the debate is over regarding Thammanat Prompow, the controversial Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives and influential Palang Pracharath Party ‘fixer’. The Constitutional court has already ruled that he is qualified to hold office under Thai law and will keep his position, though a huge backlash followed the ruling, and the public wondered how…

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  • Covid-19 NewsBMA admits Covid virus spreading fast in Bangkok, speeds up testing and jabs

    BMA admits Covid virus spreading fast in Bangkok, speeds up testing and jabs

    The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration says it is speeding up mass Covid-19 testing and inoculations in communities hit strongly by the virus, after admitting the virus is spreading fast in Thailand’s capital. The city clerk says the administration, along with the Public Health Ministry and other agencies, are speeding up the collection of nasal swabs for Covid-19 tests, with a plan…

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  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket visitor Covid-19 rapid antigen testing may end May 15

    Phuket visitor Covid-19 rapid antigen testing may end May 15

    In a live broadcast, Phuket’s Vice Governor Piyapong Choowong said officials will consider discontinuing Covid-19 rapid antigen testing for people arriving into Phuket after May 15. The interview from the Phuket Check Point at Tha Chatchai yesterday seems to contradict a recent statement from the governor launching additional rapid testing from today. Entry to Phuket since April 22 has been…

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  • Thailand NewsCovid UPDATE: 2,044 new cases and 27 deaths, provincial totals

    Covid UPDATE: 2,044 new cases and 27 deaths, provincial totals

    2,044 new Covid-19 cases and 27 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today in the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s daily briefing. There are now 29,320 active Covid-19 cases. 1,170 Covid patients are in critical condition including 367 on ventilators. Since the start of the pandemic last year, the CCSA has reported a total of 78,855 Covid-19 infections and 363 virus-related deaths.…

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  • Thailand NewsMore thunderstorms and winds projected nationwide for weekend

    More thunderstorms and winds projected nationwide for weekend

    The Thai Meteorological Department is extending the forecast of heavy thunderstorms and gusty winds to last through the weekend nationwide. Previously, it issued warnings of thunderstorms to last through today as a high-pressure system from China, winds, and a westerly trough from Myanmar are making landfall in the Kingdom. The system is bringing moisture to upper Thailand and the central…

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