Year: 2021
- Phuket News
I Am Strong Fundraiser by The Thaiger – Report #1, Phuket
The I Am Strong campaign was a Thaiger-supported fundraiser to reach generous viewers who got behind a critical need to find funds to feed communities-under-threat. In Phuket these communities and families range from island workers who have been unemployed for an extended amount of time, to migrant workers locked up in construction camps as part of the official restrictions imposed…
Read More » - Bangkok News
Protester in a coma, police say riot officers used rubber bullets
Police deny claims that live ammunition was shot at protesters last night outside Bangkok’s Din Daeng police station. A young protester was reportedly shot in the neck and critically injured outside the station, but officers held a press conference outside the Metropolitan Police Bureau today and said only rubber bullets were used to control the crowd. The protester, who has yet…
Read More » - Thailand News
Construction workers in Phuket must stay on site, get tested for Covid weekly
With Covid-19 clusters reported at construction camps, workers at sites in Phuket must stay at the camp and must undergo testing for the coronavirus once a week. For weeks, many workers have been unable to leave camps not only in Phuket, but in other provinces like Bangkok. Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew announced that the measures were approved by the provincial…
Read More » - Covid-19 News
Public Health Ministry approves purchase of 8.5 million Chinese antigen test kits
First it was on, then it was off, then it was on again. Now the Public Health Ministry has officially given the go-ahead for the purchase of 8.5 million antigen test kits from China. Sura Visetsak from the ministry says the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation can proceed with the purchase from Lepu Medical Technology. The Bangkok Post reports that the contract…
Read More » - Covid-19 News
Developers of Thai mRNA vaccine call for government financing
The developers of Thailand’s mRNA Covid-19 vaccine say they need the government to finance the project and relax regulations that would prevent a timely rollout. According to a Bangkok Post report, Dr Kiat Ruxrungtham who heads up the team working on the vaccine, says he’d like to see the vaccine administered before Songkran 2022. The Chula-VAC001 is being developed by…
Read More » - Thailand Protest News
PM’s office to file charges against red-shirt leader over Sunday’s protest
The government is seeking to press charges against red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikuar over protests in Bangkok on Sunday. According to a Bangkok Post report, Seksakol Atthawong from the office of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, has confirmed that a complaint has been lodged with the Crime Suppression Division. Nattawut is accused of sedition and of violating the emergency decree and the disease…
Read More » - Tourism News
Tourism operators hopeful after Phuket sandbox mandatory stay reduced to 7 days
Tourism operators in Phuket and other southern destinations are feeling more hopeful after a reduction in the minimum stay required as part of the Phuket sandbox. Yesterday, the Centre for Economic Situation Administration approved a proposal to set the minimum stay at 7 days, down from the previous 14. After this period, sandbox tourists are free to travel to other…
Read More » - Covid-19 News
Tuesday Covid Update: 20,128 new cases and 239 deaths
20,128 new Covid-19 cases and 239 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. 20,791 people have recovered from a Covid infection in the 24 hours since the last report. There are now 210,032 active Covid-19 cases. In the latest and most severe wave of the virus in Thailand, first recorded on April 1, the CCSA…
Read More » - Economy News
CP boss outlines 4 ways government could speed up pandemic recovery
One of Thailand’s wealthiest businessmen has outlined 4 ways in which the government could accelerate the country’s Covid-19 recovery. The Bangkok Post reports that Dhanin Chearavanont, senior chairman of the Charoen Pokphand Group, was responding to questions from journalist Suthichai Yoon during a Facebook Live interview yesterday. According to Dhanin, the government must increase relief measures for those affected by…
Read More » - World News
Who are the Taliban?
They call themselves “students” ― that’s the verbatim translation of the word “Taliban” from Pashto. Today, the name of the Islamist militant movement doesn’t conjure up images of men and women bent over books, though, but rather of terror and destruction. After the Taliban completed their take-over of Afghanistan on Sunday by capturing the capital Kabul and moving into the…
Read More » - Thailand Protest News
Protester shot outside Bangkok police station, in critical condition
A young protester was shot in the neck by police and said to be in critical condition, according to reports in Thai media. The protester was not identified. Reports say the young man appears to be around 20 years old. Monday’s protest started at Victory Monument in Bangkok and then moved to the Government House where police used tear gas…
Read More » - World News
Who is Zambia’s president-elect Hakainde Hichilema?
There was dancing in Zambia’s capital Lusaka when it emerged Hakainde Hichilema had won the presidential election. Hichilema beat incumbent President Edgar Lungu by a landslide of almost a million votes. Still, there was an anxious wait until midday on Monday, which ended when Lungu conceded defeat. It marks redemption for the 59-year-old Hichilema, popularly known as HH by his…
Read More » - World News
Afghans fear return to the past after Taliban victory
After the Taliban entered the Afghan capital on Sunday, Suhail Shaheen, a spokesperson for the Taliban, said on Twitter that their fighters were under strict orders not to harm anyone. The militant group took over Kabul without facing any resistance from Afghan government forces. “Life, property and honor of no one shall be harmed but must be protected by the…
Read More » - Thailand News
How to obtain Marriage Visa in Thailand?
Looking to spend time with your loved ones in Thailand? You have come to the right place as we are offering you 1 year extension of stay based on your Thai Family/Spouse. Thaiger is here to help you successfully obtain your marriage visa with our simple and easy-to-follow application process. The good news is that you won’t have to deal…
Read More » - World News
Afghan women fear dark days ahead as Taliban return to power
When the Taliban last ruled Afghanistan, women and girls suffered terrible hardships and were stripped of their rights. As the militants prepare to take over the country again, many women fear for the future. SOURCE: DW News
Read More » - Phuket News
CCSA approves “7+7” island hop extension to “Phuket Sandbox”
The so-called “7+7” island hop extension to the “Phuket Sandbox” reopening scheme has been approved by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, allowing travellers from overseas who are vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter Phuket, stay on the island for seven days, and then travel on a sealed route to specified destinations in Surat Thani, Krabi, and Phang Nga. Under the…
Read More » - Thailand News
Monk in Phitsanulok allegedly shoots and kills man at meditation centre
A monk allegedly shot and killed a man, who he had a long-standing feud with, at a Buddhist meditation centre in northern Thailand’s Phitsanulok. The alleged shooter has been stripped of his monkhood and now faces murder charges. Sai Yoi police officer Suparerk Chanmee says the shooting at the Ratchathani Buddhist Meditation Centre was reported to the police around 10am this…
Read More » - Covid-19 News
Zoning, restrictions extended until Aug 31; CCSA discusses “Covid Pass”
The order outlining disease control restrictions and the colour-coded provincial zoning based on Covid-19 infection rates has been extended until August 31 and a slight revision has been made to the order. Along with approving the extension, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration also discussed initiatives to contain the virus and a potential “Thai Covid Pass” for vaccinated residents, with…
Read More » - Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Loud BKK protests, Pfizer vax popular, Monk-in-a-skirt | August 16
Yesterday’s anti-government protest in Bangkok led to violent scenes as police and protesters clashed near the Din Daeng intersection of the capital. The director of the field hospital for Thammasat University in central Thailand’s Pathum Thani province, says they will run out of vaccines. Yesterday, large crowds gathered outside of a Lotus in central Thailand’s Samut Prakan as early as…
Read More » - Thailand News
Bangkok man detained by police after allegedly assaulting woman
A man in Bangkok has been detained by police after allegedly assaulting a female Grab driver and then driving off. A video of the incident shows the man carrying a gun. The 36 year old man identified as “Sethawut” now faces charges of assault, criminal damage, and 2 weapons offences. Sethawut reportedly struck Grab driver Surang Sinkaew. It’s unclear what…
Read More » - World News
Indonesian volcano Mount Merapi erupts
Earlier today, Indonesia’s most active volcano, Mount Merapi erupted. The volcano sent a curtain of ash into the air. Red lava also gushed from its crater. The eruption happened early this morning and shot clouds around 3.5 kilometres away from the volcano. This led to the nearby community being showered in grey ash. Further, this is Mount Merapi’s biggest lava…
Read More » - Thailand News
Monday Covid Update: 21,157 new cases; provincial totals
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported 21,157 new Covid-19 cases and 182 coronavirus-related deaths. There are now 210,934 active Covid-19 cases. Since the start of the pandemic last year, the CCSA has recorded a total of 928,314 Covid-19 cases. The latest and most severe wave of infections, first recorded on April 1, has accounted for 899,451 of those infections.…
Read More » - Thailand News
Samut Sakhon governor to resign, cites poor health after Covid infection and transfer rejection
The governor of the central province of Samut Sakhon, Veerasak Vichitsangsri, who recovered from a severe Covid-19 infection earlier this year, has announced that he wishes to resign from his post to spend his time with his family in Ang Thong. The governor had initially requested a transfer, but it was rejected. The governor contracted Covid-19 in December, during the…
Read More » - Thailand News
OPINION: Why restaurants are so f**ked
Article by Guest Blogger Joelle Parenteau (This article contains some strong language that may offend some people) Covid 19 is about to kill restaurants by the thousands. This pandemic is the ultimate pressure test and restaurants are failing hard. Think about it: when we come out of this, your favourite food spots might not be there any more. Why are…
Read More » - Thailand News
District chief in Chaiyaphum tests positive for Covid despite receiving 2 doses of AstraZeneca
The chief of the Nong Bua Ra We district in the northeastern Thai province of Chaiyaphum has tested positive for Covid. The chief has previously had 2 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, says the provincial communicable disease committee for Chaiyaphum, today. District chief Tinpol Chalermvasutha has travelled to “many places” and participated in “many activities” with other officials from August…
Read More » - Thailand News
Monk accused of dressing up as a woman to go out at night
A young monk in Northeastern Thailand has apparently been dressing up as a woman to go out at night. Photos of the monk dressed in his orange robes were posted along with photos of who appears to be the same person, but dressed up as a woman, were shared on Facebook. Complaints have been sent to the local Office of…
Read More » - Covid-19 News
Thammasat University’s field hospital in Pathum Thani to run out of vaccines tomorrow
The stock of Covid-19 vaccine doses is low at a Thammasat University field hospital in Pathum Thani, just outside Bangkok, and the director says there are enough doses to last until tomorrow. More AstraZeneca vaccine doses were set to arrive on Saturday, but the order was either delayed or cancelled. Director of the field hospital, Dr Chatchai Mingmalairak, says 5,000…
Read More » - Thailand News
Pfizer made available at Samut Prakan Lotus, large crowds form at 4am
Large crowds gathered outside of a Lotus store in central Thailand’s Samut Prakan as early as 4am yesterday after the local hospital announced it was providing Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines at the inoculation site. The Samut Prakan Hospital made a post on Facebook saying the Pfizer vaccine, which was recently donated to Thailand from the US, is now available for those…
Read More » - World News
Expedia report shows rise in international travel searches, focus on big cities
The latest Expedia Travel Recovery Trend Report shows an increase in international searches, with a focus on big cities and longer search windows. The online travel portal says the global rollout of Covid-19 vaccines is helping to rebuild traveller confidence. The company released its first trend report in May, in order to help travel companies reconnect with travellers. The latest…
Read More » - Crime News
Police in Songkhla arrest 5 people, seize 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine
Police arrested five people who were allegedly involved in an operation to smuggle 1,000 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine from the southern province Songkhla, possibly across the border to Malaysia, although reports do not go into detail about which country the drugs were en route to. At around 2:39am on Friday, officers seized the drugs outside the Anan Motor Sales Company…
Read More » - Politics News
At least 5 government ministers named in opposition no-confidence motion
At least 5 government ministers are named in a no-confidence motion being submitted by the opposition Pheu Thai party, including the PM and Health Minister. The Bangkok Post reports that the ministers targeted by the move are PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on, and Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin.…
Read More » - Thailand Protest News
Violent scenes erupt in Bangkok at largest anti-government rally to date
Yesterday’s anti-government protest in Bangkok led to violent scenes as police and protesters clashed near the Din Daeng intersection of the capital. The Bangkok Post reports that violence broke out towards the end of what was the largest “car mob” rally to date. It’s understood that at around 5pm, some younger protesters moved away from the main protests and gathered…
Read More » - Covid-19 News
Monday Covid Update: 21,157 new cases and 182 deaths
21,157 new cases and 182 new coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Since April 1, in the latest and most severe wave of the virus in Thailand, the CCSA has reported 899,451 Covid-19 cases. There are currently 210,934 people in Thailand being treated for the coronavirus. Out of the new cases reported today, 658…
Read More » - Crime News
Couple arrested shipping 490 grams of meth to Australia
After allegedly shipping crystal meth to Australia, a Nigerian man and his Thai girlfriend were arrested in Bangkok. The couple was stopped and arrested on Friday evening allegedly trying to make a shipment at a private mail drop-off point. The Nigerian man was identified as Obimma Anthony and the Thai woman is Marisa Noipitak. The pair were stopped by police…
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