Year: 2022
- Phuket News
Phuket man posts photos of teen girls in underwear on Facebook
A man in Phuket posted photos of teenage girls in underwear on an unnamed “popular Phuket Facebook page”. The girls allegedly ranged from early to mid teens. One girl wore shorts and a training bra, and another wore a bra and unbuttoned jeans. Online viewers accused the man of “deceiving” the girls into taking off their clothes, according to The…
Read More » - Crime News
Man arrested for allegedly blackmailing student who later committed suicide
A 26 year old was arrested for allegedly blackmailing high school students which is believed to have led to the student’s suicide. The man allegedly made a fake account online, identifying himself as a teenage girl and luring students into sending sexually explicit videos, then demanding money, threatening to release the videos. Police say they believe the man was targeting…
Read More » - World News
As residents run out of patience, Hong Kong considers easing Covid restrictions
The Hong Kong government is considering rolling back some Covid restrictions, aware that public tolerance is fading. Chief Executive Carrie Lam says that even though the infection rate is not yet declining, some restrictions could be eased, recognising that the public has had enough. “Not because the number of cases has come down, but I have a very strong feeling…
Read More » - Songkran News
Public Health Minister “suggests” Thais focus on family, not booze, during Songkran
As Thais wait for officials to announce today whether Songkran water festivals will happen in April, Public Health Minister Anutin suggests they completely skip the alcohol. At a press conference yesterday, Anutin confirmed Thais will be allowed to travel and visit family. He said Thais should focus on family and “traditional religious activities”, according to The Pattaya News. Anutin “asked”…
Read More » - Pattaya News
Pattaya security guards allegedly attack foreign tourist following bill dispute
Security guards at a nightlife complex in central Pattaya are accused of attacking a foreign tourist in a dispute over a bill. The Pattaya News reports that the incident took place around 11.30pm last night at the Tree Town complex, with a 58-year-old man, reportedly Irish, injured in the brawl. For their part, the guards claim the tourist refused to…
Read More » - Thailand News
Alcohol lobby groups call for 2pm – 5pm booze sales ban to be lifted
As Thai laws go, it’s one of the more confusing ones, as evidenced by the sight of frowning tourists scratching their heads as they stand in front of a 7 Eleven fridge at the wrong time of day. In Thailand, alcoholic drinks can be sold from 11am to 2pm and from 5pm to midnight. If you fancy a couple of…
Read More » - Koh Samui News
Koh Samui villa owner cuts rates in half for Ukrainian couple stuck in Thailand
A kind villa owner on the southern island of Koh Samui has reduced the rates of his villa by 50% for a Ukrainian couple who can’t return to their country due to the ongoing violence caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. There are no commercial airlines are flying to Ukraine as the country closed its airspace to civilian flights following…
Read More » - Thailand video news
Thailand News Update | North Korea shares coding knowledge with Thailand
Another big day for the CCSA as we hope to see some decisions coming out that will ease current restrictions or further modifications to the Thailand Pass. On the agenda, the possible removal of the pre-arrival PCR test, a lowering of the insurance amount from 20,000 to US$10,000, allowing Thailand’s nightlife to officially reopen and even a possible relaxation of…
Read More » - World News
Kanye West blocked from Instagram for a day
Instagram has blocked Kanye West from posting, commenting, and sending messages for 24 hours, the social media company announced yesterday. Instagram also deleted some of West’s content. A spokesperson for Instagram said the content violated rules on hate speech, bullying, and harassment. American media said the post deleted targeted talk show host Trevor Noah, after Noah called West “belligerent” over…
Read More » - Songkran News
CCSA to discuss Songkran splashing rules today
To splash or not the splash? That’s one of the questions Thai government officials will be mulling today as they consider how to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 infections during next month’s Songkran festivities. This year Thailand will take a 5-day break from April 13 to 1 in celebration of Songkran, or the Thai New Year, for the first time…
Read More » - Covid-19 News
Medical expert calls for transition from favipiravir to more effective molnupiravir
A leading health professional says Thailand should phase out the use of favipiravir, saying molnupiravir is a more effective Covid-19 treatment. Dr Opass Putcharoen, from the Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Diseases Clinical Centre, says this will be essential as the country moves to declaring Covid-19 endemic. He added that the cost of molnupiravir produced in India is somewhere between 600…
Read More » - Tourism News
FTI wants Test & Go dropped, all entry restrictions lifted for vaccinated arrivals
The Federation of Thai Industries is urging the government to ditch the Test & Go scheme and to lift all entry restrictions for vaccinated tourists. According to a Bangkok Post report, the industry body is calling for an end to quarantine and PCR testing in a bid to restore the country’s shattered tourism sector. Chairman Supant Mongkolsuthree says he will…
Read More » - Thailand video news
Dry Songkran plans for 2022 in Thailand | GMT
The government will meet on Friday to deliberate ways to curb the spread of Covid-19 during the Songkran holiday period, which includes a proposed ban on water-splashing. The public health minister says Thailand is prepared to deal with any new variant of the coronavirus including the newly emerged Deltacron. Muay Thai elbowing football player faces a lifetime ban. Thai driver Alex…
Read More » - Pattaya News
Architect Mario Kleff demonstrates the use of exotic wood in furniture design for luxury homes
Exotic hardwood from Thailand has become increasingly popular within the local furniture market. Homeowners are looking towards locally sourced materials more frequently now for their bespoke furniture requirements. The rarest domestic hardwood types in Thailand include Dalbergia Cochinchinensis, Afzelia Xylocarpa and Tectona grandis. If these names are too hard to even attempt to pronounce, don’t worry, because we can’t say…
Read More » - Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Officials move closer to declaring Covid-19 endemic
The requirement for overseas arrivals to take a PCR test 72 hours prior to departure from their home country could soon be scrapped. According to a report, the CCSA will discuss dropping the requirement when it meets tomorrow. Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrajit from the Public Health Ministry says international arrivals would still be required to take a PCR test on arrival…
Read More » - Thailand News
Thailand committee meeting with North Korean diplomats draws criticism
A meeting between Thailand’s committee on computer coding and North Korean ambassadors yesterday drew criticism from Thais. The vice president of the committee made a post about the meeting on her Facebook page, saying the committee met with the diplomats at the Embassy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in Bangkok to discuss working together on coding projects. The…
Read More » - Travel
Survival Guide: Top taboos gifts NOT to buy a Thai…
Thailand is a country full of superstitions. While the majority of Thais believe in spirits, others live in fear of some fairly strange myths. Even the most forward-thinking, city-dwelling Thais have their doubts. Giving gifts is a tricky matter, and it’s all too simple to get it wrong. Instead of being romantic and sweet, you may be stepping into the…
Read More » - Thailand News
Carl’s Jr. says goodbye to Thailand, stores in Bangkok and Pattaya close next week
The American fast-food chain, Carl’s Jr., is saying goodbye to Thailand. All six of its stores in Bangkok and Pattaya will close by the end of the month. The R&R Restaurant Group, which owns the franchise rights to run Carl’s Jr. chains in Thailand, says that it can no longer afford to operate it. The group says it was forced to…
Read More » - Economy News
Thailand’s power will be more expensive in May
From May until August, Thailand’s electricity price will rise to four baht per kilowatt hour, going up by 0.23-1.3 baht per unit. The country’s Energy Regulatory Commission is raising fuel tariffs following Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine. An ERC spokesman said another reason for the price surge is the declining supply of natural gas from the Gulf of Thailand. Russia’s…
Read More » - Thailand News
Spicy som tam vendor in Thailand brings in 10,000 baht a day after posing in lingerie
It’s all about the som tam. One spicy som tam vendor in Buriram is bringing in 10,000 per day in sales… but how? Her unique marketing campaign. She posts photos of herself wearing a bikini top and lingerie while making the spicy papaya salad and posing by her shop. Her sign for her shop is even a cartoon of a curvy…
Read More » - Phuket News
Club Med Phuket reopens after over 2 years
After closing its doors for over two years since the Covid-19 pandemic struck, Club Med Phuket is now back in business. The resort reopened yesterday following efforts to clean up the area and bring back tourists. The island province’s Vice Governor Pichet, who attended the reopening, said the reopening should help Phuket’s disheveled tourism economy. “Club Med is known around…
Read More » - Thailand News
Health officials to give Molnupiravir and Paxlovid to Covid-19 patients in Thailand
Two anti-viral medications will be added to the Covid-19 treatment plan in Thailand. The Department of Medical Services shared that the Molnupiravir and Paxlovid medicines have been approved for treating Covid-19 patients. Molnupiravir is intended to treat high-risk groups like elders and patients with chronic diseases. Relevant departments will discuss the use of Paxlovid. The primary Covid-19 medication, the anti-viral…
Read More » - Business News
Burger chain closes its doors in Thailand, for good
Carl’s Jr. is planning to close all 6 of their locations in Thailand by the end of March. The local owners of the burger chain, R&R Restaurant Group, says they are no longer able to carry the losses and costs of operating the fast food chain. The chain first opened in Thailand in 2012 with its first store in Pattaya in…
Read More » - Property
Singapore home sales down 22%, as expat workforce hits 12-year low
Home sales in Singapore have fallen to their lowest rate in nearly 2 years, as cooling policies and rising property taxes slowed the residential market. The number of foreign white-collar professionals working in the city-state has also reached a 12-year low. The poor property sales reflect a lack of consumer confidence after the Singapore government raised taxes on high-end residences…
Read More » - Thailand News
3 teenagers missing in Kanchanaburi’s Kwai Noi river
Three teenagers are missing after they went swimming in a river in the western province Kanchanaburi and were dragged out by the strong current. The teenagers along with a seven year old child were swimming in the Kwai Noi River when they were swept out far from the shore. A woman jumped into the water and managed to save the…
Read More » - Thailand News
Young homeless man in Bangkok reunited with family after TikTok video goes viral
A young homeless man in Bangkok was reunited with his family after a motorbike taxi driver shared a video of the man on social media. The driver said the homeless man in the capital’s Asoke area was “handsome, just like a Chinese leading actor.” The video went viral on Thai social media, reaching the man’s family. His father travelled to…
Read More » - Covid-19 News
Thursday Covid Update: 25,456 new cases; provincial totals
77 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 23,995 with 2,297 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 25,456 new Covid-19 cases and 22,217 recoveries. There are now 225,134 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…
Read More » - Thailand News
Police crack down on alleged network selling forged documents, fake Covid test results
Thai police cracked down on the sales and production of fake PCR Covid-19 test results as well education certificates and other documents needed for jobs overseas. Three people, who police suspect are part of a large network, were arrested for allegedly posing as medical practitioners selling the forged documents. The Department of Health Service Support received complaints about the sales…
Read More » - World News
Japan earthquake kills 4, injures almost 100
A 7.4 earthquake hit the northeast coast of Japan late last night, killing at least four and injuring almost 100. About 36,400 houses had no electricity this morning, although an electricity firm said most houses are expected to have electricity again later today. Japan issued a tsunami warning, but canceled it early this morning. Parts of Tokyo also lost power…
Read More » - World News
Asia News Today | Chinese react to stock slump, Thai nightlife may re-open
China’s top economic official have stepped in to reassure investors, claiming that Beijing will take measures to support the Chinese economy and financial markets. The comments follow a sharp sell-off that has been partly fuelled by reaction from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Liu He, a vice-premier and economic adviser to the Communist party executive, says the government will take measures…
Read More » - World News
Cambodia stops requiring Covid-19 tests for international visitors
Today, Cambodia stopped requiring international travellers to test for Covid-19 upon entering the country. Visitors still must be fully vaccinated, with proof of vaccination, to avoid two weeks of quarantine. Cambodian authorities also plan to issue visas on arrival again, which were suspended before due to Covid-19. The country’s Ministry of Health didn’t confirm when this would start, though. Cambodia…
Read More » - Thailand News
Tangmo: Panel to verify 2nd autopsy details, includes ‘punk rock auntie’ Pornthip
A panel of forensic experts is set to review the details of a second autopsy for the Thai actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharavirapong. The panel, which includes “punk rock auntie” Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan, has been assembled by the Ministry of Justice for a fresh examination of Tanmo’s remains taking place to day, as the investigation into her death marks three weeks.…
Read More » - Thailand News
“Ganja-naburi”: Kanchanaburi is becoming Thailand’s medical marijuana capital
Kanchanaburi… more like “Ganja-naburi.” The western province is becoming a hub for medical marijuana, aka ganja, with more and more community enterprises getting licences to grow the once-criminalised plant. 260 kilograms of cannabis were harvested for the second time at a medical marijuana event in Kanchanaburi yesterday. The cannabis was planted six months ago by eight community enterprises that are…
Read More » - World News
UKRAINE UPDATES: Biden approves military aid after Zenelsky speech; Russia strikes Mariupol theatre with children
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave a speech to the US Congress on Wednesday. In a virtual address, Zelenksy repeated his plea for a no-fly zone and called for more sanctions on Russia, as Russian forces inch toward Kyiv, with intensified fighting around the capital. After Zelensky challenged him to be “the leader of peace“, US President Joe Biden pledged an additional $800…
Read More » - Thailand News
Man accidentally kills wife with backhoe at railway construction site
A man accidentally killed his wife when he ran over her with a backhoe in a tragic incident at a railway construction site in Ratchaburi in central Thailand on Monday, according to a report in Thai media. 45 year old Kaikaew Thongkham worked as a team with his 40 year old wife Amphon Pima at the double-railway construction site. Kaikaew…
Read More » - World News
Iran frees captives held for 5, 6 years
Today, Iranian authorities freed two British-Iranian nationals imprisoned in the country for five and six years. One captive, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, was arrested in 2016. The other captive, Anoosheh Ashoori, was arrested in 2017. Nazanin was a project manager for Thompson Reuters Foundation when she was arrested, and Anoosheh was a businessman. Iranian authorities accused Nazanin of trying to “overthrow” the…
Read More » - Northern Thailand News
Low-magnitude earthquakes detected in Northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai
Two low-magnitude earthquakes shook two districts in Northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai. The earthquakes were very mild and residents in the areas were not affected, and probably didn’t even feel it, according to Thai media. Earthquake Observation Division reported earthquakes at Chiang Rai’s Wiang Pa Pao and Mae Lao districts. The first 1.3 magnitude quake happened at Wiang Pa Pao district…
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