Year: 2022

  • Thailand NewsMan rescued after hanging from cliff overnight, held up by shirt tied to trees

    Man rescued after hanging from cliff overnight, held up by shirt tied to trees

    A man was rescued after he hanged from a high cliff in Phattalung for almost two days, using his shirt to tie himself to the vines, stems, and roots. He was spotted by tourists by the Khao Hua Chang Reservoir and more than 50 people teamed up for the hours-long rescue effort. On Tuesday, 47 year old Amnuay Rattanachotiyo decided…

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  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Govt promises better Thailand Pass experience

    Thailand News Today | Govt promises better Thailand Pass experience

    After some glitches with the Thailand Pass, including a data breach, authorities say the system is being improved to make it more convenient for those travelling to Thailand. A government spokesperson says the Prime Minister has ordered related agencies to quickly fix the system to ensure there are no delays with the approval process, adding that foreign tourism is essential…

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  • World NewsKaren soldiers from Myanmar clash with Burmese army on Thai border

    Karen soldiers from Myanmar clash with Burmese army on Thai border

    Soldiers from the Karen National Union and People’s Defense Force attacked the Burmese army with mortar guns and grenade launchers in Palu village in Myanmar on the Thai-Burmese border yesterday. A reporter for Nation Thailand said the Burmese army fired back with their own mortar guns, and called for backup help from a helicopter dispatched to shoot at the enemy…

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  • Technology NewsGlobal Electric Vehicle sales up 109% last year

    Global Electric Vehicle sales up 109% last year

    In new research on the global electric vehicle market, Canalys estimates that 6.5 million electric vehicles (EVs) were sold worldwide in 2021, up 109% on 2020. EVs include fully electric and plug-in hybrid passenger cars. The total global car market grew just 4% in 2021 as it continued to struggle with Covid-19 restrictions and chip shortages. EV sales represented 9%…

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  • Thailand NewsThai Cabinet “okays” 5 year plan to lower tobacco consumption

    Thai Cabinet “okays” 5 year plan to lower tobacco consumption

    Thailand is going a step further than the graphic (and disturbing) photos on packs of cigarettes to discourage the public from smoking. The Thai Cabinet has approved a five-year road map focusing on lowering tobacco consumption to help improve overall public health. The plan, with a 498 million baht budget, will start this year and end in 2027. The plan to…

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  • PropertyBangkok office owners face flood of new competition – CBRE

    Bangkok office owners face flood of new competition – CBRE

    As the office sector experiences its lowest net take-up rate, Bangkok landlords should upgrade their existing properties and provide better and more flexible leases to lure renters, before a massive amount of new places start to open, stated consultancy firm CBRE Thailand. The pandemic has had the most significant impact on Bangkok office spaces since the 1997 financial crisis. “There…

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  • TravelCity Guide: Where to find the best pizza in Bangkok 2022

    City Guide: Where to find the best pizza in Bangkok 2022

    Bangkok has a fantastic pizza market, with everything from pop ups to fine dining restaurants. Whether you want authentic Italian food, imported cheese, or crispy crusts, The Thaiger’s list of Bangkok’s greatest pizza establishments has you covered. 1. Peppina Peppina needs no introduction. It’s well-known for its authentic Neapolitan-style pizza. The dough has a fluffy texture, and is slightly stretchy,…

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  • Environment NewsAnother leak found in underwater oil pipeline off the Rayong coast

    Another leak found in underwater oil pipeline off the Rayong coast

    Another oil leak in the pipeline off the coast of Rayong has been reported by the Star Petroleum Refining Public Company, which has sent a letter to the Map Ta Phut Provincial Police Station asking permission to repair the pipe and prevent further environmental damage. Since late January, oil leaking from the pipes have polluted Rayong’s Mae Ramphueng Beach, with…

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  • World NewsBali reopens to international tourists after almost 2 years

    Bali reopens to international tourists after almost 2 years

    Yesterday, Bali reopened to foreign tourists with its first international flight in almost two years. The flight was with Singapore airlines, with 109 foreign travellers, and 47 Indonesians. The foreign travellers are required to quarantine in a designated hotel for three to seven days. There are 27 designated hotels for them to choose from. The governor said he hopes in…

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  • PropertyLarge apartments in high demand in Bangkok, despite higher prices

    Large apartments in high demand in Bangkok, despite higher prices

    The resale market is predicted to see steady strong demand for larger condominium units this year, despite higher prices for smaller units in new Bangkok developments. CBRE Thailand stated apartment buyers were seeking bigger apartments in popular locations at reasonable rates, the Bangkok Post reported. Consumers of resale condos like spacious properties with a separated workstation from the lounge. These…

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  • Thailand NewsTeenager allegedly strangles grandmother to death in Isaan

    Teenager allegedly strangles grandmother to death in Isaan

    A teenager in Thailand’s Isaan region, with the help of her boyfriend, allegedly strangled her 62 year old grandmother to death and then dumped the body in a garbage bin, leaving it in a forest by a roadside in another province. Reports in Thai media say the suspects admitted to killing the grandmother because they want to steal 100,000 baht…

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  • Technology NewsHow internet-addicted are Thais? A new report finds out.

    How internet-addicted are Thais? A new report finds out.

    You guessed right, Thais are more internet-addicted than the average person around the world. A report by an analyst group called DataReportal found that in 2021, Thais spent an average of nine hours and six minutes a day on the internet. The global average was almost seven hours per day. Out of that time, an average of five hours and…

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  • World NewsPhilippine Supreme Court approves policy easing path to acquire citizenship

    Philippine Supreme Court approves policy easing path to acquire citizenship

    In the Philippines, the Supreme Court has approved an administrative policy making easier for stateless individuals seeking asylum in the island nation to acquire Philippine citizenship, including orphan children and their legal guardians. The high court approved The Rule on Facilitated Naturalization of Refugees and Stateless Persons in its weekly en banc session on Tuesday. In a statement on Wednesday,…

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  • Covid-19 NewsThursday Covid Update: 17,349 new cases; provincial totals

    Thursday Covid Update: 17,349 new cases; provincial totals

    22 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 22,538 with 840 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 17,349 new Covid-19 cases and 11,561 recoveries. There are now 144,061 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

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  • World NewsCambodia delays internet gateway activists say would “devastate” free expression

    Cambodia delays internet gateway activists say would “devastate” free expression

    The Cambodian government decided to delay implementing an internet gateway that would funnel all web traffic through a state-controlled entry point. Cambodia’s secretary of state for the Telecommunications Ministry said the gateway, which was supposed to be implemented yesterday, is being postponed because of Covid-19. The country’s foreign affairs department attacked foreign media for criticising the gateway, but activists and…

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  • Thailand News3 workers killed in structure collapse at One Bangkok construction site

    3 workers killed in structure collapse at One Bangkok construction site

    Three workers were killed and four others injured when a structure collapsed at a construction site for the luxury complex One Bangkok, which is said to be the biggest real estate project in Thailand with a budget of more than 120 billion baht. The massive project has paused construction following orders from the Bangkok Labor Protection and Welfare Office and the…

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  • World NewsAsia News Today | Hong Kong’s healthcare overwhelmed by Covid infections

    Asia News Today | Hong Kong’s healthcare overwhelmed by Covid infections

    Hong Kong’s healthcare is being overwhelmed by a big surge in new Covid infections. Patients showing symptoms are now having to be treated outside the crowded hospitals. The government admits it is struggling to contain wave of Omicron infections, but is ruling out a Hong Kong-wide lockdown. A record 4,285 new infections were reported yesterday in the special administrative region…

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  • Phuket NewsTourist questioned by police, Phuket taxi drivers said he was driving a “service vehicle”

    Tourist questioned by police, Phuket taxi drivers said he was driving a “service vehicle”

    A Russian tourist was taken to a police station in Phuket for questioning after local taxi drivers reported that the man was driving throughout the island province, claiming he was picking up passengers. The tourist was just driving his family members, but the car he rented ended up being registered as a service vehicle. Both the owner of the vehicle…

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  • World NewsModerna to set up subsidiaries in Taiwan, Hong Kong and SE Asia to dispense mRNA vaccines

    Moderna to set up subsidiaries in Taiwan, Hong Kong and SE Asia to dispense mRNA vaccines

    Moderna Inc., the US biotech company and maker of the popular mRNA covid vaccine, announced on Tuesday its plan to set up four subsidiaries in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan to support the delivery of its vaccines across East and Southeast Asia. The Taiwan-based subsidiary is expected to be established by year’s end, and would bolster the existing medical…

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  • Thailand NewsPhuket governor attends Makha Bucha Day ceremony

    Phuket governor attends Makha Bucha Day ceremony

    The governor of Phuket went to a temple ceremony for Makha Bucha Day yesterday. The governor and other Phuket officials dressed in white and listened to a monk give a sermon about how to apply the principles of Buddhism to their everyday lives. Buddhists often call these principles Dhamma. Attendees later paraded around the ordination hall three times as an…

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  • Tourism NewsPM Prayut orders Thailand Pass to be improved, says tourists are essential

    PM Prayut orders Thailand Pass to be improved, says tourists are essential

    After some glitches with the Thailand Pass, which is required to enter the country, the system is being improved to make it more convenient for those travelling to Thailand. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered government agencies to quickly fix the system to ensure there are no delays with the approval process, adding that foreign tourism is essential for reviving Thailand’s economy,…

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  • Covid-19 NewsThai respiratory specialist calls for total overhaul of how government handles Covid

    Thai respiratory specialist calls for total overhaul of how government handles Covid

    A highly-respected specialist in respiratory illnesses says the Thai government needs to completely change tack in the way it’s dealing with Covid-19. Posting on his Facebook page, Dr Manoon Leechawengongs from Bangkok’s Vichaiyut Hospital has called for an overhaul in how new infections are dealt with and wants expensive PCR tests ditched altogether. The prominent medic says that as it…

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  • Pattaya NewsPattaya tourism officials pin hopes on proposed travel bubble with India

    Pattaya tourism officials pin hopes on proposed travel bubble with India

    Pattaya is looking to India to salvage what’s left of tourism during the forthcoming low season, as Thailand plans a travel bubble with the South Asian nation. According to a Bangkok Post report, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is preparing a marketing plan targeting would-be visitors from India. The country is one of the few short-haul markets that doesn’t require…

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  • World NewsIt’s official: Vietnam will reopen to tourists on March 15

    It’s official: Vietnam will reopen to tourists on March 15

    In a move made three months earlier than planned, Vietnam will completely reopen to tourists starting March 15. Visitors to the country will still have to quarantine for 24 hours, and test negative for Covid-19 before departure and upon arrival. The Vietnamese government said in a statement that the reopening is part of its new response to controlling Covid-19, which…

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  • World NewsMalaysia’s Covid infections hit record high, exceed Delta wave of last year

    Malaysia’s Covid infections hit record high, exceed Delta wave of last year

    Covid-19 infections in Malaysia have surged to a record high, surpassing the numbers seen during the Delta wave last year. Yesterday, Malaysia reported 27,831 new cases, the highest since August 2021, when daily infections reached 24,599. Officials say the current spike is being driven by the highly-contagious Omicron variant, as is the case in many other Asian countries. According to…

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  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok officials set up another 1,000 isolation beds amid surge in infections

    Bangkok officials set up another 1,000 isolation beds amid surge in infections

    As Covid-19 infection numbers surge in Bangkok, officials have set up another 1,000 beds in isolation facilities across the capital. According to a Bangkok Post report, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has instructed all 50 district offices to create more community isolation facilities. Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang says the additional isolation facilities will help ease the burden on hospitals and the…

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  • Thailand NewsDespite Covid-19, tourism authorities still optimistic about this coming year

    Despite Covid-19, tourism authorities still optimistic about this coming year

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand is keeping its chin up, and has high hopes for tourism income this year. The TAT governor told the Bangkok Post today he hopes to target wealthy travellers, skilled professionals, and remote workers. The target age groups include millenials and retirees alike. He says the goal for tourism this year is to earn the country…

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  • Thailand video newsThailand News Update | Optimistic marketing plans to build Thai tourism

    Thailand News Update | Optimistic marketing plans to build Thai tourism

    The forever optimistic Tourism Authority of Thailand is continuing to roll out its current marketing plans to target both international and domestic travellers despite a luke-warm start to the year. 2022 started with only the Phuket Sandbox and a quarantine option available for international arrivals, and even after the Test & Go option was re-instated on February 1, the numbers…

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  • Thailand NewsAmnesty says Thailand’s attempts to expel it should serve as a warning to other NGOs

    Amnesty says Thailand’s attempts to expel it should serve as a warning to other NGOs

    The human rights organisation Amnesty International says the government’s attempts to kick it out of the country should serve as a warning to other non-governmental organisations operating in Thailand. Kyle Ward, Amnesty’s deputy secretary general, says the calls for expulsion can be linked to a new draft law that seeks to intensify scrutiny of NGOs operating in Thailand. He says…

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  • Thailand video newsBangkok officially named “Krung Thep Maha nakhon” I GMT

    Bangkok officially named “Krung Thep Maha nakhon” I GMT

    The official for Thailand’s capital is in the process of being changed to its more formal name “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon”. Almost 8,000 have signed up for compensation from owner of the underwater pipeline that leaked crude oil into the sea in Rayong province. Interpol has issued Red Notices for both suspects wanted in the targeted killing of an Indian…

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  • Thailand News3 men arrested after allegedly selling tiger, leopard skins to undercover police

    3 men arrested after allegedly selling tiger, leopard skins to undercover police

    Three men were arrested yesterday after they were allegedly caught selling clouded leopard and tiger hides to an undercover officer. Along with three live leopard kittens, tiger and leopard hides valued at two million baht were seized by national park officers and police at a resort in Kanchanaburi, which borders Myanmar. Officers had received a tip that illegal wildlife traders…

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  • Thai LifeMovie Guide: Top Thai films to watch on Netflix 2022

    Movie Guide: Top Thai films to watch on Netflix 2022

    There are countless movies to watch at home, whether it’s on one of the many streaming services, that dusty DVD collection you have laying around, or even your favourite pirating site (not recommended). But what about Thai films? When it comes to local Thai entertainment, choosing a movie to watch after work, on a date or on vacation can be…

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  • Covid-19 NewsThe tale of two Covids – the world diverges

    The tale of two Covids – the world diverges

    OPINION There are two Covid conversations going on at the same time, depending where you live in the world. In one Covid universe, countries are lowering restrictions, reopening borders, letting their citizens walk around with out face masks and, generally, get on with things. In the parallel Covid universe, countries are gingerly re-opening their borders but still with restrictions, expensive…

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  • Cannabis NewsThailand’s crazy cannabis laws explained

    Thailand’s crazy cannabis laws explained

    Thailand’s recent changes to the laws around cannabis have sparked confusion across the country, with many questioning, “Is weed legal now?” Well.. not the weed that will cause a high. There’s a limit on the plant’s psychoactive component, known as THC, so you won’t get stoned when you order a cannabis-infused tea or dish topped with a pot leaf. Those…

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  • World NewsTaiwan to ease entry restrictions, cut quarantine to 10 days in March

    Taiwan to ease entry restrictions, cut quarantine to 10 days in March

    Taiwan plans to relax its strict COVID-19 quarantine policy beginning in March, in order to reopen to the world and gradually resume normal life, the government said on Tuesday. Since the start of the pandemic, Taiwan has enforced a blanket two-week quarantine on everyone arriving to the island, even while its neighbours in Asia began implementing reopening strategies last year,…

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  • Bangkok NewsBangkok to be officially named “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon”

    Bangkok to be officially named “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon”

    The official for Thailand’s capital is in the process of being changed to its more formal name “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon,” but its common name “Bangkok” will still be recognised. The Thai Cabinet approved the name change in principle, but the order still needs to be vetted by government officials. Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, or “Krung Thep” as most Thais…

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  • Thailand NewsFormer street food vendor making more money from homemade dog food business

    Former street food vendor making more money from homemade dog food business

    A former street food vendor in the western province of Kanchanaburi has launched a new business venture selling homemade dog food. According to a Nation Thailand report, Surachet Kangsri now makes more money from his dog food business and has stopped selling human food. Surachet says he came up with the idea when he realised customers who were buying his…

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