Year: 2022

  • Covid-19 NewsDeadline to apply for 60-day “Covid” visa extension pushed to March 25

    Deadline to apply for 60-day “Covid” visa extension pushed to March 25

    While there has been no formal announcement, it appears the deadline to apply for the 60-day “Covid” visa extension scheme has been pushed to March 25. The deadline was set for today, but a signed document from Thai Immigration leaked last night shows that foreigners can now apply for the visa extension for another two months. The visa extension scheme…

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  • Thailand video newsThailand News Update | Woman infected with Covid19 allegedly kidnapped

    Thailand News Update | Woman infected with Covid19 allegedly kidnapped

    The Thai government is working with domestic insurance companies to come up with more relevant Covid insurance options to foreign tourists whose own insurance won’t cover hospital or hotel isolation if they end up being quarantined with an asymptomatic infection. The governor of the TAT says officials are in talks with the Office of the Insurance Commission. Yuthasak Supasorn says…

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  • Crime NewsPolice officer charged in fatal big bike collision with pedestrian enters monkhood

    Police officer charged in fatal big bike collision with pedestrian enters monkhood

    A police officer who hit a woman with his Ducati bike as she was on a zebra crossing has been ordained as a monk. According to a Bangkok Post report, 21-year-old Narawich Buadok chose to enter the monkhood to make merit for the killing of Dr Waraluck Supawatjariyakul last Friday afternoon. The Bangkok ophthalmologist was mown down as she was…

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  • World NewsFirms warn of Hong Kong talent shortage as expats give up and leave due to ongoing Covid restrictions

    Firms warn of Hong Kong talent shortage as expats give up and leave due to ongoing Covid restrictions

    Investment banks and corporate laws firms are among the businesses warning of an impending talent crunch in Hong Kong as ongoing travel restrictions force expats to give up and leave. According to a Reuters report, Australian lawyer Tania Sibree is one of many foreign professionals heading back home. “The hotel quarantine made it just so tough for people to travel…

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  • Thailand video newsFrom Ducati cop to ordained monk | GMT

    From Ducati cop to ordained monk | GMT

    The deadline to apply for a 60-day “Covid-19” visa extension is tomorrow, although it is possible that the Thai Immigration Bureau could continue the scheme for another two months. The announcements in the past have often been last minute and sometimes made even after the deadline had passed.

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  • Covid-19 NewsFourth vaccine dose being offered to Thais, foreigners across 10 provinces

    Fourth vaccine dose being offered to Thais, foreigners across 10 provinces

    Residents, both Thai and foreign, in 10 Thai provinces, will be offered a fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose ahead of the return of the Test & Go entry scheme. The Public Health Ministry has confirmed that fourth dose is being offered to provinces that are heavily reliant on tourism and/or where the infection rate is high. The Bangkok Post reports that…

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  • World NewsTaiwan reports 39 Chinese warplanes including H-6 bomber in air defence zone

    Taiwan reports 39 Chinese warplanes including H-6 bomber in air defence zone

    Taiwan air force has ordered its fighter jets to dispatch and missile defence systems activated yesterday after dozens of Chinese jets infiltrated the island’s air defence zone with an H-6 bomber. Although Beijing had not released a statement on the event, the warplanes were reportedly seen in the south-western Air Defence Identification Zone, which is self-declared airspace that is monitored…

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  • Thailand NewsMore than 100 migrants caught in Kanchanaburi for alleged illegal entry

    More than 100 migrants caught in Kanchanaburi for alleged illegal entry

    Thai border patrols arrested 107 Burmese migrants for allegedly illegally crossing the border into the western province Kanchanaburi on Sunday. The migrants told Thai officials they came from Phayathonezu, Moulmein, Yangon, Bago and Dawei townships in Myanmar. They crossed into Thailand seeking jobs here. Authorities also arrested one Thai guide for providing assistance to people illegally entering the country. Authorities…

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  • Thailand NewsThailand’s Digital Economy and Society Minister infected with Covid-19

    Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society Minister infected with Covid-19

    Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society Minister has Covid-19. The minister, Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, is currently in hospital with a fever and headache. He says he may have contracted the virus on a trip to Chiang Mai last Thursday. It remains unknown which variant he contracted. The infection has not reached his lungs, however, other members of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party…

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  • World NewsIndonesia calls for tougher sentences in child abuses as cases rise

    Indonesia calls for tougher sentences in child abuses as cases rise

    The judiciary of Indonesia was slammed by right groups when a 10-year jail term was sentenced to a 37 year old Christian priest Benyamin Sitepu, the principal of Galilea Hosana School in Medan, who was accused of sexually assaulting six students under his care. The families were disappointed with the verdict by the Medan District Court as Sitepu did not…

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  • Thailand NewsAfrican Swine Fever reported at three pig farms in Prachuap Khiri Khan

    African Swine Fever reported at three pig farms in Prachuap Khiri Khan

    Provincial livestock authorities in Prachuap Khiri Khan discovered three pig farms in Muang and Thap Sakae districts were infected with African Swine Fever. The reports come in the midst of a pork price crisis said to be driven by an outbreak of the highly contagious and deadly viral disease of pigs. 117 pigs from the three farms altogether had to…

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  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Talks of insurance coverage for asymptomatic travellers

    Thailand News Today | Talks of insurance coverage for asymptomatic travellers

    In today’s news, more talks on insurance coverage for asymptomatic travelers. Meanwhile, Thailand and Saudi Arabia trying to renew their relations after 3 decades of frostiness, and the latest talks on legalizing e-cigarettes in Thailand. All this is coming up in today’s program. You’re watching Thailand News Today, bringing you the top headlines in Thailand and beyond. And in today’s…

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  • Thailand NewsWoman kidnapped from hotel quarantine allegedly by men posing as police officers

    Woman kidnapped from hotel quarantine allegedly by men posing as police officers

    A woman infected with Covid-19 was allegedly kidnapped from a quarantine hotel in Bangkok by a group of men posing as police officers. The 55 year old father file a report with police on Saturday, claiming that his 23 year old daughter was kidnapped from a hotel quarantine by a group of men claiming to be police. Apparently, one of…

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  • Thailand News32 public toilets at Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya will be ready by this April

    32 public toilets at Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya will be ready by this April

    The Deputy City Mayor of Pattaya told Thai media that 32 public toilets at Bali Hai Pier will be finished and ready to use by April, admitting that construction for the 5 million baht restroom project had fallen a bit behind schedule. Deputy mayor Pattana Boonsawat told Thai media that the construction of the toilets fell behind schedule due to…

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  • World NewsSamsung removes ad in Singapore of drag queen hugging Muslim mother

    Samsung removes ad in Singapore of drag queen hugging Muslim mother

    Following the outcry from socially conservative groups, South Korean electronics giant Samsung has withdrawn its online advertisement in Singapore that portrayed a hijab-wearing Muslim mom hugging her drag queen son. The ad from Samsung’s “Listen to Your Heart” promotion was allegedly accused of advertising homosexuality and transgenderism by promoting wearable devices like noise-cancelling headphones and smartwatches that apparently highlighted the…

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  • World NewsAmerican retail giant Walmart shows interest in Laos

    American retail giant Walmart shows interest in Laos

    Walmart might be moving to Laos. An American multinational retail conglomerate, best known for its hypermarket and grocery store chains across the States, has shown its interest in Laos as a group of Lao-Americans met yesterday, including the Lao Overseas Affairs Department and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), to discuss investment in Laos. The team, led by…

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  • Covid-19 NewsMonday Covid Update: 7,139 new cases; provincial totals

    Monday Covid Update: 7,139 new cases; provincial totals

    13 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 22,045 with 347 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 7,139 new Covid-19 cases and 8,100 recoveries. There are now 82,485 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

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  • World NewsIndonesia to launch travel bubble with Singapore, entry to islands Batam, Bintan

    Indonesia to launch travel bubble with Singapore, entry to islands Batam, Bintan

    A travel bubble is in the works between Singapore and Indonesia’s resort islands of Batam and Bintan. The Covid-19 situation at both islands in the archipelago is now under control and officials are moving forward with plans for a safe travel corridor, according to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto during a virtual press conference today. “The government is pushing…

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  • South Thailand NewsRuling party ousts renegade MP Thammanat Prompao after tumultuous career

    Ruling party ousts renegade MP Thammanat Prompao after tumultuous career

    Thailand’s ruling Palang Pracharat Party has ousted the notorious Thai politician Thammanat Prompao who, apart from other alleged transgressions, was convicted conspiring to import heroin in Australia. He has also been accused of urging voters in a Songkhla bi-election to vote for someone “from a family with pedigree and wealth,” a statement his opponents in the party considered divisive. Palang…

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  • Pattaya NewsMotorbike rider seriously injured after crashing into a parked truck in Chon Buri

    Motorbike rider seriously injured after crashing into a parked truck in Chon Buri

    Yesterday, a woman in Chon Buri crashed her motorbike into a parked car in Nong Maidang sub-district. The woman, identified as 33 year old Roongruedee Krairatchimplee, has sustained serious head and face injuries, and was in severe pain. Emergency services rushed Roongruedee to the local hospital. The accident happened on a bypass road. Reports do not say if the motorbike…

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  • Things To DoInteresting facts about Chinese New Year tradition in Thailand

    Interesting facts about Chinese New Year tradition in Thailand

    Chinese New Year is one of the biggest festivals in Asia. While most Westerners experience ‘Chinese New Year’ by watching parades in Chinatown and having a great meal, its traditions vary from country to country. Around 15% of the population of Thailand are believed to be descended from Chinese settlers who arrived in Thailand in the early nineteenth century. As…

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  • Thailand NewsThailand women’s football pressing on despite defeat by Philippines

    Thailand women’s football pressing on despite defeat by Philippines

    The Philippines’ women’s football team defeated Thailand in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup today. Still, the team’s coach, Miyo Okamoto, is determined to correct her team’s mistakes and win against Indonesia in their second match tonight. The players, Miyo says, must stop keeping the ball on their own half, adding that “we can’t just keep the ball in our own…

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  • Visa Information“Covid-19” visa extension deadline tomorrow, no word from immigration

    “Covid-19” visa extension deadline tomorrow, no word from immigration

    The deadline to apply for a 60-day “Covid-19” visa extension is tomorrow, although it is possible that the Thai Immigration Bureau could continue the scheme for another two months. The announcements in the past have often been last minute and sometimes made even after the deadline had passed. The 60-day extension was launched for foreigners who are unable to leave…

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  • Pattaya NewsPattaya bar raided by police at 5am, some test positive for illicit drugs

    Pattaya bar raided by police at 5am, some test positive for illicit drugs

    The pub manager, guests, and staff members of a bar in Pattaya were arrested at around 5am over the weekend for violating Covid-19 measures that require restaurants to stop serving alcohol by 9pm. Nationwide, entertainment venues – which have faced closure orders since April – have been able to apply to open temporarily as restaurants. But bars and other unapproved…

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  • Tourism NewsThailand Wellness Sandbox entry launching in coastal districts of Hua Hin, Cha-am

    Thailand Wellness Sandbox entry launching in coastal districts of Hua Hin, Cha-am

    In an effort to draw in a tourist base focused on health and wellness, the Thailand Wellness Sandbox entry programme is launching in the coastal region of Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin district and Phetchaburi’s Cha-am district. These locations were selected for the first tier of the Wellness Sandbox project. Officials are looking into adding more destinations later on. The…

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  • TravelCity Guide: Top gyms in Bangkok to achieve your fitness goals for 2022

    City Guide: Top gyms in Bangkok to achieve your fitness goals for 2022

    Bangkok’s workout craze has been gaining momentum in recent years. In light of the pandemic, people are more aware of their health and concerned about their fitness than ever before. Now Bangkok is so full of gyms, you might think it’s always been that way. These days you can find one in nearly every shopping centre. But if you’re new…

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  • Thailand NewsGovernment mulls legalising e-cigarettes to reduce number of cigarette smokers

    Government mulls legalising e-cigarettes to reduce number of cigarette smokers

    A Thai government ministry is discussing the legalisation of e-cigarettes in a bid to reduce the number of cigarette smokers in the country. According to a Nation Thailand report, the Digital Economy and Society Ministry wants to be able to offer smokers an alternative to cigarettes. The development has been welcomed by Asa Salikupt from the End Cigarette Smoke Thailand…

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  • Crime NewsPolice officer charged following death of Bangkok pedestrian hit by speeding bike

    Police officer charged following death of Bangkok pedestrian hit by speeding bike

    A Thai police officer has been charged with multiple offences after his speeding Ducati bike collided with a Bangkok doctor on a zebra crossing. The charges, filed by Phaya Thai district police, include reckless driving and not stopping for pedestrians at a zebra crossing. Dr. Waraluck Supavatjariyakul died after being hit by Naravich Buadok’s bike as she crossed Phaya Thai…

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  • Visa InformationRed tape remains for foreign retirees in Thailand

    Red tape remains for foreign retirees in Thailand

    This year, travel magazine International Living rated Thailand 11th most desirable country to retire in, out of 25. Despite this ranking, there are still regulations making it difficult for foreigners to stay here. Those with visas for one or more years are still required to report to immigration officials every 90 days. Foreigners with a Non-Immigrant O or Non-Immigrant OA…

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  • Covid-19 NewsWHO says Europe could be heading for end of pandemic following Omicron surge

    WHO says Europe could be heading for end of pandemic following Omicron surge

    The World Health Organisation’s Europe director says the region could be headed for the end of the pandemic. According to an AFP report, Hans Kluge says the highly-contagious Omicron variant is likely to infect 60% of Europeans by March. This could move the virus into a new phase and herald the end of its pandemic status in Europe, once the…

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  • Thailand video newsThailand News Update | Easing of alcohol ban in Thailand

    Thailand News Update | Easing of alcohol ban in Thailand

    Put on your party shoes… from tonight you’ll be able to stay out a bit later for a drink. The easing of the alcohol ban for 8 Blue Zone provinces goes into effect today with restaurants and the growing number of ‘faux restaurants’ allowed to sell alcoholic drinks until 11 pm. Bars, pubs, karaoke, nightclubs, and other nightlife and entertainment…

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  • Thailand NewsThai PM to visit Saudi Arabia as guest of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman

    Thai PM to visit Saudi Arabia as guest of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman

    The Thai PM will be in Saudi Arabia tomorrow and Wednesday, invited by its leader, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Prayut Chan-o-cha’s brief visit was confirmed by a statement from Government House yesterday. According to the statement, the visit aims to promote bilateral ties between both countries. A statement from the Saudi ministry says the trip is for both governments…

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  • Thailand video newsAlcohol sales restrictions in Thailand ease again! I GMT

    Alcohol sales restrictions in Thailand ease again! I GMT

    A crowd control policeman has surrendered to police and admitted to driving a big bike that hit and killed a female doctor in Bangkok on Friday, according to media reports. | Ep.178

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  • Tourism NewsGovernment to make more Covid insurance options available to foreign tourists

    Government to make more Covid insurance options available to foreign tourists

    The Thai government wants to offer more Covid-19 insurance options to foreign tourists whose own insurance doesn’t cover hospitels or hotel isolation in cases of asymptomatic infection. According to a Bangkok Post report, the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand says officials are in talks with the Office of the Insurance Commission. Yuthasak Supasorn says premiums could start at…

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  • Thailand NewsAlcohol until 11 pm at food venues in 8 Blue provinces from tomorrow

    Alcohol until 11 pm at food venues in 8 Blue provinces from tomorrow

    Put on your party boots; tomorrow it’s time to go out late for drinks on a Monday! The easing of the alcohol ban for 8 Blue Zone provinces goes into effect tomorrow with restaurants and similar venues allowed to sell drinks until 11 pm now. Bars, pubs, karaoke, nightclubs, and other nightlife and entertainment venues will not be legally allowed…

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  • Northern Thailand NewsLocal farmers accused of setting 100 elephant traps near sanctuary

    Local farmers accused of setting 100 elephant traps near sanctuary

    Officials from the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary in Loei province filed a complaint with police about neighbouring villagers, accusing them of setting more than 100 elephant traps. The neighbours were alleged to have set the traps to protect their farms from elephants eating their crops. The sanctuary officials brought several of the elephant traps with them to the police as…

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  • Covid-19 NewsFree Covid-19 testing events in Bangkok daily throughout January

    Free Covid-19 testing events in Bangkok daily throughout January

    With Covid-19 infections on the rise, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration launched a series of testing events in 80 communities around the city through the end of January. The campaign is aimed at proactive testing to identify and hopefully contain infections as the highly contagious Omicron variant spreads quickly through the city and the country. The series of testing events began…

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