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Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
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Sponsored Outdoor adventures in Thailand for adrenaline seekers
The Thaiger key takeaways Thailand provides a wide range of adventure activities, from whitewater rafting and rock climbing to ziplining, scuba diving, and skydiving, suitable for all skill levels. Macro and marine life exploration, Muay Thai camps, kiteboarding, ATV riding,...
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The 77 Percent — The retirement age impasse
How long do you want to work before retiring? In most African countries the retirement age is 60. But in Uganda, some civil servants want to change their age legally so that they can stay in the job market for longer. Unsurprisingly, young Ugandans who face crippling unemplyment are very much against the idea. On this week’s show we delve…
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Siarhei Tsikhanouski: From blogger to activist to political prisoner?
Belarusian video blogger Siarhei Tsikhanouski was in pretrial detention for more than 18 months. On Tuesday, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison on charges of organizing mass unrest and of inciting social hatred. Tsikhanouski’s emergence on the Belarusian political scene in the spring of 2020 came as a surprise to many in the country. In May 2020, media…
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AfricaLink On Air – 14 December 2021
Nigeria’s security situation at a glance +++ Gambia’s main opposition party heads to the supreme court to challenge the outcome of the December 4th presidential election +++ Is Cameroon serious about protecting the LGBTQ community? +++ Mali’s young creative farmers changing the game +++ Russia – Ukraine tension SOURCE: DW News
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Sudan: Military used heavy weapons against anti-coup protesters, NGOs say
The deaths of at least 41 unarmed protesters in Sudan have caught the attention and condemnation of international observers. Despite the internet outage ordered by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan following the military coup on October 25, activists were able to document the use of anti-aircraft weapons and armor-piercing bullets. The footage shows clearly that the Sudanese Security Forces and militias such…
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Indonesia: Epidemiologists warn of high COVID risk at disaster shelters
As a sprawling archipelago on the ring of fire, Indonesia frequently experiences strong earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. A 7.3-magnitude earthquake in the Flores Sea on Tuesday sent people runningfrom the coast in panic, although a tsunami warning was called off, and damage was reported to be minor. However, disasters in Indonesia can often be more serious. The sudden eruption…
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UK’s nationality bill could strip millions of Britons of their citizenship
What is the Nationality and Borders Bill? The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act passed in 2002 enabled the government to strip someone of their British citizenship provided they had another nationality. Since 2006, the British home secretary has had the power to deprive dual nationals of their British citizenship if doing so is “conducive to the public good.” In 2014,…
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Is South Korea close to officially ending the Korean War?
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said this week that the United States, China and North Korea agreed in principle on declaring a formal end to the Korean War, replacing an armistice agreement that ended hostilities in 1953. However, analysts are not sure it will happen, or if such a step is advisable, given concerns over the security situation in northeast…
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How to bring your pet into Thailand
Those who travel to Thailand with pets, may have a few questions about the legalities surrounding the importation of your 4-legged friends. But, all worries aside, as long as you follow the rules and regulations set forth by the Thai consulate in your home country, it should be a fairly smooth process. Here, we have the current rules and procedures…
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Phuket police launch road safety campaign called “100% helmet”
Strap on your helmet. Motorbike drivers in Phuket are warned to wear helmets while driving. The Phuket Provincial Police have launched a new campaign called “100% helmet” with increasing fines for those who are repeatedly caught not wearing one. At the launch event yesterday, Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Lt Col Sathit Nurit said that “this will help prevent and…
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“Gay Toilet”: Thai temple aims to be more welcoming, misses mark on gender neutral
One Thai temple trying to be a bit more progressive missed the mark when it comes to gender neutral restrooms. Instead, they designated restrooms for gay men and lesbian women. A picture of toilet sign saying ห้องน้ำตุ๊ด which means “Gay Toilet”’ and ห้องน้ำทอม which means “Tomboy Toilet” went viral among Thai netizens. The sign and toilet are located at Sarikaram…
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Health Ministry looks into fake vaccine certificates after social media post goes viral
Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is looking into fake vaccine certification sales after a post advertising bogus certifications went viral on Facebook. A photo of what looks like a vaccine certificate issued by the Thai government with a caption saying “Get a vaccine certificate from us. No need to waste your time getting vaccinated.” Get a vaccine certificate from us. No…
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Bangkok restaurant raided, several foreigners caught without entry stamps
In yet another party bust, police raided a restaurant in Bangkok at around 1:45am yesterday, past the 11pm cutoff set by the government, and arrested more than 45 people for violating disease control measures. Several foreigners were also charged for not having entry stamps in their passports. Immigration police officers say 30 people at the Nakhon Bar Bangkok were foreigners…
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Travelling to the UK? Order a PCR test early, high demand slams provider
Travelling back to the UK? Make sure to get your hands on a PCR test ahead of time, or at least from a reliable provider. Many customers who ordered a PCR test from a company recommended on the UK government’s official website say the deliveries, which were promised to within the next working day, were delayed. Fully vaccinated travellers entering…
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Two killed in a military helicopter crash in Nakhon Sawan
A flight instructor and an aviation student were killed in helicopter crash during a training session for Thai military. The helicopter from Army Aviation Centre in Lop Buri caught fire and crashed in the neighbouring province Nakhon Sawan. According to a military source, the helicopter, which was made in the United States by Enstrom Helicopter Corporation and was worth 74 million…
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PM Prayut Chan-o-cha pressures the public to get vaccinated before the New Year
“Everyone should get the vaccine as soon as possible.” PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is calling on the public to get vaccinated as soon as they can to participate in New Year’s countdown events. New Year’s events were given the “okay” by the CCSA yesterday with alcohol consumption allowed until 1am on January 1, but festival organisers need to abide by “Covid…
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Passenger train bombed in Thailand’s Deep South, 3 injured
A passenger train carrying around 300 people was bombed in Thailand’s Deep South, injuring two train officials and one passenger. The Defense Ministry says insurgents detonated the explosive along a railway in Pattani, a province by the Malaysian border with ongoing violence and attacks related to the religious separatist insurgency. The Defence Ministry of Thailand chastised the insurgents for attacking…
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Thailand to reopen Malaysian border crossings under Test & Go in mid-January
Thailand’s land crossings along the Malaysian border will reopen in mid-January under the Test & Go quarantine exemption scheme for fully vaccinated travellers. At its general meeting yesterday, the CCSA approved a measure to set up Test & Go checkpoints at the land crossings in the provinces bordering Malaysia including Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat, and Satun. Under the Test & Go scheme,…
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The Christmas scene on shiny, sparkly Samui
Are you looking to celebrate Christmas in Koh Samui? The magical Gulf of Thailand island features an expat community that makes sure to bring a slice of home with them, especially during the holidays. Here, we have a list of venues that are offering Christmas celebrations that may include fine dining and Santa’s grotto for the little ones. At The…
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Zenithy awarded “Best Boutique Housing Development Phuket”
Press Release During the prestigious Dot Property Thailand Awards held at the Park Hyatt Bangkok on November 18, 2021, Phuket’s own Zenithy Development took home the title of “Best Boutique Housing Development Phuket.” The Dot Property Awards, now in its sixth year, aims to award developers in Southeast Asia that stand out in categories such as design, innovation, and sustainability.…
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No confirmation on whether January 1 re-opening of Maya Bay can go ahead
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation says it’s still waiting to hear from the Natural Resources and Environment Minister if the re-opening of Maya Bay can go ahead. The hugely popular tourist draw was expected to re-open from January 1 and Damras Phoprasit from the DNP says he’s already reassured Minister Varawut Silpa-archa that the newly-constructed pier…
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Vietnam’s Hanoi Metro faces boycott, lacks of passengers
The Cát Linh-Ha Dong line of the Hanoi Metro, Vietnam’s first mass transit train service, which was launched on November 6 this year, is reportedly facing a public boycott for cooperating with China despite its initial excellent service and high expectations. It came to attention as local media reported last month that the service is lacking passengers, at around 12,000…
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Thai aviation sector calls for visa waiver for international travellers
Thailand’s aviation sector is calling on the government to introduce a visa waiver scheme for international arrivals to boost demand. The Airlines Association of Thailand says global competition for tourists is getting tough and the government needs to do more to attract international visitors. “We are in a fierce competition as every country needs tourists to cushion the economic impact.…
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Lithuania: Taking a stand against China
The building at the heart of the row is a rather inconspicuous office block in the Lithuanian capital. Behind its shiny glass facade you can find law firms, consultancies and other companies. But, at the end of November, new tenants moved into 16b J. Jasinskio Street in Vilnius — and that was when the trouble really started. It’s the Taiwanese…
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COVID: Why is India’s largest vaccine maker cutting production?
India’s largest vaccine maker is reducing its production of the COVID-19 vaccine, as the country now has more doses than it needs to fully vaccinate the eligible population. As of Monday, nearly 816 million of the country’s eligible adult population had received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 512 million were fully vaccinated, according to health ministry figures.…
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“Sandbox” entry scheme to remain at 7 days, CCSA reverses move to cut down stay
The period of stay under the “sandbox” entry scheme will continue to be seven days. The CCSA approved to cut the period down to five days but tightened measures after the emergence of the Omicron variant. Under the entry scheme, travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 can enter and roam freely in a designated province or area, such as…
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Public Health Ministry reports a total of 8 confirmed Omicron cases in Thailand
Thailand has recorded eight Omicron cases since the country reported the first Omicron infection on December 1. While it’s not a lot, the emergence of the variant has led the Thai government to tighten travel restrictions and disease control measures for entry to prevent Omicron from being imported into the country. According to the Public Health Ministry, all Omicron cases…
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Covid control zoning revised: No more “red” zones, Chon Buri now “blue” reopening area
With Covid-19 infection rates on a downward trend and active cases at the lowest it’s been since late-June, the CCSA revised it’s colour-coded zoning scale for managing the outbreak and now no provinces are classified as “red” zones under maximum control. Under the revised zoning, there are now 39 provinces classified as “orange” controlled zones and 30 provinces classified as…
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Cambodia PM orders to destroy, store US weapons following arms embargo ban
Cambodia PM Hun Sen is not quite happy following an arms embargo ban by the United States last week and asked the country’s military to examine any US-made weapons or equipment in its possession to be stored in warehouses or destroyed, although the country has never acquired arms from the States under the current administration. According to the Phnom Penh…
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57 migrants arrested in Kanchanaburi for allegedly crossing the border illegally
Thai authorities have arrested 57 Burmese nationals for allegedly entering Thailand illegally. The migrants were found in forest the border Kanchanaburi, which borders Myanmar, at around 11pm Saturday. Troops from Ranger Company 1404 and police from Border Patrol Company 136 found the 30 men and 27 women who reportedly sneaked into Sai Yok area through a natural border crossing while…
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Indian actress almost denied entry at Bangkok airport for not having a printed document
A famous Indian actress says she was almost denied entry to Thailand for apparently not having a document printed out. Travellers are required to obtain a Thailand Pass QR code to present at the airport upon arrival, but the actress, Vanitha Vijayakumar, says she needed to have a document printed out for her Visa on Arrival. The 41 year old…
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