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5 best wine bars in Bangkok offering rich and quality wine
It’s wine o’clock! Whether you’re all about fruity reds, sweet whites, or funky naturals, Bangkok has many great spots to sip your favourite varieties. But with an array of options to choose from, and the constant rise and fall of...
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Minister of Tourism is sure tourists will flood Thailand November 1
Though often criticised for its overly-optimistic tourism predictions seemingly pulled out of thin air, this time the Thai government is sure people will be flooding back in as the borders reopen on November 1. Minister of Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakan said that Thailand needs to brace itself for an onslaught of international travellers flooding into the country come November…
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COVID: Will European tourists return to Southeast Asia?
It’s little wonder Southeast Asia is now in a rush to welcome back tourists: in 2019, the sector was worth $393billion (€340 billion) for the regional economy. For countries like Cambodia and Thailand, tourism accounted for around a third and a fifth of their entire GDP, respectively. But the COVID-19 pandemic has hit hard. The region welcomed 143 million tourists…
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Remembrances of King Rama IX held at Siriraj Hospital, Rajabopit Temple
Today marks the fifth anniversary of the death of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (also known as King Rama IX), Thailand’s leader and the second-longest ruler of any country of all time. Across the nation, people are paying their respects to the much-loved previous King and commemorating the anniversary of his death. The dean of the Faculty of Medicine at…
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2 Thai women arrested transporting 7 Burmese migrants
At a checkpoint in Sangkhla Buri district in Kanchanaburi, 2 Thai women were arrested smuggling 7 Burmese migrants and a child, apparently attempting to transport them back to Myanmar. The stop took place at around 7 am this morning and the women were arrested in violation of provincial communicable disease committee orders to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Officials at…
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Pattaya police respond to call reporting a “ghost”
Police in Pattaya responded to a call for a ghost… Yes, a ghost. Locals heard crying and howling coming from an abandoned shophouse. It was so disturbing that they called the police, worried that the empty shop was haunted. Turns out the ghost was actually a homeless man who seemed to be having an emotional breakdown. Officers responded to the…
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Korea to donate 470,000 AstraZeneca vaccines to Thailand
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced that it will donate nearly 1.6 million AstraZeneca vaccines combined to Thailand and Vietnam. The agency announced yesterday that South Korea will donate 470,000 vaccines to Thailand and 1.1 million vaccines to Vietnam. Korea is now managed to vaccinate nearly 80% of its population, about 41.6 million of its 52 million citizens.…
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Remembering Thailand’s beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Today is the national memorial day for His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand’s beloved monarch who served for just over 70 years and died in October 2016. At the time of his passing in October 2016, King Bhumibol was the world’s longest-serving head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history. Amongst his many other gifts, he was was…
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Thai government to review law after World Anti-Doping Agency non-compliance ruling
Following the World Anti-Doping Agency’s decision last week, ruling Thailand non-compliant with the agency’s requirements, the Thai government is now putting more focus on regulating banned substances at international sports competitions. The National News Bureau of Thailand reports that authorities are working on issuing laws that correspond with the agency’s national standard. Thailand, Indonesia, and North Korea were ruled non-compliant…
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Thailand Top Stories | Thai PM vows to reopen the country to fully vaccinated tourists from November 1 | October 13
Natty gives us a quick update on the national Covid-19 situation as well as the top headlines in Thailand and Southeast Asia: Thai PM vows to reopen the country to fully vaccinated tourists from November 1, police crack down on street racing, adult pleasure toys seized by Thai police, China to set up a 230 million USD to finance efforts…
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Man blames 50 million baht of withdrawals on adopted daughter
A 77 year old businessman in Phitsanulok discovered that 50 million baht was missing from his bank account and has accused his adopted daughter of stealing it. The money is claimed to have disappeared from 6 bank accounts without the man’s knowledge and he has now asked the bank for detailed statements to identify when and how the money was…
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Scandal-hit Austria: New chancellor, same policies
After being engulfed in political drama over the last few days, Austria has a new head of government; however, apparently, a reluctant one. Alexander Schallenberg, who has taken over from Sebastian Kurz, describes himself as being “chancellor against his will.” At his inauguration in the chancellery on Vienna’s Ballhausplatz, the former foreign minister said the post was an honor that…
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Phuket, Samui to ease entry restrictions for domestic tourists from this weekend
From this weekend, entry restrictions for the islands of Phuket and Samui are being eased for fully vaccinated domestic tourists. Local travellers who can show proof of being fully vaccinated will no longer need to submit to Covid-19 testing to enter Phuket and will no longer have to quarantine after arriving on Samui. The move comes as the government launches…
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Prosecutors to decide Thanathorn’s fate on November 4 following vaccine comments
On November 4, prosecutors will decide whether or not to indict Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit over comments he made about Thailand’s AstraZeneca technology-transfer deal. At the start of the year, the founder of the Progressive Movement criticised the government for being overly-reliant on Siam Bioscience for Covid-19 vaccines. The Bangkok Post reports that Thanathorn faces charges of violating Thailand’s defamation law and…
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More rain forecast for Thailand as storm Kompasu makes landfall in Vietnam
Parts of Thailand are braced for more wet weather as Tropical Storm Kompasu makes landfall in upper Vietnam. The Thai Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rain for the north-east of the country, while several other regions will be affected by the seasonal monsoon conditions. The Bangkok Post reports that Kompasu’s wind speed has recorded a high of 100 kilometres…
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Covid spike in Khon Kaen, more field hospitals to open
Covid-19 is on the rise in the Isaan province Khon Kaen and local authorities have agreed to open two more field hospitals after new cases hit around 300 over a few day period with many of the infections linked to social gatherings like funerals and ceremonies at temples to make merit. Governor Somsak Jangtrakul said that the provincial communicable disease…
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Thai industry bodies encouraged by tourism re-opening plan
The chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries has welcomed the plan to re-open Thailand to vaccinated tourists from low-risk countries. Supant Mongkolsuthree says the planned November 1 re-opening will accelerate economic growth and increase business confidence. According to a Bangkok Post report, Supant predicts the return of foreign tourism could see GDP growth achieve its target of 0% –…
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Health experts weigh in on risks of re-opening Thailand without quarantine
Following Monday night’s announcement by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha that Thailand will re-open quarantine-free for select vaccinated tourists from November, health experts have voiced concern. The Bangkok Post reports that some prominent medics are worried re-opening without quarantine will provoke a surge in Covid-19 infections. Thira Woratanarat from the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University has warned that daily case numbers…
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Indonesia shortens quarantine, to reopen to travellers from 18 countries
Indonesia is reopening its border to allow arrivals from 18 countries and the mandatory quarantine period will be cut down from 8 days to 5. An official overseeing the country’s pandemic response did not specify which countries are included in Indonesia’s reopening plan. Indonesia’s borders have been gradually reopening and the airport on the tourist island Bali will resume international…
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AfricaLink on Air – 12 October 2021
International court backs Somalia in sea dispute with Kenya++ EU places temporary visa restrictions on Gambians++Turkey: Social media under increased threat from government SOURCE: DW News
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Japan bids to harness the energy of super typhoons
At the peak of its power on September 27, Mindulle was classified as the third super typhoon to form in the Western Pacific this year, with winds gusting up to 195 kilometers (121 miles) an hour. The powerful storm, which had originated close to the Pacific island of Guam, made its way north and by the last week of September…
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Thai police crack down on street racing, more than 300,000 motorbikes seized this year
Thai police are cracking down on street racing, and the deputy national police chief says that, since the start of this year, thousands of street racers have faced charges and tens of thousands of parents have faced charges because their children were involved in races. Police are even giving out 3,000 baht to those make a report about street racing…
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Tuesday Covid Update: 9,445 new cases, provincial totals
84 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand 17,835 in 17,741 were during Thailand’s latest wave, which was first recorded on April 1. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 9,445 new Covid-19 cases and 11,452 recoveries. There are now 108,174 people receiving treatment for Covid-19. Since the start of…
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Families call on Thai authorities to help teenagers stuck in Myanmar under work contract
A group of parents and grandparents say their teenage children were trafficked to work in Myanmar and are now calling on Thai authorities to bring them back home. The families in Tak’s Mae Sot border district say 10 teenagers, between the ages of 16 and 19, were promised jobs at a casino just across the border in the neighbouring country,…
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Half a million baht in sex toys and products seized in series of raids
Sex toys and sexual enhancement drugs were seized by Thai police in a series of raids in Bangkok and the neighbouring province of Samut Prakan. Thai media reports that a Thai husband and Vietnamese wife were arrested for allegedly importing the products illegally. Officers held a standard press conference, displaying the seized items including boxes of dildos, packages of synthetic…
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Opinion divided on proposed 500 baht tourism tax
A plan to impose a 500 baht “tourism tax” on foreign arrivals from next year has divided opinion among tourism operators. A report by Nikkei Asia says some operators are concerned such a move could deter tourists, just as the country prepares to re-open. One of those is the president of the Thai Hotels Association, Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi. “The fee…
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Health official defends quality of antigen test kits, acknowledges shortcomings
The head of the Department of Medical Sciences has defended the quality of Lepu antigen test kits, while acknowledging their limitations. The Bangkok Post reports that Dr Supakit Sirilak was responding to complaints that the kits are less accurate and generate false Covid-19 results. Supakit says the kits are not as reliable as PCR testing in which samples are analysed…
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PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s televised address, translated in English
The following is PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s televised address to the nation, translated by the Thai government’s public relations department. My fellow citizens, brothers, and sisters: In the last one-and-half years, we have lived with some of the greatest peacetime challenges our country has ever faced in its history, brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, and one that has left nobody…
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Koh Samui sees surge in sandbox bookings for October
Tourism officials on Koh Samui say its sandbox programme has received a boost following the lifting of its 3-day quarantine. According to a Bangkok Post report, new bookings in the first 10 days of October have already surpassed the total number of bookings since the island re-opened on July 15. Ratchaporn Poolsawadee from the Tourism Association of Koh Samui adds…
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An inquiry exposed sexual abuse within French Catholic Church — now what?
Editor’s note: The following article contains graphic details of sexual assault and child abuse. “The father took me to his tent and closed it,” said the victim. “He kissed me on the lips, with his tongue. It was disgusting. He caressed me. I was petrified,” the victim continued. “He taught me words I didn’t know — like masturbation and fellatio.…
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AfricaLink On Air – 11 October 2021
News+++ Sankara trial begins in Burkina Faso+++South Africa fears COVID surge as local election campaigns start+++Rwanda’s circumcision plan to stop HIV+++Flavored ARVs in Kenya help children take HIV medication+++Sports SOURCE: DW News
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