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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...

  • Covid UPDATE: 2,112 new infections and 15 Covid-related deaths

    Covid UPDATE: 2,112 new infections and 15 Covid-related deaths

    There has been 2,112 new Covid-19 infections announced for Wednesday, according to the Thai health ministry. 15 people have also been reported as dying from Covid-related symptoms in the past 24 hours. 30,222 people are still under state care and observation in hospitals or field hospitals. 1,886 were discharged from care yesterday. 10.042 patients are listed as in serious condition and 343 are…

  • Vaccines reserved for Thais, not expats – Public Health Ministry

    Vaccines reserved for Thais, not expats – Public Health Ministry

    Sorry, you’ll just have to wait. The Ministry of Public Health has muddied the waters further about foreigners or expats being able to access Covid vaccines in Thailand. Ministry spokesperson Rungrueng Kitphati has rolled back some of the comments that have already been made about the matter and the real world situation where some expats already registering for the next…

  • 6 of Thailand’s top tourist zones WILL start opening for quarantine-free travel in July – TAT

    6 of Thailand’s top tourist zones WILL start opening for quarantine-free travel in July – TAT

    Full steam ahead. The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s insists that the sandbox re-opening plans for 6 of Thailand’s most economically sensitive tourist magnets will start on July 1… July 2021. Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Chiang Mai will, according to the TAT, be open to foreign tourists who have received 2 doses of Covid-19 vaccine (or 1…

  • Thailand News Today | Hotel industry in tatters, Burmese rebels destroy army helicopter | May 4

    Thailand News Today | Hotel industry in tatters, Burmese rebels destroy army helicopter | May 4

    Today’s Covid stats at the end of the program. A Burmese rebel group is claiming to have downed an Army helicopter in the Kachin province in the far north of the country, poll of the Thai hotel industry shows that 47% of those surveyed only have enough liquidity to sustain less than 3 months of business, Public Health Minister, Anutin,…

  • 27 people die from Covid-related illness 1,763 new infections in Thailand

    27 people die from Covid-related illness 1,763 new infections in Thailand

    The CCSA has reported 27 deaths and 1,763 new Covid infections over the past 24 hours. Over the past 10 days the daily reports have hovered around the 1,500 – 2,000 mark with the death rate trending upwards. 1,009 patients remain in a serious condition. 311 patients are currently on ventilators with Covid-related symptoms. In other related news… • The Safari…

  • Chon Buri reports a decline in daily Covid-19 infections – Tuesday, 91

    Chon Buri reports a decline in daily Covid-19 infections – Tuesday, 91

    Chon Buri province, which includes Pattaya, is seeing a general decline in the amount of daily Covid-19 infections today. 91 were reported today. Yesterday, the number of infections reported in the province was 153. The total amount of infections in the province since the third wave began at the start of April, sits at 2,855, with 1,611 still in medical…

  • Survey finds nearly half of Thai hotels can stay afloat for less than 3 months

    Survey finds nearly half of Thai hotels can stay afloat for less than 3 months

    A recent poll of the Thai hotel industry shows that 47% of those surveyed only have enough liquidity to sustain less than 3 months of business. The Bank of Thailand has published its confidence index of hotel business operators for April 2021 and the findings make for grim reading. According to a Nation Thailand report, a total of 188 hotels…

  • Burmese rebel group claim to have downed military helicopter – VIDEO

    Burmese rebel group claim to have downed military helicopter – VIDEO

    Al Jazeera is reporting that a Burmese rebel group is claiming to have downed a military helicopter in Kachin province. The Kachin Independence Army says it shot down the aircraft in response to military air strikes in the province. Myanmar has been rocked by violence and political unrest since a February 1 military coup that deposed of the democratically-elected government…

  • Bill and Melinda Gates to divorce after 27 years of marriage

    Bill and Melinda Gates to divorce after 27 years of marriage

    Philanthropist and entrepreneur Bill Gates has announced that he and his wife of 27 years, Melinda, are to divorce. The world’s 4th wealthiest person posted a joint statement from the pair on his Twitter account yesterday, according to an NPR report. Bill Gates is reported to be worth more than US$130 billion dollars, having made his fortune with the Microsoft…

  • Phuket adds ‘soft’ curfew but sets up checkpoints to enforce

    Phuket adds ‘soft’ curfew but sets up checkpoints to enforce

    Phuket is now added to the list of provinces in Thailand that have introduced “soft” curfews – strongly worded requests for residents to stay home during specific hours. Phuket residents are being asked to stay at home between 10pm and 4am daily. The announcement is now in force. Checkpoints are being set up to advise and warn people who don’t cooperate.…

  • Covid UPDATE: 27 deaths, 1,763 new infections

    Covid UPDATE: 27 deaths, 1,763 new infections

    This morning the health ministry has reported 27 deaths and 1,763 Covid infections reported in the past 24 hours. Over the past 10 days the daily reports have hovered around the 1,500 – 2,000 mark with the death rate trending upwards. 1,009 patients remain in a serious condition. 311 patients are currently on ventilators with Covid-related symptoms. The Mor Prom app…

  • Vaccination to be accelerated following outbreak in Bangkok’s Klong Toey district

    Vaccination to be accelerated following outbreak in Bangkok’s Klong Toey district

    The government is accelerating vaccine administration among shantytown dwellers in Bangkok’s Klong Toey district following an outbreak of Covid-19. Thousands of people live in very close quarters within the slums and travel across the city and to neighbouring provinces for work. The cluster of infections has sparked fear the virus could spread further and overwhelm the healthcare system. Bangkok governor…

  • Thailand News Today | 31 Covid-related deaths, more flight restrictions | May 3

    Thailand News Today | 31 Covid-related deaths, more flight restrictions | May 3

    The daily 24 hour infection report has jumped to back over the 2,000 mark, Disease prevention measures are being tightened for passengers taking to the skies after several cases of Covid-19 were found on flights from Bangkok to Phuket, Angry supporters of the pro-democracy movement gathered outside Bangkok’s Criminal Court yesterday, A new Suan Dusit Poll shows that Thai people…

  • Chalong, Phuket hospital closes as staff quarantine after seeing Covid patient

    Chalong, Phuket hospital closes as staff quarantine after seeing Covid patient

    Chalong Hospital in Phuket is closing after seeing an outpatient test positive for Covid-19. The hospital is now undergoing disinfection while its staff has been ordered to undergo quarantine. The 74 year old patient visited the hospital last Wednesday for dizziness and was sent home. 2 days later the woman returned with complaints of dizziness again and diarrhea. The next…

  • Global chip shortage: automakers to sex toys now feeling the pinch

    Global chip shortage: automakers to sex toys now feeling the pinch

    A global chip shortage has affected almost every kind of business from automakers to sex toy makers. The shortage came about late last year when automakers thought demand would dwindle due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But, they were wrong. And, other manufacturers took note of the automakers’ large semiconductor orders and decided to ramp up their own. Home appliances, servers,…

  • Chachoengsao villagers say homeless man’s mysterious death could be from Covid

    Chachoengsao villagers say homeless man’s mysterious death could be from Covid

    Chachoengsao province villagers suspect a homeless man’s death may be due to Covid-19. Chachoengsao is just to the east of Bangkok. The man died under a pavilion by the road with relatives saying he chose to be homeless. They also say he had existing health problems but was not high-risk and hadn’t been in contact with anyone infected. But somehow,…

  • Koh Lan proposes closing to tourists for 15 days from May 5

    Koh Lan proposes closing to tourists for 15 days from May 5

    Koh Lan, off Pattaya, may be closed to tourists for 15 days, starting May 5. The island resort is waiting for the vote to be officially approved but 845 residents and business operators voted on the island’s closing. 420 voted for it to be closed to tourists for at least 15 days, while 306 voted for a complete closing to…

  • Buri Ram sees 2 villages go into lockdown after 8 Covid-19 infections

    Buri Ram sees 2 villages go into lockdown after 8 Covid-19 infections

    Thailand’s northeastern, or Isaan, province of Buri Ram, is seeing 2 villages ordered to go into lockdown after 8 Covid-19 infections have threatened the community. The provincial communicable disease committee is ordering the villages of Ban Sao-e and Ban Nong Phai, located on Moo 2 and Moo 12, respectively, to lockdown from 6pm on May 2. The villages have around…

  • Chon Buri sees 153 new infections of Covid-19, 1 death

    Chon Buri sees 153 new infections of Covid-19, 1 death

    Chon Buri province, home to Pattaya, reported 153 new Covid-19 infections today, along with 1 death. The results from the Department of Public Health are thought to be due to a large increase in pro-active testing. The new infections today make a total of 2,764 infections in the province since the latest wave of Covid hit at the start of…

  • 8 hospitals across Thailand forced to close after healthcare workers contract Covid-19

    8 hospitals across Thailand forced to close after healthcare workers contract Covid-19

    8 Thai hospitals are temporarily closed after patients hid the fact that they were infected with Covid-19 and passed the virus on to hospital staff. Other staff members have had to self-isolate. According to Thai PBS World, the 8 affected hospitals are as follows: Chiang Rai Mae Sai Hospital, closed until May 16. 88 medical staff quarantined. Nakhon Sawan Chumsaeng…

  • Protesters rally at Criminal Court after detainees’ bail request denied again

    Protesters rally at Criminal Court after detainees’ bail request denied again

    Angry supporters of the pro-democracy movement gathered outside Bangkok’s Criminal Court yesterday, after bail requests for detained activists were rejected for the ninth time. Those who had their bail applications refused include Parit Chiwarak, aka, “Penguin”, who has been transferred to Ramathibodi Hospital due to his weakened condition. Parit has been on hunger strike for nearly 50 days. The Bangkok…

  • Weekend music festival in Wuhan attracts thousands of fans

    Weekend music festival in Wuhan attracts thousands of fans

    A 2-day music festival in the central city of Wuhan has attracted thousands of fans over the weekend. The Wuhan Strawberry Music Festival showcased the talents of popular musicians, as well as less well-known acts, over 3 stages in the city’s Garden Expo park. According to a Reuters report, sister events are also being held in Beijing and other Chinese…

  • First case of Indian Covid-19 variant found in Malaysia

    First case of Indian Covid-19 variant found in Malaysia

    Malaysia’s Health Minister has confirmed that a case of the Indian variant of Covid-19 has been reported in the country. Adham Baba says the highly contagious B.1.617 variant was detected in an Indian national at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The news comes just days after Malaysia banned flights from India. According to a Bangkok Post report, the World Health Organisation…

  • Covid-19 again lowers Thai economic growth forecast to 2.3%

    Covid-19 again lowers Thai economic growth forecast to 2.3%

    Thailand’s economic growth forecast was lowered to 2.3% as the tourism outlook remains bleak as Covid-19’s third wave pummels the country. Back in October 2020, the Finance Ministry’s Fiscal Policy Office had originally predicted a 4.5% growth for Thailand’s GDP, when Covid-19 seemed to be waning in the country. By January, as the second wave hit, projections were reeled in…

  • Thailand expecting 3.5 million Sinovac vaccines by end of May

    Thailand expecting 3.5 million Sinovac vaccines by end of May

    Another 3.5 million Sinovac Biotech vaccines have been confirmed to be arriving by the end of May, health officials said Friday. With a slow vaccine rollout putting Thailand’s ambitious July 1 reopening plan in jeopardy, the confirmation of another batch of jabs is welcomed news. The head of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation announced the first million vaccines will arrive in…

  • Burmese protests countrywide call for a “spring revolution”

    Burmese protests countrywide call for a “spring revolution”

    Calls for a “spring revolution” erupted from thousands of protestors marching across Myanmar today to protest the Burmese military junta. The country has been in turmoil since the Feb 1 coup that overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s government and installed military rule. Protests have raged for 4 months despite the Burmese military cracking down on demonstrations, often violently and bloodily,…

  • Covid-19 testing increased, CCSA blames household spread

    Covid-19 testing increased, CCSA blames household spread

    After a month of the worst Covid-19 outbreak ever in Thailand stemming from the nightlife and entertainment venue scene in Bangkok and around Thailand, authorities have set their sight on another treacherous virus spreader: your household. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration worries that while the number of infections being spread in the community and gathering places seems to be…

  • Social distancing violation busts Pattaya illegal loan scheme

    Social distancing violation busts Pattaya illegal loan scheme

    Covid-19 safety violations brought down a Chinese man and 39 Thai employees running an illegal loan operation in Pattaya. The group was arrested for offering money lending services after violating the Chon Buri Disease Control orders and emergency decree restrictions of social distancing and large gatherings. Chon Buri police raided the office building in Nongprue on Pattaya Second Road and…

  • Covid UPDATE: 1,940 new Covid infections, 21 new deaths

    Covid UPDATE: 1,940 new Covid infections, 21 new deaths

    Sunday’s report from the Thai health ministry says that there has been 21 new deaths in the last 24 hour reporting period. and 1,940 new cases. There has been 82 people dying over the past 5 days in the current 3rd wave surge of Covid 19 around Thailand. Whilst there’s been a general trend downward over the past week, the…

  • Mor Prom app crashes yesterday as people rush to register for vaccine roll out

    Mor Prom app crashes yesterday as people rush to register for vaccine roll out

    The new Mor Prom (doctors ready) app, where people registered under the Thai public health system can register for the next round of Covid vaccinations, has seized up after only one day being live. Before the crash some 300,000 people had registered for the vaccine. There is also a LINE account where people can register. About 1 million people were…