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Local tour operator, marina and restaurant come together to help Phuket residents
The following is a press release from 5 Star Marine, Ann’s Kitchen and Royal Phuket Marine on their one-day “Fundraising Experience” which raised 65,000 baht to help Phuket residents in need. With the continued economic effect in Thailand from Covid-19, new and innovative charity efforts are needed to engage both expats and locals in order to help the 48,000+ Phuket residents in…
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68 schools to reopen as part of “Sandbox Safety Zone in School” programme
A new school programme, the “Sandbox Safety Zone in School” is being launched to reopen 68 schools across Thailand. The programme is being launched by the Ministry of Education. Education Ministry spokesperson, Kesthip Supawanich, says the schools that are part of the new programme include 44 schools from the Office of the Private Education Commission, 20 schools from the Special…
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Protesters at Bangkok’s Asok intersection call on PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to resign
Protesters gathered at Bangkok’s Asok interaction yesterday, calling on PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to resign. For the past year, pro-democracy groups have been pushing for the prime minister to step down, but with the latest wave of Covid-19 surpassing more than 1 million infections, along with a limited supply of vaccines, protesters now say Prayut should resign due to mismanagement during…
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Tuesday Covid Update: 13,821 new cases; provincial totals
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration says there are now 145,465 active Covid-19 cases in Thailand, a decline over the past several weeks. Yesterday, a spokesperson for the CCSA said Thailand has “passed its peak” in the latest and most severe wave of the virus where more than 1 million confirmed infections have been recorded since April 1. 241 coronavirus-related…
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Koh Samui to switch from “Samui Plus Model” to Sandbox programme
Next month, Koh Samui will switch from their “Samui Plus Model” to the looser “sandbox” programme. The Koh Samui district chief estimates that there will be over 10,000 nights booked in hotels as a result of this change. The current model has seen Koh Samui opened for fully vaccinated tourists since July 15. District Chief Teerapong Chuaychoo says since July…
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New project aims to mass test vulnerable populations in Bangkok neighbourhood
A new project, involving mass-testing for Covid, is being launched to help look after the homeless and other vulnerable people in Phra Nakhon, a district in Bangkok. The project, “Klong Lod Covid-free”, was started by a group of civil society organisations that are working with the government. The project gets its name from Klong Lod in the Phra Nakhon district.…
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Phuket plans new screening measures for visitors, effective Wednesday
Phuket is planning new screening measures for visitors starting Wednesday. The Phuket communicable disease committee announced the measures yesterday, which will require visitors who wish to see the island to provide evidence of where they are staying in Phuket with payment made in advance. Visitors will also be required to register through this website and show a QR code to…
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Singaporean who repeatedly refused to wear a face mask jailed for 16 weeks
A Singaporean woman who repeatedly refused to wear a face mask in public spaces has been sentenced to a 16-week jail term. According to a Coconuts report, 54 year old Phoon Chiu Yoke has pleaded guilty to 9 counts of breaching Covid-19 regulations. The woman achieved notoriety when a video of her refusing to wear a mask at the Marina…
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Officials search for missing toddler in Chiang Mai
The combined forces of police, border patrol police, rescue volunteers, and villagers helped search for a missing 1 year and 11 month old girl in Chiang Mai, a northern Thai province, yesterday. The girl has been missing since Sunday night. Heat-seeking drones and sniffer dogs were also used to help scour the area within a 2 to 3 kilometre radius…
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CCSA says easing of restrictions could lead to more infections if public lowers its guard
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has warned that the easing of restrictions could lead to a surge in infections in the coming weeks. Spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin says that if the public gets complacent, mid-October could see infections shoot up again. According to a Thai PBS World report, the doctor has voiced concern after seeing crowds of people at the…
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Health Ministry says don’t panic, no cases of Mu variant found in Thailand
Thailand’s Health Ministry says there have been no cases of the Mu variant of Covid-19 reported in the country to date. The World Health Organisation has named Mu – or B.1.621 – as a variant of interest, as it could be more resistant to vaccines. However, the Bangkok Post reports that Dr Supakit Sirilak from the Department of Medical Sciences…
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Hua Hin to re-open to international tourists from October 1
Hua Hin’s re-opening is still on track for October 1, with officials hoping to welcome commercial flights and private jets to the airport. Yuthasak Supasorn from the Tourism Authority of Thailand says the Hua Hin Recharge programme covers 86.3 square kilometres between Hua Hin municipality and the district of Nong Kae. The Bangkok Post reports that once tourists receive a…
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Mikhail Khodorkovsky: ‘Dialogue only strengthens Putin’s regime’
DW: About a year ago, Alexei Navalny was poisoned. What impact did this have on political life in Russia and on the country’s opposition? Mikhhail Khodorkovsky: Fortunately, this event hasn’t ended badly so far. Alexei Navalny might be in prison but he is still alive. Nevertheless, the poison attack against him is a move away from normal statehood and towards…
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Guinea’s future uncertain as coup leaders tighten grip on power
The morning after the coup, the capital woke up on Monday to a new reality which has left Guineans with mixed feelings. “There is a great sense of uncertainty,” said DW’s correspondent in Conakry, Bangaly Conde. “Today we saw an image of Guinea we are not used to see. We are very disappointed with the army,” one Guinean told DW.…
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India’s ambitious palm oil push triggers biodiversity fears
The Indian government introduced a new plan in August to boost the production of palm oil. India is one of the largest consumers of palm oil, which is used in almost everything from soaps to chips. But the country still imports most of its palm oil. India also produces a range of other vegetable oils, like mustard and soybean, but…
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Phuket, the hub of the next global superyacht destination
Sponsored Thailand, and notably Phuket, is poised to become the core of the next major superyacht destination in Southeast Asia. As we learn to live with Covid what better way to promote this wonderful place than the Thailand International Boat Show (TIBS), which will be held from January 6 to 9, 2022, at the award-winning and SHA Plus+ certified Royal Phuket Marina…
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Battling through Ghana’s lean season
The World Food Programme reports hunger has increased by 30% higher since year than last year and it is the highest level in a decade. But one man’s initiative is helping those struggling. Nanleeb Konlan farms large plantations of grains,which he distributes for free to poorer communities in the lean season. SOURCE: DW News
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Nakhon Si Thammarat doctor says teenager suffered from cyst, not black magic
Doctors at a southern Thai hospital in Nakhon Si Thammarat operated on a teenager to remove a cyst from her ovary. They want to reassure the public that the cyst just contained hair, bone, teeth, fingernails and an oily material, and the woman did not suffer from black magic, as some residents suspected. Sichon Hospital director, Dr Arak Wongworachat, posted…
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3 northeastern dams set to reach full capacity by November
3 major dams in the northeastern Thai province Nakhon Ratchasima will likely be completely full by November, as heavy rain is forecasted from late this month into October, says National Water Resources secretary general Somkiat Prajamwong, today. Somkiat adds that NWR is closely monitoring the situation. Today, the Lam Takong Dam holds 214 million cubic metres of water or about…
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Monday Covid Update: Provincial totals; Thailand ‘passed its peak’
Thailand has passed its Covid-19 peak, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The number of active coronavirus cases has been on a downward trend over the past several weeks. There are now 148,622 people receiving treatment for Covid-19. The CCSA reported 187 coronavirus-related deaths today, a decline over the past month after the daily fatality count was in the…
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Couple shot to death in Nakhon Si Thammarat
A couple has been shot to death in their house in the southern province Nakhon Si Thammarat. The police found the couple’s bodies last night. The duty officer from the Chulabhorn police station says they received a call about the shooting at around 9:30pm. When police and a doctor rushed to the house, they discovered 48 year old Boontham Panarat…
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3 hunters arrested for allegedly possessing endangered species
National park officials in the western province Kanchanaburi arrested three hunters who were allegedly caught with bags containing wild animal carcasses, including black hornbills and monkeys. The arrests happened yesterday in the Khao Laem National Park. Khao Laem National Park chief Thewin Meesap says officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation were patrolling the forest when…
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25 arrested at Chiang Mai rooftop bar
A rooftop bar in Chiang Mai, a northern Thai province, was raided yesterday and 24 customers, plus the bar owner were arrested for allegedly gathering to drink alcoholic beverages, a violation of the emergency decree. Police say the 25 suspects were seen drinking alcohol and dancing to a band that was playing at the bar. The police add the suspects…
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Proof of vaccination to be required for dine-in service in “dark red” provinces
Proof of vaccination, or a negative antigen test result, will be required to eat in at restaurants in the “dark red” zones from October 1. The Bangkok Post reports that the negative test result must be no more than a week old, while people who’ve had Covid-19 must show health records that prove they’ve recovered from the virus. Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai…
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Monday Covid Update: 187 deaths and 13,988 new cases
187 coronavirus-related deaths and 13,988 new Covid-19 infections were reported today by Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA has recorded 17,284 recoveries. There are now 148,622 patients being treated for Covid-19. The number of active cases has been on a downward slope over the past several weeks. In the latest…
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More protests planned for Bangkok today as activists continue fight to remove PM
Anti-government protesters are planning another “car mob” rally in Bangkok today, as they continue their bid to remove the Thai PM from office. The Bangkok Post reports that yesterday, Red Shirt activist Nattawut Saikuar addressed a rally at the Asoke intersection in the capital, vowing to lead a bigger protest from the Ratchaprasong intersection to Asoke today. According to the…
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No more sandbox: Phuket private sector calls for full re-opening by December 1
The vice-president of the Phuket Tourism Association says businesses on the island need it to fully re-open by December 1 if they are to survive. According to a Bangkok Post report, Nanthida Atiset says fully re-opening the island could generate over 210 billion baht in revenue, adding that the sandbox scheme is simply not enough. “Only over 20,000 tourists have…
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Naked woman stops Chon Buri traffic after fender bender
Traffic on Sukhumvit in Chon Buri this morning was interrupted in a bizarre commotion involving an erratic naked woman running around the road. At around 7:00 am officers from the Saensuk Police Station and rescue workers arrived at the scene after the incident was called in. The naked woman yelled at people to stay away, claiming she was infected with…
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Jetstar launches weekly flights between Phuket and Singapore
Now that flight restrictions are finally easing, Jetstar Asia Airways has launched a weekly flight between Singapore and Phuket. The first flight departed Singapore Friday evening and arrived at Phuket International Airport an hour and 40 minutes later. The inaugural Jetstar flight was greeted with fanfare by various airport staff including the Deputy Director of Phuket Airport Operations and Maintenance. The…
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17 protest leaders named in complaint with Lumpini police
Legal action is being pursued by a legal activist against 17 leaders of pro-democracy protests that took place on September 3 and 4. The complaint was filed with the Lumpini police, today. The protests in question took place at the Ratchaprasong intersection and were set up by the United Front of Thammasat, the Thalu Fa group, and the Re-Dem group.…
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