Thailand
- Covid-19 News
Thai deputy health minister expects Covid-19 to be over by the end of the year
Thailand’s deputy health minister says he hopes to see an end to Covid-19 by the end of this year, despite the risk of new variants. Satit Pitutecha made his prediction yesterday, saying Thailand is proceeding with its plan to declare the virus endemic. The World Health Organisation has yet to make any recommendation on according the virus endemic status. According…
- Pattaya News
Chon Buri monk claims illegal drugs helped him meditate
Another monk scandal in Thailand! Police in the Nong Yai district of Chon Buri have busted a local monk with 6 methamphetamine pills, as well as a bag of crystal methamphetamine or ‘ice’. The police found the drugs in a temple raid earlier this week after locals alerted them about a monk who they were concerned was taking illegal drugs.…
- Things To Do
Thailand targets Europe’s big guns to boost tourism as lockdown rules out China
With China still under lockdown measures and showing no signs of opening up any time soon Thailand is focusing on the big spenders of Europe and India to boost tourism and its ailing economy. China was Thailand’s biggest source of tourists in the pre-Covid-19 era but with 40 cities still under lockdown it is unlikely the country will see any…
- Politics News
PM defends government’s performance, wants to move Thailand forward
The Thai PM has defended his government’s performance since seizing power in a military coup 8 years ago. According to a Bangkok Post report, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha says he’s led Thailand through “crisis after crisis” and is doing his best to move the country forward. The PM says at the time he seized power, the nation was deeply divided and…
- Covid-19 News
Proposal for new “green zone” provinces goes before CCSA today
Thailand’s Public Health Ministry has submitted a proposal to classify some provinces as “green zones”. The proposal will be considered by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration when it meets today. Kiattiphum Wongrajit from the health ministry says the proposal involves adjusting the Covid-19 colour-coded zoning, which currently has provinces listed as yellow (high surveillance) or blue “tourism” zones. The…
- World News
Thai AirAsia X becomes third airline in Thailand to file for bankruptcy
Thai AirAsia X, the international low-cost carrier under the AirAsia umbrella, has had its bankruptcy claim accepted by a Thai court. This makes it the third airline in Thailand, along with Nok Air and Thai Airways, to file for bankruptcy since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. TAAX director, Tassapon Bijleveld, says all existing bookings will be honoured, including flights…
- Bangkok News
UPDATE: Bangkok governor candidates answer Russell Crowe’s questions on TV
UPDATE: Bangkok governor candidates answer Russell Crowe’s questions on Thai TV Russell Crowe’s pre-recorded questions for Bangkok governor candidates were streamed on Channel 7HD’s live programme “22 May: Deciding Bangkok’s Fate” this afternoon, prior to the election coming up this Sunday. Crowe asked the questions in English, and three Bangkok governor candidates answered in Thai. Each candidate was given 2…
- Thailand News
Thai man injured in turbulence demands airline to take responsibility
A Thai man demands an airline to take responsibility for injuries that he said were caused by turbulence during a flight from Nakhon Si Thammarat to Bangkok yesterday evening. He said his lower back and coccyx were in “agony,” but when he expressed the wish to go to hospital, he was allegedly told to pay for the expenses himself. The…
- Travel
When are the holidays in Thailand, and what do they mean?
There are a number of public holidays in Thailand, many of which are directly related to Buddhism or the Thai royal family. When visiting Thailand, it’s a good idea to keep tabs on when they are. Most companies and government places close on public holidays but don’t fret because tourist locations are open as usual. There is one problem that…
- Crime News
As travel opens, Phuket officials gather to fight drug problem
Now that Thailand’s travel restrictions are easing, Phuket officials are on guard for an expected increase in demands for illegal drugs. This morning, a group of officials held a meeting at Phuket City Hall to discuss drug issues in the island province. The meeting was led by a director from the Region 8 Drug Enforcement Administration. Officials from other government…
- Thailand News
Canadian man arrested for stealing traffic barriers in Chiang Mai
Police have arrested a Canadian expat in Chiang Mai after driving his car around the city to steal metal traffic barriers. Yes, traffic barriers. 69 year old Ronald John Price was arrested today on Ratchadamnoen Road in Chiang Mai. According to reports, Mr. Price covered his face whilst stealing metal traffic barriers from around the province. He drove his sedan…
- Thailand News
Wife dies, husband in coma after eating poisonous mushrooms in northeast Thailand
A couple from Udon Thani in northeast Thailand made a curry from mushrooms they picked from the jungle on Tuesday, May 17, but the mushrooms turned out to be poisonous. The wife died from poisoning in the early hours of yesterday morning and her husband is currently in a coma in an Intensive Care Unit. The man’s mother, who lives…
- Thailand News
Unconscious 75 year old woman survives floating 500 metres along a river
A 75 year old woman was scooped unconscious from the middle of a river in the central province of Chachoengsao after she fainted while paddling. The elderly lady floated for around 500 metres before a man witnessed the incident and contacted a rescue team to save her. Noramin Tongsamak, who witnessed the incident, contacted a rescue team via Facebook after he…
- Thailand News
Thai-Chinese gang arrested for dating app scam at Chiang Mai’s luxury resort
Police yesterday revealed that a Thai-Chinese gang had been arrested in Chaing Mai for operating illegal dating scam activities after a tip off. Police apprehended 24 people after a member of the public alerted authorities to a group of Chinese men behaving suspiciously at the luxury Chaing Mai holiday resort. The gang included 20 Chinese and 4 Thai, 2 of…
- Pattaya News
Russian woman assaulted in Chon Buri
A Russian woman was assaulted last night in Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri. A driver found the woman, 38 year old Elena Zyalkova, bleeding as she walked along the road to Mab Prachan reservoir. Police from Nong Prue municipality examined Elena and found she had head injuries, bruises on her neck, and abrasions all over her body. She was…
- Pattaya News
Chon Buri man allegedly attacks neighbour for asking about parcel
Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district is always buzzing about with drama it seems. A man in Bang Lamung said yesterday that his next-door neighbour hit him in the head twice with his motorbike helmet, after he went to the neighbour’s room to ask him about a Lazada delivery he was waiting for. The victim, 34 year old Kongnouanhak Dang, was…
- Phuket News
Thai officials vow to solve household debt problem at Phuket event
Thai officials held a ‘Household Debt Reconciliation Fair’ in Phuket yesterday. At the event, Thailand’s Minister of Justice Somsak Thepsutin said the government has designated 2022 as the “Year of Solving Household Debt”. He said that 2,810 people had registered for the event. Somsak said that several government departments have organised events to “facilitate the mediation process of household debts…
- South Thailand News
15 year old Thai student seriously injured after being stabbed at school
A 15 year old male student is in serious condition after being stabbed several times by a fellow student at school. The incident happened because a long-running conflict between the two and follows an argument the day before. Yesterday, at 8.40 am, a Mathayom 3, or grade 9, student at a school in the southern province of Songkhla was reportedly…
- Covid-19 News
Thailand plans to declare Covid-19 endemic earlier than expected
Thailand’s Covid-19 situation is continually improving and is expected to be declared an endemic disease more than half a month earlier than expected, according to the Ministry of Public Health. The ministry originally planned to declare Covid-19 an an endemic disease on July 1 this year. Yesterday, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Kiatiphum Wongrajit announced that Thailand now plans to declare…
- Thailand News
Nok Air gamble fails to take off costing airline millions
Low-cost budget airline Nok Air’s gamble of investing in a special route to boost tourism has backfired to the tune of 40 million baht. The Thai airline, which mostly operates domestic services out of Don Mueang International Airport, introduced the Bangkok to Betong route in February but plan to scrap it in July after suffering heavy losses. The Betong International…
- Pattaya News
Chon Buri man shot and killed trying to collect debt
A man in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district has confessed to shooting and killing another man who tried to collect a large debt from him. 45 year old Kanpongpisut Yaichaingnua told police on Monday that he killed the man at a restaurant. Kanpongpisut’s stepdaughter told the police that the victim, 50 year old Pairoj Runroj, had come to the restaurant to…
- Thailand Protest News
Political activist has bail denied over missing pay slip
A bail application from monarchy reform activist Tantawan Tuatulanon has been rejected over a missing pay slip. Thai PBS World reports that the Criminal Court denied a bail application submitted by Move Forward leader, Pita Limjaroenrat. The reason given was that Pita had not submitted his MP’s pay slip with the application. According to the court, Pita needed to provide…
- Education
Thai officials say schools can set their own hair rules, but no harsh punishment
Thailand school haircut drama continues as the Education Ministry has announced yesterday that schools are free to set their own hairstyle rules. While Education Minister Trinuch Thienthong added that schools have been ordered not to impose harsh punishments on students who violate hairstyle rules, the secretary-general of Thailand’s Basic Education Commission reiterated that responsibility over the rules lies with schools.…
- Thailand News
Health officials urge vulnerable groups to get free flu vaccine
People in vulnerable health groups are being urged to take up the free flu vaccine being offered at government clinics. Jakkrit Ngowsiri from the National Health Security Office says his office is working with the Department of Disease Control to offer 4.2 million doses of the flu vaccine to 7 vulnerable groups, between May 1 and August 31. The vaccine…
- Covid-19 News
Health Ministry to propose “green zones” where bars, nightlife could re-open
Bars and entertainment venues are demanding the right to re-open for business, with reports the Public Health Ministry could allow this in some provinces it would designate as “green zones”. The Bangkok Post reports that owners of nightlife venues will meet with Supoj Malaniyom from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration today. According to Khathawut Thongthai from the Association of…
- Crime News
Thai government winning war against drugs after seizing 5 billion baht haul from nation’s cartels
The Thai Minister of Justice yesterday revealed around 5 billion baht had been recovered from nationwide drug raids. Somsak Thepsutin disclosed to Thai media the government is winning the war against drugs, cracking down on illegal cartels, and expects to recoup 10 billion baht by the end of the year after seizing more than half of that amount from illegal…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Crashed China eastern flight possible “intentional nosedive”
Black box data on crashed China Eastern 737 suggests possible “intentional nosedive” Investigators are now examining further if the crash of China Eastern Airlines 737-800 on March 21 was indeed due to “intentional action on the flight deck”. The early reports say that there is, so far, no evidence of a technical malfunction. The Wall Street Journal reported this week…
- Phuket News
Thailand’s biggest light festival is headed to Phuket
After it began last week in Krabi, Thailand’s biggest light festival, known as the Aqua Lumina Illumination Festival, is headed towards Phuket. The festival will dazzle the shores of Nai Harn Beach from this coming Friday until May 31. The festival in Phuket will display lit up sculptures and multimedia shows, as well as projection mapping with 3D images with…
- Pattaya News
Alcohol sales ban planned for Pattaya and Bangkok elections
Following Thailand’s alcohol ban for the Buddhist holiday of Visakha Bucha Day, Pattaya and Bangkok dwellers can prepare for yet another alcohol ban coming just a week later! The upcoming alcohol sales ban will begin on Saturday, May 21, at 6pm, and last for 24 hours until Sunday, May 22, at 6pm. The ban is in light of Pattaya’s Mayoral…
- Thailand News
Thailand-made armoured truck delivered to Royal Thai Army for trial use
A snazzy 8×8 VN1 armoured truck made by Thailand’s Defense Technology Institution, or DTI, was delivered to the Royal Thai Army’s Cavalry Centre in Saraburi province in central Thailand yesterday. The truck flaunts a 12.7 millimetre canon, armour to protect military personnel inside from bombs and explosives and a Battlefield Management System, or BMS, intended to increase effectiveness of command…
