Thailand

  • Thailand NewsThailand will raise 12% fewer pigs this year, livestock department says

    Thailand will raise 12% fewer pigs this year, livestock department says

    Thailand’s livestock department says farmers will probably raise 11.8% fewer pigs this year. Already, male pig breeders have dropped 41.1%, while female breeders have dropped 11%. The department general said this is because of economic conditions during the pandemic, and also farmers not having too many pigs in case of disease outbreaks. There are 107,000 pig raisers in the country,…

  • Thailand NewsOver 100 drug stores in Thailand operating illegally, some without pharmacists

    Over 100 drug stores in Thailand operating illegally, some without pharmacists

    More than 100 drug stores across Thailand have been found to be operating illegally, some without licenced pharmacists and required certificates, according to the Commander of the Consumer Protection Police Division. Authorities arrested 127 drug store staff and seize more than 350 items. According to Thai media, the CPPD received a report from the Food and Drug Administration saying that…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand reports 9 cases of new Omicron BA.2 subvariant

    Thailand reports 9 cases of new Omicron BA.2 subvariant

    Thailand has detected the nine cases of the new Omicron subvariant BA.2, which is spreading across the globe with at least 40 countries reporting infections involving the mutated strain. The infections in Thailand involve both Thais and travellers from overseas. Through the laboratory procedure of whole-genome sequencing, Thailand’s Department of Medical Sciences and participating laboratories detected the BA.2 infections. The…

  • Thailand NewsWhere in Bangkok to dine for Chinese New Year 2022

    Where in Bangkok to dine for Chinese New Year 2022

    If you are searching for a restaurant to dine in on Chinese New Year 2022, you have come to the perfect place! One of the most loved aspects of the Spring Festival is the ‘Reunion Dinner’. During this time, families gather together to enjoy a lavish supper. You will be happy to know that there are restaurants in Bangkok where…

  • Cannabis NewsThailand decriminalises cannabis, extracts with high-inducing THC still an illicit drug

    Thailand decriminalises cannabis, extracts with high-inducing THC still an illicit drug

    Thailand’s health minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has confirmed that the Narcotics Control Board has approved the removal of cannabis from the Category 5 list of controlled drugs. According to a report from the Associated Press, Anutin says the drugs that remain on the list are opium, magic mushrooms, and extracts of cannabis containing more than 0.2% by weight of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).…

  • World NewsThailand and Saudi Arabia to exchange ambassadors, resume full diplomatic ties

    Thailand and Saudi Arabia to exchange ambassadors, resume full diplomatic ties

    Following a meeting yesterday between Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and the Saudi leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, both countries have agreed to restore diplomatic ties in the near future. The Bangkok Post reports that Thailand and Saudi Arabia will exchange ambassadors as part of the agreement. Things have been frosty between the two countries since a diplomatic spat over…

  • TravelCity Guide: Top 5 public parks to visit in Bangkok 2022

    City Guide: Top 5 public parks to visit in Bangkok 2022

    Bangkok isn’t just about its nightlife and night markets, hotels and shopping malls, busy roads and the never ending cityscape that overflows into surrounding provinces. When caught up in the fray of urban life, it can be hard to slow down, making it easy to overlook the city’s most precious gems — its many public parks. They’re great places to…

  • Thailand NewsGovernment wants to closely monitor eateries following extension of alcohol curfew

    Government wants to closely monitor eateries following extension of alcohol curfew

    Now that Thailand’s alcohol curfew has been extended in many provinces, the government is on its toes about cracking down on venues serve past the 11pm cutoff time. A government spokesperson stated today that he wishes for authorities to take sharp measures against eateries violating the new 11pm curfew. Venues that break it will face arrests and loss of operating…

  • Thailand NewsThailand won’t allow entrance exam makeups, other Asian countries do

    Thailand won’t allow entrance exam makeups, other Asian countries do

    Thai students planning to take their university entrance exams must now miss the exam if they are in quarantine or self-isolation. The only other option is to take the exams next year. Meanwhile, other Asia countries are allowing students in quarantine and isolation to take this exam. China allowed students to take entrance exams at hospitals and special facilities, while…

  • TravelSurvival Guide: Beware of these common scams in Thailand

    Survival Guide: Beware of these common scams in Thailand

    Who wouldn’t like to visit Thailand? It’s warm, affordable and has everything you want, from exotic beaches with beautiful women and national parks full of wildlife, to the exciting nightlife of Bangkok’s concrete jungle. Most Thais are typically friendly and helpful, but there are some who like to take advantage of foreign tourists for their own benefit, especially ‘farang,’ or…

  • Cannabis NewsThailand’s FDA plans “Cannabis Sandbox” entry scheme for tourists

    Thailand’s FDA plans “Cannabis Sandbox” entry scheme for tourists

    A “Cannabis Sandbox” entry scheme is being discussed to draw in marijuana enthusiasts from overseas. Yes… we said cannabis. But don’t get too excited. When the government talks about cannabis, they mean parts of the plant with low (very low) traces of the psychoactive component THC. The Thai Food and Drug Administration mentioned the idea of a “Cannabis Sandbox” for…

  • HealthIf pigs could fly: Authorities tackle pork price crisis following swine fever outbreak

    If pigs could fly: Authorities tackle pork price crisis following swine fever outbreak

    In the midst of already surging meat prices, there has been a recent outbreak of African Swine Fever reported at several Thai pig farms, exacerbating the problem even further. Farms that have detected the virus have to slaughter and bury pigs to prevent the disease from spreading, decreasing the number of pigs in the country. In Prachuap Khiri Khan in…

  • Covid-19 NewsTuesday Covid Update: 6,718 new cases; provincial totals

    Tuesday Covid Update: 6,718 new cases; provincial totals

    12 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 22,057 with 359 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 6,718 new Covid-19 cases and 7,659 recoveries. There are now 81,532 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Tourism NewsCCSA clarifies details on Test & Go, registration opens at 9am on February 1

    CCSA clarifies details on Test & Go, registration opens at 9am on February 1

    Registration for Thailand’s quarantine exemption scheme known as Test & Go is reopening next week after being closed for the past month due to the emergence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant in Thailand. Starting at 9am on February 1, fully vaccinated travellers from any country can apply for a Thailand Pass QR code to enter with (almost) quarantine-free travel, but…

  • PropertyTop 5 property developers in Thailand 2022

    Top 5 property developers in Thailand 2022

    The Thai capitol of Bangkok is a sprawling metropolis that’s constantly under construction. At any given moment, you’ll find roads torn up for repairs, jamming traffic for kilometres on end; the elevated concrete backbones of new sky train lines being built in the middle of already too-narrow streets; and countless apartment complexes under construction, towering more than 30 stories high,…

  • Visa Information“Covid” visa extension: Key details from the latest order from immigration

    “Covid” visa extension: Key details from the latest order from immigration

    A signed document from the Thai Immigration Bureau regarding the deadline for the 60-day “Covid” visa extension was leaked last night. While there has been no formal announcement, the document shows that the deadline to apply for the extension has been pushed from today to March 25. There are some key details included in the document that foreign residents in…

  • Thailand NewsFormer MP to file lawsuit over campaign poster using his photo to mock him

    Former MP to file lawsuit over campaign poster using his photo to mock him

    One former member of parliament has filed a lawsuit against another politician for using a photo of him to mock him in a campaign poster. The image shows the former MP of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party, Sira Jenjaka, under a magnifying glass behind a Move Forward Party candidate with a message calling for volunteers to help catch those who…

  • Tourism NewsDomestic tourism stimulus scheme gets 9-billion-baht budget approval for phase 4

    Domestic tourism stimulus scheme gets 9-billion-baht budget approval for phase 4

    The government’s domestic tourism stimulus scheme enters phase 4 from February, with Cabinet approving a 9-billion-baht budget. “We Travel Together’ (Rao Tiew Duay Kan) will run until July, according to a government spokesperson. According to a Thai PBS World report, participants can benefit from a 40% discount on hotel rates, up to a maximum of 3,000 baht a night and…

  • Thailand NewsPrayut’s Saudi Arabia trip a ‘breakthrough’ after 30 years of tense relations

    Prayut’s Saudi Arabia trip a ‘breakthrough’ after 30 years of tense relations

    PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is currently in Saudi Arabia in an effort to restore Thai-Saudi economic and diplomatic relations. Experts say the trip, which is the first government trip between the two countries after 30 years, is a huge breakthrough after three decades of tense relations between the two countries. Relations first turned cold in 1989 after the Blue Diamond Affair…

  • Road deathsDeath of Bangkok doctor on zebra crossing highlights danger of Thai roads – again

    Death of Bangkok doctor on zebra crossing highlights danger of Thai roads – again

    In the last World Health Organisation report into road deaths in Southeast Asia and Asia, it probably won’t come as a surprise to learn that Thailand came top. According to the 2018 report, the kingdom had an average of 32.7 deaths per 100,000 people. This compares to 26.4 in Vietnam and 23.6 in Malaysia, followed by Myanmar (19.9), Cambodia (17.8),…

  • Covid-19 NewsFourth vaccine dose being offered to Thais, foreigners across 10 provinces

    Fourth vaccine dose being offered to Thais, foreigners across 10 provinces

    Residents, both Thai and foreign, in 10 Thai provinces, will be offered a fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose ahead of the return of the Test & Go entry scheme. The Public Health Ministry has confirmed that fourth dose is being offered to provinces that are heavily reliant on tourism and/or where the infection rate is high. The Bangkok Post reports that…

  • Thailand NewsMore than 100 migrants caught in Kanchanaburi for alleged illegal entry

    More than 100 migrants caught in Kanchanaburi for alleged illegal entry

    Thai border patrols arrested 107 Burmese migrants for allegedly illegally crossing the border into the western province Kanchanaburi on Sunday. The migrants told Thai officials they came from Phayathonezu, Moulmein, Yangon, Bago and Dawei townships in Myanmar. They crossed into Thailand seeking jobs here. Authorities also arrested one Thai guide for providing assistance to people illegally entering the country. Authorities…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s Digital Economy and Society Minister infected with Covid-19

    Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society Minister infected with Covid-19

    Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society Minister has Covid-19. The minister, Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, is currently in hospital with a fever and headache. He says he may have contracted the virus on a trip to Chiang Mai last Thursday. It remains unknown which variant he contracted. The infection has not reached his lungs, however, other members of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party…

  • Thailand NewsAfrican Swine Fever reported at three pig farms in Prachuap Khiri Khan

    African Swine Fever reported at three pig farms in Prachuap Khiri Khan

    Provincial livestock authorities in Prachuap Khiri Khan discovered three pig farms in Muang and Thap Sakae districts were infected with African Swine Fever. The reports come in the midst of a pork price crisis said to be driven by an outbreak of the highly contagious and deadly viral disease of pigs. 117 pigs from the three farms altogether had to…

  • Thailand News32 public toilets at Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya will be ready by this April

    32 public toilets at Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya will be ready by this April

    The Deputy City Mayor of Pattaya told Thai media that 32 public toilets at Bali Hai Pier will be finished and ready to use by April, admitting that construction for the 5 million baht restroom project had fallen a bit behind schedule. Deputy mayor Pattana Boonsawat told Thai media that the construction of the toilets fell behind schedule due to…

  • Covid-19 NewsMonday Covid Update: 7,139 new cases; provincial totals

    Monday Covid Update: 7,139 new cases; provincial totals

    13 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 22,045 with 347 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 7,139 new Covid-19 cases and 8,100 recoveries. There are now 82,485 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Pattaya NewsMotorbike rider seriously injured after crashing into a parked truck in Chon Buri

    Motorbike rider seriously injured after crashing into a parked truck in Chon Buri

    Yesterday, a woman in Chon Buri crashed her motorbike into a parked car in Nong Maidang sub-district. The woman, identified as 33 year old Roongruedee Krairatchimplee, has sustained serious head and face injuries, and was in severe pain. Emergency services rushed Roongruedee to the local hospital. The accident happened on a bypass road. Reports do not say if the motorbike…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya bar raided by police at 5am, some test positive for illicit drugs

    Pattaya bar raided by police at 5am, some test positive for illicit drugs

    The pub manager, guests, and staff members of a bar in Pattaya were arrested at around 5am over the weekend for violating Covid-19 measures that require restaurants to stop serving alcohol by 9pm. Nationwide, entertainment venues – which have faced closure orders since April – have been able to apply to open temporarily as restaurants. But bars and other unapproved…

  • TravelCity Guide: Top gyms in Bangkok to achieve your fitness goals for 2022

    City Guide: Top gyms in Bangkok to achieve your fitness goals for 2022

    Bangkok’s workout craze has been gaining momentum in recent years. In light of the pandemic, people are more aware of their health and concerned about their fitness than ever before. Now Bangkok is so full of gyms, you might think it’s always been that way. These days you can find one in nearly every shopping centre. But if you’re new…

  • Thailand NewsGovernment mulls legalising e-cigarettes to reduce number of cigarette smokers

    Government mulls legalising e-cigarettes to reduce number of cigarette smokers

    A Thai government ministry is discussing the legalisation of e-cigarettes in a bid to reduce the number of cigarette smokers in the country. According to a Nation Thailand report, the Digital Economy and Society Ministry wants to be able to offer smokers an alternative to cigarettes. The development has been welcomed by Asa Salikupt from the End Cigarette Smoke Thailand…