Thailand
- Thailand News
Boost in tourism expected over Loy Krathong Festival
The Tourism Authority of Thailand said that they are anticipating a slight boost in tourism for this year’s Loy Krathong Festival. While still much quieter than in the days before the pandemic, this year a bit more travelling and tourism related to the event are expected than last year. The TAT estimates that tourists throughout the country will spend around…
- Crime News
Assistant village chief allegedly shoots and kills his 2 year old daughter
An assistant village head in Southern Thailand allegedly killed his two year old daughter after he fired a shot at his wife, but the bullet missed and hit the child. Reports say he then turned the gun to his head and shot himself. Reports say the man was drunk and lashed out at his wife’s birthday party in Nakhon Si…
- Bangkok News
US says free press integral to democracy, pledges support for Thai journalists
The Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Bangkok says the United States pledges to support a free press and independent journalism in Thailand. Michael Heath has described a free press as a vital component of democracy and freedom of expression. The Bangkok Post reports that he was addressing reporters who were attending a seminar at the embassy. The event…
- Tourism News
Emirates A380 to return to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi to meet increased demand
The A380 is to return to the skies over Bangkok as Emirates upgrades capacity on flights to the capital to meet increased demand. TTR Weekly reports that Thailand’s recent re-opening to vaccinated tourists from approved countries has led to strong demand, with around 10,000 arrivals registered at Suvarnabhumi every day. In order to add capacity and frequency to its services,…
- Thailand News
Doctors successfully perform Thailand’s first “acardiac twin” surgery
Surgeons reportedly performed Thailand’s first surgery involving twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence, or TRAP, where the cardiac system of one normally developed foetus is supplying blood for another, known as the “acardiac twin,” which is poorly developed, often missing a heart, head, and limbs. On Wednesday, surgeons at Srinagarind Hospital of Khon Kaen University successfully performed the surgery, stopping the…
- Crime News
Man arrested for allegedly shooting his 88 year old father to death in Southern Thailand
Police arrested a man for allegedly killing his 88 year old father at his home in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district. On Monday, father and son were reportedly in a heated argument when 60 year old Seree Kuldamrongwiwat allegedly fired shots at his father. The Bangkok Post reports that the fatal shooting was caught on surveillance cameras. Saree was arrested yesterday…
- World News
Military eyes reopening Myanmar to tourists, shadow government says “stay away”
The State Administrative Council under the Myanmar military junta on Tuesday said it will reopen the country by next month, starting with border crossings with China and Thailand, ahead of a scheduled resumption of welcoming international tourists in the second quarter of 2022. It comes amid continued internal clashes between civilian and military troops in the aftermath of the military…
- Thailand News
Thailand coast along the Andaman Sea eyed to be UNESCO World Heritage site
A large swath of coastline in Southern Thailand has been approved by the Cabinet to be a potential new UNESCO World Heritage site. This area runs along the Andaman sea from Phuket up through Phang nga and Ranong, and much of it is already approved nature reserves and national park land. The total site comprises around 1,160 square kilometres. A…
- Thailand News
National park officials in Chachoengsao search for elephant critically injured from gunshots
Thailand’s National Park Service team and veterinarians are working hard to find a wild elephant, known as “Plai Noo Sing,” who was shot several times and critically injured in a forest in Chachoengsao, east of Bangkok. Since last week, officials from Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary have been on the lookout for a 20 year old wild elephant who…
- Thailand News
Prayut reportedly says draft charter amendments should not touch the Monarchy
As Thai politicians mull over changes to propose to the country’s constitution, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha announced that any amendments lawmakers are seeking to make, the institution of the Royal Family must be left untouched, according to the Bangkok Post. Bangkok Post reporters spoke with a source who attended a mobile cabinet meeting in Krabi, which was chaired by the prime…
- Thailand News
Cabinet approves plan to revive tourism in provinces along the Andaman Sea
A multibillion baht development plan for the Andaman provinces was approved yesterday by the Thai Cabinet. This plan will apply to the six provinces in Southern Thailand along the Andaman Sea, and will be focused on encouraging economic development and social programmes in the region. 32 different projects will be funded in the Phuket, Phang Nga, Trang, Ranong and Satun…
- Crime News
Police crackdown after CNN investigation into multimillion dollar medical glove scam
Thai police have arrested a Japanese businessman and have issued several arrest warrants following the CNN investigation into the multimillion dollar, transnational medical glove scam involving a Thailand-based company. According to the report, millions of used medical gloves, some stained with blood, were exported from Thailand to American companies looking to cash in on the pandemic-driven spike in demand for…
- World News
Thai women, casino workers rescued from Cambodia after being held for ransom
3 Thai women have been rescued from Cambodia, where they were allegedly being held for ransom by their Chinese boss. Following their rescue, another 60 Thai workers have been freed, also in Cambodia, after being duped by fake job ads and being held in “slave-like” conditions with their families ordered to pay ransom money. The Bangkok Post reports that police…
- Thailand News
Blackpink’s Lisa given award by hometown of Buriram
The town of Buriram in Northeastern Thailand presented an honorary award to Thai K-pop star Lisa earlier today. Lalisa Manoban, also known by her stage name ‘Lisa,’ was honoured for her efforts to promote education in her native province, and also for her work as a role model for Thai youth. Lisa is a member of the famous K-pop girl…
- Thailand News
Storks take over mango farm in Ang Thong, owners put property up for sale
The owner of a mango plantation is throwing in the white towel after her farm was overrun by storks. The 20-hectare farm in the central Ang Thong province is now up for sale, and the owner says that the farm can no longer operate thanks to the new residents. The birds came 3 years ago, according to what the owner…
- World News
South East Asia gradually re-opening to vaccinated foreign arrivals
With Thailand now open to vaccinated travellers from 63 approved countries, the rest of South East Asia is preparing to follow suit. According to a TTR Weekly report, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia all have their own variations on a re-opening plan. In Vietnam, the resort island of Phu Quoc will re-open later this month for fully vaccinated foreign…
- Covid-19 News
Tuesday Covid Update: 5,947 new cases; provincial totals
62 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 20,143 with 20,049 of those fatalities during the latest wave, which was first recorded on April 1. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 5,947 new Covid-19 cases and 7,943 recoveries. There are now 92,105 people in Thailand being…
- World News
Singapore lifts entry curbs for 5 more countries under vaccinated travel lane scheme
Beginning November 29, Singapore will allow vaccinated travellers from five more countries, including Indonesia and India, to enter the country without undergoing a quarantine or isolation period. The effort is part of the country’s vaccinated travel lane scheme and will be expanded to cover travelers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates beginning early next month, according to…
- Thailand News
Royal Thai Air Force signs US$143 million contract for US-made aircraft
The Royal Thai Air Force signed a contract on Sunday to buy a new fleet of aircraft. These will come from Textron Aviation Defense, an American aircraft manufacturer that builds planes for the US military. The US$143 million, or about 4.86 billion baht, deal was made on the first day of the Dubai Airshow. The RTAF is set to purchase…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s Bangla Road inspected by national and local health officials
Health officials went to Phuket’s Bangla Road, but not for a beer. The deputy director of Thailand’s Department of Health went to Phuket and inspect the famed walking street in person, reviewing Covid-19 prevention measures. While bars and nightclubs are ordered to be closed nationwide, photos from the provincial health office show bars are the street packed with people, and…
- Thailand News
Poverty rising during pandemic, 15 million expected to be on welfare by 2022
Thailand’s poverty rate has been increasing during the pandemic. According to the deputy Finance Minister, the number of Thais receiving state welfare is expected to increase by over 1 million, totaling around 15 million people. Based on Worldometer statistics, this means that next year over 21% of the population will be on welfare, or around 1 in 5 people in the…
- Krabi News
Protesters opposing PM visit detained by police in Krabi
A number of activists opposing the visit of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to the southern province of Krabi were detained by police yesterday. Thai PBS World reports that the 5 activists rallied at the province’s Ao Nang beach to protest a visit by the Thai leader. The PM and members of his administration were in Krabi for a mobile Cabinet meeting…
- Crime News
Disgraced police chief Thitisan and 6 other officers indicted in murder case
A former police chief accused of murdering a suspect in custody has been indicted, along with 6 other former police officers. The Bangkok Post reports that public prosecutors have taken the case to the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. Thitisan Utthanaphon is accused of torturing Chiraphong Thanapat to death by suffocating the 24 year old with plastic…
- World News
Commerce minister welcomes re-opening of 2 southern border checkpoints
Thailand’s Commerce Minister, Jurin Laksanawisit, has welcomed the re-opening of 2 border checkpoints in the southern province of Narathiwat, saying it will boost trade with Malaysia. Both the Tak Bai and Buketa checkpoints re-opened yesterday, with Jurin predicting an increase of at least 600 million baht a year in bilateral trade between Thailand and Malaysia. The Bangkok Post reports that…
- Bangkok News
Police say no live ammunition was used against protesters in Bangkok yesterday
Bangkok police denied reports that live ammunition was used against pro-democracy protesters during a clash yesterday evening where at least two protesters were shot. Doctors have not made any detailed statements on the injuries, but police say only rubber bullets were fired at protesters. Officers say they are still investigating the incident. Yesterday evening, a large rally of Thai activists…
- Covid-19 News
Monday Covid Update: 6,343 new cases; provincial totals
45 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 20,081 with 19,987 of those fatalities during the latest wave, which was first recorded on April 1. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 6,343 new Covid-19 cases and 7,663 recoveries. There are now 94,163 people in Thailand being…
- Tourism News
Only 8 foreign tourists visit Hua Hin since November 1 reopening
Despite Thailand’s reopening, the beach destination of Hua Hin is still extremely quiet. The country officially reopened its borders on November 1, and has seen almost 45,000 international visitors arrive in the last two weeks. But in that time, the town of Hua Hin has seen only 8 foreigners arrive. Hua Hin has historically been a popular beach town in…
- World News
Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Minister visits Myanmar capital to meet military junta
Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai, who also serves as deputy prime minister, met with the military junta’s Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin and later with the coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing yesterday afternoon, according to a report by local media outlet Myanmar Now. It is unknown what topics the two parties discussed during this confidential day-trip made…
- Thailand Weather Updates
Heavy rain and landslide cause villas at Koh Samui resort to collapse
Heavy rain and landslides caused several villas at a resort on Koh Samui to collapse on Saturday. Torrential rain over the past several days flooded several areas on the island and, according to weather reports, rain is expected to continue for the next few days. The landslide hit the Merit Resort Samui early Saturday morning. The resort’s general manager described…
- Thailand News
Covid-19 still a concern for upcoming Loy Krathong festival
The Loy Krathong festival is set to take place this Friday in Thailand. But according to a recent poll, a number of Thais are concerned that the Covid-19 measures in place are inadequate, and that another wave of infections because of the festival is possible. These concerns are making people hesitant to participate in the festivities. Last month, PM Prayut…
