Thailand
- Covid-19 News
CCSA update: 1 local Covid case detected in Krabi, another case in ASQ in Phuket
A 38 year old Dutch man has tested positive for Covid-19 in Phuket. The man was staying at an Alternative State Quarantine venue in Phuket. And an Indian restaurant worker in Krabi has also tested positive, this time a case of apparent local transmission. 10 other positive cases were detected today, including 8 people in quarantine and 2 Burmese truck…
- Things To Do
When next in Thailand, don’t do these things – VIDEO
Most of the time you’re spoiled for choice with things to do in Thailand. It’s what makes the country so popular for overseas visitors, and as a place to live. But there are a few things that may be worth avoiding, despite being available, during your time in the Land of Smiles. Here’s The Thaiger’s Top 10 list of potential…
- Tourism News
Phuket & Koh Samui face financial ruin in the short to medium term – VIDEO
Phuket and Samui are both islands, fed mostly by arrivals at their international airports. Of course, both remain closed and the islands are trying to survive on a dribble of domestic tourists. And there’s no sign of hope any time soon for the future. Bill Barnett is ‘Mr Hotel & Hospitality’ for Thailand and the region. What does he see…
- Transport News
The Phuket ‘light rail’ may end up being an electric bus instead
The Phuket mass rapid transport system, aka. Phuket Light Rail and Phuket Tram, is receiving more attention as the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand mull more changes to the design. The initial route, which would run from the Phuket Airport, follow the main north/south artery, Thepkasattri Road, then through Phuket Town and on to Chalong circle, has a projected…
- Chiang Mai News
Financial hardship spiking Thailand’s suicide rate
Thailand’s police and health workers continue to work with online influencers such as Drama Addict, Mam Po Dum and More Lab Panda, to help identify, and if necessary intervene, in people sharing distressing messages over their battles in the current Covid era. Police have also been recruited specialist to help to prevent suicides and provide counselling. Thailand’s Department of Mental…
- Thailand News
Thailand News Today | Shorter quarantine, STV update, THAI jets for sale | November 6
Last day of the week and a day full of news about the STV, Chinese travel bubbles and the PM saying he’ll step aside if there’s someone better to take his job. Thailand News Today, with Tim Newton. Retired Thai official with Covid-19 dies after returning to Thailand A 66 year old retired Thai official, diagnosed with Covid-19, died yesterday…
- Phuket News
Phuket police investigate alleged teacher abuse
Police are investigating a teacher at a central Phuket school after a complaint was filed accusing the teacher of kicking a pre-school student in the face. The Pavena Foundation for Children and Women reported the incident to the Wichit Police. The 5 year old student’s grandmother initially reported the alleged abuse to the foundation. In an interview with police, the grandmother…
- Covid-19 News
New rapid Covid-19 tests await FDA approval
A new rapid Covid-19 test made in Thailand is expected to cut coronavirus screening costs and provide results within a day. The tests, developed by the Medical Sciences Department in collaboration with Siam Bioscience, are waiting to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The approval process could take around a month. The test, once proven and rolled out,…
- South Thailand News
Man shot and killed, bomb explosion in deep south
A man was fatally shot and later, as rangers were patrolling, a bomb exploded – both incidents were in the Southern province of Narathiwat, an area plagued with violence from the more than two-decade-long insurgency. Around 6am this morning, 48 year old Sorpree Arma was shot dead in the Sri Sakhon district just as he was leaving his home to go…
- Thailand News
Taiwan rejects ChaTraMue Thai tea shipment due to insecticide levels
Taiwan sent back a 5-tonne shipment of Thai tea mix after the country’s Food and Drug Administration found traces of insecticide that exceed the limit. The ChaTraMue mix for the orange-coloured milk tea is widely available in Thailand. The company Cha Thai International says the products are safe and the level of pesticide residue is within safe limits, in line…
- Thailand News
Thai TV debate: Royalist accuses Jewish Americans of funding pro-democracy protests
A debate between a royalist and a pro-democracy supporter got heated and turned into shouting during a broadcast on a Thai news channel. In one bizarre exchange, the royalist spokesperson accused Jewish Americans of backing the pro-democracy movement. The ongoing political protests, calling on government and monarchy reformation, has led to a divide in Thailand with a split between those…
- Covid-19 News
10 day quarantine proposal passes first stage of approval
A health sub-committee of the government’s Covid-19 task force has approved a reduction in quarantine from 14 days to 10, for visitors arriving from “safe” countries. They would be those that are at a similar risk level to Thailand, or slightly higher. Those arriving from countries considered “high risk” will still need to carry out 14 days’ quarantine. The proposal…
- Thailand News
Thai Airways to auction off 34 used passenger aircrafts
Anyone want to buy an airplane? In the midst of tackling bankruptcy, Thai Airways is auctioning off 34 old passenger aircrafts. The aircrafts are around 12 to nearly 30 years old and are sold on an “as-is, where is” condition. The airline has been strapped for cash. As part of a debt rehabilitation plan, nearly 5,000 employees – a fourth…
- Covid-19 News
Thailand considering no-quarantine travel bubble with China
With no new Special Tourist Visa applications for November, the Thai government is considering a no-quarantine travel bubble plan with China. Officials hope that if approved, the scheme could be put into operation in time for Chinese New Year in February. China currently has 22 low-risk provinces, as they have not recorded a Covid-19 case in over 150 days. The…
- Koh Samui News
Koh Samui Covid-19 case: Recovered and released from quarantine
The 57 year old woman who recently tested positive for Covid-19 in Koh Samui has been cleared and released from quarantine. The Samui Hospital director told the Bangkok Post that the woman has fully recovered and tested negative for the virus. The woman and her family flew from Paris to Bangkok on September 30. They completed a mandatory 14 day…
- Bangkok News
New rules at Bangkok police checkpoints after bribe complaints
Police at Bangkok’s Thong Lor station have set up what they say is a “new style” of checkpoints in response to complaints saying drivers were forced to pay police officers. Along with new rules to prevent corruption and bribery, the officers also need to be “polite.” The Thong Lor police station has accumulated a reputation over recent decades. It was…
- Thailand News
Digital Minister defends decision to ban Pornhub
Following backlash on the move to block PornHub and other websites considered “offensive,” the Minister of Digital Economy and Society Buddhipongse Punnakanta says he is standing by his decision, adding that the pornography violates children’s and women’s rights. Pornography is illegal in Thailand. Buddhipongse says the explicit videos gave access to users of any age. He says Pornhub not only…
- Thailand News
First group of Special Tourist Visa travellers complete quarantine
The first group of foreign tourists to enter Thailand after a 7 month ban due to the pandemic have completed the mandatory 14 day quarantine and are ready to travel the country. Some of them will be visiting beaches, but Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yutthasak Supasorn says their exact whereabouts are confidential. Thai PBS reports 33 tourists, who arrived…
- Krabi News
Homeless hermit crabs in Koh Lanta need seashell donations
Hermit crabs on Moo Koh Lanta Marine National Park have been seen making homes out of broken glass bottles and other pieces of trash. With the shortage of shells on the Krabi beaches, park officials have launched a project called “Returning Homes to Hermit Crabs.” The park made a post on Facebook with photo a hermit crab that appears to…
- Thailand News
Lottery winning monk leaves temple because so many people asked for money
The monk who recently won 18 million baht in the lottery and decided to give the winnings away apparently had to leave his temple because people kept coming by asking him for money. He’s now at a temple at another province, but he’s keeping the location a secret. A monk at Wat Thinnakorn Nimit in Nonthaburi, just outside Bangkok, says…
- World News
Cambodian PM tests negative for Covid-19 after meeting with Hungarian foreign minister
Cambodian PM Hun Sen says he tested negative for Covid-19, but he will be in self-quarantine for the next 14 days. On Tuesday, the prime minister met with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijarto, who tested positive for Covid-19 while in Bangkok, Thai officials announced yesterday. The Hungary delegation had a 1-day visit in Phnom Penh on Tuesday before…
- Hot News
More websites get the Pornhub treatment as Thailand blocks a further 209 “offensive” and “misleading” sites
The Digital Economy and Society Ministry is on a roll, announcing plans to cut access to a further 209 websites following a block on adult website Pornhub. However, the names of the “misleading” or “offensive” websites which have incurred the ministry’s wrath have not been confirmed. Earlier this week, a group gathered outside the DES ministry offices to protest against…
- Thailand News
Human rights activists file defamation lawsuit against PM and army
A civil defamation lawsuit has been filed by Thai human rights activists against the Office of the Prime Minister for allegedly publishing distorted information on a blog website. The government’s Information Operation allegedly ran a website called puliny.blogspot.com, which is now offline. It published news stories about southern Thailand, but also allegedly shot down claims of human rights violations. The…
- Thailand Protest News
Anti-government activists reject idea of a “reconciliation committee”
Thailand’s pro-democracy activists have rejected the government’s suggestion of a reconciliation committee, saying it is merely aimed at keeping PM Prayut Chan-o-cha in power. The Khana Ratsadon 2563 (People’s Movement) group say the ongoing political conflict cannot be resolved as long as the current PM remains in power. They claim his position is illegitimate and has been from the start,…
- Business News
Second Thai airline hit by Covid fallout as Nok Air to prepare rehab plan
The Central Bankruptcy Court has approved Nok Air’s petition to begin a rehabilitation process, as the low-cost airline struggles with losses incurred due to the Covid-19 economic fallout. The Bangkok Post reports that Nok Air has debts of up to 26 billion baht, with 23 billion baht in assets. In the first half of 2020, it reported revenue of 3.4…
- Thailand News
Monk wins 18 million baht in lottery, donates money to temple
A monk won 18 million baht in the recent lottery and decided to donate the winnings. 67 year old Montri Samajjo, known as Monk Piak, says he didn’t buy the tickets with the hopes of winning. He bought them because a lottery ticket seller came by temple asking for help. The monk gave 1 million baht to each of his…
- Environment News
Urgent plan to reduce PM2.5 – National Environment Board
With the air pollutant PM2.5 rising to harmful levels in some areas of Bangkok and increasing in other cities, the National Environment Board has approved an urgent plan. Pollution Control Department chief Atthaphon Charoenchansa says the plan has 12 measures to tackle pollution. It will be submitted to the Cabinet for review. A “pollution information centre” will be formed with…
- Crime News
6 sentenced to 20-50 years in prison for Eagle Gates investment scam
The Thai Criminal Court sentenced 6 people to prison for money laundering and investment fraud. The 6 defendants were involved with the Eagle Gates Group, a company which was found to be a front for transnational crime, according to the Department of Special Investigation. The first defendant was sentenced to 50 years in prison while the other 5 were each…
- Covid-19 News
Hungarian foreign minister tests positive for Covid-19 while in Bangkok
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijarto tested positive for Covid-19 while on a visit to Bangkok. He arrived in Thailand yesterday and was expected to fly back to Hungary today. Reuters says he has no symptoms while Coconuts Bangkok reports the foreign minister was admitted to the hospital this morning with flu symptoms and later tested positive for Covid-19. The Hungarian…
- Economy News
Inequality likely after economic recovery – Bank of Thailand governor
It’s expected to take at least 2 years for Thailand’s economy to recover, but once it does, inequality is likely to become a top concern, according to the Bank of Thailand governor Sethaput Suthiwart-Narueput. “It is expected to take at least two years before the Thai economy returns to its pre-pandemic levels in terms of GDP… Even when the economy…
