The Thaiger

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Thai army trim the Generals, sugar making Thais fat | March 8

    Thailand News Today | Thai army trim the Generals, sugar making Thais fat | March 8

    71 new Covid cases in Thailand today, the generals are being told they’re going to face pay cuts and a Thai doctors has issued a warning about the link between Thai’s love for sugary sweets and life-threatening diseases… there goes my afternoon donut. And don’t worry, I’m not going to sing my way through the news today, it’s just nice…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand’s tourism in the Covid 2021 era

    Thailand’s tourism in the Covid 2021 era

    OPINION by Andrew J Wood Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine this week for emergency use in the country. Two private hospitals are also ordering millions of doses of coronavirus vaccines ahead of this regulatory approval. This is in addition to the government’s order of 63 million doses from two main sources as…

  • Thailand NewsComments, feedback, fact-checking and banning – the joys of the modern news editor

    Comments, feedback, fact-checking and banning – the joys of the modern news editor

    The news ‘business’ has become a 2-way flow of information and engagement. Whilst this democratisation of news is welcome in many cases, it’s also causing news and information providers like Thaiger plenty of new headaches. The Thaiger website is now receiving around 300 – 500 genuine comments a day (plus a lot of spam). All this engagement is causing fresh…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Political homes, Adult site bans, Nok Air rehab | November 5

    Thailand News Today | Political homes, Adult site bans, Nok Air rehab | November 5

    Thailand News Today, the most-watched English-speaking Thai TV news service in the world. Short, sharp, to the point. Make it a part of your day. Young Thais say political divide has caused conflict with their parents The ongoing political protests have led to a new, raw divide in Thailand with a split between a younger generation demanding democracy and an…

  • Tourism NewsThe future of Thailand’s hotels, tough times ahead – VIDEO

    The future of Thailand’s hotels, tough times ahead – VIDEO

    Thailand’s hotels are facing a very dark time with the Thai borders still largely closed and many of them remaining closed for business. Whilst some local domestic stimulus has provided a bit of a minor reboot for the battered industry, there is still more than 90% of the rooms in the country remaining unoccupied with staff unemployed, debts and leases…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Visa amnesty, sealing Burmese border, Thai airways creditors | September 24

    Thailand News Today | Visa amnesty, sealing Burmese border, Thai airways creditors | September 24

    Latest update for September 26 deadline of visa amnesty. Deadline set for THAI creditors A date has now been set for creditors to recover their money from Thai Airways. Applications for debt repayment through corporate bonds started yesterday. Applications filed by private individuals are being received at the Securities and Exchange Commission office in Bangkok. The deadline for applications is…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Hotels wary, rain on the way | September 17, 2020

    Thailand News Today | Hotels wary, rain on the way | September 17, 2020

    Despite new tourist visa, hoteliers remain skeptical about reopening As news comes of the cabinet approving a special long-term tourist visa scheme, hoteliers are remaining skeptical about reopening due to the lack of clarity in the recent announcement which will reportedly kick off next month. The president of the Thai Hotels Association’s southern chapter says more hoteliers will consider reopening…

  • Thai LifeTop 10 English-language news sources in Thailand (2020)

    Top 10 English-language news sources in Thailand (2020)

    This post is mainly for newbies, tourists and people-interested-in-Thailand news and views. Locals probably already have their favourite daily news sources, or trawl through many of these. All these Top 10s do it well, in their own way. Some do it better than others, whilst punching out daily news. We think they’re all stars because doing media in Thailand, in English,…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today – Thursday, April 23

    Thailand News Today – Thursday, April 23

    Thousands of tourists stranded on a trio of Gulf islands An estimated 10,000 foreign tourists are stranded on three islands in the Gulf of Thailand – Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. More than half of them, around 5,700 are on Koh Samui, another 3,300 foreign tourists on Koh Phangan and about 1,000 on Koh Tao, after passenger flights…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today – Wednesday, April 22

    Thailand News Today – Wednesday, April 22

    Thailand confirms 15 new Covid-19 cases, 1 death (Wednesday) Thai health officials have confirmed 15 new cases of Covid-19 and 1 death today. The new cases bring Thailand’s total to 2,826 since the outbreak began, of whom 2,352, or 83% have now been released from hospital and returned home. Today’s new death brings Thailand’s total to 49. 3 of the…

  • Covid-19 NewsPattaya issues three month prison sentence to curfew violators

    Pattaya issues three month prison sentence to curfew violators

    Three Thai men were caught in Pattaya yesterday evening violating the Emergency Decree curfew and sentenced to three months in prison. Pattaya City Police posted on their Thai social media channels and reminded its Thai and English audience not to go out between 10 pm and 4 am without a valid reason or face the consequences. After a rise in curfew…

  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok deploys mobile testing units

    Bangkok deploys mobile testing units

    The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is providing testing at home for people who may have caught the coronavirus disease. City governor Aswin Kwanmuang said yesterday that the BMA, along with the Mor Lab Panda Facebook page, are sending mobile teams to conduct Covid-19 testing to the homes of people who complete an online questionnaire and are at risk. People who test…

  • Covid-19 NewsOver half returning from Indonesia tested positive with Covid-19

    Over half returning from Indonesia tested positive with Covid-19

    42 of the 76 Thais who returned from Indonesia on Monday have now ended up as Covid-19 patients. Members of the Thai Islamic community travelling to Indonesia to preform “Dawah ” an Islamic missionary tradition, amidst a rise of Covid-19 cases in Indonesia, have returned with over half testing positive. After health care workers examined the returnees, 22 have been sent…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand’s “Wild Boar” vows to save his province

    Thailand’s “Wild Boar” vows to save his province

    The northern province of Lampang been hit by Covid-19, despite the best efforts of its famous governor, Narongsak Osotthanakorn. Who? Narongsak was the face of the rescue mission to retrieve the 13 young men from the Tham Luang cave two years ago and was the Chiang Rai governor at the time. “When I heard of the first Covid-19 infection in…

  • Crime NewsNot recommended: Smoking marijuana at a police checkpoint

    Not recommended: Smoking marijuana at a police checkpoint

    Most of us approach a police checkpoint with a bit of anxiety and apprehension but sometimes the “sabai sabai” approach makes for a more interesting interaction when you roll down your window. Last night in Chaiyaphum province, central Thailand, a tattoo-adorned man was stopped at a checkpoint in Kaeng Khro district around 9pm. His behaviour led police to believe he…

  • Covid-19 NewsA Bangkok hospital offers free drive-through Covid-19 tests for taxi drivers

    A Bangkok hospital offers free drive-through Covid-19 tests for taxi drivers

    Few industries see more contact with potentially infected people than transportation services. That is why a new drive through testing system has been developed in the nation’s capital. Princ Hospital Suvarnabhumi on Bangna-Trat Road has launched free drive-through Covid-19 tests for taxi drivers who live or work in Bang Na, Bang Kaew, Bang Phli, Suvarnabhumi Airport or Samut Prakan province,…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today – Tuesday, April 7

    Thailand News Today – Tuesday, April 7

    New coronavirus cases in Thailand fall to 38, 1 more death In another dramatic drop in new case numbers, Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported only 38 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases in the previous 24 hours, and one additional death. The cumulative death toll for Thailand now stands at 27. The 38 new infections appears to show a declining…

  • Covid-19 NewsThai government schools push reopening to July 1

    Thai government schools push reopening to July 1

    The cabinet announced today that government schools will be permitted to reopen from July 1 instead of May 16, which was in the original school calendar. A government spokesman says the cabinet acknowledged that the first semester of the 2020 academic year will have to be adjusted and schools will be permitted to start the semester on July 1, a…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid Cat Craze Challenge aka. Flying Pussy Competition

    Covid Cat Craze Challenge aka. Flying Pussy Competition

    What do we get when we add panic buying of toilet rolls, worldwide sports on hiatus, and lots of free time during the Covid-19 global pandemic quarantine measures? Cat videos of course! Not just cats, but cats v Toilet rolls. Cats jumping increasingly stacked toilet paper has gone viral, and no, not the kind that will make you ill for…

  • Covid-19 NewsProper use and disposal of sanitary masks

    Proper use and disposal of sanitary masks

    With new regulations in Phuket for the compulsory use of sanitary face masks, it is important to know how to properly use and dispose of sanitary masks. The World Health Organisation has created some instructional videos and provided recommendations to keep the mask the most effective possible while at the same time ensuring it’s proper maintenance and disposal. While the…

  • Covid-19 NewsHow to make a CDC-recommended face mask (without a sewing machine) – VIDEO

    How to make a CDC-recommended face mask (without a sewing machine) – VIDEO

    The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the US announced they were recommending citizens wear masks in public as a way to curb the Covid-19 pandemic. “We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals who are ‘coronavirus asymptomatic’ (not showing symptoms), and that even those who eventually develop symptoms, can transmit the virus to others.…

  • Covid-19 NewsThai Immigration seek visa relief for stranded foreigners

    Thai Immigration seek visa relief for stranded foreigners

    Thailand’s Immigration Chief Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang, is seeking cabinet approval for new measures to help foreigners in Thailand affected by the Covid-19 crisis. The proposal will be submitted to the cabinet for approval this week, he said. Cabinet meets each Tuesday. The proposals follow a difficult week for foreigners and immigration officials coping with long queues of panicking…

  • Covid-19 NewsUPDATE: Aviation authority extends arrival ban another 12 days

    UPDATE: Aviation authority extends arrival ban another 12 days

    The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, having earlier saying they would lift the ban on incoming flights tonight, has now decided to further extend the ban on passenger flights to the Kingdom until the end of Saturday, April 18. CAAT had initially prohibited all aircraft from entering Thailand for three days, which would have ended at midnight tonight but it…

  • Covid-19 NewsUPDATE: Ban on arriving flights lifts at midnight tonight

    UPDATE: Ban on arriving flights lifts at midnight tonight

    The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand’s three day flight arrival ban will end at midnight tonight. The ban on all aircraft from entering Thailand for three days came into effect when some 152 returning Thai nationals landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Friday evening and refused quarantine orders, saying they had not been informed of the requirement and demanding to return…

  • Covid-19 NewsQuarantined woman escapes back to Ubon Ratchathani

    Quarantined woman escapes back to Ubon Ratchathani

    An Ubon Ratchathani woman, who defied quarantine orders in Bangkok and travelled back home, has tested positive for Covid-19. The Ubon Ratchathani Centre for Covid-19 Situation reports that a 30 year old woman from Khemarat district who left her apartment in Bangkok’s Soi Pattanakarn 43, tested positive for Covid-19 after she entered the province to return home to Thailand’s Isaan…

  • Covid-19 NewsUK suffers largest one day increase in Covid-19

    UK suffers largest one day increase in Covid-19

    The United Kingdom has recorded 708 new deaths from coronavirus today, the largest one day rise since the outbreak began. Figures released yesterday by the Department of Health and Social Care, suggest a total of 4,313 people have now died in the UK. In a press briefing yesterday, UK cabinet minister Michael Gove opened by saying “Our thoughts today are…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket: Patong on official lockdown from today

    Phuket: Patong on official lockdown from today

    Phuket’s Governor Pakkapong Thaweepat has issued a closure order for Patong with all non-essential travel in or out of the popular tourist town banned in an attempt to slow a potential large scale outbreak of Covid-19 in Phuket. In recent weeks the daily reports of new cases in Phuket were mostly focussed on cases in Patong, especially around the Bangla…

  • Covid-19 NewsUPDATE: PM vows to track down the errant passengers. Chaos at Suvarnabhumi – VIDEO

    UPDATE: PM vows to track down the errant passengers. Chaos at Suvarnabhumi – VIDEO

    UPDATE: PM orders yesterday’s BKK arrivals to report to state quarantine facilities, or be arrested. The Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has told 152 Thais who landed at Suvarnabhumi International Airport yesterday afternoon, and refused to enter the state-organised quarantine, to report themselves before 6pm tonight (Saturday) so they can start their 14 day supervised quarantine, or else. A total of…

  • Covid-19 NewsIs a 24 hour national curfew next?

    Is a 24 hour national curfew next?

    The Thai government may impose a 24-hour curfew if the rate of new Covid-19 infections does not slow to a manageable level after this current national trial curfew of 10pm to 4 am and 8pm to 3am in Phuket now in effect. The national curfew was announced yesterday by Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and came into affect from today. There…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today – Monday, March 30

    Thailand News Today – Monday, March 30

    136 more virus cases confirmed in Thailand as outbreak spreads out of Bangkok A spokesman for the country’s newly formed Covid-19 Situation Administration Thailand confirmed 136 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases today. This raises the total number of infections to 1,524. Deaths in the Kingdom remain at 7. As of yesterday, 54% of Covid-19 infections were found outside Bangkok with a…