The Thaiger

  • Thailand video newsThai Cabinet Concerned Over Ukraine Fallout I GMT

    Thai Cabinet Concerned Over Ukraine Fallout I GMT

    The Thai government is expected to introduce economic measures to deal with the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Over 80 Ukrainian and Russian tourists and expats were on the roadside by the Royal Phuket Marina with signs and national flags. A suspect in the Jimi Sandu murder case was arrested in Canada and a request for his return to…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Suspicions over Thai actress drowning

    Thailand News Today | Suspicions over Thai actress drowning

    Many Thais are speculating that the drowning of the Thai TV actress Tangmo in the Chao Phraya River was not an accident and police now say they are going to use a lie detector during interrogations. Reports say the 37-year-old woman had gone to the back of the speedboat to urinate but had fallen in at around 10:40 pm Thursday…

  • World NewsAsia News Today | Calls for stronger sanctions by China over Russia & Singapore flash floods

    Asia News Today | Calls for stronger sanctions by China over Russia & Singapore flash floods

    The US White House is calling on China to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as the Russian onslaught against its neighbour continued. They also noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin has put nuclear forces on high alert, a significant ramp up in the ongoing rhetoric. China has implemented some sanctions imposed by the US and its allies against Russia over…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Update | Thais evacuate Ukraine & Storm in Thailand damages 200 homes

    Thailand News Update | Thais evacuate Ukraine & Storm in Thailand damages 200 homes

    Forty-seven Thais arrived at the help centre in the Ukrainian city of Lviv with more on their way yesterday… this from the Thai embassy in Warsaw, in neighbouring Poland. The embassy, which is making arrangements to evacuate Thais from Ukraine currently under attack from Russian military forces, said 47 Thai citizens reached Lviv, the largest city in western Ukraine yesterday.…

  • Thailand NewsCan Foreigners Own Guns In Thailand? | Lawyers, Guns & Money

    Can Foreigners Own Guns In Thailand? | Lawyers, Guns & Money

    What is gun ownership like in Thailand? Can foreigners own guns living in Thailand? What about gun violence in Thailand. If you have a gun license in your country, is that license still applicable in Thailand? Tim sits with Ben Hart from Integrity legal to find out the more about owning guns in Thailand.

  • Thailand video newsRussian and Ukraine Conflict, Thailand Pass Hassles & Viva Mexico | Thaiger Bites

    Russian and Ukraine Conflict, Thailand Pass Hassles & Viva Mexico | Thaiger Bites

    Jay and Tim go through your messages, comments and feedback from Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and the Thaiger Talk forum on the website. Thaiger Bites, Ep.88

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Thailand to declare covid endemic in 4 months?

    Thailand News Today | Thailand to declare covid endemic in 4 months?

    Thailand’s health ministry wants to declare Covid 19 as endemic in the next 4 months. Senior ministry official Kiattiphum Wongrajit says the Omicron variant has resulted in a much lower fatality rate than in previous waves, and while lung infections are increasing, cases of severe illness are still lower than earlier waves of the coronavirus. Health officials say deaths are…

  • Thailand video newsAsia News Today | Asia’s stocks fluctuate, gold and Bitcoin rally

    Asia News Today | Asia’s stocks fluctuate, gold and Bitcoin rally

    In the Asia Pacific region, only Japan, South Korea and Australia have so far officially condemned the actions of Russia after its invasion of Ukraine yesterday. They’ve said they will join with the US in imposing international sanctions but have so far declined to add unilateral sanctions. Indonesia has taken a slightly different tack and is calling for negotiation and…

  • Thailand video newsFall out in Thailand following Russian invasion | GMT

    Fall out in Thailand following Russian invasion | GMT

    The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is worried the Russia-Ukraine crisis may affect car exports. A charter flight is ready to be sent to help evacuate Thais in Ukraine if tensions with Russia escalate further. The Thai stock market tumbled 1.99% on Thursday while local gold prices rose by 850 baht after Russia launched attacks on multiple Ukraine cities. The…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Govt reveals treatment costs for Covid

    Thailand News Today | Govt reveals treatment costs for Covid

    Following the CCSA’s decision yesterday to lower the insurance coverage required of overseas arrivals, the health minister agrees the new figure is enough to cover Covid treatment, based on the latest findings. Anutin Charnvirakul says figures from the National Health Security Office indicate that treatment costs for severe Covid cases are usually around 300,000 baht per person, which is less…

  • World NewsAsia News Today | Starving Burmese Refugees & Terrorist groups in Philippines

    Asia News Today | Starving Burmese Refugees & Terrorist groups in Philippines

    South Korea’s PM is calling for calm after a record number of Covid infections, amid warnings that the latest surge is still yet to peak. He says that serious cases and deaths were still at “manageable levels”, after health authorities reported 171,452 new infections yesterday, a sharp increase from the 99,573 cases a day earlier and the previous all-time high…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Update | Doubts on Thailand’s Songkran 2022

    Thailand News Update | Doubts on Thailand’s Songkran 2022

    Even after the Test & Go program was rebooted on February 1, along with the additional and unpopular Day 5 PCR test, there hasn’t been a large increase in the number of international tourists visiting Thailand. Indeed the new applications and actual arrivals have fallen well below expectations by Thailand’s tourism tzars.Now, Phuket officials are launching new plans to encourage…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Day 5 PCR test scrapped & Covid insurance reduced!

    Thailand News Today | Day 5 PCR test scrapped & Covid insurance reduced!

    The Day 5 PCR test for the Test & Go entry scheme has been scrapped. Instead, on day 5, travellers are required to take a self-administered ATK test without the need to stay at an SHA approved hotel. The new measures go into effect on March 1. Travellers entering under the Test & Go scheme must still undergo a PCR…

  • Thailand NewsBREAKING: Thailand Test & Go changes

    BREAKING: Thailand Test & Go changes

    Day 5 PCR test for the Test and Go Program has been scrapped and the mandatory Covid insurance has also been reduced. Tim Newton goes live with the breaking news and answers your questions regarding the Thailand Pass.

  • World NewsAsia News Today | Covid cases surge in Asia, Sanctions against Russia & Human trafficking

    Asia News Today | Covid cases surge in Asia, Sanctions against Russia & Human trafficking

    Covid cases are still surging in many Asian countries, the US is rallying support from the region to support sanctions on Russia in the wake of yesterday’s incursion into Eastern Ukraine, the Australian PM responds to the Chinese laser targeting of one of its planes last week and a conference in Indonesia to address regional human trafficking. —– Starting off…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Update | Will Thailand scrap 2nd test for the Test and Go?

    Thailand News Update | Will Thailand scrap 2nd test for the Test and Go?

    A meeting today with the CCSA where they will formerly discuss proposals regarding possible updates to Test and Go, the most popular option for the Thailand Pass online application system for international travellers. Although there’s been speculation that the controversial Day 5 PCR test may be dropped, we won’t know until alter today. The Thaiger will bring you up to…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Thailand battles with easing restrictions

    Thailand News Today | Thailand battles with easing restrictions

    As infections continue to rise sharply across the country, the government has raised the Covid alert to Level 4 nationwide. The move comes as the number of severe cases and deaths also continues to rise, with most of the deaths reported in the elderly, the unvaccinated, and those with underlying health conditions. However, the CCSA has stated that lockdowns will…

  • World NewsAsia News Today | Asian stocks sink over Russian incursion, China ramps up microchip production

    Asia News Today | Asian stocks sink over Russian incursion, China ramps up microchip production

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent. He’s used this diplomatic word-play as a reason to order the Russian army to launch a so-called peacekeeping mission into the area. His actions are a significant ramping up of diplomatic tensions in the ongoing Russian/Ukraine crisis.The president has ordered his defence officials to deploy…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Update | CCSA say ‘no changes’ for now

    Thailand News Update | CCSA say ‘no changes’ for now

    The CCSA spokesperson has pre-empted tomorrow’s official meeting saying that they will not impose any additional measures amid rising Thailand’s COVID-19 infections. But he says officials will strictly enforce the existing restrictions in the light of surging infections, mostly by the Omicron variant. She says that officials are taking into consideration all aspects of the Covid situation, including the number…

  • Thailand video newsThailand on Level 4 Covid Alert, No Change To Restrictions | GMT

    Thailand on Level 4 Covid Alert, No Change To Restrictions | GMT

    The Public Health Ministry has raised its Covid-19 alert to Level 4 following a sharp increase in Omicron variant infections nationwide. Prosecutors will decide today whether a police lance corporal who rode a Ducati superbike that struck down and killed a doctor at a zebra crossing on Jan 21 will be indicted. A motorbike driver who stopped at a zebra…

  • World NewsAsia News Today | Vietnam’s vaccine passports & Hong Kong postpones elections

    Asia News Today | Vietnam’s vaccine passports & Hong Kong postpones elections

    In Vietnam, The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has released guidelines for implementing the second phase of its COVID-19 vaccine passport pilot programme to welcome international tourists.Phase two will continue from now until the country’s full reopening of tourism activities via air, land, and sea routes, which is set for March 15. During this period, overseas Vietnamese and Vietnamese…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Update | Reducing paperwork for incoming travellers

    Thailand News Update | Reducing paperwork for incoming travellers

    This Wednesday the CCSA convene for yet another meeting to consider both lifting persistent local restrictions, as well as reducing some of the paperwork and hassles for incoming travellers. For travellers, they will be looking for the scrapping of one or both the pre-paid PCR tests and accommodation when they arrive. New applications for the Thailand Pas have remained lack-lustre…

  • Thailand video newsDemands for Covid restrictions to be lifted in Thailand | GMT

    Demands for Covid restrictions to be lifted in Thailand | GMT

    The Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is calling on all 77 provincial governments to do everything they can to reduce the spread of the latest Covid surge in Thailand. Phuket is offering itself as the first province to declare the spread of Covid-19 as an endemic. Thai International Airways also plans to have direct flights between Bangkok and Riyadh in May.…

  • Thailand NewsThe Role of Embassies For Foreigners in Thailand

    The Role of Embassies For Foreigners in Thailand

    What is the role of embassies in Thailand and when do we need them as a foreigner or expat in Thailand? Are some embassies better than others? Tim sits with Ben Hart from Integrity legal to find out the use of embassies in Thailand.

  • World NewsAsia News Today | Indonesia’s hotel quarantine scams

    Asia News Today | Indonesia’s hotel quarantine scams

    Indonesia’s Tourism Ministry say authorities are cracking down on hotel quarantine scams, who he claims are allegedly perpetrated by organised groups, against foreign travellers. He’s already coined the groups the “quarantine mafia”. Police have been following up allegations of numerous reported scams in hotel quarantine across Jakarta. The scam involves travellers being told at the end of their hotel quarantine…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Tourism sector calls for full reopening in March

    Thailand News Today | Tourism sector calls for full reopening in March

    Tourism operators have written an open letter to PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and other government officials, calling for the country to be fully re-opened to foreign visitors from March. In the letter, the groups say they want all entry restrictions ditched, including the Thailand Pass and PCR testing on arrival, and want Covid declared endemic. They point to several other countries,…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Update | Test & Go Improvements, Live Chat Function Added

    Thailand News Update | Test & Go Improvements, Live Chat Function Added

    In the wake of lower-than-expected take up of the revised Test and Go program in the Thailand Pass, the Thai PM has made direct orders for quick improvements in the reliability of the digital systemApplicants have been complaining about delays, receiving spam and hacked emails. Now a new entry pathway called TPHS has now been approved and promises to cut…

  • Thailand video newsNew Visa for foreigners to work in Thailand I GMT

    New Visa for foreigners to work in Thailand I GMT

    Thailand plans to use a newly introduced Thailand Elite Card programme offering a work permit to lure investments from international professionals. Another leak found in underwater oil pipeline off the Rayong coast. Thai PM orders Thailand Pass to be improved. Thailand is going a step further than the graphic (and disturbing) photos on packs of cigarettes to discourage the public…

  • World NewsAsia News Today | Hong Kong’s healthcare overwhelmed by Covid infections

    Asia News Today | Hong Kong’s healthcare overwhelmed by Covid infections

    Hong Kong’s healthcare is being overwhelmed by a big surge in new Covid infections. Patients showing symptoms are now having to be treated outside the crowded hospitals. The government admits it is struggling to contain wave of Omicron infections, but is ruling out a Hong Kong-wide lockdown. A record 4,285 new infections were reported yesterday in the special administrative region…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Update | Optimistic marketing plans to build Thai tourism

    Thailand News Update | Optimistic marketing plans to build Thai tourism

    The forever optimistic Tourism Authority of Thailand is continuing to roll out its current marketing plans to target both international and domestic travellers despite a luke-warm start to the year. 2022 started with only the Phuket Sandbox and a quarantine option available for international arrivals, and even after the Test & Go option was re-instated on February 1, the numbers…