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Singapore Airlines launches 60 minute A380 flights
It’s designed to ferry lots of people long distances, in an ultra-quiet flying experience. So flyers would be used to flying the huge Airbus A380 from LA to London, Bahrain to Frankfurt, Melbourne to Hong Kong. The massive super jumbo airliner wasn’t designed for a short 1 hour hop. But that’s exactly what Singapore Airlines have planned now they’re getting…
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With dueling downgrades, NATO-Russia diplomacy is at a new low
Though high-level discussions between NATO and Russia have been few and far between in recent years, the Kremlin’s announcement that it would shutter its mission to the alliance, force NATO military officials to leave Moscow and close the NATO Information Office (NIO) there still sent a chill through the already-frosty channels. Robert Pszczel was the last diplomat NATO posted to…
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North Korean defectors struggle adapting to life in the South
For the tens of thousands of North Koreans who have escaped their repressive homeland and completed the often-perilous journey to South Korea, their problems are often far from over. Some defectors face prejudice in South Korean society, according to a recent report looking at the experiences of new arrivals in the South last year — before the North Korean regime…
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Bangladesh: Hindus targeted by violence demand better legal protection
Last week, several Hindu temples were ransacked during violent protests across Bangladesh that were sparked by video of a Quran being placed at the feet of a Hindu statue during celebrations for the Hindu festival Durga Puja. The Quran video provoked outrage in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, and hundreds of Muslims protested violently in more than a dozen districts. Houses belonging to…
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Covid-19 Tuesday: 9,122 new cases, 71 deaths, port of entry data
Today, the CCSA reported 9,122 new Covid-19 infections, down 989 since yesterday. They also reported 71 new deaths, which is up by 8 from yesterday. Since April 1, when the most recent wave of infections began, there have been a total of 1,802,934 reported cases of Covid-19 in Thailand, with 18,407 deaths. Today the Thai Department of Disease…
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Pakistan: Women YouTubers counter sexist slur
On their YouTube channel, four Pakistani women take on sensitive and taboo topics like rape and sexual consent that mainstream media outlets are hesitant to cover. SOURCE: DW News
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How To Meet the Newly Announced Health Insurance Requirements For O-A Visa
Health insurance is required for non-immigrant visa holders O-A and O-X who want to spend their retirement years in Thailand. It has recently be announced there will be change to the regulations for non-immigrant OA visas, visitors will now be required to have a minimum of 3 million baht in health insurance for in-patient care to be eligible for long-term…
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Arrest made for the 14 year old murder of pregnant girl
An arrest was finally made for the murder of a pregnant girl that happened 14 years ago. This case has been cold since the murder was committed in 2007, and the fugitive has been on the run ever since. But yesterday the suspect was finally tracked down and arrested in the remote Northeastern Loei province. Police from the Crime Suppression…
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Myanmar’s junta government releases prisoners, cancels arrest warrants
In the wake of ASEAN recently announcing it would exclude Myanmar’s representatives from future summits, Myanmar’s junta government made the move to release prisoners. The government is also cancelling arrest warrants for thousands of its people after making the announcement yesterday. The statement said that 1,316 people in detention will be released and that 4,320 cases will be dropped. Citing…
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North Korea continues testing ballistic missiles
The South Korean military reported that North Korea is continuing their testing of ballistic missiles. Today, the North fired a missile from land into the Sea of Japan to the East of the country. This act is only the latest transgression, in a series of many, amidst escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula. Seoul’s Joint Chief of Staff reported that…
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MP queries appointment of army general to oversee Covid-19 in southern Thailand
An MP from the Bhumjaithai Party has called on the PM to review his appointment of an army general to oversee the Covid-19 situation in the south of the country. MP Suphachai Jaismut has questioned the appropriateness of appointing Nattaphon Narkphanit, formerly secretary-general of the National Security Council. “My point of contention is that the PM is adopting ‘security as…
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Former U.S. president Trump sues House committee over records request
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit alleging that an illegal request was made for his White House records. The request by the US congressional committee was part of its investigation into the January 6 Capitol attacks. Trump says that the materials sought by the House of Representatives are covered by a legal doctrine known as executive privilege,…
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Covid-19 pill treatment highly effective at preventing hospitalisation, death
A prominent Thai virologist says the world’s first oral treatment for Covid-19 is highly effective if taken within 5 days of symptoms developing. Dr Yong Poovorawan from the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at Chulalongkorn University made the statement on his Facebook page yesterday. According to a Bangkok Post report, he was citing research published on the health sciences…
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Tourism sector not getting its hopes up over domestic travel
Those working in Thailand’s tourism sector aren’t getting their hopes up about a big boost to domestic travel any time soon. Wutthiphum Jurangkool, chief executive at Nok Air, says ongoing concerns about Covid-19, coupled with weak purchasing power, will make this November very different to last. “Domestic tourism reached its peak last November, thanks to low infection rates and the…
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Politicians across the world face growing dangers
Death threats, hate mail, anonymous phone calls — politicians in many countries need police protection as they carry out their work. Here are some prominent attacks on lawmakers that have occurred in recent years. Great Britain Conservative MP David Amess is the second British politician in five years to be murdered. Back in June 2016, Labour Party MP Helen Joanne…
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AfricaLink on Air – 18 October 2021
News+++Sudanese protesters demand return to military rule+++Cameroon separatists declare days of national mourning+++Nigeria battles to revive palm oil industry+++mRNA hopes for malaria vaccine+++Sports SOURCE: DW News
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Albania’s Rama decries ‘dangers’ of online media freedom
According to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, online media in Albania can potentially be as harmful as Nazi propaganda, pedophilia and terrorism. Rama voiced this opinion during the 8th OSCE South East Europe Media Conference “Journalism in times of crisis,” which took place recently in the Albanian capital, Tirana. “When you try to imagine what the Nazi propaganda machine would…
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Afghanistan: Taliban road construction projects stall without foreign funding
One day after the last US forces left Afghanistan in August, Taliban official Inamullah Samangani said in a speech that the war was over, and the Taliban would now have to focus on rebuilding Afghanistan’s economy. It looks like road construction is where the group has decided to begin. Since then, the Taliban have announced several road construction projects. These…
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Children in Jakarta’s slums get a second chance at education
Every child has a right to education, says Desi Purwatuning, the founder of a school for poor children who dropped out of school. Desi teaches both children and parents the importance of education. SOURCE: DW News
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Police in Phuket increasing checkpoints, cracking down on moving violations and crime
Phuket police have warned that anyone driving dangerously through checkpoints will be ticketed. This announcement comes after a report from a Thai news source said that the Tha Chatchai police had received an order to issue more traffic tickets. This was followed by a flurry of posts on social media warning drivers in Phuket that police at the Phuket Check…
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Covid-19 Monday: 10,111 infections, 63 deaths, provincial data
Today, the CCSA reported 10,111 new Covid-19 infections, down 752 since yesterday, and 63 Coronavirus-related deaths, down 5 from yesterday. Since April 1, in the latest wave of the virus in Thailand, a total of 1,764,949 confirmed Covid-19 infections have been reported. In the 24 hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 10,612 recoveries, up 229 from…
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Protector of junta-sponsored constitution to face judgement
A Constitutional Court is expected make a ruling on a protector of the junta-sponsored constitution this Wednesday. Paiboon Nititawan is the MP and legal expert of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party. Paiboon is also the deputy leader of the Palang Pracharath Party. He is also the legal advisor to deputy PM General Prawit Wangsuwan, who is the party leader. Now,…
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Thailand’s oldest reclining Buddha partially submerged in flood waters
Thailand’s oldest reclining Buddha at Wat Dhammachakra Sema Ram is the latest casualty from the country’s central flooding. Authorities say the statue was partially submerged as a result of flooding by mountain runoff yesterday. The 1,300 year old Buddha is located inside the Muang Sema Historical Park in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Sung Noen district. The Dvaravati-style, sandstone image, which measures 13.3…
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Travel bubble whispers abound between Malaysia and Thailand
Authorities are quietly planning a maritime travel bubble between Malaysia’s Langkawi island and Thailand’s Koh Lipe islands, which would see no quarantine requirements for qualified travellers between the two. Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, says Thailand’s southern provinces that border Malaysia, will be able to accept international tourists from December. The 2 Andaman Sea islands are normally connected…
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End of skytrain pass may impact Bangkok condo market
Bangkok’s 30-day BTS skytrain pass is coming to an end. As a result, commute prices will rise significantly for those who have to travel long distances on the skytrain each day. This may also have a major effect on Bangkok’s condo market. According to Sena Development PCL, the discontinuation of this skytrain pass is going to increase the demand to…
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Bangkok vocational student dies after falling from BTS station
A Bangkok vocational student has fallen to his death from the Pu Chao BTS station on the Sukhumvit Line. The sad news was reported last night at around 7pm in Samut Prakhan’s Muang district. Police say they arrived to find a young man lying face up on the footpath near a bus stop under the BTS station. Officers say the…
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Prominent economic think-tank welcomes November 1 re-opening plans
A leading economic research body says a planned re-opening to international tourism from November will give the Thai economy the boost it needs. According to a Nation Thailand report, the Kasikorn Research Centre predicts further economic growth from next year, provided the government gets Covid-19 under control. It points out that the country’s tourism sector will only see a full…
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Thailand to host top world badminton events in 2022
Thailand is set to host the the world’s top badminton events next year after being chosen as the location for the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup finals. The Thomas Cup is the men’s team event, and the Uber Cup is for the women’s teams. The tournament is set to take place in Bangkok between May 8-15. This is the 2nd…
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Covid-19 surge in Nakhon Si Thammarat as province reports 618 new infections
The southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat is experiencing a surge in Covid-19 infections, with 618 new cases logged yesterday. The provincial health office reported the record high alongside 8 Covid-related deaths, all of them elderly patients. The Bangkok Post reports that of yesterday’s new infections, 210 were in the Muang district, with the others spread across 23 districts. Hospitals,…
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Thai economist urges government to address inequality, improve education
A leading Thai economist says there are several issues the country needs to address in order to protect the economy in the long term. Dr Somjai Phagaphasvivat is calling on the government to develop human resources, improved the standard of Thai education, and address the serious issue of inequality. According to a Thai PBS World report, he says the Covid-19…
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