Coronavirus Update for Phuket & Thailand
Monday 18th October, 2021: Fully vaccinated travelers to Phuket can skip the usual Covid-19 quarantine and just have to complete a 7-night stay on the island, and then be able to travel to all destinations in Thailand if they wish. Yes, it's still classed as...
Alec Baldwin fatally shoots cinematographer in on-set tragedy
Hollywood star Alec Baldwin was the focus Friday of investigations into a shocking and deadly on-set tragedy after the actor fired a prop gun that killed a cinematographer and wounded the director of a Western he was shooting in New Mexico. The cast and crew of “Rust”...
Moon’s push for military independence may echo far beyond his presidency
SEOUL (REUTERS) - When South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived this week at Seoul's largest weapons expo ever in the back seat of a fighter jet, he did not present the image of a leader bent on making peace with North Korea. Under Mr Moon, South Korea has not only...
Thailand’s National Office of Buddhism to probe conduct of monks prostrating before disrobed former Phra Yantra
Thailand’s National Office of Buddhism has promised to look into a controversial incident in which several monks were seen prostrating in front of a well known former monk, Phra Yantra, who recently returned to Thailand after 20 years inself-imposed exile in the...
Singapore power firm called out for greenwashing ‘environmentally friendly’ natural gas
The advertisement features a family dinner scene captioned: “A healthier meal with a healthier gas for you and loved ones.” The promotion has prompted criticism from some Singapore residents, who objected to the claim that natural gas is environmentally-friendly...
Test & Go: Quarantine-Free Thailand Reopening for Vaccinated Tourists From 1 November 2021
Bangkok, 22 October, 2021 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to confirm that Thailand is all set to welcome fully vaccinated foreign visitors, including returning Thais and foreign residents, from the approved countries to enter the Kingdom by air...
Combatting soil erosion enriches farmers in Meghalaya
The state of Meghalaya, in northeast India, has an acute soil erosion problem. One of the rainiest places on Earth, and with a mountainous geography, it faces some natural challenges, but a growing population and unsustainable farming patterns have led...
Malaysian FM Calls for ‘Soul-Searching’ Over ASEAN Non-Interference
AdvertisementSince taking up his portfolio in August, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah has emerged as an unlikely driving force within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Appointed in the political upheaval that followed the August...
Does It Matter If Myanmar’s Junta Leader Is Banned From the ASEAN Summit?
AdvertisementOn October 15, ASEAN announced that Myanmar’s junta leader Sen. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing will be banned from attending the bloc’s regional leaders summit later this month.It is a public embarrassment for the military junta. The decision, meanwhile, was a...
No Squid Game: South Korea’s real-life debt trap
SEOUL(REUTERS) - Many small business owners in South Korea recognise themselves in the cash-strapped characters of the wildly popular Netflix drama Squid Game, who vie desperately for a chance to win US$38 million (S$51 million), exposing a debt trap that is all too...
Thailand to allow quarantine-free travel from 46 countries from Nov 1: PM Prayut
BANGKOK (REUTERS) - Thailand will allow visitors from 46 countries vaccinated against Covid-19 to forgo quarantine from next month, up from 10 previously announced, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-cha said on Thursday (Oct 21). The South-east Asian country is poised to...
Phuket “sandbox” model adapted for Bangkok’s international airports
Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Muaeng international airports have adapted Phuket’s “sandbox’ model in the management and processing of arriving foreign tourists. Disembarkation to leaving the airports will take roughly 25 minutes, according to Transport Minister...
Ayala Corp sets net zero target by 2050
Philippine conglomerate Ayala Corp has pledged to bring down its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 in line with climate science, its president and chief executive Fernando Zobel de Ayala announced on Thursday. “As a diverse group of companies in...