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Fear of a dry Bangkok sparks rabid run on liquor, critics slam ‘feeble’ gov’t logic
True desperation stalked the supermarket aisles last night. Sweeping in on untouched bottles – no, better get the pack; no, the box; no, the entire pallet! – shoppers circled each other, channeling their collective fear into an orgy of alcohol buying like Bacchus had arrived to hold dominion. In fact it was a hasty booze ...
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10 gamblers busted in card den above Pattaya restaurant
Ten gamblers caught playing cards last night inside a Chinese restaurant in Pattaya have been charged with violating Emergency Decree measures – and gambling. At around 10pm,...
Terrified of life without alcohol? Just make a run to the Bangkok border.
Take off that mask and put down the machete. Before the imminent ban hammer on alcohol sales prompts a panic run on every shop in town, everyone from cocktail connoisseurs to...
Bangkok bans sale of booze for 11 days
If ever there was something to spark some panic buying in Bangkok, that moment has come. Starting at midnight, no alcohol will be sold for 11 days in Bangkok in a bid to...
Phuket woman who bragged gov’t aid was ‘small change’ faces prosecution
Authorities set up a team to investigate a woman in Phuket who described THB5,000 in government aid as only “small change” to her. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, secretary of...
Thailand extends all visas amid COVID-19 fears at immigration centers
To prevent long queues and crowding at immigration centers at a time of mandated social distancing, the government yesterday approved automatic extensions of all visa types for...
42 Thais return from Indonesia mosque with COVID-19
More than half of the nearly 80 Thai Muslims who returned from a religious gathering in Indonesia were found infected with COVID-19, health officials said Wednesday. The 42, part...
Pattaya prepares to seal borders at least 3 weeks: local authorities
Update April 9: Chonburi governor Pakkaratorn Tianchai approved a proposal to lock down Pattaya from 2pm on Thursday for 21 days. The infamous beach town of Pattaya may seal...
‘Dissatisfied’ officials admit Thailand needs more COVID-19 testing
Thailand needs more testing for COVID-19, health officials said today, as the confirmed number of infections rose to 2,258. Twenty-seven have died. Addressing the nation’s...
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