Month: March 2020

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid-19 reaching ‘stage 3’ in Thailand

    Covid-19 reaching ‘stage 3’ in Thailand

    Yesterday The public Health Ministry insisted that the country was yet to enter Stage 3 of the covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. Despite the discovery of a new cluster of infections, the number of cases still remains at 70. (Update: 5 new cases were announced on Friday morning) The permanent secretary for public health, Dr Sukhum Kanchannaphimai reports some cases can be…

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  • Việt NamPhu nhân Thủ tướng Canada Justin Trudeau dương tính với corona

    Phu nhân Thủ tướng Canada Justin Trudeau dương tính với corona

    Bà Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, phu nhân thủ tướng Canada Justin Trudeau dương tính với virus corona sau khi có các triệu chứng vào ngày 11-3. Hãng tin Reuters dẫn thông báo từ Văn phòng thủ tướng Canada cho biết bà Sophie dương tính với virus corona. Thủ tướng Canada Justin Trudeau hiện chưa có triệu chứng của virus corona nhưng vẫn…

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  • Covid-19 NewsThousands laid off, millions of baht lost as Chiang Mai elephant camps close

    Thousands laid off, millions of baht lost as Chiang Mai elephant camps close

    Elephant businesses in Chiang Mai and elsewhere in Northern Thailand are being wiped out in their dozens by the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. Most have closed their doors and laid off thousands of staff. Those that remain open are haemorrhaging money. According to Boonthachai Lert, chairman of Mae Taeng Elephant Camp and a spokesperson for the industry, 85 of Chiang Mai’s…

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  • Covid-19 News“Little ghosts” going home

    “Little ghosts” going home

    Some of the Thai nationals dubbed “phee noi” (little ghosts), who recently returned from South Korea and were quarantined at a naval base in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district are today being sent to their hometowns. Public Health Ministry and Royal Thai Navy officials agreed this week that many of the migrant workers can be released. All are suspected of being…

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  • Covid-19 NewsThailand confirms five new coronavirus cases

    Thailand confirms five new coronavirus cases

    The Public Health Ministry confirmed five new Covid-19 coronavirus cases this morning in its daily press briefing. The new cases take the total number of infections in the country to 75 since January. 34 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital. Meanwhile, worried citizens continue to have difficulty buying face masks and hand sanitiser due to short supply and…

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  • Bangkok NewsTuk-tuk driver assaults Grab driver in Bangkok

    Tuk-tuk driver assaults Grab driver in Bangkok

    Another Thai tuk tuk driver has been caught out trying to defend his ‘turf’. Tuk Tuk driver Ek has been charged with assaulting a grab car driver after dropping off passengers in front of a mall on Ratchadapisek Road, Bangkok. After the incident went viral online, Police Colonel Purit Jintranan invited both drivers for a talking at the Huai Khwang…

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  • Covid-19 NewsGovernment cancels cancellation of visa-on-arrival, visa-free travel

    Government cancels cancellation of visa-on-arrival, visa-free travel

    In yet another abrupt U- turn, the government yesterday withdrew its suspension of visa-on-arrival status for 22 countries and territories over the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, less than 24 hours after issuing the order, citing the “need for more research.” The areas affected are Bulgaria, Bhutan, China (including Macau, China and Taiwan), Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru,…

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  • Covid-19 NewsThai health minister has a slash at ‘dirty farang’

    Thai health minister has a slash at ‘dirty farang’

    Many farang dress dirty and don’t shower. As hosts we have to be very careful.” Thailand’s Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is at it again making public disparaging and xenophobic comments about ‘white’ foreigners (farang). This time he’s warned his fellow Thais about the foreigners fleeing their own countries for the ‘safe haven’ of Thailand. “Today I visited Chiang Mai…

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  • Covid-19 NewsChina says US military may have brought virus to China

    China says US military may have brought virus to China

    In an escalating war of words with Washington, China’s Foreign Ministry suggested yesterday that the US military might have brought the Covid-19 coronavirus to the Chinese city of Wuhan, long considered the source of the outbreak. China has taken great offence at comments by US officials accusing it of being slow to react to the virus, first detected in Wuhan…

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  • Northern Thailand NewsSoldiers sent to fight forest fires in the North

    Soldiers sent to fight forest fires in the North

    With Chiang Mai again declared the world’s most polluted city today, and with air quality worsening across northern Thailand, soldiers from Royal Thai Army 3rd Army Region have been deployed to detect and fight forest fires. Forest fires and agricultural burning, both in Thailand and neighbouring Cambodia, have created extremely poor air quality levels. Rangers from the 35th Scout Regiment…

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  • Business NewsThai Airways president and Suvarnabhumi chief resign

    Thai Airways president and Suvarnabhumi chief resign

    Two of Thailand’s most prominent aviation bosses have thrown in the towel, citing the Thai government’s bungling of the Covid-19 coronavirus situation. Both resignations happened yesterday. The president of Thai Airways, Sumeth Damrongchaitham, resigned yesterday afternoon. That corporate bombshell was closely followed by the resignation of the director of Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Sutheerawat Suwannawat. At this stage the Thai government…

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  • Việt NamVợ chồng sao Hollywood Tom Hanks và Rita Wilson nhiễm virus corona

    Vợ chồng sao Hollywood Tom Hanks và Rita Wilson nhiễm virus corona

    Tài tử Tom Hanks và vợ Rita Wilson có xét nghiệm dương tính với virus corona mới gây dịch COVID-19. Họ là những người nổi tiếng đầu tiên công khai nhiễm dịch bệnh này. Tom Hanks và Rita Wilson, cả hai cùng tuổi 63, tiết lộ thông tin này thông qua một thông báo hôm 11-3 (giờ Mỹ). Tờ Variety…

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  • Việt NamVirus corona biến chủng nên phải mang khẩu trang ngay cả khi đi máy bay và taxi

    Virus corona biến chủng nên phải mang khẩu trang ngay cả khi đi máy bay và taxi

    Ý có 4 biến chủng của virus corona, khác với chủng tại Vũ Hán, Trung Quốc. Cần kiểm soát người nhập cảnh vào Việt Nam, đeo khẩu trang trên phương tiện công cộng. Ngày 11-3, Ban Chỉ đạo quốc gia phòng chống dịch bệnh viêm đường hô hấp cấp do chủng mới của virus corona gây ra (virus SARS-CoV-2, dịch…

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  • Việt NamBình Thuận: Thêm 5 người nhiễm nCoV từ bệnh nhân số 34

    Bình Thuận: Thêm 5 người nhiễm nCoV từ bệnh nhân số 34

    Có thêm 5 người bị lây nhiễm virus corona từ “bệnh nhân 34”, nâng số ca nhiễm trên toàn Việt Nam lên 44. Hôm nay, Bộ Y tế công bố thêm các ca dương tính mới gồm cháu, chồng, con, thông gia, và con của một nhân viên của bà. Cụ thể là, “Bệnh nhân 40”, nữ, 2 tuổi, tiếp…

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  • Tourism NewsOld “falangs” are Pattaya beach vendors’ lifeline in coronavirus downturn

    Old “falangs” are Pattaya beach vendors’ lifeline in coronavirus downturn

    Old expats and Thais are the only thing keeping Pattaya beach vendor in business, through the coronavirus tourism downturn. One vendor, Pha Aree, who has been renting beach chairs and umbrellas for 30 years, says she’s survived more than her share of crises, the tourism downturns during the 2004 tsunami, SARS, political strife and numerous military coups. She’ll get through…

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  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today, Thursday, March 12. Daily TV News.

    Thailand News Today, Thursday, March 12. Daily TV News.

    Tourism officials ponder moving Songkran to July, boosting domestic tourism The Tourism Authority of Thailand and Tourism and Sports ministry are examining the postponing of Songkran celebrations to July 4-7 this year. The idea already has the nod from Tourism and Sports Minister but still needs approval from the Culture Ministry and cabinet. Meanwhile, the Tourism Council of Thailand has…

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  • Covid-19 NewsLazada investigating allegations of facemask price gouging

    Lazada investigating allegations of facemask price gouging

    Online marketplace Lazada is investigating an allegation by the Commerce Ministry’s yesterday that protective facemasks for the Covid-19 coronavirus are being sold via its platform at illegally high prices. The masks were declared a price-controlled item in Thailand on February 4. Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit ordered a complaint filed against Lazada for allegedly allowing sales of masks by vendors at…

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  • Northern Thailand NewsBody in oil drum discovered in Chiang Rai reservoir

    Body in oil drum discovered in Chiang Rai reservoir

    Police in Chiang Rai discovered a dead body stuffed into an oil drum floating in a reservoir. The 200 litre drum has allegedly been floating in the reservoir for over a week. Investigators learned from local villagers that the oil drum had been floating in the middle of the reservoir since last about March 3. Only when the drum brought…

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  • Bangkok News30 year old woman jumps from 14th floor in Nonthaburi

    30 year old woman jumps from 14th floor in Nonthaburi

    Police are still investigating an incident in Nonthaburi, just west of Bangkok. Yesterday at 7:30pm, 30 year old Thanaporn jumped from the 14th floor “from fear of getting arrested by police officers” in a Muang Thong Thani housing estate in Nonthaburi. Thanaporn was wanted for attempted murder of her sister and two other relatives earlier this month. Earlier in March…

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  • Business NewsGold mining company found guilty for avoiding environmental report

    Gold mining company found guilty for avoiding environmental report

    Former director-general of the Department of Primary Industries and Mines Somkiat Phuthongchaiyarit, has been found guilty of colluding with five other parties for trying to avoid the mandatory environmental impact assessment (EIA). Secretary-general Worawit Sukboon of The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) says… “All 6 members had a hand in the unlawful approval of a request by Akara Mining Company (or…

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  • Covid-19 NewsUPDATE: SCB becomes third bank to stop exchanging foreign cash

    UPDATE: SCB becomes third bank to stop exchanging foreign cash

    Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) today became the third Thai bank to cease exchanging foreign cash, shut down its exchange booths and quarantine booth staff for fourteen days as a result of the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. The move comes after a similar move by Kasikorn Bank over the weekend – see original story below. Yesterday afternoon saw Krungthai Bank follow suit.…

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  • Crime NewsGrab driver turns himself in over missing wallet: cash still missing

    Grab driver turns himself in over missing wallet: cash still missing

    A Grab taxi driver has turned himself in to police in Chiang Mai police after a Dutch tourist lost 500 euros at an exchange booth in the city. The 27 year old Duct national, identified as “Edwin T.” reported to police after dropping his wallet at a booth at in the city’s Saphan Lek on Monday. CCTV showed a Grab…

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  • South Thailand News200 landmines cleared from old battleground near Burmese border

    200 landmines cleared from old battleground near Burmese border

    The army’s Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC) has announced that they’ve cleared more than 200 landmines from a former battlefield in the southern province of Chumphon, near the Burmese border. TMAC chief Wisut Uthitwattana says the 6.6 square kilometre area was marked as a potential landmine zone as it was the site of battles between ethnic insurgents and Burmese troops.…

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  • Covid-19 NewsTourism officials ponder moving Songkran to July, boosting domestic tourism

    Tourism officials ponder moving Songkran to July, boosting domestic tourism

    Joint ventures with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) are trying to solve worst case scenarios of losing over 1 trillion baht in revenue and 10 million in inbound guests to celebrate Songkran. The TAT has set a optimistic target of 172 million domestic trips this year, generating 1.13 trillion baht in revenue.…

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  • Covid-19 NewsThailand confirms 11 new coronavirus cases

    Thailand confirms 11 new coronavirus cases

    Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health announced 11 new confirmed cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus at its press briefing today. The new cases bring the total of confirmed cases in Thailand to 70. The ministry said the new patients were found infected in a cluster, the first since the virus struck the country in January. Officials say the eleven were at…

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  • Covid-19 NewsUPDATE: 11 new Covid-19 cases announced for Thailand – total now 70 people

    UPDATE: 11 new Covid-19 cases announced for Thailand – total now 70 people

    Thailand now has a total of 70 Covid-19 Coronavirus cases with the announcement yesterday of six new confirmed patients and another 11 cases announced this morning. In their daily briefings the Thai Ministry of Public Health added that 34 patients had now fully recovered. One person has died of the disease in Thailand. And Thailand confirmed eleven more cases of…

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  • Thailand Weather UpdatesScorcher in the North, weekend storms predicted

    Scorcher in the North, weekend storms predicted

    Thailand’s Meteorological Department said today that a thermal low is covering upper Thailand, causing hot to very hot weather there. Meanwhile, weak easterly winds across the Gulf are bringing less rain to the South. From Saturday to Monday, another high pressure system from China will extend to upper Thailand and the South China Sea, where many areas of the upper…

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  • Crime NewsBusinessman murdered in front of family in southern Thailand

    Businessman murdered in front of family in southern Thailand

    A businessman in Thailand’s southern Trang province is dead after being shot down in home Tuesday in front of his family. Police say the murder occurred about 9:35pm. Thai media report that 32 year old Suchart Kongpeng was eating watermelon with his family when hooded gunman in a white shirt broke into the house and opened fire with a 12-gauge…

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  • Economy NewsThai stocks tumbles, SET drops nearly 6%

    Thai stocks tumbles, SET drops nearly 6%

    Thailand’s stock exchange, the SET, plunged yesterday along with the region’s other bourses. The index dropped amid concerns over the growing global Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. The SET dived 74.57 points, or nearly 6%, to 1,175.32 points. This all happened shortly after the open in a turnover of 9 billion baht. The SET50 index, Thailand’s top 50 listed companies, faired even…

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  • Central Thailand NewsMonkey brawl shocks Lop Buri – VIDEO

    Monkey brawl shocks Lop Buri – VIDEO

    Central Thailand’s Lop Buri province was a battleground yesterday, with fierce skirmishes raging through city streets. Fortunately no casualties were reported. No human ones, anyway. Rival monkey gangs took to the streets and brawled for hours. Lopburi is home to two monkey clubs, with thousands of members: city monkeys and temple monkeys. The temple monkeys control the area around Phra Prang…

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  • Covid-19 NewsUS announces temporary ban on flights coming from Europe

    US announces temporary ban on flights coming from Europe

    The US President Donald Trump has announced today a month-long suspension for travellers out of Europe. The only exception if people travelling from the UK to the US. In an official televised address to the US TV audience from the White House, President Trump noted he was overseeing “the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in…

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  • Covid-19 NewsCovid-19 now a world pandemic, World Health Organisation

    Covid-19 now a world pandemic, World Health Organisation

    The Covid-19 coronavirus has now been identified in at least 114 countries, whilst killing more than 4,000 people. From an outbreak, to an epidemic, the coronavirus has now been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation. Even though media outlets around the world were starting to use the ‘P’ word, the WHO had so far resisted raising the…

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  • Việt NamBình Thuận: Thêm ba ca nhiễm nCoV mới

    Bình Thuận: Thêm ba ca nhiễm nCoV mới

    Theo Bộ Y tế thì các ca bệnh thứ 36, 37, 38 là người thân và nhân viên của nữ doanh nhân ở Bình Thuận từ Mỹ về. Sau khi “bệnh nhân 34” được xác định dương tính với Covid-19, Trung tâm kiểm soát bệnh tật tỉnh Bình Thuận điều tra dịch tễ và lấy mẫu 15 người tiếp xúc…

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  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today, Wednesday, March 11, 2020

    Thailand News Today, Wednesday, March 11, 2020

    400 billion baht stimulus announced to boost Thai economy Yesterday’s Thai cabinet meeting gave the greenlight to a new stimulus package. The government expects the approved 400 billion baht to reduce the impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. Last week’s 2,000 baht cash stimulus proposal, which was largely roasted in Thai social media after being proposed by the economic ministers,…

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  • Việt NamLộ trình của ‘bệnh nhân số 35’ nhiễm COVID-19 và lý do Đà Nẵng không cách ly ngay bệnh nhân này

    Lộ trình của ‘bệnh nhân số 35’ nhiễm COVID-19 và lý do Đà Nẵng không cách ly ngay bệnh nhân này

    Chị N.T.T.N. – ‘bệnh nhân số 35’ có triệu chứng ho đã tới bệnh viện khám và khai báo có tiếp xúc với ca nhiễm COVID-19 nhưng bệnh viện yêu cầu cách ly tại nhà. Khách sạn Vanda (tòa nhà cao nhất hình) nơi 2 người Anh lưu trú nhiễm Covid-19 và lây bệnh cho nữ bệnh nhân N.T.T.N. làm…

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  • Covid-19 NewsThailand cancels visas-on-arrival and some visa exemptions for 21 countries

    Thailand cancels visas-on-arrival and some visa exemptions for 21 countries

    On top of all the changes announced in the past few days for passengers arriving in Thailand, today the government has announced an additional measure. The Thai government has now cancelled the automatic granting of the visa-on-arrival for 18 countries as well as cancelling visa exemption for three other countries in additional efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus.…

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  • Covid-19 News“My experiences with Coronavirus in Bangkok”

    “My experiences with Coronavirus in Bangkok”

    Today, the owner of Ohana Poké restaurant ‘Mr. Jay’ in Bangkok, has recently been placed in quarantine after been confirmed with the Covid-19 coronavirus. Feeling concerned, Jay decided to blog about his experiences battling the disease and his personal experiences in quarantine, in an honest and open fashion. Rumours spread after Mr. Jay travelled from Singapore to Bangkok on February…

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