countries

  • Transport NewsFord Thailand urges support for ICE car sector amid EV rise

    Ford Thailand urges support for ICE car sector amid EV rise

    Ford Thailand is urging the government to extend support to companies in the internal combustion engine (ICE) car segment, particularly motorcycle manufacturers, who are struggling to adapt to the rapid expansion of the electric vehicle (EV) market. Despite the implementation of measures such as tax cuts and subsidies to promote the EV industry, ICE sector operators have yet to see…

  • Business NewsThailand’s steel sales drop 8.7% amid cheap Chinese imports

    Thailand’s steel sales drop 8.7% amid cheap Chinese imports

    Thailand’s steel industry faced sluggish sales in the first five months of this year due to reduced spending on construction projects and the influx of cheap imports from China, according to Tata Steel (Thailand) Plc (TSTH), a subsidiary of India’s largest steelmaker. Long steel product consumption fell by 8.7% year-on-year to 2.47 million tonnes as stated by Tarun Kuma Daga,…

  • Thailand NewsTilapia trouble: Thailand orders crackdown on invasive fish invasion

    Tilapia trouble: Thailand orders crackdown on invasive fish invasion

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin directed the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to intensify efforts to curb the spread of blackchin tilapia, an invasive species now pervasive in Thailand’s waterways. The 62 year old prime minister tasked the ministry with investigating how this species, originally from West Africa, has managed to proliferate so widely across the country. Following these instructions, Agriculture and…

  • EducationThai schools versus international schools

    Thai schools versus international schools

    Navigating the world of international education can be a complex journey, particularly when comparing the unique characteristics of schools in different countries. One compelling case is the distinction between Thai schools and international schools. While international schools predominantly operate in English, Thai schools immerse students in the local language, offering an authentic cultural experience. Moreover, the accreditation and recognition from…

  • Thai Law NewsAustralia sets worldwide precedent by passing pay‐to‐play legislation for social media giants

    Australia sets worldwide precedent by passing pay‐to‐play legislation for social media giants

    In a landmark decision, Australia is now requiring global digital giants, such as Facebook and Google, to pay for using local news content on their websites. The move sets a precedent that many global companies have been anticipating. The law passed yesterday after Facebook and Google reached an agreement to pay local Australian news organisations for using their stories on…

  • World NewsUPDATE: Covid-19 visitor entry around the region

    UPDATE: Covid-19 visitor entry around the region

    Around the region there are many countries starting to re-open their borders to allow some business or diplomatic visitors, even tourists, to enter their national borders. The situation is changing frequently and we’d urge you to contact the national embassies in your countries before making any concrete arrangements or paying money for airfares or accommodation before you clarify the situation,…

  • Visa InformationSpecial Tourist Visa program leaves out those from high-risk Covid countries

    Special Tourist Visa program leaves out those from high-risk Covid countries

    Thailand’s Foreign Ministry is clarifying that the new Special Tourist Visa program will omit potential high-spend tourists from high-risk Covid countries from consideration. Tourism and Sports minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn says prospective tourists need to check with the Public Health Ministry (via their Thai embassies) to see if their home countries are permitted to visit Thailand under the program. Phiphat also…

  • Covid-19 NewsA Covid-19 vaccine “within 6 months”

    A Covid-19 vaccine “within 6 months”

    Countries around the world are battling to be first out with a sustainable, reliable and cheap vaccine for Covid-19. If they are successful it will be the first time a successful vaccine has been developed for a coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause sickness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as…

  • ExpatsTravel bubbles for foreign travel to be discussed on Wednesday

    Travel bubbles for foreign travel to be discussed on Wednesday

    More information has emerged today about the proposed travel-bubble arrangements for foreigners coming to Thailand in the short term. Travel-bubble tourism will include limits on destinations and visitor numbers. There will also be restrictions on the origins of the inbound flights. The Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has addressed the issue with media this morning. The travel bubbles would be reciprocal arrangements…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket governor courts envoys of 16 nations to promote tourism

    Phuket governor courts envoys of 16 nations to promote tourism

    “I would like Phuket to organise activities leading the consulates from various countries to travel to Phuket in order to see the beautiful tourist attractions and to promote tourism for Phuket.” Phuket’s governor called yesterday for foreign envoys to visit and inspect Phuket for themselves as a mark of confidence that the island is ready to receive tourists. The call…

  • Politics NewsFour destinations removed from Thailand’s “high risk” list

    Four destinations removed from Thailand’s “high risk” list

    Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has removed two countries and two special administrative zones off its list of Covid-19 ‘high-risk’ countries. The destinations include China, South Korea, Hong Kong and Macau. The announcement was made late yesterday and listed in the Royal Gazette. The announcement mentioned the “effectiveness of those areas in containing the continued spread of the deadly virus”.…

  • World NewsExtreme weather threatens already virus-stricken Asian and Pacific countries

    Extreme weather threatens already virus-stricken Asian and Pacific countries

    Experts are warning that South and Southeast Asian nations, from India to Indonesia, already slammed by Covid-19, could now face a looming weather crisis in coming months, from heat waves to monsoons and cyclones. India, with a population of some 1.4 billion is currently under “lockdown,” with more than 12,000 confirmed cases (though due to low testing rates, the real…

  • Covid-19 NewsPCT – we’re all going to be suffering from Post-Coronavirus Trauma

    PCT – we’re all going to be suffering from Post-Coronavirus Trauma

    OPINION The sun will rise. All this utter disruption to our lives will come to an end at some time. But the hangover will linger a lot longer than the fairly sudden stop to just everything we were familiar with. Whilst economists will argue whether it’s a recession or depression, the world will go into a long re-awakening after the…

  • 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.…

  • Covid-19 NewsCoronavirus UPDATE: Vietnam village quarantined, worldwide cases reach 64,448

    Coronavirus UPDATE: Vietnam village quarantined, worldwide cases reach 64,448

    Latest coronavirus stats Infected patients worldwide reaches 64,448 whilst the death toll from the coronavirus has plateaued in the past 24 hours to 1,383. According to the Chinese National Health Commission, the current number of infections of coronavirus (aka. covid-2019) in mainland China is 63,8591, up some 5,000 from the day before. 7,101 patients have now full recovered. There are at…