Asia

Despite risk of death, Thailand sends Myanmar refugees back

Editorial Bureau April 7, 2022

JAKARTA, Indonesia — The young woman from Myanmar and her family now live amid the tall grasses of a riverbank on the Thai border, trapped between a country that does not want them and a country whose military could kill them. Like thousands of others fleeing mounting violence after a military

Asia

Thailand eases entry requirements despite omicron threat

Editorial Bureau February 24, 2022

BANGKOK — Thailand will ease some entry requirements for foreign visitors as it balances a rising number of coronavirus cases with the need to rebuild its pandemic-damaged economy, the government announced Wednesday. Beginning March 1, fully vaccinated visitors must take a RT-PCR test on arrival and spend their first night at an approved hotel while […]

Asia

Thai province declares emergency as oil slick hits beach

Editorial Bureau January 30, 2022

BANGKOK — The governor of a province in eastern Thailand on Saturday declared a state of emergency after an oil slick washed up on a sand beach, shutting down restaurants and shops in a setback for the pandemic-hit tourism industry. Some 20-50 tons of oil are estimated to have leaked Tuesday night in the Gulf […]

Asia

Offshore oil spill threatens beaches in eastern Thailand

Editorial Bureau January 26, 2022

BANGKOK — Thailand’s navy was helping Wednesday to clean up a spill of as much as 128 tons (160,000 liters) of crude oil that leaked from a pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand. The spill is near an industrial area but some of the oil could hit area beaches by Friday if it’s not dispersed […]

Asia

Thailand reports biggest spike in virus cases in weeks

Editorial Bureau January 7, 2022

BANGKOK — Thailand reported its biggest spike in coronavirus cases in weeks on Thursday after a holiday season in which people traveled and gathered in large numbers amid the rapid spread of the omicron variant. Officials recorded 5,775 new cases, prompting the Ministry of Public Health to raise the official warning level to 4 on […]

Business

Thailand’s Central retail group, Signa to buy Selfridges

Editorial Bureau December 25, 2021

BANGKOK — Thailand’s Central Group and Austrian real estate group Signa said Friday they plan to buy luxury British department store chain Selfridges. The deal, reportedly worth 4 billion pounds ($5.4 billion), adds to Central’s collection of posh retailers that includes Rinascente in Italy, Illum in Denmark, Switzerland’s Globus and The KaDeWe Group in Germany. […]

Asia

Rights group says protection for transgender Thais lacking

Editorial Bureau December 16, 2021

BANGKOK — Puncharat Taloet underwent a sex change operation several years ago, but her Thai state identification card still identifies her as a man, causing her serious complications. “It seems that when compared to other countries in the region, Thai people are open-minded and accepting transgenderism, since there is no harsh legal punishment and a […]

Tech

Thailand’s DTAC and True to merge, pursue tech businesses

Editorial Bureau November 23, 2021

Major Thai telecoms companies DTAC and True Corp. plan to merge to pursue opportunities in the tech sector, their parent companies said Monday. Norway’s Telenor Group, parent company of DTAC, and Charoen Pokphand (CP) Holding, the parent firm of True, notified the Stock Exchange of Thailand that their joint venture, Citrine Global Company, will make […]

Asia

Thailand makes robotic system to squeeze out more vaccine doses

Editorial Bureau August 25, 2021

BANGKOK (THAILAND) – As Thailand struggles with its worst coronavirus outbreak yet, researchers in the country have developed a machine to draw out COVID-19 vaccine doses more efficiently and optimise lower-than-expected supplies. Using a robotic arm, the “AutoVacc” system can draw 12 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in four minutes from a vial, according

Asia

Thailand touches 1 million COVID-19 cases, plans vaccine boosters

Editorial Bureau August 20, 2021

BANGKOK (THAILAND) – Thailand’s passed the 1 million mark in coronavirus cases on Friday, 97% of which were recorded in the past five months, as the country struggles to boost vaccinations and get on top of one of Asia’s most severe COVID-19 outbreaks. Authorities on Friday reported 19,851 cases and 240 fatalities, taking total confirmed […]