Asia

Thailand aims to begin human testing of potential coronavirus vaccine in November

Editorial Bureau July 12, 2020

BANGKOK (THAILAND) – Thai researchers are all set to start human trials of a potential coronavirus vaccine in November. They are preparing for 10,000 doses, a senior official said on Sunday, adding that the shot would be ready for use by late next year. After finding favourable results

Asia

No monkey business: Thailand rejects PETA claims of using simians to harvest coconuts

Editorial Bureau July 11, 2020

BANGKOK (THAILAND) -Very few monkeys are involved in harvesting coconuts for export, said a monkey trainer in southern Thailand, adding that there was no abuse of the animal in his centre. This comes after Thailand coconut products were banned by some British retailers earlier this month following a report citing abuse of monkeys. The report […]

Asia

Thai cabinet supports bill allowing same-sex unions

Editorial Bureau July 8, 2020

BANGKOK (THAILAND) – Thailand’s cabinet approved a civil partnership bill on Wednesday that would recognise same-sex unions and identifies it as the same legal right as married couples, in one of the most liberal moves yet for a largely conservative nation known for its tolerance. If passed by parliament, it would mark Thailand as the […]

Asia

Thailand likely to delay plans to have ‘travel bubble’

Editorial Bureau July 8, 2020

BANGKOK (THAILAND) – The resurgence in coronavirus cases in countries which had earlier contained the initial outbreak has made Thai authorities think of postponing the plans to have travel bubbles. This month, Thailand had partially lifted a three-month ban on foreign tourists and was planning to boost tourism, which is a key contributor to its […]

Asia

Thailand wakes up to reopening of schools with temperature checks, masks

Editorial Bureau July 1, 2020

SAM KHOK (THAILAND) – Thai schools were reopened on Wednesday for the first time since mid-March. With all precautions such as temperature checks and installing makeshift cubicles for social distancing in classrooms, safety will be ensured. At Sam Khok school, about 50 km (31 miles) north of Bangkok, around 5,000 students were asked to self-quarantine […]

Asia

Thailand’s curfew to be lifted as ‘travel bubbles’ targeted

Jim Stein June 12, 2020

BANGKOK (Asia) – Thailand will lift a nationwide curfew and ease more restrictions next week, a spokesman for its coronavirus task force said on Friday, after the country has reported no local transmissions of the virus for 18 days. Thailand is also planning to reopen to foreign visitors by creating so-called travel bubbles with countries […]

Tech

Thailand proposes the taxation of foreign internet companies

Jim Stein June 9, 2020

BANGKOK (Technology) – Thailand on Tuesday approved a draft bill requiring foreign digital service providers to pay a value-added tax (VAT), becoming the latest country in Southeast Asia to seek to boost tax revenues from international tech companies. Last month, Indonesia passed a law requiring big internet companies to pay VAT on sales of digital […]

Asia

Eight new coronavirus cases reported in Thailand, no new deaths

Ren Leen June 7, 2020

BANGKOK (Asia) – On Sunday, Thailand reported eight new coronavirus cases and no new deaths. This takes up Thailand’s total to 3,112 coronavirus infections and 58 deaths since the outbreak first began in January. The new coronavirus cases had all returned from overseas – five fromUAE, two from Kuwait and one from India. They were […]

Asia

$58 billion economic package approved by Thailand

Jim Stein May 31, 2020

BANGKOK (Asia) – Thailand’s parliament passed a 1.9 trillion baht ($58 billion) economic support package on Sunday to ease the impact of the coronavirus. The legislation, comprising three bills, include a government plan to borrow 1 trillion baht and central bank measures worth another 900 billion baht in soft loans and support for corporate bonds. […]

Asia

4 new coronavirus cases, no new deaths reported in Thailand

Ren Leen May 31, 2020

BANGKOK (Asia) – On Sunday, four new coronavirus cases had been reported in Thailand with no new deaths. This takes up the total number of coronavirus infections in Thailand to 3,081 with 57 deaths. The new patients came into Thailand from UAE, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia and have been placed in state quarantine. Local coronavirus […]