Thailand

The Internal Trade Department has banned the unauthorised export of face masks to ensure an adequate domestic supply, but outbound travellers are allowed to take a limited number with them. Director-general Whichai Phochanakij said on Friday the new restrictions, which related to coronavirus concerns, were effective immediately. They closed a loophole some parties exploited to export face masks without prior …

A former school headmaster pleaded guilty to charges of multiple murder during the armed robbery of a gold shop in Lop Buri province on Jan 9 at a hearing in the Criminal Court on Friday. Prosecutors arraigned Prasittichai “Golf’’ Khaokaew, 38, formerly the director of Wat Pho Chai School in neighbouring Sing Buri province, on nine counts.  He was charged …

Buyers flocked to Chevrolet showrooms on Wednesday to snap up models sold at discount prices after General Motors decided to withdraw from Thailand by the end of the year. Outlets selling the iconic American brand were thronged by potential buyers on Wednesday after the sale began — with some models going for less than half price. The new Captiva 1.5 …

The Constitutional Court will on Friday deliver a ruling in the loan controversy that has engulfed the Future Forward Party (FFP), and while some academics don’t expect the party to be dissolved, they believe its executives may be held responsible. The court will rule on whether to dissolve the FFP over allegations that it accepted a 191.2-million-baht loan from its …

The government expects public investment spending of more than 400 billion baht in the second quarter to help the flagging economy weather the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana said on Thursday. Even before the epidemic that originated in China, the trade-reliant economy has been under pressure, buffeted by the Sino-US trade war, sluggish investment, a delayed …

The Constitutional Court has ruled a section of the Criminal Code unconstitutional, effectively decriminalising abortion in Thailand. The ruling takes effect 360 days after the ruling date on Wednesday, or on Feb 13 next year.  The court also ordered the section and a related one be amended to make them in line with the 2017 constitution. The ruling came after …

Three Thais aboard the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, moored in Japan, are infected with the new coronavirus (Covid-19), officials announced on Thursday, as two elderly Japanese passengers were reported to have died from the disease. Foreign affairs spokesman Cherdkiat Atthakor said three Thai nationals, a passenger and two crew members, were now being treated in a hospital in Japan. …

Thailand has called on Israel to review its decision to ban Thais from entering the country in a bid to control the spread of deadly coronavirus (Covid-19). As a result of the ban, the Labour Ministry will have to postpone sending Thai workers to Israel under the employment cooperation project between the two countries. The situation is being assessed daily. …

Two elderly passengers from the coronavirus-hit cruise ship moored near Tokyo have died, public broadcaster NHK said on Thursday, as a second group of passengers began disembarking after two-weeks quarantined onboard. More than 620 of the passengers on the Diamond Princess liner have been infected on the ship, which has been quarantined since Feb 3, initially with about 3,700 people …

137 Wuhan returnees got discharged earlier quarantined at the Sattahip naval base in Chon Buri province while the returnee under observation for possible infection remained, pending retests. Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha said at the naval base that the quarantine on the returnees was successful as 137 people returned home as planned. The other returnee under observation remained at …