Thailand

Limitations on Covid-19 have been progressively relaxed to the point that people’s lives slowly return to normal. All schools, shopping centres, convenience shops, pubs and bars as well as soapy massage parlours can now be opened to boost the economy. Now a panel under the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) is seeing more loosening by allowing normal-sized schools, crowds …

Government coalition parties have settled on a single version of the motion to enact constitutional reform, which contains specifics of a commission formed to write a new charter but leaves the Senate unchanged. Deputy chief of government whip Chinnaworn Bunyakiat said the coalition had agreed on one motion to change the constitution. It will be sent to Parliament after the …

Thailand is to ease its novel coronavirus procedures to enable more patients from abroad to undergo next month’s care, a top health official said after hospital appeals eager to treat their patients from overseas. Thailand is a major medical tourism center that attracts patients from Asia , the Middle East and beyond. But restrictions on combating coronavirus have been observed …

Thailand will postpone clinical trials of its coronavirus vaccine due to limited overseas manufacturing space, a senior official said on Wednesday, but plans to restart trials by the end of the year. Health authorities had expected human vaccine testing by October, but will postpone the full ability of factories abroad for several months, said Kiat Ruxrungtham, director of the vaccine …

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha issued his sternest warning to protesters still demanding his resignation, saying they created deeper tensions that could cause the country to collapse. If we continue to publicly surmount each other, the country would crumble, Gen Prayut told reporters. If that happens, just wait and everyone’s going to be on fiery ground, engulfed in flames. Comments come …

Facebook said it was preparing to sue the Thai government legally after being compelled to restrict access within Thailand to a group of one million members who are debating the monarchy. The social media giant blocked access to the “Royalist Marketplace” forum late Monday, after the government threatened legal action for failing to remove content considered defamatory to the monarch. …

In the midst of the growth of the digital economy and tech-driven capitalism, PTT is moving forward to join forces with a leading Silicon Valley tech company to push Thai economy. With the goal of transforming Thailand through digital transformation, PTT Public Company Limited is announcing its partnership with the Silicon Valley based business Plug and Play Tech Center, an …

The youth-led protests started with three demands: dissolution of the House, constitutional amendment and an end to state critics’ intimidation. Later, at the Thammasat meeting on 10 August, a 10-point plan to reform the monarchy was announced, stirring even more confusion in an already fragmented Thai political arena. The Free Youth group grew into the Free Citizens party and on …

The Department of Corrections is working on proposals to turn 72 prisons nationwide into tourist attractions, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin announced. Attractions could include activities such as cooking competitions for chefs behind bars, and shops where visitors might purchase products made by prisoners. For five jails, which are pilot sites, the justice minister said the program was also being implemented. …

A majority of people agree with the three demands raised by the Free People group, believing they are in line with democratic principles, but some believe the demonstrators should not infringe the monarchy, according to an opinion survey conducted by the University of Suan Dusit Rajabhat or Suan Dusit poll. On Aug 16-21 the poll was conducted online on 197,029 …