THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Thursday 20 Feb 2020

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Chulalongkorn University imposes travel ban on staff members and students

 

 

In a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Thailand, Chulalongkorn University has imposed a ban on visiting or transit stopovers in seven countries and two special administration regions of China for its staff and students from today (Thursday) until April 19th.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149263-chulalongkorn-university-imposes-travel-ban-on-staff-members-and-students/

 

[webfact]

TAT’s travel recommendations regarding Thailand’s Coronavirus Disease 2019 control measures

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Bangkok, 19 February, 2020 – On Thursday, 30 January, 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The WHO did not recommend any travel or trade restrictions based on its latest travel advice dated 11 February, 2020.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149266-tat’s-travel-recommendations-regarding-thailand’s-coronavirus-disease-2019-control-measures/

 

[webfact]

Drunk driving professor and his ranting sister all over Thai social media after accident near Bangkok

 

video screenshot

 

Thai social media was abuzz with interest after an accident in Phrapradaeng, Samut Prakan south east of Bangkok.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149269-drunk-driving-professor-and-his-ranting-sister-all-over-thai-social-media-after-accident-near-bangkok/

[webfact]

Charter court ruling to determine future of FFP

By The Nation

 

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit

 

The Constitutional Court will on Friday (February 21) decide the fate of Future Forward Party (FWP), which has been accused of violating the Political Party Organic Law BE 2560 Section 72.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149270-charter-court-ruling-to-determine-future-of-ffp/

 

[webfact]

High price sweetens prospects for fruits

By THE NATION

 

 

Fruit markets in the Eastern region see promising prospects early this year as dealers are offering high price for early batches of durians.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149272-high-price-sweetens-prospects-for-fruits/

 

[webfact]

Syringe stepped on at Layan Beach

By The Phuket News

 

A regular beachgoer stepped on the discarded syringe at Layan beach yesterday (Feb 19). Photo: Supplied)

 

PHUKET: Cherng Talay Police Chief Col Peerachart Pomboonmee is urging all people at Layan Beach to be careful of dangerous objects in the sand after a regular beachgoer stepped on an old syringe.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149274-syringe-stepped-on-at-layan-beach/

 

[webfact]

COVID-19: Hua Hin pulls out all the stops in big virus show of confidence press conference

 

Thai caption: Taxi driver has fully recovered

Picture: Sanook

 

Thailand pulled out all the stops at a press conference to show they have the Covid-19 virus well under control.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149277-covid-19-hua-hin-pulls-out-all-the-stops-in-big-virus-show-of-confidence-press-conference/

 

[webfact]

PM orders precautionary plans to cope with Stage 3 spread of COVID-19

 

 

Thailand’s Committee for Emerging Infectious Diseases has been instructed, by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, to develop precautionary measures to cope with a Stage 3 spread of COVID-19 in the country. The instruction was issued as he chaired a meeting of the committee at Government House this morning (Thursday).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149280-pm-prayut-orders-precautionary-plans-to-cope-with-stage-3-spread-of-covid-19/

 

[webfact]

Coronavirus is worse than the tsunami - and the state is downplaying the impact, claim tourism operators

 

Thai caption: Lament from Lanta

Picture: Sanook

 

A Covid-19 crisis meeting held in the south was told that the Thai government have been downplaying the effect of the virus on tourism businesses.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149296-coronavirus-is-worse-than-the-tsunami-and-the-state-is-downplaying-the-impact-claim-tourism-operators/

 

[webfact]

Pattaya: US pensioner killed after collision with tree in central reservation - microsleep blamed

 

Picture: Banmuang

 

Na Jomtien police were called after a Mitsubishi Triton with Bangkok plates slammed into a frangipani tree in the central reservation of Sukhumvit Road (KM 158) yesterday around lunchtime.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149299-pattaya-us-pensioner-killed-after-collision-with-tree-in-central-reservation-microsleep-blamed/

 

[webfact]

Netizens more than irate! Chinese egg donations to repair the virus crisis go on sale in Thailand!

 

Picture: Sanook

 

A group of Chinese people were convinced by a Thai that the best way to ensure that the Covid-19 virus crisis in their country is resolved would be to donate a whole load of eggs to Thailand's revered Buddhist image of Luang Phor Sothon.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149298-netizens-more-than-irate-chinese-egg-donations-to-repair-the-virus-crisis-go-on-sale-in-thailand/

 

[webfact]

Pollution: Abandoning Thailand to seek a better life in Vietnam?! Think again.....

 

 

Thaivisa has been contacted by a Bangkok resident who is currently working in Hanoi who suggested that the grass was not necessarily greener in Vietnam.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149300-pollution-abandoning-thailand-to-seek-a-better-life-in-vietnam-think-again/

 

[webfact]

MPs thwart Future Forward motion to prevent coups

By The Nation

 

Piyabutr Saengkanokkul

 

A move by Future Forward Party (FFP) secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul on establishing a commission to prevent another coup in the future was rejected by the House of Representatives.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149302-mps-thwart-future-forward-motion-to-prevent-coups/

 

[webfact]

Virus screening intensifies along Cambodian border

By THE NATION

 

Pol Maj General Archayon Kraithong (File Photo)

 

Screening for the Covid-19 virus is being ramped along the eastern border to prevent anyone infected arriving from Cambodia.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149304-virus-screening-intensifies-along-cambodian-border/

 

[webfact]

Thailand wants nationals out of China

By The Nation

 

 

The Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Department of Consular Affairs has advised Thais in China to leave the country as the Covid-19 coronavirus spreads.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149306-thailand-wants-nationals-out-of-china/

 

[webfact]

Lopburi gold heist suspect faces nine charges

By The Nation

 

 

The man suspected of killing three people in the Lop Buri gold heist case faces nine criminal charges, Prayut Petchkhun, deputy spokesman for the attorney-general and Special Attorney for Criminal Case 3, said on Thursday (Feb 20).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149308-lopburi-gold-heist-suspect-faces-nine-charges/

 

[webfact]

THAI waives change fee on flights to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore

 

 

Thai Airways International (THAI) is offering its passengers a change fee waiver and reroutIng for passengers holding THAI tickets, due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149310-thai-waives-change-fee-on-flights-to-japan-south-korea-taiwan-singapore/

 

[webfact]

Charter court annuls criminal law on abortion

By The Nation

 

 

The Constitutional Court has ruled that sections 301 and 305 of Criminal Law, which govern abortion, should be revised to reflect the current circumstances.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149312-thailand-charter-court-annuls-criminal-law-on-abortion/

 

[webfact]

Police gear for possible trouble ahead of court's verdict on Future Forward Party tomorrow

By THE NATION

 

 

Police are preparing measures to ensure public safety and order at the Constitutional Court tomorrow where the verdict on a request to dissolve the Future Forward Party will be delivered, said Pol Maj Gen Somprasong Yenthuam, deputy metropolitan police commander of security today (February 20).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149313-police-gear-for-possible-trouble-ahead-of-courts-verdict-on-future-forward-party/

 

[webfact]

Thailand expects public investment of nearly $13 billion in second quarter - Finance Minister

 

FILE PHOTO: A girl walks past a Skytrain (Bangkok Mass Transit System) construction site in Bangkok, Thailand May 13, 2018. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's government expects public investment spending of more than 400 billion baht ($12.77 billion) in the second quarter to help the flagging economy weather the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, the finance minister said on Thursday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149316-thailand-expects-public-investment-of-nearly-13-billion-in-second-quarter-finance-minister/

 

[Jonathan Fairfield]

TM28: Thai immigration scraps requirement for foreigners to report when they stay away from home for 24 hours

 

 

There is some good news for foreigners in Thailand. 

 

Thai immigration have all but scrapped the controversial TM28 change of address reporting requirement for foreigners.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149328-tm28-thai-immigration-scraps-requirement-for-foreigners-to-report-when-they-stay-away-from-home-for-24-hours/

 

[snoop1130]

Phuket marine chief confident Phuket to remain strong as Asia cruise ships moved to Europe amid virus fears

By Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

The cruise ship Celebrity Constellation will no longer be arriving in Phuket until further notice. Photo: Celebrity Cruises

 

PHUKET:-- Phuket Marine Office Director Wiwat Chitchertwong remains confident that the move by major cruise liner operators to cancel or redirect their cruises out of Asia amid fears of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading will not greatly affect Phuket.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149332-phuket-marine-chief-confident-phuket-to-remain-strong-as-asia-cruise-ships-moved-to-europe-amid-virus-fears/

 

[snoop1130]

Unidentified man in mystery plunge at Bangkok mall

By The Nation

 

 

There is only bewilderment at this point about a man’s plunge from the fifth level of CentralWorld in Bangkok on Thursday afternoon (February 20).

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149335-unidentified-man-in-mystery-plunge-at-bangkok-mall/

 

[snoop1130]

China tests its soft power in Southeast Asia amid coronavirus outbreak

By Keith Zhai, Patpicha Tanakasempipat

 

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives to a meeting with foreign ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the coronavirus outbreak in Vientiane, Laos February 20, 2020. REUTERS/Phoonsab Thevongsa NO RESALES NO ARCHIVES

 

VIENTIANE (Reuters) - China called for solidarity on Thursday in a special meeting to discuss the coronavirus outbreak with Southeast Asian nations as it faces criticism for its handling of the epidemic.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149337-china-tests-its-soft-power-in-southeast-asia-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/

 

[snoop1130]

China lab says conspiracy theories hurting efforts to curb virus

David Stanway

 

A computer image created by Nexu Science Communication together with Trinity College in Dublin, shows a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus which is the type of virus linked to COVID-19, better known as the coronavirus linked to the Wuhan outbreak, shared with Reuters on February 18, 2020. NEXU Science Communication/via REUTERS

 

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - An outbreak of disinformation in China and elsewhere has hurt global efforts to combat the new coronavirus, said a specialist infectious disease lab located at the epicentre of the epidemic — and at the heart of a number of conspiracy theories.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149339-china-lab-says-conspiracy-theories-hurting-efforts-to-curb-virus/

 

[snoop1130]

Australia to hold wide-ranging enquiry into disastrous bushfires

By Colin Packham

 

FILE PHOTO: Flames from a bushfire burn in the early morning hours in Bredbo, New South Wales, Australia, February 2, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will hold a wide-ranging enquiry into the causes of recent bushfires that killed 33 people and razed an area the size of South Korea, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149340-australia-to-hold-wide-ranging-enquiry-into-disastrous-bushfires/

 

[snoop1130]

No virus cover-up, premier tweets

By The Nation

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (Photo Credit: Royal Thai Government website)

 

Evidently in a mood to condemn “fake news”, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha went on Twitter on Thursday (February 20) insisting there’s no Covid-19 cover-up going on in Thailand.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149341-no-virus-cover-up-premier-tweets/

 

[snoop1130]

Single gunshot kills man and injures woman in Wichit

By Eakkapop Thongtub

 

Police examining the scene of the shooting at the Future Condo in Wichit which left one dead and one injured. Photo: Wichit Police

 

PHUKET:-- A tragic shooting earlier today (Feb 20) in Wichit has left one dead and another injured in hospital in what police believe was a suicide motivated by jealousy.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149342-single-gunshot-kills-man-and-injures-woman-in-wichit/

 

[snoop1130]

Phuket water outages already widespread, Governor praises efforts by officers, army

By The Phuket News

 

Water trucks stand at the ready in Soi Kingkaew Rassada yesterday (Feb 19). Photo: PR Dept

 

PHUKET:-- Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana yesterday (Feb 19) inspected the efforts to deliver emergency water supply to the hard-hit area of Soi Kingkaew in Rassada, where many people are struggling without any mains water supply.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149343-phuket-water-outages-already-widespread-governor-praises-efforts-by-officers-army/

 

[snoop1130]

YouTuber Fakes Holiday To Bali By Taking Photos In Her Local IKEA

By STEWART PERRIE

 

 

It's tough when you're struggling to make ends meet but still want your social media feed to be looking glamorous.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149345-youtuber-fakes-holiday-to-bali-by-taking-photos-in-her-local-ikea/