Thailand restricts visitor visas to limit virus spread

 

A waiter works in a beach with a few Western tourists, which is usually full of Chinese tourists, amid fear of coronavirus in Phuket, Thailand March 10, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will temporarily suspend issuing visas on arrival to visitors from 19 countries and territories, including China, to contain the spread of the coronavirus, its interior minister said on Wednesday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152882-thailand cancels-visa-on-arrival-for-19-countries-visa-exemptions-for-3-to-limit-virus-spread/

 

Cabinet okays removing kratom from narcotics list

By The Nation

 

Somsak Thepsuthin, Minister of Justice

 

The Cabinet has approved in principle removing kratom leaves from Category V of Thailand’s list of narcotics.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152879-thai-cabinet-okays-removing-kratom-from-narcotics-list/

Cabinet nod for measure to hold meetings and seminars to support ailing tourism industry

By The Nation

 

 

The Cabinet on Tuesday (March 10) approved the proposal by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport to request all state agencies to hold meetings and seminars in the country for three months to support the tourism industry.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152884-thai-cabinet-nod-for-measure-to-hold-meetings-and-seminars-to-support-ailing-tourism-industry/

Info via AOT app required from inbound passengers at airports

By THE NATION

 

 

The measure is to reassure both Thais and foreign travellers that Thailand is well equipped to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak, say minister Puttipong

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152983-info-via-aot-app-required-from-inbound-passengers-at-airports/

UPDATE:

 

Thailand files complaint against e-commerce platform Lazada for overpriced masks

 

A couple travel in the skytrain wearing protective masks due to the coronavirus outbreak in Bangkok, Thailand March 9, 2020. Picture taken March 9, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand’s Commerce Ministry on Wednesday filed a complaint against the Alibaba backed e-commerce platform Lazada after investigations found that surgical masks were being sold at excessively high prices, a senior official said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152935-lazada-charged-with-overpricing-masks/?do=findComment&comment=15149243

 

UPDATE:

 

Banned Thai opposition figure faces new criminal charges

 

FILE PHOTO: Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit gives a speech, at the party's headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand February 21, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Election Commission said on Wednesday it would file a charge against Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the now-defunct Future Forward Party, for breaching electoral law in the latest action against the former anti-junta politician.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152821-ec-to-file-a-criminal-charge-against-thanathorn/?do=findComment&comment=15149256

 

GSP punch will hurt, says new US envoy, but better times ahead

By Wichit Chaitrong
The Nation

 

Newly appointed United States Ambassador to Thailand Michael G DeSombre 

 

Newly appointed United States Ambassador to Thailand Michael G DeSombre told reporters on Wednesday (March 11) that US companies will be more comfortable after the US presidential election in November about moving their facilities out of China and into Southeast Asia.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152992-gsp-punch-will-hurt-says-new-us-envoy-but-better-times-ahead/

 

Dubai gets a taste of Thailand’s best rice

By The Nation

 

 

Retailers and residents of Dubai are hopefully more enthusiastic about Thai rice following a trade fair last month where it was heavily promoted.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152995-dubai-gets-a-taste-of-thailand’s-best-rice/

 

115 arrested for facemask retail offences

By THE NATION

 

 

Charging too much for protective facemasks – or hiding the price – has resulted in the arrest of 115 vendors, Commerce Ministry permanent secretary Boonyarit Kalayanamit said on Wednesday (March 11).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152996-115-arrested-for-facemask-retail-offences/

 

WHO says coronavirus outbreak is now a pandemic, UK and Italy shore up defences

By Emma Farge and William Schomberg

 

Empty shelves are seen at a supermarket in Watford, Britain, March 11, 2020. REUTERS/Paul Childs

 

GENEVA/LONDON (Reuters) - The World Health Organization described the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic for the first time on Wednesday, and Britain and Italy showed growing concern about the economic impact by announcing multi-billion-dollar war chests to fight the disease.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152998-who says-coronavirus-outbreak-is-now-a-pandemic-uk-and-italy-shore-up-defences/

 

Weinstein gets 23-year sentence, expresses sympathy for men in #MeToo era

By Brendan Pierson and Karen Freifeld

 

FILE PHOTO: Harvey Weinstein arrives at New York Criminal Court for another day of jury deliberations in his sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 24, 2020. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced on Wednesday to 23 years in prison for sexual assault and rape after giving a rambling court statement sympathizing with men accused of sexual misconduct during the #MeToo era.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1152999-harvey-weinstein-jailed-for-23-years-in-rape-trial/

 

Madrid records new jump in coronavirus cases, faces hospital bed crunch

By Belén Carreño and Jose Elías Rodríguez

 

A woman, wearing a protective face mask, walks outside a closed school on the first day of a two-week clousure of all kindergartens, schools and universities in the Madrid region as a precaution against coronavirus in Madrid, Spain, March 11, 2020. REUTERS/Sergio Perez

 

MADRID (Reuters) - The number of confirmed coronavirus infections jumped in the Madrid region overnight, testing the limits of the healthcare system, officials said on Wednesday, after a senior doctor warned intensive care units could be running out of beds.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153000-madrid-records-new-jump-in-coronavirus-cases-faces-hospital-bed-crunch/

 

U.S. urged to downgrade Thailand in annual human trafficking report

By Nanchanok Wongsamuth

 

Migrant workers prepare to unload their catch at a port in Samut Sakhon province, Thailand, January 22, 2018. Picture taken January 22, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The U.S. State Department should downgrade Thailand in its annual report on human trafficking, rights groups said on Wednesday, citing the Southeast Asian nation's lack of progress in protecting fishing and garment workers.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153003-us-urged-to-downgrade thailand in-annual-human-trafficking-report/

Sanders vows to remain in White House race despite more losses to Biden

By Lucas Jackson and John Whitesides

 

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders addresses a news conference in Burlington, Vermont, U.S. March 11, 2020. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

 

BURLINGTON, Vt. (Reuters) - A resolute Bernie Sanders said on Wednesday he would stay in the Democratic presidential race despite a series of big losses to front-runner Joe Biden, promising to keep up the public pressure for his sweeping economic and social justice proposals.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153007-sanders-vows-to-remain-in-white-house-race-despite-more-losses-to-biden/

 

U.S. considers restrictions on European travellers as coronavirus hits home

By Alexandra Alper and Deborah Bloom

 

Members of a Servpro cleanup crew wearing hazardous material suits prepare to enter Life Care Center of Kirkland, the Seattle-area nursing home at the epicenter of one of the biggest coronavirus outbreaks in the United States, in Kirkland, Washington, U.S. March 11, 2020. REUTERS/Jason Redmond

 

WASHINGTON/SEATTLE (Reuters) - The U.S. government is likely to discourage Americans from taking trips to Europe and might restrict people entering the United States from the continent to fight coronavirus, as a top health official warned on Wednesday the U.S. outbreak will get worse.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153008-us-considers-restrictions-on-european-travellers-as-coronavirus-hits-home/

Chile marks 30 years of democracy; students ramp up protests against inequality

By Aislinn Laing and Fabian Cambero

 

A man is detained by security forces during a protest against Chile's government as they celebrate two years in office at Santiago, Chile March 11, 2020. REUTERS/Pablo Sanhueza

 

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - President Sebastian Pinera celebrated 30 years since Chile's return to democracy on Wednesday, but students calling for Pinera himself to leave office due to income inequality and other issues led civil disobedience protests, skirmishing with police around the capital and disrupting public transport.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153009-chile-marks-30-years-of-democracy-students-ramp-up-protests-against-inequality/

 

BREAKING:

 

Trump suspends all travel from Europe to the United States to fight coronavirus

 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about the U.S response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic during an address to the nation from the Oval Office of the

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday the United States will suspend all travel from Europe to the United States for 30 days starting on Friday in order to fight the coronavirus.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153015-trump-suspends-all-travel-from-europe-to-the-united-states-to-fight-coronavirus/

 

Tom Hanks says he, wife Rita Wilson have coronavirus in Australia

 

FILE PHOTO: 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards – Arrivals – Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 19, 2020 – Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson. REUTERS/Monica Almeida

 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, have both tested positive for coronavirus in Australia, the actor said on Twitter.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153019-tom-hanks-says-he-wife-rita-wilson-have-coronavirus-in-australia/

 

British Embassy Consular Services unavailable in March ahead of move to new location

 

 

The British Embassy in Bangkok has announced that some of its consular services will be unavailable for a short period later this month.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153020-british-embassy-consular-services-unavailable-in-march-ahead-of-move-to-new-location/

 

Virus woes: Pattaya landlord complains to the media after he's left with a million baht of rotten face masks

 

Picture: Daily News

 

A landlord in Pattaya has appealed for help from the media after he bought 100,000 face masks for distribution in China in February. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153024-virus-woes-pattaya-landlord-complains-to-the-media-after-hes-left-with-a-million-baht-of-rotten-face-masks/

 

Brazilian official who met Trump testing for coronavirus - paper

 

Brazil's Chief of the Secretariat of Social Communication (SECOM) Fabio Wajngarten looks on during a ceremony with country singers at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Adriano Machado/Files

 

BRASILIA (Reuters) - A Brazilian government official who attended an official meeting at Donald Trump's resort in Florida on Saturday and posted a photo of himself standing next to the U.S. president is being tested for coronavirus, the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper said on Wednesday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153028-brazilian-official-who-met-trump-testing-for-coronavirus-paper/

 

Muang Thong Thani: Woman fleeing arrest for acid attack jumps 14 floors and lives - lands on 7-Eleven staffer

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Thai media reported that a 30 year old woman, about to be served a warrant for the attempted murder of her sister, jumped from a 14th floor window of a block in the Muang Thong Thani housing estate in Nonthaburi north west of Bangkok. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153032-muang-thong-thani-woman-fleeing-arrest-for-acid-attack-jumps-14-floors-and-lives-lands-on-7-eleven-staffer/

 

China's coronavirus epicenter sees single-digit cases for first time

 

Women wears face masks outside an office complex in Beijing as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, China, March 11, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

 

BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China had eight new coronavirus infections in Hubei province, the first time the epicenter of the epidemic recorded a daily tally in single-digits, as more businesses reopened with local authorities cautiously easing strict containment measures.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153035-chinas-coronavirus-epicenter-sees-single-digit-cases-for-first-time/

 

Kasikornbank to close branches, lounges at two airports amid Covid-19 scare

By THE NATION

 

 

Kasikornbank will close five branches as well as its Wisdom Lounge in two airports following the Ministry of Public Health’s announcement on Wednesday (March 11) that two staff working at Suvarnabhumi Airport had contracted the new coronavirus (Covid-19).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153039-kasikornbank-to-close-branches-lounges-at-two-airports-amid-covid-19-scare/

 

Covid-19: Tourists being checked LEAVING Thailand after cases found abroad

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

The deputy chief of Suvarnabhumi airport has revealed that thermoscanners had been installed at all departure points to check tourists leaving Thailand. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153040-covid-19-tourists-being-checked-leaving-thailand-after-cases-found-abroad/

 

Prayut and coup-generated Constitution must go to save country: Thanathorn

By The Nation

 

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha must go and also the laws, the regulations, the judicial system and the Constitution designed by the National Council for Peace and Order, or else the country would face the same problems again, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit warned.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153043-prayut-and-coup-generated-constitution-must-go-to-save-country-thanathorn/

 

VIDEO: If you wear a facemask due to coronavirus - don’t do like this guy

 

video screenshot

 

A train traveller wearing a surgical mask has been arrested after being caught licking his fingers then wiping them on a handrail on a subway train.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153046-video-if-you-wear-a-facemask-due-to-coronavirus-don’t-do-like-this-guy/

 

Covid-19: ALL fake news! Don't share reports of foreigners dying in Thailand - it's rubbish, say Thais

 

 

Thailand's fake news department has asked people to stop sharing erroneous reports of foreigners dying from coronavirus all over the country. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153050-covid-19-all-fake-news-dont-share-reports-of-foreigners-dying-in-thailand-its-rubbish-say-thais/

 

Covid-19: Infected immigration officer - no lung problems just a fever

 

Picture: INN

 

Full details have emerged concerning the immigration officer at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport who has been diagnosed with the coronavirus. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153057-covid-19-infected-immigration-officer-no-lung-problems-just-a-fever/

 

‘Old farangs’ keep Pattaya and Jomtien beach chair vendors afloat

 

PATTAYA:--Beach vendors say older foreigners and Thais are keeping them in business through the coronavirus tourism downturn.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1153056-‘old-farangs’-keep-pattaya-and-jomtien-beach-chair-vendors-afloat/