The week that was in Thailand news: Faith, Hope and Charity - Buddha gets an even coating of gold leaf!

 

 

One of the earliest and most enduring proverbs I encountered in Thailand was "Pit Thong Lang Phra" - applying gold leaf to the back of a Buddhist image.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160262-the-week-that-was-in-thailand-news-faith-hope-and-charity-buddha-gets-an-even-coating-of-gold-leaf/

 

Officials confirm all animals are being taken good care of as Phuket Zoo awaits closure.

By The Phuket News

 

Awaiting relocation, animals must remain at Phuket Zoo due to coronavirus restrictions. Photo: Pongchart Chouehorm

 

PHUKET: Animals at Phuket Zoo are well looked after and have not been abandoned, contrary to reports on social media, claimed officials after an investigative inspection yesterday (Apr 17).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160289-officials-confirm-all-animals-are-being-taken-good-care-of-as-phuket-zoo-awaits-closure/

 

Phuket officials report zero new COVID-19 cases, total holds at 192

By The Phuket News

 

Image: PR Dept

 

PHUKET: The Phuket Communicable Disease Committee today (Apr 18) announced zero new confirmed cases of people infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160290-phuket-officials-report-zero-new-covid-19-cases-total-holds-at-192/

 

COVID-19 active screening campaign tackles Bang Tao

By Eakkapop Thongtub

 

Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana inaugurates the campaign to proactively screen the Bang Tao area for the COVID-19 coronavirus. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

 

PHUKET: Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana this morning (Apr 18) oversaw a ceremony to initiate the active COVID-19 screening campaign within the Bang Tao community.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160291-covid-19-active-screening-campaign-tackles-bang-tao/

 

Old shrine surfaces as Bang Wad reservoir hits bottom

By The Phuket News

 

The water level at Bang Wad reservoir has falled so low that the original Toh Tha Mee Shrine has become visbile again. Photo; via PR Dept

 

PHUKET: Heavy isolated showers this week have helped restore some water back into Phuket’s main reservoirs, but more is needed, Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) Chief Graisorn Mahamad has told The Phuket News.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160292-old-shrine-surfaces-as-bang-wad-reservoir-hits-bottom/

 

Wissanu denies government 'begging' for money by reaching out to tycoons

By THE NATION

 

Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam

 

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam on Saturday clarified that the open letters the government would write to 20 of the richest Thais was not an exercise in begging for money.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160293-wissanu-denies-government-begging-for-money-by-reaching-out-to-tycoons/

 

29 provinces free from Covid-19 for two weeks

By THE NATION

 

 

Twenty-nine provinces across Thailand have not reported any Covid-19 cases in the past 14 days while nearly one-third of the new cases were found in Bangkok, Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the government's Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said on Saturday (April 18).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160294-29-provinces-free-from-covid-19-for-two-weeks/

 

GPO seeks raw materials from China to build up depleting stocks of antiviral drug

By The Nation

 

Dr Withoon Danwiboon, GPO managing director

 

The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) has contacted China to procure antiviral drug chemicals to make Favipiravir in order to treat Covid-19 patients in the country.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160295-gpo-seeks-raw-materials-from-china-to-build-up-depleting-stocks-of-antiviral-drug/

 

Face masks for babies: dos and don'ts

By THE NATION

 

 

Babies aged one or younger should not wear face masks as they can be endangered by carbon dioxide in the masks or a shortage of oxygen, Dr Panpimol Wipulakorn, the Department of Health’s director-general, said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160297-face-masks-for-babies-dos-and-donts/

 

Six years after rights activist Billy disappeared, justice remains elusive

By The Nation

 

Pholachi “Billy” Rakchongcharoen

 

Amnesty International has urged authorities to ensure that the family of Karen human rights activist "Billy" learn the truth of what happened to him after he was last seen in the custody of Kaeng Krachan National Park officials on April 17, 2014, saying his suspected killing should not go unpunished.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160299-six-years-after-rights-activist-billy-disappeared-justice-remains-elusive/

 

Chula virologist appeals for blood plasma donations to treat Covid-19 patients

By The Nation

 

Dr Yong Poovorawan, an expert virologist at Chulalongkorn University

 

Covid-19 is a new disease caused by a virus, so there is no specific treatment, Dr Yong Poovorawan, an expert virologist at Chulalongkorn University, said while advocating the use of plasma to treat patients.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160300-chula-virologist-appeals-for-blood-plasma-donations-to-treat-covid-19-patients/

 

Navy slashes 2020 budget by 33 per cent 'to help govt fight Covid-19'

By THE NATION

 

 

The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) will slash its fiscal 2020 budget by 33 per cent, or by Bt4.1 billion, to help the government fight Covid-19, said Vice Admiral Prachachat Sirisawat, the Navy spokesman, on Saturday (April 18).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160303-navy-slashes-2020-budget-by-33-per-cent-to-help-govt-fight-covid-19/

 

Over 850,000 apply for low-interest loans from GSB

By THE NATION

 

 

Government Savings Bank (GSB) reported on Saturday (April 18) that as of 7am, 853,169 people had applied for low-interest loans with total value of Bt21.348 billion.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160304-over-850000-apply-for-low-interest-loans-from-gsb/

 

Covid-19 wipes out 95 per cent of currency exchange business

By THE NATION

 

 

Currency exchange businesses have been severely affected by the Covid-19 crisis, with transactions down almost 95 per cent in value from last year.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160306-covid-19-wipes-out-95-per-cent-of-currency-exchange-business/

 

SET’s trade value rising as individual investors start returning

By The Nation

 

 

The value of trading in the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has started rising again now that individuals have started investing again.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160309-set’s-trade-value-rising-as-individual-investors-start-returning/

 

Oil Fund ‘strong enough’ to stabilise local oil price

By THE NATION

 

 

Thailand’s Oil Fund is ready to work on stabilising the price of oil, Viraphol Jirapraditkul, director of the Oil Fuel Fund Office, said on Friday (April 17).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160310-oil-fund-‘strong-enough’-to-stabilise-local-oil-price/

 

TMB-Thanachart plan scores of co-location branches nationwide

By THE NATION

 

 

TMB and Thanachart banks opened 10 co-location branches in March, as an important step forward in the banks’ operations, Praphan Anuphong Ong-ard, TMB general manager and Thanachart chief executive officer, said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160312-tmb-thanachart-plan-scores-of-co-location-branches-nationwide/

 

Limited room for baht's appreciation due to economic challenges

By The Nation

 

 

The baht this week strengthened against the US dollar although the Covid-19 outbreak put pressure on all Asian currencies.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160314-limited-room-for-bahts-appreciation-due-to-economic-challenges/

 

Ubon Ratchathani tightens entry for visitors to province

By THE NATION

 

 

Every person entering Ubon Ratchathani via land, air or water must report to communicable disease control officials and remain in quarantine as required by Department of Communicable Disease Control.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160316-ubon-ratchathani-tightens-entry-for-visitors-to-province/

 

Hot weather and thunderstorms forecast for upper Thailand

By The Nation

 

 

A heat low covers upper Thailand while the southerly and southeasterly winds bring humidity to the lower North, the Northeast, the Central and the East regions.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160317-hot-weather-and-thunderstorms-forecast-for-upper-thailand/

 

Crowd at Don Muang who gathered for food donations told to monitor symptoms

By THE NATION

 

 

A crowd of people who recently picked up food donations in the Don Muang district of Bangkok will have to observe their own symptoms, as they are deemed a group at risk of being infected with Covid-19,

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160319-crowd-at-don-muang-who-gathered-for-food-donations-told-to-monitor-symptoms/

 

Krabi confirms two new Covid-19 cases

By THE NATION

 

 

Krabi has two additional cases of Covid-19 infections -- an American tourist, aged 49, and his Thai wife, aged 33, provincial governor Lt-Colonel ML Kitibadee Prawit said on Saturday (April 18).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160322-krabi-confirms-two-new-covid-19-cases/

 

No Covid-19 cases in Surat Thani for eight days

By THE NATION

 

 

Surat Thani public health office on Saturday (April 18) reported that there had been no new confirmed cases of Covid-19 for eight consecutive days.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160323-no-covid-19-cases-in-surat-thani-for-eight-days/

 

13 foreigners arrested at pool party in Pattaya

 

 

Thirteen foreigners have been arrested in Pattaya for breaching Thailand’s current state of emergency restrictions.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160327-13-foreigners-arrested-at-pool-party-in-pattaya/

 

Who's Who of pop culture unites for 'One World' coronavirus special

By Jill Serjeant

 

FILE PHOTO: British musician Paul McCartney performs during the "One on One" tour concert in Porto Alegre, Brazil October 13, 2017. REUTERS/Diego Vara/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Beyonce and Oprah Winfrey on Saturday headlined a special broadcast of music, comedy and personal stories celebrating those around the world on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160329-whos-who-of-pop-culture-unites-for-one-world-coronavirus-special/

 

Spain's PM to seek longer but more flexible lockdown

By Joan Faus and Graham Keeley

 

A woman waves a Spanish flag after applauding in support of health workers, during lockdown amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Ronda, southern Spain, April 18, 2020. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

 

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday he would ask parliament for a 15-day extension until May 9 of the lockdown imposed in one of the world's worst coronavirus' outbreaks, but said the restrictions would be more flexible.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160330-spains-pm-to-seek-longer-but-more-flexible-lockdown/

 

Holy Fire lit as Orthodox Easter bells echo over near-empty Jerusalem

By Rami Ayyub and Stephen Farrell

 

An Orthodox Christian clergymen hold candles-stick and lamps as they deliver it following The Holy Fire ceremony that took place in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre n Jerusalem's Old City amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak April 18, 2020 REUTERS/ Ammar Awad

 

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Holy Fire ceremony symbolising Jesus' resurrection was lit in a deserted Jerusalem on Saturday, without the joyful throng of Orthodox Christian pilgrims who normally attend a spectacle that brings the Easter season to a colourful climax.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160332-holy-fire-lit-as-orthodox-easter-bells-echo-over-near-empty-jerusalem/

 

Hong Kong police detain veteran democracy activists in raids

By Jessie Pang

 

 

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong police arrested 15 activists, including veteran politicians, a publishing tycoon and senior barristers, in raids on Saturday in the biggest crackdown on the city's pro-democracy movement since the outbreak of mass protests last year.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160333-hong-kong-police-detain-veteran-democracy-activists-in-raids/

 

Lesotho's embattled PM Thabane deploys army to streets

By Marafaele Mohloboli

 

FILE PHOTO: Lesotho's Prime Minister Thomas Motsoahae Thabane addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 28, 2018. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

 

MASERU, Lesotho (Reuters) - Lesotho's Prime Minister Thomas Thabane deployed the army in the capital Maseru on Saturday against unnamed "rogue national elements" he said wanted to destabilise the southern African country.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160336-lesothos-embattled-pm-thabane-deploys-army-to-streets/

 

Un-milled Thai rice fetches highest price in 10 years

 

 

The price of un-milled Thai rice, for the 2019-2020 crop year, has increased to between 10,800 and 11,000 baht per tonne, which is the highest in about a decade.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160338-un-milled-thai-rice-fetches-highest-price-in-10-years/