Baht hits seven-year high, could rise to 29.30 to the dollar next quarter

By THE NATION

 

 

The baht opened at 29.79 to the US dollar on Friday, strengthening from 29.84 at close on Thursday, the strongest in seven years.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197375-baht-hits-seven-year-high-could-rise-to-2930-to-the-dollar-next-quarter/

 

Thailand close to signing mini-FTA with southern Indian state, eyes more states

By THE NATION

 

 

The Ministry of Commerce is negotiating a mini free-trade agreement (FTA) with Telangana state in India, aiming to increase trade and investment value between Thailand and the southern Indian state that has a population of 35 million people.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197376-thailand-close-to-signing-mini-fta-with-southern-indian-state-eyes-more-states/

 

15 Covid-19 cases found in quarantine, one domestic case confirmed in Samut Sakhon

By The Nation

 

 

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported 15 new cases in quarantine facilities over a 24-hour period on Friday and one domestic case.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197379-15-covid-19-cases-found-in-quarantine-one-domestic-case-confirmed-in-samut-sakhon/

 

Only two areas in and around Bangkok have excessive PM2.5 on Friday

 

 

Thailand’s Ministry of Interior and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will be cleaning the roads of the capital on more regular basis, as air quality has improved considerably, with only two areas having excessive PM2.5 dust today (Friday).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197380-only-two-areas-in-and-around-bangkok-have-excessive-pm25-on-friday/

 

Most pro-democracy students being punished for their beliefs, NGO says

By THE NATION

 

 

Protection International (PI), a non-profit organisation dedicated to the protection of human-rights defenders, found that 87.9 per cent of students fighting for democracy have faced some form of intimidation, especially from their teachers.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197386-most-pro-democracy-students-being-punished-for-their-beliefs-ngo-says/

 

New 120km/h speed limit will not apply in Phuket

By The Phuket News

 

The 120km.h speed limit will not apply to any roads in Phuket. Photo: The Phuket News

 

PHUKET: The move to increase the speed limit on roads throughout the country designated as highways to 120km/h will not apply anywhere in Phuket, as none of the major roads on the island satisfy the criteria for the speed limit increase, the Phuket Highways Office has confirmed.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197396-new-120kmh-speed-limit-will-not-apply-in-phuket/

 

Sight of soldiers makes illegal crossers jump boat, swim back to Myanmar

By THE NATION

 

 

Soldiers on Friday caught a boat that was being used to smuggle people from Myanmar via a natural border in Tak’s Mae Sot district.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197398-sight-of-soldiers-makes-illegal-crossers-jump-boat-swim-back-to-myanmar/

 

Minister admits Covid-19 outbreak exposed cracks and faults in Thai economy

By THE NATION

 

 

The Covid-19 outbreak that hit Thailand since April has exposed the fragility of the economy and shed light on the fact that we rely too much on export and tourism, Deputy PM Supattanapong Punmeechaow said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197399-minister-admits-covid-19-outbreak-exposed-cracks-and-faults-in-thai-economy/

 

Samut Sakhon tightens control on migrant workers to curb Covid-19 infections

By The Nation

 

 

In a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 and avoid a second wave in Samut Sakhon province, provincial governor Veerasak Vijitsaengri has instructed the employment office to ensure all migrant workers are tested for the virus.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197402-samut-sakhon-tightens-control-on-migrant-workers-to-curb-covid-19-infections/

 

Red-shirt leader Nattawut released, but will be monitored

By THE NATION

 

 

Red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikua was released from prison on Friday, but not before he was tagged with an electronic monitoring bracelet, which will track his every move.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197403-red-shirt-leader-nattawut-released-but-will-be-monitored/

 

'I Feel Fine' - Beatles legend McCartney gives COVID vaccine a shot in the arm

 

Former member of The Beatles Paul McCartney reads excerpts of his book 'Hey Grandude!' to schoolchildren at a launch event in London, Britain, September 6, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville/Files

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Beatles legend Paul McCartney gave Britain's COVID-19 vaccine rollout a big shot in the arm by vowing to be among the first global superstars to be inoculated, The Sun newspaper reported on Friday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197404-i-feel-fine-beatles-legend-mccartney-gives-covid-vaccine-a-shot-in-the-arm/

 

Holy basil no defence against Covid, say health officials

By The Nation

 

 

Eating 50 grams of fresh holy basil daily will not boost immunity against Covid-19, the Public Health Ministry's Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine said on Friday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197405-holy-basil-no-defence-against-covid-say-health-officials/

 

Change of guard next year for Ratsadon rallies

By THE NATION

 

Piyarat Jongthep

 

The decision by Piyarat Jongthep and the “We Volunteer” group that he founded, also known as “Wevo guards”, on November 30 to leave the “Ratsadon” pro-democracy protesters is expected to create opportunities for other groups to become volunteer guards for the planned political rallies aimed at ousting Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and reforming the monarchy.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197408-change-of-guard-next-year-for-ratsadon-rallies/

 

Fish markets mistaken as Covid source ‘face Bt1bn hit’

By The Nation

 

 

Samut Sakhon’s normally busy fish markets paid the penalty on Friday after a prawn-seller in the city tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197422-fish-markets-mistaken-as-covid-source-‘face-bt1bn-hit’/

 

Thailand reports local infections as measures to restart tourism begin

 

A Thai traditional giant statue wears a protective mask, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand has four new local coronavirus infections, health officials said on Friday, just as the country has started reopening for tourists after months of keeping the virus at bay.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197424-thailand-reports-local-infections-as-measures-to-restart-tourism-begin/

 

Singapore study sheds light on pregnant women infected with COVID-19

By Chen Lin and John Geddie

 

A 3D-printed coronavirus model is seen in front of the words coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on display in this illustration taken March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Files

 

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Pregnant women with COVID-19 do not get more sick than the wider population, according to a Singapore study published on Friday, which also found that babies born to infected mothers have antibodies against the novel coronavirus.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197425-singapore-study-sheds-light-on-pregnant-women-infected-with-covid-19/

 

Philippines can secure up to 25 million doses of Moderna, Arcturus vaccines-ambassador

 

FILE PHOTO: Vials with a sticker reading, "COVID-19 / Coronavirus vaccine / Injection only" and a medical syringe are seen in front of a displayed Moderna logo in this illustration taken October 31, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

 

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines will be able to secure between four to 25 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna Inc and Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc, the Southeast Asia country's ambassador to Washington said on Friday.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197426-philippines-can-secure-up-to-25-million-doses-of-moderna-arcturus-vaccines-ambassador/

 

Tour boat sought for damaging protected corals near Phi Phi

By The Phuket News

 

Photo: Nalinee Thongtham

 

PHUKET:-- Sophon Thongdee, Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), will follow up with the Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) over pressing charges against the operators of a speedboat that dropped anchor on baby corals in a protected area near Phi Phi Island.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197429-tour-boat-sought-for-damaging-protected-corals-near-phi-phi/

 

EU's Barnier says: just hours left for a Brexit trade deal

By Marine Strauss, Alistair Smout

 

EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier gestures as he addresses the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, December 18, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman

 

BRUSSELS/LONDON (Reuters) - Britain and European Union have just hours left to navigate the very narrow path to a trade deal that would prevent the most turbulent finale to the Brexit crisis in less than two weeks’ time, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said on Friday.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197431-eus-barnier-says-just-hours-left-for-a-brexit-trade-deal/

 

No post-Brexit chaos if customs paperwork done properly, says Calais port chief

By Noemie Olive

 

 

CALAIS, France (Reuters) - Calais, France’s busiest road freight port, is ready for the return of customs formalities on trade moving between Britain and the European Union and will avoid chaotic queues of trucks if businesses follow procedures, its chief executive said.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197433-no-post-brexit-chaos-if-customs-paperwork-done-properly-says-calais-port-chief/

 

New English lockdown can't be ruled out after Christmas, minister suggests

 

FILE PHOTO: A person walks past a closed Trafalgar Theatre, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain December 16, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

 

LONDON (Reuters) -A new national lockdown in England cannot be ruled out after Christmas, British schools minister Nick Gibb said on Friday, although he emphasised the regional “tiered” system of COVID restrictions was effective.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197435-new-english-lockdown-cant-be-ruled-out-after-christmas-minister-suggests/

 

Fiona Apple: 'I finally believed myself. It felt great'

By Laura Snapes

 

Fiona Apple: ‘I wonder how I would have enjoyed my whole career if I’d been able to do it by myself.’ Photograph: Fiona Apple/PR

 

Over two interviews and more text messages, our artist of the year unpacks her album Fetch the Bolt Cutters – and explains how she finally found compassion for herself after trauma and bullying

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197437-fiona-apple-i-finally-believed-myself-it-felt-great/

 

The Ripper on Netflix – What happened to Peter Sutcliffe and his wife Sonia?

BY ABBY ROBINSON

 

EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS / GETTY IMAGES

 

Netflix's The Ripper, originally named Once Upon a Time in Yorkshire, charts the gruesome crimes of Peter Sutcliffe, a lorry driver from Bingley who was convicted of murdering 13 women and attempting to murder seven more between the years 1975 and 1980.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197438-the-ripper-on-netflix-–-what-happened-to-peter-sutcliffe-and-his-wife-sonia/

 

Eminem apologises to Rihanna on new track ‘Zeus’ over Chris Brown lyric

By Annabel Nugent

 

Eminem (Rex Features)

 

Eminem has apologised to Rihanna on his newly released deluxe version of Music to Be Murdered By, over having “sided” with Chris Brown.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197439-eminem-apologises-to-rihanna-on-new-track-‘zeus’-over-chris-brown-lyric/

 

First post-lockdown tourists land at Phuket airport

By The Phuket News

 

The first tourists to land at Phuket International Airport since the COVID-19 lockdown began eight months ago arrived today (Dec 18). Photo: AoT Phuket

 

PHUKET:-- The first international tourists to land at Phuket International Airport since the COVID-19 lockdown began eight months ago, arrived in Phuket today (Dec 18).

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197446-first-post-lockdown-tourists-land-at-phuket-airport/

 

To continue: 

 

Thailand Live Saturday 19 Dec 2020

 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1197473-thailand-live-saturday-19-dec-2020/