13 Provinces to Get Vaccines First; Lowkey Welcome for AZ Doses
BANGKOK — Samut Sakhon, Bangkok, and Pathum Thani are among the first provinces to begin vaccinating its health workers and vulnerable populations against COVID-19 by next month, officials said Thursday.
Pattaya Motosai Says He Attacked Tourist ‘Out of Annoyance’
PATTAYA — Police on Thursday arrested a man who confessed to attacking a Chilean national in the resort town of Pattaya.
Indictment of Royal Motorcade Case Delayed to March 31
BANGKOK — Prosecutors on Thursday deferred their decision on whether to indict a group of five activists accused of blocking Her Majesty the Queen’s motorcade to March 31, a defense attorney said.
Japan Won’t Require Olympic Vaccinations Despite Appeal
TOKYO (Kyodo) — Japan's Olympics minister said Wednesday that coronavirus vaccinations would not be a prerequisite for participation at this summer's Olympics and Paralympics, despite a World Anti-Doping Agency appeal that athletes be inoculated.
Facebook Bans All Myanmar Military-Linked Accounts and Ads
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Social media giant Facebook announced Thursday it was banning all accounts linked to Myanmar’s military as well as ads from military-controlled companies in the wake of the army’s seizure of power on Feb. 1.
Olympic Torch Relay May Be Suspended if Large Crowds Form
TOKYO (Kyodo) — The Tokyo Olympic organizing committee released a set of coronavirus countermeasures Thursday for the nationwide torch relay leading up to the games this summer, including the possibility of temporarily suspending the event if large crowds form along the route.
Indonesia, Thailand Hold Talks With Myanmar Coup Minister
BANGKOK (AP) — Regional diplomatic efforts to resolve Myanmar’s political crisis intensified Wednesday, while protests continued in Yangon and other cities calling for the country’s coup makers to step down and return Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government to power.
Officials Show Off Skill of Manhandling Grandma for ID
SARABURI — Local officials in the rural district of Don Phut, Saraburi, came under fire Wednesday after they posted photos of themselves carrying a bedridden elderly woman to a district office to issue her with an ID card – instead of making one for her at home.
Bangkok Highways Toll-Free This Friday for Makha Bucha
BANGKOK — Kickstart that long weekend by barrelling down at (safe) speeds free of charge this Friday.
In a Sign of Reopening, Vaccine Set Aside for Tourist Destinations
BANGKOK — The tourism minister on Wednesday said up to 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine has been reserved for hospitality workers in five provinces most popular with foreign tourists – a sign that the country may be on track for a reopening.
