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71 new Covid cases in Thailand today, the generals are being told they’re going to face pay cuts and a Thai doctors has issued a warning about the link between Thai’s love for sugary sweets and life-threatening diseases… there goes my afternoon donut. And don’t worry, I’m not going to sing my way through the news today, it’s just nice and cool in my home studio so you can enjoy the cool with me. We’ve also got a new segment at the end of the news today… you’ll see that soon enough. 71 new coronavirus cases have been announced today, 31 of them from the hotzone of Samut Sakhon, just south of Bangkok. This beings the total number of confirmed cases in Thailand to 26,441. The death toll remains at 85 people. The Thai Army, Navy and Air Force are aiming to trim the number of generals in the ranks by 25% by 2029. But plenty of critics say the plan is probably just more words and won’t ever happen. A Thai doctor is reminding Thais about the clear links between eating sugary foods and ... » Learn More about Thailand News Today | Thai army trim the Generals, sugar making Thais fat | March 8

Thailand relaxed rules on capital outflows and will increase scrutiny of fund flows into bonds to help cool a rally of the Thai Baht that threatens the Kingdoms economic recovery from the pandemic. The Bank of Thailand moved forward measures that were supposed to begin early next year, most of which will now take effect from end-November. The rules will make it easier for Thai citizens to move money overseas and invest in foreign assets, and to hold foreign currency in Thai banks. It will also require the registration of local and overseas bond investors. “Following the U.S. elections and positive news on Covid-19 vaccine development, investors have turned toward investing in emerging markets, including Thailand,” the bank said in a statement Friday. The situation has “resulted in strengthening the baht quickly and can impact economic recovery.” Bank of Thailand to Restrain the Baht The registration of bond investors “will allow close monitoring of investor’s behaviors ... » Learn More about Thailand Intervenes to Help Cool the Rapid Gain of the Thai Baht

SINGAPORE (Bernama): Covid-19 vaccinations will be offered later this month to selected drivers and accompanying personnel who enter Singapore from Malaysia on a regular basis to deliver essential goods, says the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH). This is to minimise transmission risks from workers who engage in the supply of essential goods to Singapore, said the MOH in a statement on Monday (March 8). "Vaccination will provide an additional layer of protection against Covid-19, ensuring that these personnel can continue to deliver essential goods to Singapore safely," it said. The MOH said those who are eligible for vaccination would be notified via a personalised Short Message Service (SMS) from the republic's Ministry of Trade and Industry and subsequently contacted for an appointment to undergo vaccination at designated sites in Singapore. Those who are not vaccinated may continue to enter, subject to the prevailing infection control measures such as on-arrival testing ... » Learn More about Singapore to offer Covid-19 vaccination to drivers of vehicles delivering essential goods

• Starting off in the capital today, where officials in Bangkok say they may look at lifting some restrictions, despite yesterday’s reported infections going up by another 37, to a total of 1,989. But officials say they’re optimistic about the overall situation. The BMA has announced that, provided the capital avoids any further “super-spreader” events, officials may consider lifting restrictions in coming weeks. They’ve also revealed that patients in the first cluster visited or worked at restaurants, nightlife venues, or massage parlours in the capital. Officials are now tracing other customers or employees from those venues. Nearly 16,000 “at risk” people, who visited markets in the city, have already been tested. • Meanwhile, down south in Phuket, bars and other entertainment venues are being told to close at midnight, according to the latest order imposed by the Phuket Governor. Restaurants can stay open late, but are ordered to stop selling alcohol at midnight. The order ... » Learn More about Thailand News Today | Bangkok may ease restrictions, Phuket bar curfew, Vaccine roll out | January 12

Hello Pattaya News Readers! Over the weekend, one of our editors was surprised to find while speaking with an Italian reader that they did not know we offer our website in multiple languages, using deepl translation and our own plugin. The reader checked our website daily but had never noticed the small pull-down menu, located in either the top left or right-hand corner of your screen, that allows one to select multiple languages. As Pattaya is a bi-lingual area with tourists and residents from all around the world we want to ensure we provide content in languages that our readers are most comfortable using. Therefore, we wanted to remind our readers that we offer this service and are looking to continue to improve and expand it in the future. Currently, we offer the following: Thai, at thepattayanews.co.th. The content here may often be different than the other languages as we are focused on our local Thai community and their interests often differ from those of foreign ... » Learn More about Did you know-we offer our original Thailand and Pattaya news in EIGHT different languages?

KUCHING: Sarawak reported 252 new Covid-19 cases on Monday (March 8), with more than half in Sibu district, as well as one death. The state disaster management committee said the latest fatality was a 66-year-old man who died at Kapit Hospital on March 6 while being treated for fatigue, fever and cough for the past few days. "An antigen rapid test and a PCR test done at the hospital on March 1 returned positive. The case, who had aplastic anemia, passed away after his condition deteriorated," the committee said in a statement, adding that the state's death toll was now 88. Of the new cases, the committee said 234 were asymptomatic while 18 showed symptoms. Sibu recorded the highest number of new cases with 149, of which 133 were individuals screened during active case detection of contacts, including 109 from the Sibujaya area under the enhanced movement control order. Other districts which reported new cases were Bintulu (23), Miri (17), Subis (13), Kuching and Mukah (seven ... » Learn More about Sarawak records 252 new Covid-19 cases, one death

PETALING JAYA: The enhanced movement control order in four areas in Maran, Pahang, will end ahead of schedule. Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, in his statement, said that the EMCO in Felda Jengka 1, Felda Jengka 2, Felda Jengka 7 and Felda Ulu Jempol would end on March 8 instead of March 15. "Until now, the Health Ministry has conducted 471 tests with only one Covid-19 case reported from this locality. "The case was detected in Felda Ulu Jempolm and all close contacts have been identified, tested and quarantined," he said on Monday (March 8). On enforcement statistics, 513 compounds were issued on Sunday (March 7), with four remanded. "Thirty-three illegal immigrants have also been arrested, with four vehicles seized," he said. ... » Learn More about EMCO in four areas in Maran ends ahead of schedule

KUANTAN (Bernama): A man died after slipping and falling in the area of a collapsed bridge leading from Jalan Belimbing to Jalan Sri Makmur in Maran, about 82km from here, after sending groceries to his friend Sunday (Jan 10) night. Maran OCPD Deputy Supt Norzamri Abd Rahman said the victim, Ng Eng Fui, 47, was believed to have fallen at around 10.30 pm while inspecting repair work done by Public Works Department (JKR) employees at the bridge. "Part of the bridge structure collapsed, believed to be due to the strong current from the floods on Jan 3 and warning signage had been installed at the scene. "The victim allegedly wanted to walk on the bridge at his own risk, even though it was not allowed," DSP Norzamri said Monday (Jan 11). DSP Norzamri said initial investigations found that the victim's head had hit iron or concrete from the bridge after it fell 5m and the victim was motionless when JKR workers tried to rescue him. The victim's body was taken to the Jengka Hospital ... » Learn More about Maran man slips on bridge, falls to his death

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for the New York-based group Human Rights Watch (HRW), has condemned the series of police operations against suspected left-leaning individuals in Calabarzon Region. Robertson said HRW is “seriously concerned about reports of raids conducted by law enforcement authorities that resulted in activists’ deaths in the provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Batangas and Rizal.” Calabarzon groups the four provinces, together with Quezon province. “The Philippine government should act now to investigate the use of the lethal force in these raids, stop the mayhem and killings that have gone hand in hand with the practice of Red-tagging, and respect of Filipinos to exercise their civil and political right and dissent,” he said in a statement. Robertson believed that the simultaneous operations were “clearly part” of the Philippine government’s “increasingly brutal counter-insurgency campaign,” with the administration’s ambitious bid to end the 52-year-old ... » Learn More about Watchdog condemns Calabarzon killings

GAUHATI, India: Myanmar has asked India to return several police officers who crossed the border following a coup in their country. The deputy commissioner in Champai district in the northeastern state of Mizoram, Maria C.T. Zuali, said she received a letter from her Myanmar counterpart on Friday, asking India to return the officers in order to “uphold the friendship between Myanmar and India.” She said she informed India’s Ministry of Home Affairs and is awaiting instructions. Police detained at least seven Myanmar policemen, officials said Thursday. Zuali said earlier that four police arrived in Champai area on February 28, and local villagers handed them over to state authorities on March 1. Three other officers crossed on Wednesday near Lungkawlh village, 13 kilometers (8 miles) from the Myanmar border. They told authorities they ran away because the Myanmar army was on their trail after they refused to obey orders. Indian police did not explain what orders they had ... » Learn More about Myanmar asks India to return policemen who fled army