By , , SINGAPORE/BANGKOK/PARIS (Reuters) - In Bangkok’s usually bustling Sukhumvit district the coronavirus pandemic has decimated the tourist trade at the restaurant Permruedee Labnongsaeng owns, cutting daily sales to 5% of normal.The missing tourists from top destinations like Bangkok - the world’s most-visited city - Paris and Rome, gone because of the travel restrictions to prevent the coronavirus spread, also means no demand for the noodles, pastries and pasta usually scoffed down there by hungry travellers.“Tourists disappeared in late February and our sales took a plunge, since then...…By , , SINGAPORE/BANGKOK/PARIS (Reuters) - In Bangkok’s usually bustling Sukhumvit district the coronavirus pandemic has decimated the tourist trade at the restaurant Permruedee Labnongsaeng owns, cutting daily sales to 5% of normal.The missing tourists from top destinations like Bangkok - the world’s most-visited city - Paris and Rome, gone because of the travel restrictions to prevent the coronavirus spread, also means no demand for the noodles, pastries and pasta usually scoffed down there by hungry travellers.“Tourists disappeared in late February and our sales took a plunge, since then...WW…

By BANGKOK (Reuters) - A banned Thai opposition politician, who is facing a criminal complaint of defaming the monarchy, on Thursday defended his criticism of the government’s coronavirus vaccine strategy that relies on a company owned by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit this week accused the government of mishandling the vaccine campaign, saying it was too reliant on Siam Bioscience and will be slow to protect the public because of its failure to negotiate multiple deals.The Thai company is owned by the Crown Property Bureau, which manages tens of billions of dollars...…By BANGKOK (Reuters) - A banned Thai opposition politician, who is facing a criminal complaint of defaming the monarchy, on Thursday defended his criticism of the government’s coronavirus vaccine strategy that relies on a company owned by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit this week accused the government of mishandling the vaccine campaign, saying it was too reliant on Siam Bioscience and will be slow to protect the public because of its failure to negotiate multiple deals.The Thai company is owned by the Crown Property Bureau, which manages tens of billions of dollars...WW…

By , BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of anti-government Thai protesters marched to an army barracks on Sunday to challenge King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s personal control over some army units.It was the latest act of defiance against the king by protesters who have broken taboos by criticising the monarchy. The Thai constitution says the monarchy must be revered and laws ban insulting the institution.Protesters, many carrying inflatable ducks which have become a protest mascot, stopped at the gates of the 11th Infantry Regiment, part of the King’s Guard that played a role in the suppression of...…By , BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of anti-government Thai protesters marched to an army barracks on Sunday to challenge King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s personal control over some army units.It was the latest act of defiance against the king by protesters who have broken taboos by criticising the monarchy. The Thai constitution says the monarchy must be revered and laws ban insulting the institution.Protesters, many carrying inflatable ducks which have become a protest mascot, stopped at the gates of the 11th Infantry Regiment, part of the King’s Guard that played a role in the suppression of...WW…

By BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand’s government said on Tuesday it had banned Pornhub and 190 other websites showing pornography, prompting social media anger over censorship and a protest against the decision.Slideshow Digital minister Puttipong Punnakanta said the block was part of efforts to restrict access to porn and gambling websites, which were illegal under the country’s cybercrime law.But many Thai users trended the #SavePornhub hashtag on Twitter and criticised the shutting of a site in a country that was among the Top 20 by daily traffic for Pornhub in 2019 and which has a...…By BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand’s government said on Tuesday it had banned Pornhub and 190 other websites showing pornography, prompting social media anger over censorship and a protest against the decision.Slideshow Digital minister Puttipong Punnakanta said the block was part of efforts to restrict access to porn and gambling websites, which were illegal under the country’s cybercrime law.But many Thai users trended the #SavePornhub hashtag on Twitter and criticised the shutting of a site in a country that was among the Top 20 by daily traffic for Pornhub in 2019 and which has a...WW…

By , BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand revoked an emergency decree on Thursday aimed at ending months of protests against Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s government and the monarchy, after it inflamed anger and brought tens of thousands of people onto Bangkok’s streets.In one of the biggest shows of support by royalists since demonstrations began in July, hundreds of people gathered wearing yellow shirts - the colour of King Maha Vajiralongkorn - at a government office on the outskirts of the city.Emergency measures imposed a week ago included bans on political gatherings of five or more...…By , BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand revoked an emergency decree on Thursday aimed at ending months of protests against Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s government and the monarchy, after it inflamed anger and brought tens of thousands of people onto Bangkok’s streets.In one of the biggest shows of support by royalists since demonstrations began in July, hundreds of people gathered wearing yellow shirts - the colour of King Maha Vajiralongkorn - at a government office on the outskirts of the city.Emergency measures imposed a week ago included bans on political gatherings of five or more...WW…

By , BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai protesters on Wednesday gave Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha a three day deadline to step down or face more demonstrations, but the leader who made the announcement was arrested within two hours.Prayuth had earlier said he was ready to lift emergency measures he imposed last week to stop the protests as a move to “de-escalate” the situation.Tens of thousands of people marched to his offices at Government House. The protesters have been demonstrating for months against Prayuth and to demand curbs to King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s powers.They claimed success after...…By , BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai protesters on Wednesday gave Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha a three day deadline to step down or face more demonstrations, but the leader who made the announcement was arrested within two hours.Prayuth had earlier said he was ready to lift emergency measures he imposed last week to stop the protests as a move to “de-escalate” the situation.Tens of thousands of people marched to his offices at Government House. The protesters have been demonstrating for months against Prayuth and to demand curbs to King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s powers.They claimed success after...WW…

By , BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of anti-government protesters took over key intersections in Bangkok on Sunday, defying a ban on protests for the fourth day with chants of “down with dictatorship” and “reform the monarchy.”Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former junta leader the protesters seek to oust, is concerned about the spreading protests and the government wants to talk, his spokesman said.Demonstrations have persisted despite the arrest of dozens of protesters and their leaders, the use of water cannon and shutdowns on much of Bangkok’s metro rail system in a bid to quell over...…By , BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of anti-government protesters took over key intersections in Bangkok on Sunday, defying a ban on protests for the fourth day with chants of “down with dictatorship” and “reform the monarchy.”Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former junta leader the protesters seek to oust, is concerned about the spreading protests and the government wants to talk, his spokesman said.Demonstrations have persisted despite the arrest of dozens of protesters and their leaders, the use of water cannon and shutdowns on much of Bangkok’s metro rail system in a bid to quell over...WW…

By , BANGKOK (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in a wave of protests across Bangkok and other Thai cities on Saturday in defiance of a government crackdown following three months of demonstrations aimed at the prime minister and monarchy.Many protesters said they had been stirred into action by the police’s use of water cannon on Friday to disperse thousands of youth-led protesters who included many children.“It was way over the line. We want to show them our power and that we can’t accept this,” said Tang, a 27-year-old office worker among thousands of people who...…By , BANGKOK (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in a wave of protests across Bangkok and other Thai cities on Saturday in defiance of a government crackdown following three months of demonstrations aimed at the prime minister and monarchy.Many protesters said they had been stirred into action by the police’s use of water cannon on Friday to disperse thousands of youth-led protesters who included many children.“It was way over the line. We want to show them our power and that we can’t accept this,” said Tang, a 27-year-old office worker among thousands of people who...WW…

By , BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai police fired stinging liquid from water cannon at thousands of protesters on Friday in the most violent escalation of three months of demonstrations against the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former junta leader.Protesters, defying a government ban on gatherings for a second day in Bangkok, pushed back against helmeted police who advanced with batons and riot shields. In scenes resembling Hong Kong protests, demonstrators held umbrellas against the water.Youth-led protests have grown into the biggest challenge in years to a political...…By , BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai police fired stinging liquid from water cannon at thousands of protesters on Friday in the most violent escalation of three months of demonstrations against the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former junta leader.Protesters, defying a government ban on gatherings for a second day in Bangkok, pushed back against helmeted police who advanced with batons and riot shields. In scenes resembling Hong Kong protests, demonstrators held umbrellas against the water.Youth-led protests have grown into the biggest challenge in years to a political...WW…

By , BANGKOK (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Thai protesters cheered and chanted into the night in central Bangkok on Thursday in a show of mass defiance to a ban on demonstrations designed to end more than three months of anti-government action.As they dispersed at 10 p.m. (1500 GMT), protesters pledged to return to the same place every day.Growing demonstrations have targeted King Maha Vajiralongkorn as well as Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former junta leader, in the biggest challenge for years to an establishment long dominated by the army and palace.“Like dogs cornered, we are...…By , BANGKOK (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Thai protesters cheered and chanted into the night in central Bangkok on Thursday in a show of mass defiance to a ban on demonstrations designed to end more than three months of anti-government action.As they dispersed at 10 p.m. (1500 GMT), protesters pledged to return to the same place every day.Growing demonstrations have targeted King Maha Vajiralongkorn as well as Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former junta leader, in the biggest challenge for years to an establishment long dominated by the army and palace.“Like dogs cornered, we are...WW…