Saudi Arabia and Thailand have ended a 30-year row over a scandal involving stolen jewels and a string of murders.The resumption of full diplomatic ties came during a visit to Riyadh by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.A Thai cleaner working for a Saudi prince took the gems in 1989. A rare 50 carat blue diamond was never recovered.Three Saudi diplomats were shot dead in Bangkok following the theft.

Thai Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha announced Thursday that vaccinated travellers from more than 40 countries will be allowed to enter the kingdom without undergoing quarantine come 1 November, as it readies for a much-anticipated re-opening.The 46 countries and territories are a significant jump from the 10 initially announced last week by Prayut, when he unveiled plans to reopen the country next month.The ballooning list is due to Thailand's urgent need "to stimulate the tourism sector

Pro-democracy protesters vented their anger in Bangkok's heavy rain Saturday after Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha survived a no-confidence vote in parliament.More than 300 demonstrators marched in central Bangkok's main shopping mall district carrying red flags and wearing ponchos in the downpour."The government should be gone.

Thousands of protesters in cars and on bikes massed in Bangkok's central shopping district Sunday, one of several mobile rallies across Thailand demanding Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha resign over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.The kingdom is grappling with its worst outbreak so far, registering record numbers of daily infections each week as hospitals struggle to cope.

Authorities in Thailand are facing allegations of using lawsuits and new emergency decrees to fend off a rising tide of public anger about their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as the country’s infection rate and death toll continue to hit record highs.Officials insist the moves are aimed strictly at those spreading false and misleading information, but their latest decree could let authorities block online reports that may “instigate fear” even if true, lawyers and rights groups said.&

Thailand's health ministry sounded the alarm over Bangkok's dire lack of hospital beds and isolation facilities on Thursday as COVID-19 cases and deaths soared to a new record.The Southeast Asian country is struggling to contain its latest outbreak fuelled by the highly contagious Delta variant, with infections and deaths skyrocketing and the healthcare system stretched thin.Despite the hardest-hit provinces being placed under severe restrictions and a night-time curfew, Thailand on

Thai police on Sunday deployed rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon against protesters who defied COVID-19 restrictions to call for Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha's resignation and mark the anniversary of a pro-democracy movement.The kingdom is currently battling its worst COVID-19 wave, registering daily case records as hospitals buckle under pressure.Exacerbating the toll has been the government's slow procurement of vaccines, which has drawn criticism as Thailand's economy r

Hundreds of pro-democracy protesters rallied in Bangkok on Thursday to call for the government's resignation, defying warnings from authorities about the kingdom's soaring coronavirus cases.The marches came on the 89th anniversary of the Siamese Revolution – the uprising that transformed Thailand from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy.Bangkok was rocked by near-daily protests against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's government in the second half of 2020, but the pro-de

Thailand's cabinet has granted Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha sweeping new powers aimed at curbing COVID-19 that critics fear could be used as a political tool to suppress dissent.The country is struggling to contain a third wave that has seen a jump of more than 32,000 cases since an outbreak was detected in the capital's nightlife district.Mandatory mask-wearing and restrictions on daily life have done little to slow the rising death toll, with Prayut's leadership coming in for cr

Thailand's prime minister was fined for not wearing a mask Monday after new COVID-19 restrictions came into force to try to halt the country's spiralling outbreak.Wearing masks is now compulsory in public spaces in 49 provinces and the capital, Bangkok – where the latest outbreak has been traced back to a nightlife district. Some locations are backing up that requirement with a 20,000 baht (US$640) fine.After a picture of a maskless Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha attendin