Thai PM Prayut enters eighth year in office amid growing COVID-19 crisis

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has begun his eighth year in office. He entered politics in 2014, seizing power through a military coup. The former army chief is now leading the country through a growing crisis. Saksith Saiyasombut looks at what the pandemic heralds for Mr Prayut's remaining two years as prime minister.

COVID-19: Thailand imposes tougher restrictions, including Bangkok curfew

A curfew will be imposed in Bangkok as Thailand fights its worst outbreak of COVID-19. There will also be limits on the size of gatherings and restrictions on unnecessary travel between provinces. More than 9,000 new infections have been reported, a new record. Across Southeast Asia, many governments are struggling to contain new coronavirus outbreaks driven by the Delta variant.

Phuket reopens to foreign travellers for first time in over a year

Thailand's resort island of Phuket has welcomed international travellers for the first time in more than a year. Hundreds have arrived under a quarantine-free programme for vaccinated visitors. The Phuket Sandbox is seen as a trial for Thailand to begin reopening its borders later this year. Thailand is grappling with its worst COVID-19 outbreak, but Phuket has remained relatively unscathed. Thailand lost some $50 billion in tourism revenue in 2020, and the government is expecting some 100,000 foreigners to visit Phuket in 3Q2021.