Thailand morning news for July 2

Thailand morning news for July 2
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Thailand morning news

8.3 million Thai workers will lose employment or income in 2020 says World Bank
Thailand’s economy is expected to be impacted severely by the COVID-19 pandemic, shrinking by at least 5 percent in 2020 and taking more than two years to return to pre-COVID-19 GDP output levels, according to the World Bank’s latest Thailand Economic Monitor, released yesterday.
— Thailand Business News

Business groups see economy shrinking 5%-8% this year
Thailand’s economy is expected to contract between 5%-8% this year, deeper than the 3%-5% contraction projected in May, due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, a group of the country’s leading business associations said on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post

Crisis shutters 404 factories
Up to 16,680 factory workers lost their jobs in Thailand in the first six months of the year, with 404 factories closing down, as the pandemic continues to hamper the economy, according to the Department of Industrial Works (DIW).
— Bangkok Post

Thailand plans bigger deficit due to COVID-19 as budget debate starts
Thailand’s parliament began debate on Wednesday on a budget bill that projects a larger 623 billion baht ($20.14 billion) deficit for the 2021 fiscal year starting Oct. 1, as the government tries to revive an economy hit badly by the coronavirus.
— Reuters

Confidence index plummets, jobs lost
The coronavirus outbreak continues to wreak havoc on Thai tourism, with a key gauge nearing rock bottom in the second quarter and 2.6 million workers in the industry at risk of unemployment.
— Bangkok Post

Up to 2.7 million Thai travel, hospitality and tourism workers unemployed by September
The president of the Thai Tourism Industry Council says confidence among Thailand’s tourism business operators fell to the lowest level in a decade during the second quarter this year, with about 2.6 million workers already unemployed and about another 100,000 expected to be laid off in Q3 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
— The Thaiger

PM defends weapons budget
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is defending the decision to include the procurement of weapons for the armed forces in the budget bill for 2021, after opposition criticism during Wednesday’s first reading in parliament.
— Bangkok Post

Several Cambodians Shot in Thailand by Construction Foreman
One Cambodian construction worker was killed, another seriously injured and more may have suffered minor injuries following a fight with a Thai construction foreman who was also killed in Rayong Province, Thailand, according to Koy Kuong, spokesman of Foreign Affairs Ministry.
— Cambodianess

Masks and bikinis as Bangkok sex districts reopen with new rules
With performers wearing facemasks as well as bikinis, Bangkok’s red-light districts reopened on Wednesday after more than three months of shutdown to stop the spread of coronavirus.
— CNA

Thailand records two new coronavirus infections, no new deaths
Thailand recorded two new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, both among returnees from abroad, but no new fatalities.
— Thai PBS News

Chinese PM Li Keqiang hails Chinese-Thai relationship
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has hailed China’s relationship with Thailand and vowed to further advance ties with Thailand and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, according to CGTN.
— Thai PBS News

Wissanu plays down extension of emergency decree
The government on Wednesday tried to allay concerns over its decision to extend the emergency decree until the end of July, saying most of its restrictions had already been lifted anyway.
— Bangkok Post

Opposition slams Thai Government for indifference to economic realities
Members of the Opposition described the 3.3 trillion baht 2021 fiscal budget as being disconnected from reality, with a likelihood that a large portion of the money will be wasted.
— Thai PBS News

Prawit quashes reports of PPRP rift
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has dismissed reports of a rift in the government after an executive of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) reportedly asked Somkid Jatusripitak to step down as economic team leader.
— Bangkok Post

New swine flu not an immediate threat, says virologist
Though the new swine flu, G4 EA H1N1, has the potential of transmitting to humans and turning into a new pandemic, Dr Yong Poovorawan, an expert virologist at Chulalongkorn University, said it is not an immediate problem and there is no reason to panic yet.
— The Nation

THAI will only shed 5% of staff instead of 30%, promises rehab panel
The panel in charge of rehabilitating debt-ridden Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) on Tuesday (June 30) confirmed that the carrier will only shed 5 per cent of the 20,000 employees as part of the airline’s reorganisation effort.
— The Nation

BoT to ease further amid deflation risks
We believe the Bank of Thailand will maintain a dovish tilt over the coming quarters, as the economy struggles amid the shock from the Covid-19 pandemic and deflation risks remain elevated.
— Bangkok Post

Cabinet accepts B200bn in energy schemes
The cabinet on Tuesday acknowledged the Energy Ministry’s plan to accelerate investment in energy projects worth more than 200 billion baht, starting later this year, in a collective move to help reboot the economy.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand dismisses ‘Swine Flu’ from China scare
The swine flu in China should not be severe and pork consumption can continue as usual, said the director of the Bureau of Communicable Disease.
— Pattaya Mail

NACC wants Yingluck put on trial for ‘unfair’ Thawil transfer
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) wants to bring another case against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra in the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions, after deciding she abused her power by unfairly ordering the transfer of Thawil Pliansri, then secretary-general of the National Security Council, to an inactive post in 2011.
— Bangkok Post

New policy of Palang Pracharath to focus on local economy
The ruling Palang Pracharath Party’s new board of executives recently met to discuss changes to the party’s policy, with the aim of improving people’s quality of life amid difficulties arose from the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Newsline (video)

Fire guts Pattaya’s Sukhawadee House
Sukhawadee House, a major tourist attraction, went up in flames on Wednesday morning, just as it was about to reopen its doors after being closed for four months by the coronavirus lockdown.
— Bangkok Post

Court declines to rule on Thamanat’s MP status
The Constitutional Court has rejected a petition asking that it rule whether Palang Pracharath MP for Phayao Thamanat Prompow is ineligible to hold his seat because his wife holds shares in Klongtoey Market Ltd.
— Bangkok Post

Export claims spike in Thailand
In the first five months of 2020, the number of Export-Import Bank of Thailand’s (EXIM Thailand) export insurance clients that have filed documents on foreign buyers’ delayed payment has surged by 195%, bringing the total outstanding overdue amount to more than THB617.33m ($20m).
— Asia Insurance Review

Travel bubble scheme drawn up in 3 phases
A travel bubble plan for leisure travellers has been drafted with three phases for opening, starting with a mere 1,000 tourists per day across five provinces.
— Bangkok Post

More returnees from Kuwait found infected with coronavirus
The government on Wednesday reported two new cases of coronavirus disease infection, workers returning from Kuwait, raising the total to 3,173.
— Bangkok Post

Certification given to local sanitising gels in bid to boost confidence
In a move to boost consumer confidence in local products, the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) has tested and certified two locally manufactured alcohol-based hand sanitising gels, the Industry Ministry’s spokesperson Suchada Taensub said.
— The Nation

Obey the law or face closure, police tell nightlife venues
Police on Wednesday warned night-entertainment operators and soapy massage parlours to comply with measures to curb the Covid-19 pandemic or their businesses would be closed again.
— Bangkok Post

Fund inflows into extra SSF units estimated at B10bn
Fund inflows into extra units of the Super Savings Fund (SSF) are anticipated to have reached 10 billion baht before the one-time investment incentive lapsed yesterday, says the Association of Investment Management Companies (AIMC).
— Bangkok Post

Deputy PM Somkid assigns OSMEP to provide assistance to SMEs
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has directed the Office of SMEs Promotion (OSMEP) to inject liquidity to help SMEs, amid the ailing economy triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Newsline (video)

Price controls on delivery services may shackle riders
The government’s new move to apply price control measures to online food and parcel delivery services could heap pressure on operators already suffering from losses, while rider partners would be at risk of having their share of revenue diminished, say industry pundits.
— Bangkok Post

MRT fares to remain unchanged, no expressway charges on public holidays
In a bid to ease people’s burden, the Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Co Ltd (BEM) will keep fares on the MRT Blue Line unchanged until December 31, waive tollway fees on public holidays and continue giving away cloth masks.
— The Nation

Former Krabi MP Arkom dies at 69
Former Democrat MP for Krabi Arkom Engchuan has died of kidney failure. He was 69.
— Bangkok Post

Phuket casinos raided, 87 arrested
Two casinos were raided and 87 gamblers arrested by teams of administrative officials and territorial defence volunteers on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

World Bank Appoints New Country Director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand
The World Bank has announced the appointment of Ndiamé Diop, a Senegalese national, as its new Country Director for Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, effective July 1, 2020.
— Mirage

NBTC secretary-general exits post with parting advice
National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) secretary-general Takorn Tantasith put forward several key agenda items, including 5G adoption promotion, the smart hospital project, over-the-top (OTT) platform development and Thailand as a global work-from-home hub, to the national 5G committee for consideration before he left the post on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Poor screening process at college causes traffic pileup
An image of Ubon Ratchathani Technical College students waiting on their motorbikes outside the campus on Wednesday (July 1) sparked criticism for creating a traffic jam.
— The Nation

Thai boxing stadiums reopen – but spectators banned
The government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) today gave the green light for Thai boxing matches to resume, though viewers will have to watch them on television.
— The Nation

Bangkok Skytrain cancels seat spacing measures
Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain network has cancelled its seat spacing measures in order to increase passenger numbers after schools and colleges reopened today.
— The Thaiger

COVID-19: Thailand schools reopen with strict hygiene rules
Mask-wearing pupils catching up with friends at one Bangkok high school were quickly told to spread out as they headed back to lessons on Wednesday after months of distance learning due to coronavirus restrictions.
— CNA

Destitute mom steals school uniforms; sympathetic stranger picks up the tab
One day before schools reopened nationwide, a mother in Chumphon province was accused Tuesday of stealing a student uniform and shoes for her children.
— Coconuts Thailand

Pupils delight at reopening of schools
After months of being unable to open, all primary and secondary schools in Thailand on Wednesday resumed academic sessions following a directive by the Ministry of Education.
— Bangkok Post

Fire guts Pattaya’s landmark Ban Sukhavadi mansion
The dome-shaped building, in the grounds of the Ban Sukhavadi seaside mansion, one of Pattaya’s landmarks, has sustained major damage, estimated about 100 million baht, after it was gutted by fire today, on the first day of its reopening after the three month COVID-19 lockdown.
— Thai PBS News

National Park Lifts Controversial Ban on Foreigners
A national park in Kanchanaburi province on Wednesday said both Thais and foreigners can now visit its scenic waterfalls, lifting its controversial ban that caused much stir in the expat community.
— Khaosod English

“We Tour Together” launched to boost domestic tourism
The government has announced its “Rao Thieu Duaykan” (We Tour Together) program, created as a stimulus boost to domestic tourism and help the travel and hospitality sectors battered by closures and bans in reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic.
— The Thaiger

Let Them Eat Cakes: Thai Politics Satirized One Layer at a Time
Photos of a multilayered cake showing the different strata of Thai society and its seedy, corrupt political landscape went viral on Wednesday.
— Khaosod English

Coming to Thailand? Who has to quarantine, how and where.
Working on the assumption that all travelers coming to Thailand are infected with COVID-19, health officials today explained how they will be prevented from spawning a new wave of infection.
— Coconuts Thailand

German expat and friends help support dozens of stray animals in Pattaya but needs your support
A German expat and his friends who helps take care of dozens of street cats and dogs in Pattaya, many who have disabilities and are injured, has asked for community support to provide food and medicine for stray cats and dogs in need in the Pattaya area.
— The Pattaya News

Tourist Arrivals to Plunge 80% This Year Due to COVID-19
The Tourism Council of Thailand on Tuesday said it expects to see only an estimated 8 million foreign tourists this year, 80 percent down from last year, due to the impact from COVID-19 and air travel restrictions worldwide.
— Khaosod English

Chansin to lead THAI
Thai Airways International (THAI) has appointed Chansin Treenuchagron, a former president of the state-owned oil and gas conglomerate PTT Plc, as acting president.
— Bangkok Post

Blue Line fare increases deferred
The operator of the MRT Blue Line has deferred a planned fare hike until next year.
— Bangkok Post travel

Ex-PM Yingluck faulted over transfer of NSC chief
Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has found that former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra abused her power, in violation of Section 157 of the Criminal Code, for her illegal removal, nine years ago, of Thawil Pliensri, from his post as secretary-general of the National Security Council and subsequent reassignment to the PM’s Office as an advisor.
— Thai PBS News

Chon Buri police arrest knife-wielding man allegedly high on methamphetamine – VIDEO
Police in Chon Buri’s Banglamung district have arrested a 48 year old man for allegedly threatening local residents and officers with a knife.
— The Thaiger

Tham Luang, scene of 2018 cave rescue, eyed for ASEAN Heritage status
Two years after the rescue of 13 boys put it on the world’s map, a cave complex in the north and its surrounding park is on the way to winning regional protected status.
— Coconuts Thailand

Bangkok Tea Cocktail: Not as Bad as You May Think
Mixing tea with alcohol? That’s sacrilege for any true tea drinker, or so I thought.
— Khaosod English

 

 

Feature photo UN Women/ Pathumporn Thongking
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on Asean’s frontline healthcare workers in the battle against COVID-19

 

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

 

 

About Thailand morning news.

Thailand morning news roundup is the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Thailand English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Thailand English language news today.

We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Thailand daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Thailand news headlines and first paragraphs before 7.15am Bangkok time.

We clearly identify the source of all the Thailand news headlines, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the news site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you too. If a website uses particularly invasive pop-up adverts, we’ll tell you.

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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.

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