Thailand morning news for June 24, 2020

Researchers Eye Human Trials of Coronavirus Vaccine in Oct.
Thai scientists could begin human trials of vaccines for the novel strains of coronavirus as early as October, the technology minister said Tuesday.
— Khaosod English

Official Lampang poll result postponed pending probe into alleged vote buying
Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) has postponed the declaration of the official result of Sunday’s by-election, in the northern province of Lampang, until next week, due to allegations of vote buying.
— Thai PBS News

Huge cache of military weapons seized near Myanmar border
Police have seized a large cache of war weapons, including 33 M16 and AK47 assault rifles, M79 grenade launchers and PK general-purpose machineguns, as well as a large amount of ammunition of different calibers, from a house in the Mae Sot district of Thailand’s western province of Tak, bordering Myanmar.
— Thai PBS News

Cabinet approves Bt2 billion loan to boost housing authority’s liquidity
The Cabinet has given the okay to the National Housing Authority (NHA) to take a Bt2 billion loan to mitigate its liquidity shortage or use as capital under the public-debt management plan for the 2020 fiscal year.
— The Nation

Age of criminal responsibility to be raised
The cabinet has approved in principle increasing the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12 from 10 in line with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
— Bangkok Post

Thais must brace for virus spike, warns expert
A second wave of Covid-19 is likely to occur following the lifting of all lockdown measures, and the kingdom must be ready for it, a medical expert has warned.
— Bangkok Post

Officials investigate the illegal logging of 36 rai in Narathiwat
In Southern Thailand, 36 rai (about 14 acres) of forest on the Sankalakhiri mountain range has been cleared illegally by encroachers. The incident happened in the Chanae district.
— The Thaiger

Thailand Tax Agency Announces Information Reporting Deadline for Exemption for Electronic Filing Investments
The Thai Revenue Department June 17 announced an electronic reporting requirement for the corporate income tax exemption that applies to investments in electronic documentation and tax filing systems, and to service fees paid to electronic data transmission providers.
— Bloomberg Tax

Thailand pledges Bt3.3m for UN Covid-19 fund
The Cabinet on Tuesday (June 23) agreed to sign a pact on donating funds to the United Nations Covid-19 Response and Recovery Multi-Partner Trust Fund to help countries affected by the pandemic.
— The Nation

Penal law can only be applied to juveniles aged 12 up
As per the latest amendment to Thailand’s Penal Code, criminal responsibility can now legally be prescribed to juveniles between the ages of 12 and 15, instead of 10 and 15.
— The Nation

U.S. probing tire imports from South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam
The U.S. Commerce Department said on Tuesday it had opened investigations into vehicle tire imports from South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam to determine whether the tires are being sold at less than fair value.
— Reuters

Public health, security sectors to discuss lifting emergency decree
The administration will determine at the end of this week whether to lift the Emergency Decree for containing the COVID-19 outbreak and replace it with the existing legislation from the Communicable Disease Act.
— Newsline (video)

Cabinet gives nod for draft bill on torture, abduction
The cabinet yesterday approved the Justice Ministry’s draft bill to allow the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to intervene in cases of torture and forced disappearance, an official said.
— Bangkok Post

Thai government must sell valuable trade deal to skeptical public
As the U.S. and China engage in a trade conflict and COVID-19 sharply depresses economic growth, Thailand should be coveting a regional trade agreement like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

State agencies ask for Bt1.36 trillion to revive economy
State agencies have asked for a staggering Bt1.36 trillion to revive the virus-battered economy, said National Economic and Social Development Council secretary-general Tossaporn Sirisamphan.
— The Nation

Songkran substitute holidays to be spread over 3 weekends
Hopes that the Songkran substitute holiday might last for eight straight days were dashed by the prime minister on Tuesday (June 23).
— The Nation

Road accidents in Thailand drop by 13 pct in May due to COVID-19 lockdown
Thailand’s Ministry of Transport on Tuesday said that the number of road accidents dropped by 13 percent last month, partly due to the stay-home-policy during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
— Xinhuanet

Thailand to keep Poipet border shut amid Covid
Thailand on Tuesday again denied a request from Banteay Meanchey provincial authorities to reopen the Poipet international border checkpoint to its Sa Kaeo province.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Activist questions legality of PPRP, Prawit meeting
Political activist Srisuwan Janya yesterday accused the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) of unlawfully using the offices of a charitable organisation for political purposes and called for an immediate investigation into the matter.
— Bangkok Post

Revenue tax exemption for firms that have organised seminars, business trips this year
Companies that have organised domestic seminars or business trips for employees this year will be exempted from revenue tax for those services.
— The Nation

Thailand waives parking fees for all airlines in second-phase aid
The Civil Aviation Board increased assistance for airlines affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) including waived parking charges.
— Pattaya Mail

Thailand to farm new rice variety seeking export advantages
Thailand this year is planning to promote the export of a new strain of soft rice, the Kor Khor 79, to Asian markets.
— Newsline (video)

China provides 7.22 mln USD from LMC Special Fund 2020 to Cambodia
China provided 7.22 million U.S. dollars from the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund 2020 to Cambodia on Tuesday for implementing 20 projects in the kingdom.
— Xinhuanet

Next central bank governor faces crisis with near-zero rate
Thailand is searching for a new central bank governor to steer the economy through one of its biggest crises in decades as traditional policy options run out.
— Bangkok Post

Bangkok’s heritage spaces under threat
Decades of economic growth and investment have transformed Bangkok.
— Aljazeera

Government: Schools must maintain COVID-19 prevention measures
The Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reminded that educational institutions must prepare COVID-19 prevention measures, as the new school semester is fast approaching.
— Newsline (video)

BoI, EEC to hurry new S-curve perks
The Board of Investment (BoI) and Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Office have been ordered to speed up rejigging promotional privileges for five new S-curve industries to make them more enticing for foreign investment.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s tourism social enterprises help locals hit by coronavirus
When Thai travel consultancy Local Alike saw its revenue drop to zero due to the coronavirus outbreak, it started selling products from villages through social media.
— Thomson Reuters Foundation

Domestic tourism rebounds as attractions reopen
Several local tourist attractions have reopened their operations, attempting to bring back lively scenes while maintaining COVID-19 prevention measures.
— Newsline (video)

Bank of Thailand tells commercial banks to develop fund management plan
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has assigned commercial banks to develop a fund management plan, ranging from one to three years, to help people and entrepreneurs deal with a lack of income and a shortage of liquidity.
— Pattaya Mail

3 years to clear ‘Hill 500’
A mission to clear landmines from a former battlefield in Ubon Ratchathani’s Nam Yuen district, known as “Hill 500”, is set to be complete within the next three years, according to Thailand Mines Action Centre (TMAC) of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
— Bangkok Post

BMA offers online vocational courses
A vocational school, operating under the supervision of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, has found success… putting training courses online.
— Newsline (video)

Ministry of Education reassures worried Thai parents that schools will be safe from Covid19
Parents are worrying about their children’s safety at school, as on 1st July the school semester will start.
— The Pattaya News

World’s first Covid-19 patient stem cell transplant saves girl with thalassemia
Ramathibodi Hospital on Tuesday announced the world’s first successful case of a stem cell transplant involving a young patient with coronavirus disease, who donated his bone marrow to save his sister.
— Bangkok Post

Gov’t Rejects Substitute Songkran Holidays in July
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday said the government formally turned down a proposal to hold the canceled Thai New Year holidays in July.
— Khaosod English

DPM Wissanu hints that emergency decree may not be extended
It is appears unlikely that the state of emergency will be extended, when the associated executive decree expires at the end of this month.
— Thai PBS News

Proposed entertainment venue anti-COVID-19 measures if they reopen
A detailed list of measures, which will potentially be applied to pubs, bars and karaoke bars, if they are allowed to resume business on July 1st, has been drawn up.
— Thai PBS News

Thai trials of Covid-19 vaccine reach make-or-break stage
Thai scientists administered a second dose of an experimental Covid-19 vaccine to monkeys on Monday, looking for another positive response to enable clinical trials in humans as early as October.
— Bangkok Post

Thai vets perform mass sterilisation as hungry monkeys terrorise tourist city
Thailand has started sterilising hundreds of monkeys in a city famous for its macaque population, as the coronavirus pandemic leaves them hungry, aggressive and wrestling food from terrified residents.
— CNA

Thai Cabinet approves four day holiday weekend for July 4-7, no alcohol sales days coming
The Thai Cabinet has approved a four day holiday between July 4-7, adding two additional days onto the Asarnha Bucha Day and Buddhist Lent on the fourth and fifth.
— The Pattaya News

Oldie Theatre ‘Scala’ to Close Down for Good
One of Thailand’s last remaining stand-alone cinemas will stop its screenings at the beginning of July, the theatre management said Tuesday.
— Khaosod English

Tourism social enterprises help locals hit by coronavirus
When travel consultancy Local Alike saw its revenue drop to zero due to the coronavirus outbreak, it started selling products from villages through social media.
— Bangkok Post

Illegal logging, encroachment found in Narathiwat
A total of 36 rai of forest on Sankalakhiri mountain range in Chanae district of this southern province has been illegally cleared by encroachers, forest protection officials said.
— Bangkok Post

All fatalities decline since start of pandemic
Thailand is seeing fewer fatalities than usual during the Covid-19 epidemic, with deaths from all causes since October dropping by about 8% from a year earlier.
— Bangkok Post

300-Year Old Temple ‘Renovated’ with Floor Tiles
Netizens were left aghast at a “renovation” project that saw a 300-year old Buddhist temple in Samut Prakan refitted with an aluminium roof and floor tiles.
— Khaosod English

Thai researchers say vaccine testing on monkeys off to good start
Pleased by the first round of animal testing, officials said human trials of a COVID-19 vaccine would begin in October.
— Coconuts Thailand

Cop charged with murder of wife he claimed shot herself
A senior policeman has been charged with the murder his wife after key evidence emerged contradicting his claim she committed suicide.
— Bangkok Post

Thai durians trigger evacuation of post office in German town
Thai durians caused pandemonium at a post office in a German town in Bavaria, sending six postal workers to hospital and causing the complete evacuation of the facility, according to a CNN report.
— Thai PBS News

Police arrest man for running motorbike theft operation
The leader of an alleged motorbike-stealing gang was arrested yesterday in Southern Thailand.
— The Thaiger

Police ask man not to wear a shirt critical of the Thai monarchy
A man had decided to wear a shirt displaying text that says he lost faith in the Thai monarchy.
— The Thaiger

One dead when large steel gear falls on 34 year old factory worker while sleeping in Si Racha
One person is dead after a massive steel gear fell on him while he was taking a nap in what is being described by Si Racha police as a tragic accident.
— The Pattaya News

Runner suspects water bottle poisoning at metro Bangkok park
A Bangkok man warning other runners that someone tried to poison him at a park in the capital’s northwestern outskirts said today.
— Coconuts Thailand

Slurp the ‘100% Original’ Egg Noodles Soup on Silom Road
Egg noodles with roasted pork and dumpling is one of the most popular Chinese foods that have gone ‘native’ in Thailand for a long time.
— Khaosod English

Feature photo Narcotics Suppression Bureau
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, June 26.

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).

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Thailand morning news for June 24 added by John Le Fevre on June 24, 2020
View all posts by John Le Fevre →

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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.