Thailand morning news for May 28, 2020

Thai parliament urged to pass record US$60 billion coronavirus stimulus bill
Thailand’s premier on Wednesday urged parliament to approve the kingdom’s biggest-ever stimulus package to revive an economy battered by coronavirus, which has brought tourism to a standstill, slashed exports and left millions jobless.
— CNA

Thailand doesn’t expect UK tourists to return until October
Thailand isn’t expecting overseas tourists to return until October at the earliest, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
— TravelMole

Thai April factory output drops 17.2%, smaller than forecast
Thailand’s manufacturing production index (MPI) declined for a 12th straight month in April, down 17.21% from a year earlier, hit by lower production of cars, petroleum and beer amid the coronavirus outbreak, the industry ministry said on Wednesday.
— Reuters

Rise in new COVID cases attributed to Thai returnees
Health officials reported nine new COVID-19 infection cases today, the most since May 4. All involved Thai men returned from overseas who tested positive at government quarantine facilities: two from the United States, one from Qatar and six students back from Saudi Arabia.
— Coconuts Thailand

Bankruptcy court accepts THAI case
The Central Bankruptcy Court has accepted the Thai Airways International (THAI) case and set the first hearing for August – with the restructuring process expected to take five years.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand injects $4.6 bln in soft loans to help virus-hit business – c.bank
Thailand has provided about 148 billion baht ($4.65 billion) in soft loans to small businesses hit by the corinavurius outbreak so far this year, the central bank said on Wednesday.
— Reuters

Three killed, one wounded at radio station mass shooting in Phitsanulok
Three people were killed this morning and one seriously wounded after a man armed with multiple weapons entered a radio station in Phitsanulok, Thailand and started shooting.
— The Pattaya News

Opposition demands checks on B1tn borrowing
The opposition has demanded checks and balances on the government’s borrowing of 1 trillion baht to mitigate the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic and shore up the affected economy.
— Bangkok Post

Emergency Decree extended through June amidst accusations of political motivation
As widely predicted, the Cabinet yesterday extended the Emergency Decree for a third month, to its limit at the end of June.
— The Thaiger

Government to provide more financial aid to small and medium-sized businesses
Thailand’s Ministry of Finance has been tasked with coming up with plans for additional financial aid to small and medium-sized enterprises affected by the Covid-19 crisis. Government Spokesperson Narumon Pinyosinwat made the announcement yesterday.
— The Thaiger

THAI debentures downgraded to default
Tris Rating has downgraded Thai Airways International’s company rating and senior unsecured debentures to default following the Central Bankruptcy Court’s acceptance of THAI’s rehabilitation petition.
— Bangkok Post

Residents Complain of Cables Invading Their Homes
The cables started appearing in Pong Kham Fak village in November.
— Khaosod English

2 dead, over 1,000 ill in Korat dengue fever outbreak
2 people have died and more than a thousand have fallen ill since the beginning of the year in an outbreak of dengue fever in the northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province.
— The Thaiger

Greater Bangkok’s Fifteen Million Residents Set Tone in Thailand’s Domestic Tourism Reopening
hailand’s domestic tourism reopening is shaping up to see Bangkok as the hub for an early return of daytrips, staycations and inter-provincial road trips. With over eight million residents coupled with a sprawling megacity catchment with a population base in excess of 15 million, the recovery of the country’s tourist economy is set to be staged from the capital city.
— Hospitalitynet

Thai healthcare system among top ranked countries
Thai Health Report 2020 showed that Thailand’s healthcare system was ranked among top countries in Asia and the World and the country was in the world’s top 13 rankings of the countries, responding well to a pandemic.
— Pattaya Mail

Thai Economic Crime May Be Undetected As Reports Drop, Survey Says
Thai citizens who have tried to download a COVID-19 contact tracing app found that, in some cases, hackers were trying to lure them to fake versions of the app launched by the government last week.
— VOA

Thailand to create automation robots to assist doctors treating COVID-19 patients
Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) and the Institute of Field Robotics (FIBO) of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Thonburi will be creating four sets of automation robots to assist doctors at four eastern hospitals to facilitate treatment of patients with COVID-19.
— Xinhuanet

Government : people can stay at alternative state quarantine facilities
The Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has indicated that those who are subject to be quarantined CAN opt to stay at “alternative state quarantine facilities,” at their own expenses.
— Newsline (video)

Thailand MOF Explains Tax Incentives Due to Coronavirus
The Thai Ministry of Finance May 25 explained tax incentives due to the coronavirus pandemic.
— Bloomberg Tax

People in Thailand distrustful of Twitter are flocking to a crypto social network instead
Sarinee Achavanuntakul’s final tweet was short: “Say goodbye to Twitter and meet at Minds,” she wrote last Thursday (May 21).
— Quartz

Thailand develops own bio-hazard suits during COVID-19 pandemic
Thailand is develop its own bio-hazard suits to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign imports of personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as to create employment and business opportunities to local manufacturers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Xinhuanet

Senate proposes public experts to help loan screening committee
At a Senate meeting today (May 26), legislators discussed a number of issues, including asking the Prime Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, to appoint experts from the public sector to join the 1-trillion-baht loan screening committee under the Ministry of Finance.
— Newsline (video)

DPM Wissanu chairs Thai Airways rehabilitation Superboard
The Cabinet has acknowledged the appointment of Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Wissanu Krea-ngam as the chairman of the supervising committee on Thai Airways’ rehabilitation via the Bankruptcy Court, reporting periodically to the Cabinet.
— Newsline (video)

Covid-19 moment of truth for peace in Thailand
If the old adage that no news is good news needed any confirmation, look no further than the border provinces of southern Thailand after 16 years of numbingly relentless violence.
— Asia Times

Thailand Hotel Workers Rely on Aid as Pandemic Shutters Tourist Hotspots
Thailand’s tourism industry accounts for about 20% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
— VOA (video)

Thailand Hopes Domestic Tourism Will Save Post Covid-19 Economy
Thailand plans to boost domestic tourism in the third quarter to help support the struggling economy as the covid-19 hinders global travel.
— Chiang Rai Times

Why Thailand isn’t reopening to international tourists yet
With news that many countries in Europe are reopening to tourism in time for summer, travelers with their sights set on Asia are anxiously awaiting word on when they’ll be given the green light to visit their favorite destination.
— CNN Travel

Continuous rainfalls expected in Thailand and Andaman Sea
Continuous rainfalls are expected in overall country whereas the North has less rainfall distribution than any other regions.
— Pattaya Mail

Pharmaceutical patent protection in Thailand
With healthcare earnings of 27 billion USD in 2018 and forecasted to grow to 30 billion USD in 2020, Thailand has proven itself a formidable healthcare market.
— Lexology

Restaurants’ sales plummet by 80% in Thailand
Sales at restaurants drop by 80% because they were ordered to limit the numbers of customers amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) pandemic, according to the Thai Restaurant Association.
— Pattaya Mail

PM receives suggestions on dealing with COVID 19 from business associations
The Prime Minister has addressed the nation regarding the Kingdom’s plan to handle economic fallouts from the COVID-19 outbreak, after meeting with representatives from various business associations.
— Newsline (video)

Bangkok’s Green Line metro to open 4 more stations in June
The northern extension to Green Line metro in Bangkok is making much progress, with four more stations now scheduled to be opened for public trial on June 4th.
— Newsline (video)

Thailand’s biggest online property sales event is coming
Thailand’s biggest online property sales event is coming, and you won’t want to miss it.
— Bangkok Post

Isuzu expects Thai sales of light trucks to fall 35% in 2020
Japan’s Isuzu Motors Ltd forecasts that demand for pickup trucks and other light commercial vehicles in Thailand is likely to fall 35% this year as the coronavirus outbreak dampens sentiment.
— Bangkok Post

EGAT promises “ZERO COVID” at all power plants to maintain stability during crisis
Since establishment, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) always keeps its promise to ensure electricity security and maintain stable 24-hour production supervised by skilled and experienced personnel.
— Bangkok Post

Thai Airways appoints chair, ex-CEO to bankruptcy rehab body
Thai Airways International Plc on Wednesday said it appointed board members as rehabilitation planners in a bankruptcy court submission.
— Bangkok Post

Mayor’s statement sparks hope Chonburi beaches may reopen soon
A Facebook post from the mayor of Saen Suk, home to the renowned Bangsaen beach, says beaches “may” reopen from June 1.
— The Thaiger

Board allots B50m to egg farmers
With pandemic panic buying largely disappearing, the government looks set to rev up egg exports to help boost domestic prices.
— Bangkok Post

Pailin resigns from THAI board over legal concerns
The newest member of the Thai Airways International board, Pailin Chuchottaworn, resigned the day after he was appointed to help the airline.
— Bangkok Post

End of Summer? Storms to Shower Bangkok, Isaan
Rain and thunderstorms are expected to soak half of the capital, as well as parts of Isaan, eastern, and southern regions, according to the Meteorological Department’s Wednesday forecast.
— Khaosod English

US Ambassador Questions Emergency Decree Extension
The newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Thailand on Wednesday queried the government on its decision to extend the Emergency Decree with a stated aim of combating the coronavirus outbreak.
— Khaosod English

Thai Doctor faces charges in “wombs-for-hire” scandal
A Thai doctor faces charges of human trafficking and involvement in a Chinese-funded cross-border surrogacy service, using Thai women to carry babies for Chinese couples.
— The Thaiger

Elephant injures 2 Burmese men in Kanchanburi
2 Burmese men were attacked and critically injured by an elephant in a forest in the western province of Kanchanaburi’s Thong Pha Phum district last night, according to Thong Pha Phum National Park officials.
— The Thaiger

Arena 10 Thonglor to host rent-free market to boost the beau monde
A nightlife destination known for clubs and restaurants in the heart of Thonglor will host a rent-free weekend market next month to help upmarket businesses hurt by COVID-19.
— Coconuts Thailand

Haircuts come first after lockdown: Poll
The three things Thais look forward to most as coronavirus restrictions are eased are haircuts, travelling and eating out, according to a global market research firm.
— Bangkok Post

Bangkok mother, daughter swindled out of 1.8 million baht, suspect arrested
Authorities in the southern province of Phuket have arrested a man wanted in Bangkok for swindling a woman and her mother out of nearly 2 million baht.
— The Thaiger

400 more Thai nationals repatriated from overseas arrive for quarantine in Pattaya: Full quarantine details
Pattaya has welcomed some 400 more Thai Nationals who have recently been repatriated from overseas this week.
— The Pattaya News

Central Thailand prepares for return of thousands of Burmese workers
The central province of Samut Sakhon is preparing for the return of over 5,000 migrant labourers from Myanmar over the next month.
— The Thaiger

Feature photo Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University
his week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on World No-Tobacco Day, May 31

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 May 28 added by John Le Fevre on May 28, 2020
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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.