THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Thursday 13 Feb 2020

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Economic, loan growth forecasts for the year to be revised: BAY chief

By THE NATION

 

 

Thailand's economic growth forecast and loan target may have to be adjusted in view of the current situation, Seiichiro Akita, president and CEO at Bank of Ayudhya Pcl (BAY), has said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148121-economic-loan-growth-forecasts-for-the-year-to-be-revised-bay-chief/

 

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Phuket tour bus operators’ crisis deepens amid virus fallout

By Khunanya Wanchanwet

 

More than 1,200 tour buses now lay idle as the virus impact on Phuket’s tourism industry deepens, bus operators explained. Photo: PR Dept

 

PHUKET: More than 1,200 tour buses in Phuket now lay idle as operators and drivers yesterday appealed to the Phuket Governor for assistance as the island struggles with the plunge in international tourist arrivals, mostly those from Mainland China, due to the outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148123-phuket-tour-bus-operators’-crisis-deepens-amid-virus-fallout/

 

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Video: Get a room! Deadly King Cobra’s mating ritual fascinates Thais

 

Thai caption: Cobras "making out"

Picture: Sanook

 

Sanook reported that two randy King Cobras were getting it on in a durian plantation in Surat Thani in southern Thailand.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148127-video-get-a-room-deadly-king-cobra’s-mating-ritual-fascinates-thais/

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Thailand and guns: Media mentions thousands of deaths from gun violence - but the USA is worse

 

 

Thailand's National News Bureau said on Facebook that recent incidents of violence with guns have prompted questions about Thailand and the gun laws.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148130-thailand-and-guns-media-mentions-thousands-of-deaths-from-gun-violence-but-the-usa-is-worse/

 

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Closure of Chinese factories to impact electronics industry

By THE NATION

 

Thailand's electronics industry could be affected by the closing down of factories in China's Hubei province due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

 

Soraphol Veerametheekul, senior director at Kasikorn Securities Plc, said that most of the factories in those areas are automobile manufacturers which require raw materials such as electronic components from Thailand,” he said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148135-closure-of-chinese-factories-to-impact-electronics-industry/

 

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Upper Thailand gets colder

By THE NATION

 

 

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Thursday (February 13) that the westerly trough is moving through the North to the Northeast and Laos while the high-pressure system across the Northeast and the South China Sea will remain weak.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148136-upper-thailand-gets-colder/

 

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Bangkok air quality improves

By The Nation

 

 

The air quality levels in Bangkok have improved to safe levels, according to data seen on Thursday (February 13).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148137-bangkok-air-quality-improves/

 

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Phuket Red Cross lottery winner receives title deed to top prize

By The Phuket News

 

a happy Mr Yongyuth collects his prize yesterday (Feb 12). Photo: PR Dept

 

PHUKET: Yongyuth Sampeuch, who won a two-storey townhouse in Thalang valued at B2.29 million as the top prize of the Red Cross Fair lottery over the New Year, yesterday (Feb 12) received the title deed to his new home.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148138-phuket-red-cross-lottery-winner-receives-title-deed-to-top-prize/

 

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Police bust alleged illegal surrogacy clinic

By THE NATION

 

 

Police have cracked down on a house in Bangkok where an illegal surrogacy clinic was allegedly being run.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148147-police-bust-alleged-illegal-surrogacy-clinic-in-bangkok/

 

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Taradphone cautions Thai used phone market lost more than 50 Millions THB/ year to online scammers

 

Dr. Chaiyapong Akkarakitjinda

Bangkok Thailand, 12 February 2020: Fake account and famous IT store brands such as iStore, Taradphone are being used by scammers to lure unsuspecting online shoppers into fake e-stores, according to a new finding by Taradphone.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148161-taradphone-cautions-thai-used-phone-market-lost-more-than-50-millions-thb-year-to-online-scammers/

 

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Laem Chabang Port closed to any ships with ailing crew

By THE NATION

 

 

Ships with crewmembers infected with any critical disease are barred from docking at Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi, its director announced on Wednesday (February 12).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148162-laem-chabang-port-closed-to-any-ships-with-ailing-crew/

 

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Anutin explains why some cruise ships welcome

By The Nation

 

 

The government allowed two cruise ships, the Seabourn Ovation and Quantum of the Seas, to dock at Phuket because the majority of the 2,000 passengers aboard each were European, Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said this week.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148164-thai-health-minister-anutin-explains-why-some-cruise-ships-welcome/

 

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Port Authority sees income drop, hopes virus controlled soon

By THE NATION

 

 

Global economic factors cut Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) revenue by 3 per cent in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, which began in October.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148165-port-authority-sees-income-drop-hopes-virus-controlled-soon/

 

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Government considering extending Songkran holidays to lift economy

By The Nation

 

 

The government might extend the Songkran festival to stimulate the national economy.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148167-government-considering-extending-songkran-holidays-to-lift-economy/

 

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UPDATE:

 

Two cruise ships dock in Phuket today

 

Seabourn Ovation cruise ship ©seatrade-cruise.com

 

Two cruise ships from Malaysia and Singapore, carrying about 2,400 mostly European passengers and crew, docked in Phuket deep-seaport this morning for a brief visit.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148087-officials-assure-virus-screening-of-thousands-of-tourists-as-cruise-liners-come-to-phuket/?do=findComment&comment=15056931

 

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Cherng Talay Police arrest Layan Beach thief

By Eakkapop Thongtub

 

The thief was arrested at Layan Beach at about 3pm yesterday (Feb 12). Photo: Cherng Talay Police

 

PHUKET: Cherng Talay Police yesterday (Feb 12) arrested a thief who stole an Italian tourist’s waist bag, containing his passport, credit cards and cash, which was left on Layan Beach while the tourist went swimming.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148169-cherng-talay-police-arrest-layan-beach-thief/

 

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Korat shooting expected to hurt economy in the short term

By THE NATION

 

 

The Korat shooting rampage has shocked consumers and could reduce their spending in the short term compared to other negative factors, experts said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148170-korat-shooting-expected-to-hurt-economy-in-the-short-term/

 

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Mobile clinic offers free vaccinations for cats and dogs in Wichit

By The Phuket News

 

The announcement and schedule for the mobile clinic. Photo: Wichit Municipality

 

PHUKET: Wichit Municipality’s Public Health and Environment Division has set up a mobile clinic to offer free vaccinations for cats and dogs in local areas from Feb 24 to March 11.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148173-mobile-clinic-offers-free-vaccinations-for-cats-and-dogs-in-wichit/

 

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Thai officials keeping close watch on cruise ship docking in Cambodia

By THE NATION

 

 

Thai Immigration Police has been closely coordinating with the Cambodian government regarding the “Westerdam” cruise ship docking at Sihanoukville, Cambodia on Thursday (February 13), Pol Maj-General Archayon Kraithong, commander of Immigration Police Division 3, said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148175-thai-officials-keeping-close-watch-on-cruise-ship-docking-in-cambodia/

 

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UTCC calls for tourism stimulus, swift budget disbursement to boost GDP growth 

By The Nation

 

Thanawat Ponwichai (in Middle of the Frame)

 

Thailand’s economy is expected to expand by just 0.5 – 0.8 per cent in the first quarter, representing a decline of Bt10 billion year on year which may derail the GDP growth forecast of 1 - 1.5 per cent for the first three months, said Thanawat Ponwichai, director of the Economic and Business Forecasting Centre at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC). 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148176-utcc-calls-for-tourism-stimulus-swift-budget-disbursement-to-boost-gdp-growth/

 

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Financial aid for mass-shooting victims soon

By The Nation

 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the government would extend financial assistance to victims of the mass-shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima, according to Tewan Liptapallop, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148177-financial-aid-for-korat-mass-shooting-victims-soon/

 

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Coronavirus deaths, cases leap in China; markets shiver

By Winni Zhou, Dominique Patton

 

A security guard stands outside a plastic tent set up to disinfect people coming in at the entrance of a residential compound, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Beijing, China February 13, 2020. The placard at the entrance of the tent reads, "Disinfection tunnel". REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

 

BEIJING (Reuters) - The Chinese province at the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak reported a record rise in deaths and thousands more cases on Thursday under a new diagnostic method, raising fresh questions about the scale of the crisis.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148197-coronavirus-deaths-cases-leap-in-china-markets-shiver/

 

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Australia extends virus ban on arrivals from mainland China

 

FILE PHOTO: Australian evacuees from the Chinese city Wuhan arrive at the Inpex Plant Manigurr-ma Village in Darwin, Australia, February 9, 2020. Picture taken February 9, 2020. AAP Image/Helen Orr via REUTERS

 

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia will maintain an entry ban on foreign nationals from mainland China for another week to reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148198-australia-extends-virus-ban-on-arrivals-from-mainland-china/

 

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Virus numbers stable, recoveries continue

By THE NATION

 

 

Another victim of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Thailand has fully recovered and been discharged, the Department of Disease Control reported on Thursday (February 13).

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148199-virus-numbers-stable-recoveries-continue/

 

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Mall back in business, offers relief measures

By THE NATION

 

 

Terminal 21 Korat shopping centre reopened today (February 13) after being closed since the mass shooting last Saturday.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148200-mall-back-in-business-offers-relief-measures/

 

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MoU signed for database of inmates

By THE NATION

 

 

The Justice Ministry's Deputy Permanent Secretary Pol Colonel Dusadee Arayawuth, on Thursday (February 13) presided over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) and the Department of Corrections (DOC) for the creation of DNA database of inmates, aimed at prevention of recidivism and facilitating police investigation.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148202-mou-signed-for-database-of-inmates/

 

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Pareena land affair passes jurisdictional hurdle

By The Nation

 

Pareena Kraikup

 

The Council of State has determined that either the Royal Forest Department or the Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO) can handle a case in which Phalang Pracharath Party MP Pareena Kraikup is accused of allowing a farm operation to encroach on state-owned land.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148203-pareena-land-affair-passes-jurisdictional-hurdle/

 

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2020 rice exports put at 7.5 million tonnes

By THE NATION

 

 

Thai Rice Exporters Association estimated total shipments of 7.5 million tonnes worth $4.2 billion this year, in line with the Commerce Ministry’s target, said Charoen Laothamatas, the association's president.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148204-2020-rice-exports-put-at-75-million-tonnes/

 

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The ‘welfare’ flaw that turned deadly

By The Nation

 

 

Details have emerged about the military housing project and the payment glitch that apparently led an Army sergeant-major to shoot dead 29 people in downtown Nakhon Ratchasima and wound 58 others last Saturday.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148205-the-‘welfare’-flaw-that-turned-deadly/

 

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Virus shaving tourism in half, minister says

By The Nation

 

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn

 

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn expects tourist arrivals to plunge by 50 per cent in the first half of this year because of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1148206-virus-shaving-tourism-in-half-minister-says/