THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Monday 18 May 2020

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Interprovincial train services resume, see only a few passengers in the morning

By THE NATION

 

 

Only a handful of commuters queued to use train services at Bangkok Train Station, also known as Hua Lamphong, this morning (May 18), the first day the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) resumed train services on 42 routes nationwide after a relaxation in the lockdown.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164668-interprovincial-train-services-resume-see-only-a-few-passengers-in-the-morning/

 

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Four missing Phitsanulok locals and their canines rescued from forest

By THE NATION

 

 

All's well that ends well: four locals of Phitsanulok’s Wang Thong district along with their three canine companions who had been lost in the woods since May 12 were spotted by a police helicopter and rescued on Sunday, said Pol General Krisana Pattanacharoen, deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Police.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164669-four-missing-phitsanulok-locals-and-their-canines-rescued-from-forest/

 

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Thai hoteliers appeal to PM for help after major tour group fails to pay up 2 billion baht for trips

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Organizations representing 173 hotels in Phuket, Phangnga, Krabi and Surat Thani have written to Thai prime minister Prayut Chan-ocha for help after debts amounting to 2 billion baht were left unpaid.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164670-thai-hoteliers-appeal-to-pm-for-help-after-major-tour-group-fails-to-pay-up-2-billion-baht-for-trips/

 

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One crew member dead as Canadian forces' Snowbirds jet crashes in British Columbia

 

Royal Canadian Air Force Captain Jennifer Casey, who was killed in the crash of a jet from the Snowbirds aerobatics team in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada May 17, 2020, poses in an undated photograph. Royal Canadian Air Force/Handout via REUTERS

 

(Reuters) - A jet from the Canadian air force's Snowbirds aerobatics team that was on a tour to lift spirits during the coronavirus outbreak crashed in Kamloops, British Columbia, on Sunday, killing one crew member and seriously injuring the other, defense officials said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164673-one-crew-member-dead-as-canadian-forces-snowbirds-jet-crashes-in-british-columbia/

 

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Food delivery hoaxes: What is wrong with these people? Are they seeking revenge?

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Thai media reported on a major food delivery hoax in which dozens of Food Panda riders were sent to two addresses but no one accepted the food.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164675-food-delivery-hoaxes-what-is-wrong-with-these-people-are-they-seeking-revenge/

 

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Economy sinks 1.8% in Q1: NESDC

By The Nation

 

 

The economy sank by 1.8 per cent year on year in the first quarter, state think-tank the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) said today (May 18). 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164676-economy-sinks-18-in-q1-nesdc/

 

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250 Thais from UK, Ireland set to touch down on home soil

By THE NATION

 

 

Some 250 Thais stranded in the UK and Ireland are returning home today (May 18), the Royal Thai Embassy in London said on its Facebook page.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164680-250-thais-from-uk-ireland-set-to-touch-down-on-home-soil/

 

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Covid-19: Keep the "dangerous" pubs and bars shut say the majority of Thais in poll

 

Picture: Sanook

 

A Nida Poll strongly suggested that Thais, fearing a second wave of cases due to the coronavirus pandemic, are strongly in favor or keeping bars and pubs shut.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164683-covid-19-keep-the-dangerous-pubs-and-bars-shut-say-the-majority-of-thais-in-poll/

 

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Motorists can zip down new Pattaya-Map Ta Phut motorway for free until Aug 31

By THE NATION

 

 

The Highways Department will open the extended section of Motorway No 7 (Pattaya-Map Ta Phut) on May 22 and allow motorists to use the section for free until the end of August, director-general Sarawut Songsiwilai said on Sunday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164690-motorists-can-zip-down-new-pattaya-map-ta-phut-motorway-for-free-until-aug-31/

 

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Hua Hin: Hotel pool villas razed to the ground after sparks fly from burning fields - 160 million baht damage in repeat of last year

 

Picture: Sanook

 

Sanook reported that firefighters battled a massive blaze at a luxury pool villa resort in Hua Hin on Saturday. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164694-hua-hin-hotel-pool-villas-razed-to-the-ground-after-sparks-fly-from-burning-fields-160-million-baht-damage-in-repeat-of-last-year/

 

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Video: The kindness of the Thai police! Motorcyclist taken home and even given food

 

video screenshot

 

Thai media Daily News slathered on the praise for the Thai police after the RTP page on Facebook featured a gesture of kindness from the tourist cops.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164698-video-the-kindness-of-the-thai-police-motorcyclist-taken-home-and-even-given-food/

 

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Daylight robbery: Bandits net 1 million baht in Chiang Rai bank heist [VIDEO]

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Two robbers are believed to have stolen more than 1 million baht from a Bangkok Bank in Chiang Sean in Chiang Rai on Monday morning.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164700-daylight-robbery-bandits-net-1-million-baht-in-chiang-rai-bank-heist-video/

 

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Thailand reports three new coronavirus cases, no new deaths

 

FILE PHOTO: Reuters

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand on Monday reported three new coronavirus infections and no new deaths, bringing the total to 3,031 confirmed cases and 56 fatalities since the outbreak started in January.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164703-thailand reports-three-new-coronavirus-cases-no-new-deaths/

 

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Plastic surge in virus lockdown frustrates Thai activist

By Juarawee Kittisilpa

 

Thailand's former national windsurfer Amara Wichithong and her daughter collect rubbish near Pattaya beach at Chonburi, Thailand May 12, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - It has been months since Thailand's former national windsurfer and environmentalist Amara Wichithong last paddled her stand-up board and collected trash from a creek connecting the residential area where she lives to the sea.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164705-plastic-surge-in-virus-lockdown-frustrates-thai-activist/

 

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Monitor lizard found hiding out in woman’s car engine

 

 

Thailand's monitor lizards face a lot of bad press but they were treated more kindly in a story today on Daily News.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164706-monitor-lizard-found-hiding-out-in-woman’s-car-engine/

 

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Look out for foreign woman fraudster, says Samut Prakan office owner

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

An owner of a post office in Soi Yuasa, Samut Prakan went to the media after he was ripped off by a foreign woman.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164708-look-out-for-foreign-woman-fraudster-says-samut-prakan-office-owner/

 

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Inquiry underway after seven Chinese manage to cross over to Koh Chang

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Thai media reported that seven Chinese adults and children in three cars managed to cross over to Koh Chang in Trat despite the ban on tourists.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164709-inquiry-underway-after-seven-chinese-manage-to-cross-over-to-koh-chang/

 

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State Enterprise meeting okays THAI rehabilitation plan

By THE NATION

 

 

A State Enterprise Policy Committee meeting today (May 18) approved a rehabilitation plan for Thai Airways International to solve the carrier’s financial difficulties, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164720-state-enterprise-meeting-okays-thai-rehabilitation-plan/

 

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Millions sign up for contact tracing platform as malls reopen

By THE NATION

 

 

As of 6am on Monday (May 18), 46,744 businesses nationwide had registered to the government’s ThaiChana (Thai Victory) platform, while 2.725 million members of the public were using the platform, according to Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164721-millions-sign-up-for-contact-tracing-platform-as-malls-reopen/

 

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Thai hospitals boost medical hub aim with high-tech weapons against Covid-19

By The Nation

 

 

Large private hospitals have adopted a telemedicine system that is being hailed as the future of patient-doctor communication, spurring Thailand’s ambition to become an international medical hub.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164722-thai-hospitals-boost-medical-hub-aim-with-high-tech-weapons-against-covid-19/

 

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Over 300 tourism operators receive cash aid totalling Bt18.62 million

By The Nation

 

 

More than 300 tourism operators who applied for a return of excess collateral have received cash worth Bt18.62 million under a Tourism and Sports Ministry measure to relieve their suffering amid the Covid-19 crisis, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164723-over-300-tourism-operators-receive-cash-aid-totalling-bt1862-million/

 

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Concern grow over poor kids ‘locked out’ of online school

By The Nation

 

 

Many Thai children have found themselves unable to begin their new school term, as they have no smartphone or internet to access the online classes.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164725-concern-grow-over-poor-kids-‘locked-out’-of-online-school/

 

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Thai economy slips into recession after worst quarter in eight years

By Orathai Sriring and Kitiphong Thaichareon

 

FILE PHOTO: A man sleeps on an almost empty beach, which is usually crowed with tourists, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Pattaya, Thailand April 26, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's economy contracted at its sharpest pace in eight years in the first quarter, pushing Southeast Asia's second largest economy into recession sooner than expected, as the coronavirius pandemic hit tourism and domestic activity.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164726-thai-economy-slips-into-recession-after-worst-quarter-in-eight-years/

 

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Students, parents highlight problems on first day of govt’s online learning 

By The Nation

 

Photo Credit: PxHere

 

Netizens, both students and parents, complained of being hit by a variety of problems on the first day of online and satellite distance learning today (May 18).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164727-students-parents-highlight-problems-on-first-day-of-govt’s-online-learning/

 

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Jomtien Hospital opens in south Pattaya

By Jetsada Homklin

 

The 200-bed Jomtien Hospital is now open on Sukhumvit Road near South Pattaya intersection.

 

The operator of Bangkok Hospital Pattaya has extended its services to south Pattaya and Jomtien areas with the opening of the 200-bed Jomtien Hospital.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164731-jomtien-hospital-opens-in-south-pattaya/

 

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Farang in the free food queue

By Barry Kenyon

 

  

Not far from the Land Office in South Pattaya, a straggly line of perhaps 400 Thais wait patiently in line for the food handouts scheduled for four o’clock. That’s because the sun is sinking. Amongst them is a down-at-heel Englishman in very late middle age, his eyes fixed firmly ahead as he shuffles along whilst keeping social distance from his neighbours. Two Thai volunteer policemen keeping order totally ignore him.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164733-farang-in-the-free-food-queue/

 

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Jomtien Beach’s natural beauty revived during pandemic

By Kamolthep Malhotra

 

  

Jomtien Beach on a sunny day when humans are not allowed to encroach onto the sand and sea area. Birds take this liberty to gather on the beach for some food.

 

Last month’s order to close Chonburi’s beaches not only helped suppress the number of reported Covid-19 cases in the province, but also helped restore Pattaya’s oft-maligned beaches.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164735-jomtien-beach’s-natural-beauty-revived-during-pandemic/

 

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Over 100,000 avail of handy online courses conducted by govt

By The Nation

 

File Photo: Thawat Benjathikul

 

More than 100,000 people have taken online vocational training courses during the lockdown to improve their skills and present them with much-needed job opportunities.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164749-over-100000-avail-of-handy-online-courses-conducted-by-govt/

 

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Restrictions lifted gradually to avoid second wave

By THE NATION

 

Narumon Pinyosinwat

 

Lifting all restrictions will only bring about a second wave of infections as has happened in other countries, government spokesperson Narumon Pinyosinwat said on Monday (May 18) when explaining why the measures were being eased very gradually.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164750-restrictions-lifted-gradually-to-avoid-second-wave/

 

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TAT sets up shared pantry for four communities

By The Nation

 

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) set up a community pantry in front of its building on Monday (May 18) to help residents of the four communities nearby. 

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1164751-tat-sets-up-shared-pantry-for-four-communities/