THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Friday 12 June 2020

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THAI to resume international flights on August 1

 

Grounded Thai Airways aircraft sit on the tarmac at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on April 3, 2020, as air travel in Thailand grinds to a near halt to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. (Photo by Vivek PRAKASH / AFP)

 

Thai Airways International will resume international flights on 37 routes starting August 1st, one month later than originally planned.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168076-thai-to-resume-international-flights-on-august-1/

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List of quarantine hotels topped by 5-star wallet-buster

By THE NATION

 

Photo credit: LHMH

 

The government has published the list of hotels under the Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) scheme, which offers travellers to Thailand an alternative to state quarantine facilities.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168068-list-of-quarantine-hotels-topped-by-5-star-wallet-buster/

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‘Good news about curfew' in pipeline

By The Nation

 

General Somsak Rungsita

 

“Good news” about the curfew would be announced on Friday (June 12), declared National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general, General Somsak Rungsita, on Thursday.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168082-‘good-news-about-curfew-in-pipeline/

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Second wave of infections may not be so bad if everyone cooperates: expert

By The Nation

 

 

A respiratory diseases expert believes that Thailand may be able to avoid a second wave of Covid-19 infections if people do not let their guard down.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168084-second-wave-of-infections-may-not-be-so-bad-if-everyone-cooperates-expert/

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BMTA drops plan to get bus commuters to ‘check in’ and ‘check out’

By THE NATION

 

 

Bangkok commuters will not have to “check-in” on the ThaiChana platform before they board buses from Thursday (June 11) after many people complained that this measure was impossible to practice, especially during rush hour.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168120-bmta-drops-plan-to-get-bus-commuters-to-‘check-in’-and-‘check-out’/

 

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MRT Purple Line to cap fares at Bt20 for another 3 months

By THE NATION

 

 

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) today extended its fare discount on the MRT Purple Line between Tao Poon and Bang Yai for another three months. The low-fare period had been due to expire on June 30.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168121-mrt-purple-line-to-cap-fares-at-bt20-for-another-3-months/

 

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Health minister appoints his chief advisor to head donation probe

 

Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul poses during an interview with Agence France-Presse in Bangkok on April 3, 2019. – A Thai party that wants to let households grow marijuana is in demand after a hard-fought election, and its leader said April 3 that their policies must be backed by groups looking for support in coalitions. (Photo by Romeo GACAD / AFP) 

 

Thailand’s Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s chief advisor, M.L. Somchai Chakrabhand, has been appointed to head a committee investigating allegations that 186 hospitals under the Ministry’s supervision have accepted donations from pharmaceutical companies.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168122-health-minister-appoints-his-chief-advisor-to-head-donation-probe/

 

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Former senator Kraisak dies of cancer

 

 

Former senator and well-known academic Kraisak Choonhavan passed away today at the age of 72.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168123-former-senator-kraisak-dies-of-cancer/

 

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Foreign medical tourists to be given entry priority

By Barry Kenyon

 

  

Foreign patients holding doctor appointments in Thai hospitals will be given top priority.

 

The Thai ministry responsible for tourism has specified that the first foreigners to be allowed into the country, possibly in July, will be restricted to business people with written support from partner companies and patients holding doctor appointments in Thai hospitals. Medical tourism in Thai private-sector hospitals has become a profitable niche market in recent years.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168124-foreign-medical-tourists-to-be-given-entry-priority/

 

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Thai PM thanks Malaysian PM on phone over stranded Thais and ‘Movement Control Order’

By Pattaya Mail

 

  

Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha had a phone conversation with H.E. Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Muhyiddin bin Haji Mohd Yassin, the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

 

At Dome Thong Room, Thai Khu Fah Building, Government House, Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha had a phone conversation with H.E. Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Muhyiddin bin Haji Mohd Yassin, the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168125-thai-pm-thanks-malaysian-pm-on-phone-over-stranded-thais-and-‘movement-control-order’/

 

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Pattaya prison visitors face new health restrictions

By Boonlua Chatree

 

  

The new rules were introduced at Pattaya Remand Prison to control the possible spread of Covid-19 as prisons worldwide have been hotspots for the coronavirus.

 

Pattaya Remand Prison is introducing health checks and capacity limits for people visiting inmates.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168127-pattaya-prison-visitors-face-new-health-restrictions/

 

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Old monk panhandler defrocked near Pattaya

By Patcharapol Panrak

 

Wat Koisung monk Pongniran Hongsa, 63, happily on a pilgrimage from Uttaradit, was arrested in Sattahip for improperly soliciting donations.

 

Sattahip ecclesiastical officials defrocked an Uttaradit monk for improperly soliciting donations on an unlicensed pilgrimage and not giving the money to the temple.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168128-old-monk-panhandler-defrocked-near-pattaya/

 

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Half of Pattaya South Road closed until year-end

By Pattaya Mail

 

Deputy Mayor Pattana Boonsawad announces South Road will be reduced to one-way traffic from June 13 until the end of the year as part of the Provincial Electricity Authority’s project to bury power lines.

 

South Road will be reduced to one-way traffic from June 13 until the end of the year as part of the Provincial Electricity Authority’s project to bury power lines.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168129-half-of-pattaya-south-road-closed-until-year-end/

 

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Phuket tourism players ramp up domestic tourism push

By The Phuket News

 

The campaigns were announced at a joint press conference in Patong on Tuesday (June 9). Photo: PR Patong

 

PHUKET: More than 80 businesses, including hotels, tour agencies and restaurants have already joined the “Phuket Great Time” domestic tourism campaign organised by the Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and TAT Phuket Chief Napasorn Kakai is calling for more.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168130-phuket-tourism-players-ramp-up-domestic-tourism-push/

 

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Thailand Says China, Japan Are Interested in Travel Bubbles

By Suttinee Yuvejwattana

 

-- Thai official says South Korea, Vietnam are also interested

-- An upcoming Asean summit is set to discuss travel pacts

 

Thailand said a number of countries, including China and Japan, are interested in discussions about travel bubbles, as the nation considers protocols for the eventual return of foreign tourists.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168131-thailand-says-china-japan-are-interested-in-travel-bubbles/

 

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Thailand’s construction sector predicted to shrink 3.6% in 2020

By GCR Staff 

 

 

Covid-19 will cause Thailand’s construction sector to shrink by 3.6% in 2020, the country’s first contraction since 2017, risk and research company Fitch Solutions has predicted.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168132-thailand’s-construction-sector-predicted-to-shrink-36-in-2020/

 

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After rebuke, top U.S. general says joining Trump church walk during protests was "mistake"

By Phil Stewart

 

FILE PHOTO: Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Mark Milley during a news conference at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. military officer on Thursday said he should not have joined President Donald Trump as he walked from the White House to a nearby church for a photo opportunity after authorities cleared the way of protesters using tear gas and rubber bullets.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168134-after-rebuke-top-us-general-says-joining trump church-walk-during-protests-was-mistake/

 

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North Korea says sees no improvement in relations to be made by maintaining Kim-Trump ties - KCNA

By Sangmi Cha and Josh Smith

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, in Panmunjom, South Korea, June 30, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea sees no improvement in relations to be made by maintaining a relationship between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump, state media reported on Friday on the two-year anniversary of the leaders' first summit.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168135-north-korea-says-sees-no-improvement-in-relations-to-be-made-by-maintaining-kim-trump ties-kcna/

 

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Sukhumvit Line extension keeps BTS financially strong despite Covid crisis

By The Nation

 

 

BTS Group Holdings expects its operating revenue this year to rise by 40 per cent from the previous year thanks to the extension of the Green (Sukhumvit) Line.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168138-sukhumvit-line-extension-keeps-bts-financially-strong-despite-covid-crisis/

 

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Biden says military would help oust Trump if he loses election but refuses to leave

By Jason Lange

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event about the U.S. economy at Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware, U.S., June 5, 2020. REUTERS/Jim Bourg

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said he worries President Donald Trump will try to "steal" the November election but he is confident soldiers would escort Trump from the White House if he loses and does not recognize the result.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168141-biden-says-military-would-help-oust trump if-he-loses-election-but-refuses-to-leave/

 

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Trump plans order on policing, opposes major reforms

By Steve Holland

 

U.S. President Donald Trump is applauded as he attends a roundtable discussion with members of the faith community, law enforcement and small business at Gateway Church Dallas Campus in Dallas, Texas, U.S., June 11, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

DALLAS (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Thursday announced modest plans for an executive order on policing, while making it clear he would not support sweeping proposals in response to protests against police brutality prompted by the killing of George Floyd.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168142-trump plans-order-on-policing-opposes-major-reforms/

 

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Fears of second U.S. coronavirus wave rise on worrisome spike in cases, hospitalizations

By Lisa Shumaker, Carl O'Donnell and Michael Erman

 

FILE PHOTO: Medical staff attend to a patient suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Chula Vista, California, U.S., May 12, 2020. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - About half a dozen states including Texas and Arizona are grappling with a rising number of coronavirus patients filling hospital beds, fanning concerns that the reopening of the U.S. economy may spark a second wave of infections.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168143-fears-of-second-us-coronavirus-wave-rise-on-worrisome-spike-in-cases-hospitalizations/

 

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Thais Only: Bus companies, Bangkok temple bans foreigners citing COVID-19 restrictions

 

File photo

 

A famous Bangkok temple has banned foreigners from entering, citing restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168148-thais-only-bus-companies-bangkok-temple-bans-foreigners-citing-covid-19-restrictions/

 

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Samui Police explore different theories in death of Ukrainian woman

 

 

Police on the holiday island of Koh Samui are lending weight to the theory that the Ukrainian woman found dead there last weekend died from illness or possibly suicide. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168150-samui-police-explore-different-theories-in-death-of-ukrainian-woman/

 

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Pattaya to Hua Hin ferry: Will remain shut until an "appropriate time"

 

Picture: Sophon Cable TV

 

Sophon Cable TV on Facebook quoted the Region 6 harbormaster as saying that the ferry from Pattaya to Hua Hin would remain shut for now.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168153-pattaya-to-hua-hin-ferry-will-remain-shut-until-an-appropriate-time/

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Pattaya: TAT say Thais are increasingly visiting - 10% up to 40% - despite the more expensive food and hotels

 

Sophon Cable TV

 

The Pattaya representative of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said that more Thais are visiting Pattaya than before. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168158-pattaya-tat-say-thais-are-increasingly-visiting-10-up-to-40-despite-the-more-expensive-food-and-hotels/

 

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UK abandons plan to introduce full border checks with EU on Jan. 1 - FT

 

FILE PHOTO: A lorry is driven past dozens of others parked after travelling by ferry between Britain and France at the Port of Dover, Britain, February 14, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - The United Kingdom has abandoned its plan to introduce full border checks with the European Union on Jan. 1 as British ministers face pressure from businesses not to increase chaos already caused by the coronavirus outbreak, the Financial Times newspaper reported https://on.ft.com/37k1mxW.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168163-uk-abandons-plan-to-introduce-full-border-checks-with-eu-on-jan-1-ft/

 

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Jetski guy fires multiple shots to threaten fisherman: "Get out and leave my cockles alone", he shouts

 

 

A video that was part of a "live" online broadcast showed a man riding a jetski who pulled out a gun and fired into the air multiple times to threaten local fisherman who he claimed were stealing his "hoi khraeng" or cockles.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168166-jetski-guy-fires-multiple-shots-to-threaten-fisherman-get-out-and-leave-my-cockles-alone-he-shouts/

 

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Baht’s rise worries govt; BOT blames it on a weaker dollar

By The Nation

 

 

Though the Finance Ministry is worried about the fast rising baht, the central bank assures that the baht is only strengthening in line with regional currencies. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168169-baht’s-rise-worries-govt-bot-blames-it-on-a-weaker-dollar/

 

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NACC reveals finances of three ex-Future Forward MPs

By THE NATION

 

Piyabutr Saengkanokkul

 

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on Thursday (June 11) reported the personal finances of three members of the House of Representatives who were recently discharged from the positions.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1168173-nacc-reveals-finances-of-three-ex-future-forward-mps/