THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Thursday 22 Oct 2020

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Quarantine for tourists could be reduced to 10 days – or even none: Anutin

By The Nation

 

 

The Public Health Ministry aims to reduce quarantine for tourists to 10 days.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188428-quarantine-for-tourists-could-be-reduced-to-10-days-–-or-even-none-anutin/

 

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Finance Minister Arkhom gives economic update

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Finance Minister, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, says Thailand’s economic outlook has been upgraded to a 7.1 percent contraction, from a 7.7 percent decline, thanks to the government’s measures to support the business sector. As the soft loan scheme ends on October 22, the government will continue implementing measures to boost liquidity, and the issue will be clear early next week.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188432-finance-minister-arkhom-gives-economic-update/

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3.8% of dishes at vegetarian festival test positive for meat

By The Nation

 

File photo

 

The meat-free dishes served up at Thailand’s annual vegetarian festival may not always be as healthy – or vegetarian – as they seem, new findings suggest.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188475-38-of-dishes-at-vegetarian-festival-test-positive-for-meat/

 

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PM asks all sides to ‘step back from brink’ amid tense stand-off in Bangkok

By The Nation

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday pleaded for all parties to take a step back amid escalating political conflict.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188493-pm-asks-all-sides-to-‘step-back-from-brink’-amid-tense-stand-off-in-bangkok/

 

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Law deans urge court to revoke ‘severe’ state of emergency

By Wichit Chaitrong

The Nation

 

Pro-democracy protesters in Bangkok continue to protest against the government on Wednesday. Photo by Tanachai Pramarnpanich #NationPhoto

 

Law faculty deans from Thammasat, Chulalongkorn, Prince of Songkla, and Chiang Mai universities have sent an open letter to the presidents of Parliament and the Supreme Court urging the court to overrule the state of emergency imposed by the government on October 15.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188494-law-deans-urge-court-to-revoke-‘severe’-state-of-emergency/

 

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Vacationers on cruise ships will be allowed to disembark in Thailand, CCSA says

By The Nation

 

Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin

 

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Wednesday resolved to allow foreigners to disembark luxury cruise liners that drop anchor in Thailand, the centre’s spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188495-vacationers-on-cruise-ships-will-be-allowed-to-disembark-in-thailand-ccsa-says/

 

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MRTA approves Phuket tram project study

By The Nation

 

File photo

 

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) board on Wednesday approved the findings of a study on Phase 1 development of a tram system in Phuket, said MRTA governor Pakapong Sirikantramas.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188496-mrta-approves-phuket-tram-project-study/

 

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Singha Estate reaches out to 100 agencies for sale of condo units to foreigners

By THE NATION

 

 

Singha Estate plans to work with over 100 agencies to sell condos to foreigners, aiming to achieve sales of 70 per cent of units by year-end.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188497-singha-estate-reaches-out-to-100-agencies-for-sale-of-condo-units-to-foreigners/

 

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Raynolds Lake Oconee hosts first LPGA event

 

 

Following a week off after the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the LPGA Tour returns to action with the LPGA Drive On Championship – Reynolds Lake Oconee, the first time the Tour makes its way to Greensboro, Ga.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188499-raynolds-lake-oconee-hosts-first-lpga-event/

 

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IMF readjusts Thailand’s GDP forecast from -7.7% to -7.1%

 

Women walk past a row of bank automatic teller machines in a commercial building in Bangkok on September 1, 2020. (Photo by Romeo GACAD / AFP)

 

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has adjusted Thailand’s GDP growth forecast, from -7.7% to  -7.1% for 2020. This is an indication that the Thai economy is recovering after the Government eased lockdown restrictions, according to Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188500-imf-readjusts-thailand’s-gdp-forecast-from-77-to-71/

 

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Court rejects DES Ministry's bid to tighten leash on media

By The Nation

 

 

The criminal court rejected the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry's push to block media on Wednesday, saying it had not provided clear explanations on how the law was allegedly violated.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188501-court-rejects-des-ministrys-bid-to-tighten-leash-on-media/

 

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Deputy PM Don says foreign countries understand political situation in Thailand

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - Officials from Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government and the Royal Thai Police explained the political situation in Thailand to foreign diplomats and representatives of international organizations yesterday (Oct 20). The officials said a severe state of emergency was declared in Bangkok to deal with the confrontation between demonstrators and security officers and to control the COVID-19 situation.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188502-deputy-pm-don-says-foreign-countries-understand-political-situation-in-thailand/

 

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Real Madrid left shellshocked by depleted Shakhtar

 

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group B - Real Madrid v Shakhtar Donetsk - Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, Madrid, Spain - October 21, 2020 Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois reacts after conceding their third goal scored by Shakhtar Donetsk's Manor Solomon REUTERS/Juan Medina

 

MADRID (Reuters) - Shakhtar Donetsk pulled off a shock 3-2 win away to 13-times winners Real Madrid in their Champions League Group B opener on Wednesday, despite the Ukrainian side missing 10 players due to injuries and COVID-19.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188505-real-madrid-left-shellshocked-by-depleted-shakhtar/

 

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Manchester City come back for 3-1 win over Porto

By Simon Evans

 

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group C - Manchester City v FC Porto - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - October 21, 2020 Manchester City's Sergio Aguero scores their first goal from the penalty spot Pool via REUTERS/Phil Noble

 

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Manchester City came from behind to make a winning start in Champions League Group C on Wednesday with a 3-1 victory over Porto at the Etihad Stadium.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188508-manchester-city-come-back-for-3-1-win-over-porto/

 

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Coman dazzles in Bayern's 4-0 demolition of Atletico

 

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group A - Bayern Munich v Atletico Madrid - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - October 21, 2020 Bayern Munich's Corentin Tolisso celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates REUTERS/Andreas Gebert

 

MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Winger Kingsley Coman scored twice and set up another goal as holders Bayern Munich crushed Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the Champions League Group A opener on Wednesday to stretch their winning run in the competition to 12 games.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188509-coman-dazzles-in-bayerns-4-0-demolition-of-atletico/

 

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Pope says same-sex couples should be covered by civil union laws

By Philip Pullella

 

Pope Francis greets people as he leaves after the weekly general audience, at the Vatican, October 21, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

 

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis has said that same-sex couples should be protected by civil union laws in some of the clearest language he has used on the rights of gay people since his election seven years ago.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188510-pope says-same-sex-couples-should-be-covered-by-civil-union-laws/

 

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Soi Dog pursue successful case of pet abandonment against Phuket expat

 

 

A Phuket Ex pat got more than he bargained for when he took the decision to abandon his pet dog ‘Jonney Cash’ in a heavy storm on the road outside Soi Dog Foundation’s shelter. After dumping the dog on September 19 and driving off, little did he know that his actions were clearly caught on CCTV.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188511-soi-dog-pursue-successful-case-of-pet-abandonment-against-phuket-expat/

 

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Obama rips Trump's record in 2020 campaign trail debut

By Trevor Hunnicutt and James Oliphant

 

Former U.S. President Barack Obama campaigns on behalf of Democratic presidential nominee and his former Vice President Joe Biden in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 21, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Former President Barack Obama returned to the campaign trail on Wednesday, launching a blistering attack on Donald Trump with less than two weeks to go before the Republican president's Election Day face-off with Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188512-obama-rips-trumps-record-in-2020-campaign-trail-debut/

 

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China and U.S. economies diverge over coronavirus response

By Andrea Shalal and Gabriel Crossley

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the start of their summit at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and China dealt with the spread of the devastating coronavirus pandemic in vastly different ways, and that split is reshaping the global battle between the world's two leading economies.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188513-china-and-us-economies-diverge-over-coronavirus-response/

 

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U.S. on brink of rampant coronavirus spread, Europe hospitals strained

By Maria Caspani and Bart H. Meijer

 

Aerial view of people in their vehicles entering and exiting a drive-thru testing site in the parking lot of Miller Park as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., October 21, 2020. Photo taken with a drone. REUTERS/Bing Guan

 

NEW YORK/AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Nearly two-thirds of U.S. states were in a danger zone of coronavirus spread and six, including election battleground Wisconsin, reported a record one-day increase in COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday while the pandemic's resurgence in Europe strained hospitals.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188514-us-on-brink-of-rampant-coronavirus-spread-europe-hospitals-strained/

 

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BANYAN THAILAND launches "WE LOVE HUA HIN" campaign

Andrew J Wood

 

 

HUA HIN, THAILAND: Banyan Thailand,

coordinates tourism and leisure partners in the local community to launch "We Love Hua Hin" - a collaborative destination marketing initiative aimed at increasing its domestic market from Bangkok and throughout Thailand for leisure breaks in Thailand's historic resort.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188515-banyan-thailand-launches-we-love-hua-hin campaign/

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Ratsadon to PM: Resign or we will intensify protest

By THE NATION

 

 

Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Pakkapong Pongpetra accepted a letter from representatives of the Ratsadon protester group at 9.25pm on Wednesday that urged Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to resign.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188516-ratsadon-to-pm-resign-or-we-will-intensify-protest/

 

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Speech by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha “Let’s de-escalate and let the democratic system work”

 

   

Speech by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha

“Let’s de-escalate and let the democratic system work”

21 October 2020

 

 

Fellow citizens, brothers, sisters.

 

I am talking to you today at a moment in time that I hope people will look back at and say, this was the time when all Thais made the right decision and sacrificed their personal desires for the greater good of their country.

 

Full speech: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188518-speech-by-prime-minister-prayut-chan-o-cha-“let’s-de-escalate-and-let-the-democratic-system-work”/

 

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Opening to tourists: Three hundred more Chinese this month - Europeans must wait until November

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thailand's tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn told Thai Rath that 300 foreign tourists would be arriving in Thailand before the end of October on the STV (special tourist visa).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188519-opening-to-tourists-three-hundred-more-chinese-this-month-europeans-must-wait-until-november/

 

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Bangkok housing glut: Nearly a trillion baht of empty properties - govt urged to extend stimulus measures

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Daily News quoted a banking and real estate analyst as saying that the value of empty properties in Bangkok and surrounding provinces would soon approach a staggering ONE TRILLION baht. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188523-bangkok-housing-glut-nearly-a-trillion-baht-of-empty-properties-govt-urged-to-extend-stimulus-measures/

 

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German ex-boxer held for allegedly growing marijuana at rented Chiang Mai house

By THE NATION

 

 

The Region 5 Provincial Police Bureau raided a rented house on Chiang Mai-Hod Road in Suthep subdistrict, Chiang Mai’s Muang district, on Wednesday after police intelligence reported that a foreigner had been allegedly growing marijuana there for sale online.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188526-german-ex-boxer-held-for-allegedly-growing-marijuana-at-rented-chiang-mai-house/

 

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Pattaya: Gold snatch theft outside school

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

Nong Prue police were called after a Thai man reported that a snatch thief on a motorcycle had grabbed his gold necklace outside Wat Bunsamphan school in Moo 10 around 7 pm last night.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188527-pattaya-gold-snatch-theft-outside-school/

 

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UPDATE:

 

 

Krabi island: Pictures emerge of potential collapse before it happened

 

Picture: Sanook

 

Sanook reported that staff from the hat Nopparat Thara - Moo Koh Phi Phi national park in Krabi in the south of Thailand released pictures of cracks in Koh Talu taken before the island collapsed earlier in the week. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188409-island-collapse-dumps-30000-tonnes-of-rock-onto-phi-phi-national-park-reef/?do=findComment&comment=15935008

 

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Tourism in Hua Hin/Cha-Am a small success story in challenging times - flight arrivals up to 70%

 

Picture: Manager Online

 

Amid the continuing doom and gloom of the collapse of the Thai tourism industry, officials in Hua Hin and Cha-Am put a positive spin on a rise in recent visitors to the area. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188533-tourism-in-hua-hincha-am-a-small-success-story-in-challenging-times-flight-arrivals-up-to-70/

 

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12 million people in Britain will struggle to pay bills, watchdog says

 

A salesperson waits for a customer at Lewisham Market amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in London, Britain October 13, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/Files

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Some 12 million people in Britain are likely to struggle with bills and loan repayments as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak economic havoc, a Financial Conduct Authority survey tracking consumer financial resilience showed on Thursday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1188534-12-million-people-in-britain-will-struggle-to-pay-bills-watchdog-says/