News
- Updates related to COVID-19:
- Today, Thailand reports seven newly confirmed cases, a total of 3,227 cases. Out of the total number, 3,091 have been discharged from hospital; 78 are being hospitalised (at 95.79%). The death toll is at 58. The newly seven confirmed cases are Thai nationals returned from Kuwait, Egypt and Bahrain and have been in state quarantine since. This is the 50th consecutive day that there is no local transmission in Thailand.
- The CCSA was hit harsh by media and online user for its disease control flaws after the two confirmed cases of an Egyptian soldier and a nine years old daughter of a Sudanese diplomat. One interesting development is when Twitter users expressed their fury with a #Army chief must bow to Thai people’s feet, the # has reached more than 1 million tweets. The army spokesperson came out to warn people that the Army Chief Apirat had nothing to do with the case of Egyptian soldier. The person was allowed to enter Thailand as a crew member.
- The CCSA announced that the places where the Egyptian soldier and the 9 years old girl went to. The daughter of the diplomat stayed in X-One Sukhumvit 26 and the Ambassador Residence in Suan Pu.
- Today CCSA has announced three resolutions:
- CCSA will reconsider the easing of self-quarantine of diplomats, particularly partners, parents, and children.
- CCSA has ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cancel the landing permit of Egyptian military aircrafts for 1-20 and 25-29 July.
- CCSA has postponed the permission of the following announced earlier:
- Persons with exemption or persons being considered, permitted or invited by the Prime Minister, or the head of responsible persons accountable for resolving state of emergency issues to enter the Kingdom, pertaining to necessity. Such consideration, permission or invitation may be subject to specified conditions and time limits.
- Persons on diplomatic or consular missions or under International organizations, or representatives of foreign government performing their duties in the Kingdom, or persons of other international agencies as permitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pertaining to necessity, including their spouse, parents, or children.
- NonThai nationals who are permitted to enter the Kingdom under a special arrangement with a foreign country.
- Rayong Provincial Authority has ordered the closure of 10 educational institutions after the report of Egyptian soldier tested COVID positive roamed around the province.
- Following the case in Rayong, the cabinet has agreed to remove the Rayong governor from position and move him to be the central Nakhon Pathom governor.—Kom Chad Leuk
Politics
- Thai vocal artist, known by his pen name Headache Stencil, said that security officials had been following him in Bangkok and plainclothes officers had visited his condominium. The artist said he is facing harassment over anti-government cartoons he has been drawing to draw attention to the missing dissident Wanchalearm Satsakit.—Thai Enquirer
- A former red-shirt protestor and politically active online user who wore the shirt print “No longer faithful towards monarchy institution” was taken to mental asylum by the police. His phone and PC were confiscated. A media went to interview the person who said he was taken to the asylum by police and nurses. He declined but the police tied him up and inject medicine in both of his arms.–Prachathai
Business:
Government’s Covid19 Assistance Package
- Government Savings Bank (GSB) will offer a 100-billion Baht soft loan with 2 percent interest to help SMEs in the tourist and services sectors maintain employment. In the pipeline are also GSB’s plans to extend debt holiday period and to provide an additional 20 billion Baht loans to self-employed workers, merchants and salary earners without requiring a collateral if they seek loans worth 50,000 Baht. Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1950904/gsb-readies-b100bn-for-small-firms
- The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME D Bank) will provide 62.3 million Baht in soft loans to 41 SMEs in several sectors in Samut Prakan; a province that houses clusters of small factories. As of June, the SME D Bank has granted loans worth 535 million baht to 2,364 SMEs. Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1950844/sme-bank-okays-b62m-for-samut-prakan
- The Office of the National Economics and Social Development Council eyes creating employment for more than 410,000 people from Finance Ministry’s 400 billion Baht budget allocated to rehabilitate the economy. Of the 400 billion Baht budget, the most important project is grassroot economic fortification (50 billion Baht), which is projected to employ 70,343 people. Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30391217
Tourism
- Up to 60 percent of hospitality enterprises risk going out of business if Thailand does not let foreign tourists in by the end of this year. Tourism and Sports Ministry advocates for Thailand to open some parts of its country to international arrivals, given that domestic tourism may generate only 700 billion Baht despite the government’s support. Tourism Authority of Thailand expects the tourism industry to contribute 6-7 percent of GDP this year, compared with 18 percent in 2019. It also projects that international arrivals will drop by 80 percent to 8.2 million. Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1950884/closed-borders-pose-tourism-risk
- Rayong’s tourism sector fears the case of an Egyptian soldier who tested positive for Covid-19 will further damage local businesses just as they have started to recover following the easing of the lockdown on July 1. Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1950756/rayong-tourism-industry-dismayed-by-egyptian-saga
- Airports of Thailand (AoT) is unlikely to report losses in the current fiscal year despite being embattled by the pandemic. AoT’s operations during the high season (Oct 2019 – Jan 2020) were strong enough to offset the losses. However, the next FY starting from October 2020 is a different story as the aviation and travel industries are unlikely to recover. Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1950764/airports-to-avoid-losses-aot-chief
Others
- Foreign Ministry is urging Thai diplomats abroad to clarify the ‘falsehood’ alleged in PETA’s report that Thailand abuses monkeys to harvest coconut on an industrial scale. Clarifications were made to foreign importers and retailers in Sweden, Germany and London. Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1950744/govt-goes-on-offensive-to-defend-coconut-industry
- Se Kaeo province’s Aranyaprathet border checkpoint will be re-opened to 50 vehicles carrying goods to cross over from Cambodia daily. Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1950868/cambodian-border-to-reopen-for-goods
- Department of Agriculture wants to move 13 Thai herbs from Type 2 to Type 1 tier in the Hazardous Substances Control List. The move is aimed at promoting the use of green insecticides and herbicides since Type 1 tier has lower toxicity classification. Some of the herbs include galangal, ginger, turmeric, chilli and marigold. Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1950812/new-rating-for-green-pesticides
ASEAN/World
- An opinion piece on Thai-US alliance—Bangkok Post
- US Ambassador Op-Ed on US views towards China.—Khao Sod
- Chinese Chargé d’Affaires interview with ThaiPBS on Thai-China relations and geopolitics in the region.—ThaiPBS World
Australia
- VDO: Australia pub cluster adds to second wave fears, reported by Reuters
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/vdo/world/1951088/australia-pub-cluster-adds-to-second-wave-fears
- VD0: COVID-19 Vaccine Human Trials Begin in Australia- reported by Reuters
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/vdo/world/1951084/covid-19-vaccine-human-trials-begin-in-australia
