The economy is expected to contract every quarter this year, with the nadir in the second quarter, according to a senior official at the Bank of Thailand. Source: Business

Thailand’s exports are likely to shrink by as much as 500 billion baht this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, trade wars and the US-Iran conflict, leading the country’s outbound shipments to contract by 7%, the worst showing in 10 years, according to a university study. Source: Business

State-owned Government Savings Bank (GSB) is in discussions with the Bank of Thailand, the Thai Bankers’ Association and other specialised financial institutions (SFIs) regarding giving people the ability to request new bank account numbers online by linking citizen IDs to the accounts for identity authentication. Source: Business

The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) will discuss the coronavirus pandemic’s effect on GDP and exports next week, as the nation braces for an estimated 5.3% GDP contraction and 8.5-10% drop in exports this year. Source: Business

The government yesterday added pha mor hom phrae (mauhom fabric based in Phrae province) and hom thong pa thum bananas to the country’s geographical indication (GI) list, a move to generate income for communities. Source: Business

The tourism confidence index plunged to the lowest level in nine years, though the industry is optimistic about the final quarter of 2020, which could lead to a total of 26.6 million international arrivals this year, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT). Source: Business

When Anucha Meekiatichaikun, a Thailand-born, Paris-trained entrepreneur, returned to his homeland to set up a high-tech dental device business, he looked beyond the bright lights of Bangkok to the historic walled city of Chiang Mai. Source: Business

Rugby League player Mose Masoe has been told to leave hospital and continue his rehabilitation from a career-ending spinal injury at home, in order to make space for coronavirus patients. Source: Sports

Roger Federer is the latest athlete to take to social media to share his lockdown life. Source: Sports

“The Olympic Games is the most complicated sporting event in the world to organize,” says Hayley Wickenheiser, a Canadian ice hockey great. Source: Sports