1. Cash handout stimulus total Bt37.1b for 9.27m SSO shareholder open for eligibility check from February 21 till March 7, spending period from March 22 till May 31.
2. PM said Thailand has contingency plans to secure vaccines from other producers if AstraZeneca cannot deliver the doses it promised in time. Health authorities have dismissed the possibility of applying the WHO vaccine passport regulation for international travelling as there is still no proof any vaccines are totally effective in preventing Sars-CoV-2 transmission. Govt goes cool on joining vaccine pact: Lack of control, huge deposit needed. While all other Asean countries are in line to receive the Covid-19 vaccine through a Covax vaccine-sharing programme in the first and second quarters of this year, Thailand’s Public Health Ministry sees the programme’s requirements too limiting to put down billions of baht in deposits to join. Bangkok Post. Thai jab drive ‘has not failed’: Country comparisons leave Anutin furious. Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday insisted that Thailand has not failed in its procurement of Covid-19 vaccines and demanded that the media stop comparing Thailand with other countries. Bangkok Post. The first locally made vaccine will enter its 1st phase of human trials next month and complete its final phase by end of year, raising hopes the country will soon be able to produce its vaccine at the rate of 30m doses per year.
3. Another 3 months of studies, followed by CPTPP decision: The government plans to take three months to decide whether Thailand should apply to join the Comprehensive and Progressive TransPacific Partnership (CPTPP), according to the International Economic Policy Committee. Bangkok Post
4. Handout eligibility reassessed: Income cut-off may not suffice. The Finance Ministry is preparing to reconsider the eligibility criteria for receiving financial aid under the Rao Chana (We Win) scheme, which stipulates recipients should have a taxable income of no more than 300,000 baht per year. Bangkok Post
5. Minister lukewarm to calls for airline loans: Exim Bank yet to submit proposals. Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith has responded with many reservations to calls for the government to provide soft loans as a lifeline for struggling airline businesses. Bangkok Post
6. B820bn for BCG economy projects: Green development tops national agenda. Thailand has to invest 820 billion baht over the next five years if the country is to follow the principle of the bio-circular green (BCG) economy to rev up eco-friendly businesses and innovations, says Krungthai Compass. Bangkok Post
7. We Win bonds close to sold out, first batch gone: Most of the 60-billion-baht government savings bonds have been sold out within less than two weeks, amid investors’ risk-off mode due to economic uncertainties, says the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO). Bangkok Post
8. Phuket up in arms on jab order: Local economy depends on tourism. Tourism operators in Phuket are complaining about the order prohibiting local governmental administrations and the private sector from purchasing Covid-19 vaccines by themselves, submitting a petition to the prime minister yesterday. Bangkok Post
9. Ministries prepare for Vietnam scuffle: Thai authorities are preparing to oppose Vietnam’s plan to impose a 34% antidumping tax on sugar imports from Thailand, which is based on a claim that Thai exporters are gaining an advantage over their Vietnamese competitors because of lower costs. Bangkok Post
10. Myanmar Commander-in-Chief Ministry Aung Hlaing has written to PM Prayut explaining why the Tatmadaw had to stage a coup to seize power and asked for help to support democracy. Prayut had warned against anti-coup protest here in Thailand, while pro- democracy groups have vowed to intensify their protests and lead 2m people to rally this year, after holding a small one in downtown BKK last night.

Note: Yes I lumped all the wuflu/sarscov2 news into #2, this government, particular Anutin is proving to be quite the idiot.