PM ‘won’t quit’ over oath
A government spokeswoman has played down rumours that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha may quit after apologising for not completing the oath of office during last month’s cabinet swearing-in ceremony.
— Bangkok Post
Thai Consumer Confidence Index for July lowest in 22 Months
A Thai academic thinktank on Thursday said in Bangkok that Thailand’s consumer confidence index in July dropped to its lowest in 22 months amid concerns over economic problems, political instability and the U.S.-China trade friction.
— Xinhuanet
PM did not apologize over oath-taking controversy – government spokeswoman
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha did not offer an apology to his cabinet colleagues over the oath-taking controversy and the media has misinterpreted the Prime Minister’s remarks about the wording, government spokeswoman Mrs .Narumon Pinyosinwat said today.
— Thai PBS News
Business group calls for more easing
The central bank should cut its policy rate further to help ease upward pressure on the baht, which has stayed strong despite Wednesday’s surprise rate cut, the head of the Thai Chamber of Commerce said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
Illegal loggers lay landmines to deter forest rangers in Si Sa Ket
Illegal loggers have resorted to the use of landmines to kill or maim forest rangers who try to interfere with their pursuit of the highly-prized Payoong, or Siamese Redwood trees in Thailand’s forest reserves, according to the public relations office of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation today.
— Thai PBS News
Confidence at lowest ebb since 2017
Consumer confidence fell to the lowest point in 22 months in July, on concerns about the economic slowdown, political instability, the US-China trade war, and relatively low farm prices.
— Bangkok Post
Thai Police Charge Men with Attempted Murder in Wake of Bangkok Blasts
Police filed attempted murder charges Thursday against two men from Thailand’s insurgency-wracked Deep South for allegedly planting a device that did not explode outside national police headquarters, hours before a series of minor bombs exploded in Bangkok on Aug. 2.
— Benar News
Thai crew stranded at sea off coast of Somalia set to return to Thailand
Officials have been dispatched to rescue Thai laborers who were allegedly tricked into working on board fishing vessels and deserted by their employers off Somalia’s shore. The first batch of crew are scheduled to travel back to Thailand tomorrow (August 9th).
— NBT World
Flood warnings for six southern provinces, and provinces east of Bangkok
Forecasts for Phuket and Bangkok below… People living in six southern provinces, and some provinces east of Bangkok, are being warned to brace for possible flooding and flash floods due to heavy rain forecast until Sunday.
— The Thaiger
Baht shrugs off rate cut
The baht is defying the conventional wisdom that an interest-rate cut spurs weakness in a currency.
— Bangkok Post
Thai transport minister agrees to taxi fare hikes in Bangkok
The Ministry of Transport has given approval for taxi fares in Bangkok to go up within a month. Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob met with representatives of four Bangkok taxi groups and officials of the Land Transport Department to discuss demand by taxi drivers to hike taxi fares.
— The Thaiger
Serbia grants citizenship to Thailand’s fugitive ex-PM
The Serbian government has granted citizenship to Thailand’s former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra who fled her homeland in 2017 to avoid negligence charges.
— Reuters
Singha Water to turn labels into missing person posters
Boon Rawd Trading Co., Ltd. and the Mirror Foundation have launched a “Return heart to home” campaign to turn water bottle labels into missing person posters for missing children.
— Prachatai English
Government gets first taste of defeat in lower House
The government suffered its first defeat in the lower House today over a parliamentary regulation that would specify the House speaker’s impartiality in the performance of his or her duty.
— Thai PBS News
Police Chief admits to difficulties in solving the recent bombings
Thailand’s national police chief admitted today that it was difficult for the police to track down the real masterminds behind the bombings and arson attacks in Bangkok and neighboring Nonthaburi province, even though the police have arrested two suspects.
— Thai PBS News
Mongkolkit: Five small parties will leave the government
Thai Civilised Party leader Mongkolkit Suksintaranont confirmed on Thursday that five small parties with five House seats would leave the coalition government because they had been denied an executive position.
— Bangkok Post
Govt open to talks with small parties
Plans are in place for talks between the government and smaller coalition parties to ensure coalition unity, said the government’s coordinator of small parties, Capt Thamanat Prompow.
— Bangkok Post
Prayut marks Asean milestone
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expects Asean to “maintain its distinct identity, based on mutual trust, mutual benefit and mutual respect” over the next two decades.
— Bangkok Post
Bangkok bombings may be linked to politics: Police
A series of bombings in the Thai capital Bangkok last week may be linked to politics, police said on Thursday (Aug 8) as authorities hunted for more than a dozen suspects in connection with the attacks.
— CNA
TCC wants looser monetary policy
The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) has urged the Bank of Thailand to further ease monetary policy as a means to rein in the baht, while the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) requested the central bank launch mid and long-term measures to stabilise the currency’s movement.
— Bangkok Post
Honda to move Accord hybrid production from Japan to Thailand
Honda Motor will shift Japanese production of its Accord hybrid sedan to Thailand, where it wants to take advantage of tax incentives for manufacturing greener cars, according to sources.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Lazada ties up with GroupM to bolster eCommerce solutions in Thailand
Lazada Thailand has partnered with GroupM Thailand to create a holistic ecosystem for LazMall brands grow its sales on the eCommerce platform.
— Marketing
Mineral dept finds new active fault line
The Department of Mineral Resources has announced the discovery of a new active seismic fault in Wiang Haeng district of Chiang Mai province, and named it the Wiang Haeng fault line.
— Bangkok Post
Victims’ families set to collect funds
A total of 27 parties entitled to receive financial compensation from the 2010 Orachon “Praewa” Devahastin na Ayudhya deadly tollway crash will today start collecting their share of the combined compensation totalling over 42 million baht after a nine-year fight.
— Bangkok Post
Govt mulls QR code to improve taxi rides
The Department of Land Transport announced a plan to roll out a QR-code-based complaint filing system for taxis to improve passenger service standards, one day after it approved the proposal to raise taxi fares.
— Bangkok Post
BAY inks share purchase of SBF stake
Bank of Ayudhya (BAY) has entered a share purchase agreement to acquire a 50% stake in SB Finance Company Inc (SBF) for an estimated 1.83 billion Philippine pesos (1.08 billion baht), marking its first foray into the Philippines.
— Bangkok Post
Underground cable rent fee deal urged
The telecom regulator has urged state telecom enterprise TOT and seven telecom operators to quickly conclude rental fees for underground cable conduits so the scheme can accelerate in line with the government’s policy to beautify Bangkok.
— Bangkok Post
Four kidnap accused collared after chase
Four unnamed foreign criminal suspects — three Indonesian nationals and one Vietnamese national — have been detained in Bangkok in connection with an abduction case involving an Indonesian victim, the Immigration Bureau said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
56 barges, vessels join Royal Barge Procession rehearsal
The Royal Thai Navy today continued its rehearsal of the Royal Barge Procession, as part of nationwide celebrations of His Majesty the King’s coronation.
— NBT World (video)
Thai baht may need another ‘haircut’ by the Bank of Thailand before the end of 2019
Wednesday’s rate cut by the Bank of Thailand has not succeeded in reining in the surging baht, raising the prospect of another interest rate cut by 0.25 of a percentage point before the year-end.
— The Thaiger
Thai PM vows to take sole responsibility for oath of office gaffe
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said on Thursday (Aug 8) he will take sole responsibility for failing to recite the full oath of allegiance when he and his Cabinet were sworn in last month.
— CNA
170 billion baht stimulus to focus on tourism as economy plateaus
Inbound tourism to Thailand is about to get a boost with a proposed 170 billion baht government stimulus package .
— The Thaiger
Senior anti-graft official falsely declared his 260 million baht assets
A high-ranking official at the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has been found to have falsely declared his assets, which are actually estimated at about 260 million baht.
— Thai PBS News
Taxi fares up 50 satang
The Ministry of Transport has approved a taxi fare hike by 50 satang over the distance between one to ten kilometers, starting September in order to offset increasing costs for drivers.
— NBT World
Anutin Receives Cannabis Oil for Medical Use
Thailand’s health ministry received its first batch of legal medical marijuana Wednesday to be distributed in state-run hospitals.
— Khaosod English
ILO, Global Unions, Labor Movement, and Human Rights Activist Demand Labour Law Reform and Enforcement To Meet ILO Standards
On 24 July 2019, at Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT), director, leaders, and representative from International Labour Organization (ILO), 207-million membership International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), 19.7-million membership International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), State Railway Workers Union of Thailand (SRUT), The Thai Airways International Labour Union (TG Union), and Human Rights Watch participated in the forum “ITUC Global Rights Index 2019 Asia Pacific – Violations of Workers’ Rights in Law and Practice in Thailand Including the Case of SRUT and TG union”.
— Prachatai English
Bank of Ayudhya inks share-purchase of SBF stake
Bank of Ayudhya (BAY) has entered a share purchase agreement to acquire a 50% stake in SB Finance Company Inc (SBF) for an estimated 1.83 billion Philippine pesos (1.08 billion baht), marking its first foray into the Philippines.
— Bangkok Post
Police reveal little about bombing motivation
A series of bombings in Bangkok last week may be linked to politics, police said on Thursday as authorities hunted for more than a dozen suspects in connection with the attacks.
— Bangkok Post
Four foreign criminals caught in Pratunam
Four unnamed foreign criminal suspects — three Indonesian nationals and one Vietnamese national — have been detained in Bangkok in connection with an abduction case involving an Indonesian victim, the Immigration Bureau said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
Activists Hail Police’s New ‘Humane’ Protocols on Sex Workers
Sex workers and NGOs said Thursday the police have taken the right step by agreeing to adopt a more “humane” approach when arresting suspects on prostitution charges.
— Khaosod English
Japanese man arrested by Thai Immigration police for alleged sex with underage girls
A 69 year old Japanese businessman has been arrested by police in Khon Kaen for allegedly having sex with at least three teenagers, multiple times.
— The Thaiger
Boogie time: Thai minister loosens up for cannabis presentation
Thailand’s public health minister and his top bureaucrats danced along to pop tunes ahead of a news conference called to present the first batch of cannabis oil produced by a state-owned pharmaceutical company on Wednesday (Aug 7).
— CNA
Marine Dept to supervise vessels during rehearsals of Royal Barge Procession
The Marine Department has announced that vessel traffic along the Chao Phraya River is being supervised from Monday (Aug 5) to Friday (Aug 9) to facilitate rehearsals of the Royal Barge Procession, as part of nationwide celebrations of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua’s coronation earlier this year.
— Pattaya Mail
Speeding up “political cases” is double-edged sword
If the Prayut government was a man with a weak heart, legal cases involving opponents of the administration were strong pills, which aren’t necessarily good for someone not in perfect conditions.
— Thai PBS News
TMB-Thanachart merger signing next week
TMB Bank and Thanachart Bank (TBank) are set to sign a merger agreement by next week as all key details have already been settled, says a source familiar with the deal.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand wins two golds in Tashkent 2019 World Taekwondo Cadet Championships
Waranya Talatngoen and Natkamon Wassana of Thailand two of the 5 gold medals available in the first day of competition in the Tashkent 2019 World Taekwondo Cadet Championships, being held in Uzbekistan between August 7th and 10th 2019
— Thai PBS News
Feature photo Asean Thailand MFA
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on Asean Day, August 8.
Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).
—
About Thailand morning news.
Thailand morning news roundup is the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Thailand English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Thailand English language news today.
We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Thailand daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Thailand news headlines and first paragraphs before 7.15am Bangkok time.
We clearly identify the source of all the Thailand news headlines, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the news site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you too. If a website uses particularly invasive pop-up adverts, we’ll tell you.
This enables you to make an informed choice of whether you want to learn more by clicking directly through to the original Thailand news article, or keep on reading the remaining Thailand daily news headlines.
Click here to get your Thailand English language news today by email before 8am Bangkok time daily. Remember to watch out for the confirmation email from us to confirm your subscription. Check your trash folder if you do not see it.
For more immediate updates download the AEC News Today Mobile App from the Apple or Google stores, or follow us on Twitter.
#Independentmedia
Governance, not government; policies not politics.
Thailand morning news for August 9 added by John Le Fevre on
View all posts by John Le Fevre →
John Le Fevre
He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.
He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.
In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.
Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.
In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.
Latest posts by John Le Fevre (see all)
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 26 — 16 mln case barrier breached, Vietnam records community transmission – July 26, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 25 — new high for daily infections, 16 mln infection barrier to break today – July 25, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 24 — Asean tops 230,000 cases, nudges 90,000 active – July 24, 2020
- Thailand morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020