PM, Bangkok chief and environment board face court over PM2.5
PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha, Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang, and the National Environment Board have been summoned to testify today at the Central Administrative Court over the PM2.5 air-pollution crisis that has affected Greater Bangkok for nearly two months.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Araibi in jail until August
A refugee Bahraini footballer arrested in Thailand while on vacation from his new home in Australia could remain in jail until August while a court decides on an extradition request from Bahrain, a deputy spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General said yesterday.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)
BoT keeps policy rate steady as economic risks increase
The Bank of Thailand on Wednesday kept its benchmark rate steady after December’s tightening, saying an accommodative policy would support the economy in the face of rising global risks.
— Bangkok Post
All eyes on Prayut as he mulls heading Phalang Pracharat ticket
HALFWAY THROUGH the week for them to submit their PM candidate lists, most political parties have lined up to report their choices to the Electoral Commission (EC), except for the closely watched Democrat and Phalang Pracharat parties.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Canberra cancels Bangkok football game in protest at Bahraini footballer’s detention
The Football Federation Australia has cancelled a training trip of its Under-23s to Thailand to protest the Kingdom’s continuing detention of a former Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi who holds Australian residency, according to the Guardian online.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)
Papers Please! BTS Cash Card Users Must Disclose Personal Info
BANGKOK — Starting in nine days, commuters who pay their skytrain fares with top-up cards must give up their ID card numbers, email addresses and phone numbers to the system’s operator.
— Khaosod English
Australia ramps pressure to free Bahraini footballer
CANBERRA YESTERDAY continued to pressure Bangkok to immediately release a much-publicised Bahraini fugitive, with the prime minister writing his second letter to his Thai counterpart to say he was disturbed to see Hakeem al-Araibi in shackles at the Criminal Court.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Steady economic growth, but slower exports forecast
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking expects economic growth of 4.0-4.3% this year on private sector consumption and investment, but believes export growth will slow down.
— Bangkok Post
Plastic garbage found in body of dead sea turtle on Beach in Chon Buri
Plastic garbage has been found inside a dead green turtle on Bang Sane Beach in Chon Buri. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) says the green turtle was found on Bang Sane Beach in Chon Buri yesterday.
— The Pattaya News
Smog problem eases today and situation to improve further tomorrow
Air quality in and around Bangkok has improved during the past 24 hours with the level of PM2.5 dust in all areas well within the 50-micron standard, the Pollution Control…
— Thai PBS World
Consumer confidence index improves
Public confidence in the expansion of the Thai economy continues to improve after a clear election date has been set fourth and a comeback in the number of Chinese tourists.
— NNT
Bangkok running out of air purifiers as toxic smog grips Thailand
Every time Bangkok fruit seller Veerachai Roopsuwanakul tries to buy an air purifier, he gets the same response: “Out of stock.”
— The Straits Times
From coup-maker to candidate? Thai junta chief mulls election run
Thai junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha is known for losing his temper in public, but recently he has displayed a softer side amid speculation he may run for office in the first elections since the army seized power in 2014.
— Free Malaysia Today
Burning sugarcane fields choke Khon Kaen
POLLUTION continued to choke the Northeast province of Khon Kaen yesterday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 187, well beyond the moderate safety limit of 100.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Google Thailand enlists partners to attract SMEs
In a bid to empower local SMEs to capitalise on e-commerce opportunities, which are expected to reach UScopy3 billion (407 billion baht) by 2025, Google Thailand is joining two Thai partners to introduce…
— Bangkok Post
Bank of Thailand Keeps Key Rate on Hold as Inflation Dives
Thailand’s central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged, as expected, as slower inflation and a soaring currency give policy makers room to pause after December’s hike.
— BloombergQuint
Chadchart may run for Bangkok governor if Pheu Thai loses
Chadchart Sittipunt has a backup plan if the Pheu Thai Party ends up on the opposition bench in the general election.
— Bangkok Post
South Korean arrested in Bangkok over fake lottery website
PHOTO: Immigration Bureau A South Korean man has been arrested in Bangkok following an arrest alerted by Interpol for operating a fake lottery website. The Immigration Bureau say that the South Korean citizen, named SUNGHWA LEE, is the head of the gang that operated the fake lottery website. Many …
— The Thaiger
Voters reminded of rights under 2017 Constitution
Bangkok – Pertinent information for voters has been announced by authorities in preparation for the general election. Under the 2017 Constitution, there must be 500 Members of Parliament (MP).
— Pattaya Mail
A rain-making chopper crash-lands but three airmen escape safely
A helicopter belonging to the Royal Rain-making and Agricultural Aviation Department crash-landed while on a training flight in the central province of Nakhon Sawan this afternoon (Wednesday).
— Thai PBS World
Krung Thonburi, Phayathai most congested roads
Krung Thonburi and Phayathai roads suffer the worst congestion during the morning and evening rush hours respectively, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) announced on Wednesday.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Police raid Nana area in Bangkok – seize sex toys and ‘viagra’ valued at 2 million baht
PHOTO: Daily News 2 million baht worth of sex toys, aphrodisiacs and fake viagra were seized last night (Tuesday) from ten stalls operating in the Nana area of Bangkok.
— The Thaiger
Six guidelines issued to civil servants for election period
The Cabinet has issued guidelines to civil servants during the election period with an emphasis on maintaining their neutrality throughout the process.
— NNT
TMB-TBank merger plan approaches
The amalgamation plan of TMB Bank and Thanachart Bank (TBank) is expected to be concluded this month after being submitted to Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong for consideration.
— Bangkok Post
Platforms for shop search due in April
The Business Development Department has teamed up with Thai startups such as Wongnai, Seekster, Fixzy and GoWabi to create new search platforms for popular shops.
— Bangkok Post
Vietnamese blogger has vanishes in Thailand – Radio Free Asia
PHOTO: Một Góc Nhìn Khác A Vietnamese blogger,Truong Duy Nhat, working for Radio Free Asia, has vanished after fleeing to Thailand. The news organisation has voiced its concerns today as rights activists share their fear that he had been abducted.
— The Thaiger
Swing Dancers to Jump & Jive Outdoors at Golden Pagoda
NAKHON PATHOM — For the fourth year, hundreds of swing dancers will shut down the main road in front of the nation’s tallest pagoda for a night of vintage fun later this month.
— Khaosod English
More than ten thousand million baht generated during Chinese New Year in Phuket
The TAT Phuket has done its sums for this year’s Chinese New Year activities in Phuket from February 5 to February 12. They estimate 500,000 tourists will visit for the annual Chinese holiday which will generated 11,441 million baht for the island. Kanokkittikar Kritwutthikorn, director of …
— The Thaiger
Chiang Mai top cops transferred after gambling den raid
Five leading police officers at the Muang Chiang Mai Police Station have been immediately side-lined to inactive posts. The transfers are pending a fact-finding probe of whether they had been negligent in their duties by allowing a gambling den to operate within the precinct.
— The Thaiger
Chinese ‘beggars’ arrested across Bangkok
Six Chinese people have been arrested for begging across Bangkok, Thai immigration chief Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakpal told a press conference on Wednesday.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Smoke Free Regulations in effect, City officials say they will be enforced, 5000 baht fines
Bangkok – The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has launched the Public Health Ministry’s regulations on smoke-free areas which came into effect from February 3, 2019.
— The Pattaya News
Feature photo John Le Fevre
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges Chinese New Year, 2019.
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).
Thailand morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Thailand news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.
Thailand morning news for February 7 added by John Le Fevre on
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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