Cabinet informed of anti-PM2.5 plans
Bangkok – The Cabinet was advised on Tuesday of the short, medium, and long-term plans laid out by the National Environment Committee to address air pollution caused by particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter.
— Pattaya Mail
Bahraini to make another bid for bail next week
BAHRAINI FOOTBALLER Hakeem al-Araibi will file another bail request while he awaits this extradition trial, his lawyer said yesterday.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
A royal rumour upends Thai politics
IS THAI POLITICS about to turn upside down? For almost 20 years an endless political battle has pitted royalist elites, known as “yellow shirts”, against partisans of a populist former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, known as “red shirts”.
— The Economist
BSR still in running for fast rail project
BSR Joint Venture, one of two contenders in the bidding for the high-speed railway project connecting three major airports, still has a chance to enter negotiations with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT)…
— Bangkok Post
MFA issues statement on Bahraini refugee footballer
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has issued an 8-point statement in response to criticism against Thailand in regard to its treatment of refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi.
— NBT World (video)
Thai attorney general opposes bail for Bahrain refugee footballer
Thai prosecutors will oppose bail for a refugee football player detained in Bangkok and facing extradition to Bahrain, the office of the attorney general said Wednesday, citing flight risks.
— Borneo Post Online
Over 10,000 cars busted for fumes
More than 10,000 vehicles have been busted over the past 12 days for emitting black exhaust fumes that exceed the safety limit, says the Department of Land Transport (DLT).
— Bangkok Post
Shameful behaviour by Thai authorities is being seen around the world
Is the junta in Bangkok aware of the extremely bad publicity it has generated for Thailand internationally with its apparently masochistic detainment – notably with medieval shackling, seen around the world thanks to global TV coverage – of an Australian refugee, a soccer player of Middle East origin, who did nothing wrong but come on holiday to Thailand?
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)
Trade war drags on export forecast
Thai exports are projected to grow by 3-4% at best this year, as the ongoing trade war is unlikely to end any time soon, economists told a forum on the spat.
— Bangkok Post
HM the King bestows necessities on Morgan village
His Majesty the King has graciously bestowed necessities upon members of the Morgan ethnic group badly impacted by a fire on Surin Island.
— NBT World (video)
Thaksin-linked political party is talk of Thailand amid premier rumour
A party linked to Thailand’s exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is rapidly becoming the talk of the country amid rumours it will announce a shock prime ministerial candidate for March’s election.
— The Straits Times
Party big guns lay out promises
Four major political parties have vowed to combat social inequality and boost income distribution if given the chance to run the country after the March 24 election.
— Bangkok Post
Poisoning the land
The resignation of respected Chulalongkorn Hospital doctor Thiravat Hemachudha, together with two academics, from a panel tasked with toxic farm chemical control has revealed a malady in the country’s…
— Bangkok Post
Investigation ordered into disappeared Vietnamese blogger in Bangkok
The Immigration Bureau promised on Thursday to investigate the disappearance of a dissident Vietnamese journalist believed to have been abducted at the northern Bangkok Future Park mall two weeks ago.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand wins ice sculpture contest again
Thailand has again won the grand prize at the 46th International Snow Sculpture contest in Sapporo, Japan, this time with an ice sculpture depicting Siamese fighting fish.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Somkid: Full speed ahead
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has called for state agencies to refrain from sitting idle for six months before the new government is installed to alleviate the impact from global uncertainties affecting the Thai economy.
— Bangkok Post
Bangkok ‘must plan to combat climate change’
BANGKOK NEEDS to begin making adjustments for challenges like higher temperatures, floods and diseases brought on by climate change.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Prayut sole PM candidate for Palang Pracharat
Somkid Jatusripitak and Uttama Savanayana have backed down as prime ministerial candidates of Palang Pracharath, leaving Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha the only candidate of the pro-regime party.
— Bangkok Post
Gen Prawit lays wreath to mark Veterans Day
Bangkok – Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, who is also Minister of Defense, chaired a wreath-laying ceremony in central Bangkok last Sunday to acknowledge this year’s Veterans Day and commemorate the foundation day of the War Veterans Organization of Thailand.
— Pattaya Mail
The air’s clean, it’s safe to go outside again, BMA says
Bangkokians who cancelled outdoor activities to avoid the bad smog can now go out again, with city authorities reporting PM2.5 readings dropping further below the danger level.
— Bangkok Post
23 Chinese tourists safely rescued after speed boat hits submerged reef and sinks off Koh Samet
Twenty-one Chinese tourists escaped unhurt but two suffered inhaling sea water after a speed boat in which they were travelling hit a submerged reef and sank in the sea near…
— Thai PBS World
Ministry of Commerce pivots towards India amid US-China trade war
Amid global trade disputes and economic instability, the Ministry of Commerce has pivoted its export strategy towards India, which continues to see high demand for Thai products and services as well as investment potential for the Thai government’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
— NBT World (video)
Exports forecast to grow 3.26% in 2019
The Electrical and Electronics Institute forecasts the country’s shipments will grow by 3.26% to US$64.1 billion (2 trillion baht) in 2019 as major destinations — Japan, Southeast Asia and Europe — have healthy economic sentiment.
— Bangkok Post
Tyson to buy BRF’s Thai and European operations
US processor Tyson Foods has announced an agreement to acquire the Thai and European operations of BRF for US$340m.
— Global Meat News
In Thailand, election campaigning has a real case of military fatigue
As many as 10 parliamentary candidates from the Pheu Chart Party are named Thaksin and Yingluck – and it is hardly a coincidence.
— South China Morning Post
Phuket Water Crisis: Governor to call in Royal Rainmakers, water rations lifted
Phuket Water Crisis: Governor to call in Royal Rainmakers, water rations lifted
— The Phuket News
Poll clarity boosts consumer sentiment
A clear date for the long-awaited general election, set for March 24, has lifted consumer sentiment for the first time in five months.
— Bangkok Post
Khon Kaen fights against heavy haze
Province’s air quality, fine dust levels stand well beyond Thailand’s safety limits
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Thai AirAsia X flies to Brisbane June 2019. Thai Airways cut services to Australia.
PHOTO: Airbus Today Brisbane Airport announced that the low-cost carrier Thai AirAsia X would start operating from the Queensland capital flying to Bangkok four times a week from June 2019.
— The Thaiger/ Australian Aviation
Pirated goods said to be worth B16m seized in Bangkok
One man was arrested and more than 20,000 counterfeit brand-name products worth about 16 million baht retail seized during a police raid on a house in Bangkok.
— Bangkok Post
ARLO earmarks land to help decontaminate Klity Creek
LAND IN Kanchanaburi province owned by the Agricultural Land Reform Office (ARLO) has been approved for use in the rehabilitation of the lead-contaminated Klity Creek, Agriculture Deputy Minister Wiwat Salyakamthorn said yesterday.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Thailand Board of Investment Helps Promote Medical Robotics
Under its Thailand 4.0 vision, Thailand plans to leverage on its reputation and excellence in medical services and medical devices and strengthen its position as the regional medical hub.
— Cision PR Newswire (press release)
Thailand aims to mint homegrown unicorn in three to five years
Thailand is the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia, and its startup scene has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years.
— KrAsia
2 arrested for burning PPRP poll posters
Two suspects arrested for burning two election campaign posters of pro-regime Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) said they were drunk at the time.
— Bangkok Post
Senior Thai officials visit Israel to learn about medical cannabis cultivation
Twenty senior Thai government officials are visiting Israel this week to learn about medical cannabis cultivation and to evaluate potential cross-country cooperation.
— Coconuts (paywall)
One killed and four injured in chemical explosion in Suvarnabhumi airport’s car park
One person was killed and four others injured in a chemical explosion in a car park at Bangkok’s Suvarnbhumi International Airport today.
— Thai PBS World
Thai central bank warns of housing and debt risks
The Bank of Thailand’s monetary policy committee said it was concerned about risk stemming from the country’s housing market as well as from personal and corporate debt.
— Central Banking
Fujitsu aims to raise Thai market share
Fujitsu, an air conditioner brand from Japan, has been positioning Thailand as its export base for 30 years and is set to launch four models to serve business markets.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)
Thai Raksa Chart becomes talk of town amid premier rumour
Thai Raksa Chart, a party linked to Thaksin Shinawatra, is rapidly becoming the talk of the country amid rumours it will announce a shock prime ministerial candidate for March’s election on Friday.
— Bangkok Post
Water outage in Cherng Talay
he Phuket Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) has announced that the mains water supply will be shut-off in Cherng Talay tomorrow (Feb 8).
— The Phuket News
Techno for all the senses
5 Senses Thailand a new multiday music festival taking place on Koh Phangan, Surat Thani is back for its second year just in time to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Candidate Claims Harassment After Cops Fine Campaign Truck
BANGKOK — An MP contender for the Pheu Thai Party said Thursday she was unfairly targeted by police who took action against her campaign truck for being illegally modified.
— Khaosod English
Air pollution problems move to Khon Kaen
Pollution continues to choke the north-east province of Khon Kaen with the Air Quality Index reaching 187 yesterday, well beyond the “moderate” safety limit of 100. This morning it’s reading at 174.
— The Thaiger
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 8 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