Ceremony foresees abundant food, sufficient water
Their Majesties the King and Queen presided over the Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang on Thursday and the ceremony led to the prediction of abundant food and sufficient water for this farming year.
— Bangkok Post
Health tech startup OOCA to represent Thailand at OTEC semi-finals (video)
It took just four minutes for Thai health tech startup OOCA to impress the judges enough to earn a place in the semi-finals of the Investible Overseas Talent Entrepreneurship Conference (OTEC) in Kunming, China, later this month.
— AEC News Today
27 deaths from Dengue fever already this year
27 people have died from dengue fever in Thailand so far this year. That’s the highest fatality rate, year on year, in the past five years.
— The Thaiger
Cabinet plan riles up critics
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader Uttama Savanayana on Thursday dismissed reports the party would keep all the cabinet economic portfolios, saying talks about forming a coalition government are preliminary.
— Bangkok Post
10 small parties back Palang Pracharath
Ten of the 11 parties awarded one party-list seat each have pledged to side with Palang Pracharath and support Prayut Chan-o-cha as prime minister while the other one says it will join any coalition that can form the government.
— Bangkok Post
Tour boat operators continue to directly drop off and pick up hundreds of tourists on the beach
Local residents and vendors have complained to the media that tour operators that bring tourists, primarily Chinese and Indian, to the islands and for tourist attractions in Pattaya bay are disregarding the orders of the government set in place nearly a year ago.
— The Pattaya News
Italian expat faces recklessness causing death charge over fatal boat collision
The Italian expat involved in a boat collision over the Songkran Thai New Year holidays that resulted in the death of a 74-year-old Thai fisherman has been charged with recklessness causing death, police have confirmed.
— The Phuket News
Fast track for stateless pupil to join contest
A stateless 17-year-old student thanked authorities for giving her Thai citizenship so she could participate in an international academic contest in the United States next month.
— Bangkok Post
UTCC: Over 54 billion baht to be spent on new school term
The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) estimates cash flow of over 50 billion baht for the new school term, the highest amount in the past six years due to economic recovery, sufficient savings and the government’s economic stimulus measures.
— NNT
Three political exiles arrested in Vietnam now in Thai government custody
The Thai Alliance for Human Rights (TAHR) has issued a statement earlier today (9 May) that three political exiles have been arrested in Vietnam, and have now been handed over to the Thai authorities.
— Prachatai English
Thailand to export elephants after 10-year ban
After a decade long ban on the export of Thai elephants, Thailand’s Foreign Trade Department has eased restrictions to pave way for the export of the protected species for non-commercial…
— Thai PBS News
Council to take 300 patients for pot amnesty
The National Farmers Council will take 300 patients from Bangkok and its surrounding provinces to register with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) so they will not be criminalised for using marijuana extracts to treat their health conditions.
— Bangkok Post
Ministry of Social Development to host ASEAN socio-cultural meetings
The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has confirmed its readiness to host ASEAN meetings regarding the bloc’s socio-cultural community.
— NBT World (video)
Myanmar workers stranded in Thailand
About 60 Myanmar workers who went to Thailand to work have now been stranded for over a week now after they were allegedly cheated by their prospective employer, the workers told to The Myanmar Times on Wednesday.
— Myanmar Times
Security set for ‘Pai Dao Din’ release
High security measures are put in place in preparation for an influx of supporters at the provincial prison to greet Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, who will be freed on Friday.
— Bangkok Post
Fish suffer as swamp levels decline
Authorities are scrambling to divert water into Bueng Boraphet in drought-hit Nakhon Sawan as the declining water level threatens fish in the country’s largest freshwater swamp.
— Bangkok Post
A Phitsanulok district has been declared a drought zone
The Phitsanulok provincial administration has declared the Wat Bote district a drought disaster zone.
— The Thaiger
Sufficient water, abundant food, good rice crops predicted
Thailand will have good rice harvests, sufficient water and abundant food this year, according to the astrological forecasts from the eating habits of two sacred oxen at the Royal Ploughing…
— Thai PBS News
Pattaya Beach becoming dirtier, covered in trash, Beach vendors say tourists to blame
This week, pictures given to the news media in the city showed that the beach in Pattaya was a filthy mess. According to beach vendors and local tour boat companies that were interviewed for the story, it is tourists that are to blame. From North to South Pattaya the beach is a …
— The Pattaya News
Two Weeks Left to Challenge Party-List MP Results: Scholar
The Constitutional Court could order the Election Commission to recalculate party-list seats if it finds the commission’s seat distribution formula unconstitutional, a veteran poll observer asserted Thursday.
— Khaosod English
Poll: Thais show willingness to swap privacy for perks
Thais are more willing to share their personal data in exchange for special privileges like cheaper loans, lower insurance premiums and personalised service relative to their global peers, according to Accenture.
— Bangkok Post
Security set for ‘Pai Dao Din’ release
KHON KAEN: High security measures are put in place in preparation for an influx of supporters at the provincial prison to greet Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, who will be freed on Friday.
— Bangkok Post
10 small parties back Palang Pracharath
Ten of the 11 parties awarded one party-list seat each have pledged to side with Palang Pracharath and support Prayut Chan-o-cha as prime minister while the other one says it will join any coalition that can form the government.
— Bangkok Post
Thanathorn reiterates calls for Senate ‘switch-off’
Future Forward Party (FFP) leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit on Thursday repeated his call for parties to join the FFP’s campaign to switch off, or nullify, the regime-appointed Senate that will join MPs in voting for the new prime minister.
— Bangkok Post
King bestows Royal decorations on Princess Ubolratana and Col Sininart
Princess Ubolratana has been awarded the Rattanabhorn medal (First Class) by His Majesty the King.
— Thai PBS News
The Amazing Pattaya Seafood Festival begins tomorrow, May 10th-May 12th!
The Amazing Pattaya seafood festival starts tomorrow, Friday, May 10th and lasts until Sunday, May 12th.
— The Pattaya News
New rugby league for northern Thailand – The Lanna Rugby Tens League
With the expansion of rugby in Asia, often the drivers are still individuals at grassroots levels who are making a massive impact. In northern Thailand, Tom Stubley and the newly formed Lanna Rugby Club, in cooperation with others in the region, are forming a new tens rugby union league called the …
— The Thaiger
Thailand’s Richest 2019: King Power Fortune Behind Leicester City Passes To 33-Year-Old Heir
The newest and youngest member of the Thai rich list is Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, 33, who last year took over from his late father, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, as CEO of duty-free giant King Power.
— Forbes
Labor Minister opens Thailand Kitchen of the World event
Thailand Kitchen of the World policy is another important policy of the government which will make Thailand become the world’s food hub and food expert. The Ministry of Labor (MOL) has continually implemented the project to promote Thai cooks and standardize Thai cooks’ skills.
— NNT
Is Southeast Asia ready for cannabis startups?
Thailand has legalised the use of medical marijuana. What opportunities does it open up for cannabis startups in the region? Countries around the world are beginning to change how they look at marijuana and cannabis more broadly.
— e27
Journey’s End for Nancy Chandler’s Bangkok Maps
For almost half a century, a colorful map highlighting secret soi haunts has been a backpack staple of every dedicated visitor to Bangkok.
— Khaosod English
Longer hours, more online ads
Thais spend an increasing amount of time on the internet, but feel there are too many annoying online advertisements, according to the Electronic Transactions Development Agency.
— Bangkok Post
Kasikornbank to allocate US$100M to help Thai startups enter Vietnam
The investment arm, called KASIKORN Vision or KVision, will use US$100 million of its US$245 million for Vietnam expansion KVision, Kasikornbank’s investment holding company, announces that it will take a sum of US$100 million from its current startup investment budget of US$245 million to be …
— e27
Local residents complain about condition of area near Nirun Condo, trash buildup
Soi Bongkot 8- Next to Nirun Condo in Central Pattaya is a large wooded area that has been the source of frustration for local residents for quite some time now. We have reported on this previously, as the area, which is about 4 to 5 rai in length, has become a dumping ground for […]
— The Pattaya News
How HaloDoc aims to open greater access to healthcare for all Indonesians
Medical facilities in Indonesia are not evenly distributed. HaloDoc wants to help tackle this challenge Get insights from Jon Richards and more at Echelon Asia Summit 2019. Happening on May 23-24 at the Singapore Expo. Tickets are now available at US$10 each! Healthtech is one of the most exciting …
— e27
BOT continues Debt Clinic Project
The Bank of Thailand has cooperated with Sukhumvit Asset Management and non banks to continue the Debt Clinic Project, Phase 2, which allows debtors of non banks to negotiate about debt settlement under specified conditions. Applications are accepted from May 15 onwards.
— NNT
Photo of disabled man waiting to use crowded MRT elevator sparks outrage
A photo showing seemingly healthy Thais stuffing themselves into an MRT station elevator — which are prioritized for commuters with disabilities — while a man in a wheelchair is forced to wait has gone viral, prompting an online discussion about the state of disability rights in the kingdom.
— Coconuts (paywall)
Electricity outage in Wichit
he Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has announced that the electricity supply will be temporarily shut off in parts of Wichit on Friday (May 10) as work is carried out on installing new high-voltage cables.
— The Phuket News
Democrat party opposes EC’s party-list seat calculation method
The Democrat party has joined two other political parties in voicing their objection to the Election Commission’s formula used in the calculation of party-list seat allocation to parties contesting the…
— Thai PBS News
Man arrested for raising protected Red-backed Sea Eagles in Krabi
A man has been arrested for raising three protected Red-backed Sea Eagles in Krabi. Officers from the Thung Thale Wildlife Sanctuary in Krabi arrested 52 year old Nirat Lakthong at his house in Koh Lanta. Officials found the three Red-backed Sea Eagles aged around two months old in a cage near the …
— The Thaiger
Greening Bangkok: 100,000 new trees for the city costing 30 million baht
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is planning to spend 30 million baht in planting 100,000 trees this year to increase Bangkok’s green space
— The Thaiger
Buddhism promotion week to be held to commemorate Visakha Bucha Day
The Center for Promotion of Buddhism of Thailand under the patronage of the Supreme Patriarch and related agencies will be holding activities in the Buddhism Promotion Week commemorating Visakha Bucha Day, an important Buddhist holiday globally recognized, during 12-18 May 2019 at Khon Muang Plaza, Bangkok City Hall.
— NNT
Terrible News! Thailand’s richest take small hit to their fortunes
In news sure to elicit an outpouring of sympathy, many of Thailand’s wealthiest have seen their fortunes contract in the past year.
— Coconuts (paywall)
How startups should approach public relations
Why companies of all sizes should consider hiring a public relations agency to help with communications When deciding whether to hire in-house public relations or engage an agency, there are a few factors to consider.
— e27
Feature photo Royal Household Bureau/ Thailand Government Public Relations Department/ MFA Thailand
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges the coronation of King Vajiralongkorn, King Rama X, May 6, 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. Due to The Nation‘s habit of hijacking urls and diverting them to promotion pages we no longer include it in our clippings.
Thailand morning news for May 10 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