Soldier kills 29 people in Thailand before being shot
A soldier angry over a property deal gone sour killed at least 29 people and wounded 57 in a rampage that spanned four locations in and around the northeastern Thai city of Nakhon Ratchasima before he was shot dead early Sunday.
— Reuters
“Kick them out”: Thai health minister says of foreign tourists refusing to mask up (video)
Less than a week after describing the 2019 novel coronavirus as “just a flu”, Thailand Minister of Public Health, Anutin Charnvirakul, has said foreign visitors to the country who fail to wear surgical masks “should be kicked out”.
— AEC News Today
New criteria push the number of suspected virus cases to 615
The director-general of the Department of Disease Control (DDC) said on Friday there were 615 people in Thailand suspected of carrying the 2019-nCoV coronavirus.
— The Thaiger
Coronavirus UPDATE: 7 more cases in Thailand, WHO battling fake virus news
The number of worldwide coronavirus deaths has now reached 813, exceeding the number of those killed during the SARS outbreak in 2002/2003.
— The Thaiger
29 dead after ‘unprecedented’ mass shooting: Thai PM
A Thai soldier who killed at least 29 people before being shot dead in a mall by commandos went on the rampage because of a debt dispute, the kingdom’s prime minister said on Sunday (Feb 9), offering the first official motive for the unprecedented shooting spree.
— CNA
Thailand’s health minister apologizes for outburst aimed at western tourists
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said today that he will ask western embassies to advise their citizens visiting Thailand to wear protective face masks in public places, and in crowds, for safety.
— Thai PBS News
Tourism Ministry considers collecting tourism fees
The Ministry of Tourism and Sport has introduced the idea of collecting fees from international visitors for the renovation of tourism attractions and natural resources, as well as providing insurance benefits specifically for tourists.
— NNT
DRRAA aims to alleviate drought, smog problems in all areas
Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation’s (DRRAA) Director General Surasee Kittimonthon said that due to the drought situation and the severe problems of dust and haze, the government has ordered the DRRAA to review the annual royal rainmaking action plan to alleviate problems for people in all regions.
— NNT
HM King extends help to shooting victims
His Majesty the King has accepted the victims of the shooting rampage in Nakhon Ratchasima under his patronage and extended his moral support to their families, as well as authorities who took part in the rescue operation.
— Bangkok Post
Foreign fund exodus totals B1.5bn
Foreign funds continue to exit the Thai bond market, totalling about 1.5 billion baht since the central bank further loosened its monetary policy, due to profit-taking, says the Thai Bond Market Association (TBMA).
— Bangkok Post
Court 2020 Budget bill to be revoted
The Constitutional Court has ruled in a five-to-four vote that the 3.2-trillion-baht Budget Bill for fiscal 2020 is partially valid, and the House of Representatives must hold a revote on the second and third readings of the Budget Bill.
— Newsline (video)
Thailand Touted for Rare Move to Drop Chinese Plan for Mekong River
Rights groups and researchers have welcomed Thailand’s decision to cancel a Beijing-backed project to dredge and blow open a shallow and rocky stretch of the Mekong River along the Thai-Lao border.
— VOA
Myanmar-Thailand border trade reaches over 1 bln in Q1 of FY 2019-20
Border trade between Myanmar and its neighboring Thailand reached over 1.15 billion U.S. dollars in first quarter of the present fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures released from the Commerce Ministry on Sunday.
— Xinhuanet
Less-than-impressive scorecard
A perfect storm is set for the second Prayut Chan-o-cha government as it braces for a censure debate near the end of this month amid a host of downside risks at home and abroad.
— Bangkok Post
‘High-risk’ evacuees cleared by doctors
Five Thai nationals who were considered at high risk of contracting or spreading the novel coronavirus after arriving on an evacuation flight from Wuhan have been cleared by medical authorities.
— Bangkok Post
Thai officials to provide free health checks for cab drivers Feb 12, 13
In our first story, the Department of Land Transport (DLT) will provide free health checks on February 12 and 13 to promote safety from respiratory illness among taxi drivers and riders and bolster confidence in public transport.
— Newsline (video)
Land prices see sizeable hike
Land prices in the fourth quarter of 2019 resumed double-digit growth as developers fled the intense condo market and chased plots to develop more low-rise housing projects.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand shooting: footage appears to record gunshots – video
Video shared on social media appears to capture sounds of gunshots heard from a car travelling in Nakhon Ratchasima in north-eastern Thailand. Police have said at least 20 people were killed when a soldier opened fire in different locations in the city
— The Guardian (video)
IFC may fund underground cables
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank, is considering offering long-term loans for the underground cable conduit project in Bangkok, expected to cost 20 billion baht, says the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
— Bangkok Post
BAAC seeks 50% gain in mobile users
The state-owned Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) aims for 50% growth in mobile banking users to 1.2 million for its next financial year.
— Bangkok Post
Thai banks spread QR code in Asean
Thailand is set to kick off cross-border payment via QR code technology in Asean by mid-year, aiming to enhance financial transactions through the digital platform across the region.
— Bangkok Post
Families of Thai shooting victims wait for answers as country mourns 29 killed in mall rampage
Sirirat Kualraksa blinked back tears as the ambulances delivered gurneys bearing cloth-shrouded bodies to the morgue of a public hospital on Sunday, hours after a vengeful Thai soldier killed 29 people and wounded dozens of others in a shopping centre rampage.
— South China Morning Post
TV under fire for live updates
Cable TV news channels which ignored official orders to halt live broadcasts of Saturday night’s security operation at Terminal 21 mall in Nakhon Ratchasima will face consequences, according to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC).
— Bangkok Post
MPs urged not to debate budget bill
Democrat MP Chinaworn Boonyakiat on Saturday called on government and opposition MPs not to debate the 2020 budget bill when they meet this week to re-vote on the second and third readings as ordered by the Constitutional Court.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand, Japan collaborate to increase food trade
The Department of Industry Promotion has joined hands with the National Food Institute and Mie prefecture of Japan to have Japanese food processing and business experts pass on their knowledge to Thai operators as well as stage negotiations with the intention to increase food trade from Thailand and Japan by another 7 billion baht.
— Newsline (video)
Chiang Mai organizing 44th Flower Festival
The Chiang Mai Public Relations Office has led a press tour of the ongoing 44th Chiang Mai Flower Festival.
— Newsline (video)
Egat to run solar power trade test
The state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) has initiated a test of peer-to-peer power trade from solar rooftops, planning to enter the prosumer trade in the coming years.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand could face suspension from international football, warns FIFA
World football governing body FIFA has warned the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) that it could face suspension from international football in case of external interferences during its electoral process.
— FOX Sports
PM visits shooting victims in hospital as the nation mourns
The soldier who shot dead at least 25 people in a bloodbath in Korat was killed in a police assault at around 9am today, ending a rampage that lasted more than 17 hours.
— The Thaiger
Why the judges did not read the ruling on budget bill from the bench
A former election commissioner has addressed about why the nine Constitutional Court judges did not read from the bench the full text of their ruling on the legality Government’s budget bill, after proxy voting by MPs was discovered.
— Thai PBS News
Constitutional Court ruling on budget bill challenged
Former Pheu Thai MP Wattana Muangsook has challenged the legitimacy of Friday’s ruling by the Constitutional Court, which states that the 3.2 trillion baht budget bill for the 2020 fiscal year is legal but orders the House of Representatives to debate and vote again on the bill’s the second and third readings.
— Thai PBS News
Over 100,000 Chinese tourists still in Thailand, according to Immigration Bureau
There are currently more than 100,000 Chinese tourists and long-stayers in Thailand, including 2,038 who came from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, and 91,688 from Guangzhou, which is close to Wuhan, Pol Lt-Gen Sompong Chingduang, Commissioner of Thailand’s Immigration Bureau told a news conference today.
— Thai PBS News
Drought effects in provinces alleviated
The Second Army Engineering Regiment has distributed water to villagers affected by drought in Khon Kaen province, while six districts of Nong Bua Lamphu province are reported to be still at risk of drought.
— NNT
Thailand seeks to regaining role as world’s largest rice exporter
After losing the number one global rice exporter position for three years, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has met with related agencies and rice exporters to find measures to reclaim the top spot.
— NNT
EGAT to adopt Japanese tech upgrading Mae Mo power plant
In an attempt to improve the efficiency of electricity generation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has joined hands with Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and Marubeni to implement Japanese digital technology to improve the operations at Mae Mo Power Plant units 11 and 13 in Lampang.
— NNT
TCG to help guarantee 80,000 new SMEs this year
In an effort to help SMEs have better access to capital, the Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation (TCG) is this year offering credit guarantees of some 150 billion baht in loans taken out by new SMEs from financial institutions, as well as providing a refinance service for SMEs in trouble.
— NNT
Gov’t to initiate tourism promotion measures to counter coronavirus impact
Concerns regarding novel coronavirus and the delay in the fiscal year 2020 budget bill have had a negative impact on the economy. In response, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has ordered the Ministry of Finance to introduce domestic tourism promotion measures and ensure funding for infrastructure investment projects.
— NNT
Good air quality in Bangkok; eight unhealthy spots in other provinces
The air quality in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces has improved today, with the air quality index well within the standard in all locations.
— NNT
Poor security worsened toll: PM
Following Nakhon Ratchasima’s shooting rampage, which left 30 people dead, including the gunman, and 57 others injured, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Sunday ordered a review of security measures at the military’s armouries.
— Bangkok Post
Unpaid brokerage fee believed to be behind Korat mass shooting
An unsettled brokerage fee from real estate deal is believed to be the motive behind Sgt. Maj Jakrapanth Thomma’s shooting rampage, according to a Thai PBS investigation. Jakrapanth doubled as…
— Thai PBS News
Trade Competition Commission gets tough with Nissan
The Trade Competition Commission has ordered Nissan Motor Thailand to rescind its contract termination with seven dealers, calling the Japanese car firm’s unilateral refusal to renew the dealership contracts an unfair trade practice.
— Bangkok Post
Consortium ready to start work on high-speed rail
Eastern High-Speed Rail Linking Three Airports Co Ltd, a consortium led by Charoen Pokphand Group, is ready to start the construction of high-speed rail, take over the operation of the Airport Rail Link (ARL) and train new staff for future service.
— Bangkok Post
One killed and another injured when plane collided with aircraft tug
The driver of an aircraft tug was killed and another person seriously injured when a cable, which was being used to tow Nok Air aircraft snapped.
— Thai PBS News
Gov’t Defends Selling Face Masks to Public
As the government rolled out its own stalls selling face masks on Friday, netizens were enraged to discover the price is nearly five times higher than what other health agencies are offering.
— Khaosod English
Prosecutors postpone indictment of Thanathorn over the Pathumwan skywalk flash mob
The public prosecutors have delayed a decision, until March 17th, over whether indict Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and four other individuals for their alleged role in staging the flash mob on Pathumwan skywalk, in front of the Bangkok Art and Culture Gallery, on December 14th.
— Thai PBS News
Children used to smuggle un-milled rice from Cambodia into Thailand
Eight people were arrested Thursday night for hiring children to smuggle sacks of un-milled rice from Cambodia into Thailand in the eastern border province of Sa Kaew.
— Thai PBS News
Thousands light candles for victims of Thailand mass shooting
Thousands of people holding candles attended a vigil in northeastern Thailand on Sunday (Feb 9) for the victims of a rogue soldier who killed at least 29 people and wounded 57 before being shot dead.
— CNA
Over five thousand people gather for candlelight vigil in Korat tonight in memory of the victims of yesterday’s mass shooting
Korat- Over five thousand people gathered this evening and came together as a community in Nakhon Ratchisma, also known as Korat, to give tribute to the thirty victims and 56 injured people from a mass shooting yesterday.
— The Pattaya News
Thailand’s broadcast regulator to meet with TV stations over siege coverage
Representatives of television stations will be summoned for a meeting with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC), Thailand’s broadcast regulator, for discussions about their live broadcasts of the siege.
— Thai PBS News
Thai government to give financial and emotional assistance to all victims of Korat mass shooting, paying for medical bills of the injured
The Prime minister of Thailand visited the victims of a shooting rampage at Maharaj Hospital this afternoon, assuring them that the authorities have taken action.
— The Pattaya News
UPDATE: Makha Bucha Day massacre – 25 killed, 31 injured
Hundreds of people were evacuated from Korat’s Terminal 21 shopping mall by late last night following a late afternoon shooting spree that’s currently claimed the lives of 25 and another 31 injured.
— The Thaiger
Boys Playing With Toy Guns Arrested, Mistaken For Robbers
Two 13-year-old boys were mistaken for robbers and arrested while they were playing with a toy gun in front of a convenience store, police said Friday.
— Khaosod English
‘Rap Against Dictatorship’ Drops New Song Against Student Hazing
The country’s foremost creative dissent group released a new song on Friday – this time criticizing the rampant culture of hazing in the Thai education.
— Khaosod English
Feature photo Dr.Kid Science Camp
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on the Nakhon Ratchasima city mass shooting on February 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).
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Thailand morning news for February 10 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.
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- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 24 — Asean tops 230,000 cases, nudges 90,000 active – July 24, 2020
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