Thailand to designate COVID-19 as a dangerous infectious disease
Thailand is to formally declare COVID-19 as a dangerous infectious disease because there are signs that the situation may get worse in the next two months.
— Thai PBS News
Thai Constitutional Court to present ruling on potential disbanding of government opposition Future Forward Party tomorrow
The Thai Constitutional Court will on Friday (February 21) decide the fate of the Future Forward Party, which has been accused of violating political party laws in Thailand.
— The Pattaya News
Thai court says anti-abortion laws unconstitutional
Thailand’s Constitutional Court has ruled that existing laws criminalising abortion are unconstitutional and ordered them to be amended, paving the way for clearer regulation for reproductive rights.
— CNA
Government expects public investment of B400bn in Q2: Uttama
The government expects public investment spending of more than 400 billion baht in the second quarter to help the flagging economy weather the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
Car production stats down
Vehicle production in January dropped 12.99% year-on-year to 156,266 units, hit by contractions in local sales and exports, according to the monthly report from the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
— Bangkok Post
Defiant Thanathorn says party would still take loan if he could turn back time
Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit said today that, if he could turn back the clock, his party would still have taken the loan and would do so openly.
— Thai PBS News
Unidentified helicopter crashes on mountain in Thailand’s Rayong province
Rescue workers and fire fighters have been dispatched to a hill in Muang district of Thailand’s eastern province of Rayong on Thursday night where an unidentified helicopter has crashed.
— Thai PBS News
House rejects Future Forward’s proposal for panel to study ways to stop coups
The Future Forward party’s ambitious attempt to put an end to coups in Thailand, through the setting up of a House committee to study ways and means to prevent them, was thwarted when 242 MPs voted to reject the proposal against 215 in favour, with two abstentions.
— Thai PBS News
THAI cancels flights due to virus
Thai Airways International will cancel some flights to eight countries this and next months as the coronavirus outbreak has crippled air travel.
— Bangkok Post
Thai Constitutional Court rules part of criminal abortion laws need to be revised
The Thai Constitutional Court has ruled that sections 301 and 305 of Thai Criminal Law, which govern abortion, should be revised to reflect the current climate of equality.
— The Pattaya News
Internal Trade Department site to post prices of medicines
The Commerce Ministry’s Internal Trade Department is scheduled to post the prices of 300 medical services on the department’s website later this month so consumers can view them before deciding to receive the services.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand ‘ready for worst’ Covid-19 scenario
The government is making preparations just in case the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic enters the third, worst-case stage in Thailand, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
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Government instructs more frequent forest fire patrols
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Warawut Silpa-archa (วราวุธ ศิลปà¸à¸²à¸Šà¸²) has instructed officials to conduct more patrols in the northern region, in a bid to prevent agricultural burning.
— Newsline (video)
Thailand angers Malaysia in push for peace in troubled South
Thailand’s peace offensive to end a 16-year ethnic conflict in three southern provinces has soured diplomatic ties with Malaysia, which borders the area.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Shippers see 1% hit to Q1 China exports
The coronavirus outbreak is likely to trim Thai exports to China by 1% in the first quarter of 2020 to about US$2.5 billion, according to joint estimates of the Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) and the Commerce Ministry.
— Bangkok Post
Commerce Ministry to meet exporters on COVID-19 handling measures
The Ministry of Commerce will later this week meet exporters and related agencies to collect feelback on the effects of COVID-19 on their operations.
— Newsline (video)
Measures imposed to prevent COVID 19 in airports and bus stations
Phuket International Airport continues to implement preventative measures against the COVID-19 virus, with the latest Big Cleaning Day event held to boost the confidence of all travelers.
— Newsline (video)
Police unable to identify attackers in Ja New assault
Political activist Sirawith “Ja New” Seritiwat has expressed disbelief after being informed the police investigation into the violent and very public assault on him last year has been halted.
— Bangkok Post
Thai Banker Makes a $2.7 Billion Bet to Secure His Family’s Legacy
For Thailand’s oldest banking family, it’s a legacy-defining deal 25 years in the making.
— Bloomberg
Government takes measures to combat salty tap water
An influx of seawater causing salty tap water in and around Bangkok homes has prompted authorities to seek a sustainable solution.
— Newsline (video)
Thailand’s New Land and Building Tax Act
In March 2019, the Thai government introduced the new Land and Building Tax Act B.E. 2562, which has been in effect since January 1, 2020.
— Asean Briefing
Prayut urges public to monitor debate
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday urged the public to closely monitor the upcoming censure debate and decide for themselves who they should believe.
— Bangkok Post
Takorn tenders resignation
National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) secretary-general Takorn Tantasith submitted his resignation letter on Tuesday, reveals a source at the agency, amid rumours he may be a candidate for either an NBTC board post or the digital economy and society (DES) minister.
— Bangkok Post
CPF underlines international animal welfare principles for safe and sustainable food production
Charoen Pokphand Foods PLC (CPF) heralds its success in promoting animal welfare, to assure global consumers of the company’s food safety standards.
— Bangkok Post
American democrats living in Thailand will vote first on Super Tuesday
American citizens living in Thailand have the opportunity to help choose the Democratic nominee for US President for this year’s US presidential election by voting in a primary to be held in Thailand and around the world.
— Pattaya Mail
Thanathorn ‘confident’ FFP will survive loans ruling
Future Forward Party (FFP) leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit on Wednesday expressed confidence his party will emerge unscathed from Friday’s ruling by the Constitutional Court on its loan controversy.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand’s Helicopter Needs in Focus with New Deal
Last week, Airbus Helicopters confirmed that it had received a new order from Thailand.
— The Diplomat
Thailand’s retail giant launches record-breaking IPO
Thailand’s retail giant Central Retail (CRC) launched the country’s biggest ever initial public offering (IPO) on February 20, giving it a market cap of some 8.1 billion USD in a punt on a sputtering economy now hampered by the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
— Vietnamplus
Industry Ministry eyes 2.2% gain in productivity in two years
The Industry Ministry has set a target to increase industrial productivity by 2.2% by 2022 and raise Thailand’s competitiveness by enhancing labour skills and leveraging technology and innovation.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand to Develop Local Railway Content, Personnel
Government and private organizations signed an agreement on academic cooperation to develop local railway components and relevant personnel as the country is actively expanding its railway networks.
— Pattaya Mail
Thanathorn’s mum faces investigation
The House committee on corruption has been urged to investigate a plot allegedly owned by the mother of opposition Future Forward Party (FFP) leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.
— Bangkok Post
Line Thailand looks to Asean to expand content
Line Thailand aims to make Line TV a professional content provider in Asean by 2023 while partnering with out-of-home (OOH) media to support advertisers using Line’s platform to reach online and offline users.
— Bangkok Post
Finance Ministry to unveil new aid package
The Finance Ministry is set to roll out a fresh stimulus package this quarter large enough to jump-start economic growth momentum, says Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana.
— Bangkok Post
Principal beats 10 year old, threatens to kill him and “eat his liver with whisky”
A grandpa in the northeastern province of Surin couldn’t take it anymore and decided to file a police report after a school principal gave his 10 year old grandson a head injury.
— The Thaiger
Thailand’s Worst-Case Plan for Coronavirus Revealed
Military field hospitals and closure of facilities like schools and prisons will be introduced if the coronavirus epidemic took a turn for the worse, a government source said Thursday.
— Khaosod English
Three Thais on Yokohama virus ship have COVID-19 coronavirus
Officials today announced that three Thai nationals aboard the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, moored off Yokohama, are infected with the Covid-19 coronavirus, the same day two elderly Japanese passengers are reported to have died from the disease.
— The Thaiger
Chulalongkorn University imposes travel ban on staff members and students
In a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Thailand, Chulalongkorn University has imposed a ban on visiting or transit stopovers in seven countries and two special administration regions…
— Thai PBS News
AIS vows increased speeds of 2,400%
Mobile leader Advanced Info Service (AIS) is promising increased speeds of 2,400% on its future 5G service network on the 2600-megahertz band over its current network capacity, after securing the largest total spectrum of 1,450MHz of bandwidth for both uploads and downloads.
— Bangkok Post
Pro Vaping Group to request public hearing from Thai House of Representatives in attempt to legalize vaping in Thailand
The following is a press release sent to The Pattaya News from the consumer group End Cigarette Smoke Thailand. The opinions inside are their own. Ministry of Commerce of Thailand’s study results on banning of e-cigarettes not transparent; sparks consumer group outcry.
— The Pattaya News
Consumer groups warn Chevrolet buyers of risks
Consumer advocacy groups have reminded prospective buyers of risks of buying Chevrolet cars after the US manufacturer announced its decision to pull out of Thailand.
— Bangkok Post
Israel travel ban rankles Thailand
Thailand wants Israel to reconsider its decision, announced Tuesday, to ban Thais from entering the country in a bid to control the spread of deadly coronavirus (Covid-19).
— The Thaiger
Major condo developers in Bangkok are looking for rental clients
As sales have taken a nosedive since last year, major condominium developers in Bangkok are looking for rental clients.
— The Thaiger
TV Channel 3 Downsizes Further With Early Retirement
One of Thailand’s biggest TV stations announced yet another plan to shave off its staff number by the end of February.
— Khaosod English
Upcoming US Navy 7th Fleet Band concerts at Central Festival and Central Marina in Pattaya
About Us:U.S. 7th Fleet Band was created in 1943 with the establishment of the U.S. 7th Fleet. Homeported out of Yokosuka, Japan aboard the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), the band supports the U.S. 7th Fleet Theater Security Cooperation mission to strengthen relationships with partner nations throughout the Indo-AsiaPacific Region.
— The Pattaya News
Chevy’s having a “garage sale” and prices are halved
General Motors’ recent announcement that it’s ending production and sales of Chevrolets in Thailand means prices for new Chevrolets have been cut by half.
— The Thaiger
Coronavirus, and Thailand’s property market
The Coronavirus outbreak poses challenges for Thailand’s real estate market as potential Chinese condominium buyers remain stranded in China.
— The Thaiger
Cops Close Case on Campaigner’s Clobbering
A pro-democracy activist on Thursday said he was notified by the police that they had closed the investigation into his bloody assault close to his home in 2019.
— Khaosod English
TISI up on virus protection sales
Thai Industries Sentiment Index (TISI) in January increased slightly to 92.2 points from 91.7 in December, thanks to massive sales of products for the virus protection, says the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
— Bangkok Post
Asset World says hotel bookings in Thailand starting to recover
The hotel development unit of billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, Thailand’s richest man, says bookings have begun to recover from the disruption caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.
— The Thaiger
Thai, Foreign Painters Bring Street Art to Satun (Photos)
A group of artists on Wednesday turned the streets of Satun’s historic downtown into a massive art gallery that depicts local prides and multicultural coexistence.
— Khaosod English
Feature photo Krung Tap Thai school
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on International Mother Language Day, February 21.
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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About Thailand morning news.
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Thailand morning news for February 21 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