COVID-19 status as dangerous infectious disease effective from Friday
Thailand’s Public Health Minister has signed an announcement designating COVID-19 as a dangerous infectious disease.
— Thai PBS News
PM “concerned” about campus rallies
Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed “concern” over growing support for student rallies at universities and now high schools, throughout Bangkok and elsewhere, to protest the recent dissolution of the popular Future Forward party, and the possibility of confrontation and unrest.
— The Thaiger
MPs fear virus contagion in House
Lawmakers are concerned about possible Covid-19 transmission at the parliament after a fellow-MP had a fever after returning from Japan.
— Bangkok Post
Prayut promises to order probe into cyber war charges
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday said he will order a probe into an allegation by an opposition MP that government’s security agencies are behind a network of social media that have been waging a cyber war against critics of the government and the military by spreading fake news and damaging materials against them.
— Thai PBS News
Tourism sector scrambles for virus support
Tourism businesses have been knocked comatose by the virus panic spreading around the country, while the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) cut its estimate for international arrivals to 33 million in 2020.
— Bangkok Post
Opposition walk out of censure debate after failing to get additional time
The four-day censure debate, targeting Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and 5 of his cabinet colleagues, ended before the 7pm agreed deadline, with a mass walkout by the Opposition, which had been thrown into disarray due to their mismanagement of the time allotted for debate.
— Thai PBS News
PM says military to be downsized and generals reduced by half within 8 years
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told members of parliament, on the final scheduled day of the censure debate, that the Defence Ministry is determined to reform the military by downsizing the three armed forces to become more efficient and modern, with the aim of cutting the number of generals in half by the year 2028.
— Thai PBS News
Thamanat denies being jailed abroad
Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow on Thursday threatened to take legal actions against MPs of the disbanded Future Forward Party (FFP) for making false accusations against him during the censure debate.
— Bangkok Post
Pro-democracy students stage flash rallies
University and high-school students stage pro-democracy flash rallies to express their frustration at what they perceive as inequality and injustice.
— Bangkok Post
PM, DPM Wissanu and Foreign Minister grilled over Philip Morris tax evasion case
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngarm and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai have come under attack, on the last day of the censure debate today by Pheu Thai MP Sarunvuth Sarungate, over their alleged mishandling of the tax evasion case, involving the Thai subsidiary of tobacco giant Philip Morris International, which resulted in revenue losses estimated at over 80 billion baht.
— Thai PBS News
Health minister demands full disclosure of travel history after 3 more coronavirus cases confirmed
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had harsh words in a press conference yesterday for the 65 year old Thai man who concealed his travel history from medical workers, exposing not only some 30 medics but also his own family members to the COVID-19 coronavirus.
— The Thaiger
Patient walks out of hospital, sparks panic search
A Chinese businessman with a fever walked out of a hospital on Wednesday night, sparking a frantic search before he was found with two friends – and all three were put in quarantine for possible Covid-19 infection.
— Bangkok Post
Cambodia, Thailand plan temporary opening of border crossing
Cambodia and Thailand are planning a temporary opening of a border crossing along Stung Bot of Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey province and Thailand’s Ban Nong Ian area in Sa Kaeo province.
— Khmer Times
PM: Government use principle of “Understand, Access and Develop” in dealing with the South
The Prime Minister has reiterated that his administration is using the principle of “Understand, Access and Develop”, in dealing with the problem in the South.
— Newsline (video)
Bangkok to explain to KL decision to deal directly with rebel group
Thailand is expected to explain to Malaysia its decision to negotiate directly with a southern Thai Muslim separatist group when formal peace talks resume in Kuala Lumpur early next month with Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN).
— New Straits Times
PM defends biometric hardware procurement
Members of Parliament from the opposition have criticized the government’s project to procure a 2-billion-baht biometric and facial recognition system to enhance immigration operations.
— Newsline (video)
Pollution Control Department: Thailand faced air pollution since 2014
The Pollution Control Department said the problem of air pollution has intensified since 2014, debunking a claim by the opposition party that the issue surfaced during the time of this current administration.
— Newsline (video)
More Covid-19 patients recover, discharged
Three more patients infected with the novel coronavirus have fully recovered and been discharged, two Chinese nationals and one Thai, bringing the total number of cleared patients to 27, a senior health official said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
Cambodia wild fires blamed for Thailand’s air pollution
According to a report published in The Thaiger, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has closed public schools from Wednesday because of excessive air pollution. Most of the smoke and haze is blowing in from Cambodia with light easterly winds.
— Khmer Times
PRD sets up center to disseminate information on censure debate
The Public Relations Department (PRD) has set up an ad hoc center to disseminate information about the ongoing censure debate, in order to prevent the spread of inaccurate news or misunderstandings.
— Newsline (video)
Public Health Min orders hospitals in drought prone areas to be prepared
Turning to other matters, The Ministry of Public Health has instructed hospitals in 699 drought-prone areas to closely monitor the water situation and prepare plans to manage water consumption in their compounds.
— Newsline (video)
Thailand Now Has the World’s Worst Stock Market
Rising coronavirus cases in Thailand dimmed the outlook for a quick rebound in tourism, sending the nation’s equities benchmark to rank as the world’s worst performer.
— Bloomberg
Royal Thai Army sends helicopter to help erect firewalls in Loei
The Royal Thai Army has dispatched a helicopter unit to provide assistance in erecting firewalls in the Northeastern province of Loei.
— Newsline (video)
Prayut warns students over resurgence of rallies
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that he understood why students were protesting against the dissolution of the Future Forward Party (FFP), but urged them to listen to both sides of the story.
— Bangkok Post
Payout hastened for rice scheme ‘victims’
A special working group will be formed to speed up compensation to five injured parties in the bogus government-to-government deals under the infamous rice-pledging scheme, said Suppharoek Iam-la-o, acting director of the Marketing Organisation for Farmers (MOF), one of the affected parties.
— Bangkok Post
Thai Tycoons in Fray as Tesco Sets Bid Deadline for $9 Billion Asia Business: Sources
British retailer Tesco has asked bidders to submit binding offers for its Asian business by Friday, in a deal that will see Thai billionaires fight for an asset valued at up to $9 billion, sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.
— The New York Times
High dust levels in most regions, except South
All regions in Thailand except the South saw high levels of PM2.5, with the highest measurement exceeding 120 micrograms per cubic meter.
— Newsline (video)
PM defends tank purchase
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is also defence minister, defended the army’s 7-billion-baht tank procurement from Ukraine.
— Bangkok Post
SE Asia Stocks-Most recover from heavy selloff in previous session, Thailand leads pack
Most Southeast Asian stocks ended higher on Thursday after a heavy selloff in the previous session that was triggered by fears of a global coronavirus pandemic as several countries reported a spike in cases.
— Reuters
Srisuwan to file EC complaint over MP-buying
The serial petitioner whose complaint led to the dissolution of the Future Forward Party is now targeting politicians allegedly offering cash bribes to party-less FFP MPs to join their camp.
— Bangkok Post
UNHCR praises Thailand’s fight to end statelessness
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has applauded the determination of the Thai government to terminate the issue of statelessness.
— Newsline (video)
Thailand paves ways to become top trail running destination
The trail running events in Thailand have been increasingly popular, attracting more and more runners in the past few years.
— Newsline (video)
Thai drug smugglers spared from death penalty in Bali
Two Thai women convicted of smuggling methamphetamine into Bali have escaped a possible death sentence on the Indonesian holiday island after a court sentenced them to 16 years in jail.
— Rappler
Govt denies tobacco deal
The government insists it never interfered with state agencies to favour Philip Morris (Thailand) Ltd (PMTL) by lobbying public prosecutors not to press a new charge against the company.
— Bangkok Post
Koh Larn passenger ferry operators say business recovering, primarily from Russian, Indian and Thai tourists
The Pattaya News reporters visited Bali Hai Pier today and interviewed several ferry boat operators who run passenger ferries between Pattaya and Koh Larn to get their opinions on how business was.
— The Pattaya News
Update on Chinese tourist found murdered, stuffed in suitcase and dumped in river in Northern Thailand who stayed in Pattaya
The Pattaya News reported yesterday on a thirty year old Chinese man who was found deceased and stuffed in a suitcase with his arms and legs bound. The suitcase was found in the Ping river in Northern Thailand, in the Kamphaeng Phet Province.
— The Pattaya News
National police get tough on… hair
Thailand’s National Police Command said yesterday it will inspect its ranks at random to ensure that the new haircut regulation is strictly followed. Spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen said the buzz cut, with the sides and back of their heads shorn and only a small patch of hair on top of their scalps,must be adopted by “all […]
— The Thaiger
Man shoots several shots in front of wife’s shop at Central Plaza in Nonthaburi, is in police custody
A Thai man, who has not yet been identified by police but is forty years old, opened fire in front of his wife’s shop in the center of the busy Central Plaza Rattanathibet Department store at about 3:55PM this afternoon, firing at least four shots from a handgun into the air in anger before being taken into police custody.
— The Pattaya News
Bangkok cops bust online gun dealers
The chief of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau told a media briefing yesterday that officers have arrested six men and two women for selling firearms on Thai social media.
— The Thaiger
Pheu Thai MP Challenges Prayut to a Duel
An opposition politician on Thursday challenged PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to a trial by combat.
— Khaosod English
BDMS makes tender offer for Bumrungrad
Bangkok Dusit Medical Service Plc (BDMS) has launched a tender offer to take over the shares it does not already own in Bumrungrad Hospital Plc (BH) at 125 baht each.
— Bangkok Post
Seripisut to livestream PM’s oath recital issue on his Facebook page
Defiant Seri Ruam Thai party leader, Pol Gen Seripisut Temiyavet, said today that he will livestream, via his Facebook page, his unfinished speech on Prime Minister Prayut’s incomplete oath recital during the swearing-in ceremony last March.
— Thai PBS News
Once bustling, Chiang Mai tourist areas are now deserted
Thai news agency MCOT has become the latest media outlet to bemoan the devastating effect of the coronavirus (Covid-19) on Thai tourism, after their reporters went to the once thriving area of Nimmanhaemin.
— The Thaiger
Self-quarantine Phichit students after their return from South Korea
A group of students attending high school in Thailand’s northern province of Phichit have been told to stay home for 14 days, after the school’s management discovered that they have…
— Thai PBS News
Legendary Thai singer Suthep Wongkamhaeng has died
A Thai icon is dead. Legendary “luk krung” singer Suthep Wongkamhaeng died today at his Bangkok residence, aged 86.
— The Thaiger
Thai drug smugglers dodge death penalty in Bali
Two Thai women convicted of smuggling methamphetamine into Bali have escaped a possible death sentence on the Indonesian holiday island after a court sentenced them to 16 years in jail.
— CNA
Cool, foggy mornings predicted for the North
Thailand’s meteorological department today predicted cool mornings with fog in upper Thailand, with the mercury inching up later in the day.
— The Thaiger
Operators banking on huge discounts
Outbound tour operators are offering extraordinarily cheap tour packages to South Korea and Japan as a way to cut losses from the coronavirus outbreak amid fears that returnees could carry the virus back home.
— Bangkok Post
Feature photo Alex Samaras
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on Zero Discrimination Day, March 1.
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).
—
About Thailand morning news.
Thailand morning news roundup is the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Thailand English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Thailand English language news today.
We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Thailand daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Thailand news headlines and first paragraphs before 7.15am Bangkok time.
We clearly identify the source of all the Thailand news headlines, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the news site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you too. If a website uses particularly invasive pop-up adverts, we’ll tell you.
This enables you to make an informed choice of whether you want to learn more by clicking directly through to the original Thailand news article, or keep on reading the remaining Thailand daily news headlines.
Click here to get your Thailand English language news today by email before 8am Bangkok time daily. Remember to watch out for the confirmation email from us to confirm your subscription. Check your trash folder if you do not see it.
For more immediate updates download the AEC News Today Mobile App from the Apple or Google stores, or follow us on Twitter.
#Independentmedia
Governance, not government; policies not politics.
Thailand morning news for February 28 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