Thailand’s PM assures coronavirus situation is “100% under control”
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has assured the public that the novel coronavirus situation in Thailand is “100% under control” and that he will personally take charge of overseeing the operations…
— Thai PBS News
Hungarian’s death in Suvarnabhumi cell sparks special probe
A fact-finding panel has been set up to investigate the death of a Hungarian man while he was being detained at Suvarnabhumi airport for overstaying his visa.
— Bangkok Post
Police announce nationwide crackdown on air pollution
The Royal Thai Police are preparing measures to counter the PM2.5 problem by tackling the sources of air pollution in areas reported with poor air quality, a spokesman said on Sunday.
— The Thaiger
‘It’s Just a Flu,’ Health Min Insists Coronavirus Under Control
The government on Monday said it is closely monitoring the coronavirus epidemic in Thailand, where officials have confirmed eight cases of infection so far.
— Khaosod English
Eight confirmed coronavirus cases in Thailand so far
As of Sunday, there have been eight confirmed coronavirus cases in Thailand, five of which have already returned to China, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul disclosed today.
— Thai PBS News
Cambodian-Thai trade hits $9B, goal at $15B for 2020
Bilateral trade between Cambodia and Thailand was worth some $9 billion last year, up 7.14 per cent from 2018’s $8.4 billion, data from the Royal Thai embassy in Phnom Penh shows.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Crisis deals B50bn hit to tourism
The coronavirus crisis is likely to cost Thailand at least 50 billion baht in lost tourism income associated with China’s blanket ban on tourists leaving its affected cities, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand.
— Bangkok Post
Overstay fines and penalties waived for tourists with travel delays due to Coronavirus in Thailand
Foreign tourists whose travel plans are disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak will not be fined if they overstay in Thailand, the Immigration Bureau said on Monday.
— The Pattaya News
PM: Aircraft ready to bring Thais out of Wuhan
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said aircraft were on standby to evacuate Thais from virus-hit Wuhan but China has not given permission, saying it can control the situation.
— Bangkok Post
Prosecutors explain why no murder charge yet filed in Billy’s disappearance
The widow of missing Karen rights activist Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen today appealed to the attorney-general for justice, after the Office of Special Cases clarified why it had dropped all charges,…
— Thai PBS News
Thai stocks tumble as China virus adds to economic woes
The Stock Exchange of Thailand index slumped on Monday amid concern China’s ban on all group tours would damage the vital tourism industry, adding to the problems of a struggling economy.
— Bangkok Post
Smog-choked Bangkok struggles to improve air quality
Toxic smog has been cloaking the cities of the Asia-Pacific region recently, and Thailand’s capital is no exception, pushing authorities to implement measures to reduce the level of harmful particles known as PM2.5.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Thailand drops one spot in GTCI rankings
Thailand slipped one position to 67th in the 2020 Global Talent Competitive Index (GTCI) of 132 countries, weighed down by poor vocational and technical skills.
— Bangkok Post
B300bn available amid budget delay
The government is able to disburse 300 billion baht worth of obligation budget during the months-long delay of the 3.2-trillion-baht fiscal 2020 budget.
— Bangkok Post
20,000 Chinese visitors being monitored, say health officials
Health officials are monitoring about 20,000 Chinese tourists currently in the country, as they start to return home after the Lunar New Year.
— Bangkok Post
Coronavirus hits Thailand hardest in tourism-reliant SE Asia
China’s ban on outbound tour groups to stem the spread of coronavirus has hit Southeast Asia’s tourism industry which relies heavily on Chinese holidaymakers.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Thailand: Trial Resumes in 2015 Shrine Bombing Case
Two Uyghur men accused of carrying out a bombing that killed 20 people at a Hindu shrine in Bangkok in 2015 pleaded not guilty Monday, a defense lawyer said, as their trial resumed for the first time since 2017.
— Benar News
Cambodian-Thai trade hits $9B, goal at $15B for 2020
Bilateral trade between Cambodia and Thailand was worth some $9 billion last year, up 7.14 per cent from 2018’s $8.4 billion, data from the Royal Thai embassy in Phnom Penh shows.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Thailand puts forward southern land bridge project to link two seas, promote rail transports
Thailand is putting forward a southern land bridge project to link two seas and promote rail transports, confirmed Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob on Monday.
— Xinhuanet
Commerce Min expanding export markets with “FTAs”
Amid the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, the government is encouraging farmers, community enterprise operators and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) operators to take advantage of the 13 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) currently in existence with 18 countries.
— Newsline (video)
Thailand and Laos to meet next month work to boost bilateral trade
Thailand and Laos will hold a meeting on Feb 25-26 to promote cooperation in trade and investnment.
— The Star Online
Public Health Ministry continues to scan people for coronavirus
In our first story, the Disease Control Department continues to be on a heightened sense of alert, monitoring and scanning people for coronavirus including those visiting the kingdom from risky areas of China.
— Newsline (video)
Thailand takes action on plastic
Thais started 2020 with a major lifestyle change. After many retail stores banned plastic bags throughout the country, Thais are now bringing reusable bags when they shop.
— East Asia Forum
Chinese entering Thailand from Cambodia screened for coronavirus
All Chinese nationals entering Thailand from Cambodia via the immigration checkpoint at Ban Khlong Luek in Aranyaprathet district are being given thermal health scans for signs of coronavirus infection.
— Bangkok Post
China is Now Thailand’s Top Source of Foreign Investment
China topped the list of economies looking to invest in Thailand for the first time last year.
— Chiang Rai Times
Rajavithi Hospital prepares plan to deal with brackish tap water
Rajavithi Hospital, under the supervision of the Department of Medical Services, has prepared measures to deal with salty tap water in an effort to build trust and confidence among patients, especially those undergoing hemodialysis.
— Newsline (video)
GHB adopts Finance Ministry’s policy to help people buy houses
The Government Housing Bank (GHB) has prepared some 100 billion baht in credit, to help people at all income levels to own a house.
— Newsline (video)
EEC Office to speed up project terms
Terms of reference for smart cities and the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility’s second phase at U-tapao airport are scheduled to be issued within two months.
— Bangkok Post
DPM, State Agencies Confident There is Sufficient Supply of Water Throughout Dry Season
Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon and water management related agencies are confident the amount of water stored in Thai reservoirs will last until the dry season passes.
— Newsline (video)
In virus-hit ‘ghost town’, stranded Thai student waits for help
When Thai medical student Badeephak Kaosala dares to leave his rented apartment in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, he puts on a mask, gloves, a hat and layers of clothing to try to avoid infection with the coronavirus that has the city on lockdown.
— CNA
Thai universities tighten measures on travel to and from China
Several Thai universities with student exchange programs with Chinese universities, or a large contingent of Chinese students, have taken measures to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus on campus.
— Thai PBS News
Virus cuts at projected tourist income
Thailand is estimated to lose 80-100 billion baht in income, mainly from tourism, because of the deadly virus outbreak, shaving economic growth by 0.5-0.7 percentage points this year.
— Bangkok Post
Bank of Thailand considering licences for digital-only banks
The Bank of Thailand is studying licences for digital banks, a tool meant to enhance financial inclusion and keep pace with consumer needs in the digital age, says a senior official.
— Bangkok Post
Pattaya City Officials hand out hundreds of free surgical masks to tourists at Bali Hai in response to rising concerns of Chinese Coronavirus
City Officials handed out hundreds of free surgical face masks to Pattaya tourists this afternoon on Bali Hai Pier. No infections from the Chinese Coronavirus have been found in Pattaya, authorities confirmed despite false rumors on social media.
— The Pattaya News
Mystery Woman found burned to death along with a motorbike in ditch in Sri Racha
An unidentified woman’s body was found burnt to death along with a motorbike in a ditch near a vacant field this morning in Sri Racha.
— The Pattaya News
Pattaya City to completely renovate and improve viewpoint near Bali Hai in partnership with Nong Nooch Gardens
Pattaya City plans to improve the scenery at Bali Hai Cape to make it a sunset viewpoint after the public area was reclaimed from entrepreneurs.
— The Pattaya News
‘Mae Manee’ charged with B1.3bn Ponzi fraud
The public prosecutor charged Wantanee “Mae Manee” Tippaveth, her husband and five other people on Monday with defrauding over 2,500 victims out of a total 1.3 billion baht through their Ponzi scheme.
— Bangkok Post
‘Big Joke’ Left Country, Days After Gov’t Warning
Former immigration police commander Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn left Thailand on Monday, his aides said, adding even more mystery to an ongoing investigation into a recent drive-by shooting that targeted him.
— Khaosod English
Pattaya leaders meet to discuss effects of Coronavirus on tourism
Pattaya luminaries, community leaders and business owners met yesterday at Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden to discuss the effect of the Wuhan Coronavirus on local tourism and ways to minimise the damage.
— The Thaiger
Thai prosecutors drop murder charge in case of disappeared activist
A Thai park official implicated in the alleged killing of an environmental activist will not face prosecution for murder due to insufficient evidence, the attorney general’s office announced Monday — a move condemned by rights groups decrying impunity for enforced disappearances.
— CNA
Air quality improves in Bangkok, North still battling some haze
The severe air pollution which has plagued Thailand in recent weeks is improving: air quality is dramatically better in most areas today except in the north, where the PM2.5 level remains above safe levels, especially Lampang and Phrae provinces.
— The Thaiger
Nonthaburi mansion fire burns away damages valued at 10 million baht
A fire at a mansion in the central province of Nonthaburi has created over ten million baht worth of damage.
— The Thaiger
Pattaya welcomes 4000 US soldiers for Cobra Gold in February
The 39th annual Cobra Gold military exercise will be held from February 24 to March 6 with 4,000 US personnel, three navy ships and one commercial vessel.
— The Thaiger
2 Motorsai Charged with Assault For Headlocking GrabBike Rider
Police on Monday said two motorcycle taxis were charged with assault for headlocking a GrabBike rider in a footage that went viral last week.
— Khaosod English
Feature photo Koh Samui Sunset
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on raptors of Asean, here the White-bellied sea Eagle.
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.
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.
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#Independentmedia
Governance, not government; policies not politics.

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