Baht worst performer in Asia so far this year and dropping as Coronavirus fears threaten Thai tourism sector
The baht has lost half of 2019’s gains in just a month, hit by emerging market outflows and as the spread of a flu-like virus in China threatens the country’s tourism sector.
— The Pattaya News
UTCC: Threats could cost B227bn, cut GDP growth
Widespread drought, budget disarray, toxic dust and the impact of the Wuhan virus outbreak on tourism-related spending and exports are expected to cost 226.7 billion baht in losses to the Thai economy, says the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
— Bangkok Post
Thai PM falls sick, but it’s not coronavirus
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has cancelled all this appointments and activities today (Thursday) because of sickness. He has been advised by his doctor to rest at the official guest house in the compound of the First Infantry Regiment of the Royal Guards.
— Thai PBS News
Escaping giraffe found drowned in a canal
The search for the second giraffe, which escaped from its cage as it was being transported from Suvarnabhumi international airport to a zoo in Thailand’s eastern province of Prachin Buri on Tuesday night, has ended with the animal being found dead in a roadside canal in Chachoengsao province.
— Thai PBS News
Sources Say Prayut Has Fever, a Day After Touring Airport
Fever forced PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to cancel all his government appointments for Thursday and recover at home, his aides said.
— Khaosod English
Virologist: Coronavirus vaccine could take about a year
A leading clinical virologist says he is hopeful China will be able to produce a vaccine against the deadly new coronavirus within a year.
— Bangkok Post
Gov’t Says Strong Baht Hurting Cross Border Trade
A senior official from the Thai Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday told reporters that he is worried that the continuing strong Thai baht currency will again affect Thailand’s border trade with Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
— Khaosod English
Sixth patient discharged, 8 remain at hospital
Another coronavirus-infected patient has been cleared, discharged and sent back to China, bringing the total number of cleared patients to six.
— Bangkok Post
Holiday spots in southern Thailand face hard times after coronavirus outbreak
Thai tourist boat company Love Andaman is facing a bleak February after China banned all outbound group tours this week to try to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
— CNA
Two held for sharing fake news on virus
Two people were arrested on Thursday in a crackdown on misleading information being posted on social media in relation to the new coronavirus, Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta said.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand to suspend visa on arrival facility for Chinese tourists temporarily
The Visa on arrival facility for Chinese tourists is likely to be suspended temporarily as Thailand seeks to tighten up controls to fend off the possible spread of novel coronavirus.
— Thai PBS News
Editorial: Our Border Policies Must Not be Based on Fearmongering
Any decision on Chinese visas should be driven by expert consultation – not internet paranoia.
— Khaosod English
Nipit asks why MPs omitted Natee’s name from proxy voting case
Democrat politician Nipit Intarasombat has questioned the motives of lawmakers from both camps for excluding Bhumjaithai party-list MP Natee Ratchakitprakarn from their petition to the Constitutional Court in the proxy voting case.
— Bangkok Post
Bank of Thailand requests softer credit rules
The Bank of Thailand has asked banks and non-bank financial institutions under its supervision to temporarily lower the minimum amount due on credit cards to below 10% of the outstanding balance and loosen the ceiling for personal loan credit lines in case of emergency for new coronavirus-hit debtors.
— Bangkok Post
Thai Commerce Ministry to stop price gouging on facemasks, ensure higher supply to meet increased demand
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit has instructed provincial commerce officers nationwide, to check vendors offering respirator masks, in a bid to ensure fair trading.
— The Pattaya News
Thailand to get bunk beds for inmates in overcrowded prisons
The government is planning to curb overcrowding in prisons by implementing measures such as bunk beds for inmates.
— New Straits Times
Court accepts petition over budget vote
The Constitutional Court has accepted a petition to rule whether the appropriation bill for fiscal 2020 is valid after some members of parliament (MPs) were found to have cast votes for the legislation without being present in the chambers.
— Newsline (video)
The disease burden on the Thai-Myanmar border
Debilitating mosquito-borne diseases pose an increasing threat to migrant workers and refugees just across the border in Thailand, where clinics running on dwindling foreign aid struggle to meet needs.
— Frontier Myanmar
10 await coronavirus results in Phuket
Ten patients were waiting for the results of their novel coronavirus tests on Thursday, but to date there have been no infections detected in this popular tourist province.
— Bangkok Post
Thai baht hits 7-month low as China virus threatens tourism
Thailand’s baht has lost half of 2019’s gains in just a month, hit by emerging market outflows and as the spread of a flu-like virus in China threatens the country’s tourism sector.
— Reuters
TCC has confidence in Govt epidemic prevention measures
The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) has expressed confidence in the administration in handling the coronavirus situation.
— Newsline (video)
Thailand’s Government Student Loan Fund to Hold Employers Liable
Thailand’s Student Loan Fund (SLF) will now hold employers legally and financially responsible if they fail to deduct employees student loan payments from their salaries.
— Chiang Rai Times
Study: Migrant Workers in Thailand Face Tough Conditions, Sub-Standard Pay
NGOs called on Thailand’s government to help improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of workers from neighboring countries, as a migrant advocacy group on Thursday released a report into conditions facing foreign laborers in the agricultural sector.
— Radio Free Asia
Finance Ministry to launch fourth phase of Taste, Shope, Spend campaign
The Ministry of Finance is ready to launch the fourth phase of the Taste, Shop, Spend campaign to stimulate tourism, just as the regional spread of the new coronavirus is expected to have an adverse impact on the global economy.
— Newsline (video)
U-Tapao Airport and AIS cooperate to develop the next level Smart Airport Terminal
U-Tapao Airport and AIS have joined forces under a memorandum of understanding on cooperation to expand the development of Smart Airport Terminal to the next level by studying and testing 5G technology and AI robotics.
— Bangkok Post
Coronavirus : PM inspects Suvarnabhumi Airport
The Prime Minister earlier today visited Suvarnabhumi International Airport and provided moral support to officials responsible for preventing the spread of the new coronavirus.
— Newsline (video)
Thailand leading the way for smart cities in ASEAN
During the 2019 ASEAN Summit, Thailand introduced the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) initiative to transform three Thai provinces into smart cities – which has turned out to be a success.
— The Asean Post
Air Force deploys drones to measure air pollution
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has deployed a small drone to measure the PM 2.5 airborne particulate matter above Rama Two road in Samae Dum sub-district in Bangkok.
— Newsline (video)
Bank of Thailand considers issuing digital banking licenses
IT’S 2020, and financial institutions need to go digital.
— Tech Wire Asia
Planning retirement or investment in property in Thailand? Here’s all you need to know
Thailand is a top destination for many nationalities to retire to, buy holiday homes or invest in realty.
— Gulf News
Aid planned for virus-affected tour operators
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) discussed the impacts of the novel coronavirus outbreak on tourism and planned assistance for affected operators.
— Pattaya Mail
Economic cabinet ready to okay aid for ailing firms
The economic cabinet looks set to approve aid measures at its meeting tomorrow for tourism operators battered by the coronavirus outbreak.
— Bangkok Post
Korean cyclist killed in Chiang Mai crash
A South Korean cyclist has been killed in an accident in Chiang Mai where he and his team trained.
— Bangkok Post
“Surgical masks no guarantee against coronavirus” – medical experts
The Wuhan Coronavirus is making news around the world and the sight of people wearing face-masks is now becoming common – whether they’re in a high-risk area or not.
— The Thaiger
Where there’s smoke, there’s sugarcane burning: a proposal to tackle the air pollution crisis
As Thailand’s air pollution crisis continues, ecology expert Chainarong Setthachua proposes ways to reduce the burning of sugarcane, one of the main causes of the smog.
— Isaan Record
Thailand’s Amateur Weight-lifting Association committee quits over doping scandal
The executive committee of the Amateur Weight-lifting Association of Thailand has resigned en masse “to show responsibility” after a former Thai Olympic bronze medallist told German TV that Thai weight-lifters have been using banned substances since they were young.
— Thai PBS News
Thai PBS, think tank IPPD collaborate to develop data-driven society
The Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) and newly-founded think tank Institute of Public Policy and Development (IPPD) signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday for cooperation aimed at fostering data system for public policy through greater public collaboration and participation.
— Thai PBS News
Paiboon Nititawan’s status as party-list MP for Palang Pracharat challenged
About 30 small parties today submitted a petition to the Election Commission (EC) against the commission’s endorsement of Mr. Paiboon Nititawan as a new party-list MP of the government’s Palang Pracharat party.
— Thai PBS News
Doctors advise good hygiene as the coronavirus spreads
“China’s healthcare system and disease outbreak control capabilities have improved dramatically since 2003 and I believe they will contain the outbreak.”
— The Thaiger
Inquiry Into Hungarian Who Died at Airport Jail Still Ongoing
Police on Thursday said the investigation is still underway into the cause of death of a Hungarian man who died in Suvarnabhumi Airport’s holding cell earlier this week.
— Khaosod English
Princess Calls on Gov’t to Evac Thai Students From Virus-Hit Wuhan
The elder sister of His Majesty the King on Wednesday night urged the government to bring Thai students stranded in China’s Wuhan home – the latest high-profile call on authorities to begin the evacuation.
— Khaosod English
KBank invests in digital core
Kasikornbank (KBank) has allocated 17 billion baht worth of its investment budget until 2022 on core banking systems and digital infrastructure development to enable exploration of new growth areas.
— Bangkok Post
Do Masks Offer Protection From New Virus? It Depends
SEATTLE (AP) — People around the world are buying up protective face masks in hopes of keeping the new virus from China at bay.
— Khaosod English
Two-door Mercedes-Benz models get revamped engines in Thailand
While the C200 Coupe has moved away from 48V mild hybrid tech, the E200 Coupe and E300 Cabriolet are now embracing it.
— Bangkok Post
Soi Dog Foundation urges people to stop eating exotic animals worldwide after outbreak of Chinese Coronavirus
Due to the risk of an epidemic, Soi Dog urges people to stop eating exotic animals including dogs and cats The recent outbreak of the coronavirus in Asia has infected some 2,700 people and killed at least 80.
— The Pattaya News
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.
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Thailand morning news for January 31 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