Thailand morning news for January 9

Thailand morning news for January 9
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Thailand morning news

Outdoor activities discouraged as air quality worsens
The level of PM 2.5 airborne dust measured today was higher than yesterday, with three provinces in the northern region including Lampang severely affected.
— NNT

Top business groups see GDP growth of 2.5%-3% this year
Leading business associations on Wednesday projected economic growth of 2.5%-3.0% this year in the face of a global slowdown and volatile exchange rates amid heightened Iran-US tensions.
— Bangkok Post

Central bank to ease capital outflow rules further: governor
Thailand’s central bank will take further steps to ease restrictions on capital outflows in coming months as it tries to curb the currency’s gains, Governor Veerathai Santiprabhob said.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand moves closer to US currency watchlist
Thailand’s 12-month trade surplus with the US has exceeded US$20 billion, increasing its chance of being included on the US Treasury’s watchlist of currency manipulators, although the central bank governor said dialogue is ongoing.
— Bangkok Post

House commences debate on second and third readings of 2020 budget bill
The House of Representatives, this morning, began debating the second and third readings of the much-delayed 3.22 trillion baht budget bill for 2020 fiscal year, under the chairmanship of House Speaker Chuan Leekpai.
— Thai PBS News

FFP to ‘morph into new party’ if disbanded
Future Forward Party (FFP) secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul on Tuesday vowed to continue political activities even if his party is dissolved and its executives banned from politics.
— Bangkok Post

Bangkok morning air pollution spikes
The Pollution Control Department (PCD) held a meeting with officials to address the air pollution issue in the capital, following reports of PM2.5 readings exceeding the safety threshold in several spots.
— Newsline (video)

Thailand Has Effective Surveillance and Screening System for Disease Control
Amid concerns over the outbreak of a mysterious strain of pneumonia in China’s Wuhan, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that Thailand has an effective surveillance and screening system for disease control and that medical teams to deal with dangerous diseases are available in Bangkok and other major provinces.
— Newsline (video)

Government raises diversion of freshwater to address seawater intrusion
The government has redirected water from Mae Klong River into the Chao Phraya River, in a bid to address the issue of seawater intrusion in the latter.
— Newsline (video)

Thailand’s worst drought in 40 years turns Bangkok tap water salty
Some residents of Bangkok can literally taste the risk of a potentially damaging drought in Thailand.
— South China Morning Post

Bank of Thailand prepared to ease LTV constraints
The Bank of Thailand stands ready to further ease the loan-to-value (LTV) regulations governing mortgage lending in areas that are considered harmful to homebuyers, says the central bank’s chief.
— Bangkok Post

Foreign Affairs Ministry calls meeting to assess Middle East situation
Rising tensions in the Middle East have prompted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to instruct Thai embassies in related countries to closely monitor and assess the situation.
— NNT

Pattaya Police to launch “Smart & Safe System” data collection and criminal analysis tool for Pattaya City
The Pattaya City Police are set to launch a brand new data application tool for crime prevention in Pattaya that promises to help modernize the cities police force and gather data and information on criminals and crimes.
— The Pattaya News

Thailand’s FM Don in hot water over claim of US tipoff about Baghdad drone attack
Thailand’s Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai has come under heavy criticism for his public claim on Tuesday that the United States had informed Thailand in advance about the drone attack that killed General Qasem Soleimani, Iranian commander of the elite Quds force, at Baghdad airport on January 3rd.
— Thai PBS News

Big Joke links gunshots to B2bn airport biometrics project
The former immigration police chief on Wednesday linked the gunshots fired into his car on Monday to his opposition to a 2 billion baht contract for biometrics equipment to screen passengers at major airports.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand leads SE Asia stocks lower as Iran tensions rise
Southeast Asian equities slumped on Wednesday, with Thailand taking the biggest hit, as investors scurried from riskier assets due to rising tensions in the Middle East after Iran fired rockets at US-led forces in Iraq.
— Bangkok Post

MFA Retracts Claim of US Warning Thailand on Iraq Airstrike
The foreign affairs ministry on Tuesday night retracted the claim made by minister Don Pramudwinai that Thailand was informed of the drone strike which killed Iranian top military commander before it was carried out.
— Khaosod English

Locals protest for closure of Ayutthaya smelting plant
Residents in the central Thai province of Ayutthaya are protesting to demand the closure of a smelting plant which they claim is threatening the environment and their health.
— The Thaiger

BMA offers free tote bag personalized embroidery promoting environmental campaign
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is offering free personalized embroidery for fabric bags, as part of the efforts to promote the use of reusable fabric bags instead of single-use plastic bags and foam containers for the environment.
— Newsline (video)

Bank of Thailand Governor Says Iran Tension Is a Major Risk to the Economy
Thailand’s Central Bank Governor Veerathai Santiprabhob says the central bank is closely watching escalating tension between Iran and the U.S. as the energy-intensive economy is susceptible to a rise in oil prices.
— Bloomberg (video)

Thailand’s Board of Investment Offers Incentives to Enhance Human Resource Development and Support Educational Institutions
The Thai government has launched the economic vision known as Thailand 4.0 and a series of strategies to support the Eastern Economic Corridor or EEC, a digital hub of Southeast Asia covering three provinces outside Bangkok.
— PR Newswire (media release)

New rules on fees seek cost fairness
The Bank of Thailand is requiring financial institutions to adjust prepayment charges for small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) and personal loans and late-payment fees for SME, personal and mortgage loans based on actual costs, with immediate effect.
— Bangkok Post

Thai children wish for less angry Prime Minister
Some of more than 500 New Year cards sent by children across Thailand to Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha turned out to be wishes for him to restrain his hot temper and smile more.
— Today Online

Tesco Thai sale to face close regulatory scrutiny
Tesco’s planned sale of its Thai operations will be subject to close scrutiny, Thailand’s competition regulator has warned, adding that he is prepared to impose fines or ban the deal outright if any laws were to be breached.
— Financial Times

New app sells items made by inmates online
The Ministry of Justice has launched a campaign to sell products made by inmates, persons on probation, and those who served their time, in accordance with the ministry’s policy to provide occupational assistance and a new chance in life to the group of people.
— Newsline (video)

Respect labour rights to avert sanction
Apart from the baht getting stronger, Thai exports will suffer another big blow when the United States cuts Thailand’s duty-free trade privileges due to the poor protection of workers’ rights.
— Bangkok Post

Quarantine fears ease for quartet
A three-year-old Chinese boy quarantined in Bangkok after getting off a flight from Wuhan in China with a mystery illness has been given the all-clear and discharged from hospital.
— Bangkok Post

Hanoi the cheapest overall, Bangkok the cheapest food – Backpacking in Asia
Overall, Hanoi in Vietnam is the cheapest backpacker destination in Asia, whereas Bangkok offers the cheapest meals whilst on your journey.
— The Thaiger

Direct air route links China’s Xining, Thailand’s Phuket
A new direct flight was launched Wednesday between Xining, capital of southwest China’s Qinghai Province, and Thailand’s largest island Phuket.
— Xinhuanet

Bees can help solve a jumbo problem
Conflicts between wild elephants and farmers living near forests can be severe in certain parts of Thailand.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand hosts international conference on non-communicable diseases
The Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University, together with Siriraj Hospital’s nursing division, and Siriraj Nurses’ Alumni Association, have organized an international academic conference on the suppression and prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
— NNT

PRD celebrates New Year with Thai heritage
The Public Relations Department (PRD) has held a New Year merit making ceremony, with a celebration highlighting familiar Thai products , particularly Thai textiles and the Pinto meal box.
— NNT

BOT orders banks to revise interest rates
Good news for the general public and SMEs as the Bank of Thailand (BOT) has ordered commercial banks to revise their interest rates, and the fees they charge for their financial products and services including ATM and debit card fees, to help reduce the burden borne by customers.
— NNT

OSMEP says Thai SMEs to grow in 2020
The Office of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotions (OSMEP) has reported that the Thai economy is showing positive signs in early 2020, as startup entrepreneurs are learning ways to apply innovations and technology to enhance their business operations.
— NNT

‘Run Against Dictatorship’ Forced to Cancel in Two Provinces
BANGKOK — At least two anti-government running events were forced to cancel by the police as of Wednesday.
— Khaosod English

Let Imaginations Fly at Bangkok’s Outdoor Solar-Powered Art Exhibit
A light exhibition in the heart of Bangkok encourages visitors to interpret the illumination in their own ways.
— Khaosod English

Police and sniffer dogs search for 18 Rohingya who escaped from southern detention centre
Police and soldiers are searching forest areas around the border areas of Sadao district, south of Hat Yai in Songkhla, as they look for 18 illegal Rohingya migrants.
— The Thaiger

71 year old ‘Robin Hood’ pensioner arrested over three year overstay
An American retiree has been arrested for overstaying his visa by nearly three years, according to the anti-farang Thai publication Naew Na.
— The Thaiger

Gov’t Sets New Health Regulations for Tattoo Skin-Artists
The Thai Ministry of Public Health said on Friday that the ministry has rolled out new regulations for tattoo skin-artists to get an annual health clearance.
— Khaosod English

Top 10 tips for riding a motorbike in Thailand (2020)
Motorbikes and scooters are the most popular mode of transport in Thailand, and most of south east Asia. Indeed, in many cases, they’re the ‘engine’ for the local economies.
— The Thaiger

 

Feature photo Takeaway

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on street food throughout Asean

 

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.

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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

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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