Hundreds of Thai workers miss flights due to lack of health insurance
Hundreds of Thais, working illegally in South Korea, have missed their flights to Thailand after they were prevented from boarding by airline officials at the airport in Seoul, because they could not produce insurance cover to the equivalent of about US$100,000.
— Thai PBS News
Confidence falls to April 1999 levels
Consumer confidence plunged to an almost 21-year low in February as people remain gravely concerned about the coronavirus contagion, compounded with widespread droughts, the delayed fiscal 2020 budget, the domestic economic slowdown and the PM2.5 pollution plague.
— Bangkok Post
330 tonnes of masks were approved for export
The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) authorised the export of 330 tonnes of face masks in January and February when the items were in short supply and declared controlled products, according to the Customs Department.
— Bangkok Post
TU introduces water repellent face masks for medical use
Researchers from Thammasat University (TU) have introduced their innovation, a water-repellent face mask, which will be mass-produced and supplied to medical professionals, in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
— Newsline (video)
Thailand’s economic fundamentals strong despite virus, no VAT cut – finmin
Thailand’s economic fundamentals remain strong and the government has no plans to cut its value-added tax(VAT) to boost activity hit by the coronavirus outbreak, the finance minister said on Thursday.
— Reuters
Large green sea turtle found dead on Hua Hin beach
A large green sea turtle has been found dead on a beach in Hua Hin and marine authorities are investigating the cause of its death.
— Bangkok Post
PM chairs urgent meeting to discuss hitches in arrival visa restrictions
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called an urgent meeting with the Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and chief of Consular Service Department this morning, to discuss yesterday’s decision to suspend visa on arrival facilities for citizens from 18 countries and to scrap visa free access for people from Italy, South Korea and Hong Kong.
— Thai PBS News
Thailand reports 11 new coronavirus cases, bringing total to 70
Thailand reported 11 new coronavirus cases on Thursday (Mar 12), bringing the total number of cases in the Southeast Asian country to 70, health officials said.
— CNA
Prosecutors won’t appeal construction tycoon Premchai’s sentence
The public prosecutors have agreed not to appeal the verdict of the Appeals Court against construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta, in connection with the illegal hunting of a black leopard and other protected wildlife in Thung Yai Naresuan wildlife sanctuary in Thailand’s western province of Kanchanaburi in February 2018.
— Thai PBS News
Thai stocks slide most in 11 years
Thai stocks posted their steepest slide since 2006, extending losses as trading resumed following a halt triggered by a circuit breaker when losses reached 10%.
— Bangkok Post
Lazada investigating allegations of facemask price gouging
Online marketplace Lazada is investigating an allegation by the Commerce Ministry’s yesterday that protective facemasks for the Covid-19 coronavirus are being sold via its platform at illegally high prices.
— The Thaiger
Songkran homecoming could spread coronavirus, expert warns
People returning from cities to their home provinces for Songkran could be a vector for spreading the coronavirus disease to older members of their families, a disease specialist warned on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
UPDATE: SCB becomes third bank to stop exchanging foreign cash
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) today became the third Thai bank to cease exchanging foreign cash, shut down its exchange booths and quarantine booth staff for fourteen days as a result of the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak.
— The Thaiger
Suvarnabhumi, Thai Airways Chiefs Quit Over Coronavirus
Frustration over the government’s botched responses to the coronavirus epidemic reportedly caused two aviation czars to resign from their post on Thursday.
— Khaosod English
Northern region air pollution remains in unhealthy levels
Taking a look at the air pollution situation.. The Pollution Control Department has indicated that the northern region of Thailand continues to see an unhealthy level of air pollution.
— Newsline (video)
Plastic ‘ban’ flouted at shops
While Thailand seemed to have banned the use of plastic bags at major retailers from New Year’s Day, some stores, particularly 7-Eleven franchises, are still giving out single-use plastic bags to customers.
— Bangkok Post
Tax agency to lose B165.5bn from aid deal
The Revenue Department estimates losing 165.5 billion baht in forgone revenue from tax measures under the government’s first-phase relief package to cushion impacts from the coronavirus contagion.
— Bangkok Post
Oil spills blight tourist beaches
Crude-oil wax was found washed ashore and spread across beaches in this southern province on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
Phuket airport readies to roll out COVID-19 entry requirements
Officers at Phuket International Airport today held a series of urgent meetings ahead of implementing the new requirements to be applied to people arriving in the country to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
— The Phuket News
Thailand encourages cloth masks amid surgical mask shortage
Thailand’s health authorities are encouraging people to make cloth face masks at home to guard against the spread of the coronavirus amid a shortage of surgical masks.
— New York Post
Thailand under fire again for labor abuses
Despite repeated promises by its government to clamp down on rights violations, Thailand’s labor market remains home to widespread human trafficking and blatant exploitation, rights groups say.
— UCA News
FDA says law does not prohibit people from making hand sanitizers
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reiterated that hand sanitizers must have at least 70% alcohol content, in order to be effective in disinfecting the coronavirus.
— Newsline (video)
Labour Ministry floats ban on workers
The Labour Ministry has warned Thais returning from working illegally in South Korea to report for quarantine or be blacklisted from working abroad in the future.
— Bangkok Post
Thai Cabinet approves measures to help SMEs, hotels, transports survive COVID-19 crisis
The Royal Thai Government has approved Phase One of a broad range of financial and fiscal relief measures to help Thai companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, alleviate the business downturn impact of the COVID-19 virus crisis.
— Pattaya Mail
Private companies discuss air pollution measures
A number of private interests have held a seminar to address the problem of air pollution, which has become a major issue that is affecting members of the public, the economy, and the environment.
— Newsline (video)
TMRW’s unique engagement-focused business model sets the standard for digital banks around the world
TMRW by UOB, the first mobile-only bank for ASEAN’s digital generation, has seen customer engagement, its key measure of success, quadruple since its launch one year ago.
— Bangkok Post
COVID-19 fear pushes University classes online
Universities in Thailand have begun to move their classes online to help limit the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.
— The Phuket News
Government explains new COVID-19 command center role
The government has set up another center related to COVID-19.
— Newsline (video)
Government sets to promote use of electric vehicles
The national electric vehicle policy committee has met to discuss tax benefits for the construction of charging stations throughout the country, in a bid to promote Thailand as an electric vehicle or (EV)-friendly industry.
— Newsline (video)
Economy first for new US ambassador
After a year and a half, a new US ambassador to Thailand has finally landed.
— Bangkok Post
Netflix rolls out its cheaper mobile-only plan in the Philippines and Thailand
Netflix has expanded its cheaper mobile-only plan’s reach and launched the option in the Philippines and Thailand.
— Yahoo News
Saved sun bear cub recovering well
A female sun bear cub saved from a forest fire in Ban Kha district is recovering well from the festering wound on her right front leg.
— Bangkok Post
Gold mining company found guilty for avoiding environmental report
Former director-general of the Department of Primary Industries and Mines Somkiat Phuthongchaiyarit, has been found guilty of colluding with five other parties for trying to avoid the mandatory environmental impact assessment (EIA).
— The Thaiger
Thai government puts on hold plan to cancel visa on arrival and visa free entry for 21 countries
The government has put on hold its plan to suspend visa on arrival (VoA) for 18 countries and visa-free entry from high-risk areas (South Korea, Hong Kong and Italy) after an urgent meeting on Thursday (March 12).
— The Pattaya News
‘Better than nothing’: Thailand encourages cloth masks amid surgical mask shortage
Thailand’s health authorities are encouraging people to make cloth face masks at home to guard against the spread of the coronavirus amid a shortage of surgical masks.
— CNA
Tourism officials ponder moving Songkran to July, boosting domestic tourism
Joint ventures with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) are trying to solve worst case scenarios of losing over 1 trillion baht in revenue and 10 million in inbound guests to celebrate Songkran.
— The Thaiger
SET extends losses as virus fears batter sentiment
Share prices dived on the Thai stock exchange on Thursday morning after the World Health Orghanization declared a global Covid-19 pandemic and the US banned the entry of travellers from mainland Europe.
— Bangkok Post
PM praises whistle-blowing “Mam Po Dum” page for its social contribution
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has been full of praise for the “Mam Po Dum” (Queen) whistle-blowing facebook page for its contribution to Thai society, especially for its recent exposure of the alleged hoarding of 200 million face masks by a politically-connected online trader.
— Thai PBS News
Back to the future: Can the reincarnation of Future Forward survive?
Their party has been dissolved and its executives banned, but that hasn’t stopped members of the now-defunct Future Forward from pursuing their dream. Thai PBS World’s Political Desk examines challenges awaiting it.
— Thai PBS News
Muay Thai ceremony cancelled
The 16th World Wai Khru Muay Thai ceremony will be cancelled this year due to concerns with the coronavirus outbreak, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
— Bangkok Post travel
Tourism Council of Thailand dreams big for local travellers
The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) has set a lofty goal for local tourists to take 200 million domestic trips this year, while the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is mulling the prospect of postponing Songkran to July.
— Bangkok Post
Elderly British man falls into construction pit in Pattaya, suffers several injuries
A 76 year old British man was injured tonight when he fell into a construction pit in Pattaya that he claimed was unlit and not marked clearly while out for a walk.
— The Pattaya News
Lopburi’s Monkeys Food War Blamed on Plunge in Tourism
Eyewitnesses on Thursday said a shortage of food offerings from tourists led to a brawl involving around a thousand monkeys in the historic city of Lopburi.
— Khaosod English
Old “falangs” are Pattaya beach vendors’ lifeline in coronavirus downturn
Old expats and Thais are the only thing keeping Pattaya beach vendor in business, through the coronavirus tourism downturn.
— The Thaiger
Convicted for trespassing on wildlife sanctuary, farm laborers seek help from ministry
A group of locals from Phetchabun are petitioning the Minister of Justice to delay the public auction of their homes after they were convicted of trespassing on a wildlife sanctuary and ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of baht in damages.
— Isaan Record
Thief who previously robbed and attacked Russian couple with knife in Pattaya arrested again for theft
Pattaya Police arrested a thief who broke into local houses and was discovered to be involved in a robbery and knife attack on a Russian couple five years ago.
— The Pattaya News
Domestic Violence Allegations Stalk Thanathorn’s Successor
The leader of a surrogate party for the disbanded Future Forward on Wednesday declined to discuss the allegations of domestic violence against his ex-wife.
— Khaosod English
Body in oil drum discovered in Chiang Rai reservoir
Police in Chiang Rai discovered a dead body stuffed into an oil drum floating in a reservoir.
— The Thaiger
Grab driver turns himself in over missing wallet: cash still missing
A Grab taxi driver has turned himself in to police in Chiang Mai police after a Dutch tourist lost 500 euros at an exchange booth in the city.
— The Thaiger
200 landmines cleared from old battleground near Burmese border
The army’s Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC) has announced that they’ve cleared more than 200 landmines from a former battlefield in the southern province of Chumphon, near the Burmese border.
— The Thaiger
Thailand Aims to Become Electric Vehicle Hub in 5 Years
The Thai government will roll out strategic plans to turn the country into an electric vehicle (EV) hub in five years under several promotional measures, said Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak on Wednesday.
— Khaosod English
Foodpanda Blacklists Deliveryman for Sexually Harassing Customer
A food delivery service said it fired one of its deliverymen for sending sexually-charged messages to a customer, while the police on Thursday said that a fine was all they could do.
— Khaosod English
Feature photo Holi Festival Of Colors Bangkok
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on the Hindu Holi festival of colours, March 9-10
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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 March 13 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.
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- 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