Prayut Says He Prioritizes Health Measures Over Economic Ones
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha reconfirmed on Tuesday health safety measures will be continually given higher priorities in face of the global pandemic than social and economic ones.
— Khaosod English
Ministry to close handout registration this week
The Finance Ministry plans to close registration for the monthly 5,000-baht cash handout scheme this week as review of appeals submitted by rejected registrants is almost complete.
— Bangkok Post
Phuket government officially requests the opening of land, water and air links
The southern resort island province of Phuket will ask permission from Bangkok to reopen its airport, sea ports and permanent road access to the mainland (Sarasin Bridge) after several days with no new Covid-19 infections detected.
— The Thaiger
School Gang Rape Inquiry: Director Probed for Negligence
A school director is facing investigation for allegedly letting the teachers who stand accused of gangraping two schoolgirls off the hook, education officials said Wednesday.
— Khaosod English
PM thanks Thais for making zero new infections today a reality
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has thanked the Thai people for their collective efforts in making it possible for Thailand to achieve no new COVID-19 infections today.
— Thai PBS News
Indigenous woman human rights defender visited by military officer after protest against the alleged violence by forest authorities
Katima Leeja, a 35-year-old year old Lisu woman human rights defenders from Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province, was visited by a plainclothes military officer on Saturday evening around 4pm of 9 May 2020.
— Prachatai English
THAI’s not yet set to file bankruptcy, says Prayut
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has signalled that ailing Thai Airways International (THAI) does not yet need to file for bankruptcy to prevent ruin as the Finance Ministry surveys all rescue options.
— Bangkok Post
CCSA will announce list of businesses, activities that can recommence
Dr. Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration, has announced that the CCSA will likely decide on Friday on a full list of business and leisure activities which will be allowed to resume as part of the second phase of leasing Emergency Decree restrictions.
— The Thaiger
Cabinet okays transfer of B88.45bn from ministries
The cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill to transfer a combined 88.45 billion baht siphoned from the fiscal 2020 budgets of each ministry to be allocated to a central fund to fight the pandemic and rehabilitate the economy.
— Bangkok Post
Zero new COVID-19 deaths or infections reported in Thailand
For the first time since January 13th, when Thailand recorded its first COVID-19 case, no new infections or fatalities have been reported in the country today (Wednesday).
— Thai PBS News
CP chief pushes tourism reboot
Billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont is urging the government to relax lockdown measures and welcome foreign travellers as soon as possible, and turn the country into a safe haven for wealthy visitors.
— Bangkok Post
Siam Piwat readies new sustainable model after virus crisis
The pandemic has stopped the traditional way of doing retail business, with social distancing, touchless options, hygienic cleaning and comprehensive information tracking becoming mandatory for most retailers.
— Bangkok Post
CSOs call for an end to online sexual harassment against women activists
A network of civil society organizations issued a statement on 29 April calling for an end to online sexual harassment against activists after student activist Sirin Mungcharoen faced a storm of social media attacks, the majority of which can be considered sexual harassment.
— Prachatai English
New PTT chief vows rebound
The newly appointed chief executive of state-owned oil and gas conglomerate PTT vows to turn its revenue back to black this year after suffering a considerable first-quarter loss of 1.5 billion baht because of the collapse of oil prices.
— Bangkok Post
Tourism goal raises eyebrows
The Tourism and Sports Ministry is aiming high for 100 million domestic trips within this year, while the private sector plays down this target, saying it will be difficult to meet.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand partners with UN agency to cut CO2 emissions
The Cabinet on Tuesday (May 12) approved a multibillion-baht project with the United Nations to tackle Thailand’s notorious air pollution problem.
— The Star Online
Cabinet approves spending of 4 billion baht to strengthen economy
The Cabinet has approved budget expenditure on a post-COVID-19 economic and social restoration plan which focuses on strengthening the country.
— Newsline (video)
Authority surveys allowed activities due to relaxed measures in Samut Sakhon and Srisaket
Provincial administrations have dispatched officials to inspect various businesses that were allowed to reopen during the first phase of the relaxation of the COVID-19 lockdown restriction before the much-anticipated second phase takes place.
— Newsline (video)
‘Call for truth’ has laser intensity
The Progressive Movement is building up the intensity of its campaigns that exploit the memories of major political events in history in a bid to ignite a mass street protest against the government, according to political scientists.
— Bangkok Post
Stipend paid to almost 12m recipients
Nearly 12 million of the 14 million approved recipients of the government’s 5,000-baht cash relief have received their monthly stipend.
— Bangkok Post
Food, medicine production in Thailand may soon be automated
The manufacturing of food and medicines may soon be automated to allay fears of contamination in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.
— The Star Online
BAAC asks farmers to submit info online for payouts
The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) is asking agriculturalists who are eligible for the government’s COVID-19 compensation program for farmers to fill in their information on the campaign’s website, in order to quickly process payment.
— Newsline (video)
Data protection law delay to go before cabinet
A royal decree drafted to postpone the enforcement of most sections in the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) by a year will be tabled before the cabinet for approval next week, says the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry.
— Bangkok Post
BTS reduces SkyTrain carriages’ capacity and enforce physical distancing
The Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said SkyTrain operator Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) is working with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to establish a set of rules to maintain physical distancing measures during the time of the COVID-19 outbreak.
— Newsline (video)
Thailand: Sugar makers warn of output cut due to drought
Sugar makers in Thailand have warned that another drought could significantly cut into sugar output in the 2020-2021 crop, according to local media.
— Vietnamplus
Post-pandemic trade overhaul proposed
Thailand needs to review the country’s overall trade strategy after the pandemic abates and develop a national digital platform to handle changing global trading systems, according to the Commerce Ministry’s planning unit.
— Bangkok Post
Witness protection sought by advocate
Respected child rights advocate Ticha Na Nagara has asked the Ministry of Justice to provide protection for victims and witnesses in gang rape cases allegedly committed by five teachers and two male alumni of a school in Mukdahan province.
— Bangkok Post
China donates medical supplies to Thailand
China has provided Thailand with medical equipment and supplies to support the work of health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Newsline (video)
Thailand set to reopen tourist sites in Krabi
Thailand’s southern seaside province of Krabi is gearing up plans to clean up the province and restore natural resources so the province can open its door for business.
— The Star Online
Bangkok’s heritage vanishes as urbanization speeds up
Boonsong Chatayatorn, 71, peers out of his dilapidated two-story shophouse at Bangkok’s unsightly urban sprawl. Except for the venerated Buddhist temple next door, he could be looking at almost any major city in Southeast Asia.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Staggered school hours mulled
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered ministries to study staggered school hours and remote learning to relieve traffic congestion.
— Bangkok Post
Death of the beach? Conflict over Songkhla seawall construction
A seawall construction project is in its first phase at Muang Ngam beach in Songkhla Province. The authorities and some local people disagree over the necessity and legitimacy of the project, but it seems that an amendment to the law on Environment Impact Assessments (EIAs) has played an important role in provoking the confrontation.
— Prachatai English
Noble optimistic as infections dwindle
SET-listed Noble Development is maintaining its revenue target and new project launches based on confidence in the government’s handling of the pandemic.
— Bangkok Post
17 new digital channels sequenced for education
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s (NBTC) board approved yesterday the sequencing of 17 new digital TV channels for education run by the Education Ministry, comprising channels No.37-53.
— Bangkok Post
PDPA delay decree going before cabinet
A royal decree drafted to postpone the enforcement of most sections in Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) by a year will be tabled before the cabinet for approval next week, says the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry.
— Bangkok Post
Chinese demand for Thai durian not affected by pandemic
According to the Nikkei Asian Review, Chinese market demand for Thai durian remains as strong as ever.
— Fresh Plaza
Blockchain eyed for palm oil
The Energy Ministry has ordered the Energy Business Department to discuss with Thai oil traders the prospect of using blockchain to facilitate palm oil trade.
— Bangkok Post
Spending may shed B4bn due to outbreak
More than 4 billion baht of digital ad spending could dry up in Thailand if the coronavirus pandemic continues to pose a threat, says digital marketing service provider YDM Thailand.
— Bangkok Post
South Korea demands removal from Thailand’s list of COVID high risk countries
The South Korean Embassy in Bangkok issued a statement today urging the Thai government to remove South Korea from the list of COVID-19 “high risk” countries, claiming the situation now is different from when Thailand drew up the list.
— Thai PBS News
Donations-rich cabbie pays debt to depot owner
A headline-making taxi driver has returned money owed to the operator, who later withdrew a complaint against him that was registered at a police station.
— Bangkok Post
Bacteria Found in Dumplings That Killed One in Samut Prakan
Health officials on Wednesday said they found a strain of bacteria inside dumplings sold by a street vendor after a customer died from what’s suspected to be food poisoning.
— Khaosod English
Korat Uni Plants 3,000 Cannabis For Medical Researches
A university in the northeastern province said Wednesday it has started planting marijuana trees as part of its research on weed-based medicines.
— Khaosod English
Summer Soaker: Weekend thunderstorms to drench Bangkok
Heavy rain and thunderstorms will hit most parts of Bangkok this weekend, but don’t expect relief from the heat.
— Coconuts Thailand
Young student busted for big crimes
The Narcotics Control Board have announced the arrest of an 18 year old student at a private college in Nonthaburi province, just north of Bangkok, for possession of 10,000 ecstasy pills.
— The Thaiger
US indicates FDI support
Michael George DeSombre, the new US ambassador to Thailand, has pledged to support the US private sector moving more manufacturing bases to Thailand, while extolling Thailand’s response to the pandemic.
— Bangkok Post
Workers unite against textile factory over SSF ‘failure’
Textile workers in Nakhon Pathom have petitioned the Labour Ministry to take action against their factory for allegedly failing to pay contributions to the Social Security Fund (SSF), making them ineligible for state financial help.
— Bangkok Post
Most reopening barbers and beauty salons fail to meet standards
About 63% of barber’s shops and beauty salons have failed to meet anti-COVID-19 compliance inspections since the CCSA eased lockdown restrictions on May 3rd.
— Thai PBS News
Movies in a Covid world – The case for the return of the Drive In
One of the industries hard hit by the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak has been the film industry. At both ends the industry has been shuttered – the making of the movies and then the watching of the movies in cinemas.
— The Thaiger
Businesses opening back up, some aren’t following the rules
While restrictions are being lifted, some businesses seem a little too excited about getting back to normal and are letting their guard down when it comes to social distancing and Covid-19 prevention practices.
— The Thaiger
Student Project Seeks More ‘Humane’ Design of Bangkok Prison
A university is working with a prison to help tackle overcrowding and unhygienic conditions that have stalked the Thai corrections system for years.
— Khaosod English
Pho Love of Pandas: Bangkok restaurant now seating diners with stuffed animal companions
All that social distance feeling kinda lonely? Try talking to the panda. A Vietnamese eatery in downtown Bangkok is offering a cuddly solution after restaurants were allowed to seat patrons so long as they keep distant.
— Coconuts Thailand
Strange pineapple tree worshipped by plantation owner in Songkhla
The owners of a rubber plantation in the southern province of Songkhla today reported they had found a strange pineapple tree on their farm.
— The Thaiger
Thieving monkey safely caught in Chon Buri
A mischievous macaque, aka. rhesus monkey, has been caught after stealing food from local residents in Chon Buri province’s Banglamung district.
— The Thaiger
Sawasdee Twitter! Platform expands reach with @TwitterThailand
The American social media platform that’s grown increasingly popular with Thais, though still lagging behind Facebook, Instagram and possibly TikTok now, today launched a dual-language account for Thais to stay updated.
— Coconuts Thailand
Feature photo ILO Asia-Pacific
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, May 17
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 May 14 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