Thailand Morning News For February 9

Bangkok air pollution warning, children asked to stay indoors
Residents in Bangkok, one of the world’s top tourist destinations, were warned on Thursday (Feb 8) the city’s air quality had hit dangerous levels just days after the country’s pollution control agency appealed to residents to wear face masks.
— Channel NewsAsia/ Reuters

Election-related bills ‘still at risk of being axed’
The possibility of the two bills on the election of MPs and selection of senators being scrapped or sent for a Constitutional Court review, which would yet again push back an election, cannot be ruled out, political sources say.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand approves law for $45 billion Eastern Economic Corridor
Thailand’s parliament on Thursday approved legislation geared towards attracting more investment in an ambitious $45 billion project in the country’s industrial east, which the ruling junta hopes will help lift Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy.
— Reuters

Bangkok to Host Blockchain & Bitcoin Conference Thailand for the First Time
March 6, 2018, Bangkok will host a major international conference dedicated to blockchain, cryptocurrencies and ICOs – Blockchain & Bitcoin Conference Thailand.
— Coinspeaker

ITD could lose its high corporate governance rating
THE Thai Institute of Directors Association (IOD) will consider poaching allegations in its corporate governance score for Italian-Thai Development in this year’s survey, said Bandid Nijathaworn, president and chief executive of the association.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

FETCO sees market volatility as short term
Analysts at the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organization (FETCO) have assessed that volatility in the Thai stock market over the past few days will be short lived as it was spurred by a sudden drop in the US market brought on by concerns over a hike in the country’s government bond repurchase rate.
— News Today (video)

Deputy PM Prajin assures Japanese investors on Thailand’s digital technology development
The Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister, ACM Prajin Juntong, has assured investors from Japan regarding Thailand’s reform guidelines on technology and digital development.
— NNT

Thailand: Japanese national found with 1 terabyte of child pornography
Police in Bangkok on Thursday arrested a male Japanese national over the alleged possession of child pornography, reports TV Asahi (Feb. 9).
— Tokyo reporter

Thailand eyes 10% rise in Indian travellers in 2018
Focusing on the introduction of new activities, shopping malls and long stays for Indian travellers, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is eyeing a 10% rise from the Indian market in 2018. Thailand recorded 18% increase in Indian arrivals by welcoming over 1.4 million travellers in 2017.
— TravelBiz Monitor

Board of Trade of Thailand pays attention to problem of chemical residues in farm products
The Board of Trade of Thailand held a discussion this week with a deputy prime minister about the promotion of information about the problem of chemical residue in farm products, among members of the public.
— NNT

Coal-fired power plants ‘partly to blame for Bangkok pollution’
BANGKOK’S SERIOUS air pollution was partly generated from coal-fired power plants in the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Zone, Greenpeace has revealed.
— The Nation

Government invites Japan to invest in EEC
The government is inviting Japan to invest in one of the country’s key projects.
— News Today (video)

Science and Technology Ministry unveils Innovation District project
The Ministry of Science and Technology has launched the Innovation District project to boost Thailand’s economic value in accordance with the government’s Thailand 4.0 development scheme.
— NNT

Exim Thailand looks to lead CLMV push
Export-Import Bank of Thailand (Exim Thailand) aims for 9% lending growth this year, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and outbound investment in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV).
— Bangkok Post

Ad hoc panel formed to follow up hunting scandal case
An ad hoc committee has been set up to follow up the hunting scandal case to make sure that the case will be fought through all three courts up to the Supreme Court to set a precedent about wildlife conservation and protection, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Gen Surasak Kanchanarat said today (Feb 8).
— Thai PBS

Police nab Russian ‘cyber-gangster’
Police have detained a Russian national believed to be the No.2 organiser of a transnational gang operating a black market and theft operation known as the Infraud international theft ring.
— Bangkok Post

DPM Somkid says government taking parallel approach to economy
The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs has voiced confidence in the uptrend of the Thai economy and affirmed the government is ready to drive investment in tandem with developing community economies.
— News Today (video)

PDMO plans B99bn in loans
The Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) plans to take out loans worth 98.6 billion baht this fiscal year to finance the government’s big-ticket infrastructure plans, its head says.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s Bangkok Airways orders four ATR72-600s
Bangkok Airways (PG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) has ordered four ATR72-600s from Avions de Transport Régional (Toulouse Blagnac). Announced during the ongoing 2018 Singapore Airshow, the four turboprops will be configured with 70 seats and will deliver between October 2018 and March 2019.
— Ch-aviation

Health Department admits 10 percent wastage of drugs each year
About 10 percent of P1.8 billion of the annual budget for drugs, medicines and vaccines are wasted because of overstocking and weak inventory or supply chain system, according to The Manila Times Online report on Thursday.
— Thai PBS

Bangkok Glass deepens green energy tilt
BANGKOK Glass Plc is reshuffling its portfolio as the company gears up for further expansion in its alternative energy business, president Pavin Bhirombhakdi said.
— The Nation

ASEAN’s first automotive electronics and electric vehicles operations center set up in Thailand
A leading Thai educational institution is cooperating with a Germany-based producer of electronic parts to set up Southeast Asia’s first operations center for automotive electronics and electric vehicles.
— NNT

Yingluck again seeks injunction against seizures
A lawyer for former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra has again sought an injunction against the seizure of her assets by the Legal Execution Department.
— Bangkok Post

Govt confirms legal action to be taken against high-profile poachers
The government has confirmed its determination to protect the nation’s wildlife, saying a case is underway in connection with high-profile suspects charged with illegal hunting in a wildlife sanctuary in Kanchanaburi province.
— NNT

3 tourists fined for sitting on undersea coral reefs
Three tourists were fined 1,500 baht each after they were found to have sat on undersea coral reefs at a Laem Maeyai dive spot in Mu Ko Surin marine national park, Phangnga province, for a photo shoot.
— Thai PBS

Pentagon steps up its diplomacy in Thailand
US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps General Joe Dunford has arrived in Bangkok to emphasize that America is “not a declining power” and its intention to improve military relations with Thailand’s armed forces, which seized political control in a mid-2014 coup.
— Asia Times

DITP launches new round of S.O.S program
The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) has held a media event to announce its “Smart Online SMEs Plus (S.O.S)” project with Director-General Chantira Yimrewat Wiwatrat chairing the announcement.
— NNT

DASTA study finds strategies achieving goals in employment
A survey on employment in areas in the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) network has found employment of local residents is on average as high as 62.46 percent.
— News Today (video)

Foreign passport no ‘amulet’ in China: State media
Western countries should educate naturalised citizens that their new passport is no “amulet” in China, a hawkish Chinese newspaper said on Thursday (Feb 8), suggesting that detained Swedish citizen Gui Minhai may have thought his foreign passport could shield him from Chinese law.
— Channel NewsAsia/ Reuters

Chairman of the US Chiefs of Staff confirms strong military ties to the PM
The Thai and US armies have reaffirmed their strong ties and shared goals of regional peace and stability.
— News Today (video)

IEAT pushes for opening of Smart Park to accommodate digital industry
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) is currently working with the private sector to introduce a new industrial park to accommodate Thailand’s burgeoning digital industry.
— News Today (video)

Thailand’s “Kai Chon” ice sculpture won International Snow Sculpture Contest in Japan
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pleased to announce its ongoing support for a team of Thai ice sculptors to join the 45th International Snow Sculpture Contest 2018, held during 4-8 February as part of the 69th Sapporo Snow Festival.
— TAT News

Feature photo Baolau

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).

Thailand morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Thailand news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Thailand Morning News For February 9 added by John Le Fevre on February 9, 2018
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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.