Thailand morning news for August 21, 2019

Finance ministry cuts 2019 GDP growth forecast to 3%
Thailand’s finance ministry has cut its 2019 economic growth forecast to 3.0% from the 3.8% it projected in April, due to falling exports.
— Bangkok Post

Thai police seek three more suspects in Bangkok blasts
Thai authorities issued arrest warrants on Tuesday for three more suspects linked to bomb attacks as the capital hosted a diplomatic meeting last month, raising to seven the number of suspects still sought by police.
— Reuters

Thai viral video captures the spirit of Asean humanitarianism (video)
Across Asean today, like any other day, thousands of random acts of kindness will be performed by ordinary citizens.
— AEC News Today

No ban on plastic bags yet, says PM
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday pledged to protect marine life from sea waste but refused to respond to growing calls for an immediate ban on single-use plastic bags.
— Bangkok Post

Activists urge govt to ban old public vans
Activists have banded together to oppose the Transport Ministry allowing old public vans to stay on the road, saying the measure undermines road safety.
— Bangkok Post

Thai Department proceeds with crackdown on shameless price gouging on medications
Despite a lot of resistance from the local Thai private hospital networks, The Department of Internal Trade says they will proceed with its crackdown to control prices of medicines now that it has received their price lists.
— The Thaiger

MPs to tackle oath gaffe next month
A parliamentary debate on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s oath blunder will likely occur next month, said Deputy Parliament President Supachai Phosu.
— Bangkok Post

Cabinet rewards defectors and failed MP candidates with political posts
The cabinet on Tuesday agreed to reward 17 MPs, who defected from the parties they represented when elected, or had been on their party’s list, and have now joined the Palang Pracharat party, by granting them political appointments.
— Thai PBS News

Traffic police cannot confiscate driver’s license under a new traffic law in effect from Aug 20th
Effective today, 20th August, traffic police have no authority to confiscate the driving license of the driver of an automobile or motorcycle when being stopped for a traffic violation under the new Land Traffic Act B.E. 2562.
— Thai PBS News

Thailand to apply measures to promote exports, investment
The Thai government has pledged to give new measures to spur exports and promote investment either later this month or early next month.
— Vietnamplus

Government confident Welfare Cards can bolster economy
The Government Spokesperson has reiterated the state welfare card program contributes to the stabilization of the Thai economy, directly helps members of the public, and stimulates public spending.
— NBT World (video)

DDC – No new strain of dengue fever found in Thailand
The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has dismissed a rumor spreading online that a new strain of dengue fever has been discovered in the Kingdom.
— NBT World (video)

B316bn plan to jump-start economy
The cabinet on Tuesday gave the green light to a 316-billion-baht stimulus package deemed vital to boosting the country’s economic growth by 0.5-0.6 percentage points this year.
— Bangkok Post

BoT sees small stimulus impact
The Bank of Thailand’s initial estimation has the government’s new economic measures contributing less than half a percentage point of economic growth.
— Bangkok Post

Medical cannabis now administered in 12 health provinces
Twelve authorized hospitals across the Kingdom have started using cannabis-based treatments today.
— NBT World (video)

New Economics to reveal if its MPs defecting to govt
The New Economics Party will announce on Thursday whether speculation some of its MPs will switch sides and join the government coalition is justified.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand pilots new forestation plan
The Royal Forest Department of Thailand is introducing a new forest plantation model that it says can cut costs while creating more green space.
— Vietnamplus

Robust baht, travel trends rattle Thai tourism market
A strong Thai baht and a slowdown in arrivals from China are battering the kingdom’s moneymaking tourism machine even as the country hopes to welcome a record 40 million visitors by the end of the year.
— CNA

Damage to historic site draws online ire
The Fine Arts Department (FAD) came under fire for allegedly allowing a contractor to damage a section of Ayutthaya’s historic Wat Chaiwatthanaram for a lighting and underground wiring project.
— Bangkok Post

Expats in Thailand angry over blame for unpaid private hospital debts
Fearful expats in Thailand are awaiting full details of compulsory private health insurance due to be announced later this week.
— Emigrate.co.uk

Cabinet approves visa on arrival waiver extension
The Tourism and Sports Ministry stated that the Cabinet has approved its proposal to extend the waiver of the visa-on-arrival fee for visitors from 21 countries, but did not approve the visa exemption program for tourists from China and India.
— NBT World (video)

4 opposition MPs set to ‘cross floor’
The New Economics Party (NEP) has suffered a split with some of its MPs breaking ranks to support the government, says deputy party leader Niyom Wiratthanaditkul.
— Bangkok Post

Premchai gets another 6 months in jail
The Criminal Court yesterday sentenced construction billionaire Premchai Karnasuta to six months in prison after finding him guilty of illegally possessing firearms.
— Bangkok Post

Another Lao-Thai “friendship” bridge planned to be built
The Lao and Thai governments are planning to build another “friendship” bridge to link their countries across the Mekong river, bringing Vientiane province closer to the neighboring Thai province of Loei, according to the governor of Vientiane province.
— Xinhuanet

Esso supports Equitable Education Fund
Esso (Thailand) Public Company Limited together with service station dealers nationwide, business partners and Esso Employee Club hosted an event on “Esso mission : to bring students back to schools,” by presenting 1.6 million-Baht fund-raise as educational grant to underprivileged students through Equitable Education Fund (EEF).
— Bangkok Post

Court upholds prison term for Supachai
The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld an Appeal Court ruling that Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, a former chairman of the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative (KCUC), be sentenced to seven years in prison, in a lawsuit stemming from a 12-billion-baht embezzlement scandal.
— Bangkok Post

Thai children at risk online, exposed to violence and sexual harassment
The Department of Children and Youth has disclosed that Thai youth are at risk of being victims of cyberbullying and online sexual harassment and has urged all concerned sides to take actions.
— NBT World (video)

Govt to hold international seminar on dugong conservation in Trang
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is planning to organize an international dugong conference in Trang Province in 2020, following the death of baby dugong Mariam.
— NBT World (video)

Labor Minister reveals that six Thai labors rescued from Somalian waters want to work in Iran
The Labor Minister has revealed that the 20 Thai laborers who were abandoned on the Vadani 2 fishing vessel off the Somalian waters have been safely extracted and are now in the city of Bandar Abbas in Iran, while adding that six of them have expressed their desire to work in Iran.
— NBT World (video)

Thailand’s roads are deadly. Especially if you’re poor
When things go wrong, those in power often promise to make it right. But do they? In this series, The Times investigates to see if those promises were kept.
— The New York Times

Why does Thailand have so many coups?
Thailand has been home to more military coup d’états in modern history than any other country.
— CNBC

Taiwan, Thailand sign seven MOUs on industrial cooperation
Taiwan’s Chinese National Federation of Industries signed seven memorandums of understanding (MOU) with the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) in Bangkok on Tuesday to create new opportunities for cooperation across various industries.
— Focus Taiwan News Channel

Companies join hands helping upgrade SMEs for Industry 4 0
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has joined hands with private companies with the expertise in digital technology to mentor SMEs on digitization, in order to better prepare themselves for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) and to enhance their competitiveness.
— NBT World (video)

Oil palm panel opens green light for four baht a kilo price
The National Oil Palm Policy Committee has approved a motion to intervene the minimum market price of raw oil palm, setting it to four baht per kilogram for a maximum 25 rai plantation per household.
— NBT World (video)

PM to keep e-cigs illegal
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday vowed to retain Thailand’s ban on e-cigarettes, insisting the new government will not yield to lobbying from an interest group that has been working hard to lift the prohibition.
— Bangkok Post

Fisheries Department warns fishery operators over operating licenses
The Department of Fisheries has warned fishing operators against lending out their fishing boats, reminding them that owners are held responsible for any actions taken aboard their vessels.
— NBT World (video)

Local banks satisfy at least 50% of criteria in sustainable banking study: WWF
THE three Singapore banks and a Thai financial institution are the only ones out of the 35 Asean banks assessed that have met at least half of the criteria in a WWF study on banks’ environment, social and governance (ESG) integration performance.
— The Business Times

ASEAN telecom regulators meeting takes place
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has proposed a set of guidelines to regulate Over-The-Top (OTT) service providers operating businesses in ASEAN at the 25th ASEAN Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (ATRC) and Related Meetings, in order to help screen out inaccurate information on their platforms and allow governments to generate income.
— NBT World (video)

Cabinet blocks visa plan
The cabinet yesterday shot down the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s visa waiver proposal for Chinese and Indian visitors but agreed to extend the waiver of visa-on-arrival fees for tourists from 18 countries for another six months.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand to host AEM, RCEP meetings in September
The Ministry of Commerce will host the 51st ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting and the 7th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) next month, where two important documents are expected to be signed to promote regional trade.
— NBT World (video)

MSDHS launches workshop on National Elderly Plan
The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has held a workshop on the third phase of the National Plan for the Elderly No.2 (2020 – 2022), in order to better prepare for Thailand’s aged society.
— NBT World (video)

MP told to explain cop spat
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday declined to punish a Bangkok MP from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) who was caught scolding a police officer in Phuket.
— Bangkok Post

SRT unveils lowest signalling gear bids
Investors from China, Canada and South Korea have submitted the lowest bids for contracts to supply signalling and communications equipment for the first phase of the double-track rail upgrade project, worth 11.4 billion baht, according to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).
— Bangkok Post

Thai tycoon in poaching scandal convicted on firearms charge
A court in Thailand on Tuesday sentenced a construction tycoon to six months in prison for illegal firearms possession in the latest case in a scandal that erupted when he was accused of poaching protected animals in a wildlife sanctuary.
— Pattaya Mail

Human Smugglers Work With Corrupt Thai Officials: UN Report
As much as 80 percent of irregular migrant workers were ferried into Thailand by smuggling services, sometimes with the help of corrupt Thai officials, a recent report by the United Nations said.
— Khaosod English

‘I Am Pooyai!’ Pro-Govt MP Blasts Cop for Not Providing Escort
PHUKET — Top government officials on Tuesday distanced themselves from a coalition politician who stirred public outcry by disparaging a policeman for not providing him a security escort.
— Khaosod English

Wanted English man arrested in NorthEast Thailand with an overstay visa and suspected connections to Pattaya suspect according to Banglamung Police
A wanted English man has been arrested in Maha Sarakam (Northeast of Thailand) for overstaying and for suspected connections to Luke Michael Timmins, who was arrested in Pattaya as a drug suspect according to Banglamung Police.
— The Pattaya News

TAT wants night-life establishments to close at 4 am to promote tourism
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is to propose the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to extend the closing hours of night entertainment establishments by another t wo hours from 2 am until 4 am supposedly to promote tourism.
— Thai PBS News

Suspected thief says he stole railway pins and steel plates to get cash
Mr. Sompong Klaikloeng , the man arrested by Phetchaburi provincial police for allegedly stealing railway pins and steel plates, causing a south-bound train to derail at noon on Monday, has admitted to the police that he did not intend the derail the train, but only meant to trade the stolen objects for cash.
— Thai PBS News

Thailand department of disease control says vaping causes cancer and brain damage, doubles down on ban
The day that Thailand has banned the smoking of regular cigarettes at home come claims that electronic cigarettes are very bad for you. And e-cigarettes are definitely not welcome in Thailand.
— The Pattaya News

Thailand extends waivers for Visa fees until April of next year for 18 countries, including India and China
Thailand will extend until April next year a measure that waives fees for visas on arrival issued to tourists from 18 countries, as it looks to stimulate growth in tourism to spur a slowing economy, the prime minister said on Tuesday.
— The Pattaya News

Buffaloes, cows spared for Mother’s Day
Nearly 60 heads of cattle were spared the slaughterhouse in the annual Mother’s Day ‘Free the Lives of Cattle and Buffalos Charity Project’.
— Pattaya Mail

Personal Data Protection Law: Implications for companies and individuals
What constitutes a data breach? What are the challenges and focus areas? How do data protection frameworks figure? And how should we shape a DLP (data leakage prevention) program?
— Bangkok Post

Thai Government seeks public opinion on civil same-sex union bill
The Thai justice minister is insisting that draft legislation for civil partnerships of same-sex couples won’t be rushed and that the department is waiting for public feedback on the proposal.
— The Thaiger

Faculty of Business Administration, RMUTT unfurls Double Degree
The Faculty of Business Administration, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT), now offers a Double Degree 2+2 BBA (International Programme) and Double Degree 1+1 programme for MBA students.
— Bangkok Post

Ex-finance minister Korn disagrees with using taxpayers’ money to rescue debt-ridden THAI
Former Finance Minister and Democrat list MP Korn Chatikavanich has voiced his concern over the financial crisis facing Thai Airways International and, at the same time, has objected to any…
— Thai PBS News

GH Bank readies mortgages with interest rates below 3%
The state-run GH Bank plans to launch mortgages with interest rates below 3% next month, aiming to reach its target of 203 billion baht this year.
— Bangkok Post property

TAT committed to animal welfare and wildlife conservation
Interview with TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn highlights Thai society’s long-standing respect for nature and close relationship with the animal kingdom.
— Pattaya Mail

DSI wraps up probe into Akara gold mining, new legal violations found
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has completed its extended investigation into the operations of Akara Resources Public Company, the concessionaire of gold mining activities in Thailand, with new findings.
— Thai PBS News

Greater Pattaya hosts hotel and tourism forum
On Thursday, September 5 a hotel and tourism market update event covering Greater Pattaya will be held at the Holiday Inn Pattaya.
— The Thaiger

Feature photo NNT/ Siam Actu

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on World Humanitarian Day August 19

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.

We clearly identify the source of all the Thailand news headlines, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the news site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you too. If a website uses particularly invasive pop-up adverts, we’ll tell you.

This enables you to make an informed choice of whether you want to learn more by clicking directly through to the original Thailand news article, or keep on reading the remaining Thailand daily news headlines.

Click here to get your Thailand English language news today by email before 8am Bangkok time daily. Remember to watch out for the confirmation email from us to confirm your subscription. Check your trash folder if you do not see it.

For more immediate updates download the AEC News Today Mobile App from the Apple or Google stores, or follow us on Twitter.

#Independentmedia

Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Thailand morning news for August 21 added by John Le Fevre on August 21, 2019
View all posts by John Le Fevre →

Bio
Latest Posts

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.