Thailand morning news for February 18

Thailand morning news for February 18
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Thailand morning newsEEC policy panel to focus on education to meet labour
THE EASTERN Economic Corridor (EEC) policy committee has agreed to focus on educational measures to address the problem of labour shortage in the region, allocating Bt725 million to train and improve the quality of teachers, lecturers and students in the economic corridor.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Scorching summer coming, experts warn
Fifty per cent chance this year could be the second hottest ever.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Boat races replace Thailand’s elephant polo tournament
Thailand’s annual elephant polo tournament might have passed into the annals of history, but that hasn’t put an end to Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas support for Thailand’s elephants.
— AEC News Today

Thailand leads Asia-Pacific in improving fishers lives
Thailand has become the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to ratify an international treaty designed to bolster the living and working conditions onboard commercial fishing vessels.
— AEC News Today

ACT flags airport graft risk
The Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) has warned of the potential for foul play during the upcoming auction of Suvarnabhumi Airport’s duty-free concession and the planned construction of a Terminal 2, as the country counts down to the election.
— Bangkok Post (very annoying popups)

Airbus poised for take-off in Thailand’s MRO hub
UNCERTAINTY over the political situation in Thailand is apparently not shared by French investors in the aeronautical industry, who have expressed confidence in the Kingdom’s push to become a regional hub for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO).
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

More auctions to be held for high-speed rail project
The Ministry of Transport will be accepting bids for the much-anticipated high-speed rail project in March.
— NNT

GDP data, smooth election could fuel baht rally
The baht is looking to repeat its performance as one of Asia’s best currencies last year.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Outcry at refusal to ban toxic chemicals
Consumer groups have vowed to ramp up their campaign to force the national committee on hazardous substances to ban three hazardous farm chemicals immediately, not in another two years.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Proposal to ban alcohol sales on Songkran day, April 13
Coming up with another blunt tool to help curb Thailand’s horrendous annual road toll during Songkran, the Alcohol Control Committee is proposing a ban be placed on the sale of alcohol on April 13, Songkran day.
— The Thaiger

PTTEP acquiring 33.8% stake in Apico amid Asian expansion
SET-listed oil and gas drilling firm PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP) is acquiring a 33.8% stake in Apico LLC, a local oil and gas explorer and producer, in a transaction worth US$64 million.
— Bangkok Post

Car and house loans surged in 2018
The Bank of Thailand says they’re concerned about the double-digit growth in loans for cars last year.
— The Thaiger

Migrant workers in Thailand live harsh, but improving, reality
The clusters of yellow shipping containers sitting on a bleak parcel of land on the dusty outskirts of Bangkok are a symbol of Thailand’s growing dependence on migrant workers.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Thailand’s royal fiasco
Political drama of the type that beset Thailand on 8 February is not new. In the course of a single day, King Vajiralongkorn’s elder sister broke historical precedent by registering as a prime ministerial candidate — a move that the King himself condemned as unconstitutional and inappropriate only hours later.
— East Asia Forum

Bangkok organizes PM2.5 public relations event
Bangkok has organized a public relations event on air pollution in the capital, bringing together related organizations to help prevent and solve the problem of PM2.5 caused by motor vehicles.
— NBT World (video)

Democrats confident of bagging 20 House seats in Bangkok
The Democrat Party has set its sights on winning at least 20 House seats in Bangkok in the March 24 general election by keeping its old fans and wooing first-time voters, deputy party leader Korn Chatikavanij said.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Thailand, RoK, US marines conduct amphibious assault exercise
Marines of Thailand, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the US conducted an amphibious assault exercise at Hat Yao Beach in Thailand’s southeastern province of Chon Buri on February 16.
— Vietnam Plus

Election, Thai Raksa Chart drama top political news: Poll
The March 24 election in general, followed by the possible dissolution of the Thai Raksa Chart party, were the most interesting political news reported by various forms of media last week, according to the result of a survey by the Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, or Suan Dusit Poll.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Tham Luang cave to be closed from Feb 19
Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province will be closed to all visitors from February 19, 2019, to allow the Navy SEALs to recover equipment left in the cave after the international rescue mission rescued 13 members of the Wild Boar youth soccer team who had been trapped by flooding last July.
— NNT

Community Forest Bill passes NLA
The long-awaited Forest Community Bill has finally been approved by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), putting an end to campaigns by environmentalists and villagers – dating back almost three decades…
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Court Orders Voice TV Back On Air
A TV channel authorities ordered off the air earlier this week was back Friday due to a court ruling.
— Khaosod English

China, Thailand exchange in-depth views on South China Sea issue
Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai held here Saturday strategic consultations and exchanged in-depth views on the South China Sea issue.
— Global Times

Reading elections in the stars
The reestablishment of democracy after the March 24 election is not the only thing politicians and citizens are looking forward to.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Thailand-Cambodia GBC reaches mutual border security, economic deals
The Thailand-Cambodia General Border Committee (GBC) has reached an agreement to enhance mutual border security and economic deals without taking border issues as disputes.
— Pattaya Mail

Treasury to discuss Mor Chit concession
The Treasury Department will negotiate with Bangkok Terminal Co Ltd to seek greater benefits from leasing land for a long-delayed Mor Chit mixed-use development.
— Bangkok Post

Voters like Prayut as PM but prefer Pheu Thai as the party they will vote for
With the election campaign now digging into its first week on the hustings, the polls are starting to indicate where the early poll sentiments are leaning.
— The Thaiger

Rice bill not in farmers’ interests
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) made the right decision in backing down on the Rice Bill fight, removing controversial content which drew hefty criticism.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Majority prefer male PM in his 50s, says survey
A recent opinion survey by Super Poll revealed that the majority of people prefer their prime ministerial candidate to be a man in his early 50s with experience as an executive in both the private and public sectors.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

City officials begin random checks to enforce tough new anti smoking rules
PATTAYA:-Pattaya has begun daily random checks around public buildings, restaurants and other public places to enforce amendments to Thailand’s anti-smoking laws that took effect Feb. 3. Buppa Songsakulchai of the Public Health Department’s Consumer Protection Office, said city hall …
— The Pattaya News

Pheu Thai holds first Bangkok rally
The political party seen as the main challenger to the military-dominated government held its first rally in the capital on Friday, as campaigning heats up for the first election since 2011.
— Pattaya Mail

Sadao border checkpoint blocked by motorcycle taxis
The checkpoint between Thailand and Malaysia in Sadao district of this southern border province was temporarily blocked by a group of motorcycle taxi drivers, obstructing the passage of vehicles carrying tourists and cargo.
— Bangkok Post (very annoying popups)

Another 522 law breaking foreigners rounded up in crackdown
Round ’em up. Ship ’em out. The “X-Ray Outlaw Foreigners” crackdown to rid Thailand of over-stayers and illegal workers continues with more than 500 arrested in the past week.
— The Thaiger

Hashtags on the hustings
Political rookies in Thailand are embracing hashtag campaigns to make their way to the House.
The reestablishment of democracy after the March 24 election is not the only thing politicians and citizens are looking forward to.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

As Southeast Asia muzzles media, investors do business as usual
The arrest last week of a high-profile journalist in the Philippines and a gag order against a Thai television station are the latest reminders that Southeast Asia’s press freedoms rest on the whims of governments.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Why is Thailand so popular for medical tourists?
Considered to be one of the most popular destinations for contemporary medical tourism, Thailand continues to see a surge in patients seeking top quality, affordable care.
— The Thaiger

Tham Luang cave closure postponed until further notice
Cancelling Friday’s order to close the famous Tham Luang cave in Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Rai from February 19th, the public relations office in Chiang Mai announced today that…
— Thai PBS News

Two arrested for providing fake visa stamps in Nonthaburi
Police arrested a Thai man and a Myanmar national on Thursday for allegedly providing fake visa stamps at a foreign employment agency in Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Community Forest Bill passes NLA
The long-awaited Forest Community Bill has finally been approved by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), putting an end to campaigns by environmentalists and villagers – dating back almost three decades – to have more say in the designation of green areas.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Education Min cooperates with EC to publicize voting protocol
The Office of Non-formal and Informal Education (ONIE) has joined hands with the Election Commission (EC) to raise awareness of Thailand’s democratic system through the Sub-district Democracy Development Centers.
— NBT World (video)

Cops crack down on criminal monks
The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) has added a Suphan Buri temple abbot to a list of arrested criminal suspects on Valentine’s Day in its latest operation to “purify” Buddhism.
— Bangkok Post (very annoying popups)

MOPH organizes IQ-boosting activity for children
The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has cooperated with three ministries to organize an activity to help boost Thai children’s intelligence quotient (IQ) in Area Health 10.
— NNT

CCS Group only Thai company to build parts for Airbus and Boeing
There are not many aerospace players in Thailand, and most of them are not entirely owned by Thai nationals, except one. Sirakij Pornbanggird has the report.
— NBT World (video)

U.S. Polo Assn. Supports the Queen’s Cup Pink Polo 2019 in Partnership With Thailand Equestrian Foundation
U.S. Polo Assn. announces its support of the Queen’s Cup Pink Polo 2019, an event to be held Feb. 16 – 17 at Thai Polo & Equestrian Club.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

First photos show aftermath of Tham Luang rescue
The first photos of the conditions and various rescue items left inside Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province, where the young Mu Pa team footballers and their coach were trapped in June last year, were released on Friday.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Elephant stomps, gores camp owner to death
SUKHOTHAI: An elephant camp owner was stomped and gored to death by his pachyderm in Sri Satchanalai district on Saturday.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Opinion: Prayuth Returns as Only Viable Anti-Thaksin Candidate
Former Princess Ubolratana Mahidol’s short-lived bid to become prime minister – which ended when a royal command opposing her candidacy was issued Feb. 8 – revived the anti-Thaksin Shinawatra camp.
— Khaosod English

New Camry Hybrid provides luxury in a larger model with electric advantages
by Kingsley Wijayasinha – The Nation Weekend The interest in electric cars is hotting up in Thailand but Thai manufacturers, so far, have been reluctant to take the FULL electric plunge.
— The Thaiger

 

Feature photo Neil Shelley

 

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.

 

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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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