Thailand morning news for February 21, 2019

Defence spokesman defends military budget
The Thai military has defended its spending of about 1 trillion baht, or 7% of the fiscal budget, over the past five years and claimed it had not increased substantially.
— Thai PBS News

Chiang Mai University urges people to stay indoors as pollution worsens
IN THE face of persistent air pollution in the North, Chiang Mai University (CMU) has decided to issue warnings for locals to think twice before using the outdoor zone of its stadium.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Foreign investors flee Thai shares ahead of March election
Foreign investors have dumped 10.5 billion baht in Thai equities in seven straight sessions, the longest losing streak in more than two months, as worries about potential political instability grip the nation ahead of elections in March
— Bangkok Post

No drought this year, says irrigation dept
Enough water supplies until early 2020, says RID, as it readies measures to tackle problems.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

300,000 migrants expected to leave kingdom for Songkran
An exodus of nearly 300,000 migrant workers is expected from April 5-30 when they visit hometowns for the Songkran festival in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Post Today to go digital-only, M2F to shut down in March
With the rapid changes in the media industry, the Bangkok Post Group is transforming its business and operations to better respond to its audience
— Bangkok Post

Major quake feared in Lampang following minor tremors
The Earthquake Watch Division of Thailand’s Meteorological Department is closely monitoring a series of tremors in Wang Nua district of the northern province of Lampang today fearing a major earthquake…
— Thai PBS News

Thailand will swelter through searing temperatures this summer
Temperatures in Thailand this summer is forecast to be 1-2 degrees Celsius warmer than last year.
— The Thaiger

Thailand is now the world’s leader in mobile banking users as Thailand 4.0 road continues
According to a recent report, Thailand was noted to be the world’s leader in mobile banking users. The region was second for ownership of cryptocurrency, and third in mobile commerce, according to the Global Digital Report 2019. The report was conducted by a major social media management platform …
— The Pattaya News

The legalisation of marijuana for medical purposes, is now in effect
Whatever you want to call it, it can now be grown legally in Thailand and used in medical and scientific applications with the consent of the authorities, under strict guidelines.
— The Thaiger

Musical face-off in front of army headquarters
A battle of political songs – between pro-democracy activists on one side and the police on the other – took place in front of army headquarters this morning in what is a new twist in the aftermath of Army Commander-in-Chief Apirat Kongsompong’s resurrection of the outdated ultra-nationalist song, “Nak Paendin” (Burden of the Land).
— Thai PBS News

Police seek to prosecute Thanathorn over junta criticism
Police said on Wednesday said they were seeking the prosecution of the leader of the new political party Future Forward over a speech he made that was posted on Facebook last June criticising the ruling junta, the National Council for Peace and Order.
— Bangkok Post

Legislature delays passage of Rice Bill as review mulled
THE NATIONAL Legislative Assembly (NLA) has temporarily backtracked from its plan to urgently push through the controversial Rice Bill yesterday.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

BoT risk-wary, policy tightening to be gradual – minutes
The central bank kept its policy rate on hold this month and expects any future policy tightening to be gradual and dependent on data, according to meeting minutes released on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post

Koh Lan to return B95m waste budget
Koh Lan officials will return 95 million baht to Pattaya City Council after they failed to remove 50,000 tonnes of trash from the island, leaving its inhabitants struggling with the stench and the risk of a “trash slide”.
— Bangkok Post

Duty-free competition prepares for take-off at Thai airports
State-owned Airports of Thailand Plc approved guidelines on Wednesday for concessions for duty-free and commercial activities at its airports, as it prepares to open up retail space to new players.
— Bangkok Post

Amnesty Australia seeks inquiry over ‘monumental’ error in al-Araibi case
AMNESTY International Australia has called for the Australian government to conduct an independent investigation into what it called a monumental mistake that led to the much-publicised arrest and detention of a former Bahrain national footballer in Thailand.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

KTB: Thai economy to expand 4.1% this year
Krungthai Bank (KTB) has forecast the Thai economy will grow 4.1 percent this year due to the global economic slowdown.
— NNT

Thailand approves guidelines for opening airport retail space to competition
State-owned Airports of Thailand Pcl (AOT) approved guidelines on Wednesday (Feb 20) for concessions for duty-free and commercial activities at its airports, as it prepares to open up retail space to new players.
— Channel NewsAsia

Thailand 4.0 on road to sucess
According to a recent report, Thailand was noted to be the world’s leader in mobile banking users. The region was second for ownership of cryptocurrency, and third in mobile commerce, according to the Global Digital Report 2019.
— OpenGov

Thai Raksa Chart’s defence claims it was Princess’s wish to be its PM candidate
The pro-Thaksin Thai Raksa Chart party submitted its written defence to the Constitutional Court today against the Election Commission’s ruling that the party committed hostile acts against democracy under the constitutional monarchy by nominating Princess Ubolratana as its prime ministerial candidate.
— Thai PBS News

Russian accused of $28m fraud to be sent to US at FBI request
A Thai court on Wednesday decided to extradite a 47yearold Russian cybercrime suspect, Dmitry Ukrainsky, who is accused of stealing $28.5 million (Bt886 million) from the bank accounts of citizens of several countries, to the US.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Activists up in arms over new factory law
THE POLLUTION crisis will only worsen if the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) pushes through the revised Factory Act, environmentalists warned yesterday.
— The Pattaya News

Ex-beauty contestant gets life in prison for murder
The Criminal Court has sentenced a former beauty contestant to life behind bars for murdering her teenage housemaid and concealing the body near her mother’s house.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

Military hands over school building in Tak
The 3rd Army Area of the Royal Thai Army, along with American and Singaporean soldiers, have handed over a newly-constructed building to Ban Koh Ai Duan School in Tak province.
— NNT

Fire-walking ceremony held in Yala to preserve traditions, promote tourism
More than 1,000 people observed a fire-walking ritual in front of the Lim Kor Niew shrine in the southern border province of Yala on Tuesday (Feb 19).
— NNT

Private sector donates pollution masks to traffic police
The private sector has donated as many as 15,000 pollution masks to traffic police to protect their health while on duty.
— NNT

Advanced voting registration closes with over 2 million people registered
Registration for advanced voting in the upcoming general election has concluded with over 2 million people registered across the country and over 100,000 Thais abroad.
— Pattaya Mail

The legalisation of marijuana for medical purposes, is now in effect
Grass, pot, ganja, marijuana… cannabis. Whatever you want to call it, it can now be grown legally in Thailand and used in medical and scientific applications with the consent of the authorities, under strict guidelines.
— The Thaiger

Authorities rope off mud springs in Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima – Authorities have had to declare mud springs in Baan Nong Kung Noi in Nakhon Ratchasima province a disaster area, to bar locals who have persisted in consuming the mud and applying it to their skin believing it has supernatural properties.
— Pattaya Mail

Drugs busters employ fresh technology to kill new ‘highs’
THE OFFICE of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has been training personnel in drug analysis to handle new illicit substances, following a Chinese analysis lab’s recent discovery of 230 new psychoactive substances.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

PM plants Sri Lanka’s Bodhi tree in Ayutthaya
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha planted a Bodhi tree from Sri Lanka in Ayutthaya province on occasion of Makha Bucha Day.
— Pattaya Mail

FPO wavers on deadline for IFRS 9
The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) has proposed that the Finance Ministry push back a mandatory effective date for specialised financial institutions (SFIs) to adopt International Financial Reporting Standard…
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

TBMA looks into elderly savings scheme
The Thai Bond Market Association (TBMA) is studying a savings scheme for the elderly in preparation for when Thailand becomes an aged society.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

Thailand enters ‘summer’ tomorrow and it’s going to be hotter than last year
If you’ve ever powered through the kingdom’s “summer,” you’ll realize that statement is no laughing matter, and sadly, there’s no escaping it.
— Coconuts Bangkok

Southern Thailand’s Fractured Peace Process At A Crossroads – Analysis
The shock return to power of political veteran Mahathir Mohamad in Kuala Lumpur last May signaled not only a new dawn for Malaysia, but also fresh hope of a peaceful resolution to a decades-old conflict raging across the border in southern Thailand.
— Eurasia Review

Curriculum developed to conserve Thai cultural heritage sites
The Ministry of Labor has cooperated with the Fine Arts Department, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and network agencies to develop the Thai Cultural Heritage Site Conservation Curriculum.
— NNT

Rice bill critics not clued up on latest draft, says minister
Deputy Commerce Minister Chutima Bunyapraphasara tried Tuesday to placate opponents of the controversial rice bill, saying critics are mistakenly commenting on the previous draft, not the recently updated…
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

Hungarian expertise tapped for managing Mekong
Hungary, which has had success in resolving water-management issues with its neighbours in eastern and central Europe that share the Danube River, has been asked to help Thailand work out a plan for the Mekong.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)

BreadTalk buys out joint venture partner in Thailand for $6.96m
F&B chain BreadTalk has bought out its partner in a joint venture in Thailand, acquiring the remaining 50 per cent interest in the company that it does not own from The Minor Food Group (MFG) for 160 million baht (S$6.96 million), it said on Wednesday (Feb 20).
— The Straits Times

Vietnamese steel exports subject to Thailand’s final anti dumping review
Vietnam Net reported that the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, recently reported that it had received information that Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade begun the final stages of investigation into the matter on January 28.
— SteelGuru

Fog or smog: Bangkok’s overcast future
While there is an ongoing debate about whether the hazy Bangkok skyline is just a blip on the radar or Bangkokians need to get used to wearing N95 masks, the future of Bangkok’s property market has also become overcast with significant changes approaching.
— Bangkok Post

The Hidden Easter Eggs Inside Thailand’s New Cannabis Law
From full legalization to whole new industries, there are Easter Eggs hidden in the new cannabis law.
— Khaosod English

Thief steals rescuer’s wallet on Hua Hin beach
A tourist has drowned whilst swimming at Hua His Beach near Soi 69. Tragic indeed. But a foreigner Good Samaritan who went in to help the man has had his wallet stolen from the beach whilst trying to save the man.
— The Thaiger

Army chief’s song reference draws mixed reaction
Small groups of pro- and anti-military activists gathered in front of army headquarters on Wednesday, expressing opinions on the army chief’s predilection for an anti-communist song from the mid-1970s.
— Bangkok Post

Feature photo Neil Shelley

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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 21 added by John Le Fevre on February 21, 2019
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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.