Air pollution alert for Friday
Air pollution is expected to get worse in Bangkok on Friday following a slight improvement in weather conditions on Thursday.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Asean foreign ministers retreat in Chiang Mai (video)
Asean foreign ministers and senior officials have gathered in the northern Thailand city of Chiang Mai for the 2019 Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AFMR) and the Asean Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM).
— AEC News Today
Toxic haze to make return this weekend
The haze is expected to worsen again over the weekend in Bangkok after the cold front over Thailand dissipates, according to the Meteorological Department.
— Bangkok Post
KBank says 31.50 ceiling possible for baht in Q1
The baht’s value could appreciate to 31.50 against the US dollar this quarter because prevailing global financial volatility is poised to compel investors to seek refuge in new safe-haven destinations, says Kasikornbank (KBank).
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)
March 24 “most suitable date” for election: Wissanu
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam hinted today that the much-awaited election could be held on March 24.
— Thai PBS World
Police to fine polluters 1,000 baht, Ministry of Commerce sells face masks amid shortage
Police have been stringently screening motor vehicles for exhaust quality, amid worsening smog in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce has opened a sales point for face masks, to help overcome a chronic shortage.
— NBT World (video)
Czechs eye Thai trade, technology
The government of the Czech Republic along with 39 companies from the Central European country met with the Thai government on Wednesday to discuss investment in trade and technological development in…
— Bangkok Post
Asean foreign ministers to focus on a win-win Indo-Pacific strategy
Asean foreign ministers will seek to find a common Indo-Pacific strategy during their informal meeting in Chiang Mai today to deal with the changing geopolitical situation.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Alibaba and Thai companies jointly invest in EEC e-commerce project
The Thai Minister of Industry, Uttama Savanayana, stated that the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba and the Thai distribution and industry company, WHA Corporation Plc, have made joint investment plans.
— Fresh Plaza
Long-term plan laid out to tackle PM2.5
Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has laid out a long-term plan to cope with particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5).
— NNT
World Bank tells Thailand to invest in public services
Investing in people and public services will help Thailand become a high-income country, the World Bank has suggested.
— Public Finance International
TCEB fine-tunes incentive campaigns
Responding to a study that says incentive travel is the fastest growing segment in Asia-Pacific’s events business, the Thailand Conventions & Exhibitions Bureau will adapt its game plan to tap this lucrative market.
— TTR Weekly
SCB’s net profit dwindles 23% year-on-year
Siam Commercial Bank’s unaudited consolidated net profit tumbled 23% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2018, largely due to a decline in non-interest income and higher loan-loss provisions and expenses…
— Bangkok Post (very annoying popups)
Chiang Mai man arrested after raping his own mother
A Chiang Mai man has been arrested after just being released from jail for killing his step father only to rape his own mother. 31 year old Chaiya Tanaa from Chiang Mai had caused distress to locals after he fled the area following the rape last month. Police discovered that he was hiding out in […]
— Thaiger
PH, Thailand ink pact strengthening info cooperation
A long-standing friendship just got a bit stronger after officials of the Philippines and Thailand on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for greater information and media cooperation.
— Philippine News Agency
Delaying elections ‘will hurt economy’
Experts also warn that instability after poll will keep away investors, affect local consumption and also pose an obstacle to export sector
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
EEC Office upbeat ahead of election
The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project is unlikely to be affected by the upcoming election, thanks to the EEC Act that came into force last May.
— Bangkok Post (very annoying popups)
Rail Construction Halted, Drivers Fined as Smog Persists
BANGKOK — Major construction will be suspended and gross polluters busted across the capital as the authorities struggle to reduce the unhealthy smog levels which have plagued the capital for days.
— Khaosod English
Police traffic tickets set to go digital
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) agreed in principle on Thursday to amend the 1979 Land Transport Act to replace the old traffic violation ticketing system with a digital one.
— Bangkok Post
Driving slowly in high-speed lane to soon become a punishable offence
MOTORISTS driving at low speed in right-hand lanes will soon be subjected to fines, thanks to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), giving a nod in principle to a draft law amending the Land Traffic Act yesterday.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Burmese human-trafficking suspect escapes from Songkhla police cell
A Burmese suspect has broken free from a detention room at a police station in Songkhla today where he was detained pending a human trafficking investigation.
— The Thaiger
Expat apartment demand still strong
Despite increased competition from rental units in condominiums, the prospects for the single-ownership apartment market in the prime areas of Bangkok are still positive, according to property consultant CBRE.
— Bangkok Post (very annoying popups)
Chinese students are flocking to Thai universities, drawn by cheaper fees and friendlier visa rules
Chinese national Cherry He Ting rattles off in fluent Thai as she presents her masters thesis ahead of graduating from a Bangkok university, where she has studied for the past three-and-a-half years.
— South China Morning Post
Brain surgery for female Thai boxing student
A 29-year-old woman has regained consciousness following brain surgery after she collapsed while taking a Muay Thai class.
— The Standard
‘Time to start talking about consent’: Thailand’s nascent #MeToo moment
In a small bookshop in Suan Phlu, a lively district of Bangkok, an unusual conversation is taking place.
— The Guardian
More dead whales along the southern Gulf coast
Two young Omura whales have been separately found on Songkhla’s beaches. They were probably from the same herd.
— The Thaiger
Thai bonds may benefit from Brexit turmoil, says analyst
The rejection of British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit plan makes Thai bonds more attractive, says an analyst.
— The Nation (very annoying-pop-ups)
Prawit under fire over remarks on Nairobi terrorist attack
Kenyan media have taken offence at Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon’s remarks on the DusitD2 hotel attack in Nairobi, in which he joked about the terrorists’ motive and suggested all that mattered was all Thais were safe.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)
PTT, BIG join hands to develop air separation unit
PTT Plc has cooperated with Bangkok Industrial Gas Co (GAS) to spend 1.5 billion baht to develop an air separation unit for industrial gas in Rayong province.
— NNT
Exemption of visa on arrival fees to boost Chinese New Year
The National News Bureau of Thailand is reporting that visitors from 21 countries are getting their visa on arrival fee waived until April 30, 2019.
— Thaiger
Ancient artefacts returned from the US
Forty six ancient artefacts from various periods were returned to Thailand Thursday from the US.
— Bangkok Post
Searca, Thai school eye program for poor farmers
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) based in the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) and Kasetsart University (KU) in Thailand held initial discussions on how to help poor Southeast Asian farmers, with the aim of combining the center’s approach to promoting inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development (ISARD) and the university’s Knowledge of the Land Program anchored on the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP).
— The Manila Times
DLT introducing electronic licenses
Bangkok – The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has officially begun to introduce electronic driver’s licenses, launching a downloadable application that can digitally hold driver authorizations and vehicle details. DLT Director-General Pirapol Tawornsupacharoen this week explained that with electronic licenses made valid on January 14, citizens may now download the DLT’s E-License application for either […]
— Pattaya Mail
Thailand: ASEAN Insights: Thailand — Onward To Industry 4.0
Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand attract the majority of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) spent within The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
— Mondaq
TAT cultivates India as rich source of tourist arrivals
India has emerged as an inbound tourism market for Thailand, with arrival numbers expected to reach 5 million by 2023.
— Bangkok Post
Career development program extended for another six months
The Thai government-initiated career development program under the social welfare card scheme has been extended for another six months.
— NNT
Big 3 tepid on 700MHz bid as financial burden weighs
The country’s three major mobile operators are wavering on the 700-megahertz spectrum auction scheduled for May, citing the existing financial burden from previous auctions and planned infrastructure costs for future 5G development.
— Bangkok Post (very annoying popups)
Post-election scenario Prayut’s rivals won’t like
Is the pro-election camp barking up the wrong tree? Quite likely, according to some analysts who scrutinize the 2017 Constitution beyond the contentious “150 days” rule.
— Thai PBS World
Cambodia imports $16m in Thai ACs
Air conditioner imports from Thailand were valued at about US$16 million last year – a fraction of the total US$5 billion Thailand earned from its air conditioner exports to international markets, Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion at the Ministry of Commerce said.
— The Nation (very annoying-pop-ups)
Nissan keen on local plant
Thailand has been chosen as the first manufacturing hub outside Japan for Nissan’s electric vehicles, says the regional executive for Nissan in Asia and Oceania.
— Bangkok Post (very annoying popups)
New B25mn tsunami-warning buoy ‘to be operational tomorrow’
A new tsunami-warning buoy costing B25 million that was deployed from Phuket yesterday (Jan 16) should be operational by tomorrow morning, feeding raw data to the National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) in Bangkok so that tsunami alerts or warnings can be issued if needed.
— The Phuket News
Banks to appeal to rich elderly to forgo allowance
In a fresh attempt, the Finance Ministry will call on financial institutions to encourage wealthy elderly people to forgo old-age living allowance so it can be redirected to the needy.
— Bangkok Post
No sign of drug reform in Thailand
The Ministry of Defence has weighed in on drug trafficking but in the most familiar manner.
— Khmer Times
PM launches 1 Tambon 1 Quality School program in Lampang
After concluding the Cabinet retreat in Chiang Mai province, the Prime Minister chaired the launch of a 1 Tambon 1 Quality School project in Lampang province.
— NBT World (video)
Up to 10K baht paid to Thai women for marriage license
Indian men have been paying up to 10,000 Baht to Thai women for a marriage license.
— The Thaiger
Thailand’s PTT to start LNG desk in Singapore to expand trading
Thailand’s state energy firm PTT is planning to start a liquefied natural gas (LNG) desk in Singapore to expand its trading activities of the super-chilled fuel, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
— Reuters Africa
Belarusian ‘sex trainer’ deported from Thailand
Anastasia Vashukevich, aka. Nastya Rybka, the Belarusian model who claimed she had ‘dirt’ on Donald Trump and Russian efforts to help win the US Presidency, has been shipped off to the airport and deported from Thailand.
— The Thaiger
Chiang Mai – the good, bad and ugly sides to Thailand’s second city
There are more than 300 temples in Chiang Mai; they outnumber 7/11 stores, which takes some doing in Thailand.
— South China Morning Post
Australian woman deported from Thailand after overstaying by 111 days
An Australian woman who overstayed her visa by more than 100 days will be released from detention and deported by Thai authorities on Thursday evening.
— The Sydney Morning Herald
Feature photo Luma Health
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 January 18 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