Thailand morning news for May 20

Thailand morning news for May 20
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Thailand morning news

Lack of skilled labour threatens EEC
The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) policy committee is now focusing on improving educational measures to help curb the skilled labour shortages in Rayong, Chon Buri, and Chachoengsao — the three eastern provinces where the EEC project is located.
— Bangkok Post

Three state enterprises sign MOU to boost exports for SME
Three state enterprises have signed an agreement to provide financial support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in dealing with export markets.
— NBT World (video)

5,000 Buriram citizens register for medical marijuana possession
by Tanakorn Sangiam The 90 day registration period for persons in possession of marijuana, without facing prosecution, end this Tuesday, May 21. 5,000+ persons in Buriram, north-east Thailand, have already registered their possession during this period.
— The Thaiger

Thailand on Red Alert in Bid to Stop ‘Pig Ebola’ Crossing Border
Thailand, one of Asia’s top pork producers, is intensifying efforts to hold off a lethal pig virus that’s causing havoc as it spreads across the region.
— Bloomberg

BMA opens agricultural clinic in honor of HM the King
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has held a mobile agricultural clinic activity in honor of His Majesty the King on the auspicious occasion of the royal coronation 2019 to provide agricultural information and advice to farmers, for further development of their produce.
— NBT World (video)

Tourists warned not to swim in polluted sea off Pattaya
Tourists visiting Thailand’s Pattaya resort town have been advised not to swim in the sea, especially off the Na Chom Thian beach, after the sea in the area turned black…
— Thai PBS News

Home loan slump worries officials
The Finance Ministry is poised to ask the Bank of Thailand to ease new mortgage lending curbs following a considerable slump in housing loans after the curbs took effect in April.
— Bangkok Post

Call to take weed policy further
Tuesday is the final day for a government amnesty over those who wish to declare cannabis which they have in their possession for medicinal use. After that, those caught with the drug could be arrested and charged.
— Bangkok Post

Thanathorn may face probe over Future Forward Party loan
Activist Srisuwan Janya is planning to petition the Election Commission (EC) to investigate whether Future Forward Party (FFP) leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has broken the law for giving a loan worth over 100 million baht to his own party.
— Bangkok Post

Democrat party still split on whether the party is in government or in opposition
An informed Democrat Party source said that they are still split, with one faction led by party secretary-general Chalermchai Sri-on, which wants to join the Palang Pracharat-led group, and the…
— Thai PBS News

‘Kingmakers’ to decide on ally stance
All eyes will be on the Bhumjaithai and Democrat parties on Monday as both are scheduled to deliberate and possibly announce their alliance with either the Pheu Thai-led camp, or the so-called “pro-regime” camp.
— Bangkok Post

Disabled dog rescues baby buried alive in Thailand by teenage mother
A disabled dog named Ping Pong has become the pride of his village in northeast Thailand, after rescuing a baby boy who had been buried alive by his teenage mother.
— SCMP

Chayathan set to take over rail department
Chayathan Promsorn,deputy director of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP)is likely to be named as chief of new Rail Department, a source at the Transport Ministry said.
— Bangkok Post

Seminar held to dicuss laborers role in SE Asia
A seminar was held to discuss the role workers play in pushing forward Southeast Asia’s society, economy, and politics.
— NBT World (video)

Funds for 20 royally initiated projects approved
The Special Coordinating Committee for Royally Initiated Projects has approved funds for the implementation of 20 royally initiated projects, involving water resources, the environment, occupational promotions and integrated development.
— NBT World (video)

Registration and traffic fine databases linked after July 1
Car owners, and presumably motorbike owners, will be unable to renew their vehicle registration or licenses if they fail to pay traffic fines after July 1.
— The Thaiger

Chief peace negotiator for southern insurgent groups resigns
Mara Patani’s peace dialogue chief Sukree Hari has announced an end to his role in negotiations with the Thai government to end the decade-old violence in Thailand’s deep South, citing…
— Thai PBS News

On a mission to bring Thaicom back to earth
While SET-listed Thaicom Plc, the nation’s sole satellite service provider, has its present set in space, chief executive Anant Kaewruamvongs is looking to ground the sunsetting segment and diversify the company with new revenue-generating ventures.
— Bangkok Post

Nearly half of coral off Nai Yang damaged, killed by bleaching
Specialists from the Department of Natural Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) have discovered that some 10% of coral off Nai Yang Beach are dead because of bleaching while 30% more damaged.
— The Phuket News

Rainy season officially to begin May 20
The Meteorological Department Director General Kornrawee Sitthichivapak has revealed that Thailand will officially be entering the rainy season on Monday 20th May this year, as all weather criteria will be met for the season with frequent rainfalls from the prevailing seasonal …
— Pattaya Mail

HM the King grants relief kits to disaster victims in Tak
His Majesty the King has graciously assigned Privy Councillor Admiral Pongthep Nuthep to deliver hundreds of royally bestowed disaster relief kits to storm affected members of the public in Tak province.
— Pattaya Mail

Provincial chief prosecutor fights for clean beaches
PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: Wimolphan Puttiwattanasathaporn works as the provincial chief public prosecutor on weekdays and moonlights as a beach trash buster on Sundays.
— Bangkok Post

Most oppose pulling rank to avoid driving licence check: Nida Poll
A majority of people say they never try to avoid showing their driving licence when asked to do so by traffic police and disagree with anyone trying to use their rank or influence to do so, according to an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll.
— Bangkok Post

Airbus to send venture proposals
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has been urged to submit related proposals for the formation of a joint venture with Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) by June 7 to develop the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Rayong’s U-Tapao airport.
— Bangkok Post

Draft windfall tax on EEC agenda
The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Office plans to talk with the Finance Ministry soon about a draft bill on taxing windfall gains to collect capital gains tax from companies, property owners and speculators that are expected to gain from inflated prices for plots as new infrastructure is …
— Bangkok Post

Pheu Thai’s Sudarat says Democrats are “final infinity stone” to stop the junta
Pheu Thai party’s election strategy chief Sudarat Keyuraphan is trying to woo the Democrat party to her pro-democracy coalition, describing the Democrat party leader Jurin Laksanavisit as the savior who…
— Thai PBS News

Fishermen in Trang province boycott Marine and Coastal Resources Dpt.
Fishermen in Thailand’s southern province of Trang have boycotted the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources to protest against the arrest of one of their leaders, whom they claim is…
— Thai PBS News

School milk goes under the microscope
The Agriculture Ministry has ordered an urgent nationwide inspection of the provision of milk to schools under the school milk project in order to assess each supplier’s performance.
— Bangkok Post

Lampang farmers receive community occupational land permits
Villagers in seven subdistricts of Lampang have received permit booklets from the community occupational land allocation campaign, provided by Lampang province, Lampang Land Development Station, and local agencies.
— NNT

BMA officials inspects drainage system to prepare for rainy season
Bangkok officials have stepped up the inspection of drainage systems in preparation for the rainy season, especially along major canals and sky train extension construction routes, most recently assessing the Green Line extension in Bang Khen district.
— Pattaya Mail

Remote Karen tribesman flown from western jungle to hospital for emergency surgery
A Karen tribesman, suffering a life-threatening acute illness, has been airlifted from his remote hut deep in the jungles of Kanchanaburi, to the Sangkhla Buri Hospital for emergency treatment.
— The Thaiger

Four southern islands to be closed to tourists during monsoon
Four islands in the Haad Chao Mai National Park in Trang, southern Thailand, will be closed to tourists for four months starting June 1.
— The Thaiger

JCK wins bid to build border SEZ
The Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Committee has endorsed the selection of JCK International as a developer for the planned SEZ in Nakhon Phanom, said Thosaporn Sirisamphand, secretary-general to the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB).
— Bangkok Post

PTTEP allots $50m for AI, E&P activity
SET-listed oil and gas drilling firm PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) has earmarked US$50 million (1.59 billion baht) for a three-year business plan to search for innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to support exploration and production (E&P) activity.
— Bangkok Post

2-year campaign to include sexual diversity in school curricula succeeds
Change.org reported on its website on Saturday that its campaign to introduce LGBT education in health and physical activity curricula, starting at Grade 1, has proved successful and will be…
— Thai PBS News

People invited to observe Jupiter, Saturn, Moon conjunction
The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) is inviting people nationwide to observe the conjunctions of the Moon with Jupiter and Saturn from May 20-23, 2019. The conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter will take place on May 20 and will be visible from 20.30 until …
— Pattaya Mail

Man run over, killed by train at Bang Sue station
A man was killed after being run over by a train at Bang Sue railway station in Bangkok on Sunday morning, police said.
— Bangkok Post

‘The beach’ gets makeover
It was a bold move for the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to close Maya Bay, a world-famous beach, for two years to allow the local ecosystems to recover.
— Bangkok Post

GSB, Airbnb join forces on homestay
State-owned Government Savings Bank (GSB) will offer special loans to homestay operators, and Airbnb will help these operators access travellers through the accommodation-sharing giant’s platform.
— Bangkok Post

BGRIM, LG Chem in energy storage accord
B.Grimm Power Plc (BGRIM) has formed collaboration with LG Chem Ltd of South Korea to develop the Battery Management System (BMS) for BGRIM’s power plants.
— NNT

Defense Ministry organizes activities to mark Vesak Day
The Ministry of Defense is inviting people to participate in merit making, alms offering and triple circumambulation. The Ministry of Defense has also organized an activity to promote morality and ethics on the occasion of Vesak Festival 2019.
— NNT

Thai artist dishes out communal curry at US museum
Rich or poor, liberal or conservative, from one corner of the globe to another, we all sit down to share a meal.
— Coconuts (paywall)

Jazz exceeds expectations at golf’s PGA Championship
FARMINGDALE, New York, US: Jazz Janewattananond thought he would struggle to break 80 at Bethpage Black when he saw the course on Monday but has exceeded expectations with three rounds no worse than par that has lifted him into a tie for second behind runaway leader Brooks Koepka.
— Bangkok Post

30 illegal racers rounded up in Hat Yai
Thirty racers, most of them teenagers, were rounded up and 32 motorcycles seized by police while illegally racing on Rat Uthit road through the heart of Hat Yai city early on Sunday, police said.
— Bangkok Post

Hua Hin resort gets land lease reprieve for a year
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board has agreed to extend a land lease contract with Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin for another year pending talks over a contract renewal, said SRT governor Worawut Mala.
— Bangkok Post

Don Mueang-Betong flights planned
The Department of Airports is in talks with Bangkok Airways and Nok Air about operating flights between Don Mueang airport in Bangkok and a new airport in Betong district of Yala province, due to open in June next year.
— Bangkok Post

Small lenders unfazed
The impact from the Bank of Thailand’s amended title loan regulation is expected to be minimal on the industry’s lending growth, says Ngern Tid Lor (NTL) Co Ltd, a leading player in the business.
— Bangkok Post

 

Feature photo John Le Fevre

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day for Biological Diversity, May 22.

 

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. Due to The Nation‘s habit of hijacking urls and diverting them to promotion pages we no longer include it in our clippings.

 

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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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