Thailand morning news for October 2

Thailand morning news for October 2
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Thailand morning news

WTO cuts trade growth forecast
The World Trade Organisation has cut its global trade growth forecast for this year to the weakest level in a decade, warning that further rounds of tariffs in an environment of heightened uncertainty could spark a “destructive cycle of recrimination.”
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s king takes personal control of two key army units
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has ordered the transfer of two army units to the direct command of the palace, a royal decree taking effect on Tuesday (Oct 1) showed, the latest move by the constitutional monarch to consolidate his personal authority.
— CNA

Shippers expect gloom with 2019 forecast slash
Shippers have again trimmed their annual export growth forecast to -1.5% from -1% in July, mainly due to the ongoing Sino-US trade row and weak global demand.
— Bangkok Post

Polluting vehicles to be ordered off city roads
Vehicles with dirty exhaust emissions will be ordered off the roads as part of the measures to fight the smog plaguing the capital.
— Bangkok Post

Smog continues to blanket Bangkok and surround provinces
Bangkok and surrounding provinces remain cloaked in dust and smog today, with a red zone reported in Saraburi province, north of Bangkok.
— The Thaiger

Thai state railway board members resign, effective immediately
Two days ago the story about the transport Minister pressuring board members of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). Two days later, not some but ALL, board members of the SRT, including the board’s chairman Kulit Sombatsiri, tendered their resignations to Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob.
— The Thaiger

Thailand’s Gulf Energy and PTT to build $1.33 billion LNG project with the government
Thailand’s Gulf Energy Development Pcl and state-owned PTT Pcl will build a 40.9 billion baht ($1.3 billion) gas terminal and port on the country’s east coast, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) said on Tuesday.
— Reuters

Thailand’s businesses await Prayuth’s red-tape ‘guillotine’
Red tape in this country is cut lengthwise,” said David Lyman, an American lawyer and former president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand. “It goes on and on.”
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Thailand expects jump in Chinese tourists in Golden Week after year-ago lull
Thailand is set to see a jump in visitors from China during the “Golden Week” holidays this week due to relaxation of visa rules and as safety worries after a boat accident last year recede, industry executives said.
— Reuters

Tuk-tuk in Thailand to get a makeover, government plans to transform commute with autonomous vehicles
Thailand’s ubiquitous tuk-tuk, the noisy, colourful three-wheeled taxi that’s been belching exhaust on local roads for almost a century, is getting a cutting-edge makeover to help carry the local auto industry into the future.
— The Economic Times

Dept vows to appeal Premchai acquittal
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has vowed to appeal Tuesday’s court verdict acquitting construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta and his wife of illegal ivory possession.
— Bangkok Post

Thai gov’t blames weather, vehicles for hazardous smog
Faced with the return of hazardous air pollution to Bangkok, the government yesterday blamed a high-pressure system and vehicle exhaust for putting the capital back among the world’s most-polluted cities.
— Coconuts (paywall)

BMTA buses now accept contactless, mobile payments
The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) today officially started accepting bus fare payments using pre-paid fare cards, contactless credit and debit cards, or mobile baking apps, thereby reducing the cost of paper ticket manufacturing.
— NNT

Thailand generates less marine debris
The amount of marine debris generated in Thailand has dropped to 21,700-32,600 tons annually, after the initial success of a project to increase the reuse and recycling of materials by 25 percent.
— NNT

Vegetarian Festival celebrants warned over firecrackers
Phuket City Police and Phuket City Municipality have both issued warnings over dangerous use of firecrackers during the ongoing Phuket Vegetarian Festival, especially the practice of throwing firecrackers into crowds of people either taking part in the street processions or lining the roads watching the festivities
— The Phuket News

BMA to test ‘air purification tower’
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has announced a plan to install a four-metre air purification tower in central Bangkok, in a pilot project to combat the PM2.5, or fine particulate matter, pollution blanketing the city.
— Bangkok Post

Study predicts up to B800m health related opportunity cost if haze lasts 2 weeks
The return of haze to Bangkok and its peripherals will incur a health derived opportunity cost to the economy, estimated at 700-800 million baht, if the poor air quality lasts…
— Thai PBS News

Solving Thailand’s smoke haze problems. “Use shorter or smaller joss-sticks.”
Just checking that it’s actually October 1, not April 1… Thailand’s deputy public health minister has, without a hint of irony, suggested a way to alleviate the haze blanketing parts of Thailand, including swathes of the South and Bangkok.
— The Thaiger

House mulling complaint over pricey land
The House standing committee on corruption is expected to discuss on Wednesday a complaint about a City Hall plan to purchase an overpriced plot of land in northern Bangkok, according to a source in parliament.
— Bangkok Post

King of fruit exports: Thailand retains position as largest durian exporter
Thailand has retained its position as the largest exporter of durians globally, with China its top export destination – but it looks set to face some serious competition.
— Food Navigator-Asia

Fighter Exercise Highlights Australia-Thailand Air Force Ties
Last month, Australia and Thailand held another iteration of their air force exercise. The exercise highlighted the security aspect of the wider relationship between the two countries amid wider domestic and regional developments.
— The Diplomat

Authorities prepare farmers guarantee payments
The government is making several payments related to farmers income guarantee campaigns, starting with oil palm farmers today (1st October), and rice farmers from 15th October. The Deputy Prime Mininster and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit, held a video conference ensuring the preparedness of all agencies for transactions.
— NNT

MRTA to issue measure to reduce fares to attract passengers
Mr. Phakhaphong Sirikantharamas, Governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand or MRTA, disclosed ways to reduce the burden of traveling expenses for the public and encourage people to use the public transport system instead of personal cars to help solve the traffic congestion problem in Bangkok and its vicinity.
— NNT

Election Commision rules that MP of Khon Kaen is no longer qualified after being convicted and sent to jail for masterminding the murder of a local official
The Election Commission (EC) has ruled that Pheu Thai MP for Khon Kaen, Mr. Nawath Tohcharoensook, is no longer qualified to be an MP, after he was convicted and sent to jail by the Khon Kaen provincial court for masterminding the murder of a local official.
— The Pattaya News

Prosecutors drop case against Thanathorn over his criticism of attempts to get Opposition MPs to defect.
The public prosecutors have decided not to indict Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and two other party members on charges of spreading false information to discredit members of the…
— Thai PBS News

September headline inflation rises 0.32% y-o-y, below forecast
Thailand’s annual headline consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.32% in September from a year earlier, less than expected, commerce ministry data showed on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Digital Economy Fund expedience mandated
The Digital Economy and Society Ministry and related agencies have been ordered to speed up approving applications for the Digital Economy and Society Development Fund (Digital Economy Fund), set up a couple of years ago to upgrade Thailand’s telecom infrastructure.
— Bangkok Post

PM warns private and public sectors to cooperate in reducing harmful emissions
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha today warned members of the public and the private sector to significantly reduce their carbon and dust emissions or face tougher action by the government.
— Thai PBS News

Premchai, his wife and an aide acquitted of illegal possession of ivory
Italian-Thai Development boss Premchai Karnasuta, his wife Mrs. Kanitta and her close aide, Ms. Wandee Sompoom, were today all acquitted by the Criminal Court on charges of illegal possession of…
— Thai PBS News

Permits revoked for big coal ships
The Central Administrative Court has revoked permits for ships carrying cargo exceeding 500 gross tonnage from unloading their freight at piers along the Pasak River in Nakhon Luang district.
— Bangkok Post

By-election due to replace convicted MP
The Election Commission has disqualified Nawat Tohcharoensuk, the Pheu Thai MP who was convicted of murder, paving the way for a by-election to replace him in Constituency 7 of Khon Kaen province, according to House speaker Chuan Leekpai.
— Bangkok Post

Have a plant
Opting for less meat in a meal has a direct impact not just on your heart, but also your health. Let’s see here how a new perspective of eating well…
— Thai PBS News

18 foreign companies receive licences to operate in Thailand – September
“Since January this year, 155 foreign companies have been granted licences to conduct business in Thailand.” The Thai Department of Business Development has granted licences, during September, to 18 foreign companies to conduct business in Thailand.
— The Thaiger

After Thai Man Arrested in Egypt, Prawit Denies IS Link to Thailand
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said on Monday denied any connection between the Islamic State and Thailand, despite the recent arrest of a Thai student in Egypt on suspicion of belonging to the terror group.
— Khaosod English

Stop growing marijuana without our permission, warns Thai narcotics board
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) in Thailand is warning the public that cannabis plants cannot be grown at home without official permission, adding that the law is clear the plants can only be grown for medical use and research purposes.
— The Thaiger

Commerce Ministry plans support for service segments
The Commerce Ministry intends to beef up support of restaurant, elderly care, asset management and beauty services next year to raise income for the country.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s indigenous people being marginalised, warn human rights groups
A report by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, shared by ThaiVisa, says that human rights groups are warning that Thailand’s indigenous people risk losing more of their land and being further marginalised by a tourism industry that continues to ignore their plight.
— The Thaiger

Phuket Vice Governor moved out in regular transfers
Prakob Wongmaneerung, who has served as a Phuket Vice Governor since Oct 1, 2017, has been transferred out of Phuket among the regular annual transfers announced each year for Oct 1.
— The Phuket News

Mah Songs parade through Phuket Town exciting tourists and locals
Today, the Sapam and Bangku Shrines started their Mah Song parade, also known as ‘Lew Geng’ around the the main city of Phuket, in Phuket Town on the island’s east coast.
— The Thaiger

Monitor lizard caught hiding in Patong
Emergency officers are urging people to not approach any monitor lizards they may happen across after one of the lizards was caught hiding in a blue plastic water pipe at a building supplies shop in Patong.
— The Phuket News

 

Feature photo Achara Paisanteerajit

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on lax road law enforcement in Thailand

 

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.

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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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