Thailand morning news for August 20

Thailand morning news for August 20
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Thailand morning news

Prawit pours cold water on visa plan
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon on Monday weighed in on the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s proposal to waive visa requirements for Chinese and Indian tourists to stimulate the economy, saying he disagreed with granting them easy access.
— Bangkok Post

Thai Immigration bristles about TM30 revolt as it copes with PR disaster
The TM30 form, as well as the associated TM28 form, have now become a huge public relations liability for the Thai Immigration Department.
— The Thaiger

Thailand’s second quarter growth rate lowest in 19 quarters
Thailand’s economic growth rate for the second quarter of this year registered at 2.3%, compared to 2.8% for the first quarter, which is the lowest in 19 quarters, said Mr. Tossaporn Sirisamphan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), Thailand’s economic think-tank.
— Thai PBS News

Smoking at home becomes domestic violence Tuesday in Thailand
Light up at home and go to jail? Not quite. But starting tomorrow, legal action can be taken by those affected by a smoker at their residence, according to a law adopted earlier this year and coming into effect Tuesday.
— Coconuts Bangkok

Agency shrugs off Prayat impeachment threat
The head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) yesterday shrugged off a threat by NACC deputy secretary-general Prayat Puangjumpa who is seeking to impeach the commission for allegedly pursuing a false assets-concealment case against him.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s Roads Are Deadly. Especially if You’re Poor.
The rules of a highly unequal society extend even to the highways, where have-nots are far more likely to be killed than haves.
— The New York Times

Van crash toll rises to 12
The death toll from Sunday’s passenger van crash in Sa Kaeo rose to 12 yesterday when another victim succumbed to injuries.
— Bangkok Post

THAI struggling with huge debt, executives asked to take voluntarily pay cut
Thai Airways International, the national flag carrier, appears to be in a deep financial crisis and may have to delay debt repayments or seek new loans.
— Thai PBS News

“Government stimulus package for Thai economy is unsustainable”
Anusorn Tamajai, an economist from Rangsit University, says he expects the proposed package to make little difference and has declared it unsustainable.
— The Thaiger

Calls for total ban on use of single-use plastic bags
The death of baby dugong Mariam, which was found to be caused from problems associated with plastic bags blocking her digestive system, has brought about renewed calls for stricter control, or a complete ban, on the use of single-use plastic bags.
— The Thaiger

PM insists he won’t quit for oath blunder
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha insists he will not step down as pressure grows over the oath-taking controversy in which he failed to recite the full oath of office during the cabinet swearing-in ceremony last month.
— Bangkok Post

Environment Ministry aims to increase dugong numbers by 50% in 10 years
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment aims to increase the population of dugong in Thailand’s waters by 50%, from approximately 250, in the next ten years, said Mr. Pinsak.
— Thai PBS News

After 60 years, electricity arrives in Ubon Ratchatani villages
After waiting 6 decades. More than 200 families in two villages in Ubon Ratchatani in north-eastern Thailand are celebrating the arrival of electricity in their homes.
— The Thaiger

Thai official dismisses Muslim insurgent demand on detainees
A Thai deputy prime minister dismissed on Monday (Aug 18) a demand made by a Malay Muslim group to free those detained over alleged links to the long-running insurgency in Thailand’s mainly Muslim south as a pre-condition for formal talks.
— CNA

Pope expected to make Thailand visit in November: Sources
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis is expected to make an official trip to Thailand in November ahead of an already announced visit to Japan, becoming the first pontiff in nearly four decades to go to either country, Vatican sources say.
— CNA

AIS unveils 5G auto surveillance
Leading mobile operator Advanced Info Service (AIS) has launched 5G-equipped surveillance vehicle technology that can help detect suspicious items and automobiles in southern Thailand.
— Bangkok Post

Prayut floats water bill waiver for Surin locals
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has proposed waiving water bills for residents of central Surin affected by drought.
— Bangkok Post

Conservationists seek UN help in quarry conflict
Conservationists on Monday submitted a letter to the United Nations calling for protection in their campaign against a limestone quarry project in Phatthalung province.
— Bangkok Post

Govt pledges strict study of port plan
A controversial project to build a new port and petrochemical factories in Chon Buri’s Laem Chabang area on reclaimed land will undergo a strict Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the permanent secretary for natural resources and environment insisted on Monday.
— Bangkok Post

Teamwork urged to meet EEC needs
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has urged Thai universities to join with overseas counterparts and the business sector in efforts to meet the huge demand for skilled workers in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
— Bangkok Post

Thief steals temple donation money from Pattaya bar
Thief steals temple donation money from Pattaya bar Pattaya -A thief has stolen money from a temple donation tree at a bar on Pattaya beach road near Soi 7 yesterday morning.
— The Pattaya News

Circular economy hype builds
With the circular economy model moving from buzz to business and trade strategy, the Commerce Ministry has pledged to beef up promotion and campaigns for the circular economy to reduce waste and increase value-added production.
— Bangkok Post

Palang Pracharat apologizes for conduct of its Bangkok MP Sira Jenjakha
Palang Pracharat party deputy spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonchana has apologised to the public over the conduct of one of the party’s MPs, who has been heavily criticized on social media for allegedly attempting to intimidate and reprimand a senior police officer in Phuket province for failing to provide him with a police escort.
— Thai PBS News

PM says he is like a cotton fruit which tastes better when crushed
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced to his well-wishers in Thailand’s northeastern province of Buri Ram that he would definitely not resign as demanded by the Opposition, likening himself to a cotton fruit, or santol, which tastes better when crushed.
— Thai PBS News

Thailand’s Koh Chang by numbers, another island on the rise
Despite being one of the country’s biggest islands in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Chang has remained somewhat off the mass tourism development footprint.
— The Thaiger

Families of ‘Praewa’ Victims Donate 1 Million Baht to Thammasat Legal Aid
Families of victims in a car crash that killed 9 in 2010 have donated 1 million baht to a university legal center that offered them legal aid during their almost decade-long battle for compensation.
— Khaosod English

Koh Samui looks to promotions to bolster dwindling foreign tourist numbers
The president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui says that foreigner numbers visiting the Gulf island have crashed in the first half of 2019.
— The Thaiger

Kerry Express reaches 2 million packages per day
Kerry Express Thailand doubled the number of service locations in the first half of 2019, opening its 10,000th station in August.
— Bangkok Post

‘Queen’ of BNK48 Accused of Toting Fake Gucci Bag
A member of an all-girl idol group is being grilled today by netizens who believe she flaunts counterfeit luxury fashion goods.
— Khaosod English

Thailand, other rubber producers ‘ending export curbs’
The world’s top producers of natural rubber are not extending curbs on exports of the commodity, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Monday.
— Bangkok Post

‘One Night In Bangkok’. The song, 35 years later
When ‘One Night In Bangkok’ was released in 1984 it was an unlikely hit- the opening song from a (at the time) little-known stage pop-opera called ‘Chess’. The song made Number 1 in South Africa, West Germany, Switzerland and Australia, and Number 3 in Canada and the United States. It […]
— The Thaiger

Pattaya drug suspect arrested with drugs and grenade
Pattaya drug suspect arrested with drugs and a grenade Pattaya – What local police are calling a significant local drug dealer has been arrested yesterday in Pattaya with marijuana, Kratom leaves and juice and a grenade.
— The Pattaya News

In Thailand, these healthtech startups are tackling a wide variety of challenges
These healthtech startups are helping users improve the quality of their lives through various methods, from setting up fitness goals to help paralysed patients communicate.
— e27

Thailand Says Producers Leaving China Offer Hope for Its Economy
Thai officials glimpse a silver lining in the U.S.-China trade war as companies such as Sony Corp. move production to Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy.
— Bloomberg

EC seeks B1.2bn for local elections
The Election Commission (EC) has requested a budget of up to 1.2 billion baht to finance local elections although it is unclear when they will be held.
— Bangkok Post

Constitution tweak ‘needs public push’
Charter amendments have little chance of materialising unless the public pressures the government for change, according to Thammasat University vice rector Prinya Thaewanarumitkul.
— Bangkok Post

Cambodia, Thailand to strengthen tourism ties
the 5th Cambodia-Thailand Tourism Technical Working Group Meeting concluded yesterday with the countries pledging to strengthen cooperation to attract more tourists.
— Khmer Times

NACC urges spend on graft-busting lessons
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is hoping that the government will allocate budget to the Education Ministry to educate students and the public about fighting corruption, says commission president Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit.
— Bangkok Post

Thai c.bank to cut 2019 growth forecast again -gov
Thailand’s central bank will lower its 2019 economic growth forecast of 3.3% as growth slows amid rising global trade protectionism, the governor said on Monday.
— Reuters

Thai luxury developer says Hong Kong protests are good for sales
Two months of increasingly chaotic protests in Hong Kong are driving investment money out of the city and into Thailand’s ultra-luxury condominiums, according to one of the biggest developers in the Southeast Asian country.
— The Straits Times

Thailand asks tech firms to set up centers against fake news in ASEAN countries
Thailand is proposing that tech companies set up centers in each of the 10 Southeast Asian countries to curb the flow of “fake news” and fake accounts, the country’s telecoms regulator said on Monday.
— GMA News

Govt urged against easing labour rules
Human rights advocates are urging the government to keep up its efforts to tackle human trafficking and exploitation following its successes in improving Thailand’s international standing on the issue.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand will use smart grid to predict outages
One of Thailand’s major utilities plans to use data from a smart grid and smart meters to track and predict electricity outages in the future.
— GovInsider

Thailand Tourism Confidence Index holding steady in 2019
The quarterly Thailand Tourism Confidence Index of 600 tourism operators was steady at 100 in the second quarter of 2019 and stood at 100 as predicted in the previous quarter.
— Yahoo Finance

EC seeks B1.2bn for local polls
The Election Commission has requested a budget of 1.2 billion baht to finance local government elections, even though it is unclear when they will be held.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand hosts ASEAN Ceramic Exhibition 2019
Ceramic industry operators worldwide will display technology innovations at the ASEAN Ceramics 2019 to develop their potential and enhance competitiveness in the international market.
— Vietnamplus

Thailand promotes promise as bioplastics base
Thailand has massive potential to transform itself into a key global production base for bioplastics and converted products thereof.
— Plastics Today

More Thais joining the ranks of the rich
Despite the current economic slowdown, the number of rich people in Thailand will continue to grow at a higher rate and will boost the private banking business, according to wealth managers.
— Asia One

New film, “Buoyancy,” tackles issue of slavery in Thai seafood industry
An Australian filmmaker is hoping that his debut feature film entitled, “Buoyancy,” will help to raise greater awareness of human trafficking and slavery on Thai fishing vessels.
— SeafoodSource

 

Feature photo NNT/ Siam Actu 

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on World Humanitarian Day August 19

 

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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