Thai police shut down journalists’ panel about Rohingya
Police in Thailand on Monday shut down a forum organized by foreign journalists to discuss whether senior military officers in Myanmar should face justice for alleged human rights abuses committed by their forces against Rohingya Muslims and other ethnic minorities.
— Pattaya Mail
MRT allowed to go to Chiang Mai, Phangnga, Phuket
Bangkok’s subway operator has been allowed to invest in and run two light rail projects in Chiang Mai, Phangnga and Phuket worth a combined 52 billion baht.
— Bangkok Post
Bangkok meet fails to finalize draft on climate change rules
An international meeting in Bangkok fell short of its aim of completing fruitful preparations to help an agreement be reached in December on guidelines for implementing the 2015 Paris climate change agreement.
— Chiang Mai Mail/ AP
Thai PM Defends Arrests of Suspects Linked to Pro-Republican Group
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha on Tuesday defended the arrests of people allegedly linked to a little-known republican group, as a former diplomat lamented the erosion of “openness, tolerance and fair-mindedness” that he said once distinguished the country.
— Benar News
Meechai: ‘Leave cyber bill alone’
A new cybersecurity bill should not be extended to cover election campaigns on social media, according to Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Meechai Ruchupan.
— Bangkok Post
Public bodies join hands in bid to help online sales for SMEs, farmers
CAT Telecom and Thailand Post are promoting the use of online platforms to support small and medium sized business in the country. CAT Telecom expects around a million users to download via the iget Mart application.
— The Nation
State enterprises eclipse estimate
State enterprises’ income remittance is expected to surpass its target by 20 billion baht this fiscal year, making it likely state revenue for this fiscal year will exceed its target if the goal takes…
— Bangkok Post
Heavy rain and river overflows warning to Mekong bordering provinces during Sept 13-14
Northern and northeastern provinces along the Mekong River have been warned by the Meteorological Department to brace for heavy rain and river overflows during September 13-14 as an indirect effect from Barijat storm.
— Thai PBS World
WHAUP aims to meet EEC utility needs
SET-listed WHA Utilities and Power Plc (WHAUP) is considering massive capital spending over the next five years for utility capacity expansion to tap rising demand from the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) scheme
— Bangkok Post
Checks on imports of Chinese pork stepped up at Suvarnabhumi after swine fever reports
Livestock Development Department chief Sorawit Thaneeto has instructed the Animal Quarantine Station at the country’s largest international airport to dispatch a team, including sniffer dogs, to find, seize and properly dispose smuggled pork products from China.
— The Nation (annoying popups)
Commerce rules against China, Thailand in rubber band duty case
The U.S. Department of Commerce has levied antidumping duties of 5.86 percent against most rubber band imports from Thailand.
— Rubber & Plastics News
Audi e-vehicle set to roll out in Thailand next year
WITH ITS e-tron electric vehicle to be officially launched in San Francisco later this month, Audi is also planning to bring BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) and PHEV (Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicle) models to Thailand next year.
— The Nation
Khon Kaen light rail plan set
KKTS will be operated similarly to the existing Krungthep Thanakom company, the investment arm of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration that owns the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
— Bangkok Post
PPP panel approves fast-track motorway project
The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Committee has given a green light to the Nakhon Pathom – Cha-am motorway project worth 79.01 billion baht to facilitate travel in southern Thailand.
— NNT
July trade analysis: Plastics imports nosedive in Thailand
A Thai policy restricting the import of scrap plastics has proved effective. U.S. scrap plastic exports to the country dropped by 94 percent after the ban took hold.
— Resource Recycling
2 drug smugglers dead after shootout with Thai authorities
Two drug smugglers were killed on Monday (Sep 10) during an armed skirmish with members of Thailand’s Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) in the mountainous region of Chiang Rai, near the country’s border with Myanmar.
— Channel NewsAsia
Ministry hastens SME project as JICA prepares to withdraw
The Industry Ministry is speeding up its Regional Integrated SME Promotion (Rismep) project, a collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), as financial support from Japanese counterparts…
— Bangkok Post
Agency responsible for Victory Monument being decided
The director of the Department of City Planning (DCP) has advised that if the government agency responsible for renovations to Victory Monument can’t be identified, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will have to take on the work itself. The Deputy Prime Minister is to hold a meeting on the matter.
— NNT
Thailand’s PTT seeks bidding partner for $7bn rail project
Thai oil and gas group PTT is in discussions with potential partners about a joint bid for an estimated $7 billion high-speed train project linking three major airports, as part of the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor plan to promote high-value manufacturing
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Thai film company to retell cave boy saga
A Thai-based film company has joined the scramble to retell the dramatic story of the 12 young footballers and their coach who were freed from a flooded cave, one of the producers said Tuesday.
— The Nation
Thailand’s top retail property developer launches ‘Central Phuket’, the first ‘Luxury & Leisure’ Beach Lifestyle Shopping Destination in Asia
Central Pattana Plc (CPN), Thailand’s largest retail property developer recently celebrated the Grand Opening of Central Phuket, its world-class luxury flagship mall.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)
SEC raps former IFEC boss
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proceeded with a lawsuit against a former director of Inter Far East Energy Corporation Plc (IFEC) for insider trading.
— Bangkok Post
FETCO: Sept Investor Confidence Index increases
According to the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations (FETCO), the Thai Investor Confidence Index in September increased due to the nation’s continuous economic growth, despite global economic setbacks.
— NNT
Mitsubishi Fuso to build new plant in EEC
MITSUBISHI Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), a unit of Daimler Trucks, yesterday announced the construction of a new assembly plant in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
— The Nation
Bangkok Airways removes planned Phuket-Yangon direct flights from schedules
Bangkok Airways has removed from its flight schedule the Phuket-Yangon direct flights that were to launch in November as the route has yet to be confirmed, Bangkok Airways staff told The Phuket News today.
— The Phuket News
TOT to launch fixed wireless broadband in Dec
Thailand’s TOT has revealed plans to roll out a fixed wireless broadband service for residential customers in the Bangkok metro area in December.
— Telecomasia
OSMEP unveils ‘SME CONNEXT’ mobile application
The Office of SMEs Promotion (OSMEP) has unveiled a mobile application “SME CONNEXT” to provide useful information that will boost SME businesses.
— NNT
Is Thailand holding future leaders to ransom?
Last July, The National Legislative Assembly in Thailand voted unanimously to approve, with binding effect, the country’s 20-year National Strategy.
— The Asean Post
Trade between ASEAN, dialogue partners up 13% in 2017
ASEAN recorded a 13 percent increase in trade with dialogue partner countries last year, with China declared the top trader in the region.
— NNT
Citi bullish on plastic card spending
Citi Thailand aims for a low double-digit growth in its credit card spending this year, well above the industry’s estimate of mid-single digits.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand’s green cover in slow decline as 40% goal remains out of reach
THAILAND has been ambitiously aiming to have 40 per cent of its land turned into lush green forests, but this goal set in 1975 has yet to be accomplished.
— The Nation
Facebook Allowed Trading Of Exotic Animals In Thailand: Watchdog
A wildlife monitoring group claimed it found more than 1,500 listings of endangered animals for sale on Facebook in Thailand in just one month after it began its research back in 2016.
— Carbonated TV
Deputy minister: Education must keep up with the digital world
Deputy Minister of Education M.D.Udom Khachinthon has remarked that education reform in the digital age must focus on building the capacity of learners more than educational degrees, if the country wants to see the “Thai 4.0” generation prosper.
— NNT
National park chief defends extended Maya Bay closure
The one-month extension to the temporary closure of Maya Bay is to better allow the full recovery of coral reefs, mangrove forest and the general ecosystem, as well as to protect tourists from strong winds and high waves during the period, Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park head Woraphot Lomlim said on Tuesday.
— The Nation
WABCO Inaugurates Advanced Braking Systems Facility in Thailand to Support Rising Demand from Original Equipment Manufacturers
WABCO Holdings Inc. (NYSE: WBC), a leading global supplier of technologies and services that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles, recently announced the inauguration of a new advanced production base in Rayong, Thailand, to support increased local demand for braking systems from major commercial vehicle manufacturers.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)
19 years later, missing man returns to village full of scars
Much to his family’s surprise, a man returned home to a village in Sangkha district after having disappeared for 19 years — enough time to convince the family he was long dead.
— Bangkok Post
Cabinet approves increase in paddy storage incentives
The Cabinet has approved an increase in the incentive for farmers to store paddy rice in an effort to slow down the sale of this year’s harvest.
— NNT
Future rests on who runs the major parties: The Nation
But, once the identities of the leaders of the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties are known, we’ll have a better chance of foretelling the country’s immediate future and whether there could be a return to the violence that characterised the struggle for power over the past decade.
— The Straits Times
MRT allowed to go to Chiang Mai, Phang Nga, Phuket
Bangkok’s subway operator has been allowed to invest in and run two light rail projects in Chiang Mai, Phang Nga and Phuket worth a combined 52 billion baht.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand seeks to lure more electric vehicle makers
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) has announced new packages and privileges for electric vehicle companies to establish operations in the Eastern Economic Corridor, a new economic priority zone for the country’s manufacturing and industry.
–Investvine
Pathum Thani Commerce Office defends arrest of silo owner
The Pathum Thani Commerce Office has reiterated that it strictly followed the law in regard to the arrest of the owner of a rice silo who allegedly failed to display the buying price of 25% moisture content rice.
— NNT
TCEB revamping MICE industry
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has reported that Thailand has secured the top spot in the ASEAN MICE industry and has outlined new strategies to step up growth in the sector.
— NNT
Korea premium nail brand ‘LUPINE’ is planning to extend its business to Thailand
SJ Nail, Korea’s representative nail company, will start full-scale entry into the beauty market in Thailand by participating in ‘Beyond Beauty Asean-Bangkok 2018’ held at IMPACT Exhibition & Convention Center from 20 – 22 September 2018.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)
B225bn rail link to pick contractor by January
The government expects to select a consortium by January to build a 225-billion-baht high-speed rail link connecting three international airports, one of the largest transport projects in history..
— Bangkok Post/ Bloomberg News
NetsPay available in China, Australia, Thailand under partnership with UnionPay
You can now make payment via Nets when travelling overseas to countries such as Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand.
— TodayOnline
Chiang Mai bids to become Thailand’s sixth protected site
THE CHIANG MAI World Heritage Working Group has completed its paperwork and is ready to make its submission this month to Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) to make Chiang Mai a world heritage city, Woralun Boonyasurat, head of the Thai Art Department at Chiang Mai University’s Faculty of Fine Arts, said yesterday.
— The Nation
Discussion held on national plan for enhanced garbage management system
The government held discussion on the national plan for a full-scale, enhanced garbage management system, said Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda.
— NNT
Legal battle for Phuket elephant ‘Yo’, ’Namphet’ continues
The legal battle continues for ownership of the elephant ‘Yo’, or ‘Nampetch’, depending on who is claiming to own the elephant, more than a year after two brothers from Surin province, on the Cambodian border, arrived to claim the elephant as their own.
— The Phuket News
Feature photo Max Pixel
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 September 12 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.
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- 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