Thailand morning news for November 19

Salvaged Phoenix tourist ship impounded and cordoned off for investigation
The government has ordered the Phoenix tourist ship, which was salvaged off Phuket on Saturday, to be impounded for investigation after it was towed to a dockyard on the tourist island.
— Thai PBS World

High baht putting off tourists – and foreign residents
There seems to be alarm, almost bordering on panic, at the falling tourist statistics, and many sectors are commenting on ways to reverse this trend, including waiving visa fees.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Judicial Independence in Asia
The judicial system in Japan is considered to be free from the influences of the government, a significant evidence of the uncorrupt political system, according to the World Economic Forum executive opinion survey.
— The Nation

One in ten that die on Chiang Mai roads are foreigners
Ten percent of the people that die on Chiang Mai’s roads are foreigners. That equates to more than 1,000 foreign tourists and expats dying or being injured on the province’s road so far this year.
— The Thaiger/ Chiang Mai News

Junta slammed for alleged interference with EC’s constituencies re-mapping
Both the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties have come out to slam the National Council for Peace and Order for what they see as its interference in the work of the Election Commission.
— Thai PBS World

Water resources in EEC area being studied
WATER USAGE for all activities in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) provinces will be studied, as the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) is drafting a water management plan.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Permanent secretary of Tourism Ministry resigns
Pongpanu Svetarundra has resigned as the permanent secretary of the Tourism and Sports Ministry to work for a private firm.
— The Nation

Workplace safety plan a hazard, say critics
With the Labour Ministry poised to allow companies to hire anyone to work as safety officers rather than being required to recruit only staff who graduated with a degree in occupational health and safety, educational institutions and students have voiced strong opposition to the idea.
— Bangkok Post

3.1 million more poor people to receive welfare cards
An additional 3.1 million poor people who have passed the qualification screenings will be eligible to receive welfare cards under Thai Niyom Yangyuen scheme, one of Prayut government’s populist projects, this month and can use the cards to buy consumer products at the government-supported Thong Fah (Blue Flag) shops starting January 1.
— Thai PBS World

Excise rejig could boost electric vehicles
The Excise Department could revise its tax structure for conventional cars by tightening greenhouse gas emission limits in a push to encourage electric vehicle (EV) production and usage in Thailand.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Huge whale shark spotted near Phi-Phi Don islands off Krabi province
A huge female whale shark was sighted on Saturday near Phi-Phi Don islands inside the Nopparat Thara-Phi-Phi marine park in the southern province of Krabi.
— Thai PBS World

AIS and True hustle for 5G edge with partners
Advanced Info Service (AIS) and TrueMove H are competing to be the first mover in 5G readiness and infrastructure development after the regulator allowed the 26-gigahertz spectrum range to be used for 5G technology testing.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Meeting planned on WTO ruling on cigarette imports
Thai Customs officials plan to hold a meeting next week on the ruling issued by a World Trade Organisation [WTO] against the country’s regulations on cigarette imports, a spokesperson of Customs Department told The Nation on Saturday.
— The Nation

Poverty kills in the land of smiles
It is always a cause to mourn when a 13-year-old needlessly dies. Unfortunately, that was the painful fact Thailand has to deal with just recently when Anucha Tasako, who had been a Muay Thai fighter since the age of eight and had competed in 170 bouts, died of a brain haemorrhage at a charity fight near Bangkok last Saturday.
— The Asean Post

Small banks square off in deposit hunt
With the first policy rate hike in over seven years seemingly imminent, small banks are vying for deposits by offering special time-deposit products to lock in cheap funding costs.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Low water levels at Phuket reservoir spur concerns for drastic water-saving measures
Water levels at Bang Neow Dum reservoir in Srisoonthorn, in central Phuket, are so low that officials are calling for residents to use water sparingly and hope that enough rain falls by the end of December to stave off drastic water-saving measures.
–The Phuket News

Silent Mentors’ donate their bodies to medical science
“I voluntarily donate my body for the good of others.” – This is the great wish of an i.Silent Mentor, who is described as a good person who holds good thoughts and does good deeds for the public good, with no borders.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

US pedophile gets 10 years for sex with underage boys in Thailand
A 71 year old Paul Shapiro has been sentenced to 10 years jail in the US after a California Court convicted him of pedophile charges in Thailand running back as far as 2012.
— The Thaiger/ Thaivisa

More Crypto Exchanges Opening in Thailand, SEC Warns Approvals Needed
Since Thailand enacted its cryptocurrency regulations in May, a growing number of companies have been launching crypto exchanges and issuing tokens in the country.
— Bitcoin.com

5th Thai Lao Friendship Bridge to be built in Bueng Kan
Bueng Kan Chamber of Commerce has proposed to transform the province into a logistic hub after the 5th Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge is to be built in this northeastern province at the beginning of next year.
— News Today (video)

Thailand hits out at US series over monarchy reference
Bangkok has hit out at the CBS show Madam Secretary on Sunday (Nov 18) in response to an episode that referenced the country’s monarchy, calling it “misleading”.
— Channel NewsAsia

Thailand SMEs to get help in innovation from UOB fintech accelerator
According to a recent report, the United Overseas Bank’s (UOB) fintech and innovation accelerator has announced on the launch of its Smart Business Transformation Programme, a three-month program for Thailand’s small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
— Open Gov

Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand eye developing coastal economy
The Private sectors in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand are planning to strengthen trade, transport, and tourism connectivity along the coasts and promote the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC).
— News Today (video)

B10bn industrial estate tabled
Thai-Chinese joint venture CG Corporation is teaming up with three Chinese agencies to study the feasibility of investing in the 12 targeted industries in Rayong province at a 3,068-rai industrial estate with a development cost of 10 billion baht.
— Bangkok Post

“GSB Smart SMEs Smart Startup” showcasing successful businesses
The Government Savings Bank (GSB) is organizing the “GSB Smart SMEs Smart Startup” event to show off micro-, small, and medium-sized businesses at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok.
— NNT

Weakness in the BKK condo market
Property consultants, Edmund Tie & Company – South East Asia – report that the new condo supply for 2019 is ‘unlikely to increase’ and that sales rates are disappointing in Q3.
— The Thaiger

DDC warns southern people of Chikungunya virus
More than 500 people have been infected with the Chikungunya virus in Thailand’s southern provinces this year,
— NNT

Several measures in store to alleviate debt
The government is about to introduce new financial aid measures for micro small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), manual labourers, state teachers and the elderly.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Betong customs checkpoint steps up measures to prevent palm oil smuggling
The Betong customs checkpoint has introduced strict measures against palm oil smuggling following the government’s policy to tackle the palm price drop.
— NNT

PTTEP to drill 9 fields, targeting 200m barrels
SET-listed oil and gas drilling firm PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP) plans to drill nine petroleum fields in 2019, expecting to produce 200 million barrels of crude oil.
— Bangkok Post

More foreign visitors reported after free visa scheme
Thailand’s northern provinces have seen an increase in the number of foreign visitors, thanks to the government’s free visa on arrival campaign.
— NNT

King Power Mahanakhon Unveils New World Class Tourist Destination ‘Mahanakhon SkyWalk’
King Power Mahanakhon unveils Mahanakhon SkyWalk — Thailand’s highest 360-degree observation deck and rooftop bar at 314 meters high, offering spectacular panoramic views of the city from Thailand’s tallest building.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

New Smart Visa qualifications, criteria approved
The cabinet has approved new qualifications and criteria for improvement in education sector under the Smart Visa scheme.
— NNT

PM: Self-sufficiency key to preventing debts
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said the late monarch’s sufficiency economy philosophy is the ultimate solution to debt problems.
— NNT

Banks offer savings accounts for low-income earners, elderly persons without fees
The Bank of Thailand has launched a campaign for low-income earners and elderly persons aged 65 years or over to open savings accounts at banks without fees.
— NNT

Feature photo John Le Fevre

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges acknowledges World Toilet Day November 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).

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 November 19 added by John Le Fevre on November 19, 2018
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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.