Thailand morning news for November 23

Thailand morning news for November 23
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Thailand morning newsThailand to lead Asean with creativity, complementarities and continuity (video)
A briefing of foreign diplomats in Bangkok yesterday on Thailand’s coming year as chair of Asean was told the community needs to re-think its strategies and approaches if it is to remain relevant and central to the region.
— AEC News Today

Junta to spend $2bn on spy satellites: claim
The Thai junta is reported to be investing heavily in the US-based Theia Satellite Network, a web of 112 surveillance satellites carrying high-tech cameras, radar and infrared optics that will apparently be able to see through clouds and trees.
— Asean Economist

EC to investigate cash handout spree
The Election Commission (EC) will look into whether the government is trying to canvass for votes ahead of the general election through its 86.9-billion-baht splurge on low-income earners, the elderly and retirees.
— Bangkok Post

Former honorary consul held for selling counterfeit visa stamps to Thailand
POLICE HAVE arrested a former honorary consul for allegedly producing counterfeit entry visa stamps and immigration documents and selling them to Russians wishing to come to Thailand.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Court dismisses Article 112 charge, says words need interpretation and don’t refer to any specific person
The court has dismissed a charge against Sakan (family name not given out of privacy concerns), alleged to have violated Article 112 while detained in Bangkok Remand Prison.
— Prachatai English

Deputy PM Chatchai warns of water shortage in 20 provinces
The Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Chatchai Sarikulya, said up to 20 provinces across Thailand will likely experience drought in the dry season.
— NNT

Small parties press EC to postpone polls to May 5
A dozen small political parties on Thursday petitioned the Election Commission to delay the planned general election until May 5, saying they need the extra time to prepare.
— Bangkok Post

Labour Min ramps up efforts to quash child labour
Labor Minister Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew, has chaired the 3rd National Committee Meeting on eliminating the worst forms of child labor.
— NNT

Program to develop one model school per sub district
The government is targeting at least one school per sub-district to serve as a model of education development. The plan is part of a push to improve educational quality, access to learning and an end to inequality among children.
— News Today (video)

BOT Governor- Thailand must embrace technology to sustain growth
The Governor of the Bank of Thailand (BOT) gave a talk at this year’s Thammasat University economics club meeting, saying that the country must embrace technology to enable sustainable growth and to meet the needs of consumers.
— NNT

Investigators given seven days to inspect ‘Phoenix’ wreck
Investigators have been given seven days to gather what evidence they from inspecting the wreck of the ‘Phoenix’ tour boat, now sitting on the hardstand at Ratanachai Shipyard on the east side of Phuket Town.
— The Phuket News

Chiang Mai tourism operators paint gloomy outlook
Tourism in Chiang Mai has been decimated by the downturn in Chinese arrivals. Tour operators and officials are hoping that more Western tourists would fill their place, especially during the next few months.
— The Thaiger/ Chiang May News

Farmers in Phichit paid to delay rice harvest
Farmers in Phichit province have received financial assistance from the government as part of a scheme to prevent a rice oversupply.
— NNT

Thai startup makes major contribution to e-documents
According to a recent report, a Thai tech startup has introduced a smart solution for electronic documents and signing, making it the first startup to provide such electronic know-your-customer (eKYC) services in Thailand.
— OpenGov

Chinese tourists skip Thailand after Phuket boat disaster
A ferry disaster that killed dozens of Chinese tourists in Thailand earlier this year has sent visitor numbers plunging from the kingdom’s single largest market.
— Channel NewsAsia (annoying popups)

IT police arrest foreigners committing crimes in Thailand
Officers of the Thailand’s Action Taskforce for Information Technology Crime Suppression (TACTICS) have arrested foreigners suspected of being involved in criminal activities in the country.
— NNT

Two Chiang Rai men arrested with 5 million meth pills
Two suspected drug mules were arrested in Chiang Rai on Wednesday night while allegedly trying to transport 5 million methamphetamine pills from a border village.
— The Nation

Bangkok governor defends deputy over allegations
BANGKOK Governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang yesterday fiercely defended one of his deputies, Jakkapan Phiewngam, who is facing an allegation of abuse of authority.
— The Nation (annoying popup)

Phuket Immigration Drive Thru opens
The ‘Drive Thru’ service at Phuket Immigration Office officially opened last night, with Immigration Chief Maj Gen Surachate Halparn present to oversee proceedings.
— The Phuket News

NLA accepts new draft life insurance bill for consideration
The National Legislative Assembly has accepted the new draft of the Life Insurance Act for consideration.
— NNT

Eat, pray, exercise: Thailand’s monks battle weight problems
Every morning Buddhist monk Pipit Sarakitwinon takes walks around his temple and does hundreds of arm exercises, part of a new regimen aimed at shedding pounds as a health overhaul for members of the clergy gathers pace in Thailand.
— The Straits Times/ AFP

Half a tonne of marijuana seized…
Khon Kaen police have seized 500 kilograms of marijuana after a pickup truck overturned in Khon Kaen’s Ban Phai district early today. But no arrests have been made as yet.
— The Thaiger

NLA passes stipends for judge meets
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Thursday passed by an overwhelming majority a bill allowing court judges to receive meeting allowances totalling 207 million baht per year.
— Bangkok Post

NBTC board gives green light to reclaim spectra from state agencies
THE final version of rules for reclaiming spectrum bands from state agencies was endorsed yesterday at a board meeting of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
— The Nation

Bang Sue mega-station to be operational by January 2021
Bang Sue Central Station, which is set to replace Hua Lamphong as the capital’s main rail transport hub, will be operational by January 2021, the State Railway of Thailand’s (SRT) acting governor Worawut…
— Bangkok Post

DITP urges Thai automobile businesses to expand market in Vietnam
Promising demands in Vietnam are creating marketing opportunities for the auto business in Thailand.
— NNT

Doi Tung coffee on JAL flights
Passengers on Japan Airlines flights from Bangkok will be served coffee from the royal project from Dec 1 under an agreement made on Thursday between the Mae Fah Luang Foundation and the Japanese carrier.
— Bangkok Post

SRT to seek approval for three extensions of Red Line
The State Railways of Thailand (SRT) will propose to the Transport Ministry for extensions of the three routes of the suburban Red Line train estimated to cost a total of 24 billion baht.
— Thai PBS World

Thailand Wants All of BRN Rebel Group to Join Southern Peace Talks
Thailand’s military government on Wednesday urged all elements of the most powerful separatist group in the nation’s Deep South to join Malaysia-brokered peace talks.
— Benar News

Energy Ministry issues two measures to maintain oil palm price
The Ministry of Energy has issued two urgent measures to prop up the price of oil palm, buying up raw palm for energy production and the production of biodiesel starting from December.
— The Nation

Calls mount to amend LGBTI bill
Calls have been made to amend a draft bill on civil partnerships for same-sex couples to allow them to gain financial benefits, adopt children and terminate their partnership registrations under certain…
— Bangkok Post

Asean summit season ends with more risks
The prominence and utility of Asean as a regional platform for peace and prosperity is demonstrated most vividly in a series of top-level meetings among its leaders and counterparts from other major powers,…
— Bangkok Post

NBTC nudges MCOT for spectrum return
The telecom regulator is resuming discussions with MCOT Plc, calling on the state-owned public broadcaster to return unused 2600MHz broadcasting spectrum for later use in 5G network development.
— Bangkok Post

Rate hike inches nearer
Bank of Thailand governor Veerathai Santiprabhob has signalled an imminent hike in the policy interest rate, arguing that higher interest rates won’t be an impediment to economic growth and that the need for an ultra-loose monetary policy is less important.
— Bangkok Post

EC chief sees no reason to delay elections
THE CHIEF election commissioner said yesterday that he saw no reason for the election to be delayed, though a decision on the matter will be made after the junta’s organs meet with political parties.
— The Nation

Govt ‘didn’t meddle’ with constituencies
The Election Commission (EC) has denied claims that the regime is attempting to interfere with its demarcation of electoral boundaries to give a political edge to a pro-regime party in the upcoming election, tentatively scheduled for Feb 24.
— Bangkok Post

Grab introduces BNK48 as its first brand ambassadors in Thailand
Grab, Thailand’s Everyday App, introduced BNK48 as its first brand ambassadors in the country During a launch event at Central World, the company said in a press release issued on Thursday.
— The Nation

Pattaya City and Tourism Authority of Thailand Announce Environmental Awareness Kick Off Day December 1st
Local Authorities, officials, business owners, members of the Thai Government and Thailand Tourism Authority members met at City Hall today to plan and announce an Environmental Awareness Kick Off Day Event.
— The Pattaya News

Apex Development launches Club Med Krabi Resort & The Residences
Apex Development, a leader in the premium mixed-use property development, has pre-launched the Club Med Krabi Resort & The Residences at the Siam Paragon Luxury Property Showcase 2018 at the Siam Paragon.
— The Nation

PTTEP scales up petroleum sales target with output capacity boost
PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP) aims for its petroleum sales to touch 320,000 barrels per day next year after it reaches full production capacity following a move to increase its stake in the Bongkot field.
— The Nation

Jet Ski World Cup hits Pattaya area December 6th to December 9th
It’s that time of year again for one of Pattaya’s most exciting events. The Jet ski World cup, featuring racers from dozens of countries, hits Jomtien Beach on December 6th to December 9th.
— The Pattaya News

 

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.

 

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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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