Thailand morning news for September 14

Thailand morning news for September 14
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Thailand morning newsElections will be held on Feb 24, govt maintains
GOVERNMENT LEADERS reiterated yesterday that the national elections will be held on February 24, now that the last two electoral organic laws were promulgated on Wednesday.
— The Nation

Dtac users ‘must switch’ to avoid service loss
Almost 95,000 customers on Total Access Communication’s (Dtac) 850MHz mobile phone network must switch to use other spectrum services by midnight Saturday to keep using their services.
— Bangkok Post

UN raises concerns about Thailand’s attitude toward human rights activists
Thailand is among 38 countries named by the United Nations for having an alarming and shameful attitude towards human rights defenders.
— The Nation

Barijat and Mangkhut storms to cause possible floods in 43 provinces
The Department of the Prevention and Mitigation of Public Disasters on Thursday issued a warning to 43 provinces in the North, Northeast, central and eastern regions to brace for possible flooding as a result of Barijat and Mangkhut storms.
— Thai PBS

NLA: All draft laws to be enacted by end of 2018
The National Legislative Assembly has confirmed that all draft laws currently in hand will be brought into force before the end of the year.
— NNT

Thai laws set May 2019 deadline for new elections
Thailand’s military government enacted two new laws that set in motion a countdown leading to elections by May 2019 at the latest – five years after a coup d’etat.
— Aljazeera

BMA plays down dispute over green market closure
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Thursday played down reports about JJ Green Market vendors refusing to move out by the Sept 12 deadline.
— Bangkok Post

THAI PLAN TO BUY NEW AIRCRAFT GETS BACKING
A deputy prime minister and the finance minister are backing Thai Airways International (THAI)’s plan to procure a new fleet of aircraft to boost its competitiveness.
— The Nation

Thailand Wrecks Fishing Boats in Show of Reform (Video)
Substandard fishing vessels were destroyed Wednesday in Samut Sakhon province before EU monitors arrive later this month to perform another assessment on the Thai fishing industry.
— Khaosod English

Phuket lifeguard deal probed for corruption
Region 8 Police have confirmed they are investigating a complaint of alleged corruption involving a company being suspiciously awarded a government contract to provide lifeguards on Phuket’s beaches.
— The Phuket News

SEPO plans TOT and CAT merger
The State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO) has suggested TOT and CAT be merged into a single organization and that more effort be expended in transforming Thai Airways into a National Premium Airline.
— NNT

Thailand to legalise illegal fish workers
Thailand would soon start legalising thousands of illegal Myanmar workers in its fishing industry as a first step to the signing of an agreement to provide more workers for the business, which is struggling with a labour shortage.
— Myanmar Times

20,000 fake goods seized from Chiang Mai night markets
Police and officials from the US embassy swooped on two night markets in Chiang Mai city centre and seized more than 20,000 fake products that violated popular brand names on Wednesday night.
— The Nation

KTB joins mortgage price war as B10bn refinances
Krungthai Bank (KTB) has joined the price war among mortgage lenders in an effort to keep its customers after a number switched to other lenders offering cheaper rates.
— Bangkok Post

CPN Pattaya to acquire Grand Canal Land for Bt20.14 billion
CENTRAL PATTANA PLC’S subsidiary CPN Pattaya has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire all shares of Grand Canal Land (GLAND) at Bt3.10 apiece, totalling Bt20.14 billion, according to the company’s report to the Stock Exchange of Thailand yesterday.
— The Nation

The 63rd Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair (BGIF) – The Biggest Jewellery Marketplace in Asean
In the first seven months this year, Hong Kong had imported USD 330 Millions Thai jewellery, taking up around 7% of the total import from Thailand.
— Business News Asia

Stocks soar on general election clarity
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) surged almost 40 points yesterday on the back of upbeat sentiment stemming from the recent royal endorsement of the last two of 10 organic bills paving the way for February’s general election.
— Bangkok Post

Agricultural innovations bring in over THB300mn in one year
During its first year of operation, the Institute for Agricultural Product Innovation has engaged over 600 entrepreneurs in the creation of agricultural innovations, worth more than 300 million baht combined.
— News Today (video)

Election between this December 11 and next May 9, says EC
Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) has outlined a tentative time frame for the next election vote, starting from December 11 at the earliest to May 9 at the latest, its top official said on Thursday.
— The Nation

Misplaced traffic sign increases congestion
The sign, put up by police on Soi Chaiyapornwitee 15 was placed in such a way that it blocks the view of drivers trying to use the intersection.
— Pattaya Mail

TFF considers more tollways
A study to bundle another two expressways as underlying assets of Thailand Future Fund’s (TFF) second batch is expected to seek the cabinet’s approval by February next year, says the head of the State Enterprise Policy Office (Sepo).
— Bangkok Post

International cybercriminals and Thailand’s porous border
Thailand has long been a haven for foreign criminals, a convenient base to plot and commit crimes or just to hide out.
— The Nation

Registry of fishing boats ahead of EU inspection on Sept 20
After registering a total of 10,771 fishing boats, the government is stepping up registration of vessels yet to pass through the process in preparation for an EU inspection on September 20.
— News Today (video)

Thailand’s slave fishermen: What’s needed to solve the crisis?
In 2013, Chairat Ratchapaksi found a job in commercial fishing to support his family.
— Al Jazeera

TCEB accepts venue standards for MICE industry
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has endorsed ASEAN MICE Venue Standards (AMVS) as raising the bar for the industry.
— NNT

Report: Chinese building projects narrowing economic gaps
Governments including Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand have scrapped or scaled back projects due to high costs or complaints that too little work goes to local companies.
— Telegraph Herald

Is the insurgency ending?
On 14 August 2018, Pattani Islamic Mujahideen Movement deputy leader Nasori Saeseng surrendered at an army rangers’ unit in Kapor, Pattani. This, coupled with a record low number of deaths last year has risen hopes that the insurgency may be coming to a halt in favour of the government.
— The Asean Post

Aviation industry eyes more MRO revenue
Thailand’s aviation industry is pushing a road map to raise maintenance-based income, while launching a plan to push for Don Mueang International Airport as a hub for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) for aircraft engines and U-tapao Airport for integrated MRO service.
— The Nation

MILEX 2018: After Nepal now Thailand snubs India, to send observers not troops for BIMSTEC military drill
Thailand’s ambassador to India Chutintorn Gongsakdi said that as there was no discussion during the BIMSTEC summit on MILEX 2018 so it was hard for the country to participate in the military drill with India.
— Times Now

More Blue Flag stores to use Thung Ngern Pracharat app
The Ministry of Commerce is determined to get 100,000 Blue Flag stores to use the ‘Thung Ngern Pracharat’ app by the end of this year. The app is said to make it easier for store owners to collect money from social welfare card holders.
— NNT

Siam Piwat eyes JVs with overseas partners
Siam Piwat, a local leading retail property developer and operator of Siam Paragon, Siam Centre and Siam Discovery Centre, said it will consider all potential possibilities of overseas expansion, Chollachat Meksupha, first executive vice president of Siam Piwat’s business development and investment division, said.
— The Nation

Arianespace’s Vega to orbit THEOS-2 for Thailand’s GISTDA
Arianespace reports it will orbit THEOS-2, the very-high-resolution Earth observation optical satellite for Thailand, under the terms of a turnkey contract between Airbus Defence and Space and the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency of Thailand (GISTDA).
— Space Daily

Delta holds conference to promote smart cities
Delta Electronics Thailand PCL is hosting the inaugural Delta Future Industry Summit 2018 on September 18 at Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong.
— The Nation

Blue Horizon Developments re-signs as World Corporate Golf Challenge Thailand Title Sponsor
Fore Management Group is delighted to announce that Blue Horizon Developments have re-signed as the Title Sponsor for The Blue Horizon World Corporate Golf Challenge Thailand 2019.
— The Phuket News

eBay launches new delivery service
Online retailer eBay has launched the “eBay SeaPass” shipping platform to support eBay sellers in Asean by simplifying retail order fulfilment and providing automated shipping.
— The Nation

Woman had to have toes amputated after Thai fish pedicure
A woman ended up needing all the toes in one of her feet amputated after treating herself to a fish pedicure on holiday in Thailand.
— MetroNews

BoI measures ordered to boost rural tourism
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha has ordered the Board of Investment (BoI) to consider measures in support of tourism in the provinces to boost rural economic growth, BOI’s secretary general Duangjai Asawachintachit said.
— The Nation

BMW Thailand unveils 520d Sport
BMW Thailand recently celebrated the delivery of six BMW 520d Sports to the Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park.
— The Nation

Stocks jump as election progress aids market sentiment
Clear moves toward elections in the first half of next year “would support the macroeconomic outlook and impact sentiment and Thai assets positively given current low expectations, thus supporting inflows”, Tim Leelahaphan, an economist at Standard Chartered Bank in Bangkok, wrote in a note.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand Is Absolutely Committed To BIMSTEC: Thai Ambassador To India
Thai Ambassador for India Chutintorn Gongsakdi on Thursday reacted to Thailand’s involvement in the BIMSTEC field training military exercise in Pune.
— Defence Aviation Post

Thai Stocks Jump as Election Progress Aids Market Sentiment
Progress toward long-delayed elections in military-run Thailand bolstered the bullish case for the country’s markets, pushing equities up the most in almost two years.
— Bloomberg

Southeast Asia stocks rise on US-China trade talks
Energy stocks boosted the Thai index, with gas suppliers PTT Plc and PTT Exploration and Productions Plc rising about 4.5% each.
— Bangkok Post

 

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.

 

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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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