Thailand morning news for January 29

Thailand morning news for January 29
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Thailand morning news

Bank report says 2.6 billion baht financial loss so far from smog in and around Bangkok
The ongoing smog problem in and around Bangkok has caused financial loss estimated at 2,600 million baht since late last month in term of lost opportunities in health and tourism aspects, according to the assessment report of Kasikorn Research Centre of Kasikorn Bank.
— Thai PBS World

Military ordered to secure Asean meetings, prevent chaos
Leaders of the armed forces have been directed to “fully support” meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year and not allow a repeat of the disastrous summit in Pattaya in 2009.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

Flight delays warning for Don Mueang airport this week
Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai) has warned of 30-45 minute-delays to flights in and out of Don Mueang airport during runway maintenance from Tuesday to Friday.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

Ratchaburi schools limit outdoor time
MANY SCHOOLS in Ratchaburi, which is among the central provinces affected by air pollution, have told their students to wear facemasks for protection against PM2.5 (particles with diameter 2.5 micrometers or smaller).
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

IOC joins FIFA to urge Thai government to send Bahrani footballer to Australia
The International Olympic Committee has joined FIFA and other supporters of former Bahraini national footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi in demanding the Thai government to free him from detention and allow him…
— Thai PBS World

Thailand to push RCEP deal this year
THAILAND, as Asean chair, will push for conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations by the year-end in order to counterbalance the negative impacts of the US-China trade war.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Nation cynical about election
The Election Commission (EC) is being urged to ensure fair and transparent elections in the wake of extremely low public confidence in the integrity of the process in the run-up to the March 24 contest.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

Progress being made to ratify fishing convention practices
THE LABOUR MINISTER recently met with fisheries-related agencies and representatives of fishermen ahead of Thailand’s January 30 submission to become the first Asian nation to ratify the C188 Work in Fishing Convention despite protests from some in the industry.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Thailand to revoke foreign patent requests on marijuana
Thailand on Monday effectively revoked all foreign patent requests for the use of marijuana, after fears foreign firms would dominate a market thrown open last month when the government approved the drug for medical use and research.
— Bangkok Post

Smog problem eases in and around Bangkok with only 12 affected areas
Thanks to better air circulation and morning breeze, smog condition in and around Bangkok has improved considerably with only 12 areas affected by excessive PM2.5 dust particles. The Pollution Control…
— Thai PBS World

Suvarnabhumi Airport Reaches New Traffic Heights
Suvarnabhumi Airport travelers numbers reached a new high, passing over 200,000 passengers a day, revealing Chinese tourists are back.
— Thailand Business News

More South-east Asian markets will end 2G services, Fitch predicts
WITH Thailand’s telecoms regulator the second in the region to shut down 2G mobile services, other more mature markets are expected to soon follow suit, Fitch analysts have said.
— The Business Times

LH Bank introduces trade finance, banking on the extensive network of its Taiwanese partner, CTBC Bank
LH Bank embarks on trade finance, to offer integrated services to both exporters and importers in light of continued growth in Thailand’s exports and imports.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)

Thailand: Hundreds of Indians suspects of scam marriage
Amid crackdown on thousands of foreigners living illegally or accused of crime across Thailand, local police are suspecting a mass marriage scam involving hundreds of Indians, local media reported on Monday.
— Anadolu Agency

Thailand wins Best Foreign Destination 2019 at SATTE Awards in New Delhi
Thailand won the “Best Foreign Destination 2019” Award at the South Asia Tours and Travels Exhibition (SATTE) 2019, one of India’s most important travel trade shows organised annually in New Delhi.
— TravelDailyNews

Thailand to launch e-visa service for Chinese tourists next month
Thailand recently announced that it will launch the e-visa service in its embassy in Beijing on Feb 15, and it will be available in its consulates in other Chinese cities in early March.
— Chinadaily.com.cn

Phuket takes stray dogs off streets after boy attacked
Phuket’s streets will be cleared of stray dogs after a young boy was attacked and seriously injured by roaming canines while collecting shells and crabs with his young friends in adjoining Phangnga province.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

Slapped Suvarnabhumi security worker praised for protecting airport’s image by showing restraint
A female airport security staff member, who was slapped by a South Korean woman while on duty, has been praised by a senior airport executive for not retaliating or seeking recompense as, in her eyes, doing so might have negatively affected the image of Thailand’s international airport services.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Thailand poised to break through 40 million arrivals in 2019
Thailand welcomed a record 38.27 million tourists in 2018. That’s up 7.5 percent from 2017 arrival figures. The Thai tourism ministry announced the figures this morning. In December, tourist arrivals amounted to 3.85 million.
— The Thaiger

Protesters camp outside Govt House seeking halt to dam projects
PROTESTERS OPPOSED to the construction of dams and water-diversion projects in the South have vowed to camp outside Government House until the government scraps them.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Monk’s funeral draws thousands
Tens of thousands of people flocked to Khon Kaen Sunday to pay their last respects to the revered abbot Luang Phor Koon Parisutho ahead of a royally sponsored cremation at the Buddhamonthon in Muang district tomorrow where an even bigger crowd is expected.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

Activists caution as EU ends ban on Thailand fishing industry
Thailand’s fishing and seafood industry has been criticised for poor regulations, bad working conditions and unsustainable practices.
— Aljazeera

Thai cybersecurity bill to give junta license to snoop
Thailand’s unelected parliament is rushing through a cybersecurity bill that would give the military regime sweeping powers to monitor political traffic online.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

You’re hired! Thai startup fills gap in tech talent recruiting
When app developer Sattha Puangput was looking to move from a startup to a new role, he updated his profile on GetLinks, a website that pairs technology professionals with companies looking to beef up their tech teams.
— Reuters

CP Foods’ Research Development Center Shows the Future of Food
Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL (CP Foods) showcases its state-of- the-art service “CP Foods RD Center” in Wang Noi, Ayutthaya which will be a major driving force for developing healthy products for consumers worldwide. The innovation complex was set up on 10 rais area, comprised of research and development building and pilot plant. Both facilities are […]
— Khaosod English

Advice lacking for sexually active teens
OF THE 84,578 girls under age 20 who gave birth last year, 2,559 were between 10 and 14, according to Mahidol University’s Centre for Health Policy and Management.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Authorities to clear Phuket of aggressive dogs and rabies
Phuket Provincial Livestock Office has announced today (Jan 28) that they will begin an island-wide project to vaccinate stray dogs against rabies, whilst removing aggressive dogs from the streets following a horrific attack on a 7 year old boy yesterday.
— The Phuket News

Voter enthusiasm crashes poll website on first day
First election in seven years expected to see higher-than-usual turnout; Sudarat, Chatchart confirmed as Pheu Thai’s candidates for PM.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Ex-senator with Pheu Thai links charged with loan sharking
A former senator for this northeastern province and his daughter have been arrested by officers investigating loan sharking and fraud.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River gets new landmark attraction with opening of Southeast Asia’s longest water feature at ICONSIAM
Thailand’s first, and Southeast Asia’s longest, water, light and sound feature recently opened on the banks of the Chao Phraya River with a dazzling display of dozens of waterjet fountains choreographed to dance to the accompaniment of classical music.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Anti-junta activist Aekkachai’s car set afire by alleged arsonist
An anti-junta activist and critic Aekkachai Hongkangwan today filed a complaint with Lat Phrao police, claiming his car was set afire by an unidentified man early this morning.
— Thai PBS World

Explainer: The appointed Senate
How is Thailand’s new 250-member Senate selected — and what impact will the new rules have on Thailand’s peace, prosperity and democracy?
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

CP Foods inaugurates research and development site in Thailand
Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods) aims to increase its creation of healthy food and drink after opening a new research and development centre in Thailand.
— FoodBev Media

Booking.com suggests Thai properties for curious global travellers
Research from Booking.com uncovers that almost one fourth of global travellers plan to stay in different types of accommodation in 2019.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)

’Asia’s yachting playground’ attracts the big fish
Having brought all the disparate, previously competing parties together in a single Phuket boat show, the Thailand Yacht Show & RendezVous offered an all-embracing event at the Royal Phuket Marina for yachting enthusiasts and wealthy lifestyle-seekers from around Asia.
— The Phuket News

Govt mulling rail links with China, Malaysia, Thailand
Every single district will be brought under rail connectivity, said Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujon yesterday.
— The Daily Star

Police Quiet on Masked Man Who Torched Activist’s Car
Police on Monday declined to say whether they have identified the man who was filmed torching a prominent activist’s car over the weekend.
— Khaosod English

Sharks on order – Phuket seafood restaurants
Sunshine Sketcher “Sea food restaurants along Kata and Karon Beach are famous among tourists as prices of dishes are quite reasonable.” The IUCN is calling for every country to educate tourists to protect sharks before they become extinct. More sharks have now been discovered hanging in front of seafood restaurants along the Karon restaurant strip.
— The Thaiger

BNK48 singer apologizes for wearing shirt emblazoned with a Nazi swastika
Two foreign envoys representing the Israeli Embassy in Thailand have openly expressed dismay after a member of the pop all-girl singing group BNK48 was wearing a T-shirt bearing a Nazi swastika.
— The Thaiger

Banpu Infinergy ‘powers up’ 13 remote schools in Tak
Following the motto ‘learning is the power of change and development’, Banpu Infinergy Co Ltd, a provider of solar-energy solutions and a subsidiary of Banpu Public Co Ltd, initiated a CSR project called ‘Light and Learn’, which is now in its second year.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

DMHT aims to raise Thai awareness about alcohol with DRINKiQ e-learning tool
Diageo Moet Hennessy (Thailand), or DMHT for short – the leading importer and distributor of premium wines and spirits in the country – is launching a new consumer-facing e-learning platform to raise collective awareness about alcohol and provide people with comprehensive information that will help them make positive decisions about drinking responsibly.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Chiang Mai sting lands family of smugglers in custody
A family that smuggles together, stays together. In jail. A family of six is under arrest in Chiang Mai after allegedly handing over 15 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 170,000 methamphetamine pills to undercover police in the province.
— The Thaiger/ The Nation

Huge crowd expected for cremation of monk
HUNDREDS of thousand of people are expected to attend the royally sponsored cremation of the much-revered monk Luang Phor Koon Parisuttho in Khon Kaen on Tuesday, said Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, dean of medicine at Khon Kaen University.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Typhus claims second victim in Maniq tribe
Typhus has claimed a second victim in a month among the Maniq forest tribe of Phatthalung’s Pa Bon district, district chief Phudit Chanawanno said on Monday while attending the funeral.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

24-hour service for lorries crossing at Sadao-Kedah border from April 1
Thailand and Malaysia will introduce 24-hour service for lorries at their border checkpoints between Songkhla province and Kedah on April 1, Songkhla deputy governor Ampon Pongsuwan said on Monday.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)

Drug suspect killed in shootout with troops in Chiang Rai
A drug suspect was killed in a shootout with Army troops while attempting to smuggle 2.8 million methamphetamine pills into Thailand from Myanmar late Sunday night.
— The Nation (very annoying pop-ups)

Local Microsoft unit highlights need for AI laws
Microsoft Thailand, the local operating unit of the global technology firm, is urging policymakers and regulators to get ready for the dark side of artificial intelligence by endorsing guidelines and principles to protect users and ensure that AI is trustworthy.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

High-end condos see price stall
The price per square metre of new high-end condos being launched this year is expected to stay unchanged from 2018 as new supply competes with unsold stock, says a property consultant.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

DIT purchases of palm oil set to maintain adequate price
The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) plans to complete the purchase of 160,000 tons of palm oil in January, for subsequent sale to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) under a program aimed at cutting national palm oil stocks to only 200,000 tons.
— NNT

Six Cambridge University Offers for Shrewsbury Students
Students at Shrewsbury International School Bangkok Riverside are celebrating six offers from the University of Cambridge, ranked 2nd in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2018.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

Bangkok Design Week 2019 kicks off
Bangkok Design Week 2019 is being held until February 3, raising awareness among creators and consumers on possibilities in creative business, which is considered as the prerequisite condition for transforming Bangkok into 2022 World Design Capital.
— NBT World (video)

Thanks, but no thanks
It seemed like only hours after the official announcement of an election date that the three biggest foreign influencers were rushing in to announce how they intend to help.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pop-ups)

Over 20,000 Pabuk-hit people used services of Fix It Centers
The Secretary-General of the Office of Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), Dr. Suthep Chittayawong, said over 20,000 people affected by tropical storm Pabuk in Thailand used the repair services of the Fix It Centers.
— NNT

Chiang Mai temple roasted for charging foreigners to enter
There’s two-tier charging then there’s the next step of allowing Thais in for free and only charging foreigners. That seems to be the case when a Chiang Mai temple has been caught out charging a 50 baht fee, but only for foreigners.
— The Thaiger

Korean Tourist Fined for Slapping Suvarnabhumi Staff
A South Korean tourist was fined 2,000 baht for assaulting a Suvarnabhumi employee, the airport said Monday.
— Khaosod English

Alleged ‘sex cult’ yoga retreat on Koh Phangan operating again
The world’s “biggest tantric yoga school” has reopened on Koh Phangan with the accused leader back in charge amid accusations that management suppressed an investigation into the alleged abuse. The centre closed last September after 14 women alleged rape and sexual assault and […]
— The Thaiger

Man Sanctifies Fire Hydrant to Deter Littering
In a city overrun with smog and litter along uneven sidewalks, one Lat Phrao area man may have discovered the secret to cleaning up trash-filled streets. In a Facebook post that has gone viral since Sunday, Methus Kaewsaikao said that placing red Fanta, flowers and a small doll at a fire hydrant in […]
— Khaosod English

Famous Thai kick boxer arrested for alleged fight fixing
A muay thai boxer renowned for his fights at Bangkok’s Rajadamnern Stadium has been charged with alleged fixing of the outcome of a bout in December, when he was beaten on points by a little-known fighter.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

 

Feature photo CIAT

 

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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