Thailand morning news for April 15

Thailand morning news for April  15
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Thailand morning newsDay Three: Songkran road deaths show a dramatic drop
There has been 1,665 traffic accidents, with 174 deaths and 1,728 people injured in the first three days of the Songkran ‘seven days of danger’ (Thursday, Friday, Saturday).
— The Thaiger

2,294 vehicles impounded, 71,307 charged for drink-driving in 3 days
Officials have charged a total of 71,307 people for drink-driving and impounded 2,294 vehicles between April 11-13, the first three days of the campaign against drink-driving over Songkran, National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) deputy spokesperson Col Sirichan Ngathong said on Sunday.
— Bangkok Post

Severe localised storms predicted for central, north and north-east until April 16
The meteorological office (TMD) says there could be localised severe thunder storms for the entire upper area of the country until Tuesday.
— The Thaiger

PM Prayut’s 2019 Thai New Year message
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has sent a Thai New Year message, wishing all families time together, to share their support and happiness, and bring their love together to strengthen the nation.
— NBT World (video)

Seastead couple in crosshairs
The Third Naval Area Command has filed a police complaint against an American man and his Thai wife who set up a floating living platform 12 nautical miles off the coast of Phuket, a practice also known as seasteading.
— Bangkok Post

Bangkok Empty: Marvel at today’s wonderfully deserted city (Photos)
As many residents peace out of the capital city to enjoy their lengthy Songkran holidays, a wonderful sense of empty has descended on Bangkok. The streets are strangely empty – which, if you’ve ever spent even 10 minutes here, is an extremely weird but wonderful rarity.
— Coconuts (paywall)

Commerce Ministry revises May export goal
As a reduction in the global economic growth projection by the International Monetary Fund to 3.3% from 3.5%, and a new lower value of global trade expectations of 3.4% down from 4%, will eventually affect the Thai export sector; the Ministry of Commerce will be holding talks with the private sector and industries after the Songkran holidays to make necessary adjustments to the May export projection, and to evaluate the situation with Thai commercial attaches worldwide.
— NBT World (video)

PM backs Khao Kwan Foundation in cannabis research for medical purposes
Deputy Agriculture Minister Vivat Salyakamthorn told Manager Online that both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Jantong, who oversees the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), agreed that the recent raid on the Khao Kwan Foundation and subsequent legal action would adversely affect many cancer patients who had been receiving cannabis oil free of charge.
— Thai PBS World

DIT ensures fuel quality, dispenser accuracy at petrol stations
In addition to the safety of the travelling public during the Songkran holiday, the government is also ensuring drivers don’t get cheated at petrol stations, with the Department of Internal Trade (DIT) inspecting petrol stations along five main roads from Bangkok to other provinces under the Full Liter Fuel campaign.
— NBT World (video)

Supreme Patriarch conducts Songkran blessing at Wat Ratchabophit
His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch granted an audience to members of the public who offered water and asked for his blessings on the occasion of the Thai New Year, or Songkran.
— NNT

Lots of durian booked online
The Durian season in Thailand has begun. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has disclosed that a large volume of durian has been booked online since the beginning of summer.
— NBT World (video)

Thailand still in the world’s Top 14 for TB cases
Thailand is struggling with tuberculosis, and remains in the list of the world’s 14 worst hit countries.
— The Thaiger

Two Kingdoms, one destination
Cambodia and Thailand are seeking the implementation of an agreement on tourism cooperation.
— NBT World (video)

NCPO invokes Article 44 to help digital TV and mobile operators
The Chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has invoked Section 44 to help 22 digital TV operators to return their licenses.
— Pattaya Mail

Drunk drivers who cause deaths might be charged with intentional murder
The deputy National Police commissioner general has warned that any motorists who drive their vehicles while under the influence of alcohol and cause deaths to others might be faced with intentional murder charges.
— Pattaya Mail

Rail crossings remain unsafe
A crash involving a passenger van and a train in Lop Buri last week proves that a “couldn’t care less” attitude remains a major cause of accidents.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s new Labour Protection Act promotes good practices in businesses
To meet international labour law standards, Thailand has announced a new labour protection act. The main changes relate to better compensation and leave allowances, which have been amended to bring them more into line with current standards.
— NBT World (video)

Phuket water reservoirs enough to last 33 days
The last water remaining in the island’s three main reservoirs is enough to last 33 days, the Director of Phuket Provincial Irrigation Office (PPIO) has reported.weathernatural-resources
— The Phuket News

The cheap and shady business of taking selfies with tigers
Tinder realized it had a tiger problem in the summer of 2017. Too many of its users were featuring photos of themselves crouched next to big cats like tigers and lions, animals that, had a random Tinder user approached them under normal circumstances, would probably try to eat them.
— Vox

Low-income elderly persons’ allowance extended
The monthly allowance for low-income elderly persons has been extended by another three months while state welfare card holders will be entitled to more money for power bills.
— NBT World (video)

Convicted drunk drivers join social services during Songkran festival
The Department of Probation has taken intensive measures to order drunk drivers to assist social service workers at checkpoints and service points.
— NNT

DDPM: Most accidents during Songkran festival caused by drunk driving
Assistant to Tourism and Sports Minister, Lieutenant Commander Worawit Techasuphakoon, disclosed that the Tourism Authority of Thailand estimated that there will be more than 540,000 visitors to Thailand, while the number of Thai tourists is expected to reach three million.
— NNT

Summer storms expected in upper, central Thailand
Weather forecasters have warned of summer storms with hail in the North, Northeast, Central Plain and East from Sunday to Tuesday as a high pressure area moves in from China.
— Bangkok Post

Social security covers emergency treatment at any hospital this Songkran
Holiday travellers this Songkran can use the facilities and services of the closest hospital in case of an emergency, knowing that the medical fee for the first 72 hours of emergency treatment is covered under the terms of the Social Security scheme.
— Pattaya Mail

Patong Beach Shops Engulfed in Fast-Moving Electrical Fire
An explosion near a popular Phuket beach ignited a huge fire last night that caused 60 million baht in damages.
— Khaosod English

Low-rated bonds all the rage in Q1
Issuance of non-rated and non-investment-grade long-term debentures rose substantially in the first quarter, signalling increased risk-taking behaviour by bond investors, says the Thai Bond Market Association (TBMA).
— Bangkok Post

Patong fire damage estimated at B60mn
The fire that broke out on the Patong beach road last night gutted nine four-storey units and caused about B60 million in damage, police have estimated.
— The Phuket News

36 crocodiles escape Surat Thani farm; all recaptured
SURAT THANI: Thirty-six crocodiles broke loose from a farm in Phanom district of this southern province late on Saturday night following a rainstorm, but all were soon recaptured.
— Bangkok Post

Officials inspect black water flowing onto Merlin Beach
Banyad Horpetch, an officer from the Patong Municipality Sanitation Division, went to inspect Merlin Beach in Patong on Wednesday (Apr 10) after a complaint was made by a woman who posted a video on Facebook showing black water flowing onto the beach and into the sea.
— The Phuket News

Phuket ‘Seasteaders’ told to pack up and go home
An artist’s impression from the seasteading website The ‘seasteading’ couple, that have set up a ‘floating’ home some 15 nautical miles off Phuket’s coast, are now the subject of an official complaint by the Thai Third Naval Area Command (that oversee Phuket’s …
— The Thaiger

The coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun
PHOTO: A younger King Maha Vachiralongkorn with his father, the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej May 5, 1950. King Bhumibol Adulyadej was coronated in a grand ceremony at the Grand Palace and around the streets of Bangkok.
— The Thaiger

Japan’s elderly housing a guide
With the number of elderly increasing, the government is studying Japan’s housing management model for that segment to apply it here, especially for low-income families.
— Bangkok Post

Power outage scheduled for Cherng Talay
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) Thalang office has announced that the electricity supply will be temporarily shut off in Cherng Talay on Friday (Apr 19) as work is carried out on high-voltage power cables.
— The Phuket News

Laos, China, Thailand agree to speed up work on regional rail link
Authorities in Laos, China and Thailand have agreed to speed up the construction of railways to link the three countries, a Lao minister has said.
— Vientiane Times

 

This morning’s Thailand Morning News Roundup is shortened due to the Songkran celebrations. We wish all of our Thai readers a safe, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

 

Feature photo JJ Harrison

 

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. Due to The Nation‘s habit of hijacking urls and diverting them to promotion pages we no longer include it in our clippings.

 

 

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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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