Thailand morning news for April 29

Thailand morning news for April  29
Advertisement
Online English lessons

Thailand morning newsMaha Sarakham districts have no water at all, Phuket gets first decent rain for the year
Tap water has run completely dry in six villages in a Maha Sarakham district, right in the middle of Thailand’s north-east Isaan region, in what’s been described as the worst drought in 40 years.
— The Thaiger

Interest doubles Hopewell compensation to B25bn
The State Railway of Thailand will ask the government to pay the court-ordered 25-billion-baht compensation, including 13-billion-baht interest, to Hopewell (Thailand) Co for its cancellation of the company’s huge transit project contract.
— Bangkok Post

FFP faces new shares storm
Activist Srisuwan Janya will on Monday petition the Election Commission (EC) to investigate 11 election winning candidates from the Future Forward Party (FFP) over allegations of shareholding violations.
— Bangkok Post

Govts sign Thai-Lao rail deal
Thailand, China, and Laos have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on the development of a rail line between Nong Khai and Vientiane in Laos, which forms part of China’s much-touted Belt and Road…
— Bangkok Post

Thailand suffers a rare loss in tourist arrivals for the month of March, spending down as well
Thailand suffered a rare combined drop in tourist arrivals and spending in March, signaling a rocky first quarter for Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy.
— The Pattaya News

FDA extends pot amnesty to May 21
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the amnesty period for people who possess marijuana for medical purposes from May 19 to May 21.
— Bangkok Post

Future Forward party eyes role in local politics
The Future Forward party says it will open a new chapter in local politics by not just fielding candidates in local elections, but also by helping local people design policies…
— Thai PBS News

FFP to ‘shake up’ scene in PAO polls
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the Future Forward Party (FFP) on Sunday declared the party is set to shake up local politics by fielding candidates in elections at provincial administrative organisations (PAO) nationwide.
— Bangkok Post

Govt to provide convenience to people attending royal coronation ceremony
For people who will attend the royal coronation ceremony especially on May 5, 2019, the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) will provide air-conditioned shuttle buses for 11 routes while the Purple and Blue Line MRT and Airport Link will provide free service throughout the day.
— NNT

Foreign Affairs Ministry to organize coronation activities in foreign countries
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) will organize activities and ceremonies related to the event, for people overseas to express their loyalty and be a part of this historic event. The ministry will also hold exhibitions locally and internationally to provide information about the coronation ceremonies in both Thai and English throughout May.
— NBT World (video)

Arches for coronation ceremonies; ground for propitious plants
The Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning has designed decorative arches for the coronation ceremonies, and selected elevated ground for the growing of propitious plants.
— NNT

2019 Thai general election: A déjà vu of 1969 Thai general election
Friedrich Hegel, the German philosopher, once said “the only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history”.
— Prachatai English

Royal Rainmakers on standby in Phuket despite three failed attempts
After three failed attempts, Royal Rainmakers will again be deployed in Phuket as soon as the required weather and air traffic conditions coincide, according to Wiraphon Sudchada, Director of the Southern Royal Rainmaking Operation Center in Surat Thani.
— The Phuket News

Thailand’s ban on crypto was always meant to be a temporary solution, says Thai SEC’s FinTech Director
Thailand was one of the nations to initially impose a ban on the use of cryptocurrencies, before permitting it with regulations in place.
— AMBCRYPTO

PPRP heavy mulls House job
Amid reports that Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) heavyweight Suchart Tancharoen could become a potential candidate for House speaker, the veteran politician has come out and said he is ready for the top parliamentary job if lawmakers place their trust in him.
— Bangkok Post

Michelin Guide stars Northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai
Michelin yesterday announced the extension of its guide book’s reach to northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai, with the new edition to be released at the end of 2019, Xinhua news agency reported.
— malaymail

HK buses to be equipped with anti-drowsiness systems
Buses installed with anti-drowsiness systems for drivers could soon be on the road, with the city’s biggest bus operator announcing that testing was nearly finished for the new safety measure.
— Bangkok Post

Sea warming causing coral bleaching in the sea off Phuket
Corals in the sea off Phuket have started to bleach due to the warming of the sea, according to reports from the Phuket-based operations centre of the 2nd National Marine…
— Thai PBS News

School loses court battle
The Central Administrative Court has ordered Suankularb Wittayalai School to accept 10 students to study at Matthayom 1 level (Grade 7) under area quota for the 2019 academic year.
— Bangkok Post

Supreme Court president urges Thai people to accept rules
Supreme Court President Cheep Chulamont wonders how Thai people can find peace if they do not accept the rules and resort to unrest.
— Thai PBS News

Finance Ministry scraps travel cash for tourists
The Finance Ministry has scrapped a plan to hand out travel allowances in cash worth 1,500 baht each to about 10 million people for travelling in any of 55 second-tier provinces, part of a scheme to promote domestic tourism in areas not regularly visited be them.
— Bangkok Post

Schedule for the Coronation Ceremony May 3-6:
May 3: HM the King’s full formal name inscribed on a golden plate, Royal horoscope and Royal seal moved to the Paisarn Thaksin Throne Hall. HM the King proceeds to…
— Thai PBS News

SRT to seek Cabinet help in 25-billion-baht Hopewell compensation
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will ask the Cabinet through the Ministry of Transport next Monday to help pay the 25 billion baht breach of contract compensation to Hong…
— Thai PBS News

Thailand rehearses elaborate $31 million coronation for king
Forty roads were closed in Bangkok as a band and officers on horseback marched past the Grand Palace on Sunday in a dress rehearsal for the next weekend’s coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Thailand’s first in nearly seven decades.
— Reuters

Khao Kheow Open Zoo uses sprinklers to cool the animals
The temperature in Khon Kaen recently reached more than 41 degrees Celsius, prompting the zoo to find ways to cool the animals by making iced drinks for giraffes. At Khao Kheow Open Zoo, animals are being given fruity iced water and sprinklers are being used to reduce the temperature during summer.
— NNT

Patong Mayor to discuss underground cable plan with businesses, residents
Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup has announced that meetings will be held with local residents and businesses ahead of the project, commencing in July, to move power lines and fibre-optic cables underground.
— The Phuket News

The EC will consider three formulae in party-list seat calculation
The Election Commission’s Office will this week submit to the Election Commission (EC) 2 or 3 formulae options for the calculation of the 150 party-list seats to be allocated to…
— Thai PBS News

Strong growth from key markets compensate for slight dip in Chinese tourists
Thailand CBRE, international property consultants, believe that the Thai tourism market is still as resilient as ever. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports announced they are expecting more than 40 million tourists to visit Thailand …
— The Thaiger

Seafaring dog heads to new home in Khon Kaen
Seafaring dog Boonrod is heading to a new life in Khon Kaen with his new owner — one of the oil rig workers who rescued him from the ocean in a story that captured international attention.
— Bangkok Post

Surin man first to die of Rabies in 2019
A 32 year old man in Surin province has become the first person to die of Rabies this year.
— The Thaiger

Phuket ranked sixth Best Destination in the World – Trip Advisor
PHOTO: Patong Beach. Phuket was the only Thai destination in the 2019 list of the World’s Best Destinations
— The Thaiger

Company registrations continue to rise on EEC boost
Business registrations continued to increase in March, boosted by the government’s tourism promotion scheme and greater investment in the government’s flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
— Bangkok Post

National Labour Day to be celebrated in Phuket
Government offices will remain open but many businesses will close this coming Wednesday (May 1) as the nation celebrates the annual May Day holiday.
— The Phuket News

Bangkok home prices among the cheapest in the Key Global Cities report
Hong Kong maintains its position as the world’s most expensive residential city, while Bangkok ranks at #33 out of 35 global cities surveyed. In the fifth annual Global Living Report, CBRE profiles the property markets across 35 key global cities. The results highlight that investments in urban …
— The Thaiger

Two out of three Thai workers are happy at work
Most Thai workers say they have a happy work life but are hoping the new government will boost the minimum wage and provide better medical welfare benefits.
— The Thaiger

Kanchanaburi aims to capitalise on raft culture
With two rivers, Kwai Yai and Kwai Noi, running through urban areas, residents of Kanchanaburi province have always had a close bond with waterways.
— Bangkok Post

Adventure tourism safety laws mulled
A new law will be drafted to ensure safer adventure tourism after a Canadian tourist plunged to his death from a zipline attraction during the Songkran festival in Chiang Mai.
— Bangkok Post

Bitcoin Trading Volume Surges 250% in Thailand After ‘Seasteading’ Fiasco
An illegal ‘seasteading’ home belonging to a Bitcoin-rich couple was towed by the Thai navy. Meanwhile, the publicity of the event has caused Bitcoin volumes to soar in Thailand.
— Bitcoinist

Commerce Ministry tackles oil palm pricing
The Ministry of Commerce has stressed the government’s efforts to solve low pricing of oil palm kernels, bringing forward measures over the next two months to bring down the stock volume to a normal level.
— NNT

Press Center to serve journalists attending coronation ceremonies of King Rama X
Deputy Prime Minister Chatchai Sarikalya officially opened the main press center for coronation ceremonies to publicize related news and information widely and honorably.
— NNT

50 houses in Ratchaburi damaged by summer storms
RATCHABURI: About 50 houses in three villages in Ban Kha district of this western Central province were damaged after being hit by summer storms on Friday and Sunday.
— Bangkok Post

In love with the lottery – The Thai obsession with the national lottery
Thais love their national lottery. On the first and sixteenth of each month the lottery numbers are announced and people’s favourite numbers either come up, or they don’t – usually not. You will see the lottery ticket vendors either on the pavement or wandering through restaurants …
— The Thaiger

New initiative aims to develop caves nationwide
The National Cave Management Policy Committee has determined guidelines for creating awareness and supporting operations for the benefit of natural resource conservation, rehabilitation and development of Thailand’s caves into tourist attractions in the future.
— Pattaya Mail

Immigration busts illegal migrant smugglers
Authorities have arrested three Thai citizens who were caught smuggling illegal migrants from Cambodia into Thailand through Sa Kaeo border crossing.
— Pattaya Mail

CP consortium to build high-speed airport rail link
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has finally decided to grant the concession for the 220 billion baht high-speed rail project linking three major airports to the consortium led by Charoen Pokphand Group…
— Bangkok Post

Motorway plans in the slow lane
Sluggish land expropriation and poor state management are being blamed for the slow start of at least two motorway projects being pushed by the current administration.
— Bangkok Post

100,000 baht cash found in grave in Pattaya
Sawang Boriboon members and volunteers cleaning graves and cremating those with no family members exhumed an unexpected surprise from one burial plot: 100,000 baht cash. The money – 98,000 in brand-new banknotes and 2,000 baht in rumpled bills – was discovered in the grave of …
— The Pattaya News

 

Feature photo A stamp a day 

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges International Jazz Day, April 30.

 

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.

 

 

The following two tabs change content below.

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.

Support independent media by sharing using these tools. Do not steal our content

Make a comment

Your email address will not be published.