Thailand morning news for January 16

Thailand morning news for January 16
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Thailand morning newsPM searching for haze solution
The use of more environmentally friendly B20 biodiesel and temporary school closures in critically haze-affected areas are among various proposals pitched by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as the government ramps up efforts to tackle fine dust particles that have blanketed Bangkok.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Thailand must postpone election again, until March: Officials
Thailand’s long-delayed general election to end military rule will have to be postponed from its Feb 24 date and will likely be held in March, two officials in the Election Commission said on Tuesday (Jan 15).
— Channel NewsAsia

Toxic smog settles in for long haul
BANGKOK RESIDENTS will have to put up with smog until early March, as high levels of PM2.5 particles is expected to settle over the capital for many more weeks.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Group sets Friday deadline to govt for election date, vows to up the ante with rallies
WITH THE government failing to fix the date for the election and pushing for it to be delayed by a month, pro-election groups are rallying for a show of strength both in and out of Bangkok to put pressure on the ruling junta.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Air force planes spray water to lessen smog
The Air Force has deployed BT-67 aircraft to spray water to alleviate the effects of the current smog over Bangkok.
— NNT

Ministry targets factories
The Industry Ministry has ordered all agencies under its umbrella to set stricter measures governing factories producing high levels of fine dust in Bangkok, and it plans to take legal action against any…
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Car sales in worst slump since ’98
VEHICLE sales in the Philippines fell by 16 per cent last year, the worst full-year decline since the financial crisis in 1998. Members of two large automotive groups in the country sold 357,410 units last year, much less than the 425,673 units sold in 2017.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

B18bn projects approved for upper North
The cabinet has approved in principle 10 infrastructure projects worth a combined 17.7 billion baht for four upper northern provinces.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand:Insurance market sees stable growth of around 5%
The Thai insurance industry is estimated to have generated an annual total insurance premium of THB862.1bn ($27bn) last year, growing by 5.3% over 2017, according to the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC).
— Asia Insurance Review

Delay urged to new e-commerce tax rule
THE Indonesian e-Commerce Association (idEA) has called on the government to postpone the implementation of a new tax regulation for e-commerce companies, fearing that unprepared taxpayers and unequal treatment could deter growth.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

PM okays B17.5m for housing project
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has approved a 17.5-million-baht rehabilitation plan for a controversial housing project for staff of the Administrative Office of Appeal Region 5 in Chiang Mai.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Populist curse hangs over Thai economy as public awaits election
A nostalgic farmer in northeastern Thailand symbolizes how populism has gummed up the gears of the economy — a pressing challenge for whatever government emerges from the country’s highly anticipated general election.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Govt to create data centre to help farm supply match demand
THE OFFICE of Agricultural Economics (OAE) will work with other government agencies to develop a data analytics system as part of the government’s effort to upgrade the management of Thailand’s farm sector.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Gen Prawit orders narcotics crackdown at northern border
The Deputy Prime Minister for security affairs has ordered law enforcement agencies based in the North of Thailand to crack down on illegal drug trafficking at the border.
— NBT World (video)

Cambodia to end border check
CAMBODIA’S Prime Minister Hun Sen has unveiled a new campaign to boost economic independence and reduce the reliance on preferential trade statuses offered by advanced countries, saying the government will provide better trade facilitation and eliminate unnecessary procedures.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Air force planes spray water to lessen smog
The Air Force has deployed BT-67 aircraft to spray water to alleviate the effects of the current smog over Bangkok.
— NNT

Smog to exact heavy price
Chula academic calls for radical measures to reduce the number of vehicles on the streets of bangkok
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Brighter prospects for e-commerce
Thanks to the growing popularity of online shopping in Thailand, e-commerce is expected to have the brightest growth prospects this year, while book rental, handicraft and conventional furniture are forecast…
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

DLT introducing electronic licenses
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has officially begun to introduce electronic drivers licenses, launching a downloadable application that can digitally hold driver authorizations and vehicle details.
— NNT

Private hospitals push back against regulation to list actual cost of supplies & services
The Private Hospital Association of Thailand has reported that its member institutions have been unable to abide by a regulation, which requires private hospitals to disclose the cost of essential supplies and services.
— NBT World (video)

Solar panel surplus sales from 2021
The Energy Ministry will allow solar panel owners to sell surplus electricity in communities from 2021, in line with the new national energy reform plan.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Malaysia monitors chikungunya outbreak in Thailand
Thailand reported thousands of chikungunya cases in the south last year and in just the first two weeks of 2019, 447 cases were already reported from 12 provinces- mostly from Phuket, Songkla and Pattani provinces.
— Outbreak News Today

‘Election a key factor’ in 2019 growth
THAILAND’S economic growth in 2019 will hinge on the upcoming election, according to a Krungthai Bank expert.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Family calls for capital punishment if man convicted of murder spree
RELATIVES AND FRIENDS yesterday called for the death penalty to be handed down to murder suspect Teerapol Pin-amorn following his arrest in the border province of Ranong for killing five members of his family.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Cabinet approves irrigation developments in North
The Cabinet earlier today approved three irrigation development projects in the North with a budget of 559.6 million baht. The decision was made during the first mobile Cabinet meeting of 2019.
— NNT

Ban on e-cigarettes under study after enforcement problems emerge
A REVIEW of the ban on e-cigarettes is being launched in light of difficulties in enforcing the law.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

NBTC approves draft of auction conditions
The telecom regulator’s board yesterday approved a draft of auction conditions for the 700-megahertz spectrum and remedy measures for digital TV operators, divided into seven slots of 5MHz of bandwidth each.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Thailand’s price controls will hurt medical hub goal, private hospitals warn
PRIVATE HOSPITALS are now trying to thwart moves to control their prices of medicines and services.
— Eleven/ Asia News Network

CapitaLand to create biggest realty group via ASB takeover
SINGAPORE’S CapitaLand is acquiring Temasek subsidiary Ascendas-Singbridge (ASB) in a deal valued at S$11 billion (Bt260 billion), including debt, to create Asia’s largest diversified real estate group.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Rights activists push for ban on death sentences for female convicts
HUMAN RIGHTS defenders are calling for an end to capital punishment for women as a next step forward to achieving the universal abolition of death sentences in Thailand.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Landmark ruling compensates Myanmar workers
The Supreme Court ordered Tuesday that compensation be paid to 14 migrant workers from Myanmar whose accusations of abuses against a chicken farm sparked a landmark legal case for migrant labourers.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

NACC pledges fight against graft
Thailand’s Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is implementing its 20-year Anti-Corruption Master Plan (2017-2036), aimed at promoting concerted cooperation among all sectors of society in preventing and suppressing corruption, as well as developing a “Zero Tolerance and Clean Thailand.”
— NNT

Welfare card holders can withdraw cash for three months
THE FUNDS in the government’s welfare card held by 14.5 million poor people could turn into cash for three months, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Doctors warn trippers of severe danger of using LSD-laden ‘deadly stamps’
Doctors have warned tourists and party-goers of the danger of ‘deadly stamps’, as the illicit drug is becoming popular among nightlife visitors to Koh Pha-Ngan.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Treasury Dept deploys mobile coin exchange vehicles
Thailand’s Treasury Department has sent out vehicles to collect old and unwanted coins from people in 14 provinces.
— NNT

Sufficiency economy can sustain health security
A FORMER public health minister has recommended the sufficiency economy philosophy and friend therapy as the means to sustain the country’s health security.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Mobile cabinet meeting begins in Chiang Mai
The Prime Minister has joined members of his Cabinet on a two-day visit to the upper northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Lampang where mobile Cabinet meetings are to take place.
— NBT World (video)

Model claiming Trump secrets to be deported
A Belarusian model who claimed she had proof of Russian efforts to help Donald Trump win office was set to be deported after being convicted Tuesday nearly a year after her arrest in Thailand for participating in a “sex training course”.
— Bangkok Post

ASEAN youth follow sufficiency economy philosophy
70 children from 12 different countries have joined the “3rd ASEAN Youth Representatives in Experiencing the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy” (AY-REPSE) in Thailand.
— NBT World (video)

Golden mermaid brings tourists back to Songkhla
The Golden Mermaid statue is drawing tourists to Thailand’s southern province of Songkhla as lives return to normal after Tropical Storm Pabuk.
— NNT

Fugitive wanted for murder of wife and in-laws captured
A 37 year old man wanted for the murder of his wife, her parents and two other in-laws in northern Uttaradit province on Sunday was caught near the Myanmar border in this southern province on Tuesday morning.
— Bangkok Post

Czech PM visiting Thailand this week
Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babis is leading an official and business delegation to Thailand on January 15-17, 2019 to strengthen relations and deepen economic cooperation between the two countries.
— NNT

Mazda applies for incentives to produce full EVs
After being granted investment privileges for manufacturing hybrid electric vehicles (EVs), Mazda Motor Corporation has decided to apply for production of full EVs in Thailand.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Monk accused of sex with minor caught 11 years later
A 61-year-old monk wanted for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl was arrested at a temple in Bang Bua Thong district on Tuesday after 11 years on the run.
— Bangkok Post

 

Feature photo Luma Health

 

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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