Thailand morning news for January 21

Thailand morning news for January 21
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Thailand morning newsSmog expected to worsen on Monday
With air pollution lingering in Bangkok on Sunday and possibly set to worsen on Monday, the head of the Department of Health expressed concern for the health of people who work outdoors such as street vendors, traffic police, road sweepers and tuk-tuk drivers.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Down to work: Asean foreign ministers focus on trade, humanity, crime (video)
Following a day of social immersion and the opportunity to sound each other out on issues with candid one-on-one talks and a working dinner, Asean’s foreign minister got down to work on Friday (Jan 18) with trade, humanity, and crime key items on the agenda.
— AEC News Today (video)

Hope for Rohingya: Asean foreign ministers put China, Myanmar on notice
A gathering of Asean foreign ministers in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, on Friday signalled that the bloc is no longer prepared to ignore the actions of member states if it damages the image of the collective with external partners, at the same time putting China on notice over the South China Sea.
— AEC News Today

Poll shows people worried elections may not even be held
Since relevant agencies have failed to publish the electoral Royal Decree to announce a date for the national elections, uncertainty over whether the vote will even be held has become a top concern, a Suan Dusit poll learned recently.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Two arrested in Thai-Australian drug bust
Two transnational heroin smugglers – a Canadian national and a Thai man – have been arrested on drug charges and assets worth over 7.5 million baht seized, Office of the Narcotic Control Board (Oncb) ssecretary-general Niyom Termsrisuk said at a press conference on Sunday.
— Bangkok Post

BOT tipped to hold rate at 1.75% throughout year amid low inflation
THE BANK OF Thailand (BOT) will hold the policy interest rate at 1.75 per cent throughout 2019, Tada Phutthitada, president of the Thai Bond Market Association (ThaiBMA), predicted last week.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Behind the scenes at the 2019 Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat – Day 1 (gallery)
Foreign ministers from Asean’s ten member states have met for the 19th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AFMR), with a broad range of topics and views being tabled and canvassed by host nation Thailand.
— AEC News Today

Getting to work: 2019 Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat – Day 2 (gallery)
Following a day of social and cultural immersion and one-on-one chats, Asean’s foreign ministers got down to the formal work on Friday (Jan 18) in the Grand Ballroom of the Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai.
— AEC News Today

Air quality worsens in and around Bangkok today and tomorrow
Air quality in and around Bangkok has worsened again today with 27 areas being affected with excessive amount of PM2.5 dust particles beyond standard level, largely due to a combination…
— Thai PBS

Sadao checkpoint to open 24 hrs
Thailand and Malaysia have agreed to extend the operating hours of the Sadao-Bukit Kayu Hitam Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Checkpoints to 24 hours for a three-month trial period, starting from April 1 this year, to reduce congestion at the border.
— Bangkok Post

TAT shows foreign visitors by the numbers
The Tourism Authority of Thailand published a breakdown of 2018 visitors by nationality on the Facebook page of its Intelligence Centre on Saturday night, with Chinese leading the tally, to no one’s surprise.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

EC to endorse election results within 150-day timeframe
The Election Commission of Thailand (EC) has promised to endorse election results within the 150-day timeframe as stipulated in the 2017 Constitution.
— NBT World (video)

A political game: Why Thailand’s election will be a win for the military
When Thailand officials hinted that scheduled elections to end military rule would be postponed for the fifth time in almost as many years, anger and frustration rippled through the country.
— CNN

Get tough on diesel, vehicle numbers to tackle smog, experts urge
THE SEVERITY of Bangkok’s air pollution suggests that the national government’s pursuit of a “low-carbon economy” has fallen short of needs, say experts, who recommend higher taxes on “dirty fuel” and a reduction in the number of vehicles on city streets.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Thailand’s NSTDA and UK hold Dissemination Workshop for Newton Rice Initiative
The National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) together with the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Bangkok and the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) on January 18th held the Dissemination Workshop for Newton Rice Initiative at Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao in Bangkok‎.
— NBT World (video)

Bankers warn of foreign countries’ effect on Thai economy
Kasikorn Bank has suggested investors keep a close watch on foreign factors particularly the U.S.-China trade war and the British parliament’s rejection of the Brexit deal.
— NBT World (video)

US returns another 47 artifacts to Thailand
The United States has returned an additional 47 historical artifacts to Thailand with some estimated to be up to 4,000 years old.
— Vietnam Plus

Suspected Muslim rebels storm Thai temple, kill 2 monks
Hat Yai (AP) — Gunmen presumed to be Muslim insurgents stormed a Buddhist temple in southern Thailand, killing two monks and wounding two others, police said Saturday.
— Pattaya Mail

Better safety measures for southern monks mooted
The government and National Office of Buddhism (NOB) are laying out safety measures to protect monks in the southern border provinces after a fatal attack at a temple in Narathiwat that killed two monk and injured two others.
— Bangkok Post

Over 4,000 people attend bathing rite for monks killed in Narathiwat armed assault
About 4,000 villagers and Buddhist disciples, including more than 300 monks from several temples in the southern provinces and Malaysia, today attended the bathing rite for the two monks killed by gunmen who stormed Wat Rattananuparb in Narathiwat Friday night.
— Thai PBS

Police get the hoses out to tackle pollution
Traffic police and volunteers sprayed water at four locations in Bangkok on Sunday morning in a bid to curb the dust pollution.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Ex-PM Yingluck denies her involvement in Pheu Thai’s internal politics as she has pained enough from past politics
Fugitive former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra claimed she has washed her hands off politics because she has suffered enough from her political role in the past.
— Thai PBS

Belarusian ‘Anastasia’ will be in Moscow detention another 3 days
Anastasia Vashukevich, aka. Nastya Rybka, the Belarusian model/sex-educator/Instagramer who spent a year in a Thai jail awaiting last week’s Court case, and was then deported, remains in a Moscow jail as of last night after the presiding judge decided to extend her detention by 72 hours.
— Thaiger

Rapid growth of digital one-stop services planned
THE GOVERNMENT expects to provide digital one-stop services 4.0 from 300 government agencies within the next five years.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Customs Dept offers online payment services
Bangkok – Businesses needing to make payments to the Customs Department can now do so through online banking.
— Pattaya Mail

Big talk but little action on Rohingya
Though the crisis was subject of intense discussion discussed at the Asean meet, few decisions were made.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Two cops sustain serious injuries in roadside bomb blast
Two policemen were seriously injured in a roadside bomb explosion in a village in Nong Chik district of the southern province of Pattani this morning. The two police officers who…
— Thai PBS

New 500 baht fine for drunk cycling
Up to now drink-driving cyclists have not been included in the laws governing drunk drivers of other vehicles in Thailand. But with the rising popularity of cycling as a fitness trend, that’s about to change with a new 500 baht fine if bought drunk in control of a bike. Drunk bicyclists who are currently immune […]
— The Thaiger

Two arrested in crackdown on transnational drug ring
A Canadian man and his Thai male accomplice have been arrested in a joint operation to crack down on a transnational drug trafficking ring that tried to smuggle heroin hidden in automobile shock absorbers into Australia, Niyom Termsrisuk secretary-general of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), told a press conference in Bangkok on Sunday.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

The healthy fight over medical prices
Controlling medical and healthcare service prices remains a hot topic in Thailand’s healthcare industry, with the move poised to become an epic struggle between private hospitals, state officials and consumer representatives.
— Bangkok Post

Anastasia Vashukevich trial
Anastasia Vashukevich attends hearing of investigation motion on her arrest at the Nagatinsky district court in Moscow, Russia, 19 January 2019.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Bangkok Airways celebrates the arrival of its 40th aircraft
Bangkok Airways has welcome the latest Airbus A319 as the local airline’s 40th aircraft when it arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
— The Thaiger

PTT, BIG join hands to develop air separation unit
Bangkok – PTT Plc has cooperated with Bangkok Industrial Gas Co (GAS) to spend 1.5 billion baht to develop an air separation unit for industrial gas in Rayong province. The unit will use chilled wastewater from the gasification process of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
— Pattaya Mail

REPORT: Diesel combustion drives this PM2.5 mess, said PCD latest study
THAI AND MUNICIPAL authorities mounted a successful campaign years ago to control air pollution involving PM10 – particulate matter 10 microns in diameter or more.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

First Thai cave rescue film due out on mission anniversary
A Thai-born director who took just weeks to shoot the first film about the dramatic cave rescue of the Wild Boars football team says his focus is on authenticity and the mission’s unsung heroes, with book publishers and Hollywood studios jostling to make their versions of the saga.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Bangkok ranked 3rd among best cities for dining
Bangkok – Bangkok has been ranked third on the list of Top Global Cities for Dining, and sixth on the list of Top Global Cities for Shopping, according to a survey published by the MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index.
— Pattaya Mail

Surakarta to cover cross-shaped road mosaic with paint after complaints from Muslim groups
The Surakarta administration in Central Java has finally decided to cover a cross-shaped road mosaic in front of the City Hall with paint following complaints from conservative Muslim groups.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Calls for duty-free reform mount
Retailers on Friday reiterated their calls for the government to end the duty-free concession monopoly, liberalise duty-free pickup counters and reduce import tariffs for some luxury items.
— Bangkok Post

Head of animal shelter apologizes for euthanizing stray pets
The head of a South Korean animal shelter on Saturday apologized for euthanizing stray pets, but claimed that she put stray pets to death with a humanitarian purpose, according to Yonhap.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Uber calls on Thais to sign petition to back ride-sharing
Uber spokeswoman Amy Kunrojpanya says amending Thailand‘s ‘outdated‘ transport law will help normalise the ride-sharing sector.
— Lakeland Observer

Amended Land Traffic Act through NLA’s first reading
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has accepted in principle an amendment of the Land Traffic Act in its first reading, with 157 lawmakers voting in favor, none against, and two abstaining.
— NNT

Teacher’s conference on improving English teaching
The English Teachers Association of Thailand has held the 39th academic conference at an international level on changes and opportunities in teaching English.
— NBT World (video)

SCB starts transformation’s second phase
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) will shake up its management structure by appointing four co-presidents as part of the bank’s transformation into an agile organisation under the SCB Transformation programme’s second phase.
— Bangkok Post

Pro-democracy activists rally against election delay in Thailand
Pro-democracy demonstrators took to the streets of Bangkok on Saturday to call on the military government to hold the country’s general election next month as scheduled.
— The Mainichi

Thailand expects bright fisheries future
Thailand’s Fisheries Department expects a bright future for the local fisheries industry after the European Commission took Thailand off a group of “warned countries” in recognition of its “progress” in tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
— Vietnam Plus

PRD organizes meeting on crisis journalism manual
The national reform Committee on Mass Media and Communications Technology has partnered with the Public Relations Department to organize the first-ever meeting on media ethics during times of emergency, following the events of the Tham Luang Cave rescue operation in Chiang Rai province last year.
— NBT World (video)

Plants to buy coconut flesh at 15 baht per kilo
The Department of Internal Trade is imploring processing plants in four provinces to purchase coconut flesh from local producers at a rate of 15 baht per kilogram.
— NBT World (video)

 

Feature photo John Le Fevre

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges the 2019 Asean Foreign Minister’ Retreat, Chiang Mai, Thailand January 17-18.

 

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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