Phuket fights back against rainy season floods
As the upper region braces for the drought, Phuket City is working against the clock to prepare for the floods that will likely hit when the rainy season starts in June.
— Bangkok Post
Siam Songkran: Bangkok set to host Thailand’s largest Songkran music festival (video)
Bangkok’s annual celebration of the Thai New Year has garnered the city a reputation for hosting the world’s largest water fight.
— AEC News Today
Distressed Rubber Lands Could Upend Thailand’s Electoral Map
Only a headlamp helps Wanna Graikoom navigate the darkness in southern Thailand as she works through the night with her husband and son harvesting rubber sap from more than 1,000 trees.
— Bloomberg
Thailand’s general election a path towards mature, sustainable democracy
Thailand’s general election on March 24 would pave the Southeast Asian nation towards a mature and sustainable democracy.
— Borneo Bulletin
Ex-members of dissolved opposition party Thai Raksa Chart vow to fight on
The former members of a dissolved Thai opposition political party said they will carry on trying to block the military government’s effort to retain power in the general election.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)
Overlooked for four years, Thailand’s education system awaits election result
Thailand is in temporary limbo. The current government, which came to office in May 2014 via the country’s 12th military coup, is in full election mode.
— AEC News Today
Phattalung on alert after wave of homemade bombs
A security alert has been issued in this southern border province after seven bombs exploded — and three others were discovered and destroyed — in Pak Phayun district on Sunday morning.
–– Bangkok Post
400 SENATOR CANDIDATES SHORTLISTED FOR PRAYUTH
A junta-led committee has selected a group of shortlisted candidates for the junta to appoint as unelected senators, a deputy prime minister said Friday.
— Khaosod English
Bangkok bombing victim Zheng Jiu’s 1,271 days in Thailand
Zheng Jiu arrived at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Feb. 8 with his mother Ma Daifeng to travel back to China, after spending 1,271 days in Thailand since the Aug. 17, 2015 Bangkok bombing blast.
— Xinhua
Prayut set for tour of provinces
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is scheduled to visit four provinces to follow up on government work over the next two weeks, a move that appears to follow the trail of Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP)election campaign rallies which will be held prior to Gen Prayut’s visits.
— Bangkok Post
Thai aid brings smiles to devastated Nepal villages
THAILAND’S AMBASSADOR to Nepal has inaugurated several buildings funded by Thailand in Nepal’s Melamchi and Helambu villages, in the area hit the hardest by the 2015 earthquakes.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Commentary: Thai politicking intensifies after dissolution of pro-Thaksin party
The Thai Raksa Chat Party’s demise is a windfall, especially for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, says ISEAS’ Dr Termsak Chalermpalanupap.
— Channel News Asia
81 held in raid on Bangkok gambling den
Eighty-one gamblers, including 25 foreigners, have been arrested during a raid on a gambling den in Lat Krabang district in eastern Bangkok.
— Bangkok Post
Long queues and poor arrangements greet early Thai voters in KL
Over 4,000 Thai nationals working in Malaysia turned up at the Thai embassy in KL yesterday to cast their ballots.
— The Thaiger
Forest chiefs defend renewal of Saraburi mining permit
The Royal Forest Department on Friday came out to defend the latest cabinet resolution allowing the country’s biggest cement-processing company to continue limestone mining in an ecologically-rich watershed area in Saraburi province.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand: A Bite of Bangkok
As any traveller knows, the best way to find out where you should eat, drink and maybe even dance is to ask the locals. Here are a few recommendations from expats who live and breathe the best of Bangkok on where to hit the town
— Nzherald
Human trials for 16 marijuana-based medicines likely in July
THE THAI Traditional and Alternative Medicine Department (TTAMD) is planning to try 16 cannabis-based medicines on selected subjects in a research project starting in July.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Thai Raksa Chart members vow to block military efforts
The former members of a dissolved Thai opposition political party said they will carry on trying to block the military government’s effort to retain power in the general election.
— The Star Online
THAIS OVERSEAS KISS THEIR THAI RAKSA CHART VOTES GOODBYE
Overseas voters who mailed off ballots for the Thai Raksa Chart Party automatically lost their votes the moment the party was dissolved.
— Khaosod English
Chart Pattana postpones Korat rally for Prayut visit
The Chart Pattana Party has postponed a major election rally scheduled for March 13 in its stronghold of Nakhon Ratchasima as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is scheduled to visit the northeastern province the same day.
— Bangkok Post
Commission approves move to raise official elderly age to 65
The National Elderly Commission has agreed to raise the official age of elderly people in Thailand from 60 to 65, Social Development and Human Security Minister Anantaporn Kanjanarat said.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Phuket Law: Misunderstandings regarding the new foreign worker law
Last year we explained how Thailand’s Foreigners’ Working Management (No.2) (2018) (ED2), which came into force on 28 March 2018, has significantly liberalized restrictions on foreign workers.
— Phuket News
Cries for help go unheard
Several high-profile incidents of suicide among school and university students over the past two weeks have focused the nation’s attention on a problem that has been worsening, under the radar, for quite some times.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand’s Renewable Energy Transitions: A Pathway to Realize Thailand 4.0
After three years of revision, Thailand recently unveiled its updated power development plan (PDP 2018–2037), which explicitly shows the country’s ambition to embrace renewable energy.
— The Diplomat
Thailand offers rubber farmers subsidy amid falling latex prices
Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of raw rubber. However, as its global price is plummeting, the country’s farmers are suffering.
— Al Jazeera
Security stepped up in Nakhon Si Thammarat
Security has been stepped up after a series of homemade bombs exploded in Satun and Phatthalung provinces on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
— Bangkok Post
Four bomb blasts in Satun, three in Phatthalung, no casualties
Seven explosions were reported late Saturday night and early Sunday morning in Thailand’s southern provinces of Satun and Phatthalung.
— Thai PBS News
How one community in smoggy Lampang gets rid of all its waste without burning anything
WITH ATTENTION focused on forest fires’ contribution to the air pollution choking upper Thailand, other outdoor burning – particularly farm scrub being torched – is coming under closer scrutiny.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Forest chiefs defend renewal of Saraburi mining permit
The Royal Forest Department on Friday came out to defend the latest cabinet resolution allowing the country’s biggest cement-processing company to continue limestone mining in an ecologically-rich watershed area in Saraburi province.
— Bangkok Post
Resorts start rolling in own water tankers as Phuket dry spell continues
A leading figure in Phuket’s hotel industry in has confirmed that hotels and resorts across the island are starting to feel the effects of low water pressure in their mains water supply, which is forcing some hoteliers to arrange their own water supplies to ensure guests are not affected.
— The Phuket News
Thailand’s first animal crossing inaugurated in Prachin Buri
The first man-made animal crossing linking two national parks over a highway in Prachin Buri was inaugurated on Saturday in an effort to prevent more animals from the two parks being killed.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Military officers to dominate NCPO-appointed Senate
The 194 senators to be handpicked by the Thailand’s military junta, which is officially known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), are expected to be dominated by a screening committee and their names are expected to be in the hands of the NCPO today.
— Thai PBS News
Lack of clarity on scrapping Mekong rapids blasting raises concerns
ENVIRONMENTALISTS and local people along the Mekong River in Thailand remain uneasy over previously proposed plans to blast the Mekong River rapids, inspite of a Foreign Ministry assurance that the navigation channel improvement project had been scrapped.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
OPINION: FUTURE FORWARD NOW A BIGGER POLITICAL TARGET
he dissolution of Thai Raksa Chart Party on Thursday for having nominated Princess Ubolratana as a candidate for prime minister – dragging the royal institution into politics – has left many supporters wondering which party they should they vote for in two weeks time.
— Khaosod English
Betting on paperless customs
The Customs Department hopes that Thailand will rise in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings after the launch of Pre-Arrival Processing (PAP) e-bill payment and e-customs clearance.
— Bangkok Post
Airport rail decision due on March 19
Talks between the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) on March 19 will decide whether the consortium will develop a high-speed rail project linking three major airports, Deputy Transport Minister Pailin Chuchottaworn said.
— Bangkok Post
Distressed rubber lands could upend electoral map
Only a headlamp helps Wanna Graikoom navigate the darkness in the southern region as she works through the night with her husband and son harvesting rubber sap from more than 1,000 trees.
— Bangkok Post
Abhisit says no to Prayut’s return as post-election prime minister
Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva made it clear today that he will definitely not support Prayut Chan-o-cha as the post-election prime minister.
— Thai PBS News
Phuket airport numbers soar, despite the sag in the second half of 2018
“India became the fastest growing source market last year with more direct flights in 2019.” by Bill Barnett of C9 Hotelworks In 2018, Phuket tourism experienced volatile trading. While the first half year achieved a record high 4.8 million passenger arrivals, the second half year …
— The Thaiger
Security stepped up in Nakhon Si Thammarat
Security has been stepped up after a series of homemade bombs exploded in Satun and Phatthalung provinces on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
— Bangkok Post
Claim centres to track down tourists who skip hospital bills
FOREIGN TOURISTS failed to pay a combined Bt300 million in medical bills after receiving treatment in state hospitals last year, prompting the government to set up claim centres to collect what’s due.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Kalim beach cleanup staged as rubble remains
More than 100 officials, hotel staff, volunteers and local residents joined a mass cleanup at Kalim Beach yesterday morning (Mar 8) under Patong Municipality’s ‘Aware and Conserve the Environment’ campaign.
— The Phuket News
American wins Thailand transgender pageant, uses platform to educate others about HIV testing
American contestant Jazell Barbie Royale was crowned “Miss International Queen” in Thailand on Friday at a beauty pageant for transgender women, becoming the first person of color to win the competition since it started in 2004.
— Coconuts (paywall)
Egat prepares for sharp hike in summer power consumption
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) has estimated that power consumption during late April and early May would peak at 29,000 megawatts (MW), which is two per cent more than the same period last year.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
CABBIE UNAPOLOGETIC AFTER 1,800B-FARE OVERCHARGE
A taxi driver was fined Friday for charging two passengers 1,800 baht for a short drive from Mo Chit Bus Station to Pathum Thani province.
— Khaosod English
Construction of Bangkok’s large drainage tunnel to be completed in 2021
The construction of the Bueng Nong Bon Lake drainage tunnel is expected to be completed in 2021 and will help mitigate flooding in four districts of Bangkok.
— Pattaya Mail
The Nan “U-Turn of Death”. A fatality almost every day.
Thailand’s U-Turns, a favorite traffic mechanism of Thai road planners, are a cause of constant delays, dangerous turns and frequent fatalities.
— The Thaiger
Six home-made bombs hit Phatthalung
Six home-made bombs exploded at six different spots in Pak Phayun district of this southern province on Sunday morning, but caused no casualties, according to media reports.
— Bangkok Post
Review of Xiaomi Mi TDS Water Quality Tester Pen
With the use of modern technology, there are gadgets that you can now use that help you have a more
— Richard Barrow in Thailand
TBMA: Corporate bond interest spread up
The interest spread of corporate bond issuance has increased by 0.3-0.5% after a rise in bond supply in the first quarter, says the Thai Bond Market Association (TBMA).
— Bangkok Post
Phang Nga’s floating ambulance is saving lives
A fully-equipped medical boat on standby for traveller emergencies in the Similan and Surin islands has already saved seven lives during the current tourist season.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Top 10 things to see in Phuket, on a budget (2019)
Good luck to those who can! In Phuket you can have fantastic experiences that either cost you nothing or not much more.
— The Thaiger
Welfare card scheme revives mom-and-pop stores
Bangkok -Somwalee Limrachtamorn, the managing director of Nielsen (Thailand), the leading provider of marketing information and consumer-related measurement, has disclosed that the state welfare card scheme, which offers each card holder 200-300 baht a month to buy consumer products and spend on travel expenses, improved the overall growth of consumer spending in last year’s fourth quarter by 3.6 percent, higher than the previous three quarters, she said.
— Pattaya Mail
Phuket’s aircraft selfies to be moved from end of runway
Phuket airport authorities are looking to restrict photography of aircraft from the northern end of Nai Yang beach, at the western end of the single Phuket International Airport runway.
— The Thaiger
Not all fun at the fair
The liveliness of this weekend’s Asean Ethnic Festival in Bangkok can’t hide the dire issues afflicting minorities
— The Nation (very annoying popups)
Feature photo John Le Fevre
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.
Thailand morning news for March 11 added by Piseth Pov on
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