MOPH announces successful medical cannabis outcomes
The Ministry of Public Health has released initial findings on medical cannabis administration to patients, and related clinical research, which show positive effects among young patients with epilepsy, and patients with end-stage cancer.
— NNT
Chinese dam to reduce water discharge into Mekong river
A Chinese authority has informed five countries along the Mekong river of a planned reduction in the water discharge from Jinghong dam upstream, during electrical component tests.
— NNT
Drunk Driving a Serious Problem with Thailand’s Motorists
The Office of the Judiciary in Thailand has reported that over 18,000 motorists were sent to court on drunk driving charges from Dec 27 to 31. A spokesperson said said courts have been flooded by drunk driving cases.
— Chiang Rai Times
Commerce to use FTAs to boost agricultural exports
With the sluggish global economy hurting foreign trade, the Ministry of Commerce has seen that free trade agreements (FTAs) can give Thai businesses a competitive advantage while supporting Thai farmers.
— NNT
Anti-plastic campaign gets positive response from public
Starting yesterday (Jan 1), more than 75 shopping malls and convenience stores nationwide stopped handing out single-use plastic bags to customers, following the government’s six-month anti-plastic campaign.
— NNT
Fate of govt hangs on economy
A razor-thin majority in the House will no longer be a concern for the government this year, though challenges including persistent economic problems will put its abilities to the test, academics said.
— Bangkok Post
Baht’s sudden drop shows battle lines drawn
The baht plunged as much as 1.8% on Thursday, the biggest decline since 2007, to 30.226 against the dollar in early Asia trading. That almost erased all the gains it made in the past three sessions.
— Bangkok Post
Authorities now facilitating post holidays Bangkok-bound traffic
The road safety center for the 2020 New Year festival has ordered all provinces and related agencies to take care of public safety and facilitate those travelling back from their hometowns to Bangkok, Meanwhile the latest accident figure for six days of the festival this year is recorded at around 3,000 cases with 317 facilities.
— NNT
Cabinet to consider implementing Article 83 to solve fisheries labour shortage
Let’s take a look at the attempt to solve the labor shortage in fisheries; it’s one of the requests from fishermen in 22 provinces which the government has promised to address.
— NNT
Prayut plays down censure offensive
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha defended his five-month-old government against a planned no-confidence motion by the opposition targeting five cabinet members.
— Bangkok Post
PM instructs officials to promptly address drought situation
The Prime Minister and Defense Minister has expressed concern over the water and drought situations, instructing officials to assist people promptly in affected areas and encourage farmers to delay their operations.
— Newsline (video)
US mulls listing Thailand as currency manipulator
Thailand could meet the three criteria of the US Treasury Department’s foreign exchange report in the coming periods, possibly putting the country on a monitoring list of currency manipulators, says Siam Commercial Bank’s Economic Intelligence Centre (EIC).
— Bangkok Post
Prime Minister’s New Year message
We begin the show with the New Year’s message of Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, welcoming 2020, the year of the Mouse.
— Newsline (video)
End of single-use plastic bags arrives
Television stations have joined in the effort to promote the end of single-use plastic bags in Thailand this year by reducing their appearance in shows and encouraging the public to switch to reusable bags.
— Newsline (video)
Thai Baht Has its Biggest Decline Against the Dollar Since 2007
The baht has made its biggest decline since 2007, to 30.226 against the dollar in early Asia trading. The baht plunged as much as 1.8% on Thursday.
— Chiang Rai Times
Seasonal death toll shrinks, drink driving major cause
Over 18,000 motorists were sent to court on drink-driving charges from Dec 27 to 31, according to the Office of the Judiciary.
— Bangkok Post
7 big projects in the pipeline for new year
The Department of Highways has seven key projects worth more than 124 billion baht in the pipeline for 2020, department chief Sarawut Songsivilai said on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post
Road safety center adjusts its strategy for people traveling to Bangkok
The Road Safety Operation Center has adjusted its strategy for people traveling back from the holidays, with an emphasis being placed on erecting checkpoints and maintaining security on the main road.
— Newsline (video)
Thailand: State investment expected to fuel economic growth
Due to global weak demand and ongoing trade tensions, State investment in big-ticket infrastructure projects and the government’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) flagship appears to be one of the few lifelines that Thailand can bank on to maintain economic growth momentum in 2020.
— Vietnamplus
PM Prayut concerned over drought situation
Drought was one of the recurring issues in Thailand last year. At present, the quantity of water in UbolRatana and other major reservoirs in the northeastern region is low.
— Pattaya Mail
America Should Be Realistic About its Alliance with Thailand
What should the United States do when it no longer shares strategic interests with an ally?
— War on the Rocks
EIC: Further easing risky
Despite a possible 25-basis-point rate cut in early 2020, further monetary easing is unlikely to help boost domestic consumption and could risk destabilising the financial situation, says Siam Commercial Bank’s Economic Intelligence Centre (EIC).
— Bangkok Post
Bank of Thailand Considers Implementing More Measures on Baht
The Bank of Thailand is considering implementing more measures if necessary on the Thai Baht, after seeing significant appreciation in the currency.
— Yahoo Finance/ Bloomberg (video)
Thai cities in top 100
Five cities in Thailand have been listed in the Top 100 City Destinations in 2019 by Euromonitor International, a global market research company based in the United Kingdom.
— Bangkok Post
PH still ‘very diplomatic’ on cigar tax case vs Thailand
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez has kept his cool as he sent a very diplomatic letter to his Thailand counterpart on hopes the fellow ASEAN will finally honor its obligation to comply with the ruling of the WTO to remove its discriminatory taxes on Philippine cigarettes.
— Manila Bulletin
Fatal flaws in speed strategy
The high traffic-related death toll during the New Year celebrations should make the Prayut Chan-o-cha government realise that a plan to increase speed limits may not really be a good idea.
— Bangkok Post
Private E&P licence plans for 2020
The Energy Ministry expects to push forward its licensing plan for offshore petroleum exploration and production (E&P) activities for private companies in 2020.
— Bangkok Post
Tourists view first light of 2020 over Aiyoeweng sea of mist
A large number of Thai and foreign tourists have visited tourist attractions in the provinces of Yala and Nong Khai , welcoming the arrival of 2020 .
— Newsline (video)
Thailand ready to fund sub-regional road building
All roads may soon lead to Thailand, as Thailand’s infrastructure building boom goes regional with loans in the works to Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar for them to build new roads, highways, and bridges.
— Royal Thai Embassy, Washington D.C.
A look ahead to Bangkok in 2020
This year promises to be eventful for Bangkok both in terms of local politics and development. Here are five major issues to watch out for in the year ahead.
— Bangkok Post
Thai Super Poll reveals what Thais prayed for this New Year…getting rich leads the way
Bangkok- Super Poll reported that in New Year’s polls conducted over the phone to Thai Nationals that 79.5% of respondents said that they wished for an improved economic situation when they prayed on New Year’s Eve.
— The Pattaya News
Bamboo food containers sell like hot cakes at Sri Nan national park
Bamboo cups, plates and trays, offered on a trial basis to visitors to Sri Nan national park in Thailand’s northern province of Nan as an alternative to plastics, have sold well and officials are considering increasing production.
— Thai PBS News
December inflation at 5-month high
December inflation rose 0.87% year-on-year, a five-month high, largely on rising food prices.
— Bangkok Post
PM Prayut, cabinet ministers make merit at Government House
As the long holiday ends, today (Jan 2) is the day civil servants return to work. At Government House, the Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, led a number of ministers to offer alms to Buddhist monks and make merit before attending their weekly meeting.
— NNT
Their Majesties issue a New Year greeting card
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana issued a New Year greeting card expressing Their Majesties’ well wishes to the people of Thailand.
— NNT
Battle to nourish young minds
The Education Ministry has announced it will take tough action against schools caught misusing funds for school lunches after the scandal came to light last year.
— Bangkok Post
Thais sought for jobs abroad
The Labour Ministry has set a target to formally send 100,000 Thai labourers abroad this year to prevent them from travelling overseas to seek employment illegally, said Labour Minister MR Chatu Mongol Sonakul.
— Bangkok Post
Charter court dismisses case against six opposition MPs
Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dismissed a complaint, by 61 Palang Pracharat MPs, demanding six opposition MPs be stripped of their parliamentary status for their participation in a panel discussion on unrest in the South and the Constitution and their subsequent filing of criminal charges against the Fourth Army Region commander.
— Thai PBS News
CPF sets ambitious long-term revenue targets
Thai poultry business Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) has set strong revenue targets for the next 12 months and beyond as it continues to focus on overseas expansion.
— GlobalMeatNews
Rival demonstrations scheduled for January 12 in Bangkok
Over 10,000 people have registered for the “Run Against Dictatorship” in Bangkok on January 12, while government supporters say they are planning a rival event on the same day.
— The Thaiger
Single-use plastic bag ban just the beginning – Thai Minister
“It is a huge New Year’s gift to Thailand and the world.” This proud announcement from the Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varavuth Silpa-archa voicing his strong support of the ban on plastic bags that kicked in yesterday.
— The Thaiger
House Speaker Proposes Booting Armed Forces Out of Senate
A proposal by House Speaker Chuan Leekpai to rid the upper house of military commanders was met with support and dissent on Thursday.
— Khaosod English
Transgender suspect arrested in fire that destroyed nine motorbikes in Pattaya, accused of negligence
Pattaya Police spoke to the Pattaya News this evening and confirmed that CCTV footage shows when a fire broke out this morning in the Soi Buakhao area that destroyed nine parked motorbikes and damaged a nearby beer bar.
— The Pattaya News
Pattaya City to renew focus on drivers stopping for pedestrians at zebra crossings in 2020
Pattaya City Hall announced through its social media channels today, January 2, 2020, that they will be focusing on zebra crossings and pedestrian safety as a priority in Pattaya in 2020.
— The Pattaya News
PM asks Opposition to focus censure debate on current government
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has warned the Opposition not to censure the performance of his previous administration and to concentrate on this government, which has been in the office for about five months.
— Thai PBS News
Feature photo @kookkickchicha
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on environmental concerns throughout Asean – toxic, traffic jams
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).
—
About Thailand morning news.
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Thailand morning news for January 3 added by John Le Fevre on
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John Le Fevre
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.
Latest posts by John Le Fevre (see all)
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 26 — 16 mln case barrier breached, Vietnam records community transmission – July 26, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 25 — new high for daily infections, 16 mln infection barrier to break today – July 25, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 24 — Asean tops 230,000 cases, nudges 90,000 active – July 24, 2020
- Thailand morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020