CCTVs around missing revolution plaque unavailable
Along with the removal of the 1932 Revolution memorial plaque, recordings from 11 CCTVs surrounding the site are also seemingly missing. The police have now prohibited photos and activities around the new ‘fresh-faced’ plaque.
– Prachatai English
Drop hunt for plaque, junta tells activists
THE JUNTA yesterday urged pro-democracy activists to end their mission to find the historic plaque that disappeared from the Royal Plaza days ago, asking them to cooperate in the interests of national reconciliation.
– The Nation
Moscow Warns Russian Tourists in Thailand of Terror Threat
Russia’s state tourism agency Rostourism on Wednesday warned Russian tourists in Thailand of potential terror threat and recommended them to avoid visiting crowded public places.
– Sputnik News
Militants launch multiple attacks in three southern provinces
Suspected southern militants launched grenade and gun attacks on 13 targets in three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla Wednesday night.
– Thai PBS
University courses ‘not up to standard’
More than 20% of higher education courses run by Thai universities fail to meet required standards, according to the Office of the Auditor General (OAG).
– Bangkok Post
New businesses can now register online
New entrepreneurs can now register online to get their businesses started.
– NNT
CCTV excuse won’t wash
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) once again has done a disservice to its residents. As the public eagerly awaited footage from 11 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed in areas near and around the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall and the Royal Plaza to find out who removed the memorial plague to the 1932 Siamese Revolution, City Hall yesterday simply came out to say that the CCTV cameras in the areas had been removed for repair. Thus, there is no video footage available.
– Bangkok Post
Thailand: Siam Commercial in exclusive talks with FWD to sell insurance arm for $3b
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) has entered into exclusive talks with Hong Kong insurer FWD Group to sell its life insurance arm, which could raise $3 billion for Thailand’s third-biggest lender, people with direct knowledge of the matter said.
– Deal Street Asia
Electricity bills poised for increase
Electricity bills are set to rise throughout 2017 because of rising natural gas and oil prices, says the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
– Bangkok Post
China Town, Khao San Road areas to be transformed into organised street food areas
THE GOVERNMENT is planning to transform Bangkok’s China Town and Khao San Road into well-organised areas for street food vendors.
– The Nation
SME Bank close to achieving rehab release
The state-owned Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME Bank) is expected to exit its rehabilitation plan by June, thanks to improving operating performance and lower non-performing loans.
– Bangkok Post
Pandora plans Bt9 bn capacity expansion here
PANDORA PRODUCTION CO, which claims to be the world’s largest jewellery manufacturer and exporter, is investing more than Bt9 billion to boost its production capacity in Thailand while implementing three strategic initiatives to support increasing global demand.
– The Nation
Fintech software start-up sets up development centre in Bangkok
Scale360, a UK-based fintech start-up that develops software to power banks’ digital transformation, has established a Bangkok Development Centre to service banks’ growing need for financial technology and to develop local skills in leading global technologies.
– The Nation
Food Capitals gobbles up two firms
Food Capitals Plc, the franchise operator of Domino’s Pizza and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, has acquired two food companies for a combined 400 million baht.
– Bangkok Post
Or Tor Kor Market ranked fourth among world’s best fresh markets
Bangkok’s Or Tor Kor Market, well-known for its premium fresh fruit, vegetables and foods, has been selected by CNN as one of the world’s 10 best fresh markets.
– The Nation
Road Safety Center’s accident report on seven dangerous days of Songkran 2017
The Road Safety Directing Center has recently released a road accident report on the seven dangerous days of this year’s Songkran holiday which started on April 11th and ended yesterday, April 17th.
– NNT
No public vehicle related death during Songkran
The Department of Land Transport has thanked every sector for their efforts in helping to make public transportation safer during Songkran holidays.
– NNT
Phuket’s Songkran road-death toll spurs Governor action
Governor Norraphat Plodthong has vowed to take action to correct Phuket motorists’ wild driving habits in the hope of reducing the death and carnage on the island’s roads.
Read more at http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-songkran-road-death-toll-spurs-governor-action-61828.php#8YC6ZAJYSi2SdqYU.99
– The Phuket News
Why Thailand’s military is trying to erase me from the Internet
The military government in Thailand has a well-established gift for Orwellian absurdity. Not long after seizing power in a 2014 coup, junta leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha published a song titled “Return Happiness to Thailand.” Last year officials spotted a seditious conspiracy behind a plan to distribute red bowls as gifts (presumably because the color red is associated with the opposition). Thais have been arrested for allegedly making disrespectful remarks about the king’s dog, and for eating a suspicious sandwich.
– The Washington Post
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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