Bank tips strong economic growth this year
The Government Savings Bank’s economic research centre has forecast that the country’s economy will grow by 4.2 per cent this year thanks to strong growth in exports, investment from the both public and private sectors, and tourism.
— The Nation
Thailand Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2017
— US Department of State
Number of new businesses in Q1 hits new high
Thailand, in the first quarter of 2018 registered more than 20,000 new businesses, the highest number ever recorded.
— News Today (video)
Cops top list of corruption cases heard in graft court
The police force has topped the list of defendants involved in corruption and malfeasance cases that are heard by the specialised Corruption Court with a total of 402 policemen facing lawsuits.
— Bangkok Post
Gen Prawit: Thailand is ready to host Trump-Kim summit
Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon said today (April 21) that Thailand is ready to welcome US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if they choose Thailand for the historic meeting.
— Thai PBS
Digital entrepreneurs urged to get copyrights
Amid the digital stream in which information can be transmitted worldwide through the internet, the public sector has urged entrepreneurs, especially those in the digital industry, to have their intellectual properties copyrighted for added value to their products and more incomes.
— News Today (video)
Alibaba urges higher import duty exemption
Jack Ma’s flagship unit Alibaba has asked the Thai government to raise the maximum 1,500-baht import duty exemption in a push that could boost the country’s demand for imported goods and cut customs officials’ workload.
— Bangkok Post
Experts worried about lack of Thai digital skills
THE HYPE over Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba’s Bt11-billion investment in Thailand, announced last Thursday, and its huge Tmall online platform has only masked the country’s fundamental weaknesses in embracing the digital technology for economic and social benefits, according to experts.
— The Nation
PM downplays concerns about Alibaba’s monopoly trade
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha downplayed concerns about monopoly trade after Alibaba Group signed a memorandum of understanding with the Thai government under the Smart Digital Hub project in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) area.
— News Today (video)
Durian price shoots up after sale on Alibaba’s Tmall.com
The price of Thai durian at the wholesale markets in Chanthaburi and Rayong provinces has steadily increased following the launch of the online supermarket.
— The PBS
Chinese real estate robots set to invade
First it was Chinese tourists, then Chinese property buyers and investors, and now Chinese robots are coming to a real estate agency and property developers near you.
— Thailand Property News
Big increases in BKK airport arrivals for 2018 Songkran
Nearly 7 percent additional passengers flew into Suvarnabhumi Airport and 12 percent into Don Mueang this year to celebrate the Songkran festival, compared to last year’s passenger traffic.
— The Thaiger
Thai Military Questions Suspected Militant Wanted by Malaysian Authorities
A Thai national wanted by Malaysian authorities was released by military officials in the country’s Deep South after they determined he had no ties to militants including the Islamic State (IS), an army spokesman said Wednesday.
— BenarNews
Thailand Post expects business growth at 30bn baht
Thailand Post has predicted that its business value will increase to 30 billion baht this year and the value of e-commerce business of Thailand is expected to grow to more than three trillion baht.
— NNT
Phuket’s property popularity revives
Phuket’s villa and resort condominium market is expected to stay active, with demand strengthened by investment buyers and tourism, while city condo sales will remain sluggish with a large existing supply.
— Bangkok Post
GSB and BAAC extend over 10 billion baht in emergency loans to low-income earners
The Government Savings Bank (GSB) and the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) have collectively extended emergency loans amounting to 10 billion baht to some 220,000 people so they do not have to seek loans from “loan sharks” and fall into unorganized debt trap.
— Thai PBS
Landlords kick up fuss over new regulations
The owners of condominiums and houses renting their assets to tenants say the authorities did not properly inform them when making new leasing regulations that will take effect on May 1.
— Bangkok Post
Songkhla launches income enhancement project for rubber growers
The southern province of Songkhla has launched an income enhancement project encouraging rubber agriculturists to grow edible plants as well, to improve their earnings.
— NNT
Laos vows to help track Thai fugitives
Thai political fugitives in Laos will be kept under strict surveillance to prevent them from engaging in lese majeste activities, the Laos government has assured Thailand.
— Bangkok Post
Government Spokesman: Government never intervenes in TMFUG
Government Spokesperson Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd (สรรเสริญ แก้วกำเนิด) dismissed the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)’s claim that the government had formed a working group on labor relations promotion in sea fishing industry only to intervene in the Thai and Migrant Fisher Union Group (TMFUG)’s operation.
— News Today (video)
Police to quiz celebrities after factory raid nets ‘dangerous’ products
POLICE PLAN to summons for questioning about 15 celebrities, stars and Internet idols hired to be presenters of well-known food-supplement brands whose company is facing allegations of operating without a proper licence.
— The Nation
Chiang Mai residents launch social sanction against judges
Chiang Mai residents who oppose the judges’ housing project in Doi Suthep mountain have launched a social sanction against the judges and officials of the 5th Region Appeals Court who move in to stay there.
— Thai PBS
Police Chief orders crackdown on foreign mafia gangs
The Deputy Spokesman of the Royal Thai Police (RTP) disclosed that the police chief had ordered strict and continuous crackdowns on foreign mafia gangsters following a raid on the group sex party in Pattaya on Saturday night.
— NNT
Registered migrant workers to have their health checked no later than June
More than 300,000 migrant workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos are waiting to undergo a health checkup after having already registered with the Department of Employment.
–– News Today (video)
Creation of database system for calculation of greenhouse gas account
The National Committee on Climate Change has approved the creation of a database system for the calculation of the greenhouse gas output, to be known as Thailand’s big data system.
— NNT
Law reform panel hints at complete overhaul of police bill
The law reform committee may not just amend the National Police Bill as propose by the police reform panel but may rewrite the whole bill and amended the other related laws, said Kamnoon Sidhisamarn a member of the law reform committee on Saturday (April 21).
— Thai PBS
NLA approves amendment to Thai Ship Act
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) endorsed the amendment to the Thai Ship Act in bid to promote the sustainability in the fishery sector and improve management in the sector.
— News Today (video)
Construction of the 5th Thai-Lao friendship bridge likely to begin this year-end
Construction of the 5th Thai-Lao friendship bridge linking the northeastern province of Bueng Kan with Laos’ western township of Pakxan in Bolikhamsai province is likely to commence this year-end with the Ministry of Transport expecting to seek budget from the government in October.
— Thai PBS
Taxi drivers to be given English-speaking crash course
Taxi drivers at Suvarnabhumi international airport will be the first group of cabbies to be given a crash course in English conversation and basic writing free of charge.
— Thai PBS
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.
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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
I am planning on purchasing some Real Estate in your country. I would like you to help us find good real estate for immediate rent or purchase.
Also of importance to me is the need for you to provid full information on expected tax or any other charges that are required for foreign purchase.
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That’s not what we do. You want a realtor, not a newspaper.
Thank you for reading.