Massive job loss seen if Thailand doesn’t upgrade education – EEC advisor
Thailand will gain about 30,000 short-term jobs as the government’s Eastern Economic Corridor project ramps up, but will lose hundreds of thousands of jobs long-term unless the country improves its education system, an EEC board meeting was told.
— PattayaMail
Phoenix tour boat owner to fight charges, renounces confession
The lawyer representing the owner of the Phoenix tour boat, which capsized and sank in a storm off Phuket on July 5, killing 47 Chinese tourists, made a public statement today (Aug 14), vowing to fight the recklessness causing death charge in court and renouncing any testimony already given to police.
— The Phuket News
Bloomberg targets Big Tobacco’s ‘underhanded tactics’
The non-profit groups — based in France, England and Thailand — jointly secured the three-year grant to spotlight industry-led sabotage of policies designed to reduce tobacco use, Bloomberg told AFP.
— The Nation
Thai students win 10 gold at Robot Challenge 2018
Thai students have taken three gold and two silver at China’s Robot Challenge 2018, returning home to a hero’s welcome.
— News Today (video)
PM riled at Islamic dress row
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered the Education Ministry Tuesday to settle a dispute over a ban on students wearing Islamic dress at a school in Pattani in the insurgency-plagued deep South.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)
Gen Prayut fires anti-money laundering chief
Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) secretary-general Pol Maj-Gen Romsith Viriyasan has been fired in a lightning order issued today by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in his capacity as head of the National Council for Peace and Order.
— Thai PBS
Commercial banks grow by 5.4% in Q2: BOT
The overall performance of commercial banks has expanded by 5.4 percent during this year’s second quarter, according to the Bank of Thailand (BOT).
— NNT
Thai PM sets Sept deadline to decide on role in politics ahead of election
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha will announce in September whether he will take part in politics in the run-up to general elections next year, he said on Tuesday.
— Reuters
Banks’ fee income shrinks
Thai commercial banks witnessed a first-time contraction of 11.2% in fee-based income from fund transfers in the second quarter of the year, due to waived fees on digital banking transactions.
— Bangkok Post
7th Silapacheep Prateep Thai OTOP taking place at Impact
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has presided over the opening ceremony of the 7th Silapacheep Prateep Thai OTOP which is being held to promote Thai goods.
— NNT
Cabinet adjusts tax incentives to boost tourism, MICE in minor cities
The Cabinet has approved changes to the tax measure aimed at boosting tourism and MICE, or meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions, in secondary provinces.
— NNT
Thailand’s investment promotion to emphasize Competitiveness, less disparity, sustainability
Thailand’s investment drive will focus on three aspects of the country’s agenda – national competitiveness, a reduction in income disparity, and sustainability, says Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.
— NNT
Lottery operator smashes revenue target
Revenue collection among state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the first 10 months of fiscal 2018 totalled 146 billion baht, with the Government Lottery Office (GLO) topping the chart with a 33-billion-baht contribution.
— Bangkok Post
The future of cryptocurrency is bright in Thailand
On July 24, the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) officially established a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and ICOs and welcomed applications.
— E27
BMA to dismantle Lat Phrao Canal homes along
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is considering invoking an encroachment law, better known as Por Wor 44, to force the relocation of 470 families from Klong Lat Phrao, according to a senior city official.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)
A thousand Cambodian labourers deported from Thailand
Some 1,000 Cambodian workers who failed to meet the deadline to legalise their work documents in Thailand have been deported since July 1, said officials at the Poipet border at Banteay Meanchey province.
— The Nation
STI promoting innovation-based economy in Thailand
Thailand’s National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office (STI) has launched the Talent Mobility (TM) Academy project to promote innovation in Thailand.
— NNT
Water Management Technology in Thailand, the smart way
Thailand hopes its inventiveness, food manufacturing expertise and investment in smart agriculture and water management technology can help reinforce its status as the “kitchen of the world”.
— OpenGovAsia
SBPAC opens public forum on master plan to speed up development of southern border provinces
The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC) opened a public forum on Tuesday (Aug 14th) to follow up on the development of model cities under the “Triangle of Stability, Prosperity, and Sustainability” project.
— NNT
Chiang Mai residents to rally to demand dismantling of Doi Suthep housing units
Opponents to the controversial Doi Suthep foothill housing estate for court judges and officials plan to demonstrate at Tha Pae gate in Chiang Mai on August 26 to demand immediate dismantling of the housing units in the carved-out forest.
— Thai PBS
Rail projects close roads to large lorries
From Monday, lorries with more than six wheels will be banned from eight roads where construction of electric railways are under way.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)
Steering the NESDB through transition
Thosaporn Sirisamphand was officially appointed on July 4 as the new secretary-general of the prestigious National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) after the position was left vacant for more than two months.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand diversifies rice production to retain global market share
With production of its premium-grade fragrant rice declining, Thailand is looking to develop more varieties of the crop in order to compete with major exporters like Vietnam and India.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Thailand Post highlights innovations in postal system
President of Thailand Post Company Limited, Smorn Terdthumpiboon, said that her agency has incorporated technology and innovations throughout the postal system.
— NNT
PM: VIPs must hurry through intersections
Members of the National Council for Peace and Order have been told by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to take “less than 30 seconds” to drive along roads or through intersections that authorities have closed off for them.
— Bangkok Post
Thai court delays decision on taking up case against Airports of Thailand, King Power
A Thai court on Tuesday said it would extend a hearing into accusations of graft against Airports of Thailand Pcl (AOT) and duty-free retailer King Power, delaying a decision on whether to take up the case.
— Channel NewsAsia
Thai consular officers to streamline their services
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has held a seminar for Thai consular officials worldwide to streamline consular services for Thai and foreign nationals.
— NNT
US presses Thailand, Asean on Iran sanctions
A senior US official is currently touring Southeast Asian capitals to seek their enforcement of newly re-imposed sanctions on Iran.
— Bangkok Post
Dusit Thani to open subsidiaries in Japan
The directors of Dusit Thani Plc informed the Stock Exchange of Thailand on August 10 that they had resolved to establish two new wholly owned subsidiaries in Japan.
— The Nation
How hotels in Thailand’s top tourist destinations are pushing back against Airbnb
A recent Harvard Business School study revealed that the presence of Airbnb resulted in a 1.5 per cent loss of revenue for hotel businesses in 10 US cities.
— South China Morning Post
Solo travellers in line to receive homestay tax perk
Individual travellers who visit and stay at lodging with fewer than four rooms in second-tier provinces will soon be entitled to a tax break.
— Bangkok Post
OTOP Fair showcases the best of Thailand
The OTOP Fair 2018 aims to dazzle visitors with creative Thai entrepreneurship from every province on full display in interactive product pavilions and events.
— The Nation
Thailand’s investment promotion to emphasize on 3 national agendas Competitiveness, disparity reduction, sustainability
Thailand’s investment drive will focus on the country’s three major agendas — national competitiveness, the reduction in income disparity, and sustainability, said Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak.
— BusinessInsider
Illegal dumping found on island in Chon Buri
The local authorities on Thailand’s Ko Kham Yai island in Chon Buri province have offered a cash reward, worth 20,000 baht, for information on illegal dumping. The island’s waste problem has started adversely to affect its tourism.
— NNT
Thailand looks to boost rice exports with intergovernmental deals
The Thai government plans to boost rice exports by negotiating sales directly with other governments in a move intedned to help struggling farmers ahead of a general election to be held by February next year.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Overseas sales lift CPF in Q2
SET-listed Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc (CPF), an agro-industrial and food conglomerate, posted total sales of 136.4 billion baht in the second quarter amid buoyant overseas activity.
— Bangkok Post
All fixed up in Phuket yachting hub
As more tourists either bring their yachts or splurge on lavish boat parties in cobalt seas off the resort island of Phuket, this jewel in the Andaman is shaping up as a new hub for vocational training in the marine repair and maintenance service market.
— Bangkok Post
Foreign orgy in Lumpini Park sparks more patrols
Patrols will be stepped up in public parks across Bangkok in the wake of complaints after a group of people was allegedly caught having sex in the city’s landmark Lumpini Park on Aug 7, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has said.
— The Phuket News
Feature photo bvi4092
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.
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