Election ‘11 months away’
THE NEXT election will take place about 11 months from now, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam said yesterday after the Constitutional Court on Wednesday ruled the organic bill on the election of MPs as constitutional.
— The Nation
Department of Industrial Works mulls e-waste import ban
The Department of Industrial Works (DIW) is considering banning recycling factories from importing certain types of e-waste that have negative impacts on the environment and communities.
— Bangkok Post
Draft plan to allow foreigners to work in 11 ‘reserved’ occupations
A PLAN by the Labour Ministry would allow foreigners to enter 11 of the 39 occupations that are now reserved for Thais.
— The Nation
Somkid affirms Beijing’s commitment to airport link
China has reaffirmed its intention to join the upcoming auction of the 224.54-billion-baht high-speed railway linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-tapao airports.
— Bangkok Post
Trading house Jalux to open Thailand’s first Japanese wholesale market in June
Trading house Jalux Inc., an affiliate of Japan Airlines Co. and Sojitz Corp., will open the first Japanese wholesale market in Thailand on June 9 to meet growing demand for fresh food among health-conscious consumers.
— The Japan Times
BoT touts Q2 economic growth, with caveats
The Thai economy got off to a good start in the second quarter, buoyed by solid exports and improved private consumption in April, but overall household purchasing power is not yet robust, says a senior official at the Bank of Thailand.
— Bangkok Post
Don risks losing seat over shareholding
The Election Commission has ruled Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai might not be qualified as minister since his wife’s shareholding might be unconstitutional.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand: Eastern fruit corridor being planned
The Ministry of Industry is responsible for the Eastern Fruit Corridor project, which is expected to be set up in the “Smart Park” to be developed by the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand in the eastern province of Rayong.
— Fresh Plaza
BoT tells banks to rein in mortgages
The Bank of Thailand has sounded an alarm to banks in light of the growing appetite for mortgages, urging them to retain their risk management practices when considering housing loans.
— Bangkok Post
University admission rules draw flak
Parents and critics have cried foul over the faulty university admission system which has left scores of young applicants unable to get placements or who landed in faculties which were not their preferred choices.
— Bangkok Post
U-Tapao airport development to attract investors
The Ministry of Industry has expressed its confidence that the U-Tapao International Airport redevelopment project, as part of an overall plan for an Eastern Airport City, will attract many investors.
— News Today (video)
Thailand Post to add e commerce to its logistics services
Thailand Post will add e-commerce to its logistics services, offering locally made products nationwide.
— News Today
China, Japan test platform on Thailand
Thailand will be a proving ground for the proposed Chinese-Japanese economic platform as the two giant economies seek efficient investment in Asean.
— Bangkok Post
Confusion reigns ahead of Maya Bay closure, June 1
With Thailand’s renowned Maya Bay off Phi Phi Island, east of Phuket, to close to all boats for four months starting tomorrow (June 1), officials are at a loss of how to enforce the new restricted number of tourists visiting the bay.
— The Phuket News
Bid to register motorcycle taxi drivers
People seeking to register as new motorcycle taxi drivers can submit applications to the Department of Land Transport (DLT) from next month under the latest drive to regulate motorcycle taxis and ensure safety and reasonable fares for commuters.
— Bangkok Post
Some monkeys will be moved, most will be sterilised – Phuket
A meeting was held today (May 31) at the Governor’s residence, hosted by Governor Plodthong. The meeting was to collate information from all the recent public hearings into Phuket’s monkey problems and relocation plans.
— The Thaiger
Another senior monk surrenders in corruption case
THE former assistant abbot of Bangkok’s Sa Ket Temple, Phra Medhisuttikorn, yesterday surrendered to police at the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) after a warrant was issued last week for his arrest over alleged embezzlement of the National Buddhism Office (NBO) funds to temples.
— The Nation (annoying autoplay video popups)
“Volcanic durian” from Thailand auctioned off at astronomical price
Thai media outlets have reported on the grand opening of the “2018 Kantharalak Superior Fruit Festival” in Kantharalak, Sisaket Province. During the festive activities an auction took place where the local specialty, “volcanic durian”, was sold for around 30 thousand yuan [4673 USD].
— Fresh Plaza
Durian being sent into space. Yes, really.
Thais are set to send durian into outer space in July. The fruit – that has people either delighted or revolted by its smell and taste – will be sent into space in what scientists say will be the first Thai food to leave earth.
— The Thaiger
FTI boss vows support for industrial upgrade
THE CHAIRMAN of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has pledged to push for an industrial transformation by supporting companies to upgrade their business operations and train more workers as the Bank of Thailand announced a further increase in private investment in April.
— The Nation
Government orders close watch on water levels
The government has assigned all relevant units to keep a close eye on the water situation and to regulate water levels in reservoirs in accordance with the flood prevention plan.
— News Today (video)
Grab to launch e-cash and Big Data-based micro lending in Thailand
Ride hailing company Grab in its drive to expand in the financial services sector is planning to launch e-cash and micro lending in Thailand, the Bangkok Post reported.
— Investvine
Government supports adding value to agricultural products
Each year, Thailand exports up to one trillion baht’s worth of food products worldwide, with 85% of the country’s raw materials coming from the agriculture sector. Therefore, growth in food exports will contribute to the growth of the country’s agricultural industry and the grassroots economy.
— News Today (video)
Tackling garlic smugglers in Thailand
Thailand’s Commerce Ministry is teaming up with the Customs Department and military officers to tackle smuggled garlic. They are intent on stopping these practices in order to curb the domestic garlic price slump.
— Fresh Plaza
USA donates rabies vaccine to Thailand
Glyn T. Davies, the U.S. Ambassador to Thailand, has supported the donation of 50,000 units of rabies vaccine to the Department of Livestock Development, aiming to help Thailand become rabies free by 2020.
— Pattaya Mail
AIS attempts to retrain obsolete workers
Training programmes allow companies to move staff being replaced by technology to more useful posts, but getting trained effectively is ultimately the employee’s responsibility, says Advanced Info Service (AIS), which will freeze its headcount at 12,000 for the second year in a row.
— Bangkok Post
Allianz Ayudhya offers health insurance with BDMS
Allianz Ayudhya Assurance has announced its partnership with Bangkok Hospital Group (BDMS), the largest private hospital network in Thailand and Cambodia. Allianz Ayudhya said its “My First Class @BDMS” package offered an exclusive medical service to the customer.
— The Nation
UNWTO Forum delegates savour Bangkok’s grassroots gastronomy
The second day of the UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism saw delegates fanning out across many parts of the Thai capital to enjoy the boundless diversity of its multi-cultural grassroots gastronomy.
— TAT News
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