Top official tied to welfare scam
The director of a welfare centre for the underprivileged in Samut Prakan has petitioned the prime minister to instigate disciplinary and criminal punishment against a former permanent secretary over an embezzlement scandal.
— Bangkok Post
Foreign buyers urged to join lawsuit against Phuket developer
Police have urged foreigners who bought condominium units from an allegedly fraudulent developer in Phuket to file complaints after the developer was arrested.
— Bangkok Post
K-Research: stronger US economy & likely interest rate hikes to weaken baht
Kasikorn Research Center predicts the stronger US economy will contribute to depreciation in the value of the baht.
— NNT
Junta urged to revoke orders that curb press freedom
THE THAI Journalists Association (TJA) yesterday called on the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to revoke at least three of their absolute orders which have hindered freedom of the press and people’s liberties for almost four years since it came to power.
— The Nation
Rentals prices are already rising
Just four days after the introduction of Thailand’s new rental property law, social media users are reporting that rental prices are already rising.
— Thailand Property News
PACC to widen destitute fund misappropriation probe
THE Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) will probe alleged irregularities in the disbursement of state allowance for the underprivileged at another 28 centres to uncover damage estimated at Bt103.8 million, PACC secretary-general Korntip Daroj said yesterday.
— The Nation
Farmers start cultivation as drought ends prematurely
Persistent rainfall in several provinces has caused farmers to begin planting rice ahead of schedule and prompted disaster management agencies to prepare themselves for flood-related hazards.
— NNT
SAM forecasts IFRS 9-spurred NPL sell-off
Sukhumvit Asset Management (SAM) estimates that a larger amount of bad assets will be sold this year by banks as they brace for implementation of a new accounting standard, International Financial Reporting Standard 9 (IFRS 9), taking effect from 2019.
— Bangkok Post
Yala durian seller embraces 4.0 era with online sale channel and nationwide delivery
Durian sellers in Betong district of Yala province have adapted to the 4.0 era by launching an online sale and delivery service for their fruits.
— News Today (video)
Authorities get tough on ads for cosmetics
Those suspected of making exaggerated or false claims to be immediately suspended.
— The Nation
Consumer Confidence in April highest in 40 months
The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s Economic and Business Forecasting Center has found public purchasing power increased after the recent minimum wage hike, and pushed consumer confidence to its highest point in 40 months.
— NNT
Deputy PM Wissanu: State agencies no longer required to collect ID copies
The Deputy Prime Minister, Wissanu Krea-ngam, said government agencies will no longer require copies of identification cards and official documents from citizens upon contact, starting June 5th, 2018, in an effort to streamline public services.
— NNT
Thailand launches biggest beauty fair in ASEAN
Thailand has launched ASEANbeauty 2018, the biggest health and beauty expo in the ASEAN region, with 350 booths of health and beauty products from across the globe.
— NNT
Architect Expo 2018 begins, expected to draw at least 400,000 visitors
The Association of Siamese Architects has kicked off the 32nd edition of the Architect Expo, ASEAN’s largest building technology expo, which will continue until this Sunday.
— News Today (video)
Event held to promote Thailand Industry Expo 2018
The Permanent Secretary for Industry, Pasu Loharjun, presided over an event to promote Thailand Industry Expo 2018, at the Intercontinental Hotel, Bangkok, on Wednesday (May 2nd).
— NNT
New anti-forced labour law to better protect workers: MOL
The new draft law on forced labor prevention and suppression is a legal measure to ensure protection and remedy to all workers, says official.
— NNT
Yala pawn shop reserves 50 mil baht cash ahead of school term
The Nakhon Yala Office of Local Government’s Pawnshop has reserved about fifty million baht in cash, in anticipation of high transaction volumes due to the upcoming school term.
— NNT
Govt to collect public feedback on state services
The government is preparing to collect people’s feedback on state initiatives to improve public services.
— NNT
Chinese fuel luxury property boom in Bangkok
In chic central Bangkok, a foreign buying binge is fuelling a red-hot market for ultra-luxury real estate.
— Bangkok Post
Govt affirms availability of rabies vaccines
The government has affirmed its commitment to eliminating rabies and has assured the general public there are enough vaccines available.
— NNT
Chearavanont family still richest in Thailand
The Chearavanont family remains the richest in Thailand with wealth of 938 billion baht, followed by the Chirathivats with 663 billion baht, according to Forbes Thailand.
— Bangkok Post
JFin Coin slumps to investors’ dismay
JFin Coin’s maiden trading day in the secondary market ended on a sour note Wednesday, with the price dropping over 50% from February’s initial coin offering (ICO) launch.
— Bangkok Post
SEPO joins 13 state enterprises to setup Big Data system for finances and public utilities
The State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO) has joined hands with 13 other state enterprises to establish a Big Data system concerning finances and public utilities, which will inform improved policies for serving citizens.
— News Today (video)
Survey shows Thais are the most mobile-savvy travellers in Asia
Brand Expedia today released the findings of its 2018 Global Flight and Hotel Etiquette study, an annual survey that looks at the flight and hotel etiquette habits of more than 18,000 adults around the world.
— The Nation
Chinese passenger arrested for in-flight theft
A Chinese man was arrested on arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport on Wednesday evening for stealing cash from a Hong Kong passenger during the flight to Bangkok.
— Bangkok Post
Thai medical students honour classroom cadavers
Thai medical students said prayers over the coffins of hundreds of cadavers on Thursday (May 3), in a solemn ceremony to bid farewell to the corpses who helped them sharpen their dissection and anatomy knowledge.
— Channel NewsAsia/ AFP
Illegal hotel crackdown
Tourist Police have announced a continuation of the crackdown on illegal hotels in Phuket. Tourist Police are also continuing to locate and get rid of tour operators’ nominees – using Thai people as a ‘front’ for foreign tour companies.
— The Thaiger
IFC may invest $20m in bond issue of Thai Krungsri’s Cambodian MFI unit
International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, has proposed to invest up to $20 million in local currency in bonds issued by Cambodia-based Hattha Kaksekar Limited (HKL), a deposit taking microfinance institution.
— DealStreetAsia
Rain persists in North and Northeast
Recent weather reports predict that rain will persist in the North and the Northeast.
— NNT
Feature photo Asian Development Bank
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