Thailand morning news for October 3

Private sector raises GDP growth forecast in Q4 to 4.4%
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking has adjusted the Thai GDP growth forecast to higher than 4.4% for the remaining three months of this year due to the export sector’s growth as well as the government’s budget disbursement.
— NNT

Thailand to give Indonesia five million baht in relief aid
The Thai government will give Indonesia a sum of five million baht in initial relief aid in the wake of an earthquake and tsunami in that country.
— NNT

Thai economy insulated from global volatility despite rate hikes, trade war
THAILAND’S economy and banks should be able to weather heightening global risks from rising US interest rates, although escalating trade wars could pressure global growth next year, according to sovereign and banking analysts at Fitch Ratings’ annual Thai conference in Bangkok yesterday.
— The Nation

Government woos wary China travellers
The government is stepping up efforts to woo back Chinese tourists following a series of recent negative incidents.
— Bangkok Post

Cabinet ministers are entitled to join new political party, says Prayut
PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday defended the right of four of his ministers to join the pro-junta Palang Pracharath Party, saying it was a “private matter” and they were able to do so as long as it did not affect their ability to do their public duty.
— The Nation

Oversupply of drugs puts Thai, SE Asian youth at risk, UN says
Production and trafficking of illicit drugs have reached unprecedented levels in Southeast Asia’s Mekong region and East Asia, the United Nations said on Tuesday, warning that oversupply increases the risks for younger users.
— Bangkok Post

One dead in ‘Phoenix’ salvage operation
It has been confirmed today that one person died on Saturday during the operation to salvage the ‘Phoenix’ tour boat which sank on July 5 killing 47 Chinese tourists.
— The Phuket News

Activists give thumbs up to tobacco tax move
PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday said that a plan to collect an extra Bt2 from every cigarette packet sold was in the process of consideration, even as anti-smoking and health advocates backed the idea of the additional money being used to fund the universal healthcare scheme.
— The Nation

Famous Maya Bay in Krabi to remain closed indefinitely
The closure of world-class tourist site Maya Bay in Krabi to visitors has been extended indefinitely to allow the damaged marine ecosystem to fully recover, drawing immediate protests from tour operators.
— Bangkok Post

New Report Details Abuses against Thai Environmental Defenders
Thai authorities and a mining firm have used intimidation and lawsuits to target environmental activists from a northeastern community who campaigned for years against a gold mine near their homes, the NGO Fortify Rights said in a new report released Tuesday.
— Benar News

Agencies offer scheme to ease poverty
The Office of National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (NECTEC), the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and the Ministry of Science and Technologies have joined up to help alleviate poverty in Thailand.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Joint efforts being made to tackle flooding caused by rail construction
As the construction of the Red Line electric train system along Vibhavadi Rangsit Road has obstructed the drainage of floodwaters, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and related units are joining forces to find solutions.
— NNT

Mekong communities urged to organise emergency plans
A COMMUNITIES-LED emergency response plan is being advocated to cope with water hazards and dam disasters on the entire Mekong River Basin, as climate change magnifies the threats of water disasters posed by dams.
–The Nation

30 Thais evacuated from Palu, Indonesia with 2 choosing to remain
The Thai Ambassador to Indonesia has led emissaries from the Thai armed forces to retrieve Thai citizens stranded in the Indonesian city of Palu following a devastating earthquake and tsunami disaster with 30 agreeing to return home and two deciding to remain.
— News Today (video)

Southern Army chief urged to tackle ‘double standards’
THE NEW Fourth Army Region chief, Lt-General Pornsak Poonsa, who recently took charge of Thailand’s predominantly Muslim southernmost provinces, was yesterday urged by Buddhist residents of Yala province to tackle double standards in the treatment of people of different religions, corruption in certain state offices as well as emphasise development work.
— The Nation

The future is in senior care and living units, says THG after successful
SENIOR CARE and living services will increase the cash flow for the Thonburi Healthcare Group or THG in December and the first quarter of next year, said Tanatip Suppradit, its vice president.
— The Nation

MAI reports strong performance among listed companies
The Market for Alternative Investment (MAI), a capital market for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has reported strong performance among listed companies.
— NNT

Thailand endorses Secretary-General’s call to make UN more effective, Minister tells General Assembly
Declaring that Thailand has been actively translating principles enshrined in the UN Charter into practices, to promote peace and security, to foster sustainable development, and to safeguard human rights, Mr. Virasakdi cited Thai participation in 20 peacekeeping and related missions since 1950 and highlighted his country’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

“Internet Universality Beyond Words” exhibition promoting internet access
On the occasion of the international Day for Universal Access to Information on 28 September every year, UNESCO joins hand with Thailand to promote universal access to the internet because it is a vital tool to drive forward the creative economy in Southeast Asia.
— NBT World (video)

Cybersecurity threats keep growing even as spending rises
According to Frost & Sullivan, IDC, and Gartner, in 2017 Thailand spent Bt6.71 billion on cybersecurity. This is expected to grow to Bt16.2 billion in 2025, or 0.07 per cent of GDP.
— The Nation

BoT tamps down on mortgage lending
The Bank of Thailand has set out measures to rein in mortgage lending after it found widespread search-for-yield behaviour in the residential market, with some banks extending housing loans exceeding the central bank’s guidance.
— Bangkok Post

Cabinet approves amendment to Criminal Procedure Act to ease prison overcrowding
The cabinet on Tuesday (Oct 2) approved an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, allowing those charged with offences punishable by less than 10 years imprisonment to get a temporary release without having to post bail in a bid to ease overcrowding in Thai prisons.
— NNT

Cabinet OKs new Cane and Sugar Bill
The Cabinet has approved in principle, the new Cane and Sugar Bill, which has been designed to suit today’s circumstances.
— NNT

Singtel, AIS and KBank in cross-border mobile payment alliance
The Singtel Group on Tuesday debuted VIA, its cross-border mobile payment alliance with regional associate Advanced Info Service (AIS) and additional launch partner Kasikornbank (KBank), Thailand’s largest digital bank.
— The Nation

Gold mine should cough up, say locals
About 200 residents who have been badly affected by the construction of a gold mine in Loei province’s Wang Saphung district for more than a decade are calling for the mining company and government agencies to restore the environment and pay compensation to villagers.
— Bangkok Post

Cabinet approves new debt moratorium program for eligible farmers
The Cabinet has approved a new debt moratorium project to help eligible farmers deal with difficult financial issues.
— NNT

Prisons to Allow Video Calls Between Inmates, Family
Officials are eyeing a popular messaging application to add video call services between inmates and visitors in prisons.
— Khaosod English

NLA committee to submit new draft National Police Act to Cabinet
A committee under the National Legislative Assembly, which has been tasked to draft a new version of the National Police Act, is planning to submit a finished draft to the Cabinet for review soon.
— NNT

Suthep’s son acquitted of charge of forest encroachment on Samui Island
The son of former Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thuagsuban and three associates were acquitted by the Appeals Court which overturned the guilty verdict on land encroachment on Samui Island by the Criminal Court.
— Thai PBS World

PM calls on all sides to avoid damaging Thai tourism’s image
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has urged government officers and the general public to be careful that they don’t damage the country’s tourism image and confirmed that the number of tourists is still stable.
— NNT

Firebrand Ultra-Royalist Hiso Joins Democrat Party
A young hiso known for vitriolic comments against political opponents and leading protests that prompted the 2014 coup officially joined the Democrat Party Monday.
— Khaosod English

Illegal Thai workers in South Korea offered voluntary departure
South Korean authorities are offering illegal Thai workers in that country a voluntary departure without being blacklisted.
— NNT

Digital Government Act approved by cabinet
The cabinet approved the Digital Government Act which will upgrade the government’s work in the course of becoming a digital one, said Government Spokesman Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd.
— NNT

40 stunning free photos of Thailand
Using great pictures is critical for marketing collateral to display a professional and appealing message to potential customers. These 40 free, high-definition stock pictures of Thailand will be a great help for you to design websites and brochures, especially for businesses in tourism and travel, real estate, food, luxury…
— ASEANUP

Feature photo mattmangum

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges World Habitat Day, October 1.

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.

Thailand morning news for October 3 added by John Le Fevre on October 3, 2018
View all posts by John Le Fevre →

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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

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.