Chiang Mai hoteliers damaged by air pollution
After suffering from haze blanketing several provinces in the North the past several months, hotel operators in Chiang Mai think it’s unlikely their business will recover over the next few months.
— Bangkok Post
April inflation, March factory output expected to fall
Thailand’s annual headline inflation rate in April likely slowed slightly from the previous month, but stayed inside the central bank’s target range for a second straight month, a Reuters poll showed.
— Bangkok Post
3-airport rail link deal likely to be signed in mid-May
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and a consortium led by the Charoen Pokphand Group are likely to sign an agreement on the three-airport rail development in mid-May, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said.
— Bangkok Post
FPO cuts 2019 growth forecast
The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) has reduced its 2019 economic growth forecast to 3.8% from 4% as slower global economic growth takes a toll on exports.
— Bangkok Post
Ready to Roll: Thai tobacco seeks OK for weed cigarettes
The state tobacco enterprise is licking its lips over the prospect of churning out cannabis cigarettes – just as soon as health officials give the OK.
— Coconuts (paywall)
Debt reaches 11-year high
Thai workers’ debt has surged to the highest in 11 years, driven by higher living costs and easier access to loans.
— Bangkok Post
Thai Military in joint training exercise with Chinese Military this week
The Royal Thai Navy dispatched its contingent for Blue Strike, the large-scale joint exercise with China.
— The Pattaya News
Medical marijuana use training begins, for 2-year licence
The Public Health Ministry on Monday launched a two-day training course in the medical use of marijuana for physicians, dentists, pharmacists and folk doctors, with those who pass subsequent exams eligible for two-year licences.
— Bangkok Post
“Creating Thai Investors in Foreign Countries” training program
To promote Thai investment abroad, all sectors must help one another boost competitiveness. However, it is necessary to invest in what that country needs, which will help strengthen the Thai business sector.
— NBT World (video)
EC under fire over poll gaffes
The Election Commission (EC) has come under fierce criticism for the catalogue of errors that have plagued its vote counts and results announcements for the March 24 election.
— Bangkok Post
The Coronation of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn
This Saturday, May 4, is the start of a three day ceremony to crown His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn as he ascends the throne as King Rama X, …
— The Thaiger
EC asked to disqualify 11 Future Forward election candidates
Activist Srisuwan Janya on Monday asked the Election Commission to take legal action against 11 election candidates of the Future Forward Party (FFP) for alleged shareholdings in media companies.
— Bangkok Post
Commerce Ministry tackles oil palm pricing
The Ministry of Commerce has stressed the government’s efforts to solve low pricing of oil palm kernels, bringing forward measures over the next two months to bring down the stock volume to a normal level.
— NBT World (video)
Labouring to fill jobs
The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is the government’s flagship scheme aimed at creating jobs in three strategic provinces of eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chon Buri and Rayong.
— Bangkok Post
Junta To Publicize Its 5-Year Accomplishments
The junta will publish a report on progress made to the country to mark five years in power, a regime spokeswoman said on Monday.
— Khaosod English
Anutin keeps low profile pending poll results
The Bhumjaithai Party and its leader continues to keep a low profile amid uncertainty who will become the prime minister as the election results are still unknown.
— Bangkok Post
Australian Navy and Phuket Consulate join in ‘Big Cleaning Day’
Officers from the Royal Australian Navy and representatives from the local Australian Consulate joined with Rassada Municipality officials and staff for the ‘Big Cleaning Day’.
— The Thaiger
PPP panel to mull 6 more projects
Six additional projects worth a combined 85 billion baht are expected to seek Public-Private Partnership (PPP) committee approval this year to proceed under the joint investment scheme.
— Bangkok Post
Democrat likely winner in Nakhon Pathom recount
In the latest twist, the Democrat MP candidate might have beaten the Future Forward contender by four votes in a recount for constituency 1 of the Nakhon Pathom province on Sunday.
— Bangkok Post
Many provinces warned about thunderstorms
Moving on to the weather, people in many areas of the country are bracing themselves for thunderstorms, as the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation advises all storm-prone provinces to be prepared.
— NNT
US praises Thai intellectual property operations
The government has long placed importance on the issue of intellectual property infringement, and has worked tirelessly to put an end to it. The United States has recently praised Thailand’s ongoing protection of intellectual property which has yielded concrete results.
— NNT
Future Forward demands election re-run in Nakhon Pathom’s Constituency One
The Future Forward party has called for an election re-run in Nakhon Pathom’s Constituency One due to the flip-flopping on vote count results causing public confusion and rendering the election…
— Thai PBS News
Employers brace themselves as new Personal Data Protection Act looms
The draft Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) was approved by the National Legislative Assembly in February 2019, raising concern among business entities over the need for increased diligence to ensure adherence to the provisions. Running a business often entails handling the personal data of …
— Bangkok Post
Thai banks face tough competition in digital world
Although the Thai commercial banks achieved higher net profits in the first quarter of 2019, they expect a tough year ahead amid aggressive competition in the digital era.
— Thai PBS News
Drought conditions bring increased risk of forest fires, air pollution
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has declared a total of 13 districts of five provinces, namely Roi Et, Sri Saket, Nakhon Ratchasima, Trat and Chonburi, as drought-hit areas.
— Pattaya Mail
Ploughing Lord pays his respects to the monarch
The Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) has held a worshiping ceremony to Thai monarchs, gods, and sacred items at the Ministry prior to the Royal Ploughing Ceremony next month.
— Pattaya Mail
Warning to makers, sellers of fake coronation brooches
The government has warned manufacturers and sellers of fake coronation brooches that they could be jailed for up to 20 years and fined up to 400,000 baht.
— Pattaya Mail
Before raid, ‘seasteaders’ planned floating resort off Thailand
The 6-metre (20 ft) wide floating cabin that was home to an American bitcoin trader and his Thai girlfriend was supposed to launch a village of buoy-based homes in international waters.
— Reuters
French Ambassador talks trash, tourist safety in Phuket
The French Ambassador to Thailand visited Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana at Phuket Provincial Hall on Friday (Apr 26) to discuss business and tourism projects, as well as safety and the activities of the French community on the island.
— The Phuket News
Bangkok nightlife asked to go dark for coronation
Bangkok’s governor has asked the city’s nightlife purveyors to keep it down next weekend during ceremonies to coronate His Majesty the King.
— Coconuts (paywall)
Coral off Phuket suffering from bleaching
Corals have started to bleach off the coast of Phuket. The problem is due to the warming of the sea, according to reports from the Phuket-based operations centre of the 2nd National Marine Park.
— The Thaiger
Hospitals sue over price curbs
Private hospitals have filed a lawsuit with the Central Administrative Court against the Commerce Ministry’s proposal to put medical and healthcare expenses on the state price control list.
— Bangkok Post
Phuket rain hits from both sides, east and west
The heavy downpours across Phuket late Saturday night and earlier today came from literally opposing directions as Phuket is caught between the tail end of the northeast monsoon which is being countered by a low-pressure system over the Andaman Sea, Phuket weather officials explained today (Apr 29).
— The Phuket News
Bangkok mourns Sukhumvit’s only walkable sidewalk
Rare does the Bangkok pedestrian get to walk on a smooth, unbroken sidewalk, and few were more delightful than the stretch between Sukhumvit Road’s sois 2 and 4.
— Coconuts (paywall)
Chon Buri marine officials take action against Sattahip tour guide – VIDEO
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) officials have made an official report to Sattahip Police in Chon Buri after a video clip of a man, acting as a tour guide pulling up a sea flower where an Anemone Fish was hiding inside for tourists, became viral in …
— The Thaiger
BMA inspects lighting along procession route
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has inspected and repaired public lighting along the route of His Majesty the King’s coronation procession, to take place early next month, with all tasks to be completed by April 30.
— Pattaya Mail
Mortgages to see June upswing
Housing loan growth is expected to pick up from June as the cycle of new mortgage demand begins after many homebuyers rushed to secure loans before the central bank’s tighter rules took effect in April, says a senior official at Bank of Ayudhya (BAY).
— Bangkok Post
Thailand handicapped by poor connectivity
Mobile is the future, and this is especially the case in ASEAN member states. As a matter of fact, e-commerce logistics management platform, Parcel Perform, recently noted that emerging markets like Myanmar and Thailand are seeing rapid growth in mobile marketing.
— The Asean Post
Hotel Mum on City Hall’s Destruction of Its Posh Pavement
Netizens on Monday were floored to see a pavement privately built by JW Marriot Hotel torn apart by City Hall, who said the material was not up to standard.
— Khaosod English
Gangs brawl at another hospital
Two youth gangs brawled inside a hospital in Prathai district of Nakhon Ratchasima after earlier clashing at the end of an outdoor concert in the early hours of Monday.
— Bangkok Post
How the bike-share start-ups fell over
They were awful to ride and were the result of an even more toxic start-up culture in China. A few years ago the bike-sharing craze hit the tourist island of Phuket.
— The Thaiger
IndiGo pulls non-stop flights between Phuket and Bengaluru
‘Commercial non-viability’ is the official reason given for the pulling of the twice-weekly non-stop flights between Bengaluru, India and Phuket by IndiGo Airline. The airline’s six weekly non-stop flights between Delhi and Phuket will continue.
— The Thaiger
Feature photo A stamp a dayÂ
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges International Jazz Day, April 30.
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. Due to The Nation‘s habit of hijacking urls and diverting them to promotion pages we no longer include it in our clippings.
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