Thai private sector lowers 2019 export growth projection to 2.1%
The Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade have reduced Thailand’s 2019 export growth projection from 3.1% to 2.1% citing several unfavorable external factors.
— Thai PBS News
March exports drop 4.2% y-o-y, trade surplus narrows
Thailand’s current account surplus was $6.08 billion in March, compared with February’s $6.51 billion surplus, the Bank of Thailand said on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post
Thanathorn threatens to sue EC
The Future Forward leader has threatened to take legal action against the Election Commission after a four-hour meeting with its panel handling his media shareholding case on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand rehearses coronation for HM the King
Forty roads were closed in Bangkok as a band and officers on horseback marched past the Grand Palace on Sunday in a dress rehearsal for this weekend’s coronation of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn, the country’s first in nearly seven decades.
— NBT World (video)
March factory output falls 2.54% on annual basis
Thailand’s manufacturing production index (MPI) in March dropped 2.54% from a year earlier, led by lower production of computers, steel and rubber products, the Industry Ministry said on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post
12 women rescued from human trafficking ring at Malaysia border
Officials have raided a karaoke bar in Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district, on the Malaysian border, rescuing 12 Lao women from prostitution.
— The Thaiger
Most Thai laborers expect 400 baht minimum wage from new government: Bangkok Poll
Most Thai laborers are expecting that the minimum wage will be adjusted up to at least 400 baht when the new post-election government comes into the office, according to Bangkok…
— Thai PBS News
Thanathorn warns many candidates will be disqualified if the EC applies the same standard to all
Many election candidates from the other parties will be disqualified if the Election Commission (EC) applies the same standard used against his party’s candidates, said Future Forward party leader Thanathorn…
— Thai PBS News
Dress rehearsal of royal barge ceremony for coronation
The grandeur of a royal barge graced the Chao Phraya River on Tuesday as the navy went through a dress rehearsal of part of the coronation ceremony for His Majesty the King this Saturday.
— Bangkok Post
Blockchain tops business trend survey
About a third of Thai executives say blockchain will be the most important new technology for their business over the next three years, according to a survey by Accenture.
— Bangkok Post
Bangkok listed No.2 on YouDiscover site
Bangkok ranked second on the online travel platform YouDiscover’s 2019 list of the top 15 destinations for travellers in Southeast Asia, behind Siem Reap and ahead of Singapore.
— Bangkok Post
Coronation Freebie: Ride the BTS free all Sunday
Commuters will be able to ride the BTS Skytrain and rapid transit bus systems free Sunday for King Rama X’s coronation ceremony.
— Coconuts (paywall)
Man wanted for B2m gold shop heist surrenders to police
A Pattaya hotel employee wanted for a 2-million-baht robbery of a gold shop in Sattahip district of Chon Buri on Sunday has surrendered to police in Phachi district of Ayutthaya.
— Bangkok Post
Phuket to hold public events for Royal Coronation
The Phuket office of the Public Relations Department of Thailand has released a notice announcing the official public events to be held to mark the Royal Coronation of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun this weekend.
— The Phuket News
As heavens open, Phuket water supply restored
As the rain continues to soak Phuket today (Apr 30), the Chief of the Phuket office of the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) has confirmed that water pressure in mains supply pipes to residents and businesses across most of the island has been restored to near full normal pressure.
— The Phuket News
Suphannahong royal barge decorated
Officials have decorated Suphannahong royal barge with garlands and prepared rowing crewmembers for the coronation ceremonies 2019.
— NBT World (video)
Drug abuse ‘still rising’ in Phuket
Drug abuse continues to rise in Phuket according to the latest figures announced yesterday (Apr 29) by Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai.
— The Phuket News
Drought hits southern region, might affect community hospitals
The drought situation has hit the southern region and might affect seven community hospitals in Nakhon Sri Thammarat province where tap water in city municipality area can only be produced from raw water reserve until the middle of May.
— NNT
Netflix and ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ production team announce cave rescue project
Netflix, the most popular TV streaming service in Thailand, are teaming up with the producers of the hit film “Crazy Rich Asians” for a production about the rescue of the MuPa (Wild Boar) football team from Chiang Rai’s Tham Luang caves last July.
— The Thaiger
Fake drugs, Bangkok raid
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning people about the use of unlicensed or fake treatments that could lead to serious or even fatal side effects
— The Thaiger
Diphtheria cases up in Thailand
The Thailand Department of Disease Control (DDC) with the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) reports a diphtheria incidence rate that is 2 times higher than the same period of last year (2018) and also the median of the past 5 years (2014 – 2018).
— Outbreak News
BEC, Asia’s top-performing media stock, still unloved
Asia’s best performing media stock this year, BEC World Plc, is also among analysts’ least preferred on concern its valuation has become stretched amid competition from the likes of Netflix.
— Bangkok Post
Deputy PM Prawit meets Chinese delegation
The Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon, welcomed the President of the China Association for International Friendly Contact (CAIFC), Chen Yuan, with both sides agreeing to strengthen bilateral cooperation in all areas.
— NBT World (video)
Visas for Sri Lanka still available
Visas for Thai travellers to Sri Lanka have not been suspended in the wake of the Easter bombings in Colombo, the country’s ambassador to Thailand says.
— Bangkok Post
Preparation for grand coronation
The Royal Thai Navy conducted a dress rehearsal of a royal barge procession in the Chao Phraya River and the City Hall decorated Ratchadamnoen Avenue with flowers in preparation for coronation-related ceremonies for His Majesty the King from May 4 to 6.
— Bangkok Post
Gov’t Hopeful Thai Massage Gets UNESCO Recognition
The government said Tuesday it has petitioned the United Nations to recognise Thai massage as part of its intangible heritage.
— Khaosod English
‘Big Bikes’ May be Slapped With 18% Tax, Gov’t Source Says
A proposed tax hike on buyers of high-powered sports motorcycles will soon be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration for its larger carbon footprint, a source said.
— Khaosod English
HMAS Canberra docks at Phuket for training and community activities
The HMAS Canberra has brought over 1,000 Australian sailors to Patong Bay to participate in activities and military cooperation missions in Phuket this week.
— Pattaya Mail
Commerce Ministry tackles oil palm pricing
The Ministry of Commerce is working hard to solve the low pricing of oil palm kernels, bringing forward measures over the next two months to bring down the stock volume to a normal level.
— Pattaya Mail
Establishment of Ministry of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation progress
The establishment of the Ministry of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation is progressing well, with the new Ministry expected to be officially open in June.
— NNT
Making of coronation ceremonies archive books
The committee on the making of archive books for the coronation ceremonies have approved the publication of two additional archive and image books, allowing the general public to submit their photos for publication.
— NNT
Unidentified Women steals 35,000 baht from Jomtien Buddhist Temple while monks are resting
On April 27th, 2019, around 3:00 in the afternoon, an unidentified woman who police believe is Thai and between 25-35 years of age snuck into the offices of a Buddhist Temple in Jomtien while a monk was sleeping and stole 35,000 baht from the office.
— The Pattaya News
Smog from sugarcane burning is fading – just for now
Smog from sugarcane burning may have faded, after sugarcane harvest season this year is about over. However, it does not mean the black smoke will disappear from the sky forever….
— Thai PBS News
Fair trade practices to be subject to public input before implementation
Thailand’s Trade Competition Committee has issued a set of guidelines to control the retail sector in order to prevent large retailers or retail chains from unfairly taking advantage of producers…
— Thai PBS News
Baby dugong rescued in Krabi, taken back to its Trang home – VIDEO
DMCR A baby dugong, found on a Krabi beach, has been taken back to its home. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is reporting that yesterday the dugong was taken back to its home in Trang.
— The Thaiger
BEC, Asia’s top-performing media stock, still unloved
Asia’s best performing media stock this year, BEC World Plc, is also among analysts’ least preferred on concern its valuation has become stretched amid competition from the likes of Netflix.
— Bangkok Post
Thanathorn produces traffic tickets to prove he was speeding to Bangkok to transfer his media shares
Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has produced, via his Facebook page, images of three traffic tickets he received for speeding to prove that he was rushing back to Bangkok, from the northeastern province of Buri Ram, to transfer all his shares in V-Luck Media Company on January 8th.
— Thai PBS News
Electricity cuts in Cherng Talay
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) Thalang office has announced that the electricity supply will be temporarily shut off in parts of Thalang on Thursday (May 2) as work is carried out on installing new high-voltage cables.
— The Phuket News
Routine breathalyser stop leads to huge methamphetamine bust
A driver stopped for a breathalyzer test under the Lat Phrao expressway in Bangkok was instead found in possession of 6 million speed pills and 449kg of crystal methamphetamine.
— Bangkok Post
Sad end to 264kph big bike ride
A video clip has gone viral with a sad message and a reminder of the danger of speeding on public roads – showing a young big biker accelerating to 264 kilometres per hour just before failing to take a curve in Phetchabun province on Sunday.
— Bangkok Post
Kerry Deliverymen Unbox and Play With Customer’s Sex Toys
A major delivery service on Tuesday said it fired four of its employees for unboxing a customer’s sex toys and playing with them.
— Khaosod English
Edtech requires certain distinct help that’s different from other verticals: StormBreaker’s Pat Thitipattakul
Traditional accelerators in Thailand are not suited for edtech, as they focus more on the ‘typical tech startups’ with emphasis on synergising with the corporates’ main businesses
— e27
Learning to excel in a disruptive era
Artificial intelligence (AI), automation, machine learning, big data, digital marketing, blockchain, fintech, Industry 4.0, Business 4.0 and even Human Resources 4.0 — no doubt you’ve read about most or all of these topics in the past few years.
— Bangkok Post tech
AP upbeat on condo market
SET-listed developer AP Thailand Plc remains confident about Bangkok’s condo demand despite the new lending curbs and the market shifting to single houses and townhouses.
— Bangkok Post property
How green buildings improve air quality
Bangkokians’ awareness of the importance of clean air has increased substantially in recent months, as the country has suffered from unprecedented levels of air pollution.
— Bangkok Post property
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.
Thailand morning news for May 1 added by John Le Fevre on
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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
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- 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