THAI’s profits take Q1 nosedive
Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) has blamed the appreciation of the baht, the US-China trade war and the closure of Pakistani airspace for a 83% dive in its year-on-year first-quarter profits.
— Bangkok Post
BoT prepares for US manipulation listing
Bank of Thailand governor Veerathai Santiprabhob has acknowledged the possibility that the US will add Thailand to a watch list for currency manipulation because of a high current account surplus, but not for stepping into the foreign exchange market for trade advantages.
— Bangkok Post
Royal decree has been issued for parliament to officially convene
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua will preside over the formal opening of parliament on May 24th, following the issuance of a royal decree allowing the parliament to officially convene.
— NBT World (video)
Thai migrant purge in works
The Labour Ministry is stepping up measures to curb the growing number of Thai nationals intending to live and work illegally in South Korea, as the number of illegal Thai immigrants in South Korea has soared to 140,000.
— Bangkok Post
OSMEP unites with SPEED-D to help SMEs deliver products nationwide
The Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) is working with a transport operator to offer a 24-hour delivery channel via the 7- Eleven network, to increase SME product sales.
— NBT World (video)
Stark choices await Jurin
As the Democrat Party’s share of the electoral dividends in the March 24 polls was unprecedentedly thin, its newly elected leader Jurin Laksanavisit has an uphill task in restoring the Democrats’ lost popularity.
— Bangkok Post
Dems, Bhumjaithai form pact
The Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties have agreed to pair up as “a political duo” to use their combined number of 103 MPs as a way of increasing leverage to bargain for cabinet seats, a source said.
— Bangkok Post
Home loan slump worries officials
The Finance Ministry is poised to ask the Bank of Thailand to ease new mortgage lending curbs following a considerable slump in housing loans after the curbs took effect in April.
— Bangkok Post
Land and assets worth more than 236 mil baht return to victims of loan sharks
The Provincial Police Region 1 has returned land and assets worth more than 236 million baht to the people who have fallen victim to loan sharks.
— NNT
B10 to get wider distribution
The Energy Ministry plans to make biodiesel B10 available at 340 petrol stations this year to increase consumption of crude palm oil in the country’s transport sector.
— Bangkok Post
Large crowd visit Buddhism Week 2019
Many Buddhists have visited the Larn Khon Mueang plaza in front of the city hall of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the venue for this year’s Buddhism Promotion Week, on the occasion of Vesaka Day.
— NBT World (video)
Premier acknowledges state railway projects
The Prime Minister yesterday was briefed on several plans of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) during a meeting with the State Enterprise Policy Committee at Government House.
— NBT World (video)
‘Mushroom-Picking Couple’ Gets Royal Pardon
A royal pardon on Thursday released a couple sentenced to decades in prison for encroaching on forests.
— Khaosod English
Thanathorn vows to form government
Leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has said his Future Forward Party will be the core to form the next government with him as PM if he succeeds, minutes after the Election Commission asked the Constitutional Court to disqualify him as MP.
— Bangkok Post
Compromise could save expressway authority from paying exorbitant compensation
YouTube Thailand’s Expressway Authority (EXAT) board has agreed to extend the concession period of NECL, a subsidiary of Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company (BEM), to operate two expressways for an additional thirty years.
— The Thaiger
Black water flows into the sea at Koh Phi Phi
Wastewater was flowing into the sea at Koh Phi Phi in Krabi as business operators have been caught releasing untreated water and waste into the sea. The issue has gone viral in social media with local officials scrambling to respond.
— The Thaiger
Ganja coming in allergy-type drops ‘by July’
The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) said on Thursday it is ready to deliver medicinal cannabis products in the form of sublingual — or under-the-tongue — drop to hospitals nationwide by the end of July.
— Bangkok Post
As readers abandon print, The Nation announces closure of daily printed paper
Another big national newspaper bites the dust, following an inevitable worldwide trend. A sad day for The Nation as they announce the closure of the Bangkok-based English daily after 48 years.
— The Thaiger
DNP announces temporary closure of national parks
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has declared temporary closures to certain national parks nationwide to allow for the restoration of nature and tourist safety in the wake of torrential rains and volatile weather conditions in May.
— Pattaya Mail
Want a home in Thailand? You have 450,000 empty ones to choose from
A glut of condominiums as Thailand’s economy wavers and stricter mortgage-lending rules kick in is creating a buyer’s market in Bangkok.
— Bangkok Post
Baht set to rise until end of month
The upside gain for the baht, Asia’s strongest performing currency this year, is limited after rallying since the beginning of this month, propelled by the escalating trade tension between the US and China,…
— Bangkok Post
Premier acknowledges state railway projects
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has acknowledged the State Railway of Thailand’s plans to hire an additional 1,900 employees for its dual-track rail project, and to allocate some 3.4 billion baht in registered capital for the setting up of an affiliated firm with access to a revolving fund for the Red Line rail project.
— NNT
OPCD submits report to World Bank research team
The Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC) has submitted a report on Thailand’s growth in 10 stages to a research team from the World Bank. The information will be used for the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report for next year.
— NNT
Thailand to cut rubber exports next week after delay
Thailand will cut rubber exports by 126,240 tonnes next week for four months after a delay in implementing a supply cut agreement with other regional producers, the Rubber Authority of Thailand said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
Malaysia Extradites Thai Republican as Crackdown Intensifies
An asylum seeker who campaigned against the monarchy was extradited from Malaysia despite obtaining a recognition from the UN, activists said Thursday.
— Khaosod English
Former Wat Sam Phraya monks jailed
The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases has sentenced a former abbot of Wat Sam Phraya and his secretary to six years and three years in jail, respectively, for laundering money budgeted to promote Buddhism into their own pockets.
— Bangkok Post
Prayuth Says New Senators Have King’s Endorsement
Junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha on Wednesday warned critics that the regime’s selection of new senators was approved by none other than His Majesty the King.
— Khaosod English
Weather warnings out for parts of the country
The annual monsoon is here. Bangkok, along with 55 other provinces in Thailand, have thunderstorms forecast over the next 24 hours.
— The Thaiger
Thai Forest Conservation Party joins Palang Pracharath Party
On Wednesday (May 15), all 498 members of parliament arrived at the Election Commission (EC) headquarters to receive an MP endorsement letter. Meanwhile, the Thai Forest Conservation Party, which has two seats in parliament, has decided to join a political alliance led by the Palang Pracharath Party in a bid to form a coalition government.
— NNT
EC seeks Charter Court ruling on Thanathorn’s alleged media share holding
Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit’s fate now rests with the Constitutional Court, which will decide whether he is qualified to retain his parliamentary membership, following an EC probe into…
— Thai PBS News
‘My Dream Came True:’ Temple Security Guard Admitted to Top Uni
The story of Wee, a temple security guard who has been accepted into a veterinary program at one of the nation’s top universities, is warming the hearts of underdogs nationwide.
— Khaosod English
Opinion: The Short-sighted Hunt for Anti-Monarchists
The lese majeste law may be draconian – but it’s still better than enforced disappearance or extrajudicial killings.
— Khaosod English
Bidding and winning: Thailand takes aim at key international conventions
Having recently won 10 international conferences, TCEB stays focused on events serving the 10 Thailand 4.0 industries
— Bangkok Post
Meteorological Dept warns of heavy rain May 17-19
The Meteorological Department has reported that all regions of Thailand can expect thunderstorms, gusty winds and heavy rain from May 17-19, especially the northeastern region where rain storms are expected in 70 percent of the area. By the beginning of next week the volume of …
— Pattaya Mail
SCB introduces prepaid card for tourists
Siam Commercial Bank has joined hands with The Mall Group and VISA to introduce the SCB M VISA PREPAID TOURIST card, a reloadable debit card product offering greater convenience to foreign visitors to Thailand.
— Pattaya Mail
Multi-currency e-wallet YouTrip secures US$25.5m funding
The Singapore-based mobile wallet plans to expand its multi-currency across Southeast Asia YouTrip, Singapore’s first multi-currency mobile wallet with a prepaid Mastercard® that offers zero transaction fees across 150+ currencies at wholesale exchange rates, announced that it has raised US$25.5 …
— e27
Fisheries body wants work permit clarity
The National Fisheries Association of Thailand is calling for a clearer policy regarding the renewal of work permits for Myanmar, Cambodian and Lao migrant workers whose work permits are due to expire between this year and next year.
— Bangkok Post
New school term begins nationwide
Many schools in provinces outside of Bangkok have also started the new school semester, with many parents sending off their children at school this morning requiring facilitation and assistance from officials to prevent traffic congestion.
— NNT
Six major drug gang members held, 400,000 pills seized
Six alleged members of the the “Mun Tuk Med” (every pill is fun) drug gang were arrested and more than 400,0000 speed pills, worth about 40 million baht, seized during a raid on a rented house in Muang district on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
EC Asks Court to Rule on Disqualifying Thanathorn
Election regulators on Thursday asked the Constitutional Court to strip the leader of the popular Future Forward Party of his MP seat.
— Khaosod English
Register your hotel within 30 days – Hua Hin unlicensed premises warned
FILE PHOTO 170 illegal hotel and resort operators in Hua Hin have been warned to register and obtain Hotel licences within a month or they will face jail or a fine.
— The Thaiger
CDD selects best OTOP products
The Community Development Department (CDD) has accepted applications for the 2019 project for selecting the best OTOP products since May 10, 2019. There are currently 6,830 applicants. Applications are accepted until May 17, 2019.
— NNT
PM’s concerns over youth addiction to mobile phones and games
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed his concerns over children addicted to using their mobile phones and the games they contain. He has called on parents and teachers to set proper ways of living life to keep them from developing a short attention span and irritable nature.
— NNT
Agri Plus Award 2019 held to help Thai farmers become more innovative
The Institute for Agricultural Product Innovation under the Department of Foreign Trade has organized “Thai Agricultural Innovation Competition 2019”, presenting a Royal Cup from Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to contestants.
— NNT
Scheduled blackout to affect Pa Khlok, Koh Yao islands
he power outage will be from 9am to 4:30pm, affecting areas along Pa Khlok Rd (Route 4027), the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) Thalang office announced in a notice posted on Tuesday (May 14).
— The Phuket News
Power outage in Chalong
PHUKET: The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) Chalong branch has announced that the electricity supply will be temporarily shut off in parts of Chalong on Friday (May 17) as work is carried out on high voltage power cables.
— The Phuket News
Shatter your mind at this totally psychedelic Bangkok temple show (Video)
A hypnotic spectacular of light and sound promising to slake searching minds with answers to life – and dope visuals – will be projected for free on the walls of a Bangkok temple.
— Coconuts (paywall)
10 from three southern drug gangs caught
Ten members of three major drug gangs in Phatthalung and Narathiwat provinces have been arrested separately, with speed pills and heroin worth a combined 200 million baht seized.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand’s oldest political party chooses new leader
Thailand’s oldest political party chose an experienced insider as its new leader Wednesday following an abysmal performance in recent elections that led to the resignation of its previous chief.
— Pattaya Mail
Feature photo Thailand government PRD
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges Visakha Bucha, May 18.
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 17 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.
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- Thailand morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020