ADB, Escap raise GDP outlook
Asian Development Bank (ADB) yesterday hiked its forecast for Thai GDP growth to 3.8% this year and next, while the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap) upgraded its 2017 estimate to 3.5% and raised its 2018 view to 3.4%.
— Bangkok Post
Cabinet approves 1.68 billion baht for reduction of off season rice fields
The Cabinet has approved a new budget to help the country reduce the expanse of land dedicated to off-season rice growing.
— News Today (video)
Fisheries Department introduces online port entry request platform
The Department of Fisheries (DOF) has introduced an online system for vessel operators to communicate with port authorities, allowing Thailand to effectively monitor maritime activities nationwide.
— News Today (video)
200 percent tax measure to help SMEs and Thai software makers
Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) has hosted a seminar titled “DEPA and Tax Measures to Support SME Adoption of Computer Programs… Who Wins?” to foster understanding of a tax measure designed to support Thailand’s software industry.
— News Today (video)
Government plans to tackle poverty in Kalasin as a pilot project
The government plans for the development of infrastructure projects in Kalasin province which has been chosen as a pilot province to resolve poverty problem on sustainable basis, said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha during his inspection trip to this northeastern province on Wednesday.
— Thai PBS
Three held after B50m rhino horn bust
Police have arrested three suspects, including a Department of Agriculture official, for allegedly conspiring to smuggle 14 rhino horns, worth about 50 million baht, from South Africa to Thailand.
— Bangkok Post
PM promises villagers he will consider staying in power longer
FOR THE FIRST TIME in more than three years, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday positively responded to a request for him to extend his stay in office during his visit to the northeastern province of Kalasin.
— The Nation (annoying popups)
CPRAM to expand production capacity under food innovation push
CPRAM Co Ltd, a ready-to-eat food producer and distributor, yesterday announced a five-year strategic vision under which it will boost production capacity and promote sustainability.
— The Nation
Labor Min to review proposed revision of migrant labor law
The Ministry of Labor has accepted a petition from the private sector for an amendment to the new law on migrant workers, of which punishment clause is claimed to be too harsh.
— NNT
New bill eases up on illegal migrants
A bill amending an executive decree on the management of migrant workers has been drawn up to soften penalties against illegal migrant workers and those who hire them.
— Bangkok Post
Drive for mega-projects
THE government will push forward with clearing the way for a start on some infrastructure mega-projects before the end of this year, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said yesterday.
— The Nation
PTT and CAT Telecom agree on telecommunications infrastructure development in EEC
PTT Public Company Limited and CAT Telecom Public Company Limited have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop telecommunications infrastructure to accommodate digital innovation businesses in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC)
— News Today (video)
UNESCO Assistant Director-General voices support for Thai education reform
The Assistant Director-General for Education of UNESCO has paid a courtesy call on Thailand’s Minister of Education and expressed his hope for a concrete reform of Thai education.
— NNT
CPF sharpens focus abroad for growth
THE head of Charoen Pokphand Foods’ (CPF) agro industrial business says the food giant has little room left to grow in Thailand as the industry is “fully saturated” and expansion must now come from overseas markets.
— The Nation
Phuket officials target deadly overloaded trucks
Officials from the Phuket office of the Department of Rural Roads (DRR) today (Dec 13) set up a weigh station checkpoint at an intersection where a 31-year-old woman was killed and her 3-year-old son left injured by an overloaded cement truck in August.
— The Phuket News
China urges utilisation of LMC scheme for boost to agriculture sector
CHINA sees an imbalance in the agriculture development among the six countries in the Mekong basin and would push for utilisation of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) scheme to unlock its potential, a Chinese senior official said.
— The Nation
Govt helps low-income people start small franchise businesses
The Ministry of Commerce has launched a project to create jobs for low-income people with the help of more than 40 franchises. The state-run Government Savings Bank (GSB) will provide financial assistance for them.
— NNT
Officials raid an e-cigarette plant in Samut Songkram
A combined force of police and military personnel raided a house in Muang district of Samut Songkram province on Wednesday and seized over one million baht worth of electronic cigarettes, different cigarette flavours and equipment to make electronic cigarettes.
— Thai PBS
Home-grown robot to keep our beaches clean
The country’s first domestically-built beach-cleaning robot has been developed to join humans in the task of keeping Thailand’s scenic beaches clean and pollution-free.
— The Nation
Network fired up over electronic cigarette ban
A network of e-cigarette users yesterday pressed the National Legislative Assembly to consider lifting the ban on the import, production, sale and possession of electronic cigarettes.
— Bangkok Post
Elephant shows and rides under siege
Twenty or thirty years ago many western tourists would have thought nothing about hopping on the back of an elephant and taking a ride astride one of these mighty Thai beasts
— Phuket Gazette
Min of Agriculture proposes measures to reduce rubber price slump
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has proposed to the Cabinet measures to address the current rubber price slump.
— NNT
Thailand celebrates first Qatar Airways flight to Chiang Mai
Thailand celebrated the start of Qatar Airways’ latest direct non-stop service from Doha to Chiang Mai, bringing significant new sources of traffic by allowing visitors from Europe, the Middle East and Africa to connect to the Northern Thai city via the airline’s hub in Qatar.
— TAT News
Taxi OK service launch put off until January
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has put off its scheduled “Taxi OK” service from the end of this year to January next year.
— Thai PBS
PM assures election to be held under roadmap
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday (Dec 12) reiterated Thailand’s commitment to hold election under its roadmap after the European Union decided to resume political contacts at all levels with Thailand.
— Thai PBS
Govt hemp farms start operations on January 1
STARTING ON January 1, government agencies will be allowed to grow hemp in six provinces as a part of ongoing efforts to treat the plant as an economic crop.
— The Nation (annoying popups)
Thai court jails veteran Golden Triangle drug runner
A Thai court on Wednesday (Dec 13) sentenced a notorious 76-year-old drug trafficker to life in prison after he was allegedly caught trying to sell 20 kilogrammes of crystal meth in the Golden Triangle drug producing region.
— Channel NewsAsia
Are the 10% beach zones becoming 20% zones?
Despite appearances that the 10% beach zones seem to be magically growing into the remaining 90% of Patong Beach, Patong Mayor, Chalermluck Kebsup has assured the Phuket Gazette that the rule remains the same and the operators are still following the rules for the placement of sun lounges and umbrellas.
— Phuket Gazette
PRD hosts Dream ASEAN media youth camp
The Public Relations Department (PRD) is hosting the “Dream ASEAN” media youth camp to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN.
— News Today (video)
Ministry of Culture brings Thailand hundreds of awards from international cultural competitions by supporting performers
The Ministry of Culture this year supported Thai citizens and youths who competed and won prizes in many international art and cultural competitions.
— NNT
‘Blade runner’ legs give maimed Thai dog new lease on life
Just over a year after he was maimed for gnawing on someone’s shoes, Cola is romping across a beach on new sleek paws: curved “blade runner” prosthetics modelled on those used by Paralympian sprinters.
— Channel NewsAsia
Man faces arrest after committing arson, broadcasting it live on Facebook
Police are gathering evidence against a man who on Dec 9 set fire to a house in Khaen Dong district in Buri Ram province and broadcast live the illegal action he committed on Facebook.
— Thai PBS
Cancer patient sues wife for embezzling his B9m donation fund
A 24-year-old man who suffered from nasal cavity cancer has sued his wife for alleged embezzlement and misusing about 10 million baht money people donated for his medical treatment.
— Thai PBS
Feature photo John Le Fevre
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.
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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
- 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