AOT prepared for ICAO Security Audit
The Airports of Thailand (AOT) is getting prepared for Security Audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
— NBT World (video)
Defence budget on steady rise in past three years
Ever since the military government was installed by the junta three years ago, the annual budget for the Ministry of Defence has steadily increased from 190 billion baht in 2015 fiscal year to 206,000 billion baht in 2016, 213 billion baht in 2017 and 222 billion baht in 2018.
— Thai PBS
Warning on illegal brokers
COMPANIES that use illegal brokers to bring migrants to work in Thailand face the risk of being accused of human trafficking, the Labour Ministry warned yesterday, as thousands of migrants continued to flee home amid to widespread fear about the tough new labour law.
— The Nation
13 firms bid for dual-track train project
Thirteen private companies have submitted their technical and pre-qualification bids for the construction of the dual-track Hua Hin-Prachuab Khiri Khan railway project worth about 7.3 billion baht on Friday.
— Thai PBS
Illegal migrant workers given 15 days to register
The Ministry of Labor has revamped its registration process for illegal migrant workers after a new law announcing heavy fines for their employers was revealed last month.
— Phuket Gazette
Foreign tour guides under fire
Associations of local tour guide operators nationwide have gathered to oppose the government’s plan to allow foreign tour guides to offer services in the country, saying the policy will result in huge unemployment.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand in need of free media more than ever
Under the junta regime where free media is crucial for voicing out people’s interests, all people could hear from the so called Thailand’s public television is “the voice silence,” said academic.
— Prachatai English
Master of technology guards the gates
A look at the educational background of Immigration Bureau chief Nathathorn Prousoontorn can easily give the impression he pursued an academic career first rather than a career in the police force.
— Bangkok Post
Trafficking in Persons Report
In today’s special feature, we examine the Thai Government’s efforts to eliminate human trafficking throughout the nation, with Khun Na-ark Rojanasuvan.
— NBT World (video)
800 uni grads seek refund in licence row
More than 800 master’s graduates of Bangkokthonburi University (BTU) protested Sunday against the university’s executives after their bid for educational administrator licences was rejected.
— Bangkok Post
Rubber growers to increase pressure over govt ‘inaction’ on falling prices
RUBBER GROWERS in the South have stepped up pressure on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to issue a junta order to help shore up the sagging prices of natural rubber.
— The Nation
Graft-busting officials to probe cash handouts by tourists at Sadao immigration office
Officials of the government’s anti-corruption commission will travel to Sadao district of Songkhla province to investigate alleged bribe taking by immigration officials.
— Thai PBS
Muffled voices of dissent greet reform
Roping in the military and outsiders to reform the police force will pay dividends only if the changes root out basic flaws, including political interference and unfair reshuffles that have plagued the force for years, experts say.
— Bangkok Post
Five startups that help solve problems, improve life
The Nation has selected five startups that stood out among the more than 300 international and domestic companies at the “Startup Thailand 2017” event held on July 67. Ooca, Digio, QD Laser, Ricult and GetLinks (Thailand) offer solutions that can improve quality of life for users in the digital era.
— The Nation
Staring at deflation — or not
Deflation: A word that has kept popping up like a bogeyman or ghost, continually sending shivers throughout the Thai economy in recent years. Those fears have only intensified with inflation rates having reached their lowest point among Asean countries over the past three years.
— Bangkok Post
DPM Somkid hands awards to outstanding executives
The Deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs has given awards to executives of some financial institutions in recognition of their outstanding performance.
— NBT World (video)
PRAYUTH: THOSE WHO BELIEVE JUNTA WILL HOLD POWER 20 YEARS NOT THAI
The prime minister said during his weekly televised address Friday night that he didn’t consider those who believe the military junta will hold power for another 10 to 20 years to be Thai.
— Khaosod English
Govt ‘has gone too far siding with companies over ALRO land’
THE MILITARY government has gone too far with measures that benefit big corporations, experts have cautioned, as the government has used its special powers to overturn the Supreme Administrative Court’s verdict allowing non-farming economic activities on land held by the Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO).
— The Nation
PEA gives cash aid to 21 hospitals
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has handed cash aid to remote hospitals in tribute to His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
— NBT World (video)
334kg of ivory seized in first half of this year
During the first half of this year Thai authorities have seized two elephant tusks and 422 pieces of ivory, weighing 334.5 kilogrammes, in a persistent suppression of trade in ivory, deputy police chief Pol Gen Chalermkiat Srivorakhan said on Friday (July 7).
— Thai PBS
Police to summon a Facebook user for posting alleged marijuana smoking at Suvarnabhumi airport
Suvarnabhumi airport police are to summon a Facebook user for clarification after she posted a picture of a male passenger smoking something which she indicated was marijuana at the airport’s smoking room.
— Thai PBS
PM average Thai farmers’ happiness recorded at 8 29 out of 10
The Prime Minister indicated that an average of Thai farmers’ happiness was recorded at 8.29 out of 10, thanks to the economic growth and agricultural adjustment while the government will accelerate measures to contain the rubber price slumps.
— NBT World (video)
Two Estonian tourists fined 20,000 baht each for in-flight smoking
Two Estonian brother and sister were fined 20,000 baht each and released for smoking on an airliner despite repeated warnings from flight attendants.
— 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.
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