Probes find 34 welfare heads committed fraud
The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) plans to request the ministry overseeing 34 provincial state welfare centres to consider taking disciplinary action against their heads after investigations…
— Bangkok Post
Thai business groups raise 2018 growth, export forecasts
Thai business associations raised their 2018 economic forecasts on Tuesday, citing stronger exports and increased domestic demand.
— Reuters
Exports to feel the pinch from US trade war
Despite the continued growth of exports in February, a looming trade war between the US and China as well as the strong baht threatens to put a damper on outbound shipments.
— Bangkok Post
Consensus builds on growth path
A PEAK private-sector grouping has raised its forecast for economic expansion to 4-4.5 per cent, backed by an upward revision for growth in the country’s exports to 5-8 per cent.
— The Nation
Inflation rate rises for ninth consecutive month
The Ministry of Commerce said inflation rate for March this year rose by 0.79% year-on-year, a sustained nine month increase.
— Thai PBS
NCB concerned about delinquent debt
The National Credit Bureau (NCB) has voiced concerns about the upsurge in delinquencies across all consumer borrowing categories by Generation Y, with personal loans the most worrying segment.
— Bangkok Post
EU officials to observe IUU prevention progress in Thailand this week
Deputy Prime Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikulya has visited the Command Center to Combat Illegal Fishing (CCCIF) to ensure its readiness ahead of the arrival of European Union (EU) officials.
— NNT
Prayut ‘willing’ to be outsider PM
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has admitted for the first time he could be “outsider premier” after a general election scheduled to take place in February next year.
— Bangkok Post
Investors say consistent policy, infrastructure and skilled labor are crucial to economic transformation in Thailand
Foreign investors in targeted industries have suggested that consistent investment policies, good infrastructure and capable human resources were the key driving forces for Thailand to maintain its competitive advantages and to succeed in its plan to transform its economy.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)
Over 3.5 million dogs and cats vaccinated to stop rabies outbreak
The Livestock Development Department has vaccinated more than 3.5 million dogs and cats across Thailand, and also sterilized 1.5 million of them in an attempt to eradicate rabies.
— NNT
Reports coming for taxes
The Revenue Department has amended the Revenue Code to require financial institutions, specialised financial institutions and electronic payment service providers to report those who deposit or provide at least 3,000 transactions a year.
— Bangkok Post
Quarantine deaths now over 1,400
Hundreds of cats and dogs have died in recent weeks due to overcrowding at quarantine stations in this northeastern province as fears of pets and strays carrying rabies continue to grip the nation, authorities said Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post
Cabinet passes PPP bill to raise efficiency of PPP projects
The Cabinet has endorsed a new draft Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act in the hope of enhancing investment cooperation between the public and private sectors and bettering the lives of the Thai people.
— NNT
GHB signs MOU with SME Bank and TCG to provide low-interest loans to SMEs
The Government Housing Bank (GHB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME Bank) and the Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation (TCG), to provide low-interest loans for property developers.
— NNT
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce & Ministry of Tourism and Sports Launch ‘Buy With Confidence’ Program to Boost Confidence in Purchasing Quality Gems and Jewellery in the country
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce has joined hands with partners to encourage leading jewellery shops and businesses to participate in the “Buy With Confidence” program that will issue certifications to ensure the quality and standard of Thai gem and jewellery with the objective to boost confidence among Thai and international consumers.
— DiamondWorld
Rangsit U wants unhindered experiments with marijuana for medical use
Rangsit University wants Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to exercise his special power in his capacity as head of the National Council for Peace and Order to do away with legal restrictions hindering experiments with marijuana for medical use.
— Thai PBS
NBTC to go ahead with planned auction of 1800 MHz spectrum
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) will ask its board at a meeting on April 11 to consider a plan to stage an auction of 1800 MHz spectrum.
— Thai PBS
Mazars enhances digital services via partnership with HReasily
Mazars Thailand, an international, integrated and independent organisation specialising in audit, accountancy, tax, legal and advisory services, on Tuesday announced a partnership with Singapore-based HReasily, which provides a human-resources solutions platform across Asia.
— The Nation
NCPO affirms determination to fight corruption
The National Council for Peace and Order has affirmed the determination to fight corruption within the public sector.
— News Today (video)
Poll finds ‘Thai Niyom’ unfamiliar to many
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha shrugged off an opinion poll saying a 41% plurality of Thais are totally unaware of his ambitious Thai Niyom Yangyuen programme.
— Bangkok Post
Cambodia-Thailand connection construction commences
Construction is now underway for the project to build Cambodia’s National Road No 5. Costing in the order of US$185 million, the project also includes building two city bypasses.
— World Highways
Thailand undergoes annual military draft
As the country undergoes its annual military draft, residents in Mueang Yala District have reported in with the necessary documents at Sanam Chang Phueak Park.
— NNT
Thai Authorities Seize $68 Million Worth of Meth Near Border Regions
Thai authorities seized about $68.6 million (2.14 billion baht) worth of meth in the past week and arrested 11 suspects, officials said Tuesday, underscoring a U.N. report describing Thailand as a major transit point for drug trafficking in Southeast Asia.
— BenarNews
Cigarettes can bring jail time in Thailand, UAE Embassy warns
The UAE Embassy in Bangkok has advised passengers travelling to Thailand to adamantly follow the country’s strict import laws and regulations, especially when it comes to tobacco.
— Gulf News
Justice Ministry holds conference on fielding complaints of torture and forced disappearance
The Ministry of Justice has moved forward with creating mechanisms to respond to reports of torture and forced disappearance.
— NNT
Labor Ministry : Foreign workers welcome to return home for Songkran
The Labor Minister has asserted that foreign laborers in the Kingdom will be allowed to travel home for Songkran celebrations without any problem while urging employers to assist them with paperwork.
— News Today (video)
MPs election bill to be forwarded to Constitutional Court for interpretation
The members of parliament’s election bill has been returned to the National Legislative Assembly by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to be submitted to the Constitutional Court for interpretation of two questionable issues.
— Thai PBS
Controversial rule on declared valuables at airports put on ice
Outbound travellers will not have to declare all of their valuables at international airports during Songkran, the Customs Department said Tuesday in an unexpected volte-face.
— Bangkok Post
PM ponders Doi Suthep complaints
The government has stepped in to find ways to end the dispute over a controversial project to construct a new office and housing for judicial employees at the foot of Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai province.
— Bangkok Post
Cabbies fined 1,000 baht each for refusing to accept passengers
Two taxi drivers in Bangkok today (Apr 3) were fined 1,000 baht each and ordered to undergo behavioral training course for three hours after they refused to accept passengers.
— Thai PBS
Tourism Authority of Thailand promotes the smaller cities
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is to promote the country’s secondary tourist cities in order to encourage visitors to look beyond the long established popular destinations. While Thailand welcomed over 35 million tourists in 2017, only the 22 best known provinces were visited by foreign tourists, with the other provinces receiving only limited attention. Our NBT World correspondent has the report.
— News Today (video)
Bangkok Airways to Increase Flights to Mandalay, Myanmar
Bangkok Airways has unveiled plans to increase flights between Bangkok and Mandalay, Myanmar.
— TravelNewsAsia
Phuket’s ‘Smart Bus’ service rolls into action
The Phuket Smart Bus started rolling from Phuket International Airport on Sunday (April 1), marking the end of the service’s extended trial period and becoming the first public bus service in action along the island’s west coast.
— The Phuket News
PM asks press members to promote Thai Niyom direct complaint lines
The Prime Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, has asked press members to help promote the “Thai Niyiom Direct Line” – the government’s new online platform aimed at receiving complaints and suggestions directly from the public.
— NNT
Arkhom sees holiday travel dip
Fewer passengers are likely to use transport provided by government agencies during the Songkran holidays this year, according to Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith.
— Bangkok Post
Honor 9 Lite and Honor 7X Sold Out in Minutes in Thailand
Honor, a young, innovative and trend-setting smartphone e-brand, has announced that at its first sales day in Thailand, the mid-ranger killer phones: the Honor 9 Lite and Honor 7X were sold out for several times on Shopee and LAZADA.
— AEC News Today/ Pr Newswire (media release)
Citi Joins Race for Thai Wealth
The rapid growth of high net worth customers in Thailand is enticing global wealth players. Citi is the latest to enlarge its presence in the country.
— Finews.asia
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