Pheu Thai party cries foul over reported omission of party logos from poll ballots
The Pheu Thai party has cried foul over what its spokesman described as an “election tragedy” a proposal reportedly from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha that the election ballots will show only the names and numbers of candidates without party logos.
— Thai PBS World
EC downplays furore over ballot papers
The Election Commission (EC) has said it will gather opinions on the format of the ballot paper for the Feb 24 general election from all stakeholders before finalising the design this week.
— Bangkok Post
Power plan ‘a setback for sustainable energy’
ENVIRONMENTAL watchdog Greenpeace has called Thailand’s Power Development Plan 2018 (PDP) “sugar-coated” despite its embrace of more renewable energy, saying it still hinders efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
— The Nation
BAAC pays some 46 billion baht in rice subsidy to 3.4 million farmers
The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) has paid some 46 billion baht in subsidy for rice harvesting and quality improvement to about 3.4 million farmers.
— NNT
E-payment tax to take effect in 2020
The e-payment law, a tool for the Revenue Department to tax the income of non-salaried earners, particularly online vendors, will go into force from Jan 1, 2020.
— Bangkok Post
B3m-a-table PPRP fundraiser plan draws ire
Former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn is urging the Election Commission to investigate a Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) fundraising plan as it may violate a ban on political activities.
— Bangkok Post
Second batch of New Year gifts for low-income people
THE GOVERNMENT yesterday transferred a second batch of funds into the bank accounts of another 4.2 million state-welfare cardholders who are entitled to Bt500 each as part of the Bt5.5-billion New Year gift programme for Thailand’s 11.1 million low-income earners.
— The Nation (annoying popups)
Whiff of populism in latest schemes
A tranche of seemingly populist policies has been sprouting forth from the military-led government, pointing to something much more than a bid to boost domestic demand amid a murky economic outlook.
— Bangkok Post
Industry Ministry to provide 250 million baht in New Year’s packages for SMEs
The Industry Ministry has finalized the New Year’s financial packages worth 250 million baht for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which a roving cabinet in Nong Khai province is expected to approve next Tuesday.
— NNT
Tollway spends B300m on Smart
Don Muang Tollway is spending 300 million baht to implementing the Smart project, a traffic control management system to be complete by the end of 2020.
— Bangkok Post
Australia demands release of refugee soccer player detained in Thailand
Foreign Minister Marise Payne has demanded Thailand release soccer player and refugee Hakeem al-Araibi from detention and return him to Australia, setting the stage for a diplomatic clash.
— The Sydney Morning Herald
Social enterprises key ‘to boost sustainable development’
STAKEHOLDERS should take part in shaping the future of social enterprise in Thailand and boost sustainable development, experts told a seminar recently.
— The Nation (annoying popups)
Sheer happiness for the 1%
Who would not be impressed by the report from Credit Suisse Global Wealth Databook 2018, which ranks Thailand comfortably at No.1 at last?
— Bangkok Post
New dual track rail line in Khon Kaen being trialed
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has begun testing its dual track rail line between Chira Road and Khon Kaen, which is slated to complete construction next year.
— NBT World (video)
Boom continues along RED LINE ROUTE
PROPERTY DEVELOPERS are expanding their commercial and residential investments by more than Bt200 billion around the Red Line route under construction from Bang Sue to Rangsit, with expectations that the new route will start operating in 2021, according to a recent survey by The Nation.
— The Nation
Route opening delayed by a year
THE OPENING of the Red Line route will be delayed to 2021 from 2020 due to delays that have set back construction, a source from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) said recently.
— The Nation
King inaugurates Bike Un Ai Rak event
His Majesty the King presided over the opening of the “Bike Un Ai Rak 2018” event before leading a 39-kilometre round trip ride from the Royal Plaza to the Lad Pho Park in Samut Prakan’s Phra Pradaeng district on Sunday.
— Bangkok Post
Agoda lists Bangkok as most-visited Asian city for tourists in Asia
Bangkok tops the list of most-visited tourist destination among Asian cities for 2018, according to Agoda, the fastest-growing online travel booking platform.
— Thai PBS World
NESDB refutes validity of Credit Suisse wealth disparity report
The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has refuted a recent Global Wealth Report by Credit Suisse, saying its ranking of Thailand as the country of the worst inequality in the world was based on rough estimation as the actual data was not available.
— Newsline (video)
“Lift all human rights restrictions” – Amnesty International
Amnesty International is calling on the NCPO to end all its restrictions on human rights in Thailand before the next election which has now been confirmed as February 24 following yesterday’s meeting between the Junta and political parties.
— The Thaiger
PM declares stance against corruption
The Prime Minister declared his stance against corruption to mark International Anti-Corruption Day on December 9th as he also gave awards to government agencies demonstrating organizational transparency.
— NBT World (video)
Cheap packages luring Thais
Some 10 million Thai tourists are expected to travel abroad next year, up from an estimated 9 million this year, says the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA).
— Bangkok Post
Australian Government calls for Thailand to release Bahraini refugee Hakeem Ali AlAraibi
The Australian Government is calling for the immediate release of a Melbourne-based refugee from Thai detention, amid fears he could be tortured if an extradition request made by Bahrain is carried out.
— ABC
DPM and Industry Minister outline SME Bank policy
The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Industry Uttama Savanayana have handed down policies to the SME Development Bank (SME Bank) focusing on aiding business operators in 2019 and setting a target that elevates 600,000 enterprises into the E-Commerce realm.
— NBT World (video)
MDES: 18th TELMIN approves Thailand’s proposal related to cyber security
The Ministry of a Digital Economy and Society (MDES) has disclosed that the 18th ASEAN Telecommunication and Information Technology Ministers Meeting (TELMIN) recently approved Thailand’s proposal related to cyber security.
— NNT
Fighting for our forests
Attapol Charoenchansa, the newly-appointed chief of the Royal Forest Department (RFD), says he will be making use of his 30 years of experience to expand the country’s forested area and deal with those involved with deforestation.
— Bangkok Post
Public Health Min unveils first floating clinic
Thailand’s first floating clinic has made its public debut in Kanchanaburi province, lifting the country’s capacity to deal with marine accidents and water related disasters.
— NNT
B.Grimm Power eyes 16% revenue uptick
SET-listed B.Grimm Power Plc, the power generation arm of B.Grimm Group, expects 2019 revenue to grow by 16% to 42.1 billion baht because of new investment in many projects, both domestic and abroad.
— Bangkok Post
Sharks return to Thailand’s famous Maya Bay after tourist ban
A boat cuts through waves in the darkness of dawn. Black silhouettes of limestone cliffs loom large as the captain steers his vessel towards a small bay within their cradle.
— Channel NewsAsia
Senior citizens in Phichit receive help from non-profit association
The Ministry of the Interior’s Ladies Association in Phichit has visited senior citizens in the province under the association’s project to take care of the elderly nationwide.
— NNT
Degree of latitude aids winegrowers in Thailand
For many years it was generally accepted wisdom that grapes for making wine could only be cultivated between 30 and 50 degrees of latitude, in either the northern or southern hemisphere.
— South China Morning Post
Cambodian critic held in Thailand over sex-trafficking film – wife
A Cambodian labour activist faces deportation from Thailand back to Cambodia over his role in making a documentary about sex trafficking that angered the Cambodian government, which dismissed it as fake, his wife said on Friday.
— The Cambodia Daily
Thailand, Laos agree on border security
Thailand and Laos have agreed to strengthen cooperation on drug prevention and suppression to promote peace and cooperation in the border regions of the two countries.
— NBT World (video)
SCB shoots for 12m digital users in 2021
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) aims for 12 million users of its digital banking platform in the next three years through 2021, with a much-touted digital lending service set to roll out in the first three months of 2019.
— Bangkok Post
Some position holders may be exempted from assets declaration
Deputy Prime Minister for legal affairs Wissanu Krea-ngam has called on members of the University Council and the National Health Security Committee not to resign, as the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is finding options to asset declarations by position holders, based on the principle of good governance.
— NNT
Internet economy continues strong gains
Thailand’s internet economy ranked No.2 in Southeast Asia, worth UScopy2 billion (394 billion baht) in 2018 out of $72 billion in the region, thanks to growth of the e-commerce and online media sectors, according to the latest Google-Temasek report.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand, Laos agree on border security
Thailand and Laos have agreed to strengthen cooperation on drug prevention and suppression to promote peace and cooperation in the border regions of the two countries.
— Vietnam Plus
Area of controversial housing project in Chiang Mai to be restored
A government-appointed committee tasked with finding remedies to the Courts of Justice’s controversial housing project in Chiang Mai province has come up with six solutions at its latest meeting.
— NNT
Thai farmers feeling the heat of climate debate
Ampai Meelap, 43, a durian farmer on the frontlines of climate change witnesses the threats of unpredictable weather every year.
— Bangkok Post
Spotify wades in with expanded streaming
Spotify aims to expand to its service offerings to Thais wanting to enhance their music streaming experience.
— The Nation
Asean cities to ‘get smart’
Thailand to lead smart-city project, with Bangkok, Phuket and Chon Buri featuring prominently in cross-border partnership.
— Borneo Bulletin
Phuket communities clean up sea garbage
Fishermen and local communities in Phuket province have joined hands to clean up waste and marine debris on Sunday (Dec 9).
— NNT
Tracking down Bangkok’s missing ‘tree surgeons’
With strong winds, heavy rains and wobbling root tap systems, trees along streets are often deemed as the cause of accidents.
— Bangkok Post
People in Yala start withdrawing low-income earners’ welfare cash
A large number of people in Yala province flocked to Krung Thai Bank (KTB) to withdraw cash from their recently transferred special allowance for low-income earners under the government’s welfare scheme.
— NNT
Thailand’s new 1,000-baht banknote wins international award
The first issue of 1,000 baht banknotes of the reign of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn has won The Best New Banknote Award at the High Security Printing Asia 2018 international conference held in Hanoi, Vietnam.
— Thai PBS World
Home Products Center to upgrade skills of electricians; construction workers
The Ministry of Labor (MOL) has cooperated with the Home Products Center Public Company Limited to upgrade skills of electricians and construction workers to accommodate new technology.
— NNT
Chia Meng shifts to lower-end rice
Chia Meng Marketing Co, the marketer of Hongthong (Golden Phoenix) brand packed rice, has adjusted its business strategy by expanding its portfolio to cover the lower-end segment to help sales reach 2.5 billion baht next year.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand Post nets fighting fish delivery
Thailand Post is diversifying its logistics business with the launch of Siamese fighting fish delivery, aiming to help the more than 1,500 fighting fish breeders nationwide and capitalise on high demand for the species from abroad.
— Bangkok Post
Grab pins ride-sharing reform hopes on Thai elections
Grab hopes Thailand’s upcoming general election will help revive the conversation about legalizing ride sharing in the country.
— Deal Street Asia
Feature photo John Le Fevre
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges Thailand Constitution Day, December 10.
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.
Thailand morning news for December 10 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
- 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