Thailand morning news for December 5

Thailand morning news for December 5
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Thailand morning newsMinistries told to prepare ‘New Year gifts’ for people
THE CABINET yesterday gave the green light to all government ministries to prepare projects considered “New Year presents” to the people.
— The Nation

Finance Ministry to return VAT payments during Chinese New Year to spur growth
The Ministry of Finance will be rebating Valued Added Tax (VAT) during the Chinese New Year Festival next year up to 20,000 baht per citizen in a move to support economic growth up to 4 percent.
— NBT (video)

New tax law prompts suspicions of snooping
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has passed a bill meant to ensure more effective tax collection, especially from e-commerce businesses.
— Bangkok Post

Shippers’ Council sets sight on 8% export growth this year
The Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) believes exports will grow by 8% this year following positive numbers in October.
— NNT

VAT refund has academic ‘speechless’
Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) academics have expressed dismay at the Finance Ministry’s plan to grant a 5% value-added tax (VAT) refund to shoppers spending up to B20,000 from Feb 1-15 next year.
— The Phuket News

Online vendors may soon have to pay taxes
THE REVENUE Department will be able to cast a wider net over online vendors and other businesses that have been evading taxes once the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) approves amendments to the Revenue Code.
— The Nation

Micro-SMEs struggle for funds
Amporn Khamsuwat, 60, like so many people in Thailand, has aspirations to grow her small business. For over a decade, she’s been hand-crafting quality clothing to supply shops at the bustling cotton market in Don Luang village in Lamphun province, and wanted to hire a new generation of weavers to breathe fresh air into her business.
— Bangkok Post

Inflation rises for 17 consecutive months in November
The headline consumer price index rose for the 17th straight month in November, but at a slow pace, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
— NNT

No Thailand 4.0 unless professionals can switch to teaching profession
The alarming shortage of skilled personnel needed to make the much-vaunted leap to Thailand 4.0 lends new urgency to the debate on unlicensed teachers and assistants.
— The Nation

Cambodia, Thailand trade surpasses 2017 numbers
Trade between Cambodia and Thailand reached $7 billion during the first nine months of the year, exceeding figures for the entire last year.
— Khmer Times

Shops pledge to cut plastic bag use
As many as 40 retailers and store operators have entered an agreement with the Mineral Resources Department not to provide plastic bags on the fourth of each month.
— Bangkok Post

Fugitives from the law can no longer file cases against others
FUGITIVES from criminal offences will be deprived of their right to file criminal cases against others while on the run, according to an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Law passed by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday.
— The Nation

Thailand extends detention of refugee footballer from Bahrain
A refugee footballer from Bahrain has been detained for another 12 days in Thailand, an immigration official said Tuesday (Dec 4), as a rights group decried the “tug of war” over his fate.
— Channel NewsAsia/ AFP

Department of Consular Affairs to offer e payment service for online visa applications
Thailand’s Department of Consular Affairs is to pilot its online visa application system, starting with Chinese visitors.
— NBT (video)

Joining Palang Pracharat is under consideration: PM Prayut
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha admitted today that the pro-military Palang Pracharat Party would be a choice if he is to jump into politics.
— Thai PBS World

Abhisit rules out joining pro-military party in forming government if it continues with current economic policies
Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has ruled out the prospect of his party joining the pro-military Palang Pracharat party if it insists on pursuing the current government’s economic policies that he claimed are causing hardships to the people.
— Thai PBS World

MSDHS reviews this year’s third anti-human trafficking report
The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) has reviewed this year’s third anti-trafficking report, highlighting the progress in victims protection, prevention and prosecution.
— NNT

Welfare cardholders to receive 500 baht for year end spending
Social welfare cardholders will receive a one-time stipend of 500 baht this month for year-end expenses.
— NBT (video)

Thai king will be crowned after general election, says Prayuth
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Tuesday that the coronation ceremony of King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun would take place after next year’s planned general election to reinstall democracy in Thailand.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Five Thai e-founder ‘champions for development’ launched by Alibaba
Another five young Thai entrepreneurs have graduated from the UNCTAD and Alibaba Business School’s eFounders Fellowship.
— The Nation

Thailand’s Famous Phi Phi Islands Are Running Out of Drinking Water Because of Too Many Tourists
Just days after Thailand’s world renowned Phi Phi Islands were praised for their environmental recovery, new details have emerged about the drinking water crisis in the holiday archipelago.
— Time

Tourism and marine parks threaten Thailand’s ‘people of the sea’
When Sutem Lakkao’s grandmother and father died, they were buried much as their ancestors had been: on the beach, close to their beloved boats so they could listen to the waves and watch over the Chao Lay community of fisherfolk in their afterlife.
— Reuters

Thailand’s Revenue Department To Test Blockchain For Value-Added Tax (VAT) Payment Use Case
In a report from the Bangkok Post on Monday, it seems that blockchain technology is making an even bigger impact than simply within cryptocurrency.
— Bitcoin Exchange Guide

Thai Filmmakers Predict Country’s Future in ‘10 Years Thailand’
A Thai movie which speculates about the future of the country in the next decade was approved by the censor board Monday and will screen at cinemas nationwide next week.
— Khaosod English

Five Thai e-founder ‘champions for development’ launched by Alibaba
Another five young Thai entrepreneurs have graduated from the UNCTAD and Alibaba Business School’s eFounders Fellowship.
— The Nation

Thailand’s Online Shopping Market Share Expected To Triple Within Five Years
In late September Thai retailer Central Group formally launched a new e-commerce joint venture with Chinese company JD.com.
— Thailand Business News

Somkid underlines 3 areas of reform for Thailand to keep pace with neighbours
Thailand will need to radically reform its economic structure if it wants to keep up with its fast-growing Asean neighbours, says Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.
— The Nation

Royal Forest Department Deputy Chief denies bribery accusation
The Royal Forest Department is tracking down several individuals who had released three letters accusing its deputy director-general, Athapol Charoenshunsa, of being involved in bribery in a high-profile logging case.
— NNT

Tourism and marine parks threaten Thailand’s ‘people of the sea’
When Sutem Lakkao’s grandmother and father died, they were buried much as their ancestors had been: on the beach, close to their beloved boats so they could listen to the waves and watch over the Chao Lay community of fisherfolk in their afterlife.
— Reuters

Large-scale PLA plant starts up in Thailand
Total Corbion PLA, a 50:50 joint venture between Total and Corbion, announces the start-up of its 75,000 tonnes/ year bio-based polylactic Acid (PLA) bioplastics plant in Rayong, Thailand.
— Plastics Today

Eight Phuket monks defrocked after testing positive for drugs
Eight monks from three temples in Phuket have been defrocked after posting positive drug tests.
— The Thaiger

SME Bank promotes digital technology for local businesses
The SME Bank is pushing forward the community economy development by encouraging local businesses to embrace digital technology.
— NNT

Bangkok may close Kamphaengpetch 3 road to unite public parks
Bangkok authorities are preparing to hold a referendum on closing off Kamphaengpetch 3 road after completing the renovation of three public parks covering a total 720 rai so that the three may be connected to create a single citywide green space.
— NNT

‘Thaiconsent’ Breaks the Silence With Untold Stories
When a woman recently accused a famous gynecologist of raping her during an exam, many more came forward to say they’d entrusted his sterling reputation only to be assaulted at his clinic.
— Khaosod English

USDA Raises Thailand Corn Production For MY 2018/19
As per the latest update from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Thailands MY2018/19 corn production is revised up to 5.3 million metric tons, up 6 percent from MY2017/18 due to expanded off-season corn acreage driven by attractive prices and government financial support.
— IIFL

Freak fresh fish bonanza landed at Phuket’s Nai Harn Beach
A bumper haul of mackerel was brought on shore at Nai Harn Beach on Sunday night (Dec 2) after local fishermen took advantage of a monster-sized school of the fish was spotted just offshore.
— The Phuket News

Rice Department to open Thai Rice Festival 2018
The Department of Rice will hold the Thai Rice Festival 2018 in front of Bangkok City Hall from December 19th to 24th.
— NNT

Bangkok to get tougher on motorcycles riding on footpaths
The Deputy Governor of Bangkok has ordered more stringent action against motorcyclists riding on city sidewalks, saying fines may be increased once again if violations continue.
— NNT

Hundreds turnout for Thailand Environment Day Karon Beach cleanup
More than 600 people turned up to take part in the underwater and beach cleanup held at Karon Beach yesterday (Dec 3), ahead of Thai Environment Day today (Dec 4).
— The Phuket News

 

Feature photo Projects Abroad

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges International Volunteer Day, December 5.

 

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

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

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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