Thai-China trade pact signed
Beijing: Thailand is moving ahead with plans to upgrade economic cooperation with China, agreeing Wednesday to the comprehensive framework on enhancing trade and economic partnership between the two nations and aiming to double bilateral trade to UScopy40 billion (4.59 trillion baht) by 2021.
— Bangkok Post
Marijuana bill shortened to allow quicker legislation
With only 17 articles, cannabis may become legal next month; Prajin vows strict control.
— The Nation (annoying popups)
Thai, Aussie agencies to keep up fight against drugs
Thailand and Australia have agreed to continue their Taskforce Storm operation to combat drug trafficking, an industry that is believed to fund terrorism.
— Bangkok Post
JSCCIB remains positive about Thai economic growth outlook in 2018
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) remains positive out the outlook of Thailand’s economic growth in 2018.
— News Today (video)
Mass-market eco-car stimulus on the way
The Industry Ministry will roll out an incentive programme to encourage six eco-car manufacturers to make electrified eco-cars after finding that the electric vehicle scheme was ineffective at boosting mass-market production of EVs.
— Bangkok Post
“Popcorn”gunman sentenced to 37 years in jail by Supreme Court
An alleged gunman who came to the rescue of protesters of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) under attack by armed men at Lak Si intersection during the demonstration against the Yingluck government in 2014 was sentenced to 37 years and 4 months imprisonment by the Supreme Court today .
— Thai PBS World
Doctors call for law banning child boxers
INTERNATIONAL paediatricians say getting children to box professionally is the worst type of child abuse, and called on Thai lawmakers to pass a law banning children under the age of 12 from the boxing ring in order to prevent them from suffering long-lasting brain injuries.
— The Nation (annoying popups)
Thailand’s Shinawatra clan, allies form new party ahead of polls
BANGKOK: Relatives and allies of ousted Thai premiers Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister, Yingluck, formed a new political party on Wednesday (Nov 7) ahead of a general election set for early next year, seen as a strategy to win more seats.
— ChannelNewsAsia
“Phoenix to be raised in five days” – says Surachate Hakparn
After the contracted salvage team threw in the towel trying to recover the Phoenix, the Marine Office says the police have taken over the project to bring the sunken vessel back to the surface.
— The Thaiger
Thailand to grant visa-on-arrival fee waiver for some visitors in bid to lift tourism slump
Amid declining numbers of visitors, notably from China, during the traditional tourist high season, a desperate Cabinet agreed on Tuesday (Nov 6) to waive the 2,000-baht (S$83.50) visa-on-arrival fee for tourists from 20 countries and Taiwan for 60 days to rev up one of the main engines of economic growth.
— The Straits Times
Ex-Chula lotto swindler gets prison sentence of 250 years
The Criminal Court has sentenced a former chairman of Chulalongkorn University’s savings cooperative to 200 years and 600 months in jail for swindling 100 people out of 183.7 million baht in a lottery quota investment scam.
— Bangkok Post
GPO is ready to start producing marijuana oil tentatively next May
The Government Pharmaceutical Organization is set to start producing marijuana oil from seized marijuana in May next year, initially with a production target of 60,000 bottles per month at its extraction plant in the central province of Pathum Thani.
— Thai PBS World
Jaravijit siblings plead not guilty in B797m bitcoin case
Prinya Jaravijit and his younger siblings Supitcha and Jiratpisit on Wednesday entered pleas of not guilty to money-laundering charges arising from the alleged 797-million-baht bitcoin theft from a Finnish investor.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pops)
Vendors evicted as temple readies for heritage site status
NAKHON PHANOM: Disgruntled vendors gathered outside historical Wat Phra That Phanom in Nakhon Phanom on Wednesday in protest against their eviction from the grounds to pave the way for registration of of the temple as a Unesco World Heritage site.
— Bangkok Post
Cabinet approves increased quota of organic rice exports to Europe
The Cabinet has approved an increase in the export quota of organic rice to Europe.
— News Today (video)
Closure deadline extended for Flora Park, Faprathan Farm
NAKHON RATCHASIMA: The provincial agricultural land reform office has agreed to extend the deadline for two scenic tourist attractions to prove their right to occupy land reserved for use by poor farmers.
— Bangkok Post
Half a ton of underwater garbage collected at Patong Beach
The mass underwater and beach cleanup held at Patong Beach on Monday (Nov 5) saw half of ton garbage of discarded debris collected from the waters off Phuket’s busiest tourism town, Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup confirmed today (Nov 7).
— The Phuket News
Rice thefts worry farmers amid high prices
Farmers are putting up their guard against rice thefts after several cases have been reported this year in the wake of high prices.
— Bangkok Post
KTB investing in long-term IT for new income sources
Krungthai Bank (KTB) says its planned IT investment budget of 12 billion baht next year will take a bite out of net profit in the short run but should set a path for the bank to generate new income sources to sustain profitability over the long term.
— Bangkok Post
Chaturon explains why Pheu Thai core members are turning their back on the party
If anyone is wondering why several key veteran politicians are leaving the once powerful Pheu Thai Party to form new parties or to join some of the existing ones, one of its core members, Chaturon Chaisaeng, has an explanation.
— Thai PBS World
Malls whipping up sale frenzy
Retailers are competing head-on to spur a shopping spree in the final two months of the year, with heavy marketing budgets pledged.
— Bangkok Post
Bang Na area showing growth promise
The residential condominium market in Bang Na has the potential to grow and expand at a healthy pace, according to Phanom Kanjanathiemthao, managing director of the real estate services firm Knight Frank Thailand.
— Bangkok Post
More people expected to visit the winter festival this year
The Royal Thai Police say security will be tightened at the “Un Ai Rak Khlai Khwam Nao” Festival as more people are expected to visit the event this year.
— NNT
Somsak turns his back on politics, abandons party
Veteran politician for Ang Thong, Somsak Prissanananthakul, has turned his back on politics and severed his longstanding ties to the Chartthaipattana Party (CTP) as speculation grows about his two sons’ future with the party
— Bangkok Post
PM in Kanchanaburi to kick off farming program ahead of visits to France, Singapore and Papua New Guinea
Thailand’s Prime Minister has traveled to Kanchanaburi province to visit a Thai paper factory built on crown property and to issue policies on safe and sustainable farming after previously speaking on ways to address traffic congestion.
— NNT
Sansiri strengthens its global vision by driving
As part of its recent expansion into the global hospitality, technology and lifestyle industries through an investment worth US$80 million in six global brands, Sansiri has announced the arrival in the Thai market of The Standard Hotels and Residences as part of its wider global expansion and Asia’s first launch of the One Night spontaneous hotel booking app in Bangkok.
— AEC News Today/PR Newswire (media release)
Thailand’s music wars
As this is being written, Rap Against Dictatorship’s (RAD) “What my country’s got” (Prathet Goo Mee) has managed to garner more than 28 million views on YouTube, and is still being talked about in both, foreign and local news. The catchy rap is undoubtedly the talk of many a young Thai as well.
— The Asean Post
CTF Summit 2018 held to prevent terrorism financing
The Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) Summit 2018 has begun in Thailand with the aim of preventing terrorism worldwide.
— NNT
Tham Luang cave to be opened to tourists this week
Tham Luang Khun Nam Nang Non cave complex, the scene of a rescue drama that grabbed worldwide attention four months ago, is expected to be reopened to tourists this week.
— Thai PBS World
Krabi murder victims’ relatives win civil appeal
An appeals court on Wednesday approved a civil lawsuit appeal for financial compensation for their murdered relatives in a Krabi massacre.
— The Nation (annoying pops)
Catching illegal guides is tricky: ‘They disguise themselves like tourists’
Phuket Vice Governor Thanyawat Chanpinit has pointed out that catching illegal guides leading tours around the island was more difficult than it seems as they tend “dress like tourists”, he told a meeting yesterday (Nov 6).
— The Phuket News
Police quiz lunchbox-scam victims
Police on Wednesday investigated a case in which an Uttaradit woman was allegedly duped into filling 10,000 styrofoam lunchboxes, which were rejected by the customer on Monday.
— The Nation
Rights Advocates Struggle to Exhume, Return Fishermen’s Bodies from Indonesian Isles
The sister of Somkiat Srimaungko expressed a bittersweet joy as she gazed at his ashes.
— Benar News
Finland woos Thai tourists, seeks closer business ties
Finland is wooing more Thai tourists as well as business deals and collaboration in education, the country’s ambassador to Thailand, Satu Suikkari-Kleven, said.
— The Nation
SB Design launches solutions for condos
SB Design Square, the leader in innovative furniture design, yesterday announced a new business model “Condo Solutions @ SB Design Square”, a one-stop service for condominium decoration, with a sale revenue projection of at least Bt300 million within 2019.
— The Nation
Smokers’ shift to hike tax on loose tobacco
The Excise Department is going to raise the tobacco tax after dozens of smokers have switched to hand-rolled cigarettes, prices for which are far cheaper than factory-made cigarettes following enforcement of a new excise tax structure last year.
— Bangkok Post
Feature photo John Le Fevre
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges World Science Day for Peace and Development, November 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 November 8 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