Thailand election: Under a new reign old order trinity must make way for fresh blood
More than four years after it seized power in May 2014, Thailand’s military government appears intent on holding onto it indefinitely. Led by General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has repeatedly delayed the pledged Thailand elections, currently slated for February 2019.
— AEC News Today
Thai army chief says no need to intervene if politics stable
Thailand’s new army chief on Wednesday did not rule out another military intervention if there was political conflict after the return of civilian rule in a general election next year.
— Reuters
Boost in competitiveness hailed
THAILAND has climbed two notches in the rankings of the closely watched Global Competitiveness Index 4.0 (GIC 4.0) to 38th place.
— The Nation
New entry limit causes ticketing chaos
Chaos erupted at the Similan Islands ticket office after the area was re-opened for a limited number of visitors, according to local authorities.
— Bangkok Post
PM to be asked to scrap second passenger terminal project at Suvarnabhumi
Twelve engineering and architecture organizations have joined forces to ask Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to exercise his executive power to scrap the Airports of Thailand’s plan to build the second passenger terminal at Suvarnabhumi international airport.
— Thai PBS World
Songkhla rabies fatality puts toll at 17
Another rabies death was confirmed in Songkhla Wednesday, bringing the total number of rabies deaths nationwide this year to 17, according to the Disease Control Department (DCD).
— Bangkok Post
Commerce Ministry: Global trade situation remains a concern
The Ministry of Commerce reported that the global trade situation is still worrisome, and many countries have adjusted their investment plans in the emerging markets.
— News Today (video)
Thailand trips still climbing
Thailand managed to log a respectable increase in tourist arrivals during the first nine months of the year, despite hefty declines in Chinese visits since July.
— TTR Weekly
ETDA launches Institute of Future Economy and Internet Governance
The Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) has launched the Institute of Future Economy and Internet Governance as a platform that focuses on the learning process and transforms into policy recommendations that can be used to develop the country.
— The Nation
Some tourist fees waived
The government plans to exempt visitors from visa-on-arrival fees during November and December as it strives to salvage falling tourist numbers, especially from China.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand Kicks Off the EMC3 Model, Aiming to Drive the MICE Industry in the EEC and Establish the Eastern MICE Corridor to Advance Thailand’s Economy
To push forward Thailand’s MICE industry and drive the ten target industries under the Thailand 4.0 scheme in support of the government’s policy, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization), or TCEB has launched the “EMC3 Model,” which will pave the way for the rise of the Eastern MICE Corridor (EMC) in Thailand.
— AEC News Today/PR Newswire (media release)
Thailand minister lauds Bangladesh’s growth at development fair
A large crowd including senior Thai government officials, diplomats, academicians, local Thai people, UN officials and expatriate Bangladeshis living in Thailand gathered at the fair to know Bangladesh’s development stories, the Bangladesh embassy in Bangkok said.
— BDNews24.com
Japan, Thailand, US are the most vacation deprived, says report
The world is tired, as global vacation deprivation is on the rise, with workers in Japan, Thailand and the United States taking the fewest number of vacation days in the world, according to the latest report from Expedia.
— Inquirer.Net
Yala denies measles vaccine shortage
The Yala Provincial Public Health Office has blamed the rising death toll in the province from a measles outbreak on the lack of vaccinations at an early age, and not because of a vaccine shortage.
— NNT
Exclusive: Inside Thailand’s ‘Startup Nation’ vision
Thailand combines ancient culture with an ultramodern economy.
— Gov Insider
PM Prayut orders review of bill on cybersecurity bill: government spokesman
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered a review of the controversial bill on cybersecurity following a public outcry over what is seen as excessive power given to authorities to pry into personal information of private citizens and to penalize people accused of posing threats to cybersecurity.
— Thai PBS World
Provincial mass transit projects expedited, think tank in limbo
The government is revving up construction of mass transit projects in Phuket, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Khon Kaen, worth a total 194.29 billion baht.
— Bangkok Post
Nestlé launches $24.6m Nescafé marketing campaign in Thailand
Nestlé has started a THB 800 million ($24.6 million) campaign in Thailand to reinforce Nescafé’s position and celebrate the brand’s 45 years in the country.
— FoodBev Media
Army Commander tells officials to remain neutral
Royal Thai Army Chief General, Apirat Kongsompong told members of the press after meeting with staff, that he intends to continue the work of his predecessors who have laid down a solid foundation for the army.
— NNT
Patong raid nets more than 4,000 items of fake-brand clothing
Police from the Royal Thai Police Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD).and officials from Department of Intellectual Property yesterday (Oct 16) arrested two men at the popular OTOP market in Patong and seized more than 4,000 fake brand-name products.
— The Phuket News
Thailand, U.S. agree to further cooperation
Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Adm.Philip S. Davidson on Wednesday met with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The Thai premier thanked the U.S. armed forces for sending officers to help the young soccer players and their coach trapped inside a flooded cave in Chiang Rai.
— NNT
Calls to restrict foreign property purchases in Bangkok
Dr. Sopon Pornchockchai, the President of the Thailand Agency for Real Estate Affairs, is calling for controls to restrict foreign property buyers.
— The Thaiger
PM says his personal social media accounts not campaign tools
The Prime Minister has explained that his decision to launch social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram is to stay in step with the digital era, adding that they are not intended for campaigning.
— NNT
Jailed Thai ex-monk gets further 16 years for child rape, abduction
A former Buddhist monk who sparked outrage in Thailand over his lavish lifestyle and is already serving time for fraud was sentenced to a further 16 years in prison on Wednesday for abducting and raping a child.
— Reuters
Inflow surge breathes life into industrial land sector
The net flow of foreign direct investment into the Thai manufacturing sector surged by 932% year-on-year, according to the Bank of Thailand.
— Bangkok Post
NBTC gears up for 5G testing next year
The trials will focus on whether their use will interfere with the signals for other spectra as well as help to determine the potential applications of 5G services in Thailand.
— The Nation
Govt prepares measures to alleviate palm oil price slump
The Ministry of Commerce plans to accelerate the sale of raw palm oil and B20 diesel consumption to alleviate the current price slump.
— NNT
Corporate jet market looking up
The business jet industry is expected to experience strong growth in the short to medium term, supported by several new aeroplane models coming to market and an improved used aircraft environment, according to Honeywell’s 27th annual Global Business Aviation Outlook.
— The Nation
Thailand sees tourist arrival growth of 8.71% from Jan-Sep 2018
Thailand has seen continued growth in the number of tourist arrivals during the first nine months of this year.
— News Today (video)
STYLE Bangkok held to showcase fashion, lifestyle goods
The Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, is organizing the STYLE Bangkok Fair until this Sunday, bringing together fashion and lifestyle products both from Thailand and around the world.
— NNT
TMB, TBank Q3 profits rise
TMB Bank’s third-quarter net profit more than doubled, largely due to a one-off gain of 11.8 billion baht from divestment of a 65% stake in TMB Asset Management (TMBAM) to Eastspring Investments, an asset management arm of Prudential Corporation Asia.
— Bangkok Post
Mytcas.com launched to help students plan higher education
The Council of University Presidents of Thailand (TCAS) has launched the website mytcas.com to help senior high school students due to take the TCAS examination in 2019.
— NNT
Interest rate hikes to deliver slow burn
Despite the prospect of higher interest rates in Thailand, borrowers across the board are unlikely to be hurt because the pass-through effect for rate hikes takes time to surface, says Kasikorn Research Centre (K-Research).
— Bangkok Post
Farmers, relevant parties sign MOU to develop organic farming in Uttaradit
A farmers’ institute and relevant parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop organic farming in Uttaradit province.
— NNT
Rescue team reaches seriously injured tourist who fell into a ravine in Kanchanaburi
A army rescue team dropped from a helicopter into a ravine near a waterfall in Khao Laem Dam National Park in Sangkhla Buri district of the western province of Kanchanaburi this morning is trying to find a way to bring a seriously injured out to safety.
— Thai PBS World
DRRAA reaches its dam filling goal
The Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation (DRRAA) has succeeded its dam filling operation and saved 3,000 rai (about 1,180 acres) of corn plantations.
— NNT
Good news: Reef sharks seen swimming in Maya Bay
A school of Blacktip Reef Sharks have been seen swimming in Maya Bay, boosting park officials’ hopes as they try to restore the damaged ecosystem of the famed tourist destination.
— Bangkok Post
FDA: Breast milk should be received and donated through standard breast milk banks
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised mothers to receive or donate breast milk through standard breast milk banks.
— NNT
Thailand Installs Controversial Figure in Deep South Peace Talks
Thailand has decided to replace its chief negotiator for southern peace talks with another retired general, former Fourth Army Area commander Udomchai Thammasarorat.
— Benar News
Allianz Global Wealth Report: The end of complacency
Bank deposits remained the dominating asset class in Thailand’s private households’ portfolio, amounting to 45% of their total financial assets followed by securities, stocks and bonds with a share of 39.3 per cent.
— The Nation
Govt gives awards to local administrations for exemplary service
Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Wissanu Krea-ngam handed out the awards at Government House to honor state agencies for their commitment to improving effectiveness and transparency and for involving the public in local development.
— NNT
Feature photo John Le Fevre
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, October 17.
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 October 18 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
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- 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