Government to mobilize resources for a new war on drugs
The government has decided to declare war on narcotic drugs across the country with an expectation of positive result in three months.
— The PBS World
China plans to deepen EEC focus
CHINA plans to further invest in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and the country’s agricultural technology as part of its effort to support the Thailand 4.0 policy while furthering its own One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative.
— The Nation (annoying popups)
Border trade increases, but with some Chinese impact
Border trade in the first nine months of 2018 grew 6.14% year-on-year to 1.04 trillion baht, with an export surplus of 133 billion baht, but the negative impact of falling Chinese tourist arrivals is now. showing.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand’s KCE Electronics cuts 2018 sales growth target by half
Thailand’s KCE Electronics Pcl , Southeast Asia’s biggest maker of printed circuit boards (PCBs), has cut its sales growth target in dollar terms this year to 7 percent from 12-15 percent earlier, its chief executive officer said on Thursday.
— Reuters
DPM Prawit tells officials GAT-PAT exam date must not conflict with election day
The Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs has instructed officials of the Education Ministry to make sure that the examination dates of the General Aptitude Test (GAT) – Professional Aptitude Test (PAT) are not on the same day as the general election.
— NNT
ACT’s ‘walk’ might violate election law
The Election Commission (EC) will have to look into the Action Coalition for Thailand Party’s (ACT) latest political activity which was claimed to be a mere walk to meet the people.
— Bangkok Post
Farmers worry over agrochemical control regulations
FARMER GROUPS expressed their concern that agrochemical control measures proposed in the new ministerial regulation will turn them into criminals, as they will be forbidden from spraying herbicides on their farms without proper training.
— The Nation (annoying popups)
Deputy PM instructs Ministry of Finance to expedite public investment
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has urged the Ministry of Finance to expedite public investment projects and provide more welfare for low-income people.
— NNT
Thailand’s debut in joint military exercise with Malaysia and China
Aman Youyi 2018, the joint military exercise between China and Malaysia, is back again with Thailand joining the exercise for first time in an attempt to enhance strategic relations among three countries.
— The Nation
Restive South tops agenda of Mahathir’s visit to Thailand
Malaysia has long acted as a facilitator for brokering peace talks between the Thai government and Mara Patani, an umbrella group that claims to be the political wing of a shadowy network of rebel fighters clashing with state forces.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)
Bangkok property investment sales down, residential segment ‘fragile’ in Q3: Report
BANGKOK’S property sector saw a steep drop in investment sales in the third quarter, real estate firm Edmund Tie & Co (ET&Co) has reported, in a research update on the Thai market.
— Business Times (annoying pops)
Brain-Damaged Kid Muay Thai Fighters Prompt Call For Ban
Muay Thai may be the pride of the kingdom, but new research says letting children fight in the ring can irreparably damage their minds.
— Khaosod English
11 convicted for detaining, raping girl in Phang Nga
THE CRIMINAL Court yesterday convicted all 11 defendants for detaining and gang-raping a girl in their hometown in Phang Nga province for several months in 2016.
— The Nation (annoying popups)
Migrants, sex workers take pride of place in Bangkok art festival
Sex workers and migrant labourers feature prominently in an art festival in Bangkok as local and international artists tackle issues that the artistic director says are otherwise ignored in the city.
— The Straits Times
Operators despair amidst Chinese lull
Tourism operators used to Chinese arrivals are close to laying off staff or even shutting down operations if arrivals from the mainland fail to bounce back soon.
— Bangkok Post
KTB app aims for 3 million users
Krungthai Bank (KTB), the country’s fourth-largest lender by assets, is aiming for 3 million mobile banking users by year-end and 10 million next year after its full-scale mobile banking app, Krungthai Next, is officially launched.
— Bangkok Post
SCG trims investment outlays as trade war dampens mood
SIAM Cement Group (SCG) has reduced its investment budget for the rest of this year and next year in the face of the global economic uncertainty arising from the trade war between China and the United States, the group’s president and chief executive officer Roongrote Rangsiyopash said.
— The Nation
Vertiv bets on turnkey data centres with new Thailand facility
The critical infrastructure specialist has opened a new integrated modular solutions facility in Thailand – specifically in sprawling area of 84,000 square metres within the industrial zone of Rayong on the country’s eastern seaboard.
— Data Center News
Genetec announces distribution partnership in Thailand
As Genetec grows across Asia Pacific, the company is bringing its physical securityinnovations to Thailand-a country rapidly migrating to IP-based security technologies.
— The Nation
Soi Dog sterilisations hit 250k, charity marks 15th anniversary with international awards
The Soi Dog Foundation (SDF) has reached a significant milestone: this month (October) it sterilised animal number 250,000.
— The Phuket News
FDA denies US ban on fish sauce from Thailand
THAILAND’S Food and Drug Association (FDA) yesterday dismissed reports that the United States has banned the import of fish sauce from Thailand, saying they had just asked for more documents from some firms, FDA deputy secretary-general Dr Poonlarp Chantavichitwong said.
— The Nation
Rice values and exports up
The value of Jasmine rice has risen significantly to 18,000 baht per ton, and rice exports overall have increased with 9 million tons already sold this year.
— NNT
Painting temples gold can land you in jail, warns Fine Art Department
After a report of historical temples being painted gold triggered an uproar on social media, the Culture Ministry’s Fine Art Department on Wednesday warned people to stop unauthorised painting of national heritage monuments as it violates the law.
— The Nation (annoying popups)
EXIM Bank promotes Thai-Canadian trade, launches loan scheme for exporters
The Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM Bank) has rolled out a new loan product for small and medium-sized exporters while cooperating with Canada to expand bilateral trade and investment.
— NNT
Apple to open first Thailand store on November 10
Apple’s first store in Thailand is scheduled to open on November 10 in Bangkok at Iconsiam.
— The Nation (annoying popups)
True delivers on push into emerging robotics sector
TRUE Corporation has entered into the robotics market with the release of what it says is the first autonomous delivery robot in Thailand
— The Nation
— Bloomberg (paywall)
— Thai PBS World
— The Nation (annoying popups)
— News Today (video)
— Coconuts Bangkok (paywall)
— NNT
— The Phuket News
— Bangkok Post
— Khaosod English
Feature photo John Le Fevre
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges World Development Information Day October 24.
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 26 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