PPRP faces major coalition snag
The pro-regime Palang Pracharath Party’s (PPRP) chances of forming a coalition government have been thrown into doubt as concerns mount that the Democrat Party under its newly elected leader may switch sides and join an alliance led by the Pheu Thai Party.
— Bangkok Post
TAT sees B885bn in Q1 as tourism up 5%
Thailand posted income of around 885 billion baht from tourism in the first quarter this year, thanks to a 5% increase in foreign and Thai tourists, says the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
— Bangkok Post
Airport rail project ‘good for country’
Nakhon Ratchasima: Suphachai Chearavanont, CEO of Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to investing in the 225-billion-baht high-speed railway linking three major airports, despite it being considered a high-risk investment.
— Bangkok Post
‘The Nation’ to axe print edition
The Nation, a newspaper that has served the English-speaking community in Thailand for half a century, will terminate its print edition next month due to mounting financial problems, according to a source who works for the group.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand pulls out all stops to nurture startups
The startup scene in Thailand is far from thriving, but industry watchers believe the next five to 10 years will bring pivotal changes to the Southeast Asian nation.
— Korea Herald
Musk’s attorney claims his client’s tweets didn’t hurt diver
A British diver who is suing Tesla CEO Elon Musk for defamation can’t recover damages because the diver allegedly started the spat and his reputation hasn’t been harmed, a new attorney for Musk says in a court filing
— AP
Thailand set to deny visas to retirees without insurance
Older foreigners living in Thailand will lose their visas without adequate health insurance under new rules still being written and yet to go into effect.
— Coconuts (paywall)
Economic growth seen slowing due to trade war, politics: Somkid
Thailand’s economic growth is expected to slow this year due to rising global trade tensions and domestic political uncertainty, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post
King to Inaugurate New Parliament on Coup Anniversary
Thailand’s parliament is set to reopen on May 22, exactly five years after the military coup that brought the current junta to power.
— Khaosod English
DBD to promote Thai SELECT food vendors through Grab app
The Department of Business Development (DBD) has signed a cooperation agreement with Grab Thailand (Grab), a transportation network company to promote Thai food from the 500 local ‘Thai Select’ vendors from various parts of the Kingdom using Grab’s food delivery service ‘Grab Food’.
— NBT World (video)
Spat, uncertainty slow Thai growth
Thailand’s economic growth is expected to slow in 2019 because of rising global trade tensions and domestic political uncertainty, with local business operators suffering from negative momentum from the US-China dispute, says Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.
— Bangkok Post
Hydrotherapy wards off elderly falls
A third of elderly people in Thailand suffer from falls each year, with 3,000 injuring their hips and two losing their lives on average as a result, says a new survey released by the Department of Disease Control.
— Bangkok Post
Cabinet designates June 3rd public holiday
The Cabinet has designated June 3rd of each year a public holiday to mark the auspicious occasion of the birthday anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Suthida Pat-cha-ra-su-ta-pi-mon-lak.
— NBT World (video)
Government to hold performances to celebrate coronation
The Government has planned various performances to mark the royal coronation from May 22nd to 28th at Sanam Luang ceremonial Ground in the capital, which include the traditional Lantern Dance and the Khon masked dance based on the Ramayana epic.
— NBT World (video)
Israel’s Fintech Roadshow visits Bangkok
The Embassy of Israel in Thailand and Fintech Thailand Company Limited, along with various leading financial-technology companies, are holding the first Israel Fintech Roadshow from May 13th – 14th at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel in the capital, bringing together Israeli financial technology providers and international users and investors.
— NBT World (video)
Small developers urged to maintain liquidity and diversify
With myriad challenges in the property market, small and medium-sized developers should focus on maintaining financial liquidity and diversify to non-residential development, say developers and experts.
— Bangkok Post
SME Bank lines up B8bn bonds
The state-owned Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank (SME Bank) plans to issue bonds worth 8 billion baht to raise funds for cheap loans to small business operators.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand extends visas, work permits of Myanmar workers by 9 months
The visas and work permits of Myanmar migrant workers which were scheduled to expire on 31 March, 2020 have been extended by nine more months to 31 December, 2020, according to an announcement from the Labour Office in Bangkok, Thailand.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar
Thailand Post office van used in trafficking
Thailand Post has fired a mail van driver who was caught transporting 13 illegal Myanmar immigrant workers to a Thai-Malaysian border in Songkhla province in the early hours of Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand’s LGBT+ lawmakers force parliament dress-code rethink
Thailand’s four new LGBT+ members of parliament have prompted the house to relax its gender-based dress code, in a small victory for the ground-breaking politicians who have vowed to push for greater LGBT+ rights in the country.
— Reuters
Meteorological Dept warns of heavy rains May 17-19
There is rain in most regions of Thailand during this time. It helps relieve the extreme heat which has persisted for many months and also benefits crops.
— NNT
Saturday, May 18 is Visakha Bucha Day
Banks and government offices closed Monday Saturday, May 18, is one of the most venerated holidays on the Buddhist calendar: Visakha Bucha Day.
— Pattaya Mail
Traffic-busters: Bangkok cops offer kids free rides to school
In a bid to ease traffic congestion outside Bangkok schools at the start of the new semester, police are providing a free motorcycle service to ferry kids to class from five designated locations.
— Asia One
80 Cambodians Caught in Thai Migrant Bust
Thai soldiers seized 80 Cambodian migrants who had illegally crossing into Thailand on May 15, 2019, according Thai media.
— Cambodia News English
Suparatana Bencharongkul Revolutionizing the Agricultural Landscape in Thailand
Suparatana Bencharongkul is the daughter of Boonchai Bencharongkul, the Thai telecom billionaire who is the Founder and Chairman of the mobile phone service provider, DTAC. Famously known by her Instagram name “Nina,” she is the main force behind the revolutionary advancements in the way agricultural activity will be carried out in Thailand in the near future.
— The Frisky
A comparison of developments in crypto law in Thailand
Financial technology (fintech) sounds novel to some people, but in fact it has been in existence since the 1950s, starting with credit cards, then the arrival of the automatic teller machines, or ATMs, in the late 1960s, followed by online banking in the 1980s.
— Asia Business Law Journal
UTCC: Thai export sector to be affected by US-China trade war
Thailand’s export sector is believed to be affected by trade war between the United States and China. The director of the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce’s International Trade Study Center has forecast that Thailand’s export growth will drop from 3.2-4.6% to 2.2-4.6%.
— NNT
Maya Bay coral restoration project to begin
A new coral restoration project will begin at Maya Bay tomorrow (May 15) according to the chief of Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, Worapoj Lomlim.
— The Phuket News
Bangkok calls for war on mosquitoes as dengue infections surge nationwide
Dengue fever is ravaging Thailand with double the infections reported this year, though fatalities in Bangkok have been few.
— Coconuts (paywall)
PM defends the appointment of senators
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has asked critics to stop criticizing the alleged opaque manner in which the new senators were chosen, claiming that they had been screened and royally endorsed….
— Thai PBS News
Export growth expected to be the lowest in four years
Export growth for Thailand this year is is now being pegged at less that 1%, the lowest growth in four years.
— The Thaiger
Condo developers eye recurring incomes
The recent restrictive measures from the Bank of Thailand have continued to cast a shadow over Bangkok’s condominium market since the beginning of this year.
— Bangkok Post
Koh Pha Ngan rapist participates in reenactment of rape of Norwegian tourist
Police have held a bizarre reenactment of the rape of a 26 year old Norwegian tourist after a 33 year old Thai man was arrested for the crime soon after it was reported on Sunday night on Koh Pha Ngan.
— The Thaiger
SRT to push B300bn projects
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is prepared to push for bidding of megaprojects worth almost 300 billion in the second half of this year including the high-speed railway project linking Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima and the second phase development of the dual-tracks.
— Bangkok Post
Exponential Manufacturing Thailand 2019 kicks off
On the attempt to encourage the industrial sector in Thailand to keep up with changing technologies, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) holds a major event “Exponential Manufacturing Thailand 2019” at InterContinental Hotel in Bangkok this 15-16 May.
— NNT
More than 200 Phuket prisoners released by royal pardon
More than 200 prisoners were released from Phuket Provincial Prison this morning (May 15) after receiving a royal pardon from His Majesty in honour of his Royal Coronation.
— The Phuket News
Phuket Town underground cable works to finish early
The project to bury power and communication cables along parts of Phang Nga Rd and Rassada Rd will be completed well ahead of the projected October deadline, the chief of the Phuket office of the Public Works and Town Planning & Country Planning Department (DPT-Phuket) has announced.
— The Phuket News
New Democrat chief Jurin has mountain to climb
Jurin Laksanavisit’s first job as Democrat leader is tackling an immense dilemma that brought down his immediate predecessor Abhisit Vejjajiva.
— Thai PBS News
Thai durian growers ask Ministry of Commerce to find new export markets
Thai durian growers in the eastern province of Chanthaburi, the nation’s largest source of this fruit, have asked the Ministry of Commerce to seek new export markets for durian, besides China.
— Fresh Plaza
PM warned not to interfere in Philip Morris court case
Pheu Thai party core member Chalerm Yubamrung has warned Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to stay clear of the ongoing court case between the Thai public prosecutor and Philip Morris, a…
— Thai PBS News
Couple caught for extorting money from graft suspects
A couple have been arrested in Nakhon Ratchasima for impersonating anti-corruption officials to extort money from executives of local administrative bodies and schools by promising to help them clear graft cases.
— Bangkok Post
Children of Pattaya Unite
As the long summer holidays come to an end and children prepare for the start of a new school year, a three day camp was organized at the Father Ray Children’s Home for children living and studying at local charitable facilities.
— Pattaya Mail
Ratch posts 54.6% Q1 net profit rise
SET-listed Ratch Group posted a first-quarter net profit of 1.74 billion baht, up 54.6% year-on-year, citing higher total revenue and gains from foreign exchange.
— Bangkok Post
Asia lagging on cyberthreat front
Asian countries are lagging behind in responding to cybersecurity threats and should craft legislation focusing on disclosure and defining critical infrastructure, says Siang Tiong, general manager at Kaspersky Lab Southeast Asia, a leading cybersecurity firm.
— Bangkok Post
Exat offers BEM debt swap deal
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) is planning to give the Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc (BEM) the right to operate three expressways for 30 more years, to avoid paying a court-ordered 4.3-billion-baht compensation for contractual violations.
— Bangkok Post
PM in full battle mode defending the appointment of Senators
The Thai PM is showing his glass jaw again by asking critics and the media to stop criticising the manner in which the new Senate was selected, or the actual senators.
— The Thaiger
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presides over “Buddhism Promotion Week”
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over “Buddhism Promotion Week” to commemorate Visakha Bucha Day, an important religious holiday for Buddhists worldwide.
— Pattaya Mail
Condo resident want action as foreigners flaunt rules on daily rentals
The ongoing issue of condos and rooms being rented out as daily and weekly rentals, illegally, is making headlines again.
— The Thaiger
PM promises to do “better and better” if he is reappointed
Thailand’s current Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, said today that he would do everything “better and better” if he is elected to continue as Prime Minister.
— Thai PBS News
Cabinet gives green light to many economic measures
The cabinet on Tuesday passed resolutions on several issues, ranging from the transfers of high-ranking government officials and measures for oil palm growers to measures for business operators.
— NNT
Siriraj Hospital to expose secrets of ‘man eater’
The management of Siriraj Hospital promised to soon reveal more information about executed man eater Si Quey, whose body has long been preserved and displayed at its museum, despite an online campaign intended to protect his dignity.
— Bangkok Post
Weapons, title deeds seized from ‘illegal pawnshop’
A 63-year-old man has been arrested and six firearms with ammunition, numerous title deeds, cars and motorcycles seized during a raid on his house in Chawang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat on Wednesday morning.
— Bangkok Post
Sergeant major accused of duping car owners in down payment scam
A sergeant major has been accused of duping car owners into handing him their cars in a down payment scam — and then fleeing with the vehicles.
— Bangkok Post
Campaign launched to restore dignity of Thailand’s only infamous cannibal
More than 10,000 people have signed up in support of a change.org campaign for the removal of the mummified body of Mr. Si Quey sae Oeng, Thailand’s only alleged cannibal,…
— Thai PBS News
Family of Canadian man who died ziplining in Chiang Mai calls for changes
Spencer Donaldson at the Flight of the Gibbon zipline in Chiang Mai, moments before he jumped to his death – Supplied by Spencer’s family. “Flight of the Gibbon isn’t listed on the website of Association for Challenge Course Technology as a member and the Association …
— The Thaiger
Mega-station shop space bidding to begin this year
Bidding for commercial development and facility management at Bang Sue Central Station will be launched late this year, according to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).
— Bangkok Post
Feature photo Thailand government PRD
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges Visakha Bucha, May 18.
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. Due to The Nation‘s habit of hijacking urls and diverting them to promotion pages we no longer include it in our clippings.
Thailand morning news for May 16 added by John Le Fevre on
View all posts by John Le Fevre →
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