Roads to Avoid During the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok (Interactive Map)
Commuters should expect lengthier travel times on several major roads as more than 3,000 delegates will arrive in the capital for the ASEAN Summit starting Thursday.
— Khaosod English
Thai exports brace for more challenges despite limited impact from GSP cut
Although the immediate impact from the US decision to suspend the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) on Thai exports is limited, the prospects of Thailand’s outbound shipments to the US still face uncertainty due to the possibility of Washington’s additional trade measures amid the slowing economy worldwide especially in the US, the research houses predicted.
— Thai PBS News
17,000-strong security for Asean
The government is preparing the highest levels of security for participants at the Asean Summit by deploying 17,000 officers.
— Bangkok Post
Cross-border e-commerce provides new platform for China-Thailand trade
Cross-border e-commerce has gotten the attention of millions of Chinese consumers, who are now indeed very interested in Thailand’s fresh durians.
— Fresh Plaza
Mekong shrivels as drought, dam strangle Southeast Asia’s largest river
The once mighty Mekong river has been reduced to a thin, grubby neck of water in stretches of northern Thailand — record lows blamed on drought and a recently opened dam far upstream.
— CNA
PM Modi to visit Thailand from November 2-4 for ASEAN-India, East Asia and RCEP summits
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Thailand from November 2-4 during which he will attend the ASEAN-India, East Asia and RCEP summits, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Thursday.
— The New Indian Express
Suspect caught in body-in-the-fridge murder
The prime suspect in the murder of a wealthy woman whose body was found in a refrigerator at a house in Chiang Mai has been arrested in Nakhon Sawan province.
— Bangkok Post
ASEAN Waste Crisis Episode 2
A new documentary, ‘ASEAN Waste Crisis’, looks at the catastrophic plastic waste problem facing ASEAN countries, especially Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand. Phongsathat Sukhaphong is in Indonesia, tracking the…
— Thai PBS News
Access to Free Education and Healthcare Far From Equal, Expert Says
Despite being officially “free of charge,” education and universal healthcare in Thailand are still out of reach for many, an economist argued in a new book released earlier this week.
— Khaosod English
“Three year ban is too long” – Bangkok ‘win’ riders complain about new penalties
Win riders, Bangkok’s ubiquitous and slightly notorious motorcycle taxi drivers, are claiming that proposed penalties for riding on the sidewalk are too severe.
— The Thaiger
Sand dunes exposed as water in Mekong River falls to critical level
PHOTO: AFP Sand dunes are now being exposed for the first time in a century along many sections of the Mekong River, as water levels fall to a new low milestone of 1.5 metres.
— The Thaiger
Thailand to renegotiate U.S. GSP at ASEAN Summit
Apart from resolutions to be made by ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN Summit in November, the Thai government will seek this opportunity to hold a talk with the U.S. regarding the decision to revoke the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) treatment previously given to 573 Thai products.
— Newsline (video)
Thai officials headed to USTR for explanation on GSP cut
Thai trade and labour officials in Washington are scheduled to talk with the US Trade Representative (USTR) tomorrow about the recent decision to end preferential trade privileges for a range of Thai exports.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand’s economy to grow 3.0% by 2020 as exports take hit
The Thai economy is expected to grow by only 3% in 2020 from the previous projection of 3.5% amidst weak domestic demand, according to Fitch Solutions.
— Singapore Business Review
Thai Sept exports fall 1.5% y/y, current account surplus narrows -cbank
Thailand’s September current account was a surplus of $3.53 billion versus $3.99 billion in August, the central bank said on Thursday.
— Reuters
Thailand’s internet economy ‘healthy’ but lags in digital adoption
Thailand’s internet economy is growing at “a healthy clip”, from US$6 billion in 2015 to US$16 billion in 2019, but the country still lags behind regional peers in digital adoption and digitalisation, a report by Maybank Kim Eng said on Thursday.
— The Business Times
Prayut urges quick digital transition
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered all state agencies to apply big data and speed up transforming their operations to become fully digitalised over the next three years.
— Bangkok Post
Feature: China’s e-commerce tech helps Thailand digital economy boom
Young Thai clothing designers Nunthapong Boonnao and Manassawee Suangkaew used to run a store to sell clothes they create in the Thai capital. In 2018 they decided to close their store to set up an online clothing shop in Lazada, a major online shopping company in Southeast Asia.
— Xinhuanet
Feature: Cross-border e-commerce provides new platform for China-Thailand trade
Cross-border e-commerce whets the appetite of millions of Chinese consumers for Thailand’s fresh durian fruits.
— Xinhuanet
Japanese visitors increase
The total number of Japanese tourists to Thailand will grow about 12% this year, reaching 1.8 million visitors from 1.6 million a year before, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
— Bangkok Post
Cabinet approves bill on land expropriation for high speed railway projects
The Cabinet has approved a bill on land expropriation for high-speed railway projects linking three major airports.
— Newsline (video)
China’s Mekong ambitions cause concern for Thai locals
The Mekong River is possibly the most important waterway in Southeast Asia. It feeds 60 million people in six countries and there have been long-standing concerns that China is trying to control it.
— South China Morning Post (video)
Myanmar, Thailand inaugurate second friendship bridge
Myanmar and Thailand have opened the second friendship bridge that crosses Thaungyin River to boost their border trade, according to the Ministry of Construction on Thursday.
— Xinhuanet
Red shirts confess, punishment on ice
The Supreme Court in Pattaya on Thursday deferred a decision on the punishment for three core red-shirt protesters after they made a last-minute confession.
— Bangkok Post
Local poll preparations well in hand, govt says
Preparations for the staging of local elections expected next year are well in hand, the Interior Ministry’s Department of Local Administration says.
— Bangkok Post
Northeastern provinces save up water for dry season
Ten provinces in the Northeast of Thailand have been declared drought-hit disaster areas due to prolonged lack of rain, with the situation in Khon Kaen deteriorating to its worst in 50 years.
— Newsline (video)
The Overseas Property Show selects Bangkok for first-ever international property event in Asia
The Overseas Property Show set for Grand Centre Point Terminal 21 in Bangkok on November 23 and 24 – First time The Overseas Property Show has hosted an event outside of Europe – More than one hundred investors expected to attend the two-day international property showcase
— Bangkok Post
Companies ink deal to use blockchain for protecting Thai aquaculture sector workers
Diginex, a global blockchain solutions company, has signed a long-term agreement with Verifik8 – a data intelligence and analytics provider for agribusiness suppliers – to help protect workers in the aquaculture sector in Thailand from exploitation by utilizing blockchain technology, Diginex said in a statement on 21 October.
— SeafoodSource
PM Prayut delivers Digital Government Awards
The Prime Minister has indicated that the government is improving its internal structure under the “Digital Government” concept.
— Newsline (video)
Krabi chosen for launch of TAT waste management project with Unilever Thailand
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched a major waste reduction, recycling and clean-up project designed to accelerate the conversion of prime tourist areas into Zero Waste Cities.
— FTN
B8bn saved on alcohol over ‘Lent’
An anti-alcohol campaign aimed at discouraging drinking during the three-month period of Buddhist Lent this year helped save more than 8 billion baht on booze, says the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth).
— Bangkok Post
New law requires Thai employers to arrange for employees’ health check
Thailand’s Cabinet approved a new law which requires employers to arrange for their employees’ health check-up and provide medical records for each employee from the time of employment.
— Human Resources
Army veteran killed by single punch in Thailand
An Army veteran was killed after a single punch by a security guard in Thailand, an inquest has heard.
— BBC News
TDRI research director Deunden killed by falling tree
Thailand Development Research Institute research director Deunden Nikomborirak was killed by falling tree while walking in front of her house in Bangkok on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
Australian pears bound for Thailand
This month, Australia saw the departure of the first mixed container of Goulburn River Gold® and Rico® branded pears bound for Thailand. “Rico® are one of the premium-branded Australian pears launching in Asia as part of our renewed focus on export,” says APAL Industry Services and Export Manager, Justin Smith.
— Fresh Plaza
‘Matmo’ will bring floods to upper and central Thailand
Thundershowers will bring rain to northern, lower-central and eastern Thailand, including the capital and its suburbs over the next few days, according to the Meteorological Department.
— The Thaiger
Trump Skips Bangkok ASEAN Meet, Sends Security Adviser
U.S. national security adviser Robert C. O’Brien and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross will represent President Donald Trump at two regional summits in Thailand this weekend, the White House announced, a move that will widely be viewed in the region as a snub.
— Khaosod English
The fight to save Bangkok’s affordable and iconic street food
Shortly after the Thai military staged a coup in 2014, it made an announcement that would forever change the face of Bangkok and one of its icons – street food.
— CNA
DSI reviewing prosecutor’s decision not to indict developer Anant Asavapokin
Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is considering whether to oppose a decision by the Office of the Prosecutors for Special Cases not to indict a real estate developer charged with money laundering.
— Thai PBS News
DSI accepts Mae Manee suspected Ponzi scam as a special case
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has accepted for investigation the “Mae Manee” alleged Ponzi scam, in which more than 2,700 people were reportedly duped of about 756 million baht in investments.
— Thai PBS News
PM slams MP for parliament bomb test
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha reprimanded Thai Civilised Party leader Mongkonkit Suksintharanon for taking an explosive into parliament to test the security system which he alleged was inadequate.
— Bangkok Post
Man killed for failing to stop for volunteers’ check
A soldier and two defence volunteers have surrendered after the short pursuit and murder of a fish vendor in Hat Yai district who reportedly did not stop for a urine check.
— Bangkok Post
PEA launches Solar Hero Application
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has launched the PEA Solar Hero Application to support installation of a solar rooftop with digital system at its headquarters.
— Bangkok Post
Bangkok airport taxi drivers protest over ride-sharing apps
With app-based ride services set to be legalised in Bangkok from March next year, taxi drivers at Suvarnabhumi airport are threatening to protest over what they see as the government’s failure to ensure fair competition.
— The Thaiger
Feb 16 date for 5G bids
The telecom regulator has announced the debut auction of 5G spectrum on Feb 16 for four bands to accelerate availability of the ultra-high-speed wireless technology nationwide.
— Bangkok Post
SMEs to focus on unique products
E-commerce pioneers have urged local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to make their products unique and different in order to deal with an influx of Chinese products.
— Bangkok Post
Thai Immigration Chief warns law-breaking foreigners “this is just the start”
The chief of Thai Immigration, Lieutenant General Sompong Chingduang, also known as ‘Big Oud’ (because the head of Immigration has to have a nickname starting with ‘big’ apparently), is warning foreigners breaking the law in the country that the latest crackdown “is just the beginning”.
— The Thaiger
Southeast Asia emerges as leader in conversational commerce; Thailand, Vietnam most advanced in adoption
Southeast Asia has emerged as a leader in conversational commerce with high awareness and adoption of chat to buy and sell, says a new study.
— e27
Thai fruits on sale in China to attract consumers
Over recent years, with the rising consumer power in China, the demand in the country’s fruit market has also increased significantly. Most of China’s major fruit suppliers are in Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
— Fresh Plaza
From Village to Airplane Cabin: How Thai Ghosts Evolve Alongside the Living
Two experts spent almost two years watching over 200 Thai horror titles to sift out the common characteristics of Thai ghosts in silver screen.
— Khaosod English
One child drowns, another rescued on Bang Saen beach
Bang Saen -A young boy drowned at Bang Saen beach while another has been rescued from the surf yesterday afternoon. Emergency rescue workers were notified of the incident late yesterday afternoon. They rushed to the beach to find a seven year old boy named as Suppakorn, who had already been pulled up from the water […]
— The Pattaya News
Feature photo Ambranna
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, November 2
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).
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About Thailand morning news.
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#Independentmedia
Governance, not government; policies not politics.

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