FFP head faces new legal fight
The Constitutional Court’s decision to strip Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit of his MP status over his controversial media share-holding on Wednesday has raised the prospect of the Election Commission (EC) pursuing a criminal case against the FFP leader.
— Bangkok Post
Prime Minister of Thailand orders economic cabinet to change approach and better drive national development
The Prime Minister has urged economic Cabinet members to change their operational approach to better drive national development inclusively, and ordered related agencies to tackle the unemployment crisis
— The Pattaya News
Thanathorn says charter court’s ruling against him based on assumption not fact
Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has questioned the Constitutional Court’s judgement against him, pointing out that it was based on assumptions rather than on facts.
— Thai PBS News
Industry sentiment at 17-month low
Thai Industries Sentiment Index (TISI) for October hit its lowest level in 17 months, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) reported on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand Urged to Delay Pesticides Ban Over Risks to Agriculture
A trade group representing pesticide firms urged Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha to delay a ban due Dec. 1 on three chemicals because of the potential disruption to the agriculture sector.
— Bloomberg
First antimicrobial resistance surveillance center launched in region
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Faculty of Veterinary Science of Chulalongkorn (จุฬาลงกรณ์) University have organized the World Antibiotic Awareness Week to raise awareness about antibiotic resistance and launched the first antimicrobial resistance surveillance center in the region.
— Newsline (video)
US hails ‘soft diplomacy’ with Thais
US embassy Chargé d’Affaires Michael Heath has affirmed the United States’ commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as part of its “soft diplomacy” to strengthen ties with Thailand.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand’s problem? Too much success
As the global trade war upends developing nations everywhere, Thailand has a decidedly contrarian problem on its hands: too much winning.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
AoT gives airport expansion okay
Airports of Thailand’s (AoT) board has officially given the green light to the controversial northern expansion plan of Suvarnabhumi airport and the 42-billion-baht project will be forwarded to the cabinet for approval, said AoT president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn.
— Bangkok Post
India, Singapore, Thailand to hold trilateral maritime exercise annually
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held wide-ranging talks with his Singapore counterpart Ng Eng Hen here on Wednesday during which the two sides agreed to conduct the trilateral maritime exercise involving Singapore, India and Thailand annually from next year.
— The Free Press Journal
Airlines told to work for lower tax
The Excise Department has proposed local airlines increase the frequency of flights to second-tier provinces to enhance tourism there in return for a reduction in the excise tax on jet fuel, its chief says.
— Bangkok Post
Nuclear technology education pilots at Princess Chulabhorn’s Colleges
The Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (T-I-N-T) and the Office of Basic Education Commission (O-BEC) have signed an agreement to promote nuclear sciences and related technological education.
— Newsline (video)
Corporate debt market in Thailand well positioned for further growth
Corporate debt markets in Brazil (Ba2 stable), China (A1 stable), South Africa (Baa3 negative) and Thailand (Baa1 positive) are best-placed to achieve further growth in the coming years, Moody’s Investors Service said today in a report that analyzed trends in 35 emerging markets.
— Thailand Business News
Why English matters to Thailand
English is the second most widely used language in the world after Chinese, but it far outranks the latter as an international language. Knowing how to communicate in English is essential for just about anyone seeking to succeed in countless fields from business to academia.
— Bangkok Post
Year-end stimulus likely after Q3 disappoints
Fresh economic stimulus measures are likely to be unveiled later this year in a last-ditch effort to boost full-year economic growth after the third quarter turned out soft figures.
— Bangkok Post
Business optimism still OK
Regardless of the slumping growth forecasts and export figures, business optimism in Thailand grew nominally this year, but still measures lower than the global and Asia-Pacific average, according to a report by Grant Thornton.
— Bangkok Post
Cabinet approves draft decree for by election in Khon Kaen
The Cabinet has approved a draft decree for the by-election in Constituency 7 of Khon Kaen province to take place next month.
— Newsline (video)
Thanathorn’s loss a step back for Thai democracy
Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled today (November 20) to strip opposition leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit of his parliamentary status, a verdict that promises to shake the kingdom’s still delicate transition to democracy after five years of coup-installed military rule.
— Asia Times
DDPM readies New Year safety measures
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has held a meeting on accident prevention and safety measures for the upcoming New Year holidays.
— Newsline (video)
Commerce Ministry discusses IPR license agents abuse prevention
The Department of Intellectual Property has held talks with the Royal Thai Police on the regulation of intellectual property (IP), in order to facilitate trade while preventing copyright agents from exploiting legal loopholes.
— Newsline (video)
PM upbeat in spite of job losses
The government is trying to find ways to help workers who have been laid off after nearly 1,400 factories closed down during the past 11 months, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post
State allays unease over Q3 figures
The government rushed to calm jitters after a weaker-than-expected GDP growth reading of 2.4% for the third quarter.
— Bangkok Post
The Pope has arrived in Thailand
Pope Francis arrived in Bangkok today, Wednesday (Nov 20), and received an honorable welcome from Thai officials.
— The Pattaya News
5 More Thai Media Agencies Sign Partnership With Xinhua
Five media agencies in Thailand on Wednesday signed a news sharing agreement with China’s state mouthpiece Xinhua, bringing the number to at least a dozen.
— Khaosod English
Border pact signed with Myanmar
Thailand and Myanmar signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cross-border transport during a recent Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) conference, Deputy Transport Minister Thaworn Senneam said on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post
Opinion: Is There Future After Thanathorn and Future Forward Party?
Now that Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has been found guilty of violating the election laws, the future of his party and Thai politics are becoming even more uncertain.
— Khaosod English
Pope Francis Welcomed by King’s Chief Advisor at Airport
Chief advisor to His Majesty the King greeted Pope Francis upon his arrival for his Thailand visit on Wednesday morning on behalf of the monarch, Catholic officials said.
— Khaosod English
Car sales down 11% y/y
Car sales fell in October year-on-year, totalling at 77,121 units, down by 11.3% on the same month in 2018, the Federation of Thai Industries announced on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post
Woman sues daughter and bank for stealing over 250 million baht
A 76 year old woman is suing her own daughter, as well as the Kasikorn Bank and four of its bank employees, claiming they were complicit in stealing over 250 million baht from her account.
— The Thaiger
E-payment roadmap eyes cross-border as first order
The national e-payment roadmap for 2020 prioritises cross-border payments and fund transfers, aiming to boost financial transactions via the digital platform across Asean and deepening integration of the regional bloc.
— Bangkok Post
Iconsiam, TAT ready countdown spectacle
Iconsiam has joined the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in organising “Amazing Thailand Countdown 2020” under the theme Seven Wonders of Blessings on Dec 31.
— Bangkok Post
ASEAN lawmakers decry court ruling against opposition leader
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights expressed disappointment at today’s ruling from the Constitutional Court disqualifying opposition leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. The group calls for an end to the judicial harassment of opposition members and human rights defenders in Thailand.
— Isaan Record
Government applies for UNESCO status for Korat Geopark
Government deputy spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek says the government is seeking UNESCO status for the Korat Geopark in Nakhon Ratchasima, north-east Thailand.
— The Thaiger
Theppadungporn Coconut Co., Ltd. donates 10 million baht
Theppadungporn Coconut Co., Ltd., manufacturer and distributor of products under the “Chaokoh” and “Mae Ploy” brands, hosted “Theppadungporn Funding Year 13” event to grant a total of 10 million baht to 50 schools affected by inundation in the Northeast and North of Thailand, to be used to rehabilitate damaged buildings and utilities.
— Bangkok Post
MRT board approves discounts for Blue and Purple line off-peak travel
The board of Metropolitan Rapid Transit, owner of MRT lines in Bangkok and its suburbs, has agreed to reduce fares for travel, during off-peak hours and on public holidays, on the Blue and Purple lines for a three-month promotional period starting on Christmas Day, December 25th.
— Thai PBS News
German national arrested in Pattaya for illegal possession of firearms and ammo
A German man and his girlfriend have been arrested for illegal possession of guns and bullets in Pattaya today.
— The Pattaya News
Top Ten things to know about the Bangkok Skytrain (BTS)
Bangkok Transit System, better known by locals and tourists as the ‘Skytrain’, is as ubiquitous in Bangkok as good street food and fake Viagra.
— The Thaiger
Thanathorn Tells Party to Fight on Regardless of Verdict
Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit on Wednesday instructed his party to keep working for the public regardless of a crucial court verdict on his future today.
— Khaosod English
Thailand’s Supreme Court upholds Spaniard’s death sentence for murder
Thailand’s Supreme Court has upheld the death penalty imposed by the Criminal and Appeals court on a Spaniard for the murder and mutilation of a fellow countryman, whose remains were thrown into the Chao Phraya River three years ago.
— Thai PBS News
No Chim-Shop-Chai deadline for over 60s
The third phase of the government’s “Chim-Shop-Chai” (Eat-Shop-Spend) program has a special quota of 500,000 reserved for the Thai elderly, in addition to the already fully subscribed 1.5 million.
— The Thaiger
Government Complex won’t secure interest costs
Securitisation to lock in development costs for Zone C at the Chaeng Watthana Government Complex is not in the pipeline for Dhanarak Asset Development amid the low interest rate cycle, its head says.
— Bangkok Post
The 52 Italian Restaurants in Thailand That Italians Won’t Scoff At
The Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday night 52 restaurants out of approximately 1,000 nationwide that have passed strict authenticity criteria.
— Khaosod English
Feature photo Sok Ratha
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on World Toilet Day, November 19.
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