News
Negative income tax under study
Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong said on June 8 that his ministry was studying ways to pay for the proposal. In May, the Cabinet approved a Bt50 billion assistance package for low-income earners. The government is considering whether funds from this package could help pay for the ...
Rights agency the next to be replaced
The National Human Rights Commission appears likely to be the next target for mass dismissal of members, after the Election Commission. NHRC chairman What Tingsamitr disclosed on June 8 that the matter was clearly mentioned in Article 60 of a new law on the rights ...
Education, defence top budget
The government’s Bt2.9-trillion budget for 2018 has massive spending of Bt575 billion for upgrading workers’ skills and education, plus related activities, while the Defence Ministry’s budget rises Bt8.8 billion to Bt222 billion. Under the 2018 Budget Bill, passed in its first reading by the National ...
ADB reviews public communications policy
The governments and private stakeholders of Laos, Thailand and Cambodia have now jointly consulted through videoconference, proposals for the Asian Development Bank’s most recent public communications policy review.The Asian Development Bank held the meeting on June 8 welcoming stakeholders including government and private sector counterparts, executing ...
Locust outbreak spreads further across northern provinces
The yellow-spined bamboo locust outbreak is expanding in northern provinces despite the best efforts of surveillance teams at central and local level to control the insects with chemical spraying. The locust population currently is expanding in 750 locations, involving 309 villages in 24 districts of ...
Not all paths to growth the same
Cambodia’s economy stands at a critical crossroads to reach the next phase of development with a recent report urging the Kingdom to ditch its antiquated growth model and adopt more innovative economic strategies that better respond to rapid changes in the global economy. The report, ...
6 border crossings shut to keep IS out
Six temporary border crossings have been closed down along the Kolok River in Narathiwat to prevent members of Islamic State (IS) and other insurgents from sneaking into the country, officials said this week. The closures, which began on Tuesday, have affected about 5,000 villagers in eight ...
Baht upheaval carries across industries
Agriculture, electronics, and food and drink have been hit hardest by the baht’s 6% year-to-date appreciation, according to Asia Plus Securities (ASP). Porranee Thongyen, ASP’s head of research, said the stronger than expected baht hurt exporters like Sri Trang Agro Industry Plc, which earns most ...
Pak Beng dam project riles locals
Environmental activists will petition the Administrative Court Thursday to help in their protest against the new Pak Beng dam project on the Mekong River in Laos, which could bring both ecological and economic impacts to the region. They want the court to encourage state agencies, ...
Laos, WB sign up to green growth transition
Ministry of Finance and the World Bank on June 7 signed an agreement for more than 316 billion kip (US$38.6) million in credit to support key policy reforms to maintain the country’s strong economic growth. The agreement expects to benefit more people, especially the poor ...
