Articles by: Joseph O' Connor

Credit crunch as firms seek more bank loans with tightened lending criteria and recession fears

Credit crunch as firms seek more bank loans with tightened lending criteria and recession fears

February 18, 2023

Economy, Foreigners, Living, More News from Thailand, Thailand:

Current liquidity problem in the industrial and manufacturing sector is coming amid buoyant hopes for foreign tourism with Thailand seeking to generate ฿1.3 trillion from… Read More ›

War with China is a rising spectre that must be confronted as US General predicts conflict by 2025

War with China is a rising spectre that must be confronted as US General predicts conflict by 2025

February 14, 2023

Culture, Economy, Living, Personal, Politics, Thai World, Thailand:

Thailand has in recent years hedged its bets by using the 10-nation ASEAN community as a shield. However, lately, some of its key members including… Read More ›

Senator urges Pheu Thai to drop third Shinawatra as PM and enter a coalition pact after the election

Senator urges Pheu Thai to drop third Shinawatra as PM and enter a coalition pact after the election

February 12, 2023

Culture, Foreigners, Living, More News from Thailand, Politics, Thailand:

It is an indicator of the situation which may emerge after the anticipated May 7th General Election in which the Pheu Thai Party is widely… Read More ›

Volatile and expensive baht a problem for the economy, could be subject to speculative trading in the dollar

Volatile and expensive baht a problem for the economy, could be subject to speculative trading in the dollar

February 10, 2023

Economy, Foreigners, Living, More News from Thailand, Thailand:

The government’s economic planners are nervously pouring over the numbers on the economy. This has already led to the 2022 growth figure being pared back… Read More ›

Stiff opposition to government media regulation bill as industry groups call for its withdrawal in parliament

Stiff opposition to government media regulation bill as industry groups call for its withdrawal in parliament

February 8, 2023

Culture, Foreigners, Media, More News from Thailand, Politics, Thailand:

Media bodies in Thailand are wary of the new bill which includes a ฿25 million media fund and the control it may give to officials… Read More ›

8% of Japanese firms in Thailand plan to move new business into the kingdom despite cost rises

8% of Japanese firms in Thailand plan to move new business into the kingdom despite cost rises

February 5, 2023

Economy, Personal, Thai World, Thailand:

Deputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow defends Thailand as a place to do business as it loses ground to Indonesia and Vietnam which maintain lower electricity… Read More ›

Extortion of tourists over e-cigarettes sees police teams probing cases in Bangkok and Pattaya

Extortion of tourists over e-cigarettes sees police teams probing cases in Bangkok and Pattaya

February 2, 2023

Crime, Culture, Living, Personal, Thai World, Thailand:

Crisis in the Royal Thai Police over the extortion of tourists is growing as a new case comes to light in Pattaya while one of… Read More ›

Former ministers rejoin the Palang Pracharat Party but there is no new economics czar Somkid

Former ministers rejoin the Palang Pracharat Party but there is no new economics czar Somkid

January 31, 2023

Culture, Foreigners, Living, More News from Thailand, Politics, Thailand:

Ruling Palang Pracharat Party unveils the return of founding members and ex-ministers as General Prawit seeks to bolster it in the polls as it loses… Read More ›

Ung Ing says Prawit is better liked than PM Prayut with reports of the return of key ex-ministers

Ung Ing says Prawit is better liked than PM Prayut with reports of the return of key ex-ministers

January 28, 2023

Personal, Politics, Thai World, Thailand:

Monday will see a return of the former economic team, including three key ministers under General Prayut, to front-line politics and the ranks of the… Read More ›

Confidence and trust in Thailand damaged by Chinese VIP tourist services advertised online

Confidence and trust in Thailand damaged by Chinese VIP tourist services advertised online

January 26, 2023

Crime, Culture, Economy, Media, Personal, Politics, Thai World, Thailand:

Problem facing Thai authorities relates to the new online world where discreet services can be advertised cheaply and effectively while the activities of Chinese tourists… Read More ›

Whip hand with Pheu Thai to secure power in this year’s General Election despite Senate’s waning power

Whip hand with Pheu Thai to secure power in this year’s General Election despite Senate’s waning power

January 23, 2023

Culture, Foreigners, Living, More News from Thailand, Politics, Thailand:

A strong political performance is still required from the Pheu Thai Party but if it manages to secure over 200 seats in the next General… Read More ›

Charges brought against Chinese mafia kingpin as Chuwit warns witnesses are put under pressure

Charges brought against Chinese mafia kingpin as Chuwit warns witnesses are put under pressure

January 21, 2023

Crime, Culture, Living, Personal, Thai World, Thailand:

Whistleblower extraordinaire Mr Chuwit Kamolvisit is worried that the Chinese mafia in Thailand may exert its corrupt influence to unravel the complex and massive case… Read More ›

Call for flexible visas to boost the economy as exports, output and business confidence falters

Call for flexible visas to boost the economy as exports, output and business confidence falters

January 19, 2023

Economy, Foreigners, Living, More News from Thailand, Politics, Thailand:

Downturn in exports and manufacturing is filtering into the wider economy while the recovery of the foreign tourism industry is still a slow and ongoing… Read More ›

Thailand turns to China in 2023 for GDP growth in a world buffeted in real-time by raw geopolitics

Thailand turns to China in 2023 for GDP growth in a world buffeted in real-time by raw geopolitics

January 17, 2023

Economy, Living, Personal, Thai World, Thailand:

Sentiment regarding the economy has been rising since the return of Chinese tourists on January 9th last. However, with geopolitical tensions and indeed a trade… Read More ›

Pheu Thai knocks Palang Pracharat Party coalition talk on the head with more bad news for Prawit 

Pheu Thai knocks Palang Pracharat Party coalition talk on the head with more bad news for Prawit 

January 15, 2023

Culture, Living, Personal, Politics, Thai World, Thailand:

Pheu Thai’s presumed candidate for prime minister in this year’s General Election gave short shrift to media rumours and speculation of a Pheu Thai coalition… Read More ›

Thai economy up against it in 2023 despite the hype and hoopla over Chinese tourists returning

Thai economy up against it in 2023 despite the hype and hoopla over Chinese tourists returning

January 13, 2023

Economy, Foreigners, Living, More News from Thailand, Politics, Thailand:

Thailand is an export-led economy operating in an increasingly unpredictable and uncertain world. In 2023, it finds itself relying on a foreign tourism industry which… Read More ›

Corruption and the role of the unelected Senate in electing the next PM to be General Election issues

Corruption and the role of the unelected Senate in electing the next PM to be General Election issues

January 11, 2023

Personal, Thai World, Thailand:

A recent Super Poll result showed that over 95% of Thai people want to see a new prime minister in 2023 but an even larger… Read More ›

Covid chaos descends again on Thailand’s foreign tourism sector amid cancellations and complaints

Covid chaos descends again on Thailand’s foreign tourism sector amid cancellations and complaints

January 8, 2023

Culture, Economy, Foreigners, More News from Thailand, Politics, Thailand:

Travel agents in France have been forced to cancel contracts because of the sudden introduction of entry restrictions which have led operators to declare a… Read More ›

Prayut to make his move for a third term but is the battle for power already lost to Pheu Thai?

Prayut to make his move for a third term but is the battle for power already lost to Pheu Thai?

January 4, 2023

Culture, Foreigners, More News from Thailand, Politics, Thailand:

There are signs that a seismic change is about to begin unfolding next Monday 9th January in Thai politics when Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha,… Read More ›

Economic chiefs promise a brighter 2023 for Thai people despite the more gloomy world outlook for the year

Economic chiefs promise a brighter 2023 for Thai people despite the more gloomy world outlook for the year

January 2, 2023

Culture, Economy, Foreigners, Living, More News from Thailand, Politics, Thailand:

The foreign tourism industry will be the key driver of economic growth with more money in people’s pockets in 2023 says Bank of Thailand Governor… Read More ›