Thailand Morning News For November 22

Tourist generate 2.1 trillion baht during first 10 months
The Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports, Pongpanu Svetarundra, said arrivals to Thailand generated tourism revenue of more than 2.1 trillion baht during the first 10 months of 2017.
— NBT World (video)

Tax incentives pondered to promote domestic tourism
The Ministry of Finance is pondering tax incentives to promote domestic tourism by Thais.
— Thai PBS

Prayut threatens media outlets with strict cyber law
The Computer Crime Act will be rigorously enforced against online media that distort facts and disseminate “fake reports and hate speech”, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha threatened Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Obec abandons half-completed school project
The Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) has decided to scrap its ICU schools project, launched with the aim of helping 5,032 small schools nationwide improve standards.
— Bangkok Post

Center to strengthen SMEs, startups launched at Laem Chabang Industrial Estate
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) has opened the first SME Industrial Transformation Center (SME-ITC) at Laem Chabang Industrial Estate in Chonburi province as a mechanism to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
— NNT

Internal organs of cadet who died at military academy disappear
After holding a fake cremation to allow a secret autopsy, the parents of a cadet who died during military training found that their son’s internal organs were missing.
— Prachatai English

Military admits keeping dead cadet’s innards for medical examination
The armed forces admitted this afternoon (Tuesday) that they keep some of the innards of the dead cadet which include his heart, brain and stomach at hospital for further examination to determine the actual cause of his death.
— Thai PBS

Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program participants set off for Indonesia
Participants in the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program have set off on the Nippon Maru for Indonesia and Malaysia after engaging in a week of activities in Thailand.
— NBT World (video)

Pol Gen Chaktip assures straightforward handing of bribe-taking case in Phuket
The national police chief assured today that the police would treat the bribe- taking case in Phuket in which several police officers who were alleged to have received 100 million baht in bribes each month in a straightforward manner without any favoritism.
— Thai PBS

Thailand seeks to prosecute ousted PM Thaksin in absentia in two graft cases
Thailand is seeking to prosecute ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for graft under a law that allows politicians to be tried in absentia, an official said on Tuesday, months after Thaksin’s sister was sentenced to jail in her absence.
— Reuters

Thailand eyes improvement in global competitiveness ranking
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) have met with representatives from the World Economic Forum (WEF) to find ways to improve Thailand’s economic competitiveness.
— NNT

NESDB forecasts 3 9% growth in 2017 economy
The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has forecast that Thailand’s 2017 economy will expand by 3.9% and will continue its growth momentum into next year.
— NBT world (video)

Petchburi warned of impending flood
Thailand’s Deputy Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has warned people living along the Petchburi River, in Muang district of Petchburi province, that they should prepare for overflow tomorrow evening after heavy rains in Kaeng Krachan district.
— NNT

Tropical depression Kirogi wreaks havoc in Hua Hin and Cha-am
Overnight rain caused by tropical depression “Kirogi” has wreaked havoc in seaside districts of Cha-am and Hau Hin as roads were flooded leading to traffic snarls in many areas.(Nov 21).
— Thai PBS

More than 11.4 million low-income earners benefiting from social-welfare program
Thailand’s Comptroller General’s Department (CGD) has revealed that 92% of low-income earners, eligible for assistance under the social-welfare program, have already picked up their social-welfare cards.
— NNT

Ministers rumored to be removed in new Cabinet line-up unworried about reshuffle
Cabinet ministers, who have been rumored to be among those likely to be removed from office when a new line-up is installed, have voiced no concerns and affirmed their respect for the Prime Minister’s final decision.
— NNT

Temporary border checkpoint with Cambodia upgraded
The cabinet on Tuesday (Nov 21) approved the Foreign Ministry’s proposal to upgrade Ban Khao Din temporary border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo’s Khlong Hat district to be another permanent checkpoint, according to Nathaporn Jatusripitak, an adviser attached to the Prime Minister’s Office.
— Thai PBS

TV association requests aid measures for a third time
The Digital TV Operators Association has doubled down on pressuring the government to overhaul the country’s broadcasting industry, which they say is facing impending disaster.
— Bangkok Post

SEC rejigs paid-up capital rule
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday announced an amended criteria for paid-up capital required for securities and derivative businesses, aiming for it to be determined based on business risks from the type of securities licences and risks.
— Bangkok Post

BGF Glass commences production at Bt5-bn plant
BGF Glass, a unit of listed company Bangkok Glass, on Tuesday commenced operations at its first factory, BGF Kabinburi, which has a production capacity of 219,000 tonnes of float-glass panels per year.
— The Nation

Thai Banpu Power looks to diversify beyond coal
Thailand’s Banpu Power Pcl has its sights set on diversifying its portfolio beyond current borders and conventional energy, its chief executive told Reuters on Tuesday.
— Reuters

Arrest warrants sought for 12 individuals for match-fixing in Thai League games
The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) today (Nov 21) sought warrants from the Criminal Court to arrest 12 people in the football business for alleged match-fixing in the Thai Premier League competitions.
— Thai PBS

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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.

Thailand Morning News For November 22 added by John Le Fevre on November 22, 2017
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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

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.