PACC finds signs of corruption of impoverishment aid fund in 49 provinces
The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) has found evidence of corruption in the disbursement of funds earmarked for the aid of the impoverished in 49 provinces so far, with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security now discussing adjusting the payout system for tighter security.
— NNT
Immediate vaccination required for those exposed to rabies-infected animals
Persons who may have had physical contacts with rabies-infected animals were advised to immediately seek medical treatments and vaccination to prevent infection in time, while people were encouraged to take good care of their pets.
— NNT
Regime under fire as it rains cash on villagers
The Prayut Chan-o-cha government plans to inject 30 billion baht into more than 82,000 villages nationwide amid criticism it is aiming to score political points ahead of the general election that is expected next February.
— Bangkok Post
More suspects sought in alleged Bt88m educational fund embezzlement case
AUTHORITIES ARE following the money trail to determine if more people are involved in an alleged plot to embezzle Bt88 million from an educational fund over the past decade.
— The Nation
NBTC orders Voice TV’s ‘Tonight Thailand’ off air for discussing French Revolution
Voice TV’s nightly news talk programme “Tonight Thailand” has been ordered to go off air for 15 days after the show discussed the French Revolution.
— The Nation
Plan calls for mandatory re-registration of all SIM cards
The telecom regulator plans to force all mobile firms to re-register their entire customer bases, despite widespread concerns over its harm to consumer data privacy and the burden it will place on operators.
— Bangkok Post
FBA upgrades under review
Plans to amend the Foreign Business Act (FBA) of 1999 have resurfaced after three years of silence, with the Business Development Department vowing Tuesday to improve the law, particularly with regard to a new definition of “foreigner” to tackle the nominee problem.
— Bangkok Post
Thanachart Bank joins Lao’s BCEL to accommodate cross-border QR Code payments
Thanachart Bank has joined with Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public (BCEL) of the Lao PDR to adopt a QR Code system for international payments.
— NNT
Joint working team formed to study fishing industry
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has set up a joint working team of state agents and fishermen to further remedy problems plaguing Thailand’s fishing industry.
— NNT
BoT promoting financial technologies to SMEs at Bangkok Fintech Fair 2018
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) is holding “Bangkok Fintech Fair 2018” to promote knowledge about financial technologies to SME operators and consumers.
— NNT
Foreign investors attracted to Thailand Taking Off to New Heights seminar
Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana delivered a speech during Thailand Taking Off to New Heights seminar to promote investments in Thailand by foreign investors.
— NNT
Meeting on resolving IUU fishing discusses progress
A meeting of the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Resolution Commission has followed up on the issuing of licenses to commercial fishing boats, building understanding with relevant agencies and the opening of a Port In Port Out (PIPO) center this week, acknowledging progress on all fronts.
— NNT
Chulalongkorn University holds debate on rabies situation in Thailand
Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Veterinary Sciences has held a debate on approaches to rabies in Thailand, discussing suggestions such as eradicating all stray animals and taxing pet owners.
— NNT
ASEAN Next 2018 focusing on science and innovation partnerships
Thailand’s Ministry of Science and Technology has organized “ASEAN Next 2018” to encourage partnerships in the science, technology and innovations developed between ASEAN and its trade partners.
— NNT
Prayut uses S44 to remove Somchai from EC
Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has used his special powers to remove Somchai Srisutthiyakorn as election commissioner, effectively immediately, citing his inappropriate comments that could confuse the public.
— Bangkok Post
Premchai acknowledges bribery charge against him in illegal poaching case
President of Italian-Thai Development Co Ltd, Premchai Karnasuta, and his chauffeur, Yong Dotekreau, have acknowledged an additional charge against them of bribery.
— NNT
Thailand Blockchain Community Initiative organized to promote tech
A new initiative has been rolled out to boost competitiveness of Thailand’s business sector.
— News Today (video)
Environmental development plan being drafted for the EEC
Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is to compile an environmental management plan for the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) that also touches on developing the quality of life for citizens in the area.
— NNT
More new companies registered with government in Feb
The number of new companies registered with the Department of Business Development last month surpassed 6,300, following the continuously improving Thai economy. Most of the companies are in the construction business.
— News Today (video)
Malaysian food delivery startup dahmakan acquires Thai competitor Polpa
Malaysian food delivery startup dahmakan, a Y Combinator graduate that raised $2.6 million early this year, has acquired Bangkok-based competitor Polpa for an undisclosed amount, as part of its aggressive regional expansion plans.
— DealStreetAsia
Livestock officials defends the need to put to painless death dogs suspected of carrying rabies
Two veterinarians attached to the livestock office in Nakhon Si Thammarat on Tuesday denied that livestock officials killed all stray dogs in areas with rabies cases, but admitted that the rabid dogs were exterminated to prevent the spread of the disease.
— Thai PBS
IPST awards students with top math, science scores
The Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (OCAC) of the Ministry of Culture is inviting art lovers to visit the ‘Breaking the Walls’ exhibition, showcasing Thai contemporary arts through graffiti.
— News Today (video)
Thailand: 5 infographics on population, wealth, economy
Though it is the second largest economy of Southeast Asia and still a dynamic market, Thailand has experienced some uneven economic activity in the last few years. This series of infographics illustrate the key demographic and economic data of Thailand, together with some comparisons with other ASEAN and world-leading countries.
— AseanUp
Data analytics influenced past election campaign in Thailand
Since Cambridge Analytica, a US data analytics firm, came under pressure for its Big Data-based strategic influence on last year’s US elections – and allegedly also in Malaysia -, all attention has been drawn on what else the company might have “influenced” in the past.
— Investvine
TAT supports Thai government’s anti-human trafficking effort
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is lending its full support behind the Royal Thai Government’s on-going effort to combat human trafficking.
— TAT News
PDRC core leaders to challenge prosecutors’ authority to file blanket charges against them to Constitutional Court
Core members of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) who led the mass protests against the Yingluck administration in 2014 plan to challenge the prosecutors’ authority to indict them with multiple criminal charges related to the protests claiming that the Constitutional Court has already ruled that the protests were legal.
— Thai PBS
PM sacks election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn
Invoking his special power vested by Section 44 of the interim Constitution, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as head of the National Council for Peace and Order, ordered the sacking of election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn effective as of today (March 20).
— Thai PBS
First Thai named chair of WTO’s dispute settlement body
Thai permanent representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Ms Sunanta Kangvalkulkij has become the first Thai ever to be voted the new chair of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of WTO.
— Thai PBS
Foreign media observe operations against illegal employment, IUU fishing in Samut Sakhorn, Nakhon Pathom
Members of foreign media visited Samut Sakhorn and Nakhon Pathom to observe Thailand’s operations against illegal employment and illegal fishing in a press tour arranged by the Public Relations Department and the Ministry of Labor.
— NNT
Thai Court Sentences Laotian ‘Drug Lord’ to Life in Prison
A Thai court sentenced Xaysana Keopimpha, a Laotian dubbed as an “ASEAN Drug Lord,” to life in prison on Tuesday and said it spared him the death penalty over narcotics-smuggling charges because he had confessed to police during their investigation.
— BenarNews
Police to summon a man who beat up two boys with stingray tail whip for questioning
Phanat Nikhom district police are to summon a man who allegedly beat up two Hmong boys with a stingray tail whip and tied them up to a tree for questioning.
— Thai PBS
Alcohol ban in Phuket this weekend for local election day
For the first time since May 2014, an alcohol ban will be in force in Phuket this weekend as required under laws governing elections as the residents of Moo 1 (“Village 1”) in Chalong vote for a new Phu Yai Baan (“Village headman”).
— The Phuket News
Prayut casts doubt on parties’ role in poll date
THE government may need to go it alone in choosing the election date if political parties failed to “cooperate” and take part in a meeting to be held in June, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.
— The Nation
Reports of poisoned stray dogs outrage animal-rights groups
TEN animal-rights groups and other animal lovers will rally outside the head offices of the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) in Bangkok at 1pm today to object to DLD officials’ “cold-hearted” slaughter of dogs, Watchdog Thailand legal assistant and veterinarian Pattaranan Sajarom said yesterday.
— The Nation
NACC panel to submit initial findings on Prawit case
THE PANEL investigating the luxury watch scandal involving Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan will submit the results of its preliminary inquiry to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) next week.
— The Nation
Chinese and Thai investors seek cross-border benefits
Chinese investors plan to build attractions in Thailand worth at least 2.5 billion baht to cash in on the tourism boom from the mainland.
— Bangkok Post
Thais spend one-tenth of the day with YouTube
Thai people spend an average of 2.4 hours watching YouTube each day, reflecting opportunities for brands and advertisers, says YouTube Thailand.
— Bangkok Post
Feature photo Bernard Spragg
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).
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.
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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