Thailand Morning News For May 16

Thailand Morning News For May 16
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Thailand morning newsCommercial banks saw solid performance during Q1
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has issued a report showing that overall, commercial banks performed well in the first quarter of the year with strong capital, reserves and liquidity.
— News Today (video)

Govt to waive VAT on personal cryptocurrency earnings
The Revenue Department will waive value-added tax for people trading in cryptocurrencies on exchange markets approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
— The Nation

EEC Act in force after long delay
The much-awaited Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Act was finally published in the Royal Gazette Monday after a seven-month delay.
— Bangkok Post

Government urged to cut ties with ITD over poaching case
The government has been urged to severe business relations with Italian-Thai Development Plc due to the involvement of its president on the wildlife poaching case.
— Bangkok Post

Airlines ride high on tourism boom
EARNINGS posted by some of the country’s listed airlines point to a recovery in Thailand’s aviation industry in the first quarter of this year, including double-digit gains by pacesetter Bangkok Airways, amid a boom in tourist arrivals.
— The Nation

Bangkok Post editor removed after refusing to tone down junta criticisms
Bangkok Post confirmed on Monday that the company removed its news editor Umesh Pandey after he refused to alter his critical coverage of the military government, given that the newspaper is going to invite the junta head to join its birthday’s party, said an executive.
— Prachatai English

Thailand to issue rules on cryptocurrency by end-June: SEC chief
Thailand’s securities and exchange commission expects to issue regulations on cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings by the end of June after holding a public hearing, the SEC chief said on Tuesday.
— Reuters

Army orders end to conscript deaths
Cases of conscripts dying under unusual circumstances during military training must not happen, the Royal Thai Army (RTA) has ordered.
Read more at https://www.thephuketnews.com/army-orders-end-to-conscript-deaths-67116.php#bXf83AO38u1jmaf7.99
— The Phuket News

Thailand Lowers Sugar Export Volume, Sets Aside Extra for Ethanol Production
Thailand has allocated an additional 300,000 metric tons of raw sugar for ethanol production this year, the country’s cane and sugar regulator said on Tuesday (15/05), amid weak prices and a large global surplus of the commodity.
— Jakarta Globe

Bangkok Post statement: Committed to editorial autonomy
Editors of the Bangkok Post have issued an official statement and commitment to all readers, assuring that editorial independence is intact.
— Bangkok Post

All three major telecom firms pick up bid documents
The country’s three major telecom operators on Tuesday picked up a combined five bid documents for 1800MHz licences, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) said.
— The Nation

Thai bank SCB doubles VC arm Digital Ventures’ fund size to $100m
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) has injected another $50 million into its fintech-focused venture capital arm Digital Ventures, bringing the total fund size to $100 million. The latest capital infusion makes Digital Ventures the largest venture capital fund in Thailand.
— DealStreetAsia

Transport Minister follows up on infrastructure development, airport expansion projects in Krabi
The Transport Minister inspected the government’s transport infrastructure development projects in Krabi province, and followed up on the plan to expand Krabi Airport’s capacity.
— News Today (video)

Two rangers wounded in grenade attack in Yala
Yala: Two M79 grenades were fired at a security post in Yaha district of Yala during the early hours of Tuesday, injuring two rangers.
— Bangkok Post

Commerce Ministry foresees bright outlook for Thai economy
The Minister of Commerce has voiced his confidence that both the overall economy and exports of Thailand will grow continuously in 2018.
— News Today (video)

Airports of Thailand posts +14.5% increase in Q2 concession revenues
Airports of Thailand generated THB7,016.34 million (US$219.7 million) in non-aeronautical revenues for the second quarter ended 31 March 2018, up +11.37% and representing 43% of group income.
— The Moodie Davitt Report

EEC law ‘harms local people’
THE EASTERN Economic Corridor (EEC) programme, the country’s largest-ever infrastructure and industrial scheme involving a combined investment of several hundred billion baht, faces an uncertain future if local land use issues are not quickly resolved.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Facebook vows to boost its investment in Thailand
FACEBOOK has pledged to increase its investment in Thailand, citing its support for the country’s digital transformation with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large businesses, and the community.
— The Nation

Thai data protection bill crosses borders
Following the public hearing of the previous Personal Data Protection Bill (PDPB) in January 2018, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has amended the draft and published a revised version of the draft PDPB in early April 2018.
— Asia Business Law Journal

New bridge over Chao Phraya River open for trial in Chainat
A new bridge crossing the Chao Phraya River in Chainat province has been opened for a trial period of 45 days.
— News Today (video)

On Thai-Myanmar border: 5 million meth tablets and 70 kilograms of heroin seized
On May 14, the Thai police shot two Thai citizens, seizing 5 million methamphetamine tablets and 70 kilograms of heroin.
— Fresh Plaza

TDRI holds annual conference on digital disruption
The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) has organized its annual conference under the theme “Reorienting the Thai Economy to Prepare for the Age of Technological Disruptions”.
— News Today (video)

Construction deadline for new Parliament extended to December 2019
THE CABINET has set a deadline of December 2019 for the completion of the long-delayed new Parliament complex, after rejecting a request for an additional Bt8.13 billion on top of the original Bt12 billion price tag.
— The Nation

Shipping’s financiers turning the tide on shipbreaking practices
The shipping industry has long been criticized by campaigners for allowing vessels to be broken up on beaches, endangering workers and polluting the sea and sand.
— Reuters

Thailand introduces new app to facilitate air traffic and aviation safety during rocket festival
A new application in Thailand was recently introduced during the traditional Bung Fai rocket launching festival observed in May to June.
— OpenGov

Villages go all out to charm tourists
The government has announced a new strategy to bolster local tourism by encouraging locals to promote their villages’ charm and unique products.
— Bangkok Post

Thaicom, Mediavision venture into Africa
Thaicom, the country’s sole satellite service provider, signed a deal with European content delivery service Mediavision to offer broadcast solutions for European and international programmers to expand their distribution network into Sub-Saharan Africa.
— Bangkok Post

Two charged over blockading of mine test site in Sakon Nakhon
TWO LOCAL people have been charged with organising an illegal public gathering in their campaign against potash exploration in Sakon Nakhon.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Thai AirAsia parent’s Q1 profit jumps 76%
SET-listed Asia Aviation Plc (AAV), a major shareholder of Thai AirAsia Co Ltd (TAA), has reported a 76% year-on-year rise in its first-quarter net profit, buoyed by strong growth in number of passengers carried, high demand during peak season and the baht appreciation.
— Bangkok Post

Phuket and Phang Nga added to Michelin Guide Thailand for 2019
Following the very first 2018 edition of The Michelin Guide dedicated to Bangkok, Michelin today (May 15) announced the extension of The Michelin Guide’s reach to Phuket and Phang Nga, with a new 2019 edition.
— The Phuket News

Public to decide fate of Phuket’s trouble-making monkeys
Officials will hold a public meeting next month to come up with ways to deal with the island’s growing monkey population that has become menace to residents and tourists.
— The Phuket News

5th WriteShop for Mekong Writers 7-8 July 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand
The writeshop will bring together writers and researchers to build capacity to think critically, and produce a written story on current environmental and development issues in the Mekong region.
— Mekong Commons

 

Feature photo Asian Development Bank

 

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

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.

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