Thailand Morning News For May 28

DPM Somkid content with 4.8% GDP growth in first quarter
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak says the 4.8% GDP growth in the first three months of 2018 reflects the overall economic improvement.
— NNT
Thai Government monitoring online information
Security agencies are monitoring false, distorted, and fabricated reports online in a bid to maintain national security.
— News Today (video)

Cops eye traffic offences points system
Police are hoping to introduce a penalty point system to deal with traffic offences as part of an effort to improve road safety in the country.
— Bangkok Post

PM urges Thai people to adjust themselves to accommodate economic growth
The Prime Minister has advised Thai people to adjust themselves to accommodate the growing economy which expanded by almost five percent in the first quarter.
— NNT

New tax boss’s tech dreams
Adoption of new technologies like big data and pursuing digitisation of the tax collection system are the priorities for the new director-general of the Revenue Department, Ekniti Nitithanprapas, who aims to boost the state agency’s efficiency and enlarge the taxpayer base.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand cuts number of berry pickers to Finland – after last year’s human trafficking scandal
Following the human trafficking conviction of a Finnish berry picking firm’s boss earlier this year, officials in Thailand have significantly cut the number of exit visas issued to Thais headed to Finland towork as berry pickers.
— Yle yhtiönä

Newly elected Future Forward leader Thanathorn vows to dump 2017 charter
THANATHORN Juangroongru-angkit was predictably chosen yesterday to be the leader of the Future Forward Party, which he co-founded with the agenda of not only becoming the prime minister but also dumping the current, junta-written 2017 Constitution.
— The Nation (annoying popup autoplay videos)

Sepo chief hopes for Thailand Future Fund IPO in July
The IPO for the Thailand Future Fund (TFF), delayed several months, is set to launch in October after the Administrative Court turned down a request by the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) labour…
— Bangkok Post

MOL to allow migrant workers to work in 12 occupations currently reserved for Thais
The Ministry of Labor will allow migrant workers to work in 12 occupations currently reserved for Thais, following a recent review of the ban on foreigners in such roles.
— NNT

PM extols 4-year performance of NCPO
The Prime Minister has expressed his satisfaction over the achievements of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has accomplished since taking office.
— News Today (video)

SPECIAL REPORT: Junta plays economic card in EU trip
PM Prayut heads to Europe on highprofile trip with business deals high on agenda.
— The Nation

Electronic waste import can benefit country with proper recycling processes: DIW
The import of electronic waste to Thailand could benefit the country from the recycling processes, using appropriate technology which prevents negative effects to surrounding communities, says DIW chief.
— NNT

NESDB: Transport projects a boon to investment
Construction of 18 infrastructure projects worth 724 billion baht announced for 2018 is expected to boost investment this year.
— Bangkok Post

Regatta cuts plastic pollution
Ocean waste is a problem of colossal proportions and China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam together are responsible for 60% of the eight million tonnes of plastic that enters oceans annually.
— TTR Weekly

Don: European nations preparing for Gen Prayut’s visit
European countries are preparing for Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s planned visit in June.
— NNT

China’s trade representatives visit Chanthaburi
Trade representatives from China have visited the eastern province of Chanthaburi as part of a trip to explore trade opportunities with Thailand.
— NNT

PM offers apologies over arrest of Phra Buddha Isara
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and his deputy, Gen Prawit Wonsuwan, have publicly apologized for Thai authorities’ handling of the arrest of Phra Buddha Isara.
— NNT

Whither Airbnb?
Daily room rental via mobile phone applications offers more bang for the buck for travellers, especially in pricey and tourist-oriented locations, but hosts are facing a global crackdown by government authorities and hotel operators denouncing such short-term lodging as illegal.
— Bangkok Post

Gov’t retains VAT at 7%, declines online rumours
The Government Spokesperson has dispelled online rumours claiming the administration will raise VAT to 8 percent.
— News Today (video)

Chinese demand for Thai durians rises in April
Durians continue to prove popular among Chinese consumers; Thai durian exports to China skyrocketed by 135% in April 2018.
— NNT

Thai police catch one of the ten most wanted Child Pornography Collectors in the world
64 year old Christean Python, a Swiss National, was captured just outside of Bangkok this week after an intensive police and army investigation with assistance from international law enforcement from the United States.
— The Pattaya News

Gov’t to subsidise oil price helping affected public
The Prime Minister has stated that the government will start implementing subsidies for retail oil price using the budget from the Energy Fund to control the rise of retail oil prices, asking businesses to maintain the current product and service pricing.
— News Today (video)

3rd Army boss regrets quick tongue
Third Region Army commander Vijak Siribansop had no idea he would still be answering questions about the extra-judicial killing of Lahu hilltribe rights advocate, Chaiyaphum Pasae, a full year after the incident occurred on March 17 last year.
— Bangkok Post

Online groups creating new communities of people with shared values
Digital transformation is not just about businesses. Thais are also actively building communities online to connect with each other and share interests.
–– The Nation (annoying popup autoplay videos)

Many more temples may have embezzled state funds
THE FOURTH round of investigations into the embezzlement of state funds meant for temple development has found at least another 30 temples alleged to have broken the law, with damages worth Bt100 million, a source at the Counter Corruption Division (CCD) of Royal Thai Police revealed yesterday.
— The Nation

Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Higher Education to be created
A Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Higher Education will be established in the next eight months, according to government officials.
— News Today (video)

TAT upgrades second-tier city tourism
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is upgrading communities and second-tier provinces to attract more tourists and develop the domestic economy in a sustainable manner.
— NNT

Betong airport construction in progress
The Governor of Yala, Anuchit Trakulmututa, said the construction of Betong Airport is in progress as planned.
— NNT

Experts expect only minor coral bleaching this year
CORAL REEFS in Thailand are currently facing the onset of widespread but mild coral bleaching, as some reefs in both the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand show symptoms of heat stress. Tourists are meanwhile encouraged to observe signs of coral bleaching and report them to authorities.
— The Nation

Coral bleaching found off Phuket
The marine ecology division of the Marine Biological Centre has reported on research about coral bleaching in the areas around Phuket.
— The Nation

VGI unveils the vision “Pioneering Solutions for Tomorrow”, aiming to reach USD312.5 million within 3 years
VGI Global Media Plc. (VGI), Thailand’s most customer-oriented media company, celebrated its 20th anniversary unveiling a new vision: “Pioneering Solutions for Tomorrow.”
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Agriculture Min encourages Chiang Rai farmers to embrace technology
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is teaching farmers in the northern province of Chiang Rai to incorporate technology in their farming practices.
— NNT

Thailand’s IRPC To Build Large Aromatics Complex With Honeywell Technology
Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that IRPC PLC will use a range of advanced process technologies from Honeywell UOP for a new aromatics complex in Thailand’s Rayong Province.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Police to probe more temples
The police force’s Counter Corruption Division (CCD) has launched a fourth round of temple fund embezzlement probes with 30 temples already suspected of involvement in the alleged wrongdoing.
— Bangkok Post

Bangkok’s suburban train will boost its capacity by up to 40% with Thales
Thailand’s main rail operator, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), will adopt the European Train Control System (ETCS), ensuring the highest safety standards of operation.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Nakhon Phanom hosts event to promote quality beef cattle production
The northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom has organized a special event to promote beef cattle production
— NNT

Airport expansion plans, exactly a decade ago
In the wake of this week’s AoT announcement about the two new airports – one for Phuket and Chiang Mai – it’s only ten years ago, exactly, that funding was announced for the expansion of Phuket International Airport.
— The Thaiger

THAILAND MOBILE EXPO
Thailand Mobile Expo 2018 is an exhibition that has been receiving a lot of attention from people who are looking for new phones and gadgets, with many brands ready to offer lower prices, special promotions and free gifts. Our NBT World correspondent has this report.
— News Today (video)

Thailand Post launches stamps marking Visakha Bucha Day
Thailand Post has launched special postage stamps to mark the Visakha Bucha Day.
— NNT

Screens to kill off paper ID copies at govt offices
THAIS will soon no longer need to show photocopies of their ID cards or household registration certificates when dealing with government offices.
— The Nation

Rare dolphin sighting off Jomtien
A rare dolphin sighting sparked excitement among a boat crew off Jomtien Beach.
— Pattaya Mail

Feature photo John Le Fevre

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.

Thailand Morning News For May 28 added by John Le Fevre on May 28, 2018
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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.