Thailand morning news for June 26

Thailand morning news for June 26
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Thailand morning newsOpposition to grill the government tomorrow in first debate in five years
In what is touted as the first no-confidence debate in five years, the opposition parties will use the House sitting tomorrow (Wednesday) to grill the incumbent government and its ministers over a host of issues, ranging from the 20-year national strategic plan and reform of the justice system to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan’s wristwatch scandal.
— Thai PBS World

Airport-rail link project; Map Ta Phut port project to be signed next month
The Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee has acknowledged progress in the high-speed rail project to link three airports and the Map Ta Phut industrial port development project. Contracts for both projects are expected to be signed between state firms and private concessionaires next month.
— NNT

Chinese buyers crucial to condo market
An oversupply is emerging in the Bangkok condominium market, which has led some developers to pin their hopes on selling more units to foreign buyers, especially Chinese who have become a major market in the last few years.
— Bangkok Post

‘Litter traps’ a success blocking trash from the sea
Twenty buoy-strung “litter traps” to be anchored at the mouths of rivers and canals along the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand coast are expected to prevent 30 tonnes of trash reaching the sea every year.
— Eleven Media

AoT pushed back on 2nd terminal plan
The Transport Ministry has put the brakes on Airports of Thailand Plc’s (AoT) plan to build Suvarnabhumi airport’s 42-billion-baht second terminal, saying the scheme fails to take into consideration all related infrastructure projects.
— Bangkok Post

Union wants rail bill scrapped
The Railway Workers’ Confederation (RWC) has slammed a draft rail transport bill which it says could make it possible for the privatisation of state rail services and infrastructure.
— Bangkok Post

Crane Collapse: Khmer worker, not contractors, face criminal charges
Police today seemed anxious to close out last week’s crane accident that fractured a schoolgirl’s skull and injured nine others after a migrant worker turned himself in.
— Coconuts (paywall)

Millions more welfare cards delivered
More than 3 million state welfare smart cards have been distributed to new beneficiaries – mainly the disabled, elderly and bed-ridden patients – who have registered for the state-sponsored subsidy and welfare scheme for low income earners.
— Bangkok Post

FM Don advises Thanathorn not to talk about ASEAN
The minister was responding to Thanathorn’s comment, made in wake of the 34thASEAN Summit during the weekend, that ASEAN should drop its principle of non-interference in the affairs of member countries and, instead, should keep a check on one another in order to improve the lives of the people in the region.
— Thai PBS World

One of Asia’s top bank stocks fears risky lending in Thailand
Tisco Financial Group Pcl, Thailand’s top performing bank stock this year, is becoming wary of risky lending practices as the Southeast Asian nation’s economy slows.
— FMT News

Share storm ruling threatens govt MPs
The Constitutional Court will on Wednesday decide on whether to accept petitions against 41 government MPs who are accused by the opposition of breaching the charter’s rule on shareholdings in media firms.
— Bangkok Post

Major staff cuts loom at BMTA
The debt-ridden Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) plans to cut at least 5,000 employees as a result of its new restructuring plan endorsed by the cabinet on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Cabinet is nearly ready, pledges PM
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha affirmed on Tuesday a new government will be in place by the middle of next month, saying background checks on would-be cabinet ministers were progressing.
— Bangkok Post

GSB makes first foray into securities
State-owned Government Savings Bank has bought a 25% stake in online securities broker ASL Securities, marking GSB’s first venture into the securities business and opening the door for the 106-year-old bank to offer a full array of financial services.
— Bangkok Post

FTI seeks measures to rein in baht
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is calling on the Bank of Thailand to launch new measures to rein in the baht’s rapid gains after the currency hit a more than six-year high, aiming to prevent the export slump from deepening.
— Bangkok Post

Handicapped and elderly get 3 million welfare cards
Over 3 million state welfare smartcards have been distributed to recipients, mainly the disabled, the elderly and bedridden patients, who registered in the added round for the state-sponsored subsidy and welfare scheme for low-income earners.
— Bangkok Post

New Thailand-Cambodia border train service from July 1
A new daily train service between Bangkok and Ban Klong Luk border station in Sa Kaeo province will start running on July 1, the State Railway of Thailand announced.
— Khmer Times

Phuket joins Best Places to Visit
Paris topped the US News list that names the World’s Best Places to Visit, while Thailand’s Phuket joins the top 10 destinations in the eighth spot.
— TTR Weekly

Regulators join forces with analysts on new research tools
Capital market regulators and the Investment Analysts Association (IAA) are working together to produce securities research to enhance investment information, aiming to cover about 100 fundamental securities for small and mid-sized listed companies within three years.
— Bangkok Post

Use of FTAs, GSP up 5% in first 4 months
The use of free trade agreement (FTA) privileges and the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) by Thai exporters amounted to US$24.27 billion in the first four months of 2019, up 5% from the same period last year.
— Bangkok Post

NBTC mulls amount to make good with MCOT
The telecom regulator says it will settle on a compensation amount by September for the 2600MHz spectrum given up by MCOT for auction.
— Bangkok Post

Excise Department studies online streaming service levy
The Excise Department is studying a tax on online gaming and music and movie streaming services that collect fees from subscribers in a bid to cash in on the fast-growing market.
— Bangkok Post

Senior ASEAN energy officials’ meeting begins
The Thai Ministry of Energy is hosting the 37th Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) and associated meetings from June 24th to 28th in Bangkok.
— NBT World (video)

Outcomes of meetings between ASEAN leaders, AIPA, youth members
The Thai Prime Minister and the other leaders of ASEAN member states have attended the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Youth.
— NBT World (video)

Blue Line impact growing
Nine years after construction began, dates have finally been set for test runs on the two extensions of the MRT Blue Line.
— Bangkok Post

Yang Ming Announces New China-Thailand Direct Service
Under the impact of rising global trade tensions, a relocation and adjustment of cargo flow and supply chains is expected. To cope with this trend, Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. continuously strengthens its Asian service network as well as the quality of Asian routes.
— Sea News

Thailand targets turning into ASEAN power hub
A plan was set by Thailand, the permanent secretary revealed, to renovate its power transmission lines in order to transform into an electricity hub.
— MENAFN

China’s potash demand stirs resistance in rural Thailand
The future of a potash mine planned for north-eastern Thailand is mired in uncertainty as villagers put up fierce opposition, fuelled by concerns about their livelihoods, health and environment.
— chinadialogue

Qualifications of would-be ministers being examined
The Deputy Prime Minister, Prof. Dr. Wissanu Krea-ngam, said today that forms have been delivered to the would-be ministers so that they can fill out their details. He said their qualifications will be thoroughly checked by the Cabinet Secretariat, after many complaints on this issue were lodged.
— NNT

Bright TV 20 sets channel shutdown for Aug 16
Bright TV 20 is the third channel to announce a shutdown date of Aug 16 and will receive compensation of 372 million baht from the broadcasting regulator within 60 days of the shutdown.
— Bangkok Post

LT Group eyes mixed-use complex
LT Group, a well-known retail developer in eastern Thailand, plans to spend 10 billion baht to build a mixed-use complex in Chon Buri’s Sri Racha district next year.
— Bangkok Post

Krungsri Auto seeking premiums worth B200m
Ayudhya Capital Auto Lease, better known as Krungsri Auto under Bank of Ayudhya (BAY), aims for 200 million baht in motor insurance premiums and 300,000 visitors a month in the first year after its insurance website aggregator was launched yesterday.
— Bangkok Post

GPO constructs new pharmaceutical production factory
The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) has constructed a new standardized pharmaceutical production factory which will help Thai people access essential medicines and reduce the quantity of imports from abroad.
— NNT

ASEAN leaders praise Thailand’s orderly ASEAN Summit hosting
Leaders of ASEAN countries have praised Thailand for hosting this year’s ASEAN Summit in orderly fashion, says the Foreign Minister, urging the public not to make a big deal out of a lack of translation devices for foreign media, as it is a problem which can be overcome in the future.
— NNT

Graft probe: DNP chief gave wife largest pay rise
The National Anti-Corruption Commission has ordered disciplinary action against the chief of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) for approving the maximum salary increase for his wife.
— Bangkok Post

New securities research for better investment
Capital market regulators and the Investment Analysts Association (IAA) have cooperated to produce improved securities research to enhance investment information, covering around 100 fundamental securities for mid- and small-size listed companies within three years.
— Bangkok Post

Thai model launches picture books to confront sex education taboos
A Thai model who has spoken out about sexual harassment said on Tuesday that she will publish a series of children’s books to teach young people about sex in a country where sexual abuse is rarely discussed and teenage pregnancies have rocketed.
— Reuters

Property Perfect eyes bright hotel future
SET-listed developer Property Perfect is upbeat about its hotel business, expecting the segment to generate 4.2 billion baht in 2019 and make up 20% of the company’s total revenue.
— Bangkok Post

Banned. Thai airports cracking down what you can take on board
Thailand’s CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) is urging airports to more strictly enforce security regulations that would prohibit a longer list of things being taken aboard.
— The Thaiger

Charter amendment: Benefits, risks and difficulties
Charter amendment can reopen old wounds. Or it can create new ones. The former scenario will benefit the opposition, whereas the latter can play into Prayut Chan-o-cha’s hands. Either way, Thailand’s fresh constitutional controversy should come sooner rather than later.
— Thai PBS World

Smart Energy Expo 2019 being held in Bangkok
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has assembled a group of energy experts to share their knowledge on energy management with industrial operators, in a move to improve their competitiveness and reduce energy costs.
— NNT

Heavy rains hit Phuket as weather remains in force
Heavy rains doused Phuket this morning, leaving areas across the island without power and traffic tailbacks on the major roads.
— The Phuket News

SIM card registry a necessity, says Isoc
The Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) has stressed the importance of registering mobile phone SIM cards against valid identity cards in the insurgency-plagued deep South, saying it is necessary to help ward off coordinated bomb attacks.
— Bangkok Post

Charge against former red shirt dropped
A charge against a former red-shirt co-leader who later joined the pro-military Palang Pracharath Party has been dropped because the statute of limitations expired.
— Bangkok Post

City officers being trained as traffic police assistants
Traffic congestion has long been a major issue in the capital. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has now trained city law enforcement officers to serve as traffic police assistants to help resolve incidents more effectively.
— NNT

Tourism-growth projected at 4.65%
The Tourism Council of Thailand expects 40.06 million foreign visitors this year, up 4.65% on last year, while tourism operators’ confidence is stable.
— Bangkok Post

Krungsri Auto launches online insurance channel
Ayudhya Capital Auto Lease, known as Krungsri Auto under Bank of Ayudhya (BAY), launched an online insurance distribution channel on Tuesday, aiming for 200 million baht in motor insurance premiums for the first year.
— Bangkok Post

President seeks Thailand, Brunei’s support for peaceful Rohingya repatriation
President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday sought a ‘significant role’ from Thailand and Brunei Darusalam in repatriating Rohingyas from Bangladesh peacefully.
— theindependent

Increasing the odds of survival
The Siriraj Stroke Centre has announced its mobile vehicle has treated 131 patients since its launch in May last year.
— Bangkok Post

Any new lottery ‘needs public hearing’
A public hearing is needed before new kinds of lottery tickets can be introduced, says Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
— Bangkok Post

Four arrested as police intercept 572 kilograms of marijuana heading south
Four suspects have been arrested after police intercepted an attempt to smuggle 572 kilograms of marijuana from Mukdahan to Songkhla.
— The Thaiger

Excise intent on taxing online games, movies, music
The Excise Department is conducting a study into the best ways to collect taxes from the cashed-up providers of online games, movies and music.
— Bangkok Post

Supreme Administrative Court dismisses petition on Senate
The Supreme Administrative Court on Tuesday dismissed a request for its ruling on the legitimacy of the Senate selection process because the issue was outside its scope.
— Bangkok Post

Unclaimed cars will be towed, dumped
Old, unused private vehicles unclaimed by owners which are left on public roads will be towed away and dumped into the sea to make artificial reefs, said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
— Bangkok Post

Thai entrepreneurs in Health, herb products to penetrate China
Thai entrepreneurs in the health and herb products sector are looking to penetrate Chinese markets in 2019, at the China Kunming International Health & Medical Expo from August 2 to August 4.
— NNT

U.S. Embassy in Thailand in collaboration with ICONSIAM
presenting music performance by the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific and the Royal Thai Navy Music Band Division on the occasion of Independence Day 2019 and in celebration of U.S. -Thai friendship on June 29, 2019 at River Park, ICONSIAM.
— Bangkok Post

Patong tsunami-evacuation drill hailed a success, spurs an excited false start
The tsunami-evacuation sirens sounded the alarm at Patong Beach at 1:30pm today (June 25), marking the start of the mass evacuation drill which was joined by more than 600 people this afternoon.
— The Phuket News

Back in Fashion? Thai Traditional Dress and How to Pull it Off
Experts observed a renaissance of interest in traditional dress thanks to period dramas and market fairs initiated by the King.
— Khaosod English

Counterfeit clothing seized in Pattaya raid
Officers have seized counterfeit goods at shops along Pattaya Beach yesterday. Pattaya officers raided a department store near the city’s beach area.
— The Thaiger

Phang Nga’s waterfalls reopened after heavy rain
Phang Nga – Heavy rains in the southern region caused the temporary closure of Lumpi and Tonprai waterfalls in Phang Nga province on Sunday due to the risk of flash floods.
— Pattaya Mail

 

Feature photo ASEAN-Thailand Secretariat

 

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. Due to The Nation‘s habit of hijacking urls and diverting them to promotion pages we no longer include it in our clippings.

 

 

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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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