Thailand morning news for May 29

Thailand morning news for May 29
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Thailand morning news

Court hands Weerawut 50 years for G2G scam
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions today handed down stiff prison sentences to two more figures involved in the bogus G2G rice deal scandal.
— Bangkok Post

Cabinet gives nod to airport high-speed rail contract
The cabinet has given the green light to a draft contract for the 225-billion-baht high-speed rail project linking three major airports
— Bangkok Post

Dems still unsure on PPRP coalition
The Democrat Party on Tuesday abruptly cancelled its meeting to decide whether to join an alliance led by the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) after failing to reach a deal over cabinet seats, a Democrat source said.
— Bangkok Post

Kingdom of Thailand Transforms into the “Bio-Hub” of ASEAN
The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) is ready to push the country’s status as a global leader in bio-economy to the next level, with robotics at the forefront.
— finance.yahoo.com

New Thai immigration rules force ailing elderly out of country
Deanna Denis played by the rules. When advanced Alzheimer’s meant her mother needed around-the-clock care, the American did everything Thailand required to bring her here to live legally. That was two years ago.
— Coconuts (paywall)

Court rejects airport bid case
The Central Administrative Court threw out a petition lodged by the Charoen Pokphand Group (CP)-led consortium requesting an injunction against the bidder selection committee for the 290-billion-baht Eastern…
— Bangkok Post

April factory output unexpectedly rises 2.03% y-o-y
Thailand’s manufacturing production index (MPI) in April unexpectedly rose 2.03% from a year earlier, led by higher production of cars and air conditioners, the Industry Ministry said on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Two arrested in Nakhon Sawan attempting to smuggle over 4 million meth pills
Kanchanaburi men have been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle 4,459,000 methamphetamine pills from the North to central regions.
— The Thaiger

FTI: Exports likely to miss target at 5%
Thai food exports are projected to grow by only 5% this year, missing the 8% target projected earlier in the year, thanks to weak global demand and the deepening trade row, says the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
— Bangkok Post

Condo GM responds to Kalim Beach wastewater accusation
The general manager of The Residence Kalim Bay has provided a statement in response to accusations on Monday (May 27) from Patong’s mayor and municipality officers that the condominium was releasing its wastewater onto Kalim Beach.
— The Phuket News

Two accomplices in fake G-to-G rice deals given heavy prison sentences
The former secretary to convicted commerce minister Boonsong Teriyaphirom was today sentenced to 72 years in prison by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Public Offices. He was…
— Thai PBS News

Buri Ram villagers urged not to harm wild elephants
Buri Ram provincial officials are asking villagers living near a Thai national reserve forest not to harm wild animals, including elephants, that may wander out of the forest.
— The Thaiger

All data vulnerable as new Thai cyber law comes into effect
Thailand’s government can now monitor your internet traffic, access your private communications as well as seize your data and gear any time it deems necessary – without court review – under a new law that came into effect…
— Coconuts (paywall)

Thais to provide education for children of migrants
The Thai government is set to provide free education for children of Cambodian migrant workers, according to officials.
— Khmer Times

KTB handling NPLs via SME support
Krungthai Bank (KTB) has closely monitored its small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) borrowers amid sluggish economic growth and focused on non-performing asset (NPAs) management to contain bad loans.
— Bangkok Post

Economic issues for new Thai government
As of press time, political parties from both sides are racing to sign up coalition partners. After the much-awaited general election, finally, there are signs that Thailand may soon have…
— Thai PBS News

Three new MPs endorsed
The Election Commission (EC) has endorsed three new MPs, all women, bringing the total number of approved MPs to a full 500.
— Bangkok Post

His Majesty the King has appointed Gen. Surayud Chulanont as acting chief of the Privy Council.
The Royal command, following the death of Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda, was published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, May 28th. Gen. Surayud was Thailand’s 24th prime minister, serving from October…
— Thai PBS News

Democrats set constitutional change as condition for joining Palang Pracharat coalition
The Democrat party has set constitutional amendments as conditions for joining the Palang Pracharat-led coalition, party spokesman Ramet Rattanachaweng said today.
— Thai PBS News

Celebrities to hear charges over ‘Magic Skin’ reviews
Police will next week summon celebrities to acknowledge charges over their endorsement of substandard cosmetic and weight-loss products linked to Magic Skin Co, 120 million tonnes of which will be burned on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post

New sex offences law with harsher penalties now enforceable
Sex offenders, especially rapists and people who disseminate or share visual images such as video clips of sexual activities, will face harsher penalties under the newly-amended Criminal Code, which is…
— Thai PBS News

Rights Activist Bridles at Amended Rape Law
A new law unveiled on Tuesday no longer considers the insertion of an object into the anus, mouth or genitals as rape.
— Khaosod English

Alibaba in talks for WHA EEC land
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group is vying to build up its footprint in Thailand by negotiating with WHA Corporation for the latter’s industrial estate land in Chachoengsao.
— Bangkok Post

Rice Policy & Management Committee – 34 million tons of rice to be released this year
The Rice Policy and Management Committee announces rice stock release plans and expects over 34 million tons of rice throughout this year.
— NNT

THAIFEX – World of Food Asia 2019 kicks off today
The Thai food industry has great potential and generates trillions of baht of income for the country each year.
— NNT

Govt hopes to enshrine tomyam kung
Early next year, Thailand will seek to have the tomyam kung spicy prawn soup listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) as part of the country’s tangible cultural heritage.
— Bangkok Post

Weather warning tour cancellations spur new ‘reviewed’ advisory
Following a slew of complaints from tourism operators over official weather warnings unnecessarily causing large-scale booking cancellations, the Tourism Business and Guide Registration Office (TGBRO) Region 2 in Phuket will soon start issuing its own weather advisories.
— The Phuket News

Photo of the Day
“Thai Whales”, a conservation group, reported today (May 28th) that the body of dead a 10 meter long Bryde’s whale was discovered floating in waters in the northern part of…
— Thai PBS News

Indictment decision on Thanathorn put off
Prosecutors postponed for the third time the announcement of their computer crime indictment decision on the Future Forward Party’s leader and two senior members pending police questioning, now due June 28.
— Bangkok Post

Thi Lor Su waterfall to close for 4 months
The dirt road to Thi Lor Su waterfall will be closed from June 1 to Sept 30 for environmental rehabilitation and public safety, officials say.
— Bangkok Post

TAT, Alipay sign deal to lure more Chinese visitors
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has signed a letter of intent with Alipay (Hangzhou) Technology Co to cooperate with the world’s largest online payment platform to lure visitors from China.
— Bangkok Post

OSMEP organizes workshop for SMEs planning to penetrate overseas markets
An important policy of the government is to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises or SME entrepreneurs to operate their businesses vigorously and enter overseas markets.
— NNT

Tourism body confident that tourist number will reach 40 million in 2019
Predictions are, despite a few bumps along the way, that the number of tourists coming to Thailand in 2019 will still reach 40 million.
— The Thaiger

HM Queen Sirikit returns from hospital to Chitralada palace
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit has returned to the Chitralada Palace today after being discharged from Chulalongkorn hospital following treatment for a urinary tract infection, the Bureau of the Royal Household…
— Thai PBS News

No More Naming Top Uni Entrance Exam Scorers
Effective this year, education officials will no longer disclose the names and schools of the top 10 students ranked in university entrance examinations, an exam regulator said Tuesday.
— Khaosod English

Anti-Junta Thai rappers receive international human rights award
…but don’t expect to be getting a letter of congratulations from the Thai PM. The anti Junta rapper group ‘Rap Against Dictatorship’ has won the 2019 Vaclav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent, awarded by the New York-based Human Rights Foundation, the band has announced on its …
— The Thaiger

Democrats and Bhumjaithai offered deputy PM and cabinet positions
Close, but not quite. Palang Pracharath Party paid a visit to Democrat party leaders yesterday with presents of cabinet portfolios that they are offering the Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties if they were to join the pro-Army coalition.
— The Thaiger

Thailand passes ICAO inspections
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) said Thailand achieved an effective implementation of standards score of 65.07%, which exceeds the minimum pass threshold of 60% set by United Nations’ aviation watchdog.
— Bangkok Post

Indonesia’s insurtech PasarPolis to foray into Thailand and Vietnam
Indonesian insurtech start-up PasarPolis has unveiled plans for expansion to more Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Vietnam.
— Verdict

Travelers Beware: Grab Thailand Scam
As I was leaving Bangkok, I ordered a Grab car to the airport. Because I had some extra Thai baht left, I decided to tell the driver at the beginning of the ride that I would pay cash for the trip.
— Chopso

MINT questions AOT’s denial of commercial spaces at Suvarnabhumi Airport
After the refusal of Airports of Thailand (AOT) to accept a bid for commercial space for the development of shops and restaurants inside Suvarnabhumi Airport from Minor International (MINT), citing a lack of the experience required as per TOR, the company itself has released a statement asking the AOT to reconsider its decision.
— NNT

Customs implements technology to ensure tax payments
The international trade sector is currently affected by the trade war between China and the US. Despite the tension, the Customs Department has managed to collect tax exceeding its targets in the first seven months of the 2019 fiscal year.
— NNT

Mains water supply to be cut in Kathu
The Phuket Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) has announced that the mains water supply will be shut-off in parts of Kathu on Wednesday (May 29) for repairs to be carried out.
— The Phuket News

Day 2 of Samui Regatta 2019. A beautiful day, unless you’re a sailor.
The best laid plans… The breeze was on early this morning as the race management left the beach. The plan: head straight out off Chaweng Beach and lay a startline. Leaving the “shelter” of the bay, the wind died off the further they went out.
— The Thaiger

Netizens say the policeman’s drunk. Police chief says he ‘is sick’. VIDEO
A video clip of a policeman falling off a motorcycle onto the footpath on the roadside has gone viral in Thai social media. Netizens say the Phuket policeman was clearly drunk but the local police chief maintains ‘he was just sick’.
— The Thaiger

 

Feature photo Thailand Government PRD

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges World No-Tobacco Day, May 31.

 

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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