Thailand Plans Cyber Network Scrutiny, Law to Toughen Online Monitoring
Thailand aims to buy software to strengthen the military government’s ability to track online networks and monitor online activity while planning a cyber law that will expand powers to pry into private communications.
– U.S. News & World Report/ Reuters
IATA: Airline sector in need of repair
The global airline trade group has warned that the future of Thailand’s aviation and tourism industry is being jeopardised by several critical issues.
– Bangkok Post
Thai business shuns regime, invests overseas
Thai businesses invested a record $13 billion (442 billion baht) abroad in 2016, dwarfing inflows of $1.6 billion (54.4 billion baht), according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
– Bangkok Post
Govt plans ‘Digital Fund’ for start-ups to take effect in September
THE GOVERNMENT will spend Bt5 billion to set up a “Digital Fund” to support digital entrepreneurs and start-ups, with funding to be distributed beginning in September.
– The Nation
Fishery industry faces acute labour shortage
Members of the fishery industry have lamented a labor shortage of up to 74,000 people with as many as 4,000 ships docked due to a lack of workers, saying discussions are to be held with Myanmar to attract immigrant laborers, the National News Bureau of Thailand reported Monday.
– Thai PBS
Bank of Thailand Governor Heralds Blockchain’s
Coming ImpactIn remarks last week, Dr Veerathai Santiprabhob, the deputy chairman of the central bank’s 14-member board, commented on the changing role of global finance, calling emerging technological innovations both an “opportunity” and a “challenge” while noting that he believes the nation’s domestic financial institutions largely need to embrace change.
– Coindesk
State upbeat on meeting export target
The Commerce Ministry is maintaining its 2017 export growth target of 5% amid gripes from some quarters in export sector about the stronger baht.
– Bangkok Post
Thailand plans to sign electricity accord with Laos and Malaysia
THAILAND is preparing to sign a tripartite electricity-trading agreement with two neighbouring countries at the upcoming Asean Ministers of Energy Meeting.
– The Nation
School director accused in ‘tea money’ scandal
The Samsenwittayalai School director accused of demanding 400,000 baht in “tea money” from a parent in exchange for enrolling his child must return the money if he is found guilty of receiving it, says the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) chief.
– Bangkok Post
Battle on high-speed rail
THE controversial Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project faces a new hurdle as both the Constitutional and Administrative courts will be asked to review the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s June 16 order that granted multiple legal exemptions to the multi-billion-baht scheme.
– The Nation
Junta’s use of S44 for Thai-Chinese railway project puts public safety at risk
Leading Thai architects and the national association of engineers have denounced the use of Section 44 to speed up the Thai-Chinese railway line between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima line, pointed out that it puts public safety and interests at risk.
– Prachatai English
Central bank vigilant of future risks
The Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) and Financial Institutions Policy Committee (FIPC) say Thailand’s financial system still faces several risk factors in the periods ahead.
– Bangkok Post
Wissanu assures know-how transfer in train project
A deputy prime minister has assured Thai engineers of technology transfer in the Thai-Chinese high-speed train project.
– Bangkok Post
Land Transport Department determined to enforce stricter road safety measures
The Department of Land Transport is determined to enforce road safety measures more strictly, particularly among truck drivers.
– NBT World
Ministry of Commerce promotes FTAs with major trading partners
The Ministry of Commerce in the previous quarter entered free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with several other nations to boost the Thai economy.
– NNT
Business registrations hit 4 year high in May
Business registrations hit a four year high in May on continued economic recovery.
– NNT
Police summon leaders of pro-healthcare groups after protest
The police have summoned leaders of a group protesting against the revision to the healthcare law for questioning. Meanwhile, the authorities announced that the amendment process will go ahead despite opposition from various groups.
– Prachatai English
Strong ties with neighboring countries help boost border trade
The Ministry of Commerce has reported healthy expansion of border trade this year, thanks to close cooperation between Thailand and its neighbors.
– NNT
Roadside bomb kills 6 soldiers, injures 3 in Pattani
Six soldiers were killed and three injured, in bomb attack in Thung Yangdaeng district of Pattani province this morning.
– Thai PBS
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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.
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