Thailand Morning News For March 31

Thailand morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Thailand news on matters of governance and policies.

Appeals Court rejects Juthamas’ bail request
The Appeal Court on Friday rejected bail requests made by former Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Juthamas Siriwan and her daughter, citing the possibility the defendants might flee the country due to the severity of their sentences for corruption.
– The Nation

Thailand Expands Oil Exploration Options To Attract Investments
Oil and gas firms active in Thailand will see their oil exploration options expand after the country’s military-appointed assembly approved a change to its energy laws on Thursday.
– Oilprice.com

National Oil Company proposal scrapped
A NATIONAL Legislative Assembly (NLA) subcommittee yesterday gave in to opposition and withdrew the controversial Article 10/1 amendment to the Petroleum Act, effectively sinking the proposal to set up a new national oil company.
– The Nation

Private spending, farm income fuel February growth
THE THAI economy expanded in February, driven by private spending and consistently higher real farm income, according to the Fiscal Policy Office.
– The Nation

3.3 percent GDP forecast by Kasikorn Research Centre
Kasikorn Research Centre has predicted the economic growth rate for this year at 3.3 percent, thanks to export expansion from earlier projection of 0.8 percent to a revised projection of 2 percent as a result of increasing demand for and prices of Thai products.
– Thai PBS

Trump to name and shame trade ‘cheats’
President Donald Trump will order staff Friday (Mar 31) to pinpoint countries and goods responsible for America’s nearly US$50 billion trade deficit, in a protectionist warning shot to trade partners like China.
– Channel NewsAsia

Exporters dubious of 5% target
The stronger baht may tame the pace of the export recovery and make Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak’s 5% growth target hard to achieve, shippers say.
– Bangkok Post

PPP Committee wants 6 more transport projects fast-tracked
THE PUBLIC Private Partnership (PPP) Policy Committee yesterday resolved to place six more transportation projects worth Bt600 billion on the fast track for implementation.
– The Nation

Thai tourism sector earns 1.33 trillion baht in 6 months
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has revealed that the tourism revenue in the past six months increased by as much as 4.6% compared to the same period a year before.
– NNT

Call for superhighway to help move to 5G
Thailand urgently needs development of a digital information superhighway to support the transition in consumer lifestyles in the upcoming 5G era, says a key official.
– Bangkok Post

Former foreign minister impeached in Thaksin passport case
The National Legislative Assembly has voted 231-4 in favour of impeaching former foreign minister Surapong Tohvichakchaikul for malfeasance in re-issuing the national passports of ousted ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
– The Nation

Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya continues to evade charges over policeman’s death
An heir to the Red Bull fortune has won another delay in facing charges over an alleged hit-and-run that killed a police officer in Thailand almost five years ago.
– ABC

Okay For Red Bull “Boss” Not To Appear, Prosecutors Say
When someone stepped up to explain why a scion of a billionaire family was justified in consistently refusing to meet with authorities over his deadly car crash in 2012, it was neither his lawyer nor his family.
– Khaosod English

King Power sets Bt12.5 bn for five-year investments
THAI DUTY-FREE company King Power will invest Bt12.5 billion between now and 2021 to achieve sales revenue of Bt140 billion that year, the group’s chief executive officer Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said.
– The Nation

14 E. Europeans in Pattaya ‘Mafia’ arrested, deported
Four Russian gangsters who set up shop in Pattaya have been arrested, along with ten other Eastern Europeans engaged in what immigration officials called “Mafia” behavior.
– Pattaya Mail

Public Relations being prepared for Royal Cremation Ceremony
he government has asked that all media outlets prepare special programming to ready the public 7 days ahead of the Royal Cremation Ceremony of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
– NNT

BTS will extend sky train service from Bearing to Samrong for free from April 3
Bangkok Rapid Transit Authority (BTS) will open sky train service from Bearing station to Samrong station on April 3.
– Thai PBS

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Thailand morning news is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Thailand Morning News For March 31 added by John Le Fevre on March 31, 2017
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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.