Thailand Morning News For May 26

Biometric proof to be required in deep South for SIM card
IN A MOVE to step up national security, mobile phone users in the deep South will be required to register their SIM cards using biometric data starting on June 1.
– The Nation

Excise tax organic laws set by August
Organic laws for the new excise tax that will change the tax base computation to recommended retail prices are expected to be announced by August, the Excise Department’s chief says.
– Bangkok Post

Laos, Thailand agree on master plan
THAILAND AND Laos have agreed to draw up a a five-year master plan to double the value of bilateral trade and investment to US$10 billion (Bt344 billion) by 2021.
– The Nation

Agriculture Ministry joins hand with NECTEC to develop Agri map application
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has collaborated with the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC) to develop an Agri-Map mobile application, in compliance with the government’s Thailand 4.0 initiative.
– NBT World (VDO)

WORK ON 1ST SMALL STRETCH OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL MAY SOON BEGIN
Construction of the first 3.5-kilometer stretch of a high-speed rail line connecting Thailand to China may begin as soon as August, transportation officials announced Wednesday.
– Khaosod English

People will be given a say in 5 more computer-related laws
Five more laws related to the new computer crime act which came into force on Wednesday are awaiting to be promulgated but members of the public will be given a chance to give their inputs which will be considered and incorporated into the laws.
– Thai PBS

Department of Skill Development signs agreement with businesses and educators on skill development
The Department of Skill Development has signed an agreement with more than 150 businesses and educational institutes to develop skilled workers to meet the current market demand and is aiming to produce 100,000 personnel within the year.
– NBT World (VDO)

GSB hawks low-interest loans to street food vendors
The state-owned Government Savings Bank (GSB) is set to extend 3 billion baht in soft loans to 10,000 street food vendors to help them with improvements.
– Bangkok Post

Feared computer crime law goes into effect
THE HIGHLY controversial computer crimes law has been in effect since Wednesday, after it was published in the Royal Gazette in January.
– The Nation

FLOODED AREAS ACROSS BANGKOK AFTER LAST NIGHT’S BIG STORM (PHOTOS)
A night of pounding rain left portions of the capital flooded Thursday morning, leading to a torrent of complaints from commuters.
– Khaosod English

Heavy rains paralyzes Bangkok, turning roads into canals
Heavy rains last night and before dawn today paralyzed Bangkok’s traffic as several major roads in the inner and outer zones are under water, forcing several schools and small businesses to close.
– Thai PBS

Customs Department cracking down on import tax evasion
The Customs Department is keeping an eye on illicit businesses circumventing taxation such as travelers that return with goods for commercial purposes and shipping companies with fraudulent manifests while also considering cooperation with companies such as Alibaba, EBay and Amazon to combat non-regulated e-commerce.
– NBT World (VDO)

AAPICO to invest $100m in UK’s auto parts maker
Thailand’s AAPICO Hitech Pcl has received its board’s approval to invest $100 million in UK-based auto parts maker Sakthi Global Auto Holdings (SGAH), the firm said on Thursday.
– Deal Street Asia

Frank targets B100m value
Frank Insurance Broker, an online car insurance broker, plans to expand its insurance products to travel and accidental insurance policies this year, aiming for 100 million baht in premium value in its second year of operations.
– Bangkok Post

Dr Supat who murdered a Burmese couple sent back from Myanmar
A former doctor of the Police Hospital who escaped death sentence for the killing of a couple of Burmese migrant workers to Myanmar since 2009 was sent back to Thailand on Thursday.
– Thai PBS

More luxury cars seized in import-duty evasion probe
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has confiscated 38 luxury cars as part of an investigation into allegations of import-duty evasion by car importers and dealers.
– The Nation

More details of Thai-China rail cooperation ready for vetting by Cabinet
The Ministry of Transport is set to propose more matters on Thailand-China rail cooperation for Cabinet vetting in June.
– NNT

Public Relations Dept to educate community volunteers on gov policies
The Public Relations Department (PRD) has invited community volunteers to learn about the government’s measures to achieve national reform and the Thailand 4.0 development agenda.
– NNT

Tourism Ministry makes moves to improve tourism for Chinese visitors
The Minister of Tourism and Sports is seeking discussions with the National Tourism Administration of China (CNTA) on quelling illegal tours, expressing belief that the situation has significantly improved.
– NNT

NLA approves report on enhancing vocational schools
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has approved a report on the conditions for success in multilateral education management drawn up to foster multilateral technical schooling in line with government policy.
– NNT

Highway Dept provides contractors with training program on construction safety
The Department of Highways is providing a training program on safety measures to contractors handling bridge, overpass and other construction projects.
– NNT

Social Development Ministry calls meeting on beggar control
he Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has called a meeting with related officials on its draft beggar control strategy for the next five years.
– NNT

Health Department warns patients with 4 diseases against eating durians excessively
Health Department Director General Dr. Wachira Phengchan said that durian is a fruit that provides vitamins and minerals and is a great source of carbohydrate, but patients with kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary stenosis should be extra cautious for consuming too many durians as it could be harmful to their health.
– NNT

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Thailand Morning News For May 26 added by John Le Fevre on May 26, 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.