Thailand English-language News for May 11

In Thailand English-language News for May 11, 2018, Newsline presenter Sandra Hanutsaha tells us about:

01:04 | Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday told the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) and the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) to complete draft laws on cyber security and data protection in a timely manner so as to facilitate trade between Thailand and the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, MDES Minister, Pichet Durongkaveroj, said a temporary cyber-security center is to be established in the Asean-Japan Cyber Security Capacity Building Center with online security training to be provided to 1,000 selected individuals. The training will cost Thailand about Bt350 million (about US$11 mln).

02:33 | Deputy prime minister Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Prajin Juntong yesterday said that the government has introduced projects in four areas to eradicate social disparities among the disadvantaged who have been excluded from current programmes.

ACM Juntong explained that the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) is investing in digital infrastructure and the government is working on the Pracharat Internet project, with fiber optic cables already laid in 24,700 villages.

04:33 | The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday approved a new version of the Bank of Thailand Act, introduced to update the country’s regulations on financial institutions to meet global financial conditions.

05:37 | Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, spokesman for the committee tasked with drafting the new Royal Thai Police Act yesterday said that it had been agreed to draft a central law on investigation regulations to ensure convenience and justice for the public.

The new law will allow members of the public to file complaints at any police station, not only where an incident has taken place, and will allow all police to commence an investigation, even if outside of their home jurisdiction. People will also no longer need to file a police report in order to have lost documents reissued.

06:52 | The Treasury Department (TD) yesterday began marking the boundary of the controversial housing project on the slopes of Doi Suthep in Chainag Mai in preparation of a reforestation project scheduled to begin on May 27.

Minister attached to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, said that the government will help find a new location for the construction of suitable homes for judges and court staff.

08:08 | Minister attached to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, yesterday chaired a meeting of the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) to discuss guidelines for promoting awareness among Thai people of their rights as consumers when purchasing various products and services. The meeting also discussed clamping down on substandard products and unlawful advertisements.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported progress in the suppression of food and pharmaceutical products that don’t meet quality standards, informing the meeting that it has been working with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to have non-compliant advertising removed within 2 to 3 days.

11:42 | The Thai-UK Business Leadership Council (TUBLC) yesterday held its third meeting to discuss setting up a joint working group within the year to expedite the free trade agreement (FTA) formulation process between Thailand and the UK as the UK prepares to withdraw from the European Union (EU).

Thailand Minister of Commerce, Sontirat Sontijirawong, said that the government has agreed to a proposal by UK business leaders for Thailand to ensure greater convenience for foreign investors, especially those doing business in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

Mr Sontijirawong added that laws pertaining to foreign businesses in Thailand will be amended in line with international standards to attract more investors.

13:20 | The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) will organize Startup Thailand 2018 between May 17-20 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) to help new entrepreneurs develop their businesses and engage in global competition.

The event includes an exhibition of the work of more than 400 startups and the ‘PITCHING Stages in Southeast Asia’ competition, to search for the best Thailand startup ,with prizes worth more than Bt1 million (US$ 31,325) up for grabs.

14:34 | A survey conducted by the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting (CEBF) of 1,226 parents between May 1-7 found combined spending on tuition and other school-related costs ahead of the new school term exceeded Bt52.25 billion (about US$1.6 bln), an increase of 4.1 per cent over last year. The bulk of the increase was due to more expensive school uniforms and other essentials.

16:00 | Officials from the Depertment of Fine Arts (DFA) in Ayutthaya have travelled to Pho Thong district in Ang Thong Province after local residents discovered archaeological remnants, including baked-clay spinning wheels and glass bracelets from the prehistoric period, barking deer bones from the Ayutthaya period, and ancient Benjarong porcelain.

17:21 | Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has confirmed his support for Thailand to host the Asean Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (AWEN) from 2018-2020, saying it can help strengthen the economy by incorporating technology and innovations in the manufacturing and marketing sectors to eliminate poverty and socioeconomic inequalities.

18:43 | Dr Kobsak Pootrakool, Minister attached to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), yesterday attended the 14th conference of Asean Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) in Singapore, which adopted a Declaration on the Framework to Minimise the Harmful Effects of Fake News, and numerous other agreements.

21:55 | Deputy prime minister and Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan has congratulated new Malaysia Prime Minster Mahathir bin Mohamad and assured the public that the change in leadership will not affect the joint policy of Thailand and Malaysia towards the insurgency in Southern Thailand.

22:41 | Ninety-two-year-old Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in as Malaysia’s seventh prime minister on Thursday after a surorise election win, defeating the coalition that has ruled the nation for six decades since independence from Britain.

Malaysia’s constitutional monarch, Sultan Muhammad V, administered the oath of office just before10 pm (1400 GMT), in a ceremony broadcast live on state television.

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Newsline is a daily Thailand English-language news and current affairs programme produced by the National News Bureau of Thailand (NNBT) under the Thailand Government Public Relations Department (PRD) for *NBT World, the NNBTs 24/7 English language television service delivering Thailand government news and information to the Thai, Asean, and wider Asian communities. AEC News Today publishes Thailand English-language News M-F.