Thailand morning news for July 4, 2019

TNSC predicts income loss of B500bn
Exporters are estimated to lose as much as 500 billion baht worth of income from the strong baht this year, with small-scale entrepreneurs hit the hardest.
— Bangkok Post

Ten sea turtles washed ashore on Thai beaches in the past 3 months
Ten rare sea turtles have been washed ashore on Thailand’s beaches in the past three months, some of them already dead. The survivors are being treated by veterinarians. The turtles’…
— Thai PBS News

Vendors Balk at Khaosan Road’s Call to Ban Plastic, Styrofoam
Can Khaosan Road kick its single-use plastic habit? In an effort to reduce waste, vendors along Khaosan Road are being encouraged to phase out plastic and foam packaging.
— Khaosod English

Investments in Thailand’s EEC surges 15.85 percent
Investments to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) in Thailand expanded 15.85 percent to 195.69 billion baht (6.4 billion USD), according to the Ministry of Industry’s Department of Industrial Works (DIW).
— Vietnamplus

GDP growth set to rev up in H2 after poor start
GDP growth is likely to come in below 3% in the first half before revving up in the latter half on an expected recovery in exports, says a senior Bank of Thailand official.
— Bangkok Post

PM vows to phase out four types of plastic products by 2022
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said, on the eve of International Plastic Bag Free Day today (July 3), that Thailand will phase out the use of four types of plastic by 2022.
— Thai PBS News

BOT’s move to curb rapid Thai Baht surge
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has scaled back the auction size of short-term bonds this month in what was seen as an attempt to curb the rapid surge of Thai Baht which hit a six-year high on Monday.
— Thai PBS News

‘Ya ice’ emerges as regional drug menace
Methamphetamine remains a pressing problem for Thailand while in other Asean countries crystal meth, or ya ice, has become a major scourge, according to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).
— Bangkok Post

Amnesty International urges police to catch Ja New’s attackers quickly
Amnesty International (AI) Thailand today urged Thai police to speed up the hunt for the perpetrators of a brutal assault on anti-junta political activist Sirawith “Ja New” Seritiwat on a busy road in Bangkok last week.
— Thai PBS News

Wissanu likens new government to ship that can sink if not taken cared for
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has likened the new government, which is yet to be set up, to a large steel ship, carrying both people and cargo, which can go…
— Thai PBS News

PEACH wins Thailand MICE Venue Standard Certificate
Pattaya Exhibition And Convention Hall (PEACH) was recently awarded the prestigious MICE Venue Standard Certificate issued by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).
— Pattaya Mail

A drop in demand leaves Bangkok with a glut of completed new condos
A parliament of owls? A murder of crows? A flock of geese? But what’s the collective noun for a lot of available new condo developments in Bangkok? A glut of Condos?
— The Thaiger

Brightcove Publishes Over-the-Top (OTT) TV Research with Insights on Adoption, Payment and Advertising Preferences in Thailand
Brightcove Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOV), the leading global provider of cloud services for video, today published its annual OTT TV market study for Asia, Asia OTT Research Report 2019, conducted with research partner YouGov, a global public opinion and data company.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

2 killed, 4 others injured in south Thailand bombings and shootings
Thai PBS A Thai para-military ranger and a local villager were killed, along with three other rangers and another villager who were wounded in two related incidents in the forests of Yala, southern Thailand, this morning.
— The Thaiger

Activists say WHS bid will fail
Human rights activists say the forest reserve in Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi will not be listed as a World Heritage Site (WHS) because the government has failed to recognise the cultural identity of the ethnic Karen villagers who live there.
— Bangkok Post

Was Thailand’s flawed election democratic enough? Maybe for Washington
When the top American diplomat visits Bangkok later this month, he may come bearing a gift prized by generals in both nations – a declaration that democracy has been restored in the kingdom along with full bilateral ties.
— Coconuts Bangkok

Cabinet approves budget for public transportation projects
The Cabinet this week approved 1.175-billion-baht budget for the employment affairs of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA).
— NBT World (video)

TMB-TBank marriage creeps a step closer
Due diligence for the merger of TMB Bank and Thanachart Bank (TBank) is almost complete, marking a step towards the formation of a single bank expected to provide financial services by December.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand hosts ASEAN Ombudsman Forum
The Office of the Ombudsman of Thailand has hosted the ASEAN Ombudsman Forum (AOF).
— Vietnamplus

PM Prayut to address internal issues of Palang Pracharath
The Prime Minister has acknowledged the in-fights among members of the Palang Pracharath Party, but has insisted that he will do his best to form a new government.
— NBT World (video)

Visitors number to rise 7 in 2019 latter half KResearch
Kasikorn Research Center Company Limited (KResearch) has forecast that the number of foreign visitors to Thailand in the latter half of 2019 will reach 20.1 million, due to proactive marketing campaigns by tourism businesses, as they attempt to draw tourists with different needs and purchasing powers.
— NBT World (video)

New government should Speed up Thai-EU trade agreement
Thai exports to major markets are under pressure from the escalating trade war, which is likely to linger through the end of the year.
— Thailand Business News

ASEAN SLOM readies labour sector for Industry 4 0
Labor officials from the ASEAN bloc are attending the 15th ASEAN Senior Labour Officials Meeting (SLOM) from today to tomorrow in Bangkok.
— NBT World (video)

They forgot about Isan
As far as ASEAN countries go, there is little doubt that Thailand is doing well.
— The Asean Post

ONWR to utilize European anti flooding technology
The Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) has held discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on floods prevention by implementing European water management technology.
— NBT World (video)

NHSO approves criteria for allocation of Golden Card Fund
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) has approved the criteria for the allocation of the healthcare fund for the universal healthcare coverage for 2020.
— NBT World (video)

MSDHS showcases innovations for disabled persons
The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has presented to the Prime Minister innovations for persons with disabilities, promoting Thailand Social Expo 2019 event.
— NBT World (video)

Bumrungrad adding ICU beds
Bumrungrad International Hospital (BH) plans to expand its intensive care unit (ICU) by a further 24 beds from 63 in order to support elderly patients.
— Bangkok Post

Sakon Nakhon students invent electric wheelchair
Sakon Nakhon Polytechnic College students have invented an electric wheelchair for the disabled and the elderly that is energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
— NBT World (video)

Tanyong Pao threadfin salted fishes, a tidbit from Pattani
Seafood processing is one of the propelling of the local fishing business of the “Stable, Wealth, Sustainable” prototype city project to raise the quality of life of people in the southern border province by turning the economy into the main direction leading to complete changes in other areas to create opportunities and equal opportunity access for people in the area.
— NBT World (video)

Thai car listing platform SiamCarDeal raises US$300K led by 500 TukTuks
SiamCarDeal, an online car listing platform in Thailand, has received US$300,000 in seed funding led by 500 TukTuks, with participation from unnamed angel investors.
— e27

Swiss firm sees continued baht rise
Swiss wealth and asset manager Lombard Odier is bullish on the baht, reckoning the currency will run up further to surpass 30 to the US dollar by year-end.
— Bangkok Post

Rain check for new Expressway Authority of Thailand deal
The Transport Ministry has put on hold a proposal for the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) to offer a 30-year contract extension to Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc (BEM).
— Bangkok Post

Future Forward chief rips government’s EEC plan
Leaders of the Future Forward Party criticized the government’s Eastern Economic Corridor project, saying it will do little to improve the quality of life for most Eastern Seaboard residents.
— Pattaya Mail

Pheu Thai executive committee formally quits today
Long-serving secretary-general of the Pheu Thai party, Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai, has left his post today, along with the other members of the party’s executive committee, in order to let the…
— Thai PBS News

Solar rooftop revisions soon
The Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency plans to ask the Energy Ministry to launch a revised solar scheme for the public after witnessing lower participation than expected in the household solar rooftop programme.
— Bangkok Post

Happy Birthday HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak
Born on July 4, 1957, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Walailak is the youngest sister of His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun.
— Pattaya Mail

Thailand to host Bangkok ASEAN Film Festival 2019
Culture Minister Weera Rojphotjanarat said her ASEAN counterparts have resolved at their eighth meeting in Yokyakarta, Indonesia to designate the year 2019 as ASEAN Cultural Year.
— Pattaya Mail

Local 75 year old Thai man says he has built and invented his own generator that doesn’t use fuel
Thailand- 75-year-old Cheun Funkai, a former Electricity Authority of Thailand Employee who retired 12 years ago, claims to have invented a prototype generator after over a decade of trial and error. The generator does not require oil, coal or gas to run and was entirely designed and built by himself.
— The Pattaya News

Khon Kaen school evacuated over fears building ‘near collapse’
More than 100 teachers and students have been evacuated from a Khon Kaen school in the north-east. The evacuation was sparked by fears the 40 year old building may collapse.
— The Thaiger

Former OrBorTor President in Phang Nga, and accused pedophile, flees
The former OrBorTor President in Tung Maprao, Tai Muang district in Phang Nga, Suppasak ‘Sak’ Pokaboot, has reportedly fled from his house after having resigned from his position following grave allegations of pedophilia and incriminating video evidence this week.
— The Thaiger

Prayuth Says New Govt By End of July
Hang in there Thailand – a new government will be formed before July ends, junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha said Wednesday.
— Khaosod English

Tropical Depression ‘Mun’ a Welcome Shower After Drought: Expert, Farmers
The state weather department has officially warned that a tropical depression in China will affect Thailand – but there’s no cause for alarm, a weather expert says.
— Khaosod English

Chiang Mai makes it into the world’s top ten locations to find a vegan burger
Being vegan may have been a bit ‘out there’ ten years ago, but in 2019 it’s all the rage and specialist vegan eating establishments are popping up around the world, including Thailand.
— The Thaiger

Pattaya police inspect three local bars following resident complaints
Police have conducted spot inspections at three bars in the Third Road area of Pattaya. The inspections occurred on July 2 around 2am after a tip-off from a “concerned citizen” that the businesses were open past the legal closing times and disturbing residents with “loud noise and rowdy patrons”. …
— The Thaiger

Thailand promotes LGBTQ tourism in New York rally
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has used a New York rally to raise awareness on equality of sexual orientation to lure tourists to the kingdom.
— Bangkok Post

89 year old Trang grandmother raped by 71 year old neighbour
Daily News A 71 year old man in Trang has been arrested after confessing to raping an 89 year old neighbour. Daily News reports that Palian police arrived to find that the woman’s granddaughter, Naphawan, had already taken matters into her own hands and beaten up Yap Chaiphak.
— The Thaiger

How to View Saturn in Thailand’s Skies Next Tuesday
Saturn will move to the point in its orbit where it’s closest to Earth next Tuesday – here’s how to catch a clear view of the planet in Thai skies.
— Khaosod English

Police help toddler stricken with lymphedema
Pol. Maj. Sanwan Pansritaoan and Moo 1 village chief Supoj Inyam presented the mother of Thanakrit Kiejew 7,000 baht for treatment of his lymphedema, or swelling of his right leg.
— Pattaya Mail

Sacked female ex-employee arrested over 7-Eleven heist in Nakhon Ratchasima
Police have arrested a former female 7-Eleven shop staff member in Nakhon Ratchasima for an alleged robbery that netted 2.3 million baht in cash.
— The Thaiger

Sukhumvit Gallery showcases images from a bygone era in Bangkok
The Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit has launched a photo gallery and Artistic Afternoon Tea themed around Sukhumvit’s rich history.
— The Thaiger

Feature photo Ocean Defender – Hawaii

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges plastic waste throughout Asean.

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.

Thailand morning news for July 4 added by John Le Fevre on July 4, 2019
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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.