Thailand morning news for July 8, 2019

PM orders probe into alleged corruption in school lunch program
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Education and Interior ministries to look into the free lunch program for kindergarten and primary school children after allegations of corruption have re-surfaced at some of the schools.
— Thai PBS News

Thailand’s hopes for Kaeng Krachan as Natural World Heritage Site dashed
Thailand’s hopes of having the Kaeng Krachan forest complex added to the UNESCO list of Natural World Heritage Sites have taken a hit after the the World Heritage Committee (WHC)…
— Thai PBS News

Activists begin quest to amend constitution
A group of activists calling themselves the “Social Democrat Movement” on Sunday launched a campaign seeking signatures from 50,000 voters to sponsor a motion for a charter rewrite.
— Bangkok Post

Two volunteers killed by suspected insurgents in Yala
Two defence volunteers manning a road checkpoint, in Muang district of Thailand’s southern province of Yala, have been shot dead while a third volunteer and a villager have been wounded in an attack by suspected insurgents Sunday afternoon.
— Thai PBS News

Dead dugong and dead dolphin found today in southern provinces
A three-metre long dugong was found dead in the sea off Thailand’s southern province of Trang today, bringing the total number of dead dugong this year to seven, according to the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.
— Thai PBS News

Honest ministers and good jobs are difficult to find – Super Poll
Most respondents to an opinion poll, conducted by the Super Poll Research Centre, admit that honest ministers, good jobs and cheap but good food are difficult to find these days.
— Thai PBS News

Country’s biggest source of illicit diet drugs purged
The illegal weight loss drug production base raided in Kalasin province was the country’s biggest, and police will find out if any of its products killed the mother of a five-month-old child last week, a deputy national police chief said.
— Bangkok Post

Prayut wields ever more power
The Justice Ministry might not be in the spotlight right now, but the transfer of key investigative agencies to come under the direct supervision of the prime minister should not go unnoticed.
— Bangkok Post

NHCO prepares policies to support aging society
The National Health Commission Office (NHCO) has held an assembly to discuss policies to support the aging society.
— NBT World (video)

China puts B700m into durian plant
Chinese investors have set up a joint venture with Thai counterparts to build a 700-million-baht factory in Songkhla’s Thepha district to make freeze-dried durian for export to mainland China.
— Bangkok Post

PM can carry on during probe, says Wissanu
The complaint related to the status and eligibility of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will not prevent him performing his duties as the next premier, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Sunday.
— Bangkok Post

BMA hammering out Skytrain deal
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is negotiating with BTS Group Holdings Plc over the granting proposed 40-year extensions to two concessions on the Green Line Skytrain service, according to a source at the Transport Ministry.
— Bangkok Post

PTT has big ambitions for EECI project
PTT Plc is set to launch its Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECI) project in Rayong with the ambitious goal to raise the research and development centre to technology readiness level soon.
— Bangkok Post

DPM Wissanu: Legislation must Comply with Global Changes
The Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs has suggested that legal agencies should adjust their approach and work processes by incorporating technology, in order to adapt to global changes and to improve the country’s competitiveness.
— NBT World (video)

MFA to host 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting this month
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has announced its preparedness to host the 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Post Ministerial Conferences and related meetings later this month.
— NBT World (video)

Opinion: Who’s responsible for the sinking of ‘Phoenix’?
A year later, this hastily penned opinion piece still asks questions that remain mostly unanswered… Who’s responsible for the ‘Phoenix’ boat disaster, the worst maritime disaster in Thailand since the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004?
— The Thaiger

Dugongs ‘live’ from today starring Miriam and Yamil
Be your own director, choose the camera and follow your baby dugongs live. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and TOT are running live trials for a livestream of the care facilities where the two young dugongs ‘Mariam’ and ‘Yamil’ are now living, one in Trang and one in Phuket.
— The Thaiger

City Hall to build three more ‘water banks’ to ease road flooding
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is going to build three more ‘water banks’, or underground water catchment areas in Bangkok to absorb excess rain water to prevent repeated flooding in low-lying areas caused by heavy rain.
— Thai PBS News

Majority foresee worse in Thai politics: Suan Susit Poll
A majority of people expect to see the worse in Thai politics, based on the latest cabinet line-up reported by the media, according to the result of an opinion survey by the Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, or Suan Dusit Poll.
— Bangkok Post

Nida Poll: PM must focus on country, not PPRP problems
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should attach more importance to the country’s administration than to problems in the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), according to the result of an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll.
— Bangkok Post

Princess Sirivannavari adopts orphaned dugongs
Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari has adopted two orphaned dugongs under the Corals and Marine Animals Conservation project.
— Pattaya Mail

Private hospitals’ price deadline pushed back
The Commerce Ministry will extend the submission deadline for 353 private hospitals to provide information about the actual costs of drugs, medical supplies and medical services to July 31, saying the decision is in line with a cabinet resolution on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Vietnam’s EU deals imperil Thai trade
Thai exports of cars, computers and electric circuits are at risk from Vietnam’s trade and investment deals with the EU, says the Trade Policy and Strategy Office.
— Bangkok Post

South Korean Actress Charged for Catching Giant Clams
A South Korean actress has been charged in southern Thailand with catching endangered giant clams while participating in a reality TV show.
— Khaosod English

Opposition rebuked for implicating Palang Pracharat leader in Krung Thai loan scandal
The Opposition has been rebuked for threatening to censure Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in the lower House if he goes ahead with the appointment of Palang Pracharat party leader Uttama Savanayana as finance minister.
— Thai PBS News

Startup Nation: Rendering Thailand into a tech hub of the future
As Thailand positions itself to becoming a tech hub of the future, Startup Nation brings together the country’s hottest startups and more!
— e27

South Korean actress faces Thai jail for reality TV stunt
A South Korean actress faces up to five years in a Thai jail for catching endangered giant clams in a reality TV stunt, an official said Saturday (Jul 6), despite…
— Thai PBS News

Could flexible work hours ease the loads and stress of Bangkok’s peaks?
A study by navigation company TomTom conducted tests on metropolitan congestion. It’s used data from Bangkok, Mexico City, Jakarta and three Chinese cities – Chongqing, Beijing and Chengdu.
— The Thaiger

Sacks containing 158kg heroin found on roadside
Four sacks containing a total of 158 kilogrammes of heroin bars were found in bushes by a road in Muang district on Sunday morning, police said.
— Bangkok Post

‘Veteran fraudster’ nabbed for golf club scam
A 29-year-old man with a luxury lifestyle has been arrested in Bangkok’s upscale Thong Lor area after police identified him as a suspected veteran fraudster who had bilked over 100 million baht from his victims.
— Bangkok Post

Everything we know about the Royal Barge Procession in Bangkok on 24th October 2019
The Royal Barge Procession, the final event of the Coronation of King Rama X, will be held on Thursday 24th
— Richard Barrow in Thailand

Electronic waste discovered in Sa Kaeo conservation forest
Residents of Tambon Talangnai, in the Wangnamyen district of Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province, have discovered a huge electronic waste dumping site, covering over 3.2 hectares of a conservation forest in the area.
— Thai PBS News

Five Baby Hornbills Rescued From Wildlife Trader’s House
A suspected wildlife trader was arrested Saturday in Narathiwat province after authorities raided his house and found five baby hornbills, a protected and endangered bird.
— Khaosod English

Cabinet lineup to be submitted to His Majesty the King
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has confirmed that the cabinet lineup will be urgently submitted to His Majesty the King and admitted that the setting up of the new government has been a time-consuming process.
— Pattaya Mail

Thailand to host largest organic expos in Southeast Asia
Thailand is set to host the largest organic and natural product fairs in Southeast Asia with BIOFACH Southeast Asia 2019 and the Natural Expo Southeast Asia 2019, taking place in July and promoting organic products from Thailand to the world.
— Pattaya Mail

Bangkok’s Din Daeng Road area the noisiest in the city
Bangkok’s Din Daeng Road in Bangkok is noisiest road in the capital, with the average 24 hour noise levels measuring between 72-82 decibels, exceeding the standard level of 70 decibels, according to the Pollution Control Department.
— The Thaiger

New EU-Vietnam free trade deal threatens Thailand
Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, where the new trade deals with the EU were signed last week Vietnam’s new trade deal with the EU is threatening Thailand’s trade and investment.
— The Thaiger

Shocking Video: Village Head assistant Beaten, assaulted in Pattaya, assailant flees scene
Just after Midnight this morning, July 6th, 2019, a village head assistant from Chaiyaphum, Mr. Prachak Leemkunthot, 41, was punched in the face and then kicked while he was on the ground, suffering serious injuries and is currently in critical condition in a local hospital.
— The Pattaya News

Thailand lobbies for a seat on UNESCO-WHC as Kaeng Krachan listing hits snag
Thailand has been lobbying for support from 21 state parties, at the 43rd ordinary session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in Baku in the capital of Azerbaijan, for the Thai delegation to become a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for the 2019-2023 term.
— Thai PBS News

Royal Barge Procession Set for Oct. 24
A royal barge procession presided over by His Majesty the King will grace the river of Bangkok on Oct. 24, the navy announced Friday.
— Khaosod English

Foreign film producers knocking for perks
The tax rebate for filming in Thailand is growing in popularity as various foreign-led productions line up for the incentives.
— Bangkok Post

Facebook approaches BoT on Libra
The Bank of Thailand will schedule a meeting with Facebook to discuss the social media giant’s much-touted Libra cryptocurrency.
— Bangkok Post

Thai producers complain of China’s imposition of GMP on durian
Thai durian exporters and orchard owners have expressed serious concern that China’s recent imposition of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification, the system for ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards, on Thailand’s “king of fruits” will negatively affect durian exports to China and suppress the price of the fruit.
— Thai PBS News

Man shoots wife to death while with mistress
A man has surrendered to police after shooting his wife to death in Chalerm Phra Kiat district of this southern province early Sunday, an incident he described as an unforgivable mistake.
— Bangkok Post

In Phuket, Indians ride to rescue as China visits ebb
The country’s struggling tourism industry is finding support with visitors from the population colossus to the west, just as the years of bumper arrivals from the giant to the north are beginning to wane.
— Bangkok Post

How to solve Thailand’s local waste management crisis
An expert view on how to solve local communities’ waste management crisis by creating incentives for recycling.
— Isaan Record

OCPB denies connection with weight-loss drug seized in Kalasin
The Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) is not involved in the production of a banned weight-loss drug found in large quantities in a police raid on a factory in this northeastern province on Saturday morning, according to an OCPB release made available to the media on Sunday.
— Bangkok Post

Care of dugong ‘Mariam’ set to go live today (Sunday)
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) and the Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT) will run a trial live stream of young dugongs ‘Mariam’ and ‘Yamil’ today, to test the Internet signal and CCTV cameras at their locations in Trang and Phuket.
— Thai PBS News

PM expresses concern on Thais’ health after bouts of heavy rain
The Prime Minister has expressed concern on the well-being and health of Thais nationwide after days of thunderstorms and extensive rainfall, ordering all provincial administrative units to provide assistance to those affected by the severe weather system.
— NBT World (video)

Army sets up Tropical Storm Mun response center
The Royal Thai Army has set up a command center for Tropical Storm Mun, providing assistance to affected villagers in case of flash floods and mudslides.
— NBT World (video)

Photos of the Royal Barge Procession in Bangkok
A spectacular procession of royal barges will be seen along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok on the 24th October.
— Richard Barrow in Thailand

19 million baht put aside to rehabilitate controversial Doi Suthep land in Chiang Mai
The Thai Judiciary Office says they will allocate 19 million baht for the rehabilitation of land at the foot of Chiang Mai’s Doi Suthep – recently the subject of controversy and protests from local activists and environmentalists.
— The Thaiger

Pattaya Police meet with local entertainment owners after raids, lay out rules and guidelines
Yesterday afternoon, July 5th, 2019, Pattaya City Police officials and leadership requested local entertainment and nightlife managers and owners to come to the Pattaya Police Station to lay out guidelines and rules that the police state will be enforced citywide.
— The Pattaya News

Fujitsu banking on demand for digital innovation
Fujitsu Thailand, the local arm of the Japanese tech firm, is transforming itself from a systems integrator to a global premium services integrator to capitalise on demand for digital innovation from businesses.
— Bangkok Post

No partying allowed in jail: dept
The Corrections Department has dismissed talk that prisoners were allowed to hold birthday parties in prison compounds and brushed aside calls for new prisons to be set up to take political prisoners.
— Bangkok Post

Police arrest and fine multiple young Arab nationals for racing motorbikes in Pattaya
Early this morning, July 6th, 2019, after numerous complaints from local residents, Pattaya Police and Traffic Police descended on Soi Yensabai near Walking Street in Pattaya where reports had come that large groups of young Arab men constantly race and drive motorbikes dangerously in the area.
— The Pattaya News

Nigerian National arrested in Pattaya for online money scams, at least 1.5 million baht stolen.
This afternoon, July 6th, 2019, a Nigerian National, Mr. Yuchana Joseph Amujioku, 40 was arrested in his home in Pattaya along with his Thai wife, Wasana Kanchak, 36 years old for allegedly stealing 1.5 million baht from a Thai woman in a sophisticated online romance scam.
— The Pattaya News

Chiang Mai protesters petition Governor over Rinkham Intersection upgrade
An activist group is taking its protest about the upgrading of an intersection in Chiang Mai to the local governor.
— The Thaiger

Pattaya fund-raiser donates 10,000 baht for disabled sailing
Three Thai national sailing male athletes from the Disabled Sailing Thailand Thai and foreign businesspeople got together in Pattaya to raise about 10,000 baht for the Disabled Sailing Thailand project at a fundraiser in Bang Saray.
— The Thaiger

Feature photo A birder’s blog

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on Asean’s endangered species, here, the banteng (Bos sauveli)

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 8 added by John Le Fevre on July 8, 2019
View all posts by John Le Fevre →

Bio
Latest Posts

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.