Thailand Morning News For August 23

Disaster expert warns of major flooding next month
Heavy rainfall and storms in October may cause major flooding in Central provinces, similarly to the one in 2006 but not as heavy as that in 2011, said an expert in natural disasters.
— Thai PBS

Moody’s warns of banking sector risks
Thai banks still face a variety of risks, including high household debt, economic growth with high exposure to external demand and rising restructured loans, says Moody’s Investors Service.
— Bangkok Post

A guilty verdict for Thailand’s Yingluck may stoke anger but military firmly in charge
A long-awaited verdict in the trial of former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra this week could inflame tension and would likely have far-reaching implications in the politically divided kingdom.
— Channel NewsAsia

Yingluck supporters ‘blocked at every turn’
AUTHORITIES have employed different measures to block supporters of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra from appearing at the Supreme Court on Friday to hear the reading of the verdict in the negligence case against her, a key red-shirt leader said yesterday.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Thailand approves design contract for rail project with China
Thailand’s cabinet on Tuesday approved a draft contract for a detailed plan on the design and construction of the first phase of the country’s high-speed railway project with China.
— Reuters

BoI urges expansion in emerging markets
The Board of Investment (BoI) has encouraged Thai companies to start investing in other emerging markets to capitalise on special privileges as some countries have opened to foreign investment without many competitors.
— Bangkok Post

DSI probes ‘massive Port Authority scam’ involving 560 employees
THE DEPARTMENT of Special Investigation (DSI) has reported that it has uncovered a massive graft scam at the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) involving about 560 employees including many high-ranking officials.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Thailand bans baby formula marketing to boost breastfeeding
Thailand is moving to ban advertisements for infant milk formula in a bid hailed as a major step for a country which has one of the world’s lowest breastfeeding rates but experts called for greater action to protect mothers’ rights to do so.
— Reuters

Thai exports seen rising 11.6 percent y/y in July: Reuters poll
Thailand’s customs-cleared annual exports probably rose for a fifth straight month in July, a Reuters poll showed, supported by improved global growth and strong demand for commodities.
— Reuters

Govt dangles B68bn development carrot
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his government have approved a hefty 68-billion-baht infrastructure package to rev up the Northeast’s economy to a mixed response.
— Bangkok Post

Inoculation against dengue fever urged
The public must get dengue vaccinations, which work better for those who have already been exposed to the virus, says Assoc Prof Tawee Chotpitayasunondh, president of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society of Thailand.
— Bangkok Post

Judges face 3 questions in deciding ex-PM guilt
LEGAL EXPERTS have outlined three major points that Supreme Court judges in the negligence case against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra are likely to focus on.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

DOE promotes STEM careers at Science Fair
The Department of Employment (DOE) has signed an agreement with the National Science Museum Thailand (NSM) to promote the counseling for STEM occupations.
— NNT

Thumbs up to investment-grade bonds
SWISS multinational financial services firm Credit Suisse has recommended Asian investment- grade bonds for investors but says Thailand’s equities are relatively expensive.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Public forums for police reform to begin August 24
The national reform committee in charge of the justice system is ready to launch a campaign to collect public opinion on police reform.
— NNT

B2.6bn approved for elevated dual-rail tracks over Korat
The cabinet has approved a budget of 2.6 billion baht for the construction of an elevated four-kilometre dual rail tracks over part of the Nakhon Ratchasima township, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said.
— Thai PBS

Transport Minister to expedite the construction of NE motorway
The Transport Minister has revealed that the motorway and dual track rail projects linking the central and northeastern regions are being expedited.
— NBT World (video)

Commerce Minister gives economic assessment of the NE
Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn has given her assessment of the current economic situation in the northeastern region and Nakhon Ratchasima province.
— NBT World (video)

Traffic offenders can pay fine at the bank
The Royal Thai Police has included a bar code in traffic tickets to enable traffic offenders to pay their fines at the bank.
— NNT

Koh Tao pair face 2-week appeal wait
It will take at least two weeks for the Supreme Court to decide whether to accept the appeal against the death sentences handed down to two Myanmar nationals convicted of the September 2014 murders of two British backpackers on Koh Tao.
— Bangkok Post

A Syrian claims to be a victim of extortion by police volunteers
A Syrian national has lodged a complaint with the Justice Ministry, accusing a group of foreign volunteers at Lumpini police station of extorting him of 500,000 baht in cash in exchanging for not reporting to the immigration about his son’s overstaying in the country.
— Thai PBS

Asean trade initiatives set for fast track
WORK on a so-called Asean single window – to unite members of the bloc under a shared computer system for trade activities – will be accelerated in a bid to spur intra-regional trade, a senior Ministry of Commerce official said.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Feature photo: Asian Development Bank

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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.

Thailand Morning News For August 23 added by John Le Fevre on August 23, 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.