Thailand Morning News For November 17

Thailand Morning News For November 17
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Thailand morning newsConstruction of Thai-Chinese high-speed railway to begin in December
The Transport Ministry is confident the construction of the 3.5-kilometre section of the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway between Klang Dong – Pang Asok stations in Nakhon Ratchasima province will begin in December since the environmental impact assessment report for it has been completed, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said.
— Thai PBS

Labor Ministry : Zero illegal migrant workers by March 2018
The Thai government plans to achieve the target of zero illegal migrant workers by March 31st, 2018.
— NBT World (video)

Thailand plans joint arms factory with China
Thailand’s defense technology agency plans to set up a joint center with China to produce and maintain military equipment in the latest sign of the strengthening security relationship since a 2014 coup.
— Reuters

Baht appreciates to 30-month high
The baht rose to 32.95 versus the greenback Thursday, hitting a 30-month high, with Bank of Thailand governor Veerathai Santiprabhob saying the firmer baht is in line with regional peers, driven by the US dollar’s retreat.
— Bangkok Post

NLA passes bill to have sin tax help elderly poor
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has passed a bill enabling the allocation of up to 4 billion baht a year from sin taxes to support the monthly living allowance for the elderly poor.
— Bangkok Post

Major center against illegal call centers setup by AMLO and other organizations
Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has joined hands with 36 commercial banks and 5 phone service providers to tackle illegal call centers with a coordination center to be set up to deal with the issue.
— NNT

FCCT cancels press briefing after meeting with authorities
After two meetings with security officers, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) released a statement on 15 November 2017 announcing the cancellation of a press briefing, “Vietnam — 165 Prisoners of Conscience, 999 Years Behind Bars”.
— Prachatai English

Health official faces harshest disciplinary punishment
A SENIOR Public Health Ministry official has been sacked from the civil service without pension benefits for allegedly sexually harassing several subordinates over a number of years, committing a serious disciplinary breach, according to permanent secretary Dr Jessada Chokdamrongsuk.
— The Nation

Somchai warns over risk of parties folding
Parties will be unable to field candidates in the next general election or will have to fold entirely unless the regime makes some key policy changes soon, election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn warned yesterday.
— Bangkok Post

Pollution Control Department to establish database to manage plastic waste
The Pollution Control Department has collaborated with the Plastics Institute of Thailand in creating a national waste database, in order to manage over two million tonnes of plastic waste produced by the country each year.
— NBT World (video)

Investors target Silom-Sathon area for returns
Condos in the Silom-Sathon area are the new targets for investors, with annual return on investment for rentals of 5%, according to property consultant Plus Property.
— Bangkok Post

2 men sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for attempting to burn royal arch
A provincial court has handed down jail terms of two and a half years to 2 suspects accused of royal defamation for attempting to burn a royal arch.
— Prachatai English

PTT sells 30% stake in SPRC
PTT Plc, the oil and gas conglomerate, has disposed of at least 30% of its ordinary shares in SET-listed Star Petroleum Refining Co (SPRC), reducing its shareholding from 36% to 5.41% of total shares with voting rights.
— Bangkok Post

Finance Ministry issues clarifications on state assistance for low wage earners
The Ministry of Finance has revealed that the government is planning to provide assistance for low-income earners in two phases, the first of which is the current welfare card program. The second one will focus on career support.
— NBT World (video)

ASEAN vows to develop sustainable fishery
The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) has approved solutions to illegal fishing and agreed to develop sustainable fishery in ASEAN.
— NBT World (video)

Thai-listed Sansiri acquires 50% stake in local property developer
Thai listed property developer Sansiri Pcl has acquired a 50 per cent stake in Prime Area 38 Co Ltd as well as accepted the assignment of claim on promissory notes from U City Pcl, worth 836.98 million ($25.36 million) baht in total.
— Deal Street Asia

Thailand up on ICT index by ITU
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has moved Thailand up on its annual telecommunications technology development ranking from 82nd to 78th globally.
— NBT World (video)

Political ban to stay until next year, but party registration permitted: Wissanu
THE RELAXATION of the ban on political activity will probably occur next year given the amendment of six relevant laws to align them with the Constitution, which is required to hold a local election.
— The Nation

Thailand to provide free internet SIMs to poor
The Thai government plans to hand out SIMs granting free internet access to welfare recipients as part of the second phase of its subsidy scheme for the poor.
— Telecomasia.net

Customs improvements to lift ranking
Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong set his sights on solving obstacles to international trade as part of the government’s relentless effort to lift its ranking in the World Bank’s ease of doing business report next year.
— Bangkok Post

Campaign against domestic violence launched
The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, relevant agencies and press members have launched a campaign to end violence against women, children and domestic abuse, while promoting constructive communication within families.
— NNT

Amazing Thailand Tourism Year 2018 kicked off
Thailand’s government has held its “Amazing Thailand Tourism Year 2018” event to kick-off next year’s tourism campaign, aiming to disperse tourist spending across the provinces.
— NNT

Teacher transferred pending probe of sexual harassment
A physical education teacher who was accused of sexually harassing his female students was transferred out of the school in Prakhon Chai district of Buri Ram on Thursday (Nov 16) pending an investigation into his alleged misconduct.
— Thai PBS

 

Feature photo Orasa Khosanthia
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.

 

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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.

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