Thailand English-language News for January 12

In Thailand English-language News for January 12, 2018, Newsline presenter Surapan Laotharanarit tells us about:

00:42 | A ceremony was held yesterday at Sanam Luang to lower the nine-tiered Great Umbrella of State from the top of the royal crematorium of Bhumibol Adulyadej. The ceremony signals the commencement of disassembling the structure, which is expected to take 90 days.

Meanwhile the Rice Department harvested the rice grown around the royal crematorium. The seeds will be packaged and distributed to the Thai people as keepsakes during future important events.

03:05 | Thailand’s 2017 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report will be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval on Monday, prior to being submitted to the US by the end of this month.

The report is said to the most comprehensive yet and focuses on Thailand’s efforts to detect human trafficking, apprehend those responsible, and process them through the legal system.

04:49 | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will host a third workshop on Global Compact on Migration (GCM) on January 18 to discuss issues affecting migration in order to implement a better migration system.

05:57 | The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has approved the national sports policy law.

07:07 | Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) commissioner Boonsong Noisophon said yesterday he was pleased with the performance of the ECT to date, describing it as having delivered the ‘mot solid of performances’, making it easy for the incoming team of new ECT commissioners.

08:23: Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has received more than 1,000 new year greeting cards. Some of them will be displayed during Children’s Day at Government House on January 13.

11:30 | The Center for Economic and Business Forecasting (CBF) yesterday suggested that the government and the Bank of Thailand (BoT) step in to ensure stability of the Thai baht as its constant appreciation is putting the recovery of the Thai economy at risk, with SMEs unable to obtain currency fluctuation insurance.

Dr Thanavath Phonvichai, director of the CBF, said yesterday that the stronger baht has resulted in a Bt100 billion (about US$3.124 bil) loss to the Thai economy, and stripped about 0.7 per cent cent from Thailand GDP. Despite this the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTC) has maintained its 4.2-4.5 per cent growth forecast for 2018 Thailand GDP, saying their is a likely hood it could reach up to 5 per cent.

13:12 | SCB Securities expects the SET index this year to reach 1,900 due to investments in infrastructure and the EEC, a new influx of investment capital, high inflation, and global economic growth. Among sectors expected to see growth are those in transportation, life insurance, and real estate.

14:31 | Newsline takes a look at Somsamai Gold Shop, an old and popular gold shop, located in Sukhothai.

17:53 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson Busadee Santipitaks, said yesterday that the 2nd Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Leaders Meeting in Cambodia had wrapped up with an endorsement of the Five-Year Plan of Action to enforce cooperation and development projects, and the Phnom Penh Declaration.

Ms Santipitaks said that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha had stressed the important role of the MLC in modernising the sub-region, connecting the Mekong sub-region with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, on being a center of excellence and sustainable development, and on relating with the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) initiative.

Ms Santipitaks said that during the course of the meeting General Chan-o-cha had also met with the leaders of Cambodia, Vietnam and China to discuss various issues.

19:09 | Thailand will host the eighth Asian Side of the Doc (ASD) conference between January 30 and February 2, 2018 in Bangkok in an effort to become the hub of documentaries in Asean in accordance with the government policy to promote creative businesses.

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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.