Work is under way with the UNHCR to help stranded Zimbabwean family
The Thai Foreign Ministry has coordinated with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ regional office in Thailand to find a solution to a Zimbabwean family of eight who have been stuck at Suvarnabhumi international airport for about three months.
— Thai PBS
Wave of rail links to slash logistics costs
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has announced the government plans to shift the country’s main transport mode from road and air links to trains following the signing of contracts for five double-track railways.
— Bangkok Post
Technical snag delays wage hike decision
A proposed increase in the daily minimum wage will not materialise this year due to “technical” issues, labour sources said Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
Migrant worker verifications to be extended
NATIONAL verification for migrant workers would be extended for three months, as some 1 million people are still to go through the process, Labour Minister Adul Saengsingkaew said yesterday.
— The Nation
November MPI highest in 8 months
The Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) in November 2017 rose 4.3 percent year-on-year, the highest in eight months.
— NNT
PM’s support ebbing, says Prem
Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda warned Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha Thursday that he has lost much of his support base but still has a chance to win the public over by serving as a positive role model.
— Bangkok Post
Auto industry leads the field in bonus payments
AUTO, ENERGY, and real estate companies continue to pay high bonuses in 2017, thanks to the country’s economic recovery, according to a survey by The Nation and employment firms.
— The Nation
PPP EEC Track to speed up investment in 5 major projects
The government is planning to move faster in the implementation of the Eastern Economic Corridor project.
— News Today (video)
TJA: 2017 a bad year for Thai media industry
2017 is regarded as a bad year for Thai media industry, both printed and digital, with media outlets, both big and small, struggling for survival from impacts of digital disruption and free expressions restrictions by the junta, according to the Thai Journalists Association’s media situation report.
— Thai PBS
Provinces enacting various measures to suppress holiday road accidents
Measures being adopted nationwide to combat road accidents during the coming New Year holiday now include the setting up of service stops on major roads and closure of intersections with high rates of collision.
— News Today (video)
Regulations announced for EEC public-private partnerships
The Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand (EECO) has set out regulations, methods, conditions and procedures for the Public-Private Partnership (PPP EEC Track) to be applied to five mega-projects as part of the industrial corridor’s development.
— The Nation
Government rolls out economic stimulus measures before year’s end
Economic stimulus measures continue to be issued by the government as New Year presents to the Thai people.
— News Today (video)
Sunsweet sours in first day of trade; TREIT up 6% in debut
Sunsweet Plc (SUN), a maker of sweet corn, became the year’s final company to go public with a listing on the Market for Alternative Investment yesterday, with the closing price settling beneath the initial public offering (IPO) price.
— Bangkok Post
Property developers tipped as attractive for investors
THE PROPERTY sector is likely to generate high returns next year, according to researchers at brokerages.
— The Nation
SRT inks contracts for the construction of five dual-track train projects
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) on Thursday (Dec 28) signed nine contracts with eight companies for the construction of the first phase of dual-track train project at an estimated cost of 69 billion baht.
— Thai PBS
Private investments to spur economy
PRIVATE ENTERPRISES have expedited investments in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), regarded as one of the main economic drivers for the country.
— The Nation
Yala men arrested with drugs and materials for bombs
Talad Yai police from Phang Nga have arrested two men from Yala province (in the deep south on the Malaysian border).
— Phuket Gazette
Disciplinary committee makes no headway in school director’s alleged bribery case
Disciplinary investigation into alleged bribery case that involved a director of a famous secondary school in Bangkok has made no significant headway although five months has elapsed.
— Thai PBS
Ranong steps up boat safety ahead of New Year
The Provincial Marine Office of Ranong has stepped up maritime accident prevention measures ahead of the New Year holidays.
— NNT
Defense Ministry instructing security units to ensure public safety during NY holidays
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon has instructed all relevant agencies to ensure road and public safety during the New Year holidays.
— News Today (video)
Three more illegal tour guides arrested in Phuket blitz
Three more Chinese-speaking illegal tour guides have been arrested yesterday (December 27) and the day before following the illegal tour guide crackdown initiated by Phuket’s Governor.
— Phuket Gazette
Phuket Town roads to close for New Year countdown
Several roads in heart of Phuket Town will be closed for the “Amazing Thailand Countdown Phuket 2018” New Year celebrations to be held this weekend.
— The Phuket News
Yala – Bkk train tickets sold out until Jan 4
People in Yala are still booking train tickets back to their hometowns for the New Years holiday. Tickets to Bangkok have now been fully booked until next year.
— NNT
Feature photo John Le Fevre
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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.
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John Le Fevre
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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- Thailand morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020