Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on May 15 presided over the ceremony to mark the end of shackling inmates with iron chains and bars at maximum-security Bang Kwang Central Prison in Nonthaburi, ending a century-old practice which draws ire among rights groups as a human rights violation.

BANGKOK, May 15 – Thailand’s Industry Ministry will earmark a Bt1.754 billion (US$60 million) subsidy for the construction of flood-prevention walls at four industrial estates in northern Bangkok and further north Ayutthaya, minister Prasert Boonchaisuk said today.

BANGKOK, May 16 – The government-sponsored bill seeking Bt2 trillion in loan for Thailand’s infrastructure development will not be ready for debate in Parliament’s extraordinary session on May 29-31, according to Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office.

RANONG, MAY 15 – An attempt to conserve a disappearing species, the water onion, in this southern Thai province continues to prevent the species disappearing altogether from the wild.

PATTANI, May 15 – A senior government official today promised to remove the names of former suspects, arrested under the enforcement of the emergency decree and martial law, from the state’s blacklist.

BANGKOK, May 16 – Thailand and Japan are cooperating in a project on long-term care service development for the elderly, the Thai Public Health Ministry has announced.

The Public Health Ministry plans to develop Thailand as ASEAN’s medical hub, aiming to draw in more foreigners for medical treatment by 10 percent/year.

Public Health Minister Dr Pradit Sintavanarong said on the weekly televised program “PM Yingluck Government Meets the People” that the government is preparing the country to become ASEAN’s medical and health club.

Thailand’s Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) in the first quarter of this year grew 2.9 percent, slowing down from 43.8 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, said Somchai Harnhirun, director-general of the Industrial Economics Office.

The Thai public’s expenses for the coming school term are expected to reach Bt53 billion, a 6.7-percent rise.

Thai Chamber of Commerce University (UTCC)’s Economic and Business Forecasting Center director Thanawat Polvichai said a survey was recently conducted among 1,200 parents nationwide.

Thailand’s finance minister held a special meeting on strengthening the baht Monday as agencies concerned agreed to deal with baht appreciation to achieve the country’s export target growth at 8-9 percent.