Gold rushes down 350 baht in one day

 ON November 24 ^th morning, Thailand’s Gold Traders Association announced a sudden drop of selling price of gold bar to 20,100 baht per baht weight and 20,600 baht per baht weight for the gold ornament, a 350-baht plunge from the previous day’s close.

The buying price of gold bar was set at 20,000 baht per baht weight while the gold ornaments was set at 19,647.36 baht per baht weight.

As of 9.45 a.m. this morning, gold bar selling price had inched down further to 19,950 baht a baht weight while gold ornaments to 20,450 baht a baht weight. Buying prices were 19,850 baht a baht weight and 19,495.76 baht a baht weight respectively.

Readers who are keen on gold trading or acquiring personal jewelry, could visit http://www.goldtraders.or.th/Default.aspx for up-to-date prices.

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Top:  Brisk trade of gold ornaments at a shop in Yaowarat. File photo: Matichon.co.th

 MRT Klong Toey station to have new passport office

 THE Department of Consular Affairs said, from December 9 onwards, Thai citizens can run their passport errands at its new issuing office at the MRT Klong Toey station.

Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc, the MRT operator, said the office is located in its Metro Mall area. The 20 booths-office working hours will be 8.30 a.m. – 3.30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and able to serve about 800 people a day.

Thais can then have a more comfortable trip via MRT and BTS network to get a new or renew their passports comparing to Government Complex in Chaengwattana and Srinakarin’s Thanya Park. Get your online queue today at www.passport.in.th.

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Inset: Getting a Thai passport such as this one will be easier from December 9 onwards. Photo: Piboon Awasdaruharote

 Water and weather

FIVE provinces, namely Khon Kaen, Nong Bua Lamphu, Maha Sarakham, Kalasin and Roi Et, were warned by the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department earlier this week of possible flooding and told to harvest their crops asap.

The flooding is caused by the water discharged from the upper Ubonrat Dam which was filled up rapidly by the rain in the last few months and has lately stored water at 104% of its capacity.

Apart from finishing their harvest sooner, people of the mentioned provinces who lived in low-lying area should prepare by moving their valuables to safe areas, build floodwalls and get their water pumps ready.

Meanwhile, starting today, Friday November 25, the high pressure zone from China would have already moved over the Northeast of Thailand and covered the North, the Central and the East, causing variable weather and cooler temperature in the area, said the Meteorological Department.

There can be thunderstorms and heavy rain in Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani and Bangkok and vicinity. Then the cooler temperature will follow, especially 4-6°C drop in the Northeast. Moderate to strong waves can be expected in the Gulf of Thailand with maximum two meters high. Ships should sail with caution.

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Inset: Ubonrat Dam has filled up to 104% of its capacity. Photo: Thai PBS

Thailand’s first property tax law rescheduled

THOUGH the principle of ‘to optimize the use of land’ is adhered to by both the Council of State and the Finance Ministry, they still couldn’t agree on whether vacant land should have a category of its own under the ministry’s bill.

According to the Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong, even after 20 years of wait, Thailand’s first property tax law is yet to take another year, 2017 that is, before it can come into force because there were still differences of opinions regarding the categorization of vacant land between the Council of State (government’s legal adviser) and the Finance Ministry.

This new law incorporates the existing building land tax law with the local tax law with the aim to promote development and redistribution of land and to narrow the wealth gap by enabling the local administrations to collect tax more effectively to be used for local development.

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Below: Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong is still sorting out categorization of vacant land. Photo: Posttoday.com

By Piboon Awasdaruharote

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