Thailand English-language News For August 17

In Thailand English-language News for August 17, 2017, Newsline presenter Sandra Hanutsaha tells us about:

00:41 | Thais from across the country continue to visit the Grand Palace to pay their respects to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

02:03 | Renovation of the Royal Great Victory Carriage that will carry the Royal Funeral Urn of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej is 90 per cent complete. While artisans are working on the finishing touches an asphalt road is being built in front of the building that houses the carriage to facilitate its transport during the Royal Funeral in October. Renovation of the carriage is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

03:23 | In his policy address on the 2019 fiscal budget Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has called all stakeholders to adhere to the 20-year National Strategy and the 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan. He also stressed the importance of effective and efficient budgeting to reduce poverty and inequality, improve security, and bureaucratic reforms.

05:22 | Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said the government is ready to allow politicians to participate in National Reform Committees (NRCs), while deputy prime minister General Prawit Wongsuwan has rebuffed accusations of nepotism in the selection process, saying that members of the committees are chosen from the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) based on their achievements.

Meanwhile, deputy prime minister Dr Wissanu Krea-ngam said that National Reform Committee (NRC) members are not required to declare their assets and liabilities to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

06:53 | Minister of Justice, Suwapan Tanyuvardhana, said that the Cabinet has approved a resolution to form a committee in every provinces to deal with law enforcement matters. The committee will also be tasked to integrate the work of relevant state agencies with private organisation and civil groups, and to assist former convicts at the community level.

10:20 | Election commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said the Election Commission (EC) will demonstrate the new voting system on August 23, which will showcase the new ballot papers to be used to guard against forgeries. Demonstrations of the vote-counting process will be held at a later date.

11:39 | The National Defense Studies Institute (NDSI) has held an academic meeting on strengthening ties between the Thai military and global superpowers over the next decade. Participants were encouraged to exchange their opinions, which will be used to draft a national strategy for sustainable relations with global superpowers.

12:29 | Newsline takes a close look at planned Ban Chang Smart City Project.

15:49 | Permanent secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Kritsada Boonrat, along with an entourage, have visited Saudi Arabia to provide moral support and to ensure the safety and well-being of Thai Muslims who are participating in the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

17:20 | The Agricultural Research and Development Agency (ARDA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mahidol University and several pharmaceutical companies to develop and promote Thai herbal products.

20:07 | Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) and the Thailand Board of Investment (BoI) have teamed up to host the Thailand overseas investment forum 2017. During the seminar Thai business owners were urged to considering expanding into neighbouring countries, particularly Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, because of their high economic potential with grow forecast at between 4 to 8 per cent in the next five years.

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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 via cable and satellite. It is also available via android and iOS apps. AEC News Today publishes Thailand English-language News M-F.