Thailand English-language News For August 3

In Thailand English-language News for August 3, 2017, Newsline presenter Sandra Hanutsaha tells us about:

00:42 | Thais across the country have continued to gather and make funeral flowers to pay their respect for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

02:28 | The moulds for two statues of the late King’s Bhumibol Adulyajej’s pet dogs – Khun Thong Daeng and Khun Jo Cho – are currently being prepared. The statues will be cast in fiberglass, and are expected to be ready for submission in September.

03:56 | Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has traveled to the northeastern province of Sakon Nakhon to oversee the flood mitigation process, and to provide assistance to flood-hit residents, before making his way to Huai Sai Khamin Reservoir, in order to examine its current condition and on-going repairs.

05:47 | Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, Ormsin Chivapruck, has announced that the Thai Government plans to host a fundraiser on August 4 to help flood-affected residents. Titled ‘Pracharat Ruam Jai Tai Rom Phra Barami’, the fundraiser will take place at the Santi Maitri Building at Government House. Donations can be made by telephone at number ⁺66 (0)23 560 303. All donations are tax-deductible.

07:47 | The Thailand Supreme Court has acquitted former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat and three other former state officials from abuse of power and negligence charges over the dispersal of pro-monarchist, anti-government yellow-shirt protestors in 2008.

09:33 | Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday that a new National Strategic Committee will be formed in late August while several subcommittees to support the Committee’s function due to be formed in September.

10:36 | The Constitutional Court has rejected a request to review a draft of the Election Commission (EC) law. Secretary-general of the Office of the Constitutional Court, Pimol Thampitakponga, said on Wednesday that the majority of the judges had turned down the request because the draft has yet to be ratified as law.

14:02 | Deputy Prime Minister Dr Somkid Jatusripitak has praised the improvement of the country’s telecommunications infrastructure by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES), in support of the government’s Thailand 4.0 policy. The Pracharat internet connectivity project is said to have connected more than 11,500 villages across the country to the Internet.

15:29 | Minister of Finance, Apisak Tantivorawong, has presented awards to the winner s of the ‘Best Revolving Fund Awards 2017’ in four different categories. The awards are aimed at encouraging government units to use the fund as efficiently as possible, to reap maximum benefits.

16:58 | The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has organised a match-making event to promote Thai Para rubber market. Some 100 Thai entrepreneurs and more than 100 foreign buyers and importers participated in the event, which is expected to generate sales of 300,000 tons of Para rubber worth about Bt15 billion (about US$451 million).

18:17 | The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) will hold an event at Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem between August 4-27 to promote Thai Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) – especially products from agricultural enterprises. More than 135 exhibition booths and 500 stores are expected to be involved.

19:29 | CP All Public Company Limited organised its annual ‘Bandai Kawee’ event in Nakhon Pathom Province aimed at promoting Thai literacy and fostering the next generation of poets. Held between July 20-22, 38 students who are interested in poetry from across the country joined the event.

20:49 | Former Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan has raised regional water management and security issues, opportunities, and challenges in a keynote speech a seminar organised by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and delegates from the Asean+3 bloc.

• and more.

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.