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In the February 7, 2017 edition of Newsline, 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 NBTWorld*, presenter Dhra Dhirakaosal tells us about:

• Long lines of mourners continue to gather at Sanam Luang in front of the Grand Palace to pay their respects to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died last October 13 after a reign of seven decades (See: Obituary: King Bhumibol Adulyadej – The World’s Longest Reigning Monarch – Dead at 88).

• Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has responded to criticism of a draft Thailand Media Regulation law saying the government will examine the methods used by other countries to ensure morality and integrity in journalism.

• While reviewing the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), a unit of the Thai military devoted to national security, Prime Minister Chan-o-cha has instructed it to draft plans according to the governments 36 areas of reform and 20 year development plan, with particular emphasis on corruption eradication. Thailand plummeted 25 places in Transparency International’s (TIs) 2016 corruption perception index (CPI) (See: Corruption: Singapore Cleanest, Cambodia Filthiest, Thailand Plummets Down The Rabbit Hole)

• Signs of drought have begun to appear along sections of the Mekong River in the Golden Triangle region in Thailand’s north, with boats reporting difficulty in navigating some sections.

• A study on the impact on the Trump Administration’s economic policies has found they pose no direct impact to Thailand in the short-term, with Thailand Ministry of Commerce (MoC), saying any reduction in trade between the US and China, or the US and Mexico, could provide increased trade opportunities for Thailand.

• Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce has said the US government’s decision to withdraw from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement will stop the Kingdom from losing its competitiveness to fellow Asean members Vietnam and Malaysia, who had joined the now defunct trade deal. Thai exports are expected to grow 2.5-3.5 per cent in 2017 it said.

• Government stimulus measures and increased consumer spending has pushed the Thailand investor confidence index (ICI) to the highest level in five months with indices for all investor groups rising.

• More than Bt10 billion (about US$285,633 million) is expected to be circulated during the coming Makha Bucha Day long weekend (February 13) and Valentines Day the day after, with Thais forecast to spend and average of Bt2,262 ($64.65) for Valentines Day alone.

• The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DEAS) aims to position Thailand as the regions digital centre under the Thailand4.0 development plan.

• and much more.

*NBT World is the NNBTs 24/7 English language television service delivering Thailand government news and information to the Thai, Asean and wider Asian communities broadcast Internationally via cable and satellite. It is also available via android and iOS apps.

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