Thailand English-language News For July 21

In Thailand English-language News for July 21, 2017, Newsline presenter Sandra Hanutsaha tells us about:

0:41 | Deputy Permanent Secretary for Digital Economy and Society, Group Captain Somsak Khaosuwan, has met with relevant government agencies to discuss the reinforcement of mobile phone signals during the royal cremation ceremony from October 25-29. In response the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has called on all service providers to set up additional transmitting stations on the perimeters of the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground to ensure strong network signals.

1:50 | The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has established a new 11 member coordination committee to review the draft organic law on political parties following objections by the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) claiming there are contradictions to the Constitution in the draft law. Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) is planning to petition the Constitutional Court to review two points in the draft law on the EC.

3:08 | Speaking in front of 300 representatives of various groups from 14 southern provinces attending the fourth and final public forum held to discuss details of the draft social contract to promote national reconciliation, Thai Army commander, General Chalermchai Sittisart, said he is satisfied with the input and confident the people will accept it.

4:36 | The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has given its support for the planned 235 kilometer (about 146 mile) high-speed train route between Bangkok and Nakhon Si Thammarat aimed at connecting Asean with China and place Thailand as the regional transportation and logistics hub. The high-speed train is expected to be operational by 2021, with the trip between Bangkok and Nakhon Si Thammarat expected to take one-and-a-half-hours.

6:05 | The Criminal Court has begun hearing evidence in the trial of disgraced former monk Luang Pu Nen Kham who was extradited from the USA earlier this week to face charges of fraud, money laundering, sexual harassment off minors, child abduction, and violation of the Computer Crime Act. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

9:17 | Thailand exports in June earned some $20.282 billion, an 11.7 per cent year on-year (YoY) increase, marking the fourth consecutive month of growth and pushing half year export earnings to $113 billion, a 7.8 per cent YoY increase over the same period in 2016, and a 6 year high. Major export items included agricultural products, computers, rubber, and plastic products.

Imports in June totaled $18 billion, a month on month (MoM) increase of 13.7 per cent generating a trade surplus of $1.917 billion. Half year imports topped $113 billion bringing the half-year trade surplus of $6.971 billion.

10:55 | Minister of Finance, Apisak Tantivorawong said yesterday that the government is injecting more than Bt1.7 trillion ($50.853 billion) into telecommunications projects which are expected to raise gross domestic product by 15 to 16 per cent and stimulate private investment.

12:22 | The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Bank of Thailand (SME Bank) has collaborated with Central Laboratory of Thailand Co. (CLT), and Kasetsart University in organising a project aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of Thai SMEs. Initially 200 applicants will receive a voucher worth Bt5,000 ($150) to have their goods tested by CLT, who are certified by the European Union Reference Laboratories.

13:20 | Thailand Minister of Public Health, Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, is seeking to register 100 traditional remedies which can be used to treat four groups of illnesses with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this year. Forty two traditional medicines have already been approved.

14:31 | Some 16 households along Mae Lao River in Chiang Rai province in Northern Thailand have been hit by 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) of water resulting from heavy down pours prompting Chiang Rai Governor, Narongsak Osot-thanakorn, to lead aid operations. The country’s major dams are currently holding a combined 43.365 billion cubic meters of water, 9.276 billion cubic meters more than in the same period last year.

16:08 | Thailand and Malaysia has successfully wrapped up the “Thailand – Malaysia @ 60: A Concert of Harmony” concert in Kuala Lumpur to celebrate the strong ties between the two nations .

18:17 | Thailand has hosted a regional trade and development summit titled ‘Trade Connectivity and Development Towards Inclusiveness and Sustainability’ to educate people on the development of human resources in line with Thailand 4.0, to help create career opportunities.

19:44 | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has presented its Thailand volunteering national review on the progress it has made in the 2030 agenda for sustainable development during a forum at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Topics touched on included Thailand’s efforts on poverty eradication, reduction of inequality, the success of Thailand’s universal health coverage and public health services, as well as progress on achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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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.