Thailand English-language News for April 20

In Thailand English-language News for April 20, 2018, Newsline presenter Sandra Hanutsaha tells us about:

00:46 | The committee tasked with the national reform strategy yesterday resolved to follow up developmental projects for the southern border region and examined reports and suggestions on the implementation of education development before submitting them to the Cabinet for approval.

Chair of the meeting, deputy prime minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, told related agencies to increase measures to tackle security issues in the three southern border provinces, adding that the government is ready to implement its plan to declared Cho Airong District in Narathiwat a ‘safety zone’.

02:04 | The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday voted overwhelmingly in favour to reject Paranee Leenutaphong’s nomination for ombudsman, forcing the selection process to begin again.

03:02 | The Minister of Public Health, Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, said yesterday that a meeting between the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and the Ministry of Education (MoE) had agreed on the necessity to develop an adequate number of medical personnel to meet public demand in accordance with the 20-year national strategy. A committee will be formed to oversee the implementation of the relevant guidelines discussed.

04:13 | Thailand Government Public Relations Department’s (PRD) staff have participated in a digital media production and broadcasting training course at the head office of TOT Public Company Limited. The training focused on the production of modern, interesting, and easy-to-understand media and the use of info-graphics.

05:44 | Newsline takes a look at the preservation of Thai history as the Department of Fine Arts prepares to celebrate its 107th anniversary, and how it and the National Museum (DFANM) of Bangkok are encouraging people to help preserve the nation’s history and culture.

11:29 | The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MAC) and the Thai Organic Agriculture Confederation (TOAC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop organic agriculture with Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS).

Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Krissada Boonrach, said the agreement will increase the number of organic farms in the country, promote production of organic agriculture, as well as make accreditation acceptable.

The MoU is in line with the national strategy to increase sustainable farms by 800,000 hectares (about 1.977 mln acres) by 2021.

12:24 | The Ministry of Commerce (MoC)’s Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has organised a business matching session aimed at finding new market for Thai fruits with fruit importers from India.

13:15 | Thailand Labor Minister, Police General Adul Sangsingkeo, said yesterday that the ministry will reopen 80 service centres for foreign worker registration from April 23 until June 30 to accommodate more than 480,000 foreign workers.

Upon successfully completing the registration process, each worker will receive a 13 digit identification number, pink ID card, visa, and work permit.

14:53 | The Governor of Khon Kaen province, Somsak Jangtrakul, has inaugurated an electric-powered pumping station in the district capital aimed at reducing flooding in the Ban Pet sub-district and Khon Kaen municipal areas.

Mr Jangtrakul said that deputy prime minister Air Chief Marshal Prachin Chantong had approved Bt13 million (about US$415,712) for the flood management project.

16:08 | Kabang Police Station in the southernmost province of Yala is currently assisting 20 teenage former drug addicts rebuild their lives with vocational training courses in matters such as home repairs and construction, livestock farming and agriculture.

The two-year old programme is based on the principles of a self-sufficiency economy as promoted by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. In addition to vocational training, Kabang police also assist those wishing to return to school to find facilities that will meet their needs.

17:34 | Newsline takes a look at events being organised by the Ministry of Culture (MoC) to mark the 236th anniversary of the founding of the Rattankosin period. More information on different events can be found at www.ocac.go.th / Hotline:1765

20:38 | China has granted $1.7 million for developing trade and economies in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) through the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund.

Thailand has proposed four projects for development: the establishment of cross-border special economic zones, border trade facilitation, business matching between members of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) group, and a project to develop e-commerce.

The LMC hopes to increase trade in the region to $25 billion by 2020, from $22 billion in trade last year.

21:48 | State Counselor of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, and Vietnam’s Prime Minister, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, have signed an agreement on telecommunication and information technology. Two-way trade between the two countries rose 51 per cent last year to $803 million.

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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. AEC News Today publishes Thailand English-language News M-F.