Thailand English-language News for February 2

In Thailand English-language News for February 2, 2018, Newsline presenter Sandra Hanutsaha tells us about:

00:48 | Newsline speaks with the team of American researchers who on Wednesday were presented with the 2017 Prince Mahidol Award by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for their work leading to the development of an improved vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), a major cause of meningitis. (Ed: Please disregard the intro to this story. It is in fact an interview with the American team that developed an improved vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), a major cause of meningitis, and not those involved in the Human Genome Project (HGP) as stated)

10:34 | Thailand has submitted its annual report on human trafficking to the the US government ahead of this year’s Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP). According to Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson Busadee Santipitaks, the government has allocated more than Bt3.6 billion (about $115 million) to combating human trafficking in 2018.

11:29 | A meeting between South Korean Defence Minister Song Young-moo and Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday concluded with both parties agreeing to continue their defence ties and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.

12: 44 | Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha will next week lead a Cabinet retreat to Trat Province in Thailand’s southeast. While there he will witness the commissioning of a water management project in accordance with the sufficiency policy of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

13:57 | The Constitutional Drafting Commission (CDC) is to establish a new committee to work on two draft election laws on the selection of MPs and senators. The review is required after the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) made changes to the two laws.

17:08 | Minister of Tourism and Sports, Weerasak Kowsurat, yesterday outlined the government’s 2018-outlook, forecasting a 9 per cent growth in inbound tourist arrivals this year.

Mr Kowsurat said that the ministry’s ultimate goal is to instil a sense of ownership and participation in tourism among Thai citizens. He said Thailand should take measures to manage the risks of large numbers of Chinese tourists, and to better manage the large number expected during the Lunar New Year holidays.

19:06 | Deputy Education Minister, Udom Kachindhorn, has chaired the opening of the Presidents’ Forum at Kasetsart University, which also marked the schools 75th anniversary.

Speaking before an audience that comprised some 300 university administrators from 12 countries, as well as diplomatic representatives from five, Mr Kachindhorn said rapid technological change had prompted universities to adjust their roles to allow students to seek out knowledge in fields relevant to modern industries. He said the forum can help by providing insight into how universities can change to meet these challenges.

20:04 | Deputy director-general of the Public Relations Department (PRD), Dr Charoon Chaisorn, has led a team have to Amnat Charoen Province to offer moral support to local officials. Dr Charoon also asked the officials to uphold the PRD policy, which promotes participation of different sectors.

21:20 | A petrol bomb was thrown at Aung San Suu Kyi’s compound in lakeside Yangon, Myanmar, last night. Ms Suu Kyi was not at home at the time. Local authorities said that the motive for the attack was not clear.

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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.