In Thailand English-language News for July 13, 2017, Newsline presenter Sandra Hanutsaha tells us about:
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02:24 | Thais continue to gather at the Grand Palace to mourn the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Meanwhile, artisans are making progress on preparing the royal chariots in preparation for the royal cremation ceremony on October 26.
04:33 | The Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre is providing free anti-HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs at its anonymous clinic and at seven provincial health care clinics across Thailand until July 20 in honor of Princess Soamsawali Phravararajatinuddamatu’s fifth cycle birthday anniversary. Scholarships were also provided to 60 children of HIV patients as a way of honoring Princess Phravararajatinuddamatu.
06:00 | Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has met with the committee making preparations for national reform. Several Cabinet members, representatives from related agencies, and National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) Speaker, Captain Tinnapan Nakata, attended the meeting, at which General Chan-o-cha said the national reform plan must adhere to the 20-year national strategy, in addition to the United Nations sustainable guidelines and the sufficiency efficiency guidelines of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
07:36 | Another series of public forums to collect opinions on the draft social contract for national reconciliation will take place next week. The forums will be held at Army Region Command Centers in Bangkok (July 17), Nakhon Ratchasima province (July 18), Phitsanulok province (July 19), and Nakhon Si Thammarat province (July 20).
09:08 | Deputy Prime Minister Dr Somkid Jatusripitak has urged government agencies to hasten the distribution of funds to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Of the Bt100 billion (about US$2.9 billion) set aside for this purpose, only Bt17 billion ($501 million) has been distributed.
12:46 | Minister of Tourism and Sports, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, said yesterday that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Action Plan 2018 is based on the junta’s 20-year national strategy plan and aims to increase the competitiveness of Thailand’s tourism sector.
14:30 | The Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Business Development (DBD) will organise free noodle-making and restaurant management classes for low-income citizens starting July 19. The programme is designed to stimulate the economy and provide skills to some 14 million people who have registered as low-income earners. After mastering noodles the programme will expand to include curries and franchise training. More information can be found at: www.dbd.go.th
15:37 | The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has announced that they will raise the fuel tariff (Ft) rate on electricity use by 8.87 satang ($0.11) per unit for the September-December billing period through until the middle of next year, when another increase will be considered. The price increase is a result of rising electricity production costs.
16:56 | The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) has proposed that Phra That Phanom be registered as a Unesco World Heritage Site. The MNRE has allocated 152 plots of land in 56 provinces totalling about 171,000 rai (273,60ha/ 676,000 acres) to 23,583 farmers.
18:39 | Medical tourists and up to four companions from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam will be allowed to stay in the country visa-free for up to 90 days as part of a plan to make Thailand a medical hub for the region. In addition, foreigners over the age of 50 from 14 other countries can apply for long-stay visas of up to 10 years, with their spouses and children under 20 as dependents.
19:42 | NBT World explores the history and culture of Vietnam’s Nam Dinh province.
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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. Â