In Thailand English-language News for May 30, 2017, Newsline presenter Dhra Dhirakaosal tells us about:

03:49 | Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has inspected the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMAs) attempts to control water run-off from persistent heavy rain which is causing wide-spread flooding across Bangkok.

05:31 | Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has outlined the Thailand government’s policies aimed at developing a sustainable Thailand rice industry, as well as the country’s current position as a major exporter of rice and its development of existing and new markets at the opening of the Thailand Rice Convention 2017 (TRC2017) seminar in Bangkok.

Thailand Minister of Commerce, Apiradi Tantraporn, told the gathering of international rice industry representatives of Thailand’s progressive in the role of the rice sector in turning Thailand into a value based economy in line with the Thailand 4.0 strategy.

09:23 | The National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) on Monday endorsed a proposal by the political reform committee to amend the Thailand Constitution every ten years to ensure it remains relevant. Since the Siam Revolution in 1932 which brought absolute monarchy rule to an end Thailand has had 20 charters, including interim charters, with the average life being 4.25 years. The NRSA said the people need to be more disciplined, and adhere to good political culture.

10:45 | The Constitutional Drafting Commission (CDC) has returned an amended version of the draft law on criminal procedure for political office holders to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA). After proceeding through public hearings the draft law, one of the organic laws required before a Thailand general election can take place, is expected to be passed into law in August.

11:55 | The Defence Council has approved new members of the Veterans Council for Active Veterans and for the Veterans Board.

15:24 | The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) with the Department of Skill Development (DSD) to establish the Institute on Personnel Development for Automatic Technology and Robotics (IPDATR) to drive the implementation of robotics in Thai industries in accordance with the Thailand 4.0 strategy.

16:51 | The Department of Disease Control (DDC) will host no tobacco day event in Bangkok tomorrow, May 31, under the theme of ‘Tobacco, a threat to development’. In 2016 Thailand exported an estimated 109, 455 tons of tobacco, while a 2015 survey put the number of Thais aged above 15 who smoke at about 10.9 million, or about 20 per cent of the population. There was an estimated further 250,000 smokers under the age of 15.

18: 48 | The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and the US Navy have commenced operation Carat 2017 (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training) in Chonburi province, an eight day shore-based and at-sea training exercise aimed at improving the tactical proficiency of both nations’ armed forces.

19:51 | NBT World take an in depth look at plans by the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) to host the first International Fleet Review in Pattaya between November 13-22 as part of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Asean.

• and more.

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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.