Thailand English-language News for November 21

In Thailand English-language News for November 21, 2017, Newsline presenter Cholaphansa Narula tells us about:

00:38 | King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun has gifted 50 bags of food to an animal shelter in Saraburi province in the name of his own pet dog via the ‘We Do Good with Our Hearts’ volunteers. The shelter currently houses over 1,700 dogs and cats and operates a mobile veterinary clinic vaccinating against rabies and sterilising dogs and cats.

01:58 | The annual Princess’s Cup equestrian competition will take place between November 21 to 26 at the Royal Horse Guard Riding Club, the 29th Cavalry Squadron King’s Guard. Competitors from several international countries will participate in events including jumping, dressage, best farrier, and best groom. There will be also an exhibition to educate the public about the benefits of horseback riding. Admission is free.

03:38 | Deputy prime minister Dr Wissanu Krea-ngam has confirmed that six draft laws required for local elections have been completed and are pending consultation with the Interior Ministry (MoI) and the Election Commission (EC). He said local elections will happen within 45 days after the legislature approves all drafts, while emphasising that the local elections have nothing to do with the anticipated general election. He also denied reports that the government is planning to organise local election polls around May of next year.

04:38 | The Political Reform Committee has met with representatives of various political parties to collect more ideas for its reform plans before its submission to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) prior to April next year. Meanwhile, all parties are waiting for clarification on how all political parties should act while waiting on the lifting of the ban on political activities.

05:53 | Thailand is to report new findings of looted Thai artefacts identified in museums in the USA to the ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in an attempt to have them returned. Additionally, an official letter has recently been sent to the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco to ask for the return of two lintels.

06:49 | Yala Province has prepared a number of projects that it will present for approval to the Prime Minister during his visit on November 28, as part of the Cabinet retreat in the southern region. These including a prototype learning museum, a dual track rail line, and continuation of an underground power cable programme.

10:17 | Deputy Prime Minister Dr Somkid Jatusriphitak has told the 35th Chamber of Commerce seminar that he is confident the Thai economy will grow by 4 per cent in the third quarter this year. For 2018 Dr Jatusriphitak forecast a similar 4 per cent GDP growth rate due to large investments in infrastructure development projects by the government and state sectors.

11:18 | The Department of Primary Industries and Mines (DPIM) has conferred ‘Green Mining Awards’ on 24 new businesses that have adhered to environmental standards set by the the department. Additionally a further 101 businesses continued to meet the standards. In 2018 the department hopes to issue awards to 20 new businesses.

12:09 | Newsline looks at government projects aimed at helping increase domestic consumption of natural rubber, including in the construction of highways, and devices to protect drivers in a road crash. The report reveals that Thailand has been using rubber in highway construction for about 60 years.

16:37 | Police General Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul, deputy national police chief, has instructed the Immigration Bureau and the Provincial Police Region 9 to investigate the escape of 20 Chinese Uighurs from a detention center in Songkhla Province. General Rangsibrahmanakul said that a committee will be set up to investigate how related officials performed their job prior to the escape.

17:51 | The Ayuthaya Local Administrative Organization and the Ayuthaya Municipal Authority have joint hands to deliver relief supplies to people recently affected by flooding. Some 67,376 households were inundated as a result of discharge from the Chao Phraya Dam.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) office in Ang Thong has conducted a study on managing water in industrial areas to gather information about public demand and to create a strategy that effectively integrates relevant agencies and management of water resources.

19:13 | Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has presided over the 2017 International Fleet Review commemorating the 50th anniversary of Asean in Pattaya, Chonburi Province. The event saw 40 warships from Thailand, Australia, the United States, Russia, South Korea, China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Asean member nations participate.

20:25 | A shipment of relief supplies on behalf of Asean countries for people affected by Typhoon Damrey has arrived at the Cam Ranh International Airport, Khánh Hòa Province, Vietnam.

Valued at about US$174,000, the shipment comprised 600 sets of household utensil, 3,000 sets of personal hygiene items, 1,000 sets of house repair tools, an aluminium Boat, and a 40hp engine.

• and more.

Note: YouTube deleted the video originally associated with this post as part of its ongoing program of censoring the internet and cleansing history.

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.