Thailand English-language News For September 26

In Thailand English-language News for September 26, 2017, Newsline presenter Surapan Laotharanarit tells us about:

00:41 | Thais continue to mourn the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Grand Palace, while others across the country continue to register as volunteers for the funeral days. In Yala Province more than 18,000 people have registered to help.

01:55 | Sculptures of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s two favourite pet dogs have been finished and relocated by the Royal Thai Army (RTA) to Sanam Luang in preparation for the royal cremation. The sculptures of Khun Thong Daeng and Khun Jo Cho were recently finished by Chin Prasong, a pensioned official of the Department of Fine Arts (DFA). A Jasmine flower was painted on the left chest of Khun Tong Daeng’s image to reflect the royal pet dog’s role as a symbol of motherhood.

03:28 | The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has ordered relevant agencies to prepare for managing large numbers of visitors at the Grand Palace in the lead up to the royal cremation ceremony and to utilise the services of volunteers to ensure security and safety. The Grand Palace is expected to receive large numbers of visitors over the next four weeks.

04:31 | Following a Defense Council meeting on Monday, deputy prime minister Genenral Prawit Wongsuwonhas has instructed military commanders in the southern provinces to step up security and ordered related agencies to take good care of the families of fallen soldiers. In addition to the unrest in the Southern provinces, the meeting also discussed the security situation in Rakhine State of Myanmar and the tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

06:06 | The Defence Science and Technology Department (DSTD) has handed out awards for innovative research and equipment developed for military applications. The awards aim to support research and development with practical military and security applications, especially for those able to be used in the southern border provinces.

09:02 | A merit-making ceremony has been held at the Traffic Police Division Headquarters to mark its 57th anniversary.

09:50 | Oranut Wainusit, a spokesperson of the Comptroller General’s Department (CGD), said yesterday that low-income earners in seven provinces who have registered for the government e-welfare card will have to wait until November to use the card. However, other e-welfare card recipients can begin using it from October 1 to pay for goods and fares.

According to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) some 800,000 e-welfare cards have so far been issued, while six million people have registered.

11:25 | The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) has held its annual Invention Contest for Thai inventors to showcase their works and to foster cooperation for development towards practical use in line with the Thailand 4.0 strategy. Some 142 entries in eight categories were submitted this year. Winners of each category will receive a cash prize of Bt500,000 (about US$15,070), which will be presented at an awards ceremony next on Inventors Day on February 2, 2018.

13:11 | Newsline takes a look at the problems affecting the Thai fishing industry and how fisherfolk are taking action to bypass middlemen who buy from them at low prices and sell to consumers at disproportionately high prices .

16:03 | Tak Governor Charoenrit Sa-nguansat has told a seminar that provincial administrators remain ready to assist entrepreneurs interested in the Tak special economic zone (SEZ) who have been unable to meet the criteria of the Board of Investment Promotion (BoIP). Since 2015 only ten of 26 applications have been approved. Deputy Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Niyom Wairatphanit, said storage and labor intensive industries are among the best industries to invest in due to Tak’s close proximity to Myanmar.

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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.