THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Friday 5 July 2019

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Thaivisa exclusive: "I'm standing by my man", says Thai wife of German trapped by social media

 

Pawinee (Naen) and Maximilian Fernsebner//Facebook

 

The Thai wife of the German man arrested on a warrant after being featured on social media cooking BBQ chicken has said she is standing by her man.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109952-thaivisa-exclusive-im-standing-by-my-man-says-thai-wife-of-german-trapped-by-social-media/

 

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Phuket reveals safety measures to boost tourist confidence after Phoenix tragedy

By Somchai Samart, The Nation.

 

 

A day ahead of the first anniversary of the July 5, 2018 sinking of the double-decker Phoenix tour boat that left 47 Chinese tourists dead, the Marine Department on Thursday revealed safety measures implemented since the tragedy in a bid to prevent a recurrence.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109903-phuket-reveals-safety-measures-to-boost-tourist-confidence-after-phoenix-tragedy/

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‘I thought I would be caught’, confesses Rassada killer

By Eakkapop Thongtub

 

Confessed killer Eak Tomphet, 40, from Trang, is escorted into Phuket City Police Station late yesterday afternoon (July 3). Photo: Ekkapop Thongtub
 

PHUKET:-- The man arrested in Prachuap Khiri Khan on a bus bound for Bangkok yesterday has admitted to police that he genuinely thought he would not get away with the murder of his ex-partner in Phuket earlier that day.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109916-‘i-thought-i-would-be-caught’-confesses-rassada-killer/

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Phalang Pracharat unveils 'urgent' mission for first year in power

By The Nation

 

Phalang Pracharat Party spokesman Kobsak Pootrakool

 

Coalition parties for the incoming government have identified four missions for their first year in power, Phalang Pracharat Party spokesman Kobsak Pootrakool said on Thursday.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109932-phalang-pracharat-unveils-urgent-mission-for-first-year-in-power/

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Bangkok’s BTS becoming too expensive for Thai passengers

By The Thaiger

 

 

The ultra-useful BTS network around Bangkok is becoming too expensive for many Thais, and is more expensive than international equivalents.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109884-bangkok’s-bts-becoming-too-expensive-for-thai-passengers/

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US wordsmith carries his bat on day one of iconic world class Scrabble event in Bangkok

 

Results at the end of Day One at the Brands International in Bangkok

 

US Scrabble player Jesse Day led the field after day one of the Brand's International tournament at the Central Westgate shopping center in Bang Yai, Bangkok.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109953-us-wordsmith-carries-his-bat-on-day-one-of-iconic-world-class-scrabble-event-in-bangkok/

 

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Prayut given a test of what to come

 

(Photo) Thai Government’s website

 

Many say movie trailers are usually more exciting than the real films. For Prayut Chan-o-cha, however, the glimpse of what to come that he has experienced first-hand can be tantamount to a stroll in the park when the “real thing” does materialize.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109956-prayut-given-a-test-of-what-to-come/

 

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Thai dentist becomes first Thai woman to conquer the world’s seven summits

 

 

A Thai dentist has become the first woman in Southeast Asia to conquer the world’s seven major summits, with Mount Denali in Alaska being the latest.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109957-thai-dentist-becomes-first-thai-woman-to-conquer-the-world’s-seven-summits/

 

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Breaking: A dike wall in Klongdan Samut Prakarn broke collapsed

 

(Photo) Sor Wor Por 91 Traffic Radie Twitter account

 

Breaking: A dike wall, which prevents sea water from entering waterside communities in Klong Dan, Samut Prakarn Province, broke collapsed at around 9.30pm.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109958-breaking-a-dike-wall-in-klongdan-samut-prakan-broke-collapsed/

 

 

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Tropical storm Mun helps replenish Thailand’s parched reservoirs

 

 

Tropical storm Mun has already made landfall in Vietnam and will eventually downgrade to a depression and then to a low pressure cell. The weather system been a boon for Thailand as it has dumped about 243 million cubic metres of rain into farmland, reservoirs, rivers and other natural waterways.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109959-tropical-storm-mun-helps-replenish-thailand’s-parched-reservoirs/

 

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Commerce Ministry confident of 3 percent export growth for 2019

 

 

Thailand’s Commerce Ministry is confident that Thai exports for the second half of this year will grow at a higher rate than in the first half and export growth for the whole year will not be as bad as initially forecast by the Bank of Thailand and the economic research departments of commercial banks.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109962-commerce-ministry-confident-of-3-percent-export-growth-for-2019/

 

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Bangkok EC posting names electors who fail to vote

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Election Commission (EC) is posting name lists of electors who did not cast their votes in the 24 March general election. The EC director said the announcement is not aimed at condemning those who failed to vote but it is required by the law, dismissing speculation that a gubernatorial election will be held soon.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109963-bangkok-ec-posting-names-electors-who-fail-to-vote/

 

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Big quake rumbles across Southern California, some damage northeast of Los Angeles

By Bill Tarrant

 

A fire is seen following an earthquake in Ridgecrest , California, U.S. July 4, 2019 in this still image taken from social media video. Ben Hood via REUTERS

 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake jolted Southern California on Thursday, touching off fires and damaging buildings in a desert town northeast of Los Angeles, but authorities said there were only minor injuries.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109966-big-quake-rumbles-across-southern california-some-damage-northeast-of-los-angeles/

 

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Love of country? Or a political stunt? Trump holiday speech divides Americans

By Jonas Ekblom and Bryan Pietsch

 

President Donald Trump concludes his remarks while First Lady Melania Trump applauds as they welcome military families who have gathered for a Fourth of July picnic on the South Lawn of the White House prior to a fireworks display, in Washington, U.S., July 4, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Theiler

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Jan Shairrick and two friends drove more than a thousand miles from southern Arkansas to join President Donald Trump's "Salute to America" Independence Day celebrations in Washington.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109972-love-of-country-or-a-political-stunt-trump-holiday-speech-divides-americans/

 

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With pomp and flyovers, Trump embraces military in July 4 salute

By Jeff Mason

 

U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for the "Salute to America" event during Fourth of July Independence Day celebrations at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 4, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With U.S. fighter jets flying overhead, President Donald Trump praised the military and urged young people to join the armed forces on Thursday in a celebration of Independence Day that critics accused him of turning into a political event.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109976-with-pomp-and-flyovers-trump-embraces-military-in-july-4-salute/

 

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Even for a limited nuclear deal, North Korea may settle for nothing less than sanctions relief

By Josh Smith

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as they meet at the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, in Panmunjom, South Korea, June 30, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File photo

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - A new public broadside by North Korean officials against U.S.-backed sanctions highlights the tough road ahead as negotiators prepare for talks in the wake of Sunday's meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109979-even-for-a-limited-nuclear-deal-north-korea-may-settle-for-nothing-less-than-sanctions-relief/

 

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Tehran fumes as Britain seizes Iranian oil tanker over Syria sanctions

By Jonathan Saul and Parisa Hafezi

 

Oil supertanker Grace 1 on suspicion of being carrying Iranian crude oil to Syria is seen near Gibraltar, Spain in this picture obtained from social media, July 4, 2019. Stephen McHugh via REUTERS

 

LONDON/DUBAI (Reuters) - British Royal Marines seized a giant Iranian oil tanker in Gibraltar on Thursday for trying to take oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions, a dramatic step that drew Tehran's fury and could escalate its confrontation with the West.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109980-tehran-fumes-as-britain-seizes iranian-oil-tanker-over-syria-sanctions/

 

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Prime Minister encourages China to invest in EEC

By The Nation

 

China Investment Corporation (CIC) president Peng Chun, left, meets with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at the government house Thursday

  

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha urged China on Thursday to pour more investment into his pet project, the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), in order to ensure seamless regional connectivity.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109981-prime-minister-encourages-china-to-invest-in-eec/

 

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Bonfire of the Brexit cash: UK leader candidates' spending promises

 

Boris Johnson, a leadership candidate for Britain's Conservative Party, visits the Thames Valley Police Training Centre in Reading, Britain, July 3, 2019. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez/Pool

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt are competing to bolster their bids to become Britain's next prime minister by proposing higher public spending and tax cuts which would represent a sudden relaxation of the country's tight grip on the public finances.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109983-bonfire-of-the brexit cash-uk-leader-candidates-spending-promises/

 

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A year on – remembering Phuket’s Phoenix boat tragedy

By The Thaiger

 

 

July 5, 2018, and the preparations for the rescue of the 13 football players stuck inside the Tham Luang Caves in Chiang Rai were in full swing. The young men had been located, there was rain on the way and there was an urgent need to get them out before further monsoonal rains would make the task even more risky. Everyone understood the urgency and the world media was there to provide the latest sound bite or video grab for a global audience. It was a big story.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109984-a-year-on-–-remembering-phuket’s-phoenix-boat-tragedy/

 

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UPDATE:

 

Phoenix: A year after Thailand’s worst tour boat disaster, safety remains a publicity priority

By The Phuket News

 

Survivors of the ‘Phoenix’ cling to life in a raft as a Royal Thai Navy boat approaches to rescue them on July 5 last year. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

 

PHUKET: There will be no official memorial service today (Friday, July 5) for the 47 Chinese tourists killed in the Phoenix tour boat disaster a year ago, because no one wants one, the Phuket Governor announced earlier this week.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109984-a-year-on-–-remembering-phuket’s-phoenix-boat-tragedy/?do=findComment&comment=14313411

 

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OPINION

 

Who’s responsible for the sinking of ‘Phoenix’?

By  Tim Newton

 

 

A year later, this hastily penned opinion piece still asks questions that remain mostly unanswered…

 

Who’s responsible for the ‘Phoenix’ boat disaster, the worst maritime disaster in Thailand since the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004?

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109987-who’s-responsible-for-the-sinking-of-‘phoenix’/

 

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AOT signs duty-free concession contract with King Power

By THE NATION

 

The Suvarnabhumi Airport

  

Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) on Thursday signed a concession contract with King Power Group, winner of the bidding for management of duty-free shops and commercial spaces at Suvarnabhumi Airport as well as three airports -- Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai. The concession will last 10 years and six months, from September 28, 2020 to March 31, 2031.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109989-aot-signs-duty-free-concession-contract-with-king-power/

 

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Economists call for boost to consumer spending, stimulus measures in 2nd half to lift economy

By PHUWIT LIMVIPHUWAT

THE NATION

 

From left: Jittipol Puksamatanan, chief market strategist of Krungthai Bank; Phacharaphot Nuntramas, senior vice president of Kungthai Bank’s Global Business Development and Strategy Group, and Mana Nimitvanich, first vice president of the bank’s Global Business Development and Strategy Group.

  

The incoming government should undertake measures to stimulate spending among low-income earners under the welfare card policy and inject an additional Bt100 billion into the economy in the second half, say economists from Kungthai Bank’s Global Business Development and Strategy Group.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109991-economists-call-for-boost-to-consumer-spending-stimulus-measures-in-2nd-half-to-lift-economy/

 

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Thai brands urged to access malls on ‘booming’ cruise ships 

By The Nation

 

 

Thai brands are being urged to seek access to floating shopping malls on cruise ships to profit from the booming tourism business.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109997-thai-brands-urged-to-access-malls-on-‘booming’-cruise-ships /

 

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Customs enacts urgent waste smuggling measures  

By The Nation

 

FILE photo

 

The Customs Department has implemented urgent measures to prevent smuggling of electronic and plastic waste into the country after Bt17.5 million worth of the waste shipments were intercepted, the department chief said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109998-customs-enacts-urgent-waste-smuggling-measures/

 

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Rawai residents forced to evacuate due to ammonia gas leak

By Eakkapop Thongtub

 

Rawai residents were woken up and evacuated from their homes at 2am due to an ammonia gas leak at an ice and water factory. Photo: Jom Patamakanthin / Facebook

 

PHUKET: Residents in Rawai living close to Rawai Temple were forced to evacuate their properties in the middle of the night when it was discovered that ammonia gas was leaking from a nearby ice and water making facility.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1110000-rawai-residents-forced-to-evacuate-due-to-ammonia-gas-leak/

 

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Joyful wild elephants in Nam Nao national park in Thailand’s Phetchabun

 

(Photo) Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

 

Thailand’s Department of National Parks (DNP), Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) published photos of a herd of wild elephants feeding and playing in the mud at Namnao national park on Friday. The picture shows the herd, comprising a leader with young and baby elephants, enjoying each other’s company.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1110002-joyful-wild-elephants-in-nam-nao-national-park-in-thailand’s-phetchabun/

 

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Thai producers complain of China’s imposition of GMP on durian

 

 

Thai durian exporters and orchard owners have expressed serious concern that China’s recent imposition of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification, the system for ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards, on Thailand’s “king of fruits” will negatively affect durian exports to China and suppress the price of the fruit.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1110006-thai-producers-complain-of-china’s-imposition-of-gmp-on-durian/

 

 

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UPDATE:

 

High tide causes flooding in Samut Prakan coastal communities   

By The Nation

 

 

High tide on Thursday night saw sea water flowing over an embankment and flooding the homes of irrigation officials and a nearby community, officials said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109958-breaking-a-dike-wall-in-klongdan-samut-prakan-broke-collapsed/?do=findComment&comment=14313765