THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Friday 16 Aug 2019

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TM30: “It’s really not that hard”, immigration official tells foreigners 

 

Pol Col. Thatchapong Sarawannangkul from the Immigration Bureau (holding microphone) at Foreign Correspondents Club on Thursday

 

Complying with the controversial TM30 requirement is “really not that hard”, a senior immigration officer said on Thursday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117932-tm30-“it’s-really-not-that-hard”-immigration-official-tells-foreigners/

 

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Thai woman arrested for helping run brothel in South Africa

By The Nation

 

 

A Thai woman was recently arrested for allegedly luring another local woman to South Africa last year and forcing her into prostitution. The victim, however, escaped the situation and contacted the Thai embassy for help.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117909-thai-woman-arrested-for-helping-run-brothel-in-south-africa/

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Forensic Police to investigate alleged electrocution of tourist at Phuket resort

By The Phuket News

 

An officer points to the poolside fence where 45-year-old Dutch tourist Herdri Henrikus Hermannes Vos was allegedly electrocuted. A check by electricity officials, however, found no evidence of how the fence could have become electrified. Photo: Sakoo Police

 

PHUKET:-- Police in Phuket are waiting for a post-mortem examination by Forensic Police in Bangkok to confirm whether or not a Dutch tourist was killed by electrocution after touching a pool-side steel fence at a resort near Phuket International Airport.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117902-forensic-police-to-investigate-alleged-electrocution-of-tourist-at-phuket-resort/

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Thailand to ban pig imports from Myanmar over African swine fever

 

Public health banners alerting about swine fever is seen in Chiang Rai, Thai side of the Golden Triangle, triple border between Thailand, Myanmar and Laos separated by Mekong river May 16, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will ban the import of pigs from Myanmar for 90 days, the country's livestock department told Reuters on Thursday, after the neighboring country confirmed its first case of the African swine fever this week.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117935-thailand-to-ban-pig-imports-from-myanmar-over-african-swine-fever/

 

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Govt warned to brace for recession threat as funds flee markets

By The Nation

 

 

Funds exited Thailand’s stock and bond markets on Thursday (August 15), as the Stock Exchange of Thailand Index dropped 0.95 per cent over the previous day and the market closed at 1,604.43, down 15.42 points.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117936-thai-govt-warned-to-brace-for-recession-threat-as-funds-flee-markets/

 

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Top Mercedes-Benz dealer launches Asia’s biggest AMG centre

By The Nation

 

 

Leading car dealer Benz Star Flag has invested Bt75 million to set up the largest AMG Performance Centre in Asia.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117937-top-mercedes-benz-dealer-launches-asia’s-biggest-amg-centre/

 

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Parolee bracelet probe gets August 23 deadline from Justice secretary

By The Nation

 

 

An August 23 deadline has been set by Justice Ministry permanent secretary Wisit Wisitsora-at for getting the results of a probe into an allegation that the electronic monitoring (EM) ankle or wrist bracelets, rented by the Department of Probation from a private company, can be removed by the parolled offenders without the department being electronically alerted.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117939-parolee-bracelet-probe-gets-august-23-deadline-from-justice-secretary/

 

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US market targeted for exports after Washington defers tariff hike

 

Pimchanok Wonkhorporn

 

The Commerce Ministry plans to push Thai exports to the United States after the US Trade Representative (USTR) on Tuesday (August 13) postponed the proposed hike in tariffs on several imports from China.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117941-us-market-targeted-for-exports-after-washington-defers-tariff-hike/

 

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Former cop in South jailed for paedophilia

By Kesinee Taengkhiao
The Nation

 

 

A former Phatthalung-based police officer was sentenced to 142 years and 16 months in jail for raping and molesting an 11-year-old boy between November 2016 and March 2017. The term was later reduced to 50 years as it is the maximum prison term allowed by Thai law.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117943-former-cop-in-south-jailed-for-paedophilia/

 

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Public Health minister vows to keep universal healthcare scheme unchanged

By The Nation

 

 

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed on Thursday (August 15) that the Universal Healthcare system will not be subjected to any changes that could burden people, such as the co-payment of 10 to 20 per cent of their medical bills to ease the government’s financial burden.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117944-public-health-minister-vows-to-keep-universal-healthcare-scheme-unchanged/

 

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State pension fund joins 32 other investment institutions in shunning law-breaking firms

By The Nation

 

Prasong Poontaneat

 

The Government Pension Fund (GPF) and 32 other investment institutions have vowed to halt their investments in companies that violate the Securities and Exchange Act as part of an initiative to raise Thailand’s investment standards to international levels.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117945-state-pension-fund-joins-32-other-investment-institutions-in-shunning-law-breaking-firms/

 

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Israel bars U.S. Democratic lawmakers under pressure from Trump

By Maayan Lubell and Patricia Zengerle

 

U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. Congresswomen Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are seen in a combination from file photos. REUTERS/File Photos

 

JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday barred U.S. Democratic congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from making a planned trip to Israel, shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump called on his ally not to let them in.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117946-israel bars-us-democratic-lawmakers-under-pressure-from-trump/

 

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Trump urges China's Xi to meet Hong Kong protesters

By David Brunnstrom and Makini Brice

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters as he boards Air Force One for travel to Pennsylvania from Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, U.S. August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to meet personally with the protesters in Hong Kong, saying it would lead to an end to tensions that have seized the territory for weeks.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117947-trump urges-chinas-xi-to-meet hong kong protesters/

 

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Trump blames mass shootings on mentally ill, calls for more mental institutions

 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey U.S. August 15, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday he supports meaningful background checks for gun buyers, but he told reporters that those responsible for recent mass shootings were mentally ill and the United States should build more mental institutions.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117948-trump-blames-mass-shootings-on-mentally-ill-calls-for-more-mental-institutions/

 

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BEM rules out lower expressway tolls as proposed by Transport Minister

 

 

Bangkok Expressways & Metro Public Company has ruled out a proposal by Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob for expressway tolls to be cut by an average of 5-10 baht, claiming that the company has already helped the government over the decades-long dispute with the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT), a state agency which owns several expressways.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117949-bem-rules-out-lower-expressway-tolls-as-proposed-by-transport-minister/

 

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Turtle rescued on Nai Harn Beach, Phuket

By The Thaiger & The Nation

 

 

PHOTO: Aroon Solos

 

Today (August 15) at about 1pm, the lifeguard team at Nai Harn Beach rescued a small turtle, which had become stuck in a fertiliser sack.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117949-bem-rules-out-lower-expressway-tolls-as-proposed-by-transport-minister/

 

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Thai central bank eases housing loan rules

 

FILE PHOTO: Apartment buildings are seen in Bangkok March 16, 2016. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's central bank relaxed mortgage lending rules slightly on Thursday to help some borrowers hit by tighter regulations introduced in April.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117956-thai-central-bank-eases-housing-loan-rules/

 

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Major cloud seeding operations to commence today

 

(Photo) Cloud-seeding operation/Royal Rainmaking Department

 

The Department of Rain-making and Agricultural Aviation (DRAA), in coordination with the Air Force and the Army, will launch additional rain-making operations today (Friday), focusing on Thailand’s northern, northeastern and central regions which are experiencing one of the worst droughts in many years.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117959-major-cloud-seeding-operations-to-commence-today/

 

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Italian PM blasts immigration-'obsessive' Salvini as League's election bid falters

By Gavin Jones

 

FILE PHOTO: Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte reacts to Italy's ruling coalition breakdown, speaking to journalists at an impromptu, late evening news conference at government house in Rome, Italy, August 8, 2019. REUTERS/Alberto Lingria

 

ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Thursday accused his far-right interior minister, Matteo Salvini, of disloyalty and being obsessed with blocking immigration, intensifying the open warfare in the ruling coalition.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117961-italian-pm-blasts-immigration-obsessive-salvini-as-leagues-election-bid-falters/

 

 

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North Korea fires projectiles, rejects South Korea's dialogue pledge

 

People visit the statues of former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il to commemorate the 74th anniversary of the end of the Japanese occupation of Korea, in this undated photo supplied by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on August 16, 2019. KCNA/ via REUTERS

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea launched at least two projectiles into the sea on Friday, South Korea's military said, shortly after Pyongyang described South Korea's president as "impudent" and vowed that inter-Korean talks are over.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117967-north-korea-fires-projectiles-rejects-south-koreas-dialogue-pledge/

 

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Tennessee executes man convicted of killing teenage girl, her mother in 1986

By Brendan O'Brien

 

Death-row inmate Stephen Michael West is shown in Nashville, Tennesee, U.S., January 2, 2019. Tennessee Department of Corrections/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - A man convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl and stabbing her and her mother to death in their home with a teenage accomplice more than 30 years ago was executed in Tennessee on Thursday, officials said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117969-tennessee-executes-man-convicted-of-killing-teenage-girl-her-mother-in-1986/

 

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Chonburi: Call center gang run by Taiwanese to trick Taiwanese

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Thai immigration moved to arrest thirteen Taiwanese nationals on Wednesday who were running a call center in Samet sub-district of Chonburi. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117979-chonburi-call-center-gang-run-by-taiwanese-to-trick-taiwanese/

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Get 3,000 baht for reporting illegal street racers, RTP tells public

 

Thai caption: Get 3,000 (baht for information)

 

The Royal Thai Police have told the public that they can get 3,000 baht for reporting illegal street racers starting next month. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117983-get-3000-baht-for-reporting-illegal-street-racers-rtp-tells-public/

 

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Opposition to submit censure debate motion to House Speaker today

 

(Photo) Pheu Thai party secretary-general Anudith Nakornthap and Opposition MPs/Thai Parliament

 

The seven-party parliamentary opposition will submit a motion to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai today (Friday) seeking a censure debate against the government, but without calling for a vote over Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s refusal to clarify his alleged failure to fully recite his oath of office.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117985-opposition-to-submit-censure-debate-motion-to-house-speaker-today/

 

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Pattaya: American Bully faces surgery after swallowing ducks!

 

Thai caption: A full stomach after eating

 

A dog in Pattaya called "Devil" was taken to the vets after he started vomiting up rubber ducks. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117991-pattaya-american-bully-faces-surgery-after-swallowing-ducks/

 

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JSCCIB comes up with proposals to stimulate the economy

 

   

BANGKOK, 16th August 2019 (NNT) - The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has come up with proposals in six main areas as a framework for stimulating the economy together with the government’s initiatives.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117993-jsccib-comes-up-with-proposals-to-stimulate-the-economy/

 

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Alien event cancelled at Buddhist retreat amid investigation

 

Thai caption: All quiet on the alien front

 

An event using meditation to contact aliens from the "planet" Pluto has been cancelled at a Buddhist retreat. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1117999-alien-event-cancelled-at-buddhist-retreat-amid-investigation/

 

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Me Danish, you Thai

By The Nation

 

 

Thomas Clay’s 2008 film “Soi Cowboy” is the latest screening in the Thai Film Archive’s film series “Exotic Thailand?”, which surveys the representation of Thailand in films made by non-Thai filmmakers from the 1930s to the present and shows tomorrow (August 17) at 1pm.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1118001-me-danish-you-thai/

 

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Popular Phuket tourist stores caught selling curry paste overloaded with preservatives

By The Phuket News

 

The news came in a report of product tests conducted on 15 outlets in the South, including Chumphon, Surat Thani, Krabi and Phuket. Image: ConsumerThai.org

 

PHUKET: Two consumer watch foundations have called out two popular Thai food and souvenir shops in Phuket for selling a fish curry paste overloaded with preservatives.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1118002-popular-phuket-tourist-stores-caught-selling-curry-paste-overloaded-with-preservatives/

 

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Nonthaburi: Elder brother stabs "mentally handicapped" sibling then kicks him to death

 

Thai caption: Younger brother is dead, elder brother is in jail

 

Sanook reported that a brother murdered his younger sibling after he had been refused money by his mother and threatened to hurt her. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1118005-nonthaburi-elder-brother-stabs-mentally-handicapped-sibling-then-kicks-him-to-death/