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Military Submarine Replica Goes on Display in Sattahip
Picture courtesy of Khaosod. The Royal Thai Navy is celebrating a major step forward in its long-delayed submarine procurement project, as a replica of the country’s first Chinese-built submarine has been installed at the entrance to the Royal Thai Fleet Command in Sattahip, Chonburi. The installation of the life-size model comes shortly after the Thai Cabinet approved a key amendment to the purchase agreement, allowing the replacement of the original German-made MTU396 engine with China’s CHD620 engine. The decision also includes a 1,217-day extension to the submarine’s construction timeline. The Yuan-class S26T submarine, being constructed under a government-to-government (G2G) deal with China, marks Thailand’s return to underwater capabilities for the first time in decades. Originally signed in 2017, the contract with China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. (CSOC) is valued at 7.7 billion baht. As of now, 64% of the project is complete, with 10 out of 18 payment instalments made. The remaining payments total around 5.5 billion baht. Progress on the submarine had stalled since 2021, after China was unable to supply the German engine specified in the original contract due to export restrictions. The recent Cabinet decision has unblocked the impasse, allowing construction to resume with the Chinese-made engine. The reinstallation of the submarine model at the Royal Thai Fleet Command is not just a symbolic gesture, it also marks a broader upgrade of the area’s naval exhibits. Alongside the submarine replica, the Navy is showcasing other key assets, including the decommissioned AV-8S Harrier jump jet, once operated from HTMS Chakri Naruebet and the T.99patrol boat. The T.99, which served the Navy for 34 years before being retired on 1 October 2022, holds special significance. It was built under the royal guidance of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, as part of a mission to strengthen maritime sovereignty. The return of the submarine replica not only enhances the landscape of the Fleet Command headquarters but also symbolises the Navy’s growing ambitions and future capabilities. With the S26T project now back on track, the Royal Thai Navy is one step closer to deploying a submarine that will bolster national maritime security for years to come. Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-08-08 -
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Accident British Expat Loses Both Legs in Bangkok Hit-and-Run Tragedy
and. road rash is a bitch .. if you're lucky enough to get away with just that there's also the possibility of your, leg, hip, ribs, arm, hand, head getting mangled .. and that's before you slide under an unassuming truck wheel -
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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Friday 8 August 2025
Chang Circuit Defends Khao Kradong Land Dispute Picture courtesy of Amarin. Amid a high-profile land dispute involving the Khao Kradong area, officials in Buriram have issued a firm statement affirming that the Chang International Circuit and Chang Arena will continue to operate as usual throughout the season. The announcement came in response to a government declaration concerning the revocation of land rights in the area. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1369126-chang-circuit-defends-khao-kradong-land-dispute/ -
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Crime Chang Circuit Defends Khao Kradong Land Dispute
Picture courtesy of Amarin. Amid a high-profile land dispute involving the Khao Kradong area, officials in Buriram have issued a firm statement affirming that the Chang International Circuit and Chang Arena will continue to operate as usual throughout the season. The announcement came in response to a government declaration concerning the revocation of land rights in the area. A joint press conference was held by representatives of the Chang International Circuit, local business operators and legal entities with land documents in Khao Kradong, following recent remarks by the Minister and Deputy Minister of the Interior. These officials had announced the cancellation of land ownership documents covering over 5,083 rai, affecting 995 holders. Mr. Tanaisiri Chanvitayarom, Managing Director of the Chang International Circuit, stated, “This is not just a racetrack. It is the heart of Thailand’s motorsport industry. It’s deeply interconnected with tourism, hospitality, and tens of thousands of jobs. The track has proven its economic value, contributing over 5 billion baht to the national economy annually.” He warned that if uncertainty over land rights persists, it could force the relocation of world-class racing events such as MotoGP, Asia Road Racing, GT World Asia and Asian Le Mans to other countries. He also emphasised the heavy financial penalties the government could face from rights holders if events are cancelled. Domestic championships like BRIC Superbike, a vital platform for developing young Thai talent into world-class racers, also stand at risk. “If political interference continues to override fairness, we may see the collapse of the entire motorsport system in Thailand,” Mr. Tanaisiri said. Crucially, he clarified that the land occupied by the current circuit was purchased legally in 2013 with full authorisation from the Land Department, which issued the title deeds lawfully. The current crisis stems from a longstanding dispute between the Land Department and the State Railway of Thailand, which has now put residents and private owners in an unjustly vulnerable position. “This is not merely a matter of a racetrack; it is a storm battering the entire Thai sports industry. If politics continues to silence the voice of justice, the future of motorsport in Thailand could be irreparably damaged,” Mr. Tanaisiri concluded. Despite the controversy, Buriram United Football Club confirmed that it will not be relocating its home matches and will continue to play at Chang Arena for the entire season. Related article: https://aseannow.com/topic/1368913-dsi-investigates-land-dispute-in-buriram/ Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-08-08 -
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What happened to Rock n Roll
Hello? Listen to The Ike and Tina Turner Revue where she started. That was rock and R&B. Example, Nutbush City Limit. Man, Ike played a mean guitar. -
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UK Prison Staff Warn Early Release Schemes Chaotic
Prison Staff Warn Chaotic Early Release Schemes Risk Public Safety and Collapse of Probation Services An overwhelming majority of prison and probation officers have condemned government emergency early release schemes, warning that hasty and poorly managed decisions are jeopardizing public safety and pushing the criminal justice system toward collapse. A major survey of nearly 500 prison and probation staff across England and Wales, conducted by the Skills for Justice organisation, found that 80 percent of workers disapprove of early release initiatives introduced to relieve prison overcrowding. Staff described the release schemes as “a shambles,” claiming they led to offenders being freed without tagging, supervision, or access to rehabilitation programmes. “They just viewed it as a fun ‘bonus’ of being out for a few weeks and unlawfully at large,” one prison officer said, recalling three offenders they had seen recalled to custody within days of release. The emergency measures began under the Conservative government in autumn 2023, allowing over 10,000 inmates to be released up to 70 days before their sentence’s end. The Labour government replaced this with a new plan allowing inmates to be released after just 40 percent of their sentence. By March this year, more than 26,000 offenders had been released under the updated scheme. Timetables for implementation were reportedly rushed, with serious consequences. One probation officer commented, “It was too rushed. It did not allow sufficient time or resources for prisoners to be released safely. People were not being tagged or monitored. The whole thing was a shambles.” The strain placed on frontline staff was evident. Eighty percent of respondents reported increased stress since the rollout of the schemes, with many warning that insufficient resources, mounting caseloads, and lack of planning had led to dangerous situations. “Workload pressures on probation are immense, and without the appropriate resources to manage all the prison releases, something will go wrong, and the public are at risk of serious harm,” another officer warned. More than 87 percent of those surveyed said the release policies had derailed vital rehabilitation and training activities inside prisons, weakening efforts to reduce reoffending. “This has produced a revolving door of offenders not adequately prepared for release and who reoffend at a higher rate,” a prison worker noted. There was some support for reforms modeled on the U.S. system, with 60 percent backing proposals to tie early release to good behaviour and participation in rehabilitation or training. These plans, inspired by Texas’s prison model, would allow release after serving a third of a sentence for compliant, non-violent inmates. Staff said such a system would help them better plan for inmate reintegration. However, 40 percent wanted early release measures abolished altogether, citing the demoralizing effect on probation workers. “I started this role motivated and ready to do my job but as more and more pressure is placed on us, I feel myself breaking,” one officer said. “Numerous staff members are having to take stress-related sick leave, and I feel the organisation as a whole will collapse should this continue.” Tom Wheatley, president of the Prison Governors’ Association, urged the government to rethink its long-term strategy. “Successive governments have failed to invest in probation in the same way that they have failed to invest in prisons,” he said. “Recruitment and retention policies need to offer pay and conditions of service... that will not only attract high quality recruits but will also encourage them to stay.” Ian Lawrence, general secretary of Napo, echoed the sentiment, saying decades of neglect had left probation services carrying an unfair burden. “We cannot keep expecting probation officers to pick up the pieces,” he said. “We therefore need to ensure the long-term sustainability of the workforce by ensuring people are properly rewarded and supported to do their jobs.” Adapted by ASEAN Now from Source The Times 2025-08-08
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