Thailand Live Friday 11 Jul 2014

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Street vendors at Chatuchak and Ratchadamnoen areas to be moved out

BANGKOK, 11 July 2014 (NNT) - Bangkok authorities are set to clampdown on street vendors in front of Chatuchak Market and those along Ratchadamnoen Road after informing them they will not be allowed to occupy their existing space by July 31st.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741878-street-vendors-at-bangkoks-chatuchak-and-ratchadamnoen-areas-to-be-moved-out/

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UPDATE:

Junta names Omsin new SRT chairman



BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has named former Thailand Post president Omsin Cheevapruek as the new chairman of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741741-srt-governor-sacked/page-4?p=8084666#entry8084666

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Pattaya To Intensify Control of Motorcycle Taxis Again

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741882-pattaya-to-intensify-control-of-motorcycle-taxis-again/

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Highways Dept gears up for long weekend traffic

BANGKOK, 11 July 2014 (NNT) - The Department of Highways is gearing up to boost road safety during the long weekend, starting today.

The department said that related agencies will facilitate holidaymakers on the road by putting up safety signs and dispatching more traffic officers to man major roads.

Workers will be tasked with removing road barricades near construction sites along the road in a bid to ease traffic congestion.

Officers have been instructed to patrol highways at night as heavy rains may cause the roads to become more slippery and more prone to accidents. The department is also monitoring the risk of flash floods and heavy storms in many areas via updates provided by the Meteorological Department.


-- NNT 2014-07-11

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FDA to propose review of ban on pepper sprays

BANGKOK: -- The Food and Drug Administration will ask the Hazardous Control Bureau to consider allowing the use of pepper spray by women to defend themselves against rapists, deputy FDA secretary-general Prapon Angtrakul said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741894-thai-fda-to-propose-review-of-ban-on-pepper-sprays/

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50-year-old elephant killed for tusks in Ayutthaya

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741895-50-year-old-elephant-killed-for-tusks-in-ayutthaya/

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Strong waves expected in South

BANGKOK, 11 July 2014 (NNT) – More rains are expected across Thailand, with strong waves sighted in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741913-more-rain-is-expected-across-thailand-strong-waves-in-south/

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AIDS-prevention officials take on Soi 6

PATTAYA:--AIDS-prevention groups found themselves more welcome when they tried again to get the city’s many bar workers to agree to voluntary HIV testing and counseling.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741911-aids-prevention-officials-take-on-soi-6/

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Police chiefs order renewed crackdown to solve Pattaya's worsening traffic

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741912-police-chiefs-order-renewed-crackdown-to-solve-pattayas-worsening-traffic/

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New Commerce Permanent Secretary to address livelihood issues



BANGKOK, 11 July 2014, (NNT) - Newly appointed Commerce Permanent Secretary Chutima Boonyaprapatsorn has said she will work with transparency and do her best for the benefits of the public.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741924-new-thai-commerce-permanent-secretary-to-address-livelihood-issues/

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2010 Political Protesters ordered to return all wartime weapons by July 30th

BANGKOK, 11 July 2014 (NNT) - The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has made two public announcements ordering the Royal Thai Police to enforce more stringent measures against gambling and those in possession of war weapons during the 2010 political protests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741925-2010-political-protesters-ordered-to-return-all-wartime-weapons-by-july-30th-thailand/

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Man named Shelby Mustang GT500 Miller arrested

DES MOINES, IOWA: -- A MAN whose parents somehow named him Shelby Mustang GT500 Miller has been arrested in Des Moines, Iowa. And not because of his name.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741929-man-named-shelby-mustang-gt500-miller-arrested/

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Thai Forestry Department announces new measures against deforestation
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, July 11 -- Thailand’s Forestry Department has announced plans to revive forests nationwide, while also reducing the rate of deforestation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741938-thai-forestry-department-announces-new-measures-against-deforestation/

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US Ambassador says US-Thai relations remain warm
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, July 11 -- US ambassador to Thailand Kristie A Kenney emphasized to Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong, deputy leader of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and air force chief, that relations between the United States and its close ally Thailand remain strong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741939-us-ambassador-says-us-thai-relations-remain-warm/

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Thai Health coordinates with 16 schools to stimulate daily exercise



BANGKOK, 11 June 2014 (NNT) -The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (Thai Health) is coordinating with 16 schools to hold a ‘Walking School’ campaign, hoping to reduce students’ interaction with mobile phones.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741943-thai-health-coordinates-with-16-schools-to-stimulate-daily-exercise/

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240 kilograms of dried marijuana confiscated in Nakhon Phanom

NAKHON PHANOM, 11 July 2014 (NNT) -- Authorities in the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom have confiscated 240 kilograms of dried marijuana while they were on the way to Suvarnnabhumi airport.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741946-240-kilograms-of-dried-marijuana-confiscated-in-nakhon-phanom/

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DBD established anti-corruption hotline



BANGKOK, 11 July 2014, (NNT) - The Department of Business Development (DBD) has established a hotline for the public to report on any corruption practice among the department’s employees, in accordance with the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s policies in curbing corruption.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741951-thai-dbd-established-anti-corruption-hotline/

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Suspect who shot M-79 grenades at NACC, Shin 3 buildings, PDRC protest site, arrested in Nonthaburi /MCOT

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Low-income earners unable to make ends meet on 300 baht minimum wage

BANGKOK, 11 July 2014 (NNT) - Factory workers and those in the low-income range have voiced out complaints that even though their wages are on the rise, their expenses have risen faster due to higher costs of living.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741972-low-income-earners-unable-to-make-ends-meet-on-300-baht-minimum-wage/

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NSO launches survey on the elderly

BANGKOK, 11 July 2014 (NNT) – The National Statistical Office (NSO) has launched a survey on population aging and the quality of life among the elderly people nationwide.

NSO Director Vibulthat Suthanthanakit said the survey was conducted from this month and would be wrapped up by next month.

The survey will focus on population types, financial and social status, health conditions, daily life, as well security and needs for government's aides. Information will be used to improve government services for the elderly such as public facilities, healthcare, as well as transport and shelter.

Moreover, local private sector will also benefit from the survey because they can use it to develop products and services catering to rising numbers of older people in Thailand.


-- NNT 2014-07-11

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Water experts says NCPO's 3-month deadline for nationwide water management planning is tight and the large Chao Phraya river basin raises the biggest concern. /Bangkok Post

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Israel prepares for ground military operation, 98 dead in airstrikes

(VOR) As the number of dead and badly injured in airstrikes in the Gaza Strip approaches 100 Friday, Israel has moved three infantry brigades to the borders of the Gaza Strip in preparation for a possible ground offense.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741979-israel-prepares-for-ground-military-operation-98-dead-in-gaza-strip-airstrikes/

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Obama's New Drug Policy Looks a Lot Like the Old One
Alex Altman

A new emphasis on treatment and addiction, but no change on marijuana

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/741981-obamas-new-drug-policy-looks-a-lot-like-the-old-one/

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Bangkok residents leave capital for long holiday; Mittraphap Road, Asian Highway crowded with vehicles, traffic jam on Rama 2 Road /MCOT

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Ratchaburi police arrest drug smuggling gang, seize 110,000 meth pills worth Bt33 million /MCOT

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China expresses continued support for Thailand

BANGKOK, 11 July 2014 (NNT) – The Chinese government has affirmed that China would maintain cooperation and support for Thailand regardless of the country’s political situation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742003-china-expresses-continued-support-for-thailand/

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Thai stock market projected to continue rising
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, July 11 -- The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is expected to continue rising next week on continued buying by foreign investors after Thursday’s record closing at the highest level in more than a year, according to Kasikorn Research Centre and Kasikorn Securities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742004-thai-stock-market-projected-to-continue-rising/

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Thai Buddhists make merit on Asalha Puja Day
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, July 11 -- Thai Buddhists nationwide are making merit today, Asalha Puja Day, Friday, the full moon of the eighth lunar month, to celebrate the Lord Buddha’s first sermon to his five former companions the doctrine that had come to him following his enlightenment.

Devout Buddhists dressed in white were seen at Ban Tor Pa Tun in the northern province of Chiang Mai offering alms contained in three glass bowls, meaning Lord Buddha, his teaching and the monkhood.

They also worshiped sacred objects and their deceased ancestors.

In nearby Lamphun province, people offered alms to monks at the revered Wat Phra That Haripunchai which is more than 1,350 years old in the belief that their presence would make them and family members receive fortune and happiness.

In the northeastern province of Surin bordering Cambodia where many elephants are raised, alms offering to monks was probably different to other provinces in Thailand as Buddhists presented alms on 87 elephants.

The celebrations were held around the statue of Phraya Surin Phakdi Srinarong Chang Wang.

It is also considered the most important temple for people in Surin because it houses Luang Pho Phra Chi, a highly venerated Buddha image.

Buddhists lined up along the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province bordering Laos and offered sticky rice to monks while the provincial governor led people in giving an oath not to consume alcoholic drinks during the three-month Buddhist Lent period which begins tomorrow. They also aimed at performing good deeds for His Majesty the King.

Buddhists in the two troubled southern provinces of Yala and Narathiwat offered dried food and sweets to monks amid tight security provided by the authorities.

At the revered Wat Mahathat in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district, Buddhists offered alms to 87 monks.

His Majesty the King celebrates his 87th birthday this year, December 5. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-07-11

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Video of Police Slapping Murder-Rape Suspect Causes Stir
By Khaosod English


Wanchai Saengkhao, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) employee who police say confessed to raping and murdering a 13-year-old girl on a night train on 6 July. [July 8, 2014].

BANGKOK — A video of a police officer smacking a rape and murder suspect during his interrogation has highlighted divisions in Thai society over how rape crimes should be punished.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742010-video-of-thai-police-slapping-murder-rape-suspect-causes-stir/

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18 million tons of rice to be sold out in three years



BANGKOK: -- The Foreign Trade Department (FTD) plans to sell out all the 18 million tons of rice in government stocks within three years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742013-18-million-tons-of-thai-rice-to-be-sold-out-in-three-years/