Activist Veera freed

BANGKOK: -- Political activist Veera Somkwamkid and seven other members of the so-called energy reform network were released from the police custody at the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) headquarters this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755188-activist-veera-freed-from-thai-police-custody/

Fire destroys 15 houses at a community in Bangkok's Udomsuk area

BANGKOK, 27 August 2014 (NNT) - A fire broke out at a large community in Bangkok’s Udomsuk area, setting 15 houses ablaze and leaving 5 people injured. Fortunately, nobody died from the incident.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755192-fire-destroys-15-houses-at-a-community-in-bangkoks-udomsuk-area/

Hatyai "Colorful Market" opens tomorrow



SONGKHLA, 27 August 2014 (NNT) – The municipality of Hat Yai is set to feature its brand new attractions at the Hat Yai "Colorful Market" tomorrow (28 August 2014).

The market features 9 zones, namely a community products zone, a handmade craft zone, a local food zone, a green agriculture zone, a healthy massage zone, a fun activities zone, an exhibition and a photo taking zone with various products available for the whole family. The municipality hopes that the brand new market can help encourage community members to spend more time doing activities together.

The brand new market is located on Samchai Rd in Hat Yai, and will be open on Thursday until Sunday 5.00 p.m. until 9.30 p.m.

-- NNT 2014-08-27

UPDATE:

Adjustments to be made to contents in history and civic duties subjects at school

BANGKOK, 27 August 2014 (NNT) – The Office of the Basic Education Commission has given a green light for schools to make adjustments to school hours and the contents in the history and civic duties subjects.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755148-cut-in-class-hours-on-the-backburner-during-revamp-thai-education/#entry8303472

East, South warned of heavy rain till Aug 29

BANGKOK, 27 August 2014 (NNT) – The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has cautioned residents in 15 provinces in the East and South of Thailand to beware of heavy rains and strong gusts for the next couple of days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755205-thailands-east-and-south-warned-of-heavy-rain-till-aug-29/

Chiang Rai rocked by over 1,200 aftershocks after the May 5 quake



CHIANG RAI: -- Residents in three districts of Chiang Rai are still living in fear as aftershocks continue to rock their houses with many now have adapted their daily lives to stay with the natural disaster.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755209-chiang-rai-rocked-by-over-1200-aftershocks-after-the-may-5-quake/

Betong bomb suspects arrested in Satun

SATUN: -- Three suspects responsible for the powerful bomb attack in Betong district of Yala were arrested in Satun province last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755211-yala-betong-bomb-suspects-arrested-in-satun/

US campaigns to enlist Australia and other allies to attack Islamic State in Syria

WASHINGTON: -- The United States has begun to mobilise a broad coalition of allies, including Australia, behind potential US military action in Syria and is moving towards expanded air strikes in northern Iraq, administration officials said on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755214-us-campaigns-to-enlist-australia-and-other-allies-to-attack-islamic-state-in-syria/

Phitsanulok man tells thief to exchange stolen bike for his wife and booze
By Coconuts Bangkok



Take my wife ... please!

BANGKOK: -- A heartbreaking incident of motorbike theft prompted that ancient one-liner from the victim yesterday, who uploaded a video pleading with the thief to return his bike in exchange for his wife.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755244-thai-man-tells-thief-to-exchange-stolen-bike-for-his-wife-and-booze/

PHUKET: Fake DSI men held for massage extortion
Eakkapop Thongtub


The DSI arrested two men masquerading as DSI officers.

PHUKET: -- Two men masquerading as DSI officers were arrested on Tuesday (August 26) for extorting B100,000 from the Angel massage parlour in Poonphon, Phuket Town in April.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755248-phuket-fake-dsi-men-held-for-massage-extortion/

City hall to clear Silom of vendors during the day
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Starting in October, daytime vendors along Silom Road will be gone, for good.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755240-city-hall-to-clear-silom-of-vendors-during-the-day/

Royal Thai Navy hosts ASEAN naval chiefs meeting
By Digital Content



BANGKOK: -- One outcome of the meeting is a planned ASEAN force for humanitarian missions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755251-royal-thai-navy-hosts-asean-naval-chiefs-meeting/

TRAFFIC
Parents to sign contract to stop street racers

BANGKOK: -- Police will invite parents of street racers arrested over the last three years to sign an MOU in a bid to stop them from racing on public roads again.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755252-parents-to-sign-contract-to-stop-street-racers-thailand/

Thailand to Curb Stock Manipulation With Hefty Fines
By Anuchit Nguyen

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is planning new rules to check stock-market manipulation by allowing the regulator to file civil lawsuits and impose hefty fines on the law-breakers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755254-thailand-to-curb-stock-manipulation-with-hefty-fines/

PM Gen Prayuth meets Thai-European Chamber of Commerce representatives to discuss economic policy /MCOT

UPDATE:

Veera, 7 other energy reform activists released from detention
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Aug 27 -- Veera Somkwankid, leader of the People's Network Against Corruption, and seven other energy-reform activists, have been released from military detention and allowed to join an energy reform seminar at the Thai Army Club today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755188-activist-veera-freed-from-thai-police-custody/#entry8304266

Semi-naked 'newly weds' in Ipoh, Malaysia, cause a stir; police investigating

IPOH: -- Photographs of a pair of semi-naked "newly weds" walking about near a bank here in broad daylight have caused a stir on social media, The Straits Times reported, quoting Asia News Network.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755267-semi-naked-newly-weds-in-ipoh-malaysia-cause-a-stir;-police-investigating/

NCPO aims to push ahead with its reform roadmap

BANGKOK, 27 August 2014 (NNT) - Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong has stated that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) will spare no efforts restoring investors' confidence and the nation’s economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755265-ncpo-aims-to-push-ahead-with-its-reform-roadmap/

Thailand buys Ebola detection kits from Germany and China
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Aug 26 -- Thailand is buying Ebola detection kits from German and China, it was revealed today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755268-thailand-buys-ebola-detection-kits-from-germany-and-china/

Bangkok launches ‘No Smoking’ campaign in public health facilities

BANGKOK, 27 August 2014 (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) today launched a model of a smoke free public health facilities.

Acting Bangkok governor Pussadee Tamthai has said that the campaign is collaboration between BMA, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and the National Alliance for Tobacco Free Thailand.

The aim of this campaign is to reduce the smoking rate by 10 percent by 2025. All nine hospitals under the BMA Medical Service Department and 68 public health services center under the BMA’s Sanitation Department are invited to be members of the National Alliance for Tobacco Free Thailand. In addition, the campaign will be extended to 438 schools in 50 districts.

-- NNT 2014-08-27

UPDATE:

Central bank governor predicts Thai economy may grow 5 percent next July



Thailand’s economic growth next July is likely to register 4.5-5 percent increase thanks to its stable fundamentals, said Bank of Thailand governor Prasarn Trairatworakul in his address at Thailand Focus 2014 seminar today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755265-ncpo-aims-to-push-ahead-with-its-reform-roadmap/#entry8304566

Ministry of Transport puts dual-track rail on the table

BANGKOK,27 August 2014 (NNT)- The Ministry of Transportation is putting the development of a dual train track on the table to allow a compatible system for a high speed train project in the future.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755276-thai-transport-ministry-puts-dual-track-rail-on-the-table/

Gen Prayuth asserts new cabinet ready by September, to work for 1 year; to speed reforms planned under roadmap before new election /MCOT

BoT expects 5% GDP growth in next 12 months; urges government to avoid populist policies which could build burden /MCOT

Supreme Court rules blue diamond theft case is final



BANGKOK: -- The two decades long blue diamond theft case involving eight former police officers who included Pol Lt-Gen Chalor Kerdthes has now come to a close after the Supreme Court upheld the verdict of the Appeals Court which had earlier sentenced all the convicts to serve prison terms from 4-10 years while Chalor alone to 20 years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755282-thailands-supreme-court-rules-saudi-blue-diamond-theft-case-is-final/

SET index closed 1,564.58, up 4.41; Bt/USD31.80; GBP52.49; AUD29.48; EUR41.72; CAD28.95; HKD4.09; SGD25.34; JPY30.42

Forest runoff hits Mae Hong Son, 1 dead, 1 missing; Lampang's Thoen district under metre high flood, Nakhon Pathom under 30cm of floodwater /MCOT

IMF boss Christine Lagarde put under investigation in French fraud case

PARIS: -- IMF chief Christine Lagarde has been placed under formal investigation by French magistrates for her alleged role in a long-running political fraud case, a source close to the former French finance minister said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755321-imf-boss-christine-lagarde-put-under-investigation-in-french-fraud-case/

PHUKET NEWS TV: Jellyfish - Deadly or Dangerous?'

A 5 year old boy was killed by one of these. Do you know how to treat jellyfish stings? We bet you are wrong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755324-phuket-news-tv-jellyfish-deadly-or-dangerous/

Airport security tightened as Thai pilgrims leave for Hajj
By Digital Content

NARATHIWAT, Aug 27 -- Security at Narathiwat Airport in this southern province was beefed up today to ensure the safety of 577 Thai Muslims set to leave for the Hajj pilgrimage to Madinah en route to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Gen Udondej Sitabutr, Secretary-General of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), this morning presided over a ceremonial sendoff for Thai pilgrims leaving on two Thai Airways International charter flights.

The first flight carrying 281 Hajj pilgrims left at 10.40am while the second flight carrying 296 Hajj pilgrims is scheduled to depart at 4.25pm.

The direct flights to Madinah are arranged to facilitate travel of Thai Muslims attending the Hajj pilgrimage in October.

Thai pilgrims do not have to waste time by making a connecting flight through Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The Saudi government has granted a quota allowing 10,400 Thai Muslims to attend this year’s Hajj. Most of Thai Hajj pilgrims, some 8,000, are from the country’s three mainly Muslim southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-08-27

NCPO to increase rubber prices, carefully releasing rubber stocks
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Aug 27 -- Col Winthai Suvaree, deputy spokesman of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), allayed farmers' concerns that the release of government rubber would further lower rubber prices.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755325-ncpo-to-increase-rubber-prices-carefully-releasing-rubber-stocks/