Thailand Live Tuesday 7 Jul 2015

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Krabi speedboat driver jailed for two years for 'Disaster in the Bay' tourist deaths
Supatra Sutham


The survivors were brought back to Phuket for emergency treatment. Photo: PR Dept

KRABI: -- The speedboat driver who claimed he was “picking up a plastic bag from the cabin floor” when his boat full of tourists rammed a fishing trawler, leaving two Koreans dead and dozens injured last year, has been sentenced to two years in jail.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838683-krabi-speedboat-driver-jailed-for-two-years-for-disaster-in-the-bay-tourist-deaths/

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UPDATE:

Military court orders unconditional release of 14 student activists



BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Military Court today ordered the unconditional release of the 14 student activists after they were escorted to the court to seek permission for the extension of their detention for 12 more days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838634-student-activists-in-thailand-go-before-military-court/#entry9592957

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Phuket death jump owner offers B200k-B300k to deceased's family
Nattha Thepbamrung


An official inspects the cage lift at the site after the fatal plunge. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- Police have revealed today (July 7) that that the family of Kuwaiti, Abdullah Adel Kadhmbahman, who died after falling from the World Bungee Jump in Patong on May 27 have been offered between B200,000-B300,000 in compensation from the business owner.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838685-phuket-death-jump-owner-offers-b200k-b300k-to-deceaseds-family/

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CONFIDENCE
Thailand's business optimism down, reversing trend
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Business optimism in Thailand declined sharply in the second quarter of this year, despite an increase in emerging Asia Pacific countries driven by improvement in China, according to a survey.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838686-thailands-business-optimism-down-reversing-trend/

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Train passengers will be covered by insurance for accident

BANGKOK: -- Train passengers will soon have insurance coverages on their train travels after the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor says a plan is being considered to provide accident insurance for passengers and staff on trains.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838694-train-passengers-will-be-covered-by-insurance-for-accident/

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Former IMF Economist Veerathai to Head Thai Central Bank
by Suttinee Yuvejwattana

BANGKOK: -- Veerathai Santiprabhob, a former economist at the International Monetary Fund, has been named the new governor at the Bank of Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838696-former-imf-economist-veerathai-to-head-thai-central-bank/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Heineken and Carlsberg compete over beer sales in Myanmar

Big beer’s latest quest for growth has Heineken NV on a collision course with Carlsberg A/S in Myanmar according to a report by Bloomberg Business on 6 July.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838697-heineken-and-carlsberg-compete-over-beer-sales-in-myanmar/

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Actress 'Tangmo' hospitalized for overdose
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Actress Pattaratida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong was admitted to a hospital last night after overdosing on sleeping pills.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838699-thai-actress-tangmo-hospitalized-for-overdose/

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PM mourns loss of 5 military officers in Surat Thani

BANGKOK, 7 July 2015 (NNT) - Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha expressed condolences to the families of five on-duty military officers, who were killed in a traffic accident on Monday.

The five officers lost their lives when their van collided with a pickup truck in Surat Thani’s Khiri Ratthanikhom district. They were escorting another officer’s vehicle after their visit to the joint Mobile Development Unit 46 of the Armed Forces Development Command in the province.

The driver of the pickup truck lost control of his vehicle while making a turn on the Surat Thani-Takhua Pa Road and struck the military van in a head-on collision.

The premier expressed sadness that the military officers were killed while on duty and their service to the country will be remembered.


-- NNT 2015-07-07

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A migrant has died on a freight shuttle trying to reach Britain, Channel Tunnel operator Eurotunnel says /BBC

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UPDATE:

Prison Delays Freedom of 14 Dissidents Until Tomorrow, Citing Regulations
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK — The fourteen activists jailed for their peaceful protests against the military junta will spend one more night in jail after the martial court ruled to release them this morning, according to a top prison official.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838634-student-activists-in-thailand-go-before-military-court/#entry9593462

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Sahamongkol withdraws lawsuit against Tony Jaa
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The president of Sahamongkol Film International announced today he will withdraw the lawsuit filed against Tony Jaa over his role in “Fast & Furious 7.”

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838712-sahamongkol-withdraws-lawsuit-against-tony-jaa/

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Students urge protesters to 'calm down and put aside their egos'
Wasamon Audjarint
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Representatives of a student union and a civil group Tuesday submitted a letter declaring their support for Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Around 12 students from Ramkhamhaeng University's student union and from the Serichon Thailand 58 group met the government's representatives outside the Government House compound. They offered their moral support and urged the PM to help settle the conflict.

Supattra Chaipolrit, head of Ramkhamhaeng's student union, asked every party to 'calm down and put aside their egos.

"In this moment, everyone needs to compromise to find solutions for our country. There has been too much chaos up till now … including the arrest of the 14 students. They should rather seek bail and defend themselves legitimately," Supattra said.

"As students, we are worried about their well-being, and that's why we would like to urge them to fight by [legal means]. If everyone follows the rules, conflict will be softened, and there will eventually be consensus to find solutions."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Students-urge-protesters-to-calm-down-and-put-asid-30263936.html


-- The Nation 2015-07-07

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Roads collapse in wake of deadly drought
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- As the drought continues to hit Thailand, 88 canalside road sections in Pathum Thani province have been left cracked and subsided. The most common cause has been a sharp drop in the underground water levels beneath them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838735-roads-in-thailand-collapse-in-wake-of-deadly-drought/

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SET index closed 1,483.77 up 10.54; Bt/USD33.82; GBP52.35; AUD24.76; EUR37.00; CAD26.41; HKD4.33; SGD24.73; JPY27.40

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Malaysia freezes 6 bank accounts in probe linked to premier
EILEEN NG, Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian authorities have frozen six bank accounts as part of an investigation into allegations that hundreds of millions of dollars were transferred from a state investment fund to the personal accounts of Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838740-malaysia-freezes-6-bank-accounts-in-probe-linked-to-premier/

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Prayut tell 14 students to have remorse
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha Tuesday said the military court granted mercy to the students and ordered their release so they should admit their wrongdoing, learn the lesson and not commit violation again.

Asked whether he would be worried about more movements to come after the students were released, he said the situation would depend on those who want to protest and on the student activists themselves.

"Is it right to think [movement against coup] is not wrong? Why can't you wait just a bit longer? Do you really want a new government tomorrow?" he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Prayut-tell-14-students-to-have-remorse-30263939.html


-- The Nation 2015-07-07

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FAO: Thailand needs stricter law to keep illegal fishing under control

BANGKOK, 7 July 2015 (NNT)-The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has suggested that the Thai government undergo a legal reform in order to raise the standards of the fishing industry.

FAO Senior Fishery Officer Simon Funge-Smith said in a seminar on the future of the fishing industry in Thailand that similar issues occurring around the world are due to the lack of legal punishments and attention to illegal unreported and unregulated fishing.

Mr. Smith cited the need to legislate a law to specifically deal with fisheries-related issues. He added, however, that the drafting process of the law can’t be rushed in order to ensure there is no room for mistakes.

The government should also pay attention to improving human resources in the fisheries industry and be determined to solve the ongoing problems. It also needs to have a good policy in order to mirror the positive image of the Thai fishing industry to the global community.


-- NNT 2015-07-07

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Anna Reese becomes nun after killing cop in car crash
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: @Borilux

BANGKOK: -- Thai-English actress Anna Reese declared herself a Buddhist nun this morning and will be super-devout and dedicate all her merit to the police officer she killed in a car crash.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838759-thai-english-actress-anna-reese-becomes-nun-after-killing-cop-in-car-crash/

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Private sector cuts GDP estimate to 3%

BANGKOK, 7 July 2015 (NNT) – The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has adjusted its forecast for the annual GDP down to 3 percent as a result of the continued slowdown in the world economy.

According to Chairman of the JSCCIB Boontuck Wangcharoen, the Thai economy is feeling the pinch from the world economic slowdown and delayed recovery, especially in major trade partner countries like China. As a consequence, the committee agreed at its latest meeting to reduce its growth estimate for Thai exports this year to minus 2 percent, as opposed to the previous 1-percent target.

As for the 2015 GDP, the committee revised the growth figure to 3 percent, a drop from 3.5 percent projected earlier. Private investment is also expected to remain weak in line with the dwindling confidence among consumers and industrial operators.

On a positive note, Mr Boontuck pointed out that the tourism sector will continue to be lively while state budget disbursement will pick up the pace, allowing more funds to reach every corner of the country from the third quarter onwards.


-- NNT 2015-07-07

[Lite Beer]

Bail Set at $10k for 11 Letpadan Activists
By NOBEL ZAW / THE IRRAWADDY

RANGOON — Bail has been granted to 11 activists detained after a brutal crackdown on student demonstrations earlier this year, family members said, while five other requests were denied by a court in central Burma.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838781-bail-set-at-10k-for-11-letpadan-activists/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Wednesday 8 Jul 2015

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838839-thailand-live-wednesday-8-jul-2015/