Thailand Live Tuesday 14 Jul 2015

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Walker: 'I will win and fight for you'
By TODD RICHMOND and STEVE PEOPLES

WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) — Scott Walker vowed Monday to fight for America's interests abroad and for his conservative policies in Washington, launching a 2016 Republican presidential bid by highlighting his clashes with labor unions as his campaign taunted his Democratic critics.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840269-us-presidential-bid-scott-walker-i-will-win-and-fight-for-you/

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Alabama hometown of Harper Lee abuzz over new book
JAY REEVES, Associated Press

MONROEVILLE, Alabama (AP) — As an owner of the only non-religious bookstore in Harper Lee's hometown, Spencer Madrie figured he'd sell hundreds of copies — maybe more — after the stunning announcement that the author was releasing a sequel to her 1960 blockbuster "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840270-alabama-hometown-of-harper-lee-abuzz-over-new-book/

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With historic nuke deal in sight, US and Iran dig in
By GEORGE JAHN and MATTHEW LEE

VIENNA (AP) — A historic nuclear compromise within sight, American and Iranian negotiators struggled Monday to clear the final obstacles to an agreement aimed at eliminating the threat of a nuclear-armed Tehran. Weary diplomats expected to push past their fourth missed deadline in less than two weeks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840271-with-historic-nuke-deal-in-sight-us-and-iran-dig-in/

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Cloud seeding operations ongoing in North, Northeast to replenish reservoirs

PHITSANULOK, 14 July 2015 (NNT) – Royal rainmaking centers in the North and Northeast continue to carry out cloud seeding operations to replenish the amount of water in major reservoirs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840280-cloud-seeding-operations-ongoing-in-north-northeast-to-replenish-reservoirs/

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NSC member to visit China to observe how repatriated Uyghurs are treated

BANGKOK, 14 July 2015, (NNT) - National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Anusit Kunakorn is scheduled to visit China from July 15 - 17, in order to observe the way the recently repatriated 109 Uyghurs from Thailand are being treated.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840281-nsc-member-to-visit-china-to-observe-how-repatriated-uyghurs-are-treated/

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CDC’s mobile meeting kicks off with review of parts related to court and justice system

BANGKOK, 14 July 2015 (NNT) - The Constitution Drafting Committee has kicked off its mobile meeting with the review of parts of the draft charter that are related to court and justice system.

CDC spokesman Gen Lertrat Ratanavanich on Monday said that the meeting had completed the general section of the draft charter’s court and justice system.

Gen Lertrat said that the meeting agreed to remove Article 225, involving the origin of administrative personnel of the court, while including all contents in Article 219 instead.

For Article 222 of the draft charter, the CDC has put in place the stipulation which demands that the Supreme Court President will have to chair a reviewing committee, with presidents of other courts acting as committee members alongside four other qualified experts, he said.

he that t The meeting also looked at Article 228, which is about the Attorney-General, and agreed to add more details that suggest the Attorney-General will be performing his or her duties “without any conflict of interest”, the CDC spokesman said.


-- NNT 2015-07-14

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Son of Boston police captain charged in terror bomb plot
DENISE LAVOIE, AP Legal Affairs Writer

BOSTON (AP) — The son of a Boston police captain has been arrested in an FBI sting and accused of plotting to commit terrorist acts in support of the Islamic State group, including the setting off pressure-cooker bombs at an unidentified university and the slaughter of students live online.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840283-son-of-boston-police-captain-charged-in-terror-bomb-plot/

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Tibetan lama Tenzin Delek Rinpoche dies in Chinese prison
LOUISE WATT, Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) — Tibetan lama Tenzin Delek Rinpoche has died in prison 13 years into serving a sentence for what human rights groups say were false charges that he was involved in a bombing in a public park. He was 65.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840285-tibetan-lama-tenzin-delek-rinpoche-dies-in-chinese-prison/

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PWO to conduct intervention buying of 100,000 tons of palm oil

BANGKOK, 14 July 2015, (NNT) - The Public Warehouse Organization (PWO) is to conduct intervention buying of 100,000 tons of palm oil to stabilize falling prices.

The palm oil will be bought from refineries at 26.20 baht a kilogram.

The instruction was made on Monday during a meeting of the National Palm Oil Policy Council, which was chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan.

Participating refineries must present procurement documents showing their palm oil is from bought from producers registered with the Department of Agricultural Extension. The campaign will conclude at the end of November.

The meeting also decided to assign officials to look into the cause of the drop in the palm oil price.

Palm oil production this year will likely decrease by 2.3 percent, due to the severe drought conditions. Currently the nation has 380,000 tons of stored palm oil. The amount is considered 100,000 tons more than the usual level. Officials are now to find ways to utilize the excess volume.


-- NNT 2015-07-14

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Labour Ministry to relieve Thai employers and migrant workers of IUU fishing impacts



BANGKOK, 14 July 2015 (NNT) – The Labour Ministry has approved measures to help migrant fishermen whose Thai employers could not bring boats out to the sea as they fail to meet requirements of IUU fishing control, Labour Minister Surasak Kanjanarat revealed on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840287-labour-min-to-relieve-thai-employers-and-migrant-workers-of-iuu-fishing-impacts/

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Documents: US agents knew of 'El Chapo' escape plots in 2014
ALICIA A. CALDWELL, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The weekend disappearance of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman from a maximum security prison should have come as little surprise to Mexican authorities: The Drug Enforcement Administration had alerted them 16 months ago about several plans to escape.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840290-documents-us-agents-knew-of-el-chapo-escape-plots-in-2014/

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Trial opens for journalists charged with defaming Thai navy
By THANYARAT DOKSONE

PHUKET, Thailand (AP) — Testimony has started in a criminal defamation lawsuit the Thai navy has filed against a small news website over a report it posted alleging naval forces accepted money to abet or turn a blind eye to the trafficking of refugees from Myanmar.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840295-trial-opens-for-journalists-charged-with-defaming-thai-navy/

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Tourism Department organizes a training session for tour guides

BANGKOK, 14 July 2015, (NNT) - The Department of Tourism and the Office of Silpakorn University Academic Services, held a workshop on Monday to instruct tour guides in Phuket in work skill developments.

The workshop is a part of a project to enhance the professionalism of tour guides in Thailand. The event was well-received by tour guides from several travel agencies in the Province.

Talks on ‘the future of Thai tour guides’, ‘the direction of local tourism in the near future’ and ‘the tour guide analysis for competition in the ASEAN Economic Community’ were also part of the event.

The workshop was aimed at informing attendees of related news & tourism findings, discussing global and local tourism directions, potential, strategy and trends in the profession. Event-goers exchanged experiences with one another, and are expected to contribute ideas in addressing problems in the tourism sector.


-- NNT 2015-07-14

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UN report: 15,000 civilians killed in Iraq in 16 months
EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The conflict in Iraq has taken a terrible toll on civilians with nearly 15,000 killed and 30,000 wounded during a 16-month period ending on April 30, by the Islamic State group, Iraqi security forces and others, according to a U.N. report released Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840297-un-report-15000-civilians-killed-in-iraq-in-16-months/

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N. Korea's idolisation of former rulers seen reduced
Song Sang-ho
The Korea Herald

SEOUL: -- North Korea’s efforts to idolise its late former leaders appear to have recently been reduced, an indication that current ruler Kim Jong-un is striving to wean himself from the influences of his predecessors and build his own leadership, analysts said Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840300-north-koreas-idolisation-of-former-rulers-seen-reduced/

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SET up 3.18 points at opening /Bangkok Post

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NYC reaches $5.9 million settlement in chokehold death case
COLLEEN LONG, Associated Press
DEEPTI HAJELA, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — The family of a black man who died after being placed in a white police officer's chokehold reached a $5.9 million settlement with New York City on Monday, days before the anniversary of his death.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840305-new-york-city-to-pay-59-million-to-family-of-eric-garner/

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American national arrested over alleged major VAT refund scam



HO CHI MINH CITY: -- Customs officers in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday nabbed an American national for allegedly raking in at least VND2.2 billion (US$100,900) in a value-added tax refund scam that begun in 2014, reported Thanh Nien News.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840326-vietnam-american-national-arrested-over-alleged-major-vat-refund-scam/

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Sheriff: Girl who survived plane crash found by motorist
MARTHA BELLISLE, Associated Press
GENE JOHNSON, Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — A teenage girl who survived a small-plane crash in the craggy, thickly forested mountains of north-central Washington state emerged from the wilderness after hiking "for a couple of days" and was picked up by a motorist who drove her to safety, authorities said Monday. But the fate of her two step-grandparents, who were also on board, remained unclear.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840328-teenage-girl-walked-for-days-in-forest-after-surviving-us-plane-crash/

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Myanmar man arrested in possession of over 2,000 ya bah pills
Eakkapop Thongtub


Kyaw Soe Miw, 30, had been paid B15,000 to deliver the drugs to Phuket.

PHUKET: -- A Myanmar man was arrested early this morning (July 14) when he was found to be in possession of 2,178 methamphetamine pills (ya bah).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840332-phuket-myanmar-man-arrested-in-possession-of-over-2000-ya-bah-pills/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Gang wars: Tackling Thailand’s vocational college violence

By Daniel Maxwell

Violence between students from rival colleges again made the headlines last weekend after a student was hospitalized on Friday night with multiple stab wounds to the chest.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840330-gang-wars-tackling-thailands-vocational-college-violence/

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Japanese immigration escorted former Bangkok police chief Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit Thoopkrachang on board Thai Airways International’s Flight TG 641 at Narita airport for Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport today after the Japanese prosecutors agreed not to prosecute him.

The flight is expected to arrive at Suvarnabhumi at 3.30 pm today.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/118529


-- Thai PBS 2015-07-14

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Reminder: Kasikorn to suspend all banking services this coming weekend

Temporary system suspension from Kasikorn Bank PLC from 22.00 hrs., Friday 17 July – 22.00 Sunday 19 July 2015.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832985-kasikorn-to-suspend-all-banking-operations-during-july-weekend/

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Water supplies for farming and consumption cut as water crisis deepened



BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet today approved the proposal of the Royal Irrigation Department to cut water supplies from four major dams for farming and consumption to 18 million cubic metres from 28 million cubic metres.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840340-water-supplies-for-thai-farming-and-consumption-cut-as-water-crisis-deepened/

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S. Korean police say professor fed former student feces
HYUNG-JIN KIM, Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean police said Tuesday they've detained a university design professor for allegedly forcing a former student to eat human feces and subjecting him to other cruel acts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840346-south-korean-police-say-professor-fed-former-student-feces/

[Lite Beer]

Airport to file criminal charge against Kamronwit

BANGKOK: -- The Airports of Thailand (AoT) will file criminal charge against former metropolitan police commissioner Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit Thoopkrachang as soon as he arrives at Suvarnabhumi airport from Narita this afternoon.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840351-airport-to-file-criminal-charge-against-kamronwit/

[Lite Beer]

SET up 2.56 to 1,4993.21 at midday / Bangkok Post.

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Thai defamation trial opens for journalists over trafficking report

BANGKOK- Two journalists, including an Australian editor, went on trial in Thailand Tuesday over a report they published implicating the navy in human trafficking, as the United Nations urged the junta-ruled nation to drop the case.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/839825-crusading-phuketwan-website-shuts-down-as-journalists-face-thai-court/page-5?p=9618525#entry9618525

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HYDERABAD, India (AP) - India official says stampede during Hindu religious bathing festival kills 22.

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Tax-free personal belongings carried by tourists now raised to 20,000 baht



BANGKOK: -- Thai and foreign tourists are now allowed to bring in with them personal belongings worth 20,000 baht into Thailand with no import tax from earlier fixed at 10,000 baht.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840363-tax-free-personal-belongings-carried-by-tourists-now-raised-to-20000-baht/