Thailand Live Wednesday 15 Jul 2015

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Prosecutors say Uzbek man hoped to carry out terror attack
REBECCA BOONE, Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Federal prosecutors told jurors Tuesday that an Uzbek refugee living in Boise, Idaho, was walking a "pathway to terror" when he was arrested two years ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840538-us-prosecutors-say-uzbek-man-hoped-to-carry-out-terror-attack/

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Utah death row inmate says firing squad is unconstitutional
LINDSAY WHITEHURST, Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah death row inmate appealing his sentence of death by firing squad says the execution method is cruel and unusual punishment. Utah recently approved the use of a firing squad as a backup if lethal injection drugs are not available.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840539-utah-death-row-inmate-says-firing-squad-is-unconstitutional/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Myanmar Still in Dark Over General Election Main Players

By SHIBANI MAHTANI and MYO MYO

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar—With Myanmar poised to hold its fairest general election in decades, the country remains in the dark over whom and what it will be voting for on Nov. 8.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840541-myanmar-still-in-dark-over-general-election-main-players/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Myanmar navy finds 102 stranded Bangladesh migrants on island - state media

BANGKOK | BY TIM MCLAUGHLIN AND AUNG HLA TUN

Myanmar's navy has discovered more than 100 Bangladeshi migrants stranded for nearly a month on a southern island, state media said on Tuesday, following a regional migrant crisis in which people smugglers abandoned thousands at sea.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840542-myanmar-navy-finds-102-stranded-bangladesh-migrants-on-island-state-media/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

The American Stake in Myanmar and Sri Lanka

By Admiral Dennis C. Blair

Although many Americans would have a hard time finding Sri Lanka or Myanmar on a map, these two Asian countries are in the midst of major political transformations with important and uncertain outcomes.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840543-the-american-stake-in-myanmar-and-sri-lanka/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Firefox blocks Flash by default, cites security flaws

Mozilla, the company behind the fairly popular Firefox web browser, has blocked all versions of Adobe Flash in Firefox by default, after the discovery of numerous critical security flaws in the platform.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/flash-disabled-firefox/12417/

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) - NASA spacecraft New Horizon messages home, confirming successful first flyby of Pluto.

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BURNING ISSUE
Shooting the foreign messengers won't kill the news
Pravit Rojanaphruk

BANGKOK: -- A disturbing topic that has recently been a top, but off-the-record, point of discussion among many foreign correspondents is the difficulty in getting a work visa and accreditation. Despite being such an important issue, this subject has barely made the news in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840546-thai-politics-shooting-the-foreign-messengers-wont-kill-the-news/

[Lite Beer]

Shelling Sends Civilians Fleeing in Shan State
By NYEIN NYEIN / THE IRRAWADDY

RANGOON: -- More than 100 people from Kaung Kha village in Muse Township have fled their homes after artillery shells were fired into the settlement on Monday, reportedly leaving one person dead and two others injured.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840548-shelling-sends-civilians-fleeing-in-shan-state/

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GISTDA: Good rainfall likely at the end of the month

BANGKOK, 15 July 2015, (NNT) - The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) has indicated that more rainfall is likely to occur at the end of the month, which would greatly help the agricultural sector.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840558-gistda-good-rainfall-likely-at-the-end-of-the-month/

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EU-Thai relations remain strong

BANGKOK, 15 July 2015, (NNT) - The European Union (EU) has dismissed rumors floated in social media outlets that it has imposed sanctions on Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840560-eu-thai-relations-remain-strong/

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Thais in Turkey told to remain vigilant at this time

BANGKOK, 15 July 2015 (NNT)-Thai nationals living in Turkey have been told to remain vigilant as anger towards Thailand’s deportations of ethnic Uighurs has not subsided.

The Thai embassy has advised Thai citizens in Turkey to take precautions when leaving their homes. They should avoid revealing their nationality in conversations.

They have also been told not to panic and return to their daily lives as usual. While some Turkish people may continue to feel anger towards Thailand, many others have expressed their empathy to the Thai consulate in Istanbul following the attack on July 8th.

Thai citizens seeking consular services are advised to make an arrangement in advance by calling (90-312) 437 4318.


-- NNT 2015-07-15

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Australian Jodi Magi, jailed over Facebook post, deported from Abu Dhabi
Josephine Tovey

SYDNEY: -- An Australian woman arrested and jailed in Abu Dhabi after posting an image to Facebook has been deported from the country and says she is heartbroken at the treatment of other women by the Gulf state's justice system.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840562-australian-woman-jailed-over-facebook-post-deported-from-abu-dhabi/

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UPDATE:

No aftershocks reported following a 4.8 quake in Kanchanaburi last night

KANCHANABURI, 15 July 2015 (NNT)- The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has disclosed that no aftershocks have been reported after a 4.8 quake occurred last night in Sangkhlaburi district of Kanchanaburi province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840526-magnitude-48-quake-strikes-kanchanaburis-sangkhlaburi-district/#entry9621418

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5,161 new businesses registered in June, a drop of 0.7% on-year

BANGKOK, 15 July 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Commerce is imposing an additional penalty on businesses that fail to submit their financial statement on time, by having the Revenue Department probe each of the businesses' tax records for any irregularity.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840588-5161-new-businesses-registered-in-june-a-drop-of-07-on-year/

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Missouri executes man for killing 19-year-old
JIM SUHR, Associated Press

BONNE TERRE, Missouri (AP) — A Missouri man who sexually attacked a 19-year-old woman before tying her to a cemetery tree and killing her was executed Tuesday after the U.S. Supreme Court and the governor declined to intervene.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840590-missouri-executes-man-for-killing-19-year-old/

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Three major risks of flying in Indonesia identified

JAKARTA: -- The Wall Street Journal (WSJ)'s latest interactive report identified three major problems in Indonesia's aviation infrastructure that put the safety of air passengers at risk, according to The Jakarta Post.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840592-wsj-identifies-three-major-risks-of-flying-in-indonesia/

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Officials probe Phuket water mains project
The Phuket News


The residents provided photos of the Koh Sirey water mains project.

PHUKET: -- Officials have launched an investigation into a public water mains project on Koh Sirey after local residents complained that a busy road in their neighbourhood was excavated for no reason.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840594-officials-probe-phuket-water-mains-project/

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Malaysia, Australia urge UNSC to support MH17 tribunal

KUALA LUMPUR: -- Members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) have been called upon by Malaysia, Australia, Belgium, Netherlands and Ukraine to support the establishment of an international criminal tribunal as a mean to seek justice for the victims of downed Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840597-malaysia-australia-urge-unsc-to-support-mh17-tribunal/

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SET up 4.35 at opening /Bangkok Post

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Tourists who shot polar bear that attacked them fined $1230

SVALBARD, Norway - They were lucky to be alive after a polar bear broke into their tent on a remote Norwegian island and tried to maul them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840598-norway-czech-tourists-who-shot-polar-bear-that-attacked-them-fined-us1230/

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Judge orders video released of police killing unarmed man
By BRIAN MELLEY

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge ordered a suburban Los Angeles city on Tuesday to release video of police fatally shooting an unarmed man two years ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840600-us-federal-judge-orders-video-released-of-police-killing-unarmed-man/

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Bluebottles invade Phuket beaches
Tanyaluk Sakoot


Lifeguards have found bluebottles washed ashore at many Phuket beaches. Photo: PLGS

PHUKET: -- Tourists and other beachgoers have been warned to be on the lookout for dangerous bluebottles, also called Portuguese Man o’ War, after specimens were found washed ashore at Patong on Monday (July 13).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840603-bluebottles-invade-phuket-beaches/

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GSB allocates 500 million baht for mortgage refinancing

BANGKOK, 15 July 2015, (NNT) - The Government Saving Bank (GSB) has set aside 500 million baht to help its customers refinance mortgage loans.

GSB President Chartchai Payuhanawichai said the bank would discuss the program at length on July 21. He explained that the campaign is designed to help those who rely on informal loan providers to mortgage their house.

The bank admitted that this program is high risk, which is why GSB has imposed strict requirements for the loan. Each customer can borrow no more than 500,000 baht. The loan also cannot exceed half the value of the customer's collateral assets. For example, the full 500,000-baht loan will be granted to those who can present a million baht's worth of collateral.

The payment period is ten years. Once approved by the board, mortgage-payers can apply for the loan immediately until the end of September.

The project is in line with the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration's policy to curb the use of informal loan providers.


-- NNT 2015-07-15

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Debt stricken teachers now get reprieve of their debt burden



BANGKOK: -- Debt stricken teachers are now seeing some relief of their debt burden after the government has given instruction to the state-owned Government Savings Bank to help them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840607-debt-stricken-teachers-now-get-reprieve-of-their-debt-burden/

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Trump campaign to reveal wealth details: 'I'm really rich'
JEFF HORWITZ, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — As other presidential candidates fight to raise money, Donald Trump is reminding everyone he's already got a lot of it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840608-trump-campaign-to-reveal-wealth-details-im-really-rich/

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Princess Sirindhorn eases the plight of people suffering acute water shortage in Pathumthani



BANGKOK: -- The plight of people in Pathumthani province facing acute shortage of water for consumption and drinking is now being eased after Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has instructed the Chaipattana Foundation to release raw water from the huge Rama 9 royal reservoir in Klong Luang district of Pathumthani province to help relieve troubles of the people in three districts where water shortage turns critical.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840610-princess-sirindhorn-eases-the-plight-of-people-suffering-acute-water-shortage-in-pathumthani/

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Predawn fire at golf factory in Pathumthani



BANGKOK: -- A huge predawn fire broke out this morning at a golf factory in Lat Lumkaeo district of Pathumthani province causing damage initially estimated at about 40 million baht.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840613-huge-fire-at-golf-equipment-factory-in-pathumthani/

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Typhoon Nangka to reach southern Japan today, Rain forecast across the country tomorrow



BANGKOK, 15 July 2015 (NNT) - The Meteorological Department has warned those traveling to Japan to take precautions as Typhoon Nangka heads for southern Japan today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840629-typhoon-nangka-to-reach-southern-japan-today-rain-forecast-across-thailand-tomorrow/

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UPDATE:

Overnight quake caused by shifting Sagiang fault line in Myanmar

KANCHANABURI, 15 July 2015 (NNT) - The Department of Mineral Resources has told people to remain calm, as last night’s quake did not jeopardize the integrity of the dams in Kanchanaburi province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840526-magnitude-48-quake-strikes-kanchanaburis-sangkhlaburi-district/#entry9621951