Thailand triumphs in UN Human Rights council bid

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Chris Brown's Manila departure delayed over fraud allegation

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Grammy award-winning singer Chris Brown's departure from Manila was delayed Wednesday because of fraud allegations against him and his promoter for a canceled concert last New Year's Eve in the Philippines.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842698-chris-browns-manila-departure-delayed-over-fraud-allegation/

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Transport of seven king statues to Hua Hin to begin 3pm today until 3am. Motorists should avoid Rama II, Phetkasem and Cha-am-Pran Buri roads over next week. /Bangkok Post

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N. Korea seen upgrading missile launch facility
Shin Hyon-hee
The Korea Herald

SEOUL North Korea appears to be nearing completion of a project to extend a launch pad at the missile site on its west coast, a military source said Wednesday, boosting the possibility for another rocket liftoff later this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842724-north-korea-seen-upgrading-missile-launch-facility/

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Yala fruit orchards under wild elephant siege

YALA, 23 July 2015 (NNT) – Community leaders and village defense volunteers have carried out a survey of damaged fruit orchards in Mae Wat subdistrict in the southernmost province of Yala, following recent destruction by wild elephants.

An unknown number of wild elephants have invaded local farmland to feast on their fruits. The damage extended over 10 rai of fruit orchards. Villagers initially spotted a herd of wild elephants in their neighborhood a week ago, but were unable to drive them back to the forests for fear of being attacked.

The pachyderms are believed to have migrated from Malaysia. During this period, the neighboring country has granted concessions to loggers for large swaths of forest. Locals assume that the sound of chainsaws may have scared the animals away and driven them into the Thai territory.

Village heads are compiling damage reports to seek aid from the provincial administrative organization.


-- NNT 2015-07-23

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CSD commandos search former MP’s house in Uthai Thani



BANGKOK: -- Over a hundred Bangkok-based Crime Suppression Division (CSD) commando police conducted simultaneous searches of 12 places in Uthai Thani's Muang and Sawang-arom districts in an effort to crack down on gun-related crimes which were on the rise recently.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842725-csd-commandos-search-former-thai-mps-house/

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ISOC: Fewer incidents reported during Ramadan this year

BANGKOK, 23 July 2015 (NNT) – The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4 Forward Command has revealed that the situation in the Deep South during Ramadan this year showed improvement from last year with fewer attacks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842734-isoc-fewer-incidents-reported-during-ramadan-this-year/

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Thailand to launch crackdown on alcohol consumption

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842736-thailand-to-launch-crackdown-on-alcohol-consumption/

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BAGHDAD (AP) - US Defense Secretary Ash Carter arrives in Iraqi capital on unannounced visit.

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Youngest convicted killer in U.S. to be released from prison
BY DOYLE MURPHY NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

He was a killer at 12, but he’ll soon be a free man.

NEW YORK: -- Curtis Jones, once the youngest convicted murderer in the nation, is set to be released from a Florida prison more than 15 years after he gunned down his father’s girlfriend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842740-youngest-convicted-killer-in-us-to-be-released-from-prison/

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As he heads to Africa, Obama's electricity plan in jeopardy
By JOSH LEDERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Barack Obama returns to Africa this week, his signature program to help the continent double its access to electricity is in jeopardy, undermined by Congress' refusal to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842742-as-he-heads-to-africa-obamas-electricity-plan-in-jeopardy/

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Carter arrives in Iraqi capital on unannounced visit
By ROBERT BURNS

BAGHDAD (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter arrived unannounced in Baghdad on Thursday to assess the government's progress in healing the country's sectarian divisions and hear the latest on support for the Iraqi army's coming attempt to recapture the key city of Ramadi from the Islamic State.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842743-us-defense-secretary-carter-arrives-in-iraqi-capital-on-unannounced-visit/

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BMA pushes ahead with cycling campaign

BANGKOK, 23 July 2015 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has pushed ahead with its campaign to promote cycling in the capital.

The BMA said the focus of the campaign is to ensure cycling in Bangkok is safe for everyone. Measures will be implemented to reduce the use of cars and to stress the benefits of bicycles to travel around the capital.

More bike routes, including paths at Rattanakosin Island, have been built in line with the campaign. Barriers will also be set up to increase safety for cyclists.

The BMA will stage annual events such as Car-Free Day to encourage the use of public transport. Several major roads are usually closed to all motorized vehicles, so up to 20,000 cyclists can form a convoy and bike throughout Bangkok.


-- NNT 2015-07-23

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UPDATE:

Koh Tao murder trial – court goes into recess at 10.15pm on day four

KOH SAMUI: -- On day four of the Koh Tao murder trial Police Colonel Cherdpong Chiewpreecha from Police Division 8 took to the stand to testify with regards to the CCTV footage of both the victims and the accused.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838898-koh-tao-trial-opens-for-2-accused-of-killing-british-tourists/page-166#entry9652756

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Watana asks administrative court to annul NCPO's travel ban order
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former Social Development and Human Security minister Watana Muangsuk Thursday filed a lawsuit with the Central Administrative Court, asking it to annual a travel ban order.

Watana told the court that the announcement No 21/2557 by the National Council for Peace and Order that banned him and 154 others from leaving the kingdom had violated the international legal principle.

Watana said the order was not issued to have effect on the general people but was aimed at 155 persons so its violated the legal principles and affected his rights as well as violating the interim constitution.

The former Pheu Thai MP also asked the court to issue an injunction to suspend the order pending the ruling of the court.

The Central Administrative Court will decide later whether to accept the suit for deliberation or not.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Watana-asks-administrative-court-to-annul-NCPOs-tr-30265068.html


-- The Nation 2015-07-23

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Street racers now face tough actions under Section 44



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has invoked Section 44 of the interim constitution to tackle street racing seriously with parents facing both imprisonment and fine if their kids repeated the same street racing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842753-street-racers-now-face-tough-actions-under-section-44/

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Over 20 million cubic meters of water released into Sirikit Dam

UTTARADIT, 23 July 2015 (NNT) - More than 20 million cubic meters of water has been released into Sirikit Dam, the biggest volume in recent months.

According to Uttaradit provincial authorities, due to days of heavy rains, a large amount of water has been released into the dam, increasing the water volume to 32.92 million cubic meters. Currently, 280.6 million cubic meters of water is available for use to supply nearby provinces.

Around 11.11 million cubic meters of water is being diverted into communities daily from the dam for consumption purposes.

The provincial authorities speculated that more water should be released into the dam soon as more rains have been predicted for the North. However, the public are still urged to use water sparingly and wisely as rainstorms will continue to be scattered.


-- NNT 2015-07-23

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First set of data from Pluto unveil great discoveries

BANGKOK, 22 July 2015 (NNT) – The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Public Organization) (NARIT) together with Chulalongkorn University held a press conference on the 22th July 2015 at Chulalongkorn university, announcing the discoveries after the NASA’s New Horizons shuttle has orbited Pluto on the 14th July 2015.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842764-first-set-of-data-from-pluto-unveil-great-discoveries/

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Ranong fishing boat owners sell vessels

BANGKOK: -- The Thai owners of fishing boats in the southern province of Ranong has sold over 10 vessels to Myanmar buyers to survive from the authorities' crackdown on illegal fishing, said Thawee Boonying, president of the province's fishery association.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842765-ranong-fishing-boat-owners-sell-vessels/

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Ex-minister calls on court to lift ban on travel
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Wattana Muangsuk, former social development and human security minister, filed a court petition Thursday asking that an order prohibiting him from travelling overseas without permission be lifted.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842766-ex-minister-wattana-calls-on-court-to-lift-ncpos-travel-ban-order/

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SET index closed 1,444.66 down 3.18; Bt/USD34.70; GBP54.11; AUD25.27; EUR37.90; CAD26.45; HKD4.45; SGD25.18; JPY27.85

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No toll fee collection on August 2 and 16

BANGKOK: -- Don Muang Tollway Pcl announced yesterday that it will waive tollway fees on all vehicles for two days on August 2 and August 16.

The toll fee waiver is part of its participation to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 83rd birthday anniversary and also to herald His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn’s Bike for Mom campaign, which is to take place on August 16.

Exemption of toll fee will begin from noon till 11.00 pm on August 2 and August 16.

August 2 will be the day to rehearse the biking along the roads from the Royal Plaza to the11st Infantry Regiment of the Royal Guards in Bang Khen on a 43 kilometre round trip.

The prime minister will lead his cabinet members and military officers in the rehearsal before the actual day.

So far almost 400,000 people have registered nationwide to take part in the “Bike for Mom” campaign.

Over 40,000 people have registered in Bangkok.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/no-toll-fee-collection-on-august-2-and-16


-- Thai PBS 2015-07-23

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Man gets two years for renting room to red-shirt activist
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court Thursday sentenced a man to two years in jail for allegedly renting his flat to a red-shirt activist to install equipment used to allegedly scramble radio frequencies of the Office of the Maritime Promotion Commission.

The owner of the room, Theerapat Bunpa and red-shirt activist Chinnawat Habunpad were charged with colluding to possess and use radio communications equipment without permission, establishing a radio communications station without permission as well as scrambling and blocking official radio communication.

The prosecutors said they breached Section 6, 11, 22 and 23 of the 1955 Radio Communications Act. The duo allegedly committed the offences from January 9 to April 12, 2009 at MP Tower in Bangkok's Din Daeng district. Their alleged intent was to block or disturb radio frequencies of the Office of the Maritime Promotion Commission.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Man-gets-two-years-for-renting-room-to-red-shirt-a-30265081.html


-- The Nation 2015-07-23

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BRUSSELS (AP) - European Union opens antitrust case against 6 major US movie studios, including Disney.

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NLA mulls draft bill to tackle teenage pregnancy issues
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) Thursday considered draft legislation on the prevention of teenage pregnancy issues, which called for the establishment of a committee to propose policies and measures to solve the problem of teenage pregnancy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842781-thai-nla-mulls-draft-bill-to-tackle-teenage-pregnancy-issues/

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Soldiers break into Prayuth happy dance to go viral (VIDEO)
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Marching on the heels of the move-busting police dance crew, the military was inspired to make a viral video and making Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha's theme song slightly more entertaining.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842782-thai-soldiers-break-into-prayut-happy-dance-to-go-viral-video/

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12 migrant workers dumped in Phuket road when pick-up flips
Eakkapop Thongtub


The driver of the pick-truck said that a trailer it was towing became unbalanced and this caused it to flip.

PHUKET: -- Twelve Myanmar migrant workers were taken to Thalang Hospital this morning (July 23) after the vehicle they were being transported in crashed and flipped on Thepkassattri Rd in Baan Muang Mai.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842783-12-migrant-workers-dumped-in-phuket-road-when-pick-up-flips/

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Video campaign urges Thais to give up bad habits (VIDEO)
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- From littering and materialism to inconsiderate driving, a series making fun of bad Thai habits urges people to end these brands of "Thainess."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842785-video-campaign-urges-thais-to-give-up-bad-habits-video/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Police 'Never Checked' CCTV After Britons Killed

By Sarah McBride in Koh Samui

There are gasps in court as judges hear of a series of apparent blunders in the hours after the two Britons were found dead.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838898-koh-tao-trial-opens-for-2-accused-of-killing-british-tourists/page-169#entry9653869

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Koh Tao murder trial: Police say more DNA tests possible

DNA evidence could still be re-tested in the case of two British tourists murdered in Thailand, a police forensic expert has told a court.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/838898-koh-tao-trial-opens-for-2-accused-of-killing-british-tourists/page-170#entry9653979

[Lite Beer]

Over 50,000 chickens perish in a huge fire at a chicken farm in Khon Kaen

KHONKAEN: -- Over 50,000 egg-laying chickens were burned to death in a huge fire at a chicken farm in Khon Kaen province on Thursday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842811-over-50000-chickens-perish-in-a-huge-fire-at-a-chicken-farm-in-khon-kaen/