Thailand Live Friday 31 Jul 2015

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The Enduring Mystery of Flight MH370
The discovery of a plane’s fragment—which could be part of the aircraft that disappeared in March 2014—may not bring closure to the victims’ families.
MATT SCHIAVENZA

WASHINGTON: -- In the 16 months since its disappearance on March 8, 2014, investigators still have not determined what happened to Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. Finally, a promising lead has emerged. On Wednesday, a fragment of a plane’s wing measuring 9 feet by 3 feet washed ashore in Reunion Island, a French territory in the western Indian Ocean.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844680-the-enduring-mystery-of-flight-mh370/

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Anti-Abbott poster erected by Castlemaine Secondary College students sparks row over censorship

SYDNEY: -- A POSTER erected on the streets of a small Victorian goldfields town has sparked a war of words about democracy, censorship and public art.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844682-anti-abbott-poster-erected-by-australian-students-sparks-row-over-censorship/

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DGR to drill more wells in drought affected areas

BANGKOK, 31 July 2015 (NNT) - The Department of Groundwater Resources (DGR) is expediting its well drilling project in drought affected areas, in its bid to help agriculturalists facing water shortage.

The department plans to drill new wells and dredge existing wells to make up a total number of 891 wells. 81.3 percent of the figure, or 725 wells are now operational. These wells offer slightly over 250,000 cubic meters of ground water per day.

The DGR expected to complete the remaining number of wells to be drilled and dredged within this month. Once completed, the project would be able to provide about 350,000 cubic meters of ground water daily for 150,000 rai of farmland. An approximately 4,000 farmer families are expected to benefit from these wells.


-- NNT 2015-07-31

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18 defence volunteers injured in attack by insurgents
The Nation

Yala - More than 15 insurgents mounted an attack against a post of defence volunteers of Tambon Baroh in Yala district at 1:15 am Friday, injuring 18 volunteers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844684-18-defence-volunteers-injured-in-attack-by-insurgents-in-yala/

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Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds return to original Slough production site

LONDON: -- Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds are set to return to the site where they were originally created to mark the show's 50th anniversary.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844693-uk-gerry-andersons-thunderbirds-return-to-original-slough-production-site/

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Bush calls courtship of minority voters integral to campaign
By THOMAS BEAUMONT and SERGIO BUSTOS

ORLANDO, Florida (AP) — Following his own advice, Jeb Bush is taking his presidential campaign to the neighborhoods and churches where Hispanics and African Americans live and worship in an effort to broaden his appeal among minority voters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844696-bush-calls-courtship-of-minority-voters-integral-to-campaign/

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AP Investigation: Olympic teams to swim, boat in Rio's filth
By BRAD BROOKS and JENNY BARCHFIELD

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Athletes in next year's Summer Olympics here will be swimming and boating in waters so contaminated with human feces that they risk becoming violently ill and unable to compete in the games, an Associated Press investigation has found.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844699-olympic-teams-to-swim-boat-in-rios-filth-ap-investigation/

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7th National Skills Competition for People with a Disability concluded

BANGKOK, 31 July 2015, (NNT) - The Department of Skills Development (DSD) yesterday concluded the 7th National Skills Competition for People with a Disability, noting that disabled workers have shown great improvement in craftsmanship and digital designing skills.

The competition was conducted in 18 categories including, among others, graphic design, web design, personal computer assembly, architectural design, tailoring, and pottery. Winners received a certificate and cash prize each. Those winning the first place were given 30,000 baht, while the second and third prizes received 15,000 baht and 9,000 baht respectively.

The biennial competition, which began in 2005, has been a joint effort between the government and the private sector. It aims at developing skilled laborers with physical disabilities and improving the quality of Thailand's skilled labor to the same par with international standards.

According to Permanent Secretary for Labour Nakorn Silpa-archa who chaired the event, the competitors have shown significant progress in labor skill development especially in craftsmanship and digital designing skills. He also stated winners in particular categories will have a chance to represent Thailand at the ninth International Abilympics in Bordeaux, France in March next year.


-- NNT 2015-07-31

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UPDATE:

18 volunteers wounded in an attack by suspected militants



YALA: -- Eighteen defence volunteers were wounded, six of them seriously, after they came under heavy attack by suspected militants in Yala’s Yaha district early Friday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844684-18-defence-volunteers-injured-in-attack-by-insurgents-in-yala/#entry9682353

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Man survives fall from 17th floor balcony in Chile - CCTV
The moment Sebastian Reyes lost his balance and came crashing down onto a garage roof 17 stories below was captured by CCTV cameras

CHILE: -- Sebastián Reyes is lucky to be alive. The 23-year-old fell 17 stories - around 40 meters - after losing his balance on an apartment balcony and toppling over the rail.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844704-man-survives-fall-from-17th-floor-balcony-in-chile/

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SET opens up 9.12 to 1,426.61 /Bangkok Post

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Nobody survives Lao helicopter crash



LAOS: -- The Ministry of National Defence has announced there are no survivors among people on board Lao People’s Army Mi-17 – 34062 which crashed in Longcheng district, Xaysomboune province on Monday, according to Lao News Agency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844705-nobody-survives-lao-helicopter-crash/

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Over a hundred foreign teachers gather at a workshop to improve their teaching skills



NONG KHAI, 31 July 2015 (NNT) - A workshop to improve the quality of foreign teachers in Thailand is held in the northeastern province of Nong Khai on Thursday, as part of the project to develop the country as ‘education hub’ in the region.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844709-workshop-to-improve-the-quality-of-foreign-teachers-in-thailand/

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UPDATED ARTICLE

POLITICS
Suthep wants present government to stay until reforms are completed
PIYAPORN WONGRUANG,
KHANITTHA THEPKAJORN
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- Veteran politician Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday called for national reforms to be completed under this government - no matter how long it takes - before holding the next general elections.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844499-suthep-announces-formation-of-mass-foundation-for-national-reform/page-2#entry9681626

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Ship dispatched to rescue 1,500 tourists stranded on island near Ha Long Bay



VIETNAM: -- A naval ship was dispatched to Co To Island, off the northern Vietnamese province of Quang Ninh, on Thursday morning to bring around 1,500 stranded tourists back to shore, Tuoi Tre News reported, citing a local official.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844713-vietnam-ship-dispatched-to-rescue-1500-tourists-stranded-on-island-near-ha-long-bay/

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Surfer seriously injured in Australian shark attack

SYDNEY (AP) — A surfer was seriously injured as he repeatedly punched a shark that mauled him off the Australian east coast on Friday, less than a week after a fatal attack, police and a witness said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844717-surfer-seriously-injured-in-australian-shark-attack/

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Hainan seeks direct flights to Phuket
The Phuket News


Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong (left) and Luo Baoming, the provincial Communist Party Secretary for Hainan province, shake hands at the event on Wednesday (July 29).

PHUKET: -- Luo Baoming, the provincial Communist Party chief for Hainan province, is seeking to launch direct flights from the Chinese tourism island of Hainan to Phuket.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844750-hainan-seeks-direct-flights-to-phuket/

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Local immigration police told to better identify foreign criminals

PATTAYA:--Chonburi immigration police were taught how to better detect foreign criminals while providing better service to tourists at a seminar in Jomtien Beach.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844751-local-immigration-police-told-to-better-identify-foreign-criminals/

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Bomber on highway draws shutterbugs in Sattahip

SATTAHIP:--A military jet rolling down the highway created a sensation as the Royal Thai Navy moved one of its long-unused A-7E Corsair II bombers to the Naval Education Center in Sattahip.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844748-bomber-on-highway-draws-shutterbugs-in-sattahip/

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Bali Hai repairs begin amid threats against careless boat captains

PATTAYA:--Pattaya has begun repair cracks and broken edges of the Bali Hai Pier approach bridge and is vowing legal action against careless boat captains who damaged it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844756-bali-hai-repairs-begin-amid-threats-against-careless-boat-captains/

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Sattahip naval base impounds first fishing boat violating IUU rules

The Sinsuwannaree 3 is brought back into port under armed guard for leaving port without a Vessel Monitoring System.

SATTAHIP:--Officials at the Sattahip Naval Base have reported the first arrest and seizure of a boat under new fishing rules that went into effect July 1.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844758-sattahip-naval-base-impounds-first-fishing-boat-violating-iuu-rules/

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Boat-parking chaos near Bali Hai Pier

PATTAYA:--As Pattaya begins repairs to Bali Hai Pier, the need to bring order to speedboat parking there has become even more evident.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844760-boat-parking-chaos-near-bali-hai-pier/

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North and Northeast warned of flashfloods

BANGKOK: -- The Thai Meteorological Department today warned people living in some northern and northeastern provinces to brace for possible flashfloods due to heavy torrential rainfalls today.

It said the increase rainfall is resulted from the monsoon wind flowing past Myanmar and Laos into the low pressure system covering the upper region of Vietnam simultaneously with the moderate strength southwesterly monsoon flowing into the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

The coincidence will bring in heavy rains in the northern region of Thailand and torrential rains in some northern and northeastern provinces, and the eastern region.

The department then warned people in risky areas particularly Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Bung Karn, Sakhon Nakhon, and Nakhon Phnom to brace for dangers from flashfloods due to heavy rains and accumulated rainwater stored in mountainous areas could burst and flow down instantly.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/north-and-northeast-warned-of-flashfloods

-- Thai PBS 2015-07-31

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Government seeks cooperation from private sector to hold prices of 205 items until November

BANGKOK: -- The government yesterday asked for cooperation from business entrepreneurs to hold current prices of 205 items of necessary products until November this year after global oil price is on downtrend.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844765-government-seeks-cooperation-from-private-sector-to-hold-prices-of-205-items-until-november/

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SET jumps 15.24 to 1,432.73 at midday /Bangkok Post.

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Buddhist spendings on religious days to exceed 10 billion baht this year

BANGKOK: -- Buddhist spendings on religious products and necessary goods offered to monks and religious related activities this year will exceed 10 billion baht in total in three important religious days.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844767-buddhist-spendings-on-religious-days-to-exceed-10-billion-baht-this-year/

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Former PM Somchai advised “let it be” after resorting to magic rite to ward off bad luck in a night dream



BANGKOK: -- Former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawasdi yesterday resorted to magic rite at a temple in Chiang Mai to ward off his bad luck.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844769-ex-pm-somchai-resorts-to-magic-rite-at-a-temple-to-ward-off-his-bad-luck/

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BMTA
Ride Euro II-standard buses, surf the Net for free
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Passengers riding 550 air-conditioned NGV-fuelled buses in Bangkok can surf the Internet for free thanks to the newly introduced Wi-Fi on board policy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844771-ride-euro-ii-standard-buses-in-bangkok-surf-the-net-for-free/

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Last day for prepaid phone users to register before service suspended


File photo. Source: Internet

BANGKOK, 31 July 2015 (NNT) - The National Broadcast Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) is urging prepaid mobile phone users to register their SIM cards today, the last day before the cellular service is suspended.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844773-sim-card-doomsday-last-day-for-prepaid-phone-users-to-register-before-service-suspended/

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Fear of adults delays warning as Phuket boy, 13, drowns
Darawan Naknakhon


Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers carry grave expressions as they recover the body of Payu, 13. Photo: Darawan Naknakhon

PHUKET: -- Fear of reprisal by adults prevented a group of boys reporting that one of their friends had trouble swimming and had disappeared underwater at a beach on Koh Sirey, east of Phuket Town, yesterday afternoon (July 30).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/844775-fear-of-adults-delays-warning-as-phuket-boy-13-drowns/