Thailand Live Tuesday 4 Aug 2015

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Clean toilets promoted for tourists

BANGKOK, 4 August 2015 (NNT) - Tourists can now be content using public toilets at many tourist attractions, since the introduction of the “WC OK” campaign of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845636-wc-ok-campaign-clean-toilets-promoted-for-tourists/

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Public invited to creative industry fair at Phadung Krung Kasem Market

BANGKOK, 4 August 2015 (NNT) – The government is inviting the public to visit a fair dedicated to the creative industry sector, which is being hailed a perfect venue for people looking to buy gifts for their mother ahead of Mothers' Day.

The fair at the market next to the stretch of Phadung Krung Kasem Canal near Government House in Bangkok was inaugurated by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The Mother's Day-themed fair also hosts a special exhibition in celebration of Her Majesty the Queen's birthday anniversary on August 12.

Unique activities will take place during each of the three weeks of the fair. The products on offer each week will also be different. Silk and traditional garments will be featured during the first week. The focus of the second week will be on health products such as mammary gland stimulants, health food, and weight control products. The focus of the final week will be on home decoration, where visitors will be shown an array of fine wooden furniture for sale.


-- NNT 2015-08-04

[Jonathan Fairfield]

China overtakes S. Korea to become largest tourist source to Cambodia's Angkor

China has overtaken South Korea to become the largest tourist source of Cambodia's Angkor world heritage site, Cambodia's state-run Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) reported on Monday, citing a senior tourism official.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845630-china-overtakes-s-korea-to-become-largest-tourist-source-to-cambodias-angkor/

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Jokowi renews call for independent Palestine

JAKARTA: -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo has again expressed his support for an independent Palestine, urging participants of the Muhammadiyah congress he opened on Monday to speak out on the matter, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845642-indonesias-jokowi-renews-call-for-independent-palestine/

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SET down 3.70 points at opening /Bangkok Post

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Export to contract by 4.2%, the lowest in six years



BANGKOK: -- Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSA) has indicated that the country’s exports has fallen to the lowest point in a six year period and expects that exports will contract further by 4.2%.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845663-thai-export-to-contract-by-42-the-lowest-in-six-years/

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22 killed in floods over seven days in northern Vietnam



VIETNAM: -- Tuoi Tre News reported that heavy rains and subsequent flooding that raged in northern Vietnam from July 27 to August 2 killed 22 people and injured 36 others, citing information from the National Steering Board for Disaster Prevention and Control.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845667-22-killed-in-floods-over-seven-days-in-northern-vietnam/

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Madame Chiang Kai-shek's New York estate up for sale
Jiang Hezi
China Daily

HONG KONG: -- In the past week, nearly 100 people of Chinese descent have telephoned Jason Friedman about a mansion on Long Island, New York, which was listed for sale recently.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845668-madame-chiang-kai-sheks-new-york-estate-up-for-sale/

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US State Dept. Watered Down Human Trafficking Report
By Khaosod English

WASHINGTON — In the weeks leading up to a critical annual U.S. report on human trafficking that publicly shames the world’s worst offenders, human rights experts at the State Department concluded that trafficking conditions hadn’t improved in Malaysia and Cuba. And in China, they found, things had grown worse.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845674-us-state-dept-watered-down-human-trafficking-report/

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Low cost airlines must declare number of seats and remaining seats to customers in their promotion campaigns



BANGKOK: -- All budget airlines must declare the total number of their seats and tell customers how many seats are left while they are booking for seats in the airlines' promotion campaigns.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845675-budget-airlines-must-declare-number-of-seats-available-for-sale-in-their-promotion-campaigns/

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Lame lakorn shoot doesn’t give a damn by halting Asoke traffic (PHOTOS)
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Television sweetheart Urassaya ‘Yaya’ Sperbund may have lost a few hundred fans yesterday by halting traffic at Asoke so she could film a scene for her show.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845685-lame-lakorn-shoot-doesnt-give-a-damn-by-halting-asoke-traffic-photos/

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PM chairs meeting to discuss economy stimulus packages



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha today presided over a meeting of his cabinet to discuss economic stimulus packages.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845686-pm-prayut-chairs-meeting-to-discuss-economy-stimulus-packages/

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NHSO agrees in principal with 2016 national healthcare policies

BANGKOK, 4 August 2015, (NNT) - The National Health Security Office (NHSO) has agreed in principal with the recently drafted 2016 national healthcare policies, particularly in terms of healthcare coverage for the elderly.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845687-thai-nhso-agrees-in-principal-with-2016-national-healthcare-policies/

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Min of Culture promotes Thai silk to commemorate HM the Queen's 83rd birthday anniversary

BANGKOK, 4 August 2015, (NNT) - The Ministry of Culture has been organizing a fair to encourage the general public to wear Thai silk to commemorate the Queen's 83rd birthday anniversary.

Culture Minister Weera Rojpojanarat revealed that the fair will be held from August 19 - 23 at Siam Paragon Department Store in Bangkok. He explained that the event aims at promoting Thai silk products among domestic and foreign consumers, in honor of Her Majesty the Queen's efforts to preserve the traditional arts.

According to the minister, a wide variety of Thai silk will be available for purchase. He added that an exhibition on the history and culture of locally-made silk will also be held at the venue.

Thai silk is produced from the cocoons of Thai silkworms. Thai weavers, mainly from the Khorat Plateau in the northeastern region of Thailand, raise the caterpillars on a steady diet of mulberry leaves. For many generations, Khorat has been the center of the silk industry in Thailand and a steady supplier of rose Thai silk.

Thai silk is famous for its special qualities produced through unparalleled manufacturing methods, bearing unique patterns and colors.

Her Majesty Queen Sirikit played a significant role in preserving Thai silk designs and calling for international recognition of the quality of Thai silk.


-- NNT 2015-08-04

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Royal Thai Army holds mass ordination celebrating HM the Queen's birthday

BANGKOK, 4 August 2015, (NNT) - The Royal Thai Army yesterday held a mass ordination for its personnel.

The event was part of the army's several activities to commemorate Her Majesty the Queen's 83rd birthday anniversary, which falls on August 12, 2015.

The ceremony, chaired by Chief of the Defence Forces General Worapong Sanganetra, was aimed at encouraging participants to realize their love for their mothers and their duty as a son.

Eighty-four personnel and their relatives took part in the event at the Army Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. Participants ordained to the Samphraya Voraviharn Temple in Bangkok.


-- NNT 2015-08-04

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Rebooting Greece: how to get its economy going again
MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS, Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — After so much pain, Greece must now figure out how to get its economy back on its feet.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845689-rebooting-greece-how-to-get-its-economy-going-again/

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Pakistan executes Shafqat Hussain despite appeals

KARACHI: -- Pakistan has executed Shafqat Hussain, convicted of killing a child in 2004, despite appeals from international human rights groups.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845690-pakistan-executes-shafqat-hussain-despite-appeals/

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Last surviving Dambusters pilot, Les Munro, dies aged 96
Death of the New Zealand squadron leader means just two crew members remain from the 1943 Dambusters bombing raids
Claire Phipps

LONDON: -- The last surviving pilot from the Dambusters raids has died at the age of 96. Les Munro, who was from New Zealand, died on Monday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845691-last-surviving-dambusters-pilot-les-munro-dies-aged-96/

[Lite Beer]

Krabi ghostbusters combat spirits with ancient T-shirt magic

Residents of Baan Tai village in Krabi province field deployed red T-shirts and other creative displays to ward off soul-starved ghosts. Photo: Khaosod English

KRABI: One by one, they started fainting. Young and old. Men and women. Ever since July, members of the Baan Tai village in Krabi province suddenly started fainting. Some later died.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845707-krabi-ghostbusters-combat-spirits-with-ancient-t-shirt-magic/

[Lite Beer]

New B300mn Phuket mall to open in January

The Bukis Phuket mall will be home to 400 boutique stores. Image: DC NINE

PHUKET: A new shopping mall on Phuket’s bypass road consting upward of B300 million is slated to open in January, bringing to the island the first “drive-thru” range of outlets, among 400 variety boutique stalls.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845708-new-b300mn-phuket-mall-to-open-in-january/

[Lite Beer]

SET down 9.22 to 1,432.82 at midday / Bangkok Post.

[Lite Beer]

Escalator tries to eat shoppers at Bangkok mall
By Coconuts

BANGKOK: -- A trip to the mall nearly turned into a scene out of a horror movie for a few unlucky people when an escalator fell apart yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845710-escalator-tries-to-eat-shoppers-at-bangkok-mall/

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Krabi stoner on kratom fails to ‘rock’ Phuket ATM robbery
Eakkapop Thongtub


Sompol smashed the screen with a rock, then tried prying the ATM open with a wrench. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- A 22-year-old man from Krabi has been arrested for attempting to break open an ATM in Rawai by smashing the screen with a rock and then trying to pry open the cash-vending machine with a wrench.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845724-krabi-stoner-on-kratom-fails-to-rock-phuket-atm-robbery/

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B500,000 damage following Phuket car fire
Eakkapop Thongtub


The fire started in the car but spread to two properties.

PHUKET: -- More than B500,000 worth of damage was caused yesterday (August 3) after a car caught fire at a residential property in Kathu and spread to two properties. Police have stated that they believe a short circuit in the car is to blame.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845725-b500000-damage-following-phuket-car-fire/

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Bronze statues of two great kings arrive in Hua Hin



HUA HIN: -- The 30-ton bronze statue each of the two great kings arrived at Ratchaphakdi park in Hua Hin late Monday night after a long journey from Ayutthaya and Pathumthani provinces.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845727-bronze-statues-of-two-great-kings-arrive-in-hua-hin/

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Van crash kills Thai driver, injures 15 Laotians



SAKAEO: -- A chartered van taking 15 Laotians to Aranyapreathet crashed at the rear of a parked trailer in Srakaeo province early Tuesday killing the driver and injuring all his 15 Laotian passengers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845730-van-crash-kills-thai-driver-injures-15-laotians/

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Thai Police Break Up Alleged Counterfeit ID Card Ring for Foreigners
By Khaosod English


Police interview an unidentified Singaporean businessman accused of using a fake Thai ID in Chiang Rai province shortly after his arrest at the border with Myanmar on 28 July, 2015. Photo: Immigration Police

UTTARADIT — Five people are wanted by police for allegedly run a criminal scheme that produced fake Thai ID cards for foreigners living in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845732-thai-police-break-up-alleged-counterfeit-id-card-ring-for-foreigners/

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TAT aims to raise 2 trillion baht from tourism in 2016

BANGKOK, 4 August 2015 (NNT) – Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to generate 2 trillion baht in tourism income for the year 2016, and encourages all Thai nationals to travel with their mother during August.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845750-tat-aims-to-raise-2-trillion-baht-from-tourism-in-2016/

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Muslim Community Protests Bacon Factory

By Khaosod English

Saying they would suffer indignity and environmental damage, protesters from a Muslim community in Phetchaburi province present a petition yesterday against a bacon-making factory that would open close to three mosques.

PHETCHABURI A group of Muslims rallied yesterday against a food companys plan to construct a pork processing plant near their community southwest of Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845752-phetchaburi-muslim-community-protests-bacon-factory/

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Patong Rotary honours the late Paiboon Upatising, the club's charter president
Press Release


'We will be forever grateful for his [Mr Paiboon's] vision and support,' said Patong Rotary current club president Walter Wyler.

PHUKET: -- The Rotary Club of Patong Beach (RCoPB) has paid tribute to Paiboon Upatising, the late President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO or OrBorJor), who was instrumental in founding the club in 2001.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845754-patong-rotary-honours-the-late-paiboon-upatising-the-clubs-charter-president/