Thailand Live Friday 7 Aug 2015

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Cuba plans boating boom as US luxury ships head to Havana
By MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN
Aug. 7, 2015 12:47 AM EDT

HAVANA (AP) — A $3 million yacht left Key West this week with two barbeque grills, 250 channels of satellite TV and a just-in-case plan for rescuing stranded Cuban rafters encountered in the Florida Straits.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846608-cuba-plans-boating-boom-as-us-luxury-ships-head-to-havana/

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UPDATE:

Northeastern provinces brace for more floods

BANGKOK, 7 August 2015 (NNT) - Northeastern provinces are bracing for more floods as the Mekong River threatens to breach embankments.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846600-bueng-kan-tightens-thailand-laos-pier-safety-as-mekong-river-rises/#entry9709207

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Women's network calls for NLA to quickly pass tobacco regulations

BANGKOK, 7 July 2015 (NNT) - A women’s network of Thailand’s 4 regions has petitioned the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to quickly consider new tobacco legislation, fearing political interference might take place.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846609-womens-network-calls-for-nla-to-quickly-pass-tobacco-regulations/

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Ranong NRC member guilty of cheating senatorial election
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Supreme Court has found Sakda Sriwiriyapaibul, the National Reform Council member representing Ranong, guilty of cheating the senatorial election in Ranong in 2014.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846615-ranong-nrc-member-guilty-of-cheating-senatorial-election/

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Serial Rape and Burglary Suspect Apprehended in Bangkok
By Khaosod English


Entrance to the gated Suphalai community on Chaloem Phra Kiat Road in Bangkok's Prawet district, where police said a serial rapist and burglar struck twice since July 29.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846619-serial-rape-and-burglary-suspect-apprehended-in-bangkok/

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UPDATE:

UK police probe migrant who allegedly walked Channel Tunnel

LONDON (AP) — British authorities are investigating how a Sudanese migrant managed to walk nearly the entire length of the 31-mile (50-kilometer) Channel Tunnel from Calais before being stopped.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846498-channel-tunnel-migrant-almost-walked-to-england/#entry9709545

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Bangkok upgrades taxi services to raise tourism standard


File photo. Source: Internet

BANGKOK, 7 August 2015 (NNT) – A taxi service enhancement workshop for taxi drivers, organized by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), was completed in Bangkok with the aim to improve the city’s tourism standards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846626-bangkok-upgrades-taxi-services-to-raise-tourism-standard/

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Nan's ASEAN Studies Center celebrates 48th anniversary of the regional bloc

NAN, 7 August 2015 (NNT) - ASEAN Studies Center of Bandon (Srisermkasikorn) School in the northern province of Nan, held "ASEAN Day 2015" to celebrate the 48th anniversary of the establishment of the regional bloc.

According to www.asean.org, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 when Thailand and four other founding fathers of the bloc, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore, signed the ASEAN Declaration called Bangkok Declaration, in the Thai capital of Bangkok.

The Bangkok Declaration was aimed at accelerating the economic growth as well as social and cultural development through the regional cooperation.

After that five other Southeast Asian nations joined the bloc, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN.

The event in Nan was presided over by chief of Nan's Elementary Education Office with participation of more than a thousand teachers and students from twenty one schools.

Main objectives of the event were to raise awareness of the upcoming ASEAN Community Integration among the participating teachers and students and put them into readiness for the arrival of the new trade liberalization zone of the world.

The event featured several exhibitions and competitions of traditional foods, national costumes, folk games and performances from the ten member countries. There was also an ASEAN song show by students. These activities would help the participants understand culture and traditions, particularly languages of the member countries.


-- NNT 2015-08-07

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SET index closed 1,428.79 down 1.79; Bt/USD34.89; GBP54.05; AUD25.28; EUR38.01; CAD26.45; HKD4.49; SGD25.05; JPY27.86

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ASEAN steps up its response to fight against narcotic drugs

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has played an active role in tackling drug abuse and illegal drug trafficking since it was established. Its latest effort to eradicate narcotic drugs was the ASEAN+3 Workshop on Drug Monitoring Network of the ASEAN Narcotics Cooperation Center (ASEAN-NARCO) held from 22 - 24 June 2015 in Bangkok with participation from all ten member countries and dialogue partners.

Led by the Thai Office of the Narcotics Control Board, the workshop had the objective to establish a center of drug monitoring in ASEAN. During the workshop, representatives of the member countries, dialogue partners and anti-drug international organizations shared experience and knowledge on drug monitoring. The workshop participants also created a work plan for the implementation of the second-phase of a three-phase development plan for illicit drug eradication.

The first phase of the development plan is to search for cooperation in ASEAN to establish anti-drug networks and database. The second phase is the strengthening of such cooperation and appointment of personnel to coordinate the anti-drug networks. The second phase also seeks to promote continuity and sustainability of the development plan. The third phase is the development of a database of the ASEAN anti-drug networks and a channel of communication between them.

ASEAN-NARCO has expressed confidence that ASEAN’s readiness in terms of anti-drug information will greatly benefit ASEAN in its investigation, prosecution and eradication of illicit drugs. The information will also benefit ASEAN’s future efforts to combat and monitor drugs in the sub-region.


-- NNT 2015-08-10

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Helpful 'Army Captain' Turns Out To Be Drug Dealer
By Khaosod English


Rangsan Charoenkart poses for police in field and dress uniforms identifying him as a captain in the Royal Thai Army.

CHIANG MAI — About a year ago Cpt. Rangsan Charoenkart introduced himself to police authorities up in Chiang Mai province as an army liaison.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846633-chiang-mai-helpful-army-captain-turns-out-to-be-drug-dealer/

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US investors have full confidence in Thailand: Prayut
Natthapat Promkaew
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Investors from the United States have expressed their confidence in Thailand and are ready to invest in the country, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846680-us-investors-have-full-confidence-in-thailand-prayut/

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PM keen to meet new US ambassador
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha Friday welcomed United States Ambassador to Thailand Glyn Davies, saying he wished to talk to the envoy and forge mutual understanding.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846681-pm-keen-to-meet-new-us-ambassador/

[Lite Beer]

PTT, Bangchak to lower retail petrol prices Saturday
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- PTT Plc and Bangchak Plc will lower their retail petrol prices, starting at 5 am Saturday.

All Gasohol petrol prices will drop by 40 satang, except the E85 petrol will see its price cut by 20 satang.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/PTT-Bangchak-to-lower-retail-petrol-prices-Saturda-30266151.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-07

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The first ASEAN Cultural Center in Southeast Asia officially opens in Bangkok

BANGKOK, 7 August 2015 (NNT) - The first comprehensive ASEAN Cultural Center in Southeast Asia has been officially opened in Bangkok, one day ahead of ASEAN Day Celebration on 8 August.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn said at the opening ceremony of the center that the Thai government hoped the center would provide an active cultural learning space for Thais and ASEAN visitors in preparation for the ASEAN Community Integration at the end of 2015.

The opening ceremony was also attended by the Culture ministers of Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam, the ASEAN secretary general, and foreign ambassadors in Thailand. The center now opens from Tuesday - Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Located on the third floor of the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Center on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok, the center has been arranged into six zones. Among those zones are the “Living Together” short documentary screening area, information center on ASEAN countries, the “Travel in ASEAN” zone, in which visitors can try on ASEAN national costumes, and the e-library where they can experience mocked-up public parks and cultural heritage sites in the region.

-- NNT 2015-08-07

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Governor checks Phuket’s port in-out center

PHUKET, 7 August 2015 (NNT) – The Governor of Phuket has checked the province’s port-in port-out fishing vessels report center, which has been established to help eliminate illegal fishing.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846683-governor-checks-phukets-port-in-out-center/

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Military court hands down 30 years jailterm on lese majeste offender

BANGKOK: -- A Kanchanaburi-based tour company’s agent was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment on charges of lese majeste and computer law violations by the military court.

The defendant, 48-year old Mr Pongsak Sriboonpeng, was arrested by police on December 30 last year after he posted messages deemed to be offending the Monarchy in his Facebook page, named Sam Parr, four times in September, 2013 and twice in November last year.

Accompanied by his lawyer, Mr Pongsak was taken to the military court on Friday and the court read out the lese majeste and computer crime charges against him. Mr Pongsak pleaded guilty to the charges and was given 10-year jailterm for each of the six counts of offence totaling 60 years.

But because of his confession, the court halved the sentence to 30 years.

Prior to the court’s delivering of the verdict, the defendant’s lawyer asked for permission for the court to allow observers to witness the trial but it was rejected by the court claiming that the case was related to security.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/military-court-hands-down-30-years-jailterm-on-lese-majeste-offender

-- Thai PBS 2015-08-07

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Supa Piyajitti claims loss from rice scheme exceeds 600 billion baht

BANGKOK: -- Loss from the controversial rice pledging scheme of the former Yingluck government has now surpassed 600 billion baht because of additional rotten rice in the stockpiles, said Ms Supa Piyajitti, a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, on Friday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846684-supa-piyajitti-claims-loss-from-rice-scheme-exceeds-600-billion-baht/

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Six hundred protesters demand to keep Khon Kaen’s central bus terminal

by The Isaan Record

KHON KAEN: -- Since 2013, the group “Rak Pattana Baw Kaw Saw 1,” has been organizing to prevent the closure of Khon Kaen’s central bus station. Yesterday’s protest comes after repeated efforts to petition local administration. Banner reads, “Khon Kaen needs two bus stations.”

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846687-six-hundred-protesters-demand-to-keep-khon-kaens-central-bus-terminal/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Saturday 8 Aug 2015

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846721-thailand-live-saturday-8-aug-2015/