Thailand Live Tuesday 11 Aug 2015

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Google to be part of new holding company, 'Alphabet'
By BRANDON BAILEY

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — One of tech's biggest names, Google, is reorganizing under a new moniker — "Alphabet" — in a move underscoring its founders' ambitions to pursue ventures far beyond the company's Internet search core, from self-driving cars to cutting-edge medical research.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847460-google-to-be-part-of-new-holding-company-alphabet/

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Knife attacks kill 2 people at central Sweden Ikea store

HELSINKI (AP) — Police in Sweden arrested two men on suspicion of murder in a knife attack that killed a man and a woman at an Ikea store Monday in the central Swedish city of Vasteras, police and store officials said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847461-knife-attacks-kill-2-people-at-central-sweden-ikea-store/

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Germany government gained from Greek crisis - IWH study

LONDON: -- The Greek debt crisis has saved the German government some €100bn (£70bn; $109bn) in lower borrowing costs because investors have sought safety in German bonds, a study has found.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847462-germany-government-gained-from-greek-crisis-iwh-study/

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TOKYO (AP) - Japan utility restarts reactor, ends break from nuclear power after Fukushima disaster.

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Japan restarts reactor after break due to Fukushima
MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press
ELAINE KURTENBACH, Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — A power plant operator in southern Japan restarted a nuclear reactor on Tuesday, the first to begin operating under new safety requirements following the Fukushima disaster.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847476-japan-restarts-sendai-reactor-after-break-due-to-fukushima/

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BEIJING (AP) - China's yuan slides in value after Beijing alters currency controls following trade slump.

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Indonesia's Mount Slamet closed as quake intensifies

JAKARTA: -- Mount Slamet, the tallest summit in Central Java and a top destination for mountain climbers seeking to celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day next week, has been closed due to intensifying tremors, The Jakarta Post reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847477-indonesias-mount-slamet-closed-as-quake-intensifies/

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91-year-old Sydney man charged with importing cocaine

SYDNEY (AP) — A 91-year-old retired surgeon has been charged with importing cocaine hidden in soap into Australia, prompting police to warn travelers to beware they are not tricked into becoming drug mules.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847479-91-year-old-sydney-man-charged-with-importing-cocaine/

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NYC mayor: Legionnaires' outbreak has claimed 12 lives
JONATHAN LEMIRE, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Two more people in the New York City borough of the Bronx have died of Legionnaires' disease, bringing the death toll to 12 in the largest outbreak of the disease in New York City history, officials said Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847481-legionnaires-outbreak-has-claimed-12-lives-in-new-york-city/

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SET up 4.74 points at opening /Bangkok Post

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VN opens Mekong Delta's largest waste water facility



CAN THO: -- A new waste water treatment plant, said to be the largest of its kind in the Mekong Delta, was put into operation on Saturday in Tra Noc Industrial Park in Can Tho, Viet Nam News reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847489-vietnam-opens-mekong-deltas-largest-waste-water-facility/

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Meeting to ease fishermen's plight fails



BANGKOK: -- The Thai Fisheries Association yesterday opened talks with government authorities in their bid to find a relief to fishermen affected by the abrupt announcement of the prime minister to ban six types of fishing gears with warning that violators could face seizure of their boats, or even could be destroyed by authorities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847491-meeting-to-ease-thai-fishermens-plight-fails/

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Australian diets fail the test: survey

AUSTRALIAN diets only rate a score of C with our addiction to junk food largely to blame

MELBOURNE: -- THE national diet quality was given a rating of 61 out of 100 by the CSIRO which analysed the results of a survey of more than 40,000 people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847493-australian-diets-fail-the-test-survey/

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China's yuan slides in value after Beijing alters controls
By JOE McDONALD

BEIJING (AP) — China devalued its tightly controlled currency on Tuesday following a slump in trade, triggering the yuan's biggest one-day decline in a decade.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847495-chinas-yuan-slides-in-value-after-beijing-alters-controls/

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Ministry list of farang forbidden jobs is a barrel of laughs
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Jobs like "paper hand job," "Berth blanket mitt work," and "some hand-twisting spiral" are strictly prohibited for foreigners, according to this useful list published on the Ministry of Labor's website.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847502-thai-ministry-list-of-farang-forbidden-jobs-is-a-barrel-of-laughs/

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UPDATE:

China agrees to buy 2 million tons of rice from Thailand

BANGKOK, 11 August 2015 (NNT) - The Chinese government has agreed to purchase two million tons of rice from Thailand through a government-to-government (G2G) deal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847448-why-is-china-buying-one-million-tons-of-rice-from-thailand/page-2#entry9722152

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Water levels decline in Mekong River

NONG KHAI, 11 August 2015 (NNT) - Flood levels in the northeastern province of Nong Khai have begun to recede, as water levels in the Mekong River continue to decline.

The water levels in the Mekong River have been decreasing for a third consecutive day. The Department of Water Resources recorded current levels at 10.23 m from the embankment.

The river has receded by 50 cm compared to yesterday’s figures. Water levels are expected to decline further, as indicated by other provinces along the Mekong River such as Chiang Rai and Loei. Sluice gates have been raised to release water from flooded communities.


-- NNT 2015-08-11

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UPDATE:

Anna Reese refuses to pay 6.2m baht compensation for dead cop
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: @Hui_Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Thai-British actress Anna Reese who killed a police officer in a car crash in June refused to pay the THB6.2 million compensation and tried to haggle the price down in talks with his family Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847322-anna-reese-rejects-bt62mil-settlement-sought-by-dead-cops-family/page-7?p=9722241#entry9722241

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DWR to relieve inundated areas in Phuket and Nakhon Ratchasima

BANGKOK, 11 August 2015 (NNT)-Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed related agencies to quickly relieve flooded areas in Phuket and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces.

According to the Director General of the Department of Water Resources, Jatuporn Buruspat, residents in the two provinces have complained about the inundation and claimed that the flood water will be contaminated if not drained soon.

His department is looking into the problems in both provinces as ordered by the Prime Minister. As for the artesian well digging project, the agency has already made more than 70% progress.

The project was launched earlier following the government’s instruction to relieve drought stricken areas and increase the amount of water in the country’s reserves.


-- NNT 2015-08-11

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Thousands turn out for funeral of Phuket’s Paiboon Upatising
Tanyaluk Sakoot


Thousands of people turned out for the funeral of Paiboon Upatising yesterday (August 10). Photo: Monchaya Suebpong

PHUKET: -- More than 1,000 people turned out for the funeral of Paiboon Upatising, former president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO or OrBorJor), yesterday (August 10).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847513-thousands-turn-out-for-funeral-of-phukets-paiboon-upatising/

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North Korean foreign minister visits Thailand

BANGKOK, 11 August 2015 (NNT) – North Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Su Yong has visited Thailand to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847515-north-korean-foreign-minister-visits-thailand/

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NRC endorses agendas for digital economy development, ASEAN hub

BANGKOK, 11 August 2015 (NNT) - The National Reform Council has endorsed a report entailing proposals for the development of digital economy, and for the improvement of Thailand's standing as a center of commerce and services.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847517-nrc-endorses-agendas-for-digital-economy-development-asean-hub/

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Huge fire forces school to close



PRACHINBURI: -- A predawn fire at a tyre recycle factory in Sri Mahapho district of Prachinburi Tuesday morning forced an adjacent secondary school to close as wind blew poisonous smoke to cover the school.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847542-huge-fire-in-prachinburi-forces-school-to-close/

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Thailand joins Laos in promoting special economic zones along border

BANGKOK, 11 August 2015 (NNT) – Thailand and Laos have joined forces in promoting the planned establishment of special economic zones along the two countries’ border.

Thailand’s Commerce Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikulya recently expressed his belief that the country’s collaboration with Laos in many ways will help boost the value of bilateral trade to reach a target of 8-billion-dollars within the next three years.

Gen Chatchai’s comment was heard during his speech related to the plan to open 10 special economic zones in Thailand’s border areas, with one of them in Mukdahan province which is adjacent to Laos.

He is confident that the plan to set up the special economic zones will help draw more foreign investment from other regions into Southeast Asia.

As for the special economic zone in Mukdahan, Gen Chatchai said that targeted industries include processed food and beverages, rubber, electrical appliances, electronic components, alternative energy and automotive components.

He added that if Thailand and other neighboring countries work diligently alongside each other to realize the special economic zone project and promote border trade, they will enjoy the growth rate and stronger trade potential together.

-- NNT 2015-08-11

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SET falls 0.73 to 1,419.40 at midday /Bangkok Post

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A bullet and a body: Thailand's troubling gun murders

KOH SAMUI - Rungrat Rungsuwan was manning her small shop selling trinkets on a main tourist drag on the Thai resort island of Koh Samui when she heard a series of loud bangs.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847549-a-bullet-and-a-body-thailands-troubling-gun-murders/

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BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court today sentenced former Department of Special Investigation (DSI) director general Tarit Phengdit to two years in prison with no suspension after finding him guilty of power abuse.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847551-former-dsi-director-tarit-sentenced-to-two-years-in-prison/

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Electric water cooler electrocutes small boy



ANG THONG: -- A 10-year-old boy student died from electrocution after he was unaware of electricity leak from a water cooler in his school.

Phothong district police in Ang Thong province were alerted of the incident by an elementary school administrator yesterday that a Grade 4 level boy student was electrocuted by the water cooler.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847552-10-year-old-thai-boy-electrocuted-by-water-cooler/

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Cracks in Carai passover bridge are not dangerous at all, officials say
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: Morning News

BANGKOK: -- After motorists reported several concrete cracks in the passover bridge at Carai intersection, officials stated yesterday that no one is in danger.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847554-cracks-in-carai-passover-bridge-are-not-dangerous-at-all-thai-officials-say/

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Hawaii boxer in coma in Thailand
By Paula Akana

HONOLULU —A promising young professional boxer from Hawaii lays in a coma in a Thailand hospital as he fights for his life. Meanwhile, another battle is being fought here at home.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847555-hawaii-boxer-in-coma-in-thailand/