Thailand Live Tuesday 11 Aug 2015

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MNRE encourages people to refrain from using plastic bags

BANGKOK, 11 August 2015 (NNT)-The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is encouraging people to refrain from using plastic bags and foam containers one day every month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847557-thai-ministry-encourages-people-to-refrain-from-using-plastic-bags/

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New US ambassador to officially take office in Bangkok next month
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn said Tuesday that the new US ambassador to Thailand, Glyn Townsend Davies, will officially take office in Bangkok next month.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/New-US-ambassador-to-officially-take-office-in-Ban-30266357.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-11

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NCDs are No 1 killer disease in Thailand with over 300,000 deaths each year



BANGKOK: -- Non-communicable diseases have become the Number One cause of deaths in Thailand with more than 300,000 fatalities each year most of whom males, said Public Health Minister Ratchata Ratchatanavin on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847562-ncds-are-no-1-killer-disease-in-thailand-with-over-300000-deaths-each-year/

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UPDATE:

Former DSI boss Tarit Phengdit sentenced two years in prison



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/#entry9723071

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Cabinet slashes public transport fares to reduce living costs

BANGKOK, 11 August 2015 (NNT) - The Cabinet has approved a series of measures to help shoulder the burden of rising living costs at Tuesday’s meeting, including cuts to public transport fares.

The cabinet has approved the Ministry of Transport's proposal to cut bus and train fares in half for the disabled, war veterans, monks, the elderly and individuals earning less than 3,632 baht a month. Those eligible for the fare cuts need to display their ID cards to receive the discount.

Students who have yet to enter ninth grade are also eligible to pay a third of the normal fare. The new rule will be in effect from November 1 this year.

However, the fare cuts will replace the free bus and train rides project, which is set to expire in October. Over its duration, the free transport program cost an average of 2.4 billion baht per year.


-- NNT 2015-08-11

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City administration to deploy 2,000 municipal police for Bike for Mom



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will deploy up to 2,000 municipal police and medical staff to provide services to 40,000 bikers participating in the Bike for Mom event this coming Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847570-bangkok-administration-to-deploy-2000-municipal-police-for-bike-for-mom/

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New US Ambassador to Thailand to be stationed here next month

BANGKOK, 11 August 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that former US envoy for North Korean policy Glyn Davies will be stationed in the Kingdom as the US Ambassador to Thailand in a month’s time.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847572-new-us-ambassador-to-thailand-to-take-office-in-bangkok-next-month/

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Suvarnabhumi Airport Mother’s Day

BANGKOK, 11 July 2015 (NNT) - Suvarnabhumi Airport is hosting an event to commemorate the 83rd birthday anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.

The opening ceremony held a recital of commemorative blessings to Her Majesty and sang songs in praise.

The airport also had an area for the public to pay their respects to an image of Her Majesty and held an exhibition of the life and work of the Queen, showcasing her good deeds to the public as well as to tourists traveling through the airport.


-- NNT 2015-08-11

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Bush links Clinton to rise of Islamic State
THOMAS BEAUMONT, The Associated Press

BURBANK, California (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush will step up his criticism of Hillary Rodham Clinton and her tenure as secretary of state on Tuesday, arguing in a speech on foreign policy the U.S. Democratic front-runner shares in the mistakes that he says led to the rise of the Islamic State group.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847579-jeb-bush-links-clinton-to-rise-of-islamic-state/

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Thailand and ILO back human capital development in CLMV sub-region

BANGKOK, 11 August 2015 (NNT) - Thailand’s Labor Ministry, in cooperation with International Labor Organization (ILO), has organized the ASEAN Skilled Labor Development Coordinator Conference with the objective to help develop workers in the Mekong sub-region.

With cooperation from Canadian and South Korean governments, the conference was held on Tuesday at Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel with Deputy Permanent Secretary for Labor Arak Prommanee presiding over the opening ceremony.

During the event, Mr. Arak emphasized the important of human capital development and said the outcomes of the conference would be useful for the development of labor skill standards to be accepted by all ASEAN member states. He added that ASEAN’s labor cooperation would benefit both labor supplier and receiver countries by increasing their productivity and improving the quality of life of workers.

The permanent secretary stated further that Thailand hoped to be a hub of labor skill development in the Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) group and take a leading role in educating low-skilled workers. If their skills were improved, they would help contribute to major projects in the Mekong sub-region better and attract more investment, he said.

The Department of Skill Development earlier established the Chiang Saen International Skill Development Institute in Chiang Rai province to develop skills of workers from Thailand and the CLMV countries.


-- NNT 2015-08-11

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SET index closed 1,408.32 down 11.81; Bt18600(sell). Bt/USD35.18; GBP54.60; AUD25.42; EUR38.54; CAD26.76; HKD4.51; SGD24.91; JPY27.99

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Phuket's iconic Royal Phuket Yacht Club to re-open, rebranded in January
The Phuket News


The iconic Royal Phuket Yacht Club will re-open in January as The Nai Harn. Photo: File / From the hotel website

PHUKET: -- One of Phuket’s first luxury hotels, the Royal Phuket Yacht Club at Nai Harn Beach, will re-open in January under a new name, The Nai Harn, property and hotels consultant Bill Barnett reports in his blog, ThePhuketInsider.com.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847586-phukets-iconic-royal-phuket-yacht-club-to-re-open-rebranded-in-january/

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UN concerned over severe penalties in lese-majeste cases
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The United Nations Tuesday called for the Thai government to immediately free suspects languishing in jail for untenable periods and to amend the "vague and broad" lese-majeste law to bring it in line with international human rights standards.

"We call for the immediate release of all those who have been jailed or held in prolonged pre-trial detention for the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression," Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said Tuesday.

The agency was appalled by the shockingly disproportionate prison terms handed down over the past few months.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/UN-concerned-over-severe-penalties-in-lese-majeste-30266366.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-11

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NRC approves of report on mass media reform

BANGKOK, 11 July 2015 (NNT) - The National Reform Council (NRC) has approved of the report by its mass media reform committee on amending the 2010 NBTC Act to create a more transparent organization in the digital age.

The report was delivered by mass media reform chairman Joompol Rodcumdee, which proposed that the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) be a juristic person that manages broadcast frequency operations and coordinates with public security through a committee appointed by the Senate.

The organization should also be audited and cross examined by the Office of the Auditor General of Thailand, with frequent followup examinations on the organization’s projects, according to the report.


-- NNT 2015-08-11

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PM to name new police chief on Friday
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The new police chief should be named on Friday, national police chief Pol General Somyot Pumpunmuang said Tuesday, adding that the final decision lay in the hands of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847590-pm-prayut-to-name-new-police-chief-on-friday/

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Man robbed at cash deposit machine at bank in Bangkok (VIDEO)
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- A middle-aged man was robbed in the middle of the day at a cash deposit machine at a bank in Bang Khun Thian district last week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847611-man-robbed-at-cash-deposit-machine-at-bank-in-bangkok-video/

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Official Refutes False Quote About Live Rounds In 2010 Crackdown
By Khaosod English


Soldiers perch atop an armored personnel carrier as it rolls into Lumpini Park on 19 May, 2010, where a fortified encampment had been erected by protesters. Photo: Todd Ruiz

BANGKOK — A top official has refuted a viral social media post which claimed she said “only rubber bullets were used” by security forces during the 2010 military crackdown that left more than 90 people dead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847616-official-refutes-false-quote-about-live-rounds-in-2010-crackdown/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Wednesday 12 Aug 2015

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847696-thailand-live-wednesday-12-aug-2015/