Thailand Live Wednesday 12 Aug 2015

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The Queen's birthday is also mother's day in Thailand

Mother’s Day was first introduced to Thailand on 15th April, 1950. In 1976, Mother’s Day was changed to 12th August to commemorate the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit ,the Mother of all Thai people.

Every year during the month of August, Thai households and public places will be decorated with lights, decorations, and portraits of the most beloved Queen Sirikit in celebration of the day of Her birth.

In the morning, an alms-giving ceremony will be held followed by country-wide candle-lighting ceremony and fireworks displays.

The Queen’s birthday is celebrated everywhere, but nowhere more than in Bangkok, the capital, especially along Ratchadamnern road and Grand Palace area.

Queen Sirikit is regarded as mother to all Thai people, thus her birthday is also celebrated as Mother’s Day and observed as a Thai national holiday.

-- 2015-08-12

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TOURISM
Plans afoot to woo Hollywood
Erich Parpart, Suchat Sritama


Kobkarn

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet has approved in principle the Tourism and Sports Ministry's idea of attracting the producers of Hollywood movies to use Thailand as the setting for their next blockbusters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847697-thai-tourism-minister-has-plans-afoot-to-woo-hollywood/

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POLITICS
No legal obstacle to stripping Thaksin of police rank : Justice Minister
WIRAJ SRIPONG
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- FORMER prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra could be stripped of his rank as a police lieutenant colonel - in accordance with the law - despite the fact he was not in the force when he committed crimes, Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847698-no-legal-obstacle-to-stripping-thaksin-of-police-rank-justice-minister/

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Cash draw stolen from Jomtien Beer Bar



PATTAYA: -- Security camera footage from a Beer Bar in Jomtien confirmed the theft of a cash draw from the location just 20 minutes after the bar had closed for the night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847699-cash-draw-stolen-from-jomtien-beer-bar/

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Attempted Theft of Motorbike from East Pattaya Indian Restaurant



PATTAYA: -- The owner of an Indian restaurant in East Pattaya nearly had his motorbike stolen from the front of his business in the early hours of Monday, a theft which was prevented by a disc lock fitted to his front wheel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847700-attempted-theft-of-motorbike-from-east-pattaya-indian-restaurant/

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POLITICS
PM to let lawyers deal with charges
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha will have a team of lawyers from his National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) defend him and other NCPO leaders against a petition filed against them over the May 22 coup.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847701-pm-prayut-to-let-lawyers-deal-with-charges/

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POLITICS

Cabinet reshuffle done

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that he has completed a reshuffle of the Cabinet. "The list will be proposed for Royal endorsement when the time comes," he said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847702-thai-cabinet-reshuffle-done/

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FOREIGN MINISTRY
Apichart gets nod for new top job
THE NATION


Apichart

BANGKOK: -- APICHART Chinwanno was approved by the Cabinet yesterday as the new permanent secretary of the Foreign Ministry, replacing Norachit Sinhaseni, who will retire at the end of next month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847703-apichart-gets-nod-for-new-top-job/

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ENERGY
Toxins from coal-fired stations can be treated, say academics
Pichaya Changsorn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Potential pollutant releases from coal-fired power plants can be treated and prevented, engineering lecturers from Chulalongkorn University said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847704-toxins-from-coal-fired-stations-can-be-treated-say-thai-academics/

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Exports could take a hit
SUCHEERA PINIJPARAKARN,
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI,
ERICH PARPART
THE NATION



2-PER-CENT DEVALUATION OF CHINESE YUAN TIPPED TO HURT THAI EXPORTERS

BANGKOK: -- THAI EXPORTERS' competitiveness will take a hit if China continues its weak currency policy, following yesterday's surprise 2 per cent devaluation of the yuan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847705-devaluation-of-chinese-yuan-thai-exports-could-take-a-hit/

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AUGUST 12
Mums, children come together
The Nation


FAMILY TIES BEHIND BARS A female inmate prostrates herself at the feet of her mother after presenting her with a jasmine garland during the family promotion activity launched yesterday at the Correctional Institute for Female Drug Addicts in Pathum Thani

BANGKOK: -- FOR TODAY'S Mother's Day celebrations, the Corrections Department yesterday launched a three-day project named "mothers hug children, children hug mothers" at the Correctional Institute for Female Drug Addicts in Pathum Thani's Klong Luang district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847706-family-ties-behind-bars-mums-children-come-together/

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EDITORIAL
Stronger scrutiny of 'sin tax' funds is welcome
The Nation

Public agencies face financial oversight but have retained precious independence

BANGKOK: -- The "verdict" is out. To the relief of three public agencies funded by the "sin tax", the Charter drafters have dropped the idea of halting their funding through levies collected from the sale of alcohol and cigarettes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847708-thai-editorial-stronger-scrutiny-of-sin-tax-funds-is-welcome/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Can't stand Prayut? Swallow the charter draft
Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- After the solace offered to us by religious holidays and Mother's Day this month, thrills will come thick and fast in September. Thai politics has been hibernating long enough, and, if analysts are correct, it will wake up a few days from now with a vengeance.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847709-cant-stand-prayut-swallow-the-charter-draft/

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Truck crash in southern Thailand kills 8 students, driver

HAT YAI, Thailand (AP) — A pickup truck carrying a group of students in southern Thailand careened Tuesday onto a traffic island and hit some trees, killing eight of the students and the driver, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847710-truck-crash-in-southern-thailand-kills-8-students-driver/

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New Tourism business bill aims to boost competitiveness of Thai tour companies



BANGKOK: -- The cabinet on Tuesday endorsed a new tourism business and tour guides bill which is aimed to promote local tourism business and to improve the qualifications of tour guides to boost their competitiveness.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847711-new-tourism-business-bill-aims-to-boost-competitiveness-of-thai-tour-companies/

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Phuket tourism companies probed for illegal nominees to face DSI
The Phuket News


Phuket tourism businesses found using illegal nominee shareholders will be handed over to the DSI for further action. Photo: The Phuket News / file

PHUKET: -- Four companies operating in Phuket’s lucrative tourism industry and under investigation for allegedly using nominee shareholders to form registered companies will face the wrath of Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI), The Phuket News has been told.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847712-phuket-tourism-companies-probed-for-illegal-nominees-to-face-dsi/

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Let police protect you, Somyot advises people linked to Chuwong's share transfers
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Anybody involved in the transfer of shares belonging to the late building tycoon Chuwong Saetang should present themselves to police for their own safety, national police chief Pol General Somyot Poompunmuang said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847713-let-police-protect-you-somyot-advises-people-linked-to-chuwongs-share-transfers/

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UPDATE:

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 Poompunmuang said yesterday, 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/#entry9725172

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BURNING ISSUE
Blind demonisation of opponents doesn't help anybody
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

BANGKOK: -- PEOPLE usually create their own version of reality so they can easily navigate through life and tell the difference between friends and foes, good and evil.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847716-thai-politics-blind-demonisation-of-opponents-doesnt-help-anybody/

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CDC decides to keep mixed Senate composition
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- CHARTER DRAFTERS Tuesday finalised their decision to maintain a mixed system for the composition of the Senate, with some directly elected members and others selected from various groups through a selection committee.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847717-cdc-decides-to-keep-mixed-thai-senate-composition/

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No policy to bar those with piercing, tattoo from private vocational institutes

BANGKOK, 12 August 2015 (NNT) – The Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC) has asserted there is no policy to bar students with ear piercing or body tattoo from enrolling in private vocational institutes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847718-no-policy-to-bar-those-with-piercing-tattoo-from-private-vocational-institutes/

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THAI delays cancellation of BKK-Rome route to next Feb, welcoming Rome's high season

BANGKOK, 12 August 2015 (NNT) - Thai Airways International (THAI) has decided to postpone the cancellation of a loss-making route to Rome, Italy, from late Oct this year to February 2016 as the month of October is high season in Rome.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847719-thai-delays-cancellation-of-bkk-rome-route-to-next-feb-welcoming-romes-high-season/

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NBTC confident 4G auction can take place before year ends

BANGKOK, 12 August 2015 (NNT) – The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has expressed confidence the auctioning of spectrums for 4G services will take place before the end of the year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847720-nbtc-confident-4g-auction-can-take-place-before-year-ends/

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Clinton campaign says email server to go to Justice Dept
By KEN DILANIAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — A spokesman for Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign says she has directed that the personal email server she used while serving as secretary of state be given to the Justice Department.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847721-clinton-campaign-says-email-server-to-go-to-justice-dept/

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Kerry, top Democratic senator spar on Iran deal, sanctions
By BRADLEY KLAPPER and DEB RIECHMANN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry sparred Tuesday with the lone Democratic senator to publicly oppose last month's historic Iran nuclear deal, saying there was no way the U.S. could prevent American allies from doing business with Tehran if Congress were to reject the agreement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847722-kerry-top-democratic-senator-spar-on-iran-deal-sanctions/

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US couple charged in Islamic State case denied bail
JEFF AMY, Associated Press

OXFORD, Mississippi (AP) — A young Mississippi couple who are charged with attempting to join the Islamic State were ordered held without bail Tuesday, pending federal grand jury action on the charges.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847723-us-couple-charged-in-islamic-state-case-denied-bail/

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Greece accepts harsh new bailout terms, vows swift vote
ELENA BECATOROS, Associated Press
DEREK GATOPOULOS, Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece agreed to harsh terms for a new three-year bailout Tuesday and vowed to push it through parliament this week, despite mounting dissent in the ruling left-wing party.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847724-greece-accepts-harsh-new-bailout-terms-vows-swift-vote/

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Tourist playground meets hectic refugee camp on Greek island
NICHOLAS PAPHITIS, Associated Press
DALTON BENNETT, Associated Press

KOS, Greece (AP) — On this sunny Greek island accustomed to dealing with nothing more than a summer influx of tourists, authorities are struggling to handle a far different human tide: tens of thousands of migrants arriving in crammed rubber dinghies in hopes of making new lives in Europe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847726-tourist-playground-meets-hectic-refugee-camp-on-greek-island/

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Australian government undermines chances for gay marriage

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian government has all but doomed legislation that would allow gay marriage by refusing to allow their lawmakers a free vote on the divisive issue.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847727-australian-government-undermines-chances-for-gay-marriage/

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NYC Police Union Urges Officers To Take Pictures Of Quality-Of-Life Offenders
SBA: There's Nothing 'Gotcha' About New Campaign Called 'Peek-A-Boo, We See You!'

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The Sergeants Benevolent Association is launching its own initiative to combat quality-of-life issues.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/847728-new-york-police-union-taking-photos-of-citys-homeless/