Urgent Request for Information re Death of British Citizen in Thailand

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Tourists Among 19 Killed by Bomb at Bangkok's Erawan Shrine
By Khaosod English


A powerful blast left a scene of devastation Monday evening at Bangkok's Erawan Shrine, killing at least 16 people and injuring nearly 100. Several foreign tourists were among the dead.

BANGKOK — A bomb attack killed 18 people including tourists in the commercial heart of the Thai capital Monday evening.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849193-tourists-among-19-killed-by-bomb-at-bangkoks-erawan-shrine/

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UPDATE:

Rush-hour Bangkok bombing at busy shrine kills 18, hurts 117
JERRY HARMER, Associated Press
ANUSONADISAI NATTASUDA, Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — A bomb exploded Monday within a central Bangkok shrine that is among the city's most popular tourist spots, killing at least 18 people and injuring more than 100 across a hectic intersection surrounded by five-star hotels and upscale shopping malls.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849193-tourists-among-19-killed-by-bomb-at-bangkoks-erawan-shrine/#entry9746665

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UPDATE:

BOMB ATTACK
At least 16 killed, up to 100 injured by biggest attack
THE NATION


A Sene from CCTV

BANGKOK: -- A LARGE bomb rocked central Bangkok's Ratchaprasong area last night, killing at least 16 people and injuring dozens more last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849193-tourists-among-19-killed-by-bomb-at-bangkoks-erawan-shrine/#entry9746666

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UPDATE:

Govt: Security situation around Rajaprasong under control

BANGKOK, 18 August 2015 (NNT) – The government has issued a statement regarding the bomb blast in central Bangkok on Monday evening, urging the public to be vigilant as investigations are underway.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849193-tourists-among-19-killed-by-bomb-at-bangkoks-erawan-shrine/#entry9746668

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BIKE FOR MOM
Crown Prince thanks all who helped make ride a success
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn issued a thank you card yesterday for all people who contributed to the impressive success of the "Bike for Mom" rides.

"Thank you for your kindness, unity and support for the 'Bike for Mom', which has successfully and smoothly been held," the Crown Prince said on the card.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all. May you enjoy happiness, prosperity, good physical and emotional health and continue to be the driving force of the nation."

Led by the Crown Prince, hundreds of thousands of people joined blue-themed bicycle convoys around the country to mark Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's 83rd birthday on Sunday.

The "Bike for Mom" events have been acknowledged by the Guinness World Records group as the largest ever bicycle parades.

"We have won the Guinness World of Records certificate because people have joined forces for the monarchy," Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said after accepting the certificate on Sunday.

He said the chants of "Long Live the Royals" meant giving moral support for the Crown Prince, who pedalled his bike 43 kilometres for the ride in Bangkok. His eldest daughter, HRH Princess Bajra Kitiyabha, also joined the activities.

The huge turnout on Sunday ensured that Thailand would beat the previous world record by a wide margin.

Taiwan had held the record for the largest ride with 72,919 cyclists, but Thailand had 136,411 riders during the event on Sunday, according to Guinness World Records.

Only those who left the starting point at the same time nationwide and biked continuously for a minimum of four kilometres were counted, according to Guinness World of Records' rules.

The actual attendance on Bike for Mom rides appeared to be much higher than the official figure.

The event also put a spotlight on an unlikely "hero". Wattana Kham-in, a schoolboy who has no arms, was among participants in the Bike for Mom celebration who joined the bicycle procession in his hometown, Phitsanulok. The 11-year-old boy completed a nine-kilometre cycle ride.

"I'm happy and proud that I was a part of such a Mother's Day event. If I get the chance, I'll do it again in honour of Her Majesty," he said.

Two men, however, did not make it through on Sunday. They perished while participating in parades in their hometowns.

Chalerm Prakorbkan, 83, passed out and fell down while riding with other participants in Prachin Buri province. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Ratchapol Rungkamchad, 46, an engineer at Nakhon Si Thammarat's Highway Office 1, also fainted and fell from his bicycle at Vajiravudh Camp while taking part in Bike for Mom. He was admitted to Vajiravudh Military Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from a head concussion.

The crown prince assigned Prachin Buri Governor Jitra Promchutima to take a royally granted wreath to Chalerm's funeral yesterday.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Crown-Prince-thanks-all-who-helped-make-ride-a-suc-30266790.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-18

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1 dead 1 injured in North Pattaya road crash



PATTAYA: -- A 31 year old man is dead and a 26 year old is in a coma fighting for his life, following an early morning road crash in North Pattaya involving two motorbikes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849195-1-dead-1-injured-in-north-pattaya-road-crash/

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UPDATE:

Russian prevents Cambodian Necklace Snatch in South Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- A 49 year old Russian was able to prevent his 30,000 Baht gold necklace from being stolen by a Cambodian sex-worker he met on Jomtien Beach earlier in the night, by chasing her through woodland and forcing her to drop the necklace and her valuables as well.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849011-phony-cambodian-masseuse-snatches-russian-gold-in-pattaya/#entry9746687

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UPDATE:

POLITICS
Yingluck echoes Thaksin's scorn
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- JUST TWO DAYS after her brother voiced opposition to the charter, ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday offered her concerns about the new charter draft.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849039-yingluck-criticises-draft-charter/page-4?p=9746689#entry9746689

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CABINET RESHUFFLE
Surin, Supachai 'not approached for new Cabinet'
THE NATION


Surin

BANGKOK: -- TWO high-profile figures - former Asean secretary-general Dr Surin Pitsuwan and ex-World Trade Organisation chief Supachai Panitchakpakdi - have denied reports that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha asked them to join his Cabinet.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849196-surin-supachai-not-approached-for-new-cabinet/

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UPDATE:

POLITICS
Suthep denies defaming red-shirt trio
THE NATION


Suthep

BANGKOK: -- FORMER deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban has told the Criminal Court he did not defame three red-shirt leaders or break electoral law in an election campaign interview in 2011.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849115-suthep-denies-defaming-red-shirt-trio/#entry9746696

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SONGKHLA
BOT's Nang Talung videoclips to target spendthrift southerners
Somchai Samart
The Nation



SONGKHLA - After a recent finding that southerners spend more money than people in other regions, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) will release video clips of the "Nang Talung" shadow puppet shows to boost financial literacy in the South.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849197-bots-nang-talung-videoclips-to-target-spendthrift-southerners/

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Spectrum row comes to boil
USANEE MONGKOLPORN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT must invoke Article 44 of the provisional constitution to solve the problems related to spectrum use, according to a joint proposal to be submitted by the Information and Communications Technology Ministry and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849198-spectrum-row-comes-to-boil/

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Thai unit begins Mitsubishi power system sales
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC Corporation announced yesterday that Mitsubishi Electric Asia (Thailand), which has been operating as a regional corporate office since 2013, had begun conducting domestic sales.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849199-thai-unit-begins-mitsubishi-power-system-sales/

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STREETWISE
First glimmer of reforms hits state-enterprise money pit
Achara Deboonme

BANGKOK: -- A few years ago I got the rare chance to meet with the chief of a Grade-A state enterprise. Off the record, he expressed anguish at the hierarchical structure of his organisation. He complained that, despite being the top executive, his power was thwarted by the board of directors. His subordinates listened more to the board, made up mainly of top government officials.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849200-thai-opinion-first-glimmer-of-reforms-hits-state-enterprise-money-pit/

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Thailand's human rights on downward spiral
John Draper
Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- On August 11, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a statement pointing out the Commissioner was "appalled by the shockingly disproportionate prison terms handed down over the past few months in lèse majesté cases in Thailand". Specifically, he commented on two separate military courts handing down on August 7 a 60-year sentence, commuted to thirty for a guilty plea, and a 65-year sentence, commuted to 28 for the same reason.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849201-thailands-human-rights-on-downward-spiral/

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Bangkok explosion:

More than 900,000 Brits visit Thailand even though it's regarded as dangerous
Last year backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered on the Thai island of Koh Tao

LONDON: -- Brits make over 900,000 visits to Thailand each year – but is regarded as one of the most dangerous of tourist destinations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849204-more-than-900000-brits-visit-thailand-even-though-its-regarded-as-dangerous/

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Jimmy Barnes and family narrowly escape Bangkok blast

SYDNEY: -- A last-minute decision to take a different route to dinner in Bangkok may have saved the lives of Jimmy Barnes and family members overnight.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849205-aussie-jimmy-barnes-and-family-narrowly-escape-bangkok-blast/

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10 Year Old Killed in Car-Train Collision in Hua Hin

HUA HIN – A 10-year-old girl has been killed and her mother critically injured when their car was hit by a train at an ad hoc rail crossing in Hun Hin district Pol Lt Prasong Jarurat reported Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849206-10-year-old-killed-in-car-train-collision-in-hua-hin/

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CDC refuses to reveal content of charter
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION


Senior Bangkok Post reporter Mongkol Bangprapa, right, files a petition with Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Borwornsak Uwanno, in which he seeks to attend a meeting in which the committee will discuss charter adjustments

BANGKOK: -- THE Constitution Drafting Committee says it will not publicly disclose the content of the draft charter until it submits the document to the National Reform Council.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849207-cdc-refuses-to-reveal-content-of-thai-charter/

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NRC aims to create a 'primary vote' that produces 'good' MPs
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION

BUT POLITICIANS AND EXPERTS DIFFER ON HOW TO DO THIS

BANGKOK: -- VETERAN politicians and experts gave mixed ideas to the National Reform Committee (NRC)'s political reform panel on how to get better candidates for Parliament.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849208-nrc-aims-to-create-a-primary-vote-that-produces-good-mps/

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Two roads to be closed Tuesday
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police announced late Monday night that two roads near the Ratchaprasong Intersection will remain closed until noon Tuesday.

They said the Ratchdamri road will remain closed from the Pratunam intersection to Sarasin intersection and the Rama I road will be closed from the Pleonchit intersection to Chalermpao intersection.

Police need to close the roads to for inspecting and collecting the evidences.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Two-roads-to-be-closed-Tuesday-30266802.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-18

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Locals fight waste-management project
Monkolsaowarat Tangmangmee
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- RESIDENTS in Phitsanulok province launched a protest yesterday against the construction of two waste-management plants, saying not only would they contaminate the environment, they were also being built on a historic temple site.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849209-phitsanulok-locals-fight-waste-management-project/

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'Figures seeking to derail probe'
Jessada Jantarak,
Noppadon Sritaweekart,
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation



Somyot assigns Prawut to Chuwong case; Kantana moves house

BANGKOK: -- INFLUENTIAL figures have been trying to interfere with ongoing investigations into the death of construction tycoon Chuwong Saetang and the transfer of nearly Bt300 million worth of his shares to two women, National Police chief |Pol General Somyot Poompan-muang said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849210-chuwong-case-figures-seeking-to-derail-probe/

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WORLDSKILLS
Young Thais score big for their trade skills in Brazil
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation


Goldmedal winner Kittinan Sornsongkhram, left, and Suparat Rattanapan pose at the 43rd WorldSkills Competition in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Photo credit By Ministry of Labour

SAO PAULO: -- TWO YOUNG Thais won gold and bronze prizes, while 10 other Thai competitors received certificates at the 43rd WorldSkills Competition in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849212-young-thais-score-big-for-their-trade-skills-in-brazil/

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UPDATE:

Bangkok bomb: Deadly blast rocks Thailand capital

LONDON: -- A bomb has exploded close to a shrine in the centre of Thailand's capital, Bangkok, killing at least 19 people and injuring more than 120.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849193-tourists-among-19-killed-by-bomb-at-bangkoks-erawan-shrine/#entry9746814

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Trump immigration proposal divides GOP presidential field
By THOMAS BEAUMONT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Donald Trump is dividing his Republican presidential rivals anew with his call to rewrite the Constitution to crack down on millions of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, and to force Mexico to pay for a better border fence. Scott Walker embraced some of the plan Monday, but other contenders, such as Chris Christie and Carly Fiorina, dismissed elements as unworkable.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849214-trump-immigration-proposal-divides-gop-presidential-field/

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Lawyers ask for new trial outside Boston for marathon bomber

BOSTON (AP) — Lawyers for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev say his trial should have been held outside the city because jurors couldn't avoid widespread outrage over the deadly attack and he deserves a new trial elsewhere.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849215-lawyers-ask-for-new-trial-outside-boston-for-marathon-bomber/

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Pentagon plans to increase drone flights by 50 percent
By LOLITA C. BALDOR

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. (AP) — Faced with escalating aggression from Russia and China, the Pentagon is planning to increase its use of drones by about 50 percent over the next several years, using the Army and civilian contractors to put more of the unmanned aircraft in the air.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849216-pentagon-plans-to-increase-drone-flights-by-50-percent/

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IRS: Computer breach bigger than first thought; 334K victims
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER

WASHINGTON (AP) — A computer breach at the IRS in which thieves stole tax information from thousands of taxpayers is much bigger than the agency originally disclosed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849217-irs-computer-breach-bigger-than-first-thought;-334k-victims/

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Trump takes a detour off the trail, reports for jury duty
By JAKE PEARSON and VERENA DOBNIK

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump pulled up in a long black limousine and gave a very presidential wave as he made his way into the building. Then the billionaire promptly found himself seated next to ordinary, wage-earning, subway-riding New Yorkers, forced to wait — and wait some more — for the wheels of justice to turn.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849219-trump-takes-a-detour-off-the-trail-reports-for-jury-duty/