Thailand Live Wednesday 19 Aug 2015

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Bangkok Bank President: Bombing does not affect investor's confidence



BANGKOK, 19 August 2015, (NNT) - Financial institute executives have voiced their positive opinions on Thailand's economic front, saying the Monday night bomb attack does not seriously affect investors' confidence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849516-bangkok-bank-president-bombing-does-not-affect-investors-confidence/?p=9751753

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Nakhon Phanom and Surin locals condemn Ratchaprasong blast

BANGKOK, 19 August 2015 (NNT) – Civic groups and various organizations have condemned Monday's attack in Bangkok's Ratchaprasong area, and urged authorities to swiftly bring the culprits to justice.

In Nakhon Phanom, hundreds gathered at the provincial city hall to submit a letter to the provincial governor expressing their condemnation of the atrocious bombing, which they said was an inhumane attack against innocent people and which unsettled tourists. Somchai Witdamrong, the deputy governor of Nakhon Phanom, accepted the letter and also voiced his condemnation of what he said was a barbaric and cruel act.

In Surin, locals visited city hall to submit their letter of condemnation to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha through the provincial governor. The group said the cruelty of the perpetrators was demonstrated by the large number of bomb victims and the selection of the attack site where many people usually gathered.


-- NNT 2015-08-19

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Royal Brunei to waive fees for change in Bangkok flights



BRUNEI: -- National flag carrier Royal Brunei (RB) airlines will waive reissuance fees for passengers who wish to defer their flights to Bangkok following the deadly blast that rocked Thailand's capital city on Monday night, according to The Brunei Times.

An RB spokesman said the fee waiver will be subjected to certain terms and conditions, but did not specify further.

He added that Bruneians who had bought Bangkok flight tickets are pushing ahead with their travel plans despite the bombing and “only a small number” of travellers have opted to cancel or postpone their travels in light of the explosion.

RB has yet to receive any circular from the Thai government advising against travels to Bangkok, he said.

General Manager of Century Travel Centre Foo C P, said a small group of customers returned to Brunei yesterday earlier than planned due to safety concerns. There were also customers due to travel soon who decided to cancel their plans, while others who are still in Bangkok had decided to stay as they had originally planned.

He advised travellers to exercise caution while travelling and to avoid crowded places for their own safety.

The Brunei Embassy in Thailand on Monday night said no Bruneians were reported injured in the blast outside Erawan Shrine along the Rachaprasong intersection in central Bangkok.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/royal-brunei-to-waive-fees-for-change-in-bangkok-flights


-- Thai PBS 2015-08-19

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London student, 19, among Bangkok bombing dead
Tributes paid to Vivian Chan Wing-yan, a British national with Hong Kong residency, who was killed with 21 others at Erawan shrine
Damien Gayle and agencies

LONDON: -- A British law student described as a kind, cheerful food blogger was among the 22 victims of Monday’s bomb attack on a Hindu temple in central Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849518-british-law-student-19-among-bangkok-bombing-dead/

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Angry Chinese ask: Why did so many firefighters die in Tianjin explosion?
By Emily Rauhala
The Washington Post

BEIJING — Last Wednesday night, 25 members of the fifth company of the Tianjin Port Group fire department rushed to the site of an explosion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849521-angry-chinese-ask-why-did-so-many-firefighters-die-in-tianjin-explosion/

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Malaysian tourist killed and two friends injured in Hat Yai car crash



HAT YAI: -- A Malaysian tourist died and her two friends injured when their car was rammed by a speeding cold-storage truck on Phetkasem highway in Hat Yai early Wednesday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849523-malaysian-tourist-killed-and-two-friends-injured-in-hat-yai-car-crash/

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SET up 4.57 points at opening /Bangkok Post

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Bangkok bombing: Red Shirts, southern insurgents, Islamic State among the suspects
By North Asia correspondent Matthew Carney

(ABC NEWS) Thai authorities are hunting the bomber behind an explosion that killed at least 20 people and injured more than 100 at a busy Bangkok shrine.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849533-bangkok-bombing-red-shirts-southern-insurgents-islamic-state-among-the-suspects/

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Malaysia condemns Bangkok blast



KUALA LUMPUR: -- Malaysia condemns the heinous act on innocent civilians yesterday in Bangkok which claimed the lives of two Malaysians and others, New Straits Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849552-malaysia-condemns-bangkok-blast/

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Philippines police on alert following deadly Bangkok blast



MANILA: -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) has stepped up its intelligence monitoring across the country for possible spillover of attacks following the bombing in Bangkok that left at least 20 people dead and more than 100 others injured, according to Manila Bulletin.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849553-philippine-national-police-on-alert-following-deadly-bangkok-blast/

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Police Chief inspects Chinese-dominated Yaowarat

BANGKOK, 19 August 2015 (NNT) - The Police Chief, together with one of his deputies, led a team of police officers paroling the China Town, 'Yaowarat', in Bangkok, in their bids to reassure locals and tourists that the security is under control after a bombing incident rocked the heart of the Capital Monday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849554-police-chief-inspects-china-town-yaowarat-in-bangkok/

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Analog TV broadcast to go off the air in three years



BANGKOK: -- Free television channels now broadcasted on analog system will go off the air within the next three years with ThaiPBS channel beginning the process in phases end of this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849555-analog-tv-broadcast-in-thailand-to-go-off-the-air-in-three-years/

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Australian model questioned after being accused of being Bangkok bomber
Daisy Dumas

SYDNEY: -- A Sydney actor, model, tutor and fashion blogger says he is "in shock and really saddened" and feared he may become the "terrorist version of Schapelle Corby" after rumours that he was the Bangkok bombing suspect seen in CCTV footage before the deadly attack began circulating online.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849556-australian-model-questioned-after-being-accused-of-being-bangkok-bomber/

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Erawan Shrine reopens, police & outlets tighten security

BANGKOK, 19 August 2015 (NNT) The Erawan Shrine has reopened today amid tightened security, following the Ratchaprasong bombing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849560-erawan-shrine-reopens-police-outlets-tighten-security/

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Border security in Thailand reinforced after bomb attack

CHIANG RAI, 19 August 2015 (NNT) - Border authorities have enhanced security measures following the bomb attack on August 17. The measures are meant to prevent further violence and the smuggling of contraband.

The increased police and military presence along the Thai-Burmese border of Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province was prompted by the bombing in Bangkok. People and vehicles entering Thai territory are being searched for weapons.

Security officials are expected to work around the clock to make sure that no ill-intentioned people can cross over to Thailand.

In Nakhon Phanom province, authorities have also reinforced security in an attempt to prevent further violence. Many local Thais and Laotians have been stocking up on food and everyday items at the border market near Laos due to concern over the unrest.


-- NNT 2015-08-19

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UPDATE:

Site of bomb blast in Bangkok reopens to public
By NATTASUDA ANUSONADISAI and PAPITCHAYA BOONNGOK

BANGKOK (AP) — A central Bangkok shrine where a deadly bomb blast killed 20 people reopened Wednesday to the public as authorities searched for a man seen in a grainy security video who they say is the prime suspect in an attack authorities called the worst in the Thailand's history.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849560-erawan-shrine-reopens-police-outlets-tighten-security/#entry9752294

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Clinton to black activists: Look beyond 'changing hearts'
By KATHLEEN RONAYNE

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton told activists from the "Black Lives Matter" movement they should promote specific policy changes rather than only focusing on "changing hearts."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849562-clinton-to-black-activists-look-beyond-changing-hearts/

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UPDATE:

Erawan Shrine now is back for worship



BANGKOK: -- The sacred Erawan Shrine is now back for worshippers to visit after it was closed for two days following a deadly bomb explosion that left 20 dead and 120 others injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849560-erawan-shrine-reopens-police-outlets-tighten-security/#entry9752315

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Australia urges its citizens to continue travels to Thailand despite of the deadly bombing



BANGKOK: -- In an unprecedented move that is seen to differ from its strongest US ally, Australia urges its citizens to continue their trips to Thailand as other allies advising caution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849563-australia-urges-its-citizens-to-continue-travels-to-thailand-despite-of-the-deadly-bombing/

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Maximum security prisoner Stephen Jamieson ties bed sheets together, climbs jail wall to escape from Goulburn prison

(ABC NEWS) A maximum security prisoner has escaped from Goulburn Correctional Centre after tying bed sheets together to climb over a jail wall.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849565-australia-robber-makes-daring-escape-from-maximum-security-prison/

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People can inform police using 'Police I Lert U' app

BANGKOK, 19 August 2015 (NNT) - The Deputy Metropolitan Police Chief has encouraged people to provide police with information about the bomb suspect’s whereabouts through a new smart phone application called ‘Police I Lert U’.

Metropolitan Police Bureau Deputy Commissioner Police Major General Chantawit Ramasut is asking for public cooperation in apprehending the prime suspect in the bomb attack at Ratchaprasong intersection on August 17 and at Taksin pier yesterday.

Smart phone users have been told to download this application, which can be used with both IOS and Android. The Police Major General is hopeful that the application will lead to the swift arrest of the perpetrators and a return to normalcy in the country.


-- NNT 2015-08-19

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Work on Phuket's Chalong Underpass to begin in September
Tanyaluk Sakoot


An artist's impression of how the finished underpass will look.

PHUKET: -- Work on the much debated Chalong Underpass is likely to start in September this year, and if not complete by September 14, 2017, Civil Engineering Co.Ltd, the construction company who won the tender to construct the underpass, will be fined around B1.3 million.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849566-work-on-phukets-chalong-underpass-to-begin-in-september/

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Hunt for Ratchaprasong bomber is progressing



BANGKOK: -- The massive dragnet for the Ratchaprasong bomb suspect is making progress as the police now have gained substantial evidence and information in both bomb explosion cases that they said were linked.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849567-hunt-for-ratchaprasong-bomber-is-progressing/

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Sweden’s new ambassador to Thailand appointed



BANGKOK: -- The Swedish Government has appointed Sweden’s next ambassador to Thailand, after Klas Molin. Taking on the Ambassador role is a diplomat familiar with the region, namely Sweden’s previous Ambassador to Vietnam at the Embassy in Hanoi, Mr Staffan Herrström.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849569-swedens-new-ambassador-to-thailand-appointed/

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BANGKOK (AP) - Thai police chief says Bangkok shrine bomber did not work alone, was part of 'a network'

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BANGKOK: -- A French national was apprehended by security officials at the Suvarnabhumi airport after he missed a flight and has cut wound on his right hand and he resembled the wanted bomb suspect in a video footage released by police.

He is now questioned by security officials at the airport police station, FM 91 Traffic Radio station reported at noon today.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/123887


-- Thai PBS 2015-08-19

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Special bomb use indicates different suspect group

BANGKOK: -- Forensic specialist investigating the Ratchaprasong deadly bomb explosion Monday blast have discovered strange bomb shards and shrapnel which they say are not normally seen in devices in past bombings in the country.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849571-special-bomb-use-indicates-different-suspect-group/

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SET rises 5.43 to 1,378.04 at midday /Bangkok Post

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BANGKOK BLAST
Fifth Malaysian victim confirmed
The Star
Asia News Network

BUTTERWORTH: A fifth Malaysian tourist, Lim Su See, 52, has been confirmed dead in the Bangkok shrine blast.

A close friend of the family, Visen Lim Gim Seong, 46, told The Star that the authorities found her body at about midnight last night.

"Her body will be brought back tomorrow night after the post mortem procedures are completed," he said when contacted.

Su See is the sister of deceased victim Lim Saw Gek, 49. Also killed in the blast are Saw Gek’s son Neoh Jai Jun, 20, her son-in-law Lee Tze Siang, 35 and her four-year-old grandson Lee Jing Xuan.

Saw Gek’s husband Neoh Hock Guan, 55, survived the blast with minor injuries while Saw Gek’s daughter who is five months pregnant, survived with no injuries as she was not at the scene during the blast.

Su See is believed to have held Singaporean permanent residency.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Fifth-Malaysian-victim-confirmed-30266959.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-19

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Agriculture Minister Peetipong says he will leave Cabinet
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Outgoing Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Peetipong Phuengbun na Ayutthaya on Wednesday posted on his personal Facebook, thanking ministry officials for their cooperation during his term and wishing them success and good health.

"I am leaving the Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister post, so I would like to thank you all with my sincerity..'' he wrote.

Peetipong also sent the same message to the ministry's Line - the social network that include the ministry officials and members of the media as members of the group.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Agriculture-Minister-Peetipong-says-he-will-leave--30266962.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-19