4.5-magnitude earthquake hits Sangkhla Buri, Kanchanaburi

BANGKOK, 21 August 2015 (NNT) - National Disaster Warning Center reports that a 4.5-magnitude earthquake hit Sangkhla Buri District in Kanchanaburi at 7.10 p.m. local time with an epicenter located at the depth of 5 km into the ground.

People inside buildings could feel the vibration with glasses and mirror trembling for ten seconds. More information, if any, will be informed to the public from time to time.

-- NNT 2015-08-21

Bangkok Bombing: 'Red' and 'White' Shirt Suspects Cleared of Involvement
By Khaosod English


Two men wearing light and red shirts stand alongside a woman in black shirt near the suspected Bangkok bomber in this page from a leaked police report.

BANGKOK — Two of three persons of interest in Monday's deadly bombing attack were cleared of wrongdoing tonight, according to a police source.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850011-bangkok-bombing-red-and-white-shirt-suspects-cleared-of-involvement/

Leaked Police Report Tracks Lead Suspect Before, After Bombing
By Khaosod English


An image from the police report compiled yesterday to track the suspect's movements before and after Monday's attack, which was obtained today by Khaosod English.

BANGKOK — A police report compiling information about the suspected Bangkok bomber’s movements has been obtained by Khaosod English.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850012-leaked-bangkok-police-report-tracks-lead-suspect-before-after-bombing/

Money stolen from Two Turks at Central Pattaya Hotel



PATTAYA: -- On Wednesday Night Police were called to a Hotel in Central Pattaya after two Turkish guests reported theft of money from their rooms.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850013-money-stolen-from-two-turks-at-central-pattaya-hotel/

Wissanu satisfied with amendments to draft charter
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- After a meeting with Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said he was satisfied with certain parts of the draft charter, as most of the government's proposals had been considered and amendments introduced accordingly.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850014-wissanu-satisfied-with-amendments-to-draft-thai-charter/

New foreign minister's diplomatic credentials seen as asset
WIRAJ SRIPONG
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- APPOINTING veteran former diplomat Don Pramudwinai as foreign minister will help improve the country's standing in the international arena, diplomacy specialists have said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850015-new-thai-foreign-ministers-diplomatic-credentials-seen-as-asset/

PM 'ready to leave himself out' if Cabinet doesn't deliver
ERICH PARPART
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha has said he should be removed from the Cabinet if the current reshuffle does not result in improvement in the country's situation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850016-pm-prayut-ready-to-leave-himself-out-if-cabinet-doesnt-deliver/

Some NRC members dissatisfied with charter
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- SOME NATIONAL Reform Council (NRC) groups remain dissatisfied with the charter draft after discussing the matter with the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) for the last time before the NRC votes on the charter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850017-some-nrc-members-dissatisfied-with-thai-charter/

Premier retains his faith in generals
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION

EXPERTS HAVE MORE EXPECTATIONS OF PRAYUT'S NEW CIVILIAN ECONOMIC TEAM

BANGKOK: -- THE LATEST Cabinet reshuffle reflects Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's faith in the capabilities of "generals" rather than civilians or politicians in running the country. However, this does not apply to the new economic team, on which most of the attention is focused.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850018-thai-premier-retains-his-faith-in-generals/

Security tightened at all border checkpoints
MYANMAR ELEVEN
The Nation


A sketch of the suspected bomber is posted at the Chong Sai Tagu border checkpoint in Buri Ram province as officials try to prevent him from sneaking out of the country. The explosion claimed 20 lives and injured more than 100 people.

BANGKOK: -- THE Myawaddy-Mae Sot border has seen fewer travellers and stricter security at both ends after the deadly explosion in Bangkok on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850019-security-tightened-at-all-thai-border-checkpoints/

Bomb suspect's police sketch beamed around world
ASINA PORNWASIN
THE NATION


https://www.facebook.com/CSILA90210

BANGKOK: -- AFTER police released their sketch of the prime suspect in the deadly explosion at the Erawan Shrine, it soon went from locally to globally viral.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850020-bangkok-bomb-suspects-police-sketch-beamed-around-world/

More than one person behind blast, bomb makers may be foreign: experts
The Nation



Examination showed use of ball bearings; such bombs 'have never been used here'

BANGKOK: -- A POLICE bomb expert says the Erawan attack was carried out by a group and its members may be foreigners who are expert bomb makers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850021-more-than-one-person-behind-blast-bangkok-bomb-makers-may-be-foreign-experts/

UPDATE:

The suspect 'looked very calm'
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE NATION


Motorbike taxi driver Weerachai Konla speaks to a reporter after checking a picture of the key suspect

BANGKOK: -- WITH a manhunt ongoing for the key suspect in the Monday evening bombing, this reporter followed the route the alleged attacker took to see if there were any more clues available.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849953-tuk-tuk-driver-who-took-bomber-to-shrine-steps-forward/page-2?p=9759426#entry9759426

DEADLY EXPLOSION
Their Majesties offer aid to slain victims' kin
The Nation



Monarch to also reimburse cost of medical treatment

BANGKOK: -- THEIR MAJESTIES the King and Queen have granted Bt90,000 in financial aid to each of the families of victims killed in Monday's bloody bomb blast.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850024-bangkok-bomb-their-majesties-offer-aid-to-slain-victims-kin/

MICE
Major MICE conferences going ahead
SUCHAT SRITAMA
The Nation


Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul

BANGKOK: -- International business events and conferences scheduled to be held in Thailand over the next few months are to go ahead as planned, but some small meetings have been postponed after the blast in Bangkok early this week that killed at least 20 people, including tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850025-major-mice-conferences-in-thailand-going-ahead/

BEVERAGE
ThaiBev consolidates all beers into Chang Classic to shake up market
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation


Edmond Neo Kim Soon

BANGKOK: -- Thai Beverage (ThaiBev) has consolidated all its beers under the Chang Classic brand in line with its vision to become a "sustainable leader" in the beer and non-alcoholic beverages market in Asean by 2020.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850026-thaibev-consolidates-all-beers-into-chang-classic-to-shake-up-market/

EDITORIAL
To boost education, emphasize critical thinking over conformity

PROPOSED STRUCTURAL REFORM OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL NOT ERADICATE CULTURAL BARRIERS TO LEARNING

BANGKOK: -- The National Reform Council (NRC) has submitted proposals to the government for a major overhaul of the country's education system. "If the government fully implements our proposed reform, the country will get efficient human resources," NRC member Prapapat Niyom vowed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850027-thai-editorial-to-boost-education-emphasize-critical-thinking-over-conformity/

Pattaya Baht Bus Drivers told to improve standards at North Pattaya meeting



PATTAYA: -- On Thursday a meeting was held to discuss how to improve standards relating to the work of Pattaya Baht Bus Drivers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850028-pattaya-baht-bus-drivers-told-to-improve-standards-at-north-pattaya-meeting/

UPDATE:

Police: Woman sought in Bangkok bombing probe
By Kocha Olarn and Jethro Mullen, CNN

Bangkok, Thailand (CNN)Police are looking for a "woman wearing a black shirt" in connection with this week's deadly bombing at Bangkok's Erawan Shrine, a senior police spokesman said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850011-bangkok-bombing-red-and-white-shirt-suspects-cleared-of-involvement/#entry9759482

ANALYSIS
Bangkok attack is deepening THE DIVIDE in Thai society
TITIPOL PHAKDEEWANICH
SPECIAL TO THE NATION

HOPES OF RECONCILIATION AFTER MORE THAN A |DECADE OF POLITICAL CONFLICT ARE WANING FAST

BANGKOK: -- Four days on, Thailand is still reeling from the carnage caused by a bomb that ripped through central Bangkok's iconic Erawan Shrine during Monday rush-hour.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850029-bangkok-attack-is-deepening-the-divide-in-thai-society/

CABINET RESHUFFLE
All eyes on Somkid as new economic ministers
BUSINESS REPORTERS
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THAILAND'S NEWLY appointed economic czar, Somkid Jatusripitak, is expected to restore consumer and business confidence by bringing to the job his expertise in international marketing and grass-roots economy management, as his team replaces Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula and the other economic ministers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850030-thai-cabinet-reshuffle-all-eyes-on-somkid-as-new-economic-ministers/

Greek prime minister calls elections after party rebellion
ELENA BECATOROS, Associated Press
NICHOLAS PAPHITIS, Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras resigned Thursday and called early elections, hoping for a new, stronger mandate to implement a three-year bailout program that sparked a rebellion within his radical left party.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850032-greek-pm-tsipras-quits-and-calls-elections-after-party-rebellion/

German "Ostpolitik" pioneer Egon Bahr dies at 93

BERLIN (AP) — Egon Bahr, the German statesman who helped pioneer the "Ostpolitik" policy of improving relations with the communist East under West German Chancellor Willy Brandt, has died. He was 93.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850033-german-ostpolitik-pioneer-egon-bahr-dies-at-93/

French far-right party excludes founder Jean-Marie Le Pen
ELAINE GANLEY, Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — Jean-Marie Le Pen, who co-founded France's far-right National Front, was excluded from his party on Thursday following a disciplinary hearing for belittling the Holocaust and insulting party leaders. He quickly said he would contest the move in court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850034-french-far-right-party-excludes-founder-jean-marie-le-pen/

Feeling the heat: Earth in July was hottest month on record
SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Earth just keeps getting hotter. July was the planet's warmest month on record, smashing old marks, U.S. weather officials said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850035-july-was-earths-hottest-month-on-record-noaa-says/

Cheating website subscribers included WH, Congress workers
By JACK GILLUM and TED BRIDIS

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of U.S. government employees — including some with sensitive jobs in the White House, Congress and law enforcement agencies — used Internet connections in their federal offices to access and pay membership fees to the cheating website Ashley Madison, The Associated Press has learned.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850036-ashlye-madison-cheating-website-subscribers-included-white-house-congress-workers/

Merkel and Putin: A grudging relationship
By Damien McGuinness
BBC News, Berlin

BERLIN: -- On Monday German Chancellor Angela Merkel will host a summit in Berlin about the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850059-merkel-and-putin-a-grudging-relationship/

NKorea warns of war after exchange of fire with South
By ERIC TALMADGE and HYUNG-JIN KIM

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korea on Friday declared its frontline troops in a "a quasi-state of war" and warned of military operations a day after the rival Koreas exchanged fire across the world's most heavily armed border.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850060-north-korea-warns-of-war-after-exchange-of-fire-with-south/

What the secret agreement between Iran and the UN says
By GEORGE JAHN

VIENNA (AP) — An AP report has revealed that the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency has agreed with Iran that Iranian experts and equipment will be used to inspect Iran's Parchin military site, located in not far from Tehran, where Iran is suspected of conducting covert nuclear weapons activity more than a decade ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850064-what-the-secret-agreement-between-iran-and-the-un-says/

UPDATE:

North Korea orders troops on war footing after exchanging fire with South

(BBC) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered his frontline troops to be on a war footing, state media says, after an exchange of fire with the South across their heavily fortified border.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850060-north-korea-warns-of-war-after-exchange-of-fire-with-south/#entry9760100