Israel Hamas War the Widening Middle East Conflict

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Obama promises to keep pressure on Iran

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is promising Democratic lawmakers that the U.S. will continue to keep economic pressure on Iran — and keep military options open — if his administration's nuclear deal with Tehran goes through.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850068-obama-promises-to-keep-pressure-on-iran/

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Home Buyers' Expo 2015 kicks off

BANGKOK, 21 August 2015, (NNT) - The Housing Finance Association yesterday kicked off the Home Buyers' Expo 2015 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

The annual exposition offers more than 300 housing and condominium projects along with amazing deals from various financial institutes. The event will be concluded on Sunday, August 23.

During the event President of the Housing Finance Association Kitti Patpongpibul estimated that 20 billion baht worth of home loans would be made during the expo, a modest increase from last year's 18 billion baht.

He is positive that the real estate market would still grow despite the local economic slowdown, given real estate companies are now allowed to extend their term of payment.

Mr. Kitti is also confident that the new Cabinet lineup will be capable of keeping the government's various projects on track, particularly the country's infrastructure projects.


-- NNT 2015-08-21

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BMA set to expand drug-free project to 250 workplaces

BANGKOK, 21 August 2015 (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) aims to create drug-free environment in 250 more workplaces after a success in establishing the project in 50 prototype enterprises.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850069-bangkok-administration-set-to-expand-drug-free-project-to-250-workplaces/

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Cambodian cyclists join Bike for Mom in honor of HM the Queen

BANGKOK, 21 August 2015 (NNT) - Cambodian cyclists who participated in the Bike for Mom event in Trat Province continued their journey to Bangkok, and arrived in the capital yesterday to sign well-wishing messages for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on the auspicious occasion of her 83rd birthday anniversary on August 12, 2015.

The Cambodian cyclists, led by Danai Komkai, a 40-year-old biking enthusiast from Phnom Penh, presented a gift basket before the images of Their Majesties the King and Queen at a Palace Pavilion in the Grand Palace.

Her Majesty’s Deputy Private Secretary Thanpuying Charungjit Teekara and the Secretary to the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Thailand welcomed the cyclists.

The Cambodian cyclists left Phnom Penh on August 11 and arrived in the eastern province of Trat on August 15, before taking part in the cycling event on the next day. After the event, they traveled to Bangkok to pay homage to Her Majesty.


-- NNT 2015-08-21

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Bomb hardly deter Indonesian tourists visiting Thailand

BANGKOK: -- The bombing incident in Bangkok is not significantly affecting the number of Indonesian tourists traveling to Bangkok, although several travel agencies that offer trips to Thailand said there were a few cancellations, The Jakarta Post reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850070-bangkok-bomb-hardly-deter-indonesian-tourists-visiting-thailand/

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SET down 7.65 points at opening /Bangkok Post

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First of its kind museum of corruption to be opened



BANGKOK: -- The Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand is making preparations to open the country's first "National Museum of Political Corruption" that will highlight 10 important corruption cases in Thailand’s history.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850073-first-of-its-kind-museum-of-corruption-to-be-opened-in-thailand/

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SAVINGS FUND
New National Savings Fund begins registrations
Erich Parpart
The Nation


Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha speaks with citizens who have registered with the National Savings Fund launched by three state banks, at Government House yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- The National Savings Fund (NSF) programme saw 170,000 people keyed into the system as of noon yesterday, along with walk-in registrations via the three state banks that began to offer the scheme yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850083-new-national-savings-fund-begins-registrations/

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CURRENCY WAR
Monetary policy review urged
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Private enterprises have urged the government and the Bank of Thailand to review the country's monetary policy given the global currency wars and the resulting higher level of competitiveness in international trading.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850084-monetary-policy-review-urged/

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More rain forecast in the South of Thailand this weekend

BANGKOK, 21 August 2015 (NNT) - The Meteorological Department has forecast that the upper part of the South of Thailand will experience more rain this weekend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850086-more-rain-forecast-in-the-south-of-thailand-this-weekend/

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All Benzene and Gasohol oil prices will go down 50 satang tomorrow at 5 am.
Only E85 will be reduced by 30 satang, while diesel price will remain unchanged.
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/124281

/ThaiPBS

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Rites of five religions held for Bangkok blast victims
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Ratchaprasong community held rites of five religions at the Erawan shrine to remember the victims of the Bangkok blast.

The ceremony was held at 7 am and was attended by several ministers and BMA Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra.

Attending the rites were Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam, Social Develoment and Human Security Minister Adul Saengsingkaew, and Science and Technology Minister Pichet Durongkaveroj.

The ceremony was conducted by Buddhist monks, Muslim imams, Christian and Hindu priests and Sikh teachers.

After the ceremony, the officials laid flowers in front of a makeshift plaque with the names of all the victims.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Rites-of-five-religions-held-for-Bangkok-blast-vic-30267135.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-21

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Merit-making ceremonies performed for bomb victims at Ratchaprasong



BANGKOK: -- Public and private sectors today held merit making ceremonies in five religions at the Erawan Shrine and adjacent Central World for those who passed away in the dreadliest bomb explosion on Monday that killed 20 people and injured over 120 others.

Deputy prime minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan represented the government to worship the Erawan shrine and pray for peace and order in the country at 7 a.m.

Also taking part in the religious ceremonies performed in five religions namely Buddhism, Islam, Christ, Bhramin, and Hindi, were deputy prime minister Wisanu Krue-ngarm, prime minister’s office minister Panadda Disakul, and Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra.

The merit making event was held under tight security guard by police, soldiers and undercovered security personnel.

Participants worshipped Thao Maha Phrom god at the Erawan Shrine starting at 7 am, and later at 7.30 am worshipped the Goddess of Love, Phra Triramurati and the Elephant God, Phra Pikhanet located in front of the Central World shopping plaza, followed by merit-making activities from five religions.

Later at 9 a.m. Bangkok governor led the public mourning the victims of the deadly bomb blast.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/merit-making-ceremonies-performed-for-bomb-victims-at-ratchaprasong


-- Thai PBS 2015-08-21

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Ministry of Commerce will offer packed rice at discount prices to the public next week

BANGKOK, 21 August 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Commerce will soon launch a program to offer discount rice from the government warehouse along with other goods to low-income earners through cooperatives across the nation.

Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade Boonyarit Kalayanamit reveals the program will begin next week. The department is cooperating with the Thai Rice Packers Association in putting 1,000 tons of stockpiled rice in the government warehouse into smaller bags of 2 kgs each, for sale at a discounted price.

The 5 percent white rice will be priced at 30 baht per pack and 10 percent sticky rice will be sold at 50 baht a pack. The Director-General said the rice will be available at cooperatives nationwide. The initiative is expected to help agriculturalists and low-income earners save living expenses to a certain degree.

And in order to help stimulate local economy, the ministry is joining hands with the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives in organizing a campaign to offer discount goods through the bank's various cooperatives. The campaign will officially kick off today and last until the end of January next year.


-- NNT 2015-08-21

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TCC: Thai export will improve under new Cabinet

BANGKOK, 21 August 2015 (NNT) - Several private sector executives and representatives have issued statements in support of the new Cabinet.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850089-tcc-thai-export-will-improve-under-new-cabinet/

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When Will Tourists Go Back to Thailand?
Visitors have braved street protests, floods and coups in the past
Rina Chandran

(Bloomberg) A deadly bomb attack in Bangkok this week has raised a familiar question: How long before the tourists come back?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850091-when-will-tourists-go-back-to-thailand/

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1,000 Baht banknotes debut today

BANGKOK, 21 August 2015 (NNT) – The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has released its latest version of the 1,000 baht banknote.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850093-1000-baht-banknotes-debut-today/

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Phuket's B6bn Patong tunnel may start next year, says project chief
Eakkapop Thongtub


A model shows how the elevated expressway from Patong will enter the tunnel. Photo: Dept Land Transport

PHUKET: -- Construction of the long-awaited B6-billion Kathu-Patong tunnel could well begin as early as next year if the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) gets approval, according to Aiyanat Tinapai, Governor of the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850097-phukets-b6bn-patong-tunnel-may-start-next-year-says-project-chief/

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PBTA chief calls for jet ski ban

PATTAYA:--The head of Pattaya’s leading business association said he wants to see jet skis outlawed in the city, but will agree to give honest vendors one last chance to reign in those engaging in fraud and extortion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850095-pbta-chief-calls-for-jet-ski-ban/

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Roundabout to be latest attempt to fix dangerous Jomtien intersection

PATTAYA:--After the installation of barriers on at the Bunkanchanaram intersection on Jomtien Second Road only made traffic worse, city hall decided to turn the dangerous junction into a roundabout to try and finally make it both safe and efficient.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850098-roundabout-to-be-latest-attempt-to-fix-dangerous-jomtien-intersection/

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RT@dicklp: EXCLUSIVE in @thetimes: Thai police seek man named ‘Mohamad Museyin’ #BangkokBomb https://t.co/sAsHctS7Xu

[Lite Beer]

Somyot says Thai police provided with foreign technologies for enhancing suspect's photo
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police Commissioner General Pol Gen Somyot Pumpanmuang said a foreign government and a private firm have provided police new equipment for enhancing photos of the Erawan shrine blast suspect.

He said the technologies are new to Thailand.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Somyot-says-Thai-police-provided-with-foreign-tech-30267136.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-21

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PM thanks former Cabinet members for their hard work

BANGKOK, 21 August 2015 (NNT) - The Prime Minister has called for cooperation from all sides in the name of national interests, following criticisms over the new Cabinet.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850103-pm-thanks-former-cabinet-members-for-their-hard-work/

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: The reward for the #Bangkok bombing suspect has been tripled to 3 million baht http://t.co/rCRMVd58Dt #Thailand http://t.co/Q8o3y8fGCh

[Lite Beer]

SET down 11.30 to 1,361.23 at midday / Bangkok Post

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Bounty for Ratchaprasong bomber now rises to 3 million baht



BANGKOK: -- The reward for anyone who could give information that leads to arrest of the Ratchaprasong bomber now rises to three million baht, Royal Thai Police commissioner Pol Gen Somyot Poompunmoung said today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850105-bounty-for-ratchaprasong-bomber-now-rises-to-3-million-baht/

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Bangkok Bombing: Governor Defends Rushed Reopening of Shrine
By Khaosod English


A small army of city workers power washed the scene of Monday night's crime on Tuesday morning.

BANGKOK — As the investigation into Monday’s bomb attack appears stalled, a multi-faith service was held this morning at the site, the rapid reopening of which has put Bangkok’s governor on the defensive over criticism authorities scrubbed and reopened the crime scene too soon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850106-bangkok-bombing-governor-defends-rushed-reopening-of-erawan-shrine/

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NCPO ponders actions against false messages in social media



BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order is mulling legal actions against netizens who post false messages in the social media in a way which will create public confusion or panic, said Colonel Winthai Suvaree, spokesman of the NCPO, on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850109-ncpo-ponders-actions-against-false-messages-in-social-media/

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Two men rescued after cargo boat sinks off Phi Phi
Eakkapop Thongtub


Capt Anan Buobthong, 49, and crewman Somporn Jindakorn, 52, survived by holding onto fuel drums. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- Two men were rescued after holding onto fuel drums for four hours after their cargo boat loaded with construction materials sank in heavy seas off Phi Phi Island yesterday afternoon (August 20).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850110-two-men-rescued-after-cargo-boat-sinks-off-phi-phi/

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Min of Energy set to enhance nation’s electricity transmission



BANGKOK, 21 August 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Energy is set to enhance the country’s electricity supply in many regions for long-tern energy security, a top EPPO official says.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850129-thai-energy-min-set-to-enhance-nations-electricity-transmission/