Thailand Live Monday 24 Aug 2015

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Court indicts British activist Andy Hall
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- A Thai court Monday indicted a British labour rights activist in a case linked to a report he co-authored alleging severe labour abuses in Thailand's food industry, a key supplier to Western supermarkets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850765-thai-court-indicts-british-activist-andy-hall/

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AIRLINES
Emirates adds flights for Bangkok-Dubai route
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Emirates today announced four new weekly flights between Phuket and Dubai, which will increase its capacity by 57 per cent.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850767-emirates-adds-flights-for-bangkok-dubai-route/

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Rohingya translator in the Koh Tao murder case admits he barely understood the accused confession

KOH SAMUI: -- Yesterday in the Koh Samui Provincial Court it was revealed that Ko Ye, one of the two Muslim Rohingya translators who initially interrogated Wei Phyo and Zaw Lin who stand accused of the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, could not read or write Thai and barely understands the Rakhine dialect used by the accused.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849310-koh-tao-murder-trial-reconvenes-in-koh-samui/page-30?p=9770942#entry9770942

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3 American friends, Briton who subdued train attacker receive France's Legion of Honor

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Thai police deactivate bomb in Bangkok house

Bangkok: Thai police said they had found and deactivated a bomb in the capital Bangkok on Monday, a week after an explosion killed 20 people in the city.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850768-thai-police-deactivate-bomb-in-bangkok-house/

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BANGKOK BLAST
Somyot cannot affirm bomber still in Thailand
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police Commissioner-General Pol Gen Somyot Pumpanmuang said Monday that he cannot affirm whether the Erawan Shrine bomber is still in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850769-somyot-cannot-affirm-bangkok-bomber-still-in-thailand/

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UPDATE:

The Latest: Bangkok police say grenade unlinked to bombing
The Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — The latest on the bombings in the Thai capital (all times local):

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850768-thai-police-deactivate-bomb-in-bangkok-house/#entry9771268

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Forensic science police checking DNA on remain of backpack
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Forensic science police are trying to extract DNA samples from remain piece of backpack that carried the fatal bomb in the Erawan Shrine attack, a source said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850774-bangkok-bombing-forensic-science-police-checking-dna-on-remain-of-backpack/

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UPDATE:

Hong Kong journalist held in Bangkok for body armour

BANGKOK: -- A Hong Kong photojournalist is out on bail in Bangkok after he was held for carrying body armour and a helmet while reporting on the recent bomb blast.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850746-hong-kong-photographer-arrested-in-bangkok-for-trying-to-carry-bulletproof-vest-onto-flight/page-3#entry9771404

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Americans, Briton who thwarted attack get France's top honor
By SYLVIE CORBET

PARIS (AP) — Three Americans and a Briton who tackled an attacker loaded with guns and ammunition prevented carnage on the high-speed train carrying 500 passengers to Paris, France's president said Monday as he presented the men with the Legion of Honor and praised them as an example of the need for action when faced with terrorism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850775-americans-briton-who-thwarted-train-attack-get-frances-top-honor/

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China's stock market suffers biggest one-day fall since 2007
JOE McDONALD, AP Business Writer

BEIJING (AP) — China's stock market fell Monday by its biggest margin in eight years, defying the government's multibillion-dollar effort to stop a slide that has wiped out the gains of this year's price boom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850778-chinas-stock-market-suffers-biggest-one-day-fall-since-2007/

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UPDATE:

Foreign Reporter Charged for Possessing Body Armor
By Khaosod English


Photojournalist Anthony Kwan arrives for his bail hearing today. Photo: Colleen Murrell

BANGKOK — A reporter from Hong Kong charged with possessing body armor was released on bail today and has been forbidden from leaving the kingdom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850746-hong-kong-photographer-arrested-in-bangkok-for-trying-to-carry-bulletproof-vest-onto-flight/page-3#entry9771565

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SET index closed 1,301.06 down 64.55; Bt/USD35.59; GBP55.59; AUD25.47; EUR40.70; CAD26.68; HKD4.56; SGD25.01; JPY29.38

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Prayut's brother to become permanent secretary for Defence: report
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Gen Preecha Chan-o-cha, a brother of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, will get the post of permanent secretary for Defence Ministry, Matichon Online reported Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850802-prayuts-brother-to-become-permanent-secretary-for-defence-report/

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NNT opens office in NBT World Open House

BANGKOK, 24 August 2015 (NNT) – The National News Bureau of Thailand is hosting the open house event for its 24 hour English television service NBT World, stressing the important mission of becoming a vision of Thailand.

The Prime Minister’s Office Minister and Permanent-Secretary Panadda Diskul today presided over the opening ceremony of the NBT World Open House event held by the National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT), broadcasting in English and organized under the ASEAN television station development project.

He said that NBT World represents the government’s effort to communicate with the global community by providing news and information about Thailand to create an understanding on Thai society among international audiences. The NBT World Open House event is considered an important stride for NBT World to improve its communications to global audiences.

NBT World is now operating with the mission to deliver accurate, credible, and referable multi-dimensional content of news and information on the topics of security, social, economy, culture, lifestyle, investment, education, and ASEAN relations. NBT World connects Thailand to the international community, and represents the nation's positive image under the concept ‘A Vision of Thailand’.

On this occasion, the Director-General of the Public Relations Department (PRD) Apinan Juntarungsri revealed that there are several ways to access the content of NBT World, including through the C-band satellite frequency 4144 MHz, on NBT Channel, Radio Thailand, internet website http://thainews.prd.go.th/en, NBT Word app on smartphones, NBT World Facebook page, and the NBT World Youtube channel.
NBT World is also connected with the Thai TV Global Networks (TGN) to further deliver its expand its accessibility on the global stage.


-- NNT 2015-08-24

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Short-term stimulus package is urgent to surge grassroots economy, Somkid says



BANGKOK, 24 August 2015 (NNT) - Somkid Jatusripitak, a newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs, revealed on his first day in office at the Government House that he intended to help solve national problems, especially the economy which is now under influence of the global recession.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850826-short-term-stimulus-package-is-urgent-to-surge-grassroots-economy-somkid-says/

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German Killed by Hit-And-Run Van Driver
By Khaosod English


A rescue worker points to a van whose driver is suspected of killing a 78-year-old German man as he crossed a road southeast of Bangkok in Chonburi province before fleeing the scene.

CHONBURI — A 78-year-old German man was killed by a public van driver as he was crossing a road last night in Chonburi province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850827-german-killed-by-hit-and-run-van-driver-in-chonburi/

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BMTA expected to sign NGV bus procurement plan on Sep 16

BANGKOK, 24 August 2015 (NNT) - The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) is expected to sign a procurement deal for NGV buses with Cho Thavee Dollasien PCL on September 16.

Acting BMTA Director Pranee Sukrasorn revealed that the Administrative Court has ruled on August 21 to dismiss the case submitted by the private sector over suspected corruption in the BTMA’s procurement of 489 NGV buses. The decision on another case filing over the same matter is also expected to be concluded on August 26.

If both cases are cleared, Mrs Pranee said the BMTA will be ready to sign the procurement deal with Cho Thavee Dollasien PCL on September 16 and will expect the first 50 buses on November 16.

After all buses have been delivered, the BMTA will conduct a study on the procurement’s overall quality and cost effectiveness, before deciding to procure an additional 2,694 vehicles.


-- NNT 2015-08-24

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Bangkok blast probe hindered by broken security cameras
NATTASUDA ANUSONADISAI
JOCELYN GECKER

BANGKOK (AP) — Up to 75 percent of the security cameras were broken along the getaway path taken by the main suspect in last week's deadly Bangkok bombing, Thailand's police chief said Monday, revealing a major obstacle to an investigation that has only fuzzy images of the still-unidentified man.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850829-bangkok-blast-probe-hindered-by-broken-security-cameras/

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Arrest warrants issued for ex-deputy commerce minister and three alleged accomplices



BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok South Criminal Court on Monday issued warrants for the arrest of former deputy commerce minister Banyin Tangphakorn and two alleged accomplices on charges of theft, falsifying official documents and using false official documents.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850830-chuwong-case-arrest-warrants-issued-for-ex-deputy-commerce-minister-3-alleged-accomplices/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 25 Aug 2015

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850901-thailand-live-tuesday-25-aug-2015/