Honeymoon Period Over for Kamala Harris Polls Show Tight Race

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Scotsman among five arrested in drugs sweep
Eakkapop Thongtub


The five were arrested in the latest anti-drugs sweep in Patong. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- One Scotsman and four Thais have been arrested in the latest anti-drugs sweep through Patong, that netted 70 meth pills,crystal meth and marijuana.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853221-scotsman-among-five-arrested-in-phuket-drugs-sweep/

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SPECIAL FEATURE
A plant out of place
PHOOWADON DUANGMEE
THE NATION



Thailand won't be decriminalising marijuana anytime soon, and it's a bummer for attendees at a public forum on freeing the weed

BANGKOK: -- Speakers at last weekend's public forum on legalising marijuana in Thailand - and the young man parading around a "Free Weed" banner - were basically "preaching to the converted". Everyone present for the discussion at the Bangkok Arts and Culture Centre agreed that ganja - as it is most commonly known here - has been unfairly demonised for far too long.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853313-thailand-wont-be-decriminalising-marijuana-anytime-soon/

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BANGKOK EXPLOSION
Turkey awaits answers
THE NATION


Yusufu Mieraili

Embassy reacts to arrest of suspects; police chief does not consider blasts terrorist attacks

BANGKOK: -- TURKEY is seeking clarification from Thailand over reports that linked Turkish nationals to the Bangkok bombings last month.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853314-bangkok-bombings-turkey-awaits-answers/

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POLITICS
Chaturon's passport fate will hit others, Prayut warns
THE NATION



Foreign minister demands answers from Foreign Ministry on passport revocation

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday the government had revoked former education minister Chaturon Chaisaeng's passports because the senior Pheu Thai Party member faced so many cases and had done wrong so many times before.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853315-chaturons-passport-fate-will-hit-others-prayut-warns/

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CARMEN
DNA tests give foreigner hope for baby custody
PASARA PUTHAMAT
SPECIAL TO THE NATION


Gordon Lake

BANGKOK: -- A GAY foreigner embroiled in a battle for custody of a baby believes his chance of taking his daughter, who was born through paid surrogacy, back to their family in Spain is brighter after the egg donor came forward.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853316-thai-surrogacy-dna-tests-give-foreigner-hope-for-baby-custody/

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AWARD
Udon Thani hospital chief named 'best rural doctor'
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE NATION

Dr Kangwan's 31 years of devoted service helps him beat 15 other contenders

BANGKOK: -- DR KANGWAN WONGRAT-SAMEETUAN, director of Namsom District Hospital in Udon Thani province, has been named the "Best Rural Doctor of 2014" for encouraging new physicians to use their knowledge to help the grassroots, especially in rural areas.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853317-udon-thani-hospital-chief-named-best-rural-doctor/

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RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Wissanu breaks down scheme legal process
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The fact-finding process of the rice-pledging scheme's legal process will be completed by the beginning of next year at the latest, said Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853318-rice-pledging-wissanu-breaks-down-scheme-legal-process/

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Consumer confidence hits 15-month low
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION


Thanavath Phonvichai, director of Economic and Business Forecasting Centre, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce

BANGKOK: -- THE Ratchaprasong bombing, a dropping SET Index, and the sluggish economic growth in China beat down Thai consumer confidence to a 15-month low in August, with confidence in travel, investment and purchasing power hitting a 122-month low.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853319-thai-consumer-confidence-hits-15-month-low/

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Somyot 'killed for failing to quash a drug lawsuit'
PENSRI KADEN,
NOPPADOL SRITHAWEEKARD,
ANGSUMA SRIDOKKHAM
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- NIGHT-ENTERTAINMENT tycoon and lawyer Somyot Suthangkool was murdered on June 29 on the orders of a drug suspect after failing to quash a drug lawsuit for which he had been paid millions of baht, police said yesterday.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853320-night-entertainment-tycoon-somyot-killed-for-failing-to-quash-a-drug-lawsuit/

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Progress on surrogacy cases queried
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- National Legislative Assembly (NLA) member Wallop Tangkananurak asked the Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn about the progress in enforcing the law on surrogacy clinics.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853321-progress-on-surrogacy-cases-queried/

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Chinese arrested for alleged train thefts
Theerapol Khumsuk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Tourist Police stationed at Suvarnabhumi International Airport yesterday announced the arrest of three Chinese men for allegedly stealing valuables from Airport Link train passengers.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853322-thai-tourist-police-arrest-three-chinese-for-alleged-train-thefts/

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New panel to crack down on illegal wildlife trade
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- IN RESPONSE to wild animal cubs being sold openly via Facebook earlier this week, the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department said on Wednesday that it will set up a team to suppress such illegal practices.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853323-new-thai-panel-to-crack-down-on-illegal-wildlife-trade/

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Analysts take dim view of powerful NSRRC
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- POLITICAL observers view the emergence of a National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Committee (NSRRC) as contradicting democratic principles and hindering the development of society and democracy.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853324-analysts-take-dim-view-of-thailands-powerful-nsrrc/

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BURNING ISSUE
Concept of 'transitional democracy' needs explanation
PIYAPORN WONGRUANG
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- LAST WEEK, Thailand was introduced to the concept of "transitional democracy" - a term that has left many wondering.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853325-thai-politics-concept-of-transitional-democracy-needs-explanation/

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Don't judge charter based on just a few provisions: PM
THE NATION


At a press conference in Parliament yesterday, National Reform Council member Sira Jenjaka holds out the Bt1.7 million that he earned in 11 months as salary and allowances, saying he would return the sum if the NRC rejects the draft charter

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha has dropped a hint that he wants Thais to accept the final draft of a new constitution that the National Reform Council will vote on this Sunday.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853327-dont-judge-charter-based-on-just-a-few-provisions-pm-prayut/

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Amended interim charter to only take into account votes in referendum, Wissanu says
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- ARTICLE 37 of the interim charter of 2014 regarding vote counting in a referendum takes into account only those who exercise their right to vote, and not all eligible voters, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853328-amended-interim-charter-to-only-take-into-account-votes-in-referendum-wissanu-says/

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MARA Patani and the question of legitimacy
Don Pathan
Special to The Nation
Yala

The junta's refusal to lend official recognition to the separatist umbrella group could mean the latest peace process is stillborn

YALA: -- A press conference last week to introduce key figures of MARA Patani to the world produced few surprises - members of the separatist umbrella group had been talking to the media for some time.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853329-thai-opinion-mara-patani-and-the-question-of-legitimacy/

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Two arrested for sexually assaulting two Chinese Tourists on Pattaya Island



PATTAYA: -- Pattaya Tourist Police arrested two Thai men on Thursday afternoon, accused of sexually assaulting two female Chinese Tourists on Larn Island.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853330-two-arrested-for-sexually-assaulting-two-chinese-tourists-on-pattaya-island/

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Pattaya Prawn Shortage blamed on new Fishing Regulations



PATTAYA: -- Restaurant owners across Pattaya City are reporting poor supplies of Prawns and they fear that the new fishing regulations which came into force on 1st September could lead to major problems which could force restaurateurs to increase their prices.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853331-pattaya-prawn-shortage-blamed-on-new-fishing-regulations/

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Thai Nurse Puts up Banner Shaming Ayutthaya Police after her Home Robbed 9 Times in 3 Months

AYUTTHAYA A nurse has put up a cloth banner in front of a home in Ayutthayas Maharaj district to complain that her house was burgled nine times in the past 2-3 months and police have been unable to arrest any suspect.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853332-nurse-puts-up-banner-shaming-ayutthaya-police-after-her-home-robbed-9-times-in-3-months/?p=9813568

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UPDATE:

Average household debt this year the highest in ten years



BANGKOK: -- Thai households have an average debt of 248,004 baht each this year which represents an increase of 13.16 percent of last year’s average of a 219,158 baht which is the highest in ten years, according to a poll result of the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853319-thai-consumer-confidence-hits-15-month-low/#entry9813580

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Bangkok taxi users spared fare increase
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Taxi passengers should be happy after Transport Minister Akom Termpitayapaisit Thursday put the brakes on another fare increase in Bangkok.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853335-bangkok-taxi-users-spared-fare-increase/

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Academic Somkiat suffers serious injuries in road accident
The Nation



SARABURI: -- Well-known mass communications academic Somkiat Onwimon was seriously injured in a four-car collision in tambon Huai Sai in Saraburi's Nong Khae district yesterday.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853336-academic-somkiat-suffers-serious-injuries-in-road-accident/

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Kentucky clerk won't accept gay marriage deal, goes to jail
By ADAM BEAM

ASHLAND, Ky. (AP) — A defiant county clerk refused a judge's compromise offer on gay marriage that could have kept her out of jail on Thursday, saying she can't promise not to interfere as her deputy clerks follow the law.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853337-kentucky-clerk-wont-accept-gay-marriage-deal-goes-to-jail/

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Image of dead child on beach haunts and frustrates the world
By TAMARA LUSH



AP: -- The photo of the dead 3-year-old Syrian boy on a Turkish beach is haunting.

It captures everything we don't want to see when we tap our phones or open our newspapers: a vicious civil war, a surge of refugees, the death of an innocent.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853338-image-of-dead-child-on-turkish-beach-haunts-and-frustrates-the-world/

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Father of dead boys: 'All I want is to be with my children'
By SUZAN FRASER and GREGORY KATZ

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — He is one among many, far too many. But the plight of one boy, washed up like a piece of debris on a Turkish beach, has focused the world's attention on a wave of war-and-deprivation-fueled migration unmatched since World War II.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853339-father-of-dead-syrian-boys-all-i-want-is-to-be-with-my-children/

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Trump signs pledge to back GOP's 2016 presidential nominee
By STEVE PEOPLES

WASHINGTON (AP) — Presidential candidate Donald Trump ruled out the prospect of a third-party White House bid Thursday and vowed to support the Republican Party's nominee — whoever it may be.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853340-trump-signs-pledge-to-back-gops-2016-presidential-nominee/

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French investigators confirm wing part is from Flight 370
GREG KELLER, Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — French investigators have formally identified a washed-up piece of airplane debris found in July on a remote island in the Indian Ocean as part of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, a Boeing 777 that disappeared more than a year ago with 239 people aboard.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853341-mh370-french-investigators-confirm-wing-part-is-from-missing-flight/

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UPDATE:

Hungary opens door to trains for migrants, but only to camps
PABLO GORONDI, Associated Press
SHAWN POGATCHNIK, Associated Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Thousands of migrants surged into a Budapest train station Thursday when police ended their two-day blockade of its entrance, but the surprise move produced only a new swirl of confusion and anger as some migrants found themselves tricked into taking a train to a Hungarian camp for asylum seekers.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/853190-migrants-flood-budapest-rail-station-as-police-leave;-no-trains-to-the-west/#entry9813616

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GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - New Guatemala President Alejandro Maldonado sworn in amid fraud scandal, political crisis.