Thailand Live Wednesday 9 Sep 2015

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Freddie Gray's family settles with city for $6.4M
By JULIET LINDERMAN

BALTIMORE (AP) — The parents of Freddie Gray reached a tentative $6.4 million settlement with the city of Baltimore, nearly five months after their 25-year-old son was critically injured in police custody, sparking days of protests and rioting.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854606-freddie-grays-family-settles-with-city-of-baltimore-for-64m/

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Sam Smith sings new James Bond theme song for 'Spectre'

LONDON (AP) — The name's Smith, Sam Smith. The choice was shrouded in mystery and denials, but the 23-year-old British sensation has surfaced as the singer of the theme song for the new James Bond film, "Spectre."

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854608-sam-smith-sings-new-james-bond-theme-song-for-spectre/

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Migrant Crisis: Where Have the Gulf States Been?
Why a region with $2 trillion in annual income can’t seem to spare much for the neighbors
MARDO SOGHOM

NEW YORK: -- Finally, a rich Arab has come forward with a major offer of help to Middle Eastern refugees.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854611-migrant-crisis-where-have-the-gulf-states-been/

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Poll: More local support for Heathrow expansion than opposition

LONDON, England - Polling published today shows that over half of residents in 12 constituencies close to Heathrow support the expansion of the airport. Around a third say they oppose.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854615-more-local-support-for-heathrow-expansion-than-opposition-poll/

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WORLD CUP
Thailand draw with Iraq after dramatic comeback
The Nation


Photo : Narin Kruaklai

BANGKOK: -- Thailand staged a remarkable fightback to snatch a 2-2 home draw with 2007 Asian Cup winners Iraq, which kept them at the top of World Cup qualifying Group F.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854626-thailand-draw-with-iraq-after-dramatic-comeback/

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UPDATE:

Bangkok Bombing Suspect In Re-Enactment

Wearing a bulletproof vest and flanked by marksmen, one of the Thailand bomb suspects visits the site of a police raid.

BANGKOK: -- Armed police have accompanied one of the Bangkok bombing suspects as he took part in a re-enactment at a flat where bomb-making materials were found.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854593-bangkok-bombing-prime-suspect-taken-for-re-enactment/#entry9832340

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British Airways plane catches fire on Las Vegas runway
KIMBERLY PIERCEALL, Associated Press
KEN RITTER, Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) — An engine on a London-bound British Airways jet caught fire Tuesday while the plane was preparing to take off from Las Vegas, shooting flames from the side of the jet and forcing passengers to escape on emergency slides.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854636-british-airways-plane-catches-fire-on-las-vegas-runway/

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SET up 10.76 points at opening /Bangkok Post

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UPDATE:

Second day of Erawan shrine bombing re-enactment continues amid curious crowds

BANGKOK: -- Police brought 25-year old Yusufu Mierraili, a prime suspect in Erawan shrine and Sathorn pier bomb explosions early this morning to re-enact his acts in both bombings, one of which left 20 dead and over 120 injured.

Full story http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854593-bangkok-bombing-prime-suspect-taken-for-re-enactment/#entry9832515

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NLA to announce its 1-year achievements today

BANGKOK, 09 September 2015 (NNT) - The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will announce its one year achievements today.

President of the NLA Pornpetch Wichitcholchai and his deputies will take turns informing the public of important bills that were passed into laws over the past year. He added the body would hold a seminar to discuss its future plans and working strategy in Pattaya, Chonburi province, from September 18th to 20th.

Mr. Pornpetch said it was necessary for the NLA to publicize concrete outcomes of its work so that residents would have better understanding about the roles of the NLA with its limited working term.


-- NNT 2015-09-09

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First Ever Head Transplant Patient: I Value My Life And Have Trust in Science

The world’s first human head transplant candidate, Russia’s Valery Spiridonov, said he was living life to the full but believed it was important to move science ahead, in an exclusive interview with Sputnik Italia on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854656-first-ever-head-transplant-patient-i-value-my-life-and-have-trust-in-science/

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Thai police say suspect handed backpack to Bangkok bomber

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai police say that a key suspect has told them he met with the Bangkok shrine bomber outside a train station and handed him a heavy backpack just before the blast occurred the night of Aug. 17.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854658-thai-police-say-suspect-handed-backpack-to-bangkok-bomber/

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UPDATE:

Thailand ranked third among countries having highest road fatality rates



BANGKOK: -- Thailand was ranked the third among the countries that had recorded the highest road fatalities in the world, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854579-thailand-ranks-among-countries-with-highest-road-deaths/page-2?p=9832705#entry9832705

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Bon Jovi shows in China canceled for 'unforeseen reasons'

BEIJING (AP) — Bon Jovi's concert tour in China next week has been abruptly canceled because of what promoters said were "unforeseen reasons."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854664-bon-jovi-shows-in-china-canceled-for-unforeseen-reasons/

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National Rice Policy Committee to select highest bidders in rice bidding scheme

BANGKOK, 9 September 2015 (NNT)- Only 28 qualified rice bidders have offered to buy rice in the government stockpiles during the 6th rice bidding process of 2015.

According to the Department of Foreign Trade Director, General Duangporn Rodphaya, only 28 bidders out of the 33 bidders qualified by the Ministry of Commerce attended the bidding process yesterday.

14 bidders offered to buy a combined total of 240,000 tons of rice, which accounts for 34% of rice in the stockpiles, at the minimum price required at the auction. The whole amount of rice being auctioned in the 6th round of rice bidding was valued at 2.3 billion baht.

The highest bidding price for each stockpile will be proposed to the National Rice Policy Committee for consideration before the Committee announces the names of the winning bidders.


-- NNT 2015-09-09

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First-car programme officially closed on September 30



BANGKOK: -- The cabinet on Tuesday approved the closure of the first-car programme as of September 30 as proposed by the Finance Ministry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854669-first-car-programme-officially-closed-on-september-30/

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Fake power bill collectors rampant in Kalasin, Roi Et, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Phetchabun



BANGKOK, 9 September 2015 (NNT) – The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has warned the public against forged electricity bills and fake electricity bill collectors that have claimed victims in several provinces.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854670-fake-power-bill-collectors-rampant-in-kalasin-roi-et-phitsanulok-phichit-phetchabun/

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Erawan shrine bombing takes toll on overseas tourism markets but is recovering now



BANGKOK: -- The government has now admitted that the Erawan shrine bombing incident has taken toll on its tourism with the Tourism Authority of Thailand reporting a loss of 60 billion baht in revenues from cancellation of flights during the August-September period.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854673-erawan-shrine-bombing-takes-toll-on-overseas-tourism-markets/

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Thai produce to be upgraded to global standards



BANGKOK, 9 September 2015 (NNT)- The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is to raise the quality of Thai produce to the international standards ahead of the formation of ASEAN Economic Community.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854675-thai-produce-to-be-upgraded-to-global-standards/

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Arrest warrants sought for the 12th and 13th bombing suspects



BANGKOK: -- Royal Thai Police commissioner Pol Gen Somyot Poompunmuong said in Tuesday that the police investigating the two bombing incidents in Bangkok will seek warrants from the Minburi provincial court to arrest two more bomb suspects, raising total wanted suspects to 13.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854676-arrest-warrants-sought-for-the-12th-and-13th-bangkok-bombing-suspects/

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OBEC: O-NET restructuring will benefit students

BANGKOK, 09 September 2015, (NNT) - The Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) has pushed to restructure its O-NET examination to include more subjective writing, which it believes will help students exercise critical thinking skills.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854677-obec-o-net-restructuring-will-benefit-students/

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Long-term illness suspected in death of British expat in Phuket condo


The body of British expat Stephen Preston was found in his seventh-floor condo in Chalong yesterday (Sept 8).

PHUKET: -- Police believe that a long-term battle against shingles likely claimed the life of British expat Stephen Preston, whose body was found in his seventh-floor condo in Chalong yesterday (Sept 8).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854679-long-term-illness-suspected-in-death-of-british-expat-in-phuket-condo/

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Satun officials to remove resorts in Koh Lipe

SATUN, 09 September 2015, (NNT) - The office of Tarutao National Park has issued an order to 7 owners of buildings and resorts to remove those structures which encroach on areas in Koh Lipe within 30 days.

The order came after the officials had discovered that the resorts have encroached on about 90 rai of the protected land. The officials said the resort operators had constructed those buildings in the areas that are not in their land deeds.

The Tarutao National Park authorities have initially invoked Section 21 of the 1961 National Park Bill to issue the removal order of the illegal buildings. Officials will dismantle the illegal buildings themselves should the resort owners ignore the instruction.

According to the authorities, the move is fair and transparent, adding that the Satun governor, Dejrat Simsiri, has been informed of the move.


-- NNT 2015-09-09

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Baht likely to fall to 36.75 baht per US dollar at year-end



BANGKOK: - The weakening of Thai baht against the US dollar is likely to stay put for a longer period than earlier anticipated and importers are advised to resort to currency hedging to protect their business.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854682-baht-likely-to-fall-to-3675-baht-per-us-dollar-at-year-end/

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UPDATE:

Bombing Suspect Led Through 2-Day 'Re-enactment' (PHOTOS)
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK — In body armor and a bright yellow T-shirt, Erawan Shrine bombing suspect Yusufu Mieraili was escorted by a phalanx of police, military and media to locations throughout the Thai capital on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning to participate in a “re-enactment” of his crimes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854593-bangkok-bombing-prime-suspect-taken-for-re-enactment/#entry9833319

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UPDATE:

Bangkok shrine attack suspect 'gave device to bomber'

BANGKOK: -- Thai police say a key suspect in the Bangkok shrine bombing has confessed to giving a bag containing a device to the man who carried out the attack.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854658-thai-police-say-suspect-handed-backpack-to-bangkok-bomber/#entry9833373

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UPDATE:

Boeing 777 plane catches fire on Las Vegas runway
English.news.cn

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- A British Airways plane caught fire during takeoff on a runway in Las Vegas on Tuesday afternoon, said local aviation authority.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854636-british-airways-plane-catches-fire-on-las-vegas-runway/#entry9833398

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127 children kidnapped by IS in Iraq: media
English.news.cn

BAGHDAD, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Islamic State (IS) militants have kidnapped 127 children in IS-held Iraqi city of Mosul recently to train them in the ranks of the terror group, Iraqi News reported on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854687-127-children-kidnapped-by-is-in-iraq-media/

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Stephen Colbert debuts on 'The Late Show'
By DAVID BAUDER

NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Colbert began his tenure as host of the CBS "Late Show" Tuesday with a tribute to predecessor David Letterman, a brief conversation with rival Jimmy Fallon and a surprise cameo from Comedy Central buddy Jon Stewart.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854690-stephen-colbert-debuts-on-the-late-show/

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Thai trade ambassadors meet next week to boost 2016 exports

BANGKOK, 9 September 2015 (NNT) - The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) has invited Thai trade ambassadors for 60 nations to a meeting next week to strategize exports in 2016.

DITP Director-General Nantawa Sakuntanaga said the meeting will be held next Monday and will brief attendees on the Ministry of Commerce’s new policy.

Trade ambassadors as well as high-ranking officials will be attending the event. They are expected to report their progress on trade promotion and discuss plans to boost Thai exports in their host countries.

The agenda also includes strategies for SMEs and ASEAN trade. A special focus has been placed on trade ambassadors in the ASEAN region, China and India, which are considered significant potential markets for Thai products.


-- NNT 2015-09-09