Thailand Live Tuesday 20 Oct 2015

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Pheu Thai wants OAG to investigate ThaiHealth’s funding for Isra Institute



BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai party has demanded the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the extension of funding to the Isra Institute’s Media Development Foundation’s training programme for media executives by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864072-pheu-thai-wants-oag-to-investigate-thaihealths-funding-for-isra-institute/

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Thailand draws great deal of world attention at Expo Milano 2015

BANGKOK, 20 October 2015 (NNT) - The Thailand pavilion has drawn a great deal of world attention at the Expo Milano 2015, commented Agriculture & Cooperatives Minister Chatchai Sarikallaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864121-thailand-draws-great-deal-of-world-attention-at-expo-milano-2015/

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KRABI
Top honour for man for rescuing tourists
SITTHICHAI SIKHAWAT
THE NATION


Chat Ubonjinda

BANGKOK: -- A KRABI man who risked his life to rescue a Norwegian couple stuck in riverside mud will be conferred with a "Seu Samart" (honorary jacket) by HRH Princess Bajra Kitiyabha during a ceremony in Bangkok on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864122-top-honour-for-krabi-man-for-rescuing-tourists/

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Bangkok Bombing Suspects Won't be Tried for Terrorism
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Bombing suspect Mohammed Bilal is led today into a military court in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — Thai police are not pursuing terrorism charges against two men accused of staging a deadly bomb attack in Bangkok two months ago, a police commander confirmed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864123-bangkok-bombing-suspects-wont-be-tried-for-terrorism/

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Renamed, Recut ‘Arbat’ Tops Box Office
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Scene from Arpat, the movie formerly known as Arbat. Photo: Sahamongkol Film International

BANGKOK — With a slightly different name and two minutes shorter, a movie about a misbehaving monk banned days before its release proved controversy can translate into ticket sales.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864125-renamed-recut-arbat-tops-box-office/

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Police Charge BMW-Driving Businessman for Highway Gunplay
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Police said Niwat Wicharn confessed today to being the man seen on video firing a gun from the window of his moving BMW on Saturday in Chiang Mai province.

CHIANG MAI — A businessman in Chiang Mai province was arrested today for firing a handgun to threaten other motorists from his BMW on Saturday night – an incident captured on video and posted online.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864126-chiang-mai-police-charge-bmw-driving-businessman-for-highway-gunplay-video/

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THAIHEALTH
ThaiHealth's 'budget use breached core goals': Agencies
PIYANUCH THAMNUKASETCHAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PROBES BY two agencies show the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) has used its budget in violation of its founding objectives.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864127-thaihealths-budget-use-breached-core-goals-agencies/

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FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Media calls on drafting panel to ensure freedom from interference
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Four media organisations have called for the media to be free from political interference, in an open letter to the Constitution Drafting Commission.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864128-thai-media-calls-on-drafting-panel-to-ensure-freedom-from-interference/

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SOUTH CRISIS
Police beef up security in Hat Yai for festival
Pares Lohasan,
Santiparp Ramasutra
The Nation



Cars being checked after bombs in pattani; two killed, five badly injured

HAT YAI: -- SECURITY has been beefed up in Songkhla's Hat Yai district where a large number of tourists have descended for the city's famous Vegetarian Festival, following two roadside bomb attacks in Pattani yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864129-police-beef-up-security-in-hat-yai-for-festival/

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UPDATE:

NEW CONSTITUTION
CDC explains the charter drafting process to diplomats
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- DIPLOMATS and international organisations raised no concerns about the new round of charter drafting at a meeting yesterday with the Constitution Drafting Commission, CDC spokesman Norachit Sinhaseni said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864019-thai-charter-drafter-updates-international-community-on-the-writing-of-the-constitution/#entry9983298

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BERKASOVO, Serbia (AP) - Croatia opens border with Serbia for migrants, thousands rush across.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - AP count shows last month's hajj disaster in Saudi Arabia killed at least 2,110 people.

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Panel hears explanations on celebrities posing with booze
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Piti Bhirombhakdi, regional marketing director of Boon Rawd Brewery, and actress Virithipa "Woonsen" Phakdeeprasong yesterday had their representatives provide information on their behalf to the Alcoholic Beverages Committee, in relation to celebrities posting photographs with alcoholic beverages on social media.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864130-panel-hears-explanations-on-thai-celebrities-posing-with-booze/

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UPDATE:

Court extends detention of two Erawan Shrine bombing suspects
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The military court yesterday extended the detention period of the two foreign suspects held in relation to the Erawan Shrine bomb attack.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864123-bangkok-bombing-suspects-wont-be-tried-for-terrorism/#entry9983308

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UPDATE:

Australian held for 'robbing' bank for his flight home
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- An Australian national was arrested yesterday after allegedly robbing a bank with a fake gun in Bangkok's Phaya Thai district. He managed to get away away with Bt158,000 after an alleged 12-second hold-up at a Thanachart Bank branch. But was captured shortly after by a couple of good samaritans and a patrolling police officer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864022-australian-tourist-arrested-for-bank-robbery-in-saphan-kwai/page-4?p=9983311#entry9983311

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Alleged killer of forestry official ready to surrender
Sutthipong Settharangsi,
Prasit Tangprasert
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Boonleng Saithongkhu, prime suspect in the killing of forestry official Prasit Khummoo on October 14 at the Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary in Chaiyaphum's Khon San district, has contacted the police through his relatives to say he is willing to surrender, said Yuthachai Pattamasonthi, director of the Nakhon Ratchasima-based Zone 7 Conservation Office.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864131-alleged-killer-of-forestry-official-ready-to-surrender/

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JOHANNESBURG (AP) - South African official says Oscar Pistorius is released from prison, put under house arrest.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio delays executions until 2017 citing ongoing problems obtaining lethal injection drugs.

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BURNING ISSUE
The new CDC has both good and bad news to offer
JINTANA PANYAARVUDH

BANGKOK: -- THERE are clear signs that the new draft charter will draw criticism and opposition as the new Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) completes its second week in the job.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864132-thai-politics-the-new-cdc-has-both-good-and-bad-news-to-offer/

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'PM feared fallout at Parliament over removal of Charae'
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE PM's move to change his earlier decision to replace the House of Representatives secretary-general with a legal adviser stems from a desire to prevent a negative backlash from parliamentary officials upset over the replacement, National Legislative Assembly president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864133-pm-prayut-feared-fallout-at-parliament-over-removal-of-charae/

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CDC wants to shore up trust in stronger watchdogs
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

CHAIRMAN MEECHAI SAYS PANEL WILL AIM TO AVOID OVERLAP BETWEEN AGENCIES

BANGKOK: -- THE CONSTITUTION Drafting Committee is concerned about how to enhance the public's trust in independent organisations so that they won't be criticised when given more teeth.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864134-thailands-cdc-wants-to-shore-up-trust-in-stronger-watchdogs/

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Steering assembly to work with charter drafters to drive reform
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- NATIONAL Reform Steering Ass-embly deputy chief Alongkorn Ponlaboot dismissed reports that the purpose of the assembly's meeting yesterday was to discuss reconciliation proposals to be presented to the five core agencies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864135-steering-assembly-to-work-with-thai-charter-drafters-to-drive-reform/

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STREETWISE
Living the Bangkok life upcountry is possible - AT A PRICE
Achara Deboonme
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Anyone looking for a detached house in Bangkok is looking at a price tag of at least Bt3 million. And that money will only get you a place in the suburbs, not downtown, which is reserved for condominiums whose units are being sold at over Bt200,000 per square metre.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864136-living-the-bangkok-life-upcountry-is-possible-at-a-price/

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Ukrainian suspected of shoplifting from East Pattaya Mini Big C Supermarket



PATTAYA: -- A 35 year old Ukrainian is suspected of stealing over 2,500 Baht’s worth of cosmetic items from a Mini Big C in East Pattaya on Sunday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864137-ukrainian-suspected-of-shoplifting-from-east-pattaya-mini-big-c-supermarket/

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Fatal Road Crash close to East Pattaya Train Station



PATTAYA: -- Police and medics were called to a fatal road crash on the railroad close to the Pattaya Train Station on Sunday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864138-fatal-road-crash-close-to-east-pattaya-train-station/

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Skimmers blamed for money theft from Pattaya Bank Account



PATTAYA: -- Pattaya Police have blamed skimmers for stealing 35,000 Baht from the bank account of an operating room technician who works at the Pattaya City Hospital in Soi Buakhao.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864139-skimmers-blamed-for-money-theft-from-pattaya-bank-account/

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Chinese investments surpass Japanese investments in Thailand



BANGKOK: -- Chinese investments in Thailand for the past eight months have surpassed Japanese Investments for the first time in history after the Board of Investment adjusted its foreign direct investment promotional incentives.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864140-chinese-investments-surpass-japanese-investments-in-thailand/

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A race against time to save the ‘bongs’ of Big Ben



It’s a race against time to save the “bongs” of Big Ben

LONDON: -- A report on the state of one of the United Kingdom’s most prominent symbols says if urgent repairs are not carried out the clocks’ mechanism could fail completely.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864142-a-race-against-time-to-save-the-bongs-of-big-ben/

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Video: plane crashes into Bogota bakery killing 5 people



BOGOTA: -- Incredible video footage shows the aftermath of plane crashing into a bakery in the Colombian capital Bogota. Five people died when the small aircraft crashed minutes after taking off from the city’s El Dorado airport on Sunday. Six others were sent to hospital with injuries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864144-video-plane-crashes-into-bogota-bakery-killing-5-people/

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Democracy in the doldrums as Egypt votes



Voter apathy and low turnout have marked day two of Egypt’s parliamentary election

CAIRO: -- The lack of a credible opposition to the rule of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has prompted many Egyptians to stay away in sharp contrast to Egypt’s first democratic election in 2011/12.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864145-democracy-in-the-doldrums-as-egypt-votes/

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Hundreds of rescued migrants and refugees arrive in Cagliari



CALIGARI: -- The Italian Coast Guard says the 781 migrants and refugees rescued off the coast of Libya over the weekend have arrived in Cagliari in Sardinia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864146-hundreds-of-rescued-migrants-and-refugees-arrive-in-cagliari/

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Israel: death toll in recent surge of violence reaches 50



JERUSALEM: -- There is a heightened state of security in Israel as the number of people who have died in a recent wave of violence reaches 50.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/864147-israel-death-toll-in-recent-surge-of-violence-reaches-50/