Thailand Live Monday 9 May 2016

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Trump as nominee improves odds for parts of Obama's legacy
By JOSH LEDERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — There's no cheering at the White House for Donald Trump's success. Yet for President Barack Obama, things could be worse.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915831-trump-as-nominee-improves-odds-for-parts-of-obamas-legacy/

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Kim Jong Un says North Korea won't use nuclear weapons first
By ERIC TALMADGE

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country will not use its nuclear weapons unless its sovereignty is invaded and announced a five-year economic plan at a milestone congress of North Korea's ruling party, which entered its third day Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915832-kim-jong-un-says-north-korea-wont-use-nuclear-weapons-first/

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Ageing Isaan blazes a trail for Thailand
MARWAAN MACAN-MARKAR, Contributing writer

BAAN DONG BANG, Thailand -- For the past three years, Boonterm Chaila has puttered around on his improvised three-wheel motorcycle spreading two messages across five provinces in Thailand's rice-growing northeast region.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915833-ageing-isaan-blazes-a-trail-for-thailand/

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UPDATE:

Wildfire at Doi Suthep national park in Chiang Mai



CHIANG MAI: -- A huge wildfire broke out late yesterday evening at Khuncharngkien in the Doi Suthep-Pui national park in Chiang Mai, forcing several hundreds of park, forestry officials and volunteers to immediately create buffer areas to prevent the fire from spreading into the famous Doi Suthep temple ground and the Phuphing royal winter palace.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915771-major-forest-fire-doi-suthep-chiang-mai/page-2?p=10727001#entry10727001

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Malaysians face death in Thailand over drugs
Bernama

BANGKOK: Twenty-one Malaysians arrested in Thailand recently on suspicion of being “drug mules” could face the death penalty upon conviction under the country’s Narcotics Act for possession and sale of Category 1 Substances.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915854-malaysians-face-death-in-thailand-over-drugs/

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Is Thailand's UN Security Council Bid Dead on Arrival?

By Pavin Chachavalpongpun

A worrying domestic political situation may dash Bangkok’s hopes for a UN Security Council seat.

BANGKOK: -- Thailand has its eye on becoming a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2017-2018 term.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915856-is-thailands-un-security-council-bid-dead-on-arrival/

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Prestige Car’s Airbag Suddenly Explodes While Parked



PATTAYA: -- At 4pm on 8 May Pol Capt. Nakornrach Nonsrilad – Sub Inspector at Pattaya Police Station, Chonburi, was informed of the luxury car’s airbag suddenly inflating and causing the windscreen to shatter. However, the car was parked at the time in the K.T.T Regent Suite at Soi 12, Central Pattaya, and nobody was injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915858-prestige-cars-airbag-suddenly-explodes-while-parked/

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Two men charged with attempted murder as Belgian slashed trying to help Thai woman


Featured image: Koh Lipe (source Internet)

SATUN:-- Police have arrested two men on attempted murder charges after they allegedly attacked a Belgian diving instructor who went to a girl's rescue.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915861-two-men-charged-with-attempted-murder-as-belgian-slashed-trying-to-help-thai-woman/

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Englishman pays five million baht dowry as he marries Thai man he met on Facebook


Image: Thairath

PRACHINBURI:-- An English businessman put down a five million baht dowry as he married his Thai boyfriend in a traditional ceremony in Prachinburi on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915884-englishman-pays-five-million-baht-dowry-as-he-marries-thai-man-he-met-on-facebook/

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SET falls 0.19 to 1,390.51 at opening /Bangkok Post

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CNN links up with Myanmar's SkyNet



YANGON: -- The US cable television giant CNN has last Friday teamed up with SkyNet telecommunications company less than a month after the company was implicated in a bribery scandal, The Irrawaddy reported last Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915891-cnn-links-up-with-myanmars-skynet/

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Thai researcher names new wasp species after Brad Pitt
BY LARRY BANKS

BANGKOK: -- Scientists have recently discovered two new wasp species – from India and South Africa, and named one of them after Hollywood actor Brad Pitt.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915892-thai-researcher-names-new-wasp-species-after-brad-pitt/

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Ever bought cheap hair care products at a Thai market? Here's what you are really getting


Image: Manager Online

SARABURI:-- Have you ever walked in a Thai market and seen bottles of well known brands of shampoo, hair conditioner and shower cream going cheap? Big bottles for 89 baht.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915894-ever-bought-cheap-hair-care-products-at-a-thai-market-heres-what-you-are-really-getting/

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UPDATE:

Forest Fire in Doi Suthep – Pui National Park
by CityNews


Photo by Jk Onemillion, shared on Raks Mae Ping Facebook Page.

CityNews – Over 100 firefighters and numerous other officials and emergency service crews spent all of Sunday evening (May 8th) and Monday morning fighting a massive fire that spread through the Doi Suthep – Pui National Park jungles, shocking residents of Chiang Mai who could see the flames and smoke from across the city.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915771-major-forest-fire-doi-suthep-chiang-mai/page-3?p=10727719#entry10727719

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For some Republicans, Trump-Clinton matchup is 'nightmare'
By NICHOLAS RICCARDI

OREM, Utah (AP) — As the setting sun's light flooded a meeting of Utah County Republicans, Melanie Sorensen described her concerns about her party's presumptive presidential nominee.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915896-for-some-republicans-trump-clinton-matchup-is-nightmare/

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Divers say sea bottom off Quang Binh province appears lifeless



HANOI: -- The bottom of the sea off Quang Binh province in the central Vietnam where tonnes of dead fish were washed ashore the past month appears to be lifeless with bottom creatures dying en masse, the Than Nien News reported on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915897-divers-say-sea-bottom-off-quang-binh-province-appears-lifeless/

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Thai boy, 12, watched adult movies and raped my daughters, claims mother


Image: Daily News

SAMUT PRAKAN:-- A mother took her two young children to Samut Prakan police Sunday to report an alleged series of rapes by their 12 year old cousin.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915900-thai-boy-12-watched-adult-movies-and-raped-my-daughters-claims-mother/

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Thailand: Med-school exams cancelled after high-tech cheaters nabbed
by Asian Correspondent Staff

BANGKOK: -- AN entrance examination for a medical school was forcibly cancelled in Thailand on Sunday after three proxies were caught sitting in for candidates, using high-tech gadgetry such as spy glasses and smart watches to cheat in the papers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915903-thailand-med-school-exams-cancelled-after-high-tech-cheaters-nabbed/

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North Korea willing to reconcile unless Seoul 'opts for war'
ERIC TALMADGE, Associated Press

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korea's ruling party adopted a resolution on the third day of its first full congress in 36 years to strive toward a more prosperous and modern economy and stressed that it will push for the peaceful reunification of Korean Peninsula, but warned that if Seoul "opts for a war" its military will mercilessly wipeout all opposition.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915908-north-korea-willing-to-reconcile-unless-seoul-opts-for-war/

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Thai Red Cross Society holds four-day blood drive



BANGKOK, 9 May 2016, (NNT) - The Thai Red Cross Society recently held a four-day blood drive to commemorate World Red Cross Day on May 8.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915909-thai-red-cross-society-holds-four-day-blood-drive/

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BBC correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes detained in North Korea and to be expelled from country over reporting /BBC

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New less restrictive public assembly bill in Myanmar parliament



YANGON: -- A new public assembly and procession law which will ease restrictions of demonstrations is now under the consideration of the Upper House of Parliament, according to The Irrawaddy last Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915914-new-less-restrictive-public-assembly-bill-in-myanmar-parliament/

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Archeologists clash in Egypt over King Tut tomb theory

CAIRO (AP) — Archeologists clashed at a conference in Egypt on Sunday over a theory that secret burial chambers could be hidden behind the walls of King Tutankhamun's tomb.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915916-archeologists-clash-in-egypt-over-king-tut-tomb-theory/

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Teenage girl with alleged "murder in mind" held over slaying of handicapped man


Image: Manager Online

BANGKOK:-- Police have arrested the girlfriend of one of the gang held for assaulting and killing a handicapped man last week in the Chok Chai 4 area of Lat Prao.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915917-teenage-girl-with-alleged-murder-in-mind-held-over-slaying-of-handicapped-man/

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Sufficient water, abundant food predicted this year



BANGKOK: -- Thailand will have sufficient water for use, have abundant food for consumption and for trade, the Royal soothsayer predicted at the ancient Royal ploughing ceremony held at Sanam Luang this morning.

The ceremony was presided over by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, government officials, diplomats and a large crowd of people attended the ceremony.

The ceremony dated back to the Sukhothai period, some 700 years ago.

This year the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative Mr Thirapat Prayoonsit, was the lord of the ploughing ceremony or Phraya Raekna.

He led two six-year old sacred oxen, Perm and Poon, in a circle walk to plough a furrow in the ceremonial ground, while following alongside were four consecrated ladies carrying gold and silver baskets filled with best grade rice seeds obtained from the demonstration farm inside the Royal Chitralada Palace to scatter over the ploughed furrows.

Official Brahmans from the Royal Court also walked alongside chanting and blowing the conch shells.

At the ceremony, the two sacred oxen were offered seven bowls containing grass, paddy, maize, sesame seeds, soy bean, water and liquor.

They ate paddy, maize, sesame seeds, water and liquor.

The Brahmin soothsayers then predicted an abundance of food, and sufficient water to be expected this year.

Lord of the ploughing ceremony was also offered three pieces of folded cloth, each of a different length to select.

His selection turned to be a five “kueb” long cloth, slightly over one metre, which predicting sufficient water and paddy fields yielding good harvests.

At the end of the ceremony, rice grains were then strewn over the ceremonial ground.

The crowd watching the ceremony then rushed to collect them as they are considered an auspicious start
to the rice planting season.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/162520


-- Thai PBS 2016-05-09

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Massive Chiang Mai Fire Likely Caused by Humans
By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee
Staff Reporter

A forest fire on Sunday night at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park

CHIANG MAI — Officials and volunteers spent nearly 12 hours extinguishing a giant forest fire they believe was sparked by a forager Sunday afternoon in a national park overlooking Chiang Mai city.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915771-major-forest-fire-doi-suthep-chiang-mai/page-3?p=10728021#entry10728021

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Dusit Poll reveals more crimes in the country

BANGKOK, 9 May 2016 (NNT)-A Dusit Poll has revealed most people believe crimes are more frequent in Thai society due to a slow economy and lenient laws.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915919-dusit-poll-reveals-more-crimes-in-thailand/

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Drought prompts durian prices to increase this year

PHAYAO, 9 May 2016 (NNT)-Durians remain a sought after item among fruit lovers even as drought continues to ravage many parts of the country. Many people are willing to pay more for the King of Fruits which can cost up to 120 baht per kilogram.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915920-drought-prompts-durian-prices-to-increase-this-year/

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UPDATE:

PM acts against forest fires

BANGKOK, 9 May 2016 (NNT) –The Prime Minister has ordered helicopters be dispatched to assist in fighting a forest fire on Doi Suthep of Chiang Mai province while calling for the public to be more aware of fire hazards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915771-major-forest-fire-doi-suthep-chiang-mai/page-3?p=10728077#entry10728077

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Colombian male model arrested for defaming top Thai model industry figure


Image: Thairath

BANGKOK:-- A 32 year old Colombian male model in Bangkok was arrested Sunday and held on a charge of defamation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/915931-colombian-male-model-arrested-for-defaming-top-thai-model-industry-figure/