Thailand Live Monday 18 July 2016

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Thaivisa Photography Competition (July 2016)

Enter the Thaivisa Photography Competition where you can win a two night stay at the luxury Palm Grove Resort in Pattaya, worth an estimated 10,000 Baht.

Submit your photos here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/928582-thaivisa-photography-competition-july-2016/

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Bangkok Poll: Over 80 percent intend to vote in referendum



BANGKOK: - Over 80 percent of the respondents of Bangkok Poll said they intend to vote in the national referendum on August 7.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932468-bangkok-poll-over-80-percent-intend-to-vote-in-referendum/

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Nida Poll says over 60 percent still undecided whether to vote in referendum



BANGKOK: -- Nida Poll claims that over 60 percent of the people are still undecided whether to vote in the national referendum on August 7 whereas 30.4 percent say they agree with the draft constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932469-nida-poll-says-over-60-percent-still-undecided-whether-to-vote-in-referendum/

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Windfall for Thai travel agencies from Taiwan’s visa-free rule



BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s out-bound travel agents are expected to reap a windfall from Taiwan’s recent announcement to ease travel restriction by allowing peoples from Thailand and Brunei to visit Taiwan without visa for up to 30 days beginning August 1.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932470-windfall-for-thai-travel-agencies-from-taiwans-visa-free-rule/

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Drugs addiction causes thousands to suffer from mental illnesses

NONTHABURI, 18 July 2016 (NNT) Addiction to narcotics has resulted in mental illnesses to at least 4,000 patients, all of whom should be provided with access to treatment services, says the DOH.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932471-drugs-addiction-causes-thousands-to-suffer-from-mental-illnesses/

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Thailand remains largest rice exporter to Hong Kong during this year’s first 4 months



BANGKOK, 18 July 2016 (NNT) - The Minister of Commerce disclosed that Thailand remains the largest rice exporter to Hong Kong, advising entrepreneurs to expand their customer base and produce new rice products to add value to the products in response to the decrease in rice consumption among the new generation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932472-thailand-remains-largest-rice-exporter-to-hong-kong-during-this-years-first-4-months/

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World Heritage Committee session continues, Thailand to postpone consideration of its proposal



ISTANBUL, 18 July 2016 (NNT) – The World Heritage Committee convenes on the concluding day of the 40th session, while Thailand's proposal to consider the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex as a world heritage site will be postponed for consideration to the next session in Paris.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932473-world-heritage-committee-session-continues-thailand-to-postpone-consideration-of-its-proposal/

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Over 23,000 new motorcycles register to operate as taxis in Bangkok during 2nd registration period

BANGKOK, 18 July 2016 (NNT) - The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has revealed that 23,000 motorcycle taxis have been registered to operate as taxis during the second registration period.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932474-over-23000-new-motorcycles-register-to-operate-as-taxis-in-bangkok-during-2nd-registration-period/

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Buddhists celebrating Asanha Bucha and Buddhist Lent Days

BANGKOK, 18 July 2016 (NNT) - Buddhists nationwide are making merit in celebration of the Asanha Bucha Day and Buddhist Lent Day this year.

The Office of National Buddhism are organizing the Buddhism promotion week on the occasion of the Asanha Bucha and Buddhist Lent Days from 15 - 20 July 2016 at Phuttha Monthon in Nakhon Pathom province. Activities at the event include Dharma practice, Buddhist preaching, Buddhist talks and a candle lighting ceremony. In the evening, there are a Buddhist Lent candle ceremony and chanting of Buddhist holy stanzas for Their Majesties the King and Queen as well as members of the Royal Family.

In Uthai Thani, scores of people are bringing their families to make merit at various temples, especially at Wat Chantaram which houses a Phra Phuttha Chinnarat Buddha image replica and the body of the late Luang Pho Ruesi Ling Dam revered monk.

In Chiang Rai, the Nakhon Chiang Rai Municipality is organizing a Buddhist lent candle ceremony consisting of more than 10 candle processions.

Asanha Bucha Day falls on the full moon of the 8th lunar month of every year. It is the day Buddha established Buddhism for the first time by giving his first sermon to his five disciples. It was also the first day Buddhism had Buddha, Dharma and monks.

Buddhist Lent Day is typically celebrated on the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month. The day marks the beginning of a three-month rain retreat of Buddhist monks.


-- NNT 2016-07-18

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Thai students took home 38 medals from international mathematics competition



BANGKOK, 18 July 2016 (NNT) - A group of Thai students have brought home medals from the latest international mathematics competition held in Hong Kong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932475-thai-students-took-home-38-medals-from-international-mathematics-competition/

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Govt urges people to refrain from drinking alcohol during Buddhist Lent


Featured image source: Internet

BANGKOK, 18 July 2016 (NNT) – The government is calling on Thai people nationwide to refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages during the Buddhist Lent period.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932476-thai-govt-urges-people-to-refrain-from-drinking-alcohol-during-buddhist-lent/

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PM Prayut confident in ASEAN despite differences among member countries



BANGKOK, 18 July 2016 (NNT) - The Prime Minister has expressed confidence in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations although he recognizes differences among member countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932477-pm-prayut-confident-in-asean-despite-differences-among-member-countries/

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Number of Myanmar visitors to Thailand grows by 39% during this year's first four months: TAT

BANGKOK, 18 July 2016 (NNT) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has seen potentials to promote Thailand as a medical hub and destination for Myanmar tourists and their families.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932478-number-of-myanmar-visitors-to-thailand-grows-by-39-during-this-years-first-four-months-tat/

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Buddhism promotion week kicked off nationwide



BANGKOK, 18 July 2016 (NNT) - Thailand’s Buddhism promotion week has begun ahead of the Asanha Bucha Day and the Buddhist Lent.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932479-buddhism-promotion-week-kicks-off-nationwide/

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Man Murders Stepmother Over Motorcycle Frame
by CityNews



CityNews – A man was arrested for killing his step-mother after she blamed him for selling a motorcycle frame without permission.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932480-chiang-mai-man-murders-stepmother-over-motorcycle-frame/

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Dams Refill Quicker Than Expected Thanks to Heavy Rainfall
by CityNews



CityNews – The Chiang Mai Irrigation Office has announced that the water in the dams around the province are re-filling faster than expected thanks to constant rainfall from June.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932481-dams-refill-quicker-than-expected-thanks-to-heavy-rainfall/

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New, Modernised Train Carriages Come to Chiang Mai
by CityNews



CityNews – Starting in August, the State Railway of Thailand will begin to use a fleet of Chinese built modern train carriages offering a modernised train journey along both Bangkok – Chiang Mai and Bangkok – Ubon Ratchathani routes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932482-new-modernised-train-carriages-come-to-chiang-mai/

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5am Cable Blaze Traps Residents In Kao Talo
Story by Albert Jack



PATTAYA: -- At 5am on the morning of July 17 fire-fighters and medics were called to a dangerous fire in front of buildings on Soi Khao Talo, Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932483-cable-blaze-traps-residents-in-kao-talo/

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South African man found dead in 'messy' Patong room, no foul play suspected
Darawan Naknakhon


Police did not note any signs of a struggle.

PHUKET: -- Police do not suspect foul play in the death of a 37-year-old South African man, whose body was found inside a disorderly room this morning in Patong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932484-south-african-man-found-dead-in-messy-patong-room-no-foul-play-suspected/

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Young Myanmar man's 'member' mangled in Phuket shrimp farm turbine accident
Eakkapop Thongtub


Young Myanmar man's 'member' mangled in Phuket shrimp farm turbine accident

PHUKET: -- A 17-year-old young man from Myanmar was unlucky-but-lucky that his sexual reproductive organ remained in tact after being slashed by the blade of an aeration turbine at a shrimp farm on the north of Phuket today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932485-young-myanmar-mans-member-mangled-in-phuket-shrimp-farm-turbine-accident/

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UPDATE:

'Thailand is closed to sex trade' says country’s first female tourism minister
By Andrew Marszal

LONDON: -- Thailand has promised to eradicate its notorious sex tourism industry as it attempts to reinvent itself as a female-friendly travel destination.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932365-thai-sex-industry-under-fire-from-tourism-minister-police/page-17?p=10970876#entry10970876

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Turkey reopens Incirlik military air base, Pentagon confirms



ANKARA: -- Turkey has reopened its Incirlik air base to US military aircraft, the Pentagon has confirmed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932486-turkey-reopens-incirlik-military-air-base-pentagon-confirms/

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Public supports purges Turkey’s president says



ISTANBUL: -- At a funeral in Istanbul on Sunday for some of the victims of Turkey’s failed coup which was attended by President Tayyip Erdogan some of the mourners chanted “we want the death penalty.”

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932487-public-supports-purges-turkeys-president-says/

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French FM Ayrault warns Erdogan not to use coup as ‘blank cheque’



PARIS: -- France’s foreign minister has warned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan not to use the country’s quashed coup as a ‘‘blank cheque’‘ to silence opponents.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932488-french-fm-ayrault-warns-erdogan-not-to-use-coup-as-blank-cheque/

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Purges of Turkey’s military and judiciary continue



ANKARA: -- Turkey’s authorities have rounded up nearly 3,000 suspected military plotters, including top commanders and foot soldiers, and ordered thousands of judges detained after forces loyal to Erdogan crushed the attempted coup.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932489-purges-of-turkeys-military-and-judiciary-continue/

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Attack in Nice: Police arrest two more people with suspected ties to killer



NICE: -- The man who killed at least 84 people and injured hundreds in Nice on Bastille Day, cased the southern French city’s seafront days before, investigators say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932490-attack-in-nice-police-arrest-two-more-people-with-suspected-ties-to-killer/

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3 Baton Rouge officers killed in shooting; suspect dead
By MIKE KUNZELMAN

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Three Baton Rouge law enforcement officers investigating a report of a man with an assault rifle were killed Sunday, less than two weeks after a black man was fatally shot by police here in a confrontation that sparked nightly protests that reverberated nationwide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932491-3-baton-rouge-officers-killed-in-shooting;-suspect-dead/

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Obama urges Americans to tamp down inflammatory rhetoric
By KEVIN FREKING

WASHINGTON (AP) — Confronting another killing of police officers, President Barack Obama on Sunday urged Americans to tamp down inflammatory words and actions as a violent summer collides with the nation's heated presidential campaign.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932492-obama-urges-americans-to-tamp-down-inflammatory-rhetoric/

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Trump ready to complete improbable rise at GOP convention
By STEVE PEOPLES

CLEVELAND (AP) — A year ago, few imagined Donald Trump as a headline speaker at the Republican National Convention — let alone as its star.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932493-trump-ready-to-complete-improbable-rise-at-gop-convention/

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Crackdown following failed coup in Turkey raises concerns
By SARAH EL DEEB and SUZAN FRASER

ISTANBUL (AP) — Following a failed coup against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the government moved swiftly Sunday to shore up his power and remove those perceived as an enemy, saying it has detained 6,000 people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932494-crackdown-following-failed-coup-in-turkey-raises-concerns/