Thailand Live Friday 22 July 2016

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Nangfah Police Officers Now in Campaign of Distraction
Story by Albert Jack



PATTAYA: -- The latest news from Pattaya police chief Pol Col Apichai Krobpetch, on the Nangfah Karaoke Bar police extortion allegations, is that a meeting has been arranged for today at Pattaya Police Station, with Pol Lt Col Narawuth Karamhito, to acknowledge and address the allegations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933436-nangfah-police-officers-now-in-campaign-of-distraction/

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SET down 1.03 points at opening /Bangkok Post

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Aquino grumbles about high court’s acquittal ruling of Arroyo

MANILA: -- Shortly after the release of his nemesis and predecessor Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo, former president Benigno Aquino 3rd issued a four-page statement wondering why no one was held accountable for the alleged misuse of the state lottery funds, according to a news report of The Manila Times Online on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933447-aquino-grumbles-about-high-courts-acquittal-ruling-of-arroyo/

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Two men hospitalised after crash at Phuket underpass construction site
Eakkapop Thongtub


The accident caused the motorbike to fly into a three metre ditch. Photo: Eakkapop Tongtub

PHUKET: -- Two men were taken to hospital this morning (July 22) after the driver of a motorbike crashed into a roadside traffic railing at the Bangku Underpass construction site leaving himself and his passenger with injuries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933448-two-men-hospitalised-after-crash-at-phuket-underpass-construction-site/

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Duterte does not want to be addressed as “His Excellency”



MANILA: -- In keeping up with his informal style, President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered all government offices not to address him as “His Excellency” and cabinet secretaries as “Honorable” in all official communications, The Manila Times Online reported on Thursday quoting the Malacanang.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933449-duterte-does-not-want-to-be-addressed-as-his-excellency/

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Min of Culture organizes events to celebrate the Crown Prince's birthday

BANGKOK, 22 July 2016 (NNT) - The Ministry of Culture will organize a series of events to celebrate the upcoming birthday anniversary of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn on July 28th.

Culture Minister Vira Rojpojchanarat presided over the opening ceremony marking His Royal Highness' birthday celebrations at the Department of Cultural Promotion.

To celebrate this auspicious occasion, the ministry is looking for seven people who were photographed with the Crown Prince during his royal duties. They will be invited to share their stories in the service of His Royal Highness.

An art exhibition displaying portrait paintings of the Crown Prince and those depicting his royal works by contemporary artists will be held at Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Museum from July 26th to August 4th.

A Khon performance will also take place at the National Theatre to celebrate His Royal Highness' birthday anniversary. The show is scheduled at 2:00pm daily, from July 23rd to 25th.


-- NNT 2016-07-22

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Phra Yantra visits home in Nakhon Si Thammarat



BANGKOK: -- Former infamous charismatic monk Phra Yantra Amaro has quietly returned to his home district of Pak Phanang in Nakhon Si Thammarat from the United States where he has taken asylum for over 20 years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933452-phra-yantra-visits-home-in-nakhon-si-thammarat/

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PM invokes Section 44 to speed up connection of Blue Line extensions and Purple Line

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Mass Rapid Transit Authority board to open direct negotiation with operator of the Blue Line electric train service to run the two Blue Line extensions in order to speed up the rail service operation and fix the missing one kilometre connection of the Purple Line rail service.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933453-pm-prayut-invokes-section-44-to-speed-up-connection-of-blue-line-extensions-and-purple-line/

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With structural pillars repaired, Jungceylon aims to re-open Port Area next week
Chanida Summast


With repairs to the structural pillars underneath The Port Area nearly complete, management at Jungceylon shopping mall in Patong are confident the closed areas will re-open next Wednesday (July 26). Photo: Slilla Svetsreni

PHUKET: -- Management at Jungceylon shopping mall in Patong are confident the section closed for repairs where structural pillars crumbled last month will reopen next Wednesday (July 27) after a series of inspections by government engineers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933471-with-structural-pillars-repaired-jungceylon-aims-to-re-open-port-area-next-week/

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Thailand successfully sought extradition of a fugitive arrested in Malaysia

BANGKOK, 22 July 2016 (NNT) - The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has successfully coordinated the extradition of a fugitive, who fled to Malaysia after committing a crime in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933474-thailand-successfully-sought-extradition-of-iranian-fugitive-arrested-in-malaysia/

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Police raid Bangkok family home of foreign critic of monarchy
By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer


A photo of Andrew MacGregor Marshall, his wife Noppawan Bunluesilp and their son Charlie in a May 2014 photo posted to Facebook. Photo: Andrew MacGregor Marshall / Facebook

BANGKOK — Police raided the Bangkok home of a well-known British author and monarchy critic’s Thai family Friday morning, taking away his wife, 3-year-old son and father-in-law along with computers and other materials.

The raid took place about 7am at the home of the parents of Noppawan Bunluesilp, the wife of former Reuters reporter Andrew MacGregor Marshall, author of a banned book critical of the monarchy, one day after he shared stories from foreign media on Facebook that were unflattering to a member of the royal family.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2016/07/22/police-raid-home-foreign-critic-thai-monarchy-home/


-- Khaosod English 2016-07-22

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Pattaya Police Given Deadline for Extortion Investigation
Story by Albert Jack


Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police Pol. Gen. Chakthip Chaichinda calling for reform

Top cop has had enough and is insisting on reform in Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- The Pattaya Provincial Police Region 2 have been given thirty days days to investigate six Chon Buri policemen who allegedly tried to frame a karaoke bar owner with false charges of being involved in the sex trade and human trafficking.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933477-pattaya-police-given-deadline-for-extortion-investigation/

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Inmate citing prison riot in Pattani dies in Songkhla prison



PATTANI: -- A prisoner who was accused of inciting a riot in Pattani central prison last week that left three dead and five injured has died in Songkhla prison, according to a human right activist.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933500-inmate-citing-prison-riot-in-pattani-dies-in-songkhla-prison/

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How much would you pay for a Phuket pineapple?
Phuket Gazette



We asked Phuket Town visitors how much they would pay for a Phuket Pineapple, their answers might surprise the Pracha Rath Rak Samakkee middlemen.

PHUKET: -- Pineapples, batik, goat milk and lobster will be branded and promoted by Pracha Rath Rak Samakkee to help boost the province’s grassroots agricultural economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933501-how-much-would-you-pay-for-a-phuket-pineapple/

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DPM clears up why BKK Governor's name not on latest list of corrupt civil servants

BANGKOK, 22 July 2016 (NNT) – The Deputy Prime Minister has acknowledged that a fifth list of civil servants involved in corruption may be produced while stating that the reason the Bangkok Governor’s name was not on the latest list was because it was not proposed by the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933502-dpm-clears-up-why-bkk-governors-name-not-on-latest-list-of-corrupt-civil-servants/

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Trump says America in crisis - and he'll fix it 'fast'
By JULIE PACE and ROBERT FURLOW

CLEVELAND (AP) — Declaring America in crisis, Donald Trump pledged to cheering Republicans and still-skeptical voters Thursday night that as president he will restore the safety they fear they're losing, strictly curb immigration and save the nation from Hillary Clinton's record of "death, destruction, terrorism and weakness."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933503-trump-says-america-in-crisis-and-hell-fix-it-fast/

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'Crocodile raft' throws down gauntlet with epic dare to online critics
By Teeranai Charuvastra, Staff Reporter


An elephant is used to load-test and demonstrate the nigh unsinkability of a raft Thursday used to float tourists in a pond of hungry crocodiles at Elephant Kingdom southeast of Bangkok in Chonburi province.

PATTAYA — A tycoon whose business involves pushing boatloads of tourists into a pond full of hungry crocodiles issued a hearty challenge Friday to those safety-obsessed naysayers on the internet.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933505-crocodile-raft-throws-down-gauntlet-with-epic-dare-to-online-critics/

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Extradited Iranian back to face charges in Thailand



BANGKOK: -- Malaysia last night extradited an Iranian national wanted in Thailand for human trafficking, drugs, and passport forgery back to Thai authorities for court trial after fleeing to Malaysia three years ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933474-thailand-successfully-sought-extradition-of-iranian-fugitive-arrested-in-malaysia/#entry10986098

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BMW plans electric car battery factory in Thailand: industry minister

BANGKOK: -- German carmaker BMW Group is considering building a new plug-in hybrid vehicle battery factory in Thailand, the country's industry minister said on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933515-bmw-plans-electric-car-battery-factory-in-thailand-industry-minister/

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Rio security push crumbles as murders, police killings rise
By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — On the eve of hosting the world's largest sporting event, Rio de Janeiro's decade-long push to curb violence in hundreds of slums appears to be crumbling.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933531-rio-security-push-crumbles-as-murders-police-killings-rise/

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PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) - Malaysia, Australia, China agree to suspend search for MH370 after the current area is scoured completely.

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Registration for government welfare scheme under target

BANGKOK, 22 July 2016 (NNT) – Banks facilitating registry for the government’s new welfare scheme have reported registrations are below target and they will soon be adjusting their promotional strategies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933556-registration-for-government-welfare-scheme-under-target/

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Little alligator found sunbathing by reservoir and no one knows how it got there
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: Sanook

BANGKOK: -- A fresh-water alligator was found happily sunbathing beside the water reservoir that supplies a village’s tap water before getting caught by villagers in Nakhon Sawan province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933558-little-alligator-found-sunbathing-by-reservoir-and-no-one-knows-how-it-got-there/

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Search for Flight MH370 to be suspended, possibly forever

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) — The hunt for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 will be suspended once the current search area in the Indian Ocean has been completely scoured, the ministers of the three countries conducting the operation announced Friday, possibly ending all hopes of solving aviation's greatest mystery.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933560-search-for-flight-mh370-to-be-suspended-possibly-forever/

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TAT hopes to tap into population of rich Germans for tourism
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: W/Flickr

BANGKOK: -- Because the EU’s economic problems are not thought to affect Germany as much as some other European nations, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is attempting to lure high-spending German vacationers to the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933563-tat-hopes-to-tap-into-population-of-rich-germans-for-tourism/

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NEW DELHI (AP) - Indian Air Force says it has lost contact with a transport plane with 29 people on board

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Fugitive Nen Kham held in custody of US officials

THAILAND:-- Fugitive ex-monk Nen Kham Chattiko who is wanted in Thailand for multiple criminal charges, including manslaughter and money laundering, has been held in custody of US officials.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933600-fugitive-nen-kham-held-in-custody-of-us-officials/

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Tourist Police Chief: job well done

PHUKET:-- Tourist Police Commander Surechet Hakpan and Phuket Provincial Police Commander Teeraphol Thipjaroen inspected officers and held a press conference to discuss the tourism situation on the island yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933604-tourist-police-chief-job-well-done/

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Bike crash at Bang Khu construction site
Winai Sarot

PHUKET:-- A Thai man is unconscious in Vachira Hospital after crashing his motorbike into a guardrail at the Bang Khu underpass in the early hours of the morning.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933606-bike-crash-at-bang-khu-construction-site/

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Sam Kong underpass road-surfacing finally begins
Chanida Summast

PHUKET:-- After more than a month of preparation work laying the foundations for the surface roads on the west side of the Sam Kong Underpass, workers today (July 22) began paving the road surface.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933608-sam-kong-underpass-road-surfacing-finally-begins/