THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Monday 23 Sep 2019

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Chiang Mai university becomes first Asean nation to grow own breed of cannabis

By The Nation

 

 

The Maejo University in Chiang Mai province has been successful in developing the first industrial grade Thai-breed medical cannabis, making Thailand the first country in Asean to develop its own breed of medical cannabis, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul said on Saturday (September 21).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124827-chiang-mai-university-becomes-first-asean-nation-to-grow-own-breed-of-cannabis/

 

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Bt17-billion budget to be allocated for developing EEC

By The Nation

 

Credit: EEC Office

 

The government plans to allocate Bt17 billion for development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) in fiscal 2020, as it wants to speed up investment in the region, especially in transport.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124829-bt17-billion-budget-to-be-allocated-for-developing-eec/

 

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Transport minister effects shake-up at the top in state enterprises

By The Nation

 

Saksayam

 

In a major management shakeup at major state enterprises, the transport minister has appointed new chairmen to the boards of the Port Authority of Thailand, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) and the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMA). 

 

Source: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124830-transport-minister-effects-shake-up-at-the-top-in-state-enterprises/

 

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KTB vows its ‘Eat, Shop, Spend’ website will not crash

By The Nation

 

Credit: KTB

 

Payong Srivanich, president and CEO of the state-owned Krungthai Bank (KTB), said that since many businesses and individuals are interested in joining the “Eat, Shop, Spend” scheme, the registration deadline will be extended to November 15.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124832-ktb-vows-its-‘eat-shop-spend’-website-will-not-crash/

 

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Developers launch resale campaigns after homebuyers stranded by LTV curbs

By Somluck Srimalee
The Nation

 

Ashton by Ananda Development

 

For homebuyers looking for lucrative deals, this might be the time to invest when many property firms are launching special promotion campaigns to sell residential projects that could not be transferred to previous customers who could not get loans due to the new loan-to-value (LTV) regulations.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124833-developers-launch-resale-campaigns-after-homebuyers-stranded-by-ltv-curbs/

 

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Bangkok rolls out car-free day

By The Nation

 

 

On Sunday morning (September 22), Sakoltee Phattiyakul, deputy Bangkok governor, presided over the opening ceremony of the “Bangkok Car Free Day 2019” at the courtyard in front of CentralWorld shopping mall near the Rajdamri intersection.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124834-bangkok-rolls-out-car-free-day/

 

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Thai divers spot great white shark in waters off Bali

By The Nation

 

Photo courtesy of Cholladda Khalythong's facebook page

 

Thai marine biologist Thon Thamrongnawasawat has posted a photo of a great white shark, claiming his friends had spotted it in waters off Bali on Friday (September 20) while diving at Crystal Bay Divesite.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124835-thai-divers-spot-great-white-shark-in-waters-off-bali/

 

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VAT refunds seen as means to hike tourist spending

By THE NATION

 

 

The Revenue Department will soon open bidding for private businesses to offer tourists in certain areas of Bangkok VAT refunds.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124837-vat-refunds-seen-as-means-to-hike-tourist-spending/

 

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Thanathorn unfazed by EC’s probe into loans to Future Forward party

 

 

Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit said today (Saturday) that he is not worried about the Election Commission’s meeting next week to consider the case involving the party receiving two loans, totaling 191 million baht, from Thanathorn.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124838-thanathorn-unfazed-by-ec’s-probe-into-loans-to-future-forward-party/

 

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Over 60 percent of respondents to poll think Opposition debate was useless

 

 

More than half of the respondents to a recent Suan Dusit Poll, taken between September 19th and 21st, said that the Opposition debate last Wednesday against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, over his incomplete oath recital, was useless.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124839-over-60-percent-of-respondents-to-poll-think-opposition-debate-was-useless/

 

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Vietnam Airlines opening direct Phuket to Ho Chi Minh City flights

By Bill Barnett

 

 

by Bill Barnett c9hotelworks.com

 

Vietnam Airlines will commence direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Phuket on October 27.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124840-vietnam-airlines-opening-direct-phuket-to-ho-chi-minh-city-flights/

 

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BTS will have to break up, whether they like it or not, and fans are not happy

By The Thaiger

 

 

Even though they’ve been making music since their debut back in 2013, it’s the last two years BTS, aka Bangtan Boys (or Bangtan Sonyeondan for Korean pronunciation), have gone from zero to hero in the pop music world. Now they’re riding their success on the crest of a wave that has defied conventional pop marketing and ‘western’ white-washed music standards.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124841-bts-will-have-to-break-up-whether-they-like-it-or-not-and-fans-are-not-happy/

 

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Phuket Opinion: Where there’s a will, there’s a way

By The Phuket News

 

A lifeguard at Patong Beach helps a tourist back to his feet after he was rescued from dangerous surf earlier last month, when Patong lifeguards carried out 17 rescues in one day. Photo: Patong Surf Life Saving

 

PHUKET: Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsap this week announcing that she had found a way to hire lifeguards to patrol Patong Beach year round, full time deserves high praise.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124842-phuket-opinion-where-there’s-a-will-there’s-a-way/

 

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Opposition to lodge petition against PM Prayut

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The government and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chuan Leekpai, have confirmed that they do not have issues with the opposition’s demand for an investigation into the alleged violation of ethical standards by the Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, in failing to recite his oath of office fully. The opposition was advised that it could proceed with the legal process.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124843-opposition-to-lodge-petition-against-pm-prayut/

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DPM Wissanu attends seminar on Government Information Act

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, has called on all government agencies to adjust their attitude and provide government information to the people through digital technology in a transparent fashion, so as to support the people’s occupations and daily activities.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124844-dpm-wissanu-attends-seminar-on-government-information-act/

 

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MOAC to lead volunteer team to rehabilitate flooded areas

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) will lead a team of volunteers to rehabilitate the extensive flooded areas of Ubon Ratchathani next week. It has also prepared an urgent plan to help flood-affected farmers by providing them with seeds and production aids, organizing a team to repair agricultural tools and listening to their problems immediately after the flood water has subsided.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124847-ubon-ratchathani-moac-to-lead-volunteer-team-to-rehabilitate-flooded-areas/

 

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August exports plunge 4%

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The global economic slowdown, the trade war between China and the United States, tension in the Middle East and the continuous appreciation of the baht made the value of Thai August exports plunge by four percent to 21.91 billion US dollars. Meanwhile imports fell 14.62 percent at 19.86 billion US dollars in the balance of trade.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124850-august-exports-plunge-4/

 

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Dugong Mariam statue installed on Krabi beach

 

   

KRABI (NNT) - Many people may still miss the adorable baby dugong Mariam, who died from ingesting plastic waste. Her statue has today been installed on Nopharat Thara Beach in Krabi as a reminder story.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124851-dugong-mariam-statue-installed-on-krabi-beach/

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Britain to create 1 billion pound fund for clean energy technology

By Kylie MacLellan

 

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at Downing Street in London, Britain September 20, 2019 Frank Augstein/Pool via REUTERS

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will create a 1 billion pound ($1.25 billion) fund for scientists around the world to create and test new technology to help developing countries reduce carbon emissions, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will say on Monday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124852-britain-to-create-1-billion-pound-fund-for-clean-energy-technology/

 

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Saudi Arabia seeks action against Iran after oil attack, allies wary

By Sylvia Westall, Ghaida Ghantous and Stephen Kalin

 

FILE PHOTO: Workers are seen at the damaged site of Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, September 20, 2019. REUTERS/Hamad l Mohammed/File Photo

 

DUBAI/RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will seek to make a case at a global gathering in New York this week for concerted action to punish and deter arch-foe Iran after strikes on Saudi oil plants rattled global markets and exposed the kingdom's vulnerability to attack.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124853-saudi-arabia-seeks-action-against-iran-after-oil-attack-allies-wary/

 

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Pompeo says U.S. mission is to avoid war with Iran but measures in place to deter

By Humeyra Pamuk

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo walks after his meeting with Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo at the State Department in Washington, U.S., September 13, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - The United States aims to avoid war with Iran and the additional troops ordered to be deployed in the Gulf region are for "deterrence and defence," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124854-pompeo-says-us-mission-is-to-avoid-war-with-iran-but-measures-in-place-to-deter/

 

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Israel's Arab party support pushes Gantz ahead of Netanyahu

 

Memebers of the Likud party, sits next to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin as he began talks with political parties over who should form a new government, at his residence in Jerusalem September 22, 2019. Menachen Kahana/Pool via REUTERS

 

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's Arab-dominated Joint List party moved on Sunday to back the centre-left bloc of Benny Gantz, who is challenging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing alliance, to form a new government.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124855-israels-arab-party-support-pushes-gantz-ahead-of-netanyahu/

 

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Iran says it will destroy any aggressor

 

FILE PHOTO: Iran's national flags are seen on a square in Tehran February 10, 2012, a day before the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl/File Photo

 

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran will pursue any aggressor, even if it carries out a limited attack, and seek to destroy it, the head of the elite Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday, after attacks on Saudi oil sites which Riyadh and U.S officials blamed on Tehran.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124859-iran says-it-will-destroy-any-aggressor/

 

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Biden urges investigation into Trump Ukraine call

By Amanda Becker and Jonathan Landay

 

FILE PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the One Iowa and GLAAD LGBTQ Presidential Forum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, September 20, 2019. REUTERS/Scott Morgan

 

DES MOINES, Iowa/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, a frontrunner for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, on Saturday called for an investigation into reports that President Donald Trump pressed his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate Biden and his son.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124865-biden-urges-investigation-into-trump-ukraine-call/

 

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Five Western countries, Turkey and UAE back Libyan state oil firm

 

FILE PHOTO: The building housing Libya's oil state energy firm, the National Oil Corporation (NOC), is seen in Tripoli, Libya February 22, 2016. REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny/File Photo

 

CAIRO (Reuters) - Five Western countries including the United States, as well as Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, support Libyan state oil firm NOC as the sole legitimate authority for the country's energy sector, a joint statement said on Sunday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124866-five-western-countries-turkey-and-uae-back-libyan-state-oil-firm/

 

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'Howdy, Modi!' - Thousands, plus Trump, rally in Texas for India's leader

By Brad Brooks and Steve Holland

 

U.S. President Donald Trump and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi participate in the "Howdy Modi" event in Houston, Texas, U.S., September 22, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

HOUSTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a stage and showered each other with praise on Sunday at a "Howdy, Modi!" rally attended by upward of 50,000 people, a rare mass showing for a foreign leader on American soil.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124868-howdy modi-thousands-plus-trump-rally-in-texas-for-indias-leader/

 

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Republican casino magnate Adelson cautioned Trump on trade war with China: WSJ

 

FILE PHOTO: Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam listen to U.S. President Donald Trump address the Republican Jewish Coalition 2019 Annual Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., April 6, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top Republican donor warned President Donald Trump in a phone call last month that his escalating trade war with China could hurt his re-election prospects, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the call.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124869-republican-casino-magnate-adelson-cautioned-trump-on-trade-war-with-china-wsj/

 

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British travel firm Thomas Cook collapses, stranding hundreds of thousands

 

FILE PHOTO: The Thomas Cook logo is seen in this illustration photo January 22, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration/File Photo

 

LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Thomas Cook, the world’s oldest travel firm, collapsed on Monday, stranding hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers around the globe and sparking the largest peacetime repatriation effort in British history.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124870-british-travel-firm-thomas-cook-collapses-stranding-hundreds-of-thousands/

 

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Prayut meets Thai expats in New York

By The Nation

 

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha met Thai expatriates in New York Sunday afternoon US time. 

 

Full story:  https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124872-prayut-meets-thai-expats-in-new-york/

 

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Smoke-laced smog envelops Phuket

By The Thaiger

 

MAIN PHOTO: Phuket International Airport – Phuket People’s Voice

 

Phuket awakes today enveloped by an eerie sea of smoke-laced mist and smog – a combination of light winds, smoke blowing up the Malacca Strait from the Indonesian plantation fires and low seasonal cloud. The conditions have reduced visibility generally around the island to less than a kilometre.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1124875-smoke-laced-smog-envelops-phuket/