Thailand issues funds for free public WiFi

Don Sambandaraksa

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s regulator has released $32 million (950 million baht) of its USO funds to the ICT Ministry for its ambitious free public Wi-Fi project.

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Comedian jailed for 2 years for insulting Thai royals

BANGKOK, Jan 17, 2013 (AFP) - A Thai court sentenced a comedian and renowned "Red Shirt" supporter to two years in jail Thursday for insulting the kingdom's revered monarchy during a speech at a mass rally in 2010, his lawyer said.

Yosawaris Chuklom, 54, who goes by the stage name Jeng Dokchik, was found guilty under Thailand's strict lese majeste law, which punishes anyone convicted of defaming the Thai king, queen, heir or regent with up to 15 years in prison.

The comedian, who is also facing separate terrorism charges for his role in the 2010 Red Shirt street protests in Bangkok, which ended in the deaths of scores of people, is applying for bail while he appeals the verdict, his lawyer Thamrong Lakdaen said.

"Initially he was sentenced to three years but the judge reduced the sentence to two because of the evidence he gave," he told AFP.

The royal family is a highly sensitive subject in Thailand. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 85, is revered by many Thais but has been in hospital since September 2009.

Rights campaigners allege that the lese majeste law has been politicised saying many of those charged are linked to the Red Shirt movement.

Thailand has been roiled by political divisions since a 2006 coup deposed then-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who draws on the support of the mainly rural and poor Red Shirts.

In March 2010 tens of thousands of Red Shirts converged on Bangkok demanding immediate elections.

About 90 people were killed and nearly 1,900 were wounded in street clashes between demonstrators and security forces, which culminated in a bloody military crackdown and the arrests of the movement's leaders.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-01-17

Painter disguised as police officer allegedly robs 11 cabbies

By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Yesterday, Don Mueang police announced the arrest of a 40-year-old painter, who was caught disguised as a plainclothes law enforcement officer and attempting to steal money from a taxi driver.

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Darts Legend Phil "the Power" Taylor To Play At The Irish Rovers

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PATTANI

Minivan driver taking young students to school shot at wheel

The Nation

PATTANI:-- A 38-year-old man became the latest victim of the southern violence when he was shot in Pattani's Ruesoh district on Thursday morning as he was driving a minivan crowded with young students.

The victim, who died on the spot, was identified as Punnawat Tohfai, a resident of the district. Witnesses said he was driving the vehicle carrying seven young students in the back towards their kindergarten at about 7.30am when two men on a motorcycle approached and opened fire.

Witnesses identified the weapon as an 11mm pistol.

An examination of Punnawat's body revealed gunshot wounds to his cheek and torso. Police also found three spent bullets at the scene.

-- The Nation 2013-01-17

Newborn baby's body found dumped in Phuket trash heap

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Police are searching for the mother of a newborn baby girl whose body was found dumped in a garbage heap in Wichit yesterday.

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CIMB: Baht strongest in 16 months after investors shift capital from Indonesia to Thailand

BANGKOK, 16 January 2013 (NNT) - A financial expert has commented that the strengthening of the baht was caused by foreign investors' shifting their investments from Indonesia to Thailand, after they found that Thailand has a good economic growth and low inflation rates.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/612515-capital-inflow-boost-bond-market-thailand/#entry6027436

New wave of Rohingya migrants arrive in Thailand

BANGKOK, Jan 17, 2013 (AFP) - More than 130 Rohingya migrants have landed on Thai soil in less than 24 hours, a local official said Thursday, as the kingdom grapples with a flurry of arrivals from the Myanmar minority group.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/612215-rohingya-refugees-to-get-care-yingluck/page__st__25#entry6027466

RT@RichardBarrow: Japanese flags flying at Government House today for the official visit by the new PM of Japan (Pic @jeerapong_nna) pic.twitter.com/FlMVKkfK

RT@Saksith: Japanese PM Shinzo Abe has arrived at the Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology. Gets a tour of the technical college. http://t.co/tOLHqIIL

Taiwan, Thailand join hands to fight crime

TAIPEI, Jan 17, 2013 (AFP) - Taiwan and Thailand signed a crime-fighting agreement on Thursday aimed at curbing a growing number of cross-border scams and other crimes, Taipei officials said.

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Phuket Police suspect Arabs in B3mn locker heist

Phuket Gazette

The front desk officer believes the coffee he was given was drugged, allowing men to steal about 3 million baht. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Phuket Police are on the lookout for three men, all thought to be from the Middle East, who are suspected of doping a front desk officer at a resort near Karon Beach and robbing the resort’s guest safe boxes of about 3 million baht in valuables.

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Rapidly stronger baht worries Thai central bank governor, finance minister

By English News

BANGKOK, Jan 17 – Bank of Thailand (BoT) Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul expressed concern today at the rapidly appreciating Thai currency during the past two days but refused to commit regarding whether an intervention in the currency markets is underway.

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2010 POLITICAL MAYHEM

Inconclusive inquest not affect murder charges against Abhisit : DSI

The Nation

File photo : Tharit

BANGKOK: -- The inconclusive inquest into the death of a man killed during the 2010 political unrest will not affect murder charges against the previous government, the chief of the Department of Special Investigation said Thursday.

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SET index closed at 1420.95, up 4.81; Bt/USD29.67; GBP47.34; AUD31.04; EUR39.35; CAD29.94; HKD3.82; SGD24.11; JPY33.3

First car buyer scheme adds to Bangkok's traffic woes

BANGKOK, 17 January 2013 (NNT) - The House committee on transport held talks on ways to ease worsening traffic congestion in Bangkok on the heels of the government’s first car buyer program.

The tax relief scheme launched to boost the country’s domestic auto industry has attracted over 1 million new car owners nationwide, of which over 200,000 cars are expected to roam the streets of Bangkok this year.

The meeting was attended by officials from the Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning office, Ministry of Transport, engineering experts and other related agencies. Members of the panel were informed that there are nearly 260 critical congestion spots in the capital, which can be broken down into 83 intersections, 90 bottle necks, 41 U-turns and 43 bus stops.

According to Traffic Police Division, major factors contributing to traffic congestion include rush hour commutes, uncoordinated traffic light signaling, city planning and a rise in the number of cars on the streets.

Panel members urged the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to conduct surveys and studies on traffic volume in Bangkok and its vicinities in a bid to solve the growing problem.

-- NNT 2013-01-17

New alcohol bans will be made aware to public

BANGKOK, 17 January 2013 (NNT)-The Interior Minister has indicated that alcohol control laws will be strictly enforced to curb underage drinking and new drinkers across Thailand in an attempt to create social order.

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PM affirms govt will give full support to Thai education

BANGKOK, 17 January 2013 (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has affirmed that the government will fully support the development of the country’s education system as well as help teachers living in the restive south.

During the opening ceremony of National Teacher’s Day celebration, the Thai Premier assured all the teachers that the government would do its best to help improve the nation's education system and to enhance their potentials. The government will also provide welfare benefits for teachers, especially those who risk their lives teaching in the Deep South; as they have to make sacrifices and be role models for the children.

The celebration was also held to honor Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, who is considered the teacher of all Thais, and to praise the profession of teaching as it truly is the country’s backbone.

This year, teachers have proposed that the government provide them with more welfare benefits and compensation, as well as help improve their potentials to be on par with their counterparts in the ASEAN region.

-- NNT 2013-01-17

French national arrested in Phuket

By Digital Media

PHUKET, Jan 17 -- A male French national, wanted in his home country on a charge of rape, was arrested today by Thai police in this southern resort island.

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Thailand Live Friday 18 Jan 2013