Thailand Live Friday 26 Sep 2014

[webfact]

Princess Chulabhorn back to hospital

BANGKOK, 26 September 2014 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn has been readmitted to Vichaiyut Hospital after experiencing a new round of stomach ache.

The Bureau of the Royal Household said in its third announcement on the princess’s condition issued last night that doctors found several lumps in her stomach through a gastroscopy examination. Samples of the lumps have been taken for tests while the Princess has been advised by doctors to stay in hospital for treatment. Her Royal Highness has also been asked to refrain from duties for a while.

Her Royal Highness was first admitted to Vichaiyut Hospital on September 4 due to a stomach inflammation and was discharged nine days later after some improvements. However, during her visit to the Republic of Turkey from September 14-23 at the invitation of Marmara University, the Princess experienced the same ache in her stomach. Upon her return, the Princess was sent to the Hospital where she was given medicine and nutrients intravenously and asked to remain in hospital.


-- NNT 2014-09-26

[webfact]

DLT explains the point of the automobile passport between Thailand and Laos

BANGKOK, 26 September 2014 (NNT) - DLT explained that the automobile passport is an agreement between Thailand and Laos, although new driver licenses can allow Thais to drive in all ASEAN countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763478-dlt-explains-the-point-of-the-automobile-passport-between-thailand-and-laos/

[webfact]

Britons' Murder: Police Claim Investigation Hindered By Media
By Khaosod English


A banner hung on Koh Tao promising 700,000 baht reward for providing information that leads to the arrest of a culprit behind the Koh Tao muders. 24 Sep 2014.

BANGKOK — Thai police have accused foreign journalists and social media users of muddling their ongoing investigation into the murder of two British tourists in southern Thailand last week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763479-britons-murder-police-claim-koh-tao-investigation-hindered-by-media/

[webfact]

Police pin hopes on DNA test results
Somchai Samart,
Suchart Sritama
The Nation



Killers of Britons may have fled Koh Tao; rape seen as the only motive for attack

BANGKOK: -- Nearly two weeks since the gruesome murders of two British backpackers on Koh Tao, the killers are still at large. Worse still, police have pinned all their hopes on the DNA test results of samples they have collected from almost everybody on Koh Tao, to see if they match those found on the victims.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763480-killers-of-britons-may-have-fled-koh-tao-police-pin-hopes-on-dna-test-results/

[webfact]

US assured of Thai pledge to democracy
The Nation

Sihasak briefs Obama and US officials on junta's roadmap ahead of UN conference

BANGKOK: -- Thailand told the United States that it had reaffirmed its faith in democratic values, while US President Barack Obama saw the importance of security in the Kingdom, said Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763481-us-assured-of-thai-pledge-to-democracy/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

German 'victim' caught having fun in Pattaya
Detawee Teewarangkool
The Nation



Man with swollen leg detained, may be deported; social media fumes over abuse of Thai generosity

PATTAYA: -- AFTER ATTRACTING sympathy and donations from Thais in Bangkok, a German with an excessively swollen leg was seen enjoying drinks and the nightlife in Pattaya on Wednesday night. Tourist police have detained Benjamin Holse, 29.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763274-german-beggar-spends-donated-cash-drinkin-and-partyin-in-pattaya/page-9#entry8439174

[webfact]

DTAC adds in Bt10 bn for 3G, 4G expansion
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Total Access Communication (DTAC) will spend Bt10 billion over the next six months to expand its third- and fourth-generation wireless broadband coverage in the Bangkok metropolitan area and 30 other major cities to serve surging demand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763482-dtac-adds-in-bt10-bn-for-3g-4g-expansion/

[webfact]

US, Gulf allies blame each other for rise of Islamic State
James M Dorsey
RSIS


A US Navy F-18E Super Hornet refuels over northern Iraq after conducting air strikes in Syria on Tuesday.

Meanwhile Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is likely to emerge as a winner while his allies Russia and Iran lie low over their abetting of jihadists

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763483-us-gulf-allies-blame-each-other-for-rise-of-islamic-state/

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
China stoking fires of Uighur resentment
The Nation

Sentencing a scholar to life in prison for advocating peaceful coexistence of Muslims and the majority Chan has inflamed the conflict in Xinjiang region

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763484-china-stoking-fires-of-uighur-resentment/

[webfact]

OVERDRIVE
Protecting the petrodollar: America gears up for a long war
Thanong Khanthong

BANGKOK: -- US President Barack Obama has been talking with global leaders in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, in a bid to forge a grand coalition to support his war against the Islamic State in the Middle East.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763485-protecting-the-petrodollar-america-gears-up-for-a-long-war/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Deportation request for dishonest German Beggar from Pattaya Tourist Police



PATTAYA: -- Pattaya’s Tourist Police have requested Immigration to deport a German man who has been begging for money on Pattaya Beach during the day and using the money to purchase drink and prostitutes at night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763274-german-beggar-spends-donated-cash-drinkin-and-partyin-in-pattaya/page-9#entry8439232

[webfact]

Two Russian ATM Card Fraudsters caught by Pattaya Police



PATTAYA: -- On Thursday afternoon, Chonburi Transnational Crime Suppression Officers, based at Pattaya Police Station, announced the arrest of two Russian Nationals who were caught attempting to withdraw money from an ATM in Pattaya using cards containing stolen bank account information.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763486-two-russian-atm-card-fraudsters-caught-by-pattaya-police/

[webfact]

Another 19 Phuket beach shops and restaurants demolished
Eakkapop Thongtub


The excavator chews up another illegal building.

PHUKET: -- D-Day for demolition of 19 illegal structures on Mai Khao Beach that encroached on Sirinat Marine National Park arrived today (September 25).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763488-another-19-phuket-beach-shops-and-restaurants-demolished/

[webfact]

New land price appraisals will see land in Bangkok increase 20-50 percent in 2 years



BANGKOK: -- Land prices in Bangkok’s commercial districts such as Silom, Ratchaprasong and Siam Square may go up by 20-30 percent whereas the land on both sides of mass transit routes may jump as much as 50 percent when the new land price appraisals are due to come into force in 2016.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763489-new-land-price-appraisals-will-see-land-in-bangkok-increase-20-50-percent-in-2-years/

[webfact]

More CCTV cameras in capital and tourist spots nationwide



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok and tourist towns in the country will have more CCTV cameras installed to ensure full security for the people and tourists, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763490-more-cctv-cameras-in-bangkok-and-tourist-spots-nationwide/

[webfact]

Broadcasting row is likely to end in a compromise tomorrow



BANGKOK: -- A compromise solution is likely when the broadcasting committee of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission is due to meet tomorrow ( Friday) to resolve the row with Channel 3 over the legal issue regarding simulcasts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763491-channel-3-broadcasting-row-is-likely-to-end-in-a-compromise-tomorrow/

[webfact]

Police now rule out Koh Tao headman’s son a murder suspect, turn to foreign tourists in the probe



BANGKOK: -- The police have ruled out a son of Koh Tao village headman as a suspect in the murder of two British tourists after he has evidence to prove he was not on the island at the time the murder occurred.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763492-police-shift-focus-to-foreign-tourists-in-koh-tao-murdere-probe/

[webfact]

SPECIAL REPORT
Investigation into Koh Tao murders seriously flawed
The Nation


Policemen comb the beach for more evidence last week during deputy national police chief Pol General Somyot Poompanmoung

BANGKOK: -- Police investigation into the murder of Britons Hannah Victoria Witheridge and David William Miller on Koh Tao off the Surat Thani coast appears to be mired in flaws - some from outside factors and some from investigators' own mistakes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763494-special-report-investigation-into-koh-tao-murders-seriously-flawed/

[webfact]

M'sians jailed for e-card forgery
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- BANGKOK'S Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court yesterday handed a sentence of 568 years in prison to five Malaysian men for electronic-card forgery. However, they are to serve only 50 years behind bars under the maximum Thai criminal code penalty.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763495-e-card-forgery-bangkok-court-jails-malaysians-for-568-years/

[webfact]

Five injured in accident
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Five people were injured when a van carrying 10 British tourists collided with an SUV before crashing into a concrete fence in Sa Kaew's Wattana Nakhon district yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763496-british-tourists-injured-in-van-accident-in-thailand/

[webfact]

Three Myanmar men arrested for illegally holding five compatriots
The Nation

Samut Sakhon police yesterday arrested three Myanmar men who were caught for allegedly illegally detaining five of their male compatriots, who were going to be taken to work on a fishing boat in Indonesia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763497-thai-police-arrest-3-myanmar-men-for-illegally-holding-five-compatriots/

[webfact]

Mahidol U named top in medical science category
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- MAHIDOL University has been named one of Asia's top 10 science and medical universities in the latest QS World University Rankings.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763498-mahidol-university-named-top-in-medical-science-category/

[webfact]

AC/DC founder Malcolm Young has dementia: report

SYDNEY (AFP) - Malcolm Young, one of the founding members of veteran Australian rockers AC/DC, has dementia and is being treated in an aged care facility in Sydney, reports said on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763514-acdc-founder-malcolm-young-has-dementia-report/

[webfact]

FBI says IS executioner in beheading videos identified: report
English.news.cn

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) believes that it has identified the masked Islamic State (IS) militant who has been videotaped beheading Western hostages, FBI Director James Comey said on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763521-fbi-says-is-executioner-in-beheading-videos-identified-report/

[webfact]

Xinjiang unrest: China raises death toll to 50

(BBC) Fifty people died in violence on Sunday in Xinjiang, Chinese state media said, in what police called a "serious terrorist attack".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763524-xinjiang-unrest-china-raises-death-toll-to-50/

[webfact]

Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,591.94 falls 0.05 points /MCOT

[webfact]

NLA asked to finally make long-standing draft of animal cruelty bill into law

BANGKOK, 26 September 2014 (NNT) – Animal rights advocates on Thursday petitioned the National Legislative Assembly to quickly push through a law for the prevention of animal cruelty.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763532-nla-asked-to-finally-make-long-standing-draft-of-animal-cruelty-bill-into-thai-law/

[webfact]

FBI head criticizes Apple, Google over data encryption

Washington (AFP) - Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey hit out at Apple and Google over new data-security measures designed to reassure customers wary of government prying.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763540-fbi-head-criticizes-apple-google-over-data-encryption/

[webfact]

NLA leading Thai delegation to 8th ASEP meeting in Italy

BANGKOK, 26 September 2014 (NNT) – National Legislative Assembly (NLA) is leading Thai delegation to Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting in Italy next month.

NLA member, General Phairot Phanitsamai, is slated to lead Thai representatives to attend the 8th Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) Meeting in Rome, Italy during October 5-8.

The Thai delegation, which includes Wirasak Futrakun and Kitti Wasinon, will represent Thailand’s voice in the drive to strengthen the partnership between the two continents.

The 8th ASEP Meeting will focus on "The Role of Parliaments in Fostering Europe-Asia Dialogue, Sustainable Growth, and Stronger Governance Structures". Sub-topics will include economic and financial administration, sustainable growth and food security.

-- NNT 2014-09-26

[webfact]

Minor earthquake hits Chiang Rai

CHIANG RAI, 26 September 2014 (NNT) - According to the Seismological Bureau, a minor earthquake shook Chiang Rai’s Mae Suay district earlier this morning.

An earthquake measuring 2.7 on Richter scale at 2-kilometer depth jolted the district today. The tremor was not felt by residents in the area but the epicenter of the quake is reportedly close to the district.

Last week, another small 3.7 magnitude quake at a 3 kilometer depth shook the same district.

There have been no reports of damage or injury in the area during both earthquakes.

Following the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Chiang Rai in May, many small earthquakes have been reported in the northern province almost every month. Chiang Rai and nearby provinces straddle a fault line which is a reason behind many tremors in the region.


-- NNT 2014-09-26