Thailand Live Friday 7 Nov 2014

[webfact]

Young man drowns while retrieving krathong under Rama VIII Bridge

BANGKOK: -- An 18-year-old man drowned early Friday while he was swimming to retrieve krathong under the Rama VIII Bridge, police said.

He was identified as Jetphol Ruangnetr.

The accident happened at 1:30 am. Navy officers and Harbour Department officials who were on standby took about 15 minutes to retrieve his body, spotted about 10 metres from a shore.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Young-man-drowns-while-retrieving-krathong-under-R-30247203.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-07

[webfact]

Women smash up Philadelphia McDonald's in breakfast menu brawl

PHILADELPHIA: -- WE’VE all been there — you walk into your favourite cafe expecting to chow down on a tasty breakast only to be told the lunch menu is now being served.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774638-women-smash-up-philadelphia-mcdonalds-in-breakfast-menu-brawl-video/

[webfact]

Cleaner discovers woman’s torso stuffed in suitcase in Penang



BANGKOK: -- Just three days after the headless body of a woman was found floating off the sea of Penang, another woman was found brutally murdered, The Star Online reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774641-cleaner-discovers-womans-torso-stuffed-in-suitcase-in-penang/

[webfact]

Warehouse of TV set manufacturer in Prachin Buri burnt down

BANGKOK: -- A warehouse building of Thai Habel Industrial, the manufacturer of Mitsui TV sets, was burnt down late Thursday night, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774647-warehouse-of-tv-set-manufacturer-in-prachin-buri-burnt-down/

[webfact]

13-year-old girl drown when boats capsize in Udon Thani lake

BANGKOK: -- A 13-year-old girl drowned Thursday night when she and 13 others took three small boats to float their krathong on a small lake of their village in Udon Thani's Muang district.

Police said the accident happened at 9 pm.

The three boats were tied together and when one of them capsized the two others sank. The body of Songsiri Pithak was retrieved some 15 minutes after the accident.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/13-year-old-girl-drown-when-boats-capsize-in-Udon--30247207.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-07

[webfact]

Israel reassures Jordan on Al-Aqsa mosque
Israel has promised Jordan it will stop Jews from praying at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound.

Jerusalem: Israel has promised Jordan it will not allow Jews to pray at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound as scores of Jewish extremists tried to march to the flashpoint shrine.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774653-israel-reassures-jordan-on-al-aqsa-mosque/

[webfact]

Their Majesties' krathongs floated on Chao Phraya river last night

BANGKOK: -- Their Majesties the King and Queen joined the nation last night to celebrate the Loy Krathong festival by designating the grand chamberlain to float royal krathongs on the Chao Phraya river.

The royal krathongs were carried to the pier of Siriraj Hospital by a grand chamberlain, Mr Distorn Vajarodaya, and officials of the Bureau of the Royal Household to float on the river.

The royal krathongs floated last night comprise two sets. Each set comprises two krathongs – the first was made from white fresh flowers arranged in the form of a big blooming lotus, the other in yellow made from bread, also in the shape of lotus and decorated with red roses, also made from bread.

Apart from Their Majesties’ krathongs, other members of the Royal Family also asked the grand chamberlain to launch their krathongs into the Chao Phraya.

Loy Krathong is one of the Thai annual festivals taking place on the full-moon day of the twelfth month of the lunar calendar which is usually in November.

The festival was dated back hundreds of years to the Sukhothai period.

Some said it was a yearly offering to the goddess of water or the shedding of all sins and calamities that may befall one. Others said it was an act of worshipping to the Buddha’s footprint by the Nammatha River in India as well as to a great Arahant named Phra Uppakut.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/majesties-krathongs-floated-chao-phraya-river-last-night/


-- Thai PBS 2014-11-07

[webfact]

Fire rages through 12 shop houses in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Twelve shop-house buildings in Bangkok's Bangkok Yai district were destroyed in a massive fire early Friday morning.

The shop houses of two blocks were located on Soi Phetkasem 4. Most of them were modified as factories.

The fire broke out at one block at 3 am and quickly spread to the other. Ten fire engines took about an hour to control the blaze. No one was injured.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Fire-rages-through-12-shop-houses-in-Bangkok-30247208.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-07

[webfact]

UPDATE:

TV factory fire in Kabinburi



BANGKOK: -- A television manufacturing and assembly factory and warehouse of the Thai Habel Industrial Co was gutted Thursday night by fire which was suspected caused by falling sky lantern.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774647-warehouse-of-tv-set-manufacturer-in-prachin-buri-burnt-down/#entry8639719

[webfact]

Suvarnabhumi Airport to set up special information kiosks and reinstate bus services to / from Bangkok city areas next year. /The Nation

[webfact]

Former kid actor 'Patrick' fined for punching taxi driver
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A former child actor was arrested by Makkasan police last night after he started a fight with his taxi driver. As is often the case with former child actors, he was totally wasted.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774660-former-kid-actor-patrick-fined-for-punching-bangkok-taxi-driver/

[webfact]

Loy Krathong and Full Moon Party celebrations on Rin beach kick off in full swing



BANGKOK: -- Tens of thousands of foreign tourists and locals celebrated the Loy Krathong festival night on Rin beach in Koh Phangan Island Thursday night in mixed cultures, dancing the western music and floating Krathongs in the sea under the Thai traditional Loy Krathong songs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774662-loy-krathong-and-full-moon-party-celebrations-on-rin-beach-kick-off-in-full-swing/

[webfact]

Ericsson hired to upgrade DTAC's cellular network in Thailand


Photo: 世書 名付 @ Flickr

BANGKOK: -- Swedish communication technology provider Ericsson has been awarded a five-year deal as part of Norwegian owned dtac’s LTE expansion program to deliver the technology in several major cities across Thailand

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774663-ericsson-hired-to-upgrade-dtacs-cellular-network-in-thailand/

[webfact]

10 new bridges to span Chao Phraya
By Coconuts Bangkok


ABOVE: The 4.3-kilometer Tha Nam Non Bridge crosses the Chao Phraya River north of city center in Nonthaburi province. It cost about THB4 billion and is nearly completed.

BANGKOK: -- During the next two decades 10 more bridges will be erected to span the mighty Chao Phraya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774667-10-new-bridges-to-span-chao-phraya/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

More installations of safe lights and bell alarms planned for railway crossings next year

The Transport Ministry plans to install lights, bell alarms, and barricades at 1,109 more railway crossings to ensure safe crossing by vehicles following a slate of fatal accidents in the past few weeks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774618-thai-transport-ministry-to-build-1100-more-railway-crossing-barricades/#entry8639899

[webfact]

Thai-Swiss driver survives three-car collision with small cut

PATTAYA: -- Police said a Thai-Swiss man who hit two parked cars on Third Road likely was drowsy behind the wheel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774665-thai-swiss-driver-survives-three-car-collision-with-small-cut/

[webfact]

Two Arrested For Throwing Explosive At Soldiers During Loy Krathong
By Khaosod English


Soldiers keep order during the Loy Krathong festival at a pier near Rama 8 bridge in Bangkok, 6 Nov 2014.

BANGKOK – Two twenty-year-old Thai men have been arrested for allegedly throwing a homemade grenade at a group of soldiers during the Loy Krathong festival in Bangkok last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774678-two-arrested-for-throwing-explosive-at-soldiers-during-loy-krathong/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Foreign investment in Thai property market gathers pace

BANGKOK:-- Foreign property companies from China, Hong Kong, Israel, Singapore and Japan are expanding their investment in Thailand's property market via joint ventures with local players for the development of both residential and commercial buildings.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774689-foreign-investment-in-thai-property-market-gathers-pace/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Complaints filed to Siem Reap police as 45-year-old man weds 14-year-old girl

CAMBODIA:-- Weddings are normally happy occasions, but the illegal marriage this week of a 14-year-old bride and her 45-year-old groom in Siem Reap province drew much concern from onlookers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774634-a-brides-age-troubles-village-in-cambodia/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Cha-Am Beach Should Be Better Organised, Says Mayor

CHA AM:-- A meeting to consider the monitoring of public areas on Cha-Am beaches was recently held at the Cha-Am Municipality.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774652-cha-am-beach-should-be-better-organised-says-mayor/

[webfact]

ASEAN capitals pledge further cooperation
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Nov 7 -- The leaders capital cities in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have pledged to further strengthen their cooperation in various fields including security, economic affairs, social and culture.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774695-asean-capitals-pledge-further-cooperation/

[webfact]

PHUKET: OrBorJor approves new lifeguard tower
Tanyaluk Sakoot


The old lifeguard tower was taken down on Wednesday (November 5).

PHUKET: -- Plans to set up a new lifeguard tower this year at Kata Noi was approved by OrBorJor on Wednesday (November 5).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774698-phuket-orborjor-approves-new-lifeguard-tower/

[webfact]

More people celebrate Loy Krathong festival this year
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Nov 7 -- As peace has once again returned to Thailand, more members of the public came out on Thursday night to celebrate the annual Loy Krathong festival nationwide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774700-more-people-celebrate-loy-krathong-festival-this-year/

[webfact]

Tourism Ministry Planning 'Celebrities Selfies' Campaign
By Khaosod English


A photo from Mariah Carey's Twitter account of her concert in Bangkok on Halloween.

BANGKOK – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is hoping to promote tourism in Thailand by inviting "international celebrities" to take selfies in front of top attractions across the Kingdom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774708-thai-tourism-ministry-planning-international-celebrities-selfies-campaign/

[webfact]

EU satisfied with Thailand’s effort on human trafficking

BANGKOK, 7 November 2014 (NNT) – The European Union is satisfied with Thailand’s measures to handle the human trafficking issues in fisheries industry, said a Thai official.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774734-eu-satisfied-with-thailands-effort-on-human-trafficking/

[webfact]

Thai barracks shooting raises soldier stress issue

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's army chief has warned under-pressure troops deployed in Thailand's insurgency-stricken south need to be better supported, an army spokesman said Friday, after a conscript shot dead four officers before turning the gun on himself.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774737-thai-barracks-shooting-raises-soldier-stress-issue/

[webfact]

BMA retrieves more than 982,000 krathong floats
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration on Friday retrieved 982,064 krathong floats from 29 Bangkok parks, the Chao Phraya River and canals in the capital, BMA Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra announced.

He said 885,995 of them were made of environmentally friendly degradable materials.

Sukhumbhand said BMA officials started retrieving the floats at 8pm Thursday and finished the job at 4 am Friday.

Klong Toey district saw the highest number of retrieved krathongs with 35,562 of them collected, Sukhumbhand added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/BMA-retrieves-more-than-982000-krathong-floats-30247213.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-07

[webfact]

78 Rohingya rounded up in Ranong

BANGKOK: -- Police rounded up 78 Rohingya people at a remote seaside spot in Sooksamrarn district Friday morning.

They told police that paid between Bt35,000 to Br45,000 to a boat to take them to the spot waiting for another boat to take to Malaysia where they want to find a job.

They said they travelled about 25 days in the sea and there were about 600 Rohingya people on the boat. Once they arrived Ranong, they scattered to hide on various islands, pending transit to Malaysia.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/78-Rohingya-rounded-up-in-Ranong-30247214.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-07

[webfact]

Almost a million krathong floats in capital waterways



BANGKOK: -- Almost a million krathong floats were collected in Bangkok's waterways as millions turned up to float krathongs to celebrate Loy Krathong festival in the capital Thursday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774738-almost-a-million-krathong-floats-in-bangkoks-waterways/

[webfact]

PHUKET: Random drug testing in Patong lead to several arrests
Saran Mitrarat


Wallop 'Ja' Thammachart, 30, was found in possession of 0.3 grams of ya ice.

PHUKET: -- Three people were arrested yesterday (November 6) after testing positive for crystal methamphetamine during random drug tests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774747-random-drug-testing-in-patong-lead-to-several-arrests/