Thailand Live Wednesday 19 Nov 2014

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Thai Army hasn't grounded Bell 212 helicopters
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Nov 19 -- The Thai Army has given assurances that it will not ground its Bell 212 helicopters, despite one of the type having crashed Monday in Phayao, killing nine military personnel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777627-thai-army-hasnt-grounded-bell-212-helicopters/

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Germany's Merkel toughens tone with Russia's Putin
By Jenny Hill
BBC News, Berlin

(BBC) The face of Russian President Vladimir Putin stares out from the front page of one of Germany's most popular broadsheets. Germany's relationship with Russia has occupied the headlines and preoccupied its politicians for months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777630-germanys-merkel-toughens-tone-with-russias-putin/

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OBEC to improve students' O-NET test results

BANGKOK, 19 Nov 2014, (NNT) - To improve students' O-Net test performance, the Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC), plans to give out Pre-O-Net test sheets to students so they can practice before sitting the real exam.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777631-obec-to-improve-students-o-net-test-results/

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Netflix plans March launch in Australia, New Zealand

(BBC) Netflix, the TV and movie streaming service, has said it will expand into Australia and New Zealand next March.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777632-netflix-plans-march-launch-in-australia-new-zealand/

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,583.41, gains 2.14 points /MCOT

PM leaves for Khon Kaen, Kalasin to inspect drought; asserts government ready to listen to opposition groups /MCOT

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Pauline Hanson returns to One Nation and familiar theme

MELBOURNE: -- Australia needs to ensure the "right people" are allowed to enter the country and shouldn't open the floodgates to ill-intentioned immigrants, Pauline Hanson says.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777633-australia-pauline-hanson-returns-to-one-nation-and-familiar-theme/

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UPDATE:

Police stop Kasetsart students from protesting against Mae Wong project



BANGKOK: -- Police on Tuesday late afternoon stopped a group of Kasetsart University students from staging a protest march against the Mae Wong dam project.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777572-activists-push-for-mae-wong-dam-to-be-scrapped/#entry8691060

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Police on high alert following fuel price hike announcement
By Digital Content

Jakarta, Nov 19 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian National Police will deploy two-thirds of its personnel to contain possible disruptive situations in the wake of the governments decision to raise the price of subsidized fuels on Monday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777639-indonesia-police-on-high-alert-following-fuel-price-hike-announcement/

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Progress and development of the Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand (AFET)



BANGKOK, 19 November 2014 (NNT) – The Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand (AFET) is planning to restructure its organizational management to build more confidence for farmers and investors as a means to maintain the prices of agricultural produce in compliance with the market mechanism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777642-progress-and-development-of-the-agricultural-futures-exchange-of-thailand-afet/

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Three killed, 30 injured in bus-pickup crash in Ayutthaya

AYUTTHAYA: -- A chartered bus taking Bangkok Metropolitan Administration on a study trip to Chiang Mai crashed into the rear of a pickup truck in Ayutthaya's Pang Pahan district at 8 am Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777652-three-killed-30-injured-in-bus-pickup-crash-in-ayutthaya/

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An express train from Bangkok to Trang rammed at a car passing an uncontrolled railway crossing in Thung Song district, killing two persons and seriously injured two others in the fatal car.

The incident happened at 9.00 am Wednesday.

The collision caused the car to burst in flame.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/73220

-- Thai PBS 2014-11-19

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Fist-fighting BTS builder dies after falling off track onto motorist
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A construction worker fell off an under-construction section of elevated track in eastern Bangkok, landed on a passing motorist and died last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777664-fist-fighting-bts-builder-dies-after-falling-off-track-onto-motorist/

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KHON KAEN
Khon Kaen students protest at coup during PM's speech



KHON KAEN: -- Five law students of Khon Kaen University on Wednesday greeted visiting Prime Minister Prayut Chanocha with anti-coup gesture before being escorted out of the hall.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777670-khon-kaen-students-protest-at-coup-during-pms-speech/

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Another railway crossing collision leaves two dead in South



BANGKOK: -- Another fatal incident involving trains passing railway crossings with no barricades happened again this morning when a motorist crossed an uncontrolled railway crossing unaware of an incoming train.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777671-another-no-barricades-railway-crossing-collision-leaves-two-dead-in-thai-south/

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UPDATE:

People are warned of bird flu in winter

BANGKOK, 19 November 2014 (NNT)-People are warned of possible bird flu outbreak as winter provides ideal conditions for flu virus.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777463-thailand-to-stay-vigilant-against-bird-flu-through-winter/#entry8691552

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UPDATE:

Land offices ‘greediest in the country’ – bribery survey

BANGKOK: A survey has found that the country’s Land Offices are the greediest in the country, clawing in the largest total in bribes in January and February this year.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777573-thai-bureaucracy-land-offices-most-corrupt-police-ranks-2nd-worst-in-survey/page-4?p=8691705#entry8691705

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SET closes down 0.98 to 1,580.29 at noon /Bangkok Post

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UPDATE:

CCTV footage shows suspected 'Bumfights' thieves enter Siriraj Medical Museum

By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Two Americans accused of stealing human body parts can reportedly be seen in security footage visiting the Bangkok hospital museum they are thought to have burglarized.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777428-fbi-probes-into-human-parts-case-in-thailand/page-3?p=8691775#entry8691775

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Man dies from electric shock while fishing in Phuket
Darawan Naknakhon

The 300 metre long wire which was found in the victim's hand.

PHUKET: A man was killed yesterday (November 18) at Jungle Bungee Jump in Kathu after taking cables with him to go fishing, but ended up killing himself instead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777683-man-dies-from-electric-shock-while-fishing-in-phuket/

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UPDATE:

Students detained protesting PM's NE visit



KHON KAEN: -- Five Khon Kaen university were detained for questioning when they protested Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as he was presiding over a ceremony to send water trucks out to ease water shortage problem at the Khon Kaen city hall.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777670-khon-kaen-students-protest-at-coup-during-pms-speech/page-2?p=8691873#entry8691873

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UPDATE:

Four dead, 40 injured in bus and truck crash



AYUTTHAYA: -- Four people were killed and 42 injured in a crash involving a chartered bus and two pick-up trucks on Highway 347 from Pathumthani to Bangpahan district of Ayutthaya this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777652-three-killed-30-injured-in-bus-pickup-crash-in-ayutthaya/#entry8691899

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Water supply near Bangkok Hospital Phuket to be cut tonight
Tanyaluk Sakoot


Hongyok Utis Rd. Image Google Street View

PHUKET: -- Water supply to Hongyok Utis Rd and all connected sois (near the Bangkok Hospital Phuket) will be cut from 9pm tonight (November 19) until 3am tomorrow.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777689-water-supply-near-bangkok-hospital-phuket-to-be-cut-tonight-19th-nov/

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Tourist arrivals drop in October



BANGKOK: -- The Tourism Department stated today foreign tourist arrivals in October dropped 6.1% from the same month last year but a slight improvement from September.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777690-foreign-tourist-arrivals-in-thailand-drop-in-october/

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UPDATE:

Four killed when car rammed into by train in Nakhon Si Thammarat

BANGKOK: -- A Bangkok-Trang train rammed into a car at a rail crossing in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Thungsong district at 9 am, killing all four people inside the car.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777671-another-no-barricades-railway-crossing-collision-leaves-two-dead-in-thai-south/?p=8692018#entry8692018

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D-Day: Motorcycle taxis driving on footpaths to be fined by the police

BANGKOK, 19 November 2014 (NNT) - Motorcycle taxi drivers caught driving on sidewalks will be fined up to 1,000 baht, according to the Land Traffic Act B.E. 2522 (1979).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777692-d-day-motorcycle-taxis-driving-on-footpaths-to-be-fined-by-the-police/

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Interior Ministry orders building inspections before New Year celebrations begin

BANGKOK, 19 November 2014 (NNT) – The Permanent-Secretary to the Interior Ministry has instructed every province to enforce the law regarding building safety before the New Year celebrations begin.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777695-thai-interior-ministry-orders-building-inspections-before-new-year-celebrations-begin/

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Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller advisory service.

The following Travel Advice has changed or been added since our last update (31 Oct 2014 11:41:19 EST):

* Thailand
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand

Current Advice Level: "High degree of caution"

Change Summary: This advice contains updated information in the Summary and under Safety and Security: Terrorism (recent attacks in southern Thailand) and Laws (information on commercial surrogacy), Crime (information on crime against foreigners) and Laws (travellers should be aware of local regulations and procedures for importing prescription medication). Martial law continues to be imposed nationwide.

We continue to advise Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in Thailand overall due to the possibility of civil unrest and the threat of terrorist attack, including Bangkok and Phuket. We continue to strongly advise Australians against travel to the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla due to high levels of ongoing violence in these areas.

-- 2014-11-19

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Special Report: NESDB expects Thai economy to expand by 1%

BANGKOK: -- The Thai economy in 2014 is likely to expand by 1 percent, a drop from the 1.5 to 2 percent predicted earlier by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB). It is however projected to expand by between 3.5 and 4.5 percent in 2015.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777697-special-report-nesdb-expects-thai-economy-to-expand-by-1-percent/

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Former Dreamliner Safety Engineer: I don't feel safe flying on the 787

(eTN) I don't feel safe flying on the 787. Given what I've seen, working at the South Carolina Boeing plant, doing structural repairs for the Boeing 787, I definitely would be concerned about flying on it myself.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777700-former-dreamliner-safety-engineer-i-dont-feel-safe-flying-on-the-787/

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UPDATE:

Crackdown on footpath riding motorcyclists



BANGKOK: -- Police arrested more than 100 motorcyclists who rode on pedestrian’s pavements on the first day of the launch of a crackdown against the illegal practice today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777692-d-day-motorcycle-taxis-driving-on-footpaths-to-be-fined-by-the-police/#entry8692266