Thailand Live Tuesday 25 Nov 2014

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National Broadcasting & Telecom Commission expected to adopt digital audio broadcasting technology for digital radio in Thailand. /The Nation

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Casablanca piano sells for $2.9m in New York auction

NEW YORK: -- A piano from the classic 1940s film Casablanca has been sold for $2.9m (£1.9m) at an auction in New York.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779182-casablanca-piano-sells-for-us29m/

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Phuket bike theft gang 'stole 200 bikes', sold them in Myanmar
Saran Mitrarat


Pol Lt Col Sutthichai Thianpho questions gang leader Zeed (red shirt) and gang member Anna Chuaychart.

PHUKET: -- Patong police have arrested a gang of Thai and Burmese motorbike thieves thought to have stolen as many as 200 motorbikes and shipped them to Myanmar for sale.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779183-phuket-bike-theft-gang-stole-200-bikes-sold-them-in-myanmar/

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Minister Davapong vows to find wrongdoers to pay off the huge compensation after losing court battle



BANGKOK: -- The Pollution Control Department (PCD) will propose the Government to pay off the estimated 20 billion baht damages compensation to the private sector after it lost the decade long Klong Dan waste water treatment plant case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779113-moves-to-cut-klong-dan-payout/#entry8718027

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Tourist from Sierra Leone is wanted by police for health testing



BANGKOK: -- Police are now looking for a 31-year-old man from Sierra Leone after he failed to report to public heath officials for daily health checkups.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/778898-possible-ebola-patient-disappears-in-bangkok/page-5?p=8718064#entry8718064

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Household debt eases



BANGKOK: -- The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) says the country's household debt rate has shown signs of decline.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779145-nesdb-thailands-household-debt-on-the-decline/#entry8718090

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Editor gets four years in prison for publishing defamatory article

BANGKOK: -- A military court yesterday sentenced the editor of the Thai E-News website to four years and six months in prison for lese majeste.
The editor Nut Rungwong was given nine rears in prison, but was commuted by half after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

He was charged with lese majeste defaming for publishing an article in 2011 written by Giles “Ji” Ungpakorn, a Thai academic who is wanted by Thai authorities for lese majeste and now lives in exile in England.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/editor-gets-four-years-prison-publishing-defamatory-article


-- Thai PBS 2014-11-25

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Yingluck says she won't run in next election, wants to be a social worker



BANGKOK: -- Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dismissed speculation in some news media that she would run in the next generation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779188-yingluck-says-she-wont-run-in-next-election-wants-to-be-a-social-worker/

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Thailand absent from Tour de France 2016 announcement
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The 2016 edition of the Tour de France will start in the Manche department in Normandy, organisers ASO said Monday, but apparently will skip Thailand entirely.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779190-thailand-absent-from-tour-de-france-2016-announcement/

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Army will not impose harsher control on political activists

BANGKOK, 25 November 2014 (NNT)-The Royal Thai Army said it would not increase the steps to curb activists despite reports of higher opposition against the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779192-thai-army-will-not-impose-harsher-control-on-political-activists/

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A seminar organized to improve the quality of education in the South

PATTANI, 25 Nov 2014 (NNT) - The Ministry of Education has announced that the Government will forge ahead with plans to improve the quality of education in the southern region.

The statement was made by Deputy Education Minister, General Surachet Chaiyawong, at a seminar of local education officers attended by members of Tadika Islamic schools, the instructors’ club of colleges providing Islamic studies, the Pondok education institution, and the Teachers Federation of the Three Southern Border Provinces.

The meeting agreed that it was necessary to uplift the education standard and the quality of life in the southern region. The participants urged related units to provide services without discrimination, and called for an equal distribution of budgets and human resources among those agencies. They also emphasized that the curriculum on Thai languages should be based on the multi-cultural principle with a focus on patriotism, respect for all religious codes, and the monarchy.

Results of the seminar would be used to formulate future development plans and address problems in the southern region on a sustainable basis.


-- NNT 2014-11-25

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Dutch club in Stockholm drops black-faced Santa's helpers


Photo: Tenorio81, Creative Commons

STOCKHOLM: -- A Dutch club in Stockholm that was planning a festive party featuring Santa alongside a servant with a black painted face has shelved the idea following numerous complaints of racism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779194-dutch-club-in-stockholm-drops-black-faced-santas-helpers/

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Vendors who are unfairly pricing their food items may face legal action

BANGKOK, 25 November 2014 (NNT) - The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) under the Commerce Ministry has cautioned food manufacturers and vendors to not unfairly raise food prices.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779195-bangkok-vendors-who-are-unfairly-pricing-their-food-items-may-face-legal-action/

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Police chief Somyot Pumpunmuang targets more culprits and assets involved in lese majeste and bribery case against ex Central Investigation Bureau chief's gang. /Bangkok Post

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Cold weather a blessing for tourism in North

PHAYAO, 25 November 2014 (NNT)-Visitors have been flocking to the North of Thailand as cold temperatures provide for spectacular scenery on the mountain tops, especially in Phayao province.

The fourth largest fresh water lake in Phayao, known to locals as Kwan Phayao, has become an attractive place to tourists when it is covered in a thick cloud of fog in the morning.

Tourism in the province has become particularly lively during this time. Tourists also get to experience the local way of life too. However, commuters have been warned to mind the road as the visibility is poor.

Meanwhile, more than 600 dogs and 500 cats at Weruwanaram Temple in Lampang are suffering from the icy weather. The abbot is asking for donations of used clothes and tack and flea medicines. Anyone interested please contact 081-998-4518


-- NNT 2014-11-25

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UPDATE:

Riot after US jury fails to indict Ferguson policeman

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779128-michael-brown-shooting-ferguson-jury-reaches-verdict/page-3?p=8718565#entry8718565

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Thai Army Chief Plays Down Fears of ISIS Threats
By Khaosod English


A screencap of propaganda video published by the ISIS.

BANGKOK - The Thai army chief has assured the public that, unlike some other Southeast Asian nations, Thailand is not immediately threatened by the rise of the Islamic State movement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779205-thai-army-chief-plays-down-fears-of-isis-threats/

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SET down 0.95 to 1,589.19 at noon /Bangkok Post

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Royal Thai Police to get new facelift

BANGKOK: -- Royal Thai Police commissioner Pol Gen Somyot Phumpanmuang vowed to clean the Royal Thai Police of all corruption and make it a new government agency with morality and good governance where the people can rely on.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779206-royal-thai-police-to-get-new-facelift/

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Paralyzed dog from Thailand gets a new chance of life in Canada

When Ottawa based model Megan Penman planned to visit Thailand she had no idea that it was a decision that would not only change her life forever but give a second chance to a paralyzed dog she has named Leo.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779232-paralyzed-dog-from-thailand-gets-a-new-chance-of-life-in-canada/

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Koh Tao murders: Burmese legal, forensics teams arrive

KOH SAMUI: -- A 12-member Burmese team, including legal and forensic experts, arrived in the Thai capital, Bangkok, on Sunday to assist and observe in the case involving two young migrants who are due to go on trial for the 15 September murder of two British tourists on the Thai island of Koh Tao.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779234-koh-tao-murders-burmese-legal-forensics-teams-arrive/

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O Neg Blood urgently needed for Russian man badly injured in Samui last night

KOH SAMUI: -- Dennis, a young Russian man of 29 is in Samui hospital with very severe crush injuries after a motorbike accident in Samui last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779236-o-neg-blood-urgently-needed-for-russian-man-badly-injured-in-samui-last-night/

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Former CIB chief demands 3-5 million baht each from officers wanting promotions



BANGKOK: -- The former Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) demanded each police officer wanting promotion or posting in significant duty to pay 3-5 million baht, Royal Thai Police commissioner Pol Gen Somyot Phumpanmuang revealed on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779238-former-cib-chief-demands-3-5-million-baht-each-from-officers-wanting-promotions/

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Sierra Leone man found and held at Suvarnabhumi international airport



BANGKOK: -- The Sierra Leone man who skipped Public Health Ministry’s mandatory monitoring system for Ebola virus has been held in custody at about noon today at Suvarnabhumi international airport as he attempted to leave the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779244-ebola-monitoring-sierra-leone-man-found-and-held-at-suvarnabhumi-airport/

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Ducati rider dies after speeding into disabled truck
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A man speeding along a prohibited stretch of road on a Ducati motorcycle died after crashing into a stopped vehicle Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779250-ducati-rider-dies-in-bangkok-after-speeding-into-disabled-truck/

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Childhood obesity costs Thai govt 5.5 billion baht a year

BANGKOK, 25 November 2014 (NNT)- The Ministry of Public Health has come up with plan to help overweight students lose weight as a way to reduce healthcare costs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779258-childhood-obesity-costs-thai-govt-55-billion-baht-a-year/

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CHARTER WRITING
PDRC proposes annulment of party proportional election method
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The People's Democratic Reform Committee on Tuesday proposed that the party proportional election method, under which political parties list their candidates, be annulled.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779259-pdrc-proposes-annulment-of-party-proportional-election-method/

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'Black Money Scammers' Busted In Pathum Thani
By Khaosod English



An example of "whitened money" the suspects reportedly showed to the victim.

PATHUM THANI - Police say they have arrested a group of Thais and Sierra Leonean who defrauded more than 640,000 baht from a Thai man in a "black money scam."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779262-black-money-scammers-busted-in-pathum-thani/

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Two provinces in Northeast declared drought hit zones

BANGKOK, 25 November 2014 (NNT)- The Ministry of Interior has instructed the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) to quickly assist people affected by the drought crisis.

According to Interior Minister General Anupong Paojinda, Sakon Nakorn and Maha Sarakham provinces have been declared disaster hit zones, as over 318 villages have been facing severe water shortages. The provincial authorities have to deliver water to these areas as a quick relief measure for residents.

The DDPM has also instructed its local offices to devise an effective water management plan to assure that its water distribution covers all affected areas, and that people have sufficient amount of water for consumption when the dry season arrives. Data would be collected by DDPM officials, and the information would be used to support and increase the production of tap water.


-- NNT 2014-11-25

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Commerce Ministry asks department stores to cut nationwide product prices up to 70% Dec 24-30 to spur public purchasing power /MCOT