Thailand Live Monday 15 Dec 2014

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500 households affected by floods in Phatthalung

PHATTHALUNG, 15 December 2014 (NNT) -- The flooding situation in the southern province of Phatthalung has been deteriorated with more than 500 households inundated so far.

Army Chief Gen. Udomdej Sitabutr has ordered military units in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung to help evacuate local residents and their belonging to higher ground.

In Phatthalung, heavy rain on Friday's night has caused flash floods in four districts and more than 500 households were submerged under 1.30 meter high water. Some villages were cut out from the rest of the province when a road linking Phatthalung cities were inundated with 80 centimeter-high water.

As raining continues in the area, residents in more areas have been warned to prepare for possible flood, especially those who live near waterways or large reservoirs.


-- NNT 2014-12-15

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High Russians Break Into Temple, Dress As Monks: Police

By Khaosod English

MAE HONG SON — Two Russians have been arrested for allegedly breaking into a temple in northern Thailand and dressing as Buddhist monks, police in Mae Hong Son province say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784063-high-russians-break-into-temple-dress-as-monks-police/

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1 dead, Army help sought as floods swamp South
Panya Thiosangwan,
Somchai Samart,
Kanita Seetong
The Nation


Several vehicles are submerged under massive floodwater in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: -- : -- WITH FLOOD THREATS raging in many southern provinces, the Royal Thai Army (RTA) has instructed all its units to closely monitor the situation and make the best effort in helping victims.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784133-1-dead-army-help-sought-as-floods-swamp-southern-thailand/

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NRC set to see hot debate on directly elected PM
THE NATION

Members will vote on the proposals by 18 panels before they are forwarded to Constitution Drafting Committee

BANGKOK: -- A hot debate looms this week in the National Reform Council regarding the proposal for direct election of the prime minister and cabinet members.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784134-nrc-set-to-see-hot-debate-on-directly-elected-thai-pm/

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Contentious issues on the NRC agenda
Khanittha Thepphajorn,
Olan Lertrudtanadumrongkul
The Nation

Proposals of 18 sub-panels to be debated

BANGKOK: -- Some contentious reform issues will come up today for three days of deliberation by the National Reform Council, which will decide on whether to accept 246 recommendations from 18 reform sub-panels.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784135-contentious-issues-on-the-nrc-agenda/

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Cambodia wants to inspect 50 seized artefacts
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Cambodia is seeking access to the scores of artefacts seized from disgraced former crime-buster Lt-General Pongpat Chayaphan to determine if any of them belong to it, diplomatic sources said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784136-pongpat-case-cambodia-wants-to-inspect-50-seized-artefacts/

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
New constitution vs freedom of expression
Kavi Chongkittavorn

BANGKOK: -- The members of the National Reform Committee (NRC)'s media and information and communications reform committee, have begun deliberating the new constitution and its relationship to free expression for the Thai people and freedom in the mass media.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784137-thai-opinion-new-constitution-vs-freedom-of-expression/

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Pattaya's English language Radio, Fabulous 103FM Back on air
by Staff Reporter

PATTAYA: -- On Friday the 12th December, the National Broadcasting Commission of Thailand approved transmission by The Pattaya FM Radio Company for what we know as Fabulous 103Fm on the airwaves.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784138-pattayas-english-language-radio-fabulous-103fm-back-on-air/

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Russian Pedestrian shot by Police as they chase two bag snatchers in Jomtien



PATTAYA: -- A 27 year old Russian Tourist is facing up to 6 months of rehabilitation after she was shot in her ankle as Police chased two suspected bag snatchers in Jomtien.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784139-russian-pedestrian-shot-by-police-as-they-chase-two-bag-snatchers-in-jomtien/

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American stabbed as he intervenes in domestic dispute in South Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- A 36 year old American was stabbed in his back after he attempted to intervene in a domestic dispute involving a Thai woman and her foreign husband in Soi Buakhao on Sunday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784140-american-stabbed-as-he-intervenes-in-domestic-dispute-in-south-pattaya/

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Iranian drugs Pattaya Hotel Cashier and steals cash from Reception safe boxes



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Saturday Police arrested an Iranian man who was accused of drugging a Hotel cashier and then attempting to break-open safe-boxes located behind the reception.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784143-iranian-drugs-pattaya-hotel-cashier-and-steals-cash-from-reception-safe-boxes/

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Self-Harming crazed man invades Pattaya Temple



PATTAYA: -- Late on Sunday Night a 27 year old man, suspected of being under the influence of narcotics, invaded a Temple in Pattaya and began by confronting a Monk and accusing him of stealing a commemorative coin from him.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784145-self-harming-crazed-man-invades-pattaya-temple/

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Female Drug Dealing suspect caught by Pattaya Police



PATTAYA: -- On Friday afternoon, a Pattaya Police patrol unit stopped a 27 year old woman on a motorbike with no license plate after a short chase and found her to be carrying a significant quantity of class 1 drugs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784146-female-drug-dealing-suspect-caught-by-pattaya-police/

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Woman injured in Domestic Dispute in North Pattaya woodland



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Thursday Banglamung Police received an urgent call from concerned residents that a woman was being attacked in woodland off the Naklua Road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784147-woman-injured-in-domestic-dispute-in-north-pattaya-woodland/

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UPDATE:

Girl passes away in ICU after truck crashes into Phuket sinkhole
Eakkapop Thongtub


Worawut Songyod, the Mayor of Srisoonthorn.

PHUKET: -- Seven-year-old Molly Anne Bailey has died of her injuries following two days in Vachira Phuket Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit after the pick-up truck she was riding in crashed into a large hole left by the collapse of a minor road in Srisoonthorn on Thursday (December 11).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783602-child-7-badly-hurt-as-bike-and-pick-up-crash-into-huge-phuket-hole/page-4?p=8803445#entry8803445

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Rubber farmers seek compensation for price below Bt60
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The rubber industry will today ask the government to compensate farmers for a market price below Bt60 per kilogram after initially seeking compensation for prices below Bt80.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784150-rubber-farmers-seek-compensation-for-price-below-bt60/

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Ebola conference gets going
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Public Health is staging an international conference on Ebola-response measures in the Asean sub-region.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784151-bangkok-ebola-conference-gets-going/

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Police seek arrest warrant for suspect in grisly murder



BANGKOK: -- Samrong district police today sought an arrest warrant from the Ratchadapisek court for a man suspected of murdering a woman, cutting her up and and scattering her body parts in Samrong Nua district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784153-thai-police-seek-arrest-warrant-for-suspect-in-grisly-murder/

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Five Chinese Tourists Severely Injured In Phang Nga Bus Accident
By Khaosod English

Eight Chinese tourists were wounded in a bus crash in the southern province of Phang Nga, 14 Dec 2014.

PHANG NGA — Five Chinese tourists were severely wounded in a bus crash in the southern province of Phang Nga.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784155-five-chinese-tourists-severely-injured-in-phang-nga-bus-accident/

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Pfizer shoots for leadership of Thai pharma industry
SOMLUCK SRIMALEE
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PFIZER (Thailand) has strong confidence of becoming the leader of this country's pharmaceutical industry in terms of market share, but says it is more important to earn the respect of its stakeholders such as hospitals, patients and their families.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784156-pfizer-shoots-for-leadership-of-thai-pharma-industry/

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Japan election: Voters back Shinzo Abe as PM wins new term

(BBC) Japan's ruling coalition has won a new two-thirds majority in parliamentary elections seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic policy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784160-japanese-pm-abe-wins-re-election/

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Sydney siege: Gunman takes hostages in Lindt cafe

(BBC) At least one gunman has taken several people hostage at a cafe in the Australian city of Sydney.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784164-sydney-siege-gunman-takes-hostages-in-lindt-cafe/

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French taxi drivers threathen to block roads leading into Paris to protest a court's refusal to ban urban ridesharing service Uber /The Nation

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Transport Ministry to propose plan to upgrade U-Tapao Int'l Airport as regional hub for commercial airlines to attract over 3 mn

passengers a yr. /The Nation

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Blue Flag Fair and Thailand Best Buy well-received by residents

BANGKOK, 14 Dec 2014, (NNT) - The Government’s New Year campaigns to offer food and commodity goods at discounted prices, ‘Blue Flag Fair’ and ‘Thailand Best Buy 2014’, have attracted huge crowds.

The 1st Blue Flag Festival, held at Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani in Nontaburi Province, offering residents commodity goods such as eggs, pork, cooking oil, sugar, kitchen utensils, and other items at discounted prices from more than 500 vendors has been quite popular with Thai consumers.

People looking for bargain have been seen lining up waiting to purchase their items of choice, offered three times each day: 11 am, 2 pm and 6 pm; during which each customer is allowed to by a limited amount of certain goods which are in in great demand to ensure that supplies are sufficient.

Meanwhile, Thailand Best Buy 2014, which is being held at Queen Sirikit Convention Hall in the heart of the capital, offering various New Year gifts, souvenirs, and home decoration items, has also been drawing huge crowds of people from the opening time, 10 am, all the way to the closing time, 8 pm.

About 850 vendors have gathered for this massive event, offering brand names’ gifts, jewelry, garments, and leather wears at discounted prices. The event will be held until December 21st.


-- NNT 2014-12-15

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UPDATE:

Hostages held inside Sydney cafe, Islamic flag held up

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784164-sydney-siege-gunman-takes-hostages-in-lindt-cafe/page-2#entry8804204

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Alcatraz 1962 escapees had small chance of success
Rebecca Morelle
By Rebecca Morelle
Science Correspondent, BBC News, San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO: -- Three inmates who famously escaped from the US island prison Alcatraz had a small chance of making it to land alive - but the odds were stacked against them, a new study suggests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784176-alcatraz-1962-escapees-may-have-survived/

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Tak governor urged to open border checkpoint with Myanmar at North Valley village

TAK: -- Local administration leaders and representatives of private firms in Tak's Popphra district submitted a letter to Tak Governor Somchai Hathayati at the Tambon Valley assembly hall Monday morning, calling for him to open a new Thai-Myanmar border checkpoint.

They called on the governor to open a border checkpoint at the natural pass at the North Valley village in Tambon Valley to boost cross-border trade.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Tak-governor-urged-to-open-border-checkpoint-with--30249851.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-15

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UPDATE:

Sydney siege: 'Publicity main aim' of Martin Place Lindt cafe hostage drama
Marissa Calligeros

SYDNEY: -- Publicity is the main aim for extremists holding hostages in a Sydney cafe, according to a leading terrorism expert.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784164-sydney-siege-gunman-takes-hostages-in-lindt-cafe/page-2#entry8804401

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UPDATE:

Hostages held in Sydney cafe
By Dana Ford, CNN

(CNN) -- A major police operation was under way Monday in Sydney where hostages are being held in a cafe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784164-sydney-siege-gunman-takes-hostages-in-lindt-cafe/page-2#entry8804459