Thailand Live Thursday 1 Jan 2015

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Border tensions brewing



BANGKOK: -- Tensions are brewing once again on the Cambodia-Thailand border as controversial construction work has led the neighbouring country to bolster its forces, raising fears of renewed clashes in 2015, The Phnom Penh Post reported, citing military and government officials.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788325-tensions-brewing-on-the-cambodia-thailand-border/

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59 dead as 'Jangmi' brings floods, landslides in South Philippines



MANILA: -- Typhoon “Jangmi” (local name: “Seniang”) made a final salvo before 2014 ended, with police officials saying at least 59 people died as the weather disturbance unleashed its fury in the Visayas and Mindanao, Manila Bulletin reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788327-59-dead-as-jangmi-brings-floods-landslides-in-south-philippines/

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Bodies from AirAsia crash arrive in Surabaya



JAKARTA: -- The first two bodies from the AirAsia plane that crashed off the coast of Borneo arrived on Wednesday in the Indonesian city of Surabaya, where relatives have gathered to await news of their loved ones, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788328-bodies-from-airasia-crash-arrive-in-surabaya/

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PM wishes everyone Happy New Year



BANGKOK, 1 January 2015 (NNT)- Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-o-cha has wished everyone a Happy New Year and urged all sectors to help moving the country forward.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788329-pm-prayut-wishes-everyone-happy-new-year/

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North Korean leader open to summit with South

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in a nationally televised New Year's Day speech, says he is open to a summit with his South Korean counterpart.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788331-north-korean-leader-open-to-summit-with-south/

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No celebrations to usher New Year as country mourns devastation caused by floods in several states
By Digital Content

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 1 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government has decided not to usher the arrival of the New Year for the second time in 10 years due to the devastating floods, especially in the East Coast.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788333-no-celebrations-to-usher-new-year-as-malaysia-mourns-devastation-caused-by-floods/

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Stray Fireworks Spark Rooftop Fire At Peninsula Hotel
Published by Stickboy BKK



BANGKOK: -- Just after midnight as revelers were bringing in the New year around Bangkok, a fire broke out on the rooftop of the Peninsula Hotel located on the banks of the Chao Phraya river.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788334-stray-fireworks-spark-rooftop-fire-at-peninsula-hotel-in-bangkok/

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Seventy people were killed and 641 injured in 625 road accidents nationwide on Dec 31, adding up New Year road toll to 128 killed and 1,158 injured /Bangkok Post

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UPDATE:

Police to assume drivers refusing to take alcohol breath test as under influence



BANGKOK, 1 January 2015 (NNT) – The Traffic Control and Command Center on Wednesday reminded drivers of the new traffic law amendment coming into effect on New Year's Eve, which stipulates that drivers who refuse to have their breath analyzed for blood alcohol level will automatically be considered drunk drivers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788318-now-illegal-to-refuse-breathalyzer-test-in-thailand/#entry8878966

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Thailand, Myanmar celebrate New Year at Prachuap Khiri Khan-Myeik border
By Digital Content



PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, Dec 31 -- Combined Thai-Myanmar New Year celebrations made a debut at the Dan Singkorn border crossing where Thailand’s Prachuap Khiri Khan province and Myanmar’s Myeik city are linked and tourists will pray during the transition of the New Year there tonight.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788337-thailand-myanmar-celebrate-new-year-at-prachuap-khiri-khan-myeik-border/

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CDC panel mulls proposal to make MPs more independent



BANGKOK: -- Future members of the parliament will be more independent from the control of their respective political parties under one of the proposals being mulled by a panel of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788340-cdc-panel-mulls-proposal-to-make-thai-mps-more-independent/

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UPDATE:

Five family members take own lives in mass suicide

BANGKOK: -- Five people of the same family were found dead in their rented house in Bangyi-rua in Thonburi district of Bangkok last night in what police initially suspected was a mass suicide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788300-bangkok-five-family-members-found-dead-in-apparent-suicides-murders/#entry8879029

[Lite Beer]

Boy killed in a firework explosion

BANGKOK: -- A 13-year old boy was killed when a firework he tried to set alight exploded in one of his hands.
The fatal incident took place near a house in Rachaburi’s Pak Tho district on New Year’s eve when the victim who was not identified tried to set off a firework which was stuffed in an iron tube that he held in one hand.

Unfortunately, the lighted firework exploded in his hand and the projectile struck at his head with full force causing serious injuries. The boy was immediately rushed to the hospital by his parents but he eventually succumbed to his death.

Police later questioned the victim’s friends to find out the actual cause of the accident.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/boy-killed-firework-explosion

-- Thai PBS 2015-01-01

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First two days of '7 dangerous New Year holidays' see 128 killed, 1158 injured

BANGKOK: -- The first two days of the so-called seven dangerous New Year holidays saw 1,133 road accidents occur, 128 people killed and 1,158 others injured, the Road Safety Center announced Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788345-first-two-days-of-7-dangerous-new-year-holidays-see-128-killed-1158-injured/

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Srisaket officials launch crime eradication campaign at year’s end

SRISAKET, 1 Jan 2014, (NNT) - Srisaket Governor has launched an anti-crime caravan campaign, aiming at preventing criminal activities happening during the New Year celebration.

Srisaket Governor, Pratheep Keeratirekha, said he was confident that the campaign would give the locals and tourists confidence in the safety of their own and their belongings.

According to the Governor, both the governmental and the private sectors in the province are holding several festivities in the area’s famous tourist attractions from now until Sunday, adding that the event will likely draw a huge crowd as well as crooks who prey on visitors.

The campaign has been launched as a pre-emptive measure against those criminals, preventing them endangering the lives and property of the visitors.


-- NNT 2015-01-01

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Imprisoned Al-Jazeera reporters face Egypt appeal
MAGGIE MICHAEL, Associated Press

CAIRO (AP) — Three Al-Jazeera English journalists imprisoned in Egypt for over a year will appear in court Thursday to appeal their convictions, as thawing relations between Egypt and Qatar have raised hope they could be freed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788385-imprisoned-al-jazeera-reporters-face-egypt-appeal/

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UPDATE:

Details of Patong New Year's shooting, suicide incidents emerge
Eakkapop Thongtub


Police nab the 20-year-old suspected shooter in Phang Nga this morning.

PHUKET: -- Police believe the teenage victim of a shooting in front of a convenient store in Patong early this morning was not the intended target, while details have emerged regarding a suicide that also took place at the start of the year in the island’s premier party town.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788302-two-more-shootings-a-suicide-attempt-mark-years-turning-in-phuket/#entry8879451

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1,977 Bangkok Families Join Project To Have Police Watch Houses During Holidays

BANGKOK: -- A total of 1,977 families joined the project to have police watch their house when they left the capital for New Year holidays, Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Pol Maj Gen Chanthawit Ramasutr said Thursday.

He said when patrol police checked the houses, they took photos with the smart phones and sent them to the house owners via LINE application as well.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/1977-Bangkok-Families-Join-Project-To-Have-Police--30251069.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-01

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Sukhumbhand vows to speed up various projects in 2015

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra vowed Thursday to speed up several projects this year, including building more parks and initiating some mass transport projects.

He said his works slowed down last year because of some problems. He was suspended from duty last year after the Election Commission asked the Appeals Court to annul his election victory but the court ruled in favor of him on September 5.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Sukhumbhand-vows-to-speed-up-various-projects-in-2-30251068.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-01

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Some 22,000 tourists join Doi Inthanon countdown

CHIANG MAI: -- A total of 22,023 tourists registered with the Doi Inthanon National Park to stay overnight on the mountaintop for the New Year countdown, Doi Inthanon Park chief Pornthep Charoensuebsakul said Thursday.

The tourists arrived in 5,123 vehicles, he added. The tourists also joined the alms giving ceremony on New Year morning when the temperature plunged to zero Celsius degree, he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Some-22000-tourists-join-Doi-Inthanon-countdown-30251067.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-01

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Fire hit a factory of Shin-Ei Precision (Thailand) at Rojana Industrial Park in Ayutthaya. The fire is under control; no injuries reported. /Bangkok Post

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Large new public parks, more bicycle lanes and expanded mass transit are planned as New Year gifts for Thais, Bangkok Gov. Sukhumbhand said/ The Nation

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OCPB checks goods and services pricing in Trang

TRANG, 1 January 2015 (NNT) – The Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCBP) has conducted a field survey on the pricing of products and services to enforce the pricing standard and to protect customers.

The Secretary-General of the OCBP today led the officials to conduct the pricing check of souvenir shops and ferry services at the Pak Meng pier in Trang province to enforce the pricing standard and to prevent business owners from setting the prices too high.

The team from the OCBP also met with the general public and tourists in the area, and requested them to report any unfair pricings that they find to the OCBP.

Meanwhile, the OCBP team has found some souvenir shops not displaying the price tags for some items, of which the team issued a warning to the store owner that they are required by law to display the retail price.

The OCBP has been working with the Marine Department, Tourist Police, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Department of Internal Trade, Thai Tourism Promotion Association, and the Provincial Commerce Offices to monitor and advise retailers who may have unintentionally violated regulations, as overpriced goods and services will cause a negative effect to tourism.

The OCBP and related agencies has also been working to regulate many businesses related to tourism, such as ferry services, hotels and accommodations, rental cars, souvenirs and jewellery, tour guides, and restaurants as tourism is a primary revenue-generating sector of Thailand.


-- NNT 2015-01-01

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Government House reports give no nicknames to Cabinet this year

BANGKOK: -- Government House-beat reporters issued a joint statement Thursday that this year they decided to skip the annual tradition to give nicknames to the government and Cabinet members.

They reasoned that the tradition was always skipped when the country was run by an interim government following a coup or House dissolution.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Government-House-reports-give-no-nicknames-to-Cabi-30251072.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-01

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Two Families 'Attacked' by Teenage Gang On New Year's Day
By Khaosod English


A teenage gang allegedly shattered the windshield of a family's car in Chonburi, 1 Jan 2014.

CHONBURI — A group of teenagers allegedly launched unprovoked attacks on two cars driving through Chonburi province early this morning, police say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788405-two-families-attacked-by-teenage-gang-on-new-years-day-in-chonburi/

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UPDATE:

128 killed, 1,158 injured in 1,133 road accidents during New Year celebration
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 1 -- Thai authorities reported that on the first two days of the seven-day road accident monitoring period for the New Year holidays, there were 1,133 traffic accidents in which more than 100 people died.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788345-first-two-days-of-7-dangerous-new-year-holidays-see-128-killed-1158-injured/page-2?p=8879833#entry8879833

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Bangkok governor to open more parks, bicycle lanes
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 1 -- After presiding over an alms-giving event for Buddhist monks on New Year's morning, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said he plans large new public parks, more bicycle lanes and expanded mass transit as New Year gifts for the public.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788406-bangkok-governor-to-open-more-parks-bicycle-lanes/

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SME Bank warns of negative impact of Russian economic crisis
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 1 -- The economic crisis of Russia is directly impacting tourism in Pattaya and Phuket, according to Salinee Wangtal, chairwoman of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME Bank).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788407-thai-sme-bank-warns-of-negative-impact-of-russian-economic-crisis/

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Russians optimistic for 2015 despite it all
By JIM HEINTZ

MOSCOW (AP) — At the vast skating rink in Moscow's Gorky Park, Russians say they're looking forward to a 2015 that will be as smooth as the ice, despite the country's economic and political difficulties. The ruble has sunk, tensions with the West are up, but the troubles seem to have produced a surge in national pride.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788411-russians-optimistic-for-2015-despite-it-all/

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UPDATE:

Death toll in two days now rises to 128

BANGKOK: -- The campaign to reduce road mishaps during the seven dangerous days entered the second day with now death toll rising to 128 and 1,158 injured.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788345-first-two-days-of-7-dangerous-new-year-holidays-see-128-killed-1158-injured/page-2?p=8880841#entry8880841