Thailand Live Wednesday 7 Jan 2015

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NRC urged to enact law on distribution of power to people



BANGKOK, 7 January 2015 (NNT) – Representatives from nationwide political activists have petitioned the National Reform Council (NRC) to pass a law that promotes the distribution of the government’s administrative power to the people of Thailand.

NRC President Tienchai Kirananda on Tuesday met with representatives from the networks of people for a self-governing administration from across the country, who submitted a letter asking for the passing of an organic law on the self-administration of a province to go along with the completion of the charter drafting.

The group said they have been educating locals across the country on the issue for some time as they believe the centralization of power is the cause of political conflicts and social inequality in Thailand.

The petitioners also asked the NRC to work with the National Legislative Assembly and the Constitutional Drafting Committee to resolve this issue and promote the true distribution of administrative power to the people.

Mr. Tienchai promised the activists that he would present the matter to related parties for consideration and implementation.


-- NNT 2015-01-07

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South Korean plunges to death from 26th floor of a condominium

BANGKOK: -- A South Korean national plunged to his death from the 26th floor of a condominium in Sukhumvit area on Tuesday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789679-south-korean-plunges-to-death-from-26th-floor-of-a-condominium/

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EU cuts GSP privileges due to trade policy changes
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 7 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has explained that the European Union now excludes Thailand from its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) because of changes in its trade policies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789725-eu-cuts-thailands-gsp-privileges-due-to-trade-policy-changes/

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UPDATE:

IMPEACHMENT CASES
No protests: PM
The Nation



Martial law 'will be used' if there are any disturbances over impeachment decision; NLA likely bring forward date for verdicts

BANGKOK: -- Hinting at a strong reaction from the government, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday threatened to use martial law to stop protests from either side of the political divide over the decisions of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) in the upcoming impeachment cases involving key politicians of the previous government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789647-thai-govt-vows-action-if-shinawatra-supporters-protest/page-2?p=8903718#entry8903718

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NMG executives brief NRC panel on takeover risk
The Nation


Top executives of Nation Multimedia Group, led by chairman Suthichai Yoon, third left, and group editor-in-chief Thepchai Yong, fourth left, meet with the Media Reform Committee of the National Reform Council at Parliament yesterday to voice their concern

BANGKOK: -- Top executives of Nation Multimedia Group (NMG), which includes The Nation newspaper, met yesterday with the Media Reform Committee of the National Reform Council (NRC) to express concern over a possible hostile takeover of NMG and the negative repercussions from this.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789728-nmg-executives-brief-nrc-panel-on-takeover-risk/

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No generals are about to retire, Prayut says
The Nation

Premier dismisses rumour that trio in Cabinet will be stepping down soon

BANGKOK: -- PRIME Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and Army Chief General Udomdej Sitabutr denied rumours yesterday that three top military officers would resign because they hold posts in Cabinet.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789729-no-generals-are-about-to-retire-prayut-says/

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Doctor is top career choice for Thai kids
The Nation

Many youngsters put family above making money; education also a key ambition, recent survey shows

BANGKOK: -- FOR A sixth year in a row, Thai children chose becoming a doctor as the top job, while becoming a soldier is the "coolest".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789730-doctor-is-top-career-choice-for-thai-kids/

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Police seeking stolen Misiem Yipintsoi sculpture
Phatarawadee Phataranawik
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- MISIEM Yipintsoi's last unfinished sculpture - Coy Girl (1988) - has gone missing from the private Misiem's Sculpture Museum in Nakhon Pathom province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789731-thai-police-seeking-stolen-misiem-yipintsoi-sculpture/

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NEW YEAR SPECIAL
Don Mueang airport set to lead the region for budget-carrier connectivity
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport will become the best in the region for connectivity for low-cost carriers (LCCs) when it resumes full operations this year, according to the head of the largest budget carrier in Southeast Asia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789732-don-mueang-airport-set-to-lead-the-region-for-budget-carrier-connectivity/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Back from holidays? Now hang on to your seats

BANGKOK: -- Into the fire, here we come. The New Year holidays were a short-lived reprieve, when we hung briefly in the air after somersaulting out of the frying pan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789733-thai-opinion-back-from-holidays-now-hang-on-to-your-seats/

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Pattaya Traffic Police Officer killed in hit-and-run road crash



PATTAYA: -- On Tuesday afternoon, Police and medics rushed to the scene of a fatal road crash on the Sukhumvit Road which caused the death of a long-serving and well-respected Pattaya Traffic Police Officer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789735-pattaya-traffic-police-officer-killed-in-hit-and-run-road-crash/

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Cheeky Flasher sought by Pattaya Police



PATTAYA: -- Pattaya Police are currently searching for a man, thought to be a Thai National, who exposed himself to a group of people and then began to play with his genitals as they took pictures, which were later posted on Facebook.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789736-cheeky-flasher-sought-by-pattaya-police/

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Russian woman arrested for leading illegal Phuket tours
Saran Mitrarat


Ms Tsybiktarova (blue shirt) explains her situation to an officer while her tourists take each other's photos.

PHUKET: -- A Russian woman was arrested today (January 6) at the Karon Viewpoint for acting as an illegal tour guide and running an unregistered tour company.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789737-russian-woman-arrested-for-leading-illegal-phuket-tours/

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Campaign to help get seriously ill Barnsley man home from Thailand



BARNSLEY: -- A campaign has been launched to help get a Barnsley man back home after he fell seriously ill on holiday and is facing medical costs of tens of thousands of pounds.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789739-campaign-to-help-get-seriously-ill-british-man-home-from-thailand/

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Many score poorly in pre-O-NET exams
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The results of the national pre-O-Net (Ordinary National Educational Test) exam for students in the sixth, ninth and 12th grades yielded lower-than-average scores in maths, science and English, Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789740-many-score-poorly-in-pre-o-net-exams/

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DSI agent sacked and facing charges, 2 others facing probes
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- TWO DEPARTMENT of Special Investigation agents face disciplinary probes after initial findings showed they were involved in the contraband petrol trade in the far South, associated with racketeering led by former crime-buster Pol Lt-General Pongpat Chayaphan, DSI director-general Suwana Suwanjata said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789741-dsi-agent-sacked-and-facing-charges-2-others-facing-probes/

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Drought stalking many provinces, over 1,800 villages hit
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- DROUGHT is now haunting many parts of the country sooner than expected, raising concern that water shortages will be worse this year than ever before.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789742-drought-stalking-many-thai-provinces-over-1800-villages-hit/

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More face questioning over KMITL embezzlement
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Police plan to summons and question Pada "Oat Pada" Buakhao, a close aide to Kittisak Mathujad, wanted in connection with an alleged Bt1.5-billion stolen from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Latkrabang (KMITL).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789744-more-face-questioning-over-kmitl-embezzlement/

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Monkeys Escape Cage, Vandalize Southern Village
By Khaosod English


Surapong Inkabchan, 57, said the monkeys entered his kitchen and threw his rice cookers around.

RANONG — Residents of Tha Chang village in southern Thailand have been terrorized by a group of monkeys that escaped from their enclosure last month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789745-monkeys-escape-cage-vandalize-southern-thai-village/

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UPDATE:

341 killed over 'dangerous' New Year, slightly less than last year
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung,
Wattana Khamchu
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER GENERAL Prayut Chan-o-cha's administration isn't satisfied with the New Year road toll being slightly less than last year because every life is important. So all agencies must perform their duties to the fullest, deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789665-pm-not-happy-with-road-accident-statistics/page-2#entry8903894

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Private group to ramp up anti-corruption fight
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The private sector Collective Action Coalition Against Corruption (CAC) plans a large increase in its member companies, focusing in particular on firms involved in public procurement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789746-private-group-to-ramp-up-anti-corruption-fight/

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Female suicide bomber strikes in Istanbul, killing policeman
DESMOND BUTLER, Associated Press

ISTANBUL (AP) — A female suicide bomber blew herself up at a police station in Istanbul on Tuesday, killing one policeman and wounding another, according to Turkish authorities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789747-female-suicide-bomber-strikes-in-istanbul-killing-policeman/

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Republicans take full control of US Congress as clashes loom
STEVEN R. HURST, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans took control of both chambers of the U.S. Congress on Tuesday, setting the stage for fierce partisan battles that could consume the final two years of Barack Obama's presidency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789748-republicans-take-full-control-of-us-congress-as-clashes-loom/

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Murderer's request for assisted suicide denied in Belgium

BRUSSELS (AP) — The Belgian government says a rapist and murderer will not be granted his wish for assisted suicide this weekend but will instead be taken to a special facility for observation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789749-murderers-request-for-assisted-suicide-denied-in-belgium/

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White House says it will veto bill to approve oil pipeline
DINA CAPPIELLO, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Tuesday threatened to veto the first piece of legislation introduced in the Republican-controlled Senate, a bill approving the much-delayed Canada-US Keystone XL oil pipeline, in what was expected to be the first of many confrontations over energy and environmental policy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789750-white-house-says-it-will-veto-bill-to-approve-keystone-xl-oil-pipeline/

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NASA finds more Earth-like planets outside solar system
SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Earth has a few more near-twin planets outside our solar system, tantalizing possibilities in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789751-nasa-finds-more-earth-like-planets-outside-solar-system/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Phone calls in Thailand to be charged per second under new proposals

The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has today backed proposals to change the way mobile phone operators charge for phone calls in Thailand.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/phone-calls-thailand-charged-per-second-new-proposals/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

CES 2015: Asus announces the Zenfone 2

At CES 2015 on Monday, Asus launched its flagship smartphone the ZenFone 2 (as well as the ZenFone Zoom), the follow up to the fairly successful ZenFone.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/ces-2015-asus-zenfone-2/

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Clashes with IS in Iraq kill 23 troops, allied fighters
By SINAN SALAHEDDIN and SAMEER N. YACOUB

BAGHDAD (AP) — A suicide blast targeting Iraqi security forces and subsequent clashes with Islamic State extremists on Tuesday killed at least 23 troops and pro-government Sunni fighters in the country's embattled western province of Anbar, officials said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/789752-clashes-with-is-in-iraq-kill-23-troops-allied-fighters/

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Australians travelling to Indonesia are alerted to exercise a high level of caution following new US warnings about potential terrorist attacks: AFP. /Bangkok Post