Thailand Live Thursday 8 Jan 2015

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Police fatally shoot man at Ohio airport amid confrontation
ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS, Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A man who tried to buy an airline ticket using a fake ID was fatally shot Wednesday after returning to his illegally parked car, where he lunged at an airport police officer with a knife during a confrontation, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790065-us-police-fatally-shoot-man-at-ohio-airport-amid-confrontation/

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Benzene and gasohol pump prices down 20-60 satang per liter

BANGKOK, 8 January 2015 (NNT) – The government's committee on energy policy administration on Wednesday announced another reduction to retail prices of benzene and gasohol fuels, which would see the prices drop by between 20 to 60 satang per liter.

The Energy Policy Administration Committee (EPAC) has resolved to cut the prices of benzene 95 and 91, and gasohol 95 and 91, by 60 satang per liter. The price of E20 and E85 gasohol fuels will also be cut by 40 and 20 satang per liter, respectively. The new prices will be in effect at gas stations at 5 am today (Thursday).

Energy Minister Narongchai Akrasanee said after chairing the EPAC meeting that the formula for calculating the production cost of LPG gas has also been adjusted, meaning that the cost of production is now calculated at 16.11 baht per kilogram. Although the new formula will take effect on February 2, pump prices will not be changed until March.

-- NNT 2015-01-08

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EC throws out several complaints against former government members' misconducts in snap election

BANGKOK, 8 January 2015 (NNT) – The Election Commissioner (EC) on Wednesday decided to throw out several complaints made against alleged election misconducts by former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra during the most recent general election in February, 2014.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790074-ec-throws-out-several-complaints-against-former-govt-members-misconducts-in-snap-election/

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UPDATE:

NLA: Opening statement of impeachment case against former PM Yingluck will be broadcast live

BANGKOK, 8 January 2015 (NNT) - The President of the National Legislative Assembly has assured that the opening of the deliberation of the impeachment case against the former prime minister on Friday will be broadcast live.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790046-nla-bars-the-broadcast-of-impeachment-proceedings/#entry8909117

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,515.80, gains 15.05 points /MCOT

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Bali Nine member, Myuran Sukumaran, loses final avenue for appeal against death sentence: reports
By Indonesia Correspondent George Roberts

JAKARTA: -- Convicted Australian heroin trafficker, Myuran Sukumaran, on death row in Bali, has reportedly lost his final avenue for appeal against the death penalty in Indonesia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790078-bali-nine-member-myuran-sukumaran-loses-final-avenue-for-appeal-against-death-sentence/

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Indonesia tightens security after US and Australia warning

JAKARTA: -- Indonesian authorities are on heightened alert following a security warning from the United States and a travel advice message from Australia — despite maintaining there is no imminent threat to safety, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790079-indonesia-tightens-security-after-us-and-australia-warning/

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UN chief says Palestine will join int'l court on April 1
By EDITH M. LEDERER

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said late Tuesday that the state of Palestine will join the International Criminal Court on April 1, a high-stakes move that will enable the Palestinians to pursue war-crimes charges against Israel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790084-un-chief-says-palestine-will-join-intl-court-on-april-1/

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Three more weekly flights of Indonesia AirAsia to Singapore cancelled



SINGAPORE: -- Three more weekly flights operated by Indonesia AirAsia to Singapore have been cancelled amid an official probe by the Indonesian authorities into the airline's flying permits, The Straits Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790086-three-more-weekly-flights-of-indonesia-airasia-to-singapore-cancelled/

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Two arrested for using stolen credit cards of foreign tourists

PATTAYA: -- Two Thai men were arrested early Thursday for allegedly using stolen credit cards of foreign tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790087-pattaya-two-arrested-for-using-stolen-credit-cards-of-foreign-tourists/

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Consumer confidence index returns and hits 18-month high



BANGKOK: -- Consumer confidence posted a healthy gain again in December with index hitting an 18-month high.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790088-consumer-confidence-index-returns-and-hits-18-month-high/

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BREAKING: Judicial official: 1 man sought in Paris newspaper shooting surrenders; 2 sought by police. /AP

Related topic: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790062-french-police-id-gunmen-who-killed-12-in-attack-on-newspaper/

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UPDATE:

Judicial official: 1 surrenders in French shooting, 2 sought
By JAMEY KEATEN and ELAINE GANLEY

PARIS (AP) — A French judicial official says one man sought in the deadly shooting at a French satirical paper has turned himself in to police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790062-french-police-id-gunmen-who-killed-12-in-attack-on-newspaper/?p=8909589#entry8909589

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Thousands fall for Facebook privacy hoax – again

A Facebook privacy message warning users about posting photos and other content has gone viral for a second time, despite being a complete hoax.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/thousands-fall-facebook-privacy-hoax/

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Bus fares to provinces to be cut



BANGKOK: -- Interprovincial bus fares will be cut two satang per kilometres, Mrs Suchinda Cherdchai, president of the Association of Interprovincial Bus Operators, assured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790092-bus-fares-to-thai-provinces-to-be-cut/

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Commerce to cut prices of consumer products



BANGKOK: -- More than 40 items of consumer products will come under price revision to reflect actual costs after the government has cut retail oil prices several times but prices of these products remained unchanged.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790093-thai-commerce-to-cut-prices-of-consumer-products/

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Oil prices have fallen by 1/2,but airlines are reluctant to cut ticket prices as they are still paying the higher forward oil hedging prices. /The Nation

Early Wed. rain in Bangkok caused numerous accidents, heavy traffic congestion on Ratchadapisek, Lat Phrao, Rattanathibet, Phahonyothin Roads. /The Nation

Consumer confidence (Dec) hit 18-month high, on falling oil prices,BoT's decision to keep policy interest rate, govt's discount campaigns during New Year holidays. /The Nation

4 of France's most famous cartoonists were among dozen people killed by gunmen who attacked Charlie Hebdo, a satirical newspaper office in Paris. /The Nation

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Fire destroys school building in Suphan Buri

SUPHAN BURI: -- A 80-year-old one-storey wooden building of Samjoon School in Suphan Buri's Sripachan district was burned down early Thursday, police said.

Some 10 fire engines could only contain the blaze from spreading to nearby buildings before the fire consumed the entire wooden building in about an hour after it started at 1 am. The building housed a computer laboratory, an audio laboratory, a library, a storage room, and a classroom of third graders.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Fire-destroys-school-building-in-Suphan-Buri-30251466.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-08

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Children crippled from the southern violence want new wheelchairs on Children's Day

YALA, 8 Jan 2015 (NNT) - Children crippled from violence incidents in the deep South say they want new wheelchairs more than anything else as gifts on the Children’s Day.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790098-children-crippled-from-the-southern-violence-want-new-wheelchairs-on-childrens-day/

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Teenager pleads guilty in beating death of WW2 veteran
By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A 17-year-old pleaded guilty Wednesday to murder in the beating death of 88-year-old Delbert Belton, a World War II veteran who survived the battle of Okinawa but was killed in a robbery outside a Washington state bar in 2013.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790099-us-teenager-pleads-guilty-in-beating-death-of-ww2-veteran/

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Off-season rains cause worst traffic jams in capital and provinces



BANGKOK: -- The off-season rains this morning in Bangkok and several provinces in upper part of the country caused many road accidents in the city streets and on highways and subsequent traffic jams.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790122-off-season-rains-cause-worst-traffic-jams-in-bangkok-and-provinces/

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NLA to deliberate impeachment case 38 former senators on Jan 21

BANGKOK: -- National Legislative Assembly President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai told the NLA Thursday that the impeachment motion against 38 former senators has been put on the NLA agenda.

He said the first session of the case's deliberation will start on January 21. The former senators were accused of violating the constitution by pushing for constitutional amendments on the Senate's composition.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/NLA-to-deliberate-impeachment-case-38-former-senat-30251468.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-08

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Lamphun holds drug tests at 3 major factories

LAMPHUN, 8 Jan 2015 (NNT) - Narcotics Prevention and Suppression officials in Lamphun yesterday visited 3 major factories in the Province, inspecting for drug usage among the workers.

The inspection team was led by Lamphun Governor Narong Onsa-ard, and also members of the police and military. A total of 297 workers at Lanna Products Company, Pioneer Company, and CPAC Lamphun Company partook in the urine test, the officials said, adding that all manufacturers gave their cooperation.

The office stated that those who found taking drugs would be offered treatment and rehabilitation without affecting their work.

Lamphun currently has about 100 ‘white’ factories, the provincial Narcotic Suppression Center said, adding that it plans to include another 16 factories to the rank, while promoting the establishment of a ‘To Be Number 1 Club’ in 40 factories.

White factories are manufacturing places whose labor has been tested and proven to be free from drugs.


-- NNT 2015-01-08

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Bullet tip hits woman in head at Central World countdown
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A Vietnamese woman was admitted to hospital for stitches on New Year’s Day after the tip of a bullet hit her in the head, according to her Thai friend who went public with the story yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790127-bullet-tip-hits-foreign-tourist-in-head-at-bangkoks-central-world-countdown/

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Thailand to celebrate close relations with North Korea
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The military junta is preparing to hold a celebration to mark the 40th anniversary of Thailand’s and North Korea's diplomatic relations while North Korea has proposed that Thailand opens an embassy in its capital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790130-thailand-to-celebrate-close-relations-with-north-korea/

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Akha man arrested for supplying over 100 boys to American pedophile

CHIANG RAI: -- Police have arrested an Akha man for having allegedly supplying over 100 boys, most street children, to a 61-year-old American to have sex with.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790132-chiang-rai-akha-man-arrested-for-supplying-over-100-boys-to-american-pedophile/

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Pattaya Robbers Crash Tourists' Romantic Evening
By Khaosod English


A volunteer police points at the crime scene where group of robbers reportedly attacked two Russian tourists who were enjoying a romantic bottle of wine on a helipad in Pattaya, 8 Jan 2015.

CHONBURI — A group of robbers reportedly attacked two Russian tourists who were enjoying a romantic bottle of wine on a helipad in Pattaya early this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790135-pattaya-robbers-crash-russian-tourists-romantic-evening/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Cybercrime in Thailand on the rise

Cybercrime in Thailand is increasing as the country now ranks as one of the top 20 countries worst affected by cybercrime in 2014, according to internet and software security giants Trend Micro.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/cybercrime-thailand-rise/

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Phuket: Big changes made to driving test system
Tanyaluk Sakoot


A learner driver at the Chotima School

PHUKET: -- With a huge backlog of people wanting their driver licences renewed, and with an eye on improving road skills, the Phuket Provincial Land Transport Office (PLTO) is farming out driving tests to a private driving school, the Chotima Driving School on Phra Phuket Kaew Rd.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790174-phuket-big-changes-made-to-driving-test-system/

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Support for Phuket Light Rail System but many details to decide
Nattapat Tuarob


Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupapana doesn't want to see overhead power cables

PHUKET: -- A public meeting about the proposed Phuket Light Rail System (LRS) held on Tuesday (January 6) revealed that although most people support the project, there are still issues that need to be taken into consideration before the project, slated to be completed by 2024, can go ahead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790175-support-for-phuket-light-rail-system-but-many-details-to-decide/