Thailand Live Friday 9 Jan 2015

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Ousted Thai PM launches defiant impeachment defence
Bangkok, Thailand | AFP |

BANGKOK: -- Ousted Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra launched a defiant defence Friday at the first hearing of impeachment proceedings that could see her banned from politics for five years and deepen the country's bitter divisions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790337-ousted-thai-pms-impeachment-hearing-tests-fragile-calm/page-2#entry8915378

[webfact]

Three routes to be developed for tourism

BANGKOK, 9 January 2015 (NNT) – The Tourism and Sports Ministry is boosting tourism in Thailand and ASEAN by assigning related government units to design and launch new tourism packages and promotions throughout 2015, especially during festivals and long holidays.

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said that the ministry has already eyed to develop three projects for the purpose. The first one is to construct road connections with other ASEAN nations, beginning with Myanmar, to be later extended to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

The second one is to promote cruising in major waterways. The ministry has already discussed the project with Chao Phraya Express Boat Co.,Ltd., which agrees to offer cruising in the Chao Phraya that will draw attention to various landmarks of Bangkok along the river. Tourists will be able to learn the history of the kingdom and ways of life along the way. The project is expected to recover the popularity of water tourism and motivate tourists to stay longer in Thailand. The journey will be later extended to cover the historical City of Ayutthaya, where the old Japanese, Dutch, and Portuguese villages are located.

The third project, which is supported by the Culture Ministry, involves night tours that will take tourists to taste street food and experience illuminations of important buildings on famous streets of Bangkok.


-- NNT 2015-01-09

[webfact]

Samsung Galaxy S3 explodes in Krung Thai Bank (VIDEO)

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790492-samsung-galaxy-s3-explodes-in-krung-thai-bank-video/

[webfact]

Three suspected insurgents killed in clash with authorities

PATTANI: -- Three suspected insurgents were killed in shootout with the joint taskforce of police, troops and Interior Ministry officials in Pattani's Mayor district at 9 am Friday.

Full story: The 50-strong force besieged the Namsai village, leading to an exchange of gunfire that lasted about three hours. Three suspects were found killed at the scene.


-- The Nation 2015-01-09

[webfact]

Phitsanulok sets up ad hoc drought solution centers

PHITSANULOK, 9 Jan 2015 (NNT) – Phitsanulok province has set up ad hoc drought prevention and solution centers in all districts to cope with the shortage of water caused by the drought crisis.

Phitsanulok Governor Chakrin Plianwong earlier held an emergency meeting to discuss solutions to the critically low level of water in the Nan River. The governor revealed that the number of people affected by the dry period continued to increase, since the amount of water discharged from Sirikit Dam was becoming lower. The dam’s water level has now dropped to 30 percent of its capacity. The provincial irrigation office is trying to manage the remaining supply at other sources so that there will be enough water for consumption throughout the dry season.

The province has set up ad hoc drought prevention and solution centers at the local disaster prevention and mitigation office and in each district to cope with the water shortage for consumption and farming. Officials have been instructed to map out assistance plans in addition to preparation of water pumps, water trucks and containers.

The governor speculated that this year’s dry season would be more severe than previous years, as his survey of the Nan River showed that some sections of the River had become as shallow as three to four meters and were likely to be more shallow. He has ordered the local irrigation office to come up with solution plans.

Phitsanulok residents have been suggested to brace for severe lack of water by using water economically. Farmers, meanwhile, have been advised against cultivation of water-guzzling crops.


-- NNT 2015-01-09

[george]

UPDATE
Pings detected in search for Air Asia flight 8501

Indonesian search and rescue teams tasked with trying to locate the wreckage of missing Air Asia flight 8501 believe that signals from the plane’s black box recorder have been detected.

Full story: http://www.streetwisejournal.com/pings-detected-search-air-asia-flight-8501/4232/

[webfact]

Operation underway to detain French shooting suspects
LORI HINNANT, Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve says an operation is underway to detain two brothers suspected in the newsroom massacre at a satirical weekly.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790498-operation-underway-to-detain-french-shooting-suspects/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Thailand health officials blame electronic gadgets for slow down in kids education

Officials from Thailand’s Mental Health Department have warned parents in Thailand to exercise caution with regards to allowing their children to use electronic gadgets such as smartphones, tablets and computers.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/thailand-health-officials-blame-electronic-gadgets-slow-kids-education/1900/

[webfact]

First phase of double-track railway to be complete in two years
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 9 -- Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said Friday he is confident that the first phase of the double-track railway project will be complete within two years, four years earlier than originally scheduled.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790504-first-phase-of-double-track-railway-to-be-complete-in-two-years/

[webfact]

17 Students Hospitalized After Taking Hypnotic Drug
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK — Seventeen students at a secondary school in Bangkok were rushed to the hospital after they reportedly took hypnotic drugs at school.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790505-bangkok-17-students-hospitalized-after-taking-hypnotic-drug/

[webfact]

Thai student wins Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival contest 2015
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 9 -- A Thai vocational student won first prize at the the Harbin Ice and Sculpture competition held in Harbin, China, the sixth consecutive year that Thailand has won first prize.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790511-thai-student-wins-harbin-ice-and-snow-sculpture-festival-contest-2015/

[webfact]

Vietnamese worker registration starts in March
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 9 -- As the deadline for migrant workers to undertake nationality verification identification draws near, Labour Minister Gen Surasak Karnjanarat said employers are expected to register Vietnamese employees in March.

Admitting that the number of illegal Vietnamese workers currently working in Thailand is unknown, Gen Surasak said he would ask cabinet approval mployees in March.

He said earlier that the deadline for migrant workers to undertake nationality verification is March 31.

Senior Labour Ministry and related agencies officers met recently to discuss progress in registering Myanmar, Cambodian and Lao workers in Thailand--but only 36,000 persons out of 1.6 million were registered, said Gen Surasak.

Officials from Vientiane arrived in Thailand yesterday to help process Lao workers in Thailand, he said, adding that progress must be assessed to determine the need to extend the nationality verification identification process.

Regarding the lack of workers in industries such as fishery and construction, Gen Surasak said entrepreneurs may be allowed to hire semi-skilled migrant workers, but not skilled ones as they could create jobless for Thais.

The country of origin of the workers must also accept the Thai government’s rules and conditions so that a memorandum of understanding could first be prepared. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2015-01-09

[webfact]

SET index closed 1,529.42 up 7.80; Bt/USD32.77; GBP49.34; AUD26.46; EUR38.49; CAD27.57; HKD4.21; SGD24.39; JPY27.33

[webfact]

Facebook group against Thai superstition stirs debate

Bangkok, Thailand | AFP |

BANGKOK: -- A Facebook group has sparked online uproar in Thailand after ridiculing the placing of statues at dangerous road spots to ward off evil spirits, in a country where belief in the occult and supernatural is deeply held.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790513-facebook-group-against-thai-superstition-stirs-debate/

[Lite Beer]

Ms Yingluck says she feels relieved after having clarified the NACC’s charges

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra said today that she felt relieved after having clarified to the National Legislative Assembly all the charges related to the rice pledging scheme lodged against her by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790598-ms-yingluck-says-she-feels-relieved-after-having-clarified-the-naccs-charges/

[Lite Beer]

France: Shooting, hostage-taking in eastern Paris

PARIS (AP) — France's anti-terrorism prosecutor says a shooting and hostage-taking attack is underway at a kosher market on the eastern edge of Paris. A police official said there are multiple hostages and wounded at the scene.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790602-france-shooting-hostage-taking-in-eastern-paris/

[george]

Soros warning about Russia default might be too alarmist

Full story: http://www.streetwisejournal.com/soros-warning-russia-default-might-alarmist/4238/

[george]

ECONOMY

Now might be the time to get into gold

Full story: http://www.streetwisejournal.com/now-might-time-get-gold/4236/

[Lite Beer]

to continue:

Thailand Live Saturday 10 Jan 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790634-thailand-live-saturday-10-jan-2015/