Thailand Live Tuesday 20 Jan 2015

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Traditional medicine can reduce heavy-metal contamination: Phichit Governor

PHICHIT: -- Phichit's Governor Surachai Kanarsa has recommended the use of traditional detoxification measures to cure local residents affected by heavymetal contamination from a nearby gold mine.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793316-traditional-medicine-can-reduce-heavy-metal-contamination-phichit-governor/

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Trial For 'Popcorn Gunman' Postponed
By Khaosod English


Rescue workers rush to the aid of Arkaew Saelew, who was allegedly shot by the popcorn gunman and later died in a hospital. 1 Feb 2014.

BANGKOK – Thailand’s Criminal Court has postponed the trial of a suspected gunman affiliated with the anti-government protest movement that preceded the 22 May 2014 coup.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793317-bangkok-trial-for-popcorn-gunman-postponed/

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Pattaya Guard Beats Tourist Unconscious 'Out of Misunderstanding'
By Khaosod English


A stock photo of Pattaya, a beach town east of Bangkok known for its raucous nightlife and high rate of crimes against foreigners.

CHONBURI — A security guard and group of motorcyclists in the resort town of Pattaya reportedly beat a foreign tourist unconscious because of a "misunderstanding" last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793319-pattaya-guard-beats-foreign-tourist-unconscious-out-of-misunderstanding/

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Better airport/roads will attract more tourists, Andaman-based Chamber of Commerce says

TRANG, 20 January 2015 (NNT) - Mr. Salil Tohtubtieng, chairman of Trang’s Chamber of Commerce acting as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Andaman Provinces, has requested the government to develop transport facilities around five provinces along the Andaman coast after tourists have complained about traffic inconveniences during their trips.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793342-better-airportroads-will-attract-more-tourists-andaman-based-chamber-of-commerce-says/

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Australia gives Down Syndrome baby left in Thailand citizenship

Sydney, Australia | AFP |

BANGKOK: -- A baby at the centre of a Thai surrogacy scandal has been granted Australian citizenship, authorities said Tuesday, after his birth mother said he was abandoned by a Perth couple who went home with his healthy twin sister.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793365-australia-gives-down-syndrome-baby-left-in-thailand-citizenship/

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Plan to send prisoners to sea sinks

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A radical plan by the Thai government to put prisoners to work on the country's under-staffed fishing boats has been scrapped, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday, following charges the scheme threatened inmates' rights.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793366-plan-by-thai-govt-to-send-prisoners-to-sea-sinks/

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Pheu Thai Party accuses NACC of having unqualified member
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 20 -- Ruengkrai Leekitwattana, proxy for five Pheu Thai party members including former deputy prime minister/foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, filed a lawsuit with the Criminal Court today accusing Pakdee Pothisiri, a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), of lacking the qualification to sit in the anti-graft panel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793373-pheu-thai-party-accuses-nacc-of-having-unqualified-member/

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Weakened Swiss Franc not affecting Thai exports, says DITP Director-General

BANGKOK, 20 January 2015 (NNT) – The Director-General of the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) has ensured the depreciating Swiss Franc will not affect the Thai export sector, and he is positive that the Made in Thailand in Focus 2015 Exposition will effectively boost domestic purchases.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793376-weakened-swiss-franc-not-affecting-thai-exports-says-ditp-director-general/

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Phuket fund-raiser for young disabled woman
Matt Pond


Despite her disabilities, Wan has an amazing spirit and is worthy of a lot more from life than she currently has.

PHUKET: -- If you are looking for something to do this coming Friday evening (January 23), and you want it to include generosity, then we would like to suggest you head to the Kangaroo Bar on Bangla Rd, Patong, where they will be holding a fund-raising function for a young woman named Wan, who works around Bangla selling various wares.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793378-phuket-fund-raiser-for-young-disabled-woman/

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Bus conductor accused of pushing child off bus
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A bus conductor who allegedly pushed a developmentally disabled child off her bus was suspended from her duties yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793384-bangkok-bus-conductor-accused-of-pushing-child-off-bus/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Yahoo CEO poised to make fateful decision on Alibaba stake

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) —NASDAQ:YHOO Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer is facing her biggest business decision since she left Google two-and-a-half years ago to lead its struggling rival: how to manage Yahoo’s most valuable asset, a 15 percent stake in Chinese Internet star NASDAQ:BABA Alibaba Group worth nearly $37 billion.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/yahoo-ceo-poised-make-fateful-decision-alibaba-stake/3006/

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Thrills and agony of Suvarnabhumi Airport captured in BBC trailer (VIDEO)
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- It’s a mix of grins and grimaces as staff struggle to handle traveler’s issues, immigration officers ask for smiles, and a man wearing lipstick professes his love for tourists in an exaggerated but hilarious slices of life at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793386-thrills-and-agony-of-suvarnabhumi-airport-captured-in-bbc-trailer-video/

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SET index closed 1,535.09 down 0.28; Bt/USD32.61; GBP49.11; AUD26.56; EUR37.66; CAD27.15; HKD4.19; SGD24.27; JPY27.47

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IMPEACHMENT PETITION
Pheu Thai's claim not true : Democrat

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party deputy spokesman Jurit Laksanawisit said Tuesday the Pheu Thai camp had made an unsubstantiated accusation when it claimed the party's impeachment petition against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra was unlawful.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793389-pheu-thais-claim-not-true-democrat/

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Impeachment will make reconciliation impossible: Korkaew

BANGKOK: -- Former Pheu Thai MP and red-shirt leader Korkaew Pikulthong said Tuesday that the word "reconciliation" would be locked up in a chest and put away if former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, former Parliament president Somsak Kiartsuranon and former Senate speaker Nikhom Wairatphanic are impeached by the National Legislative Assembly.

In that scenario, the reconciliation would be possible only in the next life.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Impeachment-will-make-reconciliation-impossible-Ko-30252283.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-20

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The National Anti-Corruption Commission has agreed to indict former prime minister Niwatthamlong Boonsongpaisal and 20 other cabinet ministers, state officials and civilians on corruption and conspiracy charges involving the government-to-government rice deals with China, and the rice-pledging scheme

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/83209

-- Thai PBS 2015-01-20

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UPDATE:

NACC resolves to file criminal charges against Boonsong, Poom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission Tuesday resolved to charge former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyaphirom and former deputy commerce minister Poom Sarapol for having abused rice in the government stockpile.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793328-nacc-expected-to-rule-on-fate-of-ex-commerce-minister-boonsong-today-jan-20/#entry8961688

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UPDATE:

Former Pheu Thai ministers sue NACC of malfeasance

BANGKOK: -- Five former ministers of the Pheu Thai party today filed a lawsuit with the Criminal Court accusing chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission and four other members of the commission of malfeasance in office.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793373-pheu-thai-party-accuses-nacc-of-having-unqualified-member/#entry8961768

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BMA holds public hearing on Grey Line monorail project

BANGKOK, 20 January 2015 (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has held the second public hearing on the study of the Watcharapol - Rama IX Bridge – Tha Phra Grey Line Monorail construction design project.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793397-bma-holds-public-hearing-on-grey-line-monorail-project/

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Old Thai-Cambodia railway bridge dismantled
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 20 -- A new railway bridge linking Thailand and Cambodia is rising to connect Aranyaprathet and Poipet on the Thai-Khmer border.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793398-old-thai-cambodia-railway-bridge-dismantled/

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Cabinet briefed on situation in Deep South

BANGKOK, 20 January 2015 (NNT) - Members of the Cabinet have been informed of the current situation in the 3 southern border provinces of Thailand.

Speaking after the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Army Spokesperson Col Winthai Suvaree made known that Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, along with his Cabinet ministers, was briefed on the matter of national security, which is overseen by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

According to the spokesperson, the overall situation in the country is considered normal as there have been no political movements that could stir conflicts or cause social divide.

Furthermore, he said the cabinet was notified of the current situation in the restive South and the NCPO’s measures to restore peace and prevent losses in the violence-torn area which have proven effective, given that the number of violent incidents has been reduced by half.

As for the pending impeachment case against former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Col Winthai said the NCPO will keep a watchful eye on her supporters, adding that so far no violence has been reported.


-- NNT 2015-01-20

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UPDATE:

Boonsong says he political victim linked to Yingluck's impeachment

BANGKOK: -- Former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyaphirom cried foul over the National Anti-Corruption Commission's decision to charge him over the rice selling case, saying he was a political victim.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793328-nacc-expected-to-rule-on-fate-of-ex-commerce-minister-boonsong-today-jan-20/#entry8961984

[Lite Beer]

Public prosecutors agree to charge Yingluck in Supreme Court: NACC secretary general

BANGKOK: -- The secretary general of the National Anti-Corruption Commission said public prosecutors in a joint panel agreed Tuesday to charge former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra in the Supreme Court in the rice-pledging scheme.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793452-public-prosecutors-agree-to-charge-yingluck-in-supreme-court-nacc-secretary-general/

[Lite Beer]

Cabinet approves oil palm imports amid protest from farmers

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet today endorsed the proposal to import 50,000 tons of palm oil to tackle the shortage problem.

Full story:

[Lite Beer]

Ex-minister Boonsong and 20 others faulted for corruption in fake G-to-G rice deals by NACC

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission on Tuesday faulted former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyaphirom, former deputy commerce minister Poom Saraphol and 19 other officials and business people of corruption in connection with two fake government-to-government rice deals involving with 65,000 tonnes of milled rice worth about 847 million baht.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793463-ex-minister-boonsong-and-20-others-faulted-for-corruption-in-fake-g-to-g-rice-deals-by-nacc/

[Lite Beer]

Mae Sod and Myawadi to be declared Sister City

BANGKOK: -- The cabinet on Tuesday approved the Commerce Ministry’s proposal to declare Mae Sot district of Tak and Myanmar’s Myawadi border township Sister City in order to promote border trade in the Mae Sod special economic development zone.

The governors of Tak and Myawadi will jointly announce the establishment of the Sister City during a trade exhibition to be held in Mae Sod on between January 28 and February 1. The event will be chaired by the commerce ministers of the two countries.

Formal signing for the establishment of the Sister City will be made at the 7th Thai-Myanmar joint trade committee meeting in Myanmar in August.

Two-way border trade through Mae Sod border crossing for the first 11 months last year was estimated at 57 billion baht, including 54.3 billion baht in exports and 2.7 billion baht in imports.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/mae-sod-myawadi-declared-sister-city

-- Thai PBS 2015-01-20

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to continue:

Thailand Live Wednesday 21 Jan 2015

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793509-thailand-live-wednesday-21-jan-2015/