Thailand Live Wednesday 21 Jan 2015

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Princess Maha Chakri opens hospital built in her honor in Chiang Mai

BANGKOK, 21 January 2015 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn yesterday traveled by helicopter to Mae Jaem District, Chiang Mai Province, to open Theppharatwetchanukun (เทพรัตนเวชชานุกูล) Hospital in Celebration of Her Royal Highness’s 60th Birthday.

The hospital is an extension of the 30-bed Mae Jaem Community Hospital located in the heart of Mae Jaem District. Learning of the overcrowding of the hospital which provided treatment to more than 350 people daily, Her Royal Highness donated a personal fund for the construction of a new hospital to be built on an 80-rai piece of state-owned land located just one kilometer away from the old Mae Jaem Hospital.

The construction of the new hospital was completed late last year comprising two buildings with 99 beds for in-patients. Her Royal Highness kindly named the new hospital as 'Theppharatwetchanukun Hospital in Celebration of Her Royal Highness’s 60th Birthday' and also permitted the hospital to put royal initials on the hospital’s name plate.

Her Royal Highness has also donated medical equipment and multi-purpose mobile medical vehicles for the hospital to use in visiting villagers in remote rural areas. The hospital has started providing treatment since 26 December 2014 with the help of volunteers both in and outside the hospital to promote better health of people in surrounding communities. The Royal Irrigation Department has supported the work of the hospital by building a water storage system including canals, ponds and pumping stations, enabling the hospital to have sufficient water for use all year round.


-- NNT 2015-01-21

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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/

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New campaign highlights impact of violence on kids
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- MORE THAN 19,000 children - up to 52 a day - were taken to hospital in 2013 for physical and sexual abuse, a study by the Public Health Ministry has found. The study was cited at the launch on Monday of a new campaign to boost awareness on the adverse impact violence has on children.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793510-new-campaign-highlights-impact-of-violence-on-kids/

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Nails in Yingluck's coffin?
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation



Joint working team resolves to indict former premier for dereliction of duty, ex-ministers charged with corruption

BANGKOK: -- THE CHANCE of former PM Yingluck Shinawatra avoiding impeachment on Friday got a lot slimmer yesterday after a joint working group of anti-graft officials and public prosecutors agreed to indict her on a long-standing criminal case. The anti-graft agency has also charged former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and associates for corruption in the rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793511-nails-in-yinglucks-coffin/

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Forum calls for reforms to set new standards
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION

NRC workshop focuses on reconciliation and equality

BANGKOK: -- National reforms should lead Thailand toward reconciliation and equality that is lasting, the National Reform Council (NRC) concluded yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793512-forum-calls-for-thai-reforms-to-set-new-standards/

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'Invest more' on science education
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation



Nobel laureate says such investment will pay over time, make Thailand richer.

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND needs to invest more in science education even though the rewards will not be immediately visible, 2011 Nobel laureate for physics Prof Brian P Schmidt said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793513-nobel-laureate-thailand-needs-to-invest-more-in-science-education/

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UPDATE:

Driver and conductor suspended after fight with disabled youth
Monthien Inthaket
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) has suspended a private bus and its driver and conductor, pending a probe into an allegation that the conductor pushed a young passenger who didn't pay a fare off the bus.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793384-bangkok-bus-conductor-accused-of-pushing-child-off-bus/#entry8963782

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Political parties can nominate Constitutional Court judges: CDC
Kris Bhromsuthi
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Charter drafters formed a consensus yesterday to allow representatives from political parties in government and the opposition, plus the People's Assembly, to sit on the committee to select Constitutional Court judges under the new charter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793514-political-parties-can-nominate-constitutional-court-judges-cdc/

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AOT
AOT set to name new head
SUCHAT SRITAMA
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The new president of the Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) should be announced today, while the agency continues to go ahead with its plan to expand airports nationwide and launch promotions to deal with the rebound in the travel industry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793516-airports-of-thailand-aot-set-to-name-new-head/

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BAHT
Urgent meet sought on baht
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation


Isara

BANGKOK: -- In the wake of global currency volatility, the Board of Trade of Thailand and the Thai Chamber of Commerce will soon call for a meeting with the Bank of Thailand to discuss currency risk and hear the bank's views on how to balance the rate of the baht to ensure benefits for exports, imports and investment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793518-urgent-meet-sought-on-thai-baht/

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EDITORIAL
Overpricing shames Thailand again
The Nation

Recent cases of tourists being exploited are damaging more than just the country's reputation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's reputation among foreign visitors has taken another dive following complaints of overpricing. A group of eight Malaysians visited a karaoke bar in Chiang Mai on Friday night and were together charged Bt114,080 for a few hours' stay.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793519-overpricing-shames-thailand-again/

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STOPPAGE TIME
If hate speech is dangerous, banning it is more so
Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- The greatest trick "hate speech" has ever pulled is, it seems, to exist only on "the other side". Which is why the Constitution Drafting Committee's idea to make it illegal will only scratch the surface of the problem. "Hate speech" is abstract, highly subjective and absolutely capable of making anyone a hypocrite. Most of all, it can come in various forms, even in the most beautiful language.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793520-thai-opinion-if-hate-speech-is-dangerous-banning-it-is-more-so/

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Soap and shampoo add to list of products under price control



BANGKOK: -- Soap and shampoo will now be subjected to price control as mandated by the cabinet on Tuesday after it was discovered that manufacturers have reduced the sizes of their containers in order to sell the products at controlled prices.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793521-soap-and-shampoo-add-to-list-of-products-under-price-control/

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Police Arrest Suspected Human Traffickers Targeting Rural Thais
By Khaosod English


Marine police in Satul province inspected fishing boats manned by Burmese workers to look for potential human traffickers and drug use, 19 June 2014.

BANGKOK — Police have arrested two suspected human traffickers who allegedly coerced more than 100 Thais into working under slavish conditions on fishing boats in Indonesian waters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793522-police-arrest-suspected-human-traffickers-rargeting-rural-thais/

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EC upset over diminished role
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Election Commission (EC) chairman Suphachai Somcharoen yesterday urged the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) to explain why it wants to give the Interior and Education ministries the task of organising elections instead of the EC.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793523-thai-ec-upset-over-diminished-role/

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KMITL staff, students call on bank to help
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- STUDENTS AND teachers of the King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Latkrabang (KMITL) yesterday submitted an open letter to the Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) asking it to clarify its stance in the Bt1.474 billion embezzlement and theft case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793524-kmitl-staff-students-call-on-bank-to-help/

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ONESQA says its evaluation takes 5 hours, not 9 days
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE OFFICE for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (ONESQA) yesterday dismissed findings that suggested teachers had to spend nine days a year on ONESQA-related activities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793525-onesqa-says-its-evaluation-takes-5-hours-not-9-days/

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Parties work together to solve gold mine pollution
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A five-party panel is working to help people affected by a gold mine in Phichit province through three measures, including a traditional-medicine programme to reduce their heavy-metal contamination.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793526-parties-work-together-to-solve-phichit-gold-mine-pollution/

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Japan weighs ransom in Islamic State threat to kill hostages
By JON GAMBRELL and MARI YAMAGUCHI

CAIRO (AP) — The Islamic State group threatened to kill two Japanese hostages within 72 hours, demanding a $200 million ransom in a video posted online Tuesday that showed a knife-brandishing masked militant standing over the two kneeling captives.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793528-japan-weighs-ransom-in-islamic-state-threat-to-kill-hostages/

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Indonesia: AirAsia plane climbed too fast, then disappeared
By NINIEK KARMINI

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — An AirAsia plane that crashed last month with 162 people on board was climbing at an abnormally high rate, then plunged and suddenly disappeared from radar, Indonesia's transport minister said Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793531-indonesia-airasia-plane-climbed-too-fast-then-disappeared/

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Man who saved lives at Paris grocery gets French citizenship
SYLVIE CORBET, Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — French authorities on Tuesday honored a Mali-born employee who saved lives at the kosher supermarket attacked by terrorists as a hero and granted him French citizenship.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793533-france-attacks-man-who-saved-lives-at-paris-grocery-gets-french-citizenship/

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Shiite rebels shell Yemen president's home, take over palace
By AHMED AL-HAJ and MAGGIE MICHAEL

SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Shiite rebels shelled the residence of Yemen's leader and swept into the nearby presidential palace Tuesday in what a top army commander said was an unfolding coup.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793552-shiite-rebels-shell-yemen-presidents-home-take-over-palace/

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4 men in Paris court are 1st to face terror attacks charges
LORI HINNANT, Associated Press
SYLVIE CORBET, Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — French anti-terror prosecutors were seeking to charge four men Tuesday in connection with the attacks in Paris that left 20 people dead, which would be the first suspects charged in the country's bloodiest terrorist attacks in decades.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793553-4-men-in-paris-court-are-1st-to-face-terror-attacks-charges/

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Tourists Are Reporting a Dramatic Surge in Harassment by Thai Police
Ian Lloyd Neubauer / Bangkok

The Land of Smiles? How about the Land of Shakedowns?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793555-tourists-are-reporting-a-dramatic-surge-in-harassment-by-thai-police/

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Phang-nga rubber growers' income increased through central market

PHANG-NGA, 21 Jan 2015, (NNT) - Para rubber planters of Takdad Sub-district in Muang Phang-nga who are members of the Para Rubber Fund Co-operative Phang-nga Limited have been able to increase their income, selling rubber directly to the provincial central market without having to go through middlemen.

According to the planters, the price of rubber is usually quoted at 45 baht per kilogram by middlemen. Through the co-operative, the price has shot up to as much as 58 baht per kilogram.

The co-operative charges only 1 baht per kilogram for transportation and processing fees, much less that that charged by middlemen. 120 tons of rubber sheets were sold in the central market yesterday, generating 1.5 million baht more for Phang-nga rubber planters than they would have, had they been sold to middlemen

The cooperative has 11 branches in 8 districts, said President of Naitonal Rubber Fund Limited, Wiraj Jarungkarn said, adding that rubber farmers joining the co-operative have made significant progress, given several members of the cooperative have been able to purchase machinery for use in their production.

Some branches also buy rubber latex at 48 baht per kilogram, 10 baht higher than the price offered by most processing factories. He said the cooperative then processes the latex into rubber sheets before selling them to the central market.


-- NNT 2015-01-21

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Google, Fidelity fuel Elon Musk’s SpaceX with $1B investment

HAWTHORNE, Calif. (AP) — SpaceX has raised $1 billion from Google and Fidelity in a deal that values the spaceship manufacturer at about $10 billion.

The infusion announced Tuesday will give Google Inc. and Fidelity Investments a nearly 10 percent stake in SpaceX, a Hawthorne, California, company that employs more than 3,000 people.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/google-fidelity-fuel-elon-musks-spacex-1b-investment/3033/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Please don’t be so stupid as to use any of these passwords

The list of Worst Passwords of 2014 reveal that people are still getting it hopelessly wrong when it comes to choosing secure online passwords.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/please-dont-stupid-use-passwords/3025/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Samsung Galaxy S6 may sport 4GB RAM and metal chassis

With Mobile World Congress (MWC) a little over a month away, it means that Samsung is gearing up to launch its latest all-singing, all-dancing flagship phone, the Galaxy S6. The rumour mill has already started, but the latest whispers from Korea say that the S6 might actually come with a glass or metal non-removable rear.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/samsung-galaxy-s6-may-sport-4gb-ram-metal-chassis/3014/

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IMF sees slower growth for ASEAN

BANGKOK: -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts slower growth in ASEAN’s five largest economies this year on back of an expected slowdown in China, The Brunei Times reported, citing the IMF.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793595-imf-sees-slower-growth-for-asean/

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California lawmakers to pursue right-to-die legislation
By FENIT NIRAPPIL

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmakers are pursuing right-to-die legislation after the highly publicized death of a young woman with brain cancer who moved to Oregon to legally end her life.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793597-us-california-lawmakers-to-pursue-right-to-die-legislation/