Thailand Live Wednesday 21 Jan 2015

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Saudi Arabia's rights crackdown linked to war on terror
By AYA BATRAWY

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A man is given 50 lashes in a public square for "insulting Islam" on a liberal blog. Another is arrested for filming and uploading a woman's public beheading. Two females are imprisoned and put on trial for writing on Twitter in support of women driving.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793663-saudi-arabias-rights-crackdown-linked-to-war-on-terror/

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Fiscal 2016's budget set at Bt2.7 trillion

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Wednesday that the budget for the Fiscal 2016 budget has been set at Bt2.7 trillion.

Prayut said the 2016 budget would be 5.6 per cent higher than the 2015 budget. The prime minister added the new budget would see a deficit at the rate of 2.9 per cent of the GDP.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Fiscal-2016s-budget-set-at-Bt2-7-trillion-30252350.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-21

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Ancient skeletons unearthed in Phetchabun

PETCHABUN, 21 Jan 2015 (NNT) – Local people in Phetchaburi province have unearthed ancient skeletons and utensils in Nongpai district.

Nongpai district residents discovered the two skeletons and the artifacts while they were digging a pond to build a temple. The area where the skeletons were found was bought by donations of the locals.

Archaeologists from Sri Thep Historical Park who examined the skeletons estimated that they could be between1,500-2,000 years old. The Fine Arts Department has been informed of the discovery and will send a team of experts to study the ancient remains again.

The retrieval of the ancient skeletons and earthenware has attracted numerous people in the community and other villages to the area to witness the unearthed items. Locals have set up a tent to protect the remains from further decaying.


-- NNT 2015-01-21

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Farm product index fell in December

BANGKOK, 21 January 2015 (NNT)-The Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE) has said the farm product price index in December fell from that of November last year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793670-thai-farm-price-index-plunges-12/#entry8966076

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West's attempts to remain world leader hinder solution of security problems — Russian FM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says only concerted action can achieve solution of global security and stability problems

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793668-wests-attempts-to-remain-world-leader-hinder-solution-of-security-problems-russian-fm/

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Farm price index plunges 12%

BANGKOK: -- Farm product price index in December dropped 12% from November last year as the result of falling prices of rubber.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793670-thai-farm-price-index-plunges-12/

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British Consulate Chiang Mai to no longer offer notarial and documentary services

From 1 February 2015 there will be a change to notarial and documentary services at the British Consulate in Chiang Mai

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793674-british-consulate-chiang-mai-to-no-longer-offer-notarial-and-documentary-services/

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Court Orders Skytrain to Accommodate Disabled Passengers
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK - The Supreme Administrative Court has ruled that Bangkok's skytrain system must install more elevators and other equipment to assist its disabled passengers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793703-court-orders-skytrain-to-accommodate-disabled-passengers/

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SET index closed 1,537.36 up 2.27; Bt/USD32.48; GBP49.17; AUD26.57; EUR37.49; CAD26.78; HKD4.18; SGD24.23; JPY27.55

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OAE: Agricultural segment is benefiting from 283-billion-baht injection from the Government

BANGKOK, 21 Jan 2015 (NNT) - According to the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), a total of 283 billion baht is being injected into the agricultural segment under the Government’s expenditure budget to strengthen the sector.

OAE Secretary-General Lersak Riewtrakulpaiboon said that the budget covers several agricultural related projects such as the rice pledging scheme, assistance fund for farmers affected by natural disasters during 2012 - 2014, assistance fund for rubber planters, and insurance premiums for rice crops during the 2014/2015 season.

Mr. Lersak said that speaking in terms of average income per head, each farmer would receive 11,300 baht from the budget. The number is, however, far less than the figure allotted to the industrial sector which receives three trillion baht in budget. This means each industrial worker would gain 70,000 baht from the expenditure budget.

The Secretary-General said about 24 million people or 40% of Thailand’s total population are working in the agricultural segment, making it a crucial part of the nation’s economic structure.

He thus called on the Government to continue giving assistance to the agricultural sector to help workers deal with debts and poverty plaguing a large number of them to date.


-- NNT 2015-01-21

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Chanthaburi holds border trade & tourism meeting

CHANTHABURI, 21 Jan 2015 (NNT) - Trade and tourism agencies in Chanthaburi province have gathered in a brainstorming meeting today to discuss ways to spur border businesses.

The event, chaired by Chanthaburi governor Samart Loyfa, offers an opportunity for members of trade and tourism associations in the border province to exchange their views on how to foster business partnership and investments between Thailand and Cambodia.

According to the Governor, not only can trade development between the two countries lead to economic stability but can also help solve some social problems such as the shortage of alien workers.

The governor said Chanthaburi province was geared up for the economic expansion in 2015. He added the province’s strategic location, which boasted as many as five permanent and temporary immigration checkpoints, was conducive to transnational trades with neighboring Cambodia, Vietnam or even China.

Chantahburi has all along enjoyed a steady economic growth. Among its top export products are numerous types of tropical fruit, longan in particular. Last year, the province earned as much as eight billion baht from exports. The governor also took this opportunity to urge fruit farmers and exporters to maintain their products’ quality and uphold integrity when conducting their businesses.


-- NNT 2015-01-21

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Interior Ministry set to eliminate illegal hotels

BANGKOK, 21 Jan 2015, (NNT) - The Ministry of the Interior is set to eliminate illegal hotels, as it has finished the charter draft, amending the related 2008 hotel law. The code will be reviewed by the National Legislative Assembly within 2-3 months before sent to the Cabinet for further consideration.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793713-thai-interior-ministry-set-to-eliminate-illegal-hotels/

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Thailand's auto production in 2014 decreases following sluggish sales

BANGKOK, 21 January 2015 (NNT) - The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has reported that Thailand produced 1.88 million cars in 2014, lower than a target of 2.1 million cars.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793721-thailands-auto-production-in-2014-decreases-following-sluggish-sales/

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Digital TV coupons to be distributed in Phuket on Jan 28
National News Bureau of Thailand


Phuket is one of the last provinces to receive the coupon. Photo/ThaiPBS

PHUKET: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is ready to distribute additional digital TV coupons to 63 thousand households in five more provinces, including Phuket, and has urged the public to use the coupon before it expires on 31 May 2015.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793723-digital-tv-coupons-to-be-distributed-in-phuket-on-jan-28/

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NNT celebrates 17th anniversary

BANGKOK, 21 January 2015 (NNT) – The National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT) today celebrated the 17th anniversary, while the PRD Director-General stressed the agency’s vision and role as a creditable, timely and up-to-date news agency.

The Director-General of the Public Relations Department (PRD) Apinan Juntarungsri today participated in the 17th anniversary celebration event of the NNT along with the Deputy Director-General, the NNT Director, and the government officials.

The celebration event commenced this morning with a Buddhist ceremony for the prosperity and good fortune of the staffs.

For this occasion, the PRD Director-General stressed the roles and practices of the NNT in meeting the agency’s vision as a trustworthy news agency to improve the quality of public life and to promote the positive image of the nation, as well as delivering fast and accurate news and information to the public.

The National News Bureau of Thailand was established in 1994 from the merge of the PRD’s domestic and international news sectors together, with the official endorsement commencing on 21 January 2000.

The NNT’s roles are to collect and analyze news and information for the government’s reference, as well as the distribution of news and information in Thai and English through the NBT World satellite television channel, the PRD NEWS and PRD NEWS ENG smartphone applications, and the website http://thainews.prd.go.th to inform credible information to the public both inside and outside of Thailand.


-- NNT 2015-01-21

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The 90 million users of prepaid mobile phone services must all register their numbers by July 31 or their service will be suspended, according to the NBTC. /Bangkok Post

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Phuket police seize beach furniture in Patong
Nattapat Tuarob

A police officer stacks confiscated beach furniture

PHUKET: Police swooped on Patong Beach last night (January 20) and seized 178 sunbeds, 37 chairs, and 53 umbrellas piled along the edge of the beach. They announced that owners must come and retrieve them from the police station – if they dare.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793769-phuket-police-seize-beach-furniture-in-patong/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Thursday 22 Jan 2015

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793804-thailand-live-thursday-22-jan-2015/