Thailand Live Thursday 22 Jan 2015

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AP source: FBI completes federal probe of Ferguson shooting
By ERIC TUCKER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI has completed its investigation into the police shooting of an unarmed, black 18-year-old in Ferguson, Missouri, a U.S. official said Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793836-fbi-completes-federal-probe-of-ferguson-shooting-ap-source/

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Govt. set to move beggars from streets on sustainable basis

BANGKOK, 22 Jan 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) will lead a campaign to address the ongoing beggar issue on a sustainable basis, with a major clean-up operation to be organized from January 26th -30th.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793864-thai-govt-set-to-move-beggars-from-streets-on-sustainable-basis/

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Severe drought in Khon Kean forces locals to buy water for consumption

KHON KEAN, 22 Jan 2015, (NNT) - The locals of Khon Kean’s Nongrua District have been suffering from severe drought conditions, forcing them to purchase water for consumption

The 70-rai Nongsala reservoir in Yangkham Sub-district has dried up and the little water remaining is murky and unsuitable for drinking. According to the local residents, it has not rained since the beginning of 2015, resulting in the rapid decline in the water level.

One of the locals said his family has resorted to buying water for daily use and consumption, as they can no longer rely on the dried-up reservoir.

The locals urged the Government to help dredging the reservoir, enabling it to hold enough water for the consumption of 500 households that in the area.


-- NNT 2015-01-22

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Suphanburi urges farmers to quit using slash and burn technique

SUPHANBURI, 22 Jan 2015, (NNT) - As a tribute to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s on her 60th birthday anniversary, the Office of Land Development in Suphanburi Province has organized a campaign encouraging rice farmers to quit using the slash and burn technique and turn to stubble plowing instead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793865-suphanburi-urges-farmers-to-quit-using-slash-and-burn-technique/

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BMTA: 3.65 million baht for each of the 489 NGV buses is reasonable

BANGKOK, 22 Jan 2015, (NNT) - According to the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), the 3.65 million baht price quoted is reasonable for each of the 489 NGV-fueled buses it plans to purchase.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793866-bmta-365-million-baht-for-each-of-the-489-ngv-buses-is-reasonable/

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Jokowi firm on execution

BANGKOK: -- Indonesia's President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has refused to budge on the execution of drug offenders, regardless of their nationality, arguing that the widespread use of drugs has placed the country in a "state of emergency" over the years, The Jakarta Post reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793867-indonesias-president-jokowi-firm-on-execution/

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Texas executes man convicted of killing 3 in San Antonio
By MICHAEL GRACZYK

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — A 41-year-old Texas prisoner was put to death Wednesday evening for the slayings of three people during a robbery at their San Antonio home more than 21 years ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793869-us-texas-executes-man-convicted-of-killing-3-in-san-antonio/

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Flood situation getting worse in Sarawak



KUALA LUMPUR: -- Sarawak has been heavily hit by floods, causing the number of evacuees to rise while warning of more rain to come has continued, The Star Online reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793870-malaysia-flood-situation-getting-worse-in-sarawak/

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ISIS gaining ground in Yemen, competing with al Qaeda
By Brian Todd, CNN

Washington (CNN)The Syria-based terror group ISIS is active and recruiting inside the Middle Eastern state of Yemen, already a hotbed of terrorist activity, CNN has learned.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793871-isis-gaining-ground-in-yemen-competing-with-al-qaeda/

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Navy officer fired, probe involves affair, suspicious death
LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Navy captain in charge of the naval station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has been fired and is being investigated in connection with an alleged affair with a woman on the base and the recent death of her husband, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793873-guantanamo-bay-naval-base-commanding-officer-fired-due-to-distrust/

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Video shows man shot by New Jersey police raising his hands
By SEAN CARLIN and GEOFF MULVIHILL

BRIDGETON, N.J. (AP) — With the dashboard camera in their cruiser rolling, police pulled a Jaguar over for running a stop sign on a dark night. But things suddenly turned tense when one of the officers warned his partner that he could see a gun in the glove compartment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793893-us-video-shows-man-shot-by-new-jersey-police-raising-his-hands/

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Security tightened at Parliament as Yingluck arrives



BANGKOK: -- Security was tightened at Parliament when the National Legislative Assembly began the last day of its impeachment process against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793895-security-tightened-at-thai-parliament-as-yingluck-arrives/

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UPDATE:

BMTA defends its NGV bus fleet procurement



BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) yesterday defended its multi-billion baht plan to purchase a fleet of NGV-fueled buses saying the price is reasonable.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793866-bmta-365-million-baht-for-each-of-the-489-ngv-buses-is-reasonable/#entry8969181

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Water management plan to be proposed to Cabinet next month

BANGKOK, 22 January 2015 (NNT)-The water management policy committee is planning to propose to the cabinet its comprehensive water management blueprint in February.

Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikalya, who chairs the committee, said his team is still reviewing the strategy to assure its efficiency.
The 10 year management plan is expected to cost the government 1 trillion baht. It will be implemented in 3 different stages.

Under the first urgent phase, from 2015-2016, measures will be taken to maintain water supplies throughout the country and prevent repetitions of flooding disasters.

Around 240 billion baht would be needed to achieve these goals. Laws regarding water resources will also be legislated during the same period.

In the second and third phases, the committee will proceed with the construction of medium and large-scale reservoirs. The projects will be preceded by public hearings and studies on environment impacts.


-- NNT 2015-01-22

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UPDATE:

Ousted Thai PM to make final impeachment defence

Bangkok, Thailand | AFP |

BANGKOK: -- Ousted premier Yingluck Shinawatra arrived at Thailand's junta-picked legislature Thursday to make a last ditch defence ahead of an impeachment vote that could see her banned from politics for five years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793895-security-tightened-at-thai-parliament-as-yingluck-arrives/#entry8969197

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Moscow: North Korean leader 'positive' about Moscow invite

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's foreign minister says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has given a positive response to the Kremlin's invitation to visit Russia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793908-north-korean-leader-positive-about-moscow-invite-russia-says/

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Green tea bottle balloons removed



CHIANG MAI: -- The rector of Chiang Mai university has ordered the removal of two bottle shape balloons of a green tea brand following complaints that it was inappropriate and obstruct the view of its main auditorium where a graduation ceremony will be held today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793911-chiang-mai-green-tea-bottle-balloons-removed/

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Chiang Mai ready to get tough with rogue entertainment venue operators

CHIANG MAI, 22 Jan 2015 (NNT) – Chiang Mai is poised to get tough with rogue entertainment venue operators and other service providers to improve the province’s image among visitors.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793921-chiang-mai-ready-to-get-tough-with-rogue-entertainment-venue-operators/

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Divers find bodies belted in seats near AirAsia fuselage

PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia (AFP) - Indonesian divers Thursday found five bodies still belted into their seats near the main section of an AirAsia plane that crashed into the Java Sea last month with 162 people on board, and are hopeful of reaching the fuselage.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793926-divers-find-bodies-belted-in-seats-near-airasia-fuselage/

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Into the Woods: Disoriented Norwegian woman lost in forest for 23 hours
By Coconuts Bangkok

CHA-A search and rescue mission for a missing Norwegian woman in Cha-am ended happily when a helicopter search crew spotted her under a tree near her hotel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793936-cha-am-disoriented-norwegian-woman-lost-in-forest-for-23-hours/

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That's the way they drive here! (video)

Yesterday morning, a speeding Honda Jazz tried to overtake a truck and encroached into the opposite lane in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793933-thats-the-way-they-drive-here/

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Khaosod Acquitted of Buddha Issara's Libel Charge

By Khaosot English


File photo of Buddha Issara, a core leader of the anti-government movement against former PM Yingluck Shinawatra, on 9 May 2014.

BANGKOK — Khaosod newspaper has been acquitted of libel charges filed by Buddha Issara, an ultra-royalist Buddhist monk who led protests against the former government last year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793943-khaosod-acquitted-of-buddha-issaras-libel-charge/

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UPDATE:

Yingluck says she’s done nothing wrong



BANGKOK: -- Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today defended accusation of negligence of duties in the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) that resulted in huge loss and rampant corruption, claiming that they were unfounded and imagination.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793895-security-tightened-at-thai-parliament-as-yingluck-arrives/#entry8970003

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Rival Technical Students Forced To Clean Up Their Act
By Khaosod English


Dozens of students from Pathum Thani Technical College, Pathum Thani Technological College, and Laem Thong Technology College were escorted by their teachers to remove graffiti from the walls of buildings in Hor Saeng Chai market and nearby areas, 22 Jan 2015.

PATHUM THANI — Students from three technical colleges in Pathum Thani were ordered to paint over the gang signs they allegedly sprayed on walls in the town center, in an effort to reduce rivalries among the students.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793948-rival-technical-students-in-pathum-thani-forced-to-clean-up-their-act/

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SONGKHLA: -- A bus carrying about 70 students to visit the Institute for Southern Thai Studies, Thaksin University in Songkhla province skidded and flipped over while running down a sloppy road.

Fifty students were injured and all were admitted to Songkhla hospital.

The students are from Yaring district of Pattani.

The incident at noon Thursday. The bus lost control after its shaft broke, police said.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/83546


-- Thai PBS 2015-01-22

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Court acquits two former Pheu Thai ministers and one party member of defamation charges

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court on Thursday acquitted two former ministers and a member of the Pheu Thai party of defamation charges lodged against them by former finance minister Korn Chatikavanich of the Democrat party.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793949-court-acquits-two-former-pheu-thai-ministers-and-one-party-member-of-defamation-charges/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Are these the new Samsung Galaxy S6 specs?

The Samsung rumour mill has been in overdrive but have the Samsung Galaxy S6 specs finally been released?

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/new-samsung-galaxy-s6-specs/3123/

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Media from 60 countries to cover Thai tourism

TRANG, 22 Jan 2015 (NNT) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will hold a press tour for media representatives from 60 countries around the world who will visit famous places in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793950-media-from-60-countries-to-cover-thai-tourism/

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Man surrenders for allegedly killing 'Dumb the Dog'

BANGKOK: -- A 32-year-old man Thursday gave himself to police to fight charges that he had shot and killed a street dog late night of January 13 in front of Imperial Lard Prao shopping mall.

Wicha Boonlualak denied the charges. His Chevrolet car was seen in the camera before the dog, much loved by local residents, was seen shot. The gunman was not seen on the camera. The female dog was called "Dumb the Dog" because it was apparently friendly to all people.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Man-surrenders-for-allegedly-killing-Dumb-the-Dog-30252439.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-22

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Phuket anti-drug drive continues with three arrests
Eakkapop Thongtub


Between the, Hattachart and Narongrit were found in possession of 21.77 grams of ya ice and 268 ya bah pills.

PHUKET: -- The anti-drug drive continues on Phuket with the arrest of two drug dealers by undercover police on Sunday (January 18) and a further arrest on Tuesday (January 20).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/793958-phuket-anti-drug-drive-continues-with-three-arrests/