Thailand Live Thursday 29 Jan 2015

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Bangkok ranks 14th in Asia-Pacific’s ‘safe cities’
By Coconuts Bangkok

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795843-bangkok-ranked-39th-in-safe-cities-index-2015/#entry9002289

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Poll: Martial law vital to maintaining peace and order

BANGKOK, 29 Jan 2015 (NNT) – A recent opinion survey conducted by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University has indicated that the majority of respondents feel that it is still necessary that martial law remain in force.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795872-thai-poll-martial-law-vital-to-maintaining-peace-and-order/

[webfact]

N. Korea demanded $10 billion for summit: ex-Seoul leader
HYUNG-JIN KIM, Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il repeatedly pushed for summit talks with South Korea before his 2011 death but the plans failed because Pyongyang demanded $10 billion and large-scale shipments of food and fertilizer, a former South Korean president said in a memoir to be published next week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795876-n-korea-demanded-us10-billion-for-summit-ex-seoul-leader/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Poll says US does not understand Thai politics



BANGKOK: -- Most Thai people feel the United States have no real understanding of Thai politics when its top diplomat called on the Thai military junta to lift martial law.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795872-thai-poll-martial-law-vital-to-maintaining-peace-and-order/#entry9002404

[webfact]

Thai junta orders German NGO to cancel press freedom briefing

AFP

BANGKOK: -- A German rights group said Thursday that it has been ordered by Thailand's junta to cancel a briefing on the health of the kingdom's media landscape, in a growing clampdown on freedom of expression.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795877-thai-govt-orders-german-ngo-to-cancel-press-freedom-briefing/

[webfact]

Suvarnabhumi bans taxi driver with rigged meter (VIDEO)
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- A Suvarnabhumi Airport taxi driver caught convincing a Japanese expat that a new law made fares THB75 at flagfall has been banned from the airport.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795879-suvarnabhumi-bans-taxi-driver-with-rigged-meter-video/

[webfact]

SWAT Team Sent In To Arrest Light-Fingered Ladyboy
Published by Stickboy BKK



BANGKOK: -- Police were taking no chances when they swooped on the Bangkok residence of a light-fingered ladyboy with a knife-wielding history by sending in what can only be described as a SWAT team.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795881-swat-team-sent-in-to-arrest-light-fingered-thai-ladyboy/

[george]

BREAKING:

Phuket Body in Bin killer Stein Dokset sentenced to nine years

Story to follow shortly

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Phuket Body in Bin killer Stein Dokset sentenced to nine years

PHUKET:-- Stein Dokset, a Norwegian national who murdered his former lover and concealed her body in a bin for more than two years has today been sentenced to nine years in prison.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795886-phuket-body-in-bin-killer-stein-dokset-sentenced-to-nine-years/

[webfact]

Almost 1 million tons of rice in government stockpiles auctioned

BANGKOK, 29 January 2014 (NNT) - More than one hundred bidders have participated in the Ministry of Commerce's first rice auction of 2015, bidding on over 900,000 tons of rice in government stockpiles.

The auction of 999,763.61 tons of rice began on Wednesday morning at the Department of Foreign Trade between 8.30 and 11.03 am. This was the first time that the ministry had announced the minimum rate as a starting point for bidding.

In the afternoon, the ministry was to announce the names of bidders who offered the highest prices and the auction results will be submitted to the National Rice Policy Committee for approval.

Currently, there are 17.5 million tons of rice sitting in the government's warehouses nationwide. The ministry has come up with a plan to release 10 million tons during 2015 and the rest of the stock within the next two years, in order to prevent further damage caused by deterioration, as well as to increase the efficiency of rice management.


-- NNT 2015-01-29

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Accused in Phuket 'body in bin' case gets nine years
Nattapat Tuarob


After his arrest, Dokset took part in a reenactment, with a bin similar to the one into which he stuffed the body of his former lover.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795886-phuket-body-in-bin-killer-stein-dokset-sentenced-to-nine-years/#entry9002763

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PM gives reassurances of serious effort in solving farmers' problems
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 29 -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told a meeting of senior officials this morning at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives that he is seriously trying to resolve farmers' problems.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795913-pm-prayut-gives-reassurances-of-serious-effort-in-solving-farmers-problems/

[webfact]

Government serious about economic reform for sustainable development
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 29 -- The Thai government is seriously reforming the economy for sustainable development, Deputy Prime Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula asserted today

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795915-thai-govt-serious-about-economic-reform-for-sustainable-development/

[webfact]

SET index closed 1,586.40 down 6.41; Bt/USD32.51; GBP49.14; AUD25.43; EUR36.54; CAD25.83; HKD4.18; SGD23.94; JPY27.53

[webfact]

New ivory law takes effect
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 29 -- The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation warned owners of ivory tusks and products made from ivory to report their holdings to the authorities within 90 days as required by the new ivory law that took effect on Jan 22.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795918-thailand-new-ivory-law-takes-effect/

[webfact]

ASEAN to continue discussion for ASEAN common time zone
By Digital Content

KOTA KINABALU, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- ASEAN will continue to consider a common time zone for ASEAN capitals, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795919-asean-to-continue-discussion-for-asean-common-time-zone/

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NEW CONSTITUTION
CDC urged to explain to EC about new roles

BANGKOK: -- Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) should explain to the Election Commission (EC) about the reasons behind its change of role in the new constitution, said Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krue-ngam on Thursday.

EC should be informed that the change is not due to any misconduct, Wissanu said, adding he is sure that EC will understand.

He was referring to CDC’s resolution to allow the EC to resume operations in the coming elections while a new committee will be established to oversee the election process.

Wissanu said he personally believed that granting absolute power to the EC will weaken the trust of the public and result in an absence of power balance. Authoritative balance is the reason why the CDC wanted to divide the authority into separate organisations.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/CDC-urged-to-explain-to-EC-about-new-roles-30252934.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-29

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NZ man may face death penalty in Indonesia

BALI: -- Indonesian prosecutors have confirmed they will press charges carrying the death penalty against a New Zealand man caught with crystal meth at Bali's airport.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795920-nz-man-may-face-death-penalty-in-indonesia/

[webfact]

RICE SCHEME
Bidding of nearly one million tonnes of government rice started

BANGKOK: -- More than one hundred bidders have participated in the Commerce Ministry's first rice auction of 2015, bidding on almost one-million tons of rice in government stockpiles.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795922-bidding-of-nearly-one-million-tonnes-of-thai-government-rice-started/

[webfact]

Israeli center-left alliance looks to unseat Netanyahu
By ARON HELLER

JERUSALEM (AP) — When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolved his unwieldy coalition and called new elections last month, he appeared almost certain to be returned once more to office. But a new center-left alliance has surged past his Likud party in the polls, turning the March 17 contest into a toss-up.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795924-israeli-center-left-alliance-looks-to-unseat-netanyahu/

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Five districts in Bangkok and Nonthaburi listed unsafe due to poor air quality



BANGKOK: -- The Pollution Control Department has warned residents in Bangkok and Nonthaburi living in five districts to avoid spending long time in the open due to the poor air quality which may pose health threat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795926-five-districts-in-bangkok-and-nonthaburi-listed-unsafe-due-to-poor-air-quality/

[webfact]

One dead, three hurt in Phuket student gang shooting – VIDEO
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- A 17-year-old boy was killed and three others were injured – one severely – when a gunman stepped out of a black Toyota Vios and start shooting at a group of students near Bang Yai Canal in Saphan Hin just after midday today (January 29).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795928-one-dead-three-hurt-in-phuket-student-gang-shooting-video/

[webfact]

Malaysia says MH370 crash an accident to clear compensation

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's Civil Aviation Authority has officially declared the MH370 crash an accident, fulfilling a legal obligation that will allow efforts to proceed with compensation claims.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795931-malaysia-says-mh370-crash-an-accident-to-clear-compensation/

[Lite Beer]

Daniel Russel insists on his political impartiality and the US support for the Thai people and Thailand

BANGKOK: -- US Assistant Secretary of State for Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel maintained that his visit to Thailand early this week was planned long ago before the impeachment of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and that his visit here was to show the US support for the Thai people and the kingdom of Thailand and not any particular political parties or political groups.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795958-daniel-russel-insists-on-his-political-impartiality-and-the-us-support-for-the-thai-people-and-thail/

[Lite Beer]

Thai businessman buys Sheffield Wednesday Football Club

Photo from SWFC

BANGKOK: -- Dejphon Chansiri, a member of the family that controls Thai Union Frozen Products (TUF), today reached an agreement to acquire the 100 per cent ownership of a British football club, Sheffield Wednesday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795966-thai-businessman-buys-sheffield-wednesday-football-club/

[Lite Beer]

Martial law to be strictly enforced

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha stated today that martial law which has been eased for the past several months will now be strictly enforced in view of the overall political climate in the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795969-martial-law-to-be-strictly-enforced/

[webfact]

to continue:

Thailand Live Friday 30 Jan 2015

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796028-thailand-live-friday-30-jan-2015/