Spreaders of Conspiracy Theories: Unmasking the Motivations Behind the Lies

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Ministry asks China to ease loan conditions on its first standard-gauge railway route

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Transport has asked China to ease its loan conditions for the construction of Thailand’s first standard-gauge railway, reasoning that the proposed lending rate is too high when compared with rate offered by Japan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....-railway-route/

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Prayut urges public to be careful about false online information

Prime Minister Prayut Chanocha - on his weekly national TV address Friday - urged people to be careful and ensure that false information is not spread via social networking sites.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....ne-information/

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CHINESE DEFENCE MINISTER'S VISIT
Thai-Sino military embrace
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Bilateral armed forces cooperation gets a lift during visit by Chinese defence minister

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798280-thai-sino-military-embrace/

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UPDATE:

Govt may tap funds locally for rail project
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government is mulling whether to borrow money from local financial institutions to fund the Bt400-billion Thai-China dual-track rail project if a funding deal cannot be reached with Beijing.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798230-ministry-asks-china-to-ease-loan-conditions-on-its-first-standard-gauge-railway-route/#entry9039018

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Junta wants universities 'to refrain from political satire' at big event
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE JUNTA yesterday asked students of Chulalongkorn and Thammasat universities to refrain from political satire during a parade today ahead of their famous annual inter-university soccer match at Suphachalasai Stadium, a source from the Thammasat University Student Union (TUSU) said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798281-junta-wants-universities-to-refrain-from-political-satire-at-big-event/

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Police seek warrant to arrest ASTV webmaster
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police from the Technology Crime Suppression Division are seeking court permission for a warrant to arrest the system administrator of the ASTV website, who was responsible for a fabricated palace statement being posted online, Royal Thai Police spokesman Pol Lt-General Prawut Thawornsiri said in a Twitter message yesterday.

The media organisation ASTV-Manager published the fake document briefly on its website on Monday night before pulling it off.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Police-seek-warrant-to-arrest-ASTV-webmaster-30253617.html

-- The Nation 2015-02-07

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Suspect's rights 'to be protected'
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Accused red shirt being questioned to uncover the 'mastermind' behind fake palace statement, Army says

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798282-suspects-rights-to-be-protected/

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Irrigation officials step in to quell Korat dispute
KASEM CHANATHINAJ
THE NATION

KHORAT: -- Agree to alter water allocation schedule amid fears of drought in many provinces

IRRIGATION officials in Nakhon Ratchasima province yesterday stepped in to stop locals fighting over water during the dry season.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798283-irrigation-officials-step-in-to-quell-korat-dispute/

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Details from bomb probe secret: city police chief
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Details from interviews of witnesses or people with knowledge about the pipe bombs near Siam Paragon last Sunday are state secrets and must remain confidential, Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Lt-General Sriwara Ransibrahmanakul said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798284-details-from-bomb-probe-secret-city-police-chief/

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KMITL ups pressure on SCB to submit all documents in embezzlement case
CHULEEPORN ARAMNET
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Officials at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) are now increasing pressure on Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), saying it has so far been uncooperative with the probe into the embezzlement of more than Bt1.58 billion. Yesterday, the institute closed three SCB accounts with deposits totalling Bt52 million and it is encouraging staff, students and lecturers to do the same.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798285-kmitl-ups-pressure-on-scb-to-submit-all-documents-in-embezzlement-case/

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Unicef launches campaign for early childhood development
KAWIN PRANEETLEKHA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- UNICEF Thailand launched the "Best Start: The First Six Years of Life are the Golden Years for Children" campaign yesterday to raise awareness about the |importance of early childhood development and to encourage parents to invest more in their young children.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798286-unicef-launches-campaign-for-early-childhood-development/

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Bus fares to rise in Bangkok from Tuesday
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- From Tuesday, February 10, the blanket Bt8 fare for conventional city buses under Mass Rapid Transport Authority concessions will be increased by Bt1, while fares for air-conditioned buses will go up by Bt1 for every step of service distance, after the Transport Ministry approved fare rises yesterday.

Phattarawadee Klomjaroon, head of the Association of Operators of City Buses, said the Bt1 raise was not enough for operators, saying the bus subsidy of Bt30,000 was granted when the Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) price was Bt8.50 per kilogram. She said the subsidy should be Bt80,000 because the current NGV price was Bt13 per kilogram.

She said a further fare hike was possible as the Transport Ministry said it would consider a request by operators after a one-month evaluation.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Bus-fares-to-rise-in-Bangkok-from-Tuesday-30253590.html

-- The Nation 2015-02-07

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Bt20m given to back Myanmar's anti-drugs efforts
The Nation

THAILAND'S anti-narcotics agency has given Bt20 million to Myanmar's counterpart body under a joint agreement to fight rampant drug abuse in both countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798287-bt20m-given-to-back-myanmars-anti-drugs-efforts/

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CDC decides to set up 'Citizens Assembly' to empower locals
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- As part of its agenda to help citizens become more actively engaged with their local administrative organisations, the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) yesterday decided to establish a "Citizens Assembly".

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798288-cdc-decides-to-set-up-citizens-assembly-to-empower-locals/

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Outspoken Ruangkrai undergoing 'attitude adjustment'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- RUANGKRAI LEEKIJWATTANA, an outspoken member of Pheu Thai Party's legal team, has been in military custody for "attitude adjustment" since Tuesday, a Pheu Thai source said yesterday.

However, officials at the 11th Army Circle and Second Cavalry Division of the Royal Guards denied Ruangkrai was detained at either military compound.

The former senator was escorted away by soldiers on Tuesday night after he allegedly sent a letter to the US charge d'affaires Patrick Murphy, in which he claimed that former PM Yingluck Shinawatra had been impeached due to political conflicts, the source said.

In the letter, he also accused the National Legislative Assembly (NLA)'s move against Yingluck as "impeachment of an elected politician by non-elected politicians".

The source said some three to four vans arrived at Ruangkrai's house on Tuesday night to take him away, and he had not been accounted for since.

After the NLA voted to impeach Yingluck last month, several Pheu Thai members who were ministers in her government were invited by the junta for "attitude adjustment" after they made comments against the move.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Outspoken-Ruangkrai-undergoing-attitude-adjustment-30253593.html

-- The Nation 2015-02-07

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Southeast Asia 'must prepare for threat from IS'
SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE
THE NATION

THE ISLAMIC State (IS) may not immediately expand its reach into Southeast Asia, but the region should be prepared in case of new threats, a panel of experts said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798289-southeast-asia-must-prepare-for-threat-from-is/

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EDITORIAL
Breaking free from the Shinawatras
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- If a Facebook exchange is any indication, Thaksin's clan might be losing its political influence

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798290-breaking-free-from-the-shinawatras/

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-- The Nation 2015-02-07

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BOI approves 700 billion baht worth of investment projects

BANGKOK, 6 February 2015 (NNT) - The Prime Minister revealed that the Board of Investment (BOI) has already approved more than 1,000 investment projects worth close to 700 billion baht.

During his speech on the weekly program "Returning Happiness to the People”, Prime Minister and Chief of the National Council for Peace and Order Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha said the government is accelerating the approval of investment privileges and incentives for all the projects. Thus far, the BOI has approved 1,050 projects with a combined investment fund of 680 billion baht.

Meanwhile, there are more than 2,000 other projects with a total fund of 1.4 trillion baht waiting for the BOI's approval. The Prime Minister has ordered the board to particularly speed up the consideration process for projects on infrastructure and others which would help accelerate the nation's economic growth.

Gen. Prayut emphasized the necessity of developing the country's infrastructure, technology, personnel and also logistics in order to support the growth of investment and trade and increase competitiveness of the industrial sector.

-- NNT 2015-02-06

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Farmers told to plant alternative crops

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha urged rice farmers to try to plant other cash crops which consume less water rather than paddy in light of the dry season.

He said that drought this year would be worse than last year’s and the problem would be worse in the future due to climatic changes which would directly impact on Thailand.

In his “returning happiness to the people” speech Friday night, he cited pepper, soybean and black matpe bean as alternative crops for paddy which would generate as much income.

He said he had instructed the Industry and Agriculture ministries to survey the locations of processing plants for agricultural products so the findings can be used to match with zoning maps for proper Tags-positioning of farming areas and processing plants.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/farmers-told-plant-alternative-crops

-- Thai PBS 2015-02-07

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Pattaya Monk accused of sexually assaulting 10 year old step-daughter



PATTAYA: -- Banglamung Police arrested a 52 year old man who had been removed from the monkhood so he could face charges of sexually assaulting his 10 year old step-daughter over the period of 3 months.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798291-pattaya-monk-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-10-year-old-step-daughter/

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Authorities asked to investigate “Sexual Activity” at remote Pattaya Beach

PATTAYA: -- A request from beachgoers has been sent to the District Authorities regarding a remote beach in the Northern outskirts of Pattaya where claims that students engage in sexual and other inappropriate activities, have been made.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798292-authorities-asked-to-investigate-sexual-activity-at-remote-pattaya-beach/

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Islamic State says airstrike killed US hostage, US skeptical
ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press

BEIRUT (AP) — Islamic State extremists claimed that an American woman held hostage by the group was killed Friday in a Jordanian airstrike in northern Syria, but the government of Jordan dismissed the statement as "criminal propaganda" and the U.S. said it had not seen any evidence to corroborate the report.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798294-islamic-state-says-airstrike-killed-us-hostage-us-skeptical/

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Putin, Ukraine leader to hold 4-way phone call on peace plan
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

MOSCOW (AP) — Talks among the leaders of Russia, France and Germany on a peace initiative for Ukraine ended early Saturday with an announcement that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart would discuss a proposal to end the fighting in a four-way telephone call this weekend.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798295-putin-ukraine-leader-to-hold-4-way-phone-call-on-peace-plan/

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RT @RichardBarrow: Bangkok Farmers’ Market at Siam Square One #Bangkok this weekend from 10am-8pm http://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/563873913348702208/photo/1

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Davis, Sarandon mull over 'Thelma & Louise' anniversary tour
LAURI NEFF, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon may be heading out on the road again — a quarter century after the release of their Oscar-winning film "Thelma & Louise."

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798305-davis-sarandon-mull-over-thelma-louise-anniversary-tour/

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Thailand to Face the Worst Drought in over a Decade

Bangkok, Feb 6 (Prensa Latina) Thailand could face its worst drought in more than a decade, which may affect rice crops and the economy of that country that has become a major exporter of that product, warns the irrigation department.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798308-thailand-to-face-the-worst-drought-in-over-a-decade/

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RT @RichardBarrow: This weekend in Chiang Mai is the popular Flower Festival http://www.thaifestivalblogs.com/chiang-mai-flower-festival/ #Thailand http://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/563880360485089280/photo/1

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RT @RichardBarrow: King Rama II Memorial Day Fair in Samut Songkhram this weekend. Best to go on Sunday http://www.thaifestivalblogs.com/king-rama-ii-memorial-day-fair/ #Thailand http://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/563882401278205952/photo/1

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Court officials inspect property development in Phuket
Nattapat Tuarob

Court officials and the architectural expert discuss aspects of the development.

PHUKET: Officials from the Administrative Court in Nakorn Si Thammarat yesterday (February 5) visited the construction site for the Eva Beach condo development in Rawai.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798331-court-officials-inspect-property-development-in-phuket/