Thailand Live Monday 16 Feb 2015

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Police say Copenhagen gunman had criminal record, gang past
By JAN M. OLSEN and KARL RITTER

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — The slain gunman suspected in the deadly Copenhagen attacks was a 22-year-old with a history of violence and may have been inspired by Islamic terrorists — and possibly the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris, Danish authorities said Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800701-police-say-copenhagen-gunman-had-criminal-record-gang-past/

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Ukraine cease-fire largely holding, Debaltseve still tense
By PETR JOSEK and PETER LEONARD

LUHANSKE, Ukraine (AP) — A cease-fire that went into effect Sunday in eastern Ukraine appeared largely to be holding, although continued fighting over a bitterly contested railway hub is threatening to upend the delicate settlement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800703-ukraine-cease-fire-largely-holding-debaltseve-still-tense/

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Video purports to show IS militants beheading hostages
By ASHRAF KHALIL AND MAGGIE MICHAEL

CAIRO (AP) — A video purporting to show the mass beheading of Coptic Christian hostages was released Sunday by militants in Libya affiliated with the Islamic State group.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800704-video-purports-to-show-is-militants-beheading-hostages/

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Tourists warned against buying cheap tour packages to Krabi, Satun

Bangkok:- Tourists shopping for cheap packages to two popular destinations of Krabi and Satun have been warned to turn down the offers if they are too good to be true.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800706-tourists-warned-against-buying-cheap-tour-packages-to-krabi-satun/

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Four Hong Kong tourists severely injured in road accident in Chon Buri

Chon Buri:- Four Hong Kong tourists and two Thais were severely injured when their car plunged into a roadside ditch and crashed into the prodding concrete part of a manhole, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800716-four-hong-kong-tourists-severely-injured-in-road-accident-in-chon-buri

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Patong Coral Reef Restoration kicks-off in Phuket
National News Bureau of Thailand


Damaged coral was rescued and new embryos put into the sea during the campaign.

PHUKET: -- More than 150 divers and nature lovers gathered at Patong Bay yesterday (February 15) to take part in the Patong Coral Reef Restoration project.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800720-patong-coral-reef-restoration-kicks-off-in-phuket/

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Thailand plans to promote biomass energy production
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 16 -- Acting to further improve the environment in Thailand, the Energy Ministry will propose promoting biomass energ production to the National Energy Policy Committee, Permanent Secretary for Energy Areepong Bhoocha-Oom said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800724-thailand-plans-to-promote-biomass-energy-production/

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,616.95, gains 1.06 points /MCOT

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German tourist rescued from Prachuap mountain

Prachuap Khiri Khan:- Rescue workers Sunday helped a German tourist out of the Khao Ta Mong Lai Forest Park after he had been stranded on a cliff there for 15 hours.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800734-german-tourist-rescued-from-prachuap-mountain/

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Five arrested in Phuket Valentine̕s anti-drug and crime campaign


The five were arrested in a Valentine's anti-drug and crime campaign.

PHUKET: -- Five people were arrested in Patong on Friday (February 13) for either drug or gun related crimes during a Valentine̕s anti-drug and crime campaign.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800741-five-arrested-in-phuket-valentine̕s-anti-drug-and-crime-campaign/

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UPDATE:

Bidding for energy exploration concessions to be postponed
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 16 -- Submission of bid applications for the 21st round of Thailand's oil and gas exploration concessions, scheduled earlier for this Wednesday, might have to be postponed, according to Puangthip Silpasart, Director-General of the Energy Ministry’s Mineral Fuels Department.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800672-thai-govt-defers-energy-concessions-deadline/#entry9077757

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German tourist rescued from seaside cliff in Prachuap Khiri Khan



PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: -- A German tourist was yesterday rescued after getting lost and stranded on top of a hill cliff in Khao Ta Monglai nationak park in Muang district of Prachup Khiri Khan province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800761-prachuap-khiri-khan-german-tourist-rescued-from-seaside-cliff/

[Lite Beer]

Bung Kan meat shopping slow despite upcoming Chinese New Year

BUENG KAN, 16 February 2015 (NNT) - Consumer spending in Bueng Kan province has been sluggish ahead of the Chinese New Year celebrations, while the price of one boiled pig’s head, a popular traditional dish, has risen to 600 baht.

The market in Muang district has been rather quiet, despite the upcoming Chinese New Year period. Fewer people visited the market, as the prices of all meats have increased.

Meanwhile, the price of pig head has increased by 10 baht to 70 baht per kilogram. This translates to a head fetching between 600-800 baht. The price is expected to increase further during the Chinese New Year period.

The holiday coincides with the Buddhist Holy Day, when pork is forbidden. The prices of pork and ground pork remained at 150 baht per kilogram.

-- NNT 2015-02-16

[Lite Beer]

Scattered rain forecast in Bangkok and its vicinity

BANGKOK, 16 February 2015 (NNT) - Scattered precipitation has been forecast today and tomorrow in the lower parts of the Northeastern, Central and Eastern regions of Thailand.

The Meteorological Department announced that the temperatures in the North will vary between 12-17 degrees Celsius in the morning. The mountain tops will experience temperatures as low as 6 degrees Celsius.

Chilly mornings have been predicted in most parts of the Northeast, with only 10% of the region receiving precipitation. The mountain ranges in this region were forecast at between 11-13 degrees Celsius, while low-lying areas were forecast at 18-23 degrees Celsius.

Similar weather conditions can be expected in the Central Plain and the east coast, with lows ranging from 19-24 degrees Celsius. The weather bureau expected Bangkok and its vicinity to receive scattered showers today and tomorrow.

Meanwhile, only 10% of the South from Surat Thani onwards will see the rain.

-- NNT 2015-02-16

[Lite Beer]

RT @jiew: In front of Thammasat University's main gate this morning. Are they going to set up a military base here? http://twitter.com/jiew/status/567181353796395008/photo/1

[Lite Beer]

Thai economy posts weakest growth for three years
Bangkok, Thaïlande | AFP

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's economy slowed sharply in 2014 to grow at its slowest pace for three years, as political turmoil engulfing the kingdom compounded a fall in agricultural prices and waning exports.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800767-thai-economy-posts-weakest-growth-for-three-years/

[Lite Beer]

Dos and don’ts guide for Chinese tourists in Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI: -- Officials of the state and the private sector in Chiang Mai are now prepared to distribute folders to Chinese tourists advising them on "Dos and Don'ts" as they expected an influx of Chinese travellers to the northern city during the Chinese New Year festival, starting this week.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800774-dos-and-donts-guide-for-chinese-tourists-in-chiang-mai/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

White House slams IS Libya 'beheading' of Egyptian Christians
Agence France-Presse
WASHINGTON February 16

The United States condemned as "despicable" the Islamic State group's apparent beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians in Libya after it released a video claiming to show the killings on Sunday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800704-video-purports-to-show-is-militants-beheading-hostages/#entry9078179

[Lite Beer]

SET up 0.62 to 1,616.51 at midday /Bangkok Post

[Lite Beer]

Army chief says reconciliation talks could be accepted for consideration

BANGKOK: -- Army commander-in-chief Gen Udomdej Sitabutr today declined to comment on a proposal of a National Reform Council (NRC) member for the prime minister to hold talks with fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra so as to achieve the military junta's reconciliation plan.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800780-army-chief-says-reconciliation-talks-could-be-accepted-for-consideration/

[Lite Beer]

RT @RichardBarrow: No.1 at the box office over the weekend was Kingsman The Secret Service, followed by Fifty Shades of Grey #Thailand http://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/567192394677104640/photo/1

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Phuket considers making 129 illegal tuk-tuks legal
Nattha Thepbamrung


There were three solutions suggested in the meeting, but none were agreed.

PHUKET: -- Phuket authorities are considering legalising a further 129 tuk-tuks following reports from the Phuket Tuk-Tuk Union that the operators of the tuk-tuks have been working illegally for around a decade.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800817-phuket-considers-making-129-illegal-tuk-tuks-legal/

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UPDATE:

Pub Security Guard and Manager Arrested for Killing a Turkish Man

KOH SAMUI: -- It has been reported that Pol.Maj.Gen. Pisanu Muangsri, the Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 8, Pol.Maj.Gen. Apichat Bunsriroj, the commander of Surat Thani Provincial Police and local police under their command interrogated Mr.Yokbin Srisaart, a 27 year-old security guard and Mr. Kanapol Nakwatchara, a 57 year-old manager from the bar where a man was shot dead in Chaweng.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800670-two-confess-to-killing-turkish-tourist-in-samui/page-3?p=9078602#entry9078602

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Egypt strikes IS group in Libya after video of mass killing
By MAGGIE MICHAEL

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt said Monday it has launched airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Libya after the extremist group released a grisly video showing the beheading of several Egyptian Coptic Christians it had held hostage for weeks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800822-egypt-strikes-is-group-in-libya-after-video-of-mass-killing/

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Ranong girl possibly missing in Phuket
Nattapat Tuarob


15-year-old girl, Saowalak Tubpan was last seen boarding a Phuket bound bus at 2pm yesterday (February 16).

Phuket: -- A 15-year-old girl, Saowalak Tubpan, from Ranong province who told her brother that she was coming to visit her friend in Phuket yesterday (February 15) is now feared missing after not returning home. She was due to take an exam today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800824-ranong-girl-possibly-missing-in-phuket/

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Louis Jourdan, Frenchman who starred in 'Gigi,' dies at 93
DAISY NGUYEN, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Louis Jourdan, the dashingly handsome Frenchman who starred in "Gigi," ''Can-Can," ''Three Coins in the Fountain" and other American movies, has died. He was 93.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800828-louis-jourdan-frenchman-who-starred-in-gigi-dies-at-93/

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - Danish police: 2 men arrested on suspicion of helping suspect in Copenhagen terror attacks.

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Teen troll apologizes to VRZO after legal threat
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Legal threats from the embattled celebs behind VRZO have won at least one apology from the internet.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800835-thai-teen-troll-apologizes-to-vrzo-after-legal-threat/

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Govt to open two special economic zones this year: Prawit

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said Monday that the government would this year open two new special economic zones in the western and eastern parts of the country to provide tax incentives to draw more foreign investors to the kingdom.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Govt-to-open-two-special-economic-zones-this-year--30254178.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-16

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GDP grows 2.3% in last quarter of 2014
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 16 -- The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) announced that the Thai economy grew by 2.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800838-thai-gdp-grows-23-percent-in-last-quarter-of-2014/