Thailand Live Thursday 19 Feb 2015

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Hat Yai tuktuk driver returns passports, cash to couple from Malaysia

Hat Yai, Songkhla:- A tuktuk driver in Hat Yai has returned passports and cash of 3,900 Malaysian ringgits to a Malaysian tourist and his Vietnamese girlfriend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801619-hat-yai-tuktuk-driver-returns-passports-cash-to-couple-from-malaysia/

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DITP keeps close eye on currency situation in the region, aiming to boost export

BANGKOK, 19 Feb 2015, (NNT) - The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) is keeping a close eye on the currency situation in the ASEAN region, aiming to boost export.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801628-ditp-keeps-close-eye-on-currency-situation-in-the-region-aiming-to-boost-export/

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British tourist killed in suicide jump from Pattaya condo

Pattaya, Chon Buri:- A 49-year-old British tourist living at a Pattaya condominium with his Thai girlfriend jumped from his room on the 36th floor to his death in front of security officers late Wednesday night, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801627-british-tourist-killed-in-suicide-jump-from-pattaya-condo/

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AoT expects more visitors, flights during Chinese New Year
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 19 -- Airports of Thailand (AoT) projected air traffic to increase at its six airports during this Chinese New Year and that more than 4.3 million air passengers are traveling.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801630-aot-expects-more-visitors-flights-during-chinese-new-year/

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UPDATE:

PM: No pressure on Yingluck to leave country
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 19 -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha does not think that the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s (NACC) request for the government to demand compensation for the loss-ridden and corruption-plagued rice-pledging scheme would pressure former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who implemented the scheme, to flee the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801582-prayut-wants-yingluck-to-fight-the-cases-and-not-flee-country/?p=9089771#entry9089771

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MOAC proposes that government write off 4.5 billion baht of farmers' debts

BANGKOK, 19 Feb 2015, (NNT) - The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) has proposed to the Cabinet that the government write off the debts of farmers in order to help alleviating their burden.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801632-moac-proposes-that-govt-write-off-45-billion-baht-of-farmers-debts/

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Prime minister asks students to refrain from demanding immediate election

BANGKOK, 19 February 2015 (NNT) – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday called on students to refrain from demanding an immediate general election, and offered his greetings on the occasion of Chinese New Year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801633-pm-prayut-asks-students-to-refrain-from-demanding-immediate-election/

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DBD to step up measures on registration of lottery vendors

BANGKOK, 19 Feb 2015, (NNT) - The Department of Business Development has strengthened its measures on the registration of lottery vendors after Phitsanulok people reported cases where citizen ID numbers they thought were used for a registration had instead been used in company registrations without their knowledge.

Director-General of the DBD, Phongpan Jiarawiriyaphan, said that upon close investigation of the case her department has found that 101 out of 739 legal entity registered lottery vendors from Phitsanulok, had not submitted their financial statements.

She explained that since the failure to do so is illegal, officials have issued fines to those who registered in those legal entities. That’s how residents discovered their identities had been stolen.

Initially, the DBD advised the affected residents to file official complaints at the police station, in order for officials to seek out the scammers. Miss Phongphan also advised the local people to refrain from signing over or giving away their identification information to any party that does not possess substantial accreditation.


-- NNT 2015-02-19

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US$400 monthly minimum wage for Filipinos in Brunei

BANGKOK: -- Filipino migrant workers in Brunei are now guaranteed a monthly minimum wage of US$400, according to a new advisory issued by the Philippine Overseas Labour Office, The Brunei Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801635-us400-monthly-minimum-wage-for-filipinos-in-brunei/

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,605.58, gains 2.44 points /MCOT

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Farm price index improving in January

BANGKOK, 19 February 2015 (NNT)-The Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE) has revealed that the farm product price index increased slightly in January from the figure in December last year.

OAE Secretary General Luesak Rewtrakulpaiboon said the government’s support to rubber price and a higher price of palm oil contributed to a 0.1% increase in the price index.

However, prices of cassava and pork have declined as they oversupplied the markets. The February index is expected to remain the same throughout the month.

Compared to January last year, the farm price index fell 11.12% as most products, except for cassava and palm oil, were cheaper.

Global demand and drought crisis prompted the prices of both items to skyrocket in January last year.


-- NNT 2015-02-19

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Development of special economic zones progress significantly

BANGKOK, 19 February 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Interior has revealed that special economic zones (SEZ) in the border provinces have made significant progress.

According to Deputy Permanent Secretary of Interior Maitri Intusut, the government is determined to develop ten provinces into SEZs.

The process has been underway in five provinces, including Tak, Sa Kaeo, Mukdahan, Trat and Songkhla. Meanwhile, the SEZ developments have only just been initiated in the other five, which include Nong Khai, Chiang Rai, Kanchanaburi, Narathiwat and Nakhon Phanom.

The developments are focused on strengthening local government, creating a new city plan, constructing basic infrastructure, and establishing an industrial estate and one-stop service.

City plans have already been developed for Sa Kaeo and Mukdahan. The government has yet to decide which province will specialize in what industry. However, geographical factors will be taken into consideration when the decision is being made.


-- NNT 2015-02-19

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Three fires hit Bangkok on Chinese New Year celebrations

BANGKOK: -- Three fires hit Bangkok's three commercial areas yesterday but caused no injury to life.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801644-three-fires-hit-bangkok-on-chinese-new-year-celebrations/

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Dentist charged in death of patient getting 20 teeth pulled
By DAVE COLLINS

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A dentist has been charged in the death of a patient who became unresponsive while having 20 teeth pulled and several implants installed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801651-us-dentist-charged-in-death-of-patient-getting-20-teeth-pulled/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Lenovo Sets Its Eyes on Thailand’s PC Market

Lenovo is setting its eyes on Thailand’s PC market, hoping to be number one in the market this year. The company hopes to snag at least 20% of the market share and plans to increase its investment budget by 60%.

How will Lenovo take over the market? By increasing sales in emerging markets and protecting its current strong market segments.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/lenovo-sets-eyes-thailands-pc-market/5024/

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Thai prosecutors press criminal charges against ex-PM

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's attorney general has pressed criminal charges against former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for negligence related to her government's money-losing rice subsidy scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801660-thai-prosecutors-press-criminal-charges-against-ex-pm-yingluck/

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Princess Sirindhorn to open Chinese New Year Festival in China Town Bangkok today



BANGKOK: -- Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will open a two-day Bangkok Chinatown Festival on Yaowarat road today in celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801667-princess-sirindhorn-to-open-chinese-new-year-festival-in-china-town-bangkok-today/

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Brit Jumps 36 Floors To His Death In Pattaya
Published by Stickboy BKK

PATTAYA: -- A 49-year-old British man jumped to his death last night from the 36th floor of a North Pattaya condominium following a family dispute.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801684-brit-jumps-36-floors-to-his-death-in-pattaya/

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Man tries to chop off own penis after fight with girlfriend
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- In the heat of the fight, a 32-year-old man struck his own penis with a knife early this morning before walking out of the home he shared with his girlfriend west of Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801691-man-tries-to-chop-off-own-penis-after-fight-with-girlfriend-bangkok/

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Oslo woman dies of rare amoeba infection contracted on Thailand trip


Courtesy of Markell and Voge's Medical Parasitology

BANGKOK: -- The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has been informed that a woman from Oslo died in December 2014 after returning from Thailand where she had been infected with the Naegleria fowleri amoeba.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801695-oslo-woman-dies-of-rare-amoeba-infection-contracted-on-thailand-trip/

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UPDATE:

Thai ex-PM Yingluck indicted over rice subsidy scheme
Bangkok, Thailand | AFP |

BANGKOK: -- Former Thai premier Yingluck Shinawatra was formally indicted over a bungled rice subsidy scheme Thursday in the latest legal move against her polarising family that could see her jailed for up to a decade.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801660-thai-prosecutors-press-criminal-charges-against-ex-pm-yingluck/#entry9090487

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UPDATE:

OAG indicts Yingluck before Supreme Court

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801660-thai-prosecutors-press-criminal-charges-against-ex-pm-yingluck/#entry9090515

[Lite Beer]

SET rises 0.22 to 1,603.36 at noon /Bangkok Post

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Yingluck no show for formal charge in Supreme Court

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Yingluck Shinwatra was formally charged in the Supreme Court in the rice-pledging negligence case Thursday but she refused to turn up at the court.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801660-thai-prosecutors-press-criminal-charges-against-ex-pm-yingluck/page-2#entry9090621

[Lite Beer]

Two abandoned infants now in Phuket orphanage care

This baby boy was left in a shopping trolley at the Tesco Lotus on bypass road.

PHUKET: -- Two infant Phuket babies, who were recently abandoned in separate incidents exactly one week apart, are healthy and have been placed into orphanage care at Koh Siray, The Phuket News has learned.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801711-two-abandoned-infants-now-in-phuket-orphanage-care/

[Lite Beer]

US military spends millions on impotence drugs

Washington (dpa) - The US Army has spent tens of millions of dollars to help soldiers and veterans of the military in the bedroom by covering the cost of erectile dysfunction medications.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801713-us-military-spends-millions-on-impotence-drugs/

[Lite Beer]

DSI schedules meeting to discuss lead on controversial funds transfer
Piyanut Tamnukasetchai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will meet on Friday to discuss a new lead in the controversial wiring of Bt2.5 billion by Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative to a mining company that has reportedly been inactive for a decade.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801718-dsi-schedules-meeting-to-discuss-lead-on-controversial-funds-transfer/

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PM's Office sets dates banning alcohol sale
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has signed an order setting the dates for banning the sale of alcoholic beverages for 2015, which will go into effect from today onwards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801717-pms-office-sets-dates-banning-alcohol-sale/

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South peace march nears finish line
Pares Lohasan
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The 20-strong team marching for the restoration of peace in the southernmost provinces has completed half of the course, winning warm welcome from local residents along the way.

The team, set to complete a 200-kilometre march, departed Yala province on February 15 with the aim of reaching the finish line at Ban Tak Bai School in Narathiwat's Tak Bai district on February 21.

The march - led by Mahidol University' Center for Peace-building director Gothom Arya - arrived in Pattani province yesterday.

Meanwhile, violence continued yesterday when a roadside bomb blew up in Pattani's Muang district and injured a 26-year-old border-patrol policeman. The bomb was reportedly meant to harm the eight-strong caravan of police tasked with protecting teachers.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/South-peace-march-nears-finish-line-30254433.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-19

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DOE to send 3,500 Thai workers to pick wild berries in Finland

BANGKOK, 19 February 2015 (NNT) - The Department of Employment (DOE) is prepared to send 3,500 Thai laborers to work as ranch hands in Finland, while the Finnish government assures their fair treatment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/801719-doe-to-send-3500-thai-workers-to-pick-wild-berries-in-finland/