Thailand Live Saturday 21 Feb 2015

[Lite Beer]

Oil concession discussion ends but issue remains far from resolved

BANGKOK: -- Oil concession discussion ends but issue remains far from resolved.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....-from-resolved/

[Lite Beer]

Reconciliation can only happen within principles of law: Prayut

BANGKOK: -- National reconciliation has to take into consideration the principles of law, otherwise Thailand will run into problems, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said in his weekly televised address Friday evening.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....-of-law-prayut/

[Lite Beer]

Pilot killed as F-16 crashes in Lop Buri
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A Thai Royal Airforce F-16 pilot was killed as his jet fighter crashed during a training exercise in Lop Buri province yesterday.

Flight Lieutenant Noppanont Niwasanont was flying the jet during an air-to-ground attack exercise.

The jet crashed in a field in Khok Samrong district in Lop Buri at 2.50pm, Airforce spokesman Montol Sutchukorn said.

The pilot was unable to eject before the plane crashed, he said.

His body was removed from the crash site and transferred for cremation in his home province of Prachin Buri, he said.

The Airforce has ordered an inquiry to find out the cause of the crash.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Pilot-killed-as-F-16-crashes-in-Lop-Buri-30254576.html

-- The Nation 2015-02-21

[Lite Beer]

Wanted Phuket drug kingpin busted with meth, pistol, M16 and ammunition

Tanyaluk Sakoot

PHUKET: A wanted Phuket drug dealer is in custody after police raided his Rassada home yesterday, seizing an M16 rifle, a pistol, ammunition and a substantial amount of Crystal Meth (Ya Ice) and Meth pills (Ya Ba).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....and-ammunition/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Big car bomb in Narathiwat leaves 13 injured
THE NATION

A CAR BOMB rocked Narathiwat's downtown area yesterday, damaging dozens of homes and injuring 13 people, four of them seriously.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802068-dozen-wounded-as-car-bomb-rips-through-southern-thai-town/page-2?p=9097522#entry9097522

[Lite Beer]

Sangha Supreme Council looks favourably on Dhammachayo
THE NATION

Phra Dhammachayo

BANGKOK: -- THE SANGHA Supreme Council yesterday decided not to take further action against Phra Dhammachayo, the abbot of Dhammakaya Temple, after the late Supreme Patriarch commanded in 1999 he be defrocked over a number of incidents including him owning the temple's land.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802189-sangha-supreme-council-looks-favourably-on-dhammachayo/

[Lite Beer]

CONSTITUTION WATCH
No amnesty for wrongdoers
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- But reconciliation committee to be set up will be able to request a pardon for people who admit their actions

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802190-no-amnesty-for-wrongdoers/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

NLA votes to plug surrogacy loophole
PRAPASRI OSATHANON

BANGKOK: -- THE NATION February 21, 2015 1:00 am
New law specifies that only thaI couples wIth InfertIlIty issues can access services

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802028-thai-government-bans-commercial-surrogacy/#entry9097544

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Call for a referendum
ERICH PARPART
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Energy Ministry says looming crisis is reason why concessions must go ahead

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802123-oil-concession-discussion-ends-but-issue-remains-far-from-resolved/#entry9097552

[Lite Beer]

NLA amends law to protect children from sex predators
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL Legislative Assembly yesterday agreed to amend the law on pornographic media, introducing more protection for children's rights.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802191-nla-amends-law-to-protect-children-from-sex-predators/

[Lite Beer]

Govt encouraged to do more to stop ivory trade
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A LARGE model elephant named "Boon-Chuay" was presented to Natural Resources and Environment Minister General Dapong Ratanasuwan by WWF Thailand (World Wide Fund for Nature) on Thursday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802193-govt-encouraged-to-do-more-to-stop-ivory-trade/

[Lite Beer]

Test results now posted on NIETs site
CHULEEPORN ARAMNET
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Results of national general academic subject tests are now available on the National Institute of Educational Testing Service (NIET)'s website

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802195-test-results-now-posted-on-niets-site/

[Lite Beer]

NRC's Rosana to visit drill site in the Northeast
CHULARAT SAENGPASSA
THE NATION

KHON KAEN: -- A NATIONAL Reform Council (NRC) committee will today visit Ban Na Mun in Khon Kaen province to listen to locals' thoughts on an oil and gas drill exploration operation being set up near their neighbourhood.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802196-nrcs-rosana-to-visit-drill-site-in-the-northeast/

[Lite Beer]

LIKE IT SHARE IT
Murmurs on social media can have a loud impact
ASINA PORNWASIN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- SOCIAL MEDIA users in Thailand are usually very active on special occasions and festivals. Over the past week, timelines were flooded with messages marking Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year - most in hues of red.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802197-murmurs-on-social-media-can-have-a-loud-impact/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Small quake hits Phang Nga province
THE NATION

A 4.0-MAGNITUDE earthquake hit the southern province of Phang Nga yesterday afternoon, with tremors felt in the neighbouring provinces of Phuket and Krabi.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802033-40-magnitude-quake-hits-phang-nga/#entry9097608

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
Any 'peace talks' must be open to all
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The resolution of our political strife no longer rests solely with high-profile figures

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802198-any-peace-talks-must-be-open-to-all/

[Lite Beer]

-- The Nation 2015-02-21

[Lite Beer]

Samut Prakan:- Two Japanese men were arrested at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport Friday morning for allegedly trying to smuggle protected species, including turtles and snakes, out of the country.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802134-japanese-men-arrested-with-protected-species/

[Lite Beer]

Greece and eurozone settle their differences _ for now
LORNE COOK, Associated Press
PAN PYLAS, Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — Following weeks of recrimination and distrust, Greece and its creditors in the 19-nation eurozone reached an agreement Friday on extending the country's rescue loans, a move that should dramatically ease concerns it was heading for the euro exit as soon as next month.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802201-greece-and-eurozone-settle-their-differences-for-now/

[Lite Beer]

Strauss-Kahn thanks court for listening as pimp trial closes

PARIS (AP) — Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has thanked a French court that is trying him for pimping for listening to his side of the story.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802202-strauss-kahn-thanks-court-for-listening-as-pimp-trial-closes/

[Lite Beer]

Biden: Russia can't claim separatists alone behind attacks

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden says Russia can't keep hiding behind the "false claim" that separatists are solely responsible for recent military operations in eastern Ukraine.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802203-biden-russia-cant-claim-separatists-alone-behind-attacks/

[Lite Beer]

Islamic State bombers kill dozens in Libyan suicide attacks
ESAM MOHAMED, Associated Press
MAGGIE MICHAEL, Associated Press

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Islamic State militants unleashed suicide bombings Friday in eastern Libya, killing at least 40 people in what the group said was retaliation for Egyptian airstrikes against the extremists' aggressive new branch in North Africa.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802204-islamic-state-bombers-kill-dozens-in-libyan-suicide-attacks/

[Lite Beer]

Ex-Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell sentenced to 1 year
By LARRY O'DELL and ALAN SUDERMAN


RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The judge who sentenced former Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell to prison for one year for corruption said Friday he struggled with the appropriate punishment and ultimately adopted the view of a couple who sent a letter of support describing "two Maureens."

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802208-ex-virginia-first-lady-maureen-mcdonnell-sentenced-to-1-year/

[Lite Beer]

Bangkok:- The Transport Ministry has unveiled new application software, DLT Check In, designed to address grievances for taxi services.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802210-app-against-taxi-cheats-unveiled/

[Lite Beer]

Chiang Rai: – Some 1,800 Chinese tourists have driven 400 vehicles per day via Laos to spend Chinese New Year holiday in the northern province, police said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802209-chinese-tourist-arrivals-a-boon-and-a-bane-for-chiang-rai/

[Lite Beer]

Pattaya Police arrest two suspected drug couriers and seize 4,000 Yabba Tablets

The Pattaya Police Chief announced, on Friday Morning, the arrest of two Thai men, who are suspected of delivering drugs for two other men thought to be running a huge illegal drug distribution network from their base in the North of Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802215-pattaya-police-arrest-two-suspected-drug-couriers-and-seize-4000-yabba-tablets/

[Lite Beer]

Tour Guide abandons group of Chinese Tourists in Jomtien

PATTAYA: -- Police are currently hunting for a Chinese Tour Guide who is thought to have abandoned a group of 33 Chinese Tourists following extra payments made to her by the group despite them pre-paying for their trip in China.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802217-tour-guide-abandons-group-of-chinese-tourists-in-jomtien/

[thai tech]

Microsoft tempts Dropbox users with free 100GB of OneDrive storage space

As the battle for cloud storage space gets ever more competitive, Microsoft is attempting to lure customers to its own cloud storage service by offering existing Dropbox users 100 GB of OneDrive storage space for free, if they make the switch.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/dropbox-onedrive-100gb-free/5182/

[thai tech]

Rights groups call for action over reported US-UK phone hack

LONDON (AP) — Rights organizations on Friday called for urgent steps to be taken to protect private calls and online communications after allegations that U.S. and British agencies hacked into the networks of a major SIM card maker.

The World Wide Web Foundation, founded by Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee, said the alleged hacking by the National Security Agency and its British counterpart, GCHQ, was “another worrying sign that these agencies think they are above the law.”

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/rights-groups-call-action-reported-us-uk-phone-hack/5175/

[Lite Beer]

Wanted Dutch Drug Cultivation & Distribution Suspect arrested in Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Friday, Chonburi Immigration arrested a 41 year old Dutch National, wanted by German Police in connection with the cultivation and distribution of Marijuana from his base in Ibiza, Spain in 2010.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/802220-wanted-dutch-drug-cultivation-distribution-suspect-arrested-in-pattaya/