Thailand Live Wednesday 25 Feb 2015

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DEA suggests Thai entrepreneur to join Beauty Eurasia 2015

BANGKOK, 25 February 2015 (NNT) – Thai spa and massage entrepreneurs are advised to join the Beauty Eurasia 2015 event in Istanbul as the Turkish market has shown signs of great potential, reported the DEA on its website.

The Department of European Affairs (DFA) posted the information on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) website, citing a survey on 80,000 Turkish tourists conducted by a big tourism company in Turkey.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803360-dea-suggests-thai-entrepreneur-to-join-beauty-eurasia-2015/

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MNRE asks public and farmers to avoid igniting wildfire

BANGKOK, 25 February 2015 (NNT) – In an attempt to solve causes of hazes and wildfires, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) is calling to the public and farmers to refrain from forest burnings, says the MNRE Minister.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803362-mnre-asks-public-and-farmers-to-avoid-igniting-wildfire/

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Thailand's Bid for Oil, Gas Concessions Delayed Indefinitely

Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha says that bidding for gas and oil concessions will be put on hold indefinitely until an amendment to the petroleum law has been implemented.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803354-thailands-bid-for-oil-gas-concessions-delayed-indefinitely/

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Thai Police on the Hunt for Tourist Caught Kicking Sacred Prayer Bell

Thai police are searching for the presumed Chinese tourist that was caught kicking a sacred prayer bell in a Buddhist temple.

Thai police are on the hunt for a tourist, whom they presume is Chinese, who was filmed kicking a prayer bell in a 14^th century Buddhist temple. Officials are threatening to ban the tourist over the incident, which took place at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep near Chiang Mai.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803352-thai-police-on-the-hunt-for-tourist-caught-kicking-sacred-prayer-bell/

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UPDATE:

Former Thai PM Faces Political Ban After 2010 Crackdown

Former Thai PM and former Deputy PM face impeachment and a political ban after a bloody crackdown on protestors in 2010.

Former Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva is facing a political ban after overseeing a bloody crackdown on protestors in 2010. Thai’s anti-corruption body ruled that the former prime minister may have abused his power. The decision could lead to a five-year ban from political office.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803286-former-thai-leaders-may-face-impeachment-over-2010-crackdown/page-2?p=9114330#entry9114330

[webfact]

Italian man found dead in Pattaya condo

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Pattaya, Chon Buri:- A 73-year-old Italian man was found dead in his condominium room in Central Pattaya Tuesday, police said.

Pol Lt Yom Prommasart, an interrogator of Pattaya police station, said the body of Antonio Cavaliere was found in his room at the Nine Carats Condominium on Soi Arunothai in Tambon Nong Plua of Bang Lamung district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803331-italian-man-found-dead-in-pattaya-condo/

[webfact]

Stillborn piglet becomes new hope for Thai villagers

Kamphaeg Phet:- Local villagers who believe in superstition have been flocking to a house in Kampphaeng Phet’s Klongsarn district, hoping a stillborn piglet there could give them luck in lottery betting.

They have been visiting the house of Amporn Chansri, 49, in Bueng Lom village of Tambon Klong Nam Lai since Saturday when the piglet was born in clear mutation. But the believing villagers see that the piglet resembled to the Hindu God Ganesh who has an elephant head.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803323-stillborn-piglet-becomes-new-hope-for-thai-villagers/

[webfact]

Thailand to Plan an ASEAN Festival

TCEB will propose an ASEAN festival to the Thai Cabinet next month. The festival would invite ASEAN countries to participate and would take place in December.

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau hopes to host an ASEAN festival by the end of the year. The bureau will propose the idea to the Thai Cabinet in March.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803229-thailand-to-plan-an-asean-festival/

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Royal Thai Air Force Praises F-16 Fighter Pilot

Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force is praising a pilot who sacrificed himself to prevent a fighter jet from crashing into nearby homes.

The Royal Thai Air Force’s Commander-in-Chief has praised the courageous pilot who died in an F-16 fighter on Friday. The pilot went down with his plane to prevent the aircraft from crashing into nearby homes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803227-royal-thai-air-force-praises-f-16-fighter-pilot/

[webfact]

Uncertainty over US rate hike causes concern

WASHINGTON: -- ECONOMISTS said yesterday that expectations of an early increase in US interest rates might loom larger, while agreeing that Greece and European institutions would eventually find a deal that would keep the Greeks within the euro zone.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803326-uncertainty-over-us-rate-hike-causes-concern/

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Most judges picked for Yingluck case also hearing other Thaksin camp cases
The Nation


A court official shows the list of nine judges selected by 146 members of the Supreme Court to be on a panel to hear the rice scheme case against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

BANGKOK: - More than half of nine judges selected yesterday by 146 Supreme Court members to be on a panel to hear the rice scheme case against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra have been picked to rule on cases linked to the Thaksin camp.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803364-most-judges-picked-for-yingluck-case-also-hearing-other-thaksin-camp-cases/

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UPDATE:

PM defers concession bidding for Act rewrite
Anapat Deechuay
The Nation

Energy Minister Narongchai opposes change, says bidding should go ahead

BANGKOK: -- The 21st round of bidding for oil and gas concessions needs to be delayed until the Petroleum Act has been amended, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803354-thailands-bid-for-oil-gas-concessions-delayed-indefinitely/#entry9114359

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UPDATE:

NACC wants impeachment of Abhisit, Suthep over 2010 crackdown
The Nation

The National Anti-Corruption Commission has unanimously resolved to kick off the process of impeaching former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban for their alleged mishandling of the bloody break-up of a red-shirt rally in 2010.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803286-former-thai-leaders-may-face-impeachment-over-2010-crackdown/page-2?p=9114364#entry9114364

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UPDATE:

Ex-rector accused over KMITL scam
SUPACHAI PETCHTHEWEE
THE NATION

Thawil Phuengma, former rector of King Mongkut

Thawil Phuengma charged by police over Bt1.5 billion embezzement case

BANGKOK: -- THAWIL Phuengma, the former rector of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Latkrabang (KMITL) and a suspect in the high-profile siphoning off Bt1.5 billion from KMITL bank accounts, yesterday morning reported to police to hear five serious charges against him.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803063-kmitl-former-rector-thawil-faces-five-charges/#entry9114370

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Uproar over NRC panel and Buddhist reform
JEERAPONG PRASERTPONKRUNG,
PRAPHASRI OSATHANON
THE NATION



IF COMMITTEE CONTINUES WITH ITS WORK, I BELIEVE MONKS ... WILL RISE UP, CLERIC WARNS

BANGKOK: -- A NETWORK of monks and Buddhist followers yesterday officially urged Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to cancel within 15 days the National Reform Council (NRC) committee on the protection of Buddhism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803366-uproar-over-nrc-panel-and-buddhist-reform/

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CONSTITUTION WATCH
New charter provisions likely to spur historic changes in Thai politics
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- NEW provisions that drafters added to the new charter yesterday will lead to historic changes in Thailand's electoral system by giving a "fair chance" to all political parties and groups of different sizes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803367-new-charter-provisions-likely-to-spur-historic-changes-in-thai-politics/

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TELECOM
Wireless data charged on an 'actual-use basis'
Usanee Mongkolporn,
Praparee Osathanond
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- FIVE TELECOM OPERATORS yesterday told the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commis-sion that they had been billing customers for wireless data services on an actual-use basis for some time.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803368-wireless-data-charged-on-an-actual-use-basis/

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EDITORIAL
Corruption is killing thousands on our roads
The Nation

Bribery and impunity for the rich and influential has made Thailand's traffic among the world's most deadly

BANGKOK: -- Almost exactly two years ago Thailand earned itself a reputation as a deadly place for cyclists. A young British couple's attempt to break the world record for pedalling around the world ended in tragedy when both were struck and killed by a truck driver. History repeated itself on Saturday when a round-the-world cyclist from Chile was hit by a pickup truck in the Northeast, ending his life.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803369-thai-editorial-corruption-is-killing-thousands-on-our-roads/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Digital economy: Show me the money
Tulsathit Taptim
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- When something is digitalised, it changes its values and essence. "Digital economy", the buzz word of today, is no exception. "Money" is no longer what we know it. Our "wealth" exists in a parallel universe. The question is how we cope with the phenomenon, which is something that must have made our great-grandparents drop to the floor and roll with laughter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803370-digital-economy-show-me-the-money/

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UPDATE:

Italian found dead in Central Pattaya apartment

PATTAYA: -- The body of a 73 year old Italian was found in his rented apartment in Central Pattaya on Tuesday afternoon.

Police and medics were called to the Nine Carat Condominium in Soi Arunothai by staff who initially became concerned due to a foul odor emanating from a 3rd floor apartment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803331-italian-man-found-dead-in-pattaya-condo/#entry9114404

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Japanese Man attempts suicide at East Pattaya home



PATTAYA: -- Medics rushed to a house in East Pattaya on Tuesday Morning to assist a 40 year old Japanese Man who had attempted to hang himself using computer cables.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803372-japanese-man-attempts-suicide-at-east-pattaya-home/

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6 – 7 month fetus found in Phuket bin
Eakkapop Thongtub



PHUKET: -- Police are looking for a mother after a 6 or 7 month fetus of a boy was found inside a make-up bag left in a bin at the Poonpol Night Plaza in Thalad Neur last night (February 23).

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Tourists Fall Off Express Boat Into Khlong
Published by Stickboy BKK



BANGKOK: -- Video footage captured the moment two foreign tourists were pulled from a Bangkok canal after they lost their footing and fell into the water disembarking a river express boat yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803376-foreign-tourists-fall-off-express-boat-into-bangkok-canal/

[thai tech]

Pebble Time Raises Over $500,000 in 17 Minutes

Pebble is not a newcomer to Kickstarter. The company originally grew its idea on Kickstarter and has been wildly successful. Pebble opened up a new campaign as more of a stunt, states CEO Eric Migicovsky, but their campaign proved just how popular smartwatches are.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/pebble-time-raises-500000-17-minutes/5477/

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BURNING ISSUE
Preah Vihear dilemma demands more than military skills
SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE border with Cambodia still sits as the core of a dispute between the two countries - although things look calm on the surface, as politically "viral" groups in Thailand remain busy with other issues.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803379-preah-vihear-dilemma-demands-more-than-military-skills/

[thai tech]

Ad-blocking PrivDog software much worse than Superfish

Security researchers have found a new threat to the way that consumers use websites, but this time it’s from software that is designed to block adverts.

Apparently, PrivDog compromises a security protocol used on the Internet called Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), which is used to safeguard online transactions. This follows the discovery recently of problems with software known as Superfish which was preinstalled by Lenovo on new PCs.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/privdog-software-worse-than-superfish/5389/

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Bail refused over rape, killing of girl, 11
The Nation

TRANG: -- Trang Provincial Court yesterday refused bail for a 35-year-old suspect who allegedly abducted, raped and killed an 11-year-old girl before dumping her body in a sewage drain near her home in Muang district last May.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803380-bail-refused-over-sexual-assault-killing-of-girl-11/

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BMA warns vendors: Move or face charges
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- CITY HALL yesterday threatened to take Khlong Thom street vendors to court if they set up their night market this Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803381-bma-warns-vendors-move-or-face-charges/

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Drug trafficking gang nabbed, 25-kilogram ice seized

Bangkok: The Office of Narcotics Control Board has announced the crackdown on a trafficking gang and the seizure of 25-kilogram crystal methamphetamine.

In a joint operation with the military, the ONCB tracked down the trafficking suspects from the North en route to the South before making the arrest in NakhonPathom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803382-drug-trafficking-gang-nabbed-25-kilogram-ice-seized/

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Greece clears key hurdle to extend bailout but doubts remain
LORNE COOK, Associated Press
RAF CASERT, Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — Greece cleared a major hurdle Tuesday in its ongoing battle to remain solvent as its European creditors approved a 4-month extension to its financial bailout — but the cash-strapped country has much more to do to convince its partners that it deserves longer-term help beyond the summer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803385-eurozone-backs-greece-reform-plans/