Thailand Live Thursday 26 Feb 2015

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Songkhla school closed five days following disease outbreak

SONGKHLA: -- A school in Songkhla's Sathingpra district was ordered closed five days after an outbreak of the hand mouth foot disease that has hit at least six pupils while several more are being monitored.

The school director, Dr Ratchata Thamcharoen, said the school was closed so that it could be sprayed with disinfectant to prevent more spread.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Songkhla-school-closed-five-days-following-disease-30254891.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-26

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International Balloon Festival to kick off in Songkhla in March

SONGKHLA, 26 February 2015 (NNT) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is inviting tourists to visit Songkhla province for the International Balloon Festival held in March.

Hatyai Municipality Office and the TAT will be hosting the event at Jiranakorn Stadium in Hatyai district of Songkhla province. The International Balloon Festival will take place from March 6th-7th, 2015.

Visitors can expect to see colorful hot-air balloons in different shapes from around the globe. They will also be given hot-air balloon rides to see Hatyai with a bird’s eye view. Organizers have planned music concerts, parades, games, and food and beverage vendors at the festival.

Tourists are also invited to the nighttime event called ‘Balloon Night Glow’ that will come with spectacular light and sound shows.


-- NNT 2015-02-26

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PM kicks off good deeds resolution project

BANGKOK, 26 February 2015 (NNT) – Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha has presided over the opening ceremony of a special project aimed at encouraging the public to uphold good deeds as tribute to the monarchy.

The launch of the good deeds resolution project was witnessed by high-ranking officials, military commanders and representatives from several public and private agencies amid tight security.

The state program has set a four-year time frame between 2015-2018 to perform acts of goodwill and host related activities, in honor of His Majesty the King.

The public can be part of the campaign by simply resolving to commit good deeds for themselves and for their society. Public activities will advertised and broadcast through different channels.


-- NNT 2015-02-26

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10,000 cherry blossom trees to be planted in Chiang Rai

CHIANG RAI, 26 February 2015 (NNT)-Mae Fah Luang University will grow 10,000 cherry blossom trees in the mountain top areas of Doi Ngam in Chiang Rai province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803789-10000-cherry-blossom-trees-to-be-planted-in-chiang-rai/

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Temperatures in Thailand will increase at the end of February

BANGKOK, 26 February 2015 (NNT)-The Meteorological Department has forecast that Thailand will receive lower precipitation and become warmer during the day.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803793-temperatures-in-thailand-will-increase-at-the-end-of-february/

[thai tech]

Throwback Thursday: The Motorola StarTAC

Upon its release the Motorola StarTAC 85 was the smallest and lightest mobile phone the world had ever seen and heralded the start of smaller handset design and the idea a mobile phone could also be a fashion accessory or ‘must have’ item, as well as a way of communicating on the go.

Not only did it look good, the Motorola StarTAC also introduced a number of features which became a mainstay of future mobile phones, some of which are still used in the smartphones of today.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/throwback-thursday-the-motorola-startac/5584/

[webfact]

SONGKHLA
International Balloon Festival to be held next month

SONGKHLA: -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is inviting tourists to visit southern province of Songkhla for the International Balloon Festival next month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803814-songkhla-international-balloon-festival-to-be-held-next-month/

[webfact]

Former CIB commissioner gets 15 years more in jail



BANGKOK: -- Former Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) commissioner Pol Lt Gen Pongpat Chayaphan was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison after the Criminal Court found him guilty in two cases of bribe takings.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803816-former-cib-commissioner-pongpat-gets-15-years-more-in-jail/

[webfact]

Phuket road closures for Phuket Old Town Festival
Tanyaluk Sakoot


The roads marked in yellow will be closed from 3pm until midnight from today (February 26) to Saturday (February 28).

Phuket: -- As part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, and to mark the opening of the three-day Phuket Old Town Festival, a parade will be passing through Phuket Town from 4pm today (February 26) meaning that five roads in the town (Thalang Rd, Phang Nga Rd, Krabi Rd, Phuket Rd and Thepkassattri Rd (from the Tuopo intersection to Taewnam) will be closed Phuket to traffic from 3pm-midnight.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803817-phuket-road-closures-for-phuket-old-town-festival/

[webfact]

Junta's Charter Drafter Clarifies 'Unelected' Senate
By Khaosod English


File photo of Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Bowornsak Uwanno.

BANGKOK — The chairman of the junta-appointed Constitution Drafting Committee has urged the media to stop describing the next Senate as "unelected" and use the term "indirectly elected" instead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803818-thai-govts-charter-drafter-clarifies-unelected-senate/

[thai tech]

Pakistan tightens cellphone control after Taliban massacre

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Almost every Pakistani citizen has a cellphone, but from now on, Big Brother is checking to make sure their name, number and fingerprints are on record.

The measures are meant to tighten control of cellphones and avert their use for militant attacks after the Taliban massacre two months ago at a school in Peshawar.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/pakistan-tightens-cellphone-control-after-taliban-massacre/5595/

[webfact]

18 Wheeler Overturns Killing 1 In Bang Bua Thong
Published by Stickboy BKK



BANGKOK: -- An 18 wheeler truck crashed and overturned early this afternoon in Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi, killing one person and injuring several others, one seriously.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803823-18-wheeler-overturns-killing-1-in-bang-bua-thong-nonthaburi/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

German guy says he has cleaned Udon town for 6 years
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The German man who has become Udon Thani's favorite farang after he was seen cleaning a telephone booth in the city said he has been cleaning the town for six years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803406-farang-praised-by-facebook-users-for-community-services-in-udon/page-3?p=9120879#entry9120879

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NLA passes public demonstration bill in first reading

BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly Thursday passed the bill to regulate demonstrations in the first reading. The bill was passed with 182:0 votes while four NLA members abstained.

A 22-member committee was set up to complete the bill vetting in 30 days. Among other things, the bill prohibits demonstrators from rallying inside the Parliament, the Government House and courts' compound.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/NLA-passes-public-demonstration-bill-in-first-read-30254902.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-26

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Prayuth Willing to Testify on 2010 Crackdown
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK — Junta chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said he is willing to provide testimony to Thailand’s national anti-graft agency about his role as a top army commander in the 2010 military crackdown on Redshirt protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803844-prayut-willing-to-testify-on-2010-crackdown/

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THAI-US RELATIONS
US ambassador expected to be in place before Thailand has elected government

BANGKOK: -- A new US Ambassador to Thailand is expected to be in place in Thailand even before the country has an elected government, Deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803848-us-ambassador-expected-to-be-in-place-before-thailand-has-elected-government/

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CSD arrest one suspected gunman in Nakhon Si Thammarat



BANGKOK: -- Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police have arrested a suspected gunman they said was connected to the shooting of four persons to death in Nakhon Si Thammarat province last Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803853-csd-arrest-one-suspected-gunman-in-nakhon-si-thammarat/

[thai tech]

Gmail now available in Burmese, 74th language supported

It’s a sign of the times that Google services including Gmail are now available in Burmese, marking the 74th language of the world’s most popular email service.

“As a country of 53 million, Myanmar’s recent opening-up has triggered an explosion of people coming online”, said Google product manager Brian Kemler in a recent blog post.

“As recently as 2011, a mere 500,000 Myanmar citizens were able to access the Internet, which was less than one percent of the population”, he added.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/gmail-now-supports-burmese/5609/

[thai tech]

Thai government to resolve network issues before 4G auction



It looks like 4G in Thailand is still facing delays and hurdles, as the latest development is that the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ministry wants to settle network ownership rights in terms of state and private companies before the 4G auction can be held.

The 4G auction is the method in which the government plans to sell off wireless spectrum, allowing the carriers to launch new, super fast 4G services, but it has already faced lengthy delays.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/thai-government-4g-network-issues/5602/

[webfact]

BEIRUT (AP) - Activists: Number of Christians abducted by IS group rises to 220.

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Energy minister cancels 21st oil concession bid



BANGKOK: -- Energy Minister Narongchai Akaraseranee on Thursday endorsed an announcement calling off the 21st round of petroleum exploration and exploitation concession auction.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803864-thai-energy-minister-cancels-21st-oil-concession-bid/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Thai junta chief may testify to agency probing 2010 crackdown

AFP

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's junta chief Thursday said he is willing to provide testimony about his involvement in a deadly 2010 military crackdown on anti-government protesters in Bangkok that left more than 90 dead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803844-prayut-willing-to-testify-on-2010-crackdown/#entry9121343

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UPDATE:

PM says he is ready to testify to the NACC regarding the crackdown in 2010

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said Thursday that he is willing to testify as a witness to the National Anti-Corruption Commission regarding the crackdown on red-shirt protesters during protests in 2010 by then government of prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803844-prayut-willing-to-testify-on-2010-crackdown/#entry9121365

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NLA passes public gathering bill



BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly today overwhelmingly passed the first reading of a bill that restricts political demonstrations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803891-nla-passes-public-gathering-bill/

[webfact]

SET index closed 1,593.55 up 4.22; Bt/USD32.23; GBP49.97; AUD25.19; EUR36.47; CAD25.85; HKD4.14; SGD23.73; JPY27.03

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Junta's Lawmakers Approve Bill to Restrict Rallies

By Khaosod English

BANGKOK – The Thai junta’s rubber-stamp parliament has unanimously approved the first draft of a bill that would restrict political demonstrations in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803891-nla-passes-public-gathering-bill/#entry9121480

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Austrian FM defends ban on foreign funding of mosques, imams

BERLIN (AP) — Austria's foreign minister is defending his country's revisions to a century-old law on Islam, which increase many protections for Muslims but also ban foreign funding for mosques and imams.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803905-austrian-fm-defends-ban-on-foreign-funding-of-mosques-imams/

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FOOD SAFETY
Canned tuna from Thailand under scrutiny
Agencies



SYDNEY: -- Four people in Sydney are suffering from suspected fish poisoning after eating tuna sandwiches made with fish imported from Thailand, agencies reported Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803907-australia-canned-tuna-from-thailand-under-scrutiny/

[Lite Beer]

RT @RichardBarrow: Wednesday 4 March is Makha Bucha Day. As it's a Buddhist holiday, the sale of alcohol will be prohibited in #Thailand http://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/570940887854948352/photo/1

[Lite Beer]

Muslim group: 'Jihadi John' resembles UK man Mohammed Emwazi

LONDON (AP) — A London-based Muslim lobbying group says there are "striking similarities" between the masked militant known as "Jihadi John" and a London man named Mohammed Emwazi.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803955-muslim-group-jihadi-john-resembles-uk-man-mohammed-emwazi/