Thailand Live Friday 27 Feb 2015

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Amended tobacco consumption draft put on hold

Bangkok: – The government has ordered a review of the draft amendments for Tobacco Consumption Control Act, saying the draft should be debated among parties concerned.

The draft, sponsored by the Public Health Ministry, is designed for strict control of tobacco product.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804018-amended-tobacco-consumption-draft-put-on-hold/

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Buddhist monk duped in lottery scam

Chon Buri: – A Buddhist monk has filed a police complaint that he was swindled to pay 40,000 baht cash in exchange for a promise of one million baht donation.

PhraSudjai, 70, of WatPhrommawat told police that a man made a visit to his temple abode at Si Racha district asking him to conduct a religious ceremony at the home of his sick mother.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804019-buddhist-monk-duped-in-lottery-scam/

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UPDATE:

'Jihadi John' identified as London-raised college grad
By JILL LAWLESS

LONDON (AP) — The world knows him as "Jihadi John," the masked, knife-wielding militant in videos showing Western hostages being beheaded by the Islamic State group. On Thursday he was identified as a London-raised university graduate known to British intelligence for more than five years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803955-muslim-group-jihadi-john-resembles-uk-man-mohammed-emwazi/#entry9123332

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Saudi man convicted of conspiracy in '98 US embassy bombings
By JENNIFER PELTZ

NEW YORK (AP) — A man prosecutors portrayed as one of al-Qaida's early leaders was convicted Thursday of conspiracy in the deadly 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa following a trial that showcased the terror group's early days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804020-saudi-man-convicted-of-conspiracy-in-98-us-embassy-bombings/

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Militants abduct more Christians, smash ancient artifacts
By ZEINA KARAM and SINAN SALAHEDDIN

BEIRUT (AP) — Islamic State militants seized more Christians from their homes in northeastern Syria in the past three days, bringing the total number abducted by the extremist group to over 220, activists said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804022-militants-abduct-more-christians-smash-ancient-artifacts/

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News Guide: Latest developments on Islamic State group
By The Associated Press

From Iraq and Syria, where Islamic State militants abducted Christians and destroyed Mesopotamian relics, to arrests of suspects in New York and a Muslim group in Britain shedding light on the possible identity of a British-accented militant from IS beheading videos, the extremist group dominated the headlines on Thursday around the globe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804023-ap-news-guide-latest-developments-on-islamic-state-group/

[thai tech]

Vurb Takes on Google in Mobile Search



Vurb launched today with the hopes of taking on Google in mobile search. The company has received a lot of praise during Disrupt and already received $10 million in funding.

Vurb is a mobile search engine that works differently than Google Search. Instead of displaying lists, the app creates cards to help users get started.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/vurb-takes-on-google-in-mobile-search/5663/

[thai tech]

Cyber threats expanding, new US intelligence assessment says



WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has elevated its appraisal of the cyber threat from Russia, the U.S. intelligence chief said Thursday, as he delivered the annual assessment by intelligence agencies of the top dangers facing the country.

“While I can’t go into detail here, the Russian cyber threat is more severe than we had previously assessed,” James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, told the Senate Armed Services Committee, as he presented the annual worldwide threats assessment.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/cyber-threats-expanding-new-us-intelligence-assessment-says/5678/

[thai tech]

Meet Runcible, the Pocket Watch Smartphone



Monohm is set to release their device called the Runcible. The company, headed by past Apple and Sony employees, is introducing a new kind of smartphone. Instead of the rectangular shape that users are used to, the Runcible is round. A wood-back and a strong resemblance to a pocket watch is the signature of Monohm’s device.

Designed to be a pocket watch, this smartphone lacks app capabilities, but it does provide web access, text messages, taking photos and making calls.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/meet-the-pocket-watch-smartphone/5649/

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The Immigration Police Bureau will install immigration clearance machines for foreigners to cut queues at the country's main Bangkok airports by mid-2015. /Bangkok Post

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Russian model arrested at Suvarnabhumi airport

Samut Prakan:- A Russian fashion model has been arrested for allegedly beating and online stalking his former Thai girlfriend.

But Ivan Lomakin, 29, denied the charge, saying he would never harm Stasha Dansitthitecho-udom because, he said, he loves her dearly.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804035-russian-model-arrested-at-suvarnabhumi-airport/

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For the first time in 40 years, Elvis is back in the building

LAS VEGAS, NV - Elvis Presley's Graceland and Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino announced today that they will bring the authentic Elvis Presley back to Las Vegas for the first time in 40 years. "Graceland Presents ELVIS: The Exhibition - The Show - The Experience" will include an expansive, new permanent exhibition featuring hundreds of artifacts never before displayed outside of Graceland, and live entertainment shows that celebrate the life and legacy of Elvis Presley.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804041-for-the-first-time-in-40-years-elvis-is-back-in-the-building/

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Local community fire salvo of complaints against Phuket resort
Nattha Thepbamrung


Governor Nisit (right) and PM’s Office Inspector Orawan Khumsap.

PHUKET: -- The complaint about calls form a village mosque disturbing people’s lives has been rejected by the authorities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804044-local-community-fire-salvo-of-complaints-against-phuket-resort/

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South Korea renews license of 2nd-oldest nuclear plant
By YOUKYUNG LEE

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's nuclear regulator said Friday that it had renewed the operating license of its second-oldest nuclear power plant until 2022, in a decision that upset opponents of nuclear energy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804046-south-korea-renews-license-of-2nd-oldest-nuclear-plant/

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Russia could cut off gas to Ukraine by 'end of week'

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia could cut off supplies to neighboring Ukraine by the end of the week if it does not get further payments from the country, state-owned gas company Gazprom said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804047-russia-could-cut-off-gas-to-ukraine-by-end-of-week/

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Chile government rejects 14-year-old's plea for euthanasia
By EVA VERGARA and LUIS ANDRES HENAO

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile's government on Thursday rejected an ailing 14-year-old girl's plea on social media to let her "sleep forever."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804049-chile-government-rejects-14-year-olds-plea-for-euthanasia/

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UPDATE:

Tourist cleans Thailand streets out of love
By CNN Staff

(CNN)There are many reasons to visit Thailand.

Some want to swim at Ko Phi Phi, where Leonardo DiCaprio found beauty (though not quite bliss) in "The Beach."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/803956-updated-farang-spotted-doing-community-work-in-udon-identified/#entry9123828

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South Korean court scraps adultery ban
Lee Hyun-jeong
The Korea Herald

SEOUL: -- South Korea's Constitutional Court on Thursday struck down South Korea’s controversial adultery law, ending a decades-long debate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804053-south-korean-court-scraps-adultery-ban/

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Three Bangkok walking streets this Saturday

Bangkok:- Three walking street activities will be available for tourists and shoppers to visit in the capital this Saturday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration announced Friday.

The three walking streets for Saturday will be the Khaosarn Roard, Chaeng Wattana Road and a short road under the King Rama IX Bridge, Kittinan Khaosut, the director of the BMA’s Social Development Department, said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804050-three-bangkok-walking-streets-this-saturday/

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Over 500 Indonesians join IS

BANGKOK: -- Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), revealed on Thursday that more than 500 Indonesian citizens had joined the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria without the relevant authorities taking any preventive measures, according to The Jakarta Post.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804055-over-500-indonesians-join-is/

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Two commissioners summoned over gambling den raids by soldiers



BANGKOK: -- Royal Thai Police commissioner today summoned commissioners of Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) and Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) for clarification after infantry soldiers raid several gambling dens in Bangkok and the provinces yesterday and arrested several gamblers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804056-two-commissioners-summoned-over-gambling-den-raids-by-thai-soldiers/

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Malaysia, Indonesia agree to combat IS threat

BANGKOK: -- Two members of ASEAN - Malaysia and Indonesia - have agreed to cooperate and share intelligence information, besides monitoring the movements of members of the Islamic State (IS) militant group who have fought in Syria and Iraq, New Straits Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804061-malaysia-indonesia-agree-to-combat-is-threat/

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'N. Korea's nuke miniaturisation limited'
Shin Hyon-hee
The Korea Herald

SEOUL: -- North Korea is not yet likely to have miniaturised nuclear warheads to mount on ballistic missiles, though it appears to have been developing related technology to a “considerable” degree, Seoul’s Defence Ministry said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804064-n-koreas-nuke-miniaturisation-limited/

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Serial rapist suspect retracts confession

KORAT: -- The serial rapist suspect who was earlier arrested in Nakhon Ratchasima and confessed to serial rapes of elderly women in three central provinces yesterday retracted his statement that accused the police of beating him to confess.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804065-serial-rapist-suspect-retracts-confession-in-korat/

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Two drivers were killed and 14 children were injured, four seriously, when a student van crashed head on with a pickup truck on Highway 326 in Songpeenong district of Suphanburi province Friday morning.

The primary education students were on the way in the van to Jian Hua school in Suphanburi town.

All were admitted to Somdej Sangarat and Chao Phraya Yommaraj hospitals for treatment.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/96446


-- Thai PBS 2015-02-27

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Phuket court rules 'secured' or 'collective' leases are void
The Phuket News


The terms may look tempting, but will the courts agree?

PHUKET: -- In a shock decision by the Phuket Civil Court, backed by the Region 8 Appellate Court, it has been ruled that the so-called “secured leases” offered by some real estate developers to allow foreigners to secure a cast-iron 90-year lease are not valid.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804067-phuket-court-rules-secured-or-collective-leases-are-void/

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AirAsia to launch Bangkok-Buriram service
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The heart of Isaan will be only an hour away once Air Asia launches its new route from Bangkok to mystical Buriram.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804071-airasia-to-launch-bangkok-buriram-service/

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HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong court sentences woman to 6 years in jail for abusing Indonesian maid.

[thai tech]

True Online will double broadband network


Good news for anyone that uses the Internet in Thailand, as True Online, the Internet arm of True Corporation, has announced a 15 billion baht investment to double its fibre-optic broadband service in order to meet increased demand.

True Online is Thailand’s largest broadband company, and the move is largely considered a pre-emptive strike on the mobile leader AIS, which plans to launch its fibre to the home broadband service next week.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/true-online-to-double-broadband-network/5685/

[thai tech]

Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge pictures and specs leaked



With the Samsung Galaxy lineup set to be announced this Sunday at Samsung’s Unpacked event, there have been even more leaked pictures and specs on the Internet today.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/galaxy-s6-pics-and-specs-leaked/5695/