20 passengers injured in a tour bus accident



BANGKOK: -- About 20 passengers of a Transport Company’s tour bus bound for Phrae province from Bangkok were injured when the bus overturned after the driver reportedly tried to avoid a head-on collision with two racing motorcycles.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804998-20-passengers-injured-in-thai-tour-bus-accident/

Artificial rain making operation launched today

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Royal Artificial Rain-making and Agricultural Aviation officially launched a nation-wide rain making operation today in Nakhon Sawan in order to ease drought problem which has already hit several provinces.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/804999-artificial-rain-making-operation-launched-today-in-thailand/

The chips are down for Bangkok’s notorious Tao Pun casino

BANGKOK:-- One of Bangkok’s most infamous illegal casinos could be turned into a police station, according to plans announced by officials from the Anti Money Laundering Office (AMLO).

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805000-the-chips-are-down-for-bangkoks-notorious-tao-pun-casino/

New land and house taxes bill is yet to be finalized

BANGKOK: -- The Finance Ministry is expected to finalize this month the new land and house taxes bill to be submitted to the cabinet for consideration.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805004-thai-minister-new-land-and-house-taxes-bill-is-yet-to-be-finalized/

Women shock travelers with toilet strip acts
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Today on the internet, netizens are debating the nuances of moral relativism after some women got naked inside an airport bathroom and another woman took photos of them to share her unhappiness over the incident.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805006-chinese-women-shock-travelers-with-bathroom-strip-acts/

Nan Buddhists Protest Mosque Construction
By Khaosod English


More than 1,000 Buddhists gathered by Phra That Chae Haeng Temple in Nan province to protest a plan to construct a mosque, 1 March 2015.

NAN — More than 1,000 Buddhists gathered by a temple in northern Thailand yesterday to protest a plan to construct a mosque in Nan province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805028-nan-buddhists-protest-mosque-construction/

ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Mainland Chinese family ejected from flight over seatbelt dispute
The Star
Asia News Network

Petaling Jaya - A three-year-old boy who refused to fasten his seatbelt during a Hong Kong-bound Cathay Pacific flight caused his family to be ejected from the aircraft, but not before sparking a commotion on board and delaying the flight.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805030-mainland-chinese-family-ejected-from-flight-over-seatbelt-dispute/

Japanese Yakuza member arrested in Pattaya for money fraud, Thai police claims

BANGKOK, 2 March 2015 (NNT) – Deputy National Police Chief Lt Gen Chakthip Chaijinda proclaimed the arrest of a 32-year-old member of Japan's second largest Yakuza gang Sumiyoshi-kai, in Thailand’s Pattaya, Chonburi Province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805046-japanese-yakuza-member-arrested-in-pattaya-for-money-fraud/

Transport Minister urges feasibility study for electric buses

BANGKOK, 2 March 2915 (NNT) – The Minister of Transport has appointed related agencies to study the possibilities of replacing the current diesel and NGV buses with electric buses, in wake of the NGV price hike.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805047-thai-transport-minister-urges-feasibility-study-for-electric-buses/

SET index closed 1,581.33 down 5.68; Bt/USD32.11; GBP49.49; AUD24.87; EUR35.88; CAD25.65; HKD4.14; SGD23.51; JPY26.78

Noodle Vendor in NE Gives Free Meals to Traffic Violators
By Khaosod English


Tiew Mai Wa noodle stall in Nakhon Ratchasima province is giving away free bowls of noodle soup to any customer who presents a ticket from traffic police, 2 March 2015.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — A food vendor in northeastern Thailand is offering consolation for those who have had an otherwise bad day through a new promotion: free bowls of noodle soup for any customer who presents a ticket from traffic police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805063-noodle-vendor-in-isaan-gives-free-meals-to-traffic-violators/

Ministry cuts 2015 inflation forecast to 0.61.3%

BANGKOK: -- The Commerce Ministry has cut its inflation target for this year to 0.61.3 per cent, much lower than the previous projection of 1.82.5 per cent, after the drop in oil prices and sluggish economic growth.

The ministry reported that the Consumer Price Index for February fell 0.52 per cent year on year, declining for the second consecutive month. Monthonmonth inflation was only 0.12 per cent. The CPI for the JanuaryFebruary period was down 0.47 per cent from the first two months of 2014.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Ministry-cuts-2015-inflation-forecast-to-0-61-3-30255164.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-02

UPDATE:

Suspected Yakuza Member Arrested in Pattaya for Fraud
By Khaosod English


Shinichi Nagata, 32, at a police press conference on 2 March 2015.

BANGKOK — Police say they have arrested a top member of a Japanese crime syndicate who allegedly brought in more than 22 million baht in fraud schemes over the course of several months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805046-japanese-yakuza-member-arrested-in-pattaya-for-money-fraud/#entry9137133

Five teenagers sentenced to wear EM braces for road racing

BANGKOK: -- The Samut Prakan District Court Monday sentenced five teenagers from 19 to 21 years old to be equipped with Electronic Monitoring ankle brace for three months after they were convicted in road racing on January 13.

The five, one of them woman, were put on probation for two years. The court said they have jobs so they should be allowed to continue their living in the society but they need to be monitored.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Five-teenagers-sentenced-to-wear-EM-braces-for-roa-30255165.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-02

Govt to hike next year’s R&D budget to 1%

BANGKOK, 2 March 2015 (NNT) - The government has set to increase budget for research and development to 1% of the country’s 2016 GDP or around 130 billion baht.

Minister of Science and Technology Phichet Durongkhawirote said the government’s R&D budget for 2016 would focus on five main industries, including chemical products, food and beverage, R&D service for petroleum and machines. The utilization of research would help forge cooperation between the government and private sectors and boost the competitiveness of Thai industries, said the minister.

Meanwhile, SCC President Kan Trakulhun said the SCC group would increase its R&D budget to 4.8 billion baht from 2.7 billion baht. The R&D budget in 2015 accounted for 1% of the company’s sales and it would continue to vary in comparison with the annual sales, the president said.

The government has implemented measures in support of R&D such as 300% tax reduction for the private sector. This measure is hoped to draw foreign companies to invest in constructing research centers in Thailand more.

-- NNT 2015-03-02

CDC chief says he does not oppose proposal on women's representation

BANGKOK: -- Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman Borwornsak Uwanno said Monday the proposal from women reformers that at least a third of staff on local administrative organisations be women was still possible. He said the CDC would discuss the pros and cons of the proposal further.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805105-cdc-chief-says-he-does-not-oppose-proposal-on-womens-representation/

Quebec coroner to release report on deaths of sisters in Thailand

CBC's Fifth Estate concluded exposure to bedbug pesticide may have led to deaths of sisters from Pohénégamook

A Quebec coroner will present her report into the deaths of sisters Audrey Bélanger and Noémi Bélanger of Pohénégamook, Que. who died under mysterious circumstances in Thailand in 2012.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805110-quebec-coroner-to-release-report-on-deaths-of-sisters-in-thailand/

Sukhothai:- The Department of Special Investigation will conduct DNA test on 160 border patrol policemen who were stationed in Sukhothai’s Muang district eight years ago when a female Japanese tourist was murdered.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805113-160-policemen-face-dna-check-over-murder-of-japanese-tourist/

to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 3 Mar 2015

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805171-thailand-live-tuesday-3-mar-2015/