Thailand Live Thursday 12 Mar 2015

[webfact]

Clinton trying to put emails to rest - and prepare for 2016
By KEN THOMAS and JULIE PACE

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Trying to get the rollout of her presidential campaign back on track, Hillary Rodham Clinton says she should have used a government email address while working as the nation's top diplomat — an admission that sought to quell a political furor some Democratic allies say she could no longer avoid.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807901-clinton-trying-to-put-emails-to-rest-and-prepare-for-2016/

[webfact]

Texas executes gang hit man for killing woman over drug tax
By MICHAEL GRACZYK

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — A Mexican Mafia hit man convicted of beating and strangling a San Antonio woman because she didn't pay the gang's 10 percent tax on her illegal drug sales was executed Wednesday evening.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807902-texas-executes-gang-hit-man-for-killing-woman-over-drug-tax/

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Vote for firing squad shows frustration with drug shortages
By BRADY McCOMBS and LINDSAY WHITEHURST

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A vote by Utah lawmakers to bring back executions by firing squad is the most dramatic illustration yet of the nationwide frustration over bungled executions and shortages of lethal-injection drugs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807904-us-vote-for-firing-squad-shows-frustration-with-drug-shortages/

[webfact]

Thailand Expected to Control Northeast Railway Project

Thai and Chinese officials met for the third time on Wednesday to discuss the Northeast railway project. The two new rail lines will connect China and Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807898-thailand-expected-to-control-northeast-railway-project/

[webfact]

A woman leads a physical attack on monk

Nakhon Si Thammarat: – A woman allegedly led a gang of ruffians to beat and knock out a Buddhist monk at Wat Wang Tawantok, Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat district.

Phra Pipat, 40, who was beaten unconscious, is now staying at an undisclosed temple for safety reason.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807906-a-woman-leads-a-physical-attack-on-monk/

[webfact]

Egg farmers cry foul on pricing

Bangkok: – Farm-gate pickup rates for fresh eggs are falling and egg farmers are selling below cost although the retail prices remain high.

The persistence of high retail prices and low wholesale rates would further fuel the egg market distortion, said Mongkol Pipatsatayanuwong, chairman of the Association of Hen-Egg Farmers, Traders and Exporters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807905-egg-farmers-cry-foul-on-pricing/

[webfact]

Thai Central Bank Makes Unexpected Rate Cuts

In an unexpected move, the Bank of Thailand cut main interest rates to 1.75% amid a slow economic recovery. This is the first rate cut in a year for the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807903-thai-central-bank-makes-unexpected-rate-cuts/

[webfact]

AP sues State Department, seeking access to Clinton records
By STEVE PEOPLES

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Associated Press on Wednesday sued the State Department to force the release of email correspondence and government documents from Hillary Rodham Clinton's tenure as secretary of state.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807919-ap-sues-state-department-seeking-access-to-clinton-records/

[webfact]

Pattaya City to relax beach bed rules

Pattaya, Chon Buri:- The Pattaya City has agreed to relax the beach bed rules to allow tourists with illness and disability and tourists with too large body to be comfort in canvas beds to use beach beds.

The agreement was reached during a meeting held Wednesday afternoon at the Pattaya City Hall. Deputy Pattaya Mayor Ronnakit Ekkasit chaired the meeting of the committee in charge of putting the Pattaya beach into order.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807916-pattaya-city-to-relax-beach-bed-rules/

[webfact]

Thailand hosts VIV Asia 2015 in hope of being the world's meat export center

BANGKOK, 12 March 2015 (NNT) - VIV Asia 2015, the biggest Asia-Pacific exhibition for animal husbandry & processing, was officially opened on Wed at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC), Thailand. and will end on Friday 13 Mar.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807925-thailand-hosts-viv-asia-2015-in-hope-of-being-the-worlds-meat-export-center/

[webfact]

Two Russian tourists injured by fleeing pickup

Pattaya, Chon Buri:- A pickup truck that refused to stop at a road checkpoint in Pattaya hit and injured two Russian tourists late Wednesday night, police said.

Police did not identify the two Russians, who were hit by the truck in front of the Ambassador Hotel Jomthien shortly after 11 pm.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807926-two-russian-tourists-injured-by-fleeing-pickup/

[webfact]

Bali nine: Execution of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran may be months away
Jewel Topsfield
Indonesia correspondent for Fairfax

MELBOURNE: -- The execution of Bali nine ringleaders Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan could be delayed for weeks with the Attorney-General's office confirming all the drug felons would be killed at the same time.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807929-bali-nine-execution-of-andrew-chan-and-myuran-sukumaran-may-be-months-away/

[thai tech]

Google Ventures chief thinks we’ll live to be 500 years old

In an interview with Bloomberg, a leading Google executive has spoken about how he believes humans will one day live to be 500 years old.

Bill Maris, a managing partner of Google Ventures, the company’s invest arm, explained how Google continues to invest millions of dollars in life sciences that will ensure the human race will live longer.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/google-ventures-chief-thinks-well-live-to-be-500-years-old/6742/

[thai tech]

Selfie stick bans go into effect at French, UK attractions



PARIS (AP) — “Selfie sticks” have now been banned at a French palace and a British museum, joining a growing list of global tourist attractions to take such measures.

The devices are used to improve snapshots, but critics say they are obnoxious and potentially dangerous. Officials at Palace of Versailles outside Paris, and Britain’s National Gallery in London, announced the bans Wednesday, saying they need to protect artworks and other visitors.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/selfie-stick-bans-go-into-effect-at-french-uk-attractions/6760/

[thai tech]

MIT Develops a Device to Read Text for the Blind


MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) has developed a solution to read text for the blind.

Tablet owners often read their favorite articles or books with ease, but blind users are left in the dark. MIT created a prototype that users just the reader’s finger to read text instead of braille.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/mit-develops-a-device-to-read-text-for-the-blind/6781/

[thai tech]

Apple reopens iTunes, App stores after lengthy outage



SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple has restored service to its widely used iTunes and app stores after a rare breakdown Wednesday.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/apple-reopens-itunes-app-stores-after-lengthy-outage/6767/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Haze remains a threat to health in Chiang Mai



CHIANG MAI: -- The Armed Forces are now joining local authorities to combat the hazes that are blanketing several northern provinces and are a threat to health.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807875-tourism-spared-impact-from-chiang-mai-air-quality/#entry9175978

[webfact]

SET down 1.25 points at opening /Bangkok Post

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Wanted American woman arrested near Phuket
Nattha Thepbamrung


Kelly Miller makes herself presentable for last night's press conference.

PHUKET: -- An American woman wanted in the US for fleeing the country after being bailed on a charge of vehicular homicide in the US in 2004 was arrested yesterday (March 11) in Krabi.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807805-american-woman-wanted-for-man-slaughter-arrested-in-krabi/#entry9176085

[webfact]

New homes sought for 'overpopulated' wild elephants
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Too many wild elephants are creating problems in Thailand’s forests and must be dealt with, a national parks official claimed Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807946-new-homes-sought-for-overpopulated-wild-elephants-in-thailand/

[webfact]

Thai army chief awarded Maroon Beret



BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Army Commander-in-Chief, Gen General Udomdej Sitabutr, was awarded the Honorary Maroon Beret and the Honorary Airborne Wing of 10 Paratrooper Brigade of the Malaysian Armed Forces, during his visit to Malaysia yesterday, according to New Straits Times.

The award was presented by Malaysian Army Chief, General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor at the Defence Ministry Square here, in the presence of Malaysian Army officials.

The award, which is the pride of 10 Paratrooper Brigade is a sign of respect and recognition from the brigade to individuals, top military or government leaders from within or outside the country.

Gen Udomdej, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, is on a two-day official visit to Malaysia to further strengthen the existing military cooperation between the Royal Thai Army and the Malaysian Armed Forces, especially the Army.

Earlier, he inspected the Guard of Honor of the First Battalion Royal Malay Regiment comprising six officers and 102 personnel of various ranks, led by Major Wan Azrul Yahya.

He later attend a closed-door briefing delivered by Raja Mohamed Affandi.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thai-army-chief-awarded-maroon-beret


-- Thai PBS 2015-03-12

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Almost half of foreign workers in Malaysia infected with TB, say doctors
P. Aruna and Desiree Tresa Gasper
The Star

MALAYSIA: -- With almost half of foreign workers failing their medical tests found to be infected with the highly contagious tuberculosis (TB), doctors are raising the alarm over the presence of some three million to six million illegals here.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807948-almost-half-of-foreign-workers-in-malaysia-infected-with-tb-say-doctors/

[webfact]

Phetchabun seeks a rail project to the province

PHETCHABUN, 12 Mar 2015 (NNT) - Governor of Phetchabun Bundit Teweetiwarak yesterday met with chiefs of local government units, to follow up on a project to bring rail links to the province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807950-phetchabun-seeks-a-rail-project-to-the-province/

[webfact]

Hundreds of health officials gather to support Dr Narong



BANGKOK: -- Hundreds of public health officials wearing blacks and state nurses gathered in front of the Public Health Ministry Thursday morning to give morale support to Dr Narong Sahamethapat after he was abruptly transferred to be advisor at the Prime Minister's Office.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807710-health-permanent-secretary-dr-narong-temporarily-removed/#entry9176228

[webfact]

Finance comes out with fresh changes in tax exemptions



BANGKOK: -- The Finance Ministry has now come out with new revision of its proposed land and buildings tax for residences with tax exemption for appraised value for houses raised to between 2-2.5 million baht from earlier 1.5 million baht, and also exemption for retirees who have no earnings.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807973-thai-finance-ministry-comes-out-with-fresh-changes-in-building-tax-exemptions/

[webfact]

Boyfriend wakes up next to Bangkok ladyboy (VIDEO)
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- A Czech woman seemingly pranked her boyfriend on their last night in Bangkok by hiring a transgender woman to convince him he’d had the ultimate Bangkok experience.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807976-boyfriend-wakes-up-next-to-bangkok-ladyboy-video/

[webfact]

AirAsia CEO says plans to resume flights to Europe next year
Reuters in Sydney, Australia

HONG KONG: -- AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes said AirAsia X, the long-haul arm of Asia’s biggest budget airline, plans to resume flights to Europe early next year using new, fuel-efficient jets to tap into growing demand from travellers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807979-airasia-ceo-says-plans-to-resume-flights-to-europe-next-year/

[webfact]

'Toxic Tuna' report looks at Thailand's 'cannery row'
By Coconuts Bangkok


ABOVE: Tuna piled in the open at a Samut Sakhon packing plant from a scene in a video report by The Daily Telegraph.

BANGKOK: -- A report from The Daily Telegraph alleges questionable sanitary conditions at Thai tuna packing plants.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807983-toxic-tuna-report-looks-at-thailands-cannery-row/

[Lite Beer]

Krabi:- The Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park has now stepped up its enforcement of regulations that bar tourist activities from damaging marine resources.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807990-phi-phi-park-steps-up-environment-protection/

[Lite Beer]

NLA begins impeachment voting of 38 former senators

BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) began secret voting of 38 ex-senators accused of illegally trying to amend the composition of the Senate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807997-nla-begins-impeachment-voting-of-38-former-senators/