Thailand Live Friday 13 Mar 2015

[Lite Beer]

SET up 4.79 points at midday /Bangkok Post.

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Smog-hit Chiang Mai still a draw, says TAT
Standley Bennett
The Nation



CHIANG MAI: -- PEOPLE working outdoors such as tuk tuk and songtaew drivers in Chiang Mai province say the haze hovering over the North has affected their daily life.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808351-smog-hit-chiang-mai-still-a-draw-says-tat/

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Eric Clapton to turn 70 with New York shows


File photo. Source: Internet

NEW YORK (AFP) - Guitar legend Eric Clapton is planning to celebrate turning 70 by playing two concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808364-eric-clapton-to-turn-70-with-new-york-shows/

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Nonthaburi police chief transferred for indiscretion



BANGKOK: -- The police chief of Nonthaburi province was transferred to in active post at the Operation Centre of the Region 1 Provincial Police Command on alleged indiscretion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808365-nonthaburi-police-chief-transferred-for-indiscretion/

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Benz Tasai escorted to court under heavy guard



BANGKOK: -- The Suphanburi police today escorted notorious drug trafficker ‘Benz Tasai’ to the Suphanburi provincial court for permission to detain him for questioning under heavy police security guards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808367-drug-trafficker-benz-tasai-escorted-to-court-under-heavy-guard/

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Phuket Police arrest illegal masseurs
Nattapat Tuarob


The five women were working as massage therapists at a hotel in Phuket Town.

Phuket: -- Four Burmese and one Cambodian women were arrested for working illegally as masseurs on Wednesday afternoon (March 11) after failing to produce their work permits.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808369-phuket-police-arrest-illegal-masseurs/

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World Bartendering Championship comes to Phuket this weekend


80 of the world's best bartenders will be competing this weekend.

Phuket: -- 80 of the world̕s best bartenders will be in Phuket this weekend (March 14 & 15) to take part in the Master 2015 World Bartendering Championship which is being held at The Port Area of Jungceylon in Patong and of which Class Act Media is proud to be a sponsor.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808371-world-bartendering-championship-comes-to-phuket-this-weekend/

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Indonesian women, children held in Turkey 'heading to join IS'

JAKARTA (AFP) - Sixteen Indonesians, mostly women and children, have been arrested in Turkey attempting to cross into Syria to join the Islamic State (IS) group, a minister said, the latest case of Indonesians heading to battlegrounds in the Middle East.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808374-indonesian-women-children-held-in-turkey-heading-to-join-is/

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Thai Junta Instructs Taxis Not to Refuse Passengers
By Khaosod English


Taxi drivers placed stickers that said "Go Anywhere, No Rejection" on the windows of their cars after taking a pledge in a ceremony organized by the Armed Forces for Maintaining Peace and Order, 13 March 2015.

BANGKOK – The Thai military junta’s security unit organized a ceremony today in which more than 100 taxi drivers pledged to accept passengers regardless of their nationalities or intended destinations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808402-thai-military-security-unit-instructs-taxis-not-to-refuse-passengers/

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Pheu Thai upbeat 250 former MPs to escape impeachment

BANGKOK: -- Former Pheu Thai MP Wicharn Minchainan Friday expressed confidence that 250 former MPs would escape impeachment when the National Legislative Assembly deliberates the anti-graft body's impeachment case against them.

The MPs were accused of violating the charter. Wicharn said since the NLA voted not to impeach 38 senators, the former MPs should escape the impeachment as well.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Pheu-Thai-upbeat-250-former-MPs-to-escape-impeachm-30255938.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-13

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Water Resources Department to review spatial data countrywide

BANGKOK, 13 March 2015 (NNT) – The Department of Water Resources is preparing to review the spatial data across the country after statistics indicated a growing number of risk-prone areas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808409-thai-water-resources-dept-to-review-spatial-data-nationwide/

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Haze-causing hot spots detected in 42 provinces

BANGKOK, 13 March 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has detected several small areas with a relatively high temperature known as hot spots which might be the cause of the ongoing haze crisis in the North.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808411-haze-causing-hot-spots-detected-in-42-thai-provinces/

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CRUFTS EUKANUBA FRIENDS FOR LIFE AWARD
Thai dog survivor wins world award
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The amazing bond between a severely disabled six-year-old boy and his Thai rescue dog was recognised last Sunday at the world's most famous dog show, Crufts. "Miracle", rescued from Thailand's illegal dog meat trade and adopted by the Leask family in Strathglass, Scotland, beat nearly 200 other dogs to win the prestigious Crufts Eukanuba Friends for Life award.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808412-thai-dog-survivor-wins-world-award/

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SET index closed 1,542.90 down 1.44; Bt/USD32.70; GBP48.49; AUD24.94; EUR34.56; CAD25.60; HKD4.20; SGD23.51; JPY26.82

[Jonathan Fairfield]

You can now follow Thaivisa on LINE

BANGKOK:– Thaivisa is now on LINE – one the world’s fastest growing and most popular messaging platforms, which has more than 170 million users around the globe.

With occasional updates throughout the day, the official Thaivisa LINE account brings you news and visa information for expats and foreign nationals in Thailand, delivered direct to your mobile.

As well as keeping you updated on all news related to Thailand, LINE also offers free voice and video calls and is available on all Android and iOS smartphones, as well as on your desktop.

Your chance to win

Follow the official Thaivisa LINE account before 23:59 on Sunday 15th March (Bangkok time) and we’ll pick three people at random to each win 1,000 Baht worth of mobile phone credit.

Read more: http://news.thaivisa.com/thaivisa-news/you-can-now-follow-thaivisa-on-line/38628/

[Lite Beer]

Many in North coming down with respiratory problems

CHIANG MAI: -- Some 2,200 Chiang Mai residents have come down with respiratory problems very likely due to the ongoing smog problem.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808433-many-in-north-coming-down-with-respiratory-problems/

[Lite Beer]

Soldiers Seize Gold Cache From Ex-Princess's Brother

By Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK — The military has located 2 million baht worth of gold reportedly hidden by a brother of former princess Srirasmi Suwadee who has been accused of racketeering and falsely claiming support from the Royal Family.

Soldiers found the gold during a raid of a hotel in Nakhon Pathom province, said Pol.Lt.Col. Thammawat Hiranyalekha, deputy commander of the Crime Suppression Division. Under martial law, the military does not need a warrant to conduct raids.


The gold allegedly purchased by Narong Suwadee, 13 March 2015.

Pol.Lt.Col. Thammawat said the gold belongs to Narong Suwadee, 41, the younger brother of former princess Srirasmi. Narong is currently being held at Klong Prem Prison in Bangkok for numerous charges, including extortion, possession of firearms without a permit, and illegal detention. He has also been charged with insulting the monarchy, a crime known as lese majeste, because he allegedly cited his ties to Srirasmi and the Thai Royal Family to carry out his criminal acts.

Read More: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1426248611

-- Khaosod English 2015-03-13

[Lite Beer]

Molly’s parents angry at unresponsive Phuket officials
Tanyaluk Sakoot

Molly's picture on display at today's ceremony in her memory. She would have been eight today.

PHUKET: Today is March 13, which would have been Molly Anne Bailey’s eighth birthday, had she not died on December 11 last year after her mother drove into a huge hole in a Phuket road that had not been marked with effective warnings.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808442-mollys-parents-angry-at-unresponsive-phuket-officials/

[Lite Beer]

DSI to consider accepting a former aide of Phra Dhammachayo into witness protection programme

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation is to consider whether to accept Dr Mano Laohavanich, a former close aide of Wat Dhammakaya’s abbot, Phra Dhammachayo, into witness protection programme.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808444-dsi-to-consider-accepting-a-former-aide-of-phra-dhammachayo-into-witness-protection-programme/

[Lite Beer]

Moral Promotion Center has hope and some concern for Thailand's future

BANGKOK, 13 March 2015 (NNT) – The Moral Promotion Center, which is a public organization, today held a press conference stressing that society needs stronger morality as an organization spokesperson said there has been a growing number of cases of questionable behavior among Thai people.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808446-moral-promotion-center-has-hope-and-some-concern-for-thailands-future/

[Lite Beer]

DPM steps up nationwide operations to tackle droughts

BANGKOK, 13 March 2015 (NNT) - Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paochinda has ordered the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) and offices concerned to step up assistance for drought-hit people as the situation in various areas is getting worse.

The DDPM has integrated its operations with local administrative organizations in 105 districts in twenty three provinces which have been declared ‘drought disaster zones’.

Those units work to prioritize water allocation aimed to satisfy public consuming purposes rather than agricultural use.

Local officials have also been assigned to keep people informed about the situation and explain them the government’s water allocation plan in order to avoid conflicts possibly occurring from unequal water allocation.

DDPM Director-General Chatchai Phromlert has ordered local DDPM offices to support related authorities with water pumps, machinery and staff to hustle the operations especially in northern provinces.

-- NNT 2015-03-13

[Lite Beer]

China keen on investing in auto production in Ayutthaya

AYUTTHAYA, 13 March 2015 (NNT) – The Chinese government has expressed interest in opening production facilities for automobiles and electronic components within Ayutthaya province of Thailand.

A group of Chinese delegates from Jinan, the capital city of Shandong province, recently paid an official visit to Ayutthaya with an aim to observe the local industrial business and look for investment opportunities. Ayutthaya Governor Apichart Todilokvej disclosed that the officials were considering a plan to invest in car assembly and electronics production, using the province’s Rojana Industrial Estate as the production base.

The Governor pointed out that the Chinese province of Shandong has been one of the leading trade partners of Thailand and is also a major exporter of goods to the world. On the other hand, Ayutthaya is home to as many as five industrial estates and is the fifth highest revenue generator for Thailand, bringing in over 300 million baht each year.

Therefore, Mr Apichart voiced belief that the investment cooperation between Thailand and China will thrive in the near future. He said the delegates from Jinan will come to Ayutthaya again in April and will also bring along a number of private entrepreneurs this time.

-- NNT 2015-03-13

[Lite Beer]

'No rejection' sign to be put on taxis
By Coconuts Bangkok March 13, 2015 / 14:51 ICT

BANGKOK: -- Seriously, why did nobody ever think of this?

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808447-no-rejection-sign-to-be-put-on-taxis/

[Lite Beer]

Their Majesties postpone their return to Chitrlada palace

BANGKOK: -- Their Majesties the King and Queen have postponed their departure from Siriraj hospital for the Chitralada palace earlier scheduled at about 7 pm Friday night, according to the Bureau of the Royal Household.

No reason was given for the postponement which was announced at about 6.10 pm as thousands of people, many of them were dressed in yellow, holding the national flags and portraits of Their Majesties, were waiting anxiously at Siriraj hospital and along the routes that the Royal motorcade would pass through.

Their Majesties have been staying at Siriraj hospital since October 3 for medical treatment and rehabilitation. On March 9, His Majesty the King briefly returned to Chitralada palace to visit some of the Royally-sponsored projects such as the rice milling machine he initiated decades ago to help farmers employ their own rice milling machine so that they would not have to be forced to sell their crops at suppressed prices.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/their-majesties-postpone-their-return-to-chitrlada-palace

-- Thai PBS 2015-03-13

[Lite Beer]

Bangkok:- The Transport Ministry will ask the Cabinet this month to approve two new motorway projects to be built with the budgets of Bt84 billion and Bt55 billion, Permanent Secretary for Transport Ministry Sroythip Traisut said Friday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808448-two-new-motorway-projects-go-to-cabinet-this-month/

[Lite Beer]

Wild elephants’ future looks bleak

BANGKOK: -- March 13 marks Thai Elephants Day but the outlook of wild elephants in Thailand appears grim as the beasts are increasingly facing threats from human activities.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808450-wild-elephants-future-looks-bleak/

[Lite Beer]

Nation celebrates National Elephant Day

BANGKOK: -- Today is the National Thai Elephant Day and both private and public sectors celebrated the day hosting feasts for the Thai jumbos at various elephant camps and tourist spots across the country.

Besides they also joined in the call to stop the ivory trade definitely.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808450-wild-elephants-future-looks-bleak/#entry9182751

[Lite Beer]

to continue:

Thailand Live Saturday 14 Mar 2015

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808468-thailand-live-saturday-14-mar-2015/