Thailand Live Wednesday 25 Mar 2015

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February's car exports grow by 11.32 per cent

Bangkok: – The country saw the export growth of 11.32 per cent for assembled vehicles last month due to rising demands in key markets like Australia, Europe and North, Central and South Americas.

The export revenues for 108,173 vehicles amounted to 47.5 billion baht, an increase of 3.21 per cent, said Surapong Paisitpattanapong, spokesman for FTI’s Automotive Industry Club.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811680-februarys-car-exports-grow-by-1132-per-cent/

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Muang District Police Officer Praised for Dedication

Bangkok, Thailand - December 12, 2014: street scene in Chinatown with unidentified people and a policeman. Chinese began settling in the Bangkoks Chinatown circa 1800s, it is also a tourist attraction

The Muang Nong Khai police station praised a low-ranking offer for his dedication and professionalism. The officer, Pol Sgt Arnon Petchsan, helped a disabled women renew her ID cards by carrying her to the municipal office. The act of kindness quickly spread on social media sites as a result.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811668-muang-district-police-officer-praised-for-dedication/

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Motor show models may face legal action

Bangkok:- The Culture Ministry has threatened to take legal action against models at the on-going 36th Bangkok International Motor show for having exposed themselves too much.

Culture Minister Veera Rojpojanarat said he had received a lot of complaints that many models in the motor show fair had dressed improperly.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811693-motor-show-models-may-face-legal-action/

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3.8-magnitude quake hits Phuket

PHUKET: -- A 3.8-magnitude earthquake happened in the sea about eight kilometers east of the Phuket island at 5:32 am Wednesday, the Seismology Center of the Meteorological Department announced.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811696-38-magnitude-quake-hits-phuket/

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Details of solar roof drive to be sent to Cabinet for approval in 30 days

BANGKOK, 25 March 2015 (NNT) – The National Reform Council is proposing that the government issue a bill on alternative energy to support Thailand's foray into the green energy sector.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811700-details-of-solar-roof-drive-to-be-sent-to-thai-cabinet-for-approval-in-30-days/

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BMA ponders collecting wasted water treatment fee

Bangkok:- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will next month ponder a method for collecting wasted water treatment fees to help the city administration shoulder high cost of water treatment, a BMA source said.

The source said the BMA’s Drainage and Sewerage Department will submit a proposal to the BMA governor on April 15 on the collecting of the fee.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811701-bma-ponders-collecting-wasted-water-treatment-fee/

[thai tech]

Google imports new CFO Ruth Porat from Wall Street



SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google has lured away Morgan Stanley’s chief financial officer, Ruth Porat, to be its CFO at a time when the Internet search leader and its Silicon Valley peers are under fire for hiring and promoting too few women.

The appointment announced Tuesday fills a void that opened earlier this month after Google’s CFO of the past seven years, Patrick Pichette, announced his plans to retire.

Porat, 58, will become Google’s highest-ranking female executive when she starts her new job on May 26. Her last day at Morgan Stanley will be April 30, ending a 28-year career at the New York investment bank.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/google-imports-new-cfo-ruth-porat-from-wall-street/7692/

[thai tech]

How secure is Android?

Android is popular. Really popular. But there is perception among some that Android is vulnerable to malware. So how secure is Android and should users be worried about potential vulnerabilities?

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/how-secure-is-android/7625/

[thai tech]

Gadgets could have completely flexible, foldable displays next year


We have been led to believe that in future, smartphones and other gadgets will have bendable, flexible and foldable displays in the next few years, but a new report from the Far East claims that the reality may come sooner than we think.

“The industry believes that the commercialisation of foldable smartphones will be possible in 2016″, a Samsung official apparently told Business Korea, in a manner that makes it seem like it’s just around the corner.

So in just a year you might be able to roll up your smartphone and put it in your pocket.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/foldable-displays-by-2016/7655/

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FTI to reevaluate its 2015 GDP projection next month

BANGKOK, 25 Mar 2015, (NNT) - The Federation of Thai Industries President has indicated that the Joint Standing Commission on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) would reevaluate its 2015 GDP projection next month if the economy remains sluggish.

President of the federation Supan Mongkolsuthee yesterday admitted that the local economy has yet to recover as he expected. Despite the poor performance in the export sector, the economy has been performing better in the first quarter of 2015 than it did in the last quarter of 2014, .

Although the majority of the products in the export sector have been affected by the slowdown in the global economy, auto exports continue to show positive signs, according to the FTI president.

Mr. Supan said the JSCCIB would wait and observe the situation for another month before revising its GDP growth rate. It had earlier projected that the GDP growth would reach 3.5% and the export sector would expand by 2-2.5%.

Another factor that has a direct bearing on the projection is the government’s budget disbursement progress, Mr. Supan said, adding that administration should have been able to disburse up to 40 % of the budget in the past six months but managed to disburse only 20% of it.


-- NNT 2015-03-25

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SET down 0.81 points at opening /Bangkok Post

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200 suspected jihadists prevented from leaving Australia
By ROD McGUIRK

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Counterterrorism squads have prevented 200 suspected jihadists from departing Australian airports for the Middle East including at least three teenage boys this month, officials said on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811707-200-suspected-jihadists-prevented-from-leaving-australia/

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Fees may be imposed to reduce tourists to Phi Phi

Krabi:- Tourists to the beautiful Phi Phi Islands may soon have to pay admission fees.

The fee collection is proposed as a means to limit the number of tourists to the tropical paradises, as overcrowding starts to threaten local environment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811727-fees-may-be-imposed-to-reduce-tourists-to-phi-phi/

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Crowe cries foul over Aussie citizenship

MELBOURNE: -- HE'S appeared on Australian stamps, but it appears Russell Crowe has been licked in his bid to become an Aussie.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811730-russell-crowe-cries-foul-over-aussie-citizenship/

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AP Investigation: Are slaves catching the fish you buy?
By ROBIN MCDOWELL, MARGIE MASON and MARTHA MENDOZA

BENJINA, Indonesia (AP) — The Burmese slaves sat on the floor and stared through the rusty bars of their locked cage, hidden on a tiny tropical island thousands of miles from home.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811731-ap-investigation-are-slaves-catching-the-fish-you-buy/

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All immigration checkpoints placed on alert to prevent escape attempt by abbot murder suspects



BANGKOK: -- All immigration checkpoints across the country were ordered to watch out for two wanted suspects in connection with the murder of a temple abbot in Udon Thani province on May 1 after the police feared they might flee the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811733-all-immigration-checkpoints-placed-on-alert-to-prevent-escape-attempt-by-abbot-murder-suspects/

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New pier proposed for Phuket
Nattapat Tuarob


The proposal for a new pier is at a very early stage with no location yet found.

PHUKET: -- It has been proposed by the Marine Department and Ministry of Transport that new piers be built in Phuket, Phang-Nga and Krabi to support the growing number of tourists in the provinces. However, some concerns have been raised about the proposal, especially in Phuket.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811735-new-pier-proposed-for-phuket/

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Ministries will report work progress much more frequently starting April 20

BANGKOK, 25 March 2015 (NNT) –All government ministries will be making daily reports on the progress of their work, starting on April 20.

According to Captain Yongyuth Mayalarp, government spokesperson, each ministry will, beginning on April 20, report its work progress daily, except on Tuesdays when Cabinet meetings are held. Ministers will also take turns to make televised reports on the progress of work under their respective ministry, through state-run NBT Channel starting on April 27.

Capt. Yongyuth also disclosed that the presentation of the government's 6-month work progress would be moved to April 17, pending the approval of the prime minister.

On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, General Prawit Wongsuwon, quelled rumors of conflicts between the prime minister and the economy-related ministers, saying that General Prayut, M.R. Pridiyathorn and General Pravit himself have been exchanging ideas constantly to ensure that various affairs proceed according to the established roadmap. The prime minister has also reiterated that no reshuffle of the Cabinet is in the pipeline, said General Prawit.

-- NNT 2015-03-25

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Creepy Terry Richardson shoots Thai celebrities for Central Embassy
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: Central Embassy

BANGKOK: -- Iconic exploitation-chic photographer and alleged sex offender Terry Richardson was hired by a luxury mall to shoot celebrities and artists for a campaign promoting the mall's artistic side.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811741-creepy-terry-richardson-shoots-thai-celebrities-for-central-embassy/

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Eight arrested in Phuket drug and gambling raid
Eakkapop Thongtub


Navy officers arrest a suspect who had tried to escape through the mangrove forest.

PHUKET: -- Eight people were arrested for drugs and illegal gambling yesterday (March 24) after officers from the Royal Navy and local administration office carried out a raid on a house in the Tha Jean community in Rassada.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811751-eight-arrested-in-phuket-drug-and-gambling-raid/

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Effort to help stranded Thai fishermen in Indonesia goes on



BANGKOK: -- Effort to bring stranded Thai fishermen in Ambon Island of Indonesia is underway with the Thai Foreign Ministry yesterday inviting the Indonesian ambassador for discussion and coordination.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811752-effort-to-help-stranded-thai-fishermen-in-indonesia-goes-on/

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British man drowns at the Angthong Marine Park



KOH SAMUI: -- This morning a British man has drowned off the island of Koh Wua in the Angthong National Marine Park. He was travelling as part of a snorkeling tour trip to park with his wife.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811754-koh-samui-british-man-drowns-at-the-angthong-marine-park/

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3BB fiber optic is down in Hua Hin greater area. /Thaivisa News

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Three dead as tour bus crashes off Phuket hill
Eakkapop Thongtub


The battered bus.

PHUKET: -- A tour bus crashed on Kata Hill at midday (March 25), with three of 20 Chinese tourists on board being killed in the crash and others injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811756-three-chinese-tourists-dead-as-tour-bus-crashes-off-phuket-hill/

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Huge drug cache found inside abandoned cold storage truck



BANGKOK: -- Pathumthani provincial police last night found almost three million methamphetamine pills hidden inside an abandoned cold storage truck at a petrol station in Khlong Luang district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811758-huge-drug-cache-found-inside-abandoned-cold-storage-truck/

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PARIS (AP) - French interior minister: Black box voice recorder damaged in Alpine jet crash.

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Prayut aims at reducing lottery cost to Bt65

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha vowed Wednesday to bring down the lottery ticket cost to Bt65 so that the street price will not be higher than Bt80.

The prime minister also vowed to cancel the quota of long-time five major distributors, blaming them for the overpricing.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Prayut-aims-at-reducing-lottery-cost-to-Bt65-30256726.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-25

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'X-Files' returns after 13-year 'commercial break'

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Cult sci-fi TV show "The X-Files" is returning for six new episodes, 13 years after David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson's last outing as agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811760-x-files-returns-after-13-year-commercial-break/

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Long holidays prompt Thais to travel overseas

BANGKOK, 20 March 2015 (NNT) – Tourism operators will suggest that the cabinet either shorten or delay the announcement of holidays as the extended holidays have been found to contribute to more Thai people vacationing overseas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811761-long-holidays-prompt-thais-to-travel-overseas/

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PM urging public to trust legal system



BANGKOK, 25 March 2015 (NNT)-Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is urging those opposing the justice system to have faith in it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811762-pm-prayut-urging-public-to-trust-legal-system/