Thailand Live Monday 13 Apr 2015

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SONGKRAN
Fewer deaths and accidents reported
THE NATION


Songkran revellers enjoy a water fight in Songkhla

ROAD ACCIDENTS DOWN 21 PER CENT FROM LAST YEAR

BANGKOK: -- SOME 121 people have been killed and 1,281 injured on Thai roads after three of the 'Seven Dangerous Days' linked to the current Songkran break.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816974-songkran-2015-fewer-deaths-and-accidents-reported/

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Suphan Buri:- A Briton crashed his car against a motorcycle, killing the Thai rider, while he and his Thai wife were returning to Bangkok from making a Sonkran merit in Suphan Buri, police said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816888-briton-allegedly-hits-and-kills-thai-motorcyclist/

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SURVEY:

Is it in Thailand's interest to be closely aligned with China?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816746-is-it-in-thailands-interest-to-be-closely-aligned-with-china/

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WASHINGTON (AP) - Hillary Rodham Clinton enters White House race; Democrat seeks to be first female president.

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'M Redshirt' arrested in connection to Friday attacks
THE NATION

THE NATIONAL Council for Peace and Order yesterday confirmed that Article 44 of the provisional constitution was cited to arrest Narin Umnongbua or "M Redshirt" in connection with the weekend bombing at the Central Festival shopping mall on Samui island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816976-m-redshirt-arrested-in-connection-to-friday-attacks-on-samui-island/

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Second list of corrupt officials may go to PACC
THE NATION

THE NATIONAL Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) yesterday showed its readiness to forward a second list of corrupt government officials to the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), revealing the list might comprise some high-ranking officials.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816979-second-list-of-corrupt-thai-officials-may-go-to-pacc/

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BOI probed over U-fun 'pyramid scheme'
THE NATION



Authorities yesterday investigated BOI International Company in connection with the U-fun "pyramid scheme".

BANGKOK: -- Four suspects - Ritthidej Warong, Rathawit Thiti-arounwat, Chaithorn Thonglorlert and Apichanat Saenkla - have been held in custody with more expected to join them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816981-boi-probed-over-u-fun-pyramid-scheme/

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'Air pollution robot to help forecasts'
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE NATION

ENGINEERS in Bangkok have built a robot to gather and analyse data about air pollution to help forecast weather more accurately.

BANGKOK: -- The robot was developed by staff from the Hydro and Agro Information Institute (HAII) with assistance from Kasetsart University and King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816982-thai-engineers-air-pollution-robot-to-help-forecasts/

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Trains remain popular choice for vacationers as SRT poised to improve services



BANGKOK, 13 April 2015 (NNT) – Quite a few Thai and foreign holidaymakers have chosen to travel by train to their hometowns or holiday destinations during the Songkran holiday; meanwhile, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is carrying out a major revamp of railway services.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816984-trains-remain-popular-choice-for-vacationers-as-srt-poised-to-improve-services/

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BEAUTY MARKET
Thai beauty sector looks set for rosy future
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation


Ketmanee Lertkitcha

BANGKOK: -- WITH rising awareness in regard to healthcare and wellness, Thailand's beauty industry is expected to grow by 8-10 per cent this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816985-thai-beauty-sector-looks-set-for-rosy-future/

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Relations with major powers shake-up the status quo
Kavi Chongkittavorn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Following the power seizure last May, Thailand has actively pursued a foreign policy that effectively "seeks out friends". After months of being bogged down by the establishment of proper frameworks for economic and political reform and other domestic issues, the Thai military leaders are following their survivalist instincts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816986-thai-opinion-relations-with-major-powers-shake-up-the-status-quo/

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Tourism ministry: Samui explosion no effect on tourism



BANGKOK, 13 April 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has reported that no foreign tourist has cancelled trips to Thailand despite a car bomb explosion on the island of Samui on Saturday. Security at all hotels in Samui has been tight.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816987-thai-tourism-ministry-samui-explosion-no-effect-on-tourism/

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'Captain Jack Sparrow' Impersonator dies in East Pattaya Road Crash



PATTAYA: -- A well-known Captain Jack Sparrow Impersonator, who would entertain crowds with his magic tricks, died in a late-night road crash in East Pattaya on Sunday Night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816988-captain-jack-sparrow-impersonator-dies-in-east-pattaya-road-crash/

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Ex-Pheu Thai MP says it is too soon to blame red shirts for Samui car bomb attack



BANGKOK: -- Former Pheu Thai MP for Samut Prakan Worachai Hema said it was too premature for government officials to conclude that an arrested red-shirt member was linked to the car bomb explosion at Central Festival shopping mall in Samui on April 10.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816989-ex-pheu-thai-mp-says-it-is-too-soon-to-blame-red-shirts-for-samui-car-bomb-attack/

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Three days of Songkran now claim 121 deaths, 1,281 injuries



BANGKOK: -- A total of 121 people died and 1,281 injured in three days of the seven-day dangerous period of the Songkran festival starting April 9-15, the Road Safety Directing Centre said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816990-three-days-of-songkran-now-claim-121-deaths-1281-injuries/

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Peace TV and 24TV shut down for seven days by NBTC



BANGKOK: -- Two satellite television stations connected with members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship were ordered closed for seven days by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816991-peace-tv-and-24tv-shut-down-for-seven-days-by-nbtc/

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Camera shows suspects driving to plant bomb
THE NATION

POLICE RULE OUT LINK WITH INSURGENTS IN DEEP SOUTH AS HUNT FOR SUSPECTS WIDENS

BANGKOK: -- POLICE have obtained footage from a surveillance camera showing a number of alleged suspects in Friday night's bombing on Koh Samui travelling to the island in two vehicles on Friday morning before the explosion at the Central Festival shopping mall, a police inspector-general said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816992-camera-shows-suspects-driving-to-plant-samui-bomb/

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Four shot dead in Pattani, including two assailants
THE NATION



FOUR PEOPLE, including two assailants, were shot dead in two separate incidents in Pattani province over the weekend.

PATTANI: -- In Yaring district, four masked men armed with M-16 assault rifles fired at a family sitting outside a |grocery shop in Tambon Takae on Saturday. The bullets hit Subin Sukki, 48, a janitor at Yaring School, Kamolthip Sukki, 45, and Muay Sukki, 40, in their arms, legs and bodies. Muay died in hospital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816993-four-shot-dead-in-pattani-including-two-assailants/

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Ancient stupas found in park in Phetchabun
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- TWENTY-FOUR secondary stupas from the Davaravadee period |dating back about 1,300 years |have been found near the historic monument of Khao Khlang |Nok in Si Thep district, Phetchabun.

Phongthan Sampao-ngern, chief ranger at Si Thep Historical Park, said yesterday that each stupa was eight metres long and eight metres wide.

A wheel of Dhamma made of laterite was also found.

It is thought the stupas were built during the 13th and 14th century of the Buddhist era.

The excavation of the site started early this year after the main stupa was found.

The Historic Park was built around 1,300 years ago for the purpose of conducting Buddhist and Brahman religious ceremonies.

The site is considered to be the most complete one in Thailand.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Ancient-stupas-found-in-park-in-Phetchabun-30257964.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-13

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Three arrested for selling angonoka tortoises

Bangkok:- Police have arrested three Thais for having allegedly smuggled angonoka tortoises to sell at the Chatucak Weekend Market.

Attiya Sriduang, 41, Yongyut Thamsunjorn, 40 and Natthawut Pathummet, 31, were arrested with two angonoka tortoises at their shop in Zone D of the Chatuchak Market Saturday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816914-three-arrested-for-selling-angonoka-tortoises/

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Clinton kicks off 2016 campaign online, heads next to Iowa
By KEN THOMAS and LISA LERER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton jumped back into presidential politics on Sunday, making a much-awaited announcement she will again seek the White House with a promise to serve as the "champion" of everyday Americans.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816997-hillary-clinton-declares-2016-democratic-presidential-bid/

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Turkey recalls ambassador over pope's Armenia genocide words
By NICOLE WINFIELD

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Sunday marked the 100th anniversary of the slaughter of Armenians by calling the massacre by Ottoman Turks "the first genocide of the 20th century" and urging the international community to recognize it as such. Turkey immediately responded by recalling its ambassador and accusing Francis of spreading hatred and "unfounded claims."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816998-turkey-recalls-ambassador-over-popes-armenia-genocide-words/

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With Iran and now Cuba, Obama breakthroughs face hard sell
By JIM KUHNHENN

WASHINGTON (AP) — After breakthroughs abroad, President Barack Obama is finding stern challenges at home to his foreign policy, facing hard sells to skeptics over U.S. shifts, first on Iran and now Cuba.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816999-with-iran-and-now-cuba-obama-breakthroughs-face-hard-sell/

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Angela Lansbury, Kinks' Davies win at UK's Olivier Awards
By JILL LAWLESS

LONDON (AP) — An American classic directed by a Belgian and a musical about a very English rock band were the big winners at Britain's Olivier theater awards Sunday — but it was an 89-year old theatrical Dame who brought the house down.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/817001-angela-lansbury-kinks-davies-win-at-uks-olivier-awards/

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Arms spending up globally, except in US, Western Europe

HELSINKI (AP) — World military spending was largely unchanged in 2014 as lower spending in the United States and Western Europe was matched by increases elsewhere, prompted by conflicts in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa, an arms watchdog said Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/817003-arms-spending-up-globally-except-in-us-western-europe/

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3-year-old boy shoots, kills 1-year-old boy in Ohio home

CLEVELAND (AP) — Police in Cleveland, Ohio, say a 3-year-old boy picked up an unattended gun inside a home and it went off, shooting a 1-year-old boy in the head and killing him.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/817004-3-year-old-boy-shoots-kills-1-year-old-boy-in-ohio-home/

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Suspect nabbed for beating police officer unconscious

Chachoensao: – Police have arrested and charged a man for aggravated assaulting a police officer on duty.

The assault happened at a road checkpoint in Phanom Sarakham district near Prachinburi on Saturday. The checkpoint was located nearby a petrol station.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/817005-suspect-nabbed-for-beating-police-officer-unconscious/

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Songkran car accident caused by fatigue

Nakhon Ratchasima: – Police have detained and charged a driver for negligent driving after crashing the pickup truck into a roadside tree, killing one and injuring four passengers.

The accident happened on the Phimai-Chumphuang road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/817007-songkran-car-accident-caused-by-fatigue/

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UPDATE:

Central Festival Samui car bomb takes toll on local police chief



KOH SAMUI: -- The car bombing at Central Festival Samui on April 10 has taken toll on local police when the police chief of Bor Phud police station has now been transferred.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816976-m-redshirt-arrested-in-connection-to-friday-attacks-on-samui-island/#entry9299079

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48 more Thais return from Yemen

BANGKOK: -- Forty-eight more Thais returned from Yemen Sunday night.

Consular Department Deputy Director General Wichit Worathap said the 48 arrived on Qatar Airlines' Flight QR 832 that landed at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 9:30 pm.

So far, 80 Thais have returned from Yemen and about 30 others will return next week, he added.

-- The Nation 2015-04-13