Thailand Live Thursday 23 Apr 2015

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UPDATE:

Chinese man drives car into Phuket construction ditch
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- A Chinese man was injured in Patong yesterday morning (April 22) after driving his car into a ditch at the side of the road which has been made to install new drains.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819385-chinese-tourist-injured-in-phuket-accident/

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UPDATE:

Over 30 law-breaking cab drivers nabbed overnight

BANGKOK, 23 April 2015 (NNT) - Tourist police last night arrested more than 30 cab drivers who turned down passengers, during their patrols in tourist spots around the capital city.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819472-34-taxis-rounded-up-for-rejecting-passengers/page-2#entry9333331

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Reconciliation meeting kicks off at Army Club



BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) today hosted a reconciliation meeting at the Army Club which saw core members of the Pheu Thai, Democrat parties, leading academics, and students activists attending.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819563-reconciliation-meeting-kicks-off-at-thai-army-club/

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Malaysia upholds death sentences for Mexican brothers, 2 others
Agence France-Presse
KUALA LUMPUR

KUALA LUMPUR: -- Malaysia's highest court on Thursday upheld the conviction and death penalty of three Mexican brothers, a Singaporean and a Malaysian in a high-profile drugs case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819566-malaysia-upholds-death-sentences-for-mexican-brothers-2-others/

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Thailand and Indonesia poised to forge mutual trade and solve illegal fishing and terrorism

JAKARTA, 23 April 2015 (NNT) – During the Asian-African Leaders Summit in Jakarta, Thai Prime Minister Pruyut Chan-ocha and Indonesian President Joko Widodo have agreed to promote mutual trade and step up cooperative efforts to solve illegal fishing and suppress terrorism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819570-thailand-and-indonesia-poised-to-forge-mutual-trade-and-solve-illegal-fishing-and-terrorism/

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Defense Minister: Thailand will be able to have yellow card given by EU rescinded

BANGKOK, 23 April 2015 (NNT)- Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan has said the yellow card, handed out to Thailand by the European Union (EU) for illegal fishing, will be rescinded in 6 months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819572-defense-minister-thailand-will-be-able-to-have-yellow-card-given-by-eu-rescinded/

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Four killed when oil truck hits road workers
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A ten-wheel oil tanker hit four people installing reflective road markers on the Mittraparp Road in Nakhon Ratchasima's None Sung district Thursday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819573-four-killed-when-oil-truck-hits-road-workers-near-korat/

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Days of Phuket jet-ski extortion 'are over'
Nattapat Tuarob


Seven Smulders, Honorary Consul for the Netherlands.

PHUKET: -- Phuripat Theerakulpisut, director of the Phuket Marine Office announced on Tuesday (April 21) that the days of extortion by jetski operators are over.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819575-days-of-phuket-jet-ski-extortion-are-over/

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NLA begins impeachment hearing of G2G rice scam



BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly today began impeachment hearing of former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, his deputy and a former top official of the Foreign Trade Department accused of corruption involving the so-called fake G2G rice deal with China.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819579-nla-begins-impeachment-hearing-of-g2g-rice-scam/

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MOPH to provide free vaccines for Muslims planning Hajj pilgrimage

BANGKOK, 23 April 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has prepared to offer free vaccinations for Muslim pilgrims before they journey to Saudi Arabia to attend the annual Hajj.

According to Public Health Minister Ratchata Ratchatanawin, 16 teams of medical personnel from hospitals in Bangkok will carry out health checks for Thai Muslims planning to make the pilgrimage to Mecca in August.

Pilgrims are able to receive free flu and meningococcal vaccines from now until August 10, as well as advice on how to stay healthy during their religious trip. The Public Health Minister said that as many as 10,400 Muslims will travel to Saudi Arabia from Thailand this year.

Each pilgrim will receive a health passport indicating their current medical condition. 42 medical staff from Thailand will travel to Saudi Arabia to provide medical care for them when needed.

They will also be monitored by the Hajj network in Thailand, which consists of volunteers and medical staff, after their return from Mecca for a period of one month, to make sure they are in good health.


-- NNT 2015-04-23

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'Tiger Temple' to keep its big cats for now
By Todd Ruiz



BANGKOK: -- Wildlife officials today walked back their threat to remove the animals from Kanchanaburi’s troubled “Tiger Temple,” saying instead they will travel there tomorrow to negotiate for them to remain.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819584-tiger-temple-to-keep-its-big-cats-for-now/

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DPRK leader likely to visit Russia in May for war victory ceremony: Russian diplomat
English.news.cn

SEOUL, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is likely to visit Russia early next month to attend a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, Russia's ambassador to Seoul said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819588-kim-jong-un-likely-to-visit-russia-in-may-for-war-victory-ceremony-russian-diplomat/

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BOI eyes new markets in Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia & Uzbekistan

BANGKOK, 23 April 2015 (NNT) – The Board of Investment of Thailand has urged Thai operators to consider doing businesses in new markets in Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia and Uzbekistan where trade opportunities remain plentiful.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819614-boi-eyes-new-markets-in-kenya-south-africa-ethiopia-uzbekistan/

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It's complicated: Phuket officials clarify tourist compensation
Nattapat Tuarob


Tony Papaleo who received compensation after being stabbed by a group of teenagers last year.

PHUKET: -- Officials on Tuesday clarified the rules for paying government compensation to tourists who are victims of crime, accidents or disasters of one kind or another.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819615-its-complicated-phuket-officials-clarify-tourist-compensation/

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Phuket Gov pleads for time to settle beach question
Nattapat Tuarob


Gov Nisit want people to give the new beach management a chance.

PHUKET: -- Governor Nisit Jansomwong gave a lengthy justification of the beach reorganisation in Phuket on Tuesday (April 21), pleading for critics to wait until the trial period is over in another month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819616-phuket-gov-pleads-for-time-to-settle-beach-question/

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Thai Navy Petitions Govt to Buy Submarines
By Khaosod English


The headquarters of the Royal Thai Navy's submarine division in Chonburi province [Photo: Thai Navy wesbite].

BANGKOK — The Royal Thai Navy has formally submitted a request to the government to buy submarines for its submarine division, which has lacked a single vessel for the last 64 years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819619-thai-navy-petitions-govt-to-buy-submarines/

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SET index closed 1,544.84 down 7.17; Bt/USD32.28; GBP48.28; AUD24.57; EUR34.34; CAD26.11; HKD4.13; SGD23.73; JPY26.72

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Industry ministry promotes eco-industrial towns

BANGKOK, 22 April 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Industry is urgently developing a master plan on eco-industrial towns for five pilot provinces. The plan is expected to benefit the ministry’s zoning of industrial areas in all 77 provinces.

Permanent Secretary for Industry Atchaka Sibunrueang said the ministry had adopted the concept of green industry as the mechanism in driving the industrial economy of the provinces with high potential for industrial growth. The Department of Industrial Works had started implementing a project to develop eco-industrial towns and set up committees to study the establishment of eco-industrial towns in five pilot provinces and nine industrial zones, said the official.

Meanwhile, Director-General of the Department of Industrial Works Phasu Loharnchun said the department’s eco-industrial town master plan would be submitted to provincial governors and relevant government units soon. The master plan was designed to reduce environmental and health problems by the year 2018.

The master plan on eco-industrial towns focuses on issues such as environmental-friendly growth of the industrial economy and development of communities and societies surrounding an industrial town. Once the master plan is completed, it will be used to zone industries nationwide according to each province’s industrial potential.


-- NNT 2015-04-23

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Transport minister pleased with 6-month achievements

BANGKOK, 22 April 2015 (NNT) - Minister of Transport ACM Prajin Juntong has said he was satisfied with the ministry’s achievements during the past six months but admitted that there were still some projects he was not pleased with.

ACM Prajin on Thursday announced the ministry’s six-month achievements, saying the projects which had faced delays included the construction of electric trains, the second phase of Suvarnabhumi Airport as well as Thai aviation standards.

Thai airlines such as Thai AirAsia and Bangkok Airways had high standards, ACM Prajin added.

The ministry used to set plans to develop the country as an aviation hub of ASEAN and Asia with three main airports—Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and U Taphao, said ACM Prajin.

The minister stated further that the ministry was designing a process to inspect permit issuance for Airport Operations Centers of 41 airlines. The inspection will start early June until mid July 2015.


-- NNT 2015-04-23

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Thai junta chief vows illegal fishing crackdown

Thailand's junta chief Thursday said he would invoke controversial powers to clean up his country's fishing industry after the EU threatened to ban fish imports from the kingdom unless it does more to halt illegal practices.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819643-thai-pm-vows-illegal-fishing-crackdown/

[Lite Beer]

Bangkok:- A Facebook community page for taxi drivers has further drawn ire from Bangkok passengers when it posted that drivers of large-sized taxis at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport has protested against what they saw as unfair fare rate for them.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819674-large-taxis-protest-passengers-welcome-it/

[Lite Beer]

Police Forced to Give Up 'Naga Body' After Protests

By Khaosod Eng.

Crowds worship the 'Naga body' found in Roi Et province, 23 April 2015.

ROI ET — A protest flared up northeastern Thailand today after police confiscated a figurine that locals believed was a genuine corpse of the mythical beast known as the Naga.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819680-police-forced-to-give-up-naga-body-after-protests/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Friday 24 Apr 2015

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819704-thailand-live-friday-24-apr-2015/