Thailand Live Friday 24 Apr 2015

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American, Italian hostages killed in US drone strike
By JULIE PACE

WASHINGTON (AP) — Blaming the "fog of war," President Barack Obama revealed Thursday that U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan inadvertently killed an American and an Italian, two hostages held by al-Qaida, as well as two other Americans who had leadership roles with the terror network.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819737-us-admits-american-italian-hostages-killed-in-drone-strike/

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Loretta Lynch wins confirmation as attorney general
By ERICA WERNER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Loretta Lynch won confirmation as the nation's first black female attorney general Thursday from a Senate that forced her to wait more than five months for the title and remained divided to the end.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819738-loretta-lynch-wins-confirmation-as-us-attorney-general/

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Petraeus sentenced to 2 years' probation for military leak
By MITCH WEISS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Former CIA Director David Petraeus, whose career was destroyed by an extramarital affair with his biographer, was sentenced Thursday to two years' probation and fined $100,000 for giving her classified material while she was working on the book.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819740-petraeus-sentenced-to-2-years-probation-for-us-military-leak/

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New DNA codes for mammoths: Step toward bringing them back?
By MALCOLM RITTER

NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists are getting their best look yet at the DNA code for the woolly mammoth, thanks to work that could be a step toward bringing back the extinct beast.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819741-new-dna-codes-for-mammoths-step-toward-bringing-them-back/

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Clinton gives glimpse of how she plans to run as a woman
By JULIE PACE

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton's passionate speech Thursday appealing for expanded rights and opportunities for women in the U.S. and around the world wasn't supposed to be a campaign event. But it might as well have been.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819742-clinton-gives-glimpse-of-how-she-plans-to-run-as-a-woman/

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German president labels Armenian killings as genocide
GEIR MOULSON, Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's president on Thursday described the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a century ago as genocide, marking a shift in his country's stance after officials previously avoided the term.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819743-german-president-labels-armenian-killings-as-genocide/

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Health benefit gap deters the handicapped from job market

Bangkok: –The authorities are mapping out ways to design a new package of health benefits in order to encourage people with physical disabilities to enter the job market.

At present, people with physical disabilities would not be entitled to certain health benefits if they are employed, said a senior labour official.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819744-health-benefit-gap-deters-the-handicapped-from-job-market/

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Industrial production reaches 2-year high in March

BANGKOK, 24 April 2015 (NNT) – According to the Office of Industrial Economics (OIE), industrial manufacturing in March broke its two-year record, leading to a projection that the annual growth of industrial exports will exceed 2 percent.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819760-thai-industrial-production-reaches-2-year-high-in-march/

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Suvarnabhumi taxis threaten to protest Friday

Samut Prakan:- Drivers of over 1,700 taxis at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport threatened to stage three-day protests on Friday to demand baggage fee and higher surcharge.

The threat was raised by Patthawee Meeraj, a representative of the taxi drivers at the airport.

Patthawee said over 1,700 drivers of mini-van taxis at the Suvarnabhumi airport would stop picking up passengers at the airport from Friday to Sunday to highlight their demands.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819762-suvarnabhumi-taxis-threaten-to-protest-friday/

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Human parts found at a cemetery in Chiang Mai may be linked to black magic business

BANGKOK: -- A large number of human parts contained in several bags was uncovered at a cemetery in the heart of Chiang Mai town today, prompting the police to suspect if the parts have any link with a grave robbery gang selling corpses for black magic purposes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819766-human-parts-found-at-a-cemetery-in-thailand-may-be-linked-to-black-magic-business/

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UPDATE:

Showdown expected at Tiger Temple today



BANGKOK: -- Showdown is expected today between the Tiger Temple and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation when the latter announces it will take all the 146 tigers out to new homes for care.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819584-tiger-temple-to-keep-its-big-cats-for-now/page-2#entry9335865

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More suspects detained in Samui car bomb case

BANGKOK, 24 April 2015 (NNT)- 6 suspects believed to have been involved in the car bomb on Koh Samui are now in police custody.

Internal Security Operation Region 4 Spokesperson Colonel Pramote Prom-in has ruled out the possibility that the car used in the bomb attack at Central Festival Samui was from the Deep South.

Two of those in police custody have been arrested under the emergency decree whereas the rest of them have been detained under martial law. According to the ISOC Region 4 Spokesperson, it has yet to be concluded what the motive behind the bombing was.

Meanwhile, Central Investigation Bureau Commander Police Lieutenant General Thitirat Nongharnpitak said the evidence suggested that those involved in the Deep South violence could have had a role in the car bomb.

However, he refused to provide further information as to who else might have been behind the explosion as it would affect the ongoing investigation.


-- NNT 2015-04-24

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Two teens arrested three sought for Phuket thefts
Eakkapop Thongtub


Motorcycles and money were found at the home of one boy.

PHUKET: -- Police have arrested two teenagers and are currently looking for three more after they are alleged to have carried out robberies at two foreign exchange counters and stolen five motorcycles in Patong last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819770-two-teens-arrested-three-sought-for-phuket-thefts/

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SET up 6.13 points at opening /Bangkok Post

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Ministry of Social Development and Human Security boasting its 6 month achievements

BANGKOK, 24 April 2015 (NNT)-The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has claimed it has been able to effectively address a number of social issues in the past 6 months, particularly human trafficking problems.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819792-thai-min-of-social-development-and-human-security-boasting-its-6-month-achievements/

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CP to invest in Bangkok-Pattaya- Rayong high speed train

Bangkok: – Charoen Pokphand Group and two investment partners from China and Hong Kong have reaffirmed Bt1.52 trillion proposal for the Bangkok-Pattaya-Rayong high speed train service.

Transport Minister PrajinJuntong said CP investment consortium will include CITIC Construction, based in Hong Kong and HNA Group from Hainan, China.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819801-cp-to-invest-in-bangkok-pattaya-rayong-high-speed-train/

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Crowds scramble for discounted goods

Bangkok:- Huge crowds gathered in front of Siam Discovery shopping mall on Thursday morning, well before its opening hour, as consumers felt the mall’s big sale was too good to miss.

The upscale mall is preparing to undergo a Bt4billion renovation plan, and thus will close down for quite a long while. Ahead of its temporary closure, it has decided to conduct the Groundbreaking Sale.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819794-crowds-scramble-for-discounted-goods/

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Roadside bomb injures three kids and parent in Pattani



PATTANI: -- Four people, three of them children, were injured when a roadside bomb exploded while they were in a sidecar bicycle on a beach road in Tak Bai district of Pattani on Friday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819807-roadside-bomb-injures-three-kids-and-parent-in-pattani/

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AIS systems must be installed on Phuket boats
Nattha Thepbamrung


Boats must install a system similar the this to renew or get a new licence.

PHUKET: -- New regulations were put in place by the Fisheries Department on March 27 which state that all boats which carry a minimum of 24 passengers or any boat that weighs between 30 – 60 gross tons must install AIS (Automatic Identification System) class B or better.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819808-ais-systems-must-be-installed-on-phuket-boats/

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Man studies Fast & Furious for big bank heist
By Coconuts Bangkok



CHIANG MAI: -- A 24-year-old man attempted to rob a bank in Chiang Mai after learning the necessary skills from Fast & Furious 5 and other action movies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819811-man-studies-fast-furious-for-big-bank-heist-in-chiang-mai/

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Tokyo Disneyland shows interest in made-in-Thailand products

BANGKOK, 24 April 2015, (NNT) - The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) has revealed that Disneyland Tokyo sent representatives to Thailand, scouting for souvenirs to be offered in the major amusement park.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819815-tokyo-disneyland-shows-interest-in-made-in-thailand-products/

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Govt expects to solve illegal fishing in 3 months

BANGKOK, 24 April 2015 (NNT) - The Thai government has set up a working team to tackle Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, after the European Union (EU) gave a yellow card to the Kingdom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819818-thai-govt-expects-to-solve-illegal-fishing-in-3-months/

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Village headsmen offer to take part in Senate

BANGKOK, 24 April 2015 (NNT) - An association of village headsmen has petitioned the National Reform Council (NRC) to include them in the list of qualified professionals that make up the Senate.

The petition was delivered to NRC member Pracha Taerat who is also one of the charter drafters. The petition requested that “representatives from the local administrative level” be part of the professions that make up the Senate. This would include village headsmen, village doctors and sheriffs. The association argued that these individuals traditionally have the closest ties to local residents and are most aware of the needs of their localities.

Therefore, the association said that including representatives of village leaders in the legal and political process of the country would benefit the local and rural populace.


-- NNT 2015-04-24

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Community lives without electricity for 40 years seeks sympathy from state



KRABI: -- A local community with 2,000 residents is seeking sympathy from government agency to have access to electricity same as other remote communities in the country after its struggle for the past 40 years is still unsuccessful.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819823-krabi-community-lives-without-electricity-for-40-years-seeks-sympathy-from-state/

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3 Passengers on SkyWest Airlines Flight Lose Consciousness

HARTFORD: -- Three passengers on a SkyWest Airlines flight Wednesday reported a loss of consciousness, the airline said.

SkyWest Airlines Flight 5622 -- operating as United Express -- made an unscheduled landing in Buffalo because of the passengers losing consciousness. The passengers were evaluated after the plane landed, and the flight later arrived at its intended destination of Hartford, Connecticut.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819827-3-passengers-on-skywest-airlines-flight-lose-consciousness/

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Scientists convinced of tie between earthquakes and drilling
By ALICIA CHANG

LOS ANGELES (AP) — With the evidence coming in from one study after another, scientists are now more certain than ever that oil and gas drilling is causing hundreds upon hundreds of earthquakes across the U.S.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819831-scientists-convinced-of-tie-between-earthquakes-and-drilling/

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For asylum seekers, a novel (and odd) solution: Cambodia
By TODD PITMAN

BANGKOK (AP) — Still haunted by the Vietnam War next door and the 1970s genocide that followed, Cambodia is not exactly the place that the world's refugees dream of reaching.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819832-for-asylum-seekers-a-novel-and-odd-solution-cambodia/

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Bomb Targets Soldiers in Revenge of Deadly Deep South Raid
By Khaosod English


The blast site of a roadside bombing in Pattani province, 24 April 2015.

PATTANI — Four security officers in Pattani province were injured by a bomb that appeared to be planted in revenge for the the military raid that killed four civilians last month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819836-bomb-targets-thai-soldiers-in-revenge-of-deadly-deep-south-raid/

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UPDATE:

Min. of Transport halts taxi fare hike, airport taxis to go on strike

BANGKOK, 24 April 2015, (NNT) - The Transport Minister yesterday announced the suspension of the second taxi fare hike, especially for taxi surcharges at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. He added that an emergency strategy is prepared for this weekend’s airport taxi strike action.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819762-suvarnabhumi-taxis-threaten-to-protest-friday/?p=9336750#entry9336750

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Time running out for Greece, says eurozone's top official
By PAN PYLAS

RIGA, Latvia (AP) — Time is running out for Greece to reach a deal with bailout creditors and prevent the government going bankrupt, the eurozone's top official said Friday as he headed into discussions with his colleagues from the 19-country single currency zone.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819838-time-running-out-for-greece-says-eurozones-top-official/