Thailand Live Tuesday 28 Apr 2015

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UN: Israeli military killed 44 Palestinians at UN shelters
CARA ANNA, Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — A U.N. inquiry has found that at least 44 Palestinians were killed and at least 227 injured by direct mortar strikes and other "Israeli actions" while sheltering at U.N. locations during last year's Gaza war. The Palestinians said they would give the findings to the International Criminal Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820782-un-israeli-military-killed-44-palestinians-at-un-shelters/

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Thailand-Vietnam to expand cooperation to more areas

BANGKOK, 28 April 2015 (NNT) - Thailand and Vietnam have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation to cover more areas.

Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday held a bilateral meeting with Vietnam PM Nguyen Tan Dung on the sidelines of the 26th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.

Both leaders touched on the success of the second Thailand-Vietnam Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation. Gen. Prayut invited his Vietnamese counterpart to visit Thailand for the third meeting when all cooperation are expected to be further materialized.

The two prime ministers also agreed to expand bilateral trade to hit the 15-billion-dollar level by 2020, while speeding up on the preparation of a memorandum of understanding on labor cooperation.

In addition, the meeting discussed agricultural cooperation particularly in the production and the distribution of rubber, while Thailand proposed another collaboration on fishery to help elevate the quality of life of fishermen and tackle the problem of illegal fishing.

-- NNT 2015-04-28

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Thailand's financial sector ready for AEC integration

BANGKOK, 28 April 2015 (NNT) - The Finance Ministry has hosted a seminar to prepare the country’s financial sector for the launch of ASEAN Economic Community.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820802-thailands-financial-sector-ready-for-aec-integration/

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UPDATE:

Bali 9 executions: Final insult as accused pair denied pastor, outraging families
Tom Allard and Jewel Topsfield in Cilicap

Indonesian authorities have refused Bali nine duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran the right to have a pastor of their choice to witness their executions, outraging their families and Australian diplomats.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820501-australia-says-indonesia-gave-72-hours-notice-of-executions/page-2?p=9349234#entry9349234

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Two men arrested for 'stealing' road in China
My Paper

NANTONG, China - A concrete public road in eastern China has lost its entire top layer - not stripped by an approved contractor, but by two men who illegally dug it out and sold the slabs to line their own pockets, the local media reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820805-two-men-arrested-for-stealing-road-in-china/

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Update : Death toll from Nepal Earthquake over 4,310 with nearly 8,000 injured, CNN reports quoting home ministry spokesman. /Thaipbs

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Automotive industry confident expansion will be on target this year

BANGKOK, 28 April 2015 (NNT) – Representatives of the automotive industry have expressed confidence the sector's expansion will be on target this year.

Surapong Paisitpatanapong, spokesman for the automotive industry club of the Federation of Thai Industries, said after Monday's meeting between Ministry of Commerce officials and representatives of automotive businesses that exports by the automotive and parts industry currently account for 13 percent of all exports. Growth of the industry is expected to continue, and exports for the entire year is expected to reach 1.2 million vehicles. It is expected that this factor will help improve overall exports.

Mr. Surapong explained that automotive firms wanted the state sector to address traffic congestion in front of industrial estates, in order for transportation costs to be reduced. The firms also wanted sea ports to be expanded in advance of the expected continual increase in automobile exports.

The Monday's meeting was held by the Ministry of Commerce to seek input in the formulation of a development road map for ten industrial clusters and the promotion of trade with the Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) market. Ministry of Commerce officials will be meeting with representatives from the gems and jewelry cluster on Tuesday.


-- NNT 2015-04-28

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Captain of doomed ferry sentenced to life in prison
By HYUNG-JIN KIM

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean appellate court on Tuesday handed down a sentence of life in prison to the captain of a ferry that sank last year, killing more than 300 people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820833-sewol-captain-sentenced-to-life-imprisonment/

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Game-crazed boy causes turmoil in neighbourhood

Pathum Thani: Shriek, shrill cry and painful scream came out of an apartment in Pathum Thani’s Lam Luk Ka district every now and then on one recent day. Should someone call police? In this case, the answer is probably “No”.

Anyway, the sound proved so frightening that someone did alert the police last Friday, according to Thairath.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820832-game-crazed-boy-causes-turmoil-in-neighbourhood/

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82-year-old boyfriend kills 41-year-old girlfriend

Chiang Mai – Police have arrested and charged Srimuang Panyasoong, 82, for killing his girlfriend Lalita Thampanya, 41.

Alerted by hotel attendants, investigators from Chang Phuak police station went to investigate the killing at a love motel on Suk Kasem Road, Tambon Pa Tan, Mueang Chiang Mai district.

They found the Lalita’s naked body lying on the bathroom floor. The victim had multiple knife wounds in the chest and body. She was strangled with a brassiere.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820834-82-year-old-boyfriend-kills-41-year-old-girlfriend/

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SET down 2.14 points at opening /Bangkok Post

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Misused land reform plots to be recalled

Bangkok – The authorities will cancel and repossess land reform plots which have been misused for non-agriculture purpose, Agriculture permanent secretary Chavalit Chookajorn said yesterday.

The land recall is meant to resolve the massive encroachment of national park and land reform areas, Chavalit said. The recall could affect many resort projects or holiday homes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820839-misused-land-reform-plots-to-be-recalled/

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Makkasan area to be jointly developed to green zone and commercial complex



BANGKOK: -- The Ministries of Transport and Finance have reached an agreement to jointly develop the Makkasan area into a green zone to act as the lung for Bangkok and a commercial complex to generate income for the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820842-bangkok-makkasan-area-to-be-jointly-developed-to-green-zone-and-commercial-complex/

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KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) - Police say at least 4,352 people have been confirmed dead in Nepal after massive quake.

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Banker warns of dire effect on economy if fishing ban is enforced



BANGKOK: -- A leading banker is warning of the possible banning of Thailand’s fishery products by the European Union will have a dire effect on the country’s economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820848-banker-warns-of-dire-effect-on-thai-economy-if-fishing-ban-is-enforced/

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Uproar over Phuket underwater animal abuse


Screen grab from the offending video.

PHUKET: -- Sea-walking, which has not hit the headlines for a couple of years, this week resurfaced, causing an uproar in social media for all the wrong reasons.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820851-uproar-over-phuket-underwater-animal-abuse/

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King's photo exhibition to be held on 9 May

BANGKOK, 27 April 2015 (NNT) - A seminar-cum photo exhibition under the theme “Follow the King’s steps” is to be held next month to honor H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the occasion of his 88th Birthday Anniversary, according to Chamlong Singtongam, Deputy Director-General of the Government Public Relations Department (PRD).

The exhibition is jointly organized by the PRD, the Committee Organizing the Celebrations of H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 88th Birthday Anniversary and 70th anniversary of his accession to the throne, and a group of 99 professional photographers.

The group comprises senior photographers and royal photographers who used to follow HM the King to cover his activities. They will share their great affection when they worked closely to the King and their impressions behind the shutter.

Photos to be shown in the exhibition also include those of H.M.the Queen and other members of the Royal Family which are rarely shown in public.

The exhibition will be held at Esplanade Cineplex at Ngamwongwan-Khae Rai Intersection in Nonthaburi on 9 May 2015 from 1.30 p.m. - 5 p.m.


-- NNT 2015-04-28

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Officials take action against Paragon's rejecting taxi list
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Transportation officials took action to suspend two drivers after the Siam Paragon shopping mall made public its own shit-list of drivers-who-said-no.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820867-officials-take-action-against-siam-paragons-rejecting-taxi-list/

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Four arrested for armed robbery of Phuket spa
Eakkapop Thongtub


The four now face being charged with armed robbery using getaway vehicles.

PHUKET: -- Police yesterday (April 27) arrested four people in connection with a B500,000 armed robbery which took place at a spa on April 5.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820868-four-arrested-for-armed-robbery-of-phuket-spa/

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PHUKET: Long holiday weekend coming up
Alasdair Forbes


What's open and what's not.

PHUKET: -- The island, along with the rest of Thailand, is heading for another long holiday weekend at the end of this week, with most businesses closed from Friday (May 1) to Tuesday (May 5).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820870-long-holiday-weekend-coming-up/

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UPDATE:

Nine Myanmar migrants die in Thailand car accident
AFP

BANGKOK: -- At least nine Myanmar migrants working in Thailand's seafood industry were killed and a further 17 injured when their pick-up truck hit a barrier and overturned, police said Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820766-eight-myanmar-migrant-workers-die-in-road-mishap/#entry9349940

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Air Force sends medical and rescue teams on board C130 plane to Nepal today



BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Air Force today sent a C130 transport plane to Nepal to help and join in international efforts to search and rescue earthquake victims.

Seeing the plane off at Don Mueang military airport with teams of doctors, nurses, rescuers and searchers was the deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force ACM Thaweewuthi Pongpipat.

The team is the first official team which is well prepared to provide humanitarian assistance to Nepal.

The plane will take five hours to fly to Kathmandu. The plane will return to Don Mueang on the same day after sending the medical and rescue teams to Nepal.

The teams will assess the situation in Nepal for a week before reporting back to the government to arrange further assistance.

Air Vice Marshal Parinya Kunnasri of the Thai Armed Forces said the C130 also loaded with it necessary consumer cargoes to aid the affected people and heavy equipment to help rehabilitate the devastated areas.

He said the plane won’t have landing problem as after landing, it will return to Thailand.

He said the landing has been well coordinated between the Royal Thai Air Force and the Nepalese foreign ministry.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/air-force-sends-medical-and-rescue-teams-on-board-c130-plane-to-nepal-today


-- Thai PBS 2015-04-28

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Northern TAT to highlight Mae Hong Son folklore tourism

CHIANG MAI, 28 April 2015, (NNT) - The Mae Hong Son Office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has been preparing to promote northern province’s the folklore tourism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820876-northern-tat-to-highlight-mae-hong-son-folklore-tourism/

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Private sector to give 4 billion baht loans to neighboring nations

BANGKOK, 28 April 2015, (NNT) - The Neighboring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA) has been planning to provide loans on several infrastructure projects in three neighboring countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820878-thai-private-sector-to-give-4-billion-baht-loans-to-neighboring-nations/

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King Power taps into online shopping

BANGKOK, 28 April 2015, (NNT) - Thailand's travel retailer King Power International Group is branching into online shopping, as it joined hands with Kasikorn Bank and China's third-party online payment solution Alipay.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820879-king-power-taps-into-online-shopping/

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SET down 15.50 to 1,533.33 at noon / Bangkok Post

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Chinese man dies after falling from Phuket hotel room

Darawan Naknakhon

Police believe the man fell from his fifth floor hotel room.

PHUKET: A Chinese man died at Patong Hospital yesterday (April 27) from injuries he sustained after allegedly falling from his fifth floor room of a hotel in Karon.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820889-chinese-man-dies-after-falling-from-phuket-hotel-room/

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UPDATE:

Thai 'Red Shirt' leader rails against TV ban threat
Thailand

Bangkok
The leader of Thailand's 'Red Shirt' movement hit out Tuesday at plans to take his pro-democracy television network off the air, in the latest strike against freedom of expression in the military-ruled kingdom.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820710-peace-tvs-operating-license-revoked-by-the-broadcasting-board/page-2?p=9350204#entry9350204

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FRANCE
The French Embassy launches new website
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The French Embassy will launch a new website today to promote network of former students and trainees who have completed their stays in France.

Through www.thailande.francealumni.fr, former students and people who are interested to further their studies in France will be able to have a grasp and stay in touch with French culture and institutions. The alumni, in particular, will have the privileged access to training, scholarship, internship and job opportunities.

In the meantime, this website will keep people informed about French cultural events and tourism news. People interested in joining the France Alumni in Thailand simply have to sign up on line on the abovementioned website.

French Ambassador Thierry Viteau will inaugurate the event starting from 6.30pm at the French Ambassador's Residence in Bangkok.

France in currently ranked as 3rd most attractive country after the US and the UK in the world for higher education. Each year, around 300,000 international students came to France, of whom 700 are Thais.

France offers training ranging from language course to doctoral degree. It covers domain such as law, political science and social science, economics, humanities, languages, literature, architecture, arts design, fashion, business and management, tourism, hotel and food service management, sciences, environment, health science, agriculture and agroindustry, engineering and technology etc.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/The-French-Embassy-launches-new-website-30258909.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-28

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NEPAL QUAKE
8 million people affected by Nepal quake: UN
The Nation


Thai air force officers move aid boxes ready to be loaded into a C-130 military transport aircraft in preparation for aid support to earthquake victims./EPA

BANGKOK: -- Eight million people in Nepal need humanitarian assistance following the devastating earthquake on Saturday, the United Nations said Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820892-8-million-people-affected-by-nepal-quake-un/