Thailand Live Thursday 14 May 2015

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Five ex-convicts nabbed for drug trafficking

Rayong: – Provincial police have arrested five suspects, who are ex-convicts released on a pardon last month, for involving in drug trafficking.

Police have also seized 156, 000 tablets of methamphetamine, known as ya baa, and four kilograms of ice or crystal meth as evidence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825058-five-ex-convicts-nabbed-for-drug-trafficking/

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LANGKAWI, Malaysia (AP) - Malaysia official says boat with more than 500 Rohingya Muslims, Bangladeshis was turned away.

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Drunk Japanese engineer’s car crashes

Prachinburi:- A Japanese engineer who appeared under alcohol influence crashed his car to a house’s fence in Prachin Buri’s Si Mahosot district early Wednesday and caught fire.

Police said the engineer, identified as J Misaba, 46, managed to exit the car before it was engulfed by a fire.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825067-drunk-japanese-engineers-car-crashes/

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Reward offered for tip of attackers of American teacher

Trang:- An American family offered a reward of US$250 for information that leads to arrest of attackers who stabbed the family’s friend, an American teacher at Prince of Songkla University's Trang Campus.

b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825048-call-for-serious-probe-into-american-teacher-stabbing-in-trang/#entry9403910

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Johnny Depp's dogs face death in Australia

SYDNEY (AFP) - Johnny Depp's pet dogs Pistol and Boo face being put down unless they "bugger off" back to Hollywood after he brought them into Australia illegally on his private jet.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825077-johnny-depps-dogs-face-death-in-australia/

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Thailand's ratio of doctor per persons to improve to 1:1500 within 2022

BANGKOK, 14 May 2015 (NNT) – Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin has indicated that Thailand's ratio of doctor per persons will improve to 1 per 1,500 within the year 2022.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825079-thailands-ratio-of-doctor-per-persons-to-improve-to-11500-within-2022/

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MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Officials say death toll in Philippine factory fire climbs to at least 18.

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Teen pregnancy at alarming rate

Bangkok:- At the age they should have been studying for a bright future, so many girls get pregnant in Thailand.

The Public Health Ministry has revealed that of girls aged between 15 and 19 years old, 5.38 per cent gave birth to their babies in 2012.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825086-teen-pregnancy-at-alarming-rate/

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SET up 1.05 points at opening /Bangkok Post

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MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Official says death toll in Philippine factory fire jumps to at least 45, with 26 missing.

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Commerce Min plans to push ex-con and retired veteran soldiers to run their own SME business

BANGKOK, 14 May 2015 (NNT) - The Commerce Ministry revealed its plan to promote former convicts and retired military officers to operate small and medium enterprises (SME).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825110-commerce-min-plans-to-push-ex-con-retired-veteran-soldiers-to-run-their-own-sme-business/

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BOI to approve investment projects worth 1.6 trillion baht this year

BANGKOK, 14 May 2015 (NNT) - The Board of Investment sets to approve 1.6 trillion baht worth of investment projects this year, an increase of 128 percent from last year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825111-boi-to-approve-investment-projects-worth-16-trillion-baht-this-year/

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Fourth Army Area tightens safety measures in Deep South as new school term approaches

PATTANI, 14 May 2015 (NNT) - The 4th Army Area has instructed Deep South security units to take extra caution in providing safety for school teachers when the new school term begins on Monday, May 18th.

According to Army Region 4 Commander Lieutenant-General Prakarn Cholayut, security patrols will be deployed to places that are vulnerable to insurgent attacks like bridges and tunnels.

Their presence is to assure safety for teachers. The Ranger Regimen Taskforce 33 in Yala province has also sent its security unit to safeguard Baan Pong Yue Rai School today to make sure the surrounding areas are safe before teachers and students arrive next Monday.


-- NNT 2015-05-14

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Pony in Samui that needed community help gets prayers answered

KOH SAMUI: -- In April a concerned Samui Times reader contacted us about a pony that looked as if it needed some help near Lomprayah Ferry and Luna Hut in Maenam. Since then a couple of residents have been able to help the pony and pay the initial 1,000 baht bill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825113-pony-in-samui-that-needed-community-help-gets-prayers-answered/

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Death toll in Philippine slipper factory fire rises to 45
OLIVER TEVES, Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The death toll in a rubber slipper factory fire in a suburb of the Philippine capital climbed to at least 45 on Thursday with another 26 people still missing in the gutted building and feared dead, a local mayor said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825115-death-toll-in-philippine-slipper-factory-fire-rises-to-45/

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Malaysia turns away boat with more than 500 migrants
EILEEN NG, Associated Press

LANGKAWI, Malaysia (AP) — Thousands of Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshi abandoned at sea had nowhere to turn Thursday as Malaysia turned away a boat crammed with more than 500 migrants, saying it could not afford to keep being nice.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825116-malaysia-turns-away-boat-with-more-than-500-migrants/

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Three security officers injured, one militant killed in house search shooting



PATTANI: -- One militant was shot dead and three security officers injured in a shooting during a search of a house in Mayo district of Pattani last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825117-pattani-three-security-officers-injured-one-militant-killed-in-house-search-shooting/

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Cops shoot out tire to stop drunk, high taxi driver
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A taxi driver, who fled a police checkpoint because he was drunk on beer and high on weed was arrested in Lat Phrao this morning after police went full cowboy and fired a round into his tire.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825121-thai-cops-shoot-out-tire-to-stop-drunk-high-taxi-driver/

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Ministry to look into high medical service fee complaints



BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry is now looking into complaints of high medical bills charged by private hospitals to find ways to resolve the problem.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825122-thai-health-ministry-to-look-into-high-medical-service-fee-complaints/

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MRT Bangyai-Bangsue line to be trialed December



BANGKOK, 14 May 2015 (NNT) – The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) will be trialing its Bang Yai-Bang Sue subway line late this year, before officially beginning operations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825125-mrt-bangyai-bangsue-line-to-be-trialed-december/

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NLA to discuss new charter and impeachment case tomorrow

BANGKOK 14 May 2015 (NNT) - The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will hold a discussion tomorrow on amendment suggestions to the new constitution, as well as consider the impeachment case against 250 House representatives.

NLA First Vice President Surachai Liengboonlertchai said the discussion will cover 15 main topics and three subtopics. Since the NLA cannot officially take part in the amendment process, the discussions will be limited to principles of the charter to be compiled as suggestions to the charter drafters.

The legislative body will also consider the impeachment case files of 250 members of the previous House of Representatives.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission filed the impeachment request on the former officials for attempting to amend the previous charter to make the Senate a fully elected body.


-- NNT 2015-05-14

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Donation funds for Nepal to reach 4 organizations

BANGKOK, 14 May 2015 (NNT) – The Cabinet has decided to transfer donation funds for Nepal to four organizations, in order to serve various purposes.

The financial aid will be channeled through four organizations, namely the Nepalese government, the World Health Organization, the International Flash Appeal for Nepal of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and UNICEF. Each organization will receive one million US dollars.

According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Sek Wannamethee, the decision to entrust the fund to different agencies was to enable Thai donations to reach as many forms of aid as possible.

The government late last month launched a charity project for Nepal to encourage Thais to donate their money via the Government Housing Bank account. As of yesterday on May 13, donations totaled 176 billion baht.


-- NNT 2015-05-14

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UPDATE:

Thailand ranks 47th place among 76 countries in global education standard survey



BANGKOK: -- Thailand was ranked the 47th place in the latest global school ranking by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825036-thailand-outdone-by-vietnam-in-latest-education-rankings/page-2#entry9404658

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UPDATE:

Anger as Philippine factory fire death toll reaches 45

MANILA (AFP) - Forty-five people have died in a huge blaze at a footwear factory in the Philippine capital and 26 others remain missing, authorities said Thursday, as grieving relatives described sweatshop conditions and poor fire safety standards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825115-death-toll-in-philippine-slipper-factory-fire-rises-to-45/#entry9404695

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Over 200 Million Baht Seized From Suspected Human Traffickers
By Khaosod English


Police press conference in Songkhla province, 14 May 2015.

BANGKOK — Thai authorities say they have seized more than 200 million baht in assets from a network of alleged human traffickers operating in southern Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825170-over-200-million-baht-seized-from-suspected-human-traffickers/

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Thousands protest biogas power plant in Surat Thani
The Nation

SURAT THANI: -- Over 3,000 villagers of Surat Thani protested Thursday against the planned 9.5 megawatt biogas power plant of Smothong 3 Biogas Co Ltd.

The protest took place as an administrative body in Tha Chana district was scheduled to consider the company’s proposal today.

Vilailuck Patanarat, a leader, said that the province has housed five palm oil-producing plants which cause air, water and noise pollution. The plants affect agricultural plantation and lead to water scarcity.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Thousands-protest-biogas-power-plant-in-Surat-Than-30260073.html

-- The Nation 2015-05-14

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UPDATE:

Bangkok taxi driver arrested for drunk driving



BANGKOK: -- A 33-year-old taxi driver was arrested Thursday morning after he refused to stop at a police road block for check and escaped.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825121-thai-cops-shoot-out-tire-to-stop-drunk-high-taxi-driver/?p=9404992#entry9404992

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Finance minister assures 3.5% growth
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Finance Minister Sommai Phasee reiterated his confidence that the Thai economy would expand by 3.5 per cent this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825172-thai-finance-minister-assures-35-growth/

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Cabinet, NCPO to decide on referendum Tuesday
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order will hold a joint meeting on Tuesday to deliberate the proposal for a national referendum on the draft constitution, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said Thursday.

He said the National Reform Council and the National Legislative Assembly should also present their opinions on the issue to the meeting.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Cabinet-NCPO-to-decide-on-referendum-Tuesday-30260080.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-14

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Free Phuket airport shuttle bus in the pipeline
Nattapat Tuarob


President of Phuket Tourism Business Association, Sathirapong Na Takuatoong (in glasses) doesn't want to upset the taxis.

PHUKET: -- A new free shuttle bus service, provided by Airports of Thailand (AoT) and running from the airport to Saphan Hin, Karon and Rawai were disccused a meeting held on Tuesday (May 12) to update on management progress at Phuket International Airport. Airport parking was also on the agenda.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825177-free-phuket-airport-shuttle-bus-in-the-pipeline/