Thailand Live Friday 29 May 2015

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69th ASEAN COST backs Metrology to be base of sci-tech development in ASEAN

PHUKET, 29 May 2015 (NNT) - The 69th ASEAN Committee for Science and Technology (ASEAN COST) has agreed to develop Metrology as the fundamental of scientific and technological development in ASEAN, said Science and Technology Minister Pichet Durongkaveroj on Thursday.

The committee has approved the initiative proposed by Thailand as the host, to use Metrology as the ground of all developments in science, technology and innovation. They expected that the Metrology would be an effective tool to move ASEAN toward successful single market. They would formulate a roadmap and action plan to push forward the idea before proposing the roadmap to the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology (AMMST) in late-2015.

Apart from the Metrology agreement, Mr.Pichet also presented Thai stance to formulate operational plan for science, technology and innovation during 2015-2020 as well as labour mobility in the sectors, the management of the ASEAN Science Fund (ABASF) and cooperation in water management.

ASEAN COST was held to boost cooperations in science, technology and innovations among ASEAN member states. Sub-sessions of the meeting began on the 21st of May 2015 with participation of high-ranking provincial officials in Phuket and representatives from ASEAN countries.


-- NNT 2015-05-29

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Police make major drug arrest in BKK

BANGKOK, 29 May 2015 (NNT) - Police in Bangkok confiscated more than 21 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and two million methamphetamine pills on Wednesday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828856-police-make-major-drug-arrest-in-bangkok/

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BKK Bus Driver Busted for Driving on Meth
By Khaosod English


Police speak to passengers on Bus no. 75, whose driver was arrested after testing positive for narcotics on 28 May 2015.

BANGKOK – Police say they have arrested a public bus driver in Bangkok for driving under the influence of methamphetamine.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828857-bangkok-bus-driver-busted-for-driving-on-ya-ba/

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INNOVATION
Driving to France on first eco-friendly tuk-tuk
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- TWO MAHIDOL University (MU) students will drive the world's first electricity- and solar-powered tuk-tuk to France under an initiative to promote green energy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828858-driving-from-thailand-to-france-on-first-eco-friendly-tuk-tuk/

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Thailand to host talks on regional migrant crisis
AFP

BANGKOK: -- Representatives from 17 nations will gather in Thailand Friday for talks on Southeast Asia's migrant crisis which has seen thousands of desperate people flee on boats across the Bay of Bengal aiming for Malaysia and Indonesia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828859-thailand-to-host-talks-on-regional-migrant-crisis/

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POLITICS
Thaksin may lose police rank
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- FORMER PRIME MINISTER Thaksin Shinawatra - who escaped criminal punishment in Thailand by fleeing the country - may be stripped of his lieutenant colonel police rank, said the chairman of a police committee that looks into officers' ranks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828860-thaksin-may-lose-police-rank/

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IRREGULAR MIGRATION
Crackdown forces fearful Rohingya to disperse from Ranong
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE NATION
RANONG

RANONG: -- FOLLOWING Thailand's crackdown on human trafficking, the migrant Rohingya community in Ranong has dispersed, a Rohingya living in the province said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828861-crackdown-forces-fearful-rohingya-to-disperse-from-ranong/

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FRIDAY SHOW
Prayut to rethink time and length of his weekly TV show
The Nation


Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha is considering cutting the length of his weekly national address by half and may move it out of the prime-time slot.

BANGKOK: -- Prayut said yesterday he would try to keep his speech to about 30 minutes during the programme, "Returning Happiness to People in the Country," which is broadcast every Friday night at 8.30pm.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828862-prayut-to-rethink-time-and-length-of-his-weekly-tv-show/

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Cambodian Laborer stabbed to death at Central Pattaya Site



PATTAYA: -- Late on Thursday Night, Police and Medics were called to a construction site on the Central Pattaya Road, to investigate the apparent murder of a Cambodian Laborer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828863-cambodian-laborer-stabbed-to-death-at-central-pattaya-site/

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Three injured in drink-related motorbike crash in South Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Three people were injured, two seriously, in a late night road crash in South Pattaya on Thursday Night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828864-three-injured-in-drink-related-motorbike-crash-in-south-pattaya/

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District Officers conduct drugs raid at East Pattaya Village



PATTAYA: -- Late on Wednesday Night a group of over 30 District Officers, led by the Chief Bailiff, conducted a raid on a village in East Pattaya in search of those involved in the use or sale of illegal drugs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828865-district-officers-conduct-drugs-raid-at-east-pattaya-village/

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British tourist reportedly raped in Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi:- Words widely spread that a 19-year-old British tourist has been raped in Mueang Kanchanaburi district, Khaosod Online reported.

Khaosod said the report of the rape could not be officially confirmed but a meeting of senior police officers took place at the Kanchanaburi Police head office at 11:30 am Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828830-british-tourist-reportedly-raped-in-kanchanaburi/

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Malaysian woman nabbed for fake credit card Phuket shopping spree
Eakkapop Thongtub


Malaysian national Khoo Ping Sze was arrested at Phuket Airport while waiting to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Ekkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- Immigration police arrested a Malaysian woman at Phuket International Airport last night (May 27) for using fake credit cards to fund a shopping spree on the island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828867-malaysian-woman-nabbed-for-fake-credit-card-phuket-shopping-spree/

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PM says he staged the May 22 coup for the sake of the country’s peace



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha told reporters Thursday evening that he risked his life to stage the May 22 coup last year for the sake of peace in the country but, from now on, it would depend on the people to decide what to do next.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828868-pm-says-he-staged-the-may-22-coup-for-the-sake-of-the-countrys-peace/

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Charter drafters want final say on amending articles
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION

THE CHARTER drafters have insisted that they should have the final say in altering any articles in the final draft.

BANGKOK: -- They said drastic changes in the charter draft proposed by the Cabinet could affect the heart of the document and contradict its writers' principles.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828869-thai-charter-drafters-want-final-say-on-amending-articles/

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BURNING ISSUE
Changes to draft charter - who will call the shots?
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH

BANGKOK: -- THE KEY issue in finalising the draft charter at this point is perhaps who among relevant agencies will give in first.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828870-thai-politics-changes-to-draft-charter-who-will-call-the-shots/

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Two hand grenades found in a Bangkok condo unit
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Two hand grenades were found in a Bangkok condominium unit yesterday by workers who were renovating the place after it had been nailed shut for 20 years, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828871-two-hand-grenades-found-in-a-bangkok-condo-unit/

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PM promises bright future
ANAPAT DEECHUAY
THE NATION

HOPES TO HELP PROMOTE WELL-ROUNDED, BALANCED DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY

BANGKOK: -- THE Thai government will provide full support to the work of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap) in promoting rounded and well-balanced development of the region, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828872-pm-prayut-promises-bright-future/

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Victims of trafficking recall their nightmare
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE NATION
RANONG



REVEAL HORRORS OF BEING SMUGGLED ON CROWDED BOAT

BANGKOK: -- THREE Bangladeshi victims of human trafficking have revealed the horror stories derived from being on a crowed boat on the Andaman Sea en route to a smuggler's camp in Songkhla.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828873-victims-of-human-trafficking-recall-their-nightmare-on-crowded-boat/

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UPDATE:

British 'backpacker raped in Thailand': Teenager 'abducted and sexually assaulted by biker gang'
BY SAM ADAMS

The teenager reportedly told cops that the bikers raped her and stole her property before dumping her at a market

LONDON: -- A British backpacker has reportedly been raped by a gang of bikers in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828830-british-tourist-reportedly-raped-in-kanchanaburi/#entry9458008

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ACCIDENT
Probe into bungee-jump death ordered
The Nation



PHUKET: -- Phuket Governor Nisit Chansomwong yesterday ordered an investigation into the death of a 25-year-old Kuwaiti national, who died while doing a bungee jump in the island's Patong Beach area on Wednesday evening, and checks on the safety standards employed in the sport there.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828874-probe-into-phuket-bungee-jump-death-ordered/

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Defiant soccer chief resists calls to resign amid scandal
By GRAHAM DUNBAR

ZURICH (AP) — As defiant as ever, Sepp Blatter resisted calls to resign as FIFA president Thursday and deflected blame for the massive bribery and corruption scandal engulfing soccer's world governing body.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828875-defiant-soccer-chief-blatter-resists-calls-to-resign-amid-scandal/

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Major construction at North Korea rocket site, US institute says
By MATTHEW PENNINGTON

WASHINGTON (AP) — Satellite imagery shows significant new construction at North Korea's main rocket launch site in a sign of leader Kim Jong Un's determination to pursue a space program despite international censure, a U.S. research institute said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828876-major-construction-at-north-korea-rocket-site-us-institute-says/

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Former NY GOP governor Pataki in the race for president
By HOLLY RAMER

EXETER, N.H. (AP) — George Pataki, the 9/11-era New York governor who achieved electoral success as a Republican in a heavily Democratic state, announced his candidacy for the presidential nomination Thursday, offering himself as a unifying figure in a divided nation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828877-former-new-york-gop-governor-pataki-in-the-race-for-president/

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Twice-caught fugitive's clean life led to decades of freedom
By KANTELE FRANKO

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — In 55 years as a fugitive, Frank Freshwaters got caught twice.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828878-twice-caught-us-fugitives-clean-life-led-to-decades-of-freedom/

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Germany shelves investigation of man in wartime massacre

BERLIN (AP) — German prosecutors say they've shelved their investigation of a 93-year-old former SS officer suspected of being part of a wartime massacre of civilians in Italy because he's no longer fit to stand trial.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828879-most-wanted-german-nazi-sommer-unfit-for-trial/

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Administration asks judge to toss House health care suit
By ERICA WERNER

WASHINGTON (AP) — A skeptical federal judge grilled Obama administration lawyers Thursday over the House GOP's health care lawsuit, sounding unlikely to side with the president and dismiss the case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828880-us-administration-asks-judge-to-toss-house-health-care-suit/

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Thai woman faces legal charges for telling lie on Facebook

Bangkok:- She may regard it as a white lie made just to have fun with a close group of friends. But the Facebook post that she removed five minutes later has landed her in a serious legal trouble and caused her to be bashed with social media outrage.

Daoruang Khansorn, 27, surrendered to Chokchai police station chief Pol Col Chairop Junnawat on Thursday, a day after she put the controversial post on the wall of her Facebook account, Nuu Title Tle.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828885-thai-woman-faces-legal-charges-for-telling-lie-on-facebook/

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TOKYO (AP) - Volcano erupts on small southern Japanese island; residents urged to evacuate.

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Trafficking rides on Rohingya crisis
The Star
Asia News Network

Dhaka to press for permanent solution at special Bangkok conference to end Southeast Asian migrant problem

MALAYSIA: -- Dhaka will call for comprehensive efforts to permanently resolve the problems of Rohingyas in today’s special regional meeting hosted by Thailand in the wake of escalating Southeast Asian migrant crisis.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828899-trafficking-rides-on-rohingya-crisis/