Thailand Live Wednesday 17 Jun 2015

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ICT sets 6 months to self-transform to "Digital Ministry"

BANGKOK, 17 June 2015 (NNT) - Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Pornchai Rujiprapa revealed that the ICT Ministry has set a six-month timeframe for transforming itself to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.

For the next six months starting July 2015, the ICT ministry will lay down new administrative structure, regulatory changes and staff rearrangement in order to make the ministry a core unit to support the digital technology-based economy and industries. As a result, the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) under the ministry will be changed to the "Office of Digital Economy Promotion”.

The ICT Mministry has set five strategies in working with other units namely the development of physical infrastructure, the setting up of e-transaction security and confidence, creating infrastructure for digital services, the economic stimulation using digital technologies and the establishment of quality digital society.

The new Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and its affiliate -- the Office of Digital Economy Promotion, will be the main bodies to push forward the Thai economic growth. In a short-term goal, the government has aimed to upgrade competitiveness of the Thai business sector. Sustainable development of the Thai economy is the higher goal which is set to be achieved in a longer period.


-- NNT 2015-06-17

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28-Year-Old Steals Public Bus to See Girlfriend: Police
By Khaosod English


Sataanphop Aobpirom, 28, with police officers and the bus he allegedly stole in Bangkok, 15 June 2015.

BANGKOK — A 28-year-old man has been arrested for stealing a public bus and driving nearly 400 km from Bangkok to northeastern Thailand to see his girlfriend, police say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833375-28-year-old-steals-public-bus-to-see-girlfriend-thai-police/

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Canadian reports being cheated by Pattaya Travel Agency



PATTAYA: -- On Tuesday Morning a 64 year old Canadian reported being allegedly cheated out of 37,500 Baht by a Travel Agency based in Central Pattaya which has now shut down.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833376-canadian-reports-being-cheated-by-pattaya-travel-agency/

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Facebook clip emerges of fatal truck crash on Pattaya Highway 36



PATTAYA: -- On Tuesday a video clip was posted on a popular Thai Facebook Page which appeared to show dashcam footage of a fatal truck crash which occurred on Highway 36 on 13th June.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833377-facebook-clip-emerges-of-fatal-truck-crash-on-pattaya-highway-36/

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Police raid on North Pattaya Korean Massage and Spa



PATTAYA: -- Region 2 Police Investigators conducted a raid on a North Pattaya Korean Massage and Spa on Tuesday Evening in accordance with a Search Warrant obtained from the Pattaya Provincial Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833378-police-raid-on-north-pattaya-korean-massage-and-spa/

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Female Drug Courier suspect caught in front of North Pattaya Hotel



PATTAYA: -- Pattaya Police arrested a 30 year old woman late on Monday Night in front of a North Pattaya Hotel after covertly tracking her with the intention of ultimately catching a major drug dealer based in the Pattaya area.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833379-female-drug-courier-suspect-caught-in-front-of-north-pattaya-hotel/

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Thailand - Myanmar energy cooperations to be established

BANGKOK, 17 June 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Energy is set to establish joint committees to oversee Thailand's cooperation in petroleum and electricity with Myanmar.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833380-thailand-myanmar-energy-cooperations-to-be-established/

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Cabinet appoints new civil aviation chief



BANGKOK, 17 June 2015 (NNT) – The Cabinet has approved the change of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) Director-General while positive developments have been reported from the Transport Ministry’s meeting with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833381-thai-cabinet-appoints-new-civil-aviation-chief/

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DROUGHT
Farmers urged to cut or drop second crop
Piyaporn Wongruang,
Erich Parpart
The Nation

PM says drought caused by deforestation in north

BANGKOK: -- PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha urged farmers yesterday to minimise the second rice crop in order to save water, while saying massive deforestation was the fundamental cause of drought.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833382-thai-farmers-urged-to-cut-or-drop-second-crop/

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UPDATE:

POLITICS
No change to roadmap and no more coups: Prayut
KASAMAKORN CHANWAPEN
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- GENERAL Prayut Chan-o-cha, the National Council for Peace and Order leader and premier, reaffirmed yesterday that there would be no adjustment to the junta's roadmap, saying that related bodies would dissolve if things go well as planned.

b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833334-pm-threatens-legal-actions-against-coup-rumour-monger/#entry9522182

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DROUGHT
From crops to cargo, the fear of drought casts a wide shadow over the Chao Phraya
Business Desk


Chao Phraya Dam

BANGKOK: -- Angthong Provincial Irrigation Department and the Harbour Department have warnings for groups as different as farmers and cargo ship operators about the drought and low levels in the Chao Phraya River.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833384-from-crops-to-cargo-the-fear-of-drought-casts-a-wide-shadow-over-the-chao-phraya/

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MERS
People at risk warned to avoid MERS-hit countries
Puangchompoo Prasert,
Samudcha Hoonsara,
Wattana Khamchu
The Nation



Those with chronic ailments and elderly folk urged to be vigilant, avoid infection

BANGKOK: -- THE DISEASE Control Department has advised the elderly and people with chronic health problems against travelling to MERS-affected countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833385-people-at-risk-warned-to-avoid-mers-hit-countries/

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CRIME
Embassy asked to check US banknotes found in deposit boxes
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- STAFF from the US Embassy in Bangkok have been asked to check questionable US-dollar banknotes found in deposit boxes owned by fraud suspect Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, the former chairman of Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833387-us-embassy-bangkok-asked-to-check-banknotes-found-in-deposit-boxes/

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THAI
THAI to downsize fleet by more than 24 in 2016
SUCHAT SRITAMA
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Ailing Thai Airways International plans to downsize its fleet by more than 24 aircraft by next year and focus more on maintenance services to extract more revenue from non-core businesses.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833389-thai-to-downsize-fleet-by-more-than-24-in-2016/

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VAT
Revenue Department requests 1-year extension of 7% VAT rate
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Revenue Department has proposed that the Finance Ministry leave the value-added-tax (VAT) rate unchanged at 7 per cent for one more year as a way to stimulate domestic consumption.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833390-thai-revenue-department-requests-1-year-extension-of-7-vat-rate/

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STREETWISE
Workers' tales shed light on the PRODUCTIVITY ISSUE

BANGKOK: -- Once in a while, workers are told they must increase their productivity if they want increased rewards. However, that simple equation doesn't apply to all workers. Masseuses, for instance, need to do a lot more than increase their productivity, in order to receive higher pay.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833391-thai-opinion-workers-tales-shed-light-on-the-productivity-issue/

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UPDATE:

PM refuses to use Article 44 to control street racers
The Nation

Justice minister, police chief call on prayut to use absolute power on issue

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday he wouldn't evoke the power under Article 44 in the interim charter to tackle the problem of street racing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833272-thai-govt-considers-invoking-emergency-powers-to-prevent-street-racing/?p=9522216

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Lottery ticket prices fall to Bt75 as govt action kicks in
Jitima Janphrom,
Stanley Bennett
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- LOTTERY ticket prices came down to Bt75 per pair in many areas yesterday from the government's standard price of Bt80.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833392-lottery-ticket-prices-fall-to-bt75-as-govt-action-kicks-in/

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Pathum Thani Model' planned to ease encroachment problems
Jeerapong Prasertponkrung
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Relevant authorities are planning to allocate a 42-rai plot of land in Pathum Thani province for poor people under the so-called "Pathum Thani Model".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833393-pathum-thani-model-planned-to-ease-encroachment-problems/

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BMA eyes Dutch flood monitoring software
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- OFFICIALS from Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), impressed by the flood stimulation software in Rotterdam, want to adapt similar system here.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833394-bangkok-administration-eyes-dutch-flood-monitoring-software/

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Govt mulls disposal of 30m tonnes of garbage
Wattana Khamchu
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Thailand would need up to Bt1 billion to properly dispose of its 30 million tonnes of garbage, Interior Minister General Anupong Paojinda said yesterday. He added that the government was looking into the Private Investment in State Undertakings Act to see if it can get the private sector to invest in waste-to-energy power plants.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833396-thai-govt-mulls-disposal-of-30m-tonnes-of-garbage/

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WHAT OTHERS SAY
Climate change - now is the time for Thailand to act
EU HEADS OF MISSION IN THAILAND
SPECIAL TO THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Last week the G-7 states met in Elmau, Germany, to discuss the most pressing issues of our time, one of which was - of course - climate change.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833398-climate-change-now-is-the-time-for-thailand-to-act/

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Former MP fears police have 'hidden agenda' on Thaksin
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- FORMER Democrat MP Watchara Petthong complained yesterday about slow progress on the move to strip ousted and fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra of his rank as a lieutenant-colonel in the police. He said he feared national police chief General Somyot Poompanmuang may have a hidden agenda.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833399-former-mp-fears-police-have-hidden-agenda-on-thaksin/

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'Big Tik' or 'Big Moo' for new Army chief?
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- DEFENCE Minister Prawit Wongsuwan has pushed for assistant Army chief General Thirachai Nakwanich to succeed the current chief, Udomdej Sitabutr, in the annual military reshuffle, a source said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833400-big-tik-or-big-moo-for-new-thai-army-chief/

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NRC defers call for Thai casino
THE NATION


Thienchay Kiranandana

BANGKOK: -- NATIONAL Reform Council chairman Thienchay Kiranandana has put the brakes on a proposal from NRC members to legalise a casino, saying the council had only 60 days left to work so it did not have time to consider a new proposal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833401-nrc-defers-call-for-thai-casino/

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BURNING ISSUE
No scheme to stay on will ever make Prayut legitimate
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

BANGKOK: -- CAN THE expected referendum on whether to allow the military regime of General Prayut Chan-o-cha to stay for two more years "legitimise" the government?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833402-no-scheme-to-stay-on-will-ever-make-prayut-legitimate/

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UPDATE:

Govt seeks to extradite lese majeste suspect from NZ
THE NATION


Tang Achiwa

BANGKOK: -- THE Office of the Attorney-General is coordinating with New Zealand to have lese majeste suspect Ekapob "Tang Achiwa" Luara extradited to face justice back home.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833306-thai-govt-seeks-to-extradite-lese-majeste-suspect-from-new-zealand/page-2#entry9522280

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Patong’s Ace 1 Condo developer given extended lease of life
Tanyaluk Sakoot


Ampon Wongsiri (center), secretary-general of the national Consumer Protection Board.

PHUKET: -- People waiting for refunds from the developer of the Ace 1 Condominium project in Patong will have to wait further if they are to hold onto any chance of getting their money back following a meeting with the head of the national Consumer Protection Board (CPB) yesterday (June 15).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833404-patongs-ace-1-condo-developer-given-extended-lease-of-life/

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6 killed in California balcony collapse during a party
By KRISTIN J. BENDER AND MARTHA MENDOZA

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — A 21st-birthday party thrown by a group of visiting Irish college students turned tragic early Tuesday when the fifth-floor balcony they were crammed onto collapsed with a sharp crack, spilling them about 50 feet onto the pavement. Six people were killed and seven seriously injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833405-irish-among-six-dead-in-california-balcony-collapse/

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Russia to add 40 new intercontinental missiles this year
VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV, Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's military will add over 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles this year alone that are capable of piercing any missile defenses, President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday in a blunt reminder of the nation's nuclear might amid tensions with the West over Ukraine.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833406-russia-to-add-40-new-intercontinental-missiles-this-year/