Thailand Live Thursday 7 Jan 2016

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China holds key to pressing North Korea on nuclear weapons
By MATTHEW PENNINGTON

WASHINGTON (AP) — Diplomatic engagement has failed to stop North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Sanctions have been tightened with little result. And military force could be catastrophic. So what can the world do to bring Kim Jong Un's renegade government into line? The answer may rest with China.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884431-china-holds-key-to-pressing-north-korea-on-nuclear-weapons/

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Hamas sets conditions to join new Palestine unity gov't, says to mull on opening of key crossing
English.news.cn

GAZA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement said on Wednesday that it is ready to join a newly formed Palestinian unity government if it ends security cooperation with Israel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884432-hamas-sets-conditions-to-join-new-palestine-unity-govt-says-to-mull-on-opening-of-key-crossing/

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Hopes of 'concrete solutions' to migrant crisis, as Netherlands starts EU presidency



"I hope that during the Dutch presidency, we will have some concrete solutions for the European problem that we have"

BRUSSELS: -- Members of the European Commission are visiting Amsterdam to officially mark the start of the Dutch presidency of the EU Council.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884433-hopes-of-concrete-solutions-to-migrant-crisis-as-netherlands-starts-eu-presidency/

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Donald Trump questions whether Cruz can be president

WASHINGTON: -- Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has questioned whether rival candidate Ted Cruz is eligible to become his party's nominee because he was born in Canada.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884434-trump-questions-cruzs-citizenship/

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Joe Biden on 2016 decision: 'I regret it every day'

Washington (CNN)Vice President Joe Biden says he regrets "every day" that he didn't enter the 2016 presidential race -- but his decision was in his family's best interests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884442-joe-biden-on-2016-decision-i-regret-it-every-day/

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French conductor, composer Pierre Boulez dies at 90
DAVID McHUGH, Associated Press
LORI HINNANT, Associated Press

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — French composer and conductor Pierre Boulez had a reputation as a hardcore modernist steeped in the dissonances of 20th-Century music.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884446-french-conductor-composer-pierre-boulez-dies-at-90/

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Los Angeles County prosecutors reject Cosby sex charges

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles County prosecutors have declined to charge Bill Cosby with sexually abusing two teenagers in 1965 and 2008, citing time limits and a lack of evidence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884447-los-angeles-county-prosecutors-reject-cosby-sex-charges/

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American charged in bombing attack on US base in Afghanistan
TOM HAYS, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — A U.S. citizen already accused of going to Pakistan to train with al-Qaida was charged Wednesday with helping build explosives for a 2009 suicide attack on an American military base in Afghanistan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884448-american-charged-in-bombing-attack-on-us-base-in-afghanistan/

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HONG KONG (AP) - Chinese stock trading temporarily halted again after markets plunge.

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Unidentified dropping objects from sky manufactured by Russia: Vietnamese army
English.news.cn

HANOI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese army has said three unidentified objects that fell from the sky in the country's two northern provinces, Tuyen Quang and Yen Bai, were manufactured by Russia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884454-unidentified-dropping-objects-from-sky-manufactured-by-russia-vietnamese-army/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Netflix officially launches in Thailand

- Plans from 280 THB/Month

- Visit https://www.netflix.com/th/ for more info

Las Vegas, January 6, 2016 -- Netflix launched its service globally, simultaneously bringing its Internet TV network to more than 130 new countries around the world. The company made the announcement -- and the service went live -- during a keynote by Co-founder and Chief Executive Reed Hastings at CES 2016.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884451-netflix-is-now-available-in-thailand/?p=10279785

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One-third of Australian pensioners live in poverty: OECD report
Rachel Browne
Social Affairs Reporter

SYDNEY: -- More than one-third of Australian pensioners are living below the poverty line, making the country among the worst performers in the world for the financial security of older people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884459-one-third-of-australian-pensioners-live-in-poverty-oecd-report/

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California state of emergency over methane leak

LOS ANGELES: -- The governor of California has declared a state of emergency in a suburb of Los Angeles over the leaking of methane gas from an underground storage field.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884461-california-state-of-emergency-over-methane-leak/

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Prominent jailed activist on hunger strike over Presidential Protection Bill



YANGON: -- The Irrawaddy reported that political prisoner Naw Ohn Hla began a prison hunger strike on Tuesday to protest proposed legislation that would grant wide-ranging legal immunity for ex-presidents’ conduct in office.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884462-prominent-jailed-activist-on-hunger-strike-over-presidential-protection-bill/

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Selfie-taking student falls off building in Manila, dies



MANILA: -- A 19-year-old student dies after falling off the rooftop of a 20-floor condominium in Ermita, Manila, Tuesday afternoon, Manila Bulletin reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884463-selfie-taking-student-falls-off-building-in-manila-dies/

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SET down 24.71 points at opening /Bangkok Post

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Ho Chi Minh City now has 7.4m motorbikes, and counting

Ho Chi Minh City, with a population of around 8 million, now has 7.43 million motorbikes, putting serious pressure on its transport infrastructure, Thanh Nien News reported, citing the Department of Transport.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884465-ho-chi-minh-city-now-has-74m-motorbikes-and-counting/

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Laos plans to record rice yield of 4.2 million tonnes in 2016



VIENTIANE: -- The Lao government has an ambitious plan to increase the nationwide rice yield to 4.2 million tonnes to ensure adequate supply for domestic consumption and export, according to Lao News Agency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884486-laos-plans-to-record-rice-yield-of-42-million-tonnes-in-2016/

[webfact]

Children send cards wishing Uncle Tu a happy and healthy New Year



BANGKOK: -- Children throughout the country have sent New Year cards to the Prime Minister wishing him happy and healthy, and asked him whom they call ‘Uncle Tu’ not to be too stressed with his job.

Some cards sent from southern provinces asked Uncle Tu to help shore up prices of rubber which is now plunging to record low as their parents were suffering from low prices.

All the cards were displayed at Government House.

The huge amount of New Year cards that have been sent to Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha by children from all over the country on the occasion of the 2016 New Year as well as the National Children’s Day which falls on January 9.

All children wished him well, as well as good health, and told him not to be too stressed by his job.

Many of these cards contain hand-drawn pictures of the prime minister by the children who all wished him good health and gave him support to carry out his duties as the leader of the country.

Charmingly, many of these children called him “Uncle Tu” and advised that uncle should not take too much to heart and not be overly piqued by critics.

All of these children were united in their desire to have him lead the country and hoped he would make the country peaceful and harmonious once more.

One of these cards is from a young girl called Pasinee Chuwongwan whose nick name is ‘Nong Beam’.

Nong Beam is a Grade 4 student at the Sukhon-thirawithya school in Nakhon Pathom province.

The top of her card reads “FC. Uncle Tu” and she has drawn a picture of Gen Prayut in uniform. What is amusing about the drawing is that Gen Prayut is drawn wearing a Santa Claus cap while holding up a hand to raise two fingers as a “V” sign to not give up to all children.

Adoringly, she closes by writing that ‘Uncle Tu’ was adorable and a funny man and full of humour.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/children-send-new-year-cards-wishing-uncle-tu-happy-and-healthy


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-07

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Oishi first in Thailand to let customers pay for meals by installments
By Coconuts Bangkok


File photo of Shabushi restaurant. Photo: Oishi Group

BANGKOK: -- Oishi Group announced yesterday it will be the first in the restaurant business to allow customers to pay for their meals by instillments to encourage more people to eat out.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884489-oishi-first-in-thailand-to-let-customers-pay-for-meals-by-installments/

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Vehicles seized in Phuket during seven days of danger returned to owners
Tanyaluk Sakoot


87 vehicles were seized by police in Phuket during the seven days of danger.

PHUKET: -- It has been confirmed that all 87 vehicles seized by police in Phuket during the seven days of danger (Dec 29 – Jan 4) have since been returned to their owners.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884492-vehicles-seized-in-phuket-during-seven-days-of-danger-returned-to-owners/

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1.4 billion baht 'soft prisons' for well behaved prisoners to be proposed



BANGKOK: -- Thailand will soon have soft prisons for well behaved prisoners whose prison terms are going to finish, according to the corrections chief.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884494-14-billion-baht-soft-prisons-for-well-behaved-prisoners-to-be-proposed/

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PM opens new market event at Khlong Phadung Krungkasem floating market



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday visited ‘Khlong Phadung Krungkasem’ floating market and opened another event to generate income for local people as well as raising social value.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884495-pm-opens-new-market-event-at-khlong-phadung-krungkasem-floating-market/

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US, S. Korea and Japan vow tough response to N. Korea
FOSTER KLUG, Associated Press
HYUNG-JIN KIM, Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The United States, South Korea and Japan agreed to launch a "united and strong" international response to North Korea's claim of a successful hydrogen bomb test, as experts scrambled Thursday to find more details about the detonation that drew worldwide skepticism and condemnation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884500-us-s-korea-and-japan-vow-tough-response-to-n-korea/

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Police builds case against Blink Hackers Group

BANGKOK, 7 January 2016 (NNT) – Police have finished collecting evidence to prosecute the group of hackers who defaced several police websites.

Commander of the IT Support Division Pol Maj Gen Siripong Timula has been preparing to file a police complaint against the hackers with the Technology Crime Suppression Division.

Deputy National Police Spokesperson Pol Col Krissana Pattanacharoen explained that legal action against the hackers may take some time, due to the complex nature of cyber crime. Investigators must be cautious when examining the evidence and other information.

At least five police websites were attacked by the Blink Hackers Group. The homepages were replaced with a black-and-white message criticizing the Thai justice system.

The hackers are believed to be Myanmar nationals protesting the death sentence of two Burmese immigrants, who were convicted of killing two British tourists on Ko Tao island in Surat Thani province.

The Deputy National Police Spokesperson said that Blink Hackers Group has no prior history of attacking websites that belong to other governments. Pol Col Krissana assured that the wrongdoers would be caught and punished accordingly.


-- NNT 2016-01-07

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Deputy PM: Reconciliation should be voluntary

BANGKOK, 7 January 2016 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krua-ngam suggests that national reconciliation be based on people’s willingness, rather than legal enforcement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884505-deputy-thai-pm-reconciliation-should-be-voluntary/

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SET Index tumbles amid external concern



BANGKOK: -- THAI stock market tumbled 24.7 points at the opening of the trade this morning which analysts said was investor's concern about the Chinese stock market crash today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884506-set-index-tumbles-amid-external-concern/

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Consumer confidence index in December highest in seven months



BANGKOK: -- Consumer confidence index rose for the third straight month in December, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) said today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884510-thai-consumer-confidence-index-in-december-highest-in-seven-months/

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Janet Jackson says she's recovering, denies cancer
By LYNN ELBER

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Janet Jackson said she doesn't have cancer, but she isn't specifying the illness that interfered with a concert tour.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884514-janet-jackson-says-shes-recovering-denies-cancer/

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Energy consumption in Thailand to rise by 3% this year



BANGKOK, 7 January 2016 (NNT) - The Ministry of Energy has forecast that energy consumption in the country will rise this year, as global oil prices continue to decline.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884532-energy-consumption-in-thailand-to-rise-by-3-this-year/