Thailand Live Friday 8 Jan 2016

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Drunk cabbie crashes into motorbike, punches cop on Sutthisan
Coconuts Bangkok

Screenshot of the video showing the attack. Photo: Wirat Manadamrongtham/ Youlike

BANGKOK -- An intoxicated taxi driver was arrested yesterday on Sutthisan road after he crashed into a motorbike and then attacked a police officer.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884640-drunk-cabbie-crashes-into-motorbike-punches-cop-on-sutthisan/

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Russian expat found dead in Nai Harn hotel room
Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A Russian expat was found dead in his hotel room in Nai Harn yesterday morning, with a head wound he had reportedly received two days earlier.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884625-russian-expat-found-dead-in-nai-harn-hotel-room/

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US Authorities Contact Thai Police to Arrest Suspected Pedophile
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


DSI and local police officers arresting Fabian Frederick Blandford at his home in Chiang Mai province.

CHIANG MAI — Following a tip-off from American officials, police arrested a British national in Chiang Mai province yesterday on charges of uploading child porn to the internet.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884284-briton-arrested-in-chiang-mai-with-child-pornography/page-5?p=10282898#entry10282898

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Saraburi tops the worst air quality last year



SARABURI: -- The air and water quality throughout the country for the year 2015 was just fine with Saraburi having the worst air quality and the water quality of the inner Gulf of Thailand was worsening, according to the latest environmental assessment report of Pollution Control Department.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884713-saraburi-tops-the-worst-air-quality-last-year/

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Former ThaiHealth board members cry foul against their 'unfair' dismissal



BANGKOK: -- Two former board members of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (Sor Sor Sor) have cried foul against their abrupt dismissal by virtue of Section 44 of the interim charter, claiming that they were unfairly treated.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884714-section-44-former-thaihealth-board-members-cry-foul-against-their-unfair-dismissal/

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Five men caught for trafficking arms through the social media



BANGKOK: -- Five men have been arrested by police on arms trafficking charges after they were caught selling war weapons on Facebook page and delivering the arms through postal services.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884716-thai-police-arrest-five-men-for-selling-war-weapons-on-facebook/

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Mekong river ebbs quickly prompting concern for tap water production in Nakhon Phanom


File photo/Source Internet

BANGKOK: -- The level of Mekong river in Nakhon Phanom has dropped quickly to the extent that the waterworks authority in That Phanom district decided to store more water in reserves in anticipation of serious water shortage in the coming months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884717-mekong-river-ebbs-quickly-prompting-concern-for-tap-water-production-in-nakhon-phanom/

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Agriculture Ministry will try to peg rubber price at 33 baht/kg for rubber sheets



BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Agriculture will urge rubber traders to keep purchasing price of rubber sheets at not lower than 33 baht a kilogramme in order to help rubber farmers who have demanded the government to guarantee the price at 50 baht/kg.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884718-thai-agriculture-min-will-try-to-peg-rubber-price-at-33-bahtkg-for-rubber-sheets/

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Plan worked out to prevent fighting over water during prolonged drought



BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Interior has mapped out a comprehensive plan to prevent fighting over water in anticipation of the quick arrival of drought which is likely to last longer and more serious than it was in previous years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884720-plan-worked-out-to-prevent-fighting-over-water-during-prolonged-drought-in-thailand/

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New rice plan aims to cut rice production to 25 million tonnes this crop year



BANGKOK: -- About 25 million tonnes of rice will be produced during 2516-17 crop years instead of the normal production output of between 31-32 million tonnes to correspond with anticipated consumption demand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884721-new-thai-rice-plan-aims-to-cut-rice-production-to-25-million-tonnes-this-crop-year/

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Suspected Child Rapist Beaten to Death in Thailand’s Nonthaburi Prison

NONTHABURI – A 37 year old Thai man accused of raping a 15-year-old girl has been found beaten to death in his cell at Nonthaburi Prison with rubber bands wrapped tightly around his testicles.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884722-suspected-child-rapist-beaten-to-death-in-thailands-nonthaburi-prison/

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CDC to conclude unresolved matters in meeting trip

BANGKOK, 8 January 2016 (NNT) – The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) is set to discuss the unresolved issue, regarding charter drafting at an offsite meeting at Phetchaburi Province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884723-thailands-cdc-to-conclude-unresolved-matters-in-meeting-trip/

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NLA veep agrees to revising rules for constitution referendum

BANGKOK, 8 January 2016 (NNT) – National Legislative Assembly vice president Surachai Liangboonlertchai said he agreed to revising rules for a public referendum on a new constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884724-nla-veep-agrees-to-revising-rules-for-thai-constitution-referendum/

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CDC to organize nationwide event to promote understanding, collect opinions about charter drafting

BANGKOK, 8 January 2015 (NNT) – The Constitution Drafting Commission is planning to hold a nationwide campaign to promote people’s understanding about the charter drafting process and to collect more opinions to hep with the process.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884726-cdc-to-organize-nationwide-event-to-promote-understanding-about-charter-drafting/

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Govt takes steps to help drought-affected farmers

BANGKOK, 8 January 2016 (NNT) – Agricultural Extension Department Director General Olarn Phitak confirmed the government has taken measures to assist drought-affected farmers nationwide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884727-thai-govt-takes-steps-to-help-drought-affected-farmers/

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Three new chigger mite species discovered on rodents in Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Three new species of chigger mites have been discovered in Thailand, and are described in an article in the Journal of Medical Entomology.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884728-three-new-chigger-mite-species-discovered-on-rodents-in-thailand/

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Commerce Minister Expects Thailand and Myanmar Trade to Reach Bt420 Billion in 2 Years
BY JACOB MASLOW



BANGKOK: -- Apiradi Tantraporn, Thailand’s Commerce Minister, announced yesterday that Thailand and Myanmar will be increasing trade investment and cooperation. Both countries hope to expand trade over the next two years, with proposals for enhanced cooperation being held on January 14 and 15. Mr. Apiradi expects trade to double in two years between Bt350 billion and Bt420 billion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884730-commerce-minister-expects-thailand-and-myanmar-trade-to-reach-bt420-billion-in-2-years/

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Introducing cute conductor: Commuters ogle ticket boy of bus no. 44
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo of Ley-o on and off duty. Photo: Oishi Nithiroj

BANGKOK: -- After society has been introduced to a soapy bus wash boy and hot moto-taxi dude, here is a cute bus conductor to enhance your experience of public transportation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884731-commuters-ogle-ticket-boy-of-bangkok-bus-no-44/

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Fisheries Department believes Fisheries Act can effectively manage fisheries resources

BANGKOK, 8 January 2016 (NNT) – Fisheries Department’s Law Division Director, Pratet Saurak has described the new Fisheries Act as focusing on the management of limited fishing resources so that people can fully benefit from the natural resource over the long term.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884732-fisheries-department-believes-fisheries-act-can-effectively-manage-fisheries-resources/

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'Paper with ISIL flag' found on knifeman shot dead at Paris police station



PARIS: -- A man said to be carrying a knife and wearing a fake suicide belt has been shot dead as he tried to enter a police station in Paris.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884734-paper-with-isil-flag-found-on-knifeman-shot-dead-at-paris-police-station/

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The difference between Shi'a and Sunni explained



PARIS: -- With Arab world conflicts so often making headlines, the terms Shia and Sunni – the two main branches of Islam – are now familiar to many non-Muslims following world news, even if the characteristics that distinguish one from the other remain unclear. Here we look at the history of the two sects of Islam, their differences and the distribution of their followers across the world.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884735-the-difference-between-shia-and-sunni-explained/

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Controversial bill signed into law by Polish President; EU says talks ongoing
By Seamus Kearney



"It's an important issue but we have to have friendly and good relations with Poland so our approach is a very constructive one"

WARSAW: -- The Polish President has signed into law a controversial bill that hands control of state media to the government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884736-controversial-bill-signed-into-law-by-polish-president;-eu-says-talks-ongoing/

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Tehran blames Iranian embassy air strike on Saudi Arabia



TEHRAN: -- Iran has accused Saudi Arabia of an aerial attack on its embassy in the Yemeni capital Sanaa.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884737-tehran-blames-iranian-embassy-air-strike-on-saudi-arabia/

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Stabbed in the back Israeli reporter knifed by boss of a body armour company



JERUSALEM: -- An Israeli reporter has been stabbed in the back by the president of a body armour company.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884738-stabbed-in-the-back-israeli-reporter-knifed-by-boss-of-a-body-armour-company/

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Charlie Hebdo warns Islamist threat ever present



PARIS: -- The cover reads, “One year later, the assassin is still at large” and shows a God-like figure in a bloody robe carrying a Kalashnikov.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884739-charlie-hebdo-warns-islamist-threat-ever-present/

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Charlie Hebdo attacks: five ways France has changed
By Chris Harris



PARIS: -- It’s one year since two gunmen, brothers Saïd and Chérif Kouachi, burst into the Paris offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and opened fire.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884740-charlie-hebdo-attacks-five-ways-france-has-changed/

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Hollande pays tribute to security forces on Charlie Hebdo anniversary



PARIS: -- The French President François Hollande has given more details of planned new security measures in a New Year speech at the Paris police headquarters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884741-hollande-pays-tribute-to-security-forces-on-charlie-hebdo-anniversary/

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Death trade: Turkish police seize fake life jackets destined for migrants



IZMIR: -- Police in Turkey have seized over a thousand fake life jackets destined for migrants crossing the Aegean Sea into Greece.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884742-death-trade-turkish-police-seize-fake-life-jackets-destined-for-migrants/

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Madaya, a town on the brink of starvation, granted UN food aid by Assad



DAMASCUS: -- The Syrian government has agreed to allow emergency UN aid into three besieged towns – including the rebel held town of Madaya, close to Damascus – where it is reported people are staving to death.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884743-madaya-a-town-on-the-brink-of-starvation-granted-un-food-aid-by-assad/

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Hungarian PM to David Cameron over EU reform: 'We are not parasites'
By Seamus Kearney

"We don't go to be parasites in Great Britain, we don't want to take the jobs of those living there"

LONDON: -- The British Prime Minister has been in Germany and Hungary, as he continues his campaign to convince other European leaders to back his EU reform plans.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884744-hungarian-pm-to-david-cameron-over-eu-reform-we-are-not-parasites/