Thailand Live Wednesday 13 Jan 2016

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Cabinet endorses housing development plan for the poor

BANGKOK, 13 January 2016 (NNT) – The Cabinet has given the green light to the 10-year housing development plan aimed to help low-income earners.

Government Spokesperson Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd revealed that Cabinet approval was granted to the 10-year housing development plan for 2016-2025, which will help provide new homes for approximately 2.7 million impoverished families. The plan is set to be implemented in parallel with the National Economic and Social Development Plan and the government’s policy for the remaining one year and six months in office.

During the meeting, the Cabinet insisted that the construction of housing facilities can begin immediately in places deemed fully ready, such as those along the Lad Phrao Canal and in the Din Daeng area.

The project has been placed under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon and is expected to fully commence within this year.


-- NNT 2016-01-13

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Thai Flag to Fly the Highest Atop Record-Shattering Pole
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Trin Nilprasert tours the site in Chiang Rai province on Monday where the world's tallest flagpole is reportedly being built.

CHIANG RAI — Trin Nilprasert wants to raise the world’s tallest flagpole over northern Thailand because he believes it will help end the political fractures plaguing the kingdom for almost a decade.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886080-thai-flag-to-fly-the-highest-atop-record-shattering-pole/

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UPDATE:

Rare Blood Donors Help Save British Tourist
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Photo: Luce Hill / Facebook

CHIANG MAI — A British backpacker whose accident sparked an online campaign for donations of a rare blood type has regained consciousness and is in stable condition, her doctor said Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885767-chiang-mai-blood-donor-appeal-helps-injured-british-backpacker/#entry10301761

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Health Service Support Department takes strict control on 63 surrogacy clinics nationwide

BANGKOK, 13 January 2016 (NNT) – Health Service Support Department Director General Boonreung Traireungworawat said the agency has strictly controlled surrogacy clinics under the Protection of Children Born Through Reproductive Technology Act, effective since July 30, 2015.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886081-thai-health-service-support-dept-takes-strict-control-on-63-surrogacy-clinics-nationwide/

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Govt. to announce progress of illegal fishing eradication on 14 Jan

BANGKOK, 13 January 2016 (NNT) - The government is preparing to announce the progress of solutions to illegal fishing on 14 January 2016 before representatives of the EU travel to Thailand to follow up on the matter. Laws have been passed to expedite illegal fishing cases.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886082-thai-govt-to-announce-progress-of-illegal-fishing-eradication-on-14-jan/

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Ministry of Tourism and Sports to buy 3,000 tons of rubber to help planters

BANGKOK, 13 January 2016 (NNT) Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanawrangkura said the cabinet has approved members of the Rubber Authority of Thailands committee in charge of addressing rubber price falls.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886083-thai-tourism-min-to-buy-3000-tons-of-rubber-to-help-planters/

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SRT gathers public input on dual track project

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, 13 January 2016 (NNT) – The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has gathered public opinion from locals regarding the southern dual track railway's construction project, aiming to improve the economy and tourism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886084-srt-gathers-public-input-on-dual-track-project/

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Mystery Woman Found Brutally Murdered
by CityNews



CityNews – January 8th, the body of a woman, aged around 30, was discovered in a room in an apartment in Doi Saket district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886085-mystery-woman-found-brutally-murdered-in-chiang-mai/

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UPDATE:

Family of British Tourist Lucy Hill Overwhelmed as People Cue up to Give Blood in Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI -Lucy Hill, 21, the injured backpacker who inspired hundreds of people to donate blood at a Rajavej Chiang Mai Hospital is out of immediate danger.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885767-chiang-mai-blood-donor-appeal-helps-injured-british-backpacker/?p=10301785

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UPDATE:

Polish Tourists Rescued after Getting Lost in Khao Yai National Park

PRACHIN BURI – Two Polish tourists were located and rescued by a large search team after they lost their way while venturing into the forest in Khao Yai national park on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885930-lost-foreign-tourists-in-khao-yai-forest-found/?p=10301788

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Bangkok-bound Thai Airways flight makes emergency landing in Osaka
By Coconuts Bangkok


File photo of a Thai Airways plane. Photo: Reuters

BANGKOK: -- A Thai Airways flight heading to Bangkok was forced to make an emergency landing in Osaka, Japan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886086-bangkok-bound-thai-airways-flight-makes-emergency-landing-in-osaka/

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Cabinet agrees to buy 100,000 tons of rubber from farmers

BANGKOK, 13 January 2016 (NNT) – The Cabinet has resolved to assist rubber farmers by buying 100,000 tons of rubber from them while a committee is being set up to find sustainable solutions to rubber problems.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886087-thai-cabinet-agrees-to-buy-100000-tons-of-rubber-from-farmers/

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OIC chief appreciates government’s efforts to tackle southern unrest problem



BANGKOK: -- Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) chief has expressed his appreciation with the Thai government’s efforts and sincerity to resolve the unrest problem in the Deep South, said deputy government spokesman Maj-Gen Veerachon Sukhonthapatipark on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886088-oic-chief-appreciates-thai-govts-efforts-to-tackle-southern-unrest-problem/

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Fight for water between farmers of two villages in Phichit

PHICHIT: -- Two groups of rice farmers confronted each other in a fight for water to feed their dry farmland in Phichit’s Bang Moon Nak district on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886089-fight-for-water-between-farmers-of-two-villages-in-phichit/

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UPDATE:

PWO told to buy 100,000 tonnes of rubber from farmers



BANGKOK: -- The Public Warehouse Organisation was today (Tuesday) instructed by the cabinet to buy directly from rubber farmers 100,000 tonnes of raw rubber and rubber sheets at “leading” market price.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886087-thai-cabinet-agrees-to-buy-100000-tons-of-rubber-from-farmers/#entry10301805

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15-year old accidentally shot dead by warring motorcyclists



BANGKOK: -- A 15-year old trainee working with a satellite dish installation firm was accidentally shot dead as he was travelling in a pickup truck on a ringroad in Bang Chan area, Bangkok suburb, Monday evening.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886091-15-year-old-accidentally-shot-dead-by-warring-motorcyclists-in-bangkok/

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Feasibility study ordered for two projects to draw water from Salween and Mekong rivers for use



BANGKOK: -- The Water Resources and Royal Irrigation departments have been assigned by the national resources committee to conduct feasibility study of two mega projects to draw water from tributaries of the Salween and Mekong rivers for local consumption.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886092-feasibility-study-ordered-for-2-projects-to-draw-water-from-salween-and-mekong-rivers/

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New charter provision to prevent government from wasteful spendings



BANGKOK: -- The Constitution Drafting Committee has incorporated a provision in the draft charter which will make it compulsory for the government to strictly observe fiscal and financial disciplines.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886093-new-thai-charter-provision-to-prevent-government-from-wasteful-spendings/

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Danish claims of armed robbery in East Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Nongprue Police were contacted by a Danish National late on Tuesday Night who claimed he had just been robbed at knife-point on the street.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886095-danish-claims-of-armed-robbery-in-east-pattaya/

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Residents complain about Gentleman’s Club Sign on Temple Wall in Jomtien

PATTAYA: -- The local authorities received complaints on Tuesday regarding a sign which was attached to a Temple wall in Jomtien which residents deem to be unsuitable due to its proximity to the Temple and a nearby School.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886096-residents-complain-about-gentlemans-club-sign-on-temple-wall-in-jomtien/

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Drunk Belgian Involved in East Pattaya Road Crash



PATTAYA: -- A Belgian was lucky to escape prosecution in the early hours of Tuesday after he drove his high-powered motorbike into parked bikes and a pick-up causing damage to each of the vehicles involved.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886097-drunk-belgian-involved-in-east-pattaya-road-crash/

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Unknown man's suspected suicide in East Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- A man, presumably Thai, was found hanging from a noose attached to a tree in a remote area of woodland in East Pattaya on Monday Night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886099-unknown-mans-suspected-suicide-in-east-pattaya/

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Thailand Confident the Country Will Pass Fishery Audit by the EU Next Week
BY JACOB MASLOW



BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s fishing industry will be facing an audit by the European Union next week. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon is confident that the country’s efforts to reduce illegal fishing will result in the country passing the audit next week. The audit will take place between January 18 and January 22, and the results will determine if the country has its international standings upgraded.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886100-thailand-confident-the-country-will-pass-fishery-audit-by-the-eu-next-week/

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Thailand approves investment applications worth US$22b in 2015
BY LARRY BANKS


Hirunya Suchinai, secretary-general of the Board of Investment (BOI).

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s investment agency said today it had approved investment applications worth 800 billion baht (US$22 billion) last year, missing its target of 1.4 trillion baht, but up from 724.7 billion baht in 2014.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886102-thailand-approves-investment-applications-worth-us22b-in-2015/

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UK oil giant BP cuts jobs



LONDON: -- UK oil company BP is set to pay the price for plummeting prices. It has announced it is to shed 4,000 jobs globally, 600 of which will be lost from its North Sea operations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886103-uk-oil-giant-bp-cuts-jobs/

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Calls for an emergency meeting of OPEC countries as oil prices slip



PARIS: -- Volatile trading in oil has prompted calls for an emergency meeting of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886104-calls-for-an-emergency-meeting-of-opec-countries-as-oil-prices-slip/

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Denmark to seize refugees’ goods to pay for their stay



COPENHAGEN: -- Denmark has agreed to back changes to its immigration laws.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886105-denmark-to-seize-refugees-goods-to-pay-for-their-stay/

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Swedish police to investigate sexual assault cover-up claims



STOCKHOLM: -- Swedish police have begun investigating allegations of a cover-up of sexual assaults at a Stockholm music festival last August.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886106-swedish-police-to-investigate-sexual-assault-cover-up-claims/

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Moscow meeting: Russia and Japan discuss North-South Korea tensions



MOSCOW: -- North and South Korea were on the agenda in Moscow at a meeting of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the vice president of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886107-moscow-meeting-russia-and-japan-discuss-north-south-korea-tensions/

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UPDATE:

Turkey blames ISIL for bomb in Istanbul’s tourist heart
By Alasdair Sandford | With REUTERS



Explosion in Istanbul tourist district
At least ten killed, 15 injured
Erdogan says Syrian suicide bomber suspected
Eight of the dead were German nationals

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886015-turkey-explosion-hits-istanbuls-main-tourist-district/#entry10301935