Thailand Live Monday 25 Jan 2016

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Drought in Uthai Thani not critical

UTHAI THANI, 25 January 2016 (NNT) - The overall drought situation in Uthai Thani province has not reached a critical level yet since most of its water storage areas still have 40% - 50% of water.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889303-drought-in-uthai-thani-not-critical/

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UPDATE:

Second confirmed MERS case announced by Public Health Ministry



BANGKOK: -- A man from Oman who arrived in Bangkok on Friday was today announced by the Ministry of Public Health to be the second confirmed MERS- CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) case in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889163-thailand-reports-2nd-mers-case-in-a-man-from-oman/#entry10347653

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UPDATE:

PM advises against panic regarding Thai MERS patient

BANGKOK, 25 January 2016 (NNT) – Prime Minister’s Office Spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd disclosed that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had been informed of the detection of a patient with MERS and urges the public to continue monitoring news and not to be panicked.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889163-thailand-reports-2nd-mers-case-in-a-man-from-oman/#entry10347656

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Sightseeing plane crash-lands in tapioca field



CHIANG MAI: - Two Canadians were slightly injured when their small plane made an emergency landing at a tapioca field in Prao district of Chiang Mai Sunday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889306-canadians-injurded-when-their-plane-crash-lands-in-chiang-mai/

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Two passengers killed and ten injured in bus accident

BANGKOK: -- Two passengers were killed and ten others injured, including listed in serious condition, when a mini bus skidded out of a road and rammed into a tree in Nakhon Phanom province yesterday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889308-two-passengers-killed-ten-injured-in-bus-accident-in-nakhon-phanom/

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UPDATE:

Fire razes clothe markets in Chiang Mai, no injuries and deaths found

CHIANG MAI, 25 January 2016 (NNT) - A fire broke out at a row of stalls selling shoes, clothes and other articles at Chotana Plaza in Chang Phuak subdistrict, Muang Chiang Mai district in front of Novotel Hotel late on Saturday night, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889102-fire-near-mercure-hotel/#entry10347671

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SURVEY:

Do you agree with the adding of 360 baht 'Maintenance Fee' on tourists?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889016-survey-do-you-agree-with-the-adding-of-360-baht-maintenance-fee-on-tourists/

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Doubt over MH370 link after metal wreckage found on Thai coast
Oliver Holmes in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- A piece of curved metal measuring two metres by three metres and covered in barnacles that washed ashore in the Gulf of Thailand has promoted speculation that it might belong to missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, although several experts swiftly threw doubt over the claims.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889309-doubt-over-mh370-link-after-metal-wreckage-found-on-thai-coast/

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Transport Ministry to construct bike lane mixed with rubber for 2,000 kms to promote tourism

AYUTTHAYA, 25 January 2016 (NNT) Ayutthaya Provincial Office of Rural Roads Director Jiraphong Pinthabute disclosed that the department of Rural Roads will construct bike lanes covering a distance of 2,000 kilometers with a budget of over one billion baht to promote tourism. The project is scheduled for completion in 2017.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889310-thai-min-to-construct-bike-lane-mixed-with-rubber-for-2000-kms-to-promote-tourism/

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Trang discovers 6 new unseen tourist attractions

TRANG, 25 January 2016 (NNT) – Trang Governor Detrat Simsiri announced the province's discovery of six new marine attractions, which are sand dunes with seashells emerging from the sea along a path of several kilometers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889311-trang-discovers-6-new-unseen-tourist-attractions/

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CDC not worried about opposition against new draft charter

BANGKOK, 25 January 2016 (NNT) - The Constitution Drafting Commission is not worried about the opposition against the new draft charter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889312-cdc-not-worried-about-opposition-against-new-draft-charter/

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Govt: Artisanal fishermen can operate as usual

BANGKOK, 25 January 2016 (NNT) - Spokesman of the Command Center for Combatting Illegal Fishing Vice Admiral Chumphol Lumphikanont has stressed that artisanal fishing is allowed to operate as usual.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889313-thai-govt-artisanal-fishermen-can-operate-as-usual/

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Military sees big improvement in Deep South



YALA, 25 January 2016 (NNT) - The military’s effort to restore peace in the three southernmost provinces of Thailand has seen some improvement, according to Region 4 Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Ruangsak Suwannaka.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889314-thai-military-sees-big-improvement-in-deep-south/

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Rubber Authority to buy 100,000 tons of rubber from farmers



BANGKOK, 25 January 2015 (NNT) – The Rubber Authority of Thailand will purchase up to 100,000 tons of rubber from Thai farmers, a move to tackle falling prices of rubber in the market.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889315-thai-rubber-authority-to-buy-100000-tons-of-rubber-from-farmers/

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Don Mueang Airport gears up for Chinese New Year



BANGKOK, 25 January 2016 (NNT) - Don Mueang Airport is expecting a large number of tourists during the upcoming Chinese New Year which will be celebrated in February.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889316-don-mueang-airport-gears-up-for-chinese-new-year/

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Pattaya Immigration to focus on 'overstayer's' and hotel registration offenses

PATTAYA: -- On Saturday afternoon the Immigration Office in Jomtien received a visit from a Senior Immigration Police General who conducted a general inspection of the office.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889318-pattaya-immigration-to-focus-on-overstayers-and-hotel-registration-offenses/

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Ukrainian killed in East Pattaya road crash



PATTAYA: -- A fatal road crash occurred on the notoriously dangerous Highway 36 in East Pattaya on Sunday Morning which resulted in the death of a Ukrainian tourist.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889319-ukrainian-killed-in-east-pattaya-road-crash/

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Mourners bid final farewell to Por



BURI RAM: -- Tens of thousands of mourners bid their final farewell to their beloved TV star Tridsadee “Por” Sahawong at Wat Klang in Buri Ram on Sunday.

His Majesty the King kindly bestowed an ignition flame as a special case for Por to be used in his cremation in the evening. The King’s kindness brought joy and pride to Por’s family.

Her Royal Highness Princess Soamswali presented Pha Trai robes to monks as the mourners placed dok mai chan (paper flowers) at the furnace where Por’s body was laid.

Por died of complications from dengue fever after 70 days of treatment at Ramathibodi hospital on January 18. He was survived by his wife and a two-year old daughter.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/147910


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-25

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Bangkok ditching rate cuts to focus on currency, spending-led growth
HIROSHI KOTANI, Nikkei staff writer

BANGKOK -- The Bank of Thailand will forgo further interest rate cuts to concentrate on stabilizing the nation's currency, Gov. Veerathai Santiprabhob said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889320-bot-ditching-rate-cuts-to-focus-on-currency-spending-led-growth/

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German police bring in British 'super-recogniser' cops to identify New Year sex attackers in Cologne
By Melanie Hall, Berlin

Scotland Yard experts who can remember 95 per cent of faces they have seen to help pick out suspects

BERLIN: -- German police have enlisted the help of specialist British police officers dubbed ‘super-recognisers’ because of their extraordinary ability to remember faces to identify the culprits behind the New Year’s Eve attacks on women in Cologne.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889321-german-police-bring-in-british-super-recogniser-cops-to-identify-new-year-sex-attackers/

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Magnitude-7.1 quake jolts Alaska; 1 home explodes
By MARK THIESSEN

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A magnitude-7.1 earthquake knocked items off shelves and walls in Alaska early Sunday morning, jolting the nerves of residents in this earthquake-prone region. But there were no reports of injuries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889322-magnitude-71-quake-jolts-alaska;-1-home-explodes/

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Jeremy Corbyn labels conditions at France's refugee camps 'a disgrace'



LONDON: -- Leader of the UK’s Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn has labelled the conditions at refugee camps in northern France “a disgrace.”

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889323-jeremy-corbyn-labels-conditions-at-frances-refugee-camps-a-disgrace/

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Mahmoud Abbas denounces encouraging violence against Israel



"Anyone who wants to act against security forces, using explosions, weapons or creating cells in any place will be arrested, no matter where he is going. Security measures have been taken following my orders."

RAMALLAH: -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has denounced groups which encourage attacks against Israel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889324-mahmoud-abbas-denounces-encouraging-violence-against-israel/

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Snowstorm Jonas: US East Coast battered by deadly blizzard

"This is not a day you want to spend outside, because it's snowing very heavily. There are very, very strong winds."

NEW YORK: -- A mere six weeks ago, people were milling around New York in t-shirts and thin jackets – the weather exceptionally warm for the time of year. Now the East Coast of the US is being battered by a massive blizzard, which has claimed the lives of at least 19 people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889325-snowstorm-jonas-us-east-coast-battered-by-deadly-blizzard/

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Canada: Teenage shooting suspect charged with first degree murder



LA LOCHE: -- A 17-year-old is facing first degree murder charges after two schoolteachers and two teenage brothers were shot dead in the remote Canadian community of La Loche on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889328-canada-teenage-shooting-suspect-charged-with-first-degree-murder/

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Syria: Pro-Assad forces hail recapture of key rebel-held town



DAMASCUS: -- Syria’s pro-government forces are hailing a key victory over rebels, ahead of planned peace talks that look increasingly likely to stall.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889329-syria-pro-assad-forces-hail-recapture-of-key-rebel-held-town/

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Migrants detained in Calais after illegally boarding ferry bound for Britain



"The jungle is for animals not people. We are refugees. We want to go to London, just the UK, not Canada, not the United States, just London"

CALAIS: -- French police escorted a group of migrants back to a camp in Calais after they had managed to break through security and board a ferry bound for England late on Saturday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889333-migrants-detained-in-calais-after-illegally-boarding-ferry-bound-for-britain/

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UPDATE:

Sunshine and blue skies follow blizzard, but dangers remain
By VERENA DOBNIK and BEN NUCKOLS

NEW YORK (AP) — Brilliant sunshine and gently rising temperatures followed the mammoth blizzard that paralyzed Washington and set a single-day snowfall record in New York City, enabling millions to dig out Sunday and enjoy the winter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889325-snowstorm-jonas-us-east-coast-battered-by-deadly-blizzard/#entry10347825

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Billionaire donors helped Cruz rise in GOP presidential bid
By JULIE BYKOWICZ

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four of America's wealthiest businessmen laid the foundation for Ted Cruz's now-surging Republican presidential campaign and have redefined the role of political donors.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889334-billionaire-donors-helped-cruz-rise-in-gop-presidential-bid/

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Despite patrols, sealing Greek sea border is near impossible
By ELENA BECATOROS

CHIOS, Greece (AP) — In the inky nighttime blackness, a small red dot appears on the radar screen, moving fast.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889335-despite-patrols-sealing-greek-sea-border-is-near-impossible/