Thailand Live Wednesday 27 Jan 2016

[webfact]

Leap to freedom lands burglar in Patong toilet
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- A woman fleeing police with stolen items worth more than B300,000 leaped from a third-story Patong apartment balcony Jan 26 only to burst through the roof she landed on – and crash land in a neighbour’s bathroom.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889862-leap-to-freedom-lands-burglar-in-patong-toilet/

[webfact]

Rage Woman Returns in New Video
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Screenshots show an angry woman at the Department of Land Transport in Bangkok on Tuesday.

BANGKOK — A woman who went viral on the internet last week for her abusive behavior over a parking ticket was back with more today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889897-rage-woman-returns-in-new-video/

[webfact]

Police Seize Contraband Child Spirit Dolls
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


150 illegally imported haunted spirit dolls known as ‘Luk Thep’ are displayed Tuesday by police in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — A haul of strange looking dolls was shown off by police today as the latest evidence of public obsession over a kind of haunted spirit doll.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889898-bangkok-police-seize-contraband-luk-thep-child-spirit-dolls/

[webfact]

Cache of Weapons Seized from Feuding Bangkok Tech Colleges
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Police display weapons seized Tuesday from the campuses of two Bangkok vocational colleges.

BANGKOK — Weapons were found Tuesday on the campuses of two rival vocational colleges in the heart of Bangkok one week before a date known to be commemorated with violence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889899-cache-of-weapons-seized-from-feuding-bangkok-tech-colleges/

[webfact]

Koh Tao Murders: Lawyer Alleges Prison Mistreatment
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo at the Oct. 3, 2014, police news conference on Koh Tao

BANGKOK — Two Myanmar men sentenced to death last month for killing two British tourists in 2014 are being singled out for mistreatment in prison, their lawyer said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889900-koh-tao-murders-lawyer-alleges-prison-mistreatment/

[webfact]

Governor Sukhumband insists he will stay on as Democrat party deputy leader



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra announced today that he would continue to perform his duty as a deputy leader of the Democrat party although the party announced last week its decision to disown him because he is uncontrollable.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889903-governor-sukhumband-insists-he-will-stay-on-as-democrat-party-deputy-leader/

[webfact]

General Udomdej says he is not worried with investigations into Rajabhakdi park project



BANGKOK: -- Deputy Defence Minister Udomdej Seetabutr said Tuesday that he was not worried with the investigations into suspected corruption in the construction of the Rajabhakdi park project by the National Anti-Corruption Centre and the Office of the Auditor-General.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889904-general-udomdej-says-he-is-not-worried-with-investigations-into-rajabhakdi-park-project/

[webfact]

Cabinet nods 35 billion baht for Village Fund project



BANGKOK: -- The cabinet on Tuesday approved a 35 billion baht budget for the Village Fund project to be used for the development of infrastructures in villages and rural communities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889905-cabinet-nods-35-billion-baht-for-village-fund-project/

[webfact]

Slow start of the government’s rubber purchase programme



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha admitted yesterday (Tuesday) that government’s purchase of rubber directly from rubber growers fell short of expectation as many growers chose to sell their produce to traders to avoid the trouble of having to travel long distance to sell their produce to the government at purchasing points.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889906-slow-start-of-thai-govts-rubber-purchase-programme/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Weapons and bomb-making materials found at Uthen Thawai ahead of the founding day



BANGKOK: -- A combined force of police and military searched Rajamongkol Technology University, Uthen Thawai campus, on Tuesday and uncovered an assortment of weapons and bomb-making materials.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889899-cache-of-weapons-seized-from-feuding-bangkok-tech-colleges/#entry10355002

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Police raid stores selling Luk Thep dolls suspected to be contraband goods



BANGKOK: -- Police from the Central Investigation Bureau raided several shops in Sampeng, Wang Burapha and Bang Khae business districts believed to be major markets for Angel Child dolls or Luk Thep – the latest trendy toy among many Thais who believe in superstition.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889898-bangkok-police-seize-contraband-luk-thep-child-spirit-dolls/#entry10355006

[webfact]

Bangkok's weather to return to normal on Friday



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok will become warmer after tomorrow as the cold spell from China which brought freezing weather to Bangkok, northern, northeastern and central provinces in the past few days has weakened.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889907-bangkoks-weather-to-return-to-normal-on-friday/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

PM reaffirms election to be held in July next year no matter what



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha reaffirmed on Tuesday that election would go ahead in accordance with the government’s roadmap even if the current draft constitution is shot down in a referendum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889791-thai-2017-election-to-take-place-even-if-constitution-does-not-pass-referendum-pm/#entry10355012

[webfact]

Apple reports slowest iPhone sales growth since product's 2007 launch /BBC

[webfact]

Inquests Shows Briton Died in Thailand after 'Downing Buckets of Vodka and Red Bull'

BANGKOK: -- A 20 year old British holidaymaker, Peter Nicholson, 29, died of alcohol poisoning after sharing four buckets of vodka and Red Bull during a 36-hour binge in Thailand, an inquest heard.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889908-inquests-shows-briton-died-in-thailand-after-downing-buckets-of-vodka-and-red-bull/

[webfact]

Toilet Wars at South Pattaya Home Improvement Store



PATTAYA: -- A bizarre incident occurred at a Home Improvement Store in South Pattaya on Tuesday Night which left a toilet in pieces and an angry customer demanding an exchange for a new one.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889910-toilet-wars-at-south-pattaya-home-improvement-store/

[webfact]

Stepfather arrested in 10-year-old Pattaya Sexual Assault case



PATTAYA; -- The Stepfather of a 10-year-old girl, who with the assistance of her family, reported allegations of sexual assault by him over the space of 2 months, has been arrested and claims he was in a consensual relationship with the girl and in no way forced her to have sex.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889911-stepfather-arrested-in-10-year-old-pattaya-sexual-assault-case/

[webfact]

Cabinet sets aside budget to raise quality of air safety inspectors

BANGKOK, 27 January 2016 (NNT) – The Cabinet has approved a budget of 271 million baht to enhance the quality and potential of aviation safety inspectors in hopes of raising the Thai civil aviation standard.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889912-thai-cabinet-sets-aside-budget-to-raise-quality-of-air-safety-inspectors/

[webfact]

2015 Thai export growth makes 6-yr record low

BANGKOK, 27 January 2016 (NNT) - The Ministry of Commerce has reported that Thai export growth in 2015 made a 6-year record low mainly due to the sluggish global economy and decreasing oil price.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889913-2015-thai-export-growth-makes-6-yr-record-low/

[webfact]

Foreign Minister visits Iran to strengthen bilateral ties



BANGKOK, 27 January 2016 (NNT) - Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai has paid an official visit to Iran to strengthen relations between the two countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889914-thai-foreign-minister-visits-iran-to-strengthen-bilateral-ties/

[webfact]

Drought in Northeast growing more severe

Nakhon Ratchasima, 267January 2016 (NNT) – The drought situation in the northeastern region has increased in severity with 10 districts of Nakhon Ratchasima now in dire need of water.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889915-drought-in-isaan-growing-more-severe/

[webfact]

Lucy Hill takes her first steps in Thailand after international response to blood appeal
BY BETH ABBIT

The graduate, from Bury, was injured in a moped crash in Bangkok - but is now out of intensive car and standing up

BANGKOK: -- A graduate who was injured in a moped crash in Thailand has taken her first steps out of her hospital bed after receiving a life-saving blood transfusion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889916-british-woman-takes-her-first-steps-in-thailand-after-international-response-to-blood-appeal/

[webfact]

Further sanctions on Cuba lifted



WASHINGTON: -- The United States on Tuesday announced further easing of sanctions on Cuba, the latest move towards fully restoring relations with Communist-run country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889918-further-sanctions-on-cuba-lifted/

[webfact]

Clashes and arrests in Paris as taxi drivers strike over Uber



PARIS: -- French police clashed with protesting taxi drivers in Paris on Tuesday, amid a day of major strike action across France.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889919-clashes-and-arrests-in-paris-as-taxi-drivers-strike-over-uber/

[webfact]

Twenty-four detained in latest Spanish corruption raid



VALENCIA: -- Police in Spain arrested 24 people in an anti-corruption operation in the Valencia region on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889920-twenty-four-detained-in-latest-spanish-corruption-raid/

[webfact]

Syrian government forces claim successes but ISIL still rampant
By Robert Hackwill



HOMS: -- ISIL attacked the Syrian city of Homs on Tuesday, killing at least 24 people with a car bomb and explosive belt-wearing terrorist.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889921-syrian-government-forces-claim-successes-but-isil-still-rampant/

[webfact]

Denmark: migrants to have valuables confiscated



COPENHAGEN: -- The Danish parliament has voted in a bill aimed at deterring asylum seekers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889922-denmark-migrants-to-have-valuables-confiscated/

[webfact]

France's Hollande rounds off India trip with fighter jet deal agreed but not finalised



NEW DELHI: -- French President Francois Hollande has rounded off a trip to India, attending a parade in New Delhi to commemorate Republic Day alongside his host, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889924-frances-hollande-rounds-off-india-trip-with-fighter-jet-deal-agreed-but-not-finalised/

[webfact]

119 billion euros for German Army



- Germany to spend 119 billion euros
- Money will go mainly to help missions abroad
- Comes after criticism of material

BERLIN: -- Germany is to spend 119 billion euros upgrading its military equipment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889925-119-billion-euros-for-german-army/

[webfact]

UN invitations to Syrian peace talks spark controversy



GENEVA: -- The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has invited the Syrian government and opposition to peace talks due to start in Geneva on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889926-un-invitations-to-syrian-peace-talks-spark-controversy/