Thailand Live Friday 4 Mar 2016

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Brit & German Beaten-up at Central Pattaya Beer Bar Complex

PATTAYA -- In the early hours of Thursday, two Foreigners reported being assaulted in two separate incidents at a Pattaya Beer Bar Complex.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899888-brit-german-beaten-up-at-central-pattaya-beer-bar-complex/

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2 Chinese arrested after Thai police seize 900,000 pairs of fake sunglasses
Kwaang Siripoom

BANGKOK:-- Police have arrested two Chinese nationals after a huge haul of fake sunglasses was seized in the Yaowarat area of Bangkok on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899953-2-chinese-arrested-after-thai-police-seize-900000-pairs-of-fake-sunglasses/

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Thaivisa Photography Competition (March 2016)

Sponsored by BizPaye

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899020-thaivisa-photography-competition-march-2016/

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Thousands of carps swim upstream for spawning in Nan province



CHIANG MAI: -- Residents of Nan province and tourists alike flocked to a creek in Tambon Phu Fah in Bor Klua district on Wednesday to watch thousands of carps (Cyprinidae) or pla peek daeng swimming and struggling upstream for spawning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899996-thousands-of-carps-swim-upstream-for-spawning-in-nan-province/

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Gen Prem's fomer close aide to face another charge from the police

BANGKOK: -- Police are to file defamation charge against the former close aide of General Prem Tinsulanonda in addition to the charge of violating the computer crime act.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899997-gen-prems-fomer-close-aide-to-face-another-charge-from-the-police/

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Foreign Correspondents Being Denied Media Visas
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer


Foreign correspondents are among a crowd of reporters interviewing former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Feb. 12 at her home in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — At least 10 foreign correspondents based in Thailand have been denied media visas during the past two months, said the former president of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899999-foreign-correspondents-based-in-thailand-being-denied-media-visas/

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UPDATE:

Chinese Asylum Seekers Detained After Boat Founders in Storm
By Todd Ruiz and Teeranai Charuvastra


Nine Chinese asylum seekers were taken by officials Wednesday back to the beach in Chumphon province where their boat foundered the night before. Photo: Courtesy Lisa Zhang

CHUMPON — Nine Chinese refugees who tried to leave Thailand by sea were forced to return to shore by stormy weather, and now three are being held on immigration charges.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899805-chinese-family-rescued-after-luxury-yacht-washes-ashore-in-chumphon/page-2#entry10490364

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'Pop-corn' gunman given 37 years and 4 months jailterm



BANGKOK: -- The hooded “pop-corn” gunman who was seen battling with a group of gunmen terrorizing anti-government protesters at Laksi intersection on February 1, 2014 was sentenced to 37 years and four months imprisonment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900000-thai-popcorn-gunman-gets-37-year-prison-sentence/

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Mr Piya Patangtha voted the new president of Supreme Administrative Court



BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly on Thursday voted in favour of Mr Piya Patangtha as the new president of the Supreme Administrative Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900001-mr-piya-patangtha-voted-the-new-president-of-supreme-administrative-court/

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Sorayuth quits his news programmes



BANGKOK: -- Embattled news anchor Sorayuth Suthasanajinda has quit hosting his news programmes at Channel 3 TV starting Thursday evening.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900002-sorayuth-quits-his-news-programmes/

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PM calls on media to report constructive news

BANGKOK, 4 March 2016 (NNT) - Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has asked the media to perform their duty constructively to help bring peace to Thailand on the occasion of the Thai Journalists' Day celebrated on 5 March every year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900003-pm-prayut-calls-on-media-to-report-constructive-news/

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Police to sue ex-NRC member over allegation of position buying

BANGKOK, 4 March 2016 (NNT) – The Royal Thai Police is preparing a lawsuit against a former member of the National Reform Committee (NRC) who claimed that position buying was practiced in the police force.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900004-thai-police-to-sue-ex-nrc-member-over-allegation-of-position-buying/

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PM orders probe into irregularities behind well digging project

BANGKOK, 4 March 2016 (NNT) – Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed concerned agencies to look into a water well excavation project after suspicion was raised over corrupt practices.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900005-pm-prayut-orders-probe-into-irregularities-behind-well-digging-project/

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NRSA Whip confirms no agenda on media ethics scheduled for deliberation yet

BANGKOK, 4 March 2016 (NNT) – The National Reform Steering Assembly has no plan to deliberate the issue of media ethics next week, according to the assembly’s Whip.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900006-nrsa-whip-confirms-no-agenda-on-media-ethics-scheduled-for-deliberation-yet/

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Pattaya Gold Shop owner drugged and tricked by fake gold seller

PATTAYA: -- Late on Wednesday Night a 71-year-old Gold Shop owner reported being scammed out of more than 50,000 Baht by a man who was arrested upon his return to the shop.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900007-pattaya-gold-shop-owner-drugged-and-tricked-by-fake-gold-seller/

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Former students of forestry faculty to protest against alleged unfair appointments



BANGKOK: -- The alumni of Kasetsart University’s faculty of forestry will wear black at their reunion at the faculty Friday as a gesture of protest against what they allege as unfair appointment of 18 directors at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900008-former-students-of-forestry-faculty-to-protest-against-alleged-unfair-appointments/

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Panthongtae meets DSI quietly ahead of schedule



BANGKOK: -- Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s only son, Panthongtae, quietly reported to the Department of Special Investigation on Tuesday – two days ahead of schedule – to testify as a witness in an alleged money laundering case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900009-panthongtae-meets-dsi-quietly-ahead-of-schedule/

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South Africa's highest court dismisses Pistorius appeal
By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa's highest court has dismissed Oscar Pistorius' appeal of his murder conviction, a lawyer said Thursday, signaling that the former track star's long legal battle since he killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp may be drawing to a close.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900010-south-africas-highest-court-dismisses-pistorius-appeal/

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Koh Samui airport to be renovated



KOH SAMUI: -- Koh Samui airport has been scheduled to receive a major renovation that is due to start in May or April this year. The changes, designed to ease bottlenecks, are anticipated to take anywhere between 12 and 18 months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900011-koh-samui-airport-to-be-renovated/

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UPDATE:

Convicted TV Host Ends His Career Amid Pressure
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Sorayuth Suthassanachinda at the Criminal Court in Bangkok, Feb. 29.

BANGKOK — Thailand’s best-known TV personality Sorayuth Suthassanachinda announced he will end his 20-year career under pressure to step down after he was convicted of fraud.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900002-sorayuth-quits-his-news-programmes/#entry10490443

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UK police appeal for help to find Devon girl missing in Thailand
Steven Morris


Arisara Miles, also known as Zara, has not been seen for four months. Photograph: Devon and Cornwall police

British and Thai police are trying to locate 12-year-old Zara Miles who went missing with her father after flying to Bangkok

LONDON: -- British police are working with colleagues in Thailand to try to find a 12-year-old Devon girl who has gone missing with her father.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900012-uk-police-appeal-for-help-to-find-devon-girl-missing-in-thailand/

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Romney, McCain: Trump a danger for America's future
By STEVE PEOPLES and BRADY McCOMBS

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — In an extraordinary display of Republican chaos, the party's most recent presidential nominees, Mitt Romney and John McCain, lambasted current front-runner Donald Trump on Thursday, calling him unfit for office and a danger for the nation and the GOP.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900013-romney-mccain-trump-a-danger-for-americas-future/

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Paris and London put pressure on Russia over attacks in Syria
By Seamus Kearney



"Russia needs to end its attacks on Syrian civilians and the moderate opposition"

PARIS: -- Despite a fragile ceasefire in force in Syria, amateur video footage uploaded to a social media website purports to show a Russian plane firing rockets over a town in the south of the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900014-paris-and-london-put-pressure-on-russia-over-attacks-in-syria/

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UPDATE:

Oscar Pistorius loses appeal against murder conviction



JOHANNESBURG: -- Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has had his right to appeal against his murder conviction rejected by South Africa’s Constitutional Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900010-south-africas-highest-court-dismisses-pistorius-appeal/#entry10490488

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Flight MH370 investigators to test new debris found off Mozambique



PARIS: -- Debris found off the east African coast has been tentatively identified as being from the same type of aircraft as the missing Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared two years ago with 239 people on board.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900015-flight-mh370-investigators-to-test-new-debris-found-off-mozambique/

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Iran customs X-ray discovers stowaways at Turkish border



TEHRAN: -- Iranian customs officers have discovered four stowaways, three men and a woman attempting to cross the Iran-Turkey border illegally. The clandestine passengers, en route to Europe in a removal truck, according to authorities, were found thanks to X-ray photography (see pictures)

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900016-iran-customs-x-ray-discovers-stowaways-at-turkish-border/

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What would a British exit from the EU, or 'Brexit' look like?
By Catherine Hardy



Euronews takes you through the options for Britain’s potential divorce with Brussels.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900017-what-would-a-british-exit-from-the-eu-or-brexit-look-like/

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Epic journey through Los Angeles set for space shuttle tank
By ROBERT JABLON

LOS ANGELES (AP) — ET is coming home.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900018-epic-journey-through-los-angeles-set-for-space-shuttle-tank/

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In field on edge of Greece, refugees' desperation grows
By ELENA BECATOROS

IDOMENI, Greece (AP) — By the hundreds they come, trudging along the sides of highways and across fields, dragging tired toddlers and pushing the elderly and injured in wheelchairs — a seemingly endless stream of humanity heading north for a better life.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900019-in-field-on-edge-of-greece-refugees-desperation-grows/

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APNewsBreak:
US seeks end to Yellowstone grizzly protections
By MATTHEW BROWN

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The federal government is proposing to lift threatened-species protections for hundreds of Yellowstone-area grizzlies, opening the door to future hunts for the fearsome bears across parts of three states for the first time since the 1970s.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/900020-us-seeks-end-to-yellowstone-grizzly-protections/