Thailand Live Thursday 31 Mar 2016

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Your secrets are safe with us, says Phuket Immigration
The Phuket News


The database used by Phuket Immigration is not linked to the one breached on Sunday, the Phuket Immigration Chief has assured.

PHUKET: -- The Chief of the Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town today said that private information of expats and tourists on the island remains safe and secure.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906892-your-secrets-are-safe-with-us-says-phuket-immigration/?p=10587992

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Officials pull down 'indecent' Bangkok billboard of chubby Thai star seeking husband
The Phuket News

BANGKOK: -- Attention all the single ladies pushing 40 who can't seem to find the right man using conventional channels – friends, agencies, personals, dating sites and Facebook – perhaps consider announcing your human needs on a billboard!

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906836-will-you-marry-me-apply-now-screams-massive-billboard-of-writhing-thai-actress/?p=10587752

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Farangs outraged by Tesco Lotus commercial showing Thai maid being slapped (VIDEO)

By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK:-- Tesco Lotus has been forced to apologize for an advert which shows a Thai woman abusing her maid after it was slammed on social media for depicting domestic worker abuse.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906872-farangs-outraged-by-tesco-lotus-commercial-showing-thai-maid-being-slapped-video/

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Junta Grants Police Powers to Military
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Soldiers posted outside an army auditorium where civilians were being brought in for ‘attitude adjustment’ one day after the coup on May 23, 2014, in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — Soldiers last night were granted sweeping authority to conduct warrantless searches of homes, seize assets and detain civilians without charge.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906961-ncpo-grants-police-powers-to-military/

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3 former Phitsanulok police officers give their side of the story



PHITSANULOKE: -- Three former Phitsanulok police officers accused of assaulting five university students have admitted that they assaulted the students but had no intention of shooting at them in order to harm them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906962-3-former-phitsanuloke-police-officers-give-their-side-of-the-story/

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Rain-making strategy to be adjusted in April to coincide with change in weather



BANGKOK: -- The Agriculture Ministry will adjust its rain-making strategy in April by shifting its focus on drought-stricken areas and on replenishing drying dams, said Agriculture Minister Chatchai Sarikalya on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906963-rain-making-strategy-to-be-adjusted-in-april-to-coincide-with-change-in-weather/

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Measures tightened to prevent vendors from selling unripe durian to buyers



RAYONG: -- Agriculture officials in Trat and Rayong provinces will step up their inspection of vendors selling durian to make sure that they will not cheat by selling unripe durian to their customers which will hurt the image of the provinces and that of the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906964-measures-tightened-to-prevent-vendors-from-selling-unripe-durian-to-buyers/

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Meechai apologises members of NRSA for trimming their term in office without notifying them in advance



BANGKOK: -- Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Meechai Ruchupan offered his apology to members of the National Reform Steering Assembly for not notifying them in advance about the CDC’s decision to trim their term in office from one year to 120 days as from the date of the enforcement of the new constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906966-meechai-apologises-members-of-nrsa-for-trimming-their-term-in-office/

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King extends congratulations to Myanmar President



BANGKOK: -- His Majesty the King on Wednesday sent a letter of congratulations to the new president of Myanmar U Htin Kyaw.

The letter reads: “On the occasion of your assumption of the Office of the President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, I wish to extend to Your Excellency my sincere congratulations and best wishes for your success and happiness as well as for the welfare and prosperity of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and her people.

I am certain that the existing bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two countries and people will be further strengthened in the years to come.”

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/157548


-- Thai PBS 2016-03-31

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Panel set up to probe alleged illegal logging by PEA officials in national park



BANGKOK: -- A fact-finding investigating panel has been set up to the illegal logging of several trees in the Mae Ngao national park allegedly by the order of the Mae Sariang district chief of provincial electricity authority.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906967-panel-set-up-to-probe-alleged-illegal-logging-by-pea-officials-in-national-park/

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Government to determine whether Pheu Thai's call for rejection of charter draft is illegal or not



BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krea-ngarm is considering whether the Pheu Thai party’s planned campaign to urge voters to reject the Constitution Drafting Committee’s charter draft is against the law or not.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906968-govt-to-determine-whether-pheu-thais-call-for-rejection-of-charter-draft-is-illegal-or-not/

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TDRI recommends Thailand get prepared for future aging society

BANGKOK, 31 March 2016 (NNT) – The elderly should be encouraged to save money and work beyond retirement, an expert at Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906969-tdri-recommends-thailand-get-prepared-for-future-aging-society/

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UPDATE:

American Matthew Jason Spurlock, 39, Identified as Chiang Mai Motorcycle Crash Victim

CHIANG MAI -Police in Chiang Mai have release the identity of the foreigner who was killed when he crashed a black Suzuki 650cc motorcycle into a construction barrier on Super Highway Road in Central Chiang Mai intersecting with Kham Thiang Market.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904819-american-tourist-found-dead-in-chiang-mai/page-2#entry10588928

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Is a life in Thailand worth less than in the West?
by STEPH JOHNSON


Featured image is via Swongviggit

BANGKOK: -- Most people familiar with Thailand will agree that, in many ways, it’s a land of contradictions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906970-is-a-life-in-thailand-worth-less-than-in-the-west/

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China proposes new Web rules that could enhance censorship
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS



BEIJING (AP) — China is consolidating its ability to censor the Internet by drafting new rules requiring businesses that serve domestic Internet users to register their Web addresses inside the country, a move seen as targeting Chinese companies but that has raised concerns among foreign businesses.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/china-proposes-new-web-rules-that-could-enhance-censorship/14575/

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Rights Commissioner Justifies Walking Out on Activists
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Photo: ThaiPBS

BANGKOK — Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission said he decided to walk out on a group of activists stating their grievances at a forum today because it wasn’t on the agenda.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906971-rights-commissioner-justifies-walking-out-on-activists/

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Thailand hit by its worst drought in decades
Everton Fox

Thai dams run low as an El Nino-induced water shortage reduces reservoirs to critical levels.

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is in the grip of its worst drought for more than 20 years, with water levels in the country's biggest dams lower than 10 percent.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906972-thailand-hit-by-its-worst-drought-in-decades/

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ADB Sees Slower But Gradual Growth for Thailand
BY BRENDEL BALAGA



Mandaluyong, Philippines: -- A slowing Chinese economy and a sluggish recovery in major industrial economies are expected slow down economic growth in Thailand’s by as much as half a percentage point, says the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in a report published Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906973-adb-sees-slower-but-gradual-growth-for-thailand/

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UPDATE:

China Slowdown to Hit Thailand Hard
BY SHRUTI B



BANGKOK: -- A recent Asian Development Bank report has revealed that the slow economic recovery of major nations and the slow growth of China would not be good for the economic development of Thailand. These two factors could cut the Thai growth by about half percentage point. The report was released on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906973-adb-sees-slower-but-gradual-growth-for-thailand/#entry10588962

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Terror plot suspect charged over 'imminent' attack in France



PARIS: -- Reda Kriket, 34, detained near Paris amid a spate of police raids after last week’s bloodshed in Brussels, has been charged with terrorism offences over an alleged plot to target France.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906975-terror-plot-suspect-charged-over-imminent-attack-in-france/

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Brazil: President Dilma Rousseff fighting for her political life
Produced by Beatriz Beiras



SAO PAULO: -- Abandoned by her her vice-president, Michel Temer, many of her allies and fighting for her political life with calls for impeachment strengthening it looks ever more likely the president of Brazil Dilma Rousseff will not complete her second term. The largest party in the coalition has voted for an immediate exit from government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906976-brazil-president-dilma-rousseff-fighting-for-her-political-life/

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Refugee crisis: 'Exponential increase in global solidarity' needed – UN



"When managed properly, accepting refugees is a win for everyone."

GENEVA: -- The refugee and displacement crisis “demands an exponential increase in global solidarity,” the United Nations Secretary-General said in Geneva.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906977-refugee-crisis-exponential-increase-in-global-solidarity-needed-un/

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Sharp rise in new migrant arrivals to Greece despite EU-Turkey deal



ATHENS: -- The number of migrants and refugees landing on Greek shores has risen sharply, just days before Turkey is due to start taking back those arriving illegally, under a deal with the EU.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906978-sharp-rise-in-new-migrant-arrivals-to-greece-despite-eu-turkey-deal/

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Khamenei rebukes Iran moderates for questioning missile tests
By Alasdair Sandford | With REUTERS



TEHRAN: -- Dialogue or missiles: divisions between hardliners and reformists among Iran’s top brass over how to deal with the West have been exposed in the wake of recent ballistic tests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906979-khamenei-rebukes-iran-moderates-for-questioning-missile-tests/

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Iraq: On the frontline with ISIL-fighting Peshmerga forces



BAGHDAD: -- Euronews correspondent Mohamed Shaikhibrahim has been embedded with the Kurdish Peshmerga Forces in their push to retake Mosul.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906980-iraq-on-the-frontline-with-isil-fighting-peshmerga-forces/

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France says ‘no’ to controversial plan to strip terrorists of their nationality
By Sarah Joanne Taylor | With REUTERS



"A compromise appears out of reach."

PARIS: -- French President François Hollande has dropped controversial plans to change the constitution; plans which included a clause allowing convicted terrorists to be stripped of their French nationality, if they are dual nationals.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906981-france-says-no-to-controversial-plan-to-strip-terrorists-of-their-nationality/

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Swiss police suspend search for American missing in Alps

BERLIN (AP) — Authorities in Switzerland have suspended their search for an American extreme sports enthusiast missing in the Alps since Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906982-swiss-police-suspend-search-for-american-missing-in-alps/

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After Brussels, leaders tackling threat of nuclear terrorism
By JOSH LEDERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Still reeling from attacks in Brussels and Paris, world leaders are wrestling this week with the chilling prospect of the Islamic State group or other extremists unleashing a nuclear attack on a major Western city.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906983-after-brussels-leaders-tackling-threat-of-nuclear-terrorism/

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Video of Thai police making ‘Gladiator’ style arrest goes viral
Thaivisa Reporters


Taming a drunk.....Thai style!

KHON KAEN:-- Inventive police on video subduing a violent drunk with some very low tech Thai equipment in a Khon Kaen street went viral as it was shared multiple times, reports Thaivisa News.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906984-video-of-thai-police-making-gladiator-style-arrest-goes-viral/

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Video: Runaway 18 wheel truck smashes into cars after brakes fail
Thaivisa News


Run for your lives- it's a runaway truck!

PRACHINBURI:-- All is reasonably quiet on a Prachinburi country road Monday when the unexpected happens in a viral video shared on Facebook.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/906985-video-runaway-18-wheel-truck-smashes-into-cars-after-brakes-fail/