THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Thursday 9 Feb 2017

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Phuket police set to formally charge Aussie jet-ski driver

Yutthawat Lekmak

 

The two jet-skis involved in Sunday's incident. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

 

PHUKET:-- Thomas Keating, the 22-year-old Australian whose rented jet-ski fatally crashed into that of his girlfriend Emily Collie, 20, will be called to Karon Police Station tomorrow (Feb 9) to be formally charged with reckless driving causing death.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967916-phuket-police-set-to-formally-charge-aussie-jet-ski-driver/

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Monk on a mission - recently ordained guy claims his girlfriend is being held against her will

 

Picture: Thairath

 

BANGKOK: -- Cops in Bang Pakong found a monk wandering the streets - but he was not on his alms rounds.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967941-monk-on-a-mission-recently-ordained-guy-claims-his-girlfriend-is being-held-against-her-will/

 

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Bank manager ripped us off to the tune of 40 million baht, say villagers

 

Picture: Thairath

 

PHITSANULOK: -- Villagers in Phitsanulok have appealed to the governor of the province for help after they claimed they were conned by a rogue bank manager.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967942-bank-manager-ripped-us-off-to-the-tune-of-40-million-baht-say-villagers/

 

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Government getting tough on minivans - operators told, two strikes and you're out!

 

Picture: Thairath 

 

BANGKOK: -- Minivan operators have been told that repeat infractions will no longer be tolerated.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967943-government-getting-tough-on-minivans-operators-told-two-strikes-and youre-out/

 

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Police ordered to smarten up their act

 

Picture: Sanook

 

BANGKOK: -- Orders have been issued from the national police bureau to all stations nationwide for police to improve the service given to the public.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967944-thai-police-ordered-to-smarten-up-their-act/

 

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UPDATE:

 

Thai public rally to support engineer who shot at menacing teens, killing boy 17

 

Picture: Manager

 

CHONBURI: -- An apparent road rage incident in Chonburi is at the top of the Thai news as video footage of the incident has emerged.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967471-family-man-shoots-teen-dead-after-parking-dispute-in-chonburi/?do=findComment&comment=11603395

 

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PromptPay gets off to slow start: central bank governor

 

 

BANGKOK: -- PromptPay electronic fund transfer service got off to a slow start with about 15,000 transactions a day on average last week which is very small compared to the capacity of the system to handle money transfers, Bank of Thailand governor Veerathai Santiprabhob said on Wednesday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967945-promptpay-gets-off-to-slow-start-central-bank-governor/

 

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Health Ministry aims to cut teenage pregnancy rate by 50 percent

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Public Health has set a target to reduce teenage pregnancy by 50 percent within 2026 as the pregnancy rate among girls and teenagers aged from 10 to 19 had now risen to 15 percent of all pregnancies, Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakonsattayathorn said on Wednesday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967946-health-ministry-aims-to-cut-teenage-pregnancy-rate-by-50-percent/

 

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DSI refuses to investigate missing Karen activist’s case

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will submit report to a panel of the National Human Rights Commission about the reasons why it has refused to accept the case of the disappearance of Karen human rights activist Pollajee “Billie” Rakchongcharoen.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967947-dsi-refuses-to-investigate-missing-karen-activist’s-case/

 

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Bestlin Group seeks redress from ombudsman’s office over bus controversy

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Bestlin Group on Wednesday petitioned the ombudsman’s office to investigate the conduct of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority after the latter decided to terminate the company’s contract to supply 489 NGV buses worth 3.3 billion baht for the city bus operator.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967948-bestlin-group-seeks-redress-from-ombudsman’s-office-over-ngv-bus-controversy/

 

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UPDATE:

 

Sad Saturday: Booze to be banned, police to roam town on Buddhist holiday

By Coconuts Bangkok 

 

Photo: Xiongmao Belgium

 

BANGKOK: -- While many of you may be making plans for the long weekend, note that the police have just announced an alcohol ban for Saturday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967875-alcohol-sales-banned-as-police-step-up-security-on-makha-bucha-day-and-valentines-day/?do=findComment&comment=11603417

 

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Police Chief wants more time to explain his monthly payments from booze company

By Coconuts Bangkok 

 

Photo: Thai PBS

 

BANGKOK: -- Metropolitan Police Chief Sanit Mahathavorn has just requested another month to explain the THB50,000 monthly payouts he has been receiving from booze giant ThaiBev for “consulting” services since 2015.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967949-police-chief-wants-more-time-to-explain-his-monthly-payments-from-booze-company/

 

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UPDATE:

 

'No one at fault,' say parents of Thailand jet-ski crash victim Emily Collie

Deborah Gough

 

The parents of a Victorian woman who died in a jet-ski crash in Thailand say they place no blame on her boyfriend, who is expected to be charged over her death.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967916-phuket-police-set-to-formally-charge-aussie-jet-ski-driver/?do=findComment&comment=11603429

 

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Thailand's next election in exactly one year - deputy PM

REUTERS

 

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha gestures as he arrives at a weekly cabinet meeting at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, February 7, 2017. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - An election to restore democracy in military-ruled Thailand will take place a year from now, the government said on Wednesday, affirming for the first time widespread expectations a vote the military had promised for this year will be postponed.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967950-thailands-next-election-in-exactly-one-year-deputy-pm/

 

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Thais in the US fear Trump’s harsh immigration policy
By MARISA CHIMPRABHA
THE NATION

 

Trump

 

BANGKOK: -- THAIS WHO want to visit the United States to work or study have been advised to suspend their plans, probably for four years until Donald Trump finishes his presidency, or give up on their hopes of going to the US, once regarded as the land of freedom.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967951-thais-in-the-us-fear-trump’s-harsh-immigration-policy/

 

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Falling treasury reserves: There’s more to it than the govt’s claims
By Attayuth Bootsripoom

 

 

BANGKOK: -- A debate has been raging since last week as to whether the government is “broke” after the Finance Ministry disclosed that the country’s treasury reserves have fallen to Bt74.9 billion.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967952-falling-treasury-reserves-there’s-more-to-it-than the-govt’s-claims/

 

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Riverside businesses sound alarm over promenade project
By Pratch Ruivanarom
The Nation

 

Representatives of businesses along the Chao Phraya River yesterday attend a meet?ing of the River Assembly group to discuss impacts on the tourism sector from the planned promenade project. /Pratch Rujivanarom

 

Architect questions why final ‘confidential’ plans not released for public scrutiny

 

BANGKOK: -- THE TOURISM sector is worried the Chao Phraya Riverside Promenade Project will have adverse impacts on the local economy and local business owners are concerned that the plan would degrade the scenery and charm of the river and affect the number of visitors to the city.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967953-riverside-businesses-sound-alarm-over-promenade-project/

 

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Court ruling raises questions over status of wind farms
By THE NATION

 

 

BANGKOK: -- THE AGRICULTURAL Land Reform Office (ALRO) will hold a meeting with the Energy Ministry next week to find solutions to problems resulting from a court ruling that some farming-designated land plots were misused for wind-farm projects.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967954-court-ruling-raises-questions-over-status-of-wind-farms/

 

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Prawit panel expects aviation red flag removed by year’s end
By THE NATION

 

Prawit

 

BANGKOK: -- THE INTERNATIONAL Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was expected to remove a red flag imposed on Thailand over concerns about the country’s aviation safety by the end of this year, due to progress in resolving major issues raised by the agency in June 2015, according to a government committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967955-prawit-panel-expects-aviation-red-flag-removed-by-year’s-end/

 

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‘Divisive parties’ limited to 10 topics as new committee opens
By Nattapat Promkaew
The Nation

 

Prawit

 

BANGKOK: -- “Divisive parties” will be given a list of 10 issues for discussion about the future direction of the country when the newly-established reconciliation preparation committee meets for the first time today.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967956-‘divisive-parties’-limited-to-10-topics-as-new-committee-opens/

 

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DSI busts ‘largest pirate goods network’
By PIYANUCH TAMNUKASETCHAI
THE NATION

 

Department of Special Investigation officials inspect allegedly counterfeit goods at a company’s offices in Bangkok’s Nong Khaem district as part of |yesterday’s operation to crack down on illicit products.

 

BANGKOK: -- THE DEPARTMENT of Special Investigation (DSI) yesterday conducted searches at four locations in Bangkok to crack down on “the country’s largest pirate goods trading network”, which allegedly distributes counterfeit products to Sampheng, Bo Be and Pratunam shops in Bangkok as well as to Sa Kaew’s Rong Kleu border market.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967957-dsi-busts-‘largest-pirate-goods-network’/

 

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UPDATE:

 

CDC uncertain about completion date for organic laws
By Khanittha Theppajorn
The Nation

 

Meechai

 

BANGKOK: -- CHIEF CHARTER drafter Meechai Ruchupan yesterday said the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) could not confirm that it would be able to finish drafting organic laws by the end of the year.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967950-thailands-next-election-in-exactly-one-year-deputy-pm/?do=findComment&comment=11603487

 

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Police to probe Malaysian
By Kornkamol Aksorndej,
Natthapat Phromkaew, 
Donlawee Sudphum
The Nation

 

 

Permission sought to investigate his links to alleged drug lord Xaysana

 

BANGKOK: -- THAI POLICE have contacted their Malaysian counterparts, requesting permission to interrogate a Malaysian drug suspect to probe his possible link to Xaysana Keopimpha’s alleged drug network.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967958-xaysana-case-thai-police-to-probe-malaysian/

 

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Wrong response to an honest question
By The Nation

 

With crime and corruption unchecked, why are our police chiefs insulted when asked what’s going on?

 

BANGKOK: -- The topic of a recent panel discussion among academics – “What do we have the Thai police for?” – was bound to raise the ire of senior police officers. Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967960-thai-editorial-wrong-response-to-an-honest-question/

 

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Nine foreign couples chosen under TAT ‘wedding destination’
By SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

 

 

THAILAND is wooing more foreign couples to celebrate their weddings here.

 

BANGKOK: -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has selected nine couples from nine different overseas markets to celebrate their wedding ceremonies at romantic Thai destinations this month under a campaign called “Thailand Wedding Destiny”, which is being held until Sunday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967961-nine-foreign-couples-chosen-under-tat-‘wedding-destination’/

 

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UPDATE:

 

Thailand warned about neutrality as superpowers compete in Asia
By JITRAPORN SENAWONG
THE NATION

 

Panitan

 

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND’S STRATEGY to stay neutral in world politics might prove more difficult as competition between global powers grows stronger, international relations expert Panitan Wattanayagorn said yesterday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967883-royal-thai-army-war-college-organizes-seminar-on-current-events/?do=findComment&comment=11603510

 

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UK PM May quashes attempts to derail her Brexit plan in parliament

By William James

REUTERS

 

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Britain February 1, 2017. REUTERS/Neil Hall

 

LONDON (Reuters) - UK Prime Minister Theresa May won approval from parliament's lower chamber on Wednesday to trigger Britain's exit from the European Union, defeating attempts by pro-EU lawmakers to attach extra conditions to her plan to start divorce talks by March 31.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967962-uk-pm-may-quashes-attempts-to-derail-her brexit plan-in-parliament/

 

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Scottish government set to demand legal right to new independence referendum - newspaper

REUTERS

 

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon arrives to deliver a statement onBrexit during a session of Scotland's Parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh, December 20, 2016. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

 

(Reuters) - Scottish government workers have been told to ready themselves for a second independence referendum in a notice that said First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was set to demand the legal right to another constitutional vote, The Courier newspaper in Dundee, Scotland, reported on Wednesday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967963-scottish-government-set-to-demand-legal-right-to-new-independence-referendum-newspaper/

 

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Legal battle over travel ban pits Trump's powers against his own words

By Mica Rosenberg

REUTERS

 

U.S. President Donald Trump sits during a meeting with Chief Executive Officer of Intel Brian Krzanich in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., February 8, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court is weighing arguments for and against President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban, but its decision this week may not yet answer the underlying legal questions being raised in the fast-moving case.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967965-legal-battle-over-travel-ban-pits-trumps-powers-against-his-own-words/

 

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Court hands Russian opposition leader Navalny 5-year suspended sentence

REUTERS

 

Russian opposition figure and anti-graft campaigner Alexei Navalny talks on air at the Ekho Moskvy radio station in Moscow, Russia, December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/Files

 

KIROV, Russia (Reuters) - A Russian court on Wednesday handed a five-year suspended sentence to prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny after finding him guilty of embezzlement, a move that will complicate his plans to run for president against Vladimir Putin in 2018.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967966-court-hands russian-opposition-leader-navalny-5-year-suspended-sentence/