THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Wednesday 8 Mar 2017

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Phuket tourists can bring sun loungers, umbrellas to beaches, say officials

Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

 

PHUKET:-- Tourists can bring their own sun loungers and umbrellas to Patong and all beaches in Kata and and Karon, The Phuket News has confirmed. However, they must use them inside the “10% zones” reserved for vendors.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972438-phuket-tourists-can-bring-sun-loungers-umbrellas-to-beaches-say-officials/

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Thai transport authorities crack down on Uber, Grab drivers, seek ban

BY REUTERS

 

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s transport authorities have begun a crackdown on drivers for ride-hailing services Uber and Grab and want the military government to ban them, a transport official said on Tuesday.

 

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/thai-transport-authorities-crack-down-on-uber-grab-drivers-seek-ban/20257/

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Add dangerous lifts to Pattaya hazards - ten injured as hotel elevator plunges

 

Picture: Thairath

 

PATTAYA: -- Nine district officials at a seminar in a Pattaya hotel plunged from the seventh floor to the first floor as an elevator fell down the shaft.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972460-add-dangerous-lifts-to-pattaya-hazards-ten-injured-as-hotel-elevator-plunges/

 

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Harold and Nat - it's all over as former sex queen moves to reignite adult film career with boob job

 

Picture: Thairath

 

BANGKOK: -- Former sex queen Nat Ketsarin - Nong Nat who married an old farang millionaire called Harold - has said that the relationship is all but over.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972461-harold-and-nat-its-all-over-as-former-sex-queen-moves-to-reignite adult-film-career-with-boob-job/

 

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Mazda Thailand have announced recalls on five models that have faulty airbag parts

 

Image: Daily News

 

BANGKOK: -- Letters have been sent to customers to have them take their cars in for servicing as soon as possible.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972463-mazda-thailand-have-announced-recalls-on-five-models-that-have-faulty airbag-parts/

 

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Videos: Handbags at dawn - Chiang Mai road rage ends in a handshake!

 

Picture: Thairath

 

CHIANG MAI: -- A Chiang Mai road rage incident that might have turned nasty ended in a handshake after a few fists were thrown.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972464-videos-handbags-at-dawn-chiang-mai-road-rage-ends-in-a-handshake/

 

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Missing Russian tourist - authorities turn to fortune tellers

 

Picture: Thairath

 

KOH TAO: -- Authorities searching for missing Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova had another fruitless day in the sea and on land.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972465-missing-russian-tourist-authorities-turn-to-koh-tao-fortune-tellers/

 

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New taxi fares announced

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The Transport Ministry has given the greenlight for an increase of taxi fares effective the following day after the publication of the fare increase announcement in the Royal Gazette.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972466-thai-transport-min-announces-new-taxi-fares/

 

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Customs seized 17 million baht worth of African ivory

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Customs officials at Suvarnabhumi international airport’s cargo terminal on Sunday arrested a Gambian as he showed up to claim eight crates of uncut stones which were found to contain 422 pieces of ivory worth about 17 million baht.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972467-customs-seized-17-million-baht-worth-of-african-ivory/

 

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NLA to discuss impeachment process against ex-foreign minister

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly is due on Thursday to discuss impeachment process against former foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul faulted by the National Anti-Corruption Commission for wrongfully issuing a new passport for fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972468-nla-to-discuss-impeachment-process-against-ex-foreign-minister-surapong/

 

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Police raid houses of influential figures in Uthai Thani

 

 

UTHAI THANI: -- Police commando and military personnel seized several weapons and ammunition in a coordinated pre-dawn raid of the houses of two influential local officials in Uthai Thani province.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972469-police-raid-houses-of-influential-figures-in-uthai-thani/

 

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Warning against berry picking jobs in Finland

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Consular Affairs has warned Thai job seekers about applying for berry-picking jobs in Finland, saying that returns may not worth the investments and the jobs are not comfortable as they may have thought.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972470-dept-of-consular-affairs-warns-thai-job-seekers-against-berry-picking-jobs-in-finland/

 

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Signs are not good for serious reform
By The Nation

 

Two years on, the junta’s nobler goals still seem beyond reach

 

BANGKOK: -- Two years after seizing power, the ruling junta – the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) – has come full circle to once again address the subject of government, economic and social reform. “Reform” was the buzzword in the wake of the May 2014 coup, but it soon disappeared from the generals’ vocabulary as the focus shifted to establishing their legitimacy to rule.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972471-thai-editorial-signs-are-not-good-for-serious-reform/

 

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Dhammachayo faces legal and monastic action: Prayut
Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai,
Anan Wijitpracha
The Nation

 

Soldiers inspect the area around the Boonraksa Building in the Dhammakaya Temple compound yesterday. There are reports that a canal has just been dug near the building, possibly to block efforts to locate Phra Dhammchayo.

 

BANGKOK: --  PRIME Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha expects Phra Dhammachayo to face both legal and monastic action over his alleged offences.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972472-dhammachayo-faces-legal-and-monastic-action-prayut/

 

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Haze problem worsens in North as many provinces hit by wildfires
By The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- MANY PROVINCES were affected by wildfires yesterday, causing the acute haze problem to intensify, while the Disease Control Department warned vulnerable groups such as the elderly and the infirm to stay indoors and wear face masks.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972473-haze-problem-worsens-in-north-as-many-provinces-hit-by-wildfires/

 

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Family fears student’s killer is not among police suspects
By The Nation

 

 

CHA-AM: -- RELATIVES of a 24-year-old student, who was killed in an attack when he was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver in his dormitory, fear his assailant may never be brought to justice.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972474-family-fears-student’s-killer-is-not-among-cha-am-police-suspects/

 

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PM refuses to disclose charter schedule
By WASAMON AUDJARINT,
KANITTHA THEPPHAJORN
THE NATION

 

 

Timeline when king’s observations will be revealed still unclear despite ‘road map’

 

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday refused to spell out when details of the draft constitution, as revised following His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s observations, will be released.

 

Prayut said the public “should wait” and that the contents would be released “soon”, along with a schedule of when the King would return an endorsed charter draft.

 

His remarks came after a group of concerned citizens on Monday submitted a petition to the Ombudsman’s Office calling for scrutiny of the Cabinet, given that it had not published the revised draft despite it being completed. The act of alleged concealment could be deemed non-transparent and violating the code of ethics for governmental officials, the group said in its petition.

 

The government’s time frame on the revisions, following the King’s observations regarding the chapter on the monarchy, elaborated procedures such as amending the interim charter, setting up a special committee on amendments and returning the charter to the King – but did not say when exactly the amended charter would be publicised.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30308255

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-03-08

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Govt 'unlikely' to get Shin sale tax
By THE NATION

 

Thaksin

 

Deadline on issuing tax summons stops it from collecting tax from Thaksin family

 

BANGKOK: -- THE Revenue Department admitted yesterday it was unlikely to collect taxes from the family of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra regarding their controversial sale of Shin Corp shares in 2006. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972475-thai-govt-unlikely-to-get-shin-sale-tax/

 

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Alongkorn upbeat on reforms progress this year
By THE NATION

 

Alongkorn

 

BANGKOK: -- A SECOND phase of national reform under the post-coup “road map” should be completed later this year, Alongkorn Ponlaboot, a vice president of the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), said yesterday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972476-alongkorn-upbeat-on-reforms-progress-this-year/

 

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Thailand remains one of top three in region 
By  THE NATION

 

BANGKOK: -- COINCIDING with International Women’s Day today, a report based on Grant Thornton’s annual survey of 5,500 businesses in 36 economies reveals that the proportion of senior business roles held by women in the Asia-Pacific region has risen from 23 per cent in 2016 to 25 per cent so far this year.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972477-thailand-remains-one of-top-three-in-region /

 

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WikiLeaks says it has secret CIA hacking tools

By Dustin Volz and Warren Strobel

REUTERS

 

FILE PHOTO - The lobby of the CIA Headquarters Building is pictured in Langley, Virginia, U.S. on August 14, 2008. REUTERS/Larry Downing/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks on Tuesday said it had obtained a secret trove of hacking tools used by the CIA to break into or circumvent the security of phones, communication apps and other devices, and published confidential documents describing those programs.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972479-wikileaks-says-it-has-secret-cia-hacking-tools/

 

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Brexit: Government suffers second defeat in Lords

 

LONDON: -- The government has suffered a second Brexit defeat in the House of Lords as peers backed, by 366 votes to 268, calls for a "meaningful" parliamentary vote on the final terms of withdrawal.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972480-uk-government-brexit-bill-defeated-again/

 

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Trump's Justice No. 2 rebuffs Democrats on Russia probe

By Joel Schectman

REUTERS

 

Rod Rosenstein, nominee to be Deputy Attorney General, arrives to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington March 7, 2017. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The lawyer who will take control of an investigation into Russian meddling in last year's U.S. presidential election, if he wins Senate confirmation to become deputy attorney general, rebuffed Democrats' demands on Tuesday for the appointment of a special prosecutor in the case.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972481-trumps-justice-no-2-rebuffs-democrats-on-russia-probe/

 

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Singer George Michael died of natural causes - coroner

REUTERS

 

British singer George Michael performs on stage during his "Symphonica" tour concert in Vienna September 4, 2012. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Singer George Michael died of natural causes, a British coroner said on Tuesday, finding that heart failure and liver disease caused the pop star's death on Christmas Day last year.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972482-singer-george-michael-died-of-natural-causes-coroner/

 

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Germany delays contract with MBDA for missile defence - sources

By Sabine Siebold

REUTERS

 

European Defense Group MBDA's company logo is pictured in Schrobenhausen near Ingolstadt, Germany, June 25, 2015. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle/Files

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's defence ministry on Tuesday told lawmakers it would not complete a contract with European weapons maker MBDA for a multi-billion euro missile defence system during the current legislative period as planned, ministry sources said.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972483-germany-delays-contract-with-mbda-for-missile-defence-sources/

 

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Conservatives rebel against Trump-backed Republican healthcare plan

By Yasmeen Abutaleb and Susan Cornwell

REUTERS

 

Beside a painting of Hillary Clinton, U.S. President Donald Trump makes a surprise appearance in front of a tour group at the White House in Washington, U.S. March 7, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Tuesday endorsed Republican legislation to replace the Obamacare healthcare law but it faced a rebellion by conservative groups and lawmakers who denounced it, complicating its chances for passage in the U.S. Congress.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972484-conservatives-rebel-against-trump-backed-republican-healthcare-plan/

 

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New bomb threats made against Jewish centres across U.S., Canada

By Laila Kearney

REUTERS

 

Police vehicles are seen outside the David Posnack Jewish Day School after the second bomb threat in a month was reported in Davie, Florida, U.S. March 7, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Innerarity

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A new round of bomb threats against Jewish community centres across the United States and in Canada forced lockdowns and evacuations on Tuesday, and all 100 U.S. senators asked the federal government to help them enhance security.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972485-new-bomb-threats-made-against-jewish-centres-across-us-canada/

 

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U.S. attorney general vows to examine Eric Garner case - rights groups

By Julia Harte

REUTERS

 

Demonstrators protest as they march to the location where Eric Garner was killed on the one year anniversary of his death in New York, July 17, 2015. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. civil rights leaders said Attorney General Jeff Sessions promised on Tuesday to examine the status of a federal probe into the case of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man whose 2014 death at the hands of New York City police sparked protests.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972486-us-attorney-general-vows-to-examine-eric-garner-case-rights-groups/

 

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Turkish minister accuses Germany of political pressure on Turks

By Michael Hogan

REUTERS

 

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks during a meeting with foreign diplomats in Istanbul, Turkey March 7, 2017. REUTERS/Murad Sezer

 

HAMBURG (Reuters) - Turkey's foreign minister accused Berlin on Tuesday of exerting systematic pressure on Turkish citizens in Germany and hampering campaigns in support of President Tayyip Erdogan's bid for new powers in a referendum next month.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972487-turkish-minister-accuses-germany-of-political-pressure-on-turks/

 

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Fillon seeks unity to revive French presidential bid

By Sophie Louet and Mourad Guichard

REUTERS

 

Francois Fillon, former French prime minister, member of the Republicans political party and 2017 presidential election candidate of the French centre-right delievers a speech in front of small business leaders in Puteaux, France, March 6, 2017. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

 

PARIS/ORLEANS (Reuters) - France's Francois Fillon sought to put his presidential campaign back on track on Tuesday after a rebellion against his candidacy fizzled out, but the reluctance of key allies highlighted the difficulties he faces in rallying his camp behind him.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972488-fillon-seeks-unity-to-revive-french-presidential-bid/