Thailand Live Friday 10 Mar 2017

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HOTEL DEALS: Book by March 13th to receive an extra 10% discount on our already great prices!

 

Three classy hotels feature in this weeks' Hotel Deals of the Week - A great hotel in Bangkok's Nana district, simply one of Phuket's finest, and a chic adults-only resort in Khao Lak.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972717-hotel-deals-book-by-march-13th-to-receive-an-extra-10-discount-on-our-already-great-prices/

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BBC unilaterally decided to pull out of broadcast station deal: Foreign Ministry

By WASAMON AUDJARINT

THE NATION

 

THE BRITISH Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), not Thai authorities, decided to withdraw from negotiations to extend its contract to use a shortwave relay station in Nakhon Sawan for its World Service in the region, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday.

 

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972834-bbc-unilaterally-decided-to-pull-out-of-broadcast-station-deal-foreign-ministry/

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Bangkok’s CCTV cameras aimed at criminals 

By Tanatpong Kongsai

The Nation

 

 

Bangkok’s CCTV cameras, which have been primarily used for traffic control, will be utilised more effectively to fight crime, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA).

 

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972827-bangkok’s-cctv-cameras-aimed-at-criminals/

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Man murders his elder brother in the street when denied money for booze

 

Picture: Thairath

 

BANGKOK: -- A man murdered his elder brother with the help of a drinking buddy after he was denied money for more alcohol.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972851-thai-man-murders-his-elder-brother-in-the-street-when-denied-money-for-booze/

 

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Missing Russian latest - flip-flop found on beach as police wait for return of "diving buddy"

 

Picture: Thairath

 

KOH TAO: -- Police and diving teams searching for missing Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova have found a flip-flop on a beach that they believe may have been hers.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972852-missing-russian-latest-flip-flop-found-on-beach-as-police-wait-for return-of-diving-buddy/

 

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Pattaya trader makes citizen's arrest after Russian steals a watch

 

Picture: Pattaya News

 

PATTAYA: -- A Pattaya watch trader made a citizen's arrest of a Russian man who stole a timepiece from his shop.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972853-pattaya-trader-makes-citizens-arrest-after-russian-steals-a-watch/

 

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Banglamung district chief goes after Shisha shops again

 

Picture: 77Jowo

 

PATTAYA: -- Banglamung district chief Naris Niramaiwong sent his minions into the night again early Thursday morning when they raided three restaurants selling Shisha.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972854-banglamung-district-chief-goes-after-shisha-shops-again/

 

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No delays as Suvarnabhumi runway repairs continue - but they have some tasty snacks just in case

 

Picture: Thairath

 

BANGKOK: -- Director of operations at Suvarnabhumi airport Sirot Duangrat said that there have been no delays in the first week of repairs to the eastern runway and the B1 taxiway.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972855-no-delays-as-suvarnabhumi-runway-repairs-continue-but-they-have-some-tasty snacks-just-in-case/

 

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Temple followers blocked officials from entering temple to investigate a shooting incident

 

 

BANGKOK: -- An attempt by Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officials, police and military personnel to get into Wat Dhammakaya through Gate 4 Thursday afternoon failed after protesting monks and lay followers blocked the gate.

 

Full story:  http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972856-dhammakaya-temple-followers-blocked-officials-from-entering-temple-to-investigate-a-shooting-incident/ 

 

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NACC implicates two ex-transport ministers in RR aircraft engine bribery scandal

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Two former transport ministers of Thaksin administration during 2004-2005 and the then board of directors of Thai Airways International were suspected to be involved in the wrongful procurement of Rolls Royce aircraft engines for THAI’s Airbus aircrafts.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972857-nacc-implicates-two-ex-transport-ministers-in-rr-aircraft-engine-bribery-scandal/

 

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PM asked to sack the revenue department chief if he allows Shinawatra family off the hook over capital gains tax payment

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The vice chairman of the anti-corruption panel of the National Reform Steering Assembly urged Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha to sack director-general of the Revenue Department if the latter lets the Shinawatra family off the hook from the responsibility to pay capital gains tax over the Shin Corp’s share deal with Singapore’s Temasek Holdings back in 2006.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972858-pm-asked-to-sack-the-revenue-department-chief-if-he-allows-shinawatra-family-off-the-hook-over-capital-gains-tax-payment/

 

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UPDATE:

 

Over 240 bush fires reported in northern provinces in less than a month

 

 

CHIANG MAI: -- A total of 243 bush fire incidents were reported during the period from February 15 until March 8 with 7,447 rai of forest being destroyed, according to Mr Atthapol Charoenchansa, director of Forest Protection and Fire Control Office.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972706-forest-fires-worsening-smog-situation-in-northern-thailand/?do=findComment&comment=11696816

 

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UPDATE:

 

Body parts found in Koh Tao

 

 

KOH TAO: -- According to Nation TV on Thursday evening dive teams discovered five objects believed to be body parts off the coast of Koh Tao.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972852-missing-russian-latest-flip-flop-found-on-beach-as-police-wait-for return-of-diving-buddy/?do=findComment&comment=11696825

 

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Sangha could set up 'clergy court' to rule on Dhammachayo
By The Nation

 

 

Former abbot can be defrocked even if he fails to surrender

 

BANGKOK: -- AS THE National Office of Buddhism prepares to inform the Sangha Supreme Council (SSC) about Phra Dhammachayo’s alleged violation of the “Dhamma Vinaya” Buddhist clergy disciplinary code of conduct, it is likely the “21st issue” of the SSC regulations will be applied to decide whether he must be defrocked, experts said. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972859-sangha-could-set-up-clergy-court-to-rule-on-dhammachayo/

 

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UPDATE:

 

No fear of drought this summer
By Pratch Rujivanarom,
Prasit Tangprasert
The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- MANY PARTS of the country are experiencing water shortages, as summer has officially begun, but authorities have said that there is adequate water supply for the current dry season.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972822-re-emergence-of-submerged-road-signals-start-of-dry-season/?do=findComment&comment=11696836

 

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CSD given crucial audio-clip evidence in student’s killing
By Kampanart Laong
The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- A KEY PIECE of evidence in the recent killing of a university student has been passed on to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD).

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972860-csd-given-crucial-audio-clip-evidence-in-student’s-killing/

 

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Election to be held after coronation, Finance Minister tells fund managers
By WICHIT CHAITRONG 
THE NATION

 

 

BANGKOK: -- FOREIGN FUND managers posed several questions to Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong after he gave his keynote speech at the CLSA Asean Forum 2017 yesterday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972862-election-to-be-held-after-coronation-finance-minister-tells-fund-managers/

 

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UPDATE:

 

PM floats idea of raising VAT to 8% but Finance Ministry disagrees
By THE NATION

 

 

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday floated the idea of raising the value added tax (VAT) rate by one percentage point from the current 7 per cent to raise an additional Bt100 billion in annual tax revenues to finance various public projects.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972800-pm-prayut-floats-idea-of-raising-vat-to-8/?do=findComment&comment=11696862

 

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EC to continue overseas trips but only to Asean+3 nations
By Chanikarn Phumhiran
The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday ruled that its ongoing political training course can include overseas field trips but only to Asean+3 countries, in compliance with the Cabinet’s resolution.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972863-ec-to-continue-overseas-trips-but-only-to-asean3-nations/

 

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Monk's 'exceptional general' title stripped
By The Nation

 

Phra Thatthacheevo

 

BANGKOK: -- THE STRIPPING of a royally bestowed ecclesiastic title from deputy abbot Phra Rachapaowan-ajarn (Thatthacheevo) earlier this week – just days after the ecclesiastic title was stripped from former abbot Phra Dhammachayo – has dealt a serious blow to the Pathum Thani-based Dhammakaya Temple.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972864-monks-exceptional-general-title-stripped/

 

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Govt satisfied with crackdown on intellectual property violation

 

BANGKOK, 10 March 2017 (NNT) - The Ministry of Commerce has destroyed more than three million copycat good. The ministry expressed its confidence that Thailand will be withdrawn from the U.S.' Priority Watch List (PWL) in April. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972865-thai-govt-satisfied-with-crackdown-on-intellectual-property-violation/

 

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German police detain suspect after axe attack in Duesseldorf

By Tom Käckenhoff

REUTERS

 

Staff members are pictured inside Dusseldorf train station March 9, 2017 after a man attacked several people at the train station. REUTERS/Petra Wischgoll

 

DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - German police said they had detained a man who attacked five people at Duesseldorf central train station with an axe on Thursday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972867-german-police-detain-suspect-after-axe-attack-in-duesseldorf/

 

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More states seek to halt Trump's new travel ban in court

By Dan Levine and Mica Rosenberg

REUTERS

 

U.S. President Donald Trump salutes as he walks from Marine One and returns to the White House in Washington, U.S., March 5, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

(Reuters) - Several states said on Thursday they would move forward with legal challenges to a revised executive order signed by President Donald Trump this week that temporarily bars the admission of refugees and some travellers from a group of Muslim-majority countries.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972868-more-states-seek-to-halt-trumps-new-travel-ban-in-court/

 

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Kansas man in 'get out of my country' shooting of Indian man appears in court

REUTERS

 

Adam Purinton, 51, accused of killing Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, and wounding Alok Madasani, 32, as well as an American who tried to intervene, appearing via video conference from jail during his initial court appearance in Olathe, Kansas, U.S., February 27, 2017. REUTERS/Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star/Pool - RTS10OOJ

 

OLATHE, Kansas (Reuters) - A Kansas man accused of killing an Indian software engineer and shooting two other people while shouting "get out of my country" appeared in Johnson County Circuit Court on Thursday as lawyers worked out a schedule for his upcoming trial.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972869-kansas-man-in-get-out-of-my-country-shooting-of-indian-man-appears-in-court/

 

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Syrian force a "few weeks" from Raqqa, U.S. Marines deploy

By Tom Perry

REUTERS

 

A U.S. fighter walks down a ladder from a barricade, north of Raqqacity, Syria, November 2016. REUTERS/Rodi Said

 

BEIRUT (Reuters) - U.S.-backed Syrian forces said on Thursday they were closing in on Islamic State-held Raqqa and expected to reach the city outskirts in a few weeks, as a U.S. Marines artillery unit deployed to help the campaign.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972870-us-sends-marines-to-support-raqqa-assault/

 

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U.S. Senate intel panel wants Trump ex-aides to testify in Russia probe - CNN

 

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

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate intelligence committee wants some former aides of President Donald Trump to testify in its investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, CNN reported on Thursday, citing senators who sit on the panel.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972871-us-senate-intel-panel-wants-trump-ex-aides-to-testify-in-russia-probe-cnn/

 

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Republican U.S. health plan clears first hurdles, fate uncertain

By Susan Cornwell and Yasmeen Abutaleb

REUTERS

 

Rep. Joseph Kennedy (D-MA), Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) speak during a marathon House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on a potential replacement for the Affordable Care Act on Capitol Hill in Washington March 9, 2017. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican plan backed by President Donald Trump to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system cleared its first hurdles in Congress on Thursday, but its chances for passage looked uncertain and top Republicans scrambled to bring disgruntled conservatives aboard.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972872-republican-us-health-plan-clears-first-hurdles-fate-uncertain/

 

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Iran's presence in Syria blocks peace deal, Netanyahu tells Putin

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Moscow, Russia, March 9, 2017. REUTERS/Pavel Golovkin/Pool

 

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday there could never be peace in Syria as long as there was an Iranian presence there.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972874-irans-presence-in-syria-blocks-peace-deal-netanyahu-tells-putin/

 

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EU snubs Poland by keeping Tusk in top post

By Gabriela Baczynska and Alastair Macdonald

REUTERS

 

European Council President Donald Tusk (R) speaks with Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel at the EU summit Brussels, Belgium, March 9, 2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman

 

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The leaders of the European Union delivered a withering snub to Poland's right-wing government on Thursday by steamrolling its objections and reappointing former Polish premier Donald Tusk to chair their summits.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972879-eu-snubs-poland-by-keeping-tusk-in-top-post/

 

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Merkel tells Turkey to stop Nazi references; Turkey repeats comparison

By Madeline Chambers and Ralph Boulton

REUTERS

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses the German lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, March 9, 2017. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt

 

BERLIN/ISTANBUL (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Turkey to stop invoking Berlin's Nazi past in criticising cancellations of Turkish ministers' rallies in Germany, and said she would do everything possible to keep Turkish domestic conflicts from spilling onto German soil.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/972881-merkel-tells-turkey-to-stop-nazi-references-turkey-repeats-comparison/