Thailand Live Tuesday 26 Oct 2010

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Chai says govt's charter amendment draft must be considered with people's draft

Parliament President Chai Chidchob said Tuesday that if the government submits a charter amendment draft to Parliament it will be deliberated along with the people's draft.

Prime Minister said a draft propose by a reform panel headed by Sombat Thamrongthanyawong will be considered and endorsed by the Cabinet next week before it will be sent to the Parliament for deliberation.

Chai said the 2007 Constitution had a lot of flaws and should have been amended much earlier.

-- The Nation 2010-10-26

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11:15 a.m. Red Shirt protesters gather to welcome UN chief Ban Ki-moon. Picture by @kibkaeja http://yfrog.com/bc25ypj /via@RichardBarrow

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Thai Stocks Hits Highest Point in 14 Years

The Stock Exchange of Thailand, or SET, index hit 1,000 points in morning trade today, the highest point in 14 years. Analysts say the rise can be attributed to profit making in energy stocks.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-26

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UN Sec-Gen Meets Thai PM As Red Shirts Submit Petition At UN Bangkok asking for political asylum for red shirt leaders

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Cabinet approves Bt5,000 compensation for each flood victim family; Govt Savings Bank, Bank for Agriculture to offer debt moratorium measures /MCOT

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K-Bank Temporary Shuts Down 3 Branches Due to High Waterlevels

Kasikorn Bank, or K-Bank, has announced that it will temporarily close three of its branches due to high flood waters. One branch is in Pimai district of Nakorn Ratchasrima province. The other two are the Nonthaburi pier branch and the Thammasat University Tha Phra Chan branch

-- Tan Network 2010-10-26

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Cabinet Approves Funds to Buy Boats/Mobile Restrooms

Today's Cabinet meeting has approved 200 million baht for the purchase of boats and mobile restrooms to help flood victims in 25 provinces across the country. It also approved a budget to provide 5,000 baht in aide to flood victims. The amount will be offered to each family affected by the flood.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-26

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Arson suspected in Phuket Town car blaze

An image of the Opel as it was completely engulfed in flames.

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UPDATE

Reds ask UN chief to give political asylum for leaders

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UN chief on red shirts' petition: This is a Thai issue that should be solved by Thais. /via @tulsathit

The UN head, however, pledges technical assistance if asked, and expresses confidence reconciliation will occur./via @tulsathit

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FLOODS

Floods sweep through Pathum Thani - district chief

By The Nation

Flash floods on Tuesday swept three tambons of Pathum Thani province, damaging thousands of rai of farmlands, a district chief said Monday.

Lamluka district chief Panuwat Janeprasert said that Buengkorhai, Buengthonglang and Pheut-udom tambons have already been under water from overflowing waters from from three canals in the province.

He estimated that about 10,000 rais of farm lands were affected by the floods.

Provincial irrigation would release water from the province to nearby Chachoengsao province to alleviate the flooding.

-- The Nation 2010-10-26

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Ban Ki moon: Reds movement is internal issues

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Camera-controlled Traffic Lights begin testing in East Pattaya

Two arrested in Bangkok accused of stealing three cars from Pattaya Car Rental Company

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Patong sign update: Work on new Phuket landmark delayed

The scene on Patong Hill last week, when work was

interrupted several times due to rainy conditions.

ROLLING STONES: The project includes a small park

and four tall, illuminated fountains with large stone balls

rolling on water atop.

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Sriracha Residents confront village owner over constant floods

Follow this link: http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/30060/sriracha-residents-confront-village-owner-over-constant-floods/

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FLOODS

More fuel donation to help victims

By The Nation

PTT and Bangchak Petroleum today donates 50,000 litres each of fuel to the Royal Thai Army Region 1, for use in the 10 flood-affected provinces in the Central region.

Earlier, oil companies under the Energy Ministry's supervision also donated 5,000 litres to Maharat Hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima to power water pumps and 100,000 litres for the Army Region 2. A massive amount of fuel is needed to power trucks and boats which are used to transport flood victims and supplies.

-- The Nation 2010-10-26

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Rubber tapper injured by booby trap in Narathiwat

Narathiwat - A rubber tapper lost his right leg after he stepped on a booby trap in this southern border province Tuesday.

Police said Preecha Saelua, 38, stepped on a home-made landmine, which was hidden under a rubber tree, when he went to work at a rubber plantation in Moo 5 village in Tambon Rusoh of Rusoh district.

He was rushed to the district hospital and was forwarded to the provincial hospital.

-- The Nation 2010-10-26

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Ex-Saddam Hussein regime top official Tariq Aziz sentenced to death

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SET index closed at 996.04, up 3.80; Bt/USD29.74; GBP46.91; AUD29.32; EUR41.40; CAD29.07; HKD3.83; SGD22.86; JPY36.51

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Cambodian construction worker shot and killed near Pattaya over noisy fireworks

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Parliament approves Thailand-China railway construction framework

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UN chief expresses sympathy for flood-hit Thais

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday expressed sympathy for Thais who have been hit by floods.

Ban who was making a brief working visit in Thailand was speaking in a press conference after meeting with Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Ban said that the UN is ready to help and work together if there is anything it could help.

Thailand, UN and Asean countries should strengthen cooperations on fighting the climate change.

-- The Nation 2010-10-26

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Bt1.5b resort to open in Phuket in 2012

The South Patong headlands (background) is one of the

final frontiers in Patong, which already has 14,821

registered rooms.

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Paul the Ocopus won't be predicting any more World Cup results. The famed, loved and hated octopus has died. /via @mpoppel

Paul the World Cup octopus who shot to fame after correctly predicting outcome of games has died / via @tulsathit

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BREAKING -- Indonesian officials confirm at least 43 dead, 350 missing after tsunamis. /via @mpoppel

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Baht weakens amid speculation of additional measures to stem funds inflow

The baht and bonds weakened amid concern the government will implement additional more measures to slow inflows of funds after the baht strengthened to a 13-year high earlier this October.

The Bank of Thailand (BoT) is considering additional measures to lessen the baht's volatities and is monitoring the foreign-exchange rate, BoT Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul said.

The central bank is monitoring speculative capital inflows as more foreign acquisition of local bonds led to gains in the baht, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said.

The baht fell 0.2 per cent to Bt29.89 per U.S. dollar as of 3:26 p.m. Tuesday. The baht has appreciated 11.4 per cent against the U.S. dollar this year.

-- The Nation 2010-10-26

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Jatuporn to lead red shirts for a rally at Ratchaprasong on 19 Nov for the 6 month anniversary /via @Tulip_Oum /via @RichardBarrow

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Red-Shirt Arisaman's Fake Visa Case Under Investigation

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Thailand Flood Crisis: Northeastern Floodwater Receding

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Cabinet approves Bt3 billion-plus flood victims budget

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