Thailand Live Friday 7 Jan 2011

[webfact]

Bangkok Airways opens City Check-in at Makkasan City Air Terminal

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Laos general Vang Pao dies in California: hospital

Former Laotian general Vang Pao, who once commanded CIA-backed "secret army" of Hmong guerrillas during Vietnam war, dies in California: hospital /MCOT

[webfact]

Phuket braces for Children’s Day 2011

Kajonkietsuksa School students got their Children's Day celebrations

going early this morning with fun activities organized by the school.

Photo: Amy Plant

Information and schedule:

[webfact]

Commerce Minister targets Thailand rice exports at 9-9.5 million tonnes in 2011, to maintain role as world’s leading rice exporter /MCOT

[webfact]

Thai vocational students win 4 awards at international ice carving, snow sculpture competition at Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in China /MCOT

[webfact]

Chinese diver airlifted from the Surin Islands to Phuket yesterday is conscious

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Rubber prices in Thailand, world’s biggest producer, hit record high at Hat Yai trading market as high demand from China continues; smoked rubber sheet trades at Bt153/kg /MCOT

[webfact]

Free Japanese Film Festival held at Central World

A Japanese film festival is being held at Central World's SF Cinema to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Japanese film director and producer Kurosawa Akira.

SF Cinema Central World is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Japan's king of movies, “Kurosawa Akira”, by offering 25 free Japanese films, until January 19.

Thailand's famous director His Serene Highness Prince Chatrichalerm Yukon disclosed that he has been inspired by Akira's film messages and directing style, adding that Akira had a state of the art working method.

He added that he has adopted the Japanese director's theme for his ongoing film, 'King Naresuan 3'.

Born in 1910 in Tokyo, Kurosawa Akira is best known for his classic motion picture “Rachomon.”

After years of working on numerous films as an assistant director and scriptwriter, he made his debut as a director in 1943 during World War II, with the popular action film “Sanshiro Sugata“, which later became a worldwide blockbuster.

He died in 1998 at the age of 88.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-07

[webfact]

2 suspects killed in Narathiwat shoot-out

Narathiwat - Two suspected insurgents were killed in a shoot-out with the authorities in this southern border province Friday afternoon.

About 50 troops from the Narathiwat Taskforce 32 were deployed to besiege a house in Ban Sompoi village in Bacho district at 2:10 pm after learning that insurgents were gathering there.

Three of them then rushed out of the house and opened fire at the troops.

The troops returned fire and killed two of them and arrested the other.

One of the slain suspects was identified as Rophi Kuado, 46.

-- The Nation 2011-01-07

[webfact]

SET index closed at 1036.45, down 14.53; Bt/USD30.22; GBP46.55; AUD29.84; EUR39.12; CAD30.17; HKD3.88; SGD23.18; JPY35.9

[webfact]

Criminal Court dismisses Jatuporn's request for clarification on ban for him to join gatherings; court says order was clear enough /TAN_Network

[webfact]

Thai students win awards at Chinese Ice and Snow Festival

BANGKOK, Jan 7 – Two teams of Thai students won the World Championship and the runner-up in the international ice carving, snow sculpture competition at the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in Heilongjiang province in China, according to Naraisara Chavaltanpipat, Deputy Minister of Education.

Both works -- garuda and Buddhist Lent candle, garuda and kylin—also won prizes in a popular vote.

This is the second consecutive year that Thai students won the first prize in this ice carving, snow sculpture competition, competing against major rivals from China and Russia.

Twelve students come from Surat Thani Vocational College, Nakhon Si Thammarat Vocational College and Saowabha Vocational College. Besides their skill in carving ice, they also have developed their ice-carving tools by themselves.

The 27th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival opened Jan 5 and runs for over one month. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-01-07

[webfact]

Most children want to be doctors: survey

"Being a doctor" has remained the most popular career choice in the eyes of Thai children for the second consecutive years.

Next on the list were 'Engineer', 'Pilot', 'Businessman', Dentist & Chef (tied) respectively.

In the second annual 'Adecco Children's Career Survey', 30 per cent of the children surveyed in Thailand stated that they want to become a Doctor when they are grow-up. These children believed doctors would earn between Bt1,000 and Bt600,000 a month.

Adecco Thailand is the Thai subsidiary of a world's leading staffing and human resources firm.

-- The Nation 2011-01-07

[webfact]

Finance Minister forecasts economy to grow 12% in 2011,up from 8% in 2010; inflation at 3% due to uncontrollable factors, such as oil prices /MCOT

[webfact]

Thailand retains position as world's top rice exporter in 2010

Thailand exported an estimated 9.03 million tons of rice in 2010, retaining its decades-old position as the world's top exporter of the grain, industry sources said Friday.

Thailand's rice exports last year increased 5 per cent in volume and earned the kingdom an estimated 5.3 billion dollars, said Pissanu Saengyu, spokesman for the Thai Rice Exporters Association.

Vietnam, Thailand's closest rival in the international rice trade, exported an estimated 6.9 million tonnes last year.

Thailand has been the world's leading rice exporter since 1962 when Myanmar adopted a socialist system and lost its former primacy in the trade.

Thailand's rice exports hit their peak in 2008 when it shipped 10 million tons, compared with 8.6 million in 2009.

In 2010, the country's largest export market was Africa, led by Nigeria, Ivory Coast and South Africa.

"In Asia, we continued to lose some market share to Vietnam last year because our prices are higher," Pissanu said. Thailand has set an export target of 9.5 million tonnes in 2011 with projected earnings of 5.3 billion to 5.6 billion dollars, Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai said Friday

-- The Nation 2011-01-07

[webfact]

Major drug dealer shoots his way out of arrest

Follow this link:

[george]

More than 300 hospitals face debt crisis

BANGKOK: -- More than 300 state hospitals are facing a financial crisis with debts totalling more than Bt4 billion, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said Friday.

The crisis is affecting hospital management and medical services, he said.

The ministry estimated 77 state hospitals faced a serious financial crisis with debts totalling Bt1.3 billion, while 227 faced moderate losses worth about Bt2.7 billion. Most of the affected institutions are general hospitals, central hospitals and rural hospitals.

-- The Nation 2011-01-07

[webfact]

Update

AFP: 21,000 arrested in Thai drugs crackdown

Follow this link:

[webfact]

A Nigerian arrested in Songkhla with 9 kg of marijuana. He was on his way to deliver drug to recipient in Malaysia. /via@Urisara_NT

[Maestro]

to be continued

Thailand Live Saturday 8 January 2011