Thailand Live Wednesday 10 Aug 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 10 August 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Tuesday 9 Aug 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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AFP: No room for Red Shirts in new Thai cabinet

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GAY RIGHTS

Chiang Mai Court shoots down anti-gay rule

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Korn wants Thaksin to pay back taxes

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Thai cabinet members under pressure following poll promises

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Thumbs up for new economic team; Thai Cabinet

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Thailand not ready to build nuclear power plant

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EDITORIAL

Thai Govt must look for exits as the perfect storm gathers

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Yingluck's real journey has begun

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ROYAL JET - UPDATE

Germans to free jet as govt pays Bt1.6-bn surety

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Stream of foreign envoys to meet Yingluck

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21 provinces hit by floods

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Supreme Patriarch's royal blessing

By The Nation

His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, offered a blessing on the occasion of Her Majesty the Queen's birthday anniversary on August 12.

Office of National Buddhism (ONB) director Nopparat Benjawatananun yesterday cited His Holiness as saying that, on the auspicious day of August 12, and since Their Majesties the King and Queen's great mercy and merits have covered all lives on this land, their loyal subjects hence offer wellwishes for Their Majesties to live long and reign over the hearts and souls of all Thai subjects.

-- The Nation 2011-08-10

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Thailand holds 55 Myanmar migrants

BANGKOK, August 10, 2011 (AFP) - Thai authorities on Tuesday said over 50 Myanmar nationals were arrested on suspicion of illegal entry after they were picked up on a boat in waters off the country's south coast.

Two children and nine women were among 55 people intercepted in the Andaman Sea near Ranong province, around 600 kilometers (375 miles) south of Bangkok, a Ranong immigration police official said.

All 53 adults would be charged with illegal entry, he said.

The driver of the boat escaped and is being sought on trafficking charges.

"They were in a large longtail boat from Myanmar and are already in the custody of immigration police in Ranong," a navy official said.

There are an estimated two million migrant workers in Thailand from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-08-10

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Kowit to play a critical role in Thailand's security issues

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Police to proceed with Mor Muk case

By The Nation

The Metropolitan Police Division 1 chief said yesterday the police case report that an attempted murder charge be filed against Colonel Saksit Phuklan would be submitted to the Military Court prosecutor today.

Pol Maj General Wichai Sangprapai said police investigators have completed the evidencegathering and the case report. On Monday he signed the report which approved the charging of Saksit, director of the administrative office of the Royal Thai Armed Forces' ComptrollerGeneral's Department, on the attempted murder case.

The case stemmed from the "road rage" incident in early June that left Phra Mongkut Army Hospital doctor Hathaiporn "Mor Muk" Imwitthaya severely injured. The assailant fled the scene - but Saksit later surrendered to police.

-- The Nation 2011-08-10

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Dealing with people who think differently; Thai opinion

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Caution call on repeat grades

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Toughen security order follows shooting

By The Nation

An assistant to a school director was shot and seriously wounded in Pattani's Nong Chik district yesterday, prompting Pattani police chief Pol Maj General Pichet Pitisetphan to order a beef up of teacher security.

Somboon Jongdoem, 57, a teacher and directorassistant at Kongthapbok Uthis Ban Don Yang School, was shot at 12.30pm while riding a motorcycle to do some errands on the PattaniHat Yai Road in Tambon Bang Khao.

When he was 300 metres from the school, two men on another motorbike followed him and shot at him four times. He was admitted to Nong Chik hospital. Police suspect the attack was part of the area's ongoing unrest.

-- The Nation 2011-08-10

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Foreign sell-off of stocks not expected to be as bad as in 2008

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Apple blocks Samsung from selling Galaxy in EU

Apple Inc scored a major victory in its multi-country patent infringement battle against Samsung Electronics after German court bars Korean company from selling its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in entire European Union except the Netherlands

-- TNA 2011-08-10

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,065.53, up 22.99 points /MCOT

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HM the King endorses new cabinet

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Army Chief: Give New Cabinet a Chance

The Army chief is not paying particular attention to who's taking the post of defense minister, saying the military has an obligation to the nation to perform its role according to the law.

He's calling on all sides to give the new cabinet a chance to work first before criticizing.

Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army General Prayuth Chan-ocha said regarding the appointment of General Yutthasak Sasiprapha as the new defense minister that it doesn't matter who takes the post, as the military has an obligation to abide by the rule of law and orders from superiors.

He called on all sides to give Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Cabinet a chance to work before making criticisms.

Prayuth went on to say that the Army will hold discussions with the Internal Security Operation Command or ISOC, on the defense budget.

Regarding the ISOC's 315 anti-drug operation, the Army chief said the new government will make a decision as to whether the current campaign should be renewed, as it's due to expire next month.

In addition, he said the Army will seek negotiations with Cambodia to reach an agreement on various border issues.

The Army chief noted that although Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has agreed on a series of regional border committee meetings to be held, the meetings will not involve signing deals or treaties.

In response to the recent military recruitment by Cambodia, the Army chief observed that it was just a routine activity and that it does not have any important implication.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-10

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House meets at 10am before new Cabinet takes group picture at 2pm and travels to Siriraj Hospital for swear-in ceremony at 5.30pm /

Incoming defence minister Yutthasak says he will be able to work with Army chief and will visit Cambodia next week /

Yingluck says she has put a lot of thought into Cabinet line-up; asks for 6 months before assessing ministers' performance /

Incoming finance minister Thirachai assures of strict fiscal conduct while admitting Bt300 minimum wage will increase inflation /

/TAN_Network

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London Riots Not Affetcting Thais Living Abroad

The Thai Foreign Ministry insists the recent riots in the United Kingdom will not affect Thais in the living there.

The Information Department Director-General under Foreign Ministry, Thani Thongpakdi affirmed that any disorder in the United Kingdom is restricted to the North of London.

At this point, there have been no reports of Thai casualties yet.

In addition, the embassy has asked 50,000 Thai residents in the United Kingdom to notify the embassy of their status.

However, the Ministry has not issued an official warning to those traveling to the United Kingdom.

Those who would like to contact Thai citizens in London can call the Ministry's emergency line +4479 1865 1720 and +4420 7589 2944.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-10

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National police chief unconcerned if removed

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Metropolitan Police confirm 81 people arrested overnight - total of 768 people arrested in connection with violence in London since Saturday /via@SkyNewsBreak

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Energy Ministry Studies Impact of New Govt's Policy

The Energy Ministry is studying the impact of the new government's policy to scrap the contribution to the Oil Fund from the sale of some fuel products.

Permanent Secretary of Energy Norkhun Sitthipong said relevant agencies are in the process of studying the impact of the Pheu Thai-led government's policy to scrap the contribution from the sales of some petrol products to the Oil Fund and the stability of domestic energy prices.

He noted that the result of the study will be presented to the new energy minister.

Norkhun said that the global oil price is likely to continue to fall.

Crude oil futures plunged to their lowest levels in two years on the New York Mercantile Exchange yesterday, following the Standard and Poor's or S&P's decision to cut the long-term U.S. credit rating by one notch, to AA+ (double A plus).

The Energy Ministry permanent secretary went on to say that the downgrade has fueled investors' recession fears and resulted in a drop in energy demand.

However, he believes the current dip in oil price will be short-lived and might sharply pick up again.

The latest meeting of the Energy Policy and Planning Committee has resolved to increase the contribution rate to the Oil Fund from sales of diesel by 90 satang per liter.

The change will take effect tomorrow.

The panel cited a decline in the global diesel price as the reason for the increase.

Upon the contribution hike, the marketing margin for diesel will be reduced from 2.34 to 1.44 baht per liter.

The decision to raise the diesel contribution will increase the Oil Fund's earning from 55 million baht per day to 104 million baht. Currently, the Oil Fund stands at 14 billion baht.

From October 17, 2010 to May 6 of this year, 24 billion baht has been spent on financing the diesel subsidy program.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-10