Thailand Live Wednesday 5 Oct 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 5 October 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 4 Oct 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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Thai Army Chief Denies Troop Training In Israel As Claimed By Jatuporn

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Thai Govt Claims Progress In Crackdown On Drug Trade

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PM'S TWITTER

PM's Twitter hacker 'in the net'

ASINA PORNWASIN

THE NATION

A person who last Sunday hacked the Twitter account of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been identified, Information and Communications Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap told The Nation last night.

He declined to speculate on the possible involvement of another person. In a telephone interview last night, he also refused to name the suspect.

Anudith said there was sufficient evidence, which he called electronic forensics including bandwidth traffic and log files.

A press conference will be held today.

-- The Nation 2011-10-05

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THAI-KHMER TIES

Hun Sen might seek reduction in Veera and Ratree's jail terms

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Don't interfere with Thai military : Ex-Defence minister Prawit

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SET: Foreigners resume stance as net buyers

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Red alert in Ayutthaya: Thailand flood crisis

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THE 2011 BOOK EXPO THAILAND

Grab discounts on exciting new Nation books at expo opening today

The Nation

The 2011 Book Expo Thailand, the Kingdom's largest book fair, kicks off today with discounts galore awaiting The Nation's subscribers.

The fair hosts more than 900 booths representing 424 Thai publishing houses expecting brisk sales and an estimated turnout of 1.5 million visitors over a 11-day period at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.

Nation Books, part of Nation Group, with its booths (zone C, booth M31) representing one of the biggest at the fair, will launch a number of new Thai- and English-language releases. Hot off the press will be such new titles as The Nation's latest English-language travel guide titled "Weekend Road Trips around Chiang Mai: Twelve Must-do Side-trips During Your Short Visit to Chiang Mai", a 304-page drive guide to northern Thai cities, written by The Nation's writers Vipasai Niyamabha and Manote Tripathi and designed by The Nation's graphic designer Pradit Phulsarikij.

With stunning photography by The Nation's photojournalists, "Weekend Road Trips", the result of two years' research, covers 12 major scenic drive routes around Chiang Mai, with listings of hotels, restaurants and other practical tips for those new to the region or wishing to explore hidden corners of the North. The book begins with a journey to Mae Rim, which is blessed with strawberries and springs. Then it takes readers gradually farther away from Chiang Mai town to communities, villages, districts and the outlying provinces of Mae Hong Son, Lamphun and Lampang. A collection of handy detailed maps provide an overview.

In a bid to tap into the lucrative publishing industry worth in excess of Bt15 billion in annual turnover, Nation Books is launching a dozen Thai-language titles at discounts between 10 and 90 per cent. These titles are from writers who are both celebs and best-selling authors in their own right. There's Kapol Thongplub, aka Deejay Pong with his new release "The Shock: Ruenglao Khaoyao Khwan", a collection of ghost stories - book launch on October 12 at 11am; Phoosit Phensiri with his new book "Phalangjit Phichit Mareng" (Psychic Power for Conquering Cancer), which recounts his experience of fighting cancer with meditative power - launch event on October 10 at 2pm; and Pog Chelsea, a well-known hair designer who's just written "Phra Siva Mahathep Haeng Chakraval" (Lord Shiva: God of the Universe) - book launch on Friday at 2pm.

TV personality and English-language trainer Christopher Wright will launch his latest book titled "Chris Delivery - the Collection 1 and 2", which offers simple English conversational lessons for beginners.

Marketing guru Ratchapakorn Kanjanaphruek will launch his latest marketing guide titled "NewBiES 8", which reveals emerging groups of new buyers in Thailand.

Potential home-buyers should not miss a talk on "Ideas and Styles of Property Development for Commercial Buildings, Home Offices, Apartments, Condominiums and Small Hotels".

-- The Nation 2011-10-05

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Anti-narcotics board plans crackdown

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BURNING ISSUE

What's really behind those happy smiles?

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Purchase of new Blackhawks approved

THE NATION

The Defence Ministry's purchase of two Blackhawk helicopters for Bt2.84 billion received the Cabinet's nod yesterday.

The expenditure would be spread over three fiscal years - Bt570 million this year, Bt789 million next year and Bt1.48 billion in fiscal 2013, deputy government spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said.

The procurement was part of a plan to amass a fleet of 20 versatile Blackhawk choppers.

The original proposal was to buy three choppers of an older Blackhawk model, but since they are no longer being produced, the Defence Ministry has to buy the latest version at a higher price.

However, this newer model comes with more advanced technology and capabilities, he added.

-- The Nation 2011-10-05

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Man gets life over death of MP's mother

The Nation

The Supreme Court yesterday sentenced a man to life for allegedly being involved in the death of former Democrat MP Khomkhai Ponlaboot's mother, who died in an explosion while driving her husband's car in 1997.

Evidence showed that Kanokphon or Saneh Yiamsawas, alias Nhe C4, and his accomplices had planted bombs in the vehicle because they wanted to assassinate the victim's husband, Sanit Fuangprayoon.

The Supreme Court upheld the lower court's verdict in which Kanokphon was found guilty of attempted murder and manslaughter, though he was spared the death sentence because he confessed.

In a separate lawsuit, former Democrat MP Sittiporn Kham-aj and former Loei councillor Ekasit Yoosuk were found guilty for being behind the plot and were given life sentences.

Kanokphon has also been convicted in another murder case, in which he was found guilty of collaborating in the murder of Somsri or Rin Boonmeun, a vendor in Bang Khae area. In 2007, the Court of Appeals handed down a life-imprisonment sentence for Somsri's murder.

-- The Nation 2011-10-05

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Monkey on the run eludes zoo officials

The Nation

A runaway monkey yesterday found itself in the media spotlight as it ran around Government House and successfully evaded zoo officials struggling to bring it down with anaesthetic shots. No one knew where the male monkey had come from.

Officials from the Dusit Zoo showed up at the Government House determined to catch it. They fired anaesthetic shots, but missed as the nimble primate fled the compound.

It climbed from trees to power poles, along the Padung Krungkasem Canal and then on to Rama V Road. The monkey was last seen heading into the Royal Turf Club.

"We believe it's a pet monkey that has slipped out of the house of its owner," Pipat Rattanaphan from the Dusit Zoo said. He heads the zoo's mammal-care division.

According to Pipat, officials at the Government House alerted Dusit Zoo about the monkey on Monday night. At around the same time, local people reported the sighting of a monkey at a nearby temple.

"We believe they have reported the same monkey," he said.

Pipat said he plans to anaesthetise the monkey - if he can find it - and pack it off to the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.

-- The Nation 2011-10-05

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PM Yingluck Happy with Ministers' Handling of Flood Crisis

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The new Cambodia comes to the world's attention: Thai opinion

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Rights body opposes regulation demanding HIV/Aids tests: Thailand

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Military works hard to plug broken watergate

The Nation

Military personnel have been working night and day to repair a watergate in Sing Buri, which has been letting loose water and further inundating four districts in neighbouring Lop Buri. The earlier proposal to use a long barge to block the currents has been aborted as the 40-metre vessel would be useless in blocking the 100m-wide Bang Chom Sri watergate, Rear Admiral Surasak Runruengrom who is leading the repair operation said.

He added that smaller Navy vessels might be used to transport rocks to fill a large gutter in the riverbed, which would make the overall job easier.

Rocks, each weighing 2.5 tonnes, are being tipped over on both sides of the watergate, but the operation is slow because of the difficulty in transporting them through flooded areas.

A proposal to drop rocks using an Army helicopter has been floated, but Rear Admiral Phoolsak Ubonthepchai said it would be too expensive because at least 1,000 flights would be needed to fill the 10m-deep and 5m-wide gutter before repair work can follow.

The Navy and the Army are working with Royal Irrigation Department (RID) officials to fill the gutter and repair the watergate in 15 days as mandated by the government. The Bang Chom Sri watergate, which was damaged last week, separates the Chao Phraya river and Chiang Rak canal which travels through Lop Buri.

RID operations chief Montree Tantrakool said bags of rocks were being dropped from both sides of the watergate, while a decision to use helicopters was pending. "However high the cost, the use of Chinook helicopters is important and unavoidable," he added.

-- The Nation 2011-10-05

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Across-the-board hike of 40% likely today: Thailand minimum wage

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Urgent!!! Water released from Bhumibol dam 2 hit SamNgao district 8am. Next- BanTak district is where Ping-Wang rivers meet. /via@ittipat_Rw

Plane carrying Amanda Knox lands in the United States, ending 4-year-long national nightmare /via@mpoppel

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Helicopter crash in New York City kills British woman

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Microsoft strikes back with Hotmail for Android

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Apple's new device is iPhone 4S

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Thailand’s 'Fugitive-in-Chief' Hunts for Amnesty From Afar

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It seems an alleged Yingluck twitter hacker has been arrested. /via @jin_nation /via@tulsathit

Press on on suspected Yingluck twitter hacker will be held at 2 pm by ICT. /via@tulsathit

ICT Minister Anudith: there was sufficient evidence gathered through electronic forensics including bandwidth traffic/ log files. /via@tulsathit

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Raining heavily in Patong. Rat U Thit road (the second road) is backed up and moving at a snail's pace. Flooding reported. /via@PhuketPC

Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 862.05, up 6.60 points /MCOT

7 Public Health Ministry helicopters to deliver drugs to help Lop Buri flood victims; Ayutthaya evacuates residents along Pasak River /MCOT

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Did you know that actress Angelina Jolie has been a goodwill Ambassador for the UN on Refugees for 10 years? Beauty and compassion. /via@KristieKenney

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Flooding Worsens in Several Provinces, Transport Routes Heavily Affected

Flooding remains severe, especially for a large number of households on the banks of major rivers.

Run-off from mountains has converged with water from the Nam Wang River and cut off the Asia Highway route from Lampang Province to Bangkok, at around Tern District in Lampang Province.

Officials have directed travelers from Bangkok to Chiang Mai Province to travel through Wang Chin District in Prae Province instead.

Meanwhile, Lampang Airport was flooded earlier, which made it impossible for planes to land on the runway for one day.

However, the runways have since been drained and are now fully functional.

Elsewhere, a two-kilometer stretch of the route from Kamphaengphet to Sukhothai Province has also been inundated, from Ban Pran to Pran Kratai Sub-district.

Officials are accommodating local residents, including those with submerged cars on the roads.

Households on the roadside, including more than 1,500 households in Pran Kratai Sub-district, are now flooded with one meter of water.

The water-level is expected to continue to rise.

In Ang Thong Province, families from more than one hundred households in Chairit Village of Ban Ree Sub-district have been forced to evacuate, leaving their belongings on the Asia Highway.

Run-off from Lop Buri Province has filled their homes with three meters of water.

An accident involving a truck and motorcycley have made the route more difficult for evacuees to travel on.

Meanwhile, the flood situation in Saraburi Province remains crucial after the Chonratee Dam discharged more water.

Flooding in Wang Muang, Muak Lek, and Sao Hai districts.

Residents have been forced to evacuate to highlands, while officials continue to monitor the situation closely.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-05

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700 Nigerians in Thai prisons, others dead

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