Thailand Live Sunday 19 Feb 2012

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TAT: Tourism in Chiang Mai not affected by haze pollution

BANGKOK, 19 February 2012 (NNT) – The haze pollution in Chiang Mai poses no short-term threat to the province's tourism sector; however, a quick solution is called for in order to avoid any long-term impacts.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/534101-smoke-smog-dust-2012-chiang-mai/page__view__findpost__p__5068632

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Court issues arrest warrant for 5th suspect in BKK explosions

BANGKOK, Feb 19 – A court has issued an arrest warrant for a fifth suspect involved in explosions in Bangkok on February 14 while the police are fast tracking investigation of a sixth suspect.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/534659-court-issues-arrest-warrant-for-5th-suspect-in-bkk-explosions/page__view__findpost__p__5068640

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RT@tulsathit: TR @Voice_TV: Abac poll shows that regarding terrorism, concerned Thais believe US Embassy more than Thai govt.

RT@tulsathit:Dusit poll: Thais are most interested in Bkk bomb incident, followed by news related to PM Yingluck (her flood tour/4 season controversy).

RT@tulsathit:TR @Rawangpai: Abac poll shows public not confident about govt's flood measures.

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RT@Biz_TheNation: Iranian warships entered Mediterranean after crossing Suez Canal Sat.,raising tension w/ Israel

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KRC predicts continued trade volatility on Thai stocks for coming week

BANGKOK, 19 February 2012 (NNT) - The Kasikorn Research Center (KRC) has predicted that Thai stock trade will continue to see further volatility in this coming week.

Last week, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index closed 1.5% higher at 1,129.93 points, with the daily trade turnover of THB35.56 billion, or nearly 1.6% higher than in the preceding week, and foreign investors being the market's only net buyers.

KRC elaborated that Thai stock trade was volatile last week, mainly due to worries over Greece's debt woes and the 3 Bangkok blasts, although it was later buoyed by foreign capital inflow and rising oil prices.

For this coming week (February 20th-24th), the Center believes that investors will continue to experience further volatility on the Thai exchange, with more foreign capital expected to flow into the market. However, KRC also warns that profit-taking may be substantial while all eyes will be kept on an Euro Zone meeting to discuss the second bailout for Greece and the country's Private Sector Initiative (PSI), as well as Thailand's Q4-2012 GDP report.

-- NNT 2012-02-19

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Patong Carnival tops poll as Phuket’s top funfair

Phuket Gazette –

The Patong Carnival has been one of Phuket's top crowd pleasers for more than a decade. Photo: Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai

SURPRISE: The Little Mermaid on the Jungceylon float gives a 10 at the Patong Carnival parade earlier this year. Photo: Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/534670-prompong-in-phuket-to-launch-tourist-safety-campaign/

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Prompong in Phuket to launch tourist safety campaign

Phuket Gazette –

Government spokesman Prompong Nopparit (center) accepts a document of support from local leaders in Patong Beach, Phuket. Photo: Warisa Temram.

Pheu Thai Party MP Prompong Nopparit does a 'meet and greet' with bar hostesses on Phuket's infamous Bangla Road last night. Photo: Warisa Temram.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/534670-prompong-in-phuket-to-launch-tourist-safety-campaign/page__view__findpost__p__5068885

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Thailand contributes THB15 mil to help Myanmar become drug-free

BANGKOK, 19 February 2012 (NNT) – In pursuit of the Drug-Free ASEAN 2015 goal, Thailand has allocated THB15 million to help Myanmar set up a self-sufficient community to cut down on the country's opium cultivation.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/534675-thailand-confident-drug-free-asean-achievable-in-2015/page__view__findpost__p__5069031

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Yingluck to officially visit Malaysia

BANGKOK, 19 February 2012 (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is scheduled to make an official one-day visit to Malaysia on Monday, February 20, 2012 to introduce herself and push for greater cooperation between the two nations under ASEAN frameworks.

Her visit to Malaysia was postponed from October last year due to major flooding in Thailand. The visit marks the final courtesy call to introduce herself to other ASEAN leaders.

Prime Minister Yingluck is scheduled to leave for Kuala Lumpur at 11.20 am and will then meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in Putrajaya. The meeting is expected to help strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries particularly in terms of border security including drugs and human trafficking and weapons smuggling.

Prime Minister Yingluck will take this opportunity to inform the Malaysian Prime Minister of Thailand’s readiness to host meetings of the Thailand-Malaysia Joint Commission and the Thailand-Malaysia Committee on Joint Development Strategy (JDS) in the first half of this year.

She will also invite Mr. Najib to attend the 21st World Economic Forum on East Asia, which is set to take place in Bangkok during May 30 - June 1, 2012.

On this occasion, the Thai Prime Minister will have a royal audience with Malaysia's 14th king Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah at the National Palace before participating in a dinner hosted by her Malaysian counterpart. She will then return to Bangkok at 11.25 pm.

-- NNT 2012-02-19

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Thailand confident Drug-Free ASEAN achievable in 2015

BANGKOK, Feb 19 --- Thailand is confident in achieving its target in the pursuit of a Drug-Free ASEAN in 2015 while allocating Bt15 million in financial assistance for Myanmar to initiate a development project aimed at eradicating opium and drug production, according to the Narcotics Control Board.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/534675-thailand-confident-drug-free-asean-achievable-in-2015/page__view__findpost__p__5069028

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Forest fire at national forest reserve in Chiang Mai causes low visibility as northern provinces continue fighting haze problem./MCOT

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Five baby meerkats born at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, first of their kind at this zoo in the eastern province of Chon Buri/MCOT

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Thailand launches website to promote Thai fruits in China

BANGKOK, 19 February 2012 (NNT) - The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has tasked its Office of Agricultural Affairs in Beijing to launch a website for brand building of Thai fruits in China.

Thethaifruit.com has been launched in Shanghai with an aim to promote Thai fruits and to serve as a knowledge center for growers and entrepreneurs to produce Thai fruits that meet the quality standards and export rules of China.

China allows 23 Thai fruits to be imported. Of these, durian, mangosteen, longan, mango, rambutan, and sweet tamarind are fast gaining popularity.

Thai fruit shipments to China have grown steadily thanks to the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement that reduces tariff on fruits and vegetables imported from each side to zero.

In 2011, Thai fruit exports to China generated 10 billion baht of revenue.

-- NNT 2012-02-19

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Thailand ready to submit extradition request to Malaysia for suspect in BKK explosion case by next week: Office of Attorney General/MCOT

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About 2,000 Chiang Rai residents seek medical treatment for haze-related respiratory illness due to heavily particulate-laden atmosphere/MCOT

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Police reenact crime with 2 Karenni elephant poachers; arrest warrant to be issued for gang leader/TAN_Network

Chaiyaphum physical education teacher arrested for selling speed pills to students; says wages not enough to live on/TAN_Network

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Chulalongkorn Hospital says Iranian bomber taken off ventilator but still can't give testimony to police/TAN_Network

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RT@AP: Iran Oil Ministry says it has halted oil exports to Britain, France in response to EU boycott decision: http://t.co/EouL9p3k

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Thailand Live Monday 20 Feb 2012

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