Thailand Live Monday 9 Jul 2012

[webfact]

Thailand Live Monday 9 July 2012

News, Bits and Tweets

with webfact

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.

FOLLOW US:

You can also follow us on

- Twitter: http://twitter.com/georgebkk

- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThaiVisaNews

- Google+: http://plus.google.com/116866638430460700577/

- Breaking News via SMS text messages to your mobile phone or handheld device

To subscribe dial *424010011 on AIS, One-2-Call, DTAC or True Move networks

14 days complementary subscription for Thaivisa members.

If you have questions about the Breaking News SMS service,

email: sms [at] thaivisa.com

________________________________________________________________________________

Thailand's current weather and forecasts: http://weather.thaivisa.com/

________________________________________________________________________________

Related topic: Thailand Live Sunday 8 Jul 2012

[webfact]

THAIVISA CONNECT

Thaivisa Forum Apps for your mobile or tablet

"Thaivisa Connect" for iPhone, iPad and iPod:

iTunes App Store:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/thaivisa-connect-thailand/id492600537

"Thaivisa Connect" for Android:

Android Market

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.quoord.tapatalkthaivisa.activity

OR

For QR code just go here with your desktop or mobile:

http://apps.thaivisa.com

[webfact]

Unclear airport policy taking a toll

BUSINESS DESK

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The government's indecision over whether Bangkok should have one or two airports has caused vast economic losses for the country, longer waits in the air for passengers, and possibly unfair treatment for rival airlines providing services at the old Don Mueang Airport.

Full story:

[webfact]

Don Mueang ready to buzz with activity

BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT

THE NATION

File photo. Source: wikimedia

BANGKOK: -- AirAsia's move to Don Mueang seen as good news, but doubts remain over AOT plan. Low-cost airline Thai AirAsia's recently announced plan to relocate to Don Mueang Airport from Suvarnabhumi does not come as a surprise. As of October 1, the airline is expected to make the old airport buzz again with its 160 daily flights.

Full story:

[webfact]

DSI politicising Samui land issue, says Tan Thaugsuban

The Nation

Tan Thaugsuban shows documents claiming that his land plots on Samui island have been lawfully acquired, at a Bangkok press conference yesterday. /The Nation /Tatchadon Panyaphanitkul

BANGKOK: -- Tan Thaugsuban, son of Democrat Party secretarygeneral Suthep, insisted yesterday that his five land plots on Samui Island were acquired lawfully and were located outside reserved areas as he made his first statement responding to land encroachment charges brought against him by the Department of Special Investigation.

Full story:

[webfact]

Chavalit: Govt restraint, court prudence needed

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has urged the government to stop pushing for charter amendments and enactment of the reconciliation laws for now.

Full story:

[webfact]

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Ties with generals improving: Sukampol

The Nation

Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat talks to Nation Group last week.

Defence minister says military is not one of government's major worries

BANGKOK: -- Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat does not like having to deny speculation about a possible coup every second day. But when talking about his relationship with the military top brass nowadays, he sounds eager and positive.

Full story:

[webfact]

Thaksin's US visa not part of deal over U-Tapao: Surapong

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

Phnom Penh

BANGKOK: -- Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra obtained a US entry visa in May this year, Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday, dismissing opposition allegations it was granted in exchange for use of U-tapao airbase.

Full story:

[webfact]

Sinkholes become an item of study

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In the wake of frequent sinkholes occurring around the globe and recently in Thailand, the Civil Technology Education Faculty of King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi is studying the phenomena via simulation and a numerical technique.

Full story:

[webfact]

Nakhon Si Thammarat jail faces staff, drugs crisis

The Nation

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: -- Nakhon Si Thammarat Prison, where repeated searches keep finding mobile phones and drugs, is now facing a severe staff shortage after three more guards were suspended and 11 transferred.

Those 11 transferred are still subject to further investigation, prison warden Suraphol Kaewparadai said yesterday.

The disciplinary actions follow the Corrections Department's reform of management of its penal facilities, including a series of prison searches that succeeded in turning up major hauls in two operations in April.

Activities by drugdealing inmates and their syndicates outside the prison wall were continuing with attempts to smuggle in mobile phones and other contraband items through various methods, including launches by airpressured tubes and airlifts.

On Saturday, 26 remotecontrolled toy helicopters were intercepted and seized and 17 more units yesterday, along with a quantity of ice flakes.

The prison has lost 29 guards to suspensions or transfers, including the latest 14, while the inmate population has soared to 4,900 - with a net increase of 100 a month since the crackdown began in April, he added.

-- The Nation 2012-07-09

[webfact]

GMM Grammy faces challenges despite Euro 2012 boon

WATCHIRANONT THONGTEP

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Although its live broadcasts of the Euro 2012 soccer tournament created large profits, music and entertainment giant GMM Grammy faces challenges, particularly for its coming pay-TV services, according to a media analysis.

Full story:

[webfact]

Hollywood veteran Ernest Borgnine dies

File photo. Source: wikimedia

LOS ANGELES: -- Ernest Borgnine, the Oscar-winning actor whose parts ranged from ominous heavies and humble everymen to the buffoonish skipper of a PT boat in the television series "McHale's Navy," has died. He was 95.

Full story:

[webfact]

Frenchman Busted With 97 Fake Credit Cards At Pattaya ATM

A Frenchman was arrested at a SCB Bank’s ATM machine on North Pattaya Road while attempting to withdraw cash using fake credit cards. Police seized 97 fake credit cards, mostly belonging to victims in France. The man also had a Google Earth map to locate ATM machines in Pattaya.

Full story:

[webfact]

Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,192.36, down 7.72 points /MCOT

[webfact]

Youth in ICU after Phuket Town shooting attack

Phuket Gazette

Nattawut “R” Boonprakob clings to life in the ICU of Vachira Phuket Hospital.

PHUKET: -- A man is in critical condition at Vachira Phuket Hospital after being shot twice in the back of the head in downtown Phuket Town over the weekend.

Full story:

[webfact]

NBTC to meet with related agencies today to discuss ways to avoid possible blackout of Olympic Games (London) live telecast July 27-Aug 12 /The Nation

[webfact]

RT @RichardBarrow: Digital Expo 2012 at Future Park from Wednesday to 17 July, 10:30am-9pm Latest innovations from leading brands

[webfact]

Ombudsman's Office investigates Phuket sea gypsies' land issue

Phuket Gazette

The visit by Ombudsman's Office inspector Tavin Inchamnong indicates how seriously the sea gypsy land issue is being taken in Bangkok. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman were on the island last week to study a complaint by the sea gypsy community in Rawai, who fear eviction from the land they have called home for decades after a title deed for the land was issued to a private party.

Full story:

[webfact]

Ranong, Phang Nga residents warned of flash floods

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Disaster Warning Center Monday warned residents of Ranong and Phang Nga to brace themselves for heavy rains and possible flash floods Monday and Tuesday.

It said heavy rains could trigger flash floods and mudslides in Ranong and Kuraburi district of Phang Nga Monday and Tuesday.

-- The Nation 2012-07-09

[webfact]

Army chief visits troubled southern border region

BANGKOK, July 9 – Deputy Prime Minister Gen Yutthasak Sasiprapa and Army Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha are visiting Yala and Pattani provinces Monday to measure progress on policy implementation and to be briefed on the latest situation report.

A new government-established committee is driving the policy and strategies to tackle southern violence and decided in two meetings to implement some 300 projects using a new budget set aside for development and security operations.

The Army has reviewed the budget spending in the past three months to ensure the new budget allocation will be directed to the need and will be effective.

Regarding security at border, the army chief said officials will work to halt smuggling of explosive devices across the border.

The plan to deploy soldiers along the border will be adjusted as suitable to the current situation. Thai officials will further discuss border cooperation with the neighbouring country to ensure the safety of those crossing the border. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-07-09

[Lite Beer]

Defence Ministry to adjust seven border protection forces: Yutthasak

BANGKOK: -- The Defense Ministry will discuss how to adjust the seven forces protecting the country's borders in about a month, Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapha said Monday.

Yutthasak said the adjustment of the seven border forces would be done to respond with the current situation.

He said the government would also hold talks with neighbouring countries on how better protect the people along the borders with the border forces.

-- The Nation 2012-07-09

[Lite Beer]

ASEAN-BUSINESS COUNCIL

Yingluck to address in Cambodia this Friday

The Nation

File photo : Yingluck

BANGKOK: -- Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will be a keynote speaker at a gathering of Asean-US businessmen in Cambodia's Siem Reap province this Friday, Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tohvichakchaikul said.

The businessmen are attending the Asean-US Business Council and Yingluck has been invited by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is leading the US mission to the meeting.

Surapong said Yingluck will leave Bangkok for Siem Reap on Friday at 3pm and will have a discussion with her Khmer counterpart Hun Sen before giving the speech.

The speech is expected to create and restore confidence among businessmen from the US and Asean nations in investment opportunities in Thailand.

-- The Nation 2012-07-09

[Lite Beer]

SOUTH CRISIS

Yutthasak, Army chief visit deep South Monday

July 9, 2012 1:43 pm

Yutthasak

PATTANI: -- Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapha and Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha visited the deep South on Monday to be briefed on the current situation and to instruct local agencies to speed up implementing the government's projects and strategies against insurgency.

Yutthasak and Prayuth held a meeting of local security agencies at the Internal Security Operations Command Area 4 at the Sirindhorn Army base in Pattani's Yarang district at 10.30am.

The two were briefed on the current situation by Army Area 4 Commander Lt Gen Udomchai Thamsarojrat, Pol Lt Gen Paitoon Chuchaiya, the commander of the Border Patrol Police for Southern Provinces, Yala Governor Dejrat Simsiri and Thawee Sodsong, the secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre as well as commanders of other local security agencies.

Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Yutthasak said the briefing was being held to update him on the current situation and to allow him to inform local agencies of the six urgent strategies for dealing with the southern insurgency. The strategies have been approved by the prime minister.

The meeting also discussed how to prioritise the 29 strategies for officials' operations in the southern border provinces, Yutthasak said.

He said the police and troops were also being ordered to step up security for the region from July 20 to August 20, which is the Muslims' fasting month or Ramadan.

He said the local agencies would also be told speed up more than 300 development projects during the next three months, which have been approved by the committee in charge of southern strategies

-- The Nation 2012-07-09

[Lite Beer]

One in three Thai youth ready to go ‘under the knife’: Survey

BANGKOK, July 9 -- About one in every three Thai teenagers and university students say that they intend to use diet pills and to undergo cosmetic surgery in the hope of getting more slim and beautiful figures, while half of all children skip breakfast, according to a recent study.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/568534-one-in-three-thai-youth-ready-to-go-under-the-knife-survey/#entry5467598

[Lite Beer]

PM: No plan to reshuffle Cabinet, awaiting performance evaluations; denies BMA budget reduction, urges city hall to speed dredging canals /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Briton held over vicious attack on teacher Adam Pickles in Thailand

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....es-in-thailand/

[Lite Beer]

Measures on rice from neighboring countries to be enforced

BANGKOK, 9 July 2012 (NNT) –The Department of Foreign Trade is to enforce measures aimed at preventing rice fromThailand’s neighboring countries coming into the country.

According to Director-General of Foreign Trade Department of Commerce Ministry Manus Soiploy(มนัส สร้อยพลอย), as Thailand will be required by the agreement of ASEAN Free Trade Area or AFTA to reduce tariffs and do away with import quotas on rice from neighboring countries, the Department of Foreign Trade has come up with measures to prevent those countries from dumping their rice into the country; allowing rice to be imported only between the months of May to July and August to October, during which local rice productionand is usually low.

As for pro-active measures, since Thailand and Vietnam, the 2 major rice producers in the world, which together export over 50 percent of rice to global markrts, have joined hands to establish the "Organization of Rice Exporting Countries" or OREC in order to control and stabilize global rice markets.

In addition, the Department of Foreign Trade has drawn up a rice market strategy focusing more on export value than volume exported. The strategy will be divided into 2 parts: Jasmine rice strategy and white rice strategy. These two strategic plans will emphasize on creating added-value , long-term marketing, production cost reduction, and consumer group specification.

-- NNT 2012-07-09

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: The 10th Crab-Eating Festival is being held at Central Plaza Rama II until tomorrow pic.twitter.com/yOU8hkpN

[webfact]

RT @veen_NT: NBTC Natee has reassured that there won't be "blocked screen" for the Olympics 2012 broadcast. via @noomniim @supinya

[webfact]

Death penalty no longer automatic for some offences: DPM Teo

SINGAPORE: -- The death penalty will be changed, allowing judges discretion to impose life imprisonment in certain specific instances of drug trafficking and murder.

Full story: