Thailand Live Tuesday 17 Jul 2012

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Thailand Live Tuesday 17 July 2012

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 Monday 16 Jul 2012

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His Majesty the King's condition improves

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- His Majesty the King's cerebral haemorrhaging has stopped and his overall condition is now improving, according to the Royal Household Bureau.

In its statement, the palace said doctors subjected His Majesty to an electroencephalography check last night.

The muchbeloved monarch had to postpone indefinitely his working trip to Ratchaburi after Xrays showed slight bleeding on his brain late last week.

People flocked to Siriraj Hospital to express wishes for His Majesty's speedy return to good health.

They came from various corners of the country. Among them were top brass such as Supreme Commander General Tanasak Patimaprakorn, Army chief General Prayut Chanocha, deputy Navy chief Admiral Weerapong Kitsombat and deputy Air Force chief ACM Srichao Janrueang.

Phranai Suwannarat, permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry, also signed his getwell wishes for the King at Siriraj.

-- The Nation 2012-07-17

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CONSTITUTION REVIEW

Referendum on changing the charter too costly: Somsak

THE NATION

PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT Somsak Kiatsuranont, right, talks to Deputy Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanich during an event held by Parliament in Muang Thong Thani. Discussed at the event were preparedness for the construction of a new Parliament House

BANGKOK: -- House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranont yesterday advised the government not to hold a public referendum on whether a new constitution should be written, saying such a vote would cost over Bt2 billion.

Full story:

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CRIME

Woman admits to killing grandson

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police in Bangkok's Prawet district yesterday arrested a 55-year-old woman on suspicion of killing her grandson.

Officers quoted Somjit Jampadee as saying she had not intended to kill her grandson Atthasit Leelertyuth, 13, when she hit him in the head with a stick after he got into trouble at school. After being struck, Atthasit went into convulsions before losing consciousness. He later died.

A police press conference will be held today at 10 am to announce the arrest.

Police had earlier interviewed witnesses and searched 180 apartment rooms for evidence in the July 13 slaying.

The boy was found dead in a fire escape at the Yongcharoen Complex building D in Soi Onnut 46.

-- The Nation 2012-07-17

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THAI-MYANMAR RELATIONS

'No detainees to be released'

The Nation

RANONG: -- The 92 Thais being detained in Myanmar over allegedly encroaching on land will be held for a few more days to be questioned by military officials, a local Army commander said yesterday.

Full story:

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Criminal court summons red shirt leaders over bail violation

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court has said it will summons red-shirt leader and Pheu Thai MP Kokaew Pikulthong on August 9 to review whether his behaviour last week - comments viewed by some as intimidation of the Constitution Court - violated bail conditions related to a terrorism case.

Full story:

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POLITICS

Pheu Thai still backs a drafting assembly

THE NATION

Parliament President Somsak Kiatsuranont, right, talks to Deputy Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanich during an event held by Parliament in Muang Thong Thani.

MPs, senators to be sounded out while they wait for written verdict

BANGKOK: -- The ruling Pheu Thai Party, which claims the Constitution Court's verdict on changing the charter was "unclear", remained firm yesterday with its plan to amend the Constitution by setting up a drafting assembly.

Full story:

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Kingdom remains on alert for disease outbreak

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Cambodia's epidemic of hand, foot and mouth disease appears to have passed the critical point and is now under control, but Thailand remains on alert for further cases, Bureau of Epidemiology director Dr Pasakorn Akarasewi said yesterday.

Full story:

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Departments work together to beat human traffickers

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Labour Ministry has laid out a master plan to combat human trafficking by systematically addressing the problem in four key sectors overseas job placements for Thai workers, migrant workers based in Thailand, migrant or Thai crew members on fishing trawlers, and child labour, deputy permanent secretary Songsri Bunba said yesterday.

Full story:

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Medical tourism continues to boom

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- More and more foreigners are seeking medical treatment in Thailand each year, with 2012 expecting to see 2.53 million foreign patients generating Bt121.6 billion in income.

Full story:

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Thai police see role model in Seoul

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A visit by Thai police to observe South Korea's Seoul Metropolitan Police traffic management, has encouraged local officers to consider adopting the South Korean model for Thai streets.

Full story:

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First delivery of tablets delayed by a day

Supinda Na Mahachai,

Saowanee Nimpanpayungwong

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Education Ministry has decided to delay its first delivery of tablets to the five provinces by a day yesterday, according a top ministry official.

Information and Communication Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap said the delay had been caused by a problem in the translation of the warranty documents from English to Thai. The Chinabased manufacturer needs to first correct the translation before the qualityapproval committee gives the shipment its stamp, though he insisted that there was no problem with the quality of the actual units.

Chinnapat Bhumirat, secretarygeneral of the Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec), said the committee was scheduled to complete the checking of the tablets yesterday but since it took time to prepare the units for delivery, the ministry had decided to postpone it by a day. Up 35,000 tablets were scheduled to be delivered to Krabi, Kanchanaburi, Kamphaeng Phet, Kalasin and Bangkok yesterday.

"The delivery ceremony will probably be held tomorrow and on Thursday we will hand out tablets at Darakam School in Bangkok's Klong Toei district. A discussion between academics, education officials and the minister about how the tablets can help solve educational problem in Thailand will also be held there," Chinnapat said, adding that another discussion about the use of tablets would be held in Samut Sakhon later.

According to him, Obec will deliver tablets to about 48 per cent of Prathom 1 (Grade 1) students in every province in the first round, with the rest being given the units in the second round. All students should have a tablet this semester, he said.

-- The Nation 2012-07-17

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Medical council proposes increased malpractice payments

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- To further increase compensatory payments for deaths and permanent disabilities caused through medical malpractice at government hospitals, the Medical Council yesterday proposed a tenfold amount on top of original rates at Bt200,000 and Bt120,000 for respective cases.

Full story:

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PM demands action to ease congestion at Suvarnabhumi

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday ordered agencies to expedite measures to alleviate the congestion at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Full story:

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Free-TV operators concerned over copyright implications of must-carry rule

WATCHIRANONT THONGTEP

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- While the TV broadcasting industry's opinion on the draft must-carry rule is generally positive, free-TV operators expressed concern yesterday that it might lead to their being faced with copyright-violation problems.

Full story:

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Deep Purple's Jon Lord dies at 71

Tony Ashton with Jon Lord, a gig at the Hotel Post, March 1990

File photo. Source: wikimedia

Jon Lord at the Sunflowerjam, London, 2007.

File photo. Source: wikimedia

LONDON: -- Jon Lord, the former keyboard player with heavy rock band Deep Purple, has died aged 71.

Full story:

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Chula U Demonstration Elementary School closes temporarily today through Fri after a number of students are infected with hand-foot-mouth disease /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,222.08, up 7.83 points /MCOT

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PM officially visiting Germany, France this week

BANGKOK, July 17 -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will leave Bangkok this afternoon for an official visit to Germany and France today through Sunday to strengthen ties between Thailand and the two European countries.

Full story:

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Phuket Live Wire: Why the Internet died

Phuket Gazette

NO RETURNS: If you break the Internet you will become a Social Media pariah. Photo: Theseoduke

PHUKET: -- It is my sad duty to report to you how and why the Internet died last Monday (July 9). The DNSChanger virus took down the internet, and I for one will lament its passing.

Full story:

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PM to chair weekly Cabinet meeting before leaving on official visit to Germany, France today through Sunday /MCOT

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PM concerned over spread of hand-foot-mouth disease in schools; assigns health, education ministries to jointly tackle threat /MCOT

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Best of Nonthaburi Fair to be held July 18-22

NONTHABURI, 17 July 2012 (NNT) – Nonthaburi Province has announced that it will hold the Best of Nonthaburi Fair 2012, showcasing famous fruit, food, arts and crafts and other products of Nonthaburi.

The Nonthaburi Governor said that over 120 exhibition booths will offer leading products, including electrical appliances, home decors, OTOP products, food and drink.

Several property developers will also offer houses and condominium units at special prices.

The event will be held at Central Plaza Rattanathibet during July 18-22.

-- NNT 2012-07-17

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Top Bangkok primary school closes due to hand, foot and mouth disease

BANGKOK, July 17- Bangkok’s top-rated Chulalongkorn University Demonstration Elementary School (Satit Chula School) suspended classes from today through Friday after a number of students were infected with hand, foot and mouth disease.

Full story:

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Crackdown on illegal loan sharks called for

Phuket Gazette

Mr Suthipong says that he was set upon by an armed gang after he asked for an extension on a recently resigned employee’s loan. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A Rassada Municipality council member called for a crackdown on loan sharks after his brother was attacked and brutally beaten by a group of armed men he claims were hired by illegal moneylenders.

Full story:

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RT @RichardBarrow: Digital Expo 2012 at Future Park Rangsit finishes today. 50% discount on gadgets.

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Bruda whale spotted in Gulf of Thailand

BANGKOK, July 17 - Some Bruda whales have been sighted in the Gulf of Thailand, a rare occurrence that indicates an abundance of food sources attracting the creature to this part of the sea.

Boonchob Suthamanuswong, director-general of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, said officials were informed about the sighting of the Bruda whales in the inner area of the Gulf of Thailand.

Officials went to observe and found about five of them near the Chao Phraya estuary. It is quite rare to see them move so far into the gulf, he said.

Department experts were sent to conduct a survey on the whale and monitor the area to prevent any possible danger from local residents or tourists coming to view the mammals.

It is believed that the abundance of marine life in the Gulf of Thailand becomes an attractive source of food for them. On the other hand, it showed change in feeding pattern of sea animals and their original food source, so experts must survey their behaviour to collect information for the improved management of environment systematically.

He asked for cooperation from the public not to disturb the whales as arrivals of tourists in the area may scare them away or cause harm to them. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-07-17

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Pheu Thai at risk for party dissolution: Chalerm

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The ruling Pheu Thai Party will, "with a million per cent certainty", be dissolved if it continues to push for the final passage of the charter amendment bill, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said on Tuesday.

Full story:

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SET index midday up 8.97 pts, 0.74 pct

Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Tuesday stood at 1,223.22,up 8.97 points, or 0.74 per cent in line with regional shares amid Bt14.65 billion turnover.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 850.77, up 6.97 points, or 0.83 per cent.

Top five most active (value) stocks: JAS, PTTGC, PTT, DTAC, TRUE.

-- The Nation 2012-07-17