Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

Thailand Live Wednesday 8 August 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 Tuesday 7 Aug 2012

Posted

'Drug war' death to go to The Hague

The Nation

30187864-01_big.jpg

BANGKOK: -- A network of police-brutality victims yesterday requested help from the Democrat Party in filing complaints with the International Criminal Court over the death of a teenage boy at the hands of Kalasin-based police during the first Thaksin Shinawatra government's "war on drugs".

Full story:

Posted

17 ministries to be grouped in 'Pentagon II' plan for South

PAREZ LOHASANT,

PIYANART SRIVALO

THE NATION

30187873-01_big.jpg

BANGKOK: -- A special Cabinet meeting aimed at coping with a spike in insurgency violence in the South will be held today, bringing together officials from 17 ministries that will be grouped under the new "Pentagon II" command centre.

Full story:

Posted

Mixed opinions on court's purview over charter

The Nation

30187871-01_big.jpg

BANGKOK: -- Panellists at a law seminar offered mixed opinions yesterday on judicial purview over charter change, ranging from condemning the judiciary for transgressing into legislature and condoning it for trying to safeguard the Constitution.

Full story:

Posted

Key power players in deep South

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Humiliated by a failed secret peace initiative and a spike in violence by Malay Muslim separatists, the Pheu Thai government has gone back to the drawing board. Hard-pressed by the public to come up with immediate solutions to the conflict, policy-makers and security personnel got together today to look for answers, Don Pathan writes.

Full story:

Posted

ECONOMY

BOT urged to cut policy rate to boost domestic demand

WICHIT CHAITRONG

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- With the Thai economy likely to be adversely affected by the persistent euro-zone crisis and weaker global economy during the remainder of the year, the central bank should respond by cutting the policy interest rate in order to boost domestic demand, an economist and a business leader said yesterday.

Full story:

Posted

Wadeng, friend of His Majesty, dies at 96

30187862-01_big.jpg

PATTANI: -- His Majesty often referred to his pal in Pattani when voicing concerns about violence in the South

Wadeng Puteh, His Majesty's "friend" from Pattani's Sai Buri district, passed away at his home yesterday afternoon. He was 96.

Wadeng was first admitted to the Prince of Songkhla Nakarin Hospital last February for heart and kidney problems, and received a bouquet of flowers from Their Majesties a month later.

Wadeng led a simple life with his wife, now that his five children have families of their own.

The much-talked-about friendship between His Majesty and Wadeng began in September 1992, when the King was working on a "monkey cheeks" project in Sai Buri district. His Majesty wanted to inspect the site in tambon Paen as well as speak to villagers and look at Ban Thung Ket, where a dam was going to be constructed.

However, since the sun was setting and the route was off the beaten track, he was advised against visiting. Yet the much-loved monarch, determined to help his subjects, decided to make his way through the wilderness to get to the canal that was going to be used in the project. It was a long way away and His Majesty stopped often to look at his map with a torch, much to the worry of his already anxious guards.

"I saw His Majesty but did not dare get close to him because I was only in a sarong. When I did get closer, His Majesty told me that he was coming to dig us an irrigation canal. We talked for a long while.

"He asked me where the canal ended, and I explained that the canal bordered tambon Paen and ran up north to the Si Sakhon district [in Narathiwat province]. The King then asked me if the canal reached the sea and wanted to know how many islands there were. I said four, and His Majesty consulted the map and complimented me for being correct. Everything I told him was right there in his map," Wadeng said as he recounted his first meeting.

"His Majesty spoke to me in the Malayu language and we met several times, sharing common ideas until he accepted me as a friend. I explained to the King that I only spoke the truth because lying was a sin."

After the meeting, Wadeng offered his land to His Majesty so he could use it in the project.

Wadeng became known as "His Majesty's friend from Sai Buri" after the King mentioned him in a speech he delivered on the eve of his birthday on December 4, 1997. In the speech, His Majesty voiced concerns about the situation in the restive South, saying he had a friend in Sai Buri called Wadeng Puteh.

Pattani Governor Theera Mintarasak attended Wadeng's funeral rite yesterday.

Wadeng will be buried as per Islamic rites in a local cemetery near his home.

nationlogo.jpg

-- The Nation 2012-08-08

Posted

Protest over lack of flood benefits

The Nation

30187865-01_big.jpg

BANGKOK: -- A large number of flood-affected residents from northern Bangkok gathered outside Lak Si district office yesterday to protest non- or partial payment of the Bt20,000 in compensation they say was approved but never reached them.

Protest leader Phornchai Duangdaengchote said many homes that sustained heavy damage barely got Bt1,000, while their neighbours received just Bt2,700, and many abandoned homes received the full Bt20,000. The protesters were angry because after a first meeting on July 24 they were told by the district officer to come back on Monday, only be denied an answer yet again.

The group said they would lodge a complaint with the Department of Special Investigation to look into non- or partial payments.

nationlogo.jpg

-- The Nation 2012-08-08

Posted

Health workers seek better terms

The Nation

30187866-01_big.jpg

BANGKOK: -- A group of government medical and public health practitioners submitted a bill yesterday that would reclassify their positions as non-government officials to qualify for better pay scales, which they said would result in delivery of better service to the public.

Speaking after submitting the bill, which was backed by 112,052 signatures, to Deputy House Speaker Wisut Wisutthimak, Dr Cherdchoo Ariyasriwattana said the Federation of Medical and Public Health Practitioners of Thailand would lobby MPs to support the bill.

The group, classified as civil servants, said the pay scales and rules governing doctors, nurses and technicians at state hospitals and clinics made it tough to keep working, given difficulties of their tasks and the unattractive salaries and conditions. Government hospitals have experienced a brain drain for years, they said.

nationlogo.jpg

-- The Nation 2012-08-08

Posted

'DSI pushed in row over Skytrain'

THANATPONG KONGSAI,

PIYANUCH THAMNUKASETCHAI

THE NATION

30187867-01_big.jpg

BANGKOK: -- Some politicians must have influenced the Department of Special Investigation (DSI)'s intervention into the contract awarded to the current operator of the Skytrain system, an adviser to Deputy Bangkok Governor Thirachon Manomaipiboon said yesterday.

Full story:

Posted

Mother's Day activities

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Win prizes - worth more than Bt200,000 - by sending us a picture of you and your mum, and telling us "Why I Hug My Mother".

To mark Mother's Day on Sunday (August 12), Nation Group is welcoming pictures of readers hugging their mother, with three shots, and a caption on "Why I Hug My Mother", submitted at www.facebook.com/viewphotomag of View Photo Magazine.

All entries are entitled to several prizes worth more than Bt200,000, including three awards in a medical examination package 'Mom I Love You' from Samitivej Srinagarindra Hospital, or 20 gift sets each worth Bt1,000, and other 40 prizes.

Pictures from certain entries will be published in NMG media outlets, both in print and online, of The Nation, Krungthep Thurakij, and Kom Chad Luek newspapers, and Nation Channel and Mango Channel.

Names of winners will be announced on August 14 at www.nationmultimedia.com, www.bangkokbiznews.com, www.komchadluek.net, www.nationchannel.com, www.mangotv.tv, and www.oknation.net.

nationlogo.jpg

-- The Nation 2012-08-08

Posted

Creativity a major asset for Thailand as AEC looms

XP DESK

THE NATION

30187868-01_big.jpg

BANGKOK: -- From a cultural point of view, the upcoming implementation of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 will open a new window of opportunity for Thai people, who are well recognised for their creative skills.

Full story:

Posted

Language classes begin for AEC

WANNAPA KHAOPA,

MAYUREE SUKYINGCHAROENWONG

THE NATION

Samut Sakhon

30187870-01_big.jpg

SAMUT SAKHON: -- Students at selected schools, some |near border areas, learning Burmese, Vietnamese, Malay in preparation for Asean community taking off in 2015

Full story:

Posted

Thai men to be sentenced on Smith murder

PHUKET: -- A Thai provincial court will hand down its verdict on Wednesday on two Thai men who have pleaded guilty to the stabbing murder of Australian travel agent Michelle Smith in Phuket.

Full story:

Posted

US banking regulator threatened to revoke Standard Chartered banking license for hiding 60,000 secret transactions with Iran worth U$250bn over 10 years /The Nation

Posted

Thailand planned new state-sponsored investment stimulus programs

BANGKOK, 8 August 2012 (NNT) – Thailand is set to implement more investment stimulus programs to pave ways for the development of the country.

Deputy government spokesman Chalitrat Chantharubeksa said that the Cabinet on Tuesday agreed to endorse the minutes of the 5th Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development (SCRF) meeting, which called for the speeding up of 4 key investment plans in the country.

Mr. Chalitrat said that, according to the SCRF, Thailand has been missing out in the areas of infrastructure investment for more than 15 years, or since 1997.

Therefore, it is urging the government to plan a 5-10-year investment policy, which focuses on domestic borrowing and the elevation of the government-to-government collaboration in the development of the Dawei deep-sea port project and the related industrial estate, which is intended to connect Thailand’s west coast.

The SCRF also asked the government to speed up the construction of the dual-track railway and the high-speed train system.

In addition, the committee stated that the government should quickly disburse its financial aid to businesses, which were hit hard by last year’s severe flood crisis, through the Bank of Thailand’s low-interest-rate 300-billion-baht loan project, which will help SME operators to be ready for future goods transport to other ASEAN markets at lower logistics costs.

nntlogo.jpg

-- NNT 2012-08-08 footer_n.gif

Posted

Cabinet increased credit limits for flood-hit SME operators

BANGKOK, 8 August 2012 (NNT) – Thai SME operators, who have been hit hard by the flood crisis in 2011, are in for more financial help from the government.

Deputy government spokesman Chalitrat Chantharubeksa said on Tuesday that this week’s Cabinet meeting resolved to increase the credit limit for each flood-hit SME borrower, from 10 million baht to 30 million baht.

The state-sponsored financial aid was originally designed with Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation (TCG) as the guarantor and through all members of the Thai Bankers’ Association.

The government has allocated 300 billion baht for the soft loan project, which was intended to be lent out at low interest rate.

Mr. Chalitrat said that the latest Cabinet resolution also asked commercial banks to relax the loan consideration process after their disbursement has been comparatively lower than at state-run banks.

In addition, the Cabinet agreed to extend the loan application period until December 31st, 2013, or until the entire budget has been depleted.

nntlogo.jpg

-- NNT 2012-08-08 footer_n.gif

Posted

Her Majesty the Queen is gaining strength

BANGKOK, 8 August 2012 (NNT) – Her Majesty the Queen is gaining strength after a period of treatment at Siriraj Hospital.

The Bureau of the Royal Household said in its seventh announcement issued last night that Her Majesty the Queen has been able to walk farther and has an increasing appetite. The result of blood inspections is satisfactory, showing no complications.

However, the royal medical team has advised Her Majesty to continue suspending official duties for a further period of time.

nntlogo.jpg

-- NNT 2012-08-08 footer_n.gif

Posted

18-wheeler wipes out pickup truck, noodle stand: 1 dead, 6 injured

Phuket Gazette

w1.jpeg

Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation workers needed one hour using metal cutters to free family matriarch Rerm Maneesri, 74, from the twisted wreckage. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

w2.jpeg

The Phuket-registered 18-wheeled rig slammed into a power pole before finally coming to rest by the roadside. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- Thalang Police are searching for the driver of an 18-wheel truck and trailer that slammed into a pickup, plowing the vehicle into a roadside noodle stand in Phuket last night.

Full story:

Posted

Half of Manila under water as floods paralyse capital

At least 16 people died and others were missing Tuesday as severe floods paralysed the Philippine capital Manila. The death toll from eight days of rain across the country was nearing 70, with more than 268,000 people forced to flee their homes.

AFP - Torrential monsoon rains flooded half of the Philippine capital on Tuesday, killing at least 16 people as rampaging waters swept away homes, destroyed bridges and triggered a landslide in a shanty town.

Full story:

Posted

BEER WAR

Charoen in fight against Heineken

The Nation

bev.jpg

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's liquor tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi's business unit, Kindest Place Groups, has submitted an unsolicited bid for a stake in Asia Pacific Breweries (APB), apparently to ward off Heineken.

Full story:

Posted

Talingchan-Sirirat Red Line to be opened in 2015

BANGKOK, 8 August 2012 (NNT) - The State Railway of Thailand announced that the Talingchan-Sirirat branch of the planned Red Line is expected to be open for service by 2015.

Speaking on the sidelines of a public forum on the construction of the Light Red rail line, SRT’s Deputy Chief of Special Projects Mr. Him Siritunyapond said the project, covering the distance of 6.5 kilometers, is expected to significantly ease heavy traffic around Siriraj Hospital and in other Western Bangkok areas.

The cost of the Talingchan-Sirirat branch line is estimated at 5-6 billion baht, with the services expected to commence in 2015.

Mr Him elaborated that environmental impact and other risk assessments are set to be completed by 2013, with the construction scheduled to begin in the same year. The initial estimates of the daily passenger number are put at 24,000.

Railway expert, Satit Malaitham, noted during the forum that unlike the skytrain project, the Talingchan-Sirirat branch will be a cost-effective ground-level rail. He added that to avoid problems of ground subsidence, a pile will be driven into the ground before setting up a track.

nationlogo.jpg

-- The Nation 2012-08-08

Posted

BoT: Southern unrest only a slight impact on Thai economy

Bangkok, 8 August 2012 (NNT) – Bank of Thailand or BoT has revealed that the southern border unrest is yet to have a major impact on Thai economy and suggested that the government take control of the situation.

The Bank of Thailand (BoT)’s Macro-Economy Division Director Songtham Pinto has said the impact of the southern unrest has only slightly affected Thai economy, while the tourism segment has not been affected at all.

He added that the southern part of Thailand is the country's important economic zone, of which major industries include those in tourism, fishery, and agriculture. If the ongoing violence escalates and expands to Songkla province, it will have a bigger influence on the Thai economy. To prevent this happening, the government has to quickly rein in the situation.

According to the survey from hotels and resorts in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand areas, the occupancy rate in the third quarter is at the same level as that of the same period last year. The increasing number of foreign visitors are those from China, Malaysia, and Korea.

Unevitably, the number of tourists in Songkla province has considerably dropped as a result of the impact from the explosion at Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in Hatyai on March 31. The occupancy rate has dropped to 40-70 percent from the previous 70-90 percent.

nntlogo.jpg

-- NNT 2012-08-08 footer_n.gif

Posted

Thai crewman kidnapped by pirates safe condition: FM

image_20120808120253049D2E4B-F199-AD43-77D34CADE42A163F.jpg

BANGKOK, Aug 8 - Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul on Wednesday said a Thai crewman kidnapped by pirates who hijacked his ship off the Nigerian coast is now safe and the government is cooperating with concerned nations seeking his release.

The foreign minister remarked about the Thai who was among four kidnapped crew from the Dutch-based STG housing barge Jascon 33 which was attacked by gunmen in the Gulf of Guinea, 60km off the Nigerian coast on Saturday.

Twenty seven people were reportedly on the barge, including seven expatriate workers. STG, which provides support vessels to oil companies operating in Nigeria, confirmed that four nationals from Thailand, Indonesia, Iran, and Malaysia on its staff were kidnapped, two security guards were wounded and two Nigerian sailors were killed.

The Thai embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, coordinated with the ship owner and was informed that the company has spoken with all the kidnapped crew and all were in safe condition, according to the minister.

Mr Surapong said further details could not be revealed as it is a sensitive issue and suggested that media attention could endanger the hostages.

"I have instructed the Thai embassy in Nigeria to coordinate with the ASEAN embassies including those of Malaysia and Indonesia to seek help from the Nigerian government for the safe release of the held crewmen," said Mr Surapong.

Mr Surapong also referred to the hijacking of an STG ship by pirates last September. A Thai national was then held as hostage and it took a month for the employer to gain release of the kidnapped crewman. (MCOT online news)

tnalogo.jpg

-- TNA 2012-08-08

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.


  • Topics

  • Latest posts...

    1. 80

      U.S. Senators Introduce Legislation to Counter UN Actions Against Israel

    2. 6

      Thai Tesla driver admits reckless driving after argument - video

    3. 110

      Who's Gonna Win The Tyson Fight?

    4. 5

      Thailand Live Wednesday 20 November 2024

    5. 6

      Thai Tesla driver admits reckless driving after argument - video

    6. 20

      Tourist Hits Pattaya Street Sweeper, Attempts to Flee but is Captured by Bystanders

    7. 84

      New Alcohol Control Bill Nearly Finalised; Set for December House Vote

    8. 0

      UK Faces Diplomatic Tightrope Amid Potential Trade War

  • Popular in The Pub


×
×
  • Create New...