Thailand Live Monday 20 Aug 2012

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RT@reuters: Hollywood filmmaker #Tony Scott jumps to death from L.A. bridge reut.rs/NA8Npl

RT@tukky_nt: Top Gun director Tony Scott committed suicide in jump from Los Angeles bridge: bit.ly/PqcBbt

RT@AP: From "Top Gun" to "Unstoppable:" Here are Director Tony Scott's most notable films. apne.ws/NWcKmu - VW

[Lite Beer]

800-year-old pagoda faces damage from heavy monsoon

LAMPANG, 20 August 2012 (TTN) – The ground near the 800-year-old Pagoda at Wat Mon Phraya Chae in Lampang has subsided 2 meter in depth due to last year’s heavy rainfall. However, little has been made to renovate the ancient site.

Temple abbot Wor Athidhammo said heavy monsoon last year caused landslides and many sinkholes around the temple compound with one worrying crack located 3-meter-away from the pagoda.

Other sinkholes, he said, are expanding its reach nearer to the pagoda and have damaged a 100-year-old parsonage of former abbot.

The abbot has informed the 7th Regional Office of Fine Arts in Nan province about the incident but has not recieved any response so far..

With ‘possible’ heavy monsoon this year, the pagoda might face serious damage if the reconstruction is not completed in time, he said.

-- NNT 2012-08-20

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Govt generates more income this year than last fiscal year

BANGKOK, 20 August 2012 (NNT) – According to the Finance Ministry, state agencies have generated altogether 1.57 trillion baht of income in the first 10 months of the 2012 fiscal policy year, a 77 billion baht increase year-on-year.

Director-General of the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) Somchai Sajjapongse has announced that the government financial status in the first 10 months of the 2012 fiscal policy year, which started from October 2011, remains strong. He said the government has collected 1.57 trillion baht in revenues, which is 77 billion baht more than what it did in the first 10 months of the previous year.

At the same time, the government has 1.9 trillion baht in expenses, which is a 67-billion baht or 3.7% increase year-on-year. Mr Somchai reported the government is running a 340 billion baht budget deficit. Plus or minus other loans and spendings, which were excluded from the regular budget, the Finance Ministry has around 402 billion baht in treasury reserves by the end of July.

The FPO Director-General said the government has enough cashflow for regular expenses and to deal with economic fluctuations that may occur in the future.

-- NNT 2012-08-20

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Hollywood legend Tony Scott dead at 68: Top Gun director, who was brother of Ridley, commits suicide in jump from Los Angeles bridge

• Industry veteran leapt 'without hesitation' from the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro
  
• Famous for cult classic Top Gun along with Days of Thunder, Beverly Hills Cop II and Enemy Of The State
  
• Worked with the Hollywood elite including Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro, Nicole Kidman and Denzel Washington
  

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....-suicide-at-68/

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Broken-hearted mute man threatens suicide at Big C Rajadamri

By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- A lovesick mute man caused a commotion on Bangkok’s Rajadamri Road on Saturday by sitting on the roof of the Big C Supercenter and threatening to throw himself off.

Full story:

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Brit Busted For Cocaine Dealing Outside Nightclub

PATTAYA: -- A 54-year-old British man was arrested by the Chonburi Immigration Office for selling cocaine to foreigners. He told police he bought the cocaine from a friend in the Nana district in Bangkok, and re-sold it at a profit to Pattaya buyers.

Full story:

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Thai economy posts brisk 2Q growth

BANGKOK, Aug 20, 2012 (AFP) - Thailand's economy has logged a second straight quarter of solid growth, buoyed by investment to repair factories damaged by last year's devastating floods and strong domestic demand, data showed Monday.

Full story:

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Government Lottery Office preparing to launch online lottery for 2 and 3-digits numbers this year-end: GLO director /The Nation

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Tiger Disco fire: Styrofoam decor may have fuelled inferno

Phuket Gazette

The highly-flammable polystyrene foam used to create much of the decor in Tiger Discotheque did not conform to a recent change in building safety regulations. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Building inspector Wasawat Kritsiritirapak said that any information learned from the investigation will be used in making recommendations to change to the Building Control Act. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- The highly flammable polystyrene foam used in making the Tiger Discotheque’s iconic decorations has been named by building inspectors as one of many possible fire hazards that contributed to the deadly fire last Friday.

Full story:

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SET index closed at 1229, up 5.09; Bt/USD31.38; GBP49.17; AUD32.67; EUR38.66; CAD31.57; HKD4.04; SGD24.89; JPY39.25

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MONEY LAUNDERING

AMLO freezes alleged brothel owner's assets

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has decided to freeze Bt320 million in cash and assets belonging to a 58-year-old woman allegedly involved in operating brothels.

The freeze will allow police and other investigators to look into allegations that Pranom Praekongsung operated brothels and forced women into prostitution against their will, AMLO's deputy secretary general Suvanee Sawangpol said Monday.

The frozen assets include two land title deeds in Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok district and an apartment in Songkhla province as well as money in 55 bank accounts seized during raids at Pranom's premises in Songkhla on July 29 last year.

Praonom was arrested last year after separate raids at Charlie karaoke bar and Charlie spa in Songkhla allegedly operated by her led to the rescue of 70 women, 24 of whom were under 18.

Suvanee added that Pranom denied all the charges, claiming that the women did not work against their will.

This case may involve cross-border human trafficking as the Lao Embassy in Thailand has also alerted police about two female Laotians, aged under 15, suspected of being lured to work as prostitutes in Thailand.

-- The Nation 2012-08-20

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Tiger Disco fire: Pheu Thai's Prompong calls for bar safety crackdown

Phuket Gazette

Government Spokesman Prompong Nopparit (left) appraises the damage to the Tiger Discotheque and its beer bar complex with Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan (center) and Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Chalit Kaewyarat. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

The popular “beer bar” complex on the ground floor, beneath the Tiger Discotheque, was also destroyed in the pre-dawn fire on Friday. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- After inspecting the gutted remains of the Tiger Discotheque over the weekend, Government Spokesman Prompong Nopparit has called for increased safety measures at all 198 registered bars, pubs and other nightlife venues registered in Patong.

Full story:

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RT @mpoppel: RT @BNONews: Death toll from Saturday's earthquake in northern Indonesia rises to 6 with 43 people injured, officials say.

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to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 21 Aug 2012