Thailand Live Thursday 23 Aug 2012

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FORBES RANKING

Thai PM as 30th most powerful woman in the world

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Yingluck Shinawatra, the prime minister of Thailand, has been among female leaders and business chiefs selected for the Forbes' 100 most powerful women.

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RT @tulsathit: Teen pregnancy alarm: Last yr 131,400 new mothers were btw 10-19y old, exceeding world average stats on young mums: officials

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Four Tiger Disco victims found ‘one meter’ from fire exit: rescue workers

Phuket Gazette –

The Royal Thai Police forensics bureau chief said that it was impossible for officers to have missed signs of any other bodies at the scene. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

The four victims of the inferno were ‘one to two’ meters from a fire exit in Tiger Discotheque. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: Rescue workers who recovered the bodies of the four people who died in the Tiger Discotheque inferno last Friday have revealed that all four bodies were found only “one to two meters” from a fire exit.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/579179-four-tiger-disco-victims-found-one-meter-from-fire-exit-rescue-workers/#entry5598118

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New law banning drinking on Government premises issued

BANGKOK, 23 August 2012 (NNT) - A Prime Minister’s Office announcement banning the sale and the consumption of alcohol on the premises of government agencies has been published in the Royal Gazette. It will be effective from today, August 23.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/579180-new-law-banning-drinking-on-government-premises-issued/#entry5598147

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Red-shirt leaders visit Yoswaris at Bangkok Remand Prison

Several red-shirt leaders visited their peer Yoswaris Chuklom at the Bangkok Remand Prison Thursday, a day after his bail was revoked.

The red-shirt leaders were allowed to meet Yoswaris from 11:30 am to 12 pm.

Those visiting Yoswaris included Thida Thavornset, Weng Tojirakarn, and Korkaew Pikulthong.

-- The Nation 2012-08-23

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Thai army chief meddling in crackdown probe: HRW

Aug 23, 2012 (AFP) -

BANGKOK: -- A leading human rights watchdog on Thursday accused Thailand's army chief of trying to intimidate investigators probing the military's role in a deadly crackdown on opposition street protests in 2010.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/579188-thai-army-chief-meddling-in-crackdown-probe/#entry5598212

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RT@RichardBarrow: Due to the train derailment, the line between Hat Yai & Phatthalung will be closed until tomorrow morning

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Transport ministry orders probe of Phatthalung train derailment

BANGKOK, Aug 23 - Transport Duputy Minister Chat Kuldiloke ordered the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to probe the cause of train derailment in the southern province of Phatthalung early today.

Mr Chat said he was notified about the train derailment and the cause of the incident might have been the result of aging tracks or a mistake in operating the rail shunting as the train was passing the station.

The minister said he ordered the SRT to investigate the incident and conclude what was the cause of the derailment.

Mr Chat said he also instructed SRT management to strictly observe ministry policy to prevent a similar accident by deploying staff to inspect the rail track nationwide regularly.

He said that the number of accidents has been reduced significantly since early April after track inspection.

Meanwhile, SRT assistant chief inspector Sudjai Detsadit said a team of 40 engineers are working to retrieve eight carriages before repairing the damaged rail track.

It will take several hours to finish the task as the section of the railway track is a curve.

Mr Sudjai said that a section of about 200 metres of railway track was damaged. About 100 wooden railway sleepers were found to have decayed, causing the rail track to collapse.(MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-08-23

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Phuket teenager confesses to slaying stepfather with axe

Phuket Gazette

Mrs Panta grieves over the loss of her husband, who was killed in his sleep by her son. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A 15-year-old boy who confessed to murdering his stepfather with an axe told police yesterday that the attack was motivated by the man’s abusive behavior to his mother.

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Video: A Thai student gives advice on how she became fluent in English

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Borderline 'Pass' for government in 1-year performance evaluation

BANGKOK, Aug 23 - The Yingluck Shinawatra government has received an overall borderline pass for its one-year performance with the poorest score given to its inefficiency in solving Thailand’s chronic problem of corruption, according to a university survey.

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Thai service sector told to be more competitive

BANGKOK, Aug 23 - Thai Industry Minister Pongsawat Svasti on Thursday called on the country’s service sector to improve itself to become more competitive for the opening of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

He said nearly one million companies in the service sector, which employ in total more than four million people, must be more alert now that neighbouring countries like Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia will enter the Thai market.

“We have to prepare ourselves for competition. We need to emphasise development of service standards and penetration into other countries in the region,” the industry minister said.

He admitted that the logistic capital in Thailand remains higher than in Malaysia and Singapore. Thailand’s logistics represent 4 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Once the ASEAN Economic Community is in force, the service sectors in neighbouring countries will possibly set up more logistic bases in Thailand, which has been reputed as the centre of Southeast Asia thanks to her geographic advantage, he said.

The industry minister on Thursday inaugurated a seminar on the AEC and SME Challenges aiming at connecting small- and medium-enterprises in Thailand with the ASEAN Economic Community. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-08-23

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Free WiFi service to be made available at tourist destinations

BANGKOK, 23 August 2012 (NNT) - Free wireless internet access is expected to be made available at tourist destinations throughout the country, starting from the beginning of next month.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to provide free WiFi access via hotspot locations in tourist areas, with the pilot project set to commence at Khaosan Road in September.

The free WiFi scheme is one of the Yingluck Shinawatra Administration’s priority projects, aimed at accommodating the need for global contacts of tourists.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Surapol Svetaseni said the agency is offering the service to make travel easier by enabling international visitors to stay connected to their home or office and to receive additional tourist information online.

TAT is also set to launch new smartphone tourism applications and to install AR and QR codes at popular tourist spots.

-- NNT 2012-08-23

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Red shirt lawyer to appeal Criminal Court s revocation of Jeng Dokjik s bail given unclear issues including court s scope of power, witnesses' accounts /MCOT

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SET index closed at 1237.64, up 3.50; Bt/USD31.09; GBP49.34; AUD32.57; EUR38.94; CAD31.25; HKD4.00; SGD24.85; JPY39.35

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BMA files complaint against DSI

BANGKOK, 23 August 2012 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) today filed a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) against the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) over malfeasance.

According to Deputy Bangkok Governor Theerachon Manomaipibul, the BMA’s statement alleged that DSI Chief Tharit Pengdit had abused his authority in handling the case related to the BMA’s skytrain contract extension.

Earlier this year, the BMA awarded a 30-year concession to the current operator of the BTS Skytrain - Bangkok Mass Transit System, prompting criticism that the City Hall had no legal power to approve the contract renewal.

Mr Theerachon asserted that the DSI has been issuing false public statements on the contract extension in ways that are damaging to the City Hall’s image. In addition, the department also proposed the case to the Commission of Special Cases in order to pursue criminal charges against the BMA.

The deputy governor also alleged that the DSI violated a law, which stipulates that the department must submit the case to the NACC within 30 days after the City Hall’s appeal.

According to reports, the BMA recently lodged a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman, requesting the agency to review Mr Tharit’s questionable handling of the case. The Office has forwarded the matter to the Ministry of Justice and has already asked the DSI for clarification.

-- NNT 2012-08-23

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North, Northeast warned of heavy rain

BANGKOK, Aug 23 – Thailand's disaster response agency warned of heavy rain on Friday and Saturday in the north, upper northeastern, eastern and westernmost southern regions.

Citing information from the Meteorological Department, Disaster Prevention director general Wiboon Sanguanpong urged residents in the areas to brace for heavy rain in some areas which may cause flash floods, forest runoff and mudslides in various parts of the country.

Residents living near foothill, low-lying areas near rivers and streams, and near shorelines are cautioned to prepare for heavy rain during the next two days, he said.

He also urged the public to closely monitor the weather forecast and warning advisory as well as strictly follow the instruction given by authorities.

The public are also advised to notice unusual movement in the environment, so that they could evacuate promptly.

On the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, he said there would be high waves on Monday and Tuesday. Shipping should proceed with caution, while small craft are advised to keep ashore.

Mr Wiboon said that his department has coordinated with provincial disaster offices nationwide to track the situation. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-08-23

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Phuket Tiger Disco fire: Police identify two Thai women as victims

Phuket Gazette

Atthapol Butkor holds up a photo of his sister Duangporn, who has now been identified as one of the four people who died in the fire. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Forensics experts at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bangkok have officially announced the names of two more victims of the Tiger Discotheque fire in Phuket last Friday.

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RT@SkyNewsBreak: Mark Chapman denied parole for seventh time for killing ex-Beatle John Lennon in 1980

RT@BBCWorld: John Lennon killer Mark Chapman denied parole a 7th time. He was jailed for life in '81 for Beatle's 2nd-degree murder bbc.in/OysD16

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Four bodies from Phuket pub fire identified as 2 Thais, 2 foreigners

PHUKET, Aug 23 – Four bodies in last week's Phuket pub fire have been identified as two Thais and two foreigners.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/579262-four-bodies-from-phuket-pub-fire-identified-as-2-thais-2-foreigners/#entry5599562

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RT@Reuters: FLASH: Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam to go on trial in September in Libyan city of Zintan - Government source

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Thailand Live Friday 24 Aug 2012