Thailand Live Thursday 6 Sep 2012

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Bangkok flood drainage tests satisfying

BANGKOK, 6 September 2010 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has indicated the government’s flood drainage test on the western side of Bangkok yesterday produced a better-than-expected result.

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Ombudsman accepts Kittiratt’s white lie case

BANGKOK, 6 September 2012 (NNT) – The Office of the Ombudsman of Thailand has accepted for consideration the claim that Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong told white lies about the country's export growth figures.

According to Office of the Ombudsman Secretary-General Chalermsak Chantim, the Office has accepted the claim by the Green Group asking for Mr Kittiratt to clarify his lies on the export growth figures. Mr Chalermsak said the office is sending requests to all related parties to testify, adding that the finance minister must testify first

Mr Kittiratt earlier admitted that he had lied that the export expansion this year was estimated at 15% but, the actual figure sank below half of what he had declared. This week, the Finance Ministry announced that it has adjusted its export growth target down to 5-6% for this year, given the export sector was heavily affected by the global economic crisis in July.

-- NNT 2012-09-06

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Meteorological Dept issues heavy rain, flash flood warning for residents of N,NE,E,South and central regions Thur, Fri /The Nation

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Cargo Ship capsizes off Satun

SATUN, 6 September 2012 (NNT) - A cargo ship capsized off the Andaman coast near Satun province yesterday; its crew members are still missing.

Satun Water Police Division 3 chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Bancherd Manavej has disclosed that a cargo vessel named Supsuwan reportedly capsized west of Tarutao island in Satun after it was battered by strong waves.

The ship’s parent company said all the crewmen and the vessel have not been located and asked relevant patrol units to help launch a search for survivors.

The Meteorological department has earlier issued weather warnings for fishermen living near the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand to brace for high tidal waves during the next few days. All shipping should proceed with caution and small boats should keep ashore in the meantime.

-- NNT 2012-09-06

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Thailand wins 3rd gold Paralympic Games medal

BANGKOK, 6 September 2012 (NNT) - "Waew" Saysunee Jana, has claimed Thailand's 3rd gold medal in wheelchair fensing Paralympic Games.

It is also her second Paralympic gold medal. "Waew", Thai wheelchair fencing athlete in the women's individule epee-category B who was ranked world's number 7, has claimed her second gold Paralympic medal after a victory in the final round against Simone Breise-Baetke from Germany, with the score of 15 to 8. Her first medal came in 2004 in Athens Paralympic Games.

Thailand earlier won 2 gold medals from Rungroj Thainiyom in table tennis and Pattaya Tadtong, Witsanu Huadpradit, and Watcharaphon Vongsa in boccia mixed team.

-- NNT 2012-09-06

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Drug dealer arrested with 3 million methamphetamine pills

BANGKOK, Sept 6 – Thai authorities arrested a suspected drug dealer and confiscated more than 3 million methamphetamine tablets near Bangkok, police announced Wednesday.

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BMA speeds up drainage water flow in canals, preparing for water flow testing in eastern Bangkok on Friday; worried by rain forecast /MCOT

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RT @tulsathit: Chalerm today wonders out loud why "not even a firework goes off" whenever Democrats visit deep South. via @jeerapong_nna

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Bill Clinton Nominates Obama for Re-Election at DNC

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Heavy rain causes traffic chaos in Bangkok; flooding in Phetchabun, Phichit

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Heavy rain hit Bangkok during the night and continued throughout the morning, causing flooding in many areas and worsening the already chaotic traffic in the rush hour.

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Interior, Energy Ministries sign MOU on construction permit

BANGKOK, 6 September 2012 (NNT) – The Interior Ministry has inked an MOU with the Energy Regulatory Commission, agreeing to work together to draw up new permit regulations for the construction of buildings designed for energy businesses.

Energy Minister Arak Chonlatanon chaired the MOU signing ceremony while Deputy Permanent Secretary for Interior Anuwat Meteewiboonwut and Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Direk Lavansiri signed the agreement.

The energy minister said the MOU will help the country step up preparations towards granting construction permits for the approaching ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. The Energy Regulatory Commission is responsible for all kinds of permits concerning the construction of energy-related buildings. He said the MOU would allow both the Interior and Energy ministries to work in a more unified and efficient manner.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary for Energy said the new agreement will establish clearer cooperation framework among government units concerned. The MOU will be effective 30 days after the signing.

-- NNT 2012-09-06

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Passenger van driver killed, 3 passengers injured in road accident

BANGKOK: -- The driver of a passenger van was killed and three passengers were severely injured when the van crashed into the rear of a park 18-wheel truck on Bang Na-Trat Road Thursday.

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SMEs under pressure after nationwide wage hike

BANGKOK, Sept 6 – Ninety per cent of Thailand’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will be affected by the countrywide increase of the daily minimum wage to Bt300, tentatively scheduled for launch next January, a prominent academic said today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/582327-minimum-daily-wage-nationwide-extension-spark-concerns/#entry5640467

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Phuket Police bust heroin dealers in Cherng Talay

Phuket Gazette –

Superintendent Jirasak Siangsak (standing front) briefs the press on the arrests of Wissanu ‘Wit’ Dumnoy (red shirt) and Teerayut Gaysorn at Cherng Talay Police Station in Phuket yesterday. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: Police in Phuket yesterday arrested a heroin dealer from Narathiwat, in Thailand's troubled Deep South, seizing more than 80 grams of the drug as well as a stash of dried marijuana from one of his agents.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/582430-phuket-police-bust-heroin-dealers-in-cherng-talay/#entry5640504

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Thai national flag tied on a roadside branch in Narathiwat to draw security to untie it; booby-trapped, but bomb squad defuses it /MCOT

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Expert: Tablet PCs slow brain development in children

BANGKOK, 6 September 2012 (NNT) – An expert in children brain and development has revealed that tablet computers for first grade students can slow down their brain development.

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AFP: Thailand blames Myanmar after massive Bangkok drug haul

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Police add drunken driving charges against Red Bull energy drink heir accused of killing police officer while speeding in Ferrari /MCOT

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1 million CCTV cameras to be installed in Bangkok to boost public safety,Metropolitan Police Bureau chief said /The Nation

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Red Bull heir charged with drink driving

Bangkok, Sept 6, 2012 (AFP) - The Ferrari-driving Thai grandson of the Red Bull energy drink creator has been charged with drink driving following a deadly hit-and-run collision with a policeman, police said Thursday.

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SET index closed at 1243.92, up 10.08; Bt/USD31.09; GBP49.37; AUD31.69; EUR39.16; CAD31.23; HKD4.00; SGD24.80; JPY39.40

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Ranong residents warned of more flooding, landslide

The Nation

RANONG: -- Ranong residents will have to be bracing for more flooding and landslide Friday and Saturday.

"We have issued warnings because our province is still under the influence of a low-pressure ridge," Ranong disaster-prevention-and-mitigation chief Chaowalit Nitararat said Thursday.

He was speaking after landslides spilled into the Phet Kasem Road at more than 10 spots.

-- The Nation 2012-09-06

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Govt to run drainage test for eastern Bangkok Friday

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Government will Friday go ahead to run the water drainage test in eastern part of Bangkok to study the efficiency of flood diversion tunnel and capacity of canals to handle with large amount of rainfall, the National Water Resources and Flood Policy Committee (NWRFPC) said Thursday.

The drainage test in eastern Bangkok, conducted by NWRFPC, will today run from 2 pm to 4 pm.

-- The Nation 2012-09-06

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Flood center opened in Ayutthaya

BANGKOK, 6 September 2012 (NNT) – Ayutthaya province has now opened a flood command center for the people, focusing on 4 procedures -- prevention, preparation, problem solving, and rehabilitation.

According to Mr. Witthaya Pewpong, Governor of Ayutthaya province, the new flood command center has been opened at the Ayutthaya City Hall in order to facilitate cooperation and communication between related authorities and the general public regarding natural disasters. The flood center has adapted new technology to its disaster management system.

The governor added that the flood center’s main focus will be on 4 issues, consisting of flood prevention, preparation, problem solving, and flood rehabilitation under the royal initiative of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Ayutthaya province is geographically placed on lowland and is crossed by 4 rivers, comprising the Chao Phraya, Pa Sak, Lop Buri, and Noi Rivers. The province therefore faces flood problem every year.

-- NNT 2012-09-06

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Suicide growing among Thais

BANGKOK, Sept 6 – The number of Thais turning to suicide in 2011 reached a higher rate than the previous year, according to Mental Health Department deputy director-general Dr Tawee Tangseri.

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Drunk Russian in coma after leap from Level 3 at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....abhumi-airport/

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German found dead at his South Pattaya apartment

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Thailand Live Friday 7 Sep 2012