Speeding Girl Dies of Broken Neck in Car Wreck

SATTAHIP: -- An 18-year-old female student driving her boyfriend’s car lost control of her vehicle at Khao Khaek curve and died instantly after colliding head-on with a pickup truck. Her boyfriend and the truck driver were badly injured. She had been rushing to take an exam.

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Sam Ngam District in Phichit declared flood disaster zone

PHICHIT, 18 September 2012 (NNT) – Sam Ngam District in Phichit Province has been declared a flood disaster zone, after flood water has inundated thousands of homes.

The water has been flowing from the Yom River into Phichit. Ten villages in the Sam Ngam District have been declared flood disaster zones. The province now has four districts in the flood disaster zones; namely Sam Ngam, Sak Lek, Wang Sai Phun, and Tap Khlo.

The provincial disaster relief center reported that nearly 1,700 households and over 4,800 rai of farmland have been affected by the flood. Several roads are partially cut off and a bridge is damaged by the flood water.

The east side of Phichit has been inundated by runoffs from the Phitsanulok and Petchaboon Mountain Ranges. Districts previously affected by this runoff have returned to normal. Meanwhile, the situation in the area of Sam Ngam District , which has been severely battered by another runoff from the Yom River combining with water in farm fields from Kamphaengphet, is critical. The flood is expected to spread to three other districts; namely Pho Prathap Chang, Bung Na Rang, and Pho Thale on the west side of Phichit.

-- NNT 2012-09-18

RT @tulsathit: Chalerm: Truth commission is no investigator. Nuttawut: Truth commission speaks like the Democrats.

RT @tulsathit: Urgent: Suthep comfortably survives impeachment vote. Only 40 senators vote against him against 95 in support.

@RichardBarrow: About 300 security personnel ready to be deployed at the US Embassy for the protest this afternoon - TR @WattaneeNYY http://thai.vi/S1vtKu

Phuket Police identify one brazen gold thief

Phuket Gazette

CCTV shows 'Son' driving off on the back of a motorbike taxi after the 'smash and grab' gold shop robbery. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Phuket City Police have identified one member of the brazen gold bandit duo who robbed a shop of about 3 million baht worth of gold jewelry yesterday.

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Cabinet approves appointment of National Security Council chief Wichean Potephosree as Permanent Secretary for Transport. /MCOT

RT@RichardBarrow: Thai police say an unknown group of protesters will march on the US Embassy. Embassy closes down. 100's of police & media wait

RT@RichardBarrow: The only “mob” outside the US Embassy at the moment (Pic @NoteBUJR) pic.twitter.com/P0NRqfOx According to @seacorro about 100 people at Lumpini

RT@RichardBarrow: According to police "intelligence", protesters are due to assemble at Lumpini Park & then march on the US Embassy at about 1-2pm Thai time

Current floods damage Thai agriculture by Bt2.2 billion

BANGKOK, Sept 18 - This year's flood has so far damaged agriculture in Thailand's central and lower northern regions by more than Bt2.2 billion in losses, according to Kasetsart University.

Measuring cumulative damage and making predictions from the data received is a function of the Kasetsart University agricultural economics office Foresight Center for Agriculture, which reported the impact of flooding on the country's cultivated areas, especially rice fields, on 1.37 million rai of farmland in 14 provinces.

Centre director Jaruk Singhapreecha said the report was analysed and compiled in conjunction with Agricultural Economics Office, and the Princess Chulabhorn Satellite Receiving Station at Bangkok's Kasetsart University.

The 14 provinces included Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Suphan Buri, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Chai Nat, Lopburi, Nakhon Sawan, Phetchabun, Uthai Thani, Sing Buri, and Saraburi.

Farmers adjusted their planting schedules, growing rice earlier, in time for harvesting in August, resulting in a 69 per cent successful harvest before the floods.

According to the report, 0.43 million rai of rice paddies have been damaged by flooding, or 3 per cent of the cultivated rice fields in the 14 provinces, and 0.7 per cent countrywide.

Consequently, rice production this year will decline by at least 210,000 tonnes, or 0.8 per cent of the country's rice production, estimated at Bt2.2 billion in value. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-18

Yongyuth: Religions vital to solving social conflicts

YALA, 18 September 2012 (NNT) –Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidithas said that religion is an important part in solving social conflicts, saying the southern unrest is not caused by religious conflict but political difference.

Mr Yongyuth yesterday chaired a seminar on “Religion and Peace-building process in ASEAN”, organized by the Muslim World League, the International Religious Federation for Peace of Thailand, the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University, and Yala Islamic University; during which religious leaders shared knowledge and experiences on how religions can help building peace and transforming conflicts to understanding in the ASEAN region.

According to the minister, religions can play a significant role in helping resolve social differences. The southern unrest is not caused by religious conflicts as the nation cordially welcomes people from all religious beliefs to take part in administering the country. The disagreement stemmed from past events that until now have made some people feel that their group has been treated unfairly.

Mr Yongyuth has insisted that the government is doing its best to solve the conflicts, saying politicians have often held discussions to sort out the differences. He added that the government has applied His Majesty the King’s guidelines focusing on understanding to formulate ways to solve the problem.

-- NNT 2012-09-18

Vichien named Transport permanent secretary

The Nation September

Cabinet today named National Security Council secretary-general General Vichien Potphosri as the new permanent secretary of the Transport Ministry.

-- The Nation 2012-09-18

RT@mashable: Here’s What Angry Birds Sequel ‘Bad Piggies’ Looks Like on.mash.to/OAKLLf

RT@RichardBarrow: 2:10pm RT @seacorro: A few hundred protestors now leaving Lumpini Park for US Embassy bit.ly/QkHLkR #Bangkok

RT@RichardBarrow: Lumpini Park - RT @lilrichardb: This is the truck that will lead protest to the US Embassy: bit.ly/QkHpuJ

RT@KristieKenney: Rainy season - dark clouds, thunder, lightening over Bangkok. pic.twitter.com/80nIecd4

Don Mueang protesters block outbound Vibhavadi Road demanding compensation from last year massive flood, causing heavy traffic jam /MCOT

RT@RichardBarrow: 2:25pm - RT @seacorro: Now torrential rain at US Embassy, protestors still on the move with a zillion journos & police bit.ly/QkIAKG

400 police deployed at US embassy, Wireless Road for security as demonstrators gather to submit protest letter against anti-Islam film /MCOT

Don Mueang Airport plans full services for no-frills airlines

BANGKOK, Sept 18 – Airports of Thailand (AoT) announced the full service operation of the Don Mueang Airport to serve low-cost airlines, including Thai AirAsia, in October.

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Democrat Suthep cleared from allegation, retains MP status

BANGKOK, Sept 18 – Former Thai deputy premier Suthep Thuagsuban was saved from the axe today as the Senate voted 95 to 40 to retain his status as a member of parliament.

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Drug dealer dies in a hail of bullets following undercover sting

SRIRACHA: -- In scenes more reminiscent of gangster movies, a young drug dealer died in a hail of bullets just outside the city of Sri Ratcha, North of Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....s/#entry5676909

Thai eastern trading hub flooded by sudden deluge

SA KAEO, Sept 18 – All roads in the Thai-Cambodian border town of Aranyaprathet have been flooded by overnight rains, affecting thousands of families.

Sa Kaeo Governor Sanit Narksuksri on Tuesday dispatched flat bottom and transport boats to evacuate people from flooded areas, some of which were under 1.5 metres of water. In the provincial seat, flood waters were 50cm-1.20m deep. Sa Kaeo is 245km east of Bangkok.

Aranyaprathet, the busiest town with brisk Thai-Cambodian trade, was not spared from the floods which have poured through the main Sripen Road. The road leads to Rong Klua market, the trading hub for Thais and Cambodians. Traders at Rong Klua market have busily moved their merchandise to higher ground since early Tuesday morning.

Army personnel from a ranger unit were dispatched to help the Rong Klua vendors and facilitate shoppers at the market.

Governor Sanit said Aranyaprathet district, especially the municipality market, was hardest hit by floods, while a special alert was ordered for Rong Klua market which he described as the largest commercial center in Sa Kaeo and probably the eastern region.

Rong Klua market is located in a low-lying area. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-18

Ministry of Education Website Hacked by Teen Rebels

BANGKOK: -- The website of the Ministry of Education was hacked by apparent teenagers who posted rebellious messages. The hackers proclaimed teenagers live by their own rules and adults have no right to control them. The ministry briefly shut down the website to fix the problem. Officials vowed to find the hackers and punish them.

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Crooked Pattaya Jetski Operators To Be Beached

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Bt1 billion in drugs seized, man arrested in Chiang Mai

The Nation

CHIANG MAI: -- Police have arrested a Chiang Rai man and seized 1.368 million yaba tablets and 108 kilograms of crystal meth worth a total of Bt1 billion, National Police chief Priewpan Damapong announced at a press conference on Tuesday.

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Yongyuth: Religions vital to solving social conflicts

YALA, 18 September 2012 (NNT) –Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidithas said that religion is an important part in solving social conflicts, saying the southern unrest is not caused by religious conflict but political difference.

Mr Yongyuth yesterday chaired a seminar on “Religion and Peace-building process in ASEAN”, organized by the Muslim World League, the International Religious Federation for Peace of Thailand, the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University, and Yala Islamic University; during which religious leaders shared knowledge and experiences on how religions can help building peace and transforming conflicts to understanding in the ASEAN region.

According to the minister, religions can play a significant role in helping resolve social differences. The southern unrest is not caused by religious conflicts as the nation cordially welcomes people from all religious beliefs to take part in administering the country. The disagreement stemmed from past events that until now have made some people feel that their group has been treated unfairly.

Mr Yongyuth has insisted that the government is doing its best to solve the conflicts, saying politicians have often held discussions to sort out the differences. He added that the government has applied His Majesty the King’s guidelines focusing on understanding to formulate ways to solve the problem.

-- NNT 2012-09-18

Hundreds of Thai Muslims protest at US Embassy in Bangkok

By Nicholas Altstadt

Photo: Nicholas Altstadt

BANGKOK: -- Thai muslims today joined the chorus of worldwide anger at an American-made anti-Islam film by protesting today at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ssy-in-bangkok/