Thailand Live Monday 19 Nov 2012

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Thailand Live Monday 19 November 2012

News, Bits and Tweets

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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.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Sunday 18 Nov 2012

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THAI-US RELATIONS

Obama hails Thai ties

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation, Agencies

Obama, accompanied by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, reviews a guard of honour during a welcome ceremony at Government House.

It's no accident that Kingdom is first post-poll stop, he says; President commends Thai commitment to democracy

BANGKOK: -- US President Barack Obama styles himself as America's first Pacific president. Yesterday he introduced both cultural elements and a formal meeting to reaffirm the importance of Thailand - the US's oldest treaty ally - in its strategic "pivot to Asia".

Full story:

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CADILLAC ONE

The Beast that bears the American leader

The Nation

Obama

BANGKOK: -- The Beast is as much a symbol of the US presidency as Air Force One - and the present fleet of presidential limousines has been in service since 2009 and is readily identified as the transport of the Barack Obama administration.

Full story:

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OBAMA'S VISIT TO WAT PHO

Temple tour marked by humour, respect, interest in Buddhism

Pakamard Jaichalard ,

Panranee Kamonrat

The Nation

Photo : Thanis Sudto

BANGKOK: -- US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were taken by the beauty of Wat Pho, the first place both visited shortly after their arrival to Thailand yesterday, according to Wat Pho assistant abbot Phra Sutheethammanuwat.

Full story:

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UPDATE

BLASTS ON THE TRAIN

Rail services suspended after three volunteers killed

Santhiti Khorjitment ,

Supicha Rattana

The Nation

Narathiwat

NARATHIWAT: -- One of Thailand's most violent train attacks erupted in Narathiwat's Rusoh district yesterday morning, with a bomb killing three security volunteers and injuring 14 other victims.

Full story:

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THAI-EURO

BBL concerned for future of trade with EU

Sucheera Pinijparakarn

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Bank is urging the government to put the negotiations for a Thai-European Union free trade agreement on the fast track in case the EU ends its tax cuts for imports from Thailand.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Seatbelt time again for Thai politics?

The Nation

Rallies by different mobs and censure debate reveal little change

Full story:

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Why Thailand is crazy over AEC

Kavi Chongkittavorn

BANGKOK: -- These days in Thailand, not a single day passes by without AEC (Asean Economic Community) on the headlines. The billion-baht worth of AEC campaign is zeroed in on with one single issue: to prepare the country and Thai people to compete with other nine members in the Asean Economic Community by 2015. Under the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the AEC platform has been accorded a top priority and morphed into a major populist policy. Any reference that has the word "AEC" in it would certainly get the government funding. That explains why there are hundreds of AEC seminars in the past several months.

Full story:

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Pattaya grinds to a halt as heavy rain drenches the city

Full story:

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Obama's Thailand Visit Also Reveals Importance of Bangkok's China Ties

By James Hookway and Enda Curran

BANGKOK — U.S. President Barack Obama‘s visit to Thailand was Sunday’s news in Bangkok, but another top leader is making his way to the Southeast Asian country in the next few days: China’s Premier Wen Jiabao.

Full story:

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Video: President Obama And Hillary Clinton Meet King Bhumibol Of Thailand

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COMMENTS

Long road to joining TPP negotiations

Business Reporters

The Nation

Members of the Thai Civic Network and Free Trade Agreement Watch (FTA Watch) protested over the arrival of US President Barack Obama beside a street near Don Muang Airport yesterday.

Full story:

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Pattaya Motorbike Gangs targeted in major Police operation

Full story:

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Video: Obama-Yingluck Press Conference

http://www.thaivisa....ess-conference/

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RT @RichardBarrow: A big thank you to the social media team at @USEmbassyBKK & Amb. @KristieKenney for their outstanding work during Obama's visit to Bangkok

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RT @KristieKenney: RT @USEmbassyBurma Journalists waiting for the arrival of President #Obama http://thai.vi/U9hdon

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RT @KristieKenney: President Obama & SecClinton depart Bangkok headed to Burma. #BOrakBKK http://instagr.am/p/SMdRCVimf7/

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,280.13, up 6.11 points /MCOT

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RT @tulsathit: Chalerm has "banned" a TV reporter. Here's some background. RT @Ryn_writes: http://bit.ly/TaK6Q8

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Fourteen scheduled trains in South terminate at Yala; National Security Council says its staff not at fault in Narathiwat railway bombing /MCOT

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Police to handle anti-govt demonstrators with crowd-control plan: Army chief

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Nov 19 - Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said today that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has instructed police to prepare to use crowd-control plan ‘Korakot 52’ to handle Saturday’s planned anti-government rally, provided that there are no signs of violence.

Full story:

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Chaianan wins re-election as Kathu Mayor in Phuket polls

Phuket Gazette

Chaianan Sutthikul, re-elected as Kathu Mayor yesterday, receives roses from supporters. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Chaianan Sutthikul was re-elected to his second consecutive term as Kathu Mayor in the Kathu mayoral election and Kathu Municipal council election held in central Phuket yesterday.

Full story:

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Thailand's GDP in Q3 grows 3%: NESDB

BANGKOK, Nov 19 - Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) in the third quarter of this year grew 3 per cent, lower than the previous quarter, according to the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB).

The Thai economy grew 0.4 per cent in Q1 and 4.4 per cent in Q2.

NESDB Secretary-General Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said despite a 3-per cent general export decrease due to the world economic slowdown in ASEAN, EU, and the US markets, Thailand could see export growth in other markets such as Hong Kong at 9.8 per cent, the Middle East at 4.8 per cent, and Australia at 23.7 per cent.

Domestic factors driving household consumption and supporting the 3-per cent GDP growth in Q3 include tax reimbursement under the government's 'first car' scheme, expanded general investment in the private sector and foreign investment, and tourism expansion.

Mr Arkhom said the Thai economy in the last quarter was forecast to substantially increase compared to the same period last year which contracted 8.9 per cent due to severe flooding. This year's economy is likely to grow 5.5 per cent.

Regarding the economy next year, NESDB estimates that it will expand 4.5-5.5 per cent as a result of growth in exports, household consumption, total investment, headline inflation, and a current account surplus at 1 per cent of GDP under low inflation rate.

Mr Arkhom added the public investment will be the main force driving the Thai economy next year from a Bt2.4 trillion spending budget, state enterprises investments at Bt557 billion, flood prevention budget at Bt350 billion, infrastructure budget at Bt2 trillion.

However, risk factors to economic growth include rising wage costs and the world economic slowdown. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-18

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CRIMES

Thailand's fraud on the rise

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Companies in Thailand face a mounting threat of fraud and cybercrime, with 35 per cent reporting major fraud in the past 12 months, and respondents expecting an increase over the next three to five years, according to PwC's first-ever Thailand Economic Crime Survey.

Full story:

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South-bound train services remain suspended after Sunday blast

By Digital Media

NARATHIWAT, Nov 19 - A number of railway stations in the southern border provinces are quiet today after train services were halted in the wake of Sunday’s bomb blast at Tanyongmus station, pending repairs to the damaged track.

Three people died at the Rangae district station. Tanyongmus station and other State Railways of Thailand (SRT) stations were refunding ticket costs to passengers opting to take the bus or vans to Sungai Kolok, Yala and Hat Yai.

It is expected that moving the damaged train carriages will be finished tomorrow, and by then repairs on the railway line itself can start.

Hat Yai train station in Songkhla stepped up security while passengers are buying tickets to Yala as usual, and Hat Yai- Bangkok trains are not affected.

State Railway of Thailand security personnel and police provide security on every train heading to the three southern border provinces.

Meanwhile, Lt-Gen Paradorn Pattanathabutr, secretary general of the National Security Council, warned the public that the violence is likely to continue until New Year as insurgents are prepared to stage violence wherever they see a security relapse. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-19

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Gaza crisis: UN's Ban calls for ceasefire after Israeli airstrike kills civilians

Full story:

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Russian man drowns off Phuket Beach

Phuket Gazette

The area where the Russian tourist's body was found was the same location where American student Joshua Shane drowned while taking a night swim with friends in June. Photo: Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai

PHUKET BREAKING NEWS: -- Phuket police have reported that a 69-year-old Russian tourist drowned off Patong Beach this morning.

Full story:

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SET index closed at 1283.0265, up 3.52; Bt/USD30.60; GBP48.51; AUD31.54; EUR38.89; CAD30.42; HKD3.94; SGD24.83; JPY38.07

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Rice talks urged during Chinese PM’s visit

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Nov 19 – China should be asked to take a softer stance in its rigid trade and investment measures regarding Thai investors, Chookiat Opaswong, president of the Thai Rice Exporters’ Association said today.

Full story: