RT@USEmbassyBKK: U.S Marines visited a home for children with disabilities in Bangkok to give out toys to children. pic.twitter.com/GOprdSS2

Japanese man becomes world's longest-lived male

Tokyo - A Japanese man reached the world record age of 115 years and 253 days on Friday, the Guinness Book of Records said.

Jirouemon Kimura, of Kyotango city, near Kyoto, was born on April 19, 1897, and is "only the third man in history to be 115 years old," Guinnes ssaid.

Kimura’s life across three centuries has spanned "immense social and technological advances including the advent of motor vehicles, television, the internet and 6 UK monarchs, 5 emperors of Japan and 20 US presidents," it said.

Kimura has 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grand children.

He owes his longevity to his motto "eat light to live long," the statement quoted him as saying.

Kimura worked at a local post office for 38 years. He turned to farming after his retirement and continued until the age of 90.

The Guinness record organization postponed its presentation of Kimura’scertificate because he has been recently hospitalized, the Kyodo News agency said, citing city officials.

The previous male record holder was Thomas Peter Thorvald Kristian Ferdinand ’Christian’ Mortensen in the United States, who lived to 115 years and 252 days.

The oldest person ever to have lived is Jeanne Calment of France, who lived to 122 years and 164 days and died in 1997.

Kimura became the oldest currently living person this month when Dina Manfredini of Iowa in the US died aged 115 years and 257 days

-- The Nation 2012-12-28

RT@RichardBarrow: British & US Embassies in #Bangkok will close for New Year holiday on Mon 31 December & Tue 1 January

Two shot and injured in North Pattaya

PATTAYA:--just after 1am on Friday, Rescue Services were called to a Police Box in Soi Neun Plub Wan in East Pattaya to attend to two men who had sustained injuries after a shooting in North Pattaya.

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RANONG

Four Thais jailed over 54 Myanmar migrant deaths in 2008

The Nation

File photo

RANONG: -- A court in Ranong province has sentenced four Thais to up to 10 years in prison for their involvement in the deaths of 54 illegal workers from Myanmar who suffocated to death inside a seafood container in 2008.

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Democrat leader Abhisit officially announces incumbent Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand, as party candidate for re-election next year /MCOT

Mo Chit bus terminal, Hua Lampong crowded with travellers leaving capital to provinces for New Year's festival /MCOT

2012 Golden Year of Thai tourism

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Dec 28 – Inbound tourists to Thailand hit a historic record of almost 22 million persons this year, generating at least Bt900 billion (US$30 billion), a prominent Thai tourism industry leader said today.

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SET index closed at 1391.93, down 5.26; Bt/USD30.48; GBP48.97; AUD31.49; EUR40.18; CAD30.42; HKD3.92; SGD24.80; JPY35.18

Suvarnabhumi to serve 156,000 passengers

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Suvarnabhumi Airport is expected to serve over 156,000 passengers on New Year's Eve, a slight change from last year.

Somchai Sawasdeepon, acting president of Airports of Thailand - which operates the airport, said that the number of passengers on Dec 27 totalled 149,000, including 26,000 locals.

"We witness an increase in the number of the foreign passengers this year," he said.

To cope with higher traffic, all airport officers are on duty, not allowed to take vacation. For security reason, more check points are in place among other measures.

-- The Nation 2012-12-28

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Thailand Live Saturday 29 Dec 2012