Thailand Live Thursday 7 Mar 2013

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US Embassy to stage 'outreach visit' to Phuket
Phuket Gazette


The US Embassy in Bangkok will be in Phuket on March 15 to provide consular services. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- The Consular Section of the American Embassy in Bangkok will hold an “Outreach Visit” at Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort in Karon (map here) on March 15.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624155-u-s-embassy-to-stage-outreach-visit-to-phuket/

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British teachers to improve Thai youths' English skills
By English News

BANGKOK, March 7 – The Thai Education Ministry is launching an eight-week project on English language teaching to students in state-run and private schools nationwide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624156-british-teachers-to-improve-thai-youths-english-skills/

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Election Commission asks for 30 days to endorse new Bangkok governor
By English News



BANGKOK, March 7 – The Election Commission (EC) has postponed its official announcement endorsing the election of Sukhumbhand Paribatra as Bangkok’s new governor, pending investigations of protests which it says will take about 30 days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624157-election-commission-asks-for-30-days-to-endorse-new-bangkok-governor/

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Kamnan Poh slips and falls in hospital bathroom
By Coconuts Bangkok


Somchai “Kamnan Poh” Khumploem

BANGKOK: -- Yesterday, Kobkiat Kasivivat, Deputy Director General of the Department of Corrections, stated that 75-year-old Somchai “Kamnan Poh” Khumploem remained in critical condition after being knocked unconscious from a fall in the bathroom of his VIP room in a Chonburi hospital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624162-kamnan-poh-in-critical-condition-after-fall-in-hospital-bathroom/

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Santana jams with Carabao during Bangkok stopover
By Cole Pennington


Photo: BEC-TERO

BANGKOK: -- A crowd peppered with ponytails, bandanas and cowboy hats filled Impact Arena last night as Carlos Santana delivered a set of soulful tunes to the countrymen and women of Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624190-santana-jams-with-carabao-during-bangkok-stopover/

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RT @in0nymous: Massive blaze in Bangpa-in Estate http://twitpic.com/c99kws

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UPDATE
Probe of Bangkok election complaints expected to be complete in 15 days: EC
By English News



BANGKOK, March 7 - The Election Commission (EC) said the investigation of complaints related to the March 3 gubernatorial election is expected to be finished within 15 days, as it has delayed the endorsement of Sukhumbhand Paribatra as Bangkok’s re-elected governor.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624157-election-commission-asks-for-30-days-to-endorse-new-bangkok-governor/#entry6180685

[Lite Beer]

National Parks Dept to organize Thai Elephants Day activities during 9-15 March

BANGKOK, 7 March 2013 (NNT) – The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is set to organize special activities to showcase the importance and the progress of Thai elephant conservation.

Deputy Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Theerapat Prayurasiddhi said that elephants in Thailand and Asia are now at risk of extinction after their natural habitats have been increasingly destructed.

Mr. Theerapat added that the pachyderms have also been hunted for ivory or captured for commercial use.

He stated that the department has been working hard to restore the natural habitats of Thai elephants while setting up the Thailand's Wild Elephant Food Security Fund to keep the giant beasts to be fed and out of farmland.

Mr. Theerapat went on to say that the department already collaborated with the Interior Ministry to amend related laws to solve the problem of wandering elephants.

In order to inform the public of these and many more initiatives introduced to protect the pachyderms, a number of activities will be organized to mark the Thai Elephants Day on March 13.

The Department of National Parks’ Director-General said that the event will be held at the Queen Sirikit Park in Chatuchak District, Bangkok, from March 9 to 15.

-- NNT 2013-03-07

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Still no funds for new B1bn Phuket prison
Nattha Thepbamrung



PHUKET: -- With prisoner numbers now at bursting point in the existing overcrowded and ancient prison in Phuket Town, the director of Phuket Provincial Prison is hoping that the funds to build a new B1 billion prison in Thalang will be included in the 2014 government budget.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624206-still-no-funds-for-new-b1bn-phuket-prison/

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Phayao soldiers helping to repair homes damaged by recent storms

PHAYAO, 7 March 2013 (NNT) – Soldiers in Phayao are helping to repair homes in Mae Chai district that were damaged by storms.

Major General Chaiwat Thanarun, commander of Phayao Military District, led the repair effort on 135 houses in Ban Sansali. Damage incurred on the houses range from minor damage to blown-away roof tops. According to Maj. Gen. Chaiwat, repairs will first be made on houses that only had elderly occupants, thus lacking in labor. The soldiers will at first concentrate on putting roofs over the homes, to shelter the occupants from more rain expected during this period.

Aside from Ban Sansali, as many as 200 homes in 2 sub-districts will also receive assistance from the Army. 50 troops from the 1st Infantry Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, will be deployed to repair the damaged homes.


-- NNT 2013-03-07

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Thai PM happy with successful European trip
By Digital Media

BRUSSELS, Mar 7 – Thailand will hold urgent negotiations with the European Union (EU) on a voluntary partnership on good governance in forestry and increasing trade cooperation, according to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The Thai premier, ending her four-day visit to Sweden and Belgium today, said Olarn Chaiprawat, leader of the Thai trade delegation, has been assigned to head the negotiations.

Ms Yingluck officially received a Geographical Indication (GI) certificate from European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso for Thai premium “Hom Mali” (jasmine) rice from the Thung Kula Rong Hai farming area in Thailand’s Northeast.

She expressed hope that Thai high-quality coffee from Doi Chang and Doi Tung in northern Thailand will also be awarded GI seals.

Hailing the successful European trip, the premier said Thailand has made a progress in trade and investment agreement and strengthened cooperation with the EU.

Suranand Vejjajiva, secretary general to the prime minister, said the Thai government aims at boosting fair trade between Thailand and the EU to promote Thai exports to the continent. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-03-07

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UPDATE

Fresh move for amnesty for political protest offenders

By English News

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624090-amnesty-law-back-on-pheu-thai-partys-agenda/#entry6181328

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SOUTH CRISIS
Informant shot in Pattani

PATTANI: -- An informant was shot to death early Thursday morning outside his house in Pattani's Panare district. The body of Saree Jeh-ali, 42, was found in his car, which was parked outside his house in Ban Lampang in the district shortly after midnight.

Initial police investigation showed that Saree was parking his vehicle after teaching at a religion school when unknown number of assailants emerged from a bush and opened fire on the vehicle.

The car and the victim were riddled with bullets. Saree died behind the wheel.

Found in the body were identity cards revealing that Saree was an informant for the authorities.

Meanwhile in Songkhla, security forces raided 29 locations, detained 24 suspects and confiscated drugs and firearms. The raids were conducted as part of the measures being taken to intensify security.


-- The Nation 2013-03-07

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CITES
Bangkok meeting fails to strengthen protection for polar bears
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- CITES's Bangkok meeting on Thursday rejected a US proposal to issue polar bears as a species that may become extinction without trade controls.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624241-bangkok-meeting-fails-to-strengthen-protection-for-polar-bears-c-i-t-e-s/

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RT @mpoppel: AP: Ahead of UN sanctions vote, NKorea vows preemptive nuke strikes against US.

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AFTERMATH
Probe of Bangkok election complaints to be complete in 15 days: EC
The Nation

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624157-election-commission-asks-for-30-days-to-endorse-new-bangkok-governor/#entry6181375

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ENERGY
Thailand as an electricity hub
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Energy Ministry unveils the plan to turn the Kingdom into an electricity trade hub, citing the geographical advantage.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624247-thailand-as-an-electricity-hub/

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SET index closed at 1560.98, up 1.63; Bt/USD29.60; GBP44.30; AUD30.21; EUR38.37; CAD28.54; HKD3.81; SGD23.56; JPY31.34

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BMA to partake in Earth Hour 2013

BANGKOK, 7 March 2013 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is hosting activities to mark Earth Hour 2013 on March 23, encouraging households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour to raise awareness about the need to take action on climate change.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624251-b-m-a-to-partake-in-earth-hour-2013/

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National parks nationwide to get major facelift

BANGKOK, 7 March 2013 (NNT) - The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has set plans to improve national parks across the country with a budget of 100 million baht in hopes of generating income of over two trillion baht a year from tourists.

Director-General of the DNP Monophat Huamuangkaew said the budget of 100 million baht would be spent on renovating accommodation and facilities in the national parks so that they would be cleaner and appear more pleasant to visitors. Three national parks where the renovation project will be piloted are Khao Yai in Nakhon Ratchasima, Khao Laem-Samet Islands in Rayong and Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai.

Apart from attracting tourists, the project is also aimed at making the three national parks greener by prohibiting personal vehicles from traveling inside the parks and providing electric trolley services to prevent air pollution.

As for other national parks near Bangkok, more wild animals raised by the department will be released into the parks in a bid to increase their populations in the wild and attract tourists from Bangkok.


-- NNT 2013-03-07

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February consumer confidence highest in 19 months
By English News

BANGKOK, March 7 - Thailand's consumer confidence index in February rose to 74.3 from 72.1 for the previous month, the highest in 19 months since August 2011, according to the Economic and Business Forecasting Centre of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

Centre director Thanawat Polvichai said consumer sentiment was buoyed by 18.9 per cent growth in the last quarter of 2011 and the central bank's decision to keep its key interest rate unchanged at 2.75 per cent, 16 per cent export growth in January and 40 per cent import growth also help drive up consumer confidence as well as the rise of the capital market in February by 67 points.

Pointing out the Bt300 minimum wage and the government's rice pledging scheme as the key factors most affecting consumer confidence, Dr Thanawat said the two factors generate more spending among farmers and workers. In addition, 2.2 million tourist arrivals over the past two months is also a boon to the economy.

The trend of improved economic conditions as well as positive consumer sentiment, if continuing, could see this year's economy expand by 5.5 per cent, driven by major infrastructure projects in the second half of 2013, Dr Thanawat said.

Regarding negative factors, rising oil prices and the baht appreciation which worries exporters are seen as the main concerns among consumers along with the political situation and the fragile recovery of the global economy, the centre director said.

Worries over possible electricity outages during a disruption to natural gas supplies from Myanmar April 5-14 have lessened after three utilities boosted their power reserves and assured the public that power brownouts are unlikely to happen in key business areas, he said. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-03-07

[Lite Beer]

British activist fighting to avoid Thai jail term

BANGKOK, March 7, 2013 (AFP) - A British activist who could face up to seven years in a Thai prison for his investigation into alleged migrant labour abuses has decried the charges as a politically motivated attempt to silence him.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624318-british-activist-fighting-to-avoid-thai-jail-term/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Friday 8 Mar 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624354-thailand-live-friday-8-mar-2013/