Thailand Live Friday 19 Apr 2013

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Phuket's first underpass to open early 2014
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- To alleviate the ongoing traffic tailbacks at the construction site of Phuket’s first underpass (story here), the project managers will open all three lanes of the underpass at the beginning of next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633802-phukets-first-underpass-to-open-early-2014/

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Thai chefs take home 11 gold medals from Australian cooking tournament in Perth

Perth, 18 April 2013 (NNT) – Twenty-one chefs from Thailand who took part in the Australia Culinary Federation 2013 tournament in Perth, Australia, have managed to take home 11 gold medals.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633804-thai-chefs-take-home-11-gold-medals-from-australian-cooking-tournament-in-perth/

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Thailand Tobacco eyes expansion abroad
By English News



BANGKOK, April 19 – Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) has been encouraged to expand its markets overseas including western countries, Deputy Finance Minister Tanusak Lek-uthai said today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633805-thailand-tobacco-eyes-expansion-abroad/

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Kittiratt considering sacking central bank boss
By English News

BANGKOK, April 19 – Thai Deputy Prime Minister/Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong admitted today that he has contemplated firing the central bank governor on a daily basis, but has not done so as he is not legally bound to raise the axe.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633814-kittiratt-considering-sacking-central-bank-boss/

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Thailand-Bahrain set up joint trade venture.
By Digital Media

BANGKOK, April 19 - Thailand and Bahrain have jointly set up a company for trade between the two countries.

Deputy Prime Minister / Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong chaired the signing ceremony between representatives of both nations.

He said the move is to boost trade, in particular imports and exports in chicken as well as jewellery and accessories. Businesspersons from both Thailand and Bahrain participated in the signing ceremony.

Mr Kittiratt said trade between the two countries increased 40 per cent with around US $ 500 million in value after Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra visited Bahrain in mid-2012.

The finance minister said Bahrain has a food security policy to use Thailand as a centre for buying food supplies, and the purchasing power of the Bahraini has increased, creating opportunities for the Thai private sector to expand business to the Middle East.

Thailand Trade Representative president Olarn Chaipravat said the collaboration will help boost bilateral trade on energy and food, for Bahrain is rich in oil reserves and a big market for oil trade, while Thailand is a producer of food and other agricultural products.

Bahrain will set up a centre for agricultural products in Thailand to export to Bahrain, and will serve as Thailand's gateway to penetrate other Middle Eastern and African markets.

Bahrain sees Thailand as its gateway to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). (MCOT online news).

-- TNA 2013-04-19

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RT@BBCBreaking: TV entertainer Rolf Harris questioned on suspicion of sexual offences by UK police under Operation #Yewtree bbc.in/ZBrB82

RT@BBCBreaking: Update: Rolf Harris is previously unnamed 82-yr-old man interviewed in November by UK police in sex offences inquiry bbc.in/ZBs0XU

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Special Report:
Thailand stepping up measures to prevent H7N9 virus

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is stepping up measures in preventing the new strain of bird flu called H7N9 virus, which has been found in China, while Thais have been urged not to panic over the situation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633844-thailand-stepping-up-measures-to-prevent-h7n9-virus/

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PREAH VIHEAR CONTROVERSY
ICJ judge asks Thailand, Cambodia to define 'vicinity'
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation, The Hague



THE HAGUE: -- The question raised by Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf after the hearing session on the 'vicinity' of the Preah Vihear was of personal interest to the judge but sent no significant signal about the case, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633743-experts-praise-thai-teams-performance-at-preah-vihear-hearing/#entry6317467

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Finance Minister says lowering key policy rate will weaken Thai Baht

BANGKOK, 19 April 2013 (NNT)-Finance Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong has said lowering the policy interest rate is an appropriate way of controlling the rising Baht and the influx of foreign capital.

The Finance Minister said that he hoped that the Bank of Thailand (BoT) and the Monetary Policy Committee would lower the policy rate by 1%. They should adopt a gradual approach to adjusting it down while keeping the influx of foreign currencies under surveillance in order to keep Thai exporters out of trouble.

Mr. Kittiratt added that Thailand has more than 1.8 trillion US dollars in its reserve given the positive balance of trade in the past years. Meanwhile, he added that the reason for a higher inflation rate was due to the fact there is a continuous influx of money pouring into the country.

The Thai Baht, he said, continues to rise even though the BoT has been keeping the market liquidity under control. Therefore, the Finance Minister said, it is an opportune time to lower the interest rate, and the move will not attract foreign investments as projected by the media. He explained that by reducing the rate, it will lure foreign investors away from investing their currencies in Thailand and will eventually weaken the Baht.


-- NNT 2013-04-19

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Captured Boston bomber suspect is dead: US media /The Voice of Russia /AFP

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SOUTH CRISIS
Police inspector shot dead in Pattani
Pares Lohasan



PATTANI: -- A police inspector in the deep southern province of Pattani succumbed to his injuries after being ambushed on a border road between Yarang and Muang districts Friday morning.

Police were alerted at about 7.50am that insurgents had opened fire on Pol Maj Neramitr Churote, 44, who was reportedly on intelligence duty, after following him to an intersection.

The wreck of Neramitr's Honda Civic, which was riddled with bullets, was found at the scene. The front end was also badly damaged, as it had slammed into an electrical pole. Neramitr was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries on the way.

Also found at the scene of attacks were about 50 spents shells of assault rifles.

The initial police investigation said four assailants on two motorcycles followed Neramitr's vehicle for a while and opened fires from behind when he slowed down for the intersection. Neramitr tried to speed away but the assailants followed and fired several rounds. Neramitr lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the pole. The assailants then snatched Neramitr's gun and sped away.


-- The Nation 2013-04-19

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BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING
Police: Suspect shot dead, second at large


Photo : EPA

Washington - US police said on Friday they had shot dead oneof the suspects in this week's Boston Marathon bombings and that theywere conducting a door-to-door search for the second suspect.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633186-twin-bomb-explosions-shatter-boston-marathon-finish-line/?p=6317704#entry6317704

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Baht at new 16-year high
The Nation

Thai baht continues the sharp appreciation.

At 8.18am, it hit a new 16-year high at 28.71 per dollar, gaining 2.02percent from end-March, according to Bank of Thailand data.

Month to date, the currency also gained 6.40 per cent against Japanese yen, at 29.26 per 100 yen.

It also appreciated by 0.17 per cent against euro to 27.478.


-- The Nation 2013-04-19

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FOREX
Baht moving beyond fundamentals: BOT
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Thai baht is advancing well above its fundamentals, conceded Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633867-baht-moving-beyond-fundamentals-bank-of-thailand/

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Phuket heat almost claims Briton's life
Jody Houton


Phuket heat almost claims Briton’s life

PHUKET: -- While for the island’s sunseekers this month’s blistering heat of around 40 degrees, and long days of uninterrupted sunshine were seen as a very welcome and unexpected surprise, for 71-year-old Briton Ian Foster, it most certainly ruined his holiday and almost cost him his life.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633871-phuket-heat-almost-claims-britons-life/

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48 provinces nationwide declare drought disaster zones

BANGKOK, 19 April 2013 (NNT) - The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has declared 48 provinces nationwide drought disaster zones, with 31 of them hardest hit.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633879-48-provinces-nationwide-declare-drought-disaster-zones/

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Airport Link revenue breaks even for the first time

BANGKOK, 19 April 2013 (NNT) - According to the Transport Ministry, the Airport Rail Link operator broke even for the first time during the last quarter after suffering revenue losses since the start of the train operation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633880-bangkok-suvarnabhumi-airport-rail-link-revenue-breaks-even-for-the-first-time/

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SET index closed at 1545.46, up 15.70; Bt/USD28.50; GBP43.64; AUD29.39; EUR37.17; CAD27.68; HKD3.67; SGD22.94; JPY28.64

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Thailand and Bahrain form joint venture

BANGKOK, 19 April 2013 (NNT) - Thailand and Bahrain has signed an agreement to form a joint venture in a bid to link and develop trade between the two countries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong told the press after a joint meeting between Thai and Bahraini business leaders that both parties aim to strengthen trade and investment relations as well as establish respective distribution networks in each other’s region namely ASEAN and the Middle East, and also in Africa.

The two countries also inked deals to reinforce cooperation in the areas of poultry import-export and jewelry. Bahraini enterprises which operate mainly in processed foods, agriculture, healthcare and medical care, tourism, and construction strongly expressed their wish to establish partnerships with their Thai counterparts.

Trade between Thailand and Bahrain was worth 500 million US dollars last year, up by 40 percent from 2011. Thai exports to Bahrain rose by 16 per cent to $163 million, while imports surged 70 per cent to $266 million.


-- NNT 2013-04-19

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Korkaew to learn his fate April 22
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court will make a decision on Monday whether to allow Pheu Thai party-list MP Korkaew Pikulthong to remain on release from Bangkok Remand Prison or not.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633891-pheu-thai-party-list-m-p-korkaew-to-learn-his-fate-april-22/

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to continue

Thailand Live Saturday 20 Apr 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633963-thailand-live-saturday-20-apr-2013/