Thailand Live Friday 3 May 2013

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Beach chair vendors admit to nearly doubling prices for rentals

PATTAYA:--Sun worshippers are complaining that increasing numbers of beach chair vendors are charging 20 baht more than the city-mandated rental rate of 30 baht.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636984-beach-chair-vendors-admit-to-nearly-doubling-prices-for-rentals/

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Transport Ministry orders Marine Department shakeup

PATTAYA:--A top Transport Ministry official ordered an immediate reorganization of the Marine Department and retraining of rescue workers in the wake of the April boat accident that injured 18 South Korean tourists, along with a Korean and Thai guide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636985-transport-ministry-orders-marine-department-shakeup/

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Sattahip officials raid snake farm selling snake blood to randy tourists

SATTAHIP:--Sattahip officials raided a snake farm where tourists were caught drinking cobra blood to increase their sexual potency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636986-sattahip-officials-raid-snake-farm-selling-snake-blood-to-randy-tourists/

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RT @KristieKenney: Productive meeting with Thai Police Chief General Adul -- included discussion of safety for US citizen residents and tourists in Thailand.

[Lite Beer]

300 kilograms of marijuana seized in Nakhon Phanom Province

NAKHON PHANOM, 3 May 2013 (NNT) – Approximately 300 kilograms of marijuana were confiscated in Nakhon Phanom Province, with a street value of around 1.65 million baht.

A 19-year-old Laotian has been arrested for possession of 297 packs of marijuana. Each pack weighed around 1 kilogram. He was arrested in a convenience store in Nakhon Phanom Province. The police also confiscated the truck he was using to carry the drug.

The bust was an extended operation from another seizure made on April 29 in Nonthaburi Province, where a lady who had connections with drug smugglers in Laos was arrested. The police then used her to make a hoax call for the 300-kg marijuana.

The Lao perpetrator confessed that he smuggled in the marijuana from Laos by hiding it in a long-tailed boat crossing the Mekong. He usually received 80,000 baht per delivery. At this stage, the police said the man was charged with drug possession and illegal entry.

-- NNT 2013-05-03

[Lite Beer]

Gecko exports thriving in Nakhon Phanom
By Digital Media

NAKHON PHANOM, May 3 - Gecko exports in the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom has become a lucrative business with total export value of at least ten million baht a month.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636995-gecko-exports-thriving-in-nakhon-phanom/

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PM to meet with exporters to find solutions to baht appreciation

Bangkok, 3 May 2013, (NNT)- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today attended a meeting with President of Thailand Industrial Council Payungsak Cartsuttipon and representatives from industries affected by the stronger baht in order to discuss solutions to the ongoing appreciation of the Thai currency.

Five measures have been proposed to the government, following fears that the current situation of the baht would affect the exports in the second- and third-quarters.

Mr. Payungsak said the council informed the premier of its concerns and potential crises caused by the baht appreciation, citing that the weakening of the currency seen at present is only temporary. He believed that close monitoring by the private sector and financial institutes would help the suffering business operators recover, and stabilize the nation's currency.

The president of the Thailand Industrial Council said the export and other major industries would like the government to come up with policies to deal with the nation's currency in the future, given there are no concrete measures at the moment to curb the strengthening baht situation.

According to Mr Payungsak, the Thailand Industrial Council, with the support of the government, has contributed greatly to the export industry in terms of export development, hindrance reduction, competitiveness enhancement, and finding newer markets; adding that the export sector is once again in need of help before the baht appreciation causes further damage.


-- NNT 2013-05-03

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Channel 7 journalist receives death threats in Chonburi

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/637003-channel-7-journalist-receives-death-threats-in-chonburi/

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RT @RichardBarrow: "Mr Thailand 2013", a bodybuilding contest, will take place 18-19 May at Central Festival Beach

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Thai private sector pushes harder for government economic action
By English News



BANGKOK, May 3 – Thailand’s leading industrialists today renewed pressure on the government, calling for measures to rein in the baht’s appreciation, cut the policy interest rate and stem foreign capital inflows.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/637018-thai-private-sector-pushes-harder-for-government-economic-action/

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RT @RichardBarrow: Another long weekend for People in Thailand from Saturday-Monday as it's Coronation Day on Sunday.

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SET index closed at 1578.95, down 10.24; Bt/USD29.52; GBP45.75; AUD30.19; EUR38.50; CAD29.04; HKD3.80; SGD23.76; JPY30.0

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Phuket officials pose as tourists to nab Russian wake park owner
Nattha Thepbamrung

PHUKET: -- The Russian owner of the Phuket Wake Park in Kathu, Oleg Lizunov, and his three foreign employees were arrested yesterday afternoon (May 2) when officials from the Phuket Provincial Employment Office, Phuket Police and Bangkok Labour Office visited the site.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/637025-phuket-officials-pose-as-tourists-to-nab-russian-wake-park-owner/

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Skytrain bosses reject DSI charges
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, May 3 – Two top executives of the Bangkok mass transit system today denied charges of malfeasance in an agreement to manage the capital’s Skytrain extended services.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/637029-skytrain-bosses-reject-d-s-i-charges/

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Viral Video: Thailand's weirdest erectile dysfunction ad ever

By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- A TV commercial for erectile dysfunction medication re-surfaced online today and quickly became an object of ridicule in the Thai internet community.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/637035-viral-video-thailands-weirdest-erectile-dysfunction-ad-ever/

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POLITICS
Yingluck sues Thai Rath cartoonist for defamation
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's lawyers on Friday seek legal action against Thai Rath cartoonist Chai Rachawat for comparing the premier to a prostitute.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/637037-yingluck-sues-thai-rath-cartoonist-for-defamation/

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Please note, Thai Immigration will be closed on Monday 6th & Monday 13th May.

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to continue:

Thailand Live Saturday 4 May 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/637126-thailand-live-saturday-4-may-2013/