Famous Singer Tik Shiro Involved in Fatal Bangkok Car Accident, Two Dead

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No discussion on BOT governor's dismissal: Minister
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister's Office Minister Varathep Rattanakorn on Wednesday insisted that there was no discussion at yesterday's Cabinet meeting to dismiss Bank of Thailand governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul.

Prasarn’s approach to manage the exchange rates has been heavily criticised by the government.

Varathep gave a personal comment that the conflict stems from the authoritative structure.

He also called for the Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee take more responsibility on the baht movement. He said that while the MPC is obliged to file reports to the Cabinet every six months, under this situation, the frequency should be sped up.

-- The Nation 2013-05-08

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Official website of Prime Minister's Office hacked; message attacking PM Yingluck posted on front page /MCOT

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Education Ministry urging educators to steer clear of rote lessons

BANGKOK, 8 May 2013 (NNT)-The Ministry of Education is urging educators to instill in their students morals and democracy as well as equal treatments among their peers without the emphasis on rote learning as before.

Education Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana said while chairing a meeting for directors of local education offices that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra recognized the importance of education as a key to solving the ongoing southern insurgency.

He urged the schools that have successfully delivered practical curricula, which promote student participation instead of rote learning, to inspire other schools to follow suit, while a new national curriculum promoting a similar idea is being put together.

The Education Minister also asked successful schools to put their plans on the concept of the new Thai education structure in writing and propose it to the Office Of Basic Education Commission to consider. Mr. Pongthep added later that he saw the need to connect all education levels in order to better respond to the demand for professionals or skilled workers in certain industries and other improvements.

-- NNT 2013-05-08

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Interior Ministry to explain to the public why Thai currency is rising

BANGKOK, 8 May 2013 (NNT)-The Ministry of Interior said the government is gravely concerned with the strengthening of the Thai baht and will be clarifying the truth about currency fluctuations to the public in the near future.

Interior Minister Jarupong Ruensuwa has revealed that the Cabinet has been informed yesterday that the rising baht has now begun to take its toll on many businesses in Thailand, particularly those that are dependent on the export sector.

He added later that even the agro-industry, whose contribution to the export sector accounts for only 30-40%, has also been affected by the surge of the Thai baht. The Interior Minister said his Ministry will help raise understanding of the issue among the Thai people as the topic on economy is difficult to understand.

The Ministry, according to him, will address the issue by explaining to Thai people that the roles of the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Thailand are independent of each other and that the government will take full responsibility in keeping the currency situation under control.

-- NNT 2013-05-08

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RT@RichardBarrow: Official website of Thai PM’s Office hacked; “I’m a slutty moron”http://t.co/GZUcSGmfNL

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Thai hiker missing on Philippine volcano after fatal explosion

Manila - A Thai hiker was missing on a Philippine volcano Wednesday, a day after it ejected rocks and ash in a sudden explosion, killing four European tourists and a local guide.

The rescuers earlier found the bodies of the three German nationals, a Spanish woman residing in Germany and the local guide who were killed in Tuesday’s explosion at Mount Mayon in Albay province, 350 kilometres south-east of Manila.

"They are now bringing down the remains of the fatalities, and search and rescue teams are scouring the mountain for a Thai climber who is still missing," Albay Governor Joey Salceda said.

A total of 27 foreign and local climbers were on Mayon, including 12 who were injured, when it spewed rocks, ash and steam 500 metres above its summit

-- The Nation 2013-05-08

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Foreigner Beaten by Tuk-Tuk Drivers after not Paying Extortionate Fee at Karaoke Bar

- A word of warning if A word of warning if you ‘want to do it your way’
James Austin Farrell May 8, 2013

CHIANG MAI: -- CityNews – A foreign man was badly beaten by tuk-tuk drivers late April after the driver had taken him to a karaoke bar where he was charged 17,000 baht for a few drinks and forced to pay lest he suffer the consequences.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638081-foreigner-beaten-by-tuk-tuk-drivers-after-not-paying-extortionate-fee-at-karaoke-bar/

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RT @ChadapornLin: Blackout at Central Lardprao and Major Ratchayothin due to power shortage

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POLITICS
Jatuporn's defamation suit dismissed


File photo : Jatuporn

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court on Wednesday dismissed a defamation suit filed by red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan against Democrat MP Thepthai Senpong, saying that Thepthai had merely expressed his opinion.

Jatuporn alleged in the trial that Thepthai defamed him in a press conference in which he asked the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to probe Jatuporn's role in front of the Criminal Court building on June 2010.

On that day, red shirts members gathered at the Criminal Court to give moral support to a group of red shirts leaders who were asking for their release on bail. Jatuporn and other red shirt leaders joined the gathering. When the court decided not to grant bail, the reds blocked the prison vehicle carrying the defendants, preventing it from leaving.

Thepthai held a press conference the following day asking DSI to investigate Jatuporn's role and to decide whether his participation in the gathering violated his own bail terms. Jatuporn at that time was free on bail on a terrorism charge.

The court Wednesday said Thepthai's statements were just opinions and he was free to ask DSI if unsure whether Jatuporn had violated his bail or otherwise.


-- The Nation 2013-05-08

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RT @veen_NT: Chalerm, on YL being attacked, The more she is attacked, the more popular she would be. #NNA

RT @veen_NT: Chalerm: The attacks on PM YL shouldn't be a problem if the press doesn't pick it up. She must b sensitive about it. TR @Pimnara_nna

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Woman who ran secret prison bypassed as top spy
By The Associated Press ADAM GOLDMAN (Associated Press), KIMBERLY DOZIER (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON - (AP) -- One of the CIA's highest-ranking women, who once ran a CIA prison in Thailand where terror suspects were waterboarded, has been bypassed for the agency's top spy job.

Full story: I had to post this in Thailand News. The entire article is 1% Thailand related. 99% is US politics. See the source: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638090-woman-who-ran-secret-prison-in-thailand-bypassed-as-top-spy/

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Cambodian PM vows to leave power 'when I am 74'

PHNOM PENH (AFP)- Cambodia's strongman leader Hun Sen offered a glimmer of hope to the country's opposition on Monday - by saying he would stay in power for at least another decade.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638097-cambodian-p-m-vows-to-leave-power-when-i-am-74/

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SET index closed at 1614.15, up 13.00; Bt/USD29.25; GBP45.21; AUD29.72; EUR38.26; CAD28.96; HKD3.76; SGD23.63; JPY29.46

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POLITICS
Yellow-shirt rally, plough ceremony in clash of dates
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Hundreds of yellow shirt protesters, gathering since Tuesday at Sanam Luang to give moral support to Constitutional Court judges and opposing the Preah Vihear court case, are refusing to clear the site.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638104-yellow-shirts-expect-100000-people-at-bangkok-rally/

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Hackers target Thai PM with online insult

BANGKOK, May 8, 2013 (AFP) - Hackers infiltrated the website of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's office on Wednesday, posting offensive comments in the latest attack on her character.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638106-hackers-target-thai-p-m-yingluck-with-online-insult/

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RT @ChadapornLin: Don't understand how True Move is publicizing 4G when they haven't even started the real 3G service

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Thai hiker rescued after fatal explosion at Philippine volcano

Manila - A 35-year-old Thai hiker was rescued Wednesday from a Philippine volcano one day after a sudden explosion of rocks and ash killed four European tourists and a local guide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/637879-five-dead-as-philippine-volcano-spews-ash-rocks/#entry6381807

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Minister claims strong baht forced 29 export firms to close
By Digital Media

BANGKOK, May 8 – The surging baht compelled 29 Thai exporters to close their businesses last month, while applications for new company start-ups dropped by 17 per cent, Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saikua said today.

He said 4,781 new companies were registered in April, a significant decline from the 5,753 companies in April 2012.

Mr Nattawut blamed it on the strengthening baht since late last year and said 127 companies have suspended their businesses in the past four months.

Twenty-five of the hardest hit companies exported auto parts, agro products, machinery and garments, with two each in the consumer products and pharmaceutical businesses.

More businesses will close their doors this month if the Bank of Thailand and its Monetary Policy Committee fail to take action on the policy interest rate which resulted in the appreciating baht.

He said 24,454 companies newly-registered in the first four months of this year mostly involved construction, cardboard box manufacturing and auto parts. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-05-08

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Thai officials in China to negotiate Lin Ping's longer stay
By Digital Media

BANGKOK, May 8 - A group of Thai representatives travelled to China today to negotiate a longer stay for Lin Ping, the panda that was born in Thailand.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638129-thai-officials-in-china-to-negotiate-lin-pings-longer-stay/

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Permanent Thai-Myanmar checkpoint officially opens in Prachuap Khiri Khan
By Digital Media

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, May 8 – Senior Thai and Myanmar officials opened the Singkhon-Mudong permanent checkpoint in this province, paving the way for boosting mutual border trade.

Prachuap Khiri Khan governor Weera Sriwatthanatrakul attended the official opening of the new border crossing Wednesday.

Seafood from Myanmar was imported to Thailand on the first day of the checkpoint opening.

Myeik’s deputy chairman of chamber of commerce and industry said Myanmar is connected to the Andaman Sea and Thailand’s Prachuap Khiri Khan is adjacent to the Gulf of Thailand.

Several groups from Prachuap Khiri Khan have recently visited Myeik for business talks, so relations of both countries have become stronger.

Following the permanent checkpoint opening, mutual trade will definitely increase. The province plans to set up an industrial estate near this checkpoint, so he invited Thai businesspeople to invest in Myanmar.

He said that goods from Myeik are normally transported to Thailand from Kaw Thaung to Ranong province. The new permanent checkpoint will facilitate transportation from Myeik to Prachuap Khiri Khan using a
shorter distance of 200 kilometres or a four-hour drive. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-05-08

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to continue:

Thailand Live Thursday 9 May 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638204-thailand-live-thursday-9-may-2013/