Elon Musk Fear of Jail if Kamala Harris Defeats Trump: "If He Loses, I’m F—ed!"

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State Ceremony for Fertility of Crops

BANGKOK, 13 May 2013 (NNT) - His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn on Sunday, May 12, was delegated by His Majesty the King to represent him at the state ceremony of Phuetchamonkhon Jarod Phranangkan Raek Na Khwan (พืชมงคลจรดพระนังคัลแรกนาขวัญ), better known to foreigners as the Royal Ploughing Ceremony.

The Sunday ceremony which preceeded the actual royal ploughing ceremony on Monday, May 13, saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, accompanied by HRH Princess Srirasmi, the royal consort, proceed to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace, where he lighted candles and incense stick to pay homage to the principal Buddha image and the statutes of King Rama I and II.This was followed by chanting of Buddhist scriptures by a chapter of high-ranking Buddhist monks. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince then sprinkled lustral water on and presented flower offering to the Buddha image of Phra Patimachaiwat Phra Buddha Khantararat (พระปฏิมาชัยวัฒน์ พระพุทธคันธารราษฎร์). His Royal Highness also sprinkled lustral water and scattered flowers on agricultural produce laid before the altar, praying for the fertility of crops in the kingdom of Thailand.

Then, Phra Rajakhru Phithi Sivisuthikhun (พระราชครูพิธีศรีวิสุทธิคุณ), the ceremonial head of Brahmins, read out this year's court announcement on the State Ceremony of Fertility of Crops, followed by chanting of prayers by 11 Buddhist monks. After the religious rite, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince anointed Phraya Raek Na, or Lord of the Ploughing Ceremony, at his forehead and presented him with a royal ring and a goad in gesture of delegating him the power to perform the ploughing ceremony. This year, Phraya Raek Na is held by Permanent Secretary of State for Agriculture and Cooperatives Mr. Chavalit Chookajorn. His Royal Highness later anointed the forehead of the four ‘celestial maidens’ who will carry gold and silver baskets of rice on the ploughing day. The anointment was carried out amidst Buddhist chanting and sound of gongs and accompanying musical instrument.

The royal ploughing ceremony is scheduled in the sixth lunar month every year. It is carried out according to the ancient Sukhothai tradition of inaugurating the planting season, aimed at ensuring good crops. As Thailand is an agricultural country, this ceremony inspires confidence in the farmers, removing fears with regard to unseen natural disasters that lie ahead.

The royal ploughing ceremony consists of two parts. The first one is based on a religious rite performed on the eve of the ploughing day in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The second part is of Brahman origin, taking place on the following day at the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground.

-- NNT 2013-05-13

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Defense Ministry rejects rumors of planned removal of Army commander

BANGKOK, 13 May 2013 (NNT) – The Defense Ministry has come out to reject rumors of a plan to remove the current Army commander from his post, while confirming cordial relations between the government and the Thai Army.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639020-thai-defence-minister-refutes-rumours-about-dismissal-of-army-chief/#entry6395279

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House dissolution an option: Phumtham
Somroutai Sapsomboon
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai believes the Constitutional Court is responsible for creating the crisis between the judiciary and legislative branches and says dissolution of the House may be the best solution in the current stand-off.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639008-house-dissolution-an-option-pheu-thai-secretary-general/

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BOT panel agrees to rare meeting with Kittiratt
Thanong Khanthong
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In spite of initial hesitation, members of the central bank's Monetary Policy Committee are likely to hold an unprecedented meeting today to discuss the exchange rate and monetary policy at Government House with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639009-bank-of-thailand-panel-agrees-to-rare-meeting-with-kittiratt-baht-exchange-rate/

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EDUCATION
The results from closing small schools should be evaluated
CHULARAT SAENGPASSA



The Education Ministry's policy to close down small schools stirred up a furore last week.

BANGKOK: -- On social media sites, opposition was strong. That was surprising for two reasons: First, this policy is, after all, nothing new. In fact, it has been implemented for over a decade, but last week even the former education minister joined the attack. Second, there are some good reasons, for the sake of our children in rural areas, to support this policy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639010-the-results-from-closing-small-thai-schools-should-be-evaluated/

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Social media provides the 'glue' for one very well-connected modern family
Asina Pornwasin
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Many people use social media purely as a communication tool for work or for connecting with friends - but not so for the Chiaranaipanich family, who embrace it as a channel for maintaining almost constant communicating among themselves.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639011-social-media-provides-the-glue-for-one-very-well-connected-modern-family/

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Democrats to discuss reforms
Somroutai Sapsomboon,
Prapasri Osathanon
The Nation

Nineteen execs led by Abhisit to debate blueprint and decide on next course of action

BANGKOK: -- The opposition Democrat Party's executive board meets today to discuss reforming the 67-year-old political institution amidst calls for change from both within and outside.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639012-thai-democrats-led-by-abhisit-to-discuss-reforms/

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AIRLINE
THAI opts for natural hedging strategy
Vipaporn Jitsomboon
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International is resorting to a natural hedging strategy to mitigate foreign currency fluctuation, amid realisation that it may suffer foreign exchange losses despite the big forex gain of Bt6 billion in the first quarter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639013-thai-airways-international-opts-for-natural-hedging-strategy/

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CONTROVERSIAL POLICY
Rice pledging scheme to be evaluated
Suphannee Pootpisut
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The subcommittee overseeing the government's rice pledge revolving fund will soon convene to evaluate the fund's status, said Luck Wajananawat, president of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639014-thai-govts-rice-pledging-scheme-to-be-evaluated/

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EDITORIAL
The month of May and two bloody political crises
The Nation

The uprisings in 1992 and 2010 were very different, but Thais have managed to return to democracy

BANGKOK: -- Any Thai who marks the anniversaries of the May 1992 "mobile phone mob" uprising and May 2010 red-shirt uprising with the same solemn sincerity should be commended. From a general observation, it's unlikely that there are many such people. The country's political divide has run deep and the two bloody events do not share many crucial things in common.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639015-the-month-of-may-and-two-bloody-political-crises-thai-editorial/

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Peace talks go south again as politics trumps security
Bunn Nagara
The Star
Asia News Network

Bangkok has once more let political priorities trump security considerations, with predictable results.

BANGKOK: -- Up to a fortnight ago, the latest "peace process" for southern Thailand that was supposed to trundle along since February was meandering. Thai delegation leader and National Security Council head Paradorn Pattanathabutr, and chief negotiator for the BRN (Barisan Revolusi Nasional) rebels Hassan Thoyib, were supposedly poring over the details of each other's positions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639016-peace-talks-go-south-again-as-politics-trumps-security-thai-opinion/

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Jailbreak attempt fails, guard hurt
THE NATION
Nakhon Si Thammarat



Nakhon Si Thammarat: -- A prison guard was injured by five inmates who unsuccessfully tried to break out from the Thungsong district prison in Nakhon Si Thammarat yesterday. One of the inmates was fatally shot.

During the unsuccessful jailbreak, Somboon Saengsridam was held hostage and stabbed at his right collarbone. He was taken to the Thungson hospital after the five inmates agreed to give up. Police said the guard was in a stable condition.

The five inmates were identified as Sririchai Phetdee, Suriya Chu-in, Surachet Sornmanee, Suriya Kraithavorn and Sahas Muenluang, who had been convicted on drug charges. Sirichai was shot while trying to climb the prison wall and he later died at the district hospital.

They agreed to release Somboon and surrender after Thungsong district police chief Pol Col Thammanoon Faiju let policemen surround the prison. The district police chief held talks with the five inmates until they agreed to surrender.

Thammanoon said the five inmates tried to flee over the wall but Somboon spotted them and fired at Sirichai - but the four other inmates overpowered him and took him hostage.

Corrections Department chief Pol Colonel Suchart Wongananchai said the five inmates would be chained as a temporary punishment. The injured guard was not in a serious condition.


-- The Nation 2013-05-13

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EDUCATION UPDATE
Online scientific dictionary launched
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A website has been created to help Internet users learn the Thai meanings of English-language mathematical, scientific and technological terms.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639019-thai-education-update-online-scientific-dictionary-launched/

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School mergers unpopular with parents: Poll
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- More than half the parents surveyed by a Dusit Poll opposed the Education Ministry's plan to merge 17,000 small schools across the country in order to increase efficiency and save costs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639010-the-results-from-closing-small-thai-schools-should-be-evaluated/#entry6395266

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Defence minister refutes rumours about dismissal of army chief
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, May 13 - Thailand's Defence Minister on Sunday refuted rumours that Army Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha would be dismissed, saying the claim was groundless.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639020-thai-defence-minister-refutes-rumours-about-dismissal-of-army-chief/

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Pheu Thai to pick candidate
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party will meet tomorrow to choose from four nominees - including Sitha Dhivari, Pimchana Hosakul and Sudarat Keyuraphan - its candidate for the Don Muang MP by-election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639021-pheu-thai-to-pick-candidate-for-don-mueang-by-election/

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Asia's Best Analyst: Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Trinity Securities' Natwarin Tripobsakul ranked as Thailand's best stock analyst last year by picking consumer and retail stocks that were primed to benefit from the improving sentiment in the country as it recovered from devastating floods in 2011.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639023-asias-best-analyst-thailand/

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UKIP Candidate who Fled Britain tells his side of the story

PATTAYA: -- Dave Watson, the UKIP Candidate who fled Britain to Thailand on the eve of his election, has opened up to Pattaya 103 Fm in an exclusive interview in which he lays his marriage problems bare.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639025-u-k-i-p-candidate-who-fled-britain-to-thailand-tells-his-side-of-the-story/

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Royal ploughing ceremony predicts abundant food production, water supply as sacred oxen choose to eat corn and grass /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,620.34, down 2.14 points /MCOT

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Branson debuts as AirAsia stewardess


AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes gets to grips with his latest air hostess. Photo: AirAsia

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP)-- British billionaire Sir Richard Branson strutted his stuff as an AirAsia flight attendant yesterday (May 12), complete with fishnet stockings and figure-hugging red pencil skirt, false eyelashes – and his trademark beard.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639045-richard-branson-debuts-as-airasia-stewardess/

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Abundant food production and water supply predicted
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Royal ploughing ceremony on Monday predicts abundant food production, water supply as sacred oxen choose to eat corn and grass.

The ceremony was presided over by HRH Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn at Sanam Luang.


-- The Nation 2013-05-13

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Traffic police to adopt 6 strategies in dealing with traffic during school days

BANGKOK, 13 May 2013 (NNT)-Traffic police at 88 stations across Bangkok have been told to get ready to handle massive traffic jams during the first week of new school term expected to begin this week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639064-thai-traffic-police-to-adopt-6-strategies-in-dealing-with-traffic-during-school-days/

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Royal ploughing ceremony predicts abundant food, water
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, May 13 – Thailand's traditional soothsayers predicted an abundance of food production and water during the coming rice growing season in the royal ploughing ceremony, marking the beginning of the planting season on Monday.

The ceremony, held at Sanam Luang ceremonial ground, was presided over by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.

The sacred oxen were presented with seven kinds of food -- rice, corn, green beans, sesame, fresh-cut grass, water, and rice whisky. This year, they chose to eat corn and grass and the Brahmin seers accordingly said there would be an abundance of food and water.

Meanwhile, the Lord of the Plough, the permanent secretary of the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, Chavalit Chookajorn linked traditional Siam with contemporary Thailand, when he was offered three pieces of folded cloth of different lengths and asked to select one.

Mr Chavalit chose the shortest length of cloth and based on his selection, more than enough supply water is foreseen, so there will be a plentiful yield in highland rice paddies but some damage may be seen in low-lying farming areas.

The royal ploughing ceremony is a Brahmanic rite, in which sacred oxen plough a furrow at the ceremonial ground of Sanam Luang.

Four consecrated ladies carry gold and silver baskets filled with rice seed, which they scatter into the newly-ploughed furrow. Walking alongside the plough are Brahmans who are chanting and blowing conch shells.

After the ceremony, the public is allowed to collect the rice seed as a symbol of good luck and abundance. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-05-13

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Mahasen cyclone to bring rains to Southern region

CHIANG MAI, 13 May 2013 (NNT)-The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has said cyclone Mahasen, which is moving towards Bangladesh and Myanmar's coasts, could send gusty winds and heavy rains to the southern region of Thailand in a few days.

According to DDPM Chiang Mai Office, the cyclone is traveling in the Bay of Bengal at the speed of 95 kilometers per hour and is expected to reach the shores of both countries around May 15-16.

Its arrival, although it is not moving towards Thailand, will produce minimal impact on the Kingdom, where some areas of the south as well as the Andaman Sea are to expect stormy weather

However, as the rainy season is just around the corner, the monsoon, which is forecast to arrive after the cyclone is gone, will bring heavy rains to the North, West and East of the country.


-- NNT 2013-05-13

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Not open yet, but Phuket's Chalong Marina already needs repairs
Phuket Gazette


All tourists and boat operators using the incomplete Chalong Bay Marina are urged to exercise caution while repairs are made to the facility. Photos: Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- The chief of the Phuket Marine Office has appealed to all boat operators to exercise caution while using the still incomplete Chalong Bay Marina to allow passengers – mostly tourists – to board and disembark vessels.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639100-not-open-yet-but-phukets-chalong-marina-already-needs-repairs/

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Illegal “Sex Guides”, Prostitutes & Drug Users rounded up by Pattaya Police

PATTAYA:--Pattaya Police conducted an operation in the South Pattaya Entertainment Zone early on Monday Morning and rounded up illegal “Sex” Guides, Prostitutes and drug users on Walking Street and Pattaya Beach.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639109-illegal-sex-guides-prostitutes-drug-users-rounded-up-by-pattaya-police/

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PATH warns public of hoax phone calls of masturbation survey
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The PATH, which is a non-profit organisation providing sex education for teenagers has issued a warning that some hoax phone calls have been made citing its name.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639122-p-a-t-h-warns-thai-public-of-hoax-phone-calls-of-masturbation-survey/

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Bloomberg accused of terminal spying for news leads

NEW YORK: -- The multinational financial mass media corporation Bloomberg has been accused of spying on some of its 315,000 customers that use the market-data terminals, sparking outrage among, most notably, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase who said Bloomberg violated their privacy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/639123-bloomberg-accused-of-terminal-spying-for-news-leads/

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2 men shot to death at home in Narathiwat's Ra-ngae district early today; rubber grower shot, severely wounded in Rueso district ambush /MCOT