Thailand Live Friday 14 Jun 2013

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PM persuades businessmen from China and Hong Kong to invest in Thailand

BANGKOK, 14 June 2013 (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has encouraged businessmen from China and Hong Kong to invest more in Thailand, particularly in the fields of alternative energy and processed agricultural products.

On 13 June 2013, Chairman of the China Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce Chen Jingwei paid a courtesy call on Ms Yingluck at Government House. The Thai premier said the chairman’s visit was a good opportunity to strengthen the relations between China and Thailand, especially in terms of business. She informed Mr Chen that the Thai government had launched measures to support foreign investors and would cut corporate tax from 30% to 20%.

Ms Yingluck also invited Chinese and Hong Kong businessmen to invest in water management and infrastructure development projects in the country, saying that the projects would pave the way for connecting ASEAN in the future.

Meanwhile, Mr Chen said China and Hong Kong were glad to help enhance Thailand’s economic development and promote investment in ASEAN. He affirmed that China had the potential to invest in various projects in Thailand and that Chinese and Hong Kong businessmen were also confident in Thailand’s economy.


-- NNT 2013-06-14

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Thailand, Myanmar mull exchange of white elephant
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand plans to borrow a white elephant from Myanmar as a symbol to mark 65 years of bilateral ties between the countries, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646462-thailand-myanmar-mull-exchange-of-white-elephant/

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Govt 'not keen' on World Expo bid

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government did not show any interest in pursuing the bid to host World Expo 2020, said Kriengkrai Kanjanapokin, co-chief executive officer of Index Creative Village, speaking about Thailand's removal from the candidate list.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646463-thai-govt-not-keen-on-world-expo-bid/

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Water-project bidders to be considered

Jutarat Tipnumpa

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC) will today consider the list of successful bidders that its selection panel has recommended to implement the country's Bt350-billion water-management and flood-prevention modules.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646464-water-project-bidders-to-be-considered-thailand/

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UPDATE:

Stock plunge 'temporary'
The Nation



Experts believe fundamentals will bring buyers back to the market

BANGKOK: -- The Thai stock market should "stop the bleeding" soon after the selling spree by foreign investors ends and the true attractiveness of the economy and of private companies shine again, financial authorities and market observers said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646283-thai-stock-market-remains-attractive-despite-index-plunge/#entry6505141

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AKEYUTH MURDER
Motive more than 'theft': Panel
The Nation

Human-rights body wants chief investigator to be taken off case

BANGKOK: -- The Senate panel on human rights yesterday called on the Royal Thai Police to change the chief investigator in the case involving the murder of businessman and government critic Akeyuth Anchanbutr.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646466-akeyuth-murder-motive-more-than-theft-thai-panel/

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EDITORIAL
Govt must explain why it let World Expo plan founder
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Ayutthaya's bid is now dead in the water, and the country has lost a good opportunity to benefit, for which the public is owed immediate answers

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646467-govt-must-explain-why-it-let-world-expo-plan-founder-thai-editorial/

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Thailand, rebels agree to reduce violence during Ramadan

KUALA LUMPUR, June 14, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand and rebels from its Muslim-majority south agreed Thursday to scale back violence in the restive region during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan starting in July.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646468-thailand-rebels-agree-to-reduce-violence-during-ramadan/

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Korean Woman Falls Down From 15 Floor Apartment

A Korean woman fell down from the 15th floor of a mansion or apartment. Her husband said that he occasionally argued with his wife, but he’d never have thought that his wife would commit suicide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646473-korean-woman-falls-to-death-from-building-in-bangkok/

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7 firms fingered in supercar tax evasion
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has found seven major vehicle importers fudging their financial figures to evade taxes, including one suspected of involvement in the recent accidental burning of exotic cars being trucked in Nakhon Ratchasima.

The seven firms actually had sales worth over Bt11 billion in 2011 but stated only Bt4 billion, denying the country tax income from these imports, AMLO chief Sihanart Prayoonrat said yesterday in reporting on his agency's progress in checking the transactions of 222 luxury auto importers.

AMLO would proceed with probing 200 other companies and submit the results to the Revenue Department to audit them and collect back-taxes from them.

If the Customs Department confirms that these companies also falsely declared items or their values they would be also guilty of violating the anti-money laundering law and their assets could be seized. The case of the burned cars is being handled separately by the Department of Special Investigation.


-- The Nation 2013-06-14

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Fate of 5,800 small schools still undecided
Supinda Na Mahachai
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Council of Alternative Education, community organisations, and local administrative bodies, proposed yesterday that the closure of over 5,800 small schools be postponed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646475-fate-of-5800-small-thai-schools-still-undecided/

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Young elephant dies in fatal electrocution

The Nation

PHETCHABURI: -- A seven-year-old wild elephant in Phetchaburi's Kaeng Krachan National Park was fatally electrocuted by an oil palm plantation's 220-voltage electric fence yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646476-young-elephant-dies-in-fatal-electrocution-in-phetchaburis-kaeng-krachan-national-park/

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Khao Yai hikers warned of flash floods
Kasem Chanathinaj
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In the face of growing risk of flash floods, Khao Yai National Park has warned tourists to immediately move to higher ground if they notice that the water around waterfalls is turning murky.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646477-khao-yai-hikers-warned-of-flash-floods/

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UPDATE:

Anti-retroviral lowers HIV risk among injecting drug users: study
Tanatpong Kongsai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Daily intake of the anti-retroviral drug tenofovir significantly reduces the risk of infection with the Aids virus among injecting drug users, according to a joint Thai-US study.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646386-regular-intake-of-aids-drug-tenofovir-helps-reduce-risk-of-hiv-infection-study/#entry6505228

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BURNING ISSUE
Calling in favours doesn't always work
Samudcha Hoonsara
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom is still unable to say exactly how much money has been lost in the government's rice-pledging scheme, even though he dismissed the Bt260-billion estimate produced by the Finance Ministry's post-audit committee.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646478-calling-in-favours-doesnt-always-work-thai-govts-rice-pledging-scheme/

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OVERDRIVE

America declares war on world currencies

Thanong Khanthong

BANGKOK: -- It can now be fully confirmed that we are in the middle of a currency war on a global scale. On April 19, the Thai baht was trading at Bt28.55 against the US dollar. At that point, Dr Prasarn Trairatvorakul, the Bank of Thailand governor, almost lost his job.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646479-america-declares-war-on-world-currencies-thai-opinion/

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Positive factors to hike Thai wages
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Salaries in Thailand are expected to rise by 5.8 per cent this year, outstripping the estimated inflation rate of 3.2 per cent, because of the tight labour market, with unemployment at 1 per cent, the lowest in the region, according to Towers Watson, a global professional-services company.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646480-positive-factors-to-hike-thai-wages/

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,442.02, up 38.75 points /MCOT

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Mass tourism market blamed for degradation of Phuket
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- The Senate Standing Committee on Tourism yesterday highlighted a series of issues plaguing Phuket due to the rapid development of the province into a major center for mass tourism in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646512-mass-tourism-market-blamed-for-degradation-of-phuket/

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Former male nurse confesses to at least 20 hotel room abortions
Phuket Gazette


Prapak Thiparat, 67, confessed to performing more than 20 illegal abortions over the past two years. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Police in Krabi province, across the bay from Phuket, raided a hotel room where they arrested a former nurse who was just about to perform an illegal abortion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646513-former-male-nurse-confesses-to-at-least-20-hotel-room-abortions/

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Satun hit by floods; declares disaster zones
By Digital Media



SATUN, June 14 - All seven districts in the southern province of Satun have been declared disaster zones hit by flooding.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646540-satun-hit-by-floods;-declares-disaster-zones/

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2.5 tons of marijuana seized in Nakhonratchasima Province

File photo

Nakhonratchasima, 14 June 2013, (NNT) -- More than 2.5 tons of marijuana with street value of 50 million baht has been seized in Nakhonratchasima Province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646521-25-tons-of-marijuana-seized-in-nakhonratchasima-province/

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Wongwien Yai to Tak Sin Sky-walk is now open for public

Bangkok, 14 June 2013, (NNT) -- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has announced that the sky-walk linking Wongwien Yai and Tak Sin BTS train stations is now open for the public.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646522-wongwien-yai-to-saphan-taksin-sky-walk-is-now-open-for-public/

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Presidential Elections Begin in Iran

TEHRAN, June 14 (RIA Novosti) - Over 60,000 polling stations opened across Iran on Friday as the Islamic Republic votes in its 11th presidential elections.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646524-presidential-elections-begin-in-iran/

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Rosewood worth 7 million baht seized in Bung Kan Province

Bung Kan, 14 June 2013, (NNT) -- Rangers and forest officials in Bung Kan have confiscated Siamese Rosewood logs with the street value of at least 7 million baht.

The joint operation seized 66 rosewood logs, which appeared to be freshly cut and bore no forest official marks, from a house in Bungkonglong District of the province.

Mr. Nirun Pothirat, the owner of the house confessed that the logs were destined for China.

Officials marked all the logs before sending them to Region 4 Forest Protection and Reservation Unit office to be kept as evidence in legal proceedings.

Siamese Rosewood is known for its fragrance and beautiful texture. Currently, it is listed under rare species by CITES. It is one of the most sought-after woods in Asia which command exorbitant prices on the international market.


-- NNT 2013-06-14

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Calls escalate for review of rice pledging scheme
By English News

BANGKOK, June 14 – Two leading economists have called on the government to seriously review the controversial rice pledging scheme to prevent Thailand from incurring more losses.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646527-calls-escalate-for-review-of-thai-rice-pledging-scheme/

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Fourth suspect in Akeyuth murder case surrenders to police; claims he only helped carry body, accuses driver of strangling victim /MCOT

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Baby Phuket elephant sees ocean for the first time

PHUKET: -- A YouTube user has uploaded a video of what they say is an elephant in Phuket seeing the ocean for the very first time.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646533-baby-phuket-elephant-sees-ocean-for-the-first-time/

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Pattaya Police prepare for weekend crime crackdown

PATTAYA: -- Pattaya Police are preparing for a weekend of arrests as they take part in a city-wide crime crackdown which senior officers hope will rid the streets of those involved in criminal activities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646534-pattaya-police-prepare-for-weekend-crime-crackdown/

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Chai Nat holds prawn and fish eating festival

CHAI NAT, June 14th (NNT) - The Chai Nat governor presided over the opening ceremony of the prawn and fish eating festival dubbed "Chao Phraya Chai Nat".

The festival will be held at the Chai Nat government office until the 16th June 2013. The opening ceremony attracted over 2,000 local students, businessman and tourists, who flocked over the event to taste and buy delectable food from over 60 stalls set up for the event.

The “299” shop in particular attracted fresh-water fish and prawn lovers who swarmed into the shop to buy grilled fish and prawns plus drinks at a package price of 299 baht per set. On stage entertainment within the festival also includes singing and acting.

-- NNT 2013-06-14