More Thai evacuees fly out of Cairo today
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The third charter flight for Thais wishing to evacuate from Egypt's unrest is scheduled to leave Cairo for Bangkok today.

The flight can accommodate 332 passengers.

"We are closely working with the association of Thai students in Cairo to provide assistance for Thais there," Information Department's deputy director-general Jakkrit Seevalee said yesterday.

"We also need to ensure that they can travel to the airport in Cairo safely".

The unrest has already claimed over 900 lives in Egypt.

The student association in Cairo announced that as of yesterday up to 406 more of its members had registered their intention to fly back to Thailand and 332 will leave Cairo today.

"The remaining 74 will have to take the next flight," the association said.

It said those who had already registered for the flight out of Cairo would be fined 500 Egyptian pounds each if they, in the end, refused to take the flight.

It added they would also lose the right to get travel assistance if they wished to fly back to Thailand later on.

The student association advised its members to contact the Thai embassy in Cairo directly, if they needed help after Thursday.

"Beginning Friday, the association will close down temporarily," it announced.

During the past few days, about 600 Thais have left Egypt.


-- The Nation 2013-08-22

UPDATE:
Thailand Economy Turns Sour
Written by Our Correspondent

GDP contracts, stock and currency markets tumble

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662229-thai-economy-officials-downplay-recession-fears/page-2#entry6741933

SET undaunted by foreigners' net selling
VARIN TRINO
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE STOCK EXCHANGE of Thailand sees no reason to be concerned over the unloading of Thai stocks by foreign investors, while expecting securities trading accounts to reach 1 million next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662514-set-undaunted-by-foreigners-net-selling/

California Wow founder pleads innocence
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- ERIC LEVINE, the founder of stock exchange-listed California Wow Xperience, has put up a vigorous defence against the Anti-Money Laundering Office's allegations that he and the directors made fraudulent transfers of the company's funds overseas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662515-california-wow-founder-pleads-innocence/

Bangkok 3rd cheapest office location despite higher take-up rate, rents
THE NATION

THAILAND: -- BANGKOK WAS STILL the third-cheapest office location in Asia-Pacific last quarter, despite the increases in take-up rate and rents, according to CB Richard Ellis.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662516-bangkok-3rd-cheapest-office-location-despite-higher-take-up-rate-rents/

PTTGC drafts 5-part plan to study oil spill's impact
WATCHARAPONG THONGRUNG
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PTT GLOBAL Chemical has developed plans to closely study the various impacts of the recent oil spill off the coast in Rayong province, as well as compensation for affected fishing interests, hotel operators, beach vendors, other businesses and residents.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662518-pttgc-drafts-5-part-plan-to-study-rayong-oil-spills-impact/

Baht slides further against $

THE NATION, AGENCIES



BANGKOK: -- FALLING TO a one-year low yesterday at 31.82, the baht has suffered from depreciation against the US dollar along with most emerging-market currencies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662519-thai-baht-further-slides-against-us/

House bedlam comes in for scathing criticism
Political Desk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The bedlam in Parliament on Tuesday while discussing a constitutional amendment has drawn heavy public disapproval and media criticism, as ugly scenes of pushing and shoving between protesting MPs and policemen amidst screams and inflammatory comments were a reminder of similar chaos last May.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662521-bedlam-in-thai-parliament-comes-in-for-scathing-criticism/

Democrats slam Somsak over 'unfair' Facebook message
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

Sirichok asks if taxpayers' money wasted on cyber attacks; message removed later

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662522-thai-democrats-slam-somsak-over-unfair-facebook-message/

Social media debates - who is the fairest of them all?
Asina Pornwasin
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Comments were flying across social media yesterday on the issue of beauty and brains in relation to female members of Parliament, particularly Pheu Thai MP Khattiya Sawatdiphol and Democrat MP Nattaya Benjasiriwan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662523-beauty-and-brains-thai-social-media-debates-who-is-the-fairest-of-them-all/

BURNING ISSUE
Amendment would see power shift, not Senate reform
Attayuth Bootsripoom

Parliament this week is deliberating a constitutional amendment that would require all senators to be elected.

BANGKOK: -- The opposition has strongly opposed the proposed amendment and plans to bring this matter to the Constitutional Court if the amendment bill manages to pass Parliament.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662524-charter-amendment-would-see-power-shift-not-thai-senate-reform/

THAI TALK
After a third-class train ride, minister should fly economy
Suthichai Yoon

Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt has taken a rough bus ride and discovered that city bus No 8 is the worst.

BANGKOK: -- He has also taken an eight-hour train ride to the northeastern province of Surin and found that the toilets in the lowest-class train carriage were dirty and had little or no running tap water.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662525-after-a-third-class-train-ride-thai-transport-minister-should-fly-economy/

EDITORIAL
Reform of the gambling law long overdue
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Preventing addiction to gambling, and the crime that stems from it, must involve education, appropriate legislation and the provision of rehabilitation for addicts

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662526-thai-editorial-reform-of-the-gambling-law-long-overdue/

JAL to fly Dreamliner to Bangkok
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- JAL Group (JAL) announced on Wednesday that it would fly Dreamliner to Bangkok, as part of the revision in flight frequency and fleet plans for the remaining of fiscal year 2013 (ending March 31, 2014).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662527-jal-to-fly-dreamliner-to-bangkok/

Tourist bus plunges into ravine in Malaysia, killing at least 12
The Nation

KUALA LUMPUR: -- As many as 32 people were believed to have been killed Wednesday when a tourist bus plunged into a ravine near a Malaysian mountain resort on Wednesday, a police source said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662528-tourist-bus-plunges-into-ravine-in-malaysia-killing-at-least-12/

UPDATE:

Tags for inmates to ease crowding
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation



Devices to be first tried on young traffic-law violators

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is set to use electronic tagging for some convicted offenders in November as a means to ease overcrowding at correctional facilities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662371-thai-police-to-tag-young-street-racers-with-electronic-bracelets-in-november/?p=6742022#entry6742022

Independent panel sought to look into oil spill
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- More than 30,000 people have signed a petition demanding that an independent committee be set up to investigate last month's oil spill especially since no clear answers have been provided by either PTT Global Chemical Plc (PTTGC) or the government investigation team.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662530-independent-panel-sought-to-look-into-rayong-oil-spill/

Prayuth stands against 'illegal' BRN demands
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha has taken a tough position against meeting any illegal demands from the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), which had earlier entered into a peace dialogue with the government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662531-thai-army-chief-prayuth-stands-against-illegal-brn-demands/

Mubarak to Be Released, Placed Under House Arrest

MOSCOW, August 22 (RIA Novosti) - Egypt’s ex-president Hosni Mubarak, who is to be released from prison within the next 48 hours, will be placed under house arrest, the Ahram Online news website said on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662534-egypts-ex-president-mubarak-to-be-released-placed-under-house-arrest/

Bradley Manning sentenced to 35 years in Wikileaks case

FORT MEADE: -- The US soldier convicted of handing a trove of secret government documents to anti-secrecy website Wikileaks has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662535-bradley-manning-sentenced-to-35-years-in-wikileaks-case/

Allegations of assault by "Copyright" team at East Pattaya Internet Shop



PATTAYA: -- A team of copyright officials are currently under investigation after security camera footage emerged of an alleged assault on a 26 year old man prior to the seizure of computers from an East Pattaya Internet Shop.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662537-allegations-of-assault-by-copyright-team-at-east-pattaya-internet-shop/

Peru drugs: UK pair in court on smuggling charges

CALLAO: -- Two women from the UK held on drug smuggling charges in Peru have been remanded in custody by a court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662540-peru-drugs-uk-pair-in-court-on-smuggling-charges/

3 Samet island resorts to be torn down for encroaching on national park

BANGKOK, 22 August 2013 (NNT) – The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is preparing to tear down 3 Samet Island resorts that encroach on national park areas this weekend.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662550-3-samet-island-resorts-to-be-torn-down-for-encroaching-on-national-park/Full story:

Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,341.09, down 14.05 points /MCOT

Phuket jungle-trek camps raided in search for phantom elephants
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- The Phuket jungle-trekking tourism industry came under scrutiny again on Wednesday when officers from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NREC) raided seven elephant camps in Phuket to try to determine whether or not seven elephants had been trafficked onto the island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662552-phuket-jungle-trek-camps-raided-in-search-for-phantom-elephants/

Cold case cracked: Phuket market vendor faces decade-old murder charge
Phuket Gazette


Jatejit Boonchai was arrested on Songkla murder charges dating back to 2002. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- A used-clothing seller in the Baan Lipon market was arrested yesterday afternoon on a Songkla murder charge dating back to 2002.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662560-cold-case-cracked-phuket-market-vendor-faces-decade-old-murder-charge/

Same same, but different: Second crane collapses in Patong
Phuket Gazette


No injuries have been reported in the accident. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- For the second time in just over a month, a crane being used to install water pipes on Phang Muang Sai Kor Road in Patong toppled over yesterday afternoon, landing this time on a garden wall.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662562-same-same-but-different-second-crane-collapses-in-patong/

PM chairs economic ministers meeting, seeking measures to boost consumption, exports with aim to spur GDP growth to 5% in 2nd half of 2013 /MCOT

TAT to organize Cha-am’s annual tourism festival during September 12-15

BANGKOK, 22 August 2013 (NNT) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is set to organize Cha-am’s annual tourism festival during September 12-15 with an aim to boost local economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662584-tat-to-organize-cha-ams-annual-tourism-festival-during-september-12-15/

Deputy PM Pracha orders investigation of disappearance of 300 Thai visa stamps in Malaysia, fearing they could be used for terrorism activities /MCOT