SPECIAL REPORT
'Limited impact' from PAD leaders' move to bow out
The Sunday Nation

Red-shirt supporters of the government confront supporters of the opposition Democrat Party yesterday during a Democrat rally in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Analysts say decision by yellow-shirt leaders to end formal struggle may not weaken anti-govt movement

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663180-limited-impact-from-pad-leaders-move-to-bow-out/

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION
Reform forum gets off the ground at Government House today
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The first forum as part of the government's attempt to form the Political Reform Council kicks off at Government House this morning. The government has changed its mind from holding it as a close-door meeting to allowing media coverage through closed-circuit television.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663183-reform-forum-gets-off-the-ground-at-government-house-today/

MISSING VISAS
Arrests made in visa-sticker scam; civil servants involved
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Immigration police investigator Pol Col Chatchai Eam-Seang yesterday revealed that authorities had retrieved 55 of the 300-stolen visa stamps found to be missing on Thursday from the Thai embassy in Malaysia.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663184-arrests-made-in-visa-sticker-scam;-civil-servants-involved/

SOUTH CRISIS
Three dead, two injured in southern violence
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former village headman assistant Chalee Samato and two of his friends were shot dead while another friend was injured in a drive-by attack on a teashop in Yala's Raman district, yesterday morning. Two rubber tapers were also wounded in a separate attack in Kabang district.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663185-three-dead-two-injured-in-southern-violence/

EDUCATION
English-language course a hit
Thanapat Kitjakosol,
Wanwisa Putna
The Nation

Ekachai School deputy director Thada Wiriyakul from Samut Prakan

BANGKOK: -- Popular course in Samut Sakhon school is now a prototype to help prepare for the AEC

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663186-english-language-course-a-hit/

Another 37 ethnic Rohingya escape detention
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thirty-seven ethnic Rohingya broke out of Immigration Police Checkpoint detention cells in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Muang district yesterday at 3am.

The escapees were among 115 Rohingya detained there earlier this year after attempting to enter Thailand from Myanmar. A manhunt, involving a total of 180 police, officials and volunteers is already underway, however, as of press time, only three runaways had so far been re-captured.

Meanwhile, out of the 10 ethnic Rohingya who escaped from a detention centre belonging to the Ranong Immigration Office on Friday morning, only two of them have been recaptured. They were charged with destroying sate property in the escape attempt. The search is continuing for the other eight Rohingya on islands off the coast of Ranong. The 10 escapees were part of a group of 118 ethnic Rohingya detained at the facility.

-- The Nation 2013-08-25

'People with different views need to discuss solutions'
Khanittha Thepphajorn,
Phochana Phichitsiri
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- It is not hard to predict that the Yingluck government's council on national reform will fail if it repeats mistakes of previous governments - and fails to act on advice to allow people with different views to discuss solutions to national division and political conflicts, academics say.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663187-people-with-different-views-need-to-discuss-solutions/

Democrat 'farmer' Thaworn to join rubber price protests
Chanikarn Phumhiran,
Krissana Tiwatsirikul
The Sunday Nation

Thaworn

BANGKOK: -- Following a clash between rubber planters and police in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Democrat Party deputy leader Thaworn Senneam said yesterday he would join the protest - as he is a farmer also affected by the drop in rubber prices.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663188-democrat-farmer-thaworn-to-join-rubber-price-protests/

EDITORIAL
Thai-Pakistani ties destined to strengthen
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- PM's visit to Islamabad is good for bilateral relations and should boost trade, defence and regional links

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663189-thai-pakistani-ties-destined-to-strengthen/

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Walls of misunderstanding
Budsarakham Sinlapalavan
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Accused of inciting panic through a message posted on his Facebook page, veteran journalist Sermsuk Kasitipradit insists he has not violated any laws

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663190-walls-of-misunderstanding/

Phuket Opinion: This could be heaven or this could be…
Phuket Gazette -

Westerners' financial acrobatics sometimes fail spectacularly. Image: Gazette Graphics

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663191-phuket-opinion-this-could-be-heaven-or-this-could-be/

RT@RichardBarrow: Today is the finals for boat racing on the Chao Phraya River. Races from about 8:30am-4pm at the Rama VIII Bridge pic.twitter.com/Dk78fVq8dE

RT@daveoli Thai tourism minister, “if foreigners would just stay home, and send money and not come here and become homeless or complain about scams the Thai tourism industry would have a much better reputation….”

RT@191Thailand: A truck hit a motorcycle on Sukhumwit Rd which resulted in a fire & two deaths (Via @js100radio) pic.twitter.com/OQ96DXge4P

Thailand’s Economy Remains Healthy with No Sign of Recession

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said that the Thai economy remains healthy and that there is no sign of a recession.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663200-thailands-economy-remains-healthy-with-no-sign-of-recession/

PM leads military leaders to wish Privy Council President Prem happy birthday prior to his 94th birthday tomorrow at Si Sao Thewes residence /MCOT

Phuket Opinion: Waste not, and waste not wanted
Phuket Gazette -

Do we really want to buy garbage to make energy? Photo: Steven Layne

PHUKET: I was recently contacted by a man named David, a graduate-level research assistant from a reputable University in Bangkok, who had come to Phuket for the first time – but not for the typical reasons.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663235-phuket-opinion-waste-not-and-waste-not-wanted/

Not Getting Away With Pick – Pocketing!

PATTAYA:-- August 25, 2013 [PDN]; at 3.00 am Mr. Sataporn Mewong, aged 23 years residing in house No. 18/1 Moo 12, Tambon Nong Prue, Banglamung, Chonburi, was detained by police officers. 1,000 baht cash and mobile video clips are being used as evidence against the suspect. The suspect was reported to be pick-pocketing from Russian tourists.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663250-not-getting-away-with-pick-pocketing/

Health Ministry vigilant of bird flu along Thai-Cambodian border
By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Aug 25--- Thailand's Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong ordered health officials countrywide, particularly in provinces along Thai-Cambodian border to step up measures and to be on alert for the H5N1 virus, as bird flu patients were still detected in the neighbouring country.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663257-health-ministry-vigilant-of-bird-flu-along-thai-cambodian-border/

BMA to request 20 billion baht for grey-line monorail project

BANGKOK, 25 August 2013 (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is set to ask 20 billion baht from the government in order to push forward the grey-line monorail project which is expected to complete in less than 2 years.

Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra has inspected the route where the grey-line monorail will be built. It will run from Vatcharapol to Rama 9 Bridge and connect with the BTS at Thong Lor station.

According to the governor, the grey line is only the first in a series of monorail construction projects the BMA hopes to complete over the next few years.

At this stage, he said the BMA will request a budget of 20 billion baht for the project which is expected to complete in less than 2 years, adding that when completed, it will have the ability to facilitate up to 1 million commuters a day.

-- NNT 2013-08-25

Govt to buy corn at 9 baht per kilo

BANGKOK, 25 August 2013 (NNT) – The government will purchase corn off farmers at the price of 9 baht per kilogram from September to October, with an aim to help corn growers cope with oversupply.

According to Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan, the government will join hands with animal food manufacturers in order to help corn farmers cope with oversupply in which the problem is expected from September through October. He said during the period, the government will buy corn at the price of 9 baht per kilogram. He added that the move will help stabilize corn prices in the market.

He further stated that during September to October, there will be around 3.5 million tons of corn in the market which accounts for 60-70 percent of all in-season corn production. As a result, the market will be faced with oversupply of corn, causing corn prices to drop. Therefore, the government will have to step in and help the farmers.

-- NNT 2013-08-25

Landslide warning device installed in Phuket hills
Phuket Gazette -

PHUKET: A landslide early-detection system costing 4-million-baht has been installed in the Patong Hills.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663258-landslide-warning-device-installed-in-phuket-hills/

RT@ChadapornLin: Taxi drivers to gather at Royal Plaza since 5AM tomorrow to call on govt to roll out subsidies for the LPG price hike

UPDATE

Three civilians gunned down in restive Thai south

BANGKOK: Gunmen dressed as local officials killed three Muslim civilians at a tea shop in Thailand's insurgency-hit south on Saturday, according to police, in the latest act of violence in the festering rebellion.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663185-three-dead-two-injured-in-southern-violence/#entry6753175

Facebook protest sparks call for major Philippine rally

MANILA: Anger in social media at the misuse of Philippine state funds has snowballed into calls for a rally expected to attract thousands, an organiser said Sunday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663263-facebook-protest-sparks-call-for-major-philippine-rally/

First meeting of political reform forum kicks off
By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Aug 25--- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Sunday chaired the first meeting of the political reform forum which was attended by some 70 prominent figures and representatives from several sectors at Government House.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663265-first-meeting-of-political-reform-forum-kicks-off/

Phuket Opinion: Not backing down in Phuket's edgiest district
Phuket Gazette -

Kathu District Chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol is serious about straightening out the bad guys on his beat – his way. Photo: Saran Mitrarat

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663293-phuket-opinion-not-backing-down-in-phukets-edgiest-district/

Fugitive Ex-Monk Reappears In Laos, Report Says

BANGKOK: -- The wealthy former monk hunted by the Thai police is reported to come out of hiding in Laos.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663295-fugitive-ex-monk-reappears-in-laos-report-says/

RT@RichardBarrow: Sunday: Full schedule with channel details for football matches on Thai TV tonight pic.twitter.com/y6GmL7Xbln

to continue:

Thailand Live Monday 26 Aug 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663382-thailand-live-monday-26-aug-2013/