Thailand Live Saturday 14 Sep 2013

[webfact]

Thailand remains top shrimp exporter to U.S.

BANGKOK, 14 September 2013 (NNT) - Thailand still dominates the market of shrimp imports in the U.S. at 18% although this year’s volume has decreased by over 190,000 tons compared to the same period last year.

Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade Pranee Siriphan said the U.S. imported most shrimps from Thailand in the first half of 2013 at over 410,000 tons, valued at 11.5 billion baht. Thailand’s overall shrimp export situation did not change much after the U.S. imposed Countervailing Duties (CVDs) at the beginning of this year. However, this measure has resulted in Thailand’s lower shrimp export volume to the U.S. in the first half of the year.

Moreover, the U.S. reportedly imported more shrimps from Indonesia, Ecuador and India whose share in the U.S. shrimp import market significantly rose in 2012, Ms Pranee indicated. She pointed out that U.S. consumers’ concerns over labor problems in Thailand might make them turn to shrimps from India and Indonesia.

Thailand exports 425,000 tons of shrimps per year on average, with a value of 150 billion baht. Almost 40% of them, worth 50 billion baht, are exported to the U.S.


-- NNT 2013-09-14

[webfact]

HANGOVER FROM HELL
Hundreds of Westerners Living on the Streets of Thailand

Left penniless by Thai girlfriends, or wrestling with drinking or

substance abuse problems, many have nowhere else to go

BANGKOK: -- A Thai charity has revealed that a growing number of Westerners — around 200 at present — are sleeping rough on the streets of the Southeast Asian nation, in areas from Chiang Mai to Phuket, many doing so as a result of alcoholism, drug use or having spent all their money on local women.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667641-hundreds-of-westerners-living-on-the-streets-of-thailand/

[webfact]

Democrat MP Defends 'Red' Parliament Logo

Mr. Wisuth Chainarun announcing the adoption of the new logo.

BANGKOK: -- Anti-government critics have alleged that the new logo of the Parliament TV channel is designed to convey the ideology of the Redshirts, but a senior Democrat MP has defended the logo.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667657-thai-democrat-mp-defends-red-parliament-logo/

[webfact]

FAMILY
Medical body to revise surrogacy regulations
PONGPHON SARNSAMAK
THE NATION



Women who are not relatives to be allowed to carry babies for others

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND is set to open up on surrogacy - to allow women who are willing to carry and deliver babies for others who are not their relatives.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667658-thai-medical-body-to-revise-surrogacy-regulations/

[webfact]

POLITICS
Opposition to ask top court to rule on charter amendments
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Opposition whips agreed at a meeting yesterday to ask the Constitutional Court next week for a ruling on whether proposed changes to the charter about the election of senators, now before Parliament, violate the Constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667660-opposition-to-ask-top-court-to-rule-on-thai-charter-amendments/

[webfact]

WILDLIFE POACHING
Two forest rangers killed in gun battle with tiger hunters
JANJIRA PONGRAI
THE NATION

TWO FOREST rangers were killed and two others seriously injured in the latest fierce gun battle in Tak with a group of tiger hunters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667661-tak-two-forest-rangers-killed-in-gun-battle-with-tiger-hunters/

[webfact]

PEACE TALK
'Pay no heed to BRN statements'
The Nation



Govt dealing with conditions set by insurgency group, next meeting set for mid-October as scheduled : NSC

BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL Security Council is advising the Thai public and media to pay no heed to the demands being made by Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) through channels other than official ones, a senior NSC adviser said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667663-thai-south-peace-talks-pay-no-heed-to-brn-statements/

[webfact]

Oman tourist stabbed on Walking Street, South Pattaya, by bar worker



PATTAYA: -- On the night of 11th September a 32 year old tourist from Oman was stabbed in the stomach after an angry encounter with a bar worker in Soi 15 off Walking Street.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667664-oman-tourist-stabbed-on-pattaya-walking-street-by-bar-worker/

[webfact]

AOT to open court office at Suvarnabhumi
NONGNAPAS MAIPANICH
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT claims to be the first in the world to house a district court on its premises - a move undertaken to make it convenient for tourists to lodge complaints there. Airports of Thailand chairman Sita Divari said yesterday the court would open on September 23, and will accept complaints around the clock.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667665-aot-to-open-court-office-at-suvarnabhumi/

[webfact]

Heavy rain to continue as BMA monitors flooding
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Heavy rain influenced by Typhoon Man-yi is anticipated in 80 per cent of the Bangkok area next week, a senior Bangkok Metropolitan Administration official said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667666-heavy-rain-to-continue-as-bangkok-monitors-flooding/

[webfact]

'Stupid woman' remark stirred anger and apology in British parliament
Hataikarn Treesuwan,
Nuntida puangthong
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has been under fire for his "stupid woman" remark - made during a Democrat rally last Saturday in reference to the Smart Lady reality-show contest - a project under the government's Thai Women Empowerment Fund.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667668-stupid-woman-remark-stirred-anger-and-apology-in-british-parliament/

[webfact]

Thammasat University row takes an interesting turn
Kornchanok Raksaseri



BANGKOK: -- THE CAMPAIGN launched by Thammasat University students last week over uniforms appears to have provoked a lot of debate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667669-thammasat-university-row-takes-an-interesting-turn/

[webfact]

6 year old girl scarred for life after dog attack at North Pattaya construction site

PATTAYA: -- A 6 year old girl is expected to be scarred for life after an attack by a dog at a North Pattaya Construction Site.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667671-6-year-old-girl-scarred-for-life-after-dog-attack-at-north-pattaya-construction-site/

[webfact]

Phuket tourism court on hold
Phuket Gazette


Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Pureesrisak (right) and Wirat Shinwinijkul, Secretary-General of the Courts of Justice, at the opening of the first tourist court in Pattaya on September 5. Photo: Ministry of Tourism and Sport

PHUKET: -- The opening of a new tourist court in Phuket has been delayed while a sortie of judges, Tourist Police and officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) complete a 14-million-baht, two-week fact-finding trip to France.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667687-phuket-tourism-court-on-hold/

[webfact]

AOT holds emergency drill, builds confidence among passengers

BANGKOK, 14 September 2013 (NNT) – The Airport of Thailand (AOT) has held an emergency drill and a rescue mission, while assuring all sides that its readiness and standard meet the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667665-aot-to-open-court-office-at-suvarnabhumi/#entry6821883

[webfact]

Son of senior Army officer arrested for 'sexual assault'



BANGKOK: -- Police have arrested Mr. Athiphon Sumanant, a son of a high-ranking army officer, in connection with a rape of a 21 year old woman.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667691-son-of-high-ranking-thai-army-officer-arrested-for-sexual-assault/

[webfact]

Bt204 million approved for online system monitoring govt's rice stocks
By English News



BANGKOK, Sept 14 – The National Rice Policy Committee (NRPC) has approved a Bt204 million budget to improve the computer system of state agencies responsible for the rice pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667706-bt204-million-approved-for-online-system-monitoring-thai-govts-rice-stocks/

[webfact]

Army to build asphalt roads to help address rubber oversupply
By English News



BANGKOK, Sept 14 –The Thai army will use more than 300 tonnes of asphalt for road construction next year to cooperate with the government in solving the problem of rubber oversupply, according to Defence Ministry spokesman Thanatip Sawangsaeng.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667709-thai-army-to-build-asphalt-roads-to-help-address-rubber-oversupply/

[webfact]

VIDEO REPORT: Phuket police stick it to luxury-car owners
Phuket Gazette


The row of illegally parked luxury cars were obstructing traffic. Image: YouTube

PHUKET: -- Police dished-out parking tickets to about a dozen luxury cars that were illegally parked along Phuket Town's Dibuk Road yesterday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667720-phuket-police-stick-it-to-luxury-car-owners-video-report/

[webfact]

Taxi Drives Away with Passenger’s Belongings



The yellow taxi claims that it out of service and asked passengers to help push the taxi. At the same time the driver drive off with the passengers belongings.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667747-bangkok-taxi-drives-away-with-tourists-belongings/

[Lite Beer]

Four soldiers injured in bombing ambush while on duty patrolling in Pattani's Khok Pho district /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Heavy rain in Bangkok, flood at Vibhavadi Rd causing traffic jam; forest runoff in Phitsanulok, floods 2,000 rai of rice paddy for 2nd time /MCOT

RT@RichardBarrow: Warning of flash floods in Chachoengsao, Prachinburi, Chanthaburi & Trat (Bangkok Post)

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Schedule for today’s football on Thai TV

[webfact]

Thailand, Montenegro to expand cooperation on agriculture, tourism
By English News



PODGORICA, Montenegro, Sept 14 -- Thailand and Montenegro have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture, food industry, fishery, tourism, trade and investment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667765-thailand-montenegro-to-expand-cooperation-on-agriculture-tourism/

[webfact]

Two Thai soldiers killed by roadside bomb

BANGKOK, September 14, 2013 (AFP) - A roadside bomb killed two soldiers in Thailand's insurgency-ridden deep south on Saturday, police said, the latest in a series of deadly attacks that have overshadowed flagging peace efforts.

The blast, which also wounded four other soldiers, struck an army truck in Pattani province shortly before midday, the authorities said.

"A 21-year-old sergeant and a 27-year-old lance corporal were killed,' Police Major Somjet Thongpan told AFP by telephone.

"One of them died on the spot and the other passed away in hospital," he added.

Over the past week more than a dozen security personnel have been killed in the restive southern region, where a shadowy conflict waged by Muslim militants has left more than 5,700 people dead since 2004.

On Thursday three paramilitary rangers building a public restroom were killed by suspected insurgents who escaped with assault rifles and a pistol.

Earlier in the week five police officers were killed in an ambush and two soldiers perished in an attack at a school.

The violence comes despite several rounds of peace talks with the rebels, who are seeking some form of autonomy for the region, which was annexed by Buddhist-dominated Thailand a century ago.

Thailand's chief negotiator said last week the negotiations should continue despite the recent wave of bloodshed.

Talks began on March 28 in neighbouring Malaysia but have so far failed to halt near-daily violence, raising questions about the rebel leaders' influence over grassroots insurgents.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-09-14

[Lite Beer]

to continue:

Thailand Live Sunday 15 Sep 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667898-thailand-live-sunday-15-sep/