Thailand Live Friday 20 Sep 2013

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HRH Princess Chulabhorn pays a 10-day visit to Honolulu

BANGKOK, 20 September 2013 (NNT) - HRH Princess Chulabhorn will pay a 10 day visit to Honolulu, Hawaii, from September 20-30, 2013 where she will participate in the 15th International Conference of the Pacific Basin Consortium for Environment and Health at the East-West Center.

The conference is held under the theme of ‘Environment Exposure in Indigenous Communities’. Her Royal Highness will attend the opening ceremony of the conference on September 25, in her capacity as the founding President of the Chulabhorn Research Institute. At the ceremony, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn will give a lecture on the ‘Potential Health Impacts of Exposure to Environmental pollutants in Children’.

On September 26, Her Royal Highness will co-chair with WHO Director of Public Health and Environment a plenary session on the ‘WHO project on E-waste’. Her Royal Highness will also attend a meeting for the establishment of a cooperation network on environmental health for children and youths, at the East-West Center, University of Hawaii.

According to the Bureau of the Royal Household, HRH will leave Suvarnabhumi Airport on September 20, at 23.45 hrs on board Korean Air flight KE 654 and will return to Thailand on Monday, September 30, 2013 at 21.10 hrs on board Korean Air Flight KE 651.


-- NNT 2013-09-20

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Phuket wait for Australian Honorary Consul may take months
Phuket Gazette


Australian Honorary Consul Larry Cunningham retires at the end of this month. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- Phuket may be without an Australian Honorary Consul for months after the current consul, Larry Cunningham, retires from the post on September 30.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668973-phuket-wait-for-australian-honorary-consul-may-take-months/

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RAILWAYS
Chuvit puts derailments down to cheap railway tracks
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Outspoken Rak Thailand Party leader Chuvit Kamolvisit yesterday blamed the frequent derailment of trains in Thailand on railway tracks made of low-quality steel bought cheaply from China.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669076-chuvit-puts-derailments-down-to-cheap-railway-tracks/

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INUNDATION
City's flood spots marked ahead of storm
The Nation



Tropical depression already drenching parts of northeast

BANGKOK: -- Authorities have identified 37 flood-prone spots in Bangkok in the face of a coming tropical depression.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669078-inundation-bangkoks-flood-spots-marked-ahead-of-storm/

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POLITICS
Govt advised to cut Bt2-tn loan
The Nation


Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt, left, and Prapat Chongsanguan, governor of the State Railway of Thailand, listen closely as the House deliberates the Bt2-trillion borrowing bill yesterday.

If amount cut to Bt400 bn, money will not have to be sought outside: Korn

BANGKOK: -- Former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij advised the government to reduce its plan to borrow Bt2 trillion to Bt400 billion so it would not need funds from sources outside the state financial system.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669079-thai-govt-advised-to-cut-bt2-tn-loan/

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MARKETS
Bulls are back, though temporarily
The Nation



Asian currencies, stocks register big gains after Fed move not to cut QE

BANGKOK: -- Market euphoria that sparked the 1.8 per cent appreciation in the dollar/baht exchange rate, a 4-per-cent jump in Thai shares and a spike in the gold price could be short-lived, experts warned.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669080-asian-currencies-stocks-register-big-gains-after-fed-move-not-to-cut-qe/

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RENOVATION
Wat Arun stupa to be closed for three years
Pakamard Jaichalard
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The world-famous Temple of Dawn stupa, known locally as Phra Prang Wat Arun, will be closed for three years starting from next Tuesday to undergo repairs and renovation along with other structures in the temple compound, a deputy abbot said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669082-bangkoks-wat-arun-stupa-to-be-closed-for-three-years/

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EDITORIAL
Broken fence is not fully repaired
The Nation

Problems on the Thai-Myanmar border - drug armies, rebel insurgencies and refugees - are still unresolved, thus hindering the further improvement of bilateral ties

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669083-thai-editorial-broken-fence-is-not-fully-repaired/

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Ex-Convict Murders Man For 'Looking At His Girlfriend'
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- A former convict stabbed a Burmese man to death because the victim reportedly looked at his girlfriend too many times at an intersection in Nonthaburi Province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669086-nonthaburi-ex-convict-murders-man-for-looking-at-his-girlfriend/

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Property Awards celebrate the best in Thailand's real estate

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669085-property-awards-celebrate-the-best-in-thailands-real-estate/

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Samui Residents Enraged By Ferry Smog

By Khaosod Online



SAMUI: -- Locals, business owners, and tourists on Samui Island have complained to the authorities about the pollution caused by the ferry ships around the piers of the popular resort island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669087-samui-residents-enraged-by-ferry-smog/

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Please play with me! Heart-warming video shows baby elephant trying desperately to wake up sleeping dog with his trunk

By AMANDA WILLIAMS

Source: video screenshot

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669088-heart-warming-video-elephant-in-northern-thailand-trying-desperately-to-wake-up-sleeping-dog/

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Officials raid 'aphrodisiac', sex-toy vendors
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Items touted as aphrodisiacs, along with sex toys and possibly fake Viagra pills, were seized yesterday during two raids at Khlong Thom wholesale market and another area nearby.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669089-thai-officials-raid-aphrodisiac-sex-toy-vendors/

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TRIPS
Book of PM's trips is prepared
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- PM's Secretary Suranand Vejjajia plans a compilation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's overseas trips, following criticisms on the huge spending involved.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669091-book-of-pm-yinglucks-trips-is-prepared/

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2006 coup - a major financial setback: Suranand
Anapat Deechuay,
Pimnara Pradubwit
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The September 19, 2006, coup not only deprived Thailand of true democracy, it also stalled major investment in the country for a period, Suranand Vejjajiva, secretary-general to PM Yingluck Shinawatra, said yesterday on the seventh anniversary of the ousting of her brother, Thaksin.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669092-2006-coup-a-major-financial-setback-suranand/

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BURNING ISSUE
Will Abhisit's words come back to haunt him?
Samudcha Hoonsara
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The words of statesmen and other important figures are often recorded in history and offer lessons for posterity. Thailand is no exception. According to a Thai saying, "You are the master of your own words until they have been spoken. Then those words become your master."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669093-will-abhisits-words-come-back-to-haunt-him/

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HEALTH
Doctors condemn storing of umbilical-cord blood
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Keeping their babies' umbilical-cord blood in a bank for future use will be of no benefit for new parents or their children, according to the Medical Council of Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669096-thai-doctors-condemn-storing-of-umbilical-cord-blood/

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Phuket Governor proposes more tuk-tuks for the island
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut proposed an increase to the number of tuk-tuks legally operating in Phuket after he took a walking tour of Patong today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669105-phuket-governor-proposes-more-tuk-tuks-for-the-island/

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UPDATE:
Warning "Tropical Depression in South China Sea"

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669078-inundation-bangkoks-flood-spots-marked-ahead-of-storm/#entry6842156

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Phuket Gov goes walkabout in Bangla
Tanyaluk Sakoot



PHUKET: -- Governor Maitree Intusut went walkabout in Patong yesterday (September 19), in Bangla Rd and the surrounding area. It was too early for the dancing ladyboys, ping-pong show touts, loris handlers and other common denizens of the street, so the Governor ended up chatting with shop owners and tuk-tuk drivers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669110-phuket-gov-goes-walkabout-in-bangla/

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,482.84, falls 6.22 points /MCOT

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THAI revamps ticket sales operations to boost revenue
By English News



BANGKOK, Sept 20 – Thai Airways International (THAI) has announced a major structural shakeup with a revamp of its sales operations to turn around the company’s poor performance.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669119-thai-revamps-ticket-sales-operations-to-boost-revenue/

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Chulalongkorn University hailed for developing HIV resistance test
By English News

BANGKOK, Sept 20 – A research team at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, has successfully developed an HIV resistance test procedure which will soon be available to patients in Thailand.

The physicians collaborated with the private sector in producing the test kit, known as PolGene® HIV Drug resistance genotypic assay, which will benefit HIV patients in Thailand and abroad.

The test examines viral genetic material and identifies particular mutations responsible for resistance. When distributed in the local market, it will reduce the need to import test kits and can be exported in the future.

At least 200,000 patients in Thailand are treated with virus resistance drugs. There are nearly 10 million HIV patients worldwide and it is estimated that the drug resistance rate is 15-25 per cent.

The locally-manufactured drug resistance test kit will increase HIV patients’ accessibility to the test.

The three physicians in the research team were Dr Sunee Sirivichayakul, Dr Praphan Phanuphak and Dr Kiat Ruxrungtham. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-09-20

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UPDATE:

Thailand sees rain forecast countrywide
By English News

BANGKOK, Sept 20 -- The Meteorological Department of Thailand has forecast torrential rain as likely countrywide, and the capital was hit by continuous rain overnight, causing water backup in some areas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669078-inundation-bangkoks-flood-spots-marked-ahead-of-storm/#entry6842322

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Oishi group says sorry for maggots
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The Oishi group, which runs the Shabushi chain of restaurants, apologized to a customer who claimed to have found maggots crawling over a table at one of its branches.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669125-oishi-group-says-sorry-for-maggots/

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Prominent businessman Chaikiri Srifuengfung commits suicide
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Chaikiri Srifuengfung, a businessman whose family founded Thai-Asahi Glass Plc, reportedly killed himself in a condominium on Sukhumvit soi 31 on Thursday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669133-bangkok-prominent-businessman-chaikiri-srifuengfung-commits-suicide/

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Strange Phuket incident as Nigerian is thumped and robbed
Eakkapop Thongtub


Collins Ugwoeluchukwu, 26, told police he was driving his motorbike on a street near Phuket Fantasea in Kamala, when a black pickup truck overtook him and came to a stop, blocking his way.

PHUKET: -- A Nigerian man has told police he had his rented motorbike stolen yesterday (September 19) around 5pm when two foreign men overtook him in a pickup truck, slammed on the brakes, jumped out of the truck and thumped him, then took the bike.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669135-strange-phuket-incident-as-nigerian-is-thumped-and-robbed/

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One dead, 25 hurt in Phuket-Nongkai bus crash
Tanyaluk Sakoot

The wrecked bus lies on its side after the crash.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669141-one-dead-25-hurt-in-phuket-nongkai-bus-crash/

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UPDATE:

Nigerian tourist attacked and robbed of his rented motorbike
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: A Nigerian tourist was attacked and robbed at about 6pm yesterday by two men of Caucasian appearance.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669135-strange-phuket-incident-as-nigerian-is-thumped-and-robbed/?p=6842874#entry6842874

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Google starts roll-out of new home page

MOUNTAIN VIEW: -- Google started the roll-out of its redesigned home page Thursday in a move designed to standardize the way users interact with its services across smartphones, tablets and PCs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/669144-google-starts-roll-out-of-new-home-page/