Phuket Police arrest US drugs fugitive
Phuket Gazette


Officers arrested US drugs fugitive Joseph Hunter, 48, at his rented home in Phuket. Photo: Phuket Immigration

PHUKET: -- Officers led by Lt Gen Preawphan Damapong, the assistant police commissioner in charge of national drug suppression, this afternoon moved in and arrested American Joseph Manuel Hunter, 48, at his rented home in Kathu.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670486-phuket-police-arrest-us-drugs-fugitive/

Thai Army Canteen Bans Basil Fried Rice
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Army has finally met its mortal enemy - basil fried rice.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670488-thai-army-canteen-bans-basil-fried-rice/

INUNDATION
No major flooding in capital: BMA
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM
THE NATION



Bangkok safe as rains will not coincide with high-tide period this year

BANGKOK: -- DESPITE HEAVY downpours over the past two weeks, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) still believes the capital should escape floods this rainy season.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670489-no-major-flooding-in-bangkok-bma/

MRT
MRT tunnel intact despite road collapse in Chinatown
KANATHIT SRIHIRUNDEJ
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THE UNDERGROUND tunnel for the MRT's Blue Line extension remains intact even though a part of the road collapsed in Bangkok's Chinatown area, Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670491-mrt-tunnel-intact-despite-road-collapse-in-bangkoks-chinatown/

CONSTITUTION REVIEW
Charter court accepts two complaints against amendment
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT yesterday agreed to consider two joint complaints lodged by an appointed senator and a Democrat Party MP against Parliament President Somsak Kiatsuranont and Senate Speaker Nikom Waiyaratpanit, and 310 ruling Pheu Thai Party and government-friendly lawmakers for approving a constitutional amendment on the qualifications of future Senate candidates.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670492-thai-charter-court-accepts-two-complaints-against-amendment/

POLITICS
Government 'neglecting flood situation in the Northeast'
The Nation



Opposition say bigger budget required, lists 10 key failures by administration

BANGKOK: -- DAY TWO of the Yingluck Shinawatra government's reporting to Parliament of its accomplishments over the past 12 months saw the opposition Democrat Party attacking the administration for allocating insufficient funds to deal with flood and irrigation issues in the Northeast, as well as for alleged failures in 10 areas including education.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670493-thai-government-neglecting-flood-situation-in-the-northeast/

ANTI-DAM CAMPAIGN
Mae Wong report scrapped
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation


Plodprasop says Irrigation Department assessment cannot be used promises new study once Bt350bn scheme kicks off

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT has scrapped the latest version of the environmental report for the controversial Mae Wong Dam in Nakhon Sawan, saying it will launch a brand new study with a focus on flood prevention.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670494-mae-wong-report-scrapped/

TOURISM
New plan urged, to cash in on Bt2-tn investment
Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Tourism Council of Thailand proposes to assist the government design a tourism development plan along the Bt2 trillion infrastructure investment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670497-thai-tourism-council-new-plan-urged-to-cash-in-on-bt2-tn-investment/

THAI TALK
October 8 will be JUST ANOTHER DAY
Suthichai Yoon

BANGKOK: -- Nobody really takes it seriously, except perhaps Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. But she might have heard about it from her elder brother Thaksin. By telling Thai Rath that anti-government forces have set October 8 as the deadline to topple the Yingluck government, Thaksin set off a new round of rumour and speculation, mostly among his own people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670498-thai-talk-october-8-will-be-just-another-day/

EDITORIAL
US politicians seem UNWILLING to prevent gun violence

BANGKOK: -- The latest mass shooting in America reopens the debate on gun control; Thailand needs to heed this warning too as the number of local cases of crime involving guns increases.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670500-us-politicians-seem-unwilling-to-prevent-gun-violence/

TELL IT AS IT IS
We DON'T NEED this massive debt
Pornpimol Kanchanalak

BANGKOK: -- It is inarguable that Thailand needs a comprehensive overhaul of its infrastructure. It is also irrefutable that huge social and economic losses have been incurred due to flawed planning, the sorry state of existing infrastructures, and lack of far-sighted initiatives.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670501-thai-opinion-we-dont-need-this-massive-debt/

BEHIND ON PAYMENTS
Car-crazy Thailand, the “Detroit of Southeast Asia,” emulates the Motor City in more ways than one
By Newley Purnell

BANGKOK: -- A generous car-buying incentive program has hit a major pothole in Thailand, which touts itself as the Detroit of Southeast Asia—presumably referring to the auto manufacturing, not crushing levels of government debt—in the latest in a string of questionable stimulus programs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670502-car-crazy-thailand-the-detroit-of-southeast-asia/

Online harassment targeted
CHULEEPORN ARAMNET
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- A JOINT CAMPAIGN for personal data protection and against sexual harassment on social media has been launched by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), the Thai Netizen Network and the Heinrich Boll Foundation. They also urged the Information and Communications Technology Ministry and the Education Ministry to produce guides for Internet usage and make them available to schools and parents.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670504-thailand-online-harassment-targeted/

Thammasat uniform row elicits modest proposal
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- TALK OF dividing Thammasat University's Rangsit Campus into east and west sections, mimicking the former East and West Berlin, after a row over whether students should have the right not to wear uniforms, has been variously described as satire, a sign of a soul-searching clash between campus liberals and conservatives, and as evidence of a growing interest in cultural issues at the university, whose history is steeped in political activism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670505-thammasat-uniform-row-elicits-modest-proposal/

UPDATE:

Decision on Abhisit, Suthep indictment postponed
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Public prosecutors yesterday postponed a decision on whether to indict former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban, members of the current opposition Democrat Party, over the death of protesters during the 2010 riots.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670399-abhisit-postpones-2010-crackdown-deaths-trial/?p=6862091

Teenager shot dead in gang-related shooting in Southern outskirts of Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- A 19 year old man was shot dead and a Thai-British boy aged 17 was injured as the result of a shooting incident on the Sukhumvit Road in Na-Jomtien which Police suspect may be related to illegal drugs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670506-teenager-shot-dead-in-gang-related-shooting-in-southern-outskirts-of-pattaya/

9 dead so far in recent round of flooding that now covers 27 provinces

BANGKOK, 26 September 2013 (NNT) – 9 people have lost their lives so far in the recent round of flooding that now affects 27 provinces in the country.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported that in addition to the 9 fatalities, more than 600,000 rai of agriculture areas were inundated by the floodwater, during the 9 days of flooding so far.

In the meantime, the Meteorological Department is forecasting heavy raining in the upper part of Thailand until September 27. The adverse weather will then move down to influence the central region and the lower part of the Northeast on September 28.

The weather bureau is also forecasting heavy raining in the eastern portion of the Northeast during September 30 and October 1.


-- NNT 2013-09-26

UPDATE:

Ukrainian held on 1 Million Baht ransom by “Pattaya Immigration Police”

PATTAYA:--On Wednesday night a 30 year old Ukrainian made his way to Dongtan Police Station on Jomtien Beach and claimed he was able to escape from a group of men who claimed they were Pattaya Immigration Police Officers who would only release him in exchange for 1 Million Baht cash.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670330-ukraine-tourist-threatened-by-so-called-police-gang/#entry6862478

Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,425.18, falls 11.72 points /MCOT

Budget Bill delay affects Thailand's 2014 investment plan
By English News



BANGKOK, Sept 26 – A decision by the Constitution Court to consider petitions against the 2014 Budget Bill will delay the government’s investment spending for the next fiscal year, Deputy Prime Minister/Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670521-budget-bill-delay-affects-thailands-2014-investment-plan/

Commerce Ministry pressed to export 1 million tonnes of surplus maize
By English News



BANGKOK, Sept 26 – Thailand’s Internal Trade Department must find ways to export an oversupply of one million tonnes of maize to prevent the falling price of the agricultural produce, according to Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670523-thai-commerce-ministry-pressed-to-export-1-million-tonnes-of-surplus-maize/

RT@RichardBarrow: Heavy rain is expected this weekend for Central & the Lower Northeast of #Thailand #ThaiFloodEng pic.twitter.com/9KDAt6MsVd

UPDATE:

Alleged US drug smuggler arrested in dramatic Phuket raid



PHUKET: American national Joseph Manuel Hunter, 48, was arrested following a raid yesterday afternoon on a property in Kathu by local police and officers from the Bangkok-based Crime Suppression Division.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670486-phuket-police-arrest-us-drugs-fugitive/page-2#entry6862700

UN probe revives hope for Thai 'abducted by N. Korea' - Focus
by Daniel ROOK

BANGKOK, September 26, 2013 (AFP) - Thirty-five years after she vanished from Macau, relatives of a Thai woman believed to have been snatched by North Korean agents hope that a landmark UN investigation will help to finally bring her home.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670526-un-probe-revives-hope-for-thai-abducted-by-n-korea-focus/

Govt roadshow to promote ฿2 trillion mega project in 12 provinces will begin in Nong Khai on October 4

BANGKOK, 26 September 2013 (NNT) – The Interior Ministry has instructed governors of the 12 provinces where a Government roadshow to promote the 2 trillion baht infrastructure development projects will be conducted, to get ready for the Prime Minister’s visit next month.

The Ministry also assigned related governors to hold seminars and exhibitions to publicize the megaproject and gauge public responses. The campaign will be held throughout October under the title "Building Thailand's Future 2020".

The campaign is designed following the passage of the 2 trillion baht loan bill giving the Ministry of Finance the authority to borrow money for infrastructural development projects.

The Government’s roadshow will begin in the northeastern province of Nong Khai during October 4-6 and will end in the southern province of Songkhla during November 29 – December 1.


-- NNT 2013-09-26

Drunk tourists 'saving' lorises off Phuket streets, says animal rescue worker
Claire Connell


A tout on Bangla Road was arrested with this loris yesterday morning.

PHUKET: -- An animal rescue worker involved in educating people about the plight of slow lorises on the island has spoken out about the local trade, and revealed tourists are buying the animals from touts in well-intentioned but misguided attempts to save them, sometimes paying up to B40,000.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670529-drunk-tourists-saving-lorises-off-phuket-streets-says-animal-rescue-worker/

Prachin Buri hard hit by flooding
By English News



PRACHIN BURI, Sept 26 -- Flooding in Prachin Buri is still at a critical level after additional floodwaters from rain-soaked Sa Kaeo province flowed into the earlier flood, raising the water level.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670530-prachin-buri-hard-hit-by-flooding/

DSI sues Than Thuagsuban for land encroachment charges

BANGKOK, 26 September 2013 (NNT) - Four suspects involved in the encroachment of government-land in Khao Phang, Kho Samui District, Surat Thani Province has been sued by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI)'s prosecutors.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670552-dsi-sues-than-thuagsuban-for-land-encroachment-charges/

Kittiratt points out Court decision to consider petitions against 2014 Budget Bill will halt GDP growth, reduce performance to less than 4% /MCOT

Light-fingered job-seeker nabbed for Phuket hotel thefts
Phuket Gazette


Mr Teerawat (center) at the time of his arrest. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- An out-of-town job-hunter applying for positions in Phuket’s hotel industry has been arrested for stealing from hotel guestrooms.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670557-light-fingered-job-seeker-nabbed-for-phuket-hotel-thefts/