Surapong wins impeachment vote

BANGKOK: -- The Senate on Tuesday voted not to impeach former Information and Communication Technology minister Surapong Suebwonglee.

Surapong was targetted for political sanction after he had pushed for satellite concession change, seen as favourable to the conglomerate under the control of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's family.

-- The Nation 2013-10-01

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
FM holds meetings in UN to garner support for candidacy on UN body
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul wrapped his mission to the United Nations General Assembly with a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings and also hosted a reception to ask for support for the Thai candidacy for seats on UN bodies.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671652-fm-holds-bilateral-multilateral-meetings-to-garner-support-for-un-candidacy/

Yellow Shirt activist Sondhi sentenced to 2-year prison
By English News

BANGKOK, Oct 1 – Thailand's Appeals Court today sentenced political firebrand Sondhi Limthongkul to two years in jail for repeating a lese majeste statement earlier made by a Red Shirt political activist.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671647-yellow-shirt-activist-sondhi-sentenced-to-2-years-in-prison/

Cabinet approves six months extension for limited free bus, train rides to help alleviate growing cost of living until March 2014 /MCOT

PM submits Constitution amendment bill to change Senate to all-elected chamber to HM the King for royal endorsement /MCOT

UPDATE:
Sondhi convicted for royal offence


Sondhi

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671647-yellow-shirt-activist-sondhi-sentenced-to-2-years-in-prison/?p=6878761#entry6878761

Rouhani orders Iran’s government to review resuming direct flights to US

TEHRAN, October 1. (ITAR-TASS). Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani ordered the government to review the possibility of resuming direct flights between Iran and the United States. This was reported on Tuesday by Mehr news agency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671659-rouhani-orders-irans-government-to-review-resuming-direct-flights-to-us/

23 die in floods in 25 provinces: Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department
By English News



BANGKOK, Oct 1 - Thailand's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department announced as of today that 23 persons are dead from the floods in 25 of the country's 77 provinces.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671660-23-die-in-floods-in-25-thai-provinces/

POLITICS
Charter change bill submitted for royal approval: Yingluck
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday confirmed the government had submitted charter change bill for royal approval.

The Cabinet Secretariat and the Council of State have vetted the amendment process and the prime minister is duty-bound to meet the 20-day deadline," she said.

The bill is designed to do away with appointed senators and transform the Senate into a fully-elected body.


-- The Nation 2013-10-01

UPDATE:

Chinese 'Blackmail Gang' Arrested By Thai Police
By Khaosod Online

BANGKOK: -- The Thai police have arrested 5 Chinese nationals accused for blackmailing businessmen in China.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671633-chinese-gang-arrested-in-bangkok-for-online-extortion-scheme/#entry6878975

Cabinet approves Bt4.3 b to guarantee price of maize with 30% moisture at Bt7/kg, with 15% moisture at Bt9/kg; exporters will benefit /MCOT

UPDATE:

Thai 'Yellow Shirts' founder convicted of royal slur

BANGKOK, October 1, 2013 (AFP) - A Thai court sentenced the founder of the royalist "Yellow Shirts" to two years in jail Tuesday for defaming the monarchy when he quoted a speech by a political rival.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671647-yellow-shirt-activist-sondhi-sentenced-to-2-years-in-prison/page-2#entry6879116

SET index closed at 1,408.19, up 25.03; Bt/USD31.00; GBP50.26; AUD29.06; EUR41.98; CAD29.98; HKD3.99; SGD24.65; JPY31.52

FIRST-CAR BUYER SCHEME
130,000 car buyers not yet asking for tax rebate
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- About 130,000 individuals buying vehicles under the first-car buyer scheme have not yet exercised their rights for an excise tax rebate, according to the Excise Department.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671678-130000-car-buyers-not-yet-asking-for-tax-rebate/

UPDATE:

Governor confident Bangkok will avert flooding
By English News

AYUTTHAYA, Oct 1 – Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra today reaffirmed that the overall flood situation in the Thai capital is not worrisome though more effort to speed up draining is needed in time of heavy downpours.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671608-bangkok-starts-putting-sand-bags-at-risk-spots-as-floods-loom/page-2#entry6879227

Insect leg found inside fruit bowl on Phuket flight


Images posted by Magrood Baiwaeng on Pantip.com shows "insect leg" on the fruit bowl.

PHUKET: -- Bangkok Airways has apologised after what is believed to be a large cockroach leg and other insect bits were found wrapped to a fruit bowl served to a passenger on a flight to Phuket.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671713-insect-leg-found-inside-fruit-bowl-on-phuket-flight/

US SHUTDOWN
US Embassy in Bangkok still open despite US's shutdown



BANGKOK: -- The US Embassy in Bangkok on Tuesday announced that the embassy and the Consulate General in Chiang Mai remain open to the public as the US government began its first partial shutdown in 17 years after Congress failed to break a partisan deadlock by a midnight deadline.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671714-us-embassy-in-bangkok-still-open-despite-uss-shutdown/

RT@RichardBarrow: Plan to ban affluent people & tourists from using free buses in Bangkok (Bangkok Post)

RT@veen_NT: #ch3 will broadcast live #uefa match between Real Madrid and Kobenhavn at 1.45am. They won't show AFC v Napoli as promoted earlier.

to continue:

Thailand Live Wednesday 2 Oct 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671812-thailand-live-wednesday-2-oct-2013/