LTR Health Insurance : Self-insurance with US$100,000 Bank Deposit

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Phuket Opinion: Jobs for the Thai boys
Jody Houton

PHUKET: -- There are many jobs that foreigners living in Thailand are prevented from doing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672359-jobs-for-the-thai-boys-phuket-opinion/

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Thailand to offer to host 2022 Asian Games

BANGKOK, 4 October 2013 (NNT) - The Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to propose Thailand as the host of the 19th Asian Games to be held in 2023.

According to Minister of Tourism and Sports Somsak Pureesrisak, the 19th Asian Games will come on the heels of Vietnam hosting the 18th Asian Games in Hanoi in 2019. In the initial stage, he said, the plan must be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

Mr. Somsak said that good progress has been made during the past six months for the Ministry’s sports mission in line with the Government’s policy on tourism promotion.


-- NNT 2013-10-04

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Mental Health: Thai children have high risks of game addiction

BANGKOK, 4 October 2013 (NNT) – The Department of Mental Health says Thai kids have a tendency to be addicted to video games, causing them to lack confidence and concentration.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672374-thai-children-have-high-risks-of-game-addiction/

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RT@BPbreakingnews: The Constitution Court voted against a petition on the budget bill, clearing the way for PM to forward it to the King for royal endorsement.

Aim_NT :Constitutional Court judges unanimously ruled the 2014 Budget Bill constitutional, can go ahead for royal endorsement. Via @Kamonnate_NBC

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Govt ready to push Thai cosmetics industry to go global: PM
By English News

BANGKOK, Oct 4 - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said her government is ready to push Thailand's cosmetics industry to reach an international level.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672384-pm-yingluck-govt-ready-to-push-thai-cosmetics-industry-to-go-global/

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Bangkok governor warns of riverside flooding at Oct 15-17 high tide
By English News

BANGKOK, Oct 4 - Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra today warned the capital's citizens to prepare for flooding at the middle of this month as upstream waters will flow into the Chao Phraya River at the same time as the high tide peaks.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672379-bangkok-governor-warns-of-riverside-flooding-at-oct-15-17-high-tide/

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80% of residents affected by oil spill get payment
By English News

BANGKOK, Oct 4 - About 80 per cent of those impacted by the oil spill in the sea off the eastern province of Rayong have been compensated, an executive of PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) said today.

Varit Namwong, PTTGC executive vice president, said the company has received 16,189 applications for rehabilitation assistance and over 80 per cent were paid.

He said the screening process has taken longer after some people made false claims for compensation, compelling officials to thoroughly check relevant documents.

PTTGC has adopted short-term, mid-term and long-term measures to closely watch and rehabilitate environment along the beaches, coastlines, sea and marine life, and cultivation of corals to revive the coral ecological system at Phrao Bay, he said. The bay was hardest hit by the oil spilling from a PTTGC pipeline.

The company will coordinate with the public and with private sectors in campaigning to promote tourism and social environment emphasising community participation, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-10-04

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Unanimous judicial decision to uphold Budget Bill

BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Court on Friday cast unanimous vote to endorse the constitutionality of the 2014 Budget Bill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672386-thai-budget-bill-constitutional-court/

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Chiang Rai police arrest 4 ethnic minority men with 980,000 meth pills, 35 kg of heroin, 1 kg of ice worth Bt400 million in total /MCOT

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PM going to Indonesia for APEC summit in Bali Oct 6-8 and ASEAN summit in Brunei Oct 9-10: Government Spokesman /MCOT

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UPDATE:
Bangkok governor warns of riverside flooding this month

BANGKOK: -- Bangkokians on Friday were warned to prepare for flooding in the middle of this month when water from upstream flowing into the Chao Phraya River will coincide with high tides.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672379-bangkok-governor-warns-of-riverside-flooding-at-oct-15-17-high-tide/#entry6889491

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TRANSPORT
Chadchart boards train to Nong Khai
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt boarded a train to Nong Khai on Thursday, seeing urgent need for improvement in toilet and ticketing.

In his Facebook posting, the minister was seen with State Railway of Thailand governor Prapat Chongsanguan. Chadchart was expected in Nong Khai where the government’s public forum on the Bt2 trillion infrastructure investment will be kicked off.

The train arrived 2 hours behind the estimated arrival time, due to a system malfuction at Nakhon Ratchasima station as well as heavy rain along the way.

In the posting, he insisted that the double-track rail would be built to link Bangkok and Nong Khai. The 615-km route would shorten the travelling time to 3 hours, he said.


-- The Nation 2013-10-04

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All rise for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival
Phuket Gazette


A Go Teng pole awaits gold-leaf adornment by devotees last night. Photo: Saran Mitrarat

PHUKET: -- Phuket folk from all over the island spent this afternoon pasting gold leaf onto Go Teng poles, hoping for good luck, before they are raised at every Chinese shrine in Phuket this afternoon at 5:09pm to mark the start of the 2013 Vegetarian Festival.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672409-all-rise-for-the-phuket-vegetarian-festival/

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13 provinces warned to brace for heavy rains during Oct 4-8

BANGKOK, 4 October 2013 (NNT) - The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation is warning residents in 13 provinces across the country to brace for heavy rains during October 4-8.

DDPM chief Chatchai Promlert said a low pressure cell collided with the southwesterly winds covering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, bringing more rains to the Central Plains, the East and the upper part of the South.

Strong winds will also generate high waves off both coastal areas and all shipping has been advised to proceed with caution.

The department is issuing a strong warning to residents in 13 provinces including Kanchanburi, Rayong, Ranong, Trat and Phuket to closely follow weather updates and to prepare to evacuate if necessary. If the water level is rising to a critical level, they are urged to move their belongings to higher grounds and to flee for safety.


-- NNT 2013-10-04

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Seven factories forced to temporarily close due to floods
By English News



BANGKOK, Oct 4 - The Ministry of Labour today reported that seven factories were forced to temporarily close due to floods, affecting about two hundred workers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672414-seven-factories-forced-to-temporarily-close-due-to-floods/

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Thai lese majeste prisoner receives royal pardon

BANGKOK, October 4, 2013 (AFP) - A Thai political activist imprisoned under the kingdom's controversial laws against insulting the monarchy was released Friday after receiving a royal pardon.

Surachai Danwattananusorn, 71, was sentenced to a total of 12 years and six months in jail in 2012 on a series of charges for remarks made in speeches to supporters of his "Red Siam" group.

"I feel very happy and extremely appreciative for the mercy of the king," Surachai told AFP after his release.

"Without the royal pardon, I would have been there until I'm 80," added the activist, who served two years and seven months in the high-security

Bangkok Remand Prison including pre-trial detention.

His wife Pranee, 56, said Surachai had experienced "many difficult incidents" while in prison.

"It was intense for him. A 70-year-old man shouldn't have to face things like that," she said.

Thai courts have in recent times handed down a series of tough sentences for insulting the monarchy, to the dismay of human rights campaigners.

Surachai requested a pardon three times before he was released, his lawyer Karom Polpornklang said.

The royal family is an extremely sensitive subject in Thailand, but calls for reform of the strict lese majeste legislation have grown following several high-profile convictions.

Under the legislation, anyone convicted of insulting the Thai king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.

"It would be good if we can amend this law -- to benefit not only the people but also the king," Surachai said.

"Recently we have seen the king give regular royal pardons. It shows that the king also sees some weaknesses in the law," he said.

In July a Thai man was released early from a 13-year sentence for posting online content deemed offensive to the monarchy after a royal pardon.

Critics say the lese majeste law has been politicised, noting that many of those charged are linked to the Red Shirt political movement, which is broadly loyal to fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

He was ousted by royalist generals in a 2006 coup.
Surachai's Red Siam group is a hardcore offshoot of the Red Shirts.

Two months of mass anti-government protests by the Red Shirts in Bangkok in 2010 descended into the kingdom's worst political violence in decades, with more than 90 people killed in a military crackdown.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-10-04

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Molesting Phuket taxi driver gets suspended sentence
The Phuket News

PHUKET: The black taxi driver arrested after subjecting a teenage Chinese tourist to a five-hour ordeal during which he repeatedly molested her, was sentenced to 13 months in prison today, suspended because it was his first conviction.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672440-molesting-phuket-taxi-driver-gets-suspended-sentence/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Saturday 5 Oct 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672511-thailand-live-saturday-5-oct-2013/