Thailand Live Monday 7 Oct 2013

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FLOODS
Bangkok residents warned over high tide
The Nation


Despite flood barriers, water from the Chao Phraya River seeps into areas of the Chaiyasittawas Temple in Pathum Thani.

BANGKOK: -- The first high-tide period of this month is imminent - and Bangkok residents in riverside communities who do not have flood barriers must be ready for possible flooding, say authorities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672850-bangkok-residents-warned-over-high-tide/

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POLITICS

Chalerm improving after surgery
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Labour Minister Chalerm Ubumrung's health condition has slightly improved following brain surgery and he will be ready for discharge from hospital this week, his doctors have said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672852-chalerm-improving-after-surgery/

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UPDATE:
Rough landing for Nok Air flight
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A Nok Air flight from Chiang Mai yesterday skidded off the runway on landing in Udon Thani, reportedly because of a fault in its landing gear - the second incident for the airline in three months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672726-thai-plane-slips-off-runway-no-injuries/page-4#entry6896999

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ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Apec leaders stress need for reforms
Agencies

Trade deals seen as key to global recovery as economic giants struggle with internal battles

BALI, Indonesia - FIGHTING protectionism and pushing through difficult reforms are critical to global recovery as the world's biggest economies struggle with their own internal obstacles to growth, Asia-Pacific leaders gathered for an annual summit said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672853-apec-leaders-stress-need-for-reforms/

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SOUTH CRISIS
Informant shot dead
Narong Nuansakul,
Anapat Deechuay
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police believe insurgents were behind the fatal shooting of a reported informant whose tip-off led to Saturday's deadly gunfight between security officials and suspects.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672855-thai-south-crisis-informant-shot-dead/

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TOURISM
Thais unfazed by slowdown
Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In spite of falling spending power, Thais are still planning to go abroad over the next three months to celebrate their long holidays, and the Asean+3 nations are among their favourite destinations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672857-tourism-thais-unfazed-by-economic-slowdown/

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CHALK TALK
Ghost schools, fake diplomas, unlicensed universities, TI says
Chularat Saengpassa

BANGKOK: -- Does an academic degree guarantee the knowledge and abilities of a person? If you acknowledge the latest report from Transparency International, the answer will very much depend on whether that person has graduated from a qualified institution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672858-thai-chalk-talk-ghost-schools-fake-diplomas-unlicensed-universities-ti-says/

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Cabinet reshuffle not on cards yet: Yingluck
The Nation


Yingluck

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that readiness and appropriateness were key factors in determining when a Cabinet reshuffle should be carried out.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672859-cabinet-reshuffle-not-on-cards-yet-yingluck/

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SPECIAL REPORT
Legal challenges to govt not over
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Nation



Administration expects opposition to continue to seek court rulings, but remains confident

BANGKOK: -- Although the Constitutional Court has voted to endorse the constitutionality of the government's 2014 Budget Bill, the Yingluck Shinawatra administration still faces numerous allegations filed with the courts and independent agencies by the Democrat Party and opposition-friendly activists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672860-legal-challenges-to-thai-govt-not-over/

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SPECIAL REPORT
Red-yellow divide besets events to mark Oct 14
Anapat Deechuay,
Satien Viriyapanpongsa
The Nation


A number of people placed flowers at the October 6, 1976, Memorial yesterday over the bloody incident at Thammasat University 37 years ago. Although victims of the violence are long gone, they have never been forgotten.

BANGKOK: -- This the first part in a series commemorating the 40th anniversary of the October Uprising. The series will run until October 14, the anniversary of the day students and the public stood up against a dictatorship in 1973.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672861-red-yellow-divide-besets-events-to-mark-oct-14/

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CAMPUS UPDATE
Chiang Mai University students win top eco-tourism award
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Chiang Mai University's four-strong student team "20 db" have won top prize at the 7th AIS 3G One-2-Call! BrandAge Award with their "Sound of Chiang Mai" marketing plan for an eco-tourism bicycle ride, pocketed a Bt200,000 cash prize and trophy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672862-campus-update-chiang-mai-university-students-win-top-eco-tourism-award/

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Provincial Crime Suppression Operation begins



PATTAYA: -- With High season approaching and the New Year period less than 3 months away, Chonburi Provincial Police have begun a major crime suppression operation which is aimed at reassuring domestic and foreign tourists that Chonburi, which includes the resort town of Pattaya, is being Policed to the highest standards and is a safe place for a vacation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672865-chonburi-pattaya-provincial-crime-suppression-operation-begins/

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Olympics in Japan a boon to Thai tourism and construction
By English News



BANGKOK, Oct 7 – Japan’s hosting of the 2020 Olympic Games may contribute to tourism and the construction sector in Thailand, according to a senior Commerce Ministry official.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672868-olympics-in-japan-a-boon-to-thai-tourism-and-construction/

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Sino-Thai trade projected to increase to US$100bn in 2015
By English News



BALI, Oct 7 – Thailand and China have agreed to boost bilateral trade to a total value of US$100 billion by the end of 2015, it was reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672869-sino-thai-trade-projected-to-increase-to-us100bn-in-2015/

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Forest runoff raises Prachin Buri's Kabin Buri market, Na Di district flood level; Phetkasem Road in Hua Hin under 40-60 cm of floodwater /MCOT

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UPDATE:

Bangkok possibly spared from floods despite coming high tide
By English News



BANGKOK, Oct 7 – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) called on residents of some Bangkok areas and on both sides of the Chao Phraya River to be on alert for two rounds of high tides on Oct 7-9 and Oct 16-22.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672850-bangkok-residents-warned-over-high-tide/?p=6897310

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Several core highways in Sa Kaeo flooded,impassable to vehicles /The Nation

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Hua Hin flooded



PRACHUAP KHIRIKHAN: -- Local residents had to be evacuated and motorists were left stranded as torrential rainfall left parts of downtown Hua Hin flooded yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672875-hua-hin-flooded/

Join our Hua Hin Facebook page (Local info, flood updates, pics): https://www.facebook.com/ThaiVisa.HuaHin

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UPDATE:

Prachin Buri floodis critical after overnight rain

By English News



PRACHIN BURI, Oct 7 -- Flooding in Prachin Buri is critical again after heavy overnight rain raised the water level in Kabin Buri district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672850-bangkok-residents-warned-over-high-tide/?p=6897506#entry6897506

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At least 16 people were killed in a car accident in Burirum Monday

BANGKOK: -- At least 16 people, most of them Lao nationals, on a pickup were killed when the vehicle slammed into a tree in Burirum province Monday morning.

The vehicle was carrying 24 passengers when the accident happened.


-- The Nation 2013-10-07

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Poll: People prefer constructive political news

BANGKOK, 7 Oct 2013 (NNT) - Dusit Poll has revealed that Thais prefer constructive political news and are growing tired of hearing arguments among politicians while the 2.2 trillion baht loan for the nation's infrastructure overhauling projects and rice pledging scheme rank as news receiving the highest attention as the issues directly affect them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672882-poll-thais-prefer-constructive-political-news/

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Locals show disagreement over construction of more runway in Suvarnabhumi Airport

SAMU PRAKAN, 07 Oct 2013 (NNT) - Locals residing around the Suvarnabhumi Airport have showed their disapproval of the Airport of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT)'s decision to build additional runways, saying that the company should complete the compensation from the previous project first before proceeding with another project.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672885-locals-show-disagreement-over-construction-of-more-runway-in-suvarnabhumi-airport/

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UPDATE:

Floods affect 2 million, eastern Bangkok braces for run-off

BANGKOK: -- About two million people in 27 provinces are still being affected by flooding, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672850-bangkok-residents-warned-over-high-tide/?p=6897705

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PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Thailand invited to join oil & gas exploration
The Nation



BALI: -- Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill invites Thailand to join the oil and gas exploration and production in his country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672887-thailand-invited-to-join-oil-gas-exploration-in-papua-new-guinea/

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Government wants to install 5 CCTV cameras in in all inter-provincial buses
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: Flickr user taylorandayumi

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Transport Ministry hopes to install surveillance cameras in all inter-provincial buses to monitor drivers' behavior.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672891-thai-govt-wants-to-install-5-cctv-cameras-in-in-all-inter-provincial-buses/

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Insurmountable trash washed up on Bang Saen beach reaching 10 tons per day



BANGKOK, 7 October 2013 (NNT) – Not far from Bangkok, Bang Saen Beach in Chon Buri, a well-known tourist destination, is experiencing a bombardment of up to 10 tons of trash being washed up on its shores daily.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672897-insurmountable-trash-washed-up-on-bang-saen-beach-reaching-10-tons-per-day/

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Over 200 people suffering from depression during flooding

BANGKOK, 7 October 2013 (NNT) – The Department of Mental Health has revealed that over 200 people have been suffering from severe depression during the recent flooding.

Mental Health Department Director General Jessada Chokdamrongsuk has voiced his concerns over the mental health of people in the flood-hit areas. A survey on 3,800 flood victims has found that around 200 people have suffered from severe depression, 400 people from medium depression, and 8 people have mild depressive disorder. One of the affected people has a high risk of committing suicide, the report said.

However, the director has assured that medical units and assistance have been sent to rehabilitate the victims. Depressed the most are those who have never been in any natural disaster before, as they lack knowledge of how to handle stressful situation; whereas those who have had experience are well-prepared, mentally and physically.

The director has urged all families in the flood-stricken areas to support and be there for one another as morale is what will help them pull through this hardship, adding that families with elderly and sick members should contact officials for additional assistance.


-- NNT 2013-10-07

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Children hurt as Phuket minibus flips in rain
Eakkapop Thongtub


The mangled minibus ended up in the opposite lane.

PHUKET: -- Six people, including three children, were injured when the minibus they were travelling in flipped on the Mak Prok bend in Maikhao yesterday afternoon (October 6).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672899-children-hurt-as-phuket-minibus-flips-in-rain/

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Phuket Airport bus service still struggling
Phuket Gazette


Poor marketing has been blamed for Phuket's new airport bus service losing at least 400,000 baht in its first few months. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- The airport bus service continues to operate at a loss, mainly due to management and marketing problems, its owner has told the Phuket Gazette.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672903-phuket-airport-bus-service-still-struggling/

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Tanker truck vapor prompts Phuket scare
Phuket Gazette

The tanker truck parked roadside with vapor pouring from its pressurized tank of oxygen sent Phuket residents into a state of high alert. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- A tanker truck parked roadside with vapor pouring from its pressurized tank full of oxygen sent Phuket residents into a state of high alert last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672928-tanker-truck-vapor-prompts-phuket-scare/