Thailand Live Tuesday 15 Oct 2013

[webfact]

Thaivisa launches new Property Portal –

a great way to find your new home in Thailand

http://property.thaivisa.com

[webfact]

Foreigner Jumps Off His Apartment To Death: Police

By Khaosod Online

BANGKOK: -- A foreign man was found dead at his apartment building in Suan Luang district, Bangkok. The police believe he had committed suicide by jumping off the balcony in his room.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674557-austrian-man-jumps-to-his-death-from-bangkok-apartment/

[webfact]

Thailand's Left-Hand Traffic 'Impedes Integration'

By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- A top official has asserted that Thailand′s left-hand traffic is an obstacle for regional integration with some of its neighbours which drive on the right.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674635-thailands-left-hand-traffic-impedes-integration/

[webfact]

92% Rise In Chinese Tourists Visiting Thailand: Minister
By Khaosod online


Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Premier Li Keqiang

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Tourism and Sports says the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand has increased by 98% compared with last year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674636-92-rise-in-chinese-tourists-visiting-thailand-minister/

[webfact]

Thailand Sees Boom In Regional Air Travel
By Khaosod online



BANGKOK: -- Thailand is enjoying a boom in regional aviation industry according to the reports compiled by the national airport authority and Nok Air, a low-cost airliner.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674637-thailand-sees-boom-in-regional-air-travel/

[webfact]

ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATION
Students who opposed retreat to Lumpini Park draw further support
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung,
Attayuth Bootsripoom
The Nation



Anti-government protest at Urupong intersection is led by a splinter group of students drawing more public backing

BANGKOK: -- A SPRINTER group of the People's Army against the Thaksin Regime has drawn so much growing support from the public that the government is now considering whether to extend the Internal Security Act enforcement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674638-students-who-opposed-retreat-to-lumpini-park-draw-further-support/

[webfact]

RICE
China deal fails to cheer rice exporters
Petchanet Pratruangkrai,
Khanittha Thepphajorn
The Nation

Million-tonne deal 'unrealistic'; Yanyong defends contract

BANGKOK: -- Dark clouds hang over the outlook for Thailand's rice exports, despite the government's much-heralded success in securing future sales to China.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674639-china-deal-fails-to-cheer-rice-exporters/

[webfact]

THE 1973 UPRISING
Political strife has country 'constipated'
The Nation


A man looks at photos of protesters killed during the student-led uprising of October 14, 1973, during yesterday

BANGKOK: -- Two prominent student leaders of the 1973 uprising yesterday suggested that to achieve a true democracy, Thailand must address the problem of inequality and allow groups with less political power to have more say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674640-the-1973-uprising-political-strife-has-country-constipated/

[webfact]

DONATION
Well-meaning drug dealer in custody
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A drug dealer was arrested yesterday after attempting to donate 11 yaba pills at a centre collecting donations for flood victims in Chon Buri's Sattahip district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674641-well-meaning-drug-dealer-in-custody-after-attempting-to-donate-11-yaba-pills/

[webfact]

PROTEST
Police open 4 roads but 10 still blocked
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- CITY POLICE yesterday opened four of 14 roads closed to traffic around Government House because of road snarls caused by the security move on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674642-bangkok-police-open-4-roads-but-10-still-blocked/

[webfact]

STREETWISE
Shutdown and chaos: all the work of politicians
Achara Deboonme

BANGKOK: -- Imagine if the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or the Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors because of a government shutdown. If I were a first-time visitor to Bangkok or Paris, that would be a horrendous experience.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674643-thai-opinion-shutdown-and-chaos-all-the-work-of-politicians/

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Half-baked solutions will not ease Bangkok's traffic congestion
Chularat Saengpassa



THE METROPOLITAN Police's proposed solution to Bangkok's traffic problems is a step in the right direction, but given the absence of comprehensive planning, it is not surprising that the proposal has drawn major opposition. Bangkok's traffic system certainly needs a serious overhaul, but any measures to tackle it must be carefully coordinated - involving the full cooperation of all parties.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674644-half-baked-solutions-will-not-ease-bangkoks-traffic-congestion/

[webfact]

Over 2.7m children addicted to computer
PAKAMAS JAICHALARD
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- MORE THAN 2.7 million children in the country are addicted to computer games, according to the latest estimate based on a nationwide survey.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674645-over-27m-children-in-thailand-addicted-to-computer/

[webfact]

Police protect flood barrier
The Nation



PRACHIN BURI: -- POLICE ARE watching over an earthen embankment erected recently to protect Prachin Buri's economic zone from flooding.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674646-police-protect-prachin-buri-flood-barrier/

[webfact]

FDA to restrict drug used in hospital robberies
POUNGCHOMPOO PRASERT,
KHWANHATHAI MALAKAN
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THE FOOD and Drug Administration (FDA) may change the animal sedative Xylazine from its status as a dangerous drug that can be be sold over the counter by pharmacists to being a specially controlled drug for sale only at hospitals and animal clinics.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674647-thailands-fda-to-restrict-drug-used-in-hospital-robberies/

[webfact]

Police to tow vehicles away
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- FROM OCTOBER 21, Bangkok Metropolitan Police traffic officers will tow away vehicles that are parked on 10 prohibited roads notorious for congestion, Deputy Bangkok Governor Pol General Assawin Kwanmuang warned yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674650-bangkok-police-to-tow-vehicles-away/

[webfact]

SSO to cut red tape after newborn baby dies
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Social Security Office (SSO) will soon pay childbirth costs directly to the hospitals where the delivery is performed, following the recent death of a newborn baby whose mother was denied service by staff at two hospitals due to SSO-related red tape.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674668-mph-to-scrutinize-a-private-thai-hospital-refusing-to-take-pregnant-lady-in-labor/?p=6925148

[webfact]

Hand-washing awareness events planned
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- "Global Hand-washing Day" awareness campaigns will be held today at several locations in Bangkok to educate members of the public on how to wash their hands adequately and correctly. Doing so is a simple but effective solution to keep children safe from diarrhoea and pneumonia, which kill around 5.5 million children each year around the world, according to a United Nations Children's Fund report.

Citing the Unicef paper, Department of Health director-general Pornthep Siriwanarangsan said yesterday that proper hand-washing could reduce deaths from diarrhoea by half, and from pneumonia by a quarter.

A survey in Thailand in 2009 found that a local awareness campaign a few years ago had encouraged 90 per cent of Thais to regularly wash their hands, but only 41 per cent completed the seven-step procedure for doing so.

The events will be held jointly by a network of relevant agencies at several locations in the capital, Pornthep said. The doctor encouraged people to wash their hands as often as possible, but said it was especially important for people to do so before they had meals and prepared food, after using the toilet, after doing housework, after covering the nose or mouth when coughing or sneezing, and after playing with pets.


-- The Nation 2013-10-15

[webfact]

Fraud charges dropped against firm hired to build police stations
Kesinee Taengkhiao
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A firm that failed to construct new police-station facilities under a government project will not be facing criminal charges, if the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) does not object to the public prosecutors' decision.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674651-fraud-charges-dropped-against-firm-hired-to-build-thai-police-stations/

[webfact]

Charter change will dilute law, risk loss of land, Democrats say
Pimnara Pradubwit,
Khanittha Thepphajorn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE DEMOCRATS plan to vote against the "dilution" of the legal framework for international agreements, chief opposition whip Jurin Laksanavisit said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674652-thai-charter-change-will-dilute-law-risk-loss-of-land-democrats-say/

[webfact]

Magnitude-7.2 earthquake hits Philippines; at least four dead

Manila - A magnitude-7.2 earthquake struck the central Philippines Tuesday, killing at least four people, officials said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674658-magnitude-72-earthquake-hits-philippines;-at-least-four-dead/

[webfact]

Shop or Walk? Downtown Skywalks paralyzed by vendors
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- It's hard to fault anyone for wanting to make a baht, but the same can be said of everyone else's desire to get to work or home.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674662-shop-or-walk-bangkoks-downtown-skywalks-paralyzed-by-vendors/

[webfact]

Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,469.75, gains 9.91 points /MCOT

[webfact]

World Bank: Thailand's proposed 'national wealth fund' premature

By English News

BANGKOK, Oct 15 – The creation of a national wealth fund for Thailand would be premature given the volatility in the global money market, according to a World Bank economist.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674671-world-bank-thailands-proposed-national-wealth-fund-premature/

[webfact]

Dozens charged over illegal fireworks at Phuket Vegetarian Festival
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Phuket City Police arrested 21 people for setting off dangerous fireworks during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, which drew to a close at midnight on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674674-dozens-charged-over-illegal-fireworks-at-phuket-vegetarian-festival/

[webfact]

Feature
Fast and malodorous: Bangkok's "khlong" boat network
by Delphine THOUVENOT

BANGKOK, October 15, 2013 (AFP) - Every morning, tens of thousands of Bangkok's most rushed, reckless or cash-strapped commuters hop onto its "khlong" boats -- plying the main canal in a speedy, if not fragrant, bid to avoid the city's notorious road congestion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674676-fast-and-malodorous-bangkoks-khlong-boat-network/

[webfact]

Court sentences Beijing 'airport bomber' to 6 years in prison
By Katie Hunt and Feng Ke, CNN

(CNN) -- A Beijing court has sentenced a wheelchair-bound man, who set off a homemade explosive inside Beijing Capital International Airport in July, to six years in prison.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674698-court-sentences-beijing-airport-bomber-to-6-years-in-prison/

[webfact]

Floods severely batter historic Ayutthaya, former capital
By English News



AYUTTHAYA, Oct 15 - More than 50,000 homes, 100,000 rai (40,000 acres) of rice fields, industrial estates and historical sites in Thailand's old capital, 80 km north of Bangkok, have been damaged by recent floods, according to governor Witthaya Pewpong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674700-floods-severely-batter-historic-ayutthaya-former-capital/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Thai tourism to feel the pinch from China’s new regulations
By English News



BANGKOK, Oct 15 – China’s revised law on tourism, which took effect October 1, could reduce the number of Chinese visitors to Thailand, a senior Thai official in Kunming said Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674636-92-rise-in-chinese-tourists-visiting-thailand-minister/#entry6925470

[webfact]

Lamphun hosts public hearing on sustainable water management

LAMPHUN, 15 October 2013 (NNT) - Lamphun Province is today organizing a public hearing to gather ideas on the design and construction of a sustainable water management system and flood prevention plans in the province.

Lamphun Governor Suwan Klaosuntorn and a Prime Minister's Office Inspector, Mr. Jamroen Yutithamsakul, called a meeting of heads of provincial government units yesterday to discuss the preparations including security measures and visited the sites for the hearing and related exhibitions.

The hearing forum will be held at the auditorium of Jakkhamkhanathorn School while the exhibition on the government’s water management mega-projects will be held at the provincial Chalermphrakiat building. The hearing is taking place today from 8.30 AM to 4.30 PM.


-- NNT 2013-10-15