Thailand Live Monday 16 Dec 2013

[webfact]

King reviews progress of royally initiated Chang Hua Man project

BANGKOK, 16 December 2013 (NNT) - His Majesty the King on Sunday observed the progress of ‘Chang Hua Man’ agricultural development project in Tha Yang district, Phetchaburi province.

At the Project, His Majesty particularly visited the dairy section where he fed milk to a 25-day old Holstein Friesian calf and fed grass to a number of milk cows. Usually, a milk cow gives 9 to 13 kilograms of milk daily. This farm presently produces 150 kilograms of milk per day which is sold to a milk cow cooperative in nearby Cha-am district where the milk is processed into pasteurized milk. Milk packets are then distributed under the school milk project of the government. Dairy farming at the Chang Hua Man Project is different from other farms in that its cows are allowed to roam and graze freely on pasture after giving milk, in concern for the animals’ welfare. In a more intensive farm, dairy cows are housed indoors to keep the cows’ energy.

The Chang Hua Man dairy farm has plans to increase the number of milk cows and build a factory to produce pasteurized and sterilized milk in its compounds in January 2014 with a budget of 60 million baht already confirmed by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Under the expansion project, farmers in nearby areas will be encouraged to raise more cows to help increase the supply of raw milk to 10 tons a day. The Southern Milk Cow Cooperative has already presented 14 more dairy cows to the project, which is intended to serve as a demonstration farm for interested agriculturists to study the techniques for use at their own farms.

His Majesty the King has established the Chang Hua Man Project to be a demonstration center of economic crop cultivation and livestock culture. Since its establishment, the project has been visited by many groups of agriculturists, students and the general public. People living in the area also benefit from better communication, electricity and water resources brought by the project. Since the establishment of the Project in 2010, His Majesty has visited the project constantly to monitor its progress.


-- NNT 2013-12-16

[webfact]

Peter O'Toole, Lawrence of Arabia star, dies aged 81


File photo: Peter O'Toole 2003

LONDON: -- Actor Peter O'Toole, who starred in Sir David Lean's 1962 film classic Lawrence of Arabia, died on Saturday aged 81, his agent has said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689432-peter-otoole-lawrence-of-arabia-star-dies-aged-81/

[webfact]

Thailand lagging behind in English
Anjira Assavanonda
Special to The Nation


A student standing in front the class listens to hints given by her classmates and tries to guess the English vocabulary written on a piece of paper, held above her head.

Fulbright expert details five factors in 'scare' strategy to boost learning here

BANGKOK: -- Educators and experts gathered recently to share their experiences of reform in English language teaching and learning, implemented in Asian countries like China and Vietnam.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689433-thailand-lagging-behind-in-english/

[webfact]

'Election must go ahead'
The Nation


A man dressed like superhero

Participants at govt forum back February 2 poll; say winning party must commit to reform agenda

BANGKOK: -- Suggestions and promises filled a meeting room in the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre yesterday, where most participants said the best way to solve the political crisis was to hold a general election on February 2 next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689434-participants-at-thai-govt-forum-election-must-go-ahead/

[webfact]

DAAD mocks Suthep's 'Elite Council' proposal
Anapat Deechuay
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Nation

[
The caretaker government yesterday held a public forum

BANGKOK: -- Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) chairwoman Thida Thavornsret yesterday likened the refusal of some protesters to accept the one-person, one-vote system to a failure to treat all humans as equal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689436-daad-chairwoman-thida-mocks-sutheps-elite-council-proposal/

[webfact]

Angry Australian Sets 3 Motorbikes On Fire



KOH CHANG: -- An Australian tourist who was so angry that his motorbike was using too much petrol set fire to it causing damage to two other bikes after the renter would not refund him. The incident happened on Koh Chang island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689289-angry-australian-sets-3-motorbikes-on-fire/

[webfact]

SPECIAL REPORT
Democrats to vote on party reform
Prapasri Osathanon
The Nation

Proponents say opposition party won't regain power unless it embraces restructure; members to vote on changes tomorrow

BANGKOK: -- As long as the Opposition Democrats are divided on party reform, moves to return them to strength through restructuring seem doomed to fail. The Democrat Party will be branded as set for defeat and forever under the shadow of its arch-rival Pheu Thai.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689438-thai-democrats-to-vote-on-party-reform/

[webfact]

New project aims to keep Yala children in school
Tanpisit Leardbamrungchai
The Nation
Yala


Nurizan, a schoolgirl from Yala, proudly presents the mushrooms she sells. Through the Quality Learning Foundation

YALA: -- An entrepreneurial project has been developed by the Quality Learning Foundation in Yala province to keep children in school until the 12th grade.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689439-new-project-aims-to-keep-yala-children-in-school/

[webfact]

Political instability hits Impact Muang Thong Thani
The Nation


Loy Joon How, general manager of Impact Exhibition Management.

Impact Muang Thong Thani is a business victim of the disturbances in Bangkok.

BANGKOK: -- "There are some events that were supposed to take place in the third quarter that were postponed to the fourth quarter. This leads to opportunity losses and our frequency will suffer," Loy Joon How, general manager of Impact Exhibition Management Co, told The Nation last week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689441-political-instability-hits-impact-muang-thong-thani/

[webfact]

Thailand okays mafia banker's extradition: prosecutor

ROME, December 16, 2013 (AFP) - A businessman convicted of laundering money for the Sicilian Mafia will be extradited to Italy from Thailand where he was arrested in 2012 after many years on the run, an Italian prosecutor said on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689442-thailand-okays-mafia-bankers-extradition-prosecutor/

[webfact]

Missing 6 Year Old Girl Feared Dead
By Khaood Online



BANGKOK: -- The 6 year old girl who went missing is feared dead, after rescue workers uncovered a skull and personal items believed to belong to her.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689443-bangkok-missing-6-year-old-girl-feared-dead/

[webfact]

Russian dies in high-speed motorbike crash in North Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- A 26 year old Russian died in the early hours of Monday in a high-speed road crash on the Sukhumvit Road in North Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689444-russian-dies-in-high-speed-motorbike-crash-in-north-pattaya/

[webfact]

Turkish Couple Tricked Out Of 900 US Dollars

PATTAYA: -- A Turkish couple were tricked out of 900 US dollars by a European couple as they were walking around Mike Shopping Mall. They realised that their money was missing after the couple had gone, so they notified the police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689248-turkish-couple-tricked-out-of-900-us-dollars/

[webfact]

Capo vows to clamp down on lese majeste offenders
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (Capo) has set up a new panel to speed up the process of charging those accused of violating the lese majeste law, Capo deputy spokesman Anucha Romyanan said yesterday.

The move came as an arrest warrant was issued for a 22-year-old red-shirt supporter accused of posting messages online that flouted Article 112, relating to crimes of lese majeste.

Anucha said other wrongdoers who had posted messages on the Internet violating lese majeste laws would also be tracked down and charged. Capo has asked the Information and Communication Technology Ministry to shut down all websites carrying alleged lese majeste messages.

In other news, Anucha confirmed that power and water supplies had been restored to Government House. Anti-government-protesters camped out in the area had also returned to the vicinity of Luk Luang Road, he added.

However, police chief Gen Adul Saengsingkaew said that even though all sides were now seeking ways to end the conflict, police were still facing a number of violent incidents. He had therefore ordered officers to do their utmost to seek out those culprits still bent on causing violence.

Capo said it would also step up security around the US Embassy on Wireless Road following comments made by protest leader Nithithorn Lamleua that he would take demonstrators to protests outside the embassy.


-- The Nation 2013-12-16

[webfact]

Political parties should take a step back, senators say
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Political parties should take a step back and stop being stubborn so the country can find a way out of the current crisis and get talks underway to resolve the conflict, a group of senators for peace and democracy said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689447-political-parties-should-take-a-step-back-thai-senators-say/

[webfact]

Tourism body and two provinces ink MoU for Hua Hin, Cha-am
Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit
The Nation
Cha-am, Phetchaburi

BANGKOK: -- The Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces on tourism zoning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689448-tourism-body-and-two-provinces-ink-mou-for-hua-hin-cha-am/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Australian facing arson charge in Thailand
Ron Corben

Bangkok: -- A 47-year-old Australian man has been arrested by Thai police and faces charges of assault and arson after clashing with the manager of a motorbike rental company in southern Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689289-angry-australian-sets-3-motorbikes-on-fire/?p=7165302#entry7165302

[webfact]

Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra calls on Asia to enhance economic integration
By Alexander Cornwell, Staff Reporter

DUBAI: -- Thaksin Shinawatra, the controversial former Prime Minister of Thailand, called on Asian countries to increase economic integration with each other in an awards ceremony speech in Dubai on Saturday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689458-former-thai-pm-thaksin-calls-on-asia-to-enhance-economic-integration/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Man nabbed in 6 yo girl's sexual assault, murder

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689443-bangkok-missing-6-year-old-girl-feared-dead/?p=7165594#entry7165594

[webfact]

Anti-government protest leaders consider another mass rally; to request meeting with Election Commissioners, permanent secretaries of all ministries /MCOT

Security level raised at US embassy (Bangkok) following a threat to seize the embassy by a speaker of an anti-govt group /The Nation

First domestic PC sales contraction at 3.1 mn units this year, down 20% from 2013,according to IDC Thailand /The Nation

[webfact]

Jetstar begins Melbourne-Phuket service

PHUKET: -- Jetstar has launched a new service between Melbourne and Phuket, with its first flight taking off on Saturday (December 15).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689483-jetstar-begins-melbourne-phuket-service/

[webfact]

Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,338.36, down 2.77 points /MCOT

[webfact]

Anti-Thaksin demonstrators to protest at US Embassy



BANGKOK: -- The Student and People’s Network for the Reform of Thailand will protest at the US Embassy today for what its leaders said was the interference in the Thai internal affairs over its support for the caretaker government to hold the February 2 general elections.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689486-anti-thaksin-demonstrators-to-protest-at-us-embassy-in-bangkok/

[webfact]

Protest leader discredits defense permanent secretary’s statement



BANGKOK: -- The secretary-general of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) last night discredited a statement by the permanent secretary permanent for defense Gen Nipat Thonglek that the Armed Forces threw full support for the nationwide general elections on February 2.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689487-protest-leader-suthep-discredits-defense-permanent-secretarys-statement/

[webfact]

German parties unveil line-up of new coalition cabinet
English.news.cn

BERLIN, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and their coalition partner, the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), unveiled their picks for the new cabinet on Sunday, which will be sworn into office with Merkel serving the post of chancellor in a third term.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689504-german-parties-unveil-line-up-of-new-coalition-cabinet/

[webfact]

Anti-govt protest leaders plan another mass rally,want to meet election commissioners,permanent secretaries of all ministries /The Nation

[webfact]

Low-cost airline,Nok Air joins S'pore's Scoot,creating joint-venture airline,NokScoot which will begin service in 2nd half 2014 /The Nation

[webfact]

US embassy targeted for 'seizure'
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Two days after announcing they would occupy the U.S. embassy in Bangkok, a group of anti-government demonstrators have yet to make good on their threat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689486-anti-thaksin-demonstrators-to-protest-at-us-embassy-in-bangkok/#entry7166013

[webfact]

A University student wins 'Smart Lady' competition

BANGKOK, 16 Dec 2013, (NNT) - Miss Patsalin Reeprom, a 4th year Law student from Thammasat University won the Thai Women Empowerment Fund's Smart Lady Thailand Competition.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689512-thammasat-university-student-wins-smart-lady-competition/

[webfact]

1 billion baht cash flow expected in Chiang Mai during New Year festival

BANGKOK, 16 December 2013 (NNT) – Chiang Mai Province is expecting to reap around 1 billion baht in revenue from tourism during the New Year holiday.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) revealed that hotel reservations in Chiang Mai Province between Dec 28 and Dec 31 have reached 90 percent of its capacity, and many of the hotels have already been fully booked. Therefore, the TAT forecast that there would be over 1 billion baht in cash flow circulating in Chiang Mai during the week ending January 2. The Cabinet has already announced December 30 additional public holiday to stimulate tourism.

The TAT went on to say that many new tourist attractions have been opened in the province following the anticipated high number of both Thai and foreign visitors, which is expected to increase by 10 percent year-on-year.

According to the TAT, most of the foreign visitors coming to Thailand during the New Year are usually from Europe and China.


-- NNT 2013-12-16