Thailand Live Thursday 17 Apr 2014

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Thai bank paints positive picture for Thai economy
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, April 17 – Thailand’s solid fundamentals will contribute to economic growth at 2-3 per cent and export expansion at 5-7 per cent this year, according to a leading Thai banker.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719460-bangkok-bank-paints-positive-picture-for-thai-economy/

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Despite lower production, Thailand targets being top auto parts manufacturer in Southeast Asia
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, April 17 – Auto parts manufacturing, declining 20-30 per cent since mid-last year, is possibly on the downward trend this year, according to the Thai Subcontracting Promotion Association (Thai Subcon).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719461-despite-lower-production-thailand-targets-being-top-auto-parts-manufacturer-in-se-asia/

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Thailand's Southern Islamic Federation seeks appeal in Saudi businessman's murder case
By Digital Content



PATTANI, April 17 – The Islamic Federation of 15 Southern Provinces has issued a statement advocating an appeal in the recent court case in which five police officers were acquitted in connection with the murder of a Saudi Arabia businessman.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719462-thailands-southern-islamic-federation-seeks-appeal-in-saudi-businessmans-murder-case/

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Texas executes man convicted in stabbing murders

WASHINGTON - The US state of Texas executed a man on Wednesday for stabbing to death his ex-girlfriend, her young son and her mother, state prison authorities said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719467-texas-executes-man-convicted-in-stabbing-murders/

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Nikom believes the attempt to hastily hold a Senate session is to axe him

BANGKOK, 17 April 2014 (NNT) - Senate President Nikom Wairatchapanit has expressed his belief that he is becoming a target of a political attack as an attempt to hastily call a special Senate session is destined to impeach him.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719469-nikom-believes-the-attempt-to-hastily-hold-a-thai-senate-session-is-to-axe-him/

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Suthep leads PDRC to Government Pharmaceutical Organization; Senate official meets legal team on possible Senate impeachment of Speaker Nikom /MCOT

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UPDATE:

BLUEFIN-21

Mini-sub completes first full mission in hunt for Malaysian jet

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-173?p=7699700#entry7699700

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Road Safety Centre: 29 deaths, 283 injuries in 273 road accidents nationwide reported on Wednesday, the sixth days of seven-day Songkran holiday /MCOT

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Caretaker PM sends lawyers to ask NACC for 15 days deadline extension for defense in NSC chief Thawil's transfer /MCOT

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Northeastern Thailand swept by another storm



BANGKOK, 17 April 2014 (NNT) – Thailand’s northeastern provinces have been struck by another summer storm, causing damage to houses and public utilities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719477-isaan-swept-by-another-storm/

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Abhisit advises Somchai to stay patient



BANGKOK: -- Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva today told a commissioner to the Election Commission Somchai Srisuthiyakorn to exert patience when he strongly criticized the rude behavior of the redshirt supporters of the government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719486-abhisit-advises-somchai-to-stay-patient/

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Daily Weather Forecast For Thailand 17 April 2014

General Situation
The heat low pressure remains over upper Thailand, and the weak southeasterly wind brings humid from the South China Sea to Thailand. The hot weather is likely over upper Thailand and decreasing in thundershowers with gust. People should beware of the severe weather that leads to the loss of lives and properties.

Weather forecast for Thailand from 6.00 a.m. Thursday to 6.00 a.m. Friday

Northern Thailand -Hot with haze during the day. Widely scattered thundershowers and isolated gust mostly in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nan, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet and Phetchabun. Minimum temperature 22-24 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 35-39 degree Celsius. Westerly winds 10-30 km/hr.

Northeastern Thailand -Hot with haze during the day. Widely scattered thundershowers with isolated gust mostly in Loei, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram and Ubon Ratchathani. Minimum temperature 24-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 36-37 degree Celsius. Easterly winds 15-30 km/hr.

Central Thailand -Hot with haze during the day. Widely scattered thundershowers and isolated gust mostly in Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Suphan Buri and Kanchanaburi. Minimum temperature 23-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 36-38 degree Celsius. Southerly winds 10-30 km/hr.

Eastern Thailand -Hot with haze during the day. Widely scattered thundershowers with isolated gust mostly in Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo and Trat. Minimum temperature 24-26 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 34-38 degree Celsius. Southeasterly winds 15-30 km/hr. Wave height about 1 meter.

Southern Thailand East Coast -Cloudy and widely scattered thundershowers mostly in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Songkhla. Minimum temperature 24-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 33-36 degree Celsius. Southeasterly winds 15-30 km/hr. Wave height about 1 meter.

Southern Thailand West Coast -Very cloudy and scattered thundershowers mostly in Phang-nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun. Minimum temperature 24-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 33-34 degree Celsius. Westerly winds 15-30 km/hr. Wave height about 1 meter and about 2 meters in the thundershower areas.

Bangkok Metropolis and Vicinity -Hot with haze during the day and 30% chance of thundershower with gust. Minimum temperature 26-27 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 34-36 degree Celsius. Southerly winds 15-30 km/hr.


-- NNT 2014-04-17

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UPDATE:

SOUTH KOREA
Nine dead, hundreds feared trapped in ferry sinking


Photo : EPA

SEOUL: -- The confirmed death toll reached nine in the South Korean ferry sinking Thursday, as fears grew for hundreds still missing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719186-ferry-carrying-470-passengers-sinking-off-south-korea/#entry7700020

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Arrested Tourist Police Volunteer Halpin still awaiting court date for ya ice
Anthika Muangrod


Garry Halpin.

PHUKET: -- Former Tourist Police Volunteer, New Zealander Garry Halpin, is still in a cell in Chalong Police Station – the station he used to work from – awaiting trial on a charge of dealing in drugs. No trial date has yet been set.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719510-arrested-tourist-police-volunteer-halpin-still-awaiting-court-date-for-ya-ice/

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Songkran total death toll now stands at 277



BANGKOK: -- Total death toll from road accidents in the past six days of the seven dangerous days during the Songkran festival now stands at 277 dead and 2,926 injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719511-songkran-total-death-toll-now-stands-at-277/

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Yingluck seeks Constitutional Court's extension of deadline for defending herself

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Thursday asked the Constitutional Court for 15 more days for preparing documents to defend herself in the case of unlawful transfer of the National Security Council's chief.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719488-yingluck-seeks-constitutional-courts-extension-of-deadline-for-defending-herself/

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Row Over Samut Sakhon Police Station Parking Lot
By Khaosod English



SAMUT SAKHON: -- A row has erupted among senior police officers at a police station in Samut Sakhon province over a parking space.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719513-row-over-samut-sakhon-police-station-parking-lot/

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Fuel tanker jumps red light, whacks Phuket cop's car
Anthika Muangrod


Today's crash.

PHUKET: -- An 18-wheel fuel tanker today (April 17) collided with a car after the truck went through a red light at the Tesco-Lotus intersection on the bypass.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719516-fuel-tanker-jumps-red-light-whacks-phuket-cops-car/

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KANCHANABURI: -- Two passengers were killed and 20 others injured when a chartered double-deck bus from Bangkok veered off a curve of the road and overturned in Tha Maka district of Kanchanaburi province this morning.

About 40 passengers, mostly vendors, were on a trip to make merit at a temple in Tha Maka when the accident happened at 7.30 a.m. today.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/37002/


-- Thai PBS 2014-04-17

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China to bypass Malacca Strait by Kra Isthmus Canal in Thailand
POSTED BY CHANKAIYEE2 ⋅


Map showing proposed Kra Isthmus Canal location in Thailand

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719518-china-to-bypass-malacca-strait-by-kra-isthmus-canal-in-thailand/

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Four die and 24 injured in bus crash



CHIANG MAI: -- Four passengers were killed and 24 others injured, four seriously, when a double-deck bus from Chiang Mai veered off mountain road, falling down and overturned.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719532-four-die-and-24-injured-in-chiang-mai-mae-hong-son-bus-crash/

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Deputy Senate speaker reiterates call for govt to open parliamentary session

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Senate Speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai Thursday reiterated call for the government to enact a royal decree to open an extraordinary parliamentary session so that the upper chamber can deliberate an impeachment motion.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission has asked the Senate to retroactively impeach former Senate speaker Nikom Wairatpanij for his allegedly unlawful role in directing the charter amendment bill on the Senate's composition.

Surachai said the charter requires the Senate to deliberate the request of the NACC within 20 days and the deadline is Friday. Since the Senate cannot meet the deadline, the government should enact a royal decree to open the parliamentary session no later than April 30 so that the Senate could perform its duty, Surachai said.


-- The Nation 2014-04-17

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Government must decide on withdrawal of money to repay farmers



BANGKOK, 17 April 2014 (NNT) - According to the Finance Permanent-Secretary, a decision to withdraw additional money from the central budget to repay farmers under the rice-pledging scheme, rests solely with the government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719535-thai-govt-must-decide-on-withdrawal-of-money-to-repay-rice-farmers/

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PM concerned about economic slowdown, urges NESDB to find long-term solution to economic problem, says February exports grow 2% /MCOT

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Antigovernment Protesters Start Back Up in Bangkok
By WARANGKANA CHOMCHUEN

BANGKOK – Antigovernment protesters returned to the streets Thursday in Thailand’s capital in a warm-up rally ahead of the much-anticipated court verdict over the fate of the country’s embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719537-antigovernment-protesters-start-back-up-in-bangkok/

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IPU Concerned By Yingluck Inquiry: Pheu Thai

By Khaosod English


Top officials of Ministry of Defence present traditional garlands to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on occassion of 2014 Thai New Year, 17 April 2014

BANGKOK - The International Parliamentary Union (IPU) has expressed its concern over the ongoing investigation against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, a Pheu Thai official said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719539-international-parliamentary-union-concerned-by-yingluck-inquiry-pheu-thai/

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Senate aims to open session next Thursday
By English News



BANGKOK, April 17 – The caretaker Cabinet will be asked to go ahead with the opening of a Senate session next Thursday to debate pending issues, a senior senator said today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719542-thai-senate-aims-to-open-session-next-thursday/

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Public health permanent secretary skips CAPO meeting

BANGKOK: -- Public Health Permanent Secretary Narong Sahametapat refused to attend a meeting of permanent secretaries called by the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order Thursday.

Narong did not send his representative to the meeting either.

The permanent secretaries for Transport Ministry, Foreign Ministry and Energy Ministry did not attend the meeting but they sent their representatives to the meeting.


-- The Nation 2014-04-17

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Multi-Billion Pound Investment Boost Will Improve Scotland – England Links

EDINBURGH, April 17 (RIA Novosti), Mark Hirst – The UK Government has confirmed a new £2.7 billion contract to build 500 new railway carriages that will travel on the main intercity route between Edinburgh and London, linking Scotland and England.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719545-multi-billion-pound-investment-boost-will-improve-scotland-england-links/

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Pheu Thai members expected to meet with Thaksin in HK

BANGKOK, 17 April 2014, (NNT) - Many members of the Pheu Thai Party are planning to have a meeting with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, this weekend in Hong Kong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719550-pheu-thai-members-expected-to-meet-with-thaksin-in-hong-kong/