Thailand Live Tuesday 29 Apr 2014

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Lime prices soar nationwide following shortage



BANGKOK, 29 April 2014 (NNT) - Distressed vendors are starting to feel the pinch as lime prices have increased drastically nationwide due to hot weather and the ongoing drought situation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722269-lime-prices-soar-nationwide-following-shortage-thailand/

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Phrae facing most severe drought in 50 years; Buriram hit by storm

PHRAE, 29 April 2014 (NNT) – Phrae province is facing the most severe drought in 50 years. Meanwhile, at least 61 homes in Buriram have been damaged by storm in just one night.

Mae Kham River, the main water source in Phrae, has completely dried up; the ground of the river bed is now visibly cracked. According to locals, this year's drought is the most severe in 50 years.

With 2,500 rai of rice paddies already decimated by drought, officials were under pressure to mitigate the situation. In all, 584 villages in all of the province's 8 districts have been afflicted by water shortage. Around 50,000 rai of farmlands – almost 30,000 of which are rice paddies – have been damaged.

In Buriram, a storm that swept through the province on Sunday night damaged at least 61 homes in 9 communities in Mueang district. Roofing and other construction materials were being handed out to the storm-struck home owners, as town and country planning officials surveyed the damage.


-- NNT 2014-04-29

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Tourist given jail time, fine after retracting her sexual assault claims in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - A tourist who said she had been raped in a car, then retracted her claims, has been handed a two-month jail term for consensual intercourse out of wedlock.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722271-austrian-tourist-given-jail-time-fine-after-retracting-her-sexual-assault-claims-in-dubai/

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UPDATE:

MH370: Exploration firm claims wreckage found
Tan Yi Liang
The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: -- An exploration company, GeoResonance has claimed it found the wreckage of the crashed Malaysia Airlines flight, MH370, six weeks after it left Kuala Lumpur International Airport for Beijing on March 8.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-189?p=7751114#entry7751114

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Russia assures U.S. it won't invade Ukraine: Pentagon
English.news.cn

WASHINGTON, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Russia has assured the United States that it will not invade Ukraine, said the U.S. Department of Defense Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722276-russia-assures-us-it-wont-invade-ukraine-pentagon/

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,410.13, down 1.10 points /MCOT

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Pheu Thai calls on all sides to back election



BANGKOK, 29 April 2014 (NNT) – The Pheu Thai Party has urged all political sides to refrain from violence, and instead, seek solutions through an election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722277-pheu-thai-calls-on-all-sides-to-back-election/

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Activists wants govt to pursue National Savings Fund Act to allow establishment of a pension scheme for the elderly /The Nation

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Public Health Ministry to begin providing free influenza vaccines free to 3.4 mn people at state hospitals nationwide as of Mar. 31 Thur /The Nation

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Anwar: An Opaque system of cover-ups


Anwar Ibrahim speaks to Thepchai Yong during their interview.

BANGKOK: -- Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim spoke to the Nation's Group Editor-in-Chief Thepchai Yong in Kuala Lumpur last week prior to the visit of US President Barack Obama.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722284-malaysias-opposition-leader-anwar-an-opaque-system-of-cover-ups-interview/

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Deep South officials on guard during anniversary of Krue Se Mosque incident



YALA, 29 April 2014 (NNT) – Officials in the southern border provinces are still on high alert around the clock as the 10 years anniversary of the Krue Se Mosque incident rolls past.

Yala Provincial Police Commander Songkiat Wathakun ordered thorough monitoring and search for suspected vehicles passing through road checkpoints in each district; he also ordered his subordinates to be ready to work around the clock. Security officials were keeping watchful eyes against all types of ambushes, and rapid response units were also readied for tackling violent incidents that might occur on April 28, the 10th anniversary of the Krue Se incident.

In Songkhla, security guards posted at hotels and department stores have intensified searches for suspected vehicles, to prevent any car bomb attempts. Photographs of around 10 cars reported stolen which could potentially be used as car bombs have also been posted at security checkpoints.


-- NNT 2014-04-29

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Suthep says no compromise with Thaksin



BANGKOK: -- Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban rejected all attempts now by certain people for talks to resolve the political impasse and enter election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722287-suthep-says-no-compromise-with-thaksin/

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Udon Thani : new road planned ; threatens many homeowners with compulsory purchase?

UDON THANI: -- Homeowners in several new housing developments along the ring road of Udon Thani are threatened with compulsory purchase of their homes and land, if the city should decide to implement a years-old plan for a new road .

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722288-udon-thani-new-road-planned;-threatens-many-homeowners-with-compulsory-purchase/

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Gen Prayuth denies military involvement with the murder of “Mai Nueng”

BANGKOK, 29 April 2014 (NNT) – Army Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has denied the military’s involvement in the killing of red-shirt activist Kamol Duangphasuk, who is also known by his penname as “Mai Nueng Kor Kunthee”.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722292-gen-prayuth-denies-military-involvement-with-the-murder-of-red-shirt-activist-mai-nueng/

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Industries Sentiment Index in March lowest in 5 years



BANGKOK, 29 April 2014 (NNT) – According to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), the Thai Industries Sentiment Index (TISI) stood at 84.7 points in March, the lowest in 5 years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722296-thai-industries-sentiment-index-in-march-lowest-in-5-years/

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How a Chinese toddler urinating on Hong Kong street sparked a social media war

Full story: How a Chinese toddler urinating on Hong Kong street sparked a social media war http://ow.ly/wgL9K

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Army chief says public safety to come first in troop scale down



BANGKOK: -- Army commander-in-chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha says public safety must come first for scaling down troop deployment in the capital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722301-thai-army-chief-says-public-safety-to-come-first-in-troop-scale-down/

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Prices of instant noodles increased

BANGKOK 29 April 2014 (NNT) — Instant noodles makers have increased the prices of their products due to the decrease of sales.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722302-thailand-prices-of-instant-noodles-increased/

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Gov urges police to be ‘more polite’ in aftermath of Phuket roadblock mob
Suthicha Sirirat


Gov Maitri negotiates with blockade leaders on April 23.

PHUKET: -- Governor Maitri Inthusut has urged police to be more polite in their dealings with the public, in order to avoid situations like the seven-hour road blockade on April 23.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722304-gov-urges-police-to-be-more-polite-in-aftermath-of-phuket-roadblock-mob/

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3.4 million Thais to be provided with influenza vaccines



BANGKOK, 29 April 2014 (NNT) – The Public Health Ministry is set to provide free flu vaccines nationwide, starting May 1st.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722307-34-million-thais-to-be-provided-with-influenza-vaccines/

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Chinese tourists, skipper injured in speedboat collision off Phuket
Phuket Gazette


Xing Cheng, 26, was on board the Nontasak when it collided with the Star Andaman yesterday at the pier on Koh Khai Nok. Photo: Phuket Marine Police

PHUKET: -- Four Chinese tourists and one Thai national were injured yesterday after two speedboats collided at the docks on Koh Khai Nok, off the east coast of Phuket.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722309-chinese-tourists-skipper-injured-in-speedboat-collision-off-phuket/

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FTI: More than 100,000 SME operators would call it quits



BANGKOK, 29 April 2014, (NNT) - The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has predicted that more than 100,000 SME operators will likely quit if the political turmoil continues until the end of the year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722310-fti-more-than-100000-sme-operators-would-call-it-quits/

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UPDATE:

Sales slump pushes prices of instant noodles



BANGKOK: -- Instant noodles makers have increased the prices of their products due to the sales slump.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722302-thailand-prices-of-instant-noodles-increased/#entry7751955

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Phuket Town prepares for Jazz Day
Marque A. Rome

PHUKET: -- When UNESCO initiated International Jazz Day in 2011, Tidaporn “Kay” Mangkolkaew and pianist Jeffrey Sevilla, with sponsorship from Phuket Municipality, organised the only event honouring it in Southeast Asia, thereby putting the island squarely on the international jazz map.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722313-phuket-town-prepares-for-jazz-day/

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UPDATE:

Free flu vaccination next week



BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry is to provide free flu vaccines nationwide starting early next month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722307-34-million-thais-to-be-provided-with-influenza-vaccines/#entry7752001

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Leeds teacher murder: boy, 15, in custody after Anne Maguire stabbed to death

LEEDS: -- Pupil, who cannot be named for legal reasons, arrested on suspicion of murder after Anne Maguire was repeatedly stabbed in front of other pupils at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722318-uk-boy-15-held-after-leeds-teacher-stabbed-to-death-in-class/

[Lite Beer]

Foreigner Robs Koh Samui Convenience Store

By Khaosod Eng.

SURAT THANI — Police say an armed foreigner robbed a convenience store on Koh Samui island yesterday and took off with more than 178,000 baht in cash.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722328-foreigner-robs-koh-samui-convenience-store/

[Lite Beer]

MH370: Australian exploration company believes it may have found plane

An Australian exploration company has claimed that it has found the wreckage of missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370, six weeks after it left Kuala Lumpur International Airport for Beijing on March 8, reported The Star Online.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-190?p=7752272#entry7752272

[Lite Beer]

Chalerm says election to be staged in military barracks

BANGKOK: -- The Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) will coordinate with the military to stage election in military barracks as a means to pre-empt disruptions by anti-government protesters, said CAPO director Chalerm Yubamrung today (Tuesday).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722338-chalerm-says-election-to-be-staged-in-military-barracks/

[Lite Beer]

Thaksin's cousin denies building up armed force

Former supreme commander Gen Chaisit Shinawatra Tuesday denied that he had been building armed men in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Chaisit said he simply visited retired military officers and his visit led to rumours that he was building up a force of armed men

-- The Nation 2014-04-29