Thailand live Saturday 17 May 2014

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Plane crash in Laos kills national defence minister

Laos’ military plane carrying high-ranking government officials on Saturday crashed in Xiang Kuang province of Laos, killing all passengers on board including national defence minister..

It was reported that Defence Minister Douangchae Phichit was among the victims of the crash.

-- The Nation 2014-05-17

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RT@BPbreakingnews: Asian currencies climb as rupee surges

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Filthy Phuket klong problem ‘solved’
Suthicha Sirirat

The klong looks a lot more healthy now.

PHUKET: A strict warning to hotels and other businesses not to dump sewage and foul water into Klong Bang Tao at the south end of BangTao Bay has paid dividends, Phuket Vice-Governor Somkiet Sungkhaosutthirak said on Thursday (May 15) after visiting the klong.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726875-filthy-phuket-klong-problem-solved/

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RT@W7VOA: Photo of #Laos military plane crash which has killed several key gov’t officials - is.gd/aIfUi6

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Thai visa-van ban at Malaysian border not part of recent crackdown
Phuket Gazette -

The ban on Thai visa-run vans at the Malaysian border is due to a protest by Malaysian drivers. Photo: Saran Mitrarat

The blockade preventing Thai visa-run vans from entering Malaysia on their way to Penang is not linked to the recent crackdown on visa runs in Thailand, confirmed a KBV Phuket Visa Run staffer.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726877-thai-visa-van-ban-at-malaysian-border-not-part-of-recent-crackdown/#entry7836511

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Lao plane carrying defence chief crashes: Thai official

BANGKOK, May 17, 2014 (AFP) - A Lao military plane carrying top officials including the defence minister crashed on Saturday in the north of the communist country, a Thai official said, without giving details of any casualties.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726879-lao-plane-carrying-defence-chief-crashes-thai-official/

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Apple, Google call truce in smart phone patent war

SAN FRANCISCO - The technology titans behind the top two smart phone platforms in the world called a truce Friday in a long-running patent war.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726882-apple-google-call-truce-in-smart-phone-patent-war/

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IKEA Bangna invites Thais to join in Celebration of Midsommar Festival

IKEA Bangna is inviting Thais to join their celebration of the traditional Swedish Midsommar festival(Midsummer celebration) with a range of activities to help them enjoy shopping, try new tastes in the IKEA Restaurant, and receive special gifts.

Swedes celebrates Midsommar festival in June every year, to welcome the warm summer, the beautiful spring flowers, and for many, the beginning of their annual holiday. Summer brings longer hours of daylight enabling Swedes more time to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the country. Midsommar is a very social time for Swedes to invite families, friends and lovers, to come together to eat, sing, dance and play games.

Enjoy shopping

June 1-23, in this spirit of Midsommar festivity, IKEA FAMILY members will enjoy 50% off delivery service in Bangkok and vicinity area and receive a complimentary Swedish FINANSIELL horse decoration (value 599 THB) when they purchase 8,000 THB at IKEA Bangna. The Dala horse, the symbol of Dalarna, is a Swedish children’s toy which are seen everywhere in restaurants, shops, and homes.

Enjoy eating

June 20, spice up your summer and celebrate Swedish Midsommar festival together with a special Midsommar buffet at IKEA Restaurant, 1st floor, IKEA Bangna and receive a 100 THB store voucher.

Try Marinated Salmon, Mustard Herring and have a bite of egg with Prawn Roe topping. Pamper your stomach with meatballs served with mashed potato, Rhubarb pie, Cheese pie, and various Swedish menus.

You can choose to eat at your convenience with two buffet rounds 5.00 – 7.00 pm or 7.30 – 9.30 pm.

Tickets are available for purchase at IKEA Restaurant from Friday 6th June 2014.

Price

Adult 500 THB (Get free 100 THB store voucher)*

FAMILY members 350 THB (+one guest at the same price and get free 100 THB voucher)*

Kids 4-12 years old 150 THB

Kids under 4 years old FREE!

At IKEA Bangna, you can sign up for privileges by registering as “IKEA FAMILY” for free!

See more information www.IKEA.co.th

http://scandasia.com/ikea-bangna-invites-thais-to-join-in-celebration-of-midsommar-festival/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ikea-bangna-invites-thais-to-join-in-celebration-of-midsommar-festival

--ScandAsia.Com 2014-05-17

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UPDATE:

Lao air force plane crash kills defence minister, 21 others

Vientiane: -- At least 22 people including the defence minister were killed when a Lao air force plane crashed Saturday, officials said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726879-lao-plane-carrying-defence-chief-crashes-thai-official/#entry7836722

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Phuket villagers block road in protest at development dust and mud
Tanyaluk Sakoot

PHUKET: Work on a large low-end property development in Kathu has stopped after local people blockaded the site to express their displeasure at the dust and mud created by trucks and other construction machinery along the road past their homes.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726884-phuket-villagers-block-road-in-protest-at-development-dust-and-mud/

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UPDATE:

Senate dashes Suthep’s hopes for interim PM

BANGKOK: An informal Senate session has failed to come up with any concrete way to install an interim prime minister, dashing the hopes of the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) that a so-called “neutral” premier would be appointed by their deadline of yesterday (May 16).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726768-step-down-for-sake-of-the-country-senators-urge-govt/page-4#entry7836855

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Thailand is striving to become ASEAN medical equipment hub

BANGKOK, 17 May 2014, (NNT) - The Industry Ministry is planning to position Thailand as the production hub for medical equipment and health products in the ASEAN region, by 2020.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726895-thailand-is-striving-to-become-asean-medical-equipment-hub/

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Finance Ministry to ask EC’s permission to draft 2015 budget plan

BANGKOK, 17 May 2014, (NNT) - Mr. Somchai Sajjapong, Director General of the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) has strongly suggested the Budget Bureau petition the Election Commission to grant permission for the government to draft the budget plan for 2015.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726896-finance-ministry-to-ask-ecs-permission-to-draft-2015-budget-plan/

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RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: The operation to reclaim sovereign power must be over by May 26

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RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: People will have to rise next Fri-Sunday, we will know if we win or lose on Monday

RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: If not win, I will surrender on Tuesday 27, its not because I give up but we've done enough, economy has been damaged a lot already

RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: If million of people don't show up on our side, no way we can win.


RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: The operation will start from Monday

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Phuket officials vote to halt dredging of marina canal
Phuket Gazette -

Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak called on all present to vote on whether or not the dredging should continue. Photo: Saran Mitrarat

PHUKET: The dredging of the Koh Kaew Canal, which provides access to two key marinas on the east coast of Phuket, has stopped due to environmental concerns.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726901-phuket-officials-vote-to-halt-dredging-of-marina-canal/

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RT@RichardBarrow: Suthep is holding talks at Government House to outline new road map to victory (Pic @Pat_ThaiPBS) pic.twitter.com/n5n52Pftg0

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Army Chief clarifies 7-point statement does not intend coup, stresses military observes laws, urges all parties avoid violence /MCOT

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Suthep vows to surrender, stop rallies by May 27 if remaining Cabinet members not resign

Suthep Thaugsuban announced Saturday if not enough people come out to join his rallies to pressure the 24 remaining ministers to resign by May 26, he will surrender to police by May 27.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726907-suthep-vows-to-surrender-stop-rallies-by-may-27-if-remaining-cabinet-members-not-resign/

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Suthep says he'll begin to 'recall control' of sovereign power on Monday; if not accomplished by May 27, he will surrender /MCOT

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Redshirts label court’s judgment a rebellion

CHIANG MAI: -- Redshirt people in Chiang Mai displayed banners attacking the Constitutional Court over what they called unjust rulings and vowed to join redshirt rally in Bangkok to escalate the protest and demanded justice to be returned.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726914-redshirts-label-courts-judgment-a-rebellion/

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Surapong petitions CCD

BANGKOK: -- Former Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul sought help from the Royal Thai Police's Counter Corruption Division (CCD) Saturday to file malfeasance charge against nine Constitutional Court judges for a judgment that terminates his minister status over the transfer of national security council chief.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726919-surapong-petitions-ccd/

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Battered economy forseen

BANGKOK: -- Ongoing political instability continues to deal heavy blow on the Thai economy, with economic gurus now seeing near recession economy and lower-than-targeted revenue collection.

Bank of Thailand senior director of Financial Institutions Strategy Department Anupap Kuvinichkul said that now households and businesses turn to adopt cautious steps in their consumption and investment.

Such caution causes a decline of credit growth at the rate of 9.8 percent.

Political unrest has also taken its toll on business credit.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) credit also recorded at only 11.7 per cent, the lowest growth in 2-3 years.

Political instability also drove down consumer credit growth from 12.9 per cent in the previous quarter to only 10.7 percent.

The country also sees a rise of non performing loans (NPLs) to 28 billion baht, 2.3 per cent of SMEs and consumer credits forcing some banks to start easing and extending the repayment deadlines for their clients.

Meanwhile the director general of the Fiscal Policy Office Somchai Sajjapong said revenue collection in the first seven months of this fiscal year fell 2.9 per cent to about 1 trillion baht, 3.2 billion baht lower than projected as a result of the decline in the collection of export, automobile and fuel taxes.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/battered-economy-forseen/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=battered-economy-forseen

-- Thai PBS 2014-05-17

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Gap year tragedy as teenager dies after falling from a train in Thailand while trying to have a sneaky cigarette

BANGKOK: -- A teenager has died during his gap year trip in Thailand after falling from a train while he tried to have a sneaky cigarette.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726929-gap-year-tragedy-as-british-teenager-dies-after-falling-from-a-train-in-thailand/

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RT@Biz_TheNation: RT @reporter_Itsara: Reds plan rally from May 20 to May 27, to mobilize supporters nationwide.. pic.twitter.com/ORDNcrQ7pa"

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UPDATE:

Lotion devotion ends in Phuket commotion
Eakkapop Thongtub


The thief dropped her haul in the road before making a run for it.

PHUKET: Dawreung Budda, 31, from Nakhon Phanom, was arrested yesterday afternoon (May 16) for theft.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726861-serial-sunscreen-shoplifter-snagged-in-sunny-phuket/page-2#entry7839155

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RT@2Bangkok: Allegation that senators met Thaksin in Singapore to solicit bribes to block the naming of an interim PM

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to continue:

Thailand Live Sunday 18 May 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727006-thailand-live-sunday-18-may-2014/