Thailand Live Thursday 4 Sep 2014

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Thirty-five Lao super models reach final round



BANGKOK: -- Thirty-five Lao models have been selected for the final round of the first Lao Super Model Contest 2014, which will be held next month, reported Lao News Agency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757423-thirty-five-lao-super-models-reach-final-round/

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Yom River overflows damaged river bank barriers to flood Sukhothai provincial seat; Angthong authorities closely monitoring, on high alert /MCOT

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Senegal aims to become China's new tourism destination
By Digital Content

BEIJING, Sept 4 (Xinhua) -- China and Senegal have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on tourism, allowing Chinese tour groups to visit the West African country with ease.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757425-senegal-aims-to-become-chinas-new-tourism-destination/

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Yom River’s water level reaches a critical stage

SUKHOTHAI, 4 September 2014 (NNT) – Four districts in Sukhothai province have been urged to keep an eye on the water levels of the Yom River around the clock, as the water could overflow anytime.

The river’s water level in the downtown area of Sukhothai has continued to rise due to torrential rains. Meanwhile, the water from the Baan Had Saphan Chan Dam is being drained at a rate of 600 cubic meters per second, releasing more water into the area.

Residents living in low-lying areas in downtown Sukhothai, Sawankhalok, Si Samrong, and Kong Krailat districts, as well as those living in Phitsanulok’s Bang Rakam District are advised to monitor the situation for the next 2-3 days.

Authorities from the Sukhothai Municipality as well as soldiers in the area have placed sandbags in local communities and roads to deter the flow of water.


-- NNT 2014-09-04

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LG executive caught after damaging Samsung products
By Digital Content

SEOUL, Sept 4 (Yonhap) -- An executive of LG Electronics Inc. was questioned by police in Germany for allegedly damaging products of rival Samsung Electronics Co. on purpose at a Berlin mall, corporate sources said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757430-lg-executive-caught-after-damaging-samsung-products-in-germany/

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Phuket listed as the No. 1 spot for Chinese holidaymakers

PHUKET, 4 September 2014 (NNT) - Hotel booking website www.hotels.com has revealed that Phuket has been ranked as the top destination for Chinese tourists to celebrate their Moon Festival, which is taking place on September 6-8 of this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757436-phuket-listed-as-the-no-1-spot-for-chinese-holidaymakers/

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Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri launched new branch of global Islamist extremist movement in India and Myanmar. /The Nation

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Uzbek woman arrested following complaints by 'tourists'
By Coconuts Bangkok



PATTAYA: -- Pattaya police arrested four Uzbek women for solicitation in Pattaya this morning after supposedly receiving complaints from tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757442-uzbek-women-arrested-for-soliciting-following-complaints-by-pattaya-tourists/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Thai north still flooded; damages rising with water level
By Digital Content

SUKHOTHAI, Sept 4 -- The water level in the Yom River remains critically high, where the water has eroded the river banks and broken through its banks, flooding two districts in Sukhothai province.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757343-thailand-warned-to-brace-for-more-as-floodwaters-recede/#entry8339779

[Lite Beer]

BoT satisfied with Thailand's improved competitiveness
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Sept 4 -- The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has expressed satisfaction with the country's rising competitiveness ranking, which it considers as reflecting Thailand's strong economic fundamentals.

As the World Economic Forum moved Thailand from the 37th position last year to the 31st position this year in its competitiveness ranking of 144 countries, BoT spokesman Chirathep Senivongs Na Ayudhya said that the improvement was significant and resulted from many economic indicators including the macroeconomic condition, inflation, government budgets, health conditions and primary education.

The spokesman said that the improved competitiveness confirmed the country's economic fundamentals. Mr Chirathep said the evaluation by the World Economic Forum was satisfactory and was in accordance with previous evaluation by credit rating agencies.

Mr Chirathep said that national reform in many areas should enable Thailand to further enhance its competitiveness. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-09-04

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Court Acquits Redshirts Accused Of Torching Shopping Mall
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK — Two Redshirt demonstrators accused of burning down a shopping mall in Bangkok during the 2010 unrest were acquitted by a Court of Appeals this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757451-court-acquits-redshirts-accused-of-torching-bangkok-shopping-mall/

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Consumer's confidence index for August the highest in 13 months

BANGKOK: -- Consumer’s confidence index for August jumped to 80.1 – the highest point for the past 13 months since last August, said Mr Thanawat Polvichai, director of the economic and business forecast centre of the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce, today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757456-thai-consumers-confidence-index-for-august-the-highest-in-13-months/

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BMTA to provide free Wi-Fi on 1,500 Euro buses
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority will provide free Wi-Fi Internet on its 1,500 European emission standard buses, acting BMTA director Naret Boonpliem said on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757457-bmta-to-provide-free-wi-fi-on-1500-euro-buses/

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Fire breaks out at a school in Chaweng



KOH SAMUI: -- On September 4th at 9-45am a fire broke out at the Baan Had Nahm school in Chaweng.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757458-fire-breaks-out-at-a-school-in-chaweng/

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‎Finnish National arrested on suspicion of Dealing Ecstacy pills In Pattaya

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757465-%e2%80%8efinnish-national-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dealing-ecstacy-pills-in-pattaya/

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Prosecutors decide not to indict Yingluck on the rice case

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757468-prosecutors-decide-not-to-indict-yingluck-on-the-rice-case/

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Briton Makes False Robbery Report Seeking Insurance Claim
By Khaosod English


Jaysukh Sudra (seated) was arrested in Pattaya for falsely telling police that he was robbed by three Thai teenagers in attempt to claim insurance money, 4 Sept 2014.

CHONBURI — A British national was arrested in the popular resort town of Pattaya this morning for falsely telling police that he was robbed by three Thai teenagers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757479-briton-makes-false-robbery-report-seeking-insurance-claim-pattaya/

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Seven central provinces warned of possible flooding



BANGKOK: -- Seven central provinces located downstream of the Chao Phraya river have been warned to brace for water runoffs overflow river banks and possible flooding.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757487-seven-central-thai-provinces-warned-of-possible-flooding/

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Chinese tour agents exploring travel opportunities in Samui are bag snatched



KOH SAMUI: -- At 11-30 on the 30th of August it was reported that Ya Fei Yang, 59 and Xu Hai Yan, 45, were involved in a bag snatching incident in Chweng.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757489-chinese-tour-agents-exploring-travel-opportunities-in-samui-are-bag-snatched/

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UPDATE:

NACC Given Two Weeks To Polish Corruption Case Against Yingluck
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK — The Office of Attorney-General has postponed its decision on whether to pursue charges of corruption against former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in court, citing an incomplete investigation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757468-prosecutors-decide-not-to-indict-yingluck-on-the-rice-case/#entry8340554

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UPDATE:

Finn arrested in Pattaya’s ecstasy drug bust

PATTAYA: -- Pattaya Police took into custody a Thai woman in Pattaya in the early morning hour of September 4 for allegedly peddling Ecstasy pills on the streets of this well-known tourist city that led to the arrest of a Finnish man after about 1,000 of the illicit drug were found in his apartment. Drugs Ecstasy

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757465-%e2%80%8efinnish-national-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dealing-ecstacy-pills-in-pattaya/#entry8340621

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Ivory traders ordered to register
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Ivory shops in Thailand have two months to register and declare their stocks under threat of legal action by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757493-ivory-traders-in-thailand-given-2-months-to-register-and-declare-their-stocks/

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SET index closed 1,579.73, down 3.54; Bt/USD31.90; GBP52.39; AUD29.62; EUR41.82; CAD29.13; HKD4.10; SGD25.36; JPY30.29

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Thai woman with world's biggest hands can barely lift them

SURIN: -- A woman from Thailand's Surin Province is believed to have the world's biggest hands that weigh half a stone each.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757499-surin-woman-with-worlds-biggest-hands-can-barely-lift-them/

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Thai woman nabbed with meth worth $118,000 disguised as laptop PSUs
The Star/Asia News Network

ALOR SETAR: A Thai national was nabbed with syabu worth over RM300,000 (S$118,000) by the Kedah police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757502-thai-woman-nabbed-with-meth-worth-s118000-malaysia/

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MCOT Plc offered a contract revision which would allow Ch. 3 analogue TV channel to simultaneous broadcast on more than one medium. /The Nation

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Number of foreign visitors lower than expected so far this year
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Sept 4 -- The Ministry of Tourism and Sports admitted that the number of foreign visitors to Thailand was lower than targeted this year, so it will increasingly promote tourism in the country next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757529-number-of-foreign-visitors-to-thailand-lower-than-expected-so-far-this-year/

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National Disaster Warning Center advises people near Chao Phraya River to be prepared for floods

BANGKOK, 4 September 2014 (NNT) -The National Disaster Warning Center is currently warning local people along the Chao Phraya River to be prepared for floods.

The Director of the National Disaster Warning Center, Group Captain Somsak Kaosuwan, has reported that the water level in the Chao Phraya River will increase by 1-2 meters, over the two days 9th and 10th September 2014 according to a report by the Royal Irrigation Department, and advises people living along the course of the Chao Phraya River, especially in Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, and Lopburi provinces, to be prepared for floods.


-- NNT 2014-09-04

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Sukhothai faces heavy flooding
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Sept 4 -- The Yom River in Sukhothai province in Thailand's norther region has overflowed dykes and sandbagging to flood the provincial governmental offices even as local officials were reinforcing flood protection to save the province's business heart, as water continues to flow from the overfull Yom River.

Flooding in Sukhothai has worsened, as water level in the Yom River was rising, bringing with it strong currents that destroyed the dyke and sandbag wall put up earlier and pouring into Sukhothai municipality, the City Hall and various governmental offices in the area.

The heart of the province in now under 20-30 centimetres of water, and the water level continues to rise, with the newly erected 2 metres high dykes only 10 centimetres from being swept over by the surging water.

Roads in Pak Khwae subdistrict of the provincial seat were impassable for small vehicles, with most commuters using the bybass linking the city with nearby Phitsanulok and Tak provinces.

At the same time, municipal officials of Sukhothai Thani city have joined efforts to prevent the city's business area from flooding, by preparing large water pump to draw water from the city centre, even as the water level in Yom River behind the main municipal market was increasing. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-09-04

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'Sleepy' Chinese tourist rides off Phuket road
Eakkapop Thongtub


A rescue worker points to where Mr Zhong ended up in the ditch.

PHUKET: -- A Chinese tourist who apparently fell asleep on his rented motorbike early this morning (September 4) rode into a roadside ditch and was badly injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757532-sleepy-chinese-tourist-rides-off-phuket-road/