Thailand Live Thursday 18 Sep 2014

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,575.26, gains 4.62 points /MCOT

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Land prices (lower Sukhumvit-Ekamai) hit new high in 1st half 2014 at Bt1.8mn/sq.wah, 4 times higher than appraised prices. /The Nation

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Thousands flee as Mayon spews lava



MANILA: -- The majestic Mayon, the Philippines' most active volcano near Legazpi City, Albay, spewed huge lava fragments rolling down its slopes in an ongoing gentle eruption that has prompted authorities to evacuate thousands of villagers, including farm animals and pets, Manila Bulletin reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761383-thousands-flee-as-philippines-mayon-spews-lava/

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French ambassador to open residence to show off 'European heritage'

BANGKOK: -- The French ambassador to Thailand will open his residence on Charoenkrung Rad to public on Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm as part of "European Heritage Days" celebration.

Thirty-four wonders of the world will be on display. Also, of special interest, visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy an outside view of the brand-new building of the Embassy's chancery.

The Heritage Days have been annually organized since 1984 on the third week-end of September by the French authorities in France and overseas, in order to promote the richness and diversity of public buildings. They were, later on, adopted by other European countries and since then named European Heritage Days.

During the tour, visitors will discover the main lounge and the large dining room with a fully set table, both on the first floor of the Residence, as well as the reception areas located on the ground floor of the mansion where a photographic exhibition on the topic of the Biodiversity.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/French-ambassador-to-open-residence-to-show-off-Eu-30243538.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-18

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Security to be enhanced in Koh Tao following murder of two tourists

SURAT THANI, 18 September 2014 (NNT) - The Surat Thani governor has ordered beefing up of security measures in Koh Tao following the gruesome murder of two young British backpackers that happened on the night of September 12.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761385-security-to-be-enhanced-on-koh-tao-following-murder-of-two-british-tourists/

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Commerce Ministry to keep rice price from falling below 8,500 baht per ton

BANGKOK, 18 September 2014 (NNT) The Ministry of Commerce has agreed to meet with rice growers' representatives every two weeks to ensure stability of rice price is achieved and to address the demands of rice growers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761387-thai-commerce-ministry-to-keep-rice-price-from-falling-below-8500-baht-per-ton/

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LATEST

Six migrant workers freed but Briton still asked to stay on



Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761406-koh-tao-murders-six-migrant-workers-freed-but-briton-still-asked-to-stay-on/

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All ministries must make quarterly performance report; vocational schools will be shut down if students engaged in violent fights, PM Gen. Prayuth said. /The Nation

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has set up a committee comprising 14 military officers to select 250 members of the National Reform Council. /Bangkok Post

New interim cabinet will soon visit residents nationwide to get first hand information on local problems and complaints. /The Nation

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Emotions mount before Scotland votes on independence

THE United Kingdom teeters on the brink of potentially breaking up today as leaders made last minute appeals to voters on the future of the 300-year-old union amid mass rallies, divided polls and flared tempers over the future of Scotland.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761334-scottish-independence-decision-day/#entry8401807

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RT @RichardBarrow: BBC just crossed live to Jonathan Head on Koh Tao & asked him for an update. He replied, "I wish I could... Police followed wrong leads"

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PHUKET: Man caught robbing 2 pharmacies
Darawan Naknakhon

A man was arrested yesterday (September 17) for robbing two local pharmacies.

PHUKET: A man was arrested yesterday (September 17) for robbing two local pharmacies on Tuesday night (September 16).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761423-phuket-man-caught-robbing-2-pharmacies/

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NCPO appoints 14 member committee, including Tanasak, Udomdej, Paiboon, to shortlist National Reform Council applicant names /MCOT

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DNA test clears suspect in Thai beach murder

BANGKOK: -- A Briton questioned in the murder of two countrymen on a Thai beach this week did not match DNA found on the female victim, police said Thursday.

The man had been travelling with them, and was questioned twice by poice this week, the second time as a suspect on Wednesday, before being released.

"The DNA results of the semen do not match that of the friend," Police Sergeant Apichet Cherdguea told dpa.

"We have to start looking at the case again," he said, without indicating whose the DNA was.

The bodies of the tourists were found on the beach on Monday at the island resort of Koh Tao, 350 kilometres south of Bangkok.

The couple, both 24, suffered extensive injuries to the head and neck.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/DNA-test-clears-suspect-in-Thai-beach-murder-30243546.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-18

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UPDATE:

Thailand murders: Still no suspects identified

(BBC) Police in Thailand say they have still not identified any suspects in the murder of two British tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761406-koh-tao-murders-six-migrant-workers-freed-but-briton-still-asked-to-stay-on/#entry8402140

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NCPO to receive lists of NRC’s candidates today or tomorrow

BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission is expected to submit to the National Council for Peace and Order this afternoon or tomorrow the complete list of 550 professional candidates vying for seats in the National Reform Council and another list of provincial candidates.

EC secretary-general Puchong Nuttrawong said this morning that the list of 550 candidates representing 11 fields of profession had already been completed and was in the EC’s hands.

As for the list representing 77 provinces, including Bangkok Metropolis, the lists of 60 provinces have been completed and 27 of them have been received by the EC with the remaining lists expected to be received within September 23, said Mr Puchong.

He disclosed that the EC had been instructed by the NCPO to keep all the lists of candidates confidential to prevent possible lobbying if any of the lists are leaked out.

He warned that investigation would be launched if there is a leak of any of the provincial lists.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ncpo-receive-lists-nrcs-candidates-today-tomorrow/


-- Thai PBS 2014-09-18

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UPDATE:

DNA Tests Confirm Koh Tao Murderer Still On the Run
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK — DNA traces found on the bodies of two British tourists murdered in southern Thailand do not match any of the possible suspects detained by Thai police, confirming that the culprit behind the gruesome murder is still at large.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761406-koh-tao-murders-six-migrant-workers-freed-but-briton-still-asked-to-stay-on/page-2#entry8402563

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British Tourist Crashes Motorbike In Pattaya

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761444-british-tourist-injured-in-pattaya-motorbike-accident/

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Sattahip: 56 Year Old Man Shot 5 Times in Restaurant confrontation

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761445-56-year-old-man-shot-5-times-in-restaurant-confrontation/

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UDD seeks fair probe of Men In Black case

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BANGKOK: -- Redshirt leaders today petitioned the Royal Thai Police seeking fair investigation in a case of which five members of the so-called 'Men in Black' were arrested and accused.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761448-udd-seeks-fair-probe-of-men-in-black-case/

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Bodies of couple who jumped from Krungthep Bridge retrieved

BANGKOK: -- Bodies of a married couple who jumped from the Krungthep Bridge Tuesday night were retrieved from Chao Phraya River Thursday morning.

Police identified the two as Natthapol Duangprasertdee, 27, and his wife, Warathip Thanapairin, 24.

The man body was found at the pier of Bukkhalo Temple in Bangkok's Thonburi district at 8:30 am.

The woman's body was seen floating on the river under the Bhumibhol I Bridge in Yannawa district shortly after.

The two were seen jumping from the Krunthep Bridge Tuesday night.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Bodies-of-couple-who-jumped-from-Krungthep-Bridge--30243548.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-18

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UK 'raises concern' over bikini remarks by Thai PM

BANGKOK, September 18, 2014 (AFP) - Britain Thursday raised concerns after Thailand's junta leader suggested tourists in bikinis could be more vulnerable to attack, as DNA tests failed to yield a breakthrough in the hunt for the killers of two British holidaymakers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761451-uk-raises-concern-over-bikini-remarks-by-thai-pm/

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UPDATE:

ThaiBev rushes to change Phuket Veg Fest 'beer' flags
Saran Mitrarat


That's better: Chang with a blue logo denotes healthy drinking water, not beer, says ThaiBev

PHUKET: -- Brewing giant ThaiBev has jumped to correct sponsorship flags for the Vegetarian Festival after the Public Health Department filed a complaint with Phuket Town police that the company was illegally advertising beer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761330-beer-maker-thaibev-in-trouble-over-phuket-veg-fest-flags/#entry8402876

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Buriram man nails tribute to Radiohead’s 'Lotus Flower'
By Coconuts Bangkok

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761457-buriram-man-nails-tribute-to-radioheads-lotus-flower-video/

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China, Thailand to increase bilateral trade, investment
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Sept 18 -- Thailand and China have agreed to increase their bilateral trade and investment as the Thailand-China Joint Trade Committee will soon meet in Beijing and Thailand, said Deputy Prime Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761458-china-thailand-to-increase-bilateral-trade-investment/

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Southern train derails blocking services to deep south

BANGKOK: -- Rail line services from Bangkok to Sungai Kolok station in the deep south was disrupted again when a Sungai Kolok train to Hat Yai derailed in between Ta Maengluk and Chana railway stations blocking all trains to the south from Hat Yai station.

The incident happened at 1.30 p.m. Thursday.

It was still unknown the cause of the southern train mishap.

But a spokesman of the State Railway of Thailand said this afternoon four of the seven-bogie train jumped off the tracks while three remaining bogies including the locomotive were still on the tracks.

Trains to the South could go as far as Hat Yai station, while trains from deeper South could travel only to Chana station as the derailed bogies are blocking in between Chana and Hat Yai stations.

Railway workers are now entering the area with heavy equipment to retrieve the derailed bogies back on tracks.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/southern-train-derails-blocking-services-deep-south/


-- Thai PBS 2014-09-18

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Hunt continues for British tourists murderers
By Digital Content



SURAT THANI, Sept 18 -- Police on Thursday continued searching for the murderers of two British tourists, three days after their bodies were found on a beach of Ko Tao, an island in the Gulf of Thailand and off the Thai southern province of Surat Thani.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761460-koh-tao-hunt-continues-for-british-tourists-murderers/

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UPDATE:

Deputy govt spokesman says PM sorry over 'bikini quote'

BANGKOK: -- Deputy government Spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was sorry after learning that his comment over the murder of British tourists caused a furore.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761451-uk-raises-concern-over-bikini-remarks-by-thai-pm/page-3#entry8403309

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Teen boy stabbed to death for not helping out in kitchen
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A teen boy in northern Bangkok was stabbed to death Thursday for not helping out around the house.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761488-bangkok-teen-boy-stabbed-to-death-for-not-helping-out-in-kitchen/

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Prayuth's biography sells like hot cake

BANGKOK: -- A biography of Prime Minister General Prayuth Chanocha has quickly climbed to the top of the best seller list at SeEd bookstores after it hit the shelves on Wednesday.

"His name is 'Tu'" or "Khao Cheu Tu" is published by Nation Books, a subsidiary of Nation Multimedia Group. The book is in Thai and costs Bt160.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Prayuths-biography-sells-like-hot-cake-30243571.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-18

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Thai PM 'sorry' for bikini remark after British murders

BANGKOK, September 18, 2014 (AFP) - Thai prime minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha on Thursday apologised for comments suggesting tourists in bikinis could be more vulnerable to attack, just days after the murder of two British holidaymakers.

"I'm sorry that it hurt people," Prayut said at a press conference in Bangkok after Britain raised concerns about the remarks, which have drawn wide condemnation.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-09-18