Thailand Live Wednesday 24 Sep 2014

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Mini Marathon will be held next Sunday in honor of the late Princess Mother and to commemorate International Day of Older Persons

BANGKOK, 24 September 2014 (NNT) - A charity walk-and-run marathon will be held next Sunday, October 5, in honor of the late Princess Mother on the occasion of her 114th birthday on October 21, 2014.

Announcing the event at a press conference held at the Department of Social Development and Welfare on Krung Kasem Road was Privy Councilor Admiral Jumphol Patjusanont. Entitled the Walk-and-Run Marathon for Older Persons’ Health 2014, the event is jointly organized by the Foundation for the Promotion of Older Persons of Thailand and the Association of Older Persons’ Councils of Thailand. The walkathon will be taking place at Suan Luang Ro Kao Public Park in Bangkok, with a view to promoting exercises among elderly people and their families. It is also organized in conjunction with the International Day of Older Persons on October 1.

Proceeds from the event will be used to support physical exercises and promote the quality of life of older persons. The walkathon on October 5 will cover a distance of 2.5 kms for the walk-and-run activity and 10 kms for the mini marathon .

Winners of the mini marathon , aged 60 years up, both male and female, will be awarded with HM the King’s trophies. Winners in other categories will be given plaques of honor while every participant who reaches the finish line will be given a commemorative coin. Those who are interested in the event are invited to contact 02-282 7716 or 02-282 3251.


-- NNT 2014-09-24

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VN’s airport service charges to rise from Oct 1



BANGKOK: -- Airport service charges will be increased on Oct 1, leading industry experts to predict that ticket prices will rise, according to Viet Nam News.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762909-vietnams-airport-service-charges-to-rise-from-oct-1/

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MURDERS AT KOH TAO
Police free bar owners and look for ex-village headman's son
The Nation


DNA samples are collected from staff at restaurants and resorts on Koh Tao yesterday as part of the probe into the murder of two British tourists last week.

Police seeking former village headman's son who fled island

BANGKOK: -- Police are looking for the son of a former Koh Tao village headman in their pursuit of the killers of two British backpackers on the night of September 14, after learning that the man left the island the following morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762910-koh-tao-murders-police-free-bar-owners-and-look-for-ex-village-headmans-son/

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PM
Fortune tellers fine but no plan to run in polls: Prayut
The Nation


Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha talks with journalists after the Cabinet meeting at Government House yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that he had no plans to run for election and denied that he had consulted a famous fortune teller on the subject.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762912-fortune-tellers-fine-but-no-plan-to-run-in-polls-pm-prayut/

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UPDATE:

CRIME
Russian man nabbed for installing ATM skimmer
The Nation


A Russian has been arrested for allegedly installing a "skimmer" device to steal PIN numbers of cardholders who used an automatic teller machine (ATM) at a convenience store in eastern Bangkok.

BANGKOK: -- The new device was said to be able to deter counter-skimmer measures that commercial banks in Thailand had devised to try to combat this type of fraud. Each skimmer can be installed on an ATM in only 16 seconds, police sources said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762731-russian-card-skimmer-arrested-at-hua-mark-bangkok/page-3?p=8429199#entry8429199

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NATIONAL REFORM COUNCIL
NRC panels admit they followed different selection procedures
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Committees selecting candidates for the National Reform Council (NRC) may not have followed the same set of procedures for the 11 categories of people on the new body.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762914-nrc-panels-admit-they-followed-different-selection-procedures/

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RICE
Study warns of huge loss in rice export value
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Thailand will lose about Bt87.5 billion in rice export value during the next 10 years if the country does not put a serious effort into developing its farming sector and related industries, according to a study by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce's International Trade Studies Centre.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762915-study-warns-of-huge-loss-in-thai-rice-export-value/

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ACTION PLAN
Sommai orders action plans from Finance Ministry agencies
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Finance Minister Sommai Phasee has asked all of the ministry's departments and agencies to formulate action plans and propose them next week, while state enterprises under the ministry were assigned to set monthly investment plans in the hope that budget disbursement could be accelerated.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762916-sommai-orders-action-plans-from-thai-finance-ministry-agencies/

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DIGITAL
BEC floats idea of simulcast for Channel 3
Watchiranont Thongtep
The Nation


Natee

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Entertainment Company (BEC) says its analogue Channel 3 could be simulcast on a digital-TV channel obtained by its affiliate, BEC-Multimedia, if the broadcasting regulator allowed it to do so.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762918-bec-floats-idea-of-simulcast-for-thai-channel-3/

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EDITORIAL
Building a bicycle culture in Bangkok
The Nation

Saturday's Car-free Day showed us what's possible, but, with a safe, city-wide network of bike lanes, we could escape traffic gridlock permanently

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762919-building-a-bicycle-culture-in-bangkok/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Itsy bitsy teenie weenie bikini commentary
Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- Few men can make a comment with the word "bikini" in it and emerge politically correct all the time. But then again, if Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha cared about political correctness, he would never have staged that coup in the first place.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762920-itsy-bitsy-teenie-weenie-bikini-commentary-thai-opinion/

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Customers Awed By Dog-Waiter
By Khaosod English


While Kallaya Kaewkwan, 49, cooks meals for customers at Mae Boon restaurant, Barry the dog impresses customers with his ability to dutifully ferry money back and forth between the tables and his owner, 23 Sept 2014.

NAKHON PANOM — A restaurant in Nakhon Panom province has achieved local fame for employing a dog to fetch bills and deliver change to customers, carrying the banknotes in his mouth.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762921-nakhon-panom-customers-awed-by-dog-waiter/

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"Flashing" Serial Underwear Thief caught in Central Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Pattaya Police received a call from the manager of a massage shop after a Thai Man exposed himself to her before driving off, as she sat in front of her shop.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762923-flashing-serial-underwear-thief-caught-in-central-pattaya/

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Chinese Vegetarian Festival begins in Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- The annual 11 day Chinese Vegetarian Festival otherwise known as “Ginjai” has begun with a grand opening ceremony held in North Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762924-chinese-vegetarian-festival-begins-in-pattaya/

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Sek Loso is no 'Grateful Child,' activists insist
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Let’s start this by saying: We have no idea why Sek Loso ever got a “Grateful Child” award.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762925-sek-loso-is-no-grateful-child-activists-insist/

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Jobless Phuket sunbed operator commits suicide
Eakkapop Thongtub


Rescue workers bring Jirasak Sharkhu's body out of his home.

PHUKET: -- A sunbed-and-umbrella operator killed himself yesterday (September 22), probablybecause of depression after being ejected from the beach, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762926-jobless-phuket-sunbed-operator-commits-suicide/

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Georgian arrested for illegal tour sales in Phuket
Saran Mitrarat


Officials inspect brochures in the shop opened by Tengi Andguladze (with beard).

PHUKET: -- Phuket Tourism & Sports officials accompanied by Tourist Police officers arrested a Georgian national in Kata on Friday (September 19) for selling tour packages without a work permit or a tourism license.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762927-georgian-national-arrested-for-illegal-tour-sales-in-phuket/

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3 policemen get life over drug run
Kesinee Taengkhiao
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THREE POLICEMEN have been sentenced to life in prison for drug trafficking and using a police vehicle to deliver narcotics.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762929-3-thai-police-officers-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-drug-trafficking/

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Probe into Khon Kaen raid after police deny taking cash, gamblers
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A FACT-FINDING probe is underway into a raid on a Khon Kaen gambling den last week by soldiers, who say they handed over a large amount of cash and many cars pawned by gamblers to local police. Police claim they never received them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762930-probe-into-khon-kaen-raid-after-police-deny-taking-cash-gamblers/

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PM ready to drop plans to rebuild reporters' rooms
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung,
Nitipol Kiravanich
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Reporters' rooms in Government House were spared demolition after pressure was put on Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha by journalists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762931-pm-prayuth-ready-to-drop-plans-to-rebuild-reporters-rooms/

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South China Sea: Still no evidence of historical Chinese claims
Bill Hayton
RSIS


A Chinese submarine surfaces in the South China Sea, the focus of regional disputes over island chains and rocky atolls.

Recent arguments repeat a number of commonly-held misunderstandings and do not provide facts in support of Beijing's territorial claims

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762933-south-china-sea-still-no-evidence-of-historical-chinese-claims/

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IS strikes: Not America's fight alone - Obama

WASHINGTON: -- President Obama has hailed the support of Arab nations in air strikes on Islamic State (IS) militants, saying: "This is not America's fight alone."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762934-is-strikes-not-americas-fight-alone-obama/

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Sulaiman Abu Ghaith sentenced to life in prison

NEW YORK: -- Osama Bin Laden's son-in-law, who was an al-Qaeda spokesman after 9/11, has been sentenced to life in prison for terrorism-related charges at a trial in New York.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762935-bin-laden-son-in-law-jailed-for-life/

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,594.45 gains 4.32 points /MCOT

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PM vows government seeking solutions to forced labour
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Sept 24 -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha promised today that his government would quickly tackle the problems of forced labour and human trafficking.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762965-thai-pm-prayuth-vows-government-seeking-solutions-to-forced-labour/

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1.39 trillion baht budget framework for state enterprises approved

BANGKOK, 24 September 2014 (NNT) – The Cabinet has approved 1.39 trillion baht budget framework of state enterprises for year 2015, and also made available 650 billion baht for the 56 state enterprises to draw from, for the purpose of making investments.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762967-139-trillion-baht-budget-framework-for-state-enterprises-approved/

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UPDATE:

New twist in murder of two Brits in Koh Tao

BANGKOK: -- The investigation into the murder of two British tourists in Koh Tao sees a new twist after the police questioned two prime suspects they earlier said have enough evidence to prove their connection.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762910-koh-tao-murders-police-free-bar-owners-and-look-for-ex-village-headmans-son/page-6?p=8430192#entry8430192

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Islamic State battle could take years, Pentagon says

WASHINGTON: -- The fight against jihadist group Islamic State (IS) will take years, a US military spokesman has told the BBC.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762971-islamic-state-battle-could-take-years-pentagon-says/

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Jet ski operators back on beaches of Phuket
Saran Mitrarat


Back in action: Phuket's jet-skis have proven resilient to pressure.

PHUKET: -- Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsap has denied that her administration is allowing any businesses back on the beach, after questions have been raised about jet-ski activities following the massive beach clean-up.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762987-jet-ski-operators-back-on-beaches-of-phuket/

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SONGKHLA
Train derailment likely due to theft not insurgence: district chief

BANGKOK: -- The train derailment in Songkhla's Chana district last week may not have been the work of insurgents as earlier speculated, Chana's district chief Thaweewut Sangsiri said,

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762994-songkhla-train-derailment-likely-due-to-theft-not-insurgence-district-chief/