Thailand Live Wednesday 1 Oct 2014

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Last total lunar eclipse of the year will occur over Thailand 8th Oct.

BANGKOK, 1 October 2014 (NNT) – A total lunar eclipse will take place on October 8 and be visible across Thailand. After this, the next total lunar eclipse is forecast for April 4, 2015.

The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand has invited Thais to see the last total lunar eclipse of this year. The eclipse will develop between 15:15 pm to 20:33 pm and the period of total eclipse will last from 17:25 pm – 18:24 pm. Live broadcasts will be held at Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Chacheongsao. In addition, observers can see the eclipse on the website of the Institute.


-- NNT 2014-10-01

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First Ebola case diagnosed on US soil

DALLAS: -- The first case of the deadly Ebola virus diagnosed on US soil has been confirmed in Dallas, Texas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764806-first-ebola-case-diagnosed-on-us-soil/

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Son of Koh Tao Island Chief Denies Role In Britons' Murder

By Khaososd English

Warot Tuvichian, 22, who police earlier named a primary suspect, said at a press conference on 30 Sept 2014 that he was nowhere near Koh Tao island when David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, were murdered.

BANGKOK The son of a powerful local administrator on Koh Tao island initially sought by police has denied any involvement in the murder of two British tourists there two weeks ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764808-son-of-koh-tao-island-chief-denies-role-in-britons-murder/

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Fearing Unrest, Thai Airways Shuts Down Hong Kong Office
By Khaosod English


Hundreds of thousands of protesters occupying roads in Admiralty, Hong Kong, 29 September 2014. [Photo: Hong Kong Democracy Now Facebook page.]

BANGKOK - Thailand's flag carrier airline has announced that it will close down its Hong Kong office for the next week, citing the escalating political unrest that has paralysed the city's financial district since Monday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764809-fearing-unrest-thai-airways-shuts-down-hong-kong-office/

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UPDATE:

RULING AGAINST SRT WORKER
Death term for train killer
Apichart Hongsakul,
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation



Court shows no mercy to state rail worker who raped and killed girl aged 13

HUA HIN: -- LESS THAN THREE months after his shocking crime, the man who raped and killed a 13-year-old girl inside a train compartment has been sentenced to death.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764635-court-sentences-to-death-railway-staff-who-killed-and-threw-a-girl-from-train/page-6?p=8464046#entry8464046

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UPDATE:

Car plate sells for record Bt25m
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Car licence plate number 1 Kor Kor 1111 was yesterday passed to a 19-year-old student, who bid Bt25 million for it, making it the most expensive number sold at an auction organised by the Department of Land Transport since 2003.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764658-19-year-old-thai-student-bids-car-license-number-for-bt25-million/page-4?p=8464058#entry8464058

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UPDATE:

PRAYUT'S SUCCESSOR
New Army chief vows no coup
The Nation


Outgoing Army chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha and new chief General Udomdej Sitabutr receive a salute at the hand-over of his post to Udomdej at Army headquarters yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764666-army-c-in-c-gen-prayut-passes-baton-to-successor/#entry8464070

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LPG
LPG, NGV prices go up today
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Energy Policy Administration Committee has decided to raise the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by 62 satang per kilogram and natural gas for vehicles (NGV) by Bt1 per kilo, effective today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764810-lpg-ngv-prices-go-up-today/

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EDITORIAL
TV regulator must unscramble itself
The Nation

A divided NBTC is an obstacle in the path to the digital era

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764811-thai-editorial-tv-regulator-must-unscramble-itself/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Welcome to nominees' paradise
Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- You can't legally buy something or do something, so you use a nominee. It can be someone you trust, or someone you have wrapped around your finger, or a new company you create.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764812-thai-opinion-welcome-to-nominees-paradise/

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UPDATE:

Pattaya Police Pressure to find suspect in Danish Sexual Assault Case



PATTAYA: -- Police from three stations around the Pattaya area are combining their resources to find a Thai man wanted in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 23 year old Danish woman, which took place on Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764602-danish-tourist-sexualy-assaulted-by-thai-man-in-pattaya-area/page-3?p=8464108#entry8464108

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Body of Newborn Baby found on roadside in South Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- On Tuesday Night, Police and medics were called to Jomtien Second Road to deal with the gruesome discovery of a newborn baby who had been dead for under one hour, according to investigators.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764814-body-of-newborn-baby-found-on-roadside-in-south-pattaya/

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TO GET RECOGNITION IN 2015
Mae Tao River basin to be declared a protected area
Wasu Vipoosanapat
The Nation

Tak region to get recognition in 2015 after decade of mining, pollution

BANGKOK: -- THE MAE TAO river basin in Tak province, which has been affected by cadmium contamination from mining operations for a decade, will be declared a protected area by mid next year, a senior official at the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764815-mae-tao-river-basin-to-be-declared-a-protected-area/

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Court drops petition against warnings on booze
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Central Administrative Court yesterday dropped a petition lodged by five alcoholic beverage makers against the Office of Alcohol Control Committee's order requiring them to publish written and pictorial warnings on the hazard of drinking on labels.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764816-thai-court-drops-petition-against-warnings-on-booze/

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Accountant fleeced firm of millions, Khon Kaen police say
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- An employee at a Khon Kaen-based construction company allegedly forged some 1,000 cheques over the past four years to embezzle Bt640 million from her boss.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764818-accountant-fleeced-firm-of-millions-khon-kaen-police-say/

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Media, police forensic experts leave Koh Tao
The Nation

KOH TAO: -- FORENSIC POLICE yesterday pulled out of Koh Tao after completing their task collecting DNA samples from a large number of men, both Thai and migrant workers, in their hunt for the killers of two British citizens.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764819-media-police-forensic-experts-leave-koh-tao/

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Policeman gets 57 years for gun rampage
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court yesterday gave a former crowd control policeman a total of 57 years and 10 months in prison for six cases in which he reportedly shot at motorists in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764820-thai-police-officer-gets-57-years-for-gun-rampage/

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Students get foreign acclaim for new sticky-rice cooker
Pornpan Srikapa
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- An energy-saving sticky-rice cooker device invented by a team of Mathayom 6 students from Khon Kaen's Ubon Rat Phitthaya Khom School has won five awards in the 10th Taipei International Invention Show and Technomart (INST) 2014.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764821-khon-kaen-students-get-foreign-acclaim-for-new-sticky-rice-cooker/

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Iran 'delays' Reyhaneh Jabbari execution after campaign

(BBC) An Iranian woman due to be put to death for killing a man she said was trying to sexually abuse her is reported to have had her execution postponed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764828-iran-postpones-womans-hanging/

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UPDATE:

LPG and NGV prices adjusted to reflect their actual costs

BANGKOK, 1 October 2014 (NNT) - The Energy Policy Management Committee (EPMC) gave the green light to raise the prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gases for vehicles (NGV).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764810-lpg-ngv-prices-go-up-today/#entry8464889

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NASA Space Exhibition to be held in Bangkok, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia



Bangkok, 30 September, 2014 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is lending its full support to Central Pattana, Thaicom and BEC Tero Entertainment to stage the ‘NASA Space Exhibition’ in Bangkok from 1 December, 2014, to 1 February, 2015. This is the first time that this type of event is being held in the Southeast Asian region.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764851-nasa-space-exhibition-to-be-held-in-bangkok-the-first-of-its-kind-in-se-asia/

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Thai woman nabbed for trying to bribe cop to release boyfriend
The Star/Asia News Network

KUALA LUMPUR - A woman tried to bribe the police to secure the release of her boyfriend from drug trafficking charges, but ended up being detained for corruption.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764857-thai-woman-nabbed-for-trying-to-bribe-malaysia-cop-to-release-boyfriend/

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Cabinet to consider economic boost and appoint new key government officials

BANGKOK, 1 October 2014 (NNT)-The cabinet is going to consider several key economic and national issues in today’s meeting, which has been rescheduled for today instead of yesterday as Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha had a previous engagement.

The cabinet is expected to consider assigning high profile civil servants to permanent secretary positions at the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Public Health and the Office of National Security Council. A new director general of the Royal Irrigation Department and the Department of Special Investigation will also be sought.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is planning to seek the cabinet’s approval for a budget of 2 billion baht. According to the Ministry, the fund is in line with a policy to promote a short-term economic boost.

It consists of creating jobs in rice growing areas where water is inadequate and identifying suitable agro-economic zones for rice and para-rubber tree growing.

-- NNT 2014-10-01

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Microsoft unveils Windows 10 system with Start Menu
By Leo Kelion

(BBC) Microsoft has disclosed the first details of Windows 10 - its next operating system (OS).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764861-microsoft-unveils-windows-10-system/

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Extreme piercing for purity in Thai vegetarian festival
Phuket , Thailand | AFP |

PHUKET: -- There is no pain once the gods enter your body, said Jampen Deebuk, after puncturing the cheeks of a young devotee with metal skewers at Thailand's bloody vegetarian festival.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764863-extreme-piercing-for-purity-in-thai-vegetarian-festival/

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3 Australian tourists fall from Phuket resort balcony
Eakkapop Thongtub


The three were staying at the Gracelands Resort. Image Google Street View

PHUKET: -- Three Australians had to be rushed to hospital in Patong last night (September 30) after horseplay on the balcony of their hotel room turned into horror.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764888-3-australian-tourists-fall-from-phuket-resort-balcony/

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4 teacher protection unit soldiers wounded in bomb ambush in Yala's Krong Pinang /MCOT

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M.L. Panadda aims to improve image of civil servants

BANGKOK, 1 October 2014 (NNT)-Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office M.L. Panadda Diskul is hopeful that greater public involvement in the Good Governance Committee on a regional level will improve the perception people have of the civil servants.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764890-ml-panadda-aims-to-improve-image-of-thai-civil-servants/

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Truly unimaginable: 'Beyond imagination' mall to open west of Bangkok
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- With every new mall comes a new set of superlative claims: biggest, fanciest, luxurious-est.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764894-truly-unimaginable-beyond-imagination-mall-to-open-west-of-bangkok/

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Laem Son National Marine Park reopens to tourists

RANONG, 1 October 2014 (NNT) - The Laem Son National Marine Park in Ranong province has officially opened once again after having been closed off by park officials for more than three months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/764910-laem-son-national-marine-park-reopens-to-tourists/