Thailand Live Friday 17 Oct 2014

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Chinese PM assures Prayut of continued partnership

BANGKOK, 17 October 2014 (NNT) – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has had a bilateral discussion with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang during which both sides agreed to bring the two countries’ cooperation in all aspects even closer.

While in Italy to participate in the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit, Gen Prayut had an opportunity to meet with Mr Li, who offered him moral support in fulfilling his duty to the nation as prime minister. The Chinese premier noted that the friendship between Thailand and China was considered an everlasting partnership as it had never changed with the world situation.

Mr Li affirmed that the Thai-Chinese cooperation would be maintained and pushed forward in all dimensions. In response to Gen Prayut’s request for China to support agricultural products from Thailand, especially rice and rubber, the Chinese Prime Minister expressed a keen interest in doing so. He reiterated that the country was also intent on investing in Thailand’s high-speed rail project.

Gen Prayut expressed his appreciation to China for always being understanding of the situation facing Thailand and having faith in his administration. He insisted that it was crucial for both nations to continue to strengthen their ties for years to come.

-- NNT 2014-10-17

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SELF-IMMOLATION
Loan shark 'ready to write off' debt of woman who set herself ablaze
Chatchawan Kaewkrajai,
Kittipong Maneerit
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- After direct intervention by provincial authorities, a loan shark has agreed to write off the debt of a woman who set herself ablaze on Wednesday over her debt woes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/768900-creditor-cancels-thb15-debt-after-woman-burns-herself-alive/page-2#entry8543961

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KOH TAO'S KILLERS
Father swears his son is innocent
Eleven Media, Mizzima
The Nation


British Ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent meets yesterday with National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission member Supinya Klangnarong at NBTC headquarters.

BANGKOK: -- The father of a Myanmar national accused of killing two Britons on Koh Tao has insisted that this son, Win Zaw Htun, is innocent. "My son isn't an aggressive person and has good morals," he said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769025-koh-tao-murders-father-swears-his-son-is-innocent/

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ASIA-EUROPE MEETING
Coup shadow over PM
The Nation


Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, standing right, shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe during their bilateral meeting yesterday, ahead of the Asia-Europe Meeting in Milan, Italy.

Prayut clarifies he won't stay a day longer than in the time frame; meets Japan, China leaders in Milan

BANGKOK: -- The May military coup remained a hot potato for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as he made his first appearance at an international forum - the Asia-Europe Meeting in Milan - with the ex-Army chief welcomed by supporters and denounced by protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769026-asia-europe-meeting-coup-shadow-over-thai-pm/

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NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
NLA likely to vote against impeachment of politicians
The Nation

Assembly to debate today on alleged offences by ex-Parliament chief, deputy

BANGKOK: -- It is likely that the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will reject the impeachment case against two top politicians from the previous government over alleged constitutional offences, a source said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769028-nla-likely-to-vote-against-impeachment-of-thai-politicians/

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BOT SYMPOSIUM
Low income, access to funding key to tackle household debt: BOT chief
Erich Parpart
The Nation


Prasarn Trairatvorakul, governor of the Bank of Thailand, speaks at the opening of the

BANGKOK: -- Underground loans and high household debt cannot be tackled by debt-easing measures alone, as they do not address the root problems of low income and little access to financial sources, Prasarn Trairatvorakul, governor of the Bank of Thailand, said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769029-low-income-access-to-funding-key-to-tackle-household-debt-bot-chief/

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THAI
Four vie to head Thai Airways
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

Charumporn Jotikasathira

Four outsiders are racing to rescue national carrier Thai Airways International from its financial crisis.

BANGKOK: -- A THAI representative said yesterday that four applicants for president would be short-listed based on their qualifications and capabilities. The finalists will be passed to the board of directors for selection.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769030-thai-four-vie-to-head-thai-airways/

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AIRPORT
AOT cuts budget for Phase 2 of Suvarnabhumi expansion
Suchat Sritama
The Nation

Airports of Thailand has cut the budget for the second phase of the expansion at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

BANGKOK: -- After a new feasibility study, AOT adjusted the budget from the initial Bt85 billion to Bt61.6 billion. However, all major aspects of the second phase are retained as planned, and work is expected to start next year. The plan will be proposed to the Transport Ministry for approval on October 28.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769031-aot-cuts-budget-for-phase-2-of-suvarnabhumi-expansion/

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Keeping Ebola away from Asia: Lessons from SARS
Gianna Gayle Herrera Amul, Mely Caballero-Anthony
RSIS


A man from East Asia wears a protective face mask while on the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, last month

Even with the current cooperative mechanisms in place, the region cannot let its guard down against this grave threat to global health security

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769033-keeping-ebola-away-from-asia-lessons-from-sars/

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EDITORIAL
Malala's Peace Nobel: too much, too young?
The Nation

Contrary to cynical opinion, the 17-year-old advocate of children's education does indeed deserve the prestigious award

BANGKOK: -- Last week the Nobel Committee awarded children's-rights activists Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan and Kailash Satyarthi of India the Nobel Peace Prize "for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769034-malalas-peace-nobel-too-much-too-young/

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OVERDRIVE
America is stretched to breaking point: watch the markets
Thanong Khanthong

BANGKOK: -- The United States is now battling on four fronts - squaring off against Russia over the Ukraine crisis, bombing ISIS in Syria and Iraq, grappling with a threatened Ebola pandemic at home, and trying to prevent its stock market bubbles from busting. Each of these crises arose from dubious circumstances and long-standing developments.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769035-america-is-stretched-to-breaking-point-watch-the-markets/

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BURNING ISSUE
Populism by any other name is still populist
Sasithorn Ongdee

BANGKOK: -- There is still scepticism over whether the government's recent measure of giving rice farmers Bt1,000 cash per rai of farmland to help boost their income is nothing but "naked populism".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769036-thai-politics-populism-by-any-other-name-is-still-populist/

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BMA considers demolishing Saphan Taksin BTS station
Tanatpong Kongsai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is looking at demolishing the Saphan Taksin Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) station to make way for construction of a double track.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769039-bangkok-administration-considers-demolishing-saphan-taksin-bts-station/

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Police force facing shortage of personnel
VISITH CHUANPIPATPONG
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- With its image and integrity already in tatters due to recent public criticism, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) will also face a serious personnel shortage in the next two decades, as many officers will be retiring over the next six years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769040-thai-police-force-facing-shortage-of-personnel/

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Traffic law amendments get initial nod
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Two minor traffic-law amendment bills yesterday sailed through their first reading at the National Legislative Assembly.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769041-thai-traffic-law-amendments-get-initial-nod/

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Colleges ordered shut down after student brawl



BANGKOK: -- Pathumwan and Uthenthawai colleges were offered to close from today after rival students engaged in another brawl that resulted in the injuries of four students.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/768904-classes-at-two-vocational-colleges-in-bangkok-suspended-after-public-brawl/

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Wanted Malaysian luxury car thief found shot dead in Thailand

NARATHIWAT: -- A Malaysian, suspected of being a luxury car thief, was found shot dead at a rubber plantation in the southern province of Narathiwat, Thailand on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769042-wanted-malaysian-luxury-car-thief-found-shot-dead-in-thailand/

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US actress Elizabeth Pena dies at 55

(BBC) US actress Elizabeth Pena, who appeared in films including Lone Star and Rush Hour, has died at the age of 55.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769045-us-actress-elizabeth-pena-dies-at-55/

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Nepal: Annapurna Circuit snow and avalanche deaths reach 28

(BBC) At least 28 people have died on a key Nepali hiking route, officials say, after blizzards struck at the height of the Himalayan climbing season.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769046-nepal-annapurna-deaths-rise-to-28/

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Turkey loses out on UN Security Council seat

NEW YORK: -- Turkey failed to win a seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council after member states voted on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769049-turkey-loses-out-on-un-security-council-seat/

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Pakistan court upholds Asia Bibi death sentence

(BBC) A Pakistani court has upheld the death penalty for a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy in 2010.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769050-pakistan-court-upholds-asia-bibi-death-sentence/

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BANGKOK: -- A fire broke out at Ubon Ratchathani international airport at 2.00 am Friday causing damage to the airport’s five souvenir shops inside the second-storey domestic passenger terminal building.

Several fire engines were rushed to fight the fire and managed to put it under control half an hour later.

During the fire, all the four predawn flights were not affected and passengers were told to use the foreign passenger terminal instead.

One person was injured in the fire.

Electric short circuit was believed as a cause.

The fire was started at the OTOP shop where silk and fragrant candles were displayed on shelves.

Forensic police are now inspecting the fire scene to find out evidence of exact cause.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/67773/

-- Thai PBS 2014-10-17

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Ubon Ratchathani airport opens for normal service after fire rages through terminal late last night; 1 dead, 18 injured in passenger bus accident in Phrae /MCOT

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HRH Princess Chulabhorn to attend chemistry meetings in China

BANGKOK, 17 October 2014 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn is leaving for the People’s Republic of China today to participate in two international conferences in Shanghai, to be followed by a visit to Japan.

The Bureau of the Royal Household has announced that Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn is leaving Suvarnabhumi Airport at 11 a.m. on 17 October for Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, where she will attend the 28th International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Products and the 8th International Conference on Biodiversity, at the invitation of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry – the organizer of the events. Her Royal Highness will grace the symposium with her opening lecture on the topic: Research into natural products with bioactive compounds against cancer.

From Shanghai, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn will continue her trip to Japan before returning to Thailand on 30 October 2014.

The Bureau of the Royal Household said in another announcement issued last night that the team of Vichaiyut Hospital doctors who tend Her Royal Highness already confirmed that the Princess had improved from her illness, and that she could attend the two meetings in China if necessary. However, the doctors advised the Princess to keep her activities as minimum as possible.

HRH Princess Chulabhorn was admitted to Vichaiyut Hospital on 4 September for treatment of stomach and pancreatic infections triggered by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The Princess was discharged from the hospital on 11 October to stay at Phimanmas royal residence at the Sattahip Naval Base in Chonburi Province to recuperate.


-- NNT 2014-10-17

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Thai govt to amend laws/regulations to help push Thailand into a regional centre for trade and investment. /The Nation

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Doi Inthanon officials plan to curb visitor number during peak season

CHIANG MAI, 17 October 2014 (NNT) – The cold weather in the North has prompted an influx of tourists to Doi Inthanon National Park, where the temperature reached as low as 6 degrees Celsius this week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769065-doi-inthanon-officials-plan-to-curb-visitor-number-during-peak-season/

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Survey shows informal debt still haunts Thai low income earners



BANGKOK: -- The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) conducted an opinion survey of Thai people towards various economic issues, and found debt problem remains their most concern.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769068-survey-shows-informal-debt-still-haunts-thai-low-income-earners/

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Second round of vegetarian festival not active



BANGKOK: -- The University of Thai Chamber of Commerce says only 10% of vegetarians will observe the second round of vegetarian festival starting October 24, while spending will also dramatically fall to nine billion baht from 41 billion in the first round.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769070-second-round-of-thai-vegetarian-festival-not-active/

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Australian planes kill Islamic State militants

MELBOURNE: -- Australian forces have killed Islamic State extremists during air strikes in Iraq.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769073-australian-planes-kill-islamic-state-militants/

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,530.90, gains 4.74 points /MCOT