Thailand Live Monday 20 Oct 2014

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Social Development Minister brought royally-sponsored Kathin offerings to Surin

BANGKOK, 20 October 2014 (NNT) - The Social Development and Human Security Minister has brought the royally-sponsored Kathin to the people of Surin.

HM the King has granted permission for Social Development and Human Security minister Pol. Gen. Adul Sangsingkeo to bring the royally-sponsored Kathin or robe offerings to a bathing rite at Wat Sala Loi, where a number of ministry officials, officers from the Surin City Hall and the residents of the province were waiting.

Wat Sala Loi, built at least a century ago, is a royal temple which is located in the centre of Surin.

Prior to the ceremony on Saturday, Pol. Gen. Adul had paid a visit to the Nong Bua community in Mueang Surin District, where a campaign to help the poor solve their problems related to living conditions had been going on.

After that, the Social Development Minister led ministry officials to Ban Mueang Ling School in Chom Phra District to get updated on the community strengthening project and on the progress of various career development initiatives.


-- NNT 2014-10-20

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Thai prisons most crowded in ASEAN
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Oct 20 -- Thai prisons are the most “overcrowded among member countries of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations),” said Vittaya Suriyawong, director-general of the Corrections Department, quoting Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as expressing his concern.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769725-thai-prisons-most-crowded-in-asean/

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Suspected Member of 'Nigerian Scam' Arrested With 1.8 Million Baht
By Khaosod English


Kessanee Mahayothee, 34, was arrested near the Thai - Malaysian border in Songkhla province as she was attempting to leave the country with more than 1.8 million baht in cash, police say. 18 Oct 2014.

BANGKOK — Police have arrested a Thai woman accused of running a "Nigerian scam" ring in Thailand that has allegedly defrauded millions of baht from unsuspecting victims.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769726-suspected-member-of-nigerian-scam-arrested-with-18-million-baht/

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Push for economic restructuring
Sasithorn Ongdee
The Nation


Pridiyathorn

Restructuring taxes, fixing 'weak points', revamping investment, driving economy

BANGKOK: -- Within the year or so that the Prayut Chan-o-cha government is in office, five main issues will be pushed for economic structural change, Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula says.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769727-thai-interview-push-for-economic-restructuring/

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SPECIAL REPORT
Elected governors still a highly contentious issue
Kris Bhromsuthi
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The direct election of provincial governors has been seen as a slim possibility, despite calls from various sectors of society over many years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769728-elected-thai-governors-still-a-highly-contentious-issue/

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REFORMS
Pushing for third-gender equality
Nitipol Kiravanich
The Nation


Supatra

Female NRC members vow to promote the rights of alternative sexualities

BANGKOK: -- Female members of the National Reform Council (NRC) have vowed to push for the rights of alternative sexualities and, if in a position to do so, will propose the inclusion of "third-gender" equality in the new constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769729-thai-reforms-pushing-for-third-gender-equality/

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Four laws 'will help reduce inequality'
Tanpisit Lerdbamrungchai
The Nation

NLA's Wuttisarn says laws on community land titles, land tax and Land Bank would help poor

BANGKOK: -- Four laws for the poor are among the promising tools to reduce inequality in Thailand, a recent academic seminar was told.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769730-four-laws-will-help-reduce-inequality-in-thailand/

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INTERVIEW
Isuzu to boost capacity in Thailand over 3 years
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Isuzu Motors, a leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles and diesel engines, has committed itself to continuous investment in the Kingdom, where it plans to boost its manufacturing centre for pickup trucks destined for both the Thai market and other countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769731-isuzu-to-boost-capacity-in-thailand-over-3-years/

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Thai-Cambodian relations: Doing it right
Kavi Chongkittavorn

BANGKOK: -- Judging from the body language, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha got along fine with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen when they held their first bilateral talks on the sideline of the Asia-Europe Meeting in Milan last week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769732-thai-cambodian-relations-doing-it-right/

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Worst Flash Floods of the year hit Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- On Sunday afternoon Pattaya was subjected to a period of sustained heavy rainfall which transformed many of the roads into rivers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769733-worst-flash-floods-of-the-year-hit-pattaya/

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Former Marine drowns in East Pattaya Lake

PATTAYA: -- On Saturday a 47 year old former Marine drowned in a lake situated in the Hua Yai area.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769734-former-marine-drowns-in-east-pattaya-lake/

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Family begins demolition of Baan Pa Ngam resort in Thap Lan National Park
Manit Sanabboon
The Nation


File photo as of February 2014

BANGKOK: -- After a decade-long legal battle, owners of the 125-rai Baan Pa Ngam mountain lodge in Prachin Buri's Na Di district, which was deemed to be illegally built in Thap Lan National Park, held a "farewell" press conference yesterday - before starting to demolish the premises.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769737-family-begins-demolition-of-baan-pa-ngam-resort-in-thap-lan-national-park/

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Tourism may get Ebola-fear leg up
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Travel operators have suggested targeting foreign tourists who are concerned about travelling to the West because of the Ebola outbreak.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769738-thai-tourism-may-get-ebola-fear-leg-up/

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Half a tonne of marijuana powder seized in Udon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A combined security team seized over half a tonne of powdered marijuana in Udon Thani's Ban Dung district, it was announced yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769739-half-a-tonne-of-marijuana-powder-seized-in-udon/

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Police hunt for Thai woman over missing Japanese husband
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police have continued to search for a 47-year-old Thai woman who disappeared after being released on bail for theft on Friday as part of an investigation into the whereabouts of her elderly Japanese husband.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769740-police-hunt-for-thai-woman-over-missing-japanese-husband/

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Well-wishing runner reaches Ang Thong
By Surasak Rimseub
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The 63-year-old Phare man, who left his home province on foot on October 12 en route to Bangkok in an endurance show of support to wish His Majesty the King a quick recovery, arrived in Ang Thong yesterday morning.

Sa-ing Hanprakhon was welcomed by Ang Thong Governor Pawin Chamniprasat, Chaiyo district chief Likhit Thongnat and a large number of locals.

The province prepared lunch for him and had a medical team from Ang Thong Hospital check his health.

Pawin said Sa-ing was a strong and healthy man who used to run marathons and he and the Ang Thong people wished him a safe journey and success in achieving his goal.

The health check found that Sa-ing's feet were slightly swollen, so a doctor instructed him to wear appropriate footwear.

Sa-ing's quest is being supported by Ruam Katanyu Foundation branches along the route in the form of an ambulance.

His endeavour has received a lot of public attention. Some people have given him flowers while others have donated money.

He will present the money to the king, who is at Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital.

Sa-ing is expected to reach Bangkok on Wednesday.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Well-wishing-runner-reaches-Ang-Thong-30245823.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-20

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Foundation offers Bt60 million to help make Thailand's roads safer
Suriyan Panyawai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Safer Roads Foundation (SRF) has earmarked more than Bt60 million on efforts to reduce road deaths in Thailand, where more than 14,000 locals and foreigners are either killed or fatally injured in road accidents on average every year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769742-foundation-offers-bt60-million-to-help-make-thailands-roads-safer/

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Yingluck, son visit Japan

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her son, Supasek Amornchat or Pipe, left for Japan late Sunday night.

A source close to her said she left on a Thai Airways International flight from the Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 10 pm to take her son for a vacation in Japan during the mid-year school holidays as she has promised him.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Yingluck-son-visit-Japan-30245829.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-20

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Newly-born baby abandoned in petrol station's toilet room in Chon Buri

BANGKOK: -- A newly-born baby girl was found abandoned inside a toilet room of the PTT petrol station in Tambon Bangsai of Chon Buri's Muang district at 8 pm Sunday.

A male customer who was answering his call of nature heard the baby crying from the women's rooms so he checked and found the baby wrapped in a towel. The girl's umbilical cord has not been neatly trimmed.

A letter was left saying her father had abandoned her mother and the mother "is a bad girl".

Police are trying to locate the mother.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Newly-born-baby-abandoned-in-petrol-stations-toile-30245828.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-20

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,541.34, gains 12.63 points /MCOT

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UPDATE:

Third Naval Area Command to continue search for two missing Korean passengers on Monday

BANGKOK, 20 October 2014 (NNT) - The Third Naval Area Command will continue on Monday the search for two Korean passengers who have been missing after a boat accident in southern Krabi.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769687-phi-phi-phuket-speedboat-rams-fishing-boat-off-koh-yao-three-of-40-passengers-lost-at-sea/page-4?p=8557722#entry8557722

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BAAC begins cash handouts to rice farmers at Bt1,000/rai to help offset costs; 3.4 million households to benefit from scheme /MCOT

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Police step up their efforts to crackdown on loan sharks nationwide

BANGKOK, 20 October 2014 (NNT) - Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Worapong Chewpreecha has ordered police officers throughout the country to investigate and eliminate loan-sharking activities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769780-thai-police-step-up-their-efforts-to-crackdown-on-loan-sharks-nationwide/

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22 injured after SIA flight to Mumbai hit by major turbulence



SINGAPORE: -- Major turbulence that hit a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight from Singapore to Mumbai on Saturday night left eight passengers and 14 crew injured, according to The Straits Times.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769785-22-injured-after-sia-flight-to-mumbai-hit-by-major-turbulence/

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UPDATE

Search continues off Phuket coast for two missing Koreans

BANGKOK: -- Phuket rescue teams and marine police from Krabi continued to search for two Korean tourists who went missing after a speed boat with 40 tourists collided with a fishing trawler off Phuket coast yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769687-phi-phi-phuket-speedboat-rams-fishing-boat-off-koh-yao-three-of-40-passengers-lost-at-sea/page-4?p=8557920#entry8557920

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Nai Yang Beach in Phuket reorganized by Army rangers

PHUKET, 20 October 2014 (NNT) - Soldiers from the Navy Region 3 along with forest rangers have dismantled tents and structures along the Nai Yang public beach area of Phuket province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769794-nai-yang-beach-in-phuket-reorganized-by-army-rangers/

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Yingluck and son to Japan last night



BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her son, Supasek Amornchat, left for Japan late Sunday night for a vacation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769795-yingluck-and-son-leave-for-japan/

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Tourist arrivals in Trat Province drop by more than 50%

BANGKOK, 21 Oct (NNT) - The chairman of Trat Chamber of Commerce has revealed that tourist arrivals in the first 9 months of this year have dropped by more than half of last years number.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769800-tourist-arrivals-in-trat-province-drop-by-more-than-50/

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Thailand to export pork to Russia for first time
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Oct 20 -- Thailand will export pork to Russia for the first time, and it is projected that Russian demand for Thai pork now is at 50,000 tonnes a year, said Chavalit Chookajorn, permanent secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769804-thailand-to-export-pork-to-russia-for-first-time/

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28 Thai airports nationwide ordered to install firefighting equipment
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Oct 20 -- Twenty-eight airports nationwide still lacking firefighting equipment have been ordered to install them following the pre-dawn fire last Friday at the northeastern Ubon Ratchathani airport, said Seree Chitsopa, deputy director-general of Thailand's Civil Aviation Department.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/769807-28-thai-airports-nationwide-ordered-to-install-firefighting-equipment/