BMA invites revelers to celebrate Loy Krathong at 28 public parks

BANGKOK, 27 October 2014 (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will arrange Loy Krathong celebrations at 28 public parks on the Loy Krathong Day this 6 November. Firecrackers will be strongly prohibited.

Deputy Director of the BMA’s environment department Suwanna Chungrungroeng said the BMA invited Loy Krathong revelers to bring their families and loved ones to celebrate the Thai tradition in 28 public parks in Bangkok, including Lumpini, Chatuchak, Santi Chaiprakan and Benjakitti, from 3 PM – 12 AM. The deputy director also encouraged people to use floating baskets, or “Krathong,” made from natural materials to avoid harming the environment. Those who would come in groups should use only one Krathong, said Ms Suwanna.

The BMA calls on vendors not to sell Styrofoam floating baskets and bans firecrackers at the public parks since they might cause danger.


-- NNT 2014-10-27

PHUKET: French tourist arrested in drug bust
Nattha Thepbamrung

A French tourist was arrested October 25 for possession of cocaine.

PHUKET: A French tourist was arrested yesterday (October 25) for possession of 313.09 grams of cocaine at his house in Baan Sabai Village, Kathu.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771560-phuket-french-tourist-arrested-in-drug-bust/

Thailand has potential to be regional vaccine hub
CHULARAT SAENGPASSA
THE NATION


Dr.Charung Muangchana

CONFERENCE HELD IN PHUKET TO BOOST ASEAN VACCINE MARKET

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND has the potential and readiness to become the leader of vaccine production in Asean, National Vaccine Institute (NVI) director Charung Muangchana told The Nation in an exclusive interview.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771619-thailand-has-potential-to-be-regional-vaccine-hub/

Dam forums planned for Thais living by Mekong
WASU VIPOOSANAPAT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THAI CITIZENS living along the Mekong River will finally get their voices heard in relation to Laos' Don Sahong dam project - in the Siphandon area - from as early as next month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771620-dam-forums-planned-for-thais-living-by-mekong/

NRC MEETING
Key vote on 'outsiders' in CDC today
Nitipol Kiravanich
Khanittha Thepphajorn
The Nation

Sangsit Piriyarangsan, top second from right, chairman.

Proposal expected to see heated debate in divided nrc; politicians and colour-coded groups unlikely to join drafting

BANGKOK: -- A hot debate is expected at a National Reform Council (NRC) meeting today before a decision is reached on whether some "outsiders" should be appointed among charter writers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771621-nrc-meeting-key-vote-on-outsiders-in-cdc-today/

SPECIAL REPORT
Would Thailand be run better if its PM was elected directly by the people?
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
The Nation



THERE HAVE BEEN loud calls from the public to have a directly elected prime minister as part of the country's political reform.

BANGKOK: -- Proponents of the idea argue that the system could produce a more democratic and effective government. Opponents, however, warn it could challenge the highest institution or that a PM without parliamentary support could result in an ineffective administration.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771623-would-thailand-be-run-better-if-its-pm-was-elected-directly-by-the-people/

IN PARALLEL WITH NRC
'Dhammocracy' envisaged by reform group
Kesinee Taengkhiao
The Nation

Academics, some NRC folk in new institute

BANGKOK: -- To leverage rising public awareness of the reform movement, a group of noted academics and reformers yesterday pledged to push for reform ideologies that would transform the country's democracy into a "dhammocracy", or democracy based on Buddhist philosophies and principles.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771624-dhammocracy-envisaged-by-reform-group/

INTERVIEW
Reforms 'could create another monopoly of power'

BANGKOK: -- Chulalongkorn University political scientist Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee, an expert on elections and democracy, talks to The Nation's Pravit Rojanaphruk about her hopes and trepidation about democracy and political reform in Thailand. Excerpts:

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771625-thai-interview-reforms-could-create-another-monopoly-of-power/

EDITORIAL
Chalerm's 'insight' may be blind loyalty
The Nation

Former minister's claim that Pheu Thai will return misses vital factors about current situation

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771626-chalerms-insight-may-be-blind-loyalty/

REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Thai-US ties in 'Sleeping Beauty' mode
Kavi Chongkittavorn
The Nation
Washington

To understand and appreciate quintessential Thai-US relations, one must visit the 10x10 metre underground room at 2300 Kalorama Road

BANGKOK: -- Before the decision was made, Seni held extensive discussions with US Secretary of State Cordell Hull to ensure that the US would recognise the Seri Thai Movement as the legitimate representative of the will of the Thai people and unblock financial flows. The rest is history. Indeed at this moment, that is all that remains of the long-standing relations between the eagle and the elephant.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771627-thai-us-ties-in-sleeping-beauty-mode/

Israeli Drugged and Robbed by 2 Ladyboys in South Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- On Saturday afternoon a drowsy Israeli was assisted by a Thai woman at a Bar in Walking Street after she spotted the man and realized he needed assistance after he claimed to have been drugged and robbed by 2 Ladyboy’s.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771629-israeli-drugged-and-robbed-by-2-ladyboys-in-south-pattaya/

Honest Pattaya Baht Bus Driver returns “lost” money to Russian Tourists



PATTAYA: -- On Saturday a Russian couple reported the loss of a bag containing 60,000 Baht which they left on a Baht Bus. At the same time the driver found the bag and informed Police who were able to re-unite the money with the Tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771630-honest-pattaya-baht-bus-driver-returns-lost-money-to-russian-tourists/

Illegal East Pattaya Money Lending Gang arrested by Army and Police



PATTAYA: -- In a joint operation involving the Army and Nongprue Police, three members of an illegal money lending gang were arrested and assets were seized from an East Pattaya house on Sunday Night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771632-illegal-east-pattaya-money-lending-gang-arrested-by-army-and-police/

Navymen 'did not mean to disrespect court'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Navy personnel who carried weapons into a Phuket Court compound against court regulations last week did it out of inexperience, not disrespect or contempt of court, the junta spokesman said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771633-navymen-did-not-mean-to-disrespect-court/

UPDATE:

'No signs of Ebola' in dead Briton in Phuket
The Nation



PHUKET: -- Laboratory results on tissues of a British man who died in his room in Phuket after returning from Nigeria showed no signs of the deadly Ebola disease.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771557-dead-briton-in-phuket-does-not-have-ebola-virus/#entry8589246

Thai rent-a-womb trade reined in
Tan Hui Yee
The Straits Times

SINGAPORE: -- The 35-year-old housekeeper was five months' pregnant when she went on the run. The foetus in her womb belonged to a Chinese couple.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771634-thai-rent-a-womb-trade-reined-in/

Ukraine crisis: Pro-Western blocs 'win Ukraine poll'

(BBC) Pro-Western parties will dominate Ukraine's parliament after the first elections to the body since February's revolution, exit polls suggest.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771636-pro-western-blocs-win-ukraine-poll/

Dilma Rousseff re-elected Brazilian president

(BBC) Left-leaning Dilma Rousseff has been re-elected president of Brazil, after securing more than 51% of votes in a closely-fought election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771637-brazil-re-elects-dilma-rousseff/

South African footballer shot dead

(BBC) South Africa's football captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa has died after being shot, South African police say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771638-south-african-footballer-shot-dead/

Twenty-four European banks fail EBA stress test

(BBC) Twenty-four European banks have failed stress tests of their finances, the European Banking Authority (EBA) has announced.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771639-vulnerable-european-banks-identified/

Three surfers die in killer rip off coast of Cornwall, England

SYDNEY: -- THREE surfers have died off the coast of Cornwall in the south west of England after struggling in rough seas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771647-three-surfers-die-in-killer-rip-off-coast-of-cornwall-england/

KKK outfit worn in Australia Muslim veil protest

(BBC) Three men, one of them wearing a Ku Klux Klan (KKK) outfit, have tried to enter Parliament House in Canberra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771649-kkk-outfit-worn-in-australia-muslim-veil-protest/

US Ebola nurse 'to take legal action' over confinement

(BBC) A US nurse held in quarantine in New Jersey after treating Ebola patients in West Africa says she will challenge her confinement in a federal court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771651-us-ebola-nurse-to-take-legal-action-over-confinement/

Royal Thai Police tighten security for tourist season




BANGKOK, 27 October 2014 (NNT) – The Royal Thai Police is tightening security measures, and has ordered the police in every region to ensure the safety of Thai and foreign tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771654-thai-police-tightens-security-for-tourism-high-season/

Canada parliament gunman prepared video of himself

SYDNEY: -- A GUNMAN who shot and killed a soldier at Canada’s national war memorial and then stormed Parliament before he was gunned down had prepared a video recording of himself that police say shows he was driven by ideological and political motives, police said this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771655-canada-parliament-gunman-prepared-video-of-himself/

Claims famous Kurdish Peshmerga fighter Rehana may have been decapitated

SYDNEY: -- THE scourge of ISIS — a female Kurdish warrior who was credited with killing 100 jihadists — may have herself died in the desperate battle to prevent the city of Kobani falling into extremist hands. But her sisters-in-arms fight on.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771657-war-on-is-claims-famous-peshmerga-fighter-rehana-may-have-been-decapitated/

Suspected Boko Haram militants 'kidnap 30 Nigerian children'

(BBC) Suspected Boko Haram militants have kidnapped about 30 children in north-eastern Nigeria despite government claims of a truce, a local leader says.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771658-suspected-boko-haram-militants-kidnap-30-nigerian-children/

Qatar officials dismiss IS funding claims

(BBC) Senior officials from Qatar have strongly denied claims the country is supporting terrorist groups in Syria such as Islamic State.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771659-qatar-officials-dismiss-is-funding-claims/

Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,542.69, gains 2.78 points /MCOT

UPDATE:

Beach parties banned throughout Surat Thani province



KOH SAMUI: -- Five weeks after the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on Koh Tao Thaweesak Inthaphrom, chief of the Koh Phangan district office received a letter from Govenor Chatpong Chatphuti ordering him to prohibit any beach parties on the islands throughout the province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771385-full-moon-party-only-at-haad-rin/page-6?p=8589967#entry8589967