UPDATE:

BMA equipped with 3 measures against Ebola

BANGKOK, 28 October 2014 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has prepared three measures to cope with the possible spread of deadly Ebola virus.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771782-bma-doles-out-stringent-measures-against-possible-spread-of-ebola-in-bangkok/#entry8594573

Swimming prohibited at six Trang waterfalls

BANGKOK: -- The Trang provincial administration Tuesday prohibited tourists from swimming in six waterfalls in three districts of Nayong, Yan Ta Khao and Palian.

The six waterfalls are Sairung, Doi Sawan, Tohteh, Tonetok, Kachong and Lamplok waterfalls. The prohibition was issued following heavy rains in the areas, raising concern of runoff.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Swimming-prohibited-at-six-Trang-waterfalls-30246401.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-28

Southern terrorists torch two local administration offices in Pattani

PATTANI: -- Two Tambon local Administration offices in Pattani were set ablaze by southern terrorists Monday night, causing damages to the buildings and five vehicles which included fire and garbage trucks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771955-southern-terrorists-torch-two-local-administration-offices-in-pattani/

Anwar in court for sodomy case appeal



KUALA LUMPUR: -- Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to be in Federal Court 1 where his sodomy case appeal will be heard today, according to New Straits Times.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771961-anwar-in-malaysia-court-for-sodomy-case-appeal/

First cold snap draws thousands to visit Doi Inthanon



CHIANG MAI: -- AS the northern meteorological centre reported a new wave of cold weather from China is coming in to blanket the northern region of Thailand this weekend and the rain is going away, temperatures on most northern mountains are dropping, and thus attracting tens of thousands to visit and experience the first cold snap of this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771969-first-cold-snap-draws-thousands-to-visit-doi-inthanon/

Tourism Min to upgrade strategy for higher tourist safety

BANGKOK, 28 October 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is joining hands with the Ministry of Transport to improve the current tourism promotion strategy, with more emphasis to be placed on the safety of travelers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771970-thai-tourism-min-to-upgrade-strategy-for-higher-tourist-safety/

SONGKHLA
Security beefed up at waterfall after flash flood killed student

BANGKOK: -- Songkhla authorities have decided to seal off the third to seventh tiers of them Ton Nga Chang Waterfall after a flash flood killed a student.

Park rangers beefed up security measures at the waterfall after a flash flood swept away a student of Prince of Songkhla University from its third tier. The levels will be closed until the monsoon season is over while the first and second tiers remain open for visitors but will be monitored by rangers for the safety of the tourists.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Security-beefed-up-at-waterfall-after-flash-flood--30246403.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-28

Taliban Might Replicate IS Success After Western Troop Withdrawal: Expert

WASHINGTON, October 28 (RIA Novosti) - The Taliban might repeat Islamic State (IS) accomplishment after the NATO force pullout unless the Afghan government learns Iraq's lessons, Bradley Moss, national security lawyer has told RIA Novosti.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771972-taliban-might-replicate-is-success-after-western-troop-withdrawal-expert/

Phuket Immigration tightens visitor notification rules
Alasdair Forbes


Immigration held meetings about 18 months ago to ram home the rules on notifications, but it seems that some people didn't get the message. TPN file photo

PHUKET: -- The Immigration Police are applying more rigidly rules about notification of foreigners staying in hotels, villas or homes in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771974-phuket-immigration-tightens-visitor-notification-rules/

Commerce to allow private sector in strategic planning to boost economy



BANGKOK: -- The Commerce Ministry has agreed to allow the private sector to take part in drawing short and long-term strategic plans, focusing on four areas — international trade, border trade, internal trade and distribution of domestic goods.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771978-commerce-min-to-allow-private-sector-in-strategic-planning-to-boost-thai-economy/

Phuket teen confesses to bashing American on beach


Jonathan Lemley was found lying on the beach unconscious. Photo Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- A young Thai who has admitted to bludgeoning a Caucasian visitor into a coma today (October 28) reenacted the attack, which took place on Karon Beach, near Nong Harn, on Friday night (October 24).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771980-phuket-teen-confesses-to-bashing-american-man-on-beach/

Phuket Network of Poor lobby Governor for help
Nattha Thepbamrung


Flowers for the Governor from one of the network lobbyists.

PHUKET: -- More than 200 Phuket villagers gathered at provincial hall yesterday morning to file a complaint about their quality of life, covering issues of land, electricity and water supply.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771983-phuket-network-of-poor-lobby-governor-for-help/

UPDATE:

EBOLA
Bangkok ready to handle possible outbreak

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is preparing to deal with the possible spread of deadly Ebola virus, as the capital is the main entry and exit points of travellers, making it vulnerable to the virus, BMA spokeswoman Treedao Apaiwong said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771782-bma-doles-out-stringent-measures-against-possible-spread-of-ebola-in-bangkok/#entry8595034

BREAKING: ‘Bomb’ found on Phuket beach

Nattha Thepbamrung

Phuket's bomb disposal team are well equipped. Phuket News file photo

PHUKET: A suspected bomb found on a beach at Cape Panwa, near Soi Ruamjai, is currently being examined by Phuket’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771999-breaking-bomb-found-on-phuket-beach/

D-Day: Silom street vendors to be reorganized by November 1st

BANGKOK, 28 October 2014 (NNT) - In light of numerous complaints from pedestrians about street vendors blocking foot traffic in the downtown area of Silom, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has finally decided to step in to regulate the vendors.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772001-d-day-silom-street-vendors-to-be-reorganized-by-november-1st/

UPDATE:

Taxi drivers told not to refuse passengers before the new fare is applied

BANGKOK, 28 October 2014 (NNT) – The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has told taxi drivers not to refuse passengers in a seminar that focused on improving taxi services before the new fare is applied in December.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771876-thai-dlt-to-raise-taxi-fares-in-december;-wants-service-improvements/#entry8595381

KOH TAO MURDERS
Parents of alleged killers take the case to Attorney General

BANGKOK: -- The parents of the two Myanmar nationals detained for allegedly murdering two British tourists on Koh Tao last month on Tuesday submitted a petition to Office of the Attorney General, insisting that their sons had no part with the killings.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772002-koh-tao-murders-parents-of-alleged-killers-take-the-case-to-attorney-general/

Suwana appointed DSI chief

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet Tuesday appointed Suwana Suwanjutha, deputy permanent secretary for Justice Ministry, as the new director general of the Department for Special Investigation.

She will become the first female DSI chief.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Suwana-appointed-DSI-chief-30246409.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-28

Riverbanks of Chao Phraya River in Ang Thong start to erode

ANG THONG, 28 October 2014 (NNT) - Sections of the Chao Phraya River’s bank in Ang Thong province have started to erode due to a rapid decrease of the river’s water levels.

More than 20 meters of a road running parallel Khlong Phong Pheng, which is a minor tributary of the Chao Phraya River, has entirely collapsed. Even though the Phong Pheng Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) has repaired the earthen embankment holding the road together, it was not enough to keep the road stable.

Meanwhile, the head of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (DDPM) in Angthong province, Mr. Winai Amrasamee, said that the riverbank’s erosion has resulted from a rapid decrease in the water level, leading to the sliding down of soil on the embankment and then to the collapse of the road.


-- NNT 2014-10-28

800,000 speed pills seized in Deep South's drug bust operation

PATTANI, 28 October 2014 (NNT) -- Nearly a million tablets of methamphetamine have just been seized in a sting operation in the Deep South of Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772010-800000-speed-pills-seized-in-drug-bust-operation-in-thailands-deep-south/

Secretariat of the House of Representatives issues iPads for NRC members

BANGKOK, 28 October 2014 (NNT) – The Secretariat of the House of Representatives announced that it would issue iPad tablets for members of the National Reform Council (NRC) for the purpose of conducting research and finding references during their work.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772032-secretariat-of-the-house-of-representatives-issues-ipads-for-nrc-members/

THAI-INDIAN RELATIONS
Indian fugitive believed to be in Thailand : Immigration chief


Photo of Tara is distributed to border authorities.

BANGKOK: -- Fugitive Indian car bomb suspect Jagtar Singh Tara may still be taking refuge in Thailand after arriving through Suvarnabhumi Airport in September, acting Immigration commissioner Sakda Chuenpakdee said on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772035-indian-fugitive-believed-to-be-in-thailand-immigration-chief/

One killed as Bangkok-Hua Hin train crashes into pick-up truck

HUA HIN: -- A Bangkok-Hua Hin train crashed into a pick-up truck at a rail crossing in Phetchaburi province at 1 pm Tuesday, killing the truck driver.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772038-one-killed-as-bangkok-hua-hin-train-crashes-into-pick-up-truck/

Rayong police say heated argument may be murder motive

BANGKOK: -- Rayong police now suspected a verbal dispute might be a cause of the shooting of a local politician Wisanu Ketsuriya on October 25.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772039-rayong-police-say-heated-argument-may-be-murder-motive/

Court Upholds 37-Year Jail Sentence for Dutch Pedophile

By Khaosod English

BANGKOK — Thailand’s Supreme Court upheld the 37-year prison sentence of a Dutch man convicted of sexually abusing and illegally detaining a 12-year-old Thai boy.

Willem Gerard Knoppien, 66, was arrested in 2007 for sexually abusing the boy at least for times in his seaside house in Hua Hin. He was convicted by a lower court in 2009.

Today, Thailand's Supreme Court also upheld the 26 year and 8 month jail term of Thai national Thaned Bualaung, who was accused of being an accessory to Knoppien. Knoppien allegedly paid Thaned 200 baht for retrieving the boy, who was then given 120 baht after each encounter.

Source: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1414485543


-- Khaosod English 2014-10-28

FTI suggests Russia as an alternative export market

BANGKOK, 28 Oct 2014 (NNT) – The deputy chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) gave a rather negative outlook for the Thai economy and has urged the government to look for alternative markets to stimulate trade.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772040-federation-of-thai-industries-suggests-russia-as-an-alternative-export-market/

Bradford house deaths: Four bodies found

(BBC) A man, woman and two teenage girls have been found dead at a house in Bradford.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772068-uk-four-bodies-found-at-bradford-house/

Thai energy minister adamant for on more coal-fired power plants
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Oct 28 -- Thailand's energy minister is determined to build more coal-fired power plants to increase their proportion of the country's electricity generation to 30 per cent of all fuel-fired generation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772073-thai-energy-minister-adamant-for-on-more-coal-fired-power-plants/

Thousands back call for National Library to put ancient manuscripts online

BANGKOK: -- More than 10,000 people have signed an online petition to press the National Library of Thailand (NLT) into offering online access to ancient manuscripts or documents originating before King Rama I's reign.

The move is intended to improve public access to the country's ancient manuscripts as well as boost efforts to maintain them.

Prapassorn Posrithong, the independent researcher who started the online petition, will Thursday submit the list of people supporting her idea to the Fine Arts Department director general Borvornvate Rungrujee.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Thousands-back-call-for-National-Library-to-put-an-30246419.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-28

France clashes after dam protester dies in 'explosion'

(BBC) There have been clashes in several French cities after a man protesting against a controversial dam project was killed in a confrontation with police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772075-france-clashes-after-dam-protester-dies-in-explosion/