Thailand Live Friday 31 Oct 2014

[webfact]

Global standards for disaster statistics planned by 2016
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Senior experts from governments, academia and international organisations plan to urgently develop statistical standards for better disaster-risk management in Asia and the Pacific by 2016.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772796-global-standards-for-disaster-statistics-planned-by-2016/

[webfact]

Pridiyathorn is the richest in Prayut cabinet



BANGKOK: -- The National Anti- Corruption Commission (NACC) today revealed the assets and liabilities of the 33-member cabinet of Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha showing the deputy prime minister M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula being the richest with 1.3 billion baht in assets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772798-pridiyathorn-is-the-richest-in-prayut-cabinet/

[webfact]

LATEST

DNA testing of Varot Toovichien, the son of influential Koh Tao village headman and owner of AC Bar on the resort island, by the Institute of Forensic Medicine of the Police General Hospital showed no match with the DNA samples

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772718-dna-test-will-clear-my-son-koh-tao-headman/page-9#entry8609188

[webfact]

MOPH issues policy for hospitals to promote appropriate medicine use

BANGKOK, 31 October 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health is issuing a policy for hospitals to promote appropriate use of medicines, to improve safety for patients.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772804-moph-issues-policy-for-thai-hospitals-to-promote-appropriate-medicine-use/

[webfact]

Agriculture minister worried by reduced Thai buffalo population
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Oct 31 -- Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Pitipong Phuengboon Na Ayudhaya told the press today that Thai water buffaloes could become extinct within five years as their population is dwindling.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772818-agriculture-minister-worried-by-reduced-thai-buffalo-population/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

SUPREME ADMINISTRATIVE COURT
Court rejects lawsuit against Yingluck over Bt350bn water scheme

BANGKOK: -- The Supreme Administrative Court on Friday dismissed a lawsuit against former PM Yingluck Shinawatra and other water-related panels on the t350-billion water-management scheme, saying it is just a plan therefore it has not yet had impacts on the public.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772723-sgwa-upbeat-over-verdict-on-thai-water-scheme/#entry8609404

[Lite Beer]

First lawsuit filed in Malaysia over MH370

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - A Malaysian family on Friday sued the government and beleaguered national carrier for negligence in the mysterious disappearance of flight MH370, in what is believed to be the first lawsuit filed over the disaster.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772847-first-lawsuit-filed-in-malaysia-over-mh370/

[webfact]

Phuket Tourist Police investigate illegal use of their logo
Saran Mitrarat


The top half of the document, with the Tourist Police logo.

PHUKET: -- The Tourist Police are to investigate the source of a document the purports to be issued to customers by Russian tour specialists Pegas Turistik. The document features the Tourist Police insignia prominently.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772855-phuket-tourist-police-investigate-illegal-use-of-their-logo/

[webfact]

Pattaya flooding worse than ever, city officials admit

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772859-pattaya-flooding-worse-than-ever-city-officials-admit

[webfact]

Phuket Weather: 600-metre-tall waterspout spotted off Patong Beach
The Phuket News


The waterspout today caused some panic. Photo: CR group

PHUKET: -- Hundreds of tourists and residents in/off Phuket's premier beach-town were alarmed earlier today when a gigantic waterspout was spotted off the west coast of the island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772860-phuket-weather-600-metre-tall-waterspout-spotted-off-patong-beach/

[webfact]

18-year-old with braces becomes Miss Teen Thailand
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- An 18-year-old business major was named the kingdom’s most beautiful teenage girl at a pageant in the capital last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772876-18-year-old-with-braces-becomes-miss-teen-thailand/

[webfact]

CDC: New constitution will be acceptable to public without needs for referendum

BANGKOK, 31 October 2014 (NNT) – General Lertrat Ratanavanich, a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) said the CDC is expected to hold its first meeting next week right after the National Reform Council (NRC) Chairman signs the appointments of all the 36 CDC members on 4 November.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772877-cdc-new-thai-constitution-will-be-acceptable-to-public-without-needs-for-referendum/

[webfact]

Former Navy SEAL Team Member Investigated for Bin Laden Disclosures
By CHRISTOPHER DREW and NICHOLAS KULISH

NEW YORK: -- A former member of the Navy SEALs who wrote a best seller about the raid that killed Osama bin Laden is under criminal investigation for possibly disclosing classified material, according to federal officials and his lawyer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772878-former-navy-seal-team-member-investigated-for-bin-laden-disclosures/

[webfact]

Provinces step up security for upcoming Loy Kratong festival

SUKHOTHAI, 31 October 2014 (NNT) – Provinces across Thailand have stepped their security and safety measures for the upcoming Loy Kratong festival.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772883-provinces-step-up-security-for-upcoming-loy-kratong-festival/

[webfact]

Ex-deputy commerce minister questions credibility of rice loss claims



BANGKOK: -- Former deputy commerce minister Yanyong Puangrach today questioned the credibility of the recent claim by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha that only 10 percent of the 18 milllion tonnes of rice in stockpiles “bought” under the rice pledging scheme are in good condition, 70 percent are of poor quality and the rest rotten.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772886-ex-deputy-commerce-minister-questions-credibility-of-thai-rice-loss-claims/

[webfact]

Lawyer expresses doubts over new DNA test offer
Nyan Win Shein
Myanmar Eleven

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's offer to conduct a new DNA test on two Myanmar suspects accused of murdering two British tourists on Koh Tao can create problem for the suspects, according to lawyer Aung Myo Than.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772887-koh-tao-murders-lawyer-expresses-doubts-over-new-dna-test-offer/

[webfact]

Initial DNA test clears Koh Tao village head’s son of murder



BANGKOK: -- DNA test conducted by the Police hospital has cleared the son of the influential village headman on Koh Tao of any involvement in the murder of two British tourists on the island in mid-September.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772890-initial-dna-test-clears-koh-tao-village-headmans-son-of-murder/

[webfact]

MRT's fire drill planned for Saturday

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Metro Plc (BMCL), the operator of Bangkok's MRT, plans a fire drill at Sutthisarn Station Saturday from 0.30am to 4.30am.

Chartchai Praditpong, corporate relations director, said that cooperating in the fire drill are the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand, the Sutthisarn fire department, Sutthisarn Police Station, Rajavithi Hospital, the district offices of Din Daeng and Huay Kwang, and Erawan Centre.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/MRTs-fire-drill-planned-for-Saturday-30246686.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-31

[webfact]

Graft buster seeks rice scheme corruption evidence from Prayut



BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission is seeking evidence of corruption and irregularities involving the controversial rice pledging scheme from the prime minister to bring charges against all those involved.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772902-graft-buster-seeks-rice-scheme-corruption-evidence-from-prayut/

[webfact]

Phuket road rage shooter ‘has been identified’


The shooting took place at a red light, in the middle of traffic.

PHUKET: -- Police say they now know the identity of the gunman who shot dead motorbike taxi driver Chaliao Piyapakul yesterday morning (October 30) in what appears to have been a case of road rage.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772907-phuket-road-rage-shooter-has-been-identified/

[webfact]

Has a Piece of Amelia Earhart's Missing Plane Been Found?
BY MIKE SCHULER

MIAMI: -- A piece of aircraft debris found on a remote South Pacific atoll is reinforcing speculation that a sonar anomaly detected in 2012 just off the island is in fact the lost aircraft of Amelia Earhart.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772908-has-a-piece-of-amelia-earharts-missing-plane-been-found/

[webfact]

World's Largest Naval Exercise Kicks Off in Persian Gulf
BY GCAPTAIN

JORDAN: -- Being called the world’s largest naval exercise, this year’s International Mine Countermeasures Exercise (IMCMEX) has just kicked off in the Persian Gulf. Participants include more than 6,500 personnel representing 44 nations from around the globe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772910-worlds-largest-naval-exercise-kicks-off-in-persian-gulf/

[webfact]

Somali Pirates Free Seven Hostages More Than 4 Years After Hijacking
BY MIKE SCHULER

SOMALIA: -- The remaining seven Indian crewmembers of the MV Asphalt Venture have been released by Somali pirates more than four years after the cargo ship was hijacked off the coast of Somalia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772911-somali-pirates-free-seven-hostages-more-than-4-years-after-hijacking/

[webfact]

Farmers in Phitsanulok told to refrain from off-season cultivation

PHITSANULOK, 31 October 2014 (NNT) – Farmers living in Phitsanulok province and its vicinity have been told to refrain from off-season rice planting, as the water levels in two major dams dropped to the lowest in the last 20 years.

According to Mr. Bandith Inta, the Chief of Phitsanulok Irrigation Office, the water levels of the Bhumibol and Sirikit dams combined is at 1.8 billion cubic meters or 52 percent of their total capacity. Only 5.8 billion cubic meters or 32 percent of the water can be used for arable land, however.

The office, which is responsible for planning the year-round water management, has asked farmers to refrain from growing rice in the dry season as to save water for the next round of crops during the rainy season next year.


-- NNT 2014-10-31

[webfact]

Police Look for Past Japanese Boyfriends of Murder Suspect
By Khaosod English


Pornchanok Chiyapa, 47, has been accused of murdering 2 Japanese men in Thailand.

BANGKOK—Police are looking for two Japanese men previously involved with of a 47-year-old Thai woman who was recently linked to the deaths of two other Japanese men.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772915-thai-police-look-for-past-japanese-boyfriends-of-murder-suspect/

[webfact]

SET index closed 1,584.16, up 18.81; Bt/USD32.43; GBP51.68; AUD28.36; EUR40.57; CAD28.79; HKD4.17; SGD25.13; JPY28.99

[Lite Beer]

Toll fees for motorway, ring road, expressway to be exempted for New Year holidays

BANGKOK: -- Toll fees for the Bangkok-Chon Buri motorway, Bang Na-Chon Buri expressway and the Bang Pli-Bang Pa-in ring road will be exempted for New Year holidays from December 26 to January 4, Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Toll-fees-for-motorway-ring-road-expressway-to-be--30246699.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-31

[Lite Beer]

Several people were injured when three bombs exploded at three shops in Pattani town at 7.00 pm.

Hit by bombs are Sairung Karoke, Krua Songkhla, and Maruey shop.

Forensic, EOD, and security officials are sealing off the three places fearing that more bombs could be planted to harm officials.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/70217/

-- Thai PBS 2014-10-31

[Lite Beer]

Prosecutor demand more evidence from the police handling Koh Tao case

Koh Samui public prosecutor has returned the police case file on Koh Tao murder back to the police with a demand for additional interrogation of the Rohinya interpreter employed by the police.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772992-prosecutor-demand-more-evidence-from-the-police-handling-koh-tao-case/

[Lite Beer]

Safety fences may be installed at some railway crossings

BANGKOK: -- Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda will consult with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) after recent train crashes with cars at rail crossings.

A possible solution - setting up safety fences at the crossings - should come with officials to man them around the clock to effectively prevent accidents, he said, he was gathering information and would soon consult with the SRT about implementing a solution and what agency would fund it.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Safety-fences-may-be-installed-at-some-railway-cro-30246701.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-31