Thailand Live Monday 10 Nov 2014

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PM urges for speedy budget disbursement

BANGKOK, 10 November 2014 (NNT) - Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha has urged all government units to expedite their budget disbursement for economic stimulation, stressing that they must spend their money in a transparent manner.

Deputy Government Spokesman Maj.Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the premier had told the government units to urgently help and take care of the people before he traveled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in China. Gen.Prayuth added that urgent budget disbursement would help stimulate the economies of local communities, said the deputy spokesman.

The PM also asked his deputy Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan to work in his capacity and preside over the Cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday 12 November, instead of Tuesday, while he is in China.


-- NNT 2014-11-10

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Foreign ownership regulations need to be changed, says SEC
ERICH PARPART
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE Securities and Exchange Commission has said foreign ownership regulations should be relaxed in order to attract more foreign investors.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775281-foreign-ownership-regulations-need-to-be-changed-says-sec/

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APEC SUMMIT
PM backs China's road and rail plans
The Nation, Reuters
Beijing


Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha shakes hands with China

In meeting with president Xi, Prayut promises cooperation for dual-track railway project

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND is more than ready to cooperate with China to develop the road-transport network that is part of the economic quadrangle linking Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and China, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told China's President Xi Jinping during a meeting in Beijing yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775282-pm-prayut-backs-chinas-road-and-rail-plans-apec-summit/

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CHARTER DRAFTING IDEAS
No backing for 'super minister' proposal
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- LAWMAKERS have dismissed a proposal for the legislative, administrative and judicial branches to be augmented by a fourth power - a so-called "super minister".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775283-thai-charter-drafting-no-backing-for-super-minister-proposal/

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SPECIAL REPORT
Experts want reform of independent bodies
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
THE NATION

Call for greater transparency and efficiency

BANGKOK: -- Independent government agencies have come under criticism from politicians, academics and reformers in the past several years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775284-report-thai-experts-want-reform-of-independent-bodies/

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Controversial decisions by key govt agencies
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The purpose of the independent organisations under the constitution was to prevent abuse of power by politicians, political parties or agencies. They were meant to be independent of political influence, but in the past, they were seen as being political tools to support or persecute some politicians rather than scrutinise them under the justice system. Here are some examples of their controversial resolutions or rulings that have been criticised for being politicised.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775285-controversial-decisions-by-key-thai-govt-agencies/

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Army stops land reform group's plan for long march
NISANATH KUNGWANWONG
THE NATION



PEASANT FEDERATION TO TALK TO PANADDA ON THURSDAY ABOUT FOREST EVICTIONS

BANGKOK: -- A MARCH from Chiang Mai to Bangkok planned by the Northern Peasant Federation's "First Step for Land Reform" was halted yesterday by the Army.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775286-thai-army-stops-land-reform-groups-plan-for-long-march/

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Engineer noted on global list of women for solar power work
PHATHINYA IAMTAN
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THAI engineer and social entrepreneur Salinee Tavaranan, who is among the BBC's prestigious list of 100 Women of 2014, has discovered a sustainable way for rural people to access solar-powered electricity via a hybrid business module that also creates a sense of ownership for solar panels.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775287-thai-engineer-noted-on-global-list-of-women-for-solar-power-work/

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Thailand backs Apec FTA talks
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION
BEIJING

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND has shown strong support for the multilateral talks being held under the World Trade Organisation, while also supporting the launch of the Free-Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) and bilateral talks with potential partners, Deputy Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775288-thailand-backs-apec-fta-talks/

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Tim "Sharky" Ward confronts Pattaya Police over allegations of theft



PATTAYA: -- Tim “Sharky” Ward, an Australian resident of Pattaya, known to many for his controversial comments relating to Thailand’s Police, was involved in an angry confrontation with Police and local journalists at Pattaya Police Station in the early hours of Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775290-tim-sharky-ward-confronts-pattaya-police-over-allegations-of-theft/

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Police arrest over 50 road racers at East Pattaya Highway



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Sunday, a huge Police operation, involving over 50 Police Officers and Police Volunteers took place at Highway 36 where illegal road racing was thought to be taking place.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775291-police-arrest-over-50-road-racers-at-east-pattaya-highway/

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"Ghost" captured on Pattaya Rescue Association Party picture



PATTAYA: -- Over the weekend a party for Pattaya Rescue Volunteers took place in Jomtien where a picture was taken appearing to show a “Ghost” walking past rescue vehicles.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775292-ghost-captured-on-pattaya-rescue-association-party-picture/

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Four crews went missing after their trawler capsized



PATTANI: -- Four crew members of a trawler went missing after their fishing vessel capsized in the stormy sea about 80 kilometres off the coast of Pattani on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775293-pattani-four-crews-went-missing-after-their-trawler-capsized/

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Bt100-million drug assets auctioned
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- About 500 drug-case assets worth Bt100 million in total were sold at an auction yesterday in keeping with a pledge to auction off seized property linked to scandalous drug cases, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board boss said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775294-bt100-million-drug-assets-auctioned/

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Phuket police arrest fugitive Belgian


Home grown weed in Belgium got Mr Lagrou in trouble in Phuket.

PHUKET: -- Immigration police have arrested a Belgian man who is wanted in his home country for trade in contraband and growing marijuana, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775295-phuket-police-arrest-fugitive-belgian/

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PHUKET: Pegas Turistik threatens legal action against false reps
Saran Mitrarat


Pegas Turistik representative Nikorn Yatinunt.

PHUKET: -- Bangkok-based tour operator Pegas Turistik has threatened to sue those responsible for issuing documents claiming to represent the company and prominently displaying the Tourist Police insignia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775296-phuket-pegas-turistik-threatens-legal-action-against-false-reps/

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Obama signals 'new phase' against Islamic State in Iraq

WASHINGTON: -- President Barack Obama has said the deployment of 1,500 more US troops to Iraq marks a "new phase" against Islamic State militants.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775297-obama-signals-new-phase-against-is/

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Ukraine crisis: 'Rebel reinforcements' raise fears

(BBC) The US and the European Union have expressed concern at reports of a build-up of separatist reinforcements in eastern Ukraine.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775299-ukraine-crisis-rebel-reinforcements-raise-fears/

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Joy as North Korea detainees Miller and Bae return home

(BBC) Two Americans who were released from detention in North Korea, Matthew Todd Miller and Kenneth Bae, have arrived to a joyful welcome in the US.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775300-joy-as-n-korea-us-prisoners-return/

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Russian tourists stuck in Bangkok because of plane's 'poor state'

BANGKOK: -- Russian tourists that failed to leave Thailand on Saturday because their flight had been delayed were expected to fly home on Sunday, Russian Consul in Thailand Vladimir Sosnov told Tass.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775302-russian-tourists-stuck-in-bangkok-because-of-planes-poor-state/

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62-year-old Briton found dead in Chiang Mai hotel

CHIANG MAI: -- A 62-year-old British tourist was found dead in a hotel in Chiang Mai at 1 am Monday in what police believe to be a suicide.

He was identified as Stephen Malcolm Roston. His body found with a mask and plastic bag covering his head with a tube connected to a helium tank. Doctors believe he has died for three days.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/62-year-old-Briton-found-dead-in-Chiang-Mai-hotel-30247383.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-10

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Australia 'losing out' on renewable energy investment

(BBC) Investment into renewable energy projects in Australia has dropped by 70% in the last year, according to a new report by a climate change body.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775317-australia-losing-out-on-renewable-energy-investment/

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Harry Belafonte handed honorary Oscar

(BBC) A host of stars turned out to see four cinematic veterans honoured at the Governor's Awards in Los Angeles.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775318-harry-belafonte-handed-honorary-oscar/

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Russia's 'close military encounters' with Europe documented
By Jonathan Marcus
BBC diplomatic correspondent

(BBC) The growing strains between Russia and the West prompted by the Ukraine crisis are now sending ripples of military tension across Europe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775319-russias-close-military-encounters-with-europe-documented/

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Woman marries brother-in-law then gets lover to kill him off

The Star/Asia News Network

CHINA: -- A woman from Sichuan, China, started an affair with her sister's husband and later married him after convincing him to divorce his wife.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775320-chinese-woman-marries-brother-in-law-then-gets-lover-to-kill-him-off/

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Man blackmailed after stripping naked on Skype for 'Filipina beauty'
Nicholas ChengThe Star/Asia News Network

KUALA LUMPUR - He had read about such scams in the papers; beautiful women coaxing lustful men to strip naked on online chats and then blackmailing them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775324-man-blackmailed-after-stripping-naked-on-skype-for-filipina-beauty/

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Apec summit: World leaders gather in Beijing

(BBC) Leaders from China, Russia, Japan, the US and other Asia-Pacific states are in Beijing for a two-day summit.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775325-apec-summit-world-leaders-gather-in-beijing/

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,582.22, gains 3.85 points /MCOT

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Forest runoff floods Trang's provincial seat, Huai Yot; residents rush to move belongings to higher ground; flood recedes in Nakhon /MCOT

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NRC members support fight against social inequality

BANGKOK, 10 November 2014 (NNT) - Members of the National Reform Council have agreed that tackling the problem of social inequality is one key element to achieving reforms.

The Secretariat of the House of Representatives and King Prajadhipoks’ Institute jointly organised a special seminar on the NRC and its role reforming Thailand, which kicked off on Sunday and was joined by all council members.

On the first day of the seminar, NRC members discussed about Thailand’s politics in the past 50 years and their vision of the country in the next 20 years.

Most of the council members agreed with the need to tackle the problem of social inequality in order to allow Thai people to have equal access to education, public health service and natural resources.

The seminar also saw the NRC members expressing their wish to see peace and reconciliation in the Thai society, in which people have more participation in a more decentralised administrative system.


-- NNT 2014-11-10