Thailand Live Thursday 13 Nov 2014

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Ten southern provinces told to brace for upcoming storm

BANGKOK, 13 November 2014 (NNT) – Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paochinda has alerted the governors of ten provinces in the South to another wave of heavy rains during November 13-16 and instructed them to be prepared for possible disasters.

According to Gen Anupong, it is forecast that the northeast monsoon will pick up strength from tomorrow until November 16 and will, in turn, bring torrential rains to many areas of the lower southern region of Thailand. The affected provinces will comprise Krabi, Trang, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Satun.

The governors of those ten provinces have thus been ordered by the Interior Minister to coordinate with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) to gear up for rescue and relief efforts in case flashfloods, river overflows and mudslides occur. Rapid response teams are to be on standby in vulnerable areas while constant monitoring will be conducted along the coasts due to turbulent waves.

Meanwhile, DDPM Director-General Chatchai Promlert has advised locals, whose homes are situated near waterways, on hill slopes or in lowlands, to closely follow weather forecasts and disaster warnings. Fishermen are also warned against leaving the shore on small boats.


-- NNT 2014-11-13

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Tourism Min hopeful annual tourist arrivals will exceed 25 million

BANGKOK, 13 November 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is anticipating a tourist number of over 25 million for the whole year of 2014 while insisting that the martial law is not a burden to the tourism sector.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776065-thai-tourism-min-hopeful-annual-tourist-arrivals-will-exceed-25-million/

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UPDATE:

News celebrity to be indicted in embezzlement case
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A joint panel of the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Attorney-General has resolved to recommend that TV host Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda and three others be indicted for their roles in the alleged embezzlement of Bt138 million in advertising revenue from MCOT nine years ago, attorney-general's spokesman Wanchai Rujanawong said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775977-thai-tv-celebrity-sorrayuth-two-others-face-embezzlement-charge/#entry8663422

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Ex-TAT chief to be charged with bribery
Natthapat Phromkaew
The Nation

NACC case involves alleged US$1.8m payment by hollywood filmmakers

BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has declared that it will file charges against former Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Juthamas Siriwan, who has been accused of accepting bribes from Hollywood filmmakers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776066-ex-tat-chief-to-be-charged-with-bribery/

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Ex-Democrat MP sentenced to death
Manop Preuttiwarodom
The Nation



Court finds POLITICIAN guilty of MURDER

BANGKOK: -- FORMER DEMOCRAT MP Khanchit Tabsuwan has received a death sentence for killing a prominent local politician in Samut Sakhon province in late 2011.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776067-samut-sakhon-ex-democrat-mp-sentenced-to-death/

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ASEAN SUMMIT
Look beyond 2015, PM urges Asean
The Nation


Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, left, is welcomed by Myanmar President Thein Sein, second left, while their wives hold hands before the opening ceremony yesterday of 25th Asean Summit in Nay Pyi Taw./Reuters

Prayut thanks leaders at summit for showing understanding of the Thai political situation

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776068-look-beyond-2015-pm-prayut-urges-asean/

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UPDATE:

Animal protection law finally passed
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- UNDER A newly passed law, eating live animals, feeding mammals to predators without a reason or having sex with animals will result in a year in prison and/or a maximum fine of Bt20,000.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775973-thai-actors-support-law-against-animal-abuse/#entry8663448

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THAI board names new president
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- CHARAMPORN Jotikasthira, ex-president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, was yesterday approved by the board of Thai Airways International as its new president, set to upgrade the airline's information-technology systems and rescue it from its financial crisis.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776069-thai-board-names-new-president/

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Ministry plans 2m-tonne rice deal with China
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION
BEIJING

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND PLANS to sell a further 2 million tonnes of rice to China under a government-to-government contract after the delivery of an existing order for 1 million tonnes to that country is completed next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776070-thailand-plans-2m-tonne-rice-deal-with-china/

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EDITORIAL
Safe, clean, punctual trains: is it too much to ask?
The Nation

After decades of huge losses and mounting fears over passenger safety, it's time for change at the State Railway of Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Following a lengthy court battle, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has agreed to pay Bt5.2 million in compensation to a woman passenger who was raped by a sleeper-train worker 13 years ago. Earlier this year, the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl, also by a sleeper-train worker, raised public concern over the safety of travelling by train.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776074-thai-editorial-safe-clean-punctual-trains-is-it-too-much-to-ask/

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THAI TALK
What does a constitution for reform and reconciliation look like?
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- If the chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee had his way, the new charter would be brief, devoted to national reconciliation, a deterrent to "populist policy" and would first be subject to a national referendum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776075-thai-talk-what-does-a-constitution-for-reform-and-reconciliation-look-like/

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More arrests in Nigerian Social Media Scam case



PATTAYA: -- Following on from the arrest of two Nigerians last Friday in relation to a Social Media Scam, where they would lure people into sending them money to assist in releasing substantial amounts of money reportedly held by Thai Financial Institutions, which in reality do not exist, Pattaya Police arrested 4 more Nigerians on Wednesday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776076-pattaya-more-arrests-in-nigerian-social-media-scam-case/

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Applicant Denied Job Due to "Irish Alcoholism Nature"
V Saxena

SEOUL: -- We have witnessed it many times throughout the years: a job applicant gets denied because of ethnicity, because of gender, because of sexual preference, because of religion, etc. Well, it appears a new contender has joined the list of discriminatory items.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776078-applicant-denied-job-due-to-irish-alcoholism-nature/

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Parties urge NCPO to ease prohibition on political meetings
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Politicians from both sides of the divide have called on the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to relax its restrictions on political gatherings so they can meet and discuss their contributions to the charter drafting process.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776079-parties-urge-ncpo-to-ease-prohibition-on-political-meetings/

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NLA accepts lawyers' plea to defer Yingluck's impeachment proceedings
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday voted to postpone impeachment proceedings against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra after her lawyers insisted that she needed enough time to prepare her defence as indicated in the NLA meeting protocol.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776081-nla-accepts-lawyers-plea-to-defer-yinglucks-impeachment-proceedings/

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Cabinet okays expanded human-rights framework
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet yesterday approved an expanded human rights framework for 15 groups of marginalised people, including ex-convicts and people with cross genders.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776082-thai-cabinet-okays-expanded-human-rights-framework/

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Rosetta: Waiting game after comet lander glitch

(BBC) A European robot probe has made the first, historic landing on a comet, but its status is uncertain after harpoons failed to anchor it to the surface.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776086-rosetta-waiting-game-after-comet-lander-glitch/

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Ukraine crisis: Russian troops crossed border, Nato says

(BBC) Nato has seen Russian military equipment and Russian combat troops entering Ukraine this week, its top commander Gen Philip Breedlove says.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776087-russian-troops-enter-ukraine-nato/

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Ebola outbreak deaths pass 5,000

(BBC) The number of people killed by the worst outbreak of Ebola has risen to 5,160, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776088-ebola-outbreak-deaths-pass-5000/

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UPDATE:

Govt marks 2015 as Thai traditional tourism year

BANGKOK, 13 Nov 2014 (NNT) – The cabinet has agreed to mark 2015 as the Thai traditional tourism year in a latest bid to make cultural tourism better known.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776065-thai-tourism-min-hopeful-annual-tourist-arrivals-will-exceed-25-million/page-2#entry8664049

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Pattaya boosts safety for tourists during high season

CHONBURI, 13 November 2014 (NNT) – Pattaya City is boosting safety for tourists, to address shortcomings the local tourism scene has been experiencing since the imposition of martial law and the murder of British tourists on Koh Tao.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776128-pattaya-boosts-safety-for-tourists-during-high-season/

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UPDATE:

Industry minister orders 60-day closure of fire-damaged SVI factory; 1 billion baht damage expected

PATHUMTHANI, 13 November 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Industry has ordered a 60-day closure of the Pathumthani factory belonging to electronic parts maker SVI Plc. after an intense fire burned through the plant on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775864-fire-rages-at-bangkradi-industrial-estate-electronics-factory-in-pathum-thani/?p=8664145#entry8664145

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$300,000 an Hour: The Cost of Fighting ISIS
What price will the U.S. ultimately pay to neutralize the Islamic State?
URI FRIEDMAN

WASHINGTON: -- It's been 96 days since the United States launched its first airstrikes against ISIS militants in Iraq; 50 since it expanded that campaign into Syria. And on each one of those days, the U.S. government has spent an average of roughly $8 million, or more than $300,000 an hour, on the operation against the Sunni Muslim extremist group, according to Pentagon officials.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776134-us300000-an-hour-the-cost-of-fighting-isis/

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ATM to temporarily close Nov 14 for testing

BANGKOK, 14 Nov 2014 (NNT) – All automatic teller machines will temporarily stop servicing between midnight of November 14 to early next day due to the system testing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776136-all-atms-to-temporarily-close-nov-14-for-testing/

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Islamic teacher shot dead in Yala, son injured

YALA: -- An Islamic teacher was shot dead in Yala's Betong district late Wednesday night. His seven-year-old son was also injured.

Police said Ahsan Mataeha, 47, was attacked by an unknown number of assailants when he returned from praying at a local mosque at 11:20 pm. His son was injured by a stray bullet.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Islamic-teacher-shot-dead-in-Yala-son-injured-30247659.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-13

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,561.52, falls 0.51 points /MCOT

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Energy Ministry to overhaul energy pricing structure



BANGKOK, 13 November 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Energy is planning to gradually adjust the entire pricing structure for energy to reflect the true cost after the end of this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776142-thai-energy-ministry-to-overhaul-energy-pricing-structure/

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Thailand and Russia agree to boost trade and investment

NAY PYI TAW, 13 November 2014 (NNT) – The Thai and Russian leaders have affirmed to continue promoting bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, especially in the agricultural and logistic sectors.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776179-thailand-and-russia-agree-to-boost-trade-and-investment/

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'Worst airport' no longer?



MANILA: -- The ongoing repairs on the airconditioners, comfort rooms, and other facilities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have resulted in a marked improvement, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Jose Angel Honrado claimed on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776182-ninoy-aquino-international-airport-worst-airport-no-longer/

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What's the big deal about our fleet of warships: Russia
David Wroe
National security correspondent

MELBOURNE: -- Russia insists there is no aggression in its surprise move of sending warships close to Australia before the G20 meeting, saying it is simply keeping its navy fit and ready.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776184-russia-sends-warships-close-to-australia/