Israel Hamas War the Widening Middle East Conflict

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BAAC finds measures to help rice farmers, cassava growers and rubber planters

BANGKOK, 31 Jan 2015, (NNT) -The President of the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), Luck Wajananawat, has reported that the bank is working around the clock to provide options for financial aid to agricultural operators.

Mr. Luck says a number of cassava growers in 2014/2015 season, have put off their harvesting period due to the low prices, and have expressed interest in taking out a loan with the BAAC. The bank is currently offering a special soft loan for cassava growers. It allows them to borrow up to 50-thousand baht per household over a 6-month period. He added that the Government subsidizes 3% of the loan interest as an assistance measure.

The loan is available only until the end of March.

The bank’s President projected that the soft loan project would need about 3 billion baht for the 150-thousand households of cassava growers.

Mr. Luck explained that the campaign’s main purpose is to encourage growers to delay their harvest to avoid an oversupply problem. December to March is the normal cassava harvesting season. This year’s total cassava harvest is expected to be 30.9 million tons, an increase on last year’s 30.02 million tons.

-- NNT 2015-01-31

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Anti-human trafficking efforts in Thailand achieves success
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Jan 31 -- Measures to curb human trafficking in Thailand have achieved considerable success in 2014, and senior government officials are optimistic that the country’s efforts will earn recognition from developed countries, especially the US.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796428-anti-human-trafficking-efforts-in-thailand-achieves-success/

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A huge fire broke out late Saturday morning at a plastic factory in Phra Pradaeng district of Samut Prakarn province forcing the evacuation of people living nearby due to its toxic smoke.

At noon today the fire was still raging and firemen had to adopt cautious step to access the factory building to a spate of explosions caused by thinner tanks.

The fire started at about 10.00 am today at the factory, Namwattana (Worldwide), on Soi Suksawat 64. It produced plastic sheets.

As a dozen of fire engines was trying to put out the fire, there was explosion from the store room where tanks of thinner were kept. Three firemen were reported to be injured.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/84920

-- Thai PBS 2015-01-31

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Thai Govt To Investigate Massive Monk Pilgrimage

By Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK — A senior official in the Thai military government says authorities will launch an inquiry into a "monk pilgrimage" that caused a massive traffic gridlock outside of Bangkok yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796432-thai-govt-to-investigate-massive-monk-pilgrimage/

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NGV goes up 50 satang/kilo today

BANGKOK: -- Price of NGV or natural gas for vehicles goes up 50 satang Saturday after the Committee on Energy Policy Administration has given the green light to increase to reflect its actual cost price.

The gas increase was proposed by the Ministry of Energy.

As of today, the retail price of NGV for vehicles will be increased from 12.50 baht to 13 baht per kilo for personal vehicle use, while that for transport sector and taxis will be raised from 9.50 baht to 10 baht per kilo.

The Committee on Energy Policy Administration also acknowledged the preparation for the adjustment of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) price structure and the plan to help low-income families to cope with the future LPG price hike.

The conclusion was reached during a meeting of the Energy Policy and Planning Office, the Department of Energy Business, the Energy Fund Administration Institute, PTT and LPG suppliers.

PTT has undertaken the scheme aimed at minimizing the impact of the retail LPG price rise on the household sector on behalf of the Oil Fund. The scheme entitles Thai households with low income to a privilege to buy LPG at the old price of 18.13 baht per kilo.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ngv-goes-50-satangkilo-today

-- Thai PBS 2015-01-31

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Exporters urged to avoid unloading goods at US West Coast
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Jan 31 -- Poor management at ports along the United States West Coast has led to rising expenses as well as delays in unloading goods and Thai exporters are advised to have their goods delivered to the East Coast or other ports in Canada, according to Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, director-general of Commerce Ministry’s International Trade Promotion Department.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796439-exporters-urged-to-avoid-unloading-goods-at-us-west-coast/

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Displaced Thais file charges against interior minister
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Jan 31 -- After fighting for Thai citizenship over several years, a total of 351 displaced persons living in Tak province bordering Myanmar have filed charges against Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda and three others with the Central Administrative Court and demanded Thai citizenship.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796442-displaced-thais-file-charges-against-interior-minister/

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Depressed Chinese tourist attempts suicide in Phuket resort

Eakkapop Thongtub

The Chinese tourist is loaded into an ambulance after first aid.

PHUKET: A Chinese tourist was taken to Thalang Hospital this morning (January 31) after attempting suicide in the room of the Pa Khlok resort where she was staying.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796487-depressed-chinese-tourist-attempts-suicide-in-phuket-resort/

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Gold jumps B300 on weak US data /Bangkok Post

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Prayut calls for understanding from farmers

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha called for understanding of his government's attempt to assist farmers and urged them to group as cooperatives and get ready for change for their better living.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796497-prayut-calls-for-understanding-from-farmers/

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Prayut says drawing foreign interference in Thai internal affairs is an embarrassing act

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha called attempt by a certain group of people trying to draw foreign interference in the country's internal affairs as an embarrassing act.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796500-prayut-says-drawing-foreign-interference-in-thai-internal-affairs-is-an-embarrassing-act/

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Militants shot two poachers in Yala

YALA: -- Two poachers were shot dead, believed by southern militants, in Banang Satar district of Yala province on Friday night after they went poaching for gaurs in a jungle.

Banang Sata district police said they were alerted by village defence volunteers of hearing gun shots just after midnight at Ube village but dared not come out to check as they might fall into traps of militants.

But after day break, they went out to inspect and found the two persons lying dead near their motorcycle.

Also found at the scene were fertiliser bags containing wild plants and some jungle kits which suggested they might poach for wild gaurs which are plentiful in the jungle.

Several M16 and AK 47 spent cases were found.

Police believed they were shot by militants operating in the area.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/militants-shot-two-poachers-yala

-- Thai PBS 2015-01-31

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US state delays seven executions to secure new drugs

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US state of Ohio is postponing the execution of seven death row inmates, officials said Friday, following several botched lethal injection killings across the country last year.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796506-us-state-delays-seven-executions-to-secure-new-drugs/

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Gov’t asked to provide health benefits to persons with residential issues

CHIANG MAI, 31 January 2015 (NNT) – Thirty six healthcare organisations in Thailand have requested cabinet grant basic healthcare services to residents of Thailand who are without Thai nationality, and to establish a border disease control foundation.

An official of the Network of Indigenous Peoples in Thailand (NIPT) Wiwat Tamee, has announced that the group is preparing to submit two requests to the Ministry of Public Health to be presented later to the cabinet.

The first request is to grant the right to receive basic healthcare services to people with registration status problems and extend the right to their children, including those not registered as Thai nationals due to an absence of verified birth documentation.

The second request is to establish a border disease control foundation to prevent communicable diseases from neighboring countries re-emerging and spreading in Thailand. This is in preparation for the ASEAN Community's inauguration. A working timetable expects the foundation to be launched by 1st April 2015.

Currently there are two categories of Thai residents with status and rights issues: the group of residents to whom the cabinet has granted permanent residence status, and those who have been granted a temporary residence permit.

Most of these residents live in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Tak, Ranong, Kanchanaburi, and Ratchaburi province.

-- NNT 2015-01-31

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ONIE launches activities to promote 12 core values

BANGKOK, 31 January 2015 (NNT) -The Office of Non-Formal and Informal Education (ONIE) is pushing forward the promotion of the government's 12 core values for Thais, with a wide range of activities involving both educators and learners nationwide.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796579-onie-launches-activities-to-promote-12-core-values/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Sunday 1 Feb 2015

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796628-thailand-live-sunday-1-feb-2015/