Thailand Live Sunday 25 Mar 2012

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Fiscal Policy Office: Economic slowdown in China likely impacts on Thai exports

BANGKOK, 25 March 2012 (NNT) – The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) has expressed concern that China’s economic slowdown may cause Thailand's export sector a recession while also preventing the world's as well as Thai economy from achieving their targeted growth.

FPO Director-General Somchai Sajjapongse stated that the fact that foreign investors are pulling out of the Chinese stock market has hinted that an economic bubble burst in China's real estate sector is looming near. It is highly believed that China will soon suffer a severe economic setback, which will see its growth decline to only 6% from the previous estimation of 8-9%.

The FPO Director-General stated that his office is bracing for volatility which may be brought on by China. In addition, it is looking for measures to deal with the current crude oil situation in the global market, which has pushed the initial cost of transportation up by 0.3-0.4% along with an increase in goods prices and cost of living.

The FPO has predicted Thailand’s GDP growth for 2012 at 5.5-5.7%, which is lower than the figure of 5.5-6.5% predicted by Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB).

Meanwhile, the Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Mr. Min Zhu, believed that the Chinese economic slowdown will happen in a gradual rather than an abrupt manner despite the Chinese government’s data pointing to a weak growth in the country's economy.

-- NNT 2012-03-25

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RT@SkyNewsBreak: AFP: Lawyer says brother of Toulouse gunman to be brought before judge

RT@BBCBreaking: Former two-time #darts world champion Jocky Wilson dies aged 62, Scottish police confirm.

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Village Health Volunteers to become main force against non-contagious diseases and drugs in communities

BANGKOK, 25 March 2012 (NNT) – The Public Health Ministry is set to promote Village Health Volunteers as a major force in the fight against non-contagious disease and drugs in communities.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/543337-village-health-volunteers-to-become-main-force-against-non-contagious-diseases-and-drugs-in-communities/page__view__findpost__p__5163598

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Thai weather agency warns of summer thunderstorms

BANGKOK, March 25--- The Thai Meteorological Department on Sunday issued a warning for summer thunderstorm in the upper part of Thailand, while some northern and northeastern provinces were facing drought.

The department forecast summer thunderstorm, gusty winds and hail in upper Thailand.

People in the North, the lower Northeast, the Central region (including Bangkok and its vicinity) and the East should beware of severe weather during March 25-26.

Meanwhile, the easterly wave would cause fairly widespread thundershowers, isolated heavy rain and gust over the South of Thailand during March 25-27.

Apart from possible summer thunderstorms, some provinces in the North and Northeast have been hit by severe drought.

In Phitsanulok, drought has forced the provincial agency to declare nine districts as disaster areas, with nearly 10,000 rai (over 3,950 acres) of farmland being damaged. Responding to the ongoing situation, Phitsanulok Provincial Administrative Organization distributed water and supplies to drought-hit residents.

Meanwhile, Sakon Nakhon residents were facing water shortages due to severe drought as well. Some of them were forced to pay for drinking water at higher prices.

So far, 14 districts of this northeastern province were declared drought disaster zones. Relevant officials distributed clean water to residents affected areas in order to ease the problem.

In Nakhon Phanom, some residents suffered respiratory ailments due to bad weather which varied and mixed dramatically. The temperature reportedly measured 31 degrees Celsius in the afternoon and dropped to about 14-15 degrees Celsius at nighttime and in the early morning. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-25

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Phuket Opinion: A tiny price tag for saving mangroves

Phuket Gazette –

Phuket Mega-projects: All that glitter are not gold, other than for the enrichment of a precious few.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/543338-phuket-opinion-a-tiny-price-tag-for-saving-mangroves/page__view__findpost__p__5163636

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PM discusses investment with S. Korean President

BANGKOK, 25 March 2012 (NNT) – Government Spokesperson Anusorn Iamsa-ard said that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s official visit to South Korea has met with a great success and that the Thai government is aiming to draw more investment from South Korea.

Mr. Anusorn stated that during Ms Yingluck’s trip to South Korea, the Prime Minister led the Thai delegation in a plenary discussion with South Korean counterparts led by President Lee Myung Bak. The discussion covered exchanges of knowledge and experience in water management, which should be useful to the prevention of natural disasters such as last year's devastating flood. In addition, the mutual development and cooperation in the military field had been discussed between the two leaders as well.

Prime Minister Yingluck had also proposed the revival of the joint Thai-South Korean trade committee in hopes of boosting bilateral trade to reach the targeted growth. The PM also took the opportunity to invite more Korean investors to invest in Thailand, particularly in such industries as automobile, processed food and agro-products, alternative energy industry, energy conservation and environment. At the same time, the Thai Premier asked the South Korean government to consider supporting the import of more agro-products, such as frozen chicken meat and fruits, from Thailand.

Mr. Anusorn went on to say that the Thai premier has gained much popularity in South Korea for her success in leading Thailand through the severe catastrophe late last year.

-- NNT 2012-03-25

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DSI to take over case of missing pseudoephedrine–based medicine from hospitals

BANGKOK, March 25 – The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Monday will take over the case of missing pseudoephedrine-based cold pills from the police, said DSI chief Tharit Pengdit.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__5163673

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Public health minister finds 7 officials at 6 state hospitals guilty of selling pseudoephedrine meds and will fire them /TAN_Network

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Lampoon police seize 500,000 speed pills and 5.4kg of crystalized methamphetamine worth Bt150mn and about to be sent to BKK /TAN_Network

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HM the Queen concerned about well-being of haze-hit residents in North, orders army personnel to ease haze, help affected people /MCOT

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Ill Suu Kyi cancels Myanmar campaign travel: party

by Ye Aung Thu

Myeik, Myanmar, March 25, 2012 (AFP) - Ill health forced Aung San Suu Kyi to abruptly cancel further campaign travel, her party said Sunday, just a week before Myanmar by-elections that are seen as a key test of regime reforms.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/543346-ill-suu-kyi-cancels-myanmar-campaign-travel/page__view__findpost__p__5163892

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Over 1.6 billion Baht granted to provide low-priced goods to the public

BANGKOK, 25 March 2012 (NNT) – The Ministry of Commerce has approved a budget of more than 1.6 billion Baht in establishing a scheme to relieve the public’s financial burden caused by the skyrocketing costs of goods.

During the weekly 'Government Meets the People' TV program, Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom reassured that the government is monitoring the prices of grocery and necessity goods and is attempting to help reduce the cost of living. He revealed that the cabinet has approved 1.62 billion Baht worth of budget to distribute 20 kinds of products at low price to 2,000 traditional retail stores in Bangkok, its vicinities and 15 major provinces. The scheme will later be expanded to cover another 8,000 stores nationwide.

The 20 necessity items under this scheme include for example, rice, chicken eggs, and vegetable oil. The scheme will enable about 10 million low-income earners to buy necessary consumer goods at a price that is 20% cheaper than the market, and the project is expected to save a total of 36 billion Baht on the part of consumers' spending.

Additionally, the Blue Flag project will be revived in parallel across the country to provide low-priced goods for low-income people.

-- NNT 2012-03-25

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Thailand Live Monday 26 Mar 2012