Thailand Live Wednesday 27 Jun 2012

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US sent thousands of troops to wrong Afghan province: book

Anwar Iqbal

Dawn

WASHINGTON: -- The Pentagon sent thousands of US troops to the wrong province in Afghanistan and “squandered more than a year of the war”, claims a book released yesterday.

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EGAT: Water discharge from major dams remain under control

BANGKOK, 27 June 2012 (NNT) - Despite continued rains across the nation, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has confirmed that the water management measures at all major dams have been business as usual.

According to EGAT Governor Sutat Patmasiriwat, the amount of water discharged from the Bhumibol Dam and the Sirikit Dam has been normal.

At present, the Bhumibol Dam stores around 45 percent of its capacity, and it can still accommodate up to 7 billion cubic meters of water.

For the Sirikit Dam, the water storage is now at 40 percent of its capacity, leaving room to accommodate up to 5 billion cubic meters of water.

Mr. Sutat stated that, based on present conditions, both dams will be able to help prevent the repeat of last year’s flood crisis, especially with this year’s rainfall appearing to be about 15 percent lower than in 2011.

He went on to say that EGAT will continue to keep a close watch on the water situation and the weather forecast as threats of serious flooding remain.

-- NNT 2012-06-27

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Bangkok police test X-ray van in Ratchada, catch nobody

By Coconuts Bangkok

Source: krobkruakao.com

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok police recently tested out X-ray vans that can scan cars for weapons or drugs in the entertainment zones of Ratchada Road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....a-catch-nobody/

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SET index midday up 12.56 pts, 1.09 pct

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Wednesday stood at 1,163.65, up 12.56 points, or 1.09 per cent in line with regional shares amid Bt13.89 billion turnover.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 807.44, up 8.93 points, or 1.12 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: SCB, KBANK, INTUCH, ADVANC, BBL.

-- The Nation 2012-06-27

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PM presides over "Flood" meeting

BANGKOK, 27 June 2012 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has presided over a meeting on water management and flood victims assistance

Prime Minister Yingluck has instructed Water and Flood Management Committee to gather suggestions and complaints from the public in order to come up with a proper water management plan. She has also ordered provincial governors whose provinces were flooded last year to stringently assist the flood victims, so that there will be no more complaints.

The Prime Minister was focusing on people’s complaints regarding inequitable payment assistance to the victims and insisting that all provinces strictly follow the procedures.

Worried about the arrival of the rainy season, PM Yingluck told all related agencies especially the Integrated Water Management Bureau to oversee and keep a close watch on the situation

As for the long-term plan proposed by the Water Policy Committee, the PM has given it a green light as well as ordering the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to find accommodations for the people who have to move out of their homes which encroach on waterways, so that authorities can begin dredging the canals.

In addition, the Prime minister has assigned Plodprasop Suraswadi, President of Water and Flood Management Committee, to formally invite both local and international companies to propose a water management plan and flood solutions to the government next week.

-- NNT 2012-06-27

[Lite Beer]

Reforestation campaign launched in honour of HM Queen Sirikit

BANGKOK, 27 June 2012 (NNT) - The Energy Ministry has joined hands with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and PTT Public Company Limited in launching a reforestation campaign at Sirikit Dam in honour of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 80th birthday anniversary.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Energy Kurujit Nakornthap said that the ministry has collaborated with energy-related agencies, including EGAT and PTT, to launch a reforestation campaign at Sirikit Dam, with the objective of reviving the forest of the Nan River basin above Sirikit Dam. Projected to be carried out between the years 2012 and 2015, five million trees will be planted across 25,000 rai of land, under a grand budget of 145 million baht.

Held in honour of HM the Queen’s 80th birthday anniversary, the reforestation campaign is in accordance with HM's royal initiative on the sustainable conservation of forests and water resources. Additionally, the program coincides with the government’s policy in integrating water resources management with upstream, midstream and downstream flood prevention strategy. Additionally, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has also been tasked to assist in relieving impacts from future inundation.

Meanwhile, the reforestation campaign aims to raise awareness of the Thai people on the importance of water resources and forest conservation.

-- NNT 2012-06-27

[Lite Beer]

ASEAN to gear up for possible emergencies with food safety strategy

BANGKOK, 27 June 2012 (NNT) – As a preparation measure for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), the 10 ASEAN nations have united with Bangladesh, Japan and Australia to come up with a food safety strategy in case of possible emergency situations.

Deputy Public Health Minister Dr. Surawit Khonsomboon presided over the launch of a seminar of public health and agricultural experts and officials from the 10 ASEAN nations as well as Banglasdesh, Japan and Australia, to mutually devise a regional plan on food safety in emergency situations. The seminar is a collaboration between the Thai Public Health Ministry and the Asia-Pacific Regional Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Dr. Surawit said that the Thai Public Health Ministry has set up the Bureau of Food Safety Extension and Support (BFSES) to be in charge of food safety issues in Thailand. The BFSES will act as an International Food Safety Authority Network (INFOSAN) to coordinate with domestic and international agencies in times of emergency.

Currently, a strategy concerning emergency food safety is being developed in line with the principles of the FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO), in order to strengthen the country's emergency warning system and food safety. The plan is expected to be finalized within a few years, in time for the official launch of the AEC in 2015.

-- NNT 2012-06-27

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RT@veen_NT: RT @Biz_TheNation: Local gold bar prices,down Bt50: Bt23,700 (buy),Bt23,800 (sell)

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RT@veen_NT Yongyuth on Jatuporn going to Constitution court: He doesn't pressure the court but only exercise his legal right. via @Tik_NT

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RT@191Thailand: Surat Thani-Bangkok tour bus with about 20 foreign tourists crashed this morning in Samut Sakhon. 1 German is reported to be seriously hurt

[george]

British tourist stabbed by illegal tourist bus staff in Samut Sakhon in quarrel over valuables alleged missing from his wallet forgotten on bus

/MCOT

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COUP RUMOURS

Army denies deputy chief plotted coup

The Nation

Dapong

BANGKOK: -- An Army spokesman Wednesday denied that Deputy Army Commander in Chief Gen Dapong Ratanasuwan was plotted a coup against the Pheu Thai government.

Full story:

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RT@RichardBarrow: Four Indonesian men arrested for robbing a Phuket policeman of 2 million Baht from his car (Phuket News)

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RT @USEmbassyBKK: We'll be answering non-immigrant (temporary) visa questions tomorrow at 2pm on Twitter! Hashtag: #visasbkk

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RT @veen_NT: RT @Biz_TheNation: MRTA to maintain subway fares at Bt15-40 until Oct 2, and 50% discounts for children/elderly.

[george]

Land/property prices soar in key provinces such as Khon Kaen, Udon Thani - expected to benefit greatly from AEC. http://t.co/BY2VriIX

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Giant panda Lin Ping celebrates 3rd birthday

CHIANG MAI, June 27- Chiang Mai Zoo on Wednesday held a party to celebrate the third birthday of Lin Ping, the first giant panda born in Thailand, while the government is seeking an extension of Lin Ping’s stay here for three more years.

Full story:

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EQ

Emotional quotient of Thai kids falling: survey

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai children's emotional quotient (EQ) scores have been falling, dropping from 186.42 in 2002 and 179.58 in 2007 to 169.72, according to the 2011 surveys by the Public Health Ministry's Mental Health Department.

Full story:

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IS LIN PING THE NEXT PAUL?

Germany will go up against Spain in Euro final : Lin Ping

The Nation

CHIANG MAI: -- Lin Ping, the most popular panda in Thailand, on Wednesday picked Spain and Germany as the most likely teams to meet in the final round of Euro 2012.

The three year-old panda, who was born in Chiang Mai zoo, was presented with two separate balls with the national flags of Germany and Italy on them. She was seen hurriedly walking to the ball with the German flag and didn't even glance at the ball bearing the Italian flag. She later played with the German flag.

She was next present with balls bearing the Spanish and Portuguese flags. This time Lin Ping plays first with the Spanish ball before moving on to that of Portugal. The prediction was that the competition would be fierce but that Spain will win.

Lin Ping was correct in her prediction that Spain would win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

During the World Cup, Paul the Octopus living in the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany became internationally famous after his feeding behaviour was used to correctly predict the winner of each of the German national football team’s seven matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, as well as the outcome of the final.

-- The Nation 2012-06-27

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Tak residents told to beware of more mudslides

TAK, 27 June 2012 (NNT) - The National Warning Center today warned Tak residents to brace for more flash floods, forest runoffs and mudslides during the next five days.

Due to continued heavy rain in the area, mudslides have blocked sections of the Mae Sot-Umphang road, at the 170-kilometer mark of Ban Mae Klong Yai in Umphang district.

Roads in Phop Phra district of Tak province are also blocked by fallen trees making them impassable to small vehicles

Weerachai Rakamthong, Director of Maesot's Department of Highway, said the department has deployed rescue teams who are planning to use bulldozers and heavy machinery to clear several blocked roads in Mae Sot, Phop Phra, Umphang, Mae Ramad districts and areas bordering Mae Sariang district of Mae Hong Son.

The National Warning Center have urged relevant agencies to keep a close watch on the situation; it will also continue to relay updated weather alerts to residents in affected areas.

-- NNT 2012-06-27

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SET index closed at 1165.98, up 14.89; Bt/USD31.73; GBP49.48; AUD31.74; EUR39.52; CAD30.76; HKD4.08; SGD24.67; JPY39.74

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Police will oppose bail, if sought by suspects in Australian tourist killing: Phuket police commander /MCOT

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RT @mpoppel: AP: Queen, former IRA chief shake hands in Belfast in peacemaking milestone for Northern Ireland.

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UPDATE:

Police to oppose bail for Australian tourist killing suspects

PHUKET, June 27 – Phuket provincial police commander said on Wednesday that the police will oppose any bail bid if sought by the two men detained as suspects in last week's murder of an Australian travel agent in this southern resort island.

Full story:

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RT @RichardBarrow: There are 18,310,000 people using Internet in Thailand. 14,235,700 have Facebook accounts. So 77% of net users play Facebook - TR @macroart

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New land reference prices to be applied July 1

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The new appraised values for land and property will be applied from July 1 until 2015 nationwide.

The reference prices have been delayed since January due to the severe flood last year, Naris Chaiyasoot, directorgeneral of the Treasury Department, said yesterday. The values, which are usually lower than market prices, are used for assessing taxes.

-- The Nation 2012-06-27

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DSI postpones decision on Democrat, BTSC cases

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Department of Special Investigation (DSI) board Wednesday postponed forming a decision on whether to take two politically important cases under its jurisdictions.

Both cases are threatening to shake the Democrat Party and also to seriously raise political tension in the country.

One is about the East Water Group's donation to the Democrat Party's bank account, which was opened to raise funds for flood victims in 2010. Because the Democrat Party back then led the government and the government was a major shareholder of the East Water, Pheu Thai MPs insisted that Democrat Party violated laws governing the donations accepted by political parties.

The other case is related to the Krungthep Thanakom (KT) decision to award a Bt190billion contract to the current operators of Skytrain system, BTSC.

-- The Nation 2012-06-27

[Lite Beer]

Tourist-stabbing bus attendant arrested

SAMUT SAKHON, June 27 -- A 16- year-old tour bus company employee who stabbed a British tourist in Samut Sakhon early today was arrested in Prachuap Khiri Khan province this afternoon.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/565687-british-tourist-stabbed-by-illegal-tourist-bus-worker/page__st__150#entry5433415

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to continue:

Thailand Live Thursday 28 Jun 2012

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