Thailand Live Thursday 5 Jul 2012

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RT @RichardBarrow: Nonthaburi police found 140,000 meth pills worth Bt30 million left on the roadside (Pic @dulladin) http://bit.ly/OrKMP6

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SET index flat at midday

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai composites stocks index (SET) at midday Thursday stood at 1,194.22, up 0.07 point, or 0.01 per cent amid light turnover of Bt11.37 billion in line with regional shares.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 829.86, down 0.62 point, or 0.07 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: CPF, SCC, AAV, PTT, KBANK.

-- The Nation 2012-07-05

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PADI divers prepare for Phuket's biggest coral reef cleanup

Phuket Gazette

Diver 'Josh' poses in front of a tangle of debris off Koh Racha Noi on July 1. PADI divers are uniting to stage Phuket's biggest coral reef cleanup. Photo: David Hall

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Thai longan prices hit 3-year record high due to rising Chinese demand.

Chanthaburi - Longan prices in Chanthaburi have hit a Record High for Three years Owing to Unlimited demand for the Fruit from China.

Songkram Ooncharoenpanich, a Longan exporter in World's Eastern Province of Chanthaburi, said Exporters are buying up Longan in Two districts of. Soidao and Pongnamron, Where the is a Major Fruit Crop, for Export to China following Continually Rising orders.

Longan prices have risen to 33 to 35 Baht per Kilogramme from 42 to 45 from 28 to 30 Baht per Kilogramme REACH and may Baht per Kilogramme in August. when the demand for the Highest Fruit is expected in China, he said.

Due to the great competition in buying up Longan, some have even made ​​advance Exporters Purchases-Placing 'futures' orders - even before the Longan Trees in Orchards have produced yields.

Fruit Growers Will Ensure to sell to them. Longan exports to China are from Chanthaburi Recorded at Five billion Baht in value on average per year and the value is Rising almost constantly. (MCOT online news).

-- TNA 2012-05-07

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RT@191Thailand: Fire at Diamond Square, Chokchai 4 - RT @Dolla_YG2F: yfrog.com/obmphdqj

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TAT prepares to adopt new strategy for fear of Euro crisis

BANGKOK, 5 July 2012 (NNT)-The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has instructed all TAT offices in Europe to monitor the Euro-debt crisis and will devise a new strategy to protect Thai tourism from the declining European tourists.

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Jaral withdraws from trial on charter amendments

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Jaral Phakdeethanakul has withdrawn from the trial of the constitutional amendment bills, the Constitution Court announced Thursday.

The court announced that the full bench of Constitution Court judges agreed with Jaral's decision to withdraw himself from co-chairing the trial.

Jaral withdrew himself on ground that he had made a public comment that charter amendments could be done so Jaral feared that the public would think he would be biased for the amendments, Constitution Court President Wasant Sroypisut said.

-- The Nation 2012-07-05

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Euro License drama turns Thai football fans to online streaming: Nielsen

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Yingluck evades the issue of being under Thaksin's shadow

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday tried to skirt around a direct question whether her brother Thaksin had the control over her government.

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Koh Lanta community 'powerless' for two decades

Phuket Gazette

The village children still have to do their school homework by oil lamp or candlelight, says 58-year-old Baan Klong Jak resident Wanna Lieamkaew. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

The villagers of Baan Klong Jak on Koh Lanta Noi, Krabi, say they have been calling for mains power supply from more than two decades. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- More than 20 families of Baan Klong Jak on Koh Lanta Noi, in Krabi have repeated their plea for their village to be provided mains supply electricity.

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SET index closed at 1201.8, up 7.65; Bt/USD31.42; GBP48.89; AUD32.13; EUR39.26; CAD30.85; HKD4.05; SGD24.68; JPY39.23

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140,000 methamphetamine pills left on Nonthaburi roadside

NONTHABURI, July 5 - Thai police on Thursday found 140,000 methamphetamine pills, with a street value of Bt30 million, on the roadside of a Bangkok suburb.

The pills were sealed in 70 packs in two bags. A traffic volunteer noticed the bags left near a telephone booth on Kanchanapisek Road in Nonthaburi's Bang Yai district and informed the police.

Police at first asked the bomb squad unit to inspect the bags but no explosive devices were detected.

Nonthaburi provincial police commander Pol Maj-Gen Thanayut Wutthicharanthamrong said some drug syndicates had changed their system of drug distribution. The gang hires a person who will place the methamphetamine pills in a specified location and another person will pick them up.

The commander urged the public to inform the police immediately when they find any suspicious items. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-07-05

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Phuket expat's 'last wishes' hang in limbo

Phuket Gazette

The passport photo of the late Dave Leo, whose last wish was to have his ashes scattered in Chalong, Phuket.

PHUKET: -- Staff at Vachira Phuket Hospital are awaiting instructions from the British Embassy in Bangkok regarding what to do with the body of a British national who was found dead in his rented room in Chalong two weeks ago.

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Nan braces for mudslides

NAN, July 5- Disaster officials in this northern province are on high alert in preparation for possible mudslides and flash floods during this rainy season.

Ekkrit Jittangkul, chief of the Nan Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, on Thursday said that the agency prepared measures to cope with possible mudslides and forest run-off in the monsoon season by setting up an operations centre for floods, storms and mudslides.

The local authorities set up a meteorological data and reporting system, a warning system, related communication devices as well as a flood drill plan for residents in at-risk areas, aiming to handle the situation around the clock.

Mr Ekkrit explained that all 15 districts of Nan were considered as flood and mudslide-prone areas, classified into three risk levels -- Level 1 being high risk, Level 2 being intermediate risk and Level 3 being low risk. In addition, 296 rain gauges and warning sirens were installed in the province, particularly in the level 3 low risk areas.

The areas, which were repeatedly hit by the flash floods and mudslides, included Tha Wang Pha, Chiang Klang, Thung Chang and Na Muen districts. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-07-05

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Patong named 'Safety Zone' in Phuket model for public safety

Phuket Gazette

After the meeting on public safety, Gen Pansiri Prapawat inspected Patong. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Deputy Police Chief Pansiri Prapawat said all police departments must coordinate to fight crime. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

PHUKET: -- Patong has been nominated a “Safety Zone” by Deputy Police Chief Pansiri Prapawat as part of the “Phuket model” for public safety.

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Navy to conduct rescue training in Phuket

Phuket Gazette

HTMS Mannok: one of two landing craft scheduled to take part in Tuesday’s exercise in Phuket. Photo: Lt Cmdr Applehans

Royal Thai Navy Third Area Commander V/Adm Taratorn Kajitsuwan at the naval base at Cape Panwa, Phuket, yesterday. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

PHUKET: -- The Royal Thai Navy will conduct training drills next week to improve coordination among different emergency response units in Phuket.

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Phuket's top-cop denies 'media blackout' in effect

Phuket Gazette

'No media blackout': Phuket Provincial Police Commander Chonasit Wattanavrangkul.

PHUKET: -- After officers in two different police districts yesterday told Phuket Gazette reporters that a “media blackout” was in effect in the province, Phuket’s top cop today denied that such is the case.

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Science Minister: Bangkok will not be flooded this year

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RT@RichardBarrow: 9pm Reports of Suvarnabhumi being closed due to runway problem - RT @dc_danai:

RT@RichardBarrow: Apparently there is a bit crack on the runway! - RT @pikipedia:

RT@RichardBarrow:​ If you're flying in or out of Suvarnabhumi tonight expect major delays while they inspect runway for about 45 minutes

RT@RichardBarrow:​ Major transportation delays in Bangkok tonight: Problem at BTS Saphan Taksin and cracks on the runway at Suvarnabhumi

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RT@RichardBarrow: 9:15pm RT @s_narut: Latest news from Suvanabhumi Airport is that runway is now open. All flight should resume shortly.

RT@RichardBarrow: It looks like Suvarnabhumi was closed for about 40 minutes while they inspected the runway for cracks. Expect delays.

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Thai ruling party at risk as court mulls key case

BANGKOK, July 5, 2012 (AFP) - Thailand's Constitutional Court on Thursday began hearing an incendiary charter amendment case that could lead to the dissolution of the ruling party and tear open the kingdom's bitter political rifts.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/567720-thai-ruling-party-at-risk-as-court-mulls-key-case/#entry5457329

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Thai drug dealer held after 'come and get me' texts

BANGKOK, July 5, 2012 (AFP) - A bungling Thai drug dealer who sent text messages goading police to apprehend him has been arrested with dozens of amphetamine pills, a local police officer said Thursday

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/567722-thai-drug-dealer-held-after-come-and-get-me-texts/#entry5457395

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RT@191Thailand: This evening a man fell from an advertising board in Chaeng Wattana after receiving an electric shock. He has been sent to hospital

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Thailand Live Friday 6 Jul 2012