Thailand Live Tuesday 14 Aug 2012

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Chachoengsao Senator Nikom elected new Senate speaker

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Chachoengsao Senator Nikom Wairatphanit was Tuesday elected the new Senate speaker.

Nikom beat appointed Senator Pichet Sunthornpinit with 77 to 69 votes in the second round of voting.

Currently there are 146 senators out of 150 seats of the upper chamber. The winner requires more than 73 votes to win the post.

Nikom replaces Thiradet Meepian, who stepped down after he got a suspended jail term for unlawfully giving himself a pay increase while he was a member of the Election Commission.

-- The Nation 2012-08-14

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Court sets first hearing on weapons charge against Atris Hussein, Swedish citizen of Lebanese origin for June 11, 2013; arrested in January with bomb-making materials /MCOT

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Phi Phi islanders, resort tackle rising tide of monsoon trash

Phuket Gazette

BEFORE: Trash that washed ashore at Lanah Bay on Phi Phi Don Island stretches as far as the eye can see.

AFTER: The same beach after the mass cleanup which saw more than 100 rubbish bags full of non-combustible trash being removed for separation and recycling at the Phuket Incinerator.

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Thailand's London Olympics silver medalist Kaeo, bronze medalist Chanatip return to Bangkok amid crowds welcoming them at Suvarnabhumi Airport /MCOT

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Nakhon Si Thammarat forest fire continues to rage

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, 14 August 2012 (NNT) - In addition to heavy smog covering the South caused by Indonesia’s forest fires, fires in a peat swamp forest in Nakhon Si Thammarat province are still blazing, sending thick smoke billowing skyward.

Authorities are unable to contain the fires in the province’s Khuan Khreng peat swamp forest, which have destroyed over 10,000 rai of land in Cha-uat district. Due to the intensity of the blaze and strong winds fanning out the fire, firefighters can only attempt to put out the fire in the mornings and at nights.

The ongoing forest fire is reportedly taking a heavy toll on the local fishing business and the bulrush handicraft business in the nearby areas.

Nakhon Si Thammarat Forest Fire Control division chief, Suphachoke Prahmpoon, said he is leading an investigative team into the affected areas to inspect whether the swamp forest fire was started by human activities. The team consists of security personnel, police officers and soldiers from local agencies.

Meanwhile, grassland fires have grounded flights at Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport yesterday as the thick smoke interfered with the flight operations.

Airlines have resumed services this morning after passengers and airport staff were transferred to Surat Thani airport yesterday.

-- NNT 2012-08-14

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Protest pressures Phuket police to reopen teen death crash probe

Phuket Gazette

Friends and family of the victim, 16-year-old Weerachat Sae-min, inspect the damage to the motorbike. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Angry efforts by Sompong Sae-min, whose son died in a motorbike accident on Sunday, have at least prompted police to reopen their investigation into his son’s death. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Following a public protest yesterday, Chalong Police will reopen their investigation into a traffic accident in which a 16-year-old boy died on Sunday.

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Cosmic phenomena due to brighten night sky this month

BANGKOK, 14 August 2012 (NNT) - The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) is inviting the public to view the lunar occultation of Venus and a planetary grouping this month.

NARIT Deputy Director Dr Saran Poshyachinda said that in the early hours of August 15, planet Venus will appear close to the Moon’s waning crescent at 0.56 degree south of the Moon. The cosmic phenomenon will be most visible at 4AM local time, if the weather permits.

On August 22 at dusk, Dr Saran said that another planetary event known as the Spica-Mars-Saturn conjunction is due to take place. Planet Mars will pass in between Saturn and Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, to form a triangle of colors. Mars will glow red, while Saturn and Spica will sparkle golden and blue-white. The planetary grouping can be seen with the naked eye in all regions of Thailand.

Dr Saran added that although the three stars appear close together on the night sky, Spica is located at approximately 260 light-years away from Mars and Saturn.

-- NNT 2012-08-14

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Special Report: Osteoporosis campaign launched to raise awareness among Thais

BANGKOK: -- Osteoporosis is a silent threat to all people. It is a bone disease that leads to a high risk of bone fracture. Most people who have the disease don’t even know they have it. Therefore, Thai Osteoporosis Foundation and Berli Jucker Company, or BJC ,are together launching a campaign to raise awareness among Thai people regarding osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is considered a silent threat that has been lurking in Thai society for over 40 years. Most victims who have osteoporosis don’t know that they are afflicted with the disease until they have a medical check-up. According to World Health Organization or WTO, osteoporosis is ranked third in most crucial health problems after heart disease and vascular problems. Thai people have an increased tendency in catching osteoporosis due to the fact that Thailand is becoming an aging society.

As a result of the disease, Thai Osteoporosis Foundation and Berli Jucker Company are conducting an osteoporosis campaign in order to raise awareness amongst Thai people, especially those people who are over 40 years of age, that they have a higher tendency of catching this disease than younger people.

According to President of the Thai Osteoporosis Foundation Dr. Nimit Taechakraichana, approximately 20 percent of the patients die of the disease. It is only curable in some cases, depending on different circumstances.

Pol. Col. Dr. Thana Turajane, a council member of the Thai Osteoporosis Foundation, has stated that it is better and easier to prevent the disease than to cure one. The prevention ranges from exercising to eating food rich in calcium and vitamin D, such as milk, sardines, and eggs. Vitamin D can also be obtained from sunlight.

This campaign is also aimed at educating Thai people regarding osteoporosis. Sessions and academic courses will be provided to primary school teachers throughout the country, so that they can pass on the information regarding the issue to their students. There will be a rally around Lumpini Park on December 20th which marks the world osteoporosis day as well.

-- NNT 2012-08-14

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SURVEY

Leading economists doubt on govt's populist policy

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's leading economists are convinced that the government would achieve its revenue target of Bt2.2 trillion but raise doubts over corruption prevention and populist policies, according to a poll by Bangkok University.

The poll, conducted prior to the parliamentary vetting on the 2013 budget bill during Aug 1517, covered 64 economists from 27 organisations.

Only 39.1 per cent of the respondents believed that the government would fail in meeting the revenue target. On the proposed budget deficit of Bt300 billion, 39.1 per cent suggested that the government could run a small amount of budget deficit.

Though the investment budget is set at Bt448.9 billion or 18.7 per cent of expenditure, 40.6 per cent of the respondents urged for a lift in the ratio to 23.4 per cent of budget. Of all, 32.8 per cent said that the investment budget is set at an appropriate level.

Worrying the economists the most were corruption (57.8 per cent), populist policy financing (20.3 per cent), and budget allocation efficiency (12.5 per cent).

-- The Nation 2012-08-14

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RT @Biz_TheNation: US Ambassador Kristie Kenny insisted Thaksin is among 50,000 Thais granted visas to US each year.

RT @Biz_TheNation: Visa is granted under US laws, regardless of political situation in applicants' homeland: she said.

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SET index closed at 1226.82, up 7.45; Bt/USD31.29; GBP49.03; AUD32.85; EUR38.63; CAD31.37; HKD4.03; SGD24.99; JPY39.61

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RT @RichardBarrow: Olympic Boxer Kaew on an open decker bus with his Silver medal (Pic @JiBhAPPy) http://twitpic.com/aj99qf

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Thaksin's visa issued under US laws: US Ambassador

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Magnitude-7.3 quake rattles Japan

TOKYO: -- A magnitude-7.3 earthquake struck wide areas of northern and north-eastern Japan Tuesday, the Meteorological Agency said.

No immediate casualties or damage were reported and no tsunami warning was issued.

The quake occurred at 12:01 pm (0301 GMT) with its epicentre off Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido at a depth of 590 kilometres, the agency said.

On March 11, 2011, a magnitude-9.0 quake and tsunami hit north-eastern Japan, leaving nearly 19,000 people dead or missing.

-- The Nation 2012-08-14

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Nikom Wairatpanich elected Senate Speaker

BANGKOK, Aug 14 -- Deputy Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanich was elected new Senate Speaker, in two rounds of voting, defeating appointed Senator Pichet Sunthornpipit by 77-69 votes.

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60 resorts on Koh Samet face demolition, land encroachment probes

The Nation

KOH SAMET: -- The demolition of many illegally built resorts on Koh Samet is set and awaiting a date to be decided soon, Rayong governor Seni Jitkasem said Tuesday.

Out of 60 resorts on the tourist island facing demolition orders, there are four set to suffer such a fate - Pla Cartoon Seafood, Bai Tong Seafood, Fong Nam Seafood, and Navi DD Seafood - pending dates to be set by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

Owners of two of the four resorts have appealed to the Supreme Court against the demolition order, while Muang Rayong police are handling the 56 other land encroachment cases.

-- The Nation 2012-08-14

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RT @veen_NT: 5.45pm The Olympic parade has reached PhyaThai and is heading to Siam Paragon. via @js100radio

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US citizens overseas: your vote is your voice. Register to vote NOW. Voter registration info at http://t.co/VwsPtp0H

/KristieKenney

(US Embassy, Bangkok)

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RT @RichardBarrow: PSI have joined with True to release new satellite box; 100 channels, no monthly fees. 1,990B with dish or 890B box only

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to continue:

Thailand Live Wednesday 15 Aug 2012