Thailand Live Monday 1 Apr 2013

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146 doctors quit in protest of P4P salary system
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry's newly medical salary system has prompted over 146 doctors nationwide to resign from rural and urban hospitals, affecting medical services for people in local areas.

Some of them went to work at the private hospital after learnt that the ministry’s newly medical salary system will unfairly cut their additional allowance.

Of this number, about 11 doctors are specialists who provide medical cares for complicated condition, according to Dr Arak Wongworachart, a former president of Rural Doctor Society.

-- The Nation 2013-04-01

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Alert for H7N9 birdflu virus after deaths in China
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Department has set up nationwide surveillance for H7N9 bird-flu virus after three people in China were infected and two of them died.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/630082-thailand-on-alert-for-h7n9-birdflu-virus-after-deaths-in-china/

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SET index closed at 1549.55, down 11.51; Bt/USD29.15; GBP44.18; AUD30.21; EUR37.22; CAD28.49; HKD3.75; SGD23.34; JPY31.0

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14 surveillance cameras burnt in several locations in Pattani's Khok Pho district /MCOT

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Extradited Dane beaten in Thai prison
BY ANDERS HOLM NIELSEN

COPENHAGEN: -- The 37-year-old Dane who was extradited from Thailand to Denmark was relieved when he landed in Copenhagen Airport, where he was picked up by Danish police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/630088-extradited-dane-beaten-in-thai-prison/

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RT @RichardBarrow: The Red Cross Fair at Suan Amporn Bangkok continues until Saturday. Admission is 20 Baht.

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Charamporn to remain SET president
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Stock Exchange of Thailang President Charamporn Jotikasthira denied news report that he would become a deputy Bangkok governor.

In a statement released on Monday, he said "Referring to the news report that I will become one of deputy Bangkok governors, I hereby deny the reports."

Charamporn was the 11th president of the exchange, taking the helm on June 1, 2010. His four-year term will end on May 31, 2014.


-- The Nation 2013-04-01

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Second smash in 3 days at Phuket intersection
Tanyaluk Sakoot

PHUKET: -- Another road accident took place this morning (April 1) at the same spot where two Russian teens were badly injured on Saturday (March 30) – the intersection between Bang Yai Rd and the bypass.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/630092-second-smash-in-3-days-at-phuket-intersection/

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Thai finance minister rules out VAT hike
By English News

BANGKOK, April 1 – Thailand’s 7 per cent value added tax (VAT) will not be increased as the government’s tax collection target of Bt2.1 trillion will be achieved at the end of this fiscal year, the deputy prime minister/finance minister said today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/630105-thai-finance-minister-rules-out-v-a-t-hike/

[Lite Beer]

Police defuse 20-kg bomb in Pattani

PATTANI, 1 April 2013 (NNT) - Security forces in southern Thailand have defused a powerful 20-kilogram bomb, which was set to explode in the border province of Pattani by local insurgents.

The 20-kilogram bomb was found at a bridge in Saiburi district by the Pattani bomb squad team who managed to defuse it. Earlier, police detected suspicious activity in the nearby forest during a combing operation. Electrical wires discovered in the forest led police to the bomb’s location.

After dismantling the bomb, the police found nitrate urea powder, benzene fuel and detonators. Saiburi district is a site where a series of car bombs have killed a number of soldiers and civilians since the violence flared up in 2004.

Meanwhile, in Khok Pho district, arsonists set fire to 15 closed circuit television (CCTV) security cameras. Police have collected DNA samples and other evidence to track down the insurgent groups responsible for the act.

-- NNT 2013-04-01

[Lite Beer]

Deputy PM Chalerm inspects wildfire in North

BANGKOK, 1 April 2013 (NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung has traveled to Chiang Mai province to examine forest fires in the northern region after the smog situation there started to improve.

On Monday, the deputy PM arrived at Chiang Mai Grandview Hotel and Convention Center to follow up on proactive solutions to forest fires in eight upper northern provinces. Previously, Inspector-General of the Office of the Prime Minister Chamroen Yuthithamsakul also went to Chiang Dao district with the same objective and gave moral support to fire officers working in the local forest areas.

Deputy Governor of Chiang Mai Adisorn Kamnerdsiri said many districts in the province on 31 March had rainfall which helped improve the wildfire and smog situation. The amount of particulate matter smaller than 10 microns (PM10) and the Air Quality Index (AQI) also started to return to normal levels.

-- NNT 2013-04-01

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Purple Line train to be financed by 2-trillion-baht loan act

BANGKOK, 1 April 2013 (NNT) – The Transport Ministry indicates that the Purple Line electric train project will borrow its fund from the 2-trillion-baht loan act because it will incur less interest than borrowing from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The Purple Line electric train route is one of the many infrastructure megaprojects to be funded by the two-trillion-baht loan act recently passed by the House of Representatives in the first reading. Transport Minister Chatchart Sitthiphan said on Monday that it was the Finance Ministry’s suggestion to change the source of loan of the Purple Line train from JICA to the two-trillion-baht loan act due to lower interest. The minister also confirmed that the budgeting under the law was transparent.

Regarding the government’s assistance measures for the people in terms of transportation costs, Mr Chatchart said the public would be able to enjoy free bus and train rides for six months more or until 30 September this year. He added that the ministry was urgently working on a one-ticket system, which would help reduce transportation expenses for low-income people. The system is expected to begin services in mid-2014.

-- NNT 2013-04-01

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Health ministry to keep close watch after bird flu scare in China

BANGKOK, 1 April 2013 (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has assured the public that no case of avian flu has been reported in Thailand, in the wake of reports of first known deaths from the H7N9 bird flu virus emerging in China.

Public Health Minister Dr Pradith Sinthawanarong said all local health agencies are joining forces to keep a close watch on the situation after two people in China have died after being infected with the new H7N9 avian influenza. Both victims initially suffered fever and coughs but later developed severe pneumonia and problems with breathing.

The ministry has issued fresh warnings to hospitals nationwide to monitor patients with severe pneumonia and influenza. Mobile laboratories with bird-flu testing units have been prepared in case of a severe outbreak.

Members of the public have been urged to avoid contact with poultry and to notify health authorities in case of any unusual deaths of poultry.

-- NNT 2013-04-01

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to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 2 Apr 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/630183-thailand-live-tuesday-2-apr-2013/