PM to visit Africa to promote trade and enhance relations

BANGKOK (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is scheduled to visit three African countries at the end of this month, with an objective to open trade and investment markets and strengthen bilateral ties.

Director-General of the Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs Narong Sasithorn said the PM will be visiting Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda from 28 July to 2 August 2013. Ms Yingluck will be accompanied by a group of Thai businessmen from various fields, such as energy, food, construction and tourism.

The premier is scheduled to deliver an important speech during her meeting with African leaders in Tanzania.

The director-general said Ms Yingluck’s African visit would increase opportunities for Thai products, especially agricultural products and rice. Africa imports about four million tons of rice from Thailand each year and the continent is likely to buy more rice from Thailand in the future, judging from its continuous economic and social development, Mr Narong said.

The PM will sign 17 agreements during this trip. They are expected to help facilitate cooperation between the Thai government and private sector and their counterparts in the three African countries.


-- NNT 2013-07-25

INUNDATION
Three provinces still struggling with floods
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Floods continued in the provinces of Chanthaburi, Trat and Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday, affecting hundreds of residents.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655967-three-thai-provinces-still-struggling-with-floods/

POLITICS
Push for anti-coup law
Khanittha Thepphajorn
The Nation

Critics say Pheu Thai-inspired bill aims to increase political role in defence ministry

BANGKOK: -- An anti-coup bill is currently under initial consideration of the House Committee on Military Affairs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655968-push-for-anti-coup-law-thailand/

POLITICS
'Climate of trust' is needed for amnesty bill
KORNCHANOK RAKSASERI,
KHANITTHA THEPPHAJORN,
PRAPHAN JINDALERTUDOMDEE,
HATAIKARN TREESUWAN
The Nation

Academic warns Pheu Thai against overzealous handling of agenda

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party has to create a climate of trust so that the amnesty bill can be discussed and amended at the committee level to pre-empt opposition from both inside and outside Parliament, a legal expert said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655969-climate-of-trust-is-needed-for-thai-amnesty-bill/

ENVIRONMENT
Khao Yai puts brakes on 'noisy' TV car show
Janjira Pongrai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The television car programme Kor Konrukrot has been banned by Khao Yai National Park authorities for making too much noise and violating National park law.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655970-khao-yai-puts-brakes-on-noisy-tv-car-show/

THAI TALK
In a volatile landscape, you can't always decide the path
Suthichai Yoon

BANGKOK: -- The House of Representatives returns to its business on August 1, when the country's political temperature is expected to soar.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655971-thai-talk-in-a-volatile-landscape-you-cant-always-decide-the-path/

EDITORIAL
Time for a CONSUMER PROTECTION agency with real power
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- More than 15 years after the idea of a powerful independent organisation to protect consumer rights was first introduced in the now-defunct constitution of 1997, such a body has yet to materialise.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655973-time-for-a-consumer-protection-agency-with-real-power-thai-editorial/

Fragmentation Among Red shirts Highlighted By Amnesty Debate

BANGKOK: -- The question about which version of amnesty bill should be adopted by the Parliament is exposing the different ideological lines among the Redshirts movements.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655974-fragmentation-among-red-shirts-highlighted-by-amnesty-debate/

Phuket's transport evolution
Phuket Gazette



PHUKET: -- The long awaited new Airport Express bus service between Phuket Airport and the island’s premier party and entertainment town, Patong, started to roll last Friday, four days later than expected.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655975-phukets-transport-evolution/

BURNING ISSUE

Tension over amnesty rises ahead of House session

Attayuth Bootsripoom

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The political situation has become increasingly intense as the new parliamentary session approaches. A number of significant draft laws await House deliberation in this new session, while political developments outside Parliament are becoming confrontational.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655976-tension-over-thai-amnesty-rises-ahead-of-house-session/

'Beautiful lanes'
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is working to encourage each of its 50 districts to have a street designated a "beautiful lane", BMA adviser Wichai Sangprapai said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655978-beautiful-lanes-bid-to-make-bangkok-beautiful-and-serve-as-tourist-attractions/

Advice for transparency in water projects
The Nation

A coalition of environmental advocacy groups yesterday demand

BANGKOK: -- Hannarong Yaowalert, president of the Foundation for Integrated Water Management and of the Confederation of Environmental and Natural Resources Conservation NGOs, said the coalition issued the statement in support of the June 27 Central Administrative Court order for the government to hold adequate consultations with the public as mandated by the Constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655980-advice-for-transparency-in-water-projects-thailand/

NHSO may run short of key heart drug
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

Supplier blamed for shortage; hospitals may be told to buy pills at retail prices

BANGKOK: -- The government’s main healthcare scheme is facing a shortage of tablets for heart disease, which will affect more than 50,000 patients suffering from the condition.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655981-thai-govts-main-healthcare-scheme-may-run-short-of-key-heart-drug/

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge name their baby son George Alexander Louis /BBC

At least 35 dead and many more injured as train derails in Spain near Santiago de Compostela, president of Galicia region says /BBC

Phuket Police on lookout for 'slap attack' teen gang
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Phuket City Police are rounding up teenagers from the streets of Phuket Town in the hope of apprehending the youngsters who have been sneaking up behind unsuspecting victims and slapping them on the back of the head.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655982-phuket-police-on-lookout-for-slap-attack-teen-gang/

Phuket International Boat Show and Royal Phuket Marina partner for five years


Mr. Andy Dowden (left), PIMEX Show Director, and Mr. Gulu Lalvani (right), Chairman or Royal Phuket Marina,
upon agreeing Royal Phuket Marina as the Official Host Venue for PIMEX for five years.

Royal Phuket Marina to be “Official Host Venue” for five years in ground-breaking agreement between marina and organisers of Phuket International Boat Show

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655983-phuket-international-boat-show-and-royal-phuket-marina-partner-for-five-years/

Woman murdered by female neighbor at East Pattaya Staff Housing Compound



PATTAYA: -- Police and rescue workers were called to a Staff Housing Compound for a Transport Company in East Pattaya on Wednesday Night to deal with reports of an alleged murder.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655984-woman-murdered-by-female-neighbor-at-east-pattaya-staff-housing-compound/

No good deed: Chiang Mai ex-pat shot by man he tried to help
By Casey Hynes

CHIANG MAI: -- The night Nic Brown got shot seemed at first a night like any other. The 35-year-old Canadian ex-pat was out with his girlfriend and some friends. The group was having a few drinks at Baan Din, a small bar in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655991-no-good-deed-chiang-mai-ex-pat-shot-by-man-he-tried-to-help/

'Russian probe' zeroes in on 24 firms in Phuket
Tanyaluk Sakoot

PHUKET: -- The Phuket Business Development Office has been ploughing through a list of 153 companies registered on the island that were believed to have Russian investors, looking for irregularities, and has zeroed in on 24 particular firms.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656034-russian-probe-zeroes-in-on-24-firms-in-phuket/

Amnesty Bill slated for Lower House debate Aug 7
By English News

BANGKOK, July 25 – The government has opted to put the controversial Amnesty Bill for debate in the House of Representatives August 7 amid threats of protests by some civil society groups and other strong opponents.

Amnuay Klangpa, chairman of the coalition whips, said yesterday that the bill would be the first agenda item when the Lower House reconvenes next month, to be followed by the second and third readings of the 2014 Budget Bill on August 14-15 and the bill to seek Bt2 trillion loans for infrastructure investment.

He said the Amnesty Bill, proposed by Vorachai Hema, Pheu Thai MP from Samut Prakan, has been pending in the Lower House agenda since the previous parliamentary session.

Regarding concerns on possible violence both inside and outside Parliament over the Amnesty Bill, Mr Amnuay said it was the duty of the state’s security forces to maintain public order.

He said the whip’s meeting yesterday did not discuss the possibility of a House dissolution.

Charoen Chankomol, deputy House speaker, said the Lower House would be prepared for possible chaos during the debate of the Amnesty Bill and the government was requested to ensure safety and public order during the House session.

He would not say if deliberations of the bill would be finished in one day, saying it depends on the lawmakers’ debate.

Mr Charoen welcomed the opposition proposal to submit a separate Amnesty Bill to the Lower House, saying such a move will help speed up the country’s reconciliation process. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-07-25

Opposition MP to submit problems in higher education to House meeting

BANGKOK, 25 July 2013 (NNT) – An Opposition MP has indicated he will submit problems plaguing the higher education system that he has learned in a discussion with related officials to the upcoming session of Parliament to convene on August 1.

Speaking in his capacity as chairman of the House Committee on Education, Democrat MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat Prakob Ratanapan said he and other members of the committee had recently met with executive educators of the Office of the Higher Education Commission. Their discussion touched on wide-ranging problems in the higher education system including trading of degrees by both domestic universities and foreign academic branches in Thailand, opening of undergraduate courses which have not yet been certified by the Thai government, faked master’s degree courses and corruptions in the education system.

Mr. Prokob said that there are also problems related to students who have studied from unqualified institutions in foreign countries which provide degrees that are not recognized by the Education Ministry, thus ridding the students of the chance of getting jobs.

He urged that stricter measures be employed to protect students from rogue education agencies, and the Office of the Higher Education Commission take offensive steps in publicizing the right practice to access certified degrees in higher education.

Mr. Prakob stated he would bring these problems to the deliberation of Parliament in order to press for accelerated action from the government in solving the issues.


-- NNT 2013-07-25

UPDATE:

‘Bottom smacking’ teen gang caught by Phuket cops
Naraporn Tuarob

PHUKET: -- A group of eight teenage hooligans were caught on Wednesday (July 24) after causing trouble by smacking the bottoms and heads of locals.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655982-phuket-police-on-lookout-for-slap-attack-teen-gang/#entry6647528

Phuket to get Organised Crime Centre – DSI boss

PHUKET: -- Phuket, along with Pattaya, is to get a Centre for Control of Organised Crime, the Director of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) – often described as Thailand’s equivalent of the FBI – announced yesterday morning (July 25).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656050-phuket-to-get-organised-crime-centre-dsi-boss/

UPDATE:

German consuls in Phuket urge travel insurance for visitors
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- The German honorary consuls for Phuket and Chiang Mai yesterday urged tourists to take out adequate travel insurance before travelling to Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655834-german-club-makes-donation-to-cover-unpaid-hospital-bills-in-phuket/#entry6647657

Swedish murder suspect found dead in Thailand

A 27-year-old Swede internationally wanted for a murder on the Canary Islands has been found dead.
He disappeared shortly after the murder three weeks ago and was found dead in Thailand last Sunday.
- We can confirm that he is dead and that relatives have been informed, says Carolina Ekéus, press officer at the Swedish national police.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656043-swedish-murder-suspect-found-dead-in-thailand/

Environment Minister calls for corruption-free environment

BANGKOK, 25 July 2013 (NNT) – Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wichet Kasemthongsri is calling for corruption-free environment, while urging the Office of Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Planning (ONEP) to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA) before launching any project.

During his visit to the Office of Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Planning, Mr. Wichet delivered his policy guidelines to the ONEP, which mainly focused on transparency, adding that all processes have to strictly follow laws and regulations. He also urged the ONEP to seek cooperation from the public and the private sectors as well as the society for the benefit of the people.

The minister also placed his emphasis on the environmental impact assessment (EIA), saying conducting the EIA is very crucial as all projects need to be supported and approved by the people, particularly the Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA), which will have to be monitored both during and after each project is completed.

-- NNT 2013-07-25

PM visits One Stop Crisis Center of the Social Development and Human Security Ministry

BANGKOK, 25 July 2013 (NNT) -- Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra visited the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and its One Stop Crisis Center (OSCC) the other day on the sidelines of her meeting with permanent secretaries and officials of equivalent ranks from various ministries, held in the Ministry’s compound.

The Prime Minister was led on a tour of the center by its minister, Mrs Paveena Hongsakul. The center provides a 24-hour service to receive complaints, give advice and aid victims of social problems via Hotline 1300. During the visit, the father of a 14-year-old female student who had been hit by a train and lost both of her legs in Singapore urged the Premier to outline safety measure for students studying abroad, providing them with appropriate protection in case of emergency.

Ms. Yingluck expressed her satisfaction with the progress on the center and asked all government units to help publicize the center which has more than 2,100 service stations spread all over the country.

She said that all ministries should, in turn, use the OSCC's system in helping fight the social crises, while instructing the Ministry of Social Development to systematically follow up on the center's progress.

The Prime Minister also called for the private sector’s greater participation in reducing social problems.

-- NNT 2013-07-25

Funds raised to help Phuket turtles

PHUKET: JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, on behalf of the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, donated B100,000 to the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) to the Injured Turtle Rehabilitation and the Sea Turtle Nursery Conservation Programme.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656063-funds-raised-to-help-phuket-turtles/

Democrat calls for PM to review decision to bring up amnesty bill

BANGKOK, 25 July 2013 (NNT) – The Democrat Party is calling on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to review her decision to bring up the amnesty bill drafted by a Pheu Thai MP for House consideration on 7th of August 2013.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656082-democrat-calls-for-pm-yingluck-to-review-decision-to-bring-up-amnesty-bill/