Drought situation continues to worsen

CHAINART, 27 April 2014, (NNT) - The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has reported that the drought situation in 42 provinces has worsened.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721845-drought-situation-continues-to-worsen/

UPDATE:

Arrested PDRC man thanks the Criminal Court for granting him bail

BANGKOK, 27 April 2014, (NNT) - Mr. Sakoltee Phattiyakul, a co-leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), has expressed his gratitude to the Criminal Court for releasing him on bail of 600,000 baht yesterday, just one day after his arrest, on the condition that he not leave the country nor engage in activities that foment divisions in society.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721736-pdrc-co-leader-sakoltee-out-on-bail-after-arrest-at-airport/

PM accepts EC’s invitation for April 30 meeting

BANGKOK, 27 April 2014 (NNT) – Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has accepted an invitation from the Election Commission (EC) to discuss the agency's planned election on April 30th.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721847-pm-accepts-ecs-invitation-for-april-30-meeting/

Smuggling of animal carcasses found in Chiang Rai

CHIANG RAI, 27 April 2014 (NNT) – Chiang Rai authorities have seized 150 kilograms of animal carcasses that were being smuggled into the kingdom.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721848-smuggling-of-animal-carcasses-found-in-chiang-rai/

Rail lines in South undergo repair work next month; bidding opened for private companies to do job within 900 days, under Bt6 billion budget /MCOT

Phuket: One hour protest shuts down Chaofa West

Jean-Pierre Mestanza

PHUKET: Protesters parked a bus in the middle of Chaofa West road earlier today (April 27) and demanded changes to make the sharp curve in the immediate area safer for drivers.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721854-one-hour-protest-shuts-down-chaofa-west/

ISA will be possibly renewed as politics heat up

BANGKOK, 27 April 2014 (NNT) – The Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) will ask the Cabinet to extend the enforcement of the Internal Security Act (ISA) for 30-60 days following its assessment that the political situation is likely to escalate.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721858-isa-will-be-possibly-renewed-as-politics-heat-up/

Mysterious Army Leaflets Denounce PCAD Guards 'Thuggery'

By Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK — The alleged shooting and beating of an army colonel by anti-government protest guards has been condemned in mysterious leaflets currently being circulated around the army's headquarters.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721864-mysterious-army-leaflets-denounce-pcad-guards-thuggery/

Election Commission making preparations to hold MP election

BANGKOK, 27 April 2014 (NNT) - The Election Commission (EC) is ready to hold a new election for Members of Parliament and is preparing to revise election regulations to fill any legal gaps.

Mr. Puchong Nutrawong, the EC Secretary General, said the EC will hold a meeting tomorrow on issues related to the new election date and about any revisions to regulations that have to do with the election.

Candidates will be allowed to submit an application from outside their constituency or through registered mail or the Internet. There will be a polling station committee to fill in any legal gaps related to the election on February 2.

The EC has decided that July 20 is the most suitable date for the new election, although this may be adjusted to be a week before or after that date. The EC's conclusion from tomorrow's meeting about the election date will be discussed with the government on April 30. If all processes go smoothly, it is believed that the EC will be able to hold the election within 53 - 59 days after a royal decree is presented to His Majesty the King to be endorsed.

-- NNT 2014-04-27

April 27 not the hottest day of the year for Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Although the sun has positioned itself 90 degree vertically above Bangkok today (Sunday), today is not the hottest day of the year for the capital as earlier predicted due to the heavy presence of clouds as a result of high pressure.

Mr Songkran Aksorn, deputy director-general of Meteorological Department, said today that temperatures in Bangkok at 12.16 pm varied between 35-36 C and would increase to 37-38 C between 3-4 pm. which would not be the hottest day.

He noted that records of the past several years showed that April 27 was not the hottest day of the year for Bangkok despite the alignment of the sun with the earth putting the sun vertically above Bangkok.

He predicted that the hottest days would be in May when temperatures were forecasted to average 38-39 C until the middle of the month when the rainy season is expected to arrive albeit belatedly.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/april-27-hottest-day-year-bangkok/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=april-27-hottest-day-year-bangkok

-- Thai PBS 2014-04-27

UPDATE:

PT Disappointed By Anti-Govt Leader's Bail Release

By Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK — The ruling Pheu Thai Party has expressed disappointment over the court's decision to release an arrested anti-government protest leader on bail.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721736-pdrc-co-leader-sakoltee-out-on-bail-after-arrest-at-airport/

Most Thais want to see political deadlock ended: survey

BANGKOK: -- A Dusit Poll survey released Sunday found most people wanted rival political camps to take one step back to end the political deadlock that could spiral into civil strife.

Asked what they believed politicians should do to end the crisis, of 1,372 people (44 per cent) wanted rival camps to forgive and do away with an obstinate attitude.

Asked what they believed was the reason the political crisis has been prolonged, 39 per cent said political rival camps were not sincere in solving problems but were playing games, 25 per cent said so much was at stake people could not let go, 20 per cent said the political divide had occurred for too long and was too deep, 7 per cent said law loopholes, lax enforcement and double standards and another 7 per cent said a lack of politicians with the right attitude.

-- The Nation 2014-04-27

Tourism industry to be affected until next quarters: ATTA
By English News

BANGKOK, April 27 - The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATA) said Thailand's tourism industry will be hit until the third quarter due to political conflicts which have scared away foreign tourists.

ATTA presidnt Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn said the tourism industry has not kicked off well in the first quarter of this year due to ongoing political turmoil, with decreasing numbers of group tours from China, Japan, South Korea and Europe. Only Russian arrivals have slightly increased. The affect on the industry may prolong until the third quarter of this year.

He said concerned agencies hope that the political chaos will end before the last quarter, so that tourists could return to Thailand in time for the high season and that could pick up the industry after being hit in the first three quarters.

"At first we thought that the lifting of the state of emergency would help boost the number of tourists, and it did for a certain level but not as it should be," according to the ATTA president.

He said the news reports of bombings were broadcast worldwide, while safety was the most important issue for those who planned to make a trip.

"It depends solely on the political situation. If it improves, tourism will follow, " said Mr Sisdivachr.

The ATTA president added that Myanmar is an interesting market for Thailand. He had recently visited the neighbouring country to meet with Myanmar tourism operators to join hands in promoting the tourism industry as the ASEAN Economic Community is approaching in 2015.

Mr Sisdivachr said Thailand will target more high-end Myanmar tourists for medical tourism as there are reports that a large number have entered Thailand for medical checkups and treatments. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-04-27

to continue:

Thailand Live Monday 28 Apr 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721937-thailand-live-monday-28-apr-2014/