Kanchanaburi to do feasibility study on waste to energy power plant

KANCHANABURI, 5 March 2015 (NNT) -- The provincial administration in Kanchanaburi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a company and local units aiming to conduct a feasibility study on electricity generation from waste.

According to the chief of Kanchanaburi provincial administraion Mr Rangsan Rasameererk , there are 68 communities in five districts that are designated places suited to a practical study of solid waste management and the construction of a waste-to-energy power plant.

The province is following the lead of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha who suggested the idea of using garbage as an alternative source of electricity for Thailand, reducing the energy import demand and also solving garbage issues.

Meanwhile, the National Council for Peace and Order has ordered every province to conduct an assessment of its water management and submit it to the NCPO to be integrated into a national master plan as a safeguard on the issue.


-- NNT 2015-03-05

International Balloon Festival underway in Hat Yai

HAT YAI:, 5 March 2015 (NNT) -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand, and the Hat Yai Municipality Office launched the International Balloon Festival yesterday at จิระนคร stadium in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province in the South of Thailand. The event features a colorful showcase of hot-air balloons in different shapes from around the world.

Though the International Balloon Festival has been organized nine times to date, it's being held for the first time in Songkhla. According to TAT, the event this year replaces the annual Hat Yai Lantern Festival, the Color of the South, which is an event now considered too familiar for the enjoyment of locals and tourists.

The hot-air balloons come in 8 different shapes and from 8 countries. They were released into the air during the " Balloon Night Glow" light and sound show. Some visitors were even given a flight offering a bird's eye view of the city.

The festival includes concerts, parades, and games, with no shortage of food and beverage vendors. It was organized to run over two days in the Hat Yai district of Songkhla Province from 4 to 9 pm.


-- NNT 2015-03-05

UPDATE:

WAT DHAMMAKAYA
DSI summons abbot over questionable donation
PIYANUCH THAMNUKASETCHAI,
PAKAMARD JAICHALARD
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE DEPARTMENT of Special Investigation yesterday issued a summons for Phra Dhammachayo, the abbot of Wat Dhammakaya, and a number of monks to explain why they and the temple accepted a donation of a suspected ill-gotten Bt800 million.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805639-phra-dhammachayo-to-be-questioned-by-the-dsi/#entry9146726

CONSTITUTION WATCH
Members of junta-appointed agencies 'must be barred'
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION

NLA members oppose proposal by CDC sub-panel to exclude them from politics; Peerasak threatens to resign if the move goes ahead

BANGKOK: -- THE Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) sub-panel on drafting provisional articles for the new charter is proposing that members of the five main agencies installed by the junta be barred from political |positions for two years after their terms end.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805743-members-of-thai-govt-appointed-agencies-must-be-barred/

HEALTHCARE VICTIM PROTECTION BILL
New fund for victims of malpractice
POUNGCHOMPOO PRASERT
THE NATION

Bill passes four public hearings; medical council against the move

BANGKOK: -- THE PUBLIC Health Ministry's Department of Health Service Support (HSS) is going ahead with the drafting of a Healthcare Victim Protection Bill, despite dissent from the Medical Council of Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805744-new-thai-fund-for-victims-of-malpractice/

PIRAB-NOI AWARD
Silapakorn varsity newspaper wins award
JEERAPONG PRASERTPOLKRANG
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Loog-Silpa newspaper published by Silapakorn University has won the "Pirab-Noi" award for best newspaper among nationwide universities. The award includes Bt20,000 cash.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805745-silapakorn-varsity-newspaper-wins-award/

CHATEAU DE FONTAINEBLEAU MUSEUM
Six Thai artefacts stolen, says France
PAKAMARD JAICHALARD
THE NATION

FRANCE has clarified that six priceless artefacts from Thailand, not one as initially reported, were stolen from the Chateau de Fontainebleau museum last week. In all, 20 artefacts, including six items presented by King Rama IV to Emperor Napoleon III, were stolen.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805746-six-thai-artefacts-stolen-says-france/

AIRLINE
Emirates Airline upbeat over Bangkok operations
WATCHIRANONT THONGTEP
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- Jabr Al-Azeeby says the number of inbound travellers is increasing and, if this continues, Emirates expects traffic to return to the same level as a couple of years ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805747-emirates-airline-upbeat-over-bangkok-operations/

NBTC
Superboard panel probes NBTC's KMITL contracts
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The committee tasked with evaluating the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has asked the watchdog to clarify within seven days the alleged irregularities regarding its granting of almost two dozen contracts to King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang over three years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805748-superboard-panel-probes-nbtcs-kmitl-contracts/

HEALTH INSURANCE
New health insurance model for state staff proposed
Sucheera Pinijparakarn
The Nation


Anon Vangvasu

BANGKOK: -- The Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA) plans to propose a health-insurance model for state officials to the government, in a move aimed at reining in ever-rising medical expenses in the public sector.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805750-new-thai-health-insurance-model-for-state-staff-proposed/

EDITORIAL
Don't let Constitution open loophole to a fresh crisis
The Naton

Charter writers need to be more precise in their clause allowing a non-elected prime minister

BANGKOK: -- The writing of the new charter is now in its final stage, with the drafters working on the last transitional clauses. But the blueprint slowly emerging from the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) contains details that raise serious concerns. Rather than ending the old conflict, the new charter could trigger a fresh one.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805751-thai-editorial-dont-let-constitution-open-loophole-to-a-fresh-crisis/

WASHINGTON (AP) - US House panel subpoenas former Secretary of State Clinton's personal emails in Benghazi probe.

UPDATE:

4 injured in Central Pattaya Go-Go Bar Fight



PATTAYA: -- Three patrons and an Australian Bar Manager were injured in an early morning fight which occurred inside of a popular Central Pattaya Go-Go Bar in the early hours of Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805578-three-european-tourists-beaten-by-pattaya-bouncers/page-4?p=9146775#entry9146775

UPDATE:

Police Volunteer attacked during Bar Closure enforcement patrol in South Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- As required by Thai Law, all bars had to close from Midnight on 4th March until Midnight on 5th March during the Makha Busha Festival. As officers attempted to close a group of Karaoke Bars in South Pattaya which were open after midnight, one man decided he was having none of it and is alleged to have attacked a Pattaya Police Volunteer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805583-pattaya-bar-owner-defies-closing-order-assaults-cops/page-2?p=9146779#entry9146779

Police ensure Pattaya remains Dry on Holy Day

PATTAYA: -- On Wednesday afternoon, the Pattaya Police Chief, gathered his officers and then sent them around Pattaya to ensure that the bar closures and restrictions on sale of alcoholic beverages were being maintained.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805754-police-ensure-pattaya-remains-dry-on-holy-day/

'Police must be ready for AEC' Dep Police Commissioner
Nattapat Tuarob


Pol Gen Dr Wuthi Liptapallop speaks with French Honorary Consul Claude Maigrot de Crissey.

Phuket: -- Thailand̕s Deputy Police Commissioner Pol Gen Dr Wuthi Liptapallop has urged Phuket Police to make sure they are ready for the upcoming AEC set to start at the end of this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805756-phuket-police-must-be-ready-for-aec-dep-police-commissioner/

BURNING ISSUE
Jobs for the family may be legal - but ethical?
Attayuth Bootsripoom

BANGKOK: -- A number of National Legislative Assembly (NLA) members are reported to have appointed their family members to assist with their work. This has caused many observers to conclude they are no different from politicians.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805757-thai-politics-jobs-for-the-family-may-be-legal-but-ethical/

What is the truth about Thai workers' deaths in Israel?
CHAOWARAT YONGJIRANON
NOW26

BANGKOK: -- A RECENT HUMAN Rights Watch (HRW) report has sparked a controversy as to whether Thai workers are being exploited in Israel and are dying from the mysterious "sudden nocturnal death syndrome".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805758-what-is-the-truth-about-thai-workers-deaths-in-israel/

Bullet only clue as police probe Udon monk's death
SEKSANTI KANLAYANAWISUT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A WAR-GRADE weapon was used in the Sunday murder of Phra Bundit Subandito, an abbot of Wat Pa Ban Tor Seesiad in Udon Thani province, police said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805759-bullet-only-clue-as-police-probe-udon-monks-death/

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - SKorean media: US ambassador attacked during lecture and taken to a hospital for treatment .

South Korean media say US ambassador attacked and hurt

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean media say U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert has been attacked while giving a lecture and taken to a hospital for treatment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805762-south-korean-media-say-us-ambassador-attacked-and-hurt/

'It WAS him': Defense admits Tsarnaev bombed Boston Marathon
By DENISE LAVOIE

BOSTON (AP) — The question, for all practical purposes, is no longer whether Dzhokhar Tsarnaev took part in the Boston Marathon bombing. It's whether he deserves to die for it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805763-it-was-him-defense-admits-tsarnaev-bombed-boston-marathon/

Fossil jaw sheds light on turning point in human evolution
By MALCOLM RITTER

NEW YORK (AP) — A fragment of jawbone found in Ethiopia is the oldest known fossil from an evolutionary tree branch that eventually led to modern humans, scientist reported Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805765-fossil-jaw-sheds-light-on-turning-point-in-human-evolution/

Mosha, Thailands Three-Legged Elephant, Gets a New Prosthetic Limb

Mosha, the worlds first recipient of a prosthetic leg specifically designed for elephants, has received her newer, strong prosthetic to accommodate her growth.

Mosha, a nine-year-old elephant that stepped on a land mine in Thailand when she was just seven months old, has received a new prosthetic limb. The new limb is different from past prosthetics made for Mosha.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805764-mosha-thailands-three-legged-elephant-gets-a-new-prosthetic-limb/

House committee subpoenas Clinton emails in Benghazi probe
By JACK GILLUM and TED BRIDIS

WASHINGTON (AP) — A House committee investigating the Benghazi, Libya, attacks issued subpoenas Wednesday for the emails of Hillary Rodham Clinton, who used a private account exclusively for official business when she was secretary of state — and also used a computer email server now traced back to her family's New York home.

Full story:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805768-house-committee-subpoenas-clinton-emails-in-benghazi-probe/

Merkel dampen talk of 3rd Greek bailout
By RAF CASERT and DEREK GATOPOULOS

BRUSSELS (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the president of the European Union's executive branch cautioned Wednesday against speculation that Greece will need a third financial bailout.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805770-merkel-dampen-talk-of-3rd-greek-bailout/

New Bangkok Nightlife Curfew Rumors Cause Tourism Concerns

Bangkok nightlife and entertainment venues have been notified of an impending curfew to start this weekend and last for 2 weeks.

BANGKOK: -- Entertainment and nightlife venues are concerned over the recent curfews put in place in Bangkok. Owners have been notified by police that a two week curfew will be put in place, forcing venues to close by midnight.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805769-new-bangkok-nightlife-curfew-rumors-cause-tourism-concerns/

Justices sharply divided over health care law subsidies
By MARK SHERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sharply divided along familiar lines, the Supreme Court took up a politically charged new challenge to President Barack Obama's health overhaul Wednesday in a dispute over the tax subsidies that make insurance affordable for millions of Americans.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805771-us-justices-sharply-divided-over-health-care-law-subsidies/

11-year-old girl raped by monk

Bangkok: – Rat Burana police have defrocked and charged a Buddhist monk for statutory raping an 11-year-old girl.

After the girl’s family had filed a police complaint, Rat Burana police superintendent Colonel JessadaSuaysom went to investigate the case at Wat Bang Pakok, Rat Burana district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805772-11-year-old-girl-raped-by-monk/

Two freed hostages of Somali pirates return to Buri Ram hometown

Buri Ram: –Two Thai fishermen have returned to their hometown after last week’s release by Somali pirates, ending four-year and 10-month ordeal.

Four Thai fishermen, including the two, were longest-held hostages in the Horn of Africa state.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805773-two-freed-hostages-of-somali-pirates-return-to-buri-ram-hometown/