Thailand Live Friday 19 Jun 2015

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UPDATE:

Transport Minister 'Confused' by Downgrade of Thai Airlines
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK — Thailand's Transport Minister said he was surprised to see the United Nations' aviation agency announce a safety downgrade for Thailand-based airlines on its website yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833983-red-flagging-thai-aviation-safety-is-normal-procedure/#entry9531380

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Agriculture Ministry yet to okay drought-hit farmers’ compensation plea

BANGKOK, 19 June 2015 (NNT) – The Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives says the government has yet to consider approving an assistance package for drought-hit farmers, pending an initial survey of affected-farming areas the country.

In response to some farmers’ pleas for compensation of 3,000 baht per rai, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Pitipong Pungbun na Ayutthaya said the government saw no need to issue measures to help farmers at the moment, following the ministry’s call for a delay in the annual rice farming until late July.

The call for the postponement of seasonal rice farming applies to 22 provinces along the Chao Phraya River as part of the government’s water management plan in face of the drought crisis.

Mr. Pitipong explained the ministry had yet to receive a report on farmers who were truly affected by the postponement of seasonal farming, adding that late July was still within the farming season. However, the minister disclosed that he had ordered officials to survey seasonal rice farming areas across the country to assess the severity of the drought crisis.


-- NNT 2015-06-19

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UPDATE:

Drug producers and distributors must print prices on packages



BANGKOK: -- Pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors will be required to print the prices of medicines on their packages under a joint resolution of the Internal Trade Department, the Food and Drugs Administration and the Public Health on June 9.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833935-thai-hospitals-urged-to-allow-patients-to-buy-their-own-medicines/#entry9531501

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Kalasin villagers handle drought with govt aid projects

KALASIN, 19 June 2015 (NNT) – Villagers in Phon Ngam district of the northeastern province of Kalasin have tapped into the government’s income creation program and used the funds to solve drought problems.

Residents of Phon Ngam spent part of the budgets from the employment program and the One Tambon One Million Baht project to build solar-powered water pumps. The renewable energy system led to employment opportunities in the community and alleviated the effects of the prolonged dry season.

Local people say the solar pumps help supply water to more than 400 rai of farmland in two villages, enabling their rice paddies to survive the crisis. They added that farmers switched to water-saving agriculture during the summer to ensure sufficient water supplies for consumption and farming.

The villagers commented that the government should continue to set aside budgets for the two aid projects, so that they can expand their water management system to all parts of the district.


-- NNT 2015-06-19

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New parliament building is only 11.76 percent completed

BANGKOK: -- Construction of the 12 billion baht new parliament building is only 11.76 percent completed due to delay in land transfer and the devastating flood in Bangkok four years ago, said Mr Chare Panpruang, secretary-general of the House of Representatives, on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834032-new-thai-parliament-building-is-only-1176-percent-completed/

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Chiang Mai officials meet to discuss smog prevention along Thailand - Myanmar border

CHIANG MAI, 19 June 2015, (NNT) - A meeting on smog prevention along the Thailand - Myanmar border was held yesterday with Chiang Mai government and military units.

The meeting resolved to integrate work by regional units and expand the wildfire barrier along the national border from Ban Khop Dong to Ban Nor Lae. Local public relations offices have also resolved to share information on the smog situation in the region.

Over the past three years, the Mon Pin sub-district office and nearby Myanmar counterparts have been dealing with the same issues of smog issues. Officials from both nations have also attended sporting events and other cultural activities, as part of a bilateral relations program.

Smog in the region is usually triggered by locals in both countries, who burn forest areas looking for game and vegetation that thrives after wildfires.


-- NNT 2015-06-19

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Krabi border police sergeant arrested in connection with fatal shooting of village headman
Eakkapop Thongtub


Police seized a large number of weapons from Maj Banluer.

KRABI: -- A Krabi border police sergeant was arrested yesterday (June 18) in connection with the fatal shooting of the president of the Krabi Palm Oil Club and village headman, Prasit Jarongnoo, 51 on Monday night (June 16).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834034-krabi-border-police-sergeant-arrested-in-connection-with-fatal-shooting-of-village-headman/

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New Zealand tooth fetish sex offender jailed

WELLINGTON: -- A New Zealand man who yanked women's teeth out with pliers during sex and had a fetish for "fat gummy ladies" was jailed for six years today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834040-new-zealand-tooth-fetish-sex-offender-jailed/

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Thai Aviation Safety Downgrade 'May Affect Charter Flights'
By Khaosod English


Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha speaking at the Government House on 19 June 2015.

BANGKOK — The director of a tourism trade federation in Thailand has warned that outbound charter flights may be affected by an international airline inspection agency's decision to downgrade Thailand for substandard safety protocols.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834042-thai-aviation-safety-downgrade-may-affect-charter-flights/

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Probe on Cabinet's ethics urged
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A people's network filed a complaint to the Ombudsman, urging it to probe the Cabinet's ethics following their approvals to petroleum/digital economy bills and mining concession extension.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834043-probe-on-thai-cabinets-ethics-urged/

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Due to expected bad weather this weekend, Art Box Bangkok at Makkasan will now take place from 3-5 July http://t.co/ds4ZGrWxFY

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Omani relative has sickness



BANGKOK: -- One of the three family members who accompanied the Omani patient for heart treatment at a Bangkok hospital is now sick, indicating he might be contracted with the deadly respiratory syndrome virus.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834044-mers-omani-relative-has-sickness/

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UPDATE:

Omani MERS patient's relatives tested for virus in Thailand
AFP

BANGKOK: -- Thai authorities Friday said two relatives of an Omani man found to have MERS were being tested for the deadly virus in the kingdom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834044-mers-omani-relative-has-sickness/#entry9531883

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Italian consul for Phuket opens Samui office
The Phuket News


Italian Honorary Consul for Phuket, Dr Francesco Pensato (2nd from right) joins Italian Ambassador in Thailand Francesco Saverio Nisio (right) at the opening of the Samui office.

KOH SAMUI: The Italian Honorary Consul for Phuket, Dr Francesco Pensato, now also heads a new consul’s a new consul’s office on Koh Samui that was recently inaugurated by Italian Ambassador in Thailand Francesco Saverio Nisio.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834050-italian-consul-for-phuket-opens-samui-office/

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Prayuth: Thai Fugitive Lese Majeste Suspect 'Not a Thai'
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK — Junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha has asserted that a fugitive Redshirt activist wanted by Thai authorities for insulting the monarchy is no longer a Thai citizen.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834051-prayut-thai-fugitive-lese-majeste-suspect-not-a-thai/

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2nd MERS case suspected

BANGKOK: -- A Thai resident who just returned from a trip to South Korea is suspected of being infected by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834052-2nd-mers-case-suspected-in-thailand/

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SET index closed 1,491.07 down 16.97; Bt/USD33.51; GBP52.94; AUD25.64; EUR37.74; CAD27.19; HKD4.30; SGD24.87; JPY27.08

[Lite Beer]

Bumrungrad quarantines 58 staff after MERS incident
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- BUMRUNGRAD International Hospital is quarantining 58 of its staff for 14 days after a patient from a Middle Eastern country tested positive for the deadly MERS virus on Thursday, a discovery that also prompted a nationwide alert.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834092-bumrungrad-quarantines-58-staff-after-mers-incident/

[Lite Beer]

MIDDLE EAST RESPIRATORY SYNDROME
Nong Khai to screen tourists for MERS

NONG KHAI: -- The northeast province of Nong Khai has intensified its monitoring and screening of foreigners, particularly those from South Korea, following the Health Ministry's confirmation that a tourist has been diagnosed with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome or MERS.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834094-nong-khai-to-screen-tourists-for-mers/

[Lite Beer]

Six arrested in Phuket drug sting
Eakkapop Thongtub

Radit Janpherm, 41, and Wuttiwat Setsra, 48.

PHUKET: Six connected drug dealers were arrested over a two-day period in an operation which started with police surveying two small time dealers on June 1.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834095-six-arrested-in-phuket-drug-sting/

[Lite Beer]

Khon Kaen to celebrate 40 years Thailand - China relations

KHON KAEN, 19 June 2015 (NNT) – Khon Kaen province and China have joined hands in holding cultural performances that will celebrate the 40 years of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834122-khon-kaen-to-celebrate-40-years-thailand-china-relations/

[Lite Beer]

Two motorcyclists rob money truck of Kasikorn Bank, make off with Bt8 million
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Two robbers on a motorcycle robbed a money truck of the Kasikorn Bank at the Tesco Lotus Rama I branch Friday evening and made off with Bt8.45 million in cash, police said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834123-two-motorcyclists-rob-money-truck-of-kasikorn-bank-make-off-with-bt8-million/

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THAI waives rescheduling fees due to MERS outbreak

BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International today announced that all passengers who are unable to travel due to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak can reschedule their flights without any fee.

The waiver will be effective until the end of July, it said in a statement.

"THAI waived the fee due to concern for customer safety and convenience," said Wiwat Piyawiroj, THAI vice president of Sales and Distribution, Thailand and Indochina.

The fee has been waived for changes to flights and routing of THAI tickets booked roundtrip from Bangkok to Seoul and Bangkok to Busan. This also covers domestic flights issued prior to June 8, 2015 for travel destined for Seoul and Busan, initially intended for travel now until July 31. The tickets must have been booked by a THAI ticketing office, THAI ticket agent, or through www.thaiairways.com.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/THAI-waives-rescheduling-fees-due-to-MERS-outbreak-30262741.html

-- The Nation 2015-06-19

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to continue:

Thailand Live Saturday 20 Jun 2015

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834136-thailand-live-saturday-20-jun-2015/