Thailand Live Saturday 27 Jun 2015

[Lite Beer]

Gov’t braces for upcoming drought and flood situation

BANGKOK, 26 June 2015 (NNT) – The government has urged all agencies to brace for both drought and flood situations due to an expected monsoon, while authorities are gearing up groundwater well drillings to aid drought stricken farmers.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental (MNRE) Secretary-General Kasemsun Chinnavaso, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Gen Prawit Wongsuwan has expressed his concern regarding the nation's climate change situation in wake of the low precipitation, while a big monsoon is expected to blow over Thailand in a few days.

He has said that rain from the monsoon could help fill up reservoirs and dams which would reduce the severity of the drought. Despite the need for precipitation, more rain could also lead to floods in many areas. Related agencies have been ordered to prepare for both scenarios and prepare accordingly.

On the relief operations for the drought and water shortages in the Chao Phraya River basin, the Department of Groundwater Resources has dispatched a team of officials to drill 500 additional groundwater wells and to perform maintenance checks on the existing wells to help farmers, especially now that rice crops are dying from the lack of water.

The MNRE Secretary-General has cited the MNRE Minister Gen Dapong Ratanasuwan’s order to the Department of Groundwater Resources to survey existing groundwater wells for their safe yield capacity.

Water from wells with a capacity level below the safe yield can be used for consumption, while new wells will be drilled near the existing water supply infrastructures to reduce the cost of the new supply system's construction. The new drilling system is capable of drilling to a depth of 1 kilometers, while the traditional method can only drill 200 meters in depth.

-- NNT 2015-06-26

[Lite Beer]

Gunmen kill 27 in attack on Tunisian resort, officials say

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — A pair of gunmen killed at least 27 people on a Tunisian beach Friday in the latest attack on the north African country's key tourism industry, the Interior Ministry said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....-officials-say/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

THE LATEST: French: Decapitated man was a local employer
The Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — The latest on the attack in southeastern France (all times local):

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....81#entry9556281

[Lite Beer]

POLITICS
Anti-coup students arrested
ANAPAT DEECHUAY,
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- FOURTEEN anti-coup students including seven Dao Din members were arrested late yesterday afternoon after the Military Court issued an arrest warrant against them for allegedly violating an order of the junta and Article 116 of the Criminal Code, which forbids inciting public unrest.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836079-anti-coup-students-arrested/

[Lite Beer]

Camronwit still stuck in Japanese custody
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former top cop's son, lawyer visit him as investigation into gun case continues

POL LT-GENERAL Camronwit Toopkrajank, a former Metropolitan Police commissioner, remains in police custody in Tokyo after he was arrested for carrying a gun into Narita International Airport on Monday

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836080-camronwit-still-stuck-in-japanese-custody/

[Lite Beer]

CORRUPTION
Officials accused of graft want to know why they were shown the door
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A NUMBER of civil servants and local administrative-body employees accused of corruption that had been transferred through the use of the draconian Article 44 of the interim charter want to know why they were removed.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836081-officials-accused-of-graft-want-to-know-why-they-were-shown-the-door/

[Lite Beer]

ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN
Tonnes of narcotics destroyed in burn-off
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- NEARLY 10 tonnes of narcotics confiscated from suspects was incinerated yesterday to mark the annual International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836082-tonnes-of-narcotics-destroyed-in-burn-off/

[Lite Beer]

MERS
Patient recovering well: doctors
The Nation June 27, 2015 1:00 am

BANGKOK: -- THE only confirmed MERS patient in Thailand is recovering satisfactorily at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute, doctors say.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836083-mers-patient-recovering-well-doctors/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Speeding car kills sleeping policeman
Khanathit Srihirandej,
Supachai Phettewee
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- 28 year-old model faces charges over causing death through reckless driving and escaping arrest

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835944-thai-english-actress-anna-reese-kills-cop-in-car-crash/page-9?p=9556904#entry9556904

[Lite Beer]

LIFESTYLE
Cycling with a minty flavour
Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The new Peppermint Bike Park offers stretches of track to suit bikers of all levels

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836086-cycling-with-a-minty-flavour/

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
In tackling the banks, ICELAND set an example for the world

THE "TOO BIG TO FAIL" THEORY IS TESTED IN REYKJAVIK AND FOUND WANTING AS THE ISLAND NATION THROTTLES TOWARD RECOVERY

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836087-in-tackling-the-banks-iceland-set-an-example-for-the-world/

[Lite Beer]

German self-harms at his South Pattaya home

PATTAYA: -- Medics rushed to a house at the Rungland Village in South Pattaya on Friday Afternoon following reports of a German who was self-harming.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836088-german-self-harms-at-his-south-pattaya-home/

[Lite Beer]

Unconscious Drunk Driver causes traffic chaos in North Pattaya

BANGKOK: -- On Friday Morning there was traffic chaos on the North Pattaya Road as a drunk driver fell asleep at the wheel of his car which was positioned across both lanes of the Beach-bound carriageway.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836089-unconscious-drunk-driver-causes-traffic-chaos-in-north-pattaya/

[Lite Beer]

Passenger traffic at Don Mueang soars

BANGKOK, 26 June 2015 (NNT) - Don Mueang airport posted a 42.2% leap in passenger traffic, exceeding Southeast Asia's average growth rate of 9.3%, according to a report released by the Airports Council International (ACI).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836090-passenger-traffic-at-don-mueang-soars/

[Lite Beer]

Bang Sue to be Bangkok's railway hub in 2019

BANGKOK, 26 June 2015 (NNT) - Bangkok's main railway station will be relocated from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue in the next four years, State Railway of Thailand Governor Wutthichart Kalayanamitr said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836091-bang-sue-to-be-bangkoks-railway-hub-in-2019/

[Lite Beer]

US Embassy invites PM Prayut to Independence Day celebration

BANGKOK: -- The US Embassy has extended its invitation to Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to attend its Independence Day celebration at Bangkok hotel.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836092-us-embassy-invites-pm-prayut-to-independence-day-celebration/

[Lite Beer]

Greek prime minister puts bailout deal to referendum July 5
NICHOLAS PAPHITIS, Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's prime minister on Friday called a surprise referendum for July 5 on the financially troubled country's fraught bailout talks with international creditors, and government officials are calling on the nation to reject the proposed deal.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836093-greek-prime-minister-puts-bailout-deal-to-referendum-july-5/

[Lite Beer]

Supreme Court declares US-wide right to same-sex marriage
MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Gay and lesbian Americans have the same right to marry as any other couples, the U.S. Supreme Court declared Friday in a historic ruling deciding one of America's most contentious and emotional legal questions. Celebrations and joyful weddings quickly followed states where they had been forbidden.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836095-supreme-court-declares-us-wide-right-to-same-sex-marriage/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Gem merchants converge in Myanmar for flagship auction

Naypyidaw (Myanmar) (AFP) - Hundreds of merchants from China to Malaysia flocked to Naypyidaw on Friday to inspect jade and other precious stones at an annual auction that offered a glimpse into the country's notoriously murky but lucrative gems industry.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836094-gem-merchants-converge-in-myanmar-for-flagship-auction/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Myanmar, Thailand destroy nearly $1 bn in seized drugs

Yangon (AFP) - Myanmar and Thailand on Friday destroyed nearly $1 billion of seized narcotics to mark World Drugs Day, as the UN said East and Southeast Asia remained the world's biggest markets for synthetic drugs and heroin.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836097-myanmar-thailand-destroy-nearly-1-bn-in-seized-drugs/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

U.S. criticizes Myanmar military veto after law change fails

The United States said on Friday that an effective legislative veto held by Myanmar's military was undemocratic and reiterated calls for changes to the constitution, a day after lawmakers from the armed forces bloc rejected any significant amendments to the charter.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836098-us-criticizes-myanmar-military-veto-after-law-change-fails/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Gay couples wed on historic day as conservatives resist
By CLAIRE GALOFARO and KIM CHANDLER

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Benjamin Moore and Tadd Roberts wore matching tuxedos to the county clerk's office in Louisville to get married Friday, and the mayor greeted them with a bottle of champagne.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836095-supreme-court-declares-us-wide-right-to-same-sex-marriage/?p=9557166#entry9557166

[Lite Beer]

Chinese tour bus hits Phuket drugs suspect amid escape attempt
Eakkapop Thongtub

The bus full of Chinese tourists struck Nattawut Jaiphaew while he was attempting to flee police. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: A Phuket man arrested on drug charges was taken to hospital with a broken leg last night (June 26) after he was hit by a tour bus while attempting to flee Thalang police.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836132-chinese-tour-bus-hits-phuket-drugs-suspect-amid-escape-attempt/

[Lite Beer]

Govt. vows to find alternative sources of energy to reduce imports

BANGKOK, 27 June 2015 (NNT) - Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has affirmed the government’s commitment to develop alternative energy and reduce import dependence.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836134-govt-vows-to-find-alternative-sources-of-energy-to-reduce-imports/

[Lite Beer]

Seven died in passenger van crash on Asian Highway



BANGKOK: -- Seven passengers were killed and three others seriously injured when the passenger van they were travelling in from Sukhothai rammed at the rear of a 10-wheel truck on Asian Highway in Bang Pahan district of Ayutthaya on Friday night.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836138-seven-died-in-passenger-van-crash-on-asian-highway/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

“Dao Din” defiant students remanded in prison

BANGKOK: -- The 14 defiant student activists of the so called "Dao Din" group were remanded in Bangkok Special Prison after the Bangkok Military Court granted permission to the police 's request for the extension of their detention for 12 days.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836079-anti-coup-students-arrested/page-2#entry9558075

[Lite Beer]

DIP aims for higher leatherwear and shoe exports

BANGKOK, 27 June 2015 (NNT) – The Department of Industrial Promotion (DIP) is aiming for greater exports of Thai leather wear and shoes during the second half of the year hoping to exceed sixty billion baht in value by year's end, after seeing data that shows exports by the industry in the first quarter (Jan-Mar) increased 4.75 percent compared to the same quarter of last year.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836142-dip-aims-for-higher-leatherwear-and-shoe-exports/

[Lite Beer]

Prajin assures CTX scanners at Suvarnabhumi accredited by US and function properly

BANGKOK: -- Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong says the CTX luggage scanners at Suvarnabhumi airport are accredited by the US and they functioned properly although they have been used for over 10 years.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836148-prajin-assures-ctx-scanners-at-suvarnabhumi-accredited-by-us-and-function-properly/

[Lite Beer]

PAD learns of final verdict over airports
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has raised Bt7 million to cover court fees in a legal battle stemming from its occupation of Bangkok airports in 2008, a key leader of the group said yesterday.

Read More: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836150-pad-learns-of-final-verdict-over-airports/

[Lite Beer]

US should explain its harsh rights report on Thailand, govt says
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE United States has a duty to explain why it put Thailand alongside countries experiencing the most significant human rights setbacks in its latest human rights report, deputy government spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/836151-us-should-explain-its-harsh-rights-report-on-thailand-govt-says/