Thailand Live Saturday 4 Jul 2015

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Myanmar President Thein Sein To Consider Second Term: Japanese Media

RANGOON — In a rare interview with Japanese news agency NHK, Burma’s President urged infrastructure investment and indicated that he would consider seeking a second term as head of state.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837838-myanmar-president-thein-sein-to-consider-second-term-japanese-media/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Video: Interview With Outgoing Swiss Ambassador to Burma

By THE IRRAWADDY - July 3, 2015

Outgoing Swiss Ambassador to Burma Christoph Burgener, who attended a preliminary meeting of ethnic peace negotiators in Chiang Mai on Thursday, speaks to The Irrawaddy about Switzerland’s involvement in the peace process and progress towards a nationwide ceasefire agreement.

Watch it here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837835-video-interview-with-outgoing-swiss-ambassador-to-burma/

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: “Fest & Fun: Explore Central Region of Thailand Fair” this weekend at BITEC Bang Na, 10am-9pm #Bangkok #Thailand http://t.co/DJMsa0mVTq

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Art Box Bangkok this weekend at ARL Makkasan from 3pm-midnight http://t.co/Jw6mXfM8ey

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Independence Day Picnic on Saturday from noon-8pm at KIS International School #Bangkok. Tickets cost 300 Baht http://t.co/aosU46uD5S

[Lite Beer]

CAS explain how Vanessa-Mae cleared of Olympic ski race fix

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Pop violinist Vanessa-Mae exploited weak International Ski Federation rules and got help from Alpine race officials "smitten" by her celebrity to qualify for the Sochi Olympics, according to sport's highest court.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837856-cas-explain-how-vanessa-mae-cleared-of-olympic-ski-race-fix/

[Lite Beer]

Cambodian drowns over 300 Baht in Pattaya Bay

PATTAYA:--A 41 year old Cambodian drowned in Pattaya Bay on Thursday after 300 Baht fell into the water and he decided to jump into the water to retrieve the money and was never seen alive again.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837860-cambodian-drowns-over-300-baht-in-pattaya-bay/

[Lite Beer]

Russian Fugitive arrested by Pattaya Immigration Police

PATTAYA:--Immigration Officers arrested a 25 year old Russian National on Friday who was the second man arrested in Pattaya following a request from Russian Police to locate and arrest two Russians wanted in connection with serious crimes in their native country.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837858-russian-fugitive-arrested-by-pattaya-immigration-police/

[Lite Beer]

Gold steady at B18,750 /Bangkok Post

[Lite Beer]

Commerce Ministry’s mobile blue flag units to be sent to 755 sub-districts nationwide this month

BANGKOK, 4 July 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Commerce is sending out mobile blue flag buses to 755 sub-districts in 128 districts, 19 provinces this month which have been severely affected by droughts, offering commodity goods at a 30 - 50 percent discount.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837869-commerce-ministrys-mobile-blue-flag-units-to-be-sent-to-755-sub-districts-nationwide-this-month/

[Lite Beer]

Hotel fire in Sakhon Nakhon

A fire broke out last night at JPK Mansion hotel in downtown Sakon Nakhon province forcing all guests to flee from rooms.
Nobody was injured in the fire at the five-storey hotel building which accommodates 120 rooms.

Witnesses said the fire started first in Room 326 on the third floor where there was no occupant.

Huge smoke came out of the room forcing a fire alarm and immediate evacuation of guests staying upper floors.

About a dozen of fire trucks arrived shortly later, and firemen have to break open the locked door of the room to put out the fire before it spread.

As thick smoke cover most floors, hotel staff and firemen helped to open all windows of the rooms for ventilation.

Nobody was hurt except some guests who were suffocated by the smokes.

Hotel staff said 21 rooms on the fourth and fifth floors were occupied by guests, while no guest checking in on the third floor.

It was not immediately known the cause of the fire.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/hotel-fire-in-sakhon-nakhon

-- Thai PBS 2015-07-04

[Lite Beer]

PM urges all sectors to work towards unity

BANGKOK, 4 July 2015 (NNT) – Prime Minister Prayut Cha-o-cha has called on the public to patiently await social reconciliation, while urging related sectors to work hard towards unity.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837894-pm-urges-all-sectors-to-work-towards-unity/

[Lite Beer]

Police Arrest 21 People Over Long-Running BKK Gem Scam

By Khaosod Eng.

A police press conference on the arrests of store managers and tuk-tuk drivers who have scammed foreign tourists, 3 July 2015.

BANGKOK — Police say they have raided several jewelry stores and arrested 21 people in connection with a notorious tourist scam in Bangkok.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837896-police-arrest-21-people-over-long-running-bkk-gem-scam/

[Lite Beer]

RT@BeingAndrea: #Bangkok #brekingnews

Tomorrow #WatPhraKew will close at 2pm instead of 3.30

#Thailand

http://t.co/Mvpsw5ucZk http://t.co/I71MLn98Yc

[Lite Beer]

RT@thaicam: Radio Thailand newsreader just read "cured" as "killed" in a report about the Omani MERS patient's release from hospital #oops

[Lite Beer]

Prachuap Khiri Khan holds MERS handling drill

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, 4 July 2015 (NNT) - Prachuap Khiri Khan yesterday held a drill to handle the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), aiming to prepare medical personnel and equipment in the coastal province for a possible outbreak.

The drill was arranged at the provincial hospital by the public health office of Prachuap Khiri Khan. The area is considered a risk zone to MERS due to a large number of foreign tourists including, among them, those travelling from the Republic of Korea and Middle East countries, which have been struck by MERS outbreak.

The drill offered an educational class on virus prevention, indoor-practicing skill, and workshops on tissue sample taking and how to use protective gear.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), MERS has already taken 484 lives, and infected 1,356 people in 26 countries as of June 26th. Thailand had one MERS-infected patient from Oman. He has recently been declared cured.

-- NNT 2015-07-04

[Lite Beer]

New Immigration Office for Chiang Mai:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837893-new-immigration-office/

[Lite Beer]

3 Cambodian workers died in farm chemical explosion in Chanthaburi

CHANTABURI: -- Three Cambodian workers were killed and two others injured in a powerful farm chemical explosion in Soi Dao district of Chanthaburi province yesterday afternoon.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837919-3-cambodian-workers-died-in-farm-chemical-explosion-in-chanthaburi/

[Lite Beer]

2.8 magnitude quake rocks near Bhumibol dam

TAK: -- A 2.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Tak province yesterday, only 70 kilometres from Bhumibol hydroelectric dam, but has no impact on the dam.
Bhumibol dam director Nattawut Jaemjang said the quake hit Tambon Ban Na of Sam Ngao district, Tak province at 2.27 pm.

The epicentre of the 2.8 magnitude quake was four kilometres deep underground and 70 kilometres off the Bhumibol concrete dam wall, he said.

He said residents in the dam area felt the mild quake but it has no impact on the dam.

He said as soon as the quake happened, authorities were out to closely monitor he incident and check the effects on the dam structure at all test points and found nothing unusual.

But he assured that all hydroelectric dams in the country have deployed staff to monitor the earthquake around the clock and all dams are stable and safe.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/2-8-magnitude-quake-rocks-near-bhumibol-dam

-- Thai PBS 2015-07-04

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Suspect re-enacts killing of Phuket's Supercheap worker
Darawan Naknakhon

Photo by Darawan Naknakhon

PHUKET: The man caught in connection with the murder of a Supercheap worker in the early hours of Thursday morning (July 2) was escorted to re-enact the crime scene in Rasssada yesterday (July 3) while the second man is still being hunted.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837788-phuket-supercheap-worker-murder-case-suspect-caught/#entry9582991

[Lite Beer]

British man dies of suspected heart attack in Plai Leam Samui

A 46 year old British man died in the early hours of Friday (3rd July) morning after suffering a suspected heart attack in Plai Leam.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837923-british-man-dies-of-suspected-heart-attack-in-plai-leam-samui/

[Lite Beer]

Prayut invites Japanese SMEs to invest more in Mekong Subregion

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has invited Japanese small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to invest more in the Mekong Subregion by taking an advantage of its logistics transport linkage.

This was because Thailand has set a budget of more than 7 trillion yen to spend on infrastructure transport development for the next eight years in a bid to reduce logistics cost and increase competitiveness of Thailand and also the Mekong region.

Prayut addressed during the luncheon taking place at Imperial Hotel on Saturday with heads of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV countries) and more than 1,000 Japanese business persons led by leaders of Keiranden and JCCI that the industries demanded for more investments were in particular to agriculture, processed agricultural products, and high technology-oriented industries as well as recycling and alternative energy. This was in line of the Japanese government’s policy to promote SMEs to expand its investment abroad, especially the Mekong region as an extended production base of Japan.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Prayut-invites-Japanese-SMEs-to-invest-more-in-Mek-30263763.html

-- The Nation 2015-07-04

[Lite Beer]

Government to present 6 draft digital economy-related laws to NLA

BANGKOK, 5 July 2015 (NNT) - The government is preparing the first set of draft laws related to the introduction of digital economy for the deliberation of the National Legislative Assembly.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837926-government-to-present-6-draft-digital-economy-related-laws-to-nla/

[Lite Beer]

Labour activists urge for inclusion of informal workers into system

BANGKOK, 5 July 2015 (NNT) - A group of labour activists is urging the National Legislative Assembly to include informal workers into the country’s system.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837933-labour-activists-urge-for-inclusion-of-informal-workers-into-system/

[Lite Beer]

Ranong launches border trade expo to promote economy

RANONG, 4 July 2015 (NNT) – In a new move to promote the local economy, the southern province of Ranong is holding a border trade expo showcasing selected products within the country and from neighbouring Myanmar.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837935-ranong-launches-border-trade-expo-to-promote-economy/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Would euro departure help or hurt Europe's currency union?

DAVID McHUGH, AP Business Writer

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837936-would-euro-departure-help-or-hurt-europes-currency-union/

[Lite Beer]

Man in wheelchair arrested for robbing NYC bank

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City man in a wheelchair has been arrested two days after he pocketed $1,212 in a daytime bank robbery, authorities announced Friday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837938-man-in-wheelchair-arrested-for-robbing-nyc-bank/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Fatal fire on Japan's airtight bullet train exposes lapses

MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — A fatal fire on Japan's bullet train, started by a man who self-immolated this week, has revealed blind spots in a system renowned for its speed, punctuality and safety record.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837937-fatal-fire-on-japans-airtight-bullet-train-exposes-lapses/

[Lite Beer]

RT@fishmyman: Locals at Nonthaburi municipality say water levels on the Chaophraya are abnormally low http://t.co/o7gfI31f12

[Lite Beer]

PM asks all agencies to alleviate student disputes

BANGKOK, 4 July 2015 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has ordered all related agencies to stringently reduce student conflicts and create an educational network among institutions to enhance the work quality in the future:

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/837946-pm-asks-all-agencies-to-alleviate-student-disputes/