Κυριακή 12 Ιουνίου 2011

Ταϊλάνδη: Το βακτήριο E.coli

Ταϊλάνδη: Το βακτήριο E.coli σε κουνουπίδια από την Ευρώπη

ΑΠΕ Σάββατο, 11 Ιουνίου 2011 13:10
Τελευταία Ενημέρωση : 11/06/2011 13:42 Οι ταϊλανδικές ανακοίνωσαν σήμερα ότι το βακτήριο E.coli ανιχνεύτηκε σε κουνουπίδια που είχαν εισαχθεί από την Ευρώπη και διενεργούν εξετάσεις για να καθοριστεί αν πρόκειται για το ίδιο στέλεχος του βακτηρίου που έχει προκαλέσει το θάνατο 33 ανθρώπων στη γηραιά ήπειρο

Παρασκευή 20 Μαΐου 2011

Εφιάλτης για 308 επιβάτες της Qantas στην Ταϊλάνδη

Εφιάλτης για 308 επιβάτες της Qantas στην Ταϊλάνδη

Πρώτη καταχώρηση: Παρασκευή, 20 Μαΐου 2011, 10:07
Εφιαλτικές στιγμές έζησαν 308 επιβάτες και το πλήρωμα ενός αεροσκάφους της Qantas Airways όταν κατά την διάρκεια πτήσης από την Μπανγκόκ στο Λονδίνο παρουσίασε βλάβη στον ένα κινητήρα.Το αεροπλάνο αναγκάστηκε να επιστρέψει στο αεροδρόμιο της Ταϊλάνδης όταν έπειτα από ισχυρούς κραδασμούς και προβλήματα υπερθέρμανσης, ο πιλότος έθεσε εκτός λειτουργίας τον έναν από τους τέσσερις κινητήρες.

Σύμφωνα με εκπρόσωπο της εταιρίας, ο πιλότος αναγκάστηκε να σβήσει τον κινητήρα, ο οποίος ήταν κατασκευασμένος από τη Rolls-Royce, και να επιστρέψει για προληπτικούς λόγους στη Μπανγκόκ. «Το αεροσκάφος μπορεί να πετάξει με ασφάλεια μόνο με τους τρεις κινητήρες και έτσι προσγειώθηκε χωρίς προβλήματα στην Μπανγκόκ», τόνισε ο ίδιος.
Τελευταία ενημέρωση: Παρασκευή, 20 Μαΐου 2011, 10:14

Τετάρτη 18 Μαΐου 2011

Golden Triangle Expects Bumper Opium Crop in 2011

Golden Triangle Expects Bumper Opium Crop in 2011

Wanarapa Boonsu 
An opium farmer in the Golden Triangle inspects what is expected to be a bumper crop this year.
An opium farmer in the Golden Triangle inspects what is expected to be a bumper crop this year.
The year 2011 is expected to bring about an influx of opium from the Golden Triangle into Thailand. Most is expected to come from Myanmar.





The Golden Triangle is the second largest illicit opium producing area in the world following Afghanistan. Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand make up the triangle with the border between Myanmar and Thailand seeing the biggest flow of opium trade.
Despite efforts by America’s Drug Enforcement Administration or DEA and its related agencies to clamp down on opium production in the area 2011 is expected to see an influx of opium trade at the Myanmar-Thai border. Part of the problem lies with the lack of concrete action by governments to get rid of the drug trade.
Myanmar is not able to control areas belonging to ethnic minorities such as the Shan State.
The Shan State Army claims to be working hard to eradicate the opium trade. The DEA however has long accused the group of being a part of the trade. The army’s former leader General Khun Sa, was known as the King of Opium. During 1974-1994 he was believed to have dominated the trade of the drug.
Today the Shan State Army tries to show the world it has changed its face. After Khun Sa handed himself over to Myanmar in 1996, a new leader of the Shan State Army emerged when General Yawd Serk took over the fight against Myanmar’s military regime.To shed the poor image of the army’s involvement with the opium trade, he said the force was willing to cooperate with the DEA in eradicating the trade.
General Yawd Serk accuses the DEA of wanting the drug trade to continue to ensure they keep their jobs.The Shan State Army points the finger at Myanmar’s military. Despite the country’s clampdown on opium, 41 out of 52 targeted townships continue to grow poppy.
General Yawd Serk says the army gets funds from taxing farmers, gemstone mines, and by trading wood. He does however admit that opium farming continues as it is the only way for villagers to earn a living.
The Shan Army says more funding is needed to provide an alternative way to make money for famers who are tempted by the profits made from the drug trade whether it is through dealings with the Myanmar military, other ethnic militias, or perhaps even Thai authorities.
So are the Shan Army really helping with the drug war?
Or are they part of the trade themselves? Well the answer is never really there.
All we do know is that the boom in the drug trade in the Golden Triangle is at an increase and there still is question as to who is involved?

Thai Election Set for July 3

Thai Election Set for July 3

Wittaya Yensabai 16.05.2011 07:15
It is now up to the people to decide at the polling booth who will next lead a divided Thailand.
It is now up to the people to decide at the polling booth who will next lead a divided Thailand.
Thailand's long-promised general election will be held on July 3 after the way was cleared by His Majesty the King endorsing a royal decree to dissolve the lower house of Parliament, the House of Representatives, Government Spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn announced.





He said “His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has endorsed the royal decree to dissolve the House. The election will be held on 3 July.”
During its tenure of two-and-one half years, the Abhisit administration's Democrat-led coalition has encountered both political turbulence and economic problems, resulting in demands for the premier's resignation or the dissolution of Parliament.
One major crisis taking place during the Abhisit administration has been the repeated demonstrations of the anti-government Red Shirt 'United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)' which last year culminated in violence and the death of 90 people that included protesters, soldiers and civilians.
The prime minister earlier reasserted to anti-government groups that the lower House would be dissolved only when economic conditions are favourable and political divisiveness is diminished.
The term of the Democrat-led government was due to finish at the end of this year. It is the 12th Thai government having ended with the dissolution of the House. The last dissolution took place on Feb 24, 2006 when fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra announced the move following the pressure from the yellow-clad People's Alliance for Democracy.
Under the terms of dissolution, the authority of the Abhisit Cabinet ends with the royal decree to dissolve the parliament, but a caretaker government will run the country until a new Cabinet is appointed following the General Election.
The caretaker Cabinet has legitimacy to announce the enforcement of measures to ensure national security such as a state of emergency or martial law, but is prohibited from transferring civil servants or government officials, and approving any project which will be binding to the new government.