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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Healthcare funds in intensive care; Govt caves in on rice; Secret Deep South talks; Supercar probe: DSI IDs BMW

Written By Unknown on Monday, 1 July 2013 | 20:40

Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/07/02/phuket-gazette-thailand-news-healthcare-funds-in-intensive-care-govt-caves-in-on-rice-secret-deep-south-talks-supercar-probe-dsi-ids-bmw/

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Phuket Grimes brothers’ karting season speeds up

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Experts probe deadly Arizona blaze, as bodies removed

The bodies of 19 young firefighters killed in America's deadliest wildfire in 80 years were removed in a cortege of white vans, as experts probed how they perished so suddenly.

Hotshot firefighters mourn 21-year-old Kevin Woyjeck during the Yarnell fire memorial service held at Embry-Little Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, on July 1, 2013. The bodies of 19 young firefighters killed in America's deadliest wildfire in 80 years were removed in a cortege of white vans, as experts probed how they perished so suddenly.

The names of the dead men, mostly in their 20s, were released a day after the Yarnell Hill fire tragedy, in which all but one of a 20-strong elite team were killed, many in cocoon-like last-ditch protection shelters.

The blaze, which quadrupled in size overnight, was the most lethal since the September 11, 2011 which cost the lives of 340 firefighters in the ashes of the Twin Towers in New York.

As a makeshift memorial grew outside the victims' home station, including American flags and 19 water bottles arranged in a heart shape, Arizona governor Jan Brewer ordered flags to be flown at half-staff through Wednesday.

"The Yarnell fire exploded into a firestorm that overran the local Granite Mountain hotshots," she said, using the name of the elite firefighting unit, which typically goes in first to set up initial fire containment lines.

Recalling the 340 who died on 9/11, she added: "Just as we honor the memory of the firefighters lost that day as they charged into the burning towers, we will remember the brave men of the Granite Mountain hotshots."

President Barack Obama telephoned Brewer — a Republican with whom he has previously had strained relations — to pledge federal aid to help learn from the tragedy, and deal with the blaze.

"He also expressed his gratitude to the hundreds of first responders who continue to work around the clock to protect homes and businesses from this deadly blaze," the White House said in a statement.

The victims' bodies were loaded into a fleet of white coroner's vans Monday for the 85 mile (135 km) trip south to Phoenix, where a large stars-and-stripes flag billowed in the wind as they arrived, guards standing solemnly by.

By Monday the raging fire had ripped through more than 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares), up from 2,000 late Sunday, and was zero percent contained, officials said.

High winds were expected to worsen the blaze, complicating the task for the some 400 firefighters now battling it, up from 200 on Sunday.

"It's a very difficult situation," said Arizona land management spokesman Dennis Godfrey. "The high winds are a real danger… It's even a greater danger when those winds are shifting directions."

The dead firefighters' names were released: 14 of them were in their 20s; the youngest was 21, the oldest 43. Officials stressed that the nature of the hotshots' work meant they needed to be in the peak of physical fitness.

Juliann Ashcraft told the AZ Central website that her husband Andrew died in the blaze.

"They died heroes .. We'll miss them. We love them," said Ashcraft, who learned about the tragedy while watching TV with her four children.

Officials said the deaths were under investigation but that the firefighters appeared to have deployed fire shelters — last-ditch protection equipment — just before they were engulfed in flames.

"It's a very elite group of people who are highly trained, highly motivated, very fit… We don't know what happened," Wade Ward, a visibly shocked Prescott Fire Department spokesman, told CNN early Monday.

Hundreds of residents of Yarnell and Peeples Valley were meanwhile evacuated, officials said, as the blaze continued to tear through the area.

Figures from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) show that the Arizona deaths are the worst firefighter fatalities from a wildfire since 29 died fighting a blaze in Los Angeles's Griffith Park in 1933.

The Yarnell Hill wildfire is the worst of several raging across Arizona and comes two weeks after two people died and 360 homes burned down in the western state of Colorado's most destructive blaze ever.

Record and near-record temperatures left much of the US southwest sweltering over the weekend, with Death Valley in California equaling the hottest ever June temperature in the United States, at 129 degrees Fahrenheit (53 Celsius).

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/world/357906/experts-probe-deadly-arizona-blaze-as-bodies-removed

Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/07/02/experts-probe-deadly-arizona-blaze-as-bodies-removed/

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A losing game

Jul 01, 2013 | Comments 0

With less than four weeks to the general election, and by all predictions, the start of President Hun Sen's fourth term in office, real estate analysts expect little will change in the country's emerging market.

According to an article from The Cambodia Daily, the stability that has resulted from more than 20 years of Cambodian People's Party (CPP) rule has given foreign and local investors enough confidence to embark on large scale infrastructure and property projects, something which was rare just five or ten year ago. Especially land and property investments are popular with land prices in Phnom Penh having in some instances increased by 25 percent in the past six months, according to data from Bonna Realty Group, a local realtor. Land prices in central areas currently sell for US$3,300 per square metre, which is comparable to pre-2008 levels.

Property and infrastructure development is commonly regarded as welcome signs that a country is progressing but in many cases corruption and mismanagement become the order of the day and in the case of Cambodia, one can't quite mention land and infrastructure development without also having to mention illegal land grabs and human rights abuses, both of which are unfortunately also closely linked to the CCP.

So while the flurry of project launches of late may exist on the back of political stability, local and foreign investors should make the coming election, and Hun Sen's victory, an opportunity to shed light on some of the graver events taking place, and demand more transparency and better practices.

Filed Under: Editor's view

Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/07/02/a-losing-game/

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China probes staff of Britain’s GlaxoSmithKline

Chinese police are investigating senior management staff of British drug firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in China for suspected "economic crimes", according to a statement.

The headquarters of pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in west London, in 2002. Chinese police are investigating senior management staff of the British drug firm in China for suspected "economic crimes", according to a statement.

Police in the central Chinese city of Changsha said they were investigating personnel of GlaxoSmithKline (China) Investment Co., said the statement, which was reported by state media on Monday.

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post newspaper on Monday said police had detained company employees in three cities: Changsha, the commercial hub Shanghai and Beijing.

A spokeswoman for the company, which has its China headquarters in Shanghai, declined to comment, saying she was not authorised to speak to overseas media.

Internet postings, which could not be confirmed, said more than 10 police in plainclothes entered the GSK office in Shanghai last Thursday and seized account books.

The allegations involve at least one foreign executive employed by the company, said the postings on China's Twitter-like microblogs.

The exact nature of the allegations was not specified by Changsha police. But authorities typically use the phrase "economic crimes" when referring to corruption.

It is common practice for Chinese pharmaceutical firms to offer doctors and hospitals bribes to have their products used, industry insiders say.

GSK is one of the largest multinational pharmaceutical companies in China with total investment of more than $500 million, according to its website.

Last month, GSK said data was "misrepresented" in a paper written by scientists at its China research centre published in the journal "Nature Medicine" in 2010.

The company sacked one person involved and placed three others on administrative leave while another resigned, it said.

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/world/357780/china-probes-staff-of-britain-glaxosmithkline

Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/07/01/china-probes-staff-of-britains-glaxosmithkline/

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Djokovic, Serena top Wimbledon bill on super Monday

Written By Unknown on Sunday, 30 June 2013 | 19:47

Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams top the bill at Wimbledon's super Monday when they attempt to capitalise on the shock exits of their heavyweight Grand Slam rivals, while home hope Andy Murray is also in action.

Novak Djokovic waves to the crowd after beating Jeremy Chardy in the third round at Wimbledon on June 29, 2013. Djokovic won 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 and takes on 35-year-old Tommy Haas, the oldest player left in the men's draw, on Monday.

Djokovic, the top seed and world number one, takes on 35-year-old Tommy Haas, the oldest player left in the men's draw.

Djokovic, the 2011 champion, has not dropped his serve in his three rounds so far and in his straight sets demolition of Jeremy Chardy on Saturday he fired 38 winners and just three unforced errors.

Haas was a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2009 and Djokovic has no intention of underestimating the German.

"It's going to be a big challenge for both of us," the Serb said.

"He loves playing on grass and beat Roger (Federer) in the final of Halle last year.

"He doesn't look like a 35-year-old for sure. He's full of confidence on the court and he's been playing very close to the best tennis of his life.

"There's no clear favourite in that match. I need to try to repeat this performance. If I do I think I have a good chance."

Women's defending champion Serena Williams racked-up her 600th career win in her ruthless 6-2, 6-0 win over Japanese 42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm in Saturday's third round.

Williams, chasing a sixth Wimbledon title and 17th Grand Slam crown, faces German 23rd seed Sabine Lisicki for a quarter-final place.

Victory on Monday will give her a 35th successive win, taking her level with sister Venus's record set in 2000.

Lisicki was a semi-finalist in 2011 and made the quarter-finals last year, knocking out Maria Sharapova on the way.

"I was in this situation last year when everybody was saying that Sharapova was the favourite. I'm probably going into the match on Monday as the underdog, but I like that," said Lisicki.

Madcap Russian Mikhail Youzhny and injury-plagued Estonian Kaia Kanepi will aim to shatter British hopes.

Youzhny tackles second seed Murray with a 2-0 career deficit against the US Open champion and a reputation for living on the edge when his game goes astray.

At the French Open, the 29-year-old smashed the same racquet nine times, sending shards spiralling into the air and ball boys running for cover in a stunning meltdown during his defeat to Haas.

That random act of violence becoming an instant YouTube hit.

Youzhny, seeded 20 at Wimbledon, is notorious on the tour for his hair-trigger temper.

At Miami in 2008, playing Spain's Nicolas Almagro, he smashed his racquet on his head so violently that blood spilled onto the court.

These days, he celebrates each victory by calmly bouncing his racquet on his head instead.

"Sometimes everybody has some problems. Yeah, bad luck for the racquet and bad luck for me because I still lost that match," said Youzhny, who made the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year.

"I think during the match, when I do this one, maybe it helps me, and I come back like another player to the court.

"It happened to me only a few times, but it happens sometimes with all people, I think."

Kanepi, meanwhile, tackles Laura Robson -- the first British woman in the last 16 since 1998 -- having already eliminated Tara Moore of the home nation in the first round.

The 28-year-old, ranked world number 46, has already illustrated her potential at the tournament, knocking out German seventh seed Angelique Kerber in the second round.

She also made the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2010, the same year she reached the last eight at the US Open, and has twice made the quarter-finals of the French Open.

Kanepi missed the last half of the 2012 season with an Achilles tendon injury, only returning to the circuit in April.

"I think I'm faster and I'm fitter than before," insisted Kanepi, who said she is happy to face a hostile crowd.

"They are all going to be against me, the crowd. I think I'm going to enjoy that."

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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/07/01/djokovic-serena-top-wimbledon-bill-on-super-monday/

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Nuclear material needs to be secure

TERRORISM

World leaders have devoted increasing attention in recent years to the risk of terrorists obtaining nuclear or other radioactive material. That's the good news. But all of us need to act with greater urgency in translating good intentions into concrete action.

The risk of nuclear or other radioactive material falling into the wrong hands is all too real. There have been embarrassing security lapses at nuclear facilities, and sensitive material is often inadequately secured. Indeed, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) records numerous cases of theft and other unauthorised activities involving nuclear and radioactive material every year. Most of these incidents are fairly minor, but some are more serious. Some material goes missing and is never found.

An incident in Moldova two years ago involving highly enriched uranium _ which can be used in a nuclear weapon _ illustrates both the scale of the threat and the possibility of effective counter-measures if countries take the problem seriously. Police seized a quantity of the substance from an individual who was attempting to sell it. The smugglers had tried to evade detection by building a shielded container _ a worrisome level of sophistication on their part.

Fortunately, the Moldovan authorities had been working hard to improve their detection capabilities. They had also shared information with their counterparts in other countries. The uranium was seized in a sting operation. Arrests were made and several people received prison sentences.

Most cases of attempted trafficking do not involve nuclear material; rather, they involve radioactive substances of the type held in hospitals, factories and other locations all over the world. These locations are generally not as well protected as nuclear facilities. Even a relatively small amount of material such as cobalt-60 _ which is used in radiotherapy _ could cause serious harm if combined with conventional explosives in a so-called dirty bomb (or otherwise deliberately used to expose the public to dangerous radiation).

Foreign and energy ministers will have an opportunity to strengthen the global nuclear security framework when they meet at the International Conference on Nuclear Security: Enhancing Global Efforts in Vienna on July 1-5. This will be the first such event that is open to all countries.

At the top of the agenda should be ratification of improvements to a crucial nuclear security instrument _ the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. The proposed amendment would oblige countries to protect nuclear material when it is being used or stored, not just when it is being transported internationally, as is the case now. It would also require countries to protect nuclear facilities against acts of sabotage, which could have consequences similar to those of nuclear accidents.

The proposed amendment was agreed in 2005, but it still has not entered into force, because not enough countries have ratified it. That needs to change if major vulnerabilities are to be addressed successfully.

Nuclear security is a matter of global concern, and global action is required. Efforts by just a handful of major players will not be sufficient to keep the world safe. We cannot afford to have weak links in our chain of defence. All countries must play their part.

Even countries that do not possess nuclear or other radioactive material need to act. There is evidence that criminal and terrorist gangs have attempted to traffic material through countries perceived to have lax security. It is imperative that they do not succeed.

One simple measure would make a big difference here _ all countries should allow peer reviews of their nuclear-security arrangements by international experts. Peer reviews have been shown to work _ for example, in improving safety at nuclear power plants. Everyone benefits. Bringing experts in nuclear security together to share their experience is a no-brainer. More countries need to do it.

Following Moldova's example, all countries should also ensure that law-enforcement officers are properly trained to respond to the menace of nuclear terrorism. Countries must invest in equipment and infrastructure and share information across borders.

The fact that there has been no major nuclear terrorist attack should not lull us into a fall sense of security. The threat remains. We must seize the opportunity to ensure that our worst nightmare never becomes our waking reality. 2013 PROJECT SYNDICATE

Yukiya Amano is director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.