Education: Thai students won four silver medals at the 29th International Biology Olympiad in the Iranian capital of Tehran, which saw Vietnam secure first place.
Thais scoop four silvers at Olympiad
A team of three boys and one girl, now studying at Mahidol Wittayanusorn, Triam Udom Suksa and Debsirin schools, are scheduled to arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport this morning where officials will hold a welcome home ceremony for them, Chukit Limpichamnong, chief of the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology, said yesterday.
The eight-day competition, which ended yesterday, was joined by 270 secondary school students from 70 countries.
The Thai students were among 54 competitors who were awarded the silver medal. 27 students won the gold medals with Vietnam, China and Taiwan taking the top three spots.
The 29-year-old competition tests students' problem-solving skills in both theory and the laboratory.
Skeleton likely to be missing Aussie
Mae Hong Son: A human skeleton believed to be that of an Australian man reported missing two months ago was found at the foot of a mountain in Pai district on Saturday.
Local police was alerted by residents to the discovery of the skeleton near a weir at the foot of the Khao Ban Mae Yen mountain range. Police found a black sling bag hung on a tree nearby which contained the passport of Phillip Keith Watson, 63.
In May, a local guesthouse owner reported that a guest had gone missing. The police mobilised a search but to no avail.
Pol Col Samarn Jitboon, chief of Pai police, said the skeleton will be sent to Bangkok for DNA tests and the Australian embassy has been informed.
Croc continues local beach tour
phuket: A crocodile being hunted by officials following sightings off Phuket, is believed to be on its way to Freedom, Paradise and Patong beaches after it was spotted briefly yesterday.
It was the second time the reptile came ashore after it was seen "sunbathing" on Kata Beach on Saturday morning, officials said.
Its appearance caused a hunting team to launch a new capture plan after it escaped from a net they set up last Thursday.
The hunters were just 20 metres away from the crocodile, but when it saw their approach, the creature "shook its tail and fled", an official close to the hunting operation said.
Officials at Freedom, Paradise and Patong beaches have been told to brace for the reptile's arrival.
The crocodile was first spotted on Jul 18 near Yanui beach by a fisherman. It is estimated to be between two and three metres in size.
Embankment on course in Lat Phrao
Engineering: City Hall has completed installing almost 40% of 60,000 concrete foundation pieces along Khlong Lat Phrao to solve home encroachment on the canal which is blamed for blocking flood drainage.
The construction of an 16-kilometre embankment along Khlong Lat Phrao is progressing well, assistant spokesman for defence Pornchanok Amphan said yesterday.
Under the solution, people whose homes were built into the canal have to relocate while officials build the embankment.
Relocated families have been told to join the state Ban Mankhong housing project which will provide them with new homes.
Up to 2,775 homeowners have already moved into their new homes since May, she said.
Facebook post leads to cleanup
Surat Thani: The municipal office has cleaned out the drainage system in Ban Maenam community after it was inundated with waste water from nearby neighbourhoods which also flowed into a nearby beach.
The office was spurred to act after receiving a complaint made on Facebook by Greg Lester about waste water flowing into the beach in Ban Maenam area.
Provincial governor Wichwut Jinto led an inspection of the area and found neighbourhoods close to Ban Maenam community did not have a drainage system.
He said the municipality has cleaned out the system and is spending 10 million on building a water treatment pond into which the waste water will be diverted.
