Why Do You Even Drink?

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755 beggars have registered nationwide

BANGKOK, 3 February 2015 (NNT) - A total of 755 beggars have registered with authorities, following the government's efforts to regulate them, Social Development and Human Security Adul Saengsingkaew said on Monday.

Most of the panhandlers are in Bangkok, while others are in Chon Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Rai and Nakhon Sawan. Five hundred and sixty of them are Thai nationals. The rest are migrants.

Meanwhile, beggars with children must prove that they are related.

Pol Gen Adul said his ministry and relevant agencies launched a nationwide crackdown on beggars between Jan 26 and 30.

The ministry has screened those who violated the Beggar Control Act (1941) and dealt with human trafficking complaints. Beggars who have registered will be informed about the rule and regulations.


-- NNT 2015-02-03

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SIAM PARAGON EXPLOSION
Hunt for bombers
THE NATION



2 men 'caught on CCTV', security upgraded nationwide

BANGKOK: -- SECURITY will be heightened across the country following double explosions in Bangkok's shopping district on Sunday night as police hunt for at least two culprits believed to have been recorded on surveillance cameras.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797157-hunt-for-siam-paragon-bombers/

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Siam Paragon explosion 'will not affect tourism in the long term'
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The bomb explosion outside Siam Paragon shopping mall in downtown Bangkok on Sunday night is expected to affect the tourism industry during the upcoming Chinese New Year festival, though a top official said there would be no long-term damage.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797158-siam-paragon-explosion-will-not-affect-tourism-in-the-long-term/

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CONSTITUTION WATCH
Rights body fights for life, appeals to PM
Wiraj Sripong
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The national human rights agency will submit a petition to the prime minister, the president of the National Legislative Assembly and the chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee to express its opposition to a CDC proposal calling for the watchdog to be merged with the Ombudsman.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797159-rights-body-fights-for-life-appeals-to-pm-prayut/

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UPDATE:

Registration of ivory 'aimed at killing trade in African tusks'
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- A NEW LAW requiring people who own locally sourced ivory to register with the government is meant to separate them from people who own ivory from Africa, Nipon Chotibal, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797058-registration-of-ivory-tusks-and-ivory-products-starts-in-thailand/#entry9021386

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CONSTITUTION WATCH
CDC told to heed political reforms
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH,
KHANITTHA THEPPHAJORN
THE NATION

NEW CHARTER WILL BE 'SHOT DOWN IF WRITERS IGNORE THE NRC'

BANGKOK: -- NATIONAL REFORM Council member Alongkorn Ponlaboot yesterday urged the Constitution Drafting Committee to listen more to the NRC's suggestions to prevent the new Constitution being "shot down".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797160-thai-constitution-cdc-told-to-heed-political-reforms/

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UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE
Ammar to resolve health scheme
CHULARAT SAENGPASSA
THE NATION

Panel to help ease disputes over NHSO funding

BANGKOK: -- AMMAR SIAMWALLA, a prominent member of the Thailand Development Research Institute, will head a panel to set the record straight about the universal healthcare scheme by looking into information supplied by both the Public Health Ministry and the National Health Security Office (NHSO).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797161-ammar-to-resolve-thai-health-scheme/

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NCPO 'needs to reveal motive for bombings'
Business reporters
The Nation

Private sector calls for True picture as incident occurred during martial law

BANGKOK: -- The private sector yesterday urged the government to reveal the real reason for Sunday's bombing of the skybridge to the upscale Siam Paragon shopping complex for fear that investor confidence and tourism could be seriously set back if the attack was repeated.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797162-ncpo-needs-to-reveal-motive-for-bombings/

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EDITORIAL
Blinded by patriotic faith?
The Nation

Thais venting their fury over a US diplomat's 'meddling' in our domestic affairs seem to have lost sight of basic democratic principles

BANGKOK: -- Hopefully, Thais' rejection of American criticism of the junta doesn't mean they are rejecting democratic principles and the rule of law in the Kingdom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797163-thai-editorial-blinded-by-patriotic-faith/

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STREETWISE
Corporate generosity can help beat dangerous inequality
Achara Deboonme

Last month, top political and business leaders gathered in Davos, Switzerland, for talks that could change the world.

BANGKOK: -- In line with this year's theme at the World Economic Forum (WEF) - "inequality and climate change" - Oxfam International released a shocking report. The anti-poverty charity found that by next year, 1 per cent of the world's population will own more wealth than the other 99 per cent.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797164-thai-opinion-corporate-generosity-can-help-beat-dangerous-inequality/

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Thailand moving forward: Economic reforms under the interim govt
Pridiyathorn Devakula
Special to The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A growing trend of Thai success across Asean and China, coupled with three key government measures and more work to come, are paving the way to better times, says MR Pridiyathorn Devakula

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797165-thailand-moving-forward-economic-reforms-under-the-interim-govt/

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2 French Men Arrested For ATM Skimming in Pattaya
By Khaosod English


The skimming device allegedly used by 2 French men to steal information from the ATM cards of foreign tourists in Pattaya.

CHONBURI — Police say they have arrested two French men who allegedly stole data from foreign tourists' ATM cards in Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797166-2-french-nationals-arrested-for-atm-skimming-in-pattaya/

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Murder and Suicide at North Pattaya Apartment



PATTAYA: -- A man is thought to have shot his girlfriend and then turned the gun on himself inside a North Pattaya apartment in the early hours of Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797167-murder-and-suicide-at-north-pattaya-apartment/

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Pattaya Prostitution and Human Trafficking Bar Crackdowns continue



PATTAYA: -- On Monday Night, District Officials, assisted by the Thai Army and local Police, continued to visit Bars and other entertainment venues in the Pattaya area in search of those engaging in Prostitution and venues which engage in Human Trafficking.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797168-pattaya-prostitution-and-human-trafficking-bar-crackdowns-continue/

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Two arrested in armed robbery case at North Pattaya Condominium



PATTAYA: -- Nongprue Police announced on Monday the arrest of two men wanted in connection with an armed robbery of a Security Guard at a North Pattaya Condominium last Thursday Night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797170-two-arrested-in-armed-robbery-case-at-north-pattaya-condominium/

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Bangkok taxis demand second round of fare increase



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok taxi operators are preparing to demand another round of fare increase, citing the latest increase of NGV by 50 satang per kilo last week, making a combined increase of 1.50 baht in total. Increase of NGV twice is a cost burden for them, they said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797171-bangkok-taxis-demand-second-round-of-fare-increase/

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Want World Heritage status? Clean your beaches – Phuket Gov
Nattha Thepbamrung


Santad Panbanpaew, Chief of the Phuket Weather & Radio Station, holds a bag for the Governor to drop garbage into.

PHUKET: -- Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwang this morning (February 2) visited Karon Beach as part of his series of monthly beach clean-ups. He was joined by a large contingent of volunteers from both private and public sectors.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797172-want-world-heritage-status-clean-your-beaches-phuket-gov/

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BURNING ISSUE
Time for public to start asking some vital questions
KRIS BHROMSUTHI

BANGKOK: -- THE CHARTER-drafting process that began early last month has produced some significant indicators of the vision and underlying political ideologies of the Constitution Drafting Committee's members and how they might affect the country's future.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797173-thai-politics-time-for-public-to-start-asking-some-vital-questions/

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UPDATE:

All quiet as premier tours farmers' co-op and reviews rice policies
The Nation



KORAT: -- PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha made his first official inspection of the year, meeting with officials and a farmers' co-operative yesterday in Phimai district in Nakhon Ratchasima - his home town - to address problems that farmers face.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797014-pm-visits-korat-rice-farmers/#entry9021482

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Suspect from previous blasts still at large
THE NATION



WITH "POLITICALLY MOTIVATED" bomb blasts rocking Thailand again on Sunday, the country has learned a hard fact that a prime suspect in old cases is still on the run.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797175-thailand-suspect-from-previous-bomb-blasts-still-at-large/

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UPDATE:

Market dredging turns up bones, pipe bomb
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Police yesterday submitted 65 pieces of bone, discovered along with a tear gas cylinder, a pipe bomb and a giant firecracker, during the dredging of Pradongmanutum Canal.The bones have been taken for examination to the Institute of Forensic Science at the Police General Hospital to see if they were human.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797037-human-bones-found-in-canal-near-thai-government-house-again/?p=9021499#entry9021499

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BMA campaigns to remove fire dangers
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokeswoman Tridao Apaiwong yesterday reported 342 fires occurred in six months in the BMA area(from July to December 2014). Most resulted from electrical short-circuits (62 per cent); unattended lit jossticks and candles (39 per cent); and food left unattended on stoves (28 per cent).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797176-bangkok-bma-campaigns-to-remove-fire-dangers/

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Al-Jazeera reporter has mixed feelings on release from jail
By HAMZA HENDAWI

CAIRO (AP) — Al-Jazeera journalist Peter Greste expressed "relief and excitement" Monday at being freed after more than a year in an Egyptian prison, but also said he felt real stress over leaving his two jailed colleagues behind.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797177-al-jazeera-reporter-eter-greste-has-mixed-feelings-on-release-from-jail/

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Haunting parallels between Whitney Houston, daughter
By KATE BRUMBACK and TAMARA LUSH

ROSWELL, Georgia (AP) — The parallels are haunting: Bobbi Kristina Brown and her mother, Whitney Houston, were both found face-down in bathtubs as the music industry prepared for the Grammy Awards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797178-whitney-houstons-daughter-fighting-for-her-life/

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Egypt sentences 183 to death over assault on police station

CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian court on Monday sentenced 183 people to death over the ransacking of a police station and the killing of 15 policemen after the 2013 ouster of President Mohammed Morsi. The verdict was the latest in a string of mass death sentences that have sparked local and international condemnation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797179-egypt-sentences-183-to-death-over-assault-on-police-station/

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Bomber blows herself up after Nigeria president's rally
The Associated Press

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — A female suicide bomber killed herself Monday when she exploded a vehicle packed with explosives near a stadium where Nigeria's president had just held an election rally in the northeastern city of Gombe, police said. They said there were no other casualties.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797180-bomber-blows-herself-up-after-nigeria-presidents-rally/

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Former rap mogul Marion 'Suge' Knight charged with murder
By TAMI ABDOLLAH

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former hip-hop music mogul Marion "Suge" Knight was charged Monday with murder and attempted murder after he struck two men with his pickup truck last week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797181-former-rap-mogul-marion-suge-knight-charged-with-murder/

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Obama's record budget: Tax the rich, help middle class
By ANDREW TAYLOR

WASHINGTON (AP) — Promising to help America's middle class, President Barack Obama on Monday sent Congress a record $4 trillion budget that would hammer corporate profits overseas and raise taxes on the wealthy while boosting tax credits for families and the working poor.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797183-obamas-record-budget-tax-the-rich-help-middle-class/

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Ukraine troops fight to avoid being surrounded by rebels
By PETER LEONARD

DEBALTSEVE, Ukraine (AP) — As Ukrainian troops fought Monday to defend a strategic railway hub, Russian-backed separatists pledged to boost the size of their force and Washington pondered whether to expand its assistance to Ukraine to include lethal aid.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797184-ukraine-troops-fight-to-avoid-being-surrounded-by-rebels/

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'Accountant of Auschwitz' to go on trial in Germany in April

BERLIN (AP) — A German court says a 93-year-old man dubbed the 'accountant of Auschwitz' will go on trial in April on allegations he was accessory to 300,000 murders as an SS guard at the Nazis' death camp.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/797186-accountant-of-auschwitz-to-go-on-trial-in-germany-in-april/