Thailand Live Friday 22 May 2015

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UPDATE:

22 scammers arrested for preying on foreign tourists

Bangkok:- Tourist police have rounded up 22 alleged scammers for luring foreign tourists from famous tourist destinations in the capital to be overcharged at jewelry shops, restaurants, tailor’s shops and souvenir shops.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826911-22-thais-arrested-for-deceiving-causing-nuisances-to-foreign-tourists/page-2#entry9432730

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UPDATE:

Two farang arrested for extorting from French businessman in Pattaya

[Photo credit: Post Today]

Pattaya, Chon Buri:-Police arrested a Russian man and a Briton for having allegedly robbed and extorted a protection fee from a French businessman in Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827057-pattaya-immigration-arrest-russian-and-british-man-in-theft-and-extortion-case/#entry9432747

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korean court suspends prison term for "nut rage" former Korean Air executive.

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Happiness Eludes Divided Thailand as Farmers Struggle
by Chris Blake

(Thailand) There’s not much sign of Thailand’s yearlong military rule in Sakhon Sutasaeng’s home in the rice-growing northeast region of Isan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827132-happiness-eludes-divided-thailand-as-farmers-struggle/

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GLO board: Lottery will be sold at controlled price starting next month

BANGKOK, 22 May 2015, (NNT) - A member of the Government Lottery Office (GLO) Board Thanawat Polwichai is confident that lottery tickets made for the 16 June 2015 draw will be sold at the controlled price of 80 baht apiece, as promised by the government.

Mr. Thanawat, who is also the director of the Economic and Business Forecasting Center at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said he was sure of the effectiveness of the GLO’s price tracking system which allows officials to trace lottery sale from buyers back to distributors who will be prosecuted if violating sale regulations.

Nonetheless, Mr. Thanawat called for public cooperation in denying purchase of overpriced tickets and reporting the sale to officials concerned in order to prevent unscrupulous sellers from repeating the offense.


-- NNT 2015-05-22

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South Korea court suspends 'nut rage' executive's prison term
YOUKYUNG LEE, AP Business Writer

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean court Friday suspended the prison term of the former Korean Air executive whose onboard "nut rage" tantrum delayed a flight last year, immediately ending her incarceration.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827137-south-korea-court-suspends-nut-rage-executives-prison-term/

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SET up 7.35 points at opening /Bangkok Post

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Jeb Bush shifts style, critiques brother's budget management
THOMAS BEAUMONT, Associated Press

CONCORD, New Hampshire (AP) — Only a few days after saying he wouldn't "go out of my way" to point out what he saw as mistakes made by his brother, Jeb Bush did just that Thursday, criticizing former President George W. Bush's record on the federal budget.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827139-jeb-bush-shifts-style-critiques-brothers-budget-management/

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UPDATE:

State banks urged to cut loan rates to stimulate economy



BANGKOK: -- State banks are urged to lower their lending rates to stimulate economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827071-banks-must-learn-to-share-their-cost-benefits-with-customers/#entry9433394

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Rocket firing festival starts in E-sarn Tai with tough warning from authorities



BANGKOK: -- As the merit-making "Boon Bang Fai" rocket festival is now starting in several northeastern provinces to mark the upcoming rainy season, the commissioner of the Zone Three Provincial Police warns senior police officers in eight provinces in the lower northeast region or E-sarn Tai that they will be transferred or removed if betting on sky rockets continues to prevail in their areas of responsibilities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827142-rocket-firing-festival-starts-in-isaan-tai-with-tough-warning-from-authorities/

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Army Chief satisfied with NCPO's achievements

BANGKOK, 22 May 2015 (NNT) - The Army Commander-in-Chief said he is satisfied with what the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has achieved to keep Thailand peaceful.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827143-thai-army-chief-satisfied-with-ncpos-achievements/

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UPDATE:

BOAT PEOPLE
Myanmar plans to join Bangkok meeting
Soe Min Htike
Myanmar Eleven

Nay Pyi Taw: -- Myanmar plans to attend the regional meeting on irregular migration in Bangkok on May 29, said Ye Htut, the president's spokesperson and information minister.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827061-pressure-on-myanmar-to-deal-with-migrants/#entry9433462

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Child development in Thailand below average

BANGKOK, 22 May 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has been working with six other state agencies on child development, due to a recent report that found Thailand below international standards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827149-child-development-in-thailand-below-average/

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IS executes 17 people over 24 hours in Syria's Palmyra
English.news.cn

DAMASCUS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) militants have executed at least 17 people since they took control over the ancient city of Palmyra on Wednesday, a monitor group said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827151-is-executes-17-people-over-24-hours-in-syrias-palmyra/

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Key suspect in 1.6 billion baht KMITL embezzlement controversy arrested at airport

BANGKOK: -- The most sought-after key suspect in the controversial 1.6 billion baht embezzlement at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) was apprehended by police as soon as he embarked out of a THAI flight from London at Suvarnabhumi airport early Friday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827152-key-suspect-in-16-billion-baht-kmitl-embezzlement-controversy-arrested-at-airport/

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Govt announces civil servant pay rises

BANGKOK, 22 May 2015 (NNT) – The government has announced a pay rise for civil servants, retroactively effective December 1, 2014.

The new wage rise applies to civil servants of both junior and senior levels. Civil servants ranking C1-C7 have their salaries lifted by 4 percent. Wages of those at management level have been raised by 10 percent.

The Cabinet late last year approved a wage rise for civil servants in the wake of several factors, including the higher cost of living, the wage gap between state and private employees, and the country’s financial situation.

The new salary structure applies to 1.98 million civil servants across the country. The government will spend an additional 22 billion baht on state remuneration.


-- NNT 2015-05-22

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Small Thai anti-junta groups vow protests on coup anniversary
AFP

BANGKOK: -- Small groups of anti-junta activists have vowed to hold protests Friday marking one year since Thailand's generals seized power from the elected government, but widespread dissent is unlikely in a country still locked down by the military.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827153-small-thai-anti-junta-groups-vow-protests-on-coup-anniversary/

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NRC likely to approve of new charter if their proposals are fulfilled

BANGKOK, 22 May 2015 (NNT) - The Chairman of the National Reform Council (NRC) said he believes the NRC will approve of the new constitution, provided that the charter drafters adhere to amendment requests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827154-nrc-likely-to-approve-of-new-charter-if-their-proposals-are-fulfilled/

[Lite Beer]

May 22 coup pre-planned or provoked by the situation?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827062-may-22-coup-pre-planned-or-provoked-by-the-situation/

[Lite Beer]

SET up 5.03 to 1,531.28 at midday /Bangkok Post

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Swiss tourist dies in bizarre Phuket hotel accident
Eakkapop Thongtub


The lift expert and police discuss how to get the dead man out of the lift shaft.

PHUKET: -- A 54-year-old Swiss man died at about 2:30 this morning (May 22) when he was trapped in the shaft of a malfunctioning elevator at the five-storey Baan Paradise Hotel in Patong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827177-swiss-tourist-dies-in-bizarre-phuket-hotel-accident/

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Thai man hangs self after penis enlargement
By Coconuts Bangkok

CHIANG MAI: -- A worker at a horse track in Chiang Mai hanged himself in front of the ticket booth yesterday, a suicide his friends say was brought on by his sexless marriage caused by a penis enlargement gone wrong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827179-thai-man-hangs-self-after-penis-enlargement/

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Boat people grateful for sanctuary, baffled by Gambia offer

BAYEUN, Indonesia (AFP) - Boat people who have come ashore in Southeast Asia after harrowing journeys are delighted that Indonesia and Malaysia will give them temporary shelter -- although some were baffled by an offer of sanctuary in a tiny African nation they had never heard of.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827180-boat-people-grateful-for-sanctuary-baffled-by-gambia-offer/

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Chiang Mai & Kunming strike spa deals

CHIANG MAI, 22 May 2015 (NNT) – Thai and Chinese business operators have signed agreements to promote the expansion of Thai health products and services to China.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827182-chiang-mai-kunming-strike-spa-deals/

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Academics, civic groups call for review of Bangkok riverside landmark project



BANGKOK: -- Several community act networks, environmentalist, academics, civic groups yesterday called for the government to review its 14-billion Chao Phraya riverside development project with question of why it has to be hastily implemented.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827183-academics-civic-groups-call-for-review-of-bangkok-riverside-landmark-project/

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Ramkhamhaeng University starts accepting applications, offering greater financial support

BANGKOK, 22 May 2015 (NNT) – Thousands of students came to Ramkhamhaeng University today as the institution starts accepting applications from now until 25th May 2015.

Entering its 44th year Ramkhamhaeng University is one of the two open universities in Thailand. As one of Thailand’s leading universities, it offers the public greater access to higher education at a much lower cost. The university charges 25 baht per credit or a total of 200 baht per subject with 13 faculties for students to choose from, for example: Faculties of Law, Business Administration, Humanities, Education, Science, Political Science, Economics, Engineering, and Education Technology.

Being an open university, the institute is very flexible and has developed measures to facilitate the needs of students. This year the university is introducing a new financial support plan where students will be able to extend their payment period with zero percent interest rate over a period of 3 months.

This year the university also allows their students to transfer up to 94 credits to their desired faculty or enroll in studies for a second degree.

Over 80,000 applications are expected during the enrollment period. Currently, there are over 400,000 students enrolled in the university and 45,000 graduates each year.


-- NNT 2015-05-22

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Guard at Asoke condo breaks into sleeping woman's room (VIDEO)
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A security guard at The Address Asoke reportedly used a master key card to enter a woman's condo, with footage of the incident circulated online last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827189-guard-at-asoke-condo-breaks-into-sleeping-womans-room-video/

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Thailand and Indonesia agreed to raise military cooperation

BANGKOK, 22 May 2015 (NNT) - Thailand and Indonesia have agreed to boost military and national security in various areas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827217-thailand-and-indonesia-agreed-to-raise-military-cooperation/

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Lao woman arrested for smuggling US$400,000 cash into Thailand
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police arrested a Lao woman at a border pier in Chiang Rai's Chieng Khong district Thursday night after she was found carrying US$400,000 in cash into Thailand.

The woman was identified as Mon Intaphan, 35. She was charged with taking more than US$20,000 the country without informing the authorities.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Lao-woman-arrested-for-smuggling-US$400000-cash-in-30260698.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-22

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English teacher arrested for making false bomb threat
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- An angry English teacher was arrested Friday morning after she claimed that she has two bottles of liquid that could be used to make bombs.

The woman was identified as Panarat Nopphakhun. She made the claim after she was not allowed to carry a drinking water to board the flight. Her statement caused the flight to be delayed from 8:40 am to 10:47 am as officials had to check her bag that has been loaded.

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/English-teacher-arrested-for-making-false-bomb-thr-30260699.html

-- The Nation 2015-05-22