Thailand Live Thursday 28 May 2015

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Cigarette age limit increased to 20

BANGKOK, 28 May 2014 (NNT) - The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the tobacco draft act which prohibits sale of cigarettes to those under 20 years old and raise punishment for offenders.

Deputy Prime Minister YongyutnYuthawong said the draft act increased the minimum legal age for cigarette purchase from 18 to 20 years and prohibited sale of individual cigarettes. The draft act also prohibits cigarette sale in some public places such as temples, public health facilities, schools and public parks, the deputy PM added.

The draft act bans cigarette companies from advertising their products as sponsors of contests and competitions. Cigarette advertising is banned in print and online media, TV and movies.

The penalty of imprisonment for those who sell cigarettes to people under 20 years old is increased from one month to one year and fine for smokers in non-smoking areas is raised from 2,000 to 5,000 baht.


-- NNT 2015-05-28

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ROHINGYA
Agencies to offer 10-point plan for migrant crisis
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THREE international organisations will jointly propose a 10-point action plan at a special meeting in Bangkok tomorrow to tackle the Southeast Asia migrant crisis, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHRC) said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828602-agencies-to-offer-10-point-plan-for-rogingya-migrant-crisis/

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UPDATE:

POLITICS
Thaksin's passports revoked, faces probe for lese majeste
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- POLICE are investigating whether former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's recent interview insulted the monarch as the Foreign Ministry revoked his two passports on grounds that his remarks in the interview had endangered national security.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828446-thai-govt-revokes-thaksins-passports-citing-damaging-interview/page-12?p=9453972#entry9453972

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POLITICS
Prayut's 'war on corruption' will kick off soon
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- ON MONDAY, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will "declare war" on graft to reinforce his government's claimed commitment to carve out corruption.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828603-prayuts-war-on-corruption-will-kick-off-soon/

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UPDATE:

EDUCATION
Low IQ blamed on family situation
The Nation

Thai children's average intelligence quotient down slightly, survey finds

BANGKOK: -- THE AVERAGE intelligence quotient (IQ) of Thai children slipped to 93.1 in 2014, from 94 in 2011, according to surveys by the Public Health Ministry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828519-public-health-minister-concerned-with-iq-drop-among-thai-children/#entry9453977

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BURNING ISSUE
Some unofficial advice from Cabinet to charter drafters
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM

BANGKOK: -- THE CABINET and the National Reform Council (NRC) have proposed revisions to the draft constitution drawn up by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC). Although it has no authority to endorse the draft, Cabinet's suggestions draw a lot of public notice.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828604-some-unofficial-advice-from-thai-cabinet-to-charter-drafters/

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Tourism Ministry assures diplomats travel here is safe for their citizens
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION


Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul

BANGKOK: -- THE TOURISM and Sports Ministry is taking steps to reassure international tourists about safety in the country ahead of the high season.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828605-thai-tourism-ministry-assures-diplomats-travel-here-is-safe-for-their-citizens/

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Japan calls for Thai investments
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- AFTER being a key foreign investor in the Kingdom for more than half a century, Japan now hopes to see more direct investment from Thailand and other countries to serve its new policy of earning more international income to ensure sustainable economic growth.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828606-japan-calls-for-thai-investments/

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FIFA
Worawi threatensto sue media
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Football Association of Thailand president Worawi Makudi is threatening to take legal proceedings against the press at home and abroad for running false reports that he is one of the six Fifa officials arrested in Switzerland over corruption charges.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828607-football-association-of-thailand-president-worawi-threatensto-sue-media/

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LINCOLN, Nebraska (AP) - US state abolishes death penalty after Legislature votes to override governor's veto.

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Ex-UK PM Tony Blair to step down as Middle East envoy representing US, Russia, UN and EU, at end of June, BBC understands /BBC

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Thai police seek local help in people smuggling crackdown
AFP

BANGKOK: -- Thai police are seeking help from villagers living near a recently uncovered network of jungle camps to aid their investigation into people-smuggling and human trafficking-gangs, a senior officer said Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828608-thai-police-seek-local-help-in-people-smuggling-crackdown/

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Kuwaiti victim of street robbery in South Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- A Kuwait National was subjected to a street robbery in South Pattaya in the early hours of Wednesday which resulted in him being relieved of his IPhone 6.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828610-kuwaiti-victim-of-street-robbery-in-south-pattaya/

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Two suspected drug dealers caught in front of Pattaya Hospital



PATTAYA: -- Late on Monday Night a routine Police Patrol encountered two men in front of the Pattaya City Hospital in Soi Buakhao and found they were carrying class 1 drugs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828612-two-suspected-drug-dealers-caught-in-front-of-pattaya-hospital/

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Motorbike stolen from North Pattaya Massage Parlor



PATTAYA: -- A 22 year old Masseur working for a Massage Parlor in North Pattaya finished work and went to take his bike and drive home but realized it had been stolen from the Parlor Car Park.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828613-motorbike-stolen-from-north-pattaya-massage-parlor/

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EDITORIAL
Politicians also TO BLAME for charter chopping

THAI LAWMAKERS HAVE TOLERATED AND IN SOME CASES EVEN ENCOURAGED THE POLITICAL VIOLENCE |AND CORRUPTION USED BY THE MILITARY AS AN EXCUSE TO SEIZE POWER

BANGKOK: -- The process of drafting of the new constitution has reached the revision stage. The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has received proposals from the Cabinet and the National Reform Council (NRC) as to what should be revised or dropped from its original draft.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828615-thai-editorial-politicians-also-to-blame-for-charter-chopping/

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THAI TALK
New election timeline is anybody's guess

BANGKOK: -- Now that all parties concerned have agreed on holding a national referendum on the new constitution draft - a provision that isn't incorporated in the current interim charter - how is General Prayut Chan-o-Cha's "road map" towards the next election affected?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828616-thai-talk-new-election-timeline-is-anybodys-guess/

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Ministry to send circulars to Thai embassies overseas about Thaksin’s passport revocation



BANGKOK: -- The Foreign Affairs Ministry is sending out circular letters to all Thai embassies worldwide to inform that that it has already revoked two passports of ousted premierThaksin Shinawatra, effective May 26.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828617-thaksins-passport-revocation-ministry-to-send-circulars-to-thai-embassies-overseas/

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Ex-FM Surapong vows to return passports to Thaksin if Pheu Thai is in next government



BANGKOK: -- Former foreign minister and a key member of the Pheu Thai party Mr Surapong Tovichakchaikul vowed Wednesday that he would return passports to fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra if his party is in the next government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828618-ex-fm-surapong-vows-to-return-passports-to-thaksin-if-pheu-thai-is-in-next-govt/

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Big bikes to face tighter noise control

BANGKOK: -- The Land Transport Department is to impose tighter noise control on big bikes or big motorcycles with the noise level not exceeding 95 decibels.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828619-big-bikes-to-face-tighter-noise-control-in-thailand/

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Worse traffic expected in northern Bangkok in the next two months with two flyovers to be demolished



BANGKOK: -- Motorists and bus commuters in northern Bangkok are warned to brace for worse traffic congestion in the next two months when the Ratchayothin flyover and then the Kasetsart flyover will be demolished successively to pave way for the construction of the Green Line rail system from Mor Chit through Saphan Mai to Khu Kot.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828620-worse-traffic-expected-in-northern-bangkok-in-the-next-two-months/

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Paint sprayer on court’s name plate gets one-year suspended jail term for court contempt



BANGKOK: - The Criminal Court today sentenced a former student to one month in prison after finding him guilty of court contempt for spraying paints of the “anarchy” symbol on the court’s nameplate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828621-paint-sprayer-on-thai-courts-name-plate-gets-one-year-suspended-jail-term/

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Ukrainian tourist killed in bungee jump accident

Photo credit: Dailynews.co.th

Phuket:- A Ukrainian tourist was killed in a bungee jump accident at the popular Patong beach in Phuket Wednesday evening, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828570-ukrainian-tourist-killed-in-bungee-jump-accident/

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Coup 'wasted' if some draft charter articles are removed
THE NATION

CDC MEMBER DEFENDS DIVISIVE PROPOSALS, INCLUDING PROVISION FOR UNELECTED PM

BANGKOK: -- CONSTITUTION Drafting Commit-tee (CDC) member Paiboon Nititawan yesterday singled out articles and new measures he said were creating controversy over the proposed charter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828624-coup-wasted-if-some-draft-charter-articles-are-removed/

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Meningococcal case sparks health scare
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A 63-year-old company chauffeur in Ubon Ratchathani has succumbed to meningococcal meningitis a serious bacterial disease that disappeared from this northeastern province two decades ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828625-meningococcal-case-sparks-health-scare-in-thailand/

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ANALYSIS
Traffic police are the missing link for Thai road safety
JOHN DRAPER, DIPENDRA KC
SPECIAL TO THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Following the fatal accident in Chiang Mai that killed three cyclists and injured two others, demands for stiffer punishments have escalated, especially given the likely influence of alcohol.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828626-traffic-police-are-the-missing-link-for-thai-road-safety/

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Hunt for illegal Phuket tour guides and nominee companies finds nothing
Nattapat Tuarob


The team carry out a check on the ANEX Tour office.

PHUKET: -- The Tourism and Sports Authority of Thailand and Department of Business Development today (May 27) went on the hunt for illegal tour guides and nominee companies in Phuket. However, nothing untoward was uncovered.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828627-hunt-for-illegal-phuket-tour-guides-and-nominee-companies-finds-nothing/

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Special Branch commander reinstated after being cleared of fatal shooting incident in Nakhon Pathom



BANGKOK: -- The Royal National Police Office has decided to reinstate Pol Maj-Gen Thaweepong Pongsongnoen as the commander of the 3rd subdivision of the Special Branch police effective after he was cleared of any wrongdoing in connection with the death of one Special Branch police in Nakhon Pathom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828628-special-branch-commander-reinstated-after-being-cleared-of-fatal-shooting-incident/

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Thai TV to switch to satellite and cable TV after dumping digital TV



BANGKOK: -- Cash-strapped Thai TV Company will invest about 100 million baht in producing contents for TV Channel 3 after having suffered about 300 million baht loss in operating two digital TV channels, Loca children’s programme and Thai TV news programme for one year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828629-thai-tv-to-switch-to-satellite-and-cable-tv-after-dumping-digital-tv/

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US, Swiss target top soccer officials in corruption probe
By GRAHAM DUNBAR

ZURICH (AP) — The U.S. government launched an attack on what it called deep-seated and brazen corruption in soccer's global governing body Wednesday, pulling FIFA executives out of a luxury Swiss hotel to face racketeering charges and raiding regional offices in Miami.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828630-us-swiss-target-top-soccer-officials-in-corruption-probe/