Thailand Live Friday 19 Jun 2015

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UPDATE:

MERS
Tourist first MERS case in Thailand
PUANGCHOMPOO PRASERT
THE NATION


A Thai Airways International worker sprays a disinfectant in an aircraft cabin at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday, as part of measures to prevent the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

The 75-year-old Arab man had contact with 59 people after arriving on Monday for heart treatment

BANGKOK: -- THE PUBLIC Health Ministry yesterday announced the first MERS case in Thailand after laboratory tests confirmed that a foreign visitor had contracted the deadly virus, Dr Prasert Thongcharoen, the ministry's senior adviser, said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833808-first-mers-case-confirmed-in-thailand-public-health-minister/page-2?p=9529478#entry9529478

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PM urges calm after discovery of first MERS patient

BANGKOK, 19 June 2015 (NNT) – Prime Minster Prayut Chan-o-cha has called on the Thai people not to panic over the newly-discovered case of MERS in Thailand, affirming the government is doing its best to keep an outbreak at bay.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833875-pm-urges-calm-after-discovery-of-first-mers-patient/

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Pope urges world to act before climate change destroys planet

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis on Thursday urged the world to act quickly to prevent "extraordinary" climate change from destroying the planet and said wealthy countries must bear responsibility for creating the problem and for solving it.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833848-pope-urges-world-to-act-before-climate-change-destroys-planet/

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Thai Tour Guides Protest against unlicensed foreign guides at Pattaya Police Station



PATTAYA: -- Over 100 Thai Tour Guides who work in Pattaya took part in an angry protest on Pattaya Beach Road on Thursday Morning to demonstrate their anger towards the Police who are claimed not to be taking any action against illegal foreign tour guides who are working in the City.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833876-thai-tour-guides-protest-against-unlicensed-foreign-guides-at-pattaya-police-station/

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RED FLAG
ICAO gives Thailand 4 more months to sort out safety standards
ACHARA DEBOONME
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE INTERNATIONAL Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) yesterday continued to red-flag Thailand over safety standards and gave the country another four months to tackle this issue.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833877-icao-gives-thailand-4-more-months-to-sort-out-safety-standards/

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POLITICS
NLA vote green lights charter amendments
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH,
ANAPAT DEECHUAY
THE NATION

Paves the way for national referendum on draft constitution

BANGKOK: -- AMENDMENTS to the interim charter easily sailed through the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) in three consecutive readings yesterday, paving the way for a national referendum on the draft constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833878-nla-vote-paves-the-way-for-national-referendum-on-thai-draft-constitution/

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CASINO
Strong public reaction to proposal on legalising casinos
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THE CONTROVERSIAL proposal of allowing legal casinos to operate has received a mixed public reaction, with supporters of the idea highlighting the huge revenue they would generate and critics denouncing them as immoral and the begetters of social and crime-related issues.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833879-strong-public-reaction-to-proposal-on-legalising-casinos-in-thailand/

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COURT
Doctors lose case against 'right to die' rule
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE SUPREME Administrative Court yesterday dismissed a petition from some doctors opposing a ministerial regulation that, in effect, gives patients "the right to die".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833880-thai-doctors-lose-case-against-right-to-die-rule/

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BAHT
Baht gains slightly after Fed keeps US policy rate steady
Erich Parpart
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The baht strengthened slightly after the US Federal Reserve decided to maintain its policy interest rate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833881-baht-gains-slightly-after-fed-keeps-us-policy-rate-steady/

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INVESTMENT
Thailand poised to become GMS hub, NZ envoy says
Watchiranont Thongtep
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- New Zealand Ambassador Reuben Levermore suggested yesterday that Thailand could become a hub of the Greater Mekong Subregion by attracting foreign investors after the implementation of the Asean Economic Community at the end of this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833882-thailand-poised-to-become-greater-mekong-subregion-hub-nz-envoy-says/

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ANALYSIS
BOT governor race nears finish line
Achara Deboonme
The Nation


Veerathai

BANGKOK: -- AHEAD of the Finance Ministry's nomination of the Bank of Thailand governor, the odds are strongly in favour of Veerathai Santiprabhob being the next person to run the country's most prestigious economic institution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833884-thai-analysis-bot-governor-race-nears-finish-line/

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OVERDRIVE
Thailand's economic engine sputtering as global storm approaches

BANGKOK: -- The US Federal Reserve decided to keep its zero interest rate unchanged on Wednesday. But the financial markets now expect two rate rises of 25 basis points each this year, to bring the Fed rate to 0.75 per cent before the end of 2015. Any further rate increases beyond that date are expected to be gradual.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833885-thailands-economic-engine-sputtering-as-global-storm-approaches/

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Thai police pleased with 'Cobra III' effort
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Thai police said yesterday that their role in "Operation Cobra III" - a global operation to combat wildlife poaching and trafficking - was "most satisfying".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833886-thai-police-pleased-with-cobra-iii-effort/

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NRC panel eyes setting up of environment court
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The National Reform Council's (NRC) natural resource and environment reform committee is planning to propose a bill for the setting up of an environment court within this month, committee representative Sayumphon Limthai said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833887-nrc-panel-eyes-setting-up-of-environment-court/

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Dozens complain over being lured into investing on false promises
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- SOME 50 people yesterday filed a police complaint at the Economic Crime Suppression Division, accusing a private company of luring them to invest money in a business scheme that did not yield profits or returns as promised.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833888-dozens-complain-over-being-lured-into-investing-on-false-promises/

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Premier Prayut 'not thinking' about politicians joining new reform panel
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that he has not considered inviting politicians to join a new reform panel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833889-premier-prayut-not-thinking-about-politicians-joining-new-reform-panel/

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Dao Din group will face legal action if they don't surrender: Winthai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Students who are part of the Dao Din group may face arrest if they fail to turn themselves in for questioning over their anti-coup activities, National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) spokesman Winthai Suvari said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833890-dao-din-group-will-face-legal-action-if-they-dont-surrender-winthai/

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BURNING ISSUE
Mounting garbage part of capital's flooding problem
SASITHORN ONGDEE

BANGKOK: -- TWO WEEKS ago, Bangkokians experienced the horror of being stranded in traffic for hours, as a flash flood hit Bangkok and its outskirts after heavy rains.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833891-mounting-garbage-part-of-capitals-flooding-problem/

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Drafters reconsider provision to put non-judges on panel
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- CHARTER DRAFTERS yesterday considered removing a provision for increasing non-judges on the Judicial Commission, which was included as part of judicial reform.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833892-thai-drafters-reconsider-provision-to-put-non-judges-on-panel/

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White gunman caught in killing of 9 in historic black church
By JEFFREY COLLINS and RUSS BYNUM

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A white man who joined a prayer meeting inside a historic black church and then fatally shot nine people was captured without resistance Thursday after an all-night manhunt, Charleston's police chief said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833893-us-white-gunman-caught-in-killing-of-9-in-historic-black-church/

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APNewsBreak: US to pay millions for Agent Orange claims
By HOPE YEN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ending years of wait, the government agreed Thursday to provide disability benefits to as many as 2,100 Air Force reservists and active-duty forces exposed to Agent Orange residue on airplanes used in the Vietnam War.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833894-us-to-pay-millions-for-agent-orange-claims/

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Eurozone leaders to hold emergency summit on Greece
LORNE COOK, Associated Press
PAN PYLAS, Associated Press

LUXEMBOURG (AP) — The eurozone's 19 leaders will meet in an emergency summit next week to seek a breakthrough in Greece's bailout after talks Thursday ended in acrimony, intensifying fears that the country was heading for bankruptcy and an exit from the euro.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833895-eurozone-leaders-to-hold-emergency-summit-on-greece/

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Australia issues warrant for doctor recruiting in Syria

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian police issued an arrest warrant Thursday for an Australian doctor who appeared in an Islamic State movement recruitment video urging Western medical professionals to join him in Syria.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833896-warrant-out-for-australia-is-medic/

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Rachel Dolezal faced scrutiny over racial identity years ago
By MATTHEW BARAKAT and NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Rachel Dolezal, who is under scrutiny for recent comments about race, her background and her behavior as a civil rights leader, faced tough questions about her racial identity long before she became a national figure nearly overnight.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833897-rachel-dolezal-faced-scrutiny-over-racial-identity-years-ago/

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APNewsBreak: McDonald's to shrink in US, 1st time in decades
By CANDICE CHOI

NEW YORK (AP) — The burger chain that put "supersize" into the American vernacular is slimming down: For the first time in more than 40 years, and perhaps ever, McDonald's says the number of U.S. restaurants it has is shrinking.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833898-mcdonalds-to-shrink-in-us-1st-time-in-decades/

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Hospital in Sweden to open first rape clinic for men

STOCKHOLM: -- A hospital in Stockholm is to open Sweden's first emergency clinic for male rape victims.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833899-sweden-to-open-emergency-clinic-for-male-rape-victims/

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Two Thais arrested for assaulting Australian father, son

Chiang Mai:- Two karaoke bar workers were arrested and fined Thursday after they and other beat up an Australian father and his teenage son Tuesday morning following dispute over a bill.

Sumon Monthong and Nithikorn Laolee, workers of the Violin (Kinnaree) karaoke bar, were arrested for jointly assaulting Jackson Peter Kusen, 18, and his father, Peter Paul Joseph Hernbaker, 60.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833864-two-thais-arrested-for-assaulting-australian-father-son/

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Phang Nga dealer nabbed with 18,000 ya bah pills

Eakkapop Thongtub

Apichart Dangnam, 27, was found to have in his possession a total of 18,000 ya bah pills.

PHUKET: -- A Phang Nga methamphetamine (ya bah) dealer was arrested June 17 in the province̕s Borsaen sub-district in possession of 18,000 ya bah pills and a .38 calibre pistol.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833904-phang-nga-dealer-nabbed-with-18000-ya-bah-pills/

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Phuket light-rail construction 'two years away', says transport head
Nattha Thepbamrung


OTP Director-General Peraphon Thawornsupacharoen is looking to get the Phuket light-rail system running by two years, if everything goes according to plan. Photo: Nattha Thepbamrung

PHUKET: -- The Director-General of Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), Peraphon Thawornsupacharoen, revealed June 18 that construction of Phuket’s light-rail project could start within two years, if everything goes according to plan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833905-phuket-light-rail-construction-two-years-away-says-transport-head/

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Probe into human trafficking on schedule
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The joint police-prosecutors investigation into the trafficking of Rohingya and other migrants is ongoing around the clock and will be completed on June 23 as scheduled, a source said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833906-probe-into-human-trafficking-on-schedule/