Thailand Live Thursday 25 Jun 2015

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ID card replacement fee to be raised

BANGKOK, 25 June 2015 (NNT) - The fee for replacing a lost or damaged identification card will be raised to 100 baht from 20 baht, deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on Wednesday.

Maj Gen Sansern said the cabinet has approved the proposal as the current 20-baht fee was much lower than the actual cost of 54 baht a card. This also excluded administrative costs, he added.

From Sept 2011 to May 2012, about 1.4 million ID cards had been reported damaged or lost.

The deputy government spokesman said people may place less importance on their cards as the cost for replacement was just 20 baht.

The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) also supported the proposal, he said.


-- NNT 2015-06-25

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Tourist arrivals soar from Jan-May

BANGKOK, 25 June 2015 (NNT) - Over 12 million international travellers came to Thailand from January through May this year, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835536-thailand-tourist-arrivals-soar-from-jan-may/

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Norwegian tourist saved from swimming pool drowning

Pattaya, Chon Buri:- A 57-year-old Norwegian tourist was saved from drowning in a swimming of a Pattaya hotel Wednesday afternoon.

The Sawang Boribun Thammasathan Foundation's emergency center was alerted of the accident at 3:30 pm.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835476-norwegian-tourist-saved-from-swimming-pool-drowning/

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Rule-Breaking Monk fined 800 Baht by Pattaya Police



PATTAYA: -- There was drama at the foot of the Pattaya Viewpoint in South Pattaya on Wednesday as Police struggled to deal with a rogue Monk who was caught driving which is not permitted under rules and regulations pertaining to the conduct of Monks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835538-rule-breaking-monk-fined-800-baht-by-pattaya-police/

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Two Novice Monks injured in early morning road crash in North Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Two novice monks aged 12 and 15, who had changed their monk robes for civilian clothing so they could sneak out of the temple, were involved in a road crash as they rushed to return to their Temple before their Chief Abbot realized they had gone.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835539-two-novice-monks-injured-in-early-morning-road-crash-in-north-pattaya/

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Jealous Cambodian attempts suicide in South Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- A 44 year old Cambodian man is lucky to be alive after he attempted to end his life on Tuesday Night after he discovered his girlfriend was possibly seeing another man.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835540-jealous-cambodian-attempts-suicide-in-south-pattaya/

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Coconut Grinder relieves man of two fingers and a thumb at North Pattaya Market



PATTAYA: -- A 29 year old Market vendor lost two fingers and a thumb in the early hours of Wednesday as she prepared bottles of coconut milk by using a coconut grinder to extract the liquid.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835541-coconut-grinder-relieves-man-of-two-fingers-and-a-thumb-at-north-pattaya-market/

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CASINO
PM breaks silence with 'no'
The Nation



Police chief told to stop pushing; Abhisit urges society to stop wasting time

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha has finally broken his silence on the proposal to launch casinos in Thailand and put the brakes on further discussions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835542-casinos-in-thailand-pm-prayut-breaks-silence-with-no/

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JAPAN
Camronwit's lawyer to meet Japanese prosecutors
THE NATION


Photo by : FNN

BANGKOK: -- A LAWYER representing former metropolitan police chief Lt-General Camronwit Toopkrajank, who was found carrying a handgun in his hand luggage prior to boarding a flight from Japan, will meet Japanese public prosecutors today, when they are expected to say whether the retired police officer will be arraigned.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835543-lawyer-for-former-bangkok-police-chief-to-meet-japanese-prosecutors/

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MERS
'Suspects' face fines if they don't cooperate
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- PEOPLE SUSPECTED of contracting Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) who refuse to be quarantined face fines of up to Bt2,000, Department of Disease Control (DDC) chief Dr Sopon Mekthon warned yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835544-mers-suspects-face-fines-if-they-dont-cooperate/

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COUNTER COUP
Woman held for spreading rumours
THE NATION


Police yesterday escort Chadapa Chokpornbudsri, 48, centre, to a press conference after she was arrested for allegedly spreading rumours of a possible counter coup and statements that violated the lese majeste law.

BANGKOK: -- A WOMAN has been arrested on lese majeste charges after she allegedly spread rumours on social media about a possible counter coup, police said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835545-thai-woman-held-for-spreading-counter-coup-rumours/

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DROUGHT
Govt seeks solutions to torrid drought
Erich Parpart
The Nation



500 groundwater wells to counter water crisis

BANGKOK: -- A SERIES of measures will be adopted to ensure that the country has enough water resources at least until April next year, including a provision for 500 groundwater wells in drought-hit provinces.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835546-thai-govt-seeks-solutions-to-torrid-drought/

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UPDATE:

Govt hopes number of tourist arrivals remains steady
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT has embarked on an ambitious plan to maintain the number of tourist arrivals this year at 28.8 million, despite the negative impact of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and the aviation-safety probe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835536-thailand-tourist-arrivals-soar-from-jan-may/#entry9549533

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EDITORIAL
We need to be BETTER PREPARED for democracy

THAILAND IS STILL SPINNING ITS WHEELS IN THE POLITICAL MUCK AFTER EIGHT DECADES OF CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY. |THE NEW CHARTER PROMISES MORE TRACTION, BUT WE NEED TO BE BETTER DRIVERS

BANGKOK: -- Yesterday was the 83rd anniversary of the revolution of 1932 that exchanged absolute monarchy for constitutional monarchy, inaugurating Western-style democracy in Siam reborn as Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835547-thai-editorial-we-need-to-be-better-prepared-for-democracy/

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THAI TALK
A new ROAD-MAP TWIST: consolidation versus reconciliation

BANGKOK: -- The political road map towards the next election is being revised so extensively that anyone could get lost, take a wrong exit or pull over to a roadside "rest stop" for an indefinite break.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835548-a-new-road-map-twist-consolidation-versus-reconciliation/

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Crackdown against beggars launched to set a new order



BANGKOK: -- A crackdown against beggars in Bangkok is now under way until Friday by officials of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security as instructed by the prime minister who expressed concern about children being kidnapped and forced into begging.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835549-crackdown-against-beggars-in-bangkok-launched-to-set-a-new-order/

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Bangkokians told to brace for brackish tap water if there are no rains in 30 days



BANGKOK: -- Households and businesses in Bangkok were told to brace for brackish water from their water taps if there are not enough rains in the next 30 days to replenish water at major reservoirs which is the main source of water to push push back the invasion of sea water.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835550-households-and-businesses-in-bangkok-told-to-brace-for-brackish-tap-water/

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Jet fighter skids off runway in Korat



BANGKOK: -- A F16 jet fighter skidded off runway while the pilot was testing its engine before a routine training flight at the Air Force's First Wing airbase in Nakhon Ratchasima province yesterday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835551-jet-fighter-skids-off-runway-in-korat/

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BURNING ISSUE
Will casinos ever be part of Thailand's landscape?
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM

BANGKOK: -- OVER the past week, there has been intense debate over a proposal to legalise casinos in Thailand. The idea was floated by a group of National Reform Council members, who called themselves "NRC Patriots" and argued that revenue from casino legalisation could help prop up the national economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835552-will-casinos-ever-be-part-of-thailands-landscape/

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4 held for trading in fake North Korean currency
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A Bahrain national and three Thais from the South were arrested along with 23.7 million in fake North Korean won banknotes in Bangkok's Wattana District yesterday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835553-4-held-in-bangkok-for-trading-in-fake-north-korean-currency/

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Thai gamblers 'who lost all stuck in Poipet'
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THOSE WHO go gambling on the Thai-Cambodian border have been throwing their weight behind plans to legalise betting, saying many Thai gamblers are stuck in Cambodia because they have lost everything - including their passports.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835554-thai-gamblers-who-lost-all-stuck-in-poipet/

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Pak Bara will rank among nation's top 'green ports': officials
Pakawan Rojanasingsawad
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- IN the face of ongoing environmental concerns, the Marine Department has vowed to turn the Pak Bara Deep-sea Port Project into one of the country's first "green ports".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835555-pak-bara-will-rank-among-nations-top-green-ports-thai-officials/

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Gay couple unable to leave Thailand with daughter
by Michael K. Lavers

WASHINGTON: -- A Florida man claims he and his husband are unable to leave Thailand with their infant daughter because the woman who gave birth to her objects to the fact they are a same-sex couple.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835556-american-gay-couple-unable-to-leave-thailand-with-daughter/

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Boston Marathon bomber says he's sorry for the first time
By DENISE LAVOIE

BOSTON (AP) — Moments before a judge sentenced him to death, Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev broke more than two years of silence Wednesday and apologized to the victims and their loved ones for the first time. "I pray for your relief, for your healing," he said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835557-boston-bomber-tsarnaev-apologises-to-victims-in-court/

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Obama: US government has let down hostages' families
By JULIE PACE

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama conceded Wednesday that the U.S. government had let down the families of Americans held hostage by terrorists and promised they would not face criminal prosecution for paying ransoms to their loved ones' captors.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835558-obama-us-government-has-let-down-hostages-families/

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Anger, no surprise as US newly accused of spying in France
By LORI HINNANT and ANGELA CHARLTON

PARIS (AP) — Embarrassed by leaked conversations of three successive French presidents and angered by new evidence of uninhibited American spying, France demanded answers Wednesday and called for an intelligence "code of conduct" between allies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835559-anger-no-surprise-as-us-newly-accused-of-spying-in-france/

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Republican-led Congress hands Obama major win on trade
By CHARLES BABINGTON and DAVID ESPO

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a triumph of divided government, the Republican-controlled Congress passed major trade legislation Wednesday that was long-sought by President Barack Obama but vehemently opposed by most lawmakers in his party.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835560-republican-led-congress-hands-obama-major-win-on-trade/

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Pat Houston: Bobbi Kristina Brown moved to hospice care
By MESFIN FEKADU

NEW YORK (AP) — Bobbi Kristina Brown has been moved to hospice care after months in the hospital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835562-pat-houston-bobbi-kristina-brown-moved-to-hospice-care/

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No bailout deal yet for Greece as talks get bogged down
DEREK GATOPOULOS, Associated Press
RAF CASERT, Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — Crucial talks between Greece and its creditors to keep the country solvent and within the euro got bogged down again Wednesday amid differences over what kind of reforms the country should make in exchange for loans.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835564-no-bailout-deal-yet-for-greece-as-talks-get-bogged-down/

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Kerry: US undeterred by Iran leader's nuke comments
MATTHEW LEE, AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nuclear negotiations between world powers and Iran will not be affected by recent comments from Iran's supreme leader who appeared to backtrack on key points of an emerging deal, Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/835565-kerry-us-undeterred-by-iran-leaders-nuke-comments/