Thailand Live Monday 26 Oct 2015

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Govt. to require employers to buy life insurance plan for foreign workers

BANGKOK, 26 October 2015 (NNT) - The Social Security Office and the Department of Deployment is pushing for a law to separate a social security system for foreign workers from Thai workers. Employers will be obligated by the law to buy a life insurance plan for their workers.

Acting Secretary-General of the Social Security Office Kowit Satchawiset said the law would require employers to buy a life insurance plan for the foreign workers who worked for them by paying half of the premium. The employees paid the other half with coverage against illnesses, disabilities and death, said the official.

The alien workers who did not have a life insurance would not be given a work permit and their employers had to buy an insurance plan for them every year, said Mr.Kowit. If they fail to do so, they will be subject to imprisonment of up to six months and/or fine of up to 20,000 baht.

The drafting of the law is expected to begin early next year.


-- NNT 2015-10-26

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IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN

Thousands of foreigners charged for illegally entering Thailand


Image: Manager.co.th

More than 9,000 foreigners were busted for illegally entering the country - four of them wanted by Interpol - during a weeklong police crackdown that finished Sunday.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865545-immigration-crackdown-thousands-for-foreigners-charged-for-illegally-entering-thailand/

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PM Prayuth to decide on tough new penalties for foreigners who overstay

BANGKOK:-- Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-Cha is considering whether or not to introduce new, stricter penalties for foreign nationals who overstay in Thailand, according to Immigration chief Pol Lt Gen Nathathorn.

Pol Lt Gen Nathathorn told reporters on Sunday the new rules on overstay being considered by the PM are as follows...

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865576-pm-prayuth-to-decide-on-tough-new-penalties-for-foreigners-who-overstay/

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SURVEY:

Do you believe the refugee crisis will result in the disintegration of the EU?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865541-survey-do-you-believe-the-refugee-crisis-will-result-in-the-disintegration-of-the-eu/

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ThaiHealth officials to testify on allegations
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE NATION



AUDITOR-GENERAL'S OFFICE SAYS |REGULATIONS NOT STRICT ENOUGH TO PREVENT CONFLICT |OF INTEREST

BANGKOK: -- REPRESENTATIVES of the embattled ThaiHealth Promotion Foundation will today testify before the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission at Government House on issues relating to the foundation's transparency and objectives as well as allegations of conflicts of interest.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865604-thaihealth-officials-to-testify-on-allegations/

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EU 'unlikely to withdraw' yellow card in December
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE European Union is unlikely to revoke the "yellow card" it issued to Thailand over illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices, when it reconsiders the issue in December this year, according to industry sources.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865605-iuu-fishing-eu-unlikely-to-withdraw-yellow-card-in-december/

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Experts discuss pros and cons of TPP trade deal
NOPHAKHUN LIMSAMARNPHUN
THE NATION

OFFICIALS FEAR IMPACT ON EXPORTS, IF THEY ARE NOT PART OF FTA

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND may have to consider joining the US-led 12-country Trans- Pacific Partnership (TPP) free-trade agreement in order to boost its international competitiveness for exports and foreign direct investment, top academics and government officials say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865606-thai-experts-discuss-pros-and-cons-of-tpp-trade-deal/

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SPECIAL REPORT
Independent agencies need stronger links with the public, critics say
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION


Sirote

BANGKOK: -- INDEPENDENT agencies do not need more power to fight corruption but need to forge closer links with the public, prominent political critics have said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865607-independent-agencies-need-stronger-links-with-the-thai-public-critics-say/

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UPDATE:

Eight dead in Kanchanaburi tourist bus crash
THE NATION



KANCHANABURI: -- EIGHT people died and 22 others were seriously injured in a tourist bus crash at a notorious black spot in Kanchanaburi's Si Sawat district yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865511-eight-killed-28-injured-in-kanchanaburi-road-accident/#entry10003496

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Fishermen launch project in desperate bid to boost fish population
VISARUT SANKHAM
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- FISHERMEN have planted in the sea an artificial reef with 97 tonnes of coconut leaves, braided ropes and concrete pillars off the eastern province of Rayong early this month in a bid to raise the fish population, which has slumped following a massive oil spill off Koh Samet two years ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865608-thai-fishermen-launch-project-in-desperate-bid-to-boost-fish-population/

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Mor Yong 'suffering from high blood pressure, but health improving'
THE NATION


Mor Yong

BANGKOK: -- THE health condition of well-known fortune-teller and a suspect in a lese mejeste case, Suriyan Sujaritpolwong, is improving after reports of his illness due to high blood pressure, deputy permanent secretary for Justice, Charnchao Chaiyanukij, said yesterday.

Suriyan, better known as "Mor Yong", was still in detention at a temporary facility at the 11th Military Circle and his heath condition was not critical, he said.

Rumours have been rife over the weekend about Suriyan's death following the death of another suspect in the same case, Pol Major Prakrom Warunprapa.

Prakrom, Suriyan and Jirawong Wattanathewasilp were charged with lese majeste for acting against the monarchy institution.

Prakrom was found hanging in his cell in the detention facility in the military camp in Nakhon Chaisri road on Friday night.

The Corrections Department has ordered an investigation into the cause of his death but there has been no information from the inquiry so far.

The three suspects were detained in separate cells. Charnchao, who oversees the Corrections Department, said he had not issued any special instructions to take care of the other two suspects.

Officials and guards at the detention facilities would not adjust their procedure and practice for security matters but would have close sur-veillance on them, he said.

Two suspects of the Erawan Shine bombing, Bilal Mohammed and Mieraili Yusufu, are also being detained in the 11th Military Circle.

"We have to follow the same rules but guards will be strict in their monitoring patrol at the remand facility," Charnchao said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Mor-Yong-suffering-from-high-blood-pressure-but-he-30271576.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-26

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EDUCATION
SLF goes all out to recover overdue debt
CHULARAT SAENGPASSA
THE NATION

LOAN FUND PLANS SERIES OF MEASURES |TO PRESS FOR THE REPAYMENT OF |OUTSTANDING DUES

BANGKOK: -- IN 2018, the Student Loan Fund (SLF) will start including its debtors' accounts in the Credit Bureau to keep the financial status of its borrowers updated and to identify any problems that could affect their ability to repay their student loans, said the SLF manager.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865609-thai-education-slf-goes-all-out-to-recover-overdue-debt/

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NHSO to allow only emergency use of PCI
CHULARAT SAENGPASSA
THE NATION


Damras

MOVE FOLLOWS COMPLAINTS OF UNNECESSARY USE OF PROCEDURE BY PRIVATE HOSPITALS

BANGKOK: -- ALL non-emergency cases of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) will be suspended, the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has announced.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865610-thai-nhso-to-allow-only-emergency-use-of-pci/

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UPDATE:

Thousands of foreigners charged for illegally entering country
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- MORE than 9,000 foreigners were busted for illegally entering the country - including four wanted by Interpol - during a weeklong police crackdown that finished yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865545-immigration-crackdown-thousands-of-foreigners-charged-for-illegally-entering-thailand/page-3?p=10003514#entry10003514

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EXCUSIVE INTERVIEW
'Reform process ideally placed in current environment to be a success'
Piyaporn Wongruang


Alongkorn

BANGKOK: -- Alongkorn Ponlaboot used to be a member of the media who observed social and political phenomenon for many years before entering politics and becoming one of the top politicians of the country. He joined the now-defunct National Reform Council (NRC), acting as its whip. He is now vice chair of the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), set up to replace the NRC. He talked to The Nation's Piyaporn Wongruang about his hopes for the new round of reform.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865612-thai-interview-reform-process-ideally-placed-in-current-environment-to-be-a-success/

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UPDATE:

German falls from 8th floor apartment at South Pattaya Condominium



PATTAYA: -- Police and medics were called to a Condominium in South Pattaya early on Sunday Morning to investigate the apparent suicide of a German resident.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865502-73-year-old-german-man-falls-from-pattaya-condominium-to-death/#entry10003521

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Pattaya Hotel “incident” creates a stir on Facebook



PATTAYA: -- A video was posted on Facebook on Sunday which appeared to show a Thai woman being assaulted by a Hotel employee which led to his dismissal as confirmed by the Hotel’s Deputy Manager who we spoke with.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865613-pattaya-hotel-incident-creates-a-stir-on-facebook/

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Lewis Hamilton is 2015 Formula 1 world champion after winning a dramatic United States Grand Prix /BBC

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Two shoplifters caught at Tesco-Lotus in North Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Two broke 18 year olds who wanted to eat at a Barbecue Buffet but had no money to go, decided to steal food and create their own make-shift Buffet restaurant without paying for the food.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865615-two-shoplifters-caught-at-tesco-lotus-in-north-pattaya/

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Police investigation of Phuket Vegetarian Festival shooting murder leads to arrest of two armed 18-year-olds
Darawan Naknakhon


The two 18-year-old suspects have not yet been charged with murder of the 15-year-old.

PHUKET: Police yesterday arrested two 18-year-old suspects and seized guns and amunition from a house in Kathu, but have yet to charge the boys in connection with the Vegetarian Festival shooting murder.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865618-police-investigation-of-phuket-vegetarian-festival-shooting-murder-leads-to-arrest-of-two-armed-18-y/

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Thailand’s Growing Links With Qatar
By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat

Thailand is becoming an increasing important component of Qatar’s own “Look East” policy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865619-thailands-growing-links-with-qatar/

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Hollywood legend Maureen O’Hara dies at 95



BOISE: -- Irish-American actress Maureen O’Hara, one of Hollywood’s most celebrated leading ladies of the 1940s and 1950s, has died at the age of 95.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865620-hollywood-legend-maureen-ohara-dies-at-95/

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EU’s long march towards refugee solution continues in Brussels

BRUSSELS: -- The EU summit of central and eastern European states grinds on in Brussels as the participants try to get agreement on dealing with the refugee crisis. It is proving once again to be difficult.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865621-eus-long-march-towards-refugee-solution-continues-in-brussels/

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Dramatic pictures released of US-Kurdish prisoner rescue in Iraq



DOVER: -- The first pictures have been released of the daring Kurdish Peshmerga-US marines joint operation in Iraq last week that saved the lives of dozens of prisoners ISIL was about to execute.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865622-dramatic-pictures-released-of-us-kurdish-prisoner-rescue-in-iraq/

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Synod reaches uneasy compromise as Pope takes on conservatives



ROME: -- The Pope appears to have reached some form of agreement with the conservative clergy at an often tetchy synod on the family.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865623-synod-reaches-uneasy-compromise-as-pope-takes-on-conservatives/

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Argentina votes with economy in chaos



BUENOS AIRES: -- Argentina is voting for a new president with Buenos Aires state governor Daniel Scioli well ahead in the opinion polls.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865624-argentina-votes-with-economy-in-chaos/

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Thailand wants Chinese loan for railway project to be charged with lower than 2% rate



BANGKOK: -- The joint committee on railway cooperation between Thailand and China is due to meet in Beijing during October 27—29 during which a memorandum of cooperation is expected to be signed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865625-thailand-wants-chinese-loan-for-railway-project-to-be-charged-with-lower-than-2-rate/

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Haze crisis in the South improving
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The haze crisis in southern Thailand continued to improve on Sunday but people have been urged not to do anything that might worsen it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865626-haze-crisis-in-the-south-improving/

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CAT says that hacker tried, but failed, to access customer data

BANGKOK, 26 October 2015 (NNT) – Colonel Sappachai Huwanant, the acting president of CAT Telecom Public Company Limited (CAT), has disclosed that hackers tried to access the CAT company system, but did not manage to get access to any public information such as usernames and passwords.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865628-cat-says-that-hacker-tried-but-failed-to-access-customer-data/

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Poland’s Law and Justice party sweeps to stunning election win

WARSAW: -- The Polish opposition Law and Justice party has defied the opinion polls and is claiming a stunning victory with nearly 40% of the vote according to exit polls, enough to govern alone.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865629-polands-law-and-justice-party-sweeps-to-stunning-election-win/