Thailand Live Friday 19 Aug 2016

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Fee for visa on arrival doubled to 2,000 baht as of Sept 27

 

 

Starting as of September 27, foreign tourists from 18 countries and one economic zone will be charged 2,000 baht instead of 1,000 baht if they apply for visas on arrival (VoA) at any of the 42 designated immigration checkpoints.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938369-fee-for-visa-on-arrival-doubled-to-2000-baht-as-of-sept-27/

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Thaivisa Photography Competition (August 2016)
 

 
Enter the Thaivisa Photography Competition where you can win a two night stay at the luxury Palm Grove Resort in Pattaya, worth an estimated 10,000 Baht.
 
Submit your photos here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/935139-thaivisa-photography-competition-august-2016/

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NGO wants amended health care bill put on hold

 

 

BANGKOK: -- A health insurance advocacy group has asked the cabinet to put on hold amendments to the National Health Insurance Act proposed by the National Legislative Assembly, claiming that the changes were made without public participation.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938394-ngo-wants-amended-health-care-bill-put-on-hold/

 

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CDC asked to make it clear senators' right in nominating next PM

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) should make it clear without any doubt the issue about the right of the senators in selecting or nominating the next prime minister when the committee amends the draft charter to accommodate the attached question which was endorsed in the August 7 referendum, said Mr Somkid Lertpaitoon, a member of the National Legislative Assembly, on Thursday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938395-cdc-asked-to-make-it-clear-senators-right-in-nominating-next-pm/

 

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PM wants media to act as “mouth, eyes and ears” of Thailand

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut chan-ocha said Thursday that he would like the Thai media to act as “mouth, eyes and ears” of the country and to report on things which will not cause damage to the country.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938396-pm-wants-media-to-act-as-mouth-eyes-and-ears-of-thailand/

 

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Two motorcycle gunmen jailed 20 years for the death of two victims in car crash

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Two young men who pursued their two rivals in a motorcycle chase to their death in a collision with a bus were sentenced by the Criminal Court to 20 years in prison on murder charges.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938397-two-motorcycle-gunmen-jailed-20-years-for-the-death-of-two-victims-in-car-crash/

 

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Pol Gen Chakthip: No suspects in bomb attacks held in police custody yet

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The national police chief has confirmed that police have not detained any suspects responsible for a spate of bomb and arson in seven southern provinces last week.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938398-pol-gen-chakthip-no-suspects-in-bomb-attacks-held-in-police-custody-yet/

 

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NCPO will issue order to tackle human trafficking

  

BANGKOK, 19 August 2016 (NNT) - The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) will issue an order to take bold action against government officers who have been involved in human trafficking. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938399-ncpo-will-issue-order-to-tackle-human-trafficking/

 

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British Embassy Personnel Visit Pattaya

by Pattaya One Team

 

 

PATTAYA: -- Ms Margaret Tang, British Charge D’Affaires, arrived in Pattaya today with British Embassy Personnel to discuss and review security measures for British visitors and residents of Pattaya.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938400-british-embassy-personnel-visit-pattaya/

 

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Phuket Town clubs busted for late trading, lurid shows

Eakkapop Thongtub

 

Two staff and the manager at Harem bar in Phuket Town were charged with providing “indecent” entertainment show. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

 

PHUKET: -- Two night venue managers and two staff were arrested in Phuket Town early this morning (Aug 18) after police raided two nightclubs and caught them selling alcohol after hours, with one venue manager charged with providing lurid entertainment.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938401-phuket-town-clubs-busted-for-late-trading-lurid-shows/

 

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New Phuket airport terminal set for September opening

Chanida Summast

 

The model of the new terminal at Phuket Airport went on display at Central festival Phuket today. Photo: Chanida Summast

 

PHUKET: -- It was announced today (Aug 18) that no formal date has yet been set for the opening of the new passenger terminal at Phuket International Airport, however, it was said that the opening will definitely go ahead some time in September.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938402-new-phuket-airport-terminal-set-for-september-opening/

 

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DPM orders BOI for investment attraction plan

 

  

BANGKOK, 19 August 2016 (NNT) – The Deputy Prime Minister for economy has ordered the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) to create a new investment incentive proposal in a month's time. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938403-dpm-somkid-orders-boi-for-investment-attraction-plan/

 

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Police launch measures for Pattaya tourists safety

  

CHONBURI, 19 August 2016 (NNT) - Police have launched 17 measures to step up safety for tourists in Pattaya. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938404-police-launch-measures-for-pattaya-tourists-safety/

 

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Turkey: blasts blamed on PKK militants leave more than a dozen dead

 

 

ELAZIG: -- At least 14 people are reported dead – mostly police and soldiers – and around 300 injured after three bomb blasts in Turkey’s southeast.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938405-turkey-blasts-blamed-on-pkk-militants-leave-more-than-a-dozen-dead/

 

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Rio police say US swimmers made up robbery claim

 

 

RIO DE JANEIRO: -- Police in Rio say that four US Olympic swimmers who claimed they robbed at gunpoint made up the whole story.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938406-rio-police-say-us-swimmers-made-up-robbery-claim/

 

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Twenty five years ago the USSR collapsed

 

 

MOSCOW: -- It’s 1991 and President Mikhail Gorbachev has brought in Perestroika, a set of reforms to the Soviet system but he’s still trying to keep Communism alive.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938407-twenty-five-years-ago-the-ussr-collapsed/

 

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Heartbreaking images from Syria

 

 

DAMASCUS: -- Striking footage has emerged of children being pulled from the rubble of a building flattened by air strikes in Syria.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938409-heartbreaking-images-from-syria/

 

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Wildfire still raging out of control in Southern California

 

 

LOS ANGELES: -- Dry, hot and windy conditions continue to drive a Southern California wildfire that has forced the evacuation of more than 80,000 people.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938410-wildfire-still-raging-out-of-control-in-southern-california/

 

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US says $400M to Iran was contingent on release of prisoners

By BRADLEY KLAPPER

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration said Thursday that a $400 million cash payment to Iran seven months ago was contingent on the release of a group of American prisoners.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938411-us-says-400m-to-iran-was-contingent-on-release-of-prisoners/

 

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Trump makes first battleground state ad buys

By STEVE PEOPLES and JULIE BYKOWICZ

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new brain trust in place, Donald Trump on Thursday moved to invest nearly $5 million in battleground state advertising as the Republican presidential contender took modest steps to address daunting challenges in the states that will make or break his White House ambitions.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938412-trump-makes-first-battleground-state-ad-buys/

 

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Clinton's foundation to alter donations policy if elected

By KEN THOMAS

 

NEW YORK (AP) — Hillary Clinton's family foundation will no longer accept foreign and corporate donations if she is elected president, and will bring an end to its annual Clinton Global Initiative meeting regardless of the outcome of the November election.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938413-clintons-foundation-to-alter-donations-policy-if-elected/

 

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Obama administration to phase out some private prison use

By EILEEN SULLIVAN

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration announced Thursday it will phase out its use of some private prisons, affecting thousands of federal inmates and immediately sending shares of the two publicly traded prison operators plunging.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938414-obama-administration-to-phase-out-some-private-prison-use/

 

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Swiss and American hiding in Pattaya nabbed for overstay

 

 

Images: Chonburi Immigration

 

CHONBURI: -- Chonburi immigration have announced the arrest of a 67 year old Swiss man wanted in his home country on fraud and theft charges.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938418-swiss-and-american-hiding-in-pattaya-nabbed-for-overstay/

 

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Burglars steal 100,000 baht of goods from house of German woman in Udon Thani

 

Image: Thairath

 

UDON THANI: -- Police in Udon were called to a house in the Nong Bua area of Udon on Thursday after a burglary by cool thieves.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938419-burglars-steal-100000-baht-of-goods-from-house-of-german-woman-in-udon-thani/

 

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Teenager arrested for making false claims - Thai police warn public about identity theft

 

Image: Thairath

 

BANGKOK: -- The Patrol and Special Operation Division (Section3) has announced the arrest of a 19 year old Thai woman for making false claims.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938420-teenager-arrested-for-making-false-claims-thai-police-warn-public-about-identity-theft/

 

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Not welcome: The water monitor that came to lunch in Sattahip

 

Image: Thairath

 

SATTAHIP: -- A giant water monitor was a very unwelcome visitor at a Sattahip restaurant - and was even starting to scare the customers away.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938421-not-welcome-the-water-monitor-that-came-to-lunch-in-sattahip/

 

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WASHINGTON (AP) - Emails show Trump advisers waged covert influence campaign for pro-Russian Ukraine government

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UPDATE:

 

Brazilian police say Lochte, US swimmers were not robbed

By MAURICIO SAVARESE, PETER PRENGAMAN and and LUIS ANDRES HENAO

 

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian police said Thursday that swimmer Ryan Lochte and three U.S. teammates were not robbed after a night of partying, and the intoxicated athletes instead vandalized a gas station bathroom and were questioned by armed guards before they paid for the damage and left.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938406-rio-police-say-us-swimmers-made-up-robbery-claim/?do=findComment&comment=11063284

 

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Naked Donald Trump statues pop up in cities across the US

 

NEW YORK (AP) — It's Donald Trump like you've never seen him before.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938431-naked-donald-trump-statues-pop-up-in-cities-across-the-us/

 

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Saudi Arabia: abandoned migrant workers refuse free flights home

 

 

RIYADH: -- Thousands of migrant construction workers – abandoned by their employers in filthy desert camps in Saudi Arabia amid the kingdom’s economic slump – say they will not accept a government offer of free flights home until they get months of unpaid wages.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/938433-saudi-arabia-abandoned-migrant-workers-refuse-free-flights-home/