THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Monday 22 May 2017

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PM urges politicians, dissenters to refrain from rhetorical speech

 

 

BANGKOK, 22 May 2017 (NNT) – Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has asked politicians and dissenters not to use rhetoric to undermine the government’s achievements. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984232-pm-prayut-urges-politicians-dissenters-to-refrain-from-rhetorical-speech/

 

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Spider tickets expected in October to allow commuters to travel by bus, train and boat with just one ticket

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Transport has assigned the Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning Office to speed up the issuance of “spider” tickets which will enable commuters to travel by electric train, bus and boat with just one ticket.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984235-spider-tickets-expected-in-october-to-allow-commuters-to-travel-by-bus-train-and-boat-with-just-one-ticket/

 

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Three cops under probe for allowing two arrested suspects to escape

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Three non-commissioned police officers of Pone Thong district police were placed under investigation for allowing a visit of two suspects in detention cell by a girlfriend and enabling them to escape.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984236-three-cops-under-probe-for-allowing-two-arrested-suspects-to-escape/

 

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Nationwide crime crackdown nets 10 million yaa baa pills and 20,000 guns

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Authorities have seized more than 10 million methamphetamine pills and almost 20,000 unlicensed guns in nationwide crime crackdown since last October, Maj-Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich, spokesman of the Defence Ministry, disclosed on Sunday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984237-nationwide-crime-crackdown-nets-10-million-yaa-baa-pills-and-20000-guns/

 

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Speed limits imposed on Transport Company’s buses during rainy season

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The state-run Transport Company has imposed speed limits on its bus fleet during the rainy season as a precautionary measure against road accidents.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984238-speed-limits-imposed-on-transport-company’s-buses-during-rainy-season/
 

 

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Religious rites on Tuesday for King Rama IX and HM the Queen
By The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- A merit-making ceremony for late King Rama IX and a religious ceremony for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit will be held at Dusit Palace on Tuesday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984239-religious-rites-on-tuesday-for-king-rama-ix-and-hm-the-queen/

 

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Country has become too militarised, analysts say

By Piyaporn Wongruang
The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- THREE YEARS ago today, the coup took place with the military claiming it had to divert the country from the brink of collapse, as political conflict had divided Thai people and there was no light at the end of the tunnel – just deadlock.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984240-thailand-has-become-too-militarised-analysts-say/

 

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Multilingual handbooks distributed to help medics assist foreign accident victims
By The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEMS) has produced a handbook detailing patient symptoms in English, Chinese, Japanese, Burmese and Malay to smooth communications and patient referrals from accident scenes to hospitals.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984241-multilingual-handbooks-distributed-to-help-thai-medics-assist-foreign-accident-victims/

 

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Junta has failed on key tasks of reform and political reconciliation, Abhisit says

By Jakrawan Salaytoo
The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- THREE YEARS after seizing power from an elected government, the junta has failed disappointingly to reform the country and encourage political reconciliation, according to Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984242-junta-has-failed-on-key-tasks-of-reform-and-political-reconciliation-abhisit-says/

 

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Surrogacy group caught

By Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation

 

Thai officials at the Nong Khai checkpoint inspect items seized from a man and six women who returned to Thailand from Laos on Saturday evening, reportedly after plans to impregnate the women at a clinic in Vientiane via artificial insemination wer

 

Six Thai women nabbed at Laos border after being paid to have babies

 

NONG KHAI: -- A CROSS-BORDER network that uses Thai women as illegal surrogate mothers-for-hire has been exposed after the arrest of seven suspects on the weekend in Nong Khai.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984243-surrogacy-group-caught-in-nong-khai/

 

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Temple saves the day after 50 migrant hill tribe workers denied wages in municipality project

By The Nation

 

 

LAMPANG: -- Fifty migrant hill tribe workers and their children asked for meals from Wat Ban Rong in Lampang’s Muang district yesterday after their boss, the contractor for a new municipality office, failed to pay them wages for nearly a month and then laid them off.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984244-temple-saves-the-day-after-50-migrant-hill-tribe-workers-denied-wages-in-municipality-project/

 

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Net widens further as Mae Hong Son child-sex scandal snares politicians

By Patinya Srisupamat
The Nation

 

Suebsak Eaimvijarn

 

BANGKOK: -- Police will apply to a court for summonses for three more people, including a local politician, suspected of buying sex services from girls under 18 in the Mae Hong Son prostitution scandal, while they continue to look for evidence against another three individuals, a senior officer said.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984245-net-widens-further-as-mae-hong-son-child-sex-scandal-snares-politicians/

 

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Pickpocket gang arrested in Bangkok’s Pratunam market
By The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Police from the 191 patrol and the Special Operations Division arrested five members of a pickpocket gang – two Thai men and three Cambodian women – who allegedly targeted people in Bangkok's Pratunam market area, division chief Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakparn said on Sunday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984246-pickpocket-gang-arrested-in-bangkok’s-pratunam-market/

 

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Baby elephant born at Pattaya’s Suan Nongnuch

By The Nation

 

 

PATTAYA: -- Famous Pattaya attraction Suan Nongnuch welcome its latest addition on Sunday – a male baby elephant named Plai Nammon.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984247-baby-elephant-born-at-pattaya’s-suan-nongnuch/

 

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EDITORIAL

Favourable country ranking entails tougher job for leaders

By The Nation

 

Thai people as a whole also have some work to do

 

Country rankings can sometimes be taken with a grain of salt, or so governments or nations that lose face often say. Positive ones, however, are always better with negative ones, and embattled Thailand can take heart from latest survey results coming out of the United States. For all that Thailand has been through, there are quite a few things to boast about thanks to a respected American rank-giver.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984248-favourable-country-ranking-entails-tougher-job-for-leaders/

 

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ECONOMY & TOURISM

Three years of wasted opportunity for tax reform

By WICHIT CHAITRONG 
THE NATION

 

BANGKOK: -- “REFORM before election” has been the theme of the coup d’etat led by General Prayut Chan-o-cha who promised sweeping economic and political reforms. Needless to say over the past three years, the government has mishandled economic reforms, in particular tax reforms.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984250-three-years-of-wasted-opportunity-for-tax-reform/

 

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Reform of Thai police force on NRSA agenda

By The Nation

 

Kamnoon Sidhisamarn

 

BANGKOK: -- The National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) will reconvene on Monday and Tuesday to debate four topics, including reform of the Thai police force. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984251-reform-of-thai-police-force-on-nrsa-agenda/

 

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Better awareness on electricity situation in southern region: Govt

 

 

BANGKOK, 22 May 2017 (NNT) – The general public are aware of the electricity situation in the southern region, while the Ministry of Energy has been tasked with communicating the facts to the public nationwide, says government spokesman. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984252-better-awareness-on-electricity-situation-in-southern-region-govt/

 

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Govt steps up nationwide eradication of child prostitution

 

 

BANGKOK, 22 May 2017 (NNT) – The government is stepping up its nationwide eradication of child prostitution, retaining strict law enforcement against mafia networks, encouraging the general public to inform officials of any suspicious clues. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984253-thai-govt-steps-up-nationwide-eradication-of-child-prostitution/

 

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Transport Ministry: infrastructure progression much faster under current government

 

BANGKOK, 22 May 2017 (NNT) - The Deputy Spokesman of the Transport Ministry clarified a comment made by Mr. David Nardone, President of the Trade and Investment Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce, who said Thailand's lack of socio-economic development was because the country did not invest in heavy infrastructure during the past 10 years. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984254-thai-transport-ministry-infrastructure-progression-much-faster-under-current-government/

 

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MOPH to create more doctors and solve personnel shortage

 

NONTHABURI, 22 May 2017 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has revealed four measures to solve the shortage of doctors, relying on the creation of more personnel to support the increasing demand in the healthcare system, says official. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984255-thai-health-min-to-create-more-doctors-and-solve-personnel-shortage/

 

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Trump tells Middle East to 'drive out' Islamist extremists

By Steve Holland and Jeff Mason

Reuters

 

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during Arab-Islamic-American Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia May 21, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

RIYADH (Reuters) - President Donald Trump urged Arab and Islamic leaders on Sunday to unite and do their share to defeat Islamist extremists, making an impassioned plea to "drive out" terrorists while toning down his own harsh rhetoric about Muslims.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984256-trump-tells-middle-east-to-drive-out-islamist-extremists/

 

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North Korea says missile test confirms warhead guidance

By Ju-min Park and Jack Kim

REUTERS

 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves to North Korean scientists and technicians, who developed missile "Hwasong-12" in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) May 20, 2017. KCNA/via REUTERS

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea said on Monday it has successfully tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile to confirm the reliability of the late-stage guidance of the nuclear warhead, indicating further advances in the ability to hit U.S. targets.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984257-north-korea-says-missile-test-confirms-warhead-guidance/

 

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Israel makes some concessions to Palestinians before Trump visit

By Ori Lewis

REUTERS

 

Palestinians print posters depicting U.S. President Donald Trump in preparations for his planned visit, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem May 21, 2017. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma

 

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel on Sunday authorised a few economic concessions to the Palestinians requested by President Donald Trump, hours before the U.S. leader begins a visit in which he hopes to revive peace talks frozen since 2014.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984258-israel-makes-some-concessions-to-palestinians-before-trump-visit/

 

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Brooding Iran hardliners say they must still be heard after Rouhani win

By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin

REUTERS

 

A supporter of Iranian president Hassan Rouhani holds his poster as she celebrates his victory in the presidential election, in Tehran, Iran, May 20, 2017. TIMA via REUTERS

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Iranian hardliners indignant at President Hassan Rouhani's re-election vowed on Sunday to press their conservative agenda, with some saying his caustic campaign trail attacks on their candidate would bring a backlash.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984259-brooding-iran-hardliners-say-they-must-still-be-heard-after-rouhani-win/

 

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NASA plans emergency space walk on International Space Station

By Irene Klotz

REUTERS

 

FILE PHOTO - The International Space Station is seen in this view from the space shuttle Discovery after the undocking of the two spacecraft in this photo provided by NASA and taken March 7, 2011. Courtesy NASA/Handout via REUTERS

 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla (Reuters) - A pair of astronauts will venture outside the International Space Station as early as Tuesday for an emergency space walk to replace a failed computer, one of two that control major U.S. systems aboard the orbiting outpost, NASA said on Sunday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984260-nasa-plans-emergency-space-walk-on-international-space-station/                                                                                                    
 

 

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Trump's FBI comments to Russians were aimed at cooperation - aides

By Ginger Gibson and Julia Harte

REUTERS

 

U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster speaks to reporters in the briefing room at the White House in Washington, U.S. May 16, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump raised the firing of the FBI director in a meeting with Russia's foreign minister to explain why he had been unable to find areas of cooperation with Moscow, two top administration officials said on Sunday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984261-trumps-fbi-comments-to-russians-were-aimed-at-cooperation-aides/

 

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Human rights ‘greatly eroded’

By Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation

 

 

Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattararaksa is seen behind bars in this file picture after he was charged with defaming the monarchy in December last year. He is still in prison, having had many bail requests refused.

 

Govt opponents silenced as freedom of expression, particularly on internet, hit

 

BANGKOK: -- HUMAN rights have greatly diminished in Thailand during three years of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) administration and the situation looks to be getting worse, rights experts say, as many laws allow the authorities to tighten control on people’s lives and liberty for the sake of “peace and order”.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/984268-human-rights-‘greatly-eroded’/

 

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North Korea’s Unit 180, the cyber warfare cell that worries the West

BY REUTERS 

 

REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/File Photo

 

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea’s main spy agency has a special cell called Unit 180 that is likely to have launched some of its most daring and successful cyber attacks, according to defectors, officials and internet security experts.

 

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/north-koreas-unit-180-the-cyber-warfare-cell-that-worries-the-west/21812/

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Nokia smartphones set to hit Thai markets in June

BY THE NATION 

 

Nokia 5

 

HMD GLOBAL, the home of Nokia phones, announced last week at Thailand Mobile Expo 2017 that its first Nokia smartphone range comprising the Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 will be available in June in Thailand.

 

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/nokia-smartphones-set-to-hit-thai-markets-in-june/21815/