Thailand Live Wednesday 19 Nov 2014

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DITP to develop OTOP products for international market

BANGKOK, 19 November 2014 (NNT) – The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce, has planned to develop the "One Tambon One Product" commodities commonly called OTOP goods, to boost their sales in the international market.

Mrs.Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, DITP director-general said her office would select the most competitive four- star and five-star OTOP products to participate in the product development program to be held throughout 2015.

These products would be displayed in various exhibitions in Thailand and abroad including the Top of OTOP exhibition during the year, said Nuntawan.

The DITP's program focuses on product-design development and marketing channels to make them precisely fit the orders of international consumers. The program is expected to increase Thai exports' earnings and generate more income to local people.


-- NNT 2014-11-19

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Police target Bangkok ‘sister’ after major Phuket drugs busts
Saran Mitrarat


Gen Patchara (centre) introduces the four-man network led by Somkid “Bao” Prateeptong (white shirt).

PHUKET: -- The island’s police chief has assigned his deputy, Col Arayapan Pukbuakao, to head up an investigation of a major drug network with links to a woman in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777504-police-target-bangkok-sister-after-major-phuket-drugs-busts/

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Thai junta crafts bill to curb street demonstrations

Bangkok: -- The Thai cabinet Tuesday endorsed a bill to regulate protests, including banning the occupation of state buildings, after years of political turmoil marked by repeated rounds of demonstrations.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777522-thai-junta-crafts-bill-to-curb-street-demonstrations/

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DAM
Activists push for Mae Wong Dam to be scrapped
Wasu Vipoosanapat
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- ACTIVISTS called yesterday for the Mae Wong Dam to be scrapped, ahead of the final decision today on the project's Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) report.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777572-activists-push-for-mae-wong-dam-to-be-scrapped/

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CORRUPTION IN THE THAI BUREAUCRACY
Land offices most corrupt
NATHAPAT PROMKAEW
The Nation



Police ranked 2nd worst in survey; Bt5 bn bribes paid to 10 govt agencies

BANGKOK: -- The Land office is the most corrupt agency in the Thai bureaucracy, while police are ranked second in this dubious list where households needed to make illegal payments to facilitate their service, according to an academic survey.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777573-thai-bureaucracy-land-offices-most-corrupt-police-ranks-2nd-worst-in-survey/

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RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Criminal case against Yingluck 'a step closer'
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE MOVE to get ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra to stand trial in the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions - for alleged negligence to stop corruption and massive losses in the rice-pledging scheme - is seen as a step closer to indictment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777574-rice-pledging-scheme-criminal-case-against-yingluck-a-step-closer/

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NEW LAW
Inheritance tax of 10% on estates over Bt50m approved
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet yesterday gave the nod to a draft bill for the country's first-ever inheritance tax.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777575-inheritance-tax-of-10-on-estates-over-bt50m-approved/

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ECONOMY
World uncertainties linger, Thai jobless rate misleading: Supachai
The Nation


Thai office workers pass an advertisement billboard at a business district in Bangkok. Thailand

BANGKOK: -- The global economy remains at risk, as major economies like the United States, the European Union and Japan are still confronting economic hardships, while Thailand has seen high numbers of disguised unemployed persons, the former secretary-general of the United Nation Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) said recently.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777576-world-uncertainties-linger-thai-jobless-rate-misleading-supachai/

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RICE
Govt cooperates with traders to boost Hom Mali market in Hong Kong
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Commerce Ministry has joined forces with Thai rice exporters and 40 Hong Kong importers to regain market share for Thai Hom Mali rice (jasmine rice) in Hong Kong, a major market.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777577-thai-govt-cooperates-with-traders-to-boost-hom-mali-market-in-hong-kong/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Nong Laila shows us how to scold 'thieves'
Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- Her actions are the equivalent of a composer using just two notes to create a masterpiece. Nong Laila's first note is the obscene curse repeated time and again in her viral video. Her second is the looping emphasis of just how much the chicken and sticky rice meant to her. Add the cute southern accent and innocent young girl's face and we have a three-minute clip that is sending practically everyone in Thailand into a frenzy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777578-thai-opinion-nong-laila-shows-us-how-to-scold-thieves/

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8 Turkish Tourists rescued from sinking Speed Boat in Pattaya Bay



PATTAYA: -- Emergency Services, including the Pattaya Sea Rescue Unit, dealt with a marine incident on Tuesday afternoon which resulted in a Turkish National sustaining a minor injury.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777579-8-turkish-tourists-rescued-from-sinking-speed-boat-in-pattaya-bay/

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100 Ladies and Ladyboy’s "of the night" arrested by Police on Pattaya Beach



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Tuesday and in response to the recent case of a drugging and robbery of a Pakistani Tourist by two women picked-up from Pattaya Beach, Pattaya Police arrested 100 suspected prostitutes who were found loitering in the Beach Road area.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777580-100-ladies-and-ladyboys-of-the-night-arrested-by-police-on-pattaya-beach/

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District Officers raid fun fair and Pattaya Bars



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Wednesday the Banglamung District Licensing Unit was out in full force and checked a fun-fair in North Pattaya and a selection of Bars in South Pattaya’s Walking Street in search of licensing irregularities and illegal drugs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777582-district-officers-raid-fun-fair-and-pattaya-bars/

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Cambodian Worker found dead at Pattaya Constructors Campsite

PATTAYA: -- Police and medics were called to a constructor’s campsite on Tuesday Morning after a Cambodian worker was found dead inside his room.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777583-cambodian-worker-found-dead-at-pattaya-constructors-campsite/

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Son of former deputy minister beats girlfriend at police station
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- The son of a former government deputy minister could face a charge of attempted murder for beating his girlfriend in front of the Thonglor police station early Saturday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777584-son-of-former-deputy-minister-beats-girlfriend-at-bangkok-police-station/

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CHARTER WRITING
Martial law may hinder referendum on new charter: CDC chief
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Borwornsak Uwanno, president of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), said the prospects of a national public referendum on the new constitution might be hindered by the martial law, and suggested that provincial public hearings led by CDC subcommittees be held instead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777585-martial-law-may-hinder-referendum-on-new-thai-charter-cdc-chief/

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Thailand to ratify low-carbon solution pact
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet yesterday approved the plan for Thailand to ratify the "Draft Colombo Declaration - For the Promotion of Next Generation Low-Carbon Transport Solution in Asia", government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777586-thailand-to-ratify-low-carbon-solution-pact/

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UPDATE:

'Bumfights' duo in body-parts mail scam
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- POLICE said two Americans behind the bid to smuggle body parts out of the country had been very cooperative during interrogation this past weekend. That was why police said they believed Ryan McPherson and Daniel Tanner when they said they were just tourists and could not remember exactly where they had bought these human organs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777428-fbi-probes-into-human-parts-case-in-thailand/page-3?p=8690126#entry8690126

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Chen Ji to explain abduction
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Chinese-Cambodian businessman Chen Ji will talk to police next week about his abduction, metropolitan police investigation commander Pol Maj-General Sombat Milintrachinda said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777587-chinese-cambodian-businessman-chen-ji-to-explain-abduction-to-thai-police/

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Institute of Justice to help fight human trafficking
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Thailand Institute of Justice has joined forces with the Attorney General's Office to find solutions and speed up action on human trafficking concerns.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777588-thailand-institute-of-justice-to-help-fight-human-trafficking/

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NHSO to tackle drug resistance issue
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Some 38,000 Thais reportedly die from drug-resistance each year, according to the National Health Security Office (NHSO).

As a result, it plans to push Public Health Ministry pharmacies to enter its universal healthcare scheme. The scheme would place pharmacists at all drug stores under the ministry in order to provide patients with accurate information. It would be submitted for the NHSO board to consider after the New Year holidays, NHSO deputy chief Dr Weerawat Phankhrut said yesterday.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/NHSO-to-tackle-drug-resistance-issue-30248101.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-19

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Synagogue attack: Netanyahu vow in 'battle for Jerusalem'

(BBC) Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to win a "battle for Jerusalem" after a deadly attack on a synagogue.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777589-synagogue-attack-netanyahu-vow-in-battle-for-jerusalem/

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North Korea: UN moves closer to ICC human rights probe

(BBC) A UN committee has called for the Security Council to refer North Korea to the International Criminal Court over its human rights record.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777590-north-korea-un-moves-closer-to-icc-human-rights-probe/

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Comet landing: Organic molecules detected by Philae
By Paul Rincon
Science editor

(BBC) The Philae lander has detected organic molecules on the surface of its comet, scientists have confirmed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777591-comet-landing-organic-molecules-detected-by-philae/

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India quarantines man over Ebola sex risk

(BBC) India has quarantined a man who was cured of Ebola in Liberia because of the possibility that he may spread the virus through sex.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777592-india-quarantines-man-over-ebola-sex-risk/

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Calling Early Elections in Japan, Abe Rolls the Dice on the Economy
By MARTIN FACKLER

IWAKUNI, Japan — When his popularity was soaring at home, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared in Washington a year ago that “Japan is back.”

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777609-calling-early-elections-in-japan-abe-rolls-the-dice-on-the-economy/

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Australia edges closer to El Nino
AAP

MELBOURNE: -- AUSTRALIA is edging closer to a drought-inducing El Nino in the Pacific Ocean, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777611-australia-edges-closer-to-el-nino/

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Van operators urged to register with BMTA or Transport Co. Ltd.

BANGKOK, 19 Nov 2014, (NNT) - The Department of Land Transport has urged van operators who have not registered their names with either the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) or the Transport Company Limited, to do so within December or they may loose their licenses.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777612-van-operators-urged-to-register-with-bmta-or-transport-co-ltd/

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Man arrested in Prachinburi with huge assortment of firearms

PRACHINBURI: -- Police raided a house in Prachinburi's Nadee district Tuesday night and arrested a man after they found some ecstasy and methamphetamine pills and 31 items guns and ammunitions in the house.

The man was identified as Pannathat Chaywattana 31.

The seized weapons included an M79 grenade launcher, two M6 assault rifles and two RGD-5 grenades.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Man-arrested-in-Prachinburi-with-huge-assortment-o-30248113.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-19

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Paris chefs call for end to French kitchen violence
By Clea Caulcutt
Producer, BBC News, Paris

(BBC) Several top chefs, including France's TV star cook Cyril Lignac, gathered in Paris this week to denounce violence in French kitchens.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777625-paris-chefs-call-for-end-to-french-kitchen-violence/