Indian Tourists Spark Outrage for Littering into Sea at North Pattaya Beach

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90 exemplary persons win the 2014 Prachabodi Award

BANGKOK, 10 December 2014 (NNT) - A total of 90 persons who have helped disadvantaged people during 2014 were presented with Prachabodi Award in a ceremony presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali yesterday (9 Dec).

The award was started in 2007 by the Office of Welfare Promotion and Protection of Children, Youth, the Elderly and Vulnerable Groups to support those who have inspired others who live in hardship to continue their living with happiness and courage.

This year the Prachabodi Award was presented to four groups of people – 19 individuals who contributed their time and financial suppport towards those in inferior living conditions, five organizations which have supported less fortunate people, 21 media representatives whose coverage and news articles benefited people in deprived situation and 45 individuals who have lived in hardship but are able to lead their lives in an exemplary way.


-- NNT 2014-12-10

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Director Defends 'Hitler Scene' in Thai Junta Film
By Khaosod English


A screen shot of "30" from the state-sponsored film "Thai Niyom."

BANGKOK — A Thai director has defended a scene showing schoolchildren painting and applauding a picture of Adolf Hitler in his short film, which was commissioned by Thailand's ruling military junta.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782907-director-defends-hitler-scene-in-thai-govt-film/

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INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY
NACC expects 'milestone year' in fight against graft
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
THE NATION


A group of National Anti-Corruption Commission officials participate in a march near the NACC headquarters in Nonthaburi as part of a national campaign marking International Anti-Corruption Day yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) chairman Panthep Klanarongran yesterday stressed that every Thai citizen's determination and cooperation were essential in fighting graft and creating a corruption-free society.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782910-nacc-expects-milestone-year-in-fight-against-graft/

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CHARTER WRITING
CDC's Anek abandons his amnesty proposal
Nitipol Kiravanich,
Khanittha Thepphajorn
The Nation

Too many people misread his aim for reconciliation and a better society

BANGKOK: -- Anek Laothamatas, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee's subcommittee on reconciliation, gave up trying to seek amnesty for conflicting parties, saying his proposal was misinterpreted.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782911-cdcs-anek-abandons-his-thai-amnesty-proposal/

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UPDATE:

Amlo agrees to freeze 104 plots held by Pongpat
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE ANTI-MONEY Laundering Office yesterday agreed to freeze a portion of assets - 104 plots of land worth about Bt400 million - jointly held by former crime-buster Pol Lt-General Pongpat Chayaphan on the assumption that they were acquired unlawfully.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782853-amlo-to-freeze-400-million-baht-worth-of-land-plots-from-pongpat-and-his-relatives/#entry8782204

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NRC pushing PM direct-election plan
Olan Lertrudtanadumrongkul
The Nation

Pheu Thai legal expert compares idea to US system and lists possible flaws

BANGKOK: -- DESPITE CONCERN and opposition, the National Reform Council (NRC) panel on political reform insisted again yesterday that a direct election of the prime minister would help reduce vote-buying.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782912-nrc-pushing-thai-pm-direct-election-plan/

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UPDATE:

PM not against sale of alcohol on New Year's
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-ocha said yesterday that he has no objections to the sale of alcoholic beverages during New Year holidays.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782769-prayut-rejects-proposal-to-ban-alcohol-sale-during-new-year-holidays/page-4#entry8782215

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TAX INCENTIVE
Relief for SMEs, low-income earners
Erich Parpart
The Nation


Finance Minister Sommai Phasee gives a press conference yesterday following the Cabinet

BANGKOK: -- The Finance Ministry yesterday has received the Cabinet's approval for four key measures aimed at lowering costs and improving the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), encouraging people to save and helping those on low incomes to gain access to finance.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782913-thai-govt-tax-incentive-relief-for-smes-low-income-earners/

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EDITORIAL
Amnesty crossroads looms again
The Nation

This time we need a national debate - on whether amnesty is necessary for reconciliation, and, if so, how to make it happen

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is back where it began. The amnesty issue has resurfaced after charter drafter Anek Laothamatas proposed that the issue be considered by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC). His suggestion has sparked a fresh round of debate. Whether to pardon those charged with crimes related to past political conflicts remains a controversial issue. Argument rages over whether amnesty is the key to much-needed national reconciliation and, if so, whether now is the right time.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782914-thai-editorial-amnesty-crossroads-looms-again/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Absolutely democracy can be absolutely unacceptable

BANGKOK: -- This article - the third time I'm discussing the idea of "ultimate democracy" in this space - is inspired by the sincerest enthusiasm shown toward it by an unmistakable fan of Thaksin Shinawatra. "I think we should give it a try," he said. But when I told him I doubted the idea would ever be picked up by those tasked with reforming Thailand, he sighed and nodded.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782915-thai-opinion-absolutely-democracy-can-be-absolutely-unacceptable/

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Greek Tourist in dramatic cliff-face rescue at Pattaya Island



PATTAYA: -- A Royal Thai Navy Seahawk Rescue Helicopter was scrambled to Larn Island, 4kms off the coast of Pattaya, on Tuesday afternoon, to assist a Greek tourist who was stuck half-way up a 400 meter cliff-face.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782916-greek-tourist-in-dramatic-cliff-face-rescue-at-pattaya-island/

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Suspected Drunk Driver in fatal road crash on Pattaya Beach



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Tuesday a car driver, suspected of being drunk, was arrested after failing to stop at a fatal road crash on Pattaya Beach Road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782917-suspected-drunk-driver-in-fatal-road-crash-on-pattaya-beach/

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Two suspected class 1 drug dealers caught at Pattaya Police Checkpoint



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Monday, Pattaya Police caught two suspected drug dealers at a checkpoint on the Sukhumvit Road in Central Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782918-two-suspected-class-1-drug-dealers-caught-at-pattaya-police-checkpoint/

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Mèridien Phuket moves sun loungers off the beach
Nattha Thepbamrung


Yesterday: Meridien loungers on the beach.

PHUKET: -- Le Mèridien Phuket Beach Resort has moved a row of sun loungers off Karon Nui beach after villagers complained yesterday (December 8) to local media.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782919-meridien-phuket-moves-sun-loungers-off-the-beach/

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Agencies urged to process big graft cases quickly
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pramon Sutivong, chairman of the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand, said yesterday that 15 graft cases were being pursued far too slowly, which allowed the violators to become indifferent. Hence, he said, relevant agencies should step in to punish the big fish quickly.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782920-thai-agencies-urged-to-process-big-graft-cases-quickly/

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BURNING ISSUE
Wrangling over charter could give junta a longer term
Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The case of "too many cooks spoil the broth" is about to apply to the junta-sponsored constitution drafters.

BANGKOK: -- The chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), Borwornsak Uwanno, compared the proposals for the project to cooking kaeng som (hot and sour soup). The more proposals were proposed, the better choices the drafters had.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782922-thai-politics-wrangling-over-charter-could-give-govt-a-longer-term/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Cyber espionage and hacking to become the norm in 2015: McAfee

According to a report published by McAfee Labs, cyber attacks, hacking and online espionage will become commonplace within the next year, as “small nation states and terrorist groups” use hacking as an inexpensive but highly effective tool in order to gather intelligence and important data.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/cyber-espionage-hacking-become-norm-2015-mcafee/

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Farmers issue ultimatum over rubber price
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- DISGRUNTLED RUBBER farmers said yesterday that they were giving the government a few more weeks to push the price of rubber up to at least Bt80 per kilogram, or they would kick off massive rallies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782923-farmers-issue-ultimatum-over-rubber-price/

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Report on CIA details 'brutal' post-9/11 interrogations

WASHINGTON: -- The CIA carried out "brutal" interrogations of al-Qaeda suspects in the years after the 9/11 attacks on the US, a US Senate report has said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782924-report-on-cia-details-brutal-post-911-interrogations/

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Zimbabwe's Mugabe sacks Vice-President Joice Mujuru over 'plot'

(BBC) President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has sacked his vice-president, Joice Mujuru, after accusing her of corruption and plotting to kill him.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782926-zimbabwes-mugabe-sacks-vice-president-joice-mujuru-over-plot/

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Syrian war: Western countries to accept more refugees

(BBC) Western countries have promised to increase the number of Syrian refugees they will accept for resettlement to up to 100,000 over the next few months, the UN refugee agency has said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782927-syrian-war-western-countries-to-accept-more-refugees/

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American 'planned attacks on Muslim sites in Israel'

(BBC) An American being held in Israel on weapons charges has told investigators he was considering attacking Muslim holy sites, Israeli police say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782929-american-planned-attacks-on-muslim-sites-in-israel/

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EPPO: Benzene prices dips further this morning



BANGKOK, 10 Dec 2014, (NNT) - The Energy Policy & Planning Office (EPPO) has ordered state-owned oil retailers and refineries PTT Plc. and Bangchak Plc. to reduce their Benzene prices by 40 satang beginning this morning.

Minister of Energy Narongchai Akkaraseranee made the announcement yesterday after a meeting with the EPPO, during which a 20-year Power Development Plan (PDP), generally known as PDP 2015, was also discussed. According to the Minister, the long-term plan focuses on natural gas consumption reduction and coal power promotion as means to create national power security.

Regarding the energy price structure, he said measures would be taken to ensure that the prices of Benzene and Diesel products are in the same range through oil fund and excise tax mechanism.

The Minister said the plan would be discussed again next week at the meeting with the EPPO board. The meeting also ordered PTT and Banchak to reduce the prices of Benzene products by 40 satang per liter. The price reduction already took effect as of 5 am. today.


-- NNT 2014-12-10

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UPDATE:

Visa-on-arrival services approved for 10 more border checkpoints
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 10 -- Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda said that additional visa-on-arrival services were approved and published in the Royal Gazette on November 10 and will take effect December 10.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782752-thai-interior-ministry-adds-10-more-channels-for-visa-on-arrival/#entry8782957

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German court throws out WWII Oradour-sur-Glane massacre case
By Marion Lory, CNN

(CNN) -- A German court has thrown out a case against a former SS member accused of participating in the massacre of 642 residents of a French village during World War II.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782970-german-court-throws-out-wwii-oradour-sur-glane-massacre-case/

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Kuala Lumpur 'one of 7 magnificent cities in the world'



KUALA LUMPUR: -- Kuala Lumpur has been voted one of the seven most magnificent and incredible cities in the World. The other six were La Paz (Bolivia), Havana (Cuba), Beirut (Lebanon), Doha (Qatar), Vigan (Philippines), and Durban (South Africa), according to New Straits Times.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782976-kuala-lumpur-one-of-7-magnificent-cities-in-the-world/

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Security Message for U.S. Citizens:

Release of U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s report on the CIA’s Rendition, Detention and Interrogation Program

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782982-americans-in-thailand-warned-after-release-of-cia-report/

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Uber halts ride sharing service in Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The Land Transport Department yesterday ordered the US-based Uber ride sharing service operator to stop services after a meeting with three ride sharing operators.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782985-uber-halts-ride-sharing-service-in-bangkok/

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Cabinet endorses proposed taxation of tutoring schools

BANGKOK, 10 December 2014 (NNT) – The Cabinet has endorsed the proposed taxation of tutoring schools, suggested by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), and assigned the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance to devise a taxation structure for the purpose within 30 days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782999-thai-cabinet-endorses-proposed-taxation-of-tutoring-schools/

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Baltimore's Leakin Park: the dumping ground for murdered bodies

BALTIMORE: -- THEY were all under 10, and their mutilated bodies were found in an overgrown section of Baltimore’s Leakin Park in April, 1968.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783004-baltimores-leakin-park-the-dumping-ground-for-murdered-bodies/