US Invasion of Iraq Based on False Report of Al-Qaeda’s Ties With Saddam

According to Senator Carl Levin, the declassified US intelligence has revealed that the Bush administration relied on a false report of Mohammad Atta, the leader of the 9/11 attacks alleged meeting with an Iraqi intelligence agent to justify the US' invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783474-us-invasion-of-iraq-based-on-false-report-of-al-qaedas-ties-with-saddam/

Into thin air: Southeast Asia's growing ranks of disappeared
Bangkok, Thailand | AFP |

BANGKOK: -- Two years after Sombath Somphone vanished, the Laotian activist's wife says his abductors enjoy impunity –- an ugly reality across a region where powerful business interests and murky state actors stand accused of routinely "disappearing" opponents.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783484-into-thin-air-southeast-asias-growing-ranks-of-disappeared/

Central - Robinson ramp up New Year campaigns

BANGKOK, 12 Dec 2014, (NNT) - Thailand's leading department store chains like Central and Robinson are ramping up their end of the year campaigns, aiming to boost sales by offering goods at discounted prices.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783486-central-robinson-ramp-up-new-year-campaigns/

Russian woman detained in Bali for allegedly smuggling 2.1kg of crystal meth



BALI: -- Custom officials at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali have arrested a Russian woman for attempting to smuggle 2.1kg of crystal methamphetamine into Indonesia, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783487-russian-woman-detained-in-bali-for-allegedly-smuggling-21kg-of-crystal-meth/

Narongchai plans to make price of LPG for transportation higher than cooking gas' price

BANGKOK: -- Energy Minister Narongchai Akrasanee said he planned to raise the price of LPG for transportation to be higher than the price of LPG for cooking to discourage the use of LPG in transportation.

He said the use of LPG for transportation was inappropriate. He said the price of LPG was now lower than the real market cost, prompting some 1.3 million vehicles to use the gas.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Narongchai-plans-to-make-price-of-LPG-for-transpor-30249666.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-12

Drunk Russian out his mind in Pattaya (video)

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783510-drunk-russian-out-his-mind-in-pattaya-video/

UPDATE:

Fishery associations urge US to revise Thailand’s ranking in human trafficking

BANGKOK: -- Thai fishery and employer associations yesterday urged the United States to remove Thailand from among the worst-ranked countries in human trafficking reasoning that the country has introduced tough measures to deal with human trafficking and has given better social security welfare for all foreign workers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783341-thai-fishing-operators-ask-us-to-review-thailands-status/#entry8792493

Head lice infestations severe at schools in Yala

YALA, 12 December 2014 (NNT) – Rangers from the Yala task force of the 47th Rangers Regiment are battling not only insurgents, but also the lice infestations at many schools in Yala province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783521-head-lice-infestations-severe-at-schools-in-yala/

Public Health Ministry to extend palliative care to 10,000 hospitals nationwide



BANGKOK, 12 Dec 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health is preparing to extend palliative care for patients in the final stage of their illness to hospitals under its care.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783523-thai-health-ministry-to-extend-palliative-care-to-10000-hospitals-nationwide/

UPDATE:

Koh Tao suspects seek Suu Kyi’s help



BANGKOK: -- Two Myanmar suspects in the murder of two British tourists in Thailand have asked fellow Myanmar national Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to help their case, reasoning they are innocent.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783098-letter-from-two-accused-of-koh-tao-murders-to-daw-aung-san-suu-kyi-myanmar-democracy-icon/page-13?p=8792564#entry8792564

Local banks to waive ATM withdrawal fees during Dec. 31- Jan.4, 2015 to promote spending, New Year celebration. /The Nation

Senior citizens development centers will be established in every Tambon

NAKHON PHANOM, 12 Dec 2014 (NNT) - The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is urgently pushing for the establishments of welfare centers for senior citizens whose number tends to increase significantly by 2027.

Minister of Social Development and Human Security Police General Adul Sangsingkeo yesterday visited the Social Welfare Development Center for Older Persons in the Tha Uthen District, Nakhon Phanom Province, to observe the well-being of senior citizens.

The Minister cited a survey as showing that a number of older persons in the northeastern region are either homeless or being abandoned by their relatives. The government has therefore set up the welfare center in Nakhon Phanom to look after them.

According to the Minister, the Government has a firm policy to prepare members of the public for the aging society. Among its projects, the government is training prototype volunteers to take care of the elderly, and is establishing additional care centers for senior citizens nationwide. Currently there are 878 district-level development centers for senior citizens. Similar centers at the Tambon (community) level will also be established, raising the number of such centers to 7,853 nationwide.

Pol Gen Adul said the move would help the Kingdom handle an estimated number of 16 million senior citizens by 2027.


-- NNT 2014-12-12

Taxi driver returns wallet to Japanese tourist
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: MThai

BANGKOK: -- An army lieutenant who took up a second job as a taxi driver returned a Japanese man’s wallet, who was nice enough to send his tour agent to pick it up today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783527-bangkok-taxi-driver-returns-wallet-to-japanese-tourist/

SET fell 5.70 to 1,521.11 at noon /Bangkok Post

Northeastern Village Still Waiting For Electricity, 25 Years Later

By Khaosod Eng.

SAKON NAKHON — Residents of Nong Pai Yai village in northeastern Thailand are demanding local authorities install electricity in their village, twenty-five years after they first submitted a request.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783534-northeastern-village-still-waiting-for-electricity-25-years-later/

Police have added another emergency hotline '1599' s an option for people calling for assistance following complaints that the existing 191 is always busy. /Bangkok Post

DSD provides English training on radio for taxi drivers

BANGKOK, 12 December 2014 (NNT) – The Department of Skill Development (DSD) is now providing English training services on radio for taxi drivers to learn English to accommodate for tourists and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783542-dsd-provides-english-training-on-radio-for-thai-taxi-drivers/

Transport Ministry announces new cab fare rate


Image source: File photo

BANGKOK, 12 Dec 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Transport has approved the proposed fare hike for meter taxis registered in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783545-thai-transport-ministry-announces-new-cab-fare-rates/

Facebook plans to stop drunken pics appearing online

Facebook is now working on developing software that could prevent users from posting unflattering pictures of themselves or others whilst under the influence by asking users if they really want to post the pictures.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/facebook-plan-to-stop-embarrassing-drunken-pictures-being-uploaded/

Two killed in air-pressure tank explosion at Khanom power plant

TNAKHON SI THAMMARAT: -- wo workers were killed after the lid of an air pressure tank in the Khanom power plant in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Khanom district was blown off Thursday evening.

Police said one worker, Jaral Khanom, died at the scene and another, Kriengsak Boonsin, died at the Khanom Hospital. Two other workers were injured and were being treated at the hospital.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Two-killed-in-air-pressure-tank-explosion-at-Khano-30249671.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-12

Swiss man detained as person of interest in murder of sex worker
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: Rescue Volunteer Thailand

BANGKOK: -- A Swiss man police believe was the person last seen with a brutally murdered sex worker from the Nana area was detained by immigration police in Ayutthaya today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783548-swiss-man-detained-as-person-of-interest-in-murder-of-nana-sex-worker/

Bangkok school makes late students rub their knees on concrete
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photos: Dek-D

BANGKOK: -- Young students at a Khlong Toei-area school are being punished for tardiness by being made to crawl to their building on the concrete floor as seen in photos shared online.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783574-bangkok-school-makes-late-students-rub-their-knees-on-concrete/

Pool bus operators seek fare increase

BANGKOK: -- Pool bus operators providing city bus services yesterday sought an increase of bus fare for their warm and cool bus services citing higher operation cost.

They said if the transport ministry rejects their call for fare rise, they will halt services next year.

The pool bus operators demanded the bus fare for warm bus to be raised from 8 baht to 10 baht.

For cool bus service, they demanded that the fare will vary with the distance, or two baht more for each travel distance.

They expected that the ministry approves their fare increase call in mid January next year,or else they will halt the bus services.

They cited rising operation cost such as spare parts, tyres, and NGV.

They claimed that although PTT Plc will subsidise the gas cost at 30,000 baht for each NGV-filled warm bus/month, it is insufficient to cover the cost as each warm bus used an average 40,000 baht gas a month.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pool-bus-operators-seek-fare-increase


-- Thai PBS 2014-12-12

Nuttawut calls on Prayut to invoke charter to grant amnesty

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt leader Nuttawut Saikuar Friday called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to invoke Article 44 of the interim constitution to grant amnesty to demonstrators during the political turmoil.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783583-red-shirt-leader-nuttawut-calls-on-prayut-to-invoke-charter-to-grant-amnesty/

Korean Air executive to quit remaining posts after nuts scandal
By Jethro Mullen, CNN

(CNN) -- The Korean Air executive who kicked up a fuss over a bag of nuts will resign from her remaining posts with the airline, the company chairman -- who is also her father -- said Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783584-korean-air-executive-to-quit-remaining-posts-after-nuts-scandal/

UPDATE:

Taxi fare to go up tomorrow



BANGKOK: -- The transport ministry has given a green light for taxis to use the new metre rate beginning tomorrow.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783545-thai-transport-ministry-announces-new-cab-fare-rates/#entry8793435

New US ambassador expected in May next year

BANGKOK: -- The US State Department is expected to appoint a new ambassador to Thailand, replacing Kristie Kenney, in May next year, a well-informed source from the US embassy said.

The source explained that the nomination of the new ambassador has yet to be submitted to the US Parliament for endorsement.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/New-US-ambassador-expected-in-May-next-year-30249679.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-12

Child, 7, badly hurt as bike and pick-up crash into huge Phuket hole
Eakkapop Thongtub


Ms Phakkamon's truck lies in the huge hole.

PHUKET: -- Two people were injured – one is still unconscious – after their vehicles last night (December 11) crashed into a large hole left by the collapse of a minor road in Srisoonthorn.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783602-child-7-badly-hurt-as-bike-and-pick-up-crash-into-huge-phuket-hole/

UPDATE:

Swiss Man Held In Nana Murder Investigation
Published by Stickboy BKK



BANGKOK: -- A Swiss man is being held by Ayutthaya city police after he was detained on immigration charges for overstaying his visa whilst detectives investigating the murder of Nana Plaza bar girl Laxami “Pook” Manochat travel to question him as a person of interest in their inquires.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783548-swiss-man-detained-as-person-of-interest-in-murder-of-nana-sex-worker/#entry8793638

Help needed for a terminally ill lady who wishes to spend her few remaining days in Samui

KOH SAMUI: -- The story you are about to read is both heart breaking and heart warming. One of the caring members of our community got a call to deal with a very unusual situation, below he tells us in his own words.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783609-help-needed-for-a-terminally-ill-lady-who-wishes-to-spend-her-few-remaining-days-in-samui/