Thailand Live Friday 19 Dec 2014

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Transport Ministry plans to improve quality of airports across Thailand



BANGKOK, 19 December 2014 (NNT) – The Transport Ministry has plans to enhance the efficiency of airports nationwide in terms of service and safety standard in preparation for the arrival of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong, Transport Minister revealed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785268-transport-ministry-plans-to-improve-quality-of-airports-across-thailand/

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UPDATE:

Police step up crime prevention measures in preparation for New Year

BANGKOK, 19 December 2014 (NNT) - The National Police Chief has instructed all police units to step up crime prevention measures in preparation for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785168-no-holiday-for-thai-police-over-new-years-holiday/#entry8822287

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Thai Transport Ministry to aid operators of bus lines

BANGKOK, 19 December 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Transport is planning to adjust the fares of bus line operators as pricing competition with low-cost airline carriers intensifies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785270-thai-transport-ministry-to-aid-operators-of-bus-lines/

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Public Health Min to propose stricter anti-smoking law

BANGKOK, 19 December 2014 (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health is preparing to propose a new draft law aimed at reducing the number of teen smokers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785272-thai-public-health-min-to-propose-stricter-anti-smoking-law/

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TAT Hopes To Draw Chinese Tourists With "Celebrity Marketing"
By Khaosod English


Mario Maurer, 26, will star in six films produced by TAT aimed at drawing Chinese tourists to Thailand.

BANGKOK — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced plans to draw more Chinese visitors to Thailand through a campaign involving twelve 'Top Provinces,' six short films, and one celebrity.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785273-tat-hopes-to-draw-chinese-tourists-with-celebrity-marketing/

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Chinese passenger opens emergency exit 'to get some fresh air' as plane prepares for take-off
But the airline won’t be penalising him as he’s a first-time traveller and didn’t do any damage
Andrea Chen

HONG KONG: -- An airline passenger on board an internal flight in China sparked a safety scare by yanking open an emergency exit just before a plane was due to take off to "get some fresh air", according to reports.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785274-chinese-passenger-opens-emergency-exit-to-get-some-fresh-air-as-plane-prepares-for-take-off/

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Thailand a hub for drugs in Asean: Paiboon
THE NATION



Campaign launched in bid to get at least 10 per cent of addicts to kick the habit

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND is the Asean hub for illicit drugs with 1.3 million drug addicts, said Justice Minister General Paiboon Kumchaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785276-thailand-a-hub-for-drugs-in-asean-paiboon/

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UPDATE:

Govt seeks help over fugitives
The Nation

Authorities call for cooperation from nations where Thais run anti-govt activities

BANGKOK: -- The government will try to convince other countries not to allow Thai fugitives to engage in anti-government activities, particularly those who commit lese majeste, Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785229-countries-promise-not-to-house-anti-thai-government-fugitives/page-2#entry8822331

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Nine South provinces to face floods, landslides
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- AS THE National Disaster Warning Centre issued a warning yesterday that nine provinces in the South face the risks of floods and landslides until Saturday, a soldier died in a boat accident while helping villagers escape deep flooding in Narathiwat province. Also, a landslide in Yala's Than To district killed a seven-year-old girl and injured her parents.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785278-nine-thai-south-provinces-to-face-floods-landslides/

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Academics urge CDC to seek public participation
Kris Bhromsuthi
The Nation



Borwornsak says charter drafters willing to consider all proposals

BANGKOK: -- Academics have urged the Constitution Drafting Committee to create effective mechanisms for public engagement when deciding and finalising reform ideas that will be drafted into the constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785280-thai-academics-urge-cdc-to-seek-public-participation/

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TOURIST
ATTA's tourist arrivals in 2014 slide, despite some recovery in last 2 months
SUCHAT SRITAMA
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The number of international tourists received at two airports in Bangkok by the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) from January to November-end continued to see a slide year on year despite the expected 10-per-cent growth in total arrivals during the last two months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785281-attas-tourist-arrivals-in-2014-slide-despite-some-recovery-in-last-2-months/

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MoUs with China to be inked today on deals for dual-track railways, rice and rubber
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand and China will today sign two memoranda of understanding in relation to the construction of dual-track railways in the Kingdom and China's purchase of Thai rice and rubber.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785282-mous-with-china-to-be-inked-today-on-deals-for-dual-track-railways-rice-and-rubber/

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UPDATE:

INHERITANCE TAX
NLA approves first reading of inheritance tax bill
Prapan Chindalertudomdee
The Nation

Sommai Phasee

BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday approved in principle the inheritance tax bill and another bill to amend the Revenue and Taxation Code.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785175-thai-inheritance-tax-bill-sails-through-the-first-reading/#entry8822372

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OVERDRIVE
Why bad news for the ruble could spell disaster for the dollar
Thanong Khanthong

BANGKOK: -- Has the ruble fallen off a cliff and brought the Russian economy to its knees? Most mainstream analysts appear to think so, particularly after Russia's central bank was forced to hike its rate massively from 10.50 to 17.0 per cent to defend its currency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785284-why-bad-news-for-the-ruble-could-spell-disaster-for-the-dollar/

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Swiss National Bank will cut interest rate to minus 0.25%

(BBC) Switzerland's National Bank (SNB) will bring in a negative interest rate cutting the value of large sums of money left on deposit in the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785285-swiss-national-bank-will-cut-interest-rate-to-minus-025-percent/

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British man paints Pattaya Temple Walls to celebrate Christmas



PATTAYA: -- A 77 year old British Resident of Pattaya has decided to paint the walls of a Pattaya Temple as his Christmas gift to the local community.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785286-british-man-paints-pattaya-temple-walls-to-celebrate-christmas/

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Norwegian stabs his Norwegian friend at Pattaya Condominium



PATTAYA: -- A Norwegian resident at a Pattaya Condominium Complex sustained a stab wound to his head following a fight with his friend, also Norwegian, over persistent requests to assist him with a financial issue.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785287-norwegian-stabs-his-norwegian-friend-at-pattaya-condominium/

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Bar Worker detained by journalist following necklace snatch on Jomtien Beach Road



PATTAYA: -- A male employee of a Gay Bar, who blamed poor customer numbers at his venue, was detained by a local journalist on Thursday Morning on Jomtien Beach Road after he allegedly snatched a gold necklace from a woman who was sitting on a Baht Bus which had just stopped to receive more customers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785288-bar-worker-detained-by-journalist-following-necklace-snatch-on-jomtien-beach-road/

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Temple to hand out smart phones to lure young attendants



BANGKOK: -- A temple in Phitsanuloke province is to hand out five I-Phone 6 smart phones to people who attend a major merit-making ceremony to be held during December 27-January 4.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785289-temple-in-thailand-to-hand-out-smart-phones-to-lure-young-attendants/

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No worries, keep martial law: NSC
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Security Council yesterday decided to keep the country under martial law while dismissing any concerns for the New Year season.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785290-no-worries-keep-martial-law-nsc/

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Make Yingluck pay, PM told
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former Assets Examination Committee member Kaewsan Atibodhi and his supporters yesterday called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to make former PM Yingluck Shinawatra and others pay for the damage allegedly incurred from the rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785291-make-yingluck-pay-pm-told/

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Probe on DSI officials to be ready soon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation is expecting to see initial investigation results by next week on whether its agents have been taking bribes from a fugitive petrol smuggler based in the far South, DSI director-general Suwana Suwanjata said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785292-probe-on-dsi-officials-to-be-ready-soon/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Uber continues to operate in Thailand

Uber officially states that they have *not* ceased operations in Thailand, according to a public statement released on the company’s official blog.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/uber-continues-to-operate-in-thailand/

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TripAdvisor award boosts tourist bookings in Ao Nang
The Nation

KRABI: -- The Krabi tourism and hotel association was overjoyed that Ao Nang, one of the most popular tourist attractions in this southern province, was named among the top 10 "Destinations on the Rise in the World" by TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice Awards, released this month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785293-tripadvisor-award-boosts-tourist-bookings-in-ao-nang/

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Sony hack: White House views attack as security issue

WASHINGTON: -- A cyber attack on Sony Pictures that forced the cancellation of a major film release is being seen as a serious national security matter, the US says.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785295-sony-hack-white-house-views-attack-as-security-issue/

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Israel dismisses Palestinian peace deal plan as 'gimmick'

(BBC) Israel says a Palestinian effort to set a three-year deadline for it to end its occupation of Palestinian territories is a "gimmick".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785296-israel-dismisses-palestinian-peace-deal-plan-as-gimmick/

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Four-day Royal Project Fair 2014 being held in Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI, 19 December 2014 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali yesterday proceeded to the auditorium of Chiang Mai University in Chiang Mai Province, to preside over the opening of the Royal Project Fair 2014. The fair is organized annually to honor His Majesty the King on the occasion of his birthday on 5 December and to publicize the success of royal agricultural research projects.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785306-four-day-royal-project-fair-2014-being-held-in-chiang-mai/

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Bangkok waste disposal program MoU signed

BANGKOK, 19 Dec 2014, (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Coca-Cola (Thailand) Company Limited have signed an MoU on the 2nd Phase of the complete recycle waste disposal program aimed at creating a network of environmental preservation and reduction of waste and recyclable materials.

The signing ceremony was attended by BMA Deputy Governor Jumpol Sampappol, Chairman of Coca-Cola Foundation Nantiwat Thamhathai, and Acting Director of the Mirror Foundation Jareewan Kawirat.

The BMA Deputy Governor said the office gives particular importance to the reduction of waste by promoting public cooperation in separating different types of trash for the recycle purposes and preparing the complete cycle of waste management system.

There are also plans to apply advanced technology to developing waste disposal techniques, turning trash into useful materials, an approach that will be studied and implemented in the BMA’s 50 district offices.


-- NNT 2014-12-19

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PM orders tightened security during New Year holiday to deter potential violent incidents. /The Nation

Cambodian PM Hun Sen ordered a probe into an mass HIV infection believed to have been spread by contaminated needles, as number of suspected cases surpassed 100. /The Nation

5 telecom firms (AIS, TRUE, Samart i-Mobile, Loxley, Mobile LTE) submitted proposals to be strategic partners w/ TOT. /The Nation

Std & Poor's affirms BBB+ long-term; A-2 short-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings for Thailand. Gave A- long-term, A-2 short-term ratings for Baht. Long-term outlook at "stable". /The Nation

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UPDATE:

PM instructs tightening of security measures during New Year’s holiday

BANGKOK, 19 Dec 2014 (NNT) - Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday attended his first meeting with security related agencies, instructing them to tighten measures for the New Year’s holiday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785168-no-holiday-for-thai-police-over-new-years-holiday/#entry8823259