Merkel wants to 'drastically reduce' refugee arrivals in Germany

KARLSRUHE, GERMANY: -- Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday she wanted to "drastically decrease" the number of refugees coming to Germany, signaling a compromise to critics of her open-door policy from within her conservatives on the eve of a party congress.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878510-merkel-wants-to-drastically-reduce-refugee-arrivals-in-germany/

Cuba and U.S. agree to re-establish direct postal services after 52 years
BY BNO NEWS

WASHINGTON: -- Cuba and the United States have reached an agreement to re-establish direct postal service between both countries after more than 5 decades. A pilot program is expected to start soon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878513-cuba-and-us-agree-to-re-establish-direct-postal-services-after-52-years/

More than 900,000 people joined BIKE FOR DAD campaign

BANGKOK, 14 December 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Interior has revealed that over 900,000 people across the country joined the BIKE FOR DAD campaign last Friday.

The ministry worked with with provincial governors to oversee the implementation of the campaign regionally. According to Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paochinda, more than 919,000 people registered for the campaign.

Despite the rain in several provinces, the campaign continued after it stopped. Medical and emergency services were carried out promptly. The ministry's campaign coordination center was closed at 10.00 p.m. after all participants were confirmed to have returned home safely.

Gen Anupong has expressed his gratitude toward all provincial governors, public servants and the Thai public, who helped make BIKE FOR DAD happen. The campaign was initiated by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn in honor of His Majesty the King’s 88th birthday anniversary.


-- NNT 2015-12-14

10 committees appointed to promote economic growth

BANGKOK, 14 December 2014 (NNT) - A meeting has recently been held among members of the private sector to establish 10 economic steering committees to promote further economic growth.

According to Thai Chamber of Commerce Chairman Issara Wongkusolkit, some committees would focus on promoting the use of innovative technology, raising national revenue, helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs), providing skills training for students, improving the economy at the grassroots level and boosting tourism.

Other committees are expected to promote exports and overseas investments, amend laws to support economic prosperity, develop an industrial cluster and modernize agriculture.

Each committee will be chaired by executives from 24 large organizations in the country. The list of these committees will be proposed to Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and Deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs Somkid Jatusripitak for approval next week.


-- NNT 2015-12-14

Govt unveils New Year gift projects for farmers

BANGKOK, 14 December 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) has unveiled three campaigns to help farmers and low income persons as a 2016 New Year gift.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878516-thai-govt-unveils-new-year-gift-projects-for-farmers/

Twitter warns some users of possible state-sponsored cyber attack

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Twitter Inc issued an alert to some users warning them that state-sponsored hackers may have tried to obtain sensitive data from their accounts, the company said, the first such warning by the micro blogging site.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878519-twitter-warns-some-users-of-possible-state-sponsored-cyber-attack/

PM opens test run of Purple Line train service



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha this morning presided over the test run of the electric train on a section of the "Purple Line" route from Bang Phai to Bang Yai in Nonthaburi.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878521-pm-prayut-opens-test-run-of-purple-line-train-service/

VIDEO

US police department's offer helpful hints for surviving a mass shooting
Rohan Smithnews.com.au

RUN. Hide. Fight. That’s the message from police departments across the US to average Joes who find themselves in the firing line of a mass shooting.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878524-us-police-departments-offer-helpful-hints-for-surviving-a-mass-shooting/

Scuffles as celebrated lawyer goes on trial in China

Police drag supporters away at Beijing courthouse as well-known rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang tried over online posts

DOHA: -- One of China's most celebrated human rights lawyers went on trial over online comments critical of the ruling Communist Party, as police scuffled with supporters and journalists outside the courthouse.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878526-scuffles-as-celebrated-lawyer-goes-on-trial-in-china/

Batman busted: Dark Knight detained by Bangkok traffic police
By Coconuts Bangkok


Batman in a less-than-glorious moment at the Bangkok traffic police booth. Photo: Thongchai Lisittiwong

He's the hero Bangkok deserves - but not the one its traffic police needs right now

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok’s Batman has denied being arrested in the capital after scandalous photos of the Dark Knight at a traffic police booth went viral online over the weekend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878527-batman-busted-dark-knight-detained-by-bangkok-traffic-police/

PM’s ID idea draws public outcry

BANGKOK: -- An idea of Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to include incomes and occupations of Thai citizens in the new identification cards is drawing outcry in the social media with many people voicing opposition reasoning that such movement is a violation of individual privacy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878542-pms-id-card-idea-draws-public-outcry/

Australian Embassy to hold Phuket outreach visit
The Phuket News


The Consular section of the Australian Embassy in Bangkok will visit Phuket on Wednesday, December 23. Photo: Diana Parkhouse

PHUKET: -- The Consular Services section of the Australian Embassy in Bangkok will conduct a Consular outreach visit to Phuket on Wednesday, December 23.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878543-australian-embassy-to-hold-phuket-outreach-visit/

Immigration to tap into Interpol database to fight crime
Phuket Gazette


Interpol's database contains about 47 million cancelled and stolen passports. Photo: Jeremie Schatz

BANGKOK: -- Immigration police in Thailand are attempting to link their system with Interpol’s database of stolen and revoked passports as part of the crackdown on transnational criminals that saw a Russian wanted for human smuggling in his homeland arrested in Phuket.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878544-thai-immigration-to-tap-into-interpol-database-to-fight-crime/

UPDATE:

Big Tu’s big idea: Prayuth mulls putting salary, occupation on ID card
By Coconuts Bangkok


A screenshot of Prayuth Chan-ocha on the "Return Happiness to the People" show

BANGKOK: -- Junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has come up with the bright idea of displaying monthly salary and occupation on citizens’ ID cards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878542-pms-id-card-idea-draws-public-outcry/#entry10190699

Thalang homeowner cries foul
Phuket Gazette


Damrongdhama Center officials responded to the complaint from Ms Sweet (right) about ducks and chickens in her garden. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Local 'quacks' have forced officials from the Damrongdhama Center (ombudsman's office) to appease a disgruntled Thalang homeowner on Friday, after she filed a handful of complaints to local authorities that remained unanswered.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878546-thalang-homeowner-cries-foul/

Thai schools ordered to improve scrutiny of foreign teachers after Walbran arrest
Lindsay Murdoch

BANGKOK: -- Thai authorities have ordered schools to carry out urgent background checks on the country's foreign teachers after Australian convicted paedophile Peter Dundas Walbran was discovered teaching children in north-eastern Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878547-thai-schools-ordered-to-improve-scrutiny-of-foreign-teachers-after-walbran-arrest/

PM asks Rohinya investigation chief to return home to expose truth about threats

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-ocha today called on the police officer who claimed to be threatened with life and sought asylum in Australia to return to the country with promise to drastically tackle those who threatened him.

He told the officer Pol Maj-Gen Paween Pongsirin, former chief investigator of Rohingya trafficking racket, to return to the country and expose the names of those people who threatened him.

He promised that these people would be drastically dealt with no matter who they are or how influential they be.

He asked the officer if he still loved his country for his remarks he made to the foreign media.

He said he isnt his enemy and would like him to return to tell the truth.

Earlier 8th Region Police commissioner Pol Lt Gen Thesa Siriwatho dismissed all what the officer told the foreign media saying it was groundless.

He said as far as he was assigned to handle human trafficking case, he never heard of such threat.

Earlier Pol Maj-Gen Paween caused an uproar in the police circle when he told the Guardian online news agency in Melbourne that he felt unsafe living in Thailand because he was under threats for his role as head of a panel investigating the trafficking of Rohingya illegal immigrants into the country early this year.

He reportedly said he planned to apply for political asylum in Australia.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/video-pm-asks-rohinya-investigation-chief-to-return-home-to-expose-truth-about-threats

-- Thai PBS 2015-12-14

PM asked to scrap special training courses organized by independent agencies



BANGKOK: -- Former Democrat MP for Bangkok Wilas Chanpitak has urged Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha to invoke Section 44 of the interim constitution to scrap all the special training courses organized by independent organizations for senior government officials and members of the private sector.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878550-prayut-asked-to-scrap-special-training-courses-organized-by-independent-agencies/

Man arrested for B2.4mn robbery from Phuket Kazakh family
Darawan Naknakhon


Maitri Seibwiset, 22, recovers the family safe from where he dumped it near a canal in Chalong. Photo: Phuket City Police

PHUKET: -- Police have tracked down and arrested a 22-year-old man for breaking into a Kazakh family’s home in Rawai and stealing a safe containing more than B2.4 million baht in cash and valuables.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878566-man-arrested-for-b24mn-robbery-from-phuket-kazakh-family/

68-year-old German man collapses, dies in Chon Buri
The Nation

CHONBURI: -- A 68-year-old German man collapsed and died at a rented room in Chon Buri’s Sattahib district Monday morning, just three days after he stayed with Thai girlfriend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878578-68-year-old-german-man-collapses-dies-in-chon-buri/

Thaivisa Video News 14 December

watch the bulletin here: https://www.youtube.com/user/thaivisacom

BKK Police to decisively crackdown on illegal parking



BANGKOK, 14 December 2015 (NNT) - The Metropolitan Police division has announced its campaign to decisively crack down on illegal parking on Bankok’s major roads.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878593-bangkok-police-to-decisively-crackdown-on-illegal-parking/

Public Health Ministry calls for dengue fever countermeasures



BANGKOK, 14 December 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has urged all related agencies to prepare dengue fever countermeasures before the disease’s perennial peak at the beginning of next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878594-thai-health-ministry-calls-for-dengue-fever-countermeasures/

Grand opening of Phuket airport expansion slated for May
Phuket Gazette


Phuket International Airport Director Monrudee Gettuphan gave a tour of the project last week. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- The highly-anticipated expansion of the Phuket International Airport will be celebrated with a grand opening in May, confirmed the airport director.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878595-grand-opening-of-phuket-airport-expansion-slated-for-may/

UPDATE:

Ecuador signs deal with Sweden for Assange questioning



LONDON: -- Ecuador and Sweden have agreed to allow WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to be questioned by Swedish authorities at Ecuador’s embassy in London where he’s been holed up for three years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878441-julian-assange-to-be-questioned-by-sweden/#entry10191200

Viktor Orban aims for third term as Hungarian PM



BUDAPEST: -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban views a third term after declaring he’s ready to lead his Fidesz party in 2018 elections.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878597-viktor-orban-aims-for-third-term-as-hungarian-pm/

CAIRO (AP) - Egyptian preliminary report says no indication yet of 'terrorist act' in Russian plane crash.

Gov moving forward with clean up of 9 waterfront communities in Bangkok

BANGKOK, 14 December 2015 (NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan has called for the cleaning up and relocation of 9 waterfront communities in Bangkok by the end of 2016 and make way for adequate irrigation in an effort to create new tourist destinations.

Gen Prawith held a meeting with the Minister of Interior, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defense and the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, along with the committee on managing trespassing on public property in order to follow up on the progress of the clean up in these areas.

The plan is to turn the communities into water transportation routes and tourist sites, with Klong Ladprao serving as the plan’s pilot program and there is a budget being proposed to construct a dam at the site.


-- NNT 2015-12-14

BKK commuters advised to avoid roads for Supreme Patriarch funeral procession on Dec 16

BANGKOK, 14 December 2015 (NNT) - Police have warned commuters in Bangkok to avoid the procession route for the funeral of the late Supreme Patriarch, which will take place on December 16.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878598-bkk-commuters-advised-to-avoid-roads-for-supreme-patriarch-funeral-procession-on-dec-16/

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - State media says Turkey is withdrawing some of its troops stationed in Iraq.