Thai prosecutor charges Philip Morris Thailand in cigarette imports case
BY AMY SAWITTA LEFEVRE AND AUKKARAPON NIYOMYAT

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's prosecutor has charged the local unit of Philip Morris International of under-reporting the value of imported cigarettes, which led to tax revenue losses of about 20 billion baht ($551.27 million), the attorney-general said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887789-thai-prosecutor-charges-philip-morris-thailand-in-cigarette-imports-case/

Police hunt suspect/s involved in Phuket shooting incident
Eakkapop Thongtub


34-year-old Rawi Suksomran is treated for his wounds at the scene of the shooting. Photo: Ekkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- Police are currently hunting for one of more people believed to have been involved in the shooting of a man near the Srisoonthorn Municipality office last night (Jan 19). The man is still in hospital recovering from gunshot wounds.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887794-police-hunt-suspects-involved-in-phuket-shooting-incident/

Three died in parking area dispute



BANGKOK: -- An angry man last night shot dead three neighbours after a scramble for parking ended in a tragic incident.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887795-three-shot-to-death-by-angry-man-in-parking-area-dispute-in-bangkok/

UPDATE:

Southern Insurgents Blamed for Killing Woman at Karaoke Bar
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Security officers search vehicles Saturday in Yala province.

SONGKHLA — Police say they believed southern separatists were behind a twin bomb attack that struck a karaoke bar in Songkhla province last night, killing one and wounding seven others.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887781-one-woman-killed-six-injured-in-bomb-attack-in-songkhla/#entry10326365

South Korea toughens aviation laws after 'nut rage' incident

SEOUL: -- South Korea has enacted tougher laws against unruly air passengers, after the so-called nut rage scandal which saw a top Korean Air executive jailed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887799-south-korea-toughens-aviation-laws-after-nut-rage-incident/

Deputy PM seeks clarification of ThaiHealth board reinstatement

BANGKOK, 19 January 2016 (NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam will ask the Council of State to clarify the prime minister’s order to reinstate the board of ThaiHealth.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887804-deputy-pm-seeks-clarification-of-thaihealth-board-reinstatement/

EU officials arrive to evaluate IUU fishing situation

BANGKOK, 19 January 2016 (NNT) – The government affirmed progress in its crackdown on illegal fishing, as it prepares for an evaluation by EU officials this week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887806-eu-officials-arrive-to-evaluate-iuu-fishing-situation/

UPDATE:

Dirty dozen picked up in mass Phuket raid
Phuket Gazette


Armed with search warrants, police made 12 arrests. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A large task force swept up twelve suspects wanted for a series of crimes ranging from illegal drugs and firearms, to their role in the Thalang Police Station riot.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887779-12-thai-men-arrested-during-phuket-anti-drug-and-crime-raid/#entry10326519

London taxi drivers turn to crowdfunding to fight Uber
BY LARRY BANKS



LONDON: -- London group Action for Cabbies has just launched a £600,000 crowdfunding campaign to finance a judicial review regarding the decision made back in 2012 by Transport for London (TfL) that ruled Uber doesn’t need to be regulated like the black cabs so popular in London.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887821-london-taxi-drivers-turn-to-crowdfunding-to-fight-uber/

France: 'Jungle' migrant camp is partly demolished



PARIS: -- The makeshift migrant camp on France’s northern coast known as ‘The Jungle’ is being partially demolished.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887831-france-jungle-migrant-camp-is-partly-demolished/

UPDATE:

OAG formally charges Philip Morris for 20 billion baht tax evasion



BANGKOK: -- The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) said today it has filed a lawsuit against the American tobacco and cigarette giant Philip Morris International Inc's Thailand unit, accusing eight of the company's foreign and Thai executives of false declarations of its imports and of the evasion of duties and import taxes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887789-thai-prosecutor-charges-philip-morris-thailand-in-cigarette-imports-case/#entry10326821

David Cameron backs bans on Muslim face veils as Tories plan crackdown on gender segregation
By Peter Dominiczak, and Steven Swinford

Prime Minister says it is 'proper and sensible' for Muslim women to remove face veils when asked to by public officials

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887834-david-cameron-backs-bans-on-muslim-face-veils-as-tories-plan-crackdown-on-gender-segregation/

Turkish and British PMs hold bilateral talks in London



LONDON: -- Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is in London for bilateral talks with British premier David Cameron. The two leaders discussed the conflicts in Syria and in Iraq, negotiations on Cyprus unification and counter terrorism measures.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887835-turkish-and-british-pms-hold-bilateral-talks-in-london/

UPDATE:

EU team visits Thailand to assess fishing industry cleanup
BY PRACHA HARIRAKSAPITAK

BANGKOK: -- A European Union delegation that is visiting Thailand to weigh its progress in battling illegal and unregulated fishing will not make a decision this week on whether to ban Thai seafood products, the government said on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887806-eu-officials-arrive-to-evaluate-iuu-fishing-situation/#entry10326873

Business Owners Decry Koh Samet Nightlife Curfew
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter

KOH SAMET — Those planning an all-nighter on the party island of Samet, beware: You may be in for disappointment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887839-business-owners-decry-koh-samet-nightlife-curfew/

DPM Somkid: Thailand's competitiveness depends on technology, entrepreneurs' vision

BANGKOK, 19 January 2016, (NNT) – The Deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs has claimed that Thailand's competitiveness depends on advancements in technology and its entrepreneurs having a shared understanding of the country’s economic direction.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887840-dpm-somkid-thailands-competitiveness-depends-on-technology-entrepreneurs-vision/

Real Estate Sector Confident Bangkok Market to Grow

BANGKOK: -- Members of the real estate sector have predicted that the market for Bangkok and its vicinity will grow this year by 5-10 percent with supporting factors such as public infrastructure development and stimulus measures.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887841-real-estate-sector-confident-bangkok-market-to-grow/

NLA VP agrees with having Constitutional Court resolve political crises

BANGKOK, 19 January 2016 (NNT) - The Vice President of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has expressed his support for including in the new constitution a mechanism to resolve political crises through the Constitutional Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887842-nla-vp-agrees-with-having-constitutional-court-resolve-political-crises/

Elephant camp responds to viral video of mahout throwing punch at baby elephant
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A Ratchaburi elephant camp has responded to a viral video of a mahout throwing a punch at a baby elephant, forcing her to cower and step back, after the footage sparked international anger.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887844-elephant-camp-responds-to-viral-video-of-mahout-throwing-punch-at-baby-elephant/

MFA working to realize ASEAN vision

BANGKOK, 19 January 2016 (NNT) – After the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) was officially established, it is important for Thailand and the other nine member-states to let the world know how much the AEC is ready to work together.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887845-thai-mfa-working-to-realize-asean-vision/

Thaivisa Video News 19 January



watch the bulletin here: http://www.youtube.com/thaivisacom

470 Pattaya Police Officers drug tested



PATTAYA: -- The Pattaya Police Chief ordered drug tests to be administered to every Pattaya Police Officer to see if any of his officers were taking drugs whilst on-duty.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887850-470-pattaya-police-officers-drug-tested/

Senior Monk at Central Pattaya Temple found dead



PATTAYA: -- A Senior Monk at a Temple in Central Pattaya was discovered dead inside his room on Tuesday Morning and it is thought he died in his sleep.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887852-senior-monk-at-central-pattaya-temple-found-dead/

Norwegian Fisherman assaulted and robbed in South Pattaya, 2 arrested



PATTAYA: -- A 20-year-old Norwegian Fisherman was assaulted and allegedly robbed of valuables during an altercation involving his Thai Wife in South Pattaya, which saw the arrest of two Security Guards from a Thai Pub who claim the so-called victim was armed and preparing to stab the guards who assaulted the Norwegian in “self-defense”.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887853-norwegian-fisherman-assaulted-and-robbed-in-south-pattaya-2-arrested/

David Miller's father opposes Koh Tao death sentence
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- The father of slain British backpacker David Miller has said he does not want the men convicted of his murder to get the death penalty.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887855-david-millers-father-opposes-koh-tao-death-sentence/

AMLO orders California Wow's 88 million baht worth of land frozen



BANGKOK: -- The Anti-Money Laundering Office has ordered the freezing of five land plots in Phang-nga province worth an estimated 88 million baht belonging to California Wow Experience Plc and its executives after they were faulted with public fraud.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887856-amlo-orders-california-wows-88-million-baht-worth-of-land-frozen/

UPDATE:

Alleged Parking Shooter Remains at Large
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Police inspect the scene Monday evening on Soi Suan Siam 15 where three people were shot dead, reportedly over a parking conflict.

BANGKOK — Police are hunting a man who shot three people to death last night over a parking dispute.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887795-three-shot-to-death-by-angry-man-in-parking-area-dispute-in-bangkok/page-2?p=10327278#entry10327278

DDPM urges provincial authorities to use 'civil state' mechanism to tackle drought crisis

BANGKOK, 19 January 2016 (NNT) – Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation chief Chatchai Promlert has instructed provincial authorities, especially in the upper northern and upper northeastern regions, to prepare to tackle imminent water shortages.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887859-ddpm-urges-provincial-authorities-to-use-civil-state-mechanism-to-tackle-drought-crisis/

CAIRO (AP) - Libya rivals announce unity government as part of UN-brokered process.

Corps Commander Region 1 inspects operations in Eastern Provinces

BANGKOK: -- The Region 1 Corps Commander has traveled to inspect military operations and listen to local problems in the Eastern region.

Region 1 Corps Commander, Lt Gen Apirach Kongsompong, as the deputy-director of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 1, has traveled to receive suggestions, recommendations and complaints from residents and military officials of the four provinces of the nation’s east. Chonburi Governor Komsan Ekkachai, who is also head of Chonburi’s Internal Security Operations Command, received the lieutenant general.

The Corps Commander was briefed on major threats to security in the east, which include narcotics, illegal migrants, international criminals and terrorists. He also followed up on special missions of the Region 1 Command, which include producing local public relations media for the government’s security efforts and enacting the policies of the National Council for Peace and Order. The council’s concerns in the east mostly focus on forest encroachment and protection of natural resources.

Lt Gen Apirach was also taken on a tour of a commercial area in Ang Sila sub-district of Chonburi where officials recently implemented street vendor regulation.


-- NNT 2016-01-19