Sleeping Pilot Overflies Aussie Island Destination by 46KM

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28 November 2018, 15:44

A Piper PA-31 Navajo, similar to the one used by Vortex Air, overflies Coventry Airport in 2015 in Coventry, England. Photo: Rob Hodgkins / Flickr

MELBOURNE, Australia — A commercial pilot is under investigation after falling asleep in the cockpit of a freight plane and overflying his Australian island destination by 46 kilometers (29 miles), officials said Tuesday.

The pilot, who has not been identified, was the only person aboard the twin-propeller Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain and was flying on autopilot during the early morning flight on Nov. 8 from Devonport city on Tasmania 250 kilometers (155 miles) northwest to King Island in Bass Strait, his employer, Vortex Air, said in a statement.

The pilot “unintentionally fell asleep while in command of the aircraft,” the Melbourne-based airline said.

“The issue became apparent when air traffic control was unable to contact the pilot in-flight, and the aircraft traveled past the intended destination point while operating on autopilot,” the statement said.

Air traffic control recordings showed several radio calls were made to the unresponsive pilot, The Australian newspaper reported.

The pilot landed safely on King Island, Vortex Air said.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau, a crash and risk investigator, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the aviation industry regulator, are investigating the incident and the company’s management of pilot fatigue.

The bureau confirmed that the plane had overflown the King Island Airport by 46 kilometers (29 miles) due to the pilot sleeping. It said it would interview the pilot and review Vortex Air’s operational procedures before a report on the incident is made public.

Vortex Air said the 6:20 a.m. flight had been the first on the pilot’s first day back at work after taking leave. He continued flying that day.

The newspaper said the pilot reported for duty despite having had little or no sleep the previous night due to a personal crisis.

“Vortex Air takes the safety of our passengers, crew and pilots extremely seriously and always abide by all safety procedures,” the airline said.

“This is an extremely rare occurrence, as demonstrated by the company’s excellent safety track record,” it added.

The company said it was assisting the pilot to “safely return to full duties.”

Story: Rod McGuirk

Craft-Nerd Out With Indie Asian Designers on Bangkok Pier Fair

By

Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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28 November 2018, 14:50

BANGKOK — Crafts made by small designers throughout East Asia will sail into a riverside venue this weekend.

The Pinkoi Market in Bangkok will be held at Lhong 1919 with 50 shops from Taiwan’s Pinkoi, an online marketplace for crafts and clothes by small-scale designers – think the Etsy of East Asia. This weekend’s market is the first time they’ve hosted a brick-and-mortar market in Thailand.

Visitors can attend workshops by Thai and foreign designers to learn how to stitch milk tea keychains and brew kombucha.

Of the 50 stalls of trendy handicrafts, 27 will feature Thai brands, 10 will be Taiwanese, five from Hong Kong, and three each from Japan and China. South Korean and Malaysian designers will also each have a shop.

Pinkoi launched in 2011 and today has virtual shops for small designers throughout Southeast Asia.

The Pinkoi Market in Bangkok will be open 1pm to 8pm on Saturday and Sunday at Lhong 1919. The venue is reachable by river boat via the Wang Lee Pier, or a shuttle boat from Sathorn Pier just outside BTS Saphan Taksin exit No. 2. A motorbike or taxi from BTS Krung Thon Buri’s exit No. 2 or MRT Hua Lamphong will also do the trick.

Taste the New State of Modern European Dining at Park Hyatt Bangkok (Sponsored)

By

Khaosod English

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28 November 2018, 14:05

BANGKOK — Enjoy Embassy Room’s modern European dining and discover the stories behind each creation at level 10 of Park Hyatt Bangkok. Embracing only authentic, sustainable, fresh, and hand-selected organic produce sourced from around the world, Executive Chef Franck Detrait, along with Chef de Cuisine Pierre Tavernier and culinary team, invite diners to explore new a la carte and tasting menus defined by distinctive flavours.

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Combining simple cooking methods with modern values, the exceptional chefs have created an appetizing selection of Modern European dishes. The new menus at Embassy Room consists of an artful balance between selected seafood, poultry and vegetable dishes for you to choose from. Prepared through simple and original techniques, each menu item is complimented by its hearty flavours and sensual textures.

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Highlight dishes from the menu range from Hokkaido scallops, Scottish salmon, Black Cod Fish Spelt Risotto Style, Braised Wagyu Beef Cheek, Duck Breast a l’Orange, and Australian lamb chops.

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The new collection of menus are arranged to give guests mouth-watering choices. Enjoy One- (THB 690), two- (THB 1,190) and three-course (THB 1,490) set menus with a choice of seven appetizers, seven main courses, and five desserts.

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Dinner features an a la carte menu of eight appetizers, nine main courses and five desserts. Besides the mouth-watering mains mentioned above are Hokkaido scallop, snowfish and Australian grain-fed rib eye beef. Dessert selections feature five exotic confectioneries. There’s Mille-feuille, Financier, Mango & mint parfait & white chocolate, sticky rice & coconut cream and 85% Valrhona chocolate ganache, Fleur de sel & Chiang Mai coffee, cocoa sorbet. Priced THB 2,450 per person with an optional THB 1,200 wine pairing.

Savour the flavours in a light and airy ambiance anchored in a vibrant open culinary live station, window wall-framing gardens between high-rises, and exemplary art installations. Match the views of the greenery with soundtrack segues between contemporary sensuous jazz and soothing melodies bonded with gracious and memorable service at every moment.

Choose the main dining room and witness the culinary masters crafting each dish in live culinary theatre. Or be seated in a private dining room for ten diners featuring exquisite artistry painted and embroidered on Jim Thompson silk-cushioned walls. Or opt for a semi-private dining space for eight. Or dine al fresco overlooking the pool terrace and infinity pool.

Every encounter is thoughtfully designed for a warm and memorable dining experience. Open for lunch 12:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. and dinner 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. For more information and reservations, please contact +66 2 011 7430 or email [email protected]

Boeing Cites Airline Error in Indonesian Crash

By

Associated Press

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28 November 2018, 14:00

National Transportation Safety Committee investigator Nurcahyo Utomo holds a model of an airplane during a Wednesday press conference on the committee's preliminary findings on their investigation on the crash of Lion Air flight 610, in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: Achmad Ibrahim / Associated Press

JAKARTA — The Boeing Co. has reassured travelers and airlines that its 737 MAX aircraft are as safe as any other airplane following a report on an investigation into a crash in Indonesia last month that killed 189 people.

The aircraft manufacturer noted that the report on the details of the doomed flight cited actions by the flight crew that led to the crash.

It noted the airline’s maintenance work and procedures had failed to fix repeated problems with the aircraft. It also said records on installation and calibration of a key component, an angle-of-attack, or AOA sensor, were incomplete.

The report said erroneous AOA data affected measurements of speed and altitude, contributing to the crash.

Boeing said it is cooperating with investigators. It referred questions to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The data reported Wednesday showed the pilots of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 struggled to maintain control as an automatic safety system repeatedly forced the plane’s nose down. The report repeats recommendations that pilots be better versed in emergency procedures aware of past aircraft problems.

The probe into the crash has focused on whether faulty information from sensors caused the accident. The new 737 MAX 8 plunged into the Java Sea on Oct. 29, killing all 189 people on board.

Shortly after the catastrophe, the airline issued a notice to pilots urging them to be more proactive in reporting problems.

Celebrate Christmas, New Year With Heart-Warming Festive Dining Activities at Bangkok Marriott Hotel the Surawongse (Sponsored)

By

Khaosod English

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28 November 2018, 13:58

With the festive season in full swing, let’s up the ante on happiness by celebrating this joyous time of the year with your loved ones, family or best friends at the four outlets of Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse. The various outlets offer the warm, perfect setting for every special meal as well as fun and relaxing activities for guests of all ages to pep up the upcoming special occasions as we ring in the New Year.

First up, food lovers have plenty to excite their taste buds about during the festive season at Praya Kitchen. The plush Thai restaurant will take diners back in time to revisit beautiful childhood memories of Christmas and New Year. The restaurant maintains menus of original-recipe Thai cuisine, local delicacies and rare dishes. Praya Kitchen focuses on the use of high-quality ingredients to create its repertoire of quintessential Thai delights for everyone to enjoy. Diners have the opportunity to witness live cooking playing out at the buffet station as they await their order to arrive on the table. Any meal at Praya Kitchen promises to keep diners’ seated with pleasure.

The Christmas Eve buffet dinner on December 24, 2018 is a sumptuous feast with a range of buffet lines that stand out with bountiful fresh seasonal ingredients. Boosting excitement levels at Praya Kitchen during the festive season will be live music, the “Kids Corner” and Santa Visit that promise to turn every meal into a truly memorable dining experience. The buffet dinner costs THB 2,288++.

Food lovers keen on celebrating the arrival of the New Year will be delighted by an impressive New Year’s Eve dinner buffet on December 31, 2018 from 18.00 – 22.30 for THB 2,288++. The dinner menu is a dazzling array of chefs’ childhood memories dishes available from different food stations and using imported premium and local ingredients.

For every meal planned during the festive season at Praya Kitchen, children aged less than six dine for free. Kids aged from six to 12 are entitled to a 50 percent discount while teenagers aged over 12 are subject to normal adult prices.

Furthermore, Yào Restaurant, known for its seamless blend of classic and modern designs, is set to provide a special dining experience to all food lovers. The atmosphere is Chinese vintage with an air of metropolitan luxury, leaving diners feeling like they are celebrating the holiday season in the heart of Shanghai. Yào Restaurant maintains an extensive menu of original-recipe Cantonese and Shanghai cuisines plus a range of contemporary Chinese dishes. The selection here is greater than that of any other Chinese restaurant in town. Yào Restaurant is determined to keep diners’ spirits up during the festive season by making sure every meal is a scene of jubilation.

Yào Restaurant’s New Year’s Eve set menus (starting from THB 3,888++) are on offer for lunch from 11.30-14.30 and dinner from 18.00-01.00. Prices for private dining at the restaurant’s private rooms start from THB 5,888++. The restaurant looks set to titillate the palates of dim sum lovers with a New Year’s Day dim sum lunch set from 11.30-14.30 for THB 1,888++.

Yào Rooftop Bar has lots of fun and drinks in store at the New Year countdown party that will culminate with a spectacular firework display sure to illuminate Bangkok’s night sky for added nighttime ambience. Set to wow the guests starting 21:00 hrs are fantastic Chinese dance and art performances, cold fire display, a selection of delectable drinks and DJ entertainment.

On New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2018), guests are welcome to go partying from 17.00-20.00 take advantage of early-hour packages priced at THB 888++ (free-flowing Chang beer and soft drinks), THB 1,888++ (add free-flowing white wine and red wine), THB 3,888++ (add free-flowing prosecco and house spirits) or THB 5,888++ (add free flowing Taittinger champagne).

For the countdown party On New Year’s Eve, guests are welcome to go partying from 21.00-02.00 to take advantage of packages priced at THB 5,888++ (free-flowing Chang beer and soft drinks, white wine and red wine and house spirits), THB 8,888++ (add free-flowing prosecco) or THB 10,888++ (add free flowing Taittinger champagne). All packages include canapé snacks. Reservations are required as seats are limited.

Another cool place for celebrating the festive season is The Lobby Lounge, a stylish luxury spot. The Lobby Lounge is gearing up to provide the best festivities like no other. If you’re looking for Christmas gifts, family activities, or a place to relax in during the holiday season with relaxing afternoon tea, then The Lobby Lounge is exactly the right place to be as it has everything in one place. The lounge will be holding festive activities for kids from December 6 to January 1 with cooking workshops for children on December 24 and 25.

For those looking for gifts from their loved ones, The Lobby Lounge has a full range of gifts for the holiday season available for purchase from December 6, 2018 to January 1, 2019. There’s a delightful afternoon tea set designed specially for a good time over Christmas and New Year from December 6 to 30, 2018. Festive platters for these special occasions are available from December 24, 25, 31, 2018 and January 1, 2019.

Besides the delightfully scrumptious food, the hotel’s four restaurants are blessed with a relaxed, fun atmosphere which is perfect for top-notch dining that cannot be found elsewhere. The festive season at Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse will be overflowing with delight, beauty and happiness. Booking a festive dining package in advance is highly recommended. For more information, call 02 088 5666 or www.bangkokmarriottsurawongse.com .

Bangkok Roads to Close Sunday For Cycling Event Rehearsal

By

JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI

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28 November 2018, 12:59

Cyclists prepare for a mass cycling event December 2015 in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — Several major roads in Bangkok will be closed to traffic Sunday for rehearsal of an epic cycling event to be led by His Majesty the King next month, officials said.

The 39-kilometer route for the Un Ai Rak Bicycle Ride event will be blocked from noon to 7pm for the nearly 90,000 cyclists who registered to practice. The military said a number of roads around the main route can also be affected.

Cyclists will start at the Royal Plaza and head toward the Democracy Monument, Sanam Luang, Phra Pok Klao Bridge and Wongwian Yai. From there, they will continue to the southern edge of Bangkok in Phra Pradaeng to Lat Pho Park before making the return trip to the Royal Plaza via the Memorial Bridge.

The affected roads will be Ratchadamnoen, Sanam Chai, Maha Rat, Chao Fa, Charoen Krung, Chakkrawat, Prachadhipok, Suk Sawat, Somdet Phra Chao Tak Sin, Nakhon Khuean Khan, Somdet Phra Pinklao, Arun Amarin, Wisut Kasat, Itsaraphap, Lat Ya, Somdet Chao Phraya, Chak Phet, Tha Phra and Intharaphithak.

Nearby roads that can be impacted are Sam Sen, Rama V, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ratchawithi, Sri Ayutthaya, Phra Sumen, Lan Luang, Bamrung Muang, Yaowarat, Rama III, Charansanitwong, Ratchaphruek, Phetkasem, Charoen Nakhon, Thonburi, Thoet Thai, Chom Thong, Ekkachai, Rat Burana, Pracha Uthit and Phuttha Bucha.

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority said free buses and shuttle services will be available from 7am to 9pm for those attending the actual event on Dec. 9.

Commuters with bikes can also get on the BTS and MRT for free that day. Tolls will be waived for those carrying a bike in their cars, the Transport Ministry said.

A total of 638,601 people nationwide have signed up for the main or local events in their communities, according to the Interior Ministry. Registration has closed.

Clarification: The story is updated with a list of roads along the main biking route and those nearby that can be affected.

King to Rehearse Big Ride Friday at BKK Airport

King to Lead Return of ‘Bike for Dad’

UNESCO Answer Soon on Khon as Heritage of Thailand, Cambodia

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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28 November 2018, 12:49

BANGKOK — The United Nations is slated to decide as soon as Thursday whether to recognize traditional Thai mask dance as intangible cultural heritage.

Deliberations are underway at a UNESCO conference in Port Louis, Mauritius, where 50 other submissions will be considered including Cambodia’s version of Khon, called Lkhol Khol.

Results are expected Thursday or Friday, according to UNESCO media officer Jeremy Walden-Schertz.

Khon is a masked drama dance based on the Ramakien epic, which tells the story of a war between a monkey army led by a god-king against demonic giants. The tale hews closely to the Indian saga Ramayana. It has been performed, mostly in the royal court, for hundreds of years.

Read: Thai-Cambodian Flame War Erupts Over Traditional Dance. Both Are Wrong.

The Thai government earlier this year proposed Khon to the UNESCO, asking the agency to list it as intangible cultural heritage, a distinction given to oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festivals and more. Thailand has also applied for Thai massage to be considered next year.

The move to register Khon angered some in Cambodia, whose government also submitted its variation of Khon to the committee.

Both Thais and Cambodians claim ownership over the masked dance, and a feud erupted online two years ago when Cambodia first filed for recognition.

But culture minister Veera Rojpojanarat said at the time that Thailand would not contest Cambodia’s proposal because it’s a tradition shared by many Southeast Asian nations.

“There’s no restriction that only one country can register it. If Cambodia wants to register Khon as its world heritage, Thailand can do so as well, because it’s a shared tradition,” Veera said in 2016. “I think there won’t be any problem.”

Game Not Over in ‘Ralph Breaks the Internet’

By

Associated Press

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28 November 2018, 12:11

In a battle between the internet and John C. Reilly, who among us wouldn’t root for the latter? Leave us IMDb.com and a few podcasts, John, but by all means, go smashy-smashy with the rest.

Having liberated arcade game characters from their rigidly ordained roles in 2012’s “Wreck-it Ralph,” its sequel, “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” sends our charmingly lopsided duo – the hulking, big-fisted Ralph (Reilly) and the glitchy pipsqueak candy-colored racer Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) – into that expansive netherworld where clickbait lurks and pop-ups proliferate.

For a pair of pixelated beings whose existence has heretofore been limited to a handful of video games, they’re decidedly not in Kansas anymore. The web of “Ralph Breaks the Internet” is a strictly PG-rated, sanitized version; there are no dark turns down 4chan alleys or face-to-faces with Infowars conspiracies. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t cruel truths that Ralph must confront in cyberspace – none more than when a crestfallen Ralph sees the responses to his popular viral video. Never read the comments.

In trading Qbert jokes for eBay ones, “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” directed by Rich Moore and Phil Johnston, does more than shift the puns. If “Wreck-it Ralph” was a nostalgic “Toy Story”-like trip into ’80s arcade games, “Ralph Breaks the Internet” is more current. It’s ultimately about male-controlling impulses run amok.

Life inside the arcade has gotten repetitive for Vanellope, who’s tired of winning the same old rainbow-colored races in her game, Sugar Rush. But while the video-game characters are convening in their Grand Central-like terminal, a new plug labeled “WiFi” arrives above. “It’s either Wiffle ball or an arranged marriage,” says Ralph. Soon after, the impending unplugging of Sugar Rush (due to a malfunction) prompts a kind of migrant crisis. All of the game’s characters flee before they get trapped in the shutdown and need new, adoptive homes.

Vanellope crashes with Ralph, but he can see his friend – and their friendship is indeed endearing – is feeling lost. Ralph resolves to journey into the internet to purchase the replacement part that will save Vanellope’s game. Crawling through the router, they speed through optical cables and arrive in an infinite, glittering cityscape populated by towers of tech (Amazon, Google) and byzantine byways of zipping digital avatars.

It’s an idealized vision of the internet. There are no trolling Russian bots here, just some distracting ads and a quite charming, bespectacled search engine (voiced by Alan Tudyk) that will try to finish every sentence. The pair’s initial plans prove more complicated once they discover the online world isn’t just a game, but a place dictated by real money. To raise the money, Ralph quickly turns video star, churning out meme-inspired videos with the help of a Buzztube executive (Taraji P. Henson). Many, especially those in newsrooms, will watch with jealousy at just how quickly Ralph is able to monetize clicks.

There are other adventures, too. Vanellope finds a far grimier, “Grand Theft Auto”-like racing game called Slaughter Race, a realm presided over by a stylish driver voiced by Gal Gadot. It’s hardly the kind of game that anyone would imagine a good fit for a petite ponytailed pixie. But she thrills to the more grown-up racing world, eager to test her skills. Online, you can find your niche.

Other cyber doors are less appealing. In one self-referential diversion, Vanellope walks into a room of Disney princesses. Jasmine, Moana, Cinderella, Ariel, Snow White, Belle and others are sitting around, waiting to participate in an online quiz: “Which Disney princess are you?” They all speak a little similarly (and they note, none have mothers) in a segue of self-deprecation for Disney that’s both a welcome gag and, for the media behemoth, false modesty.

There’s much that’s clever in “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” but it’s the film’s heart – thanks to Reilly and Silverman’s voice work and easy rapport – that has made them more than a whiz-bang graphical blast. These are fragile and sensitive protagonists trying to be themselves in a world of pop-culture-prescribed roles. In “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” it’s Ralph who has to do some soul-searching.

The movie isn’t always quite up to the task. It would be better if it went further and wrestled more with the online world than used it as another bits and bytes background. Really, it doesn’t quite live up to the title. Ralph could have done more damage.

“Ralph Breaks the Internet,” a Disney release, is rated PG for some action and rude humor. Running time: 112 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

Story: Jake Coyle

Disney Says ‘No Merit’ to Malaysia Resort Company Lawsuit

By

Associated Press

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28 November 2018, 12:06

Genting Theme Park is pictured Tuesday at Genting Highland Resort in Pahang, Malaysia. Photo: Yam G-Jun / Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR — Resort developer Genting Malaysia’s lawsuit seeking USD$1 billion in damages from Walt Disney Co. and Fox Entertainment Group for alleged breach of contract related to a theme park, is “without merit,” Disney said Tuesday.

The lawsuit filed Monday in the Central California District Court cites damages from Fox’s withdrawal from an agreement set in 2013 to license its intellectual property for a Fox World theme park in Resort World Genting, a sprawling facility perched on a mountain in Malaysia.

The theme park would have been Fox’s first. According to Genting’s complaint, Fox issued a “notice of default” aimed at ending the agreement.

Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox apparently raised issues because Genting’s resort includes a casino, which conflicts with Disney’s stance against gambling.

“The claims made against Disney in this matter are utterly without merit,” Disney said in an emailed statement.

Despite disagreements over the specific terms of the deal, Genting said Fox had no grounds to pull out. The complaint also alleges that Disney and 21st Century Fox interfered with the malacontract and caused Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising, part of Fox Entertainment, to breach it.

Genting says it has invested nearly $180 million in the Fox project. Its most recent quarterly report said the group was focused on developing its resort and on preparing to roll out the “highly anticipated 20th Century Fox World Theme Park” as well as another attraction, the Skytropolis indoor theme park.

The opening of the Fox themed park had been planned for the first half of 2019.

Shoppers, It’s Time to Save the Nation – Again

By

Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

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28 November 2018, 11:28

Update Dec. 4: The cabinet approved the campaign Tuesday, saying it will take effect Dec. 15 through Jan. 16.

BANGKOK — Get new wheels. Enjoy a tax break. Help rubber farmers. Save Thailand.

That’s the logic behind this year’s annual campaign asking consumers to “save the nation” in return for tax breaks, but this time with much fewer eligible items.

On Tuesday, the Finance Ministry said it had proposed for the junta’s year-end tax break to run again for a fourth year. It had a much narrower scope, with only three types of goods proposed: car tires, books (e-book included) and One Tambon One Product, or OTOP, products.

The spending cap remains the same: up to 15,000 baht that can be written off annual tax bills.

According to Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong, the ministry expects cabinet approval by Tuesday.

Apisak said the ministry believes there’s no need to stimulate consumer spending, so this year’s campaign is meant to bolster sales of goods that need a boost.

With the military government’s support in the south strained by low rubber prices, it cited research that nearly half of Thailand’s rubber production is used to make car tires. Therefore the car tires eligible for the tax break must be made in Thailand.

According to Apisak, books were chosen to encourage reading, while OTOP products are a perennial favorite for supporting communities and municipalities nationwide.

The “Shopping to Save the Nation” campaign will again run a full month, Dec. 15 to Jan. 15. Shoppers must save receipts and request tax invoices from registered businesses.

New Year Shopping Tax Break May Run Full Month

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