Drought expected to plague Phichit in a month

PHICHIT, 24 December 2013 (NNT) – The northern province of Phichit is expected to suffer from severe drought as the Yom River is likely to dry up in the next 30 days and rice farmers are in dire need of water for off-season crops.

An irrigation agency in Phichit reported that the Yom River in the province had shown signs of drying up. Local farmers growing off-season rice, as a consequence, are pumping more water into their fields in fear of damages from drought, causing the water level in the river to drop even more rapidly. It is forecast that in 30 days’ time or by the end of January next year, the Yom River will be completely drained.

Since there are no dams in Phichit province at the moment, irrigation officials are planning to propose that a large sluice gate be constructed on the Yom River in Sam Ngam district bordering Phitsanulok province. If approved, the sluice gate will help conserve water for over 20,000 rai of rice fields in the two provinces.


-- NNT 2013-12-24

Singha Beer Family Scion 'To Change Surname'

BANGKOK: -- The outspoken anti-government activist known for her familial ties to Singha Beer producers will reportedly change her surname to avoid further association with her family business.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691370-singha-beer-family-scion-to-change-surname/

Tourist arrivals soar from Jan-Dec 2013

BANGKOK, 24 December 2013 (NNT) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has reported higher growth in many foreign tourist markets in Thailand during the first ten months of 2013. The numbers of foreign tourists from many countries grew in leaps and bounds.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691456-tourist-arrivals-in-thailand-soar-from-jan-dec-2013/

Bangkok Officials Ready To Fight New Year Fires
By Khaosod Online


Aftermath of the 2009 Santika nightclub fire

Bangkok: -- Fearing the recurrence of the deadly 2009 New Year nightclub fire, officials will station 35 fire trucks across Bangkok during the New Year celebration to respond to any emergency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691458-bangkok-officials-ready-to-fight-new-year-fires/

RED MOVEMENT
Red shirts not in favour of Yingluck as No 1
THE NATION

MPs fear Pheu Thai will be criticised for having her as nominee for premier

BANGKOK: -- POLITICIANS LINKED to the red shirts and others in the ruling Pheu Thai Party have opposed its nomination of Yingluck Shinawatra as its number 1 candidate to be the next prime minister, according to party sources.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691393-yingluck-returns-as-no-1-pheu-thai-party-list/page-2#entry7198532

Protesters disrupt poll registration
The Nation



Pheu Thai registers at 4am but others forced to lodge police complaints

BANGKOK: -- Anti-government protesters yesterday managed to interrupt the first day of candidate registration for the February 2 election, which demonstrators have vowed to disrupt as they push for national reform by a people's council.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691459-anti-govt-protesters-in-bangkok-disrupt-poll-registration/

Baht hits weakest level in nearly 4 years as SET continues slump
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The baht saw its weakest level in nearly four years and the Stock Exchange of Thailand continued its losses on pressure from the Federal Reserve's announcement on planned tapering of its monetary stimulus and local political unrest.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691460-thai-baht-hits-weakest-level-in-nearly-4-years-as-set-continues-slump/

Political uncertainty driving away foreign investors
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 24 – Thailand's volatile political situation may compel foreign investors to shift their investments to other countries, the president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) warned yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691460-thai-baht-hits-weakest-level-in-nearly-4-years-as-set-continues-slump/#entry7198565

Thai TV3 reports that the whole BTS Skytrain system is halted this morning for unknown reason. No more info is available.

BURNING ISSUE
Media is not there to be attacked or exploited
KORNCHANOK RAKSASERI

BANGKOK: -- THERE IS no civil war in Bangkok. But some groups of people are behaving like they were in a war. Furthermore, they are dragging into their war the people supposed to be "fair" to both sides - the media.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691463-media-is-not-there-to-be-attacked-or-exploited/

RT @veen_NT: UPDATEd: NO "@BTS_SkyTrain service as of 6am" due to technical problem. Skytrain not running.

YEAR-END SPECIAL
Political chaos signals another rocky year for Thai economy
Achara Deboonme
The Nation


A screen displays stock price information alongside a news broadcast showing Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva speaking in Parliament.

Uncertainty over govt projects to limit investment; mild growth seen for exports

BANGKOK: -- The economy will undoubtedly brace for another turbulent year in 2014, primarily because of the prolonged political conflicts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691466-political-chaos-signals-another-rocky-year-for-thai-economy/

ED VISA ABUSE

Stricter requirements, new application forms for ED visa extensions

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691465-stricter-requirements-new-application-forms-for-ed-visa-extensions/

PHUKET
Truck tied to bomb probe
The Nation



Insurgent group blamed; four victims still in intensive care

BANGKOK: -- SUNDAY'S vehicle-bomb attacks in Songkhla have placed the spotlight on the recent discovery of a suspicious pickup truck in a favourite tourist destination, Phuket.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691467-truck-discovered-in-phuket-tied-to-songkhla-bomb-probe/

RT @RichardBarrow: 6:40am @BTS_SkyTrain tweeted in Thai that there are still no trains running in BKK & commuters should use other transport

RT @RichardBarrow: URGENT Gates to all BTS skytrain stations closed. No trains running in #Bangkok (Pic @BRcoolman) http://t.co/JQWH1isvPI

RT @RichardBarrow: The Airport Rail Link is operating as normal - RT @Airport_Link: รถไฟฟ้าแอร์พอร์ตลิงค์เปิดให้บริการตามปกติ #Bangkok

Smuggled alcoholic drinks on the rise



BANGKOK: -- As New Year festival is arriving and many celebrations will inevitably involve alcohol drinking, the Excise Department said they will tighten control on smuggled liquors and stamp out border smuggling of alcoholic drinks, particularly at the southern border.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691469-smuggled-alcoholic-drinks-on-the-rise-in-thailand/

Temperatures plunge in North and Northeast
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- CHILLY WEATHER has continued in upper Thailand with temperatures plunging and |centres being set up to help those worst affected.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691471-temperatures-in-thailand-plunge-in-north-and-isaan/

Woman arrested with drugs stashed in shoes
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A Thai woman was arrested in Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport along with 4.24 kilograms of crystal meth with a street value of Bt15 million, Customs Department chief Rakop Srisupaat told a press conference yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691472-don-mueang-airport-woman-arrested-with-drugs-stashed-in-shoes/

RT @RichardBarrow: 7:16am No news from Skytrain officials as to the problem or for how long shutdown will continue (Pic @winaithornPNC) http://t.co/a0cPplbq2l

TENNIS

Serena and Azarenka set for Thai catwalk

The Nation

Serena Williams, right, and Victoria Azarenka will put Thai fashion on world stage.

HUA HIN: -- World No 1 Serena Williams will not only skip and twirl about the tennis court in Hua Hin but also catwalk along with world No 2 Victoria Azarenka in a special fashion event, the Made in Thailand Night with Serena & Victoria, to be held during their visit this weekend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691474-hua-hin-serena-williams-and-victoria-azarenka-set-for-thai-catwalk/

RT @ChadapornLin: BTS system failure halts all service; commuters urged to use other modes of transportation

Forecast for Christmas? Very dry, as booze runs out in Myanmar

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691473-forecast-for-christmas-very-dry-as-booze-runs-out-in-myanmar/

Protesters die in smash on way home
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Three people were killed and six others wounded after their pickup truck hit a flyover pillar in Chumphon's Tha Sae district.

All the victims were anti-government protesters returning from a Bangkok rally, judging from symbolic Thai national flag straps tied to whistles on their necks.

Police said the driver, who died on the way to a hospital, was probably tired and fell asleep at the wheel, before the vehicle veered off a road and hit the pillar.

Two occupants died instantly at the scene, and those injured have been hospitalised.

The vehicle carried a Surat Thani licence plate, and was |heading home through Chumphon.


-- The Nation 2013-12-24

Protesters storm DSI, fail to find legal-case documents
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE STUDENTS and People's Network for Thailand's Reform (STR) yesterday stormed into the Department of Special Investigation office on Chaeng Wattana Road in protest against the agency's freezing the assets of 38 protest leaders.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691475-protesters-storm-dsi-fail-to-find-legal-case-documents/

RT @BTS_SkyTrain: BTS SkyTrain apologizes for service disruption this morning

on both Silom and SukhumvitLines,passengers please use another public transport

Technical problem leaves Bangkok BTS in rush hour meltdown

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691478-technical-problem-leaves-bangkok-bts-in-rush-hour-meltdown/

AK47 assault rifle designer Kalashnikov dies at 94

(BBC) The inventor of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, Mikhail Kalashnikov, has died aged 94, Russian officials say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691479-ak47-assault-rifle-designer-kalashnikov-dies-at-94/

BTS in dark when service will resume
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The BTS announced that at 8:03 Tuesday that it does not know when the service will resume following the malfunction of its navigation system.

It said radio communication system of the trains broke down and it was the first of such technical error in 14 years.

The system error happened at 3 am. BTS urged the passengers to turn to use other public transport means.


-- The Nation 2013-12-24