Thai Airways’ passenger load plunges 30%
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 18 – Thai Airways International (THAI), Thailand’s flag carrier, has reported a 30 per cent drop in passengers from October without any sign of recovery in the near future.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705166-thai-airways-international-projects-bt200-bn/#entry7452995

Suthep sits with protesters in front of Education Ministry facing riot police

BANGKOK: -- Suthep Thaugsuban and other leading members of the People's Democratic Reform Committee sat with protesters on Rajdamnoen Road in front of the Education Ministry facing riot police.

Tension was high at the spot at around 9:20 am as riot police formed lines about 100 metres from the demonstrators.

Police negotiators failed to convince the demonstrators to clear the road.


-- The Nation 2014-02-18

Police force moves closer to Misakawan intersection, holds talks with PDRC leaders to open roads, Suthep arrives Government House /MCOT

Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,328.40, falls 3.97 points /MCOT

RT @Tulip_Oum: GSB in Chumphon allows to w/draw Bt10,000 max per person and need to wait for cash from Suratthani.-@rambutan_TRNEWS http://t.co/TDosCJpc6Q

RT @Saksith: Don’t try this - at all! RT @samanthahawley: Protestors wear plastic bag to protect from tear gas. None fired tho. http://t.co/cWOsgrXWs2

RT @Saksith: Another photo of the stolen busses used to block road near Interior Min. RT @Pingz_TRnews: 10.00 http://t.co/zeRryUm15x

RT @RichardBarrow: Run on Government Savings Bank is now in the 2nd day. Some branches limit withdrawals (Pic @MorningNewsTV3) http://t.co/5aWkjDkiRd #Thailand

RT @Saksith: Protest guard slashes tire of songtaew truck near Interior Min. to create another obstacle. RT @Hui_Nation: http://t.co/y0f2ZikR3R

RT @RichardBarrow: 10am Riot police at Phan Fah Bridge to the south of Government House (Pic @phattanantv9) http://t.co/4m3apZ1WnK #Bangkok

UPDATE:

Police retake one protest site, arrest several leaders



BANGKOK: -- Anti riot police successfully have successfully retaken a protest site of the anti government protesters at the state-owned PTT Plc head office on Vibhavadi Rangsit road and arrested several leaders.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705221-dozens-of-arrests-as-police-raid-thai-protest-site/page-2#entry7453196

VIDEO: German guy weds his Thai boyfriend with THB1 million dowry

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705235-video-german-guy-weds-his-thai-boyfriend-with-thb1-million-dowry/

Suthep leads protesters to defend Government House

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705237-suthep-leads-protesters-to-defend-government-house/

Daily Weather Forecast For Thailand 18 February 2014

The westerly trough covers the North, the upper Central and the upper Northeast of Thailand leading to rain.
Another high pressure covers the middle China. It is expected to reach the upper country tomorrow (19 February). Cooler weather by dropping 2-4 ?C will be likely over the North and the Northeast. During 20-23 February, the stronger wind wave will be expected over the Gulf of Thailand with wave about 2 meters high in the lower Gulf from Nakhon Si Thammarat Southward. All ships should proceed with caution.

Weather Forecast for Thailand from 6.00 a.m. Tuesday to 6.00 a.m. Wednesday
Northern Thailand Cool with fog in the morning. Widely scattered rain mostly in Mae Hong Son, Tak, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Phitsanulok, Phichit and Phetchabun. Minimum temperature 17-22 ?C. Maximum temperature 32-34 ?C. Cold to very cold on mountaintops. Minimum temperature 6-12 ?C. Southerly winds 10-20 km/hr.

Northeastern Thailand Cool with fog in the morning. Isolated rain mostly in Loei and Chaiyaphum. Minimum temperature 20-23 ?C. Maximum temperature 33-34 ?C. Cold on mountaintops. Minimum temperature 10-15 ?C. Southeasterly winds 10-30 km/hr.

Central Thailand Partly cloudy and isolated rain mostly in Uthai Thani, Suphanbur, Chai Nati and Pra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. Minimum temperature 24-25 ?C. Maximum temperature 34-35 ?C. Southerly winds 10-30 km/hr.

Eastern Thailand Cloudy and isolated rain mostly in Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat. Minimum temperature 23-25 ?C Maximum temperature 31-34 ?C. Southeasterly winds 15-30 km/hr. Wave height about 1 meter.

Southern Thailand East Coast Cloudy and isolated thundershowers. Minimum temperature 23-25 ?C. Maximum temperature 32-34 ?C. Surat Thani northward: southeasterly winds 15-30 km/hr. Wave height about 1 meter. Nakhon Si Thammarat southward: easterly winds 15-35 km/hr. Wave height 1-2 meters.

Southern Thailand West Coast Partly cloudy with light fog in the morning. Minimum temperature 22-24 ?C. Maximum temperature 34-35 ?C. Easterly winds 10-30 km/hr. Wave height below 1 meter.

Bangkok Metropolis and Vicinity Cloudy with 10 % chance of light rain. Minimum temperature 24-25 ?C. Maximum temperature 33-34 ?C. Southerly winds 15-30 km/hr.


-- NNT 2014-02-18

weather forecasts for all Thai provinces: http://weather.thaivisa.com

RT @Tulip_Oum: Pan-Fah bridge at 10:30AM RT @oat_se: ผ่านฟ้า 10.30 http://t.co/Z2AcPl8RsJ

EC says election on March 2 is not possible



BANGKOK: -- Fresh election cannot be staged on March 2 as demanded by the Pheu Thai party because there are still conflicting views on certain issues between the Election Commission and the government.

Election commissioner for electoral affairs Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said Monday that the contentious issues would be submitted to the Constitution Court for consideration.

He quickly added that even there are no conflicts between the EC and the government, the EC would not stage an election on March 2 anyway because preparations would take time.

Pheu Thai party wants early election so that the House can convene within the 40-day deadline as mandated by the Constitution.

The EC has taken into consideration eight main issues raised at Monday’s open forum staged by the EC to allow political parties and election officials to voice their opinions of problems and obstacles encountered on February 2 election and advance voting on January 26.

The eight issues include the 28 constituencies where there were no candidates; printing and delivering of ballot papers; short of election officials; distribution of ballot papers and equipments to polling stations; the authority of the EC; announcement of the election result of party list MPs; and timeline of fresh election.

Somchai said that the EC would have answers for all the eight issues by tomorrow.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ec-says-election-march-2-possible/


-- Thai PBS 2014-02-18

RT @Saksith: Phan Fah Bridge: Pushing and shoving is getting more at some spots: http://t.co/vUWKkDDTpz

Phuket bar-dancing Swede dies in fall
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- A Swedish tourist died early this morning (February 18) after a fall while dancing on a bar in the Otop Market area in Patong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705241-phuket-bar-dancing-swede-dies-in-fall/

RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Yingluck blames anti-government protests for rice-pledging problems
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday blamed the delaying in overdued payment under rice-pledging scheme on anti-government demonstrations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705242-yingluck-blames-anti-government-protests-for-rice-pledging-problems/

RT @ChadapornLin: Now police are using heavy machinery to dismantle protesters' stage at Phanfah Bridge

RT @RichardBarrow: 11:15am Police have reached some of the tents at Phan Fah Bridge (Pic @brnititorn) http://t.co/2ae4hf8jd5

RT @Saksith: Reports coming in that Somkiat Pongpaiboon, a NSPRT co-leader has been detained by police.

RT @RichardBarrow: 11:17am Police show the media some of the weapons they have found at Pan Fah (Pic @brnititorn) http://t.co/BURN5XI2fK

Caretaker PM, in televised address, clarifies rice pledging scheme, vows she will not bow to attempt to politicise project, rejects corruption claim /MCOT

RT @Saksith: 11.21am, Phan fan Bridge: Riot police hunkering down, tear has been thrown.

https://twitter.com/Saksith/status/435630918431412224/photo/1

RT @Tulip_Oum: 11:18AM tear gas used at Pan-Fah bridge, one injured. Very tense situation.-@Chu_SpringNews http://t.co/tBlPiNDadh

RT @Tulip_Oum: Somkiet Ponpaibool, PDRC leader got arrested at Pan-Fah, taken away by police from protest site at around 11AM.-@Dr_Prawut

RT @tulsathit: Provincial police forces (Region 2) deployed at Phan Fah. RT @news1005fm: http://t.co/YaHpViuybK

RT @W7VOA: RT @Saksith: Protest-leading monks at Phan Fah Bridge are putting on gas masks now: http://t.co/QZxHFMlynC #Thailand

RT @Saksith: Unconfirmed reports also say police have fired rubber bullets, this screen grab shows that it could be the case: http://t.co/uhFkmOMKSS

RT @tulsathit: RT @ittipat_Rw: 11.43 am at Phan Fah. http://t.co/ra4hmevMCJ