Many Malaysians are marrying too early, warns UN

MALAYSIA: -- Far too many Malaysians are married too early in life, compromising not only their health but also their chances of development in a productive labour force.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784744-many-malaysians-are-marrying-too-early-warns-un/

Workers left trapped in VN tunnel collapse



BANGKOK: -- Twelve workers were trapped when a tunnel collapsed yesterday at the Da Dang-Dachomo hydropower project in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, according to Viet Nam News.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784745-workers-left-trapped-in-vn-tunnel-collapse/

Motorists in bliss as fuel prices hit new low

BURIRAM, 17 Dec 2014 (NNT) - The recently adjusted fuel prices have livened up fuel consumption scenes nationwide. Meanwhile, majority of the residents have put their faith in the Government in addressing the economic problems.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784747-motorists-in-bliss-as-thai-fuel-prices-hit-new-low/

NCPO to report its achievements

BANGKOK, 17 Dec 2014, (NNT) - The Cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) have agreed to establish 2 additional strategic sub-committees to help the government move things forward.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784749-ncpo-to-report-its-achievements/

SEC to look into suspected market manipulation leading to Monday's panic

BANGKOK, 17 December 2014 (NNT) – The Minister of Finance has ordered the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to keep its eyes on the activities of suspected stock market manipulators, in light of the steep decline of the SET index on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784752-sec-to-look-into-suspected-market-manipulation-leading-to-mondays-panic/

Transport Ministry to build 3 tunnels under 3 intersections on Vibhavadi Rangsit to alleviate traffic congestion. /The Nation

PM Gen. Prayut urged stock traders not to believe rumours; authorities monitor stocks manipulators after stocks index plunged over 100 pts Tue and 29 pts early Wed. /The Nation

The first four forums to take public opinions on reform will be held on Dec 29 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Lop Buri, Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammaratt provinces. /Bangkok Post

MOPH unwraps its New Year gifts

BANGKOK, 17 Dec 2014 (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has unwrapped its New Year’s Day gifts for the public comprising six free health services.

Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Yuthawong, accompanied by Minister of Public Health Dr. Ratchata Ratchatanawin and Deputy Public Health Minister Dr. Somsak Chunharassami yesterday opened a special exhibition featuring the Ministry of Public Health’s New Year gifts for the public.

One of the gifts is to provide dental service involving free root canal implants for 5,000 people who have artificial teeth and 35,000 senior citizens who have lost 16 or more teeth. Two other projects involve free Diphtheria and Tetanus vaccinations for 28 million residents aged between 20 and 50 and Measles vaccination for three million toddlers aged between 2 years and a half and 7 years old.

Besides, the Ministry stated residents with mature Cataract would receive retina replacement operation free of charge while teams of doctors would be dispatched to perform medical examinations for people at their home in remote areas.

Finally, the Ministry will establish a unit in general hospitals dedicated to take care of patients suffering from terminal illnesses.


-- NNT 2014-12-17

Thailand’s Bonds Fall With Baht Before Central Bank Rate Meeting
By Kyoungwha Kim

HONG KONG: -- Thailand’s government bonds fell, pushing the five-year yield up the most in 10 months, and the baht weakened before the country’s central bank meets to review policy amid a selloff in emerging-market assets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784756-thailands-bonds-fall-with-baht-before-central-bank-rate-meeting/

PM Prayut wants Thai fishing boats to install GPS tracking devices to avoid trespassing into neighbouring country's marine territory. /The Nation

Jeb Bush to explore White House bid

(BBC) Jeb Bush, brother of former US President George W Bush, has announced he is looking into running for president in 2016.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784758-jeb-bush-to-explore-white-house-bid/

Thai SMEs plan to step out as Modern SMEs next year

BANGKOK, 17 Dec 2014 (NNT) - The Association for the Promotion of Thai Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (ATSME) indicated that it would work to create “Modern SMEs” as specified in its roadmap for 2015.

President of the ATSME Keawkao Pa-earn-choke revealed her agency has plans to modernize the sector by educating its members on marketing & sale strategies, systematic management, implementation of information technology in the business operation, deploying the good governance approaches in the operation and maintaining their social responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director-General of the Public Relations Department (PRD) and Honorary Advisor of the ATSME, Charoon Chaisorn, stated the PRD is ready to provide support to the SME sector by means of publicizing their information, adding that the move is also part of the Government’s policy to promote Digital Economy.

He commented that accurate information are vital for SMEs’ operation. One of the PRD’s goals is to establish a link between SMEs and the public and private sectors, in order to enhance the competitiveness of the Kingdom’s SMEs in the ASEAN and global markets.


-- NNT 2014-12-17

Forest runoff floods 3 districts of Narathiwat; landslide hits villagers' homes, 1 injured /MCOT

Prayuth's '12 values' coming to LINE in sticker form
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- If recitals, songs, movies and ? weren’t enough, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha’s “12 Values” will soon be available as stickers for the popular Line chat application as a “New Year’s gift” from the junta-led government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784767-prayuths-12-values-coming-to-line-in-sticker-form/

Children's cartoons deadlier than films for adults: study

LONDON (AFP) - Children's cartoons depict death more often than films for adults, and their main characters are more than twice as likely to be killed off, according to research released on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784770-childrens-cartoons-deadlier-than-films-for-adults-study/

Thailand ready to host GMS Summit

BANGKOK, 17 December 2014 (NNT) – Thailand is ready to host the fifth Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit, with an emphasis on sustainable development and infrastructure improvement in the region, said the government official.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784772-thailand-ready-to-host-greater-mekong-subregion-summit/

Chao Praya River to become national heritage

BANGKOK, 17 December 2014 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is planning to enlist the Chao Praya River as a national heritage.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784774-chao-praya-river-to-become-national-heritage/

UPDATE:

Thai government to spread moral message via online chat `stickers'

Bangkok: -- Thailand's military government is to spread its leader's moral teachings via customised figure icons on the chat and messaging application LINE, a report said Wednesday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784767-prayuths-12-values-coming-to-line-in-sticker-form/#entry8814623

SET rose 14.93 to 1,476.67 at noon /Bangkok Post

Fallen Tree Narrowly Misses Prayuth's Car

By Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK — The Prime Minister of Thailand narrowly escaped injury after a tree fell on his motorcade in Bangkok today, injuring two of his bodyguards.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784808-fallen-tree-narrowly-misses-prayuths-car/

Phuket officials postpone Christmas Day tsunami drill

PHUKET -- Phuket officials have postponed a full-scale tsunami drill that was planned for Christmas Day, following a number of complaints from victims' families who are preparing for the 10th anniversary of the tragedy on Boxing Day.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784810-phuket-officials-postpone-christmas-day-tsunami-drill/

5 Thai Websites With English Version Fails
Published by Stickboy BKK

BANGKOK: -- When it comes to English versions of Thai websites there is one thing most, if not all, have in common – they fail at providing a satisfactory user experience. And I’m not talking about small company websites either, I’m talking about the likes of True, ToT, AIS, McDonalds etc. Big company and brand name sites that expats and tourists are likely to access for information.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784817-5-major-thai-corporate-websites-with-english-versions-fail/

UPDATE:

ICT’s LINE stickers for Thai Values stirs outcry in social media



BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Information, Communication, and Technology's (ICT) plan to pay seven million baht for the creation of "12 Thai Values" LINE stickers and distributed to users free of charge has gone viral on the social media with mixed reaction.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784767-prayuths-12-values-coming-to-line-in-sticker-form/#entry8815028

PHUKET: Cops, Customs sieze suspicious cough syrup
Darawan Naknakhon



PHUKET: -- Police and Customs officials yesterday (Dec 16) seized 35,700 bottles of cough medicine at a Phuket delivery firm they suspected was to be used to make a type of illicit drug popular with teenagers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784823-phuket-cops-customs-sieze-suspicious-cough-syrup/

Two quakes happen in Kanchanaburi, Chiang Rai

BANGKOK: -- The Seismological Bureau reported that a 3.6-magnitude quake happened in Kanchanaburi's Sisawat district at 11:58 pm Tuesday. Its epicenter was about 10 kilometers under ground.

The bureau said another quake, measured at 2.3 magnitude, happened in Chiang Rai's Maelao district at 0:42 am Wednesday. Its epicenter was about 6 kms underground.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Two-quakes-happen-in-Kanchanaburi-Chiang-Rai-30250035.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-17

Thai army chief visits Myanmar

NAYPYIDAW, 17 December 2014 (NNT) – The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army is officially visiting Myanmar at the invitation of Myanmar's Army Commander-in-Chief.

The Deputy Minister of Defence and the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army Gen Udomdej Sitabutr and a group of followers is on an official visit to Myanmar on 17-18 December 2014 at the invitation of the Myanmar Army’s Commander-in-Chief Vice-Senior Gen Soe Win.

The Thai Commander-in-Chief said that he is making the courtesy call to meet the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces Senior General Min Aung Hlaing during the visit.

Both the Thai and Myanmar armies will discuss joint operations that will promote good relations of both countries, such as cooperation in the border areas, anti-narcotics cooperation, the border-area villages project, and cooperation in patrolling villages to improve people’s livelihoods.

The Thai Commander-in-Chief also said that he will follow up on the former Commander-in-Chief’s forest planting project in border areas as well.


-- NNT 2014-12-17

Blame-the-Chinese fever heats up after rumored vandalism at Temple of the Emerald Buddha
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- All it took was a photo of some downed railings at the sacred Emerald Buddha Temple to set off a new surge of Sinophobia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784827-blame-the-chinese-fever-heats-up-after-rumored-vandalism-at-temple-of-the-emerald-buddha/

The top 10 most popular Google searches in THAILAND, 2014

Check them out: http://tech.thaivisa.com/top-10-popular-google-searches-thailand-2014/

Corrections authorities said a cell phone was priced at 2-2.5 million baht and a call is charged 2,000 baht per minute when users are inmates behind bars. /Bangkok Post

ECONOMY
No change to policy rate
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bank of Thailand's Monetary Policy Committee today decided to maintain the policy rate at 2 per cent, despite expectations from research houses that monetary policy should be relaxed to give a boost to the weaker-than-expected economic recovery.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784830-thai-economy-no-change-to-policy-rate/

Phuket land owner clarifies stance on 'cancel deeds' call
Tanyaluk Sakoot


The view of Naithon Beach from the circular infinity pool at the Pullman.

PHUKET: -- Maitree Narukatpichai, Executive Director of Fair & Firm Co, has told his side of the story regarding the encroachment claims on Sirinart Marine National Park.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784855-phuket-land-owner-clarifies-stance-on-cancel-deeds-call/