Thailand Live Monday 22 Dec 2014

[webfact]

SET chairman views fuel price drop as opportunity in crisis

BANGKOK, 22 Dec 2014 (NNT) - Chairman of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Satit Limpongpan has brushed off concerns over a drop in the SET index due to the reduced prices of fuel, expressing his confidence that the oil price drop would benefit Thailand as the nation relies heavily on fuel imports.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785964-set-chairman-views-fuel-price-drop-as-opportunity-in-crisis/

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Ex-Central Investigation Bureau chief Pongpat Chayapan, 4 others, are facing additional warrant on charges of taking bribes from online soccer gambling. /The Nation

5 southernmost provinces to get more heavy rainfall until Wed. which could worsen floods situation there, weather bureau warned. /The Nation

Election Commission is gathering proof to seek compensation from those responsible for having Feb.2 election ruled unconstitutional. /The Nation

PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and entourage left for China Monday morning for a two-day official visit. / Bangkok Post

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UPDATE:

Silom walking street opens

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday officially opened Silom as a walking street to boost tourism, and enable evicted street vendors to have new venue for doing business.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785922-bmas-sunday-walking-street-at-silom-officially-launched/#entry8835399

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Gateway to the Northeast to receive transportation upgrade

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, 22 December 2014 (NNT) - The Minister of Transport has announced after his visit to Nakhon Ratchasima over the weekend that he will continue the development of the dual-track railway and other rail improvement projects in the Northeast of Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785970-gateway-to-isaan-to-receive-transportation-upgrade/

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Prayut begins official visit to China today



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha began his two-day official visit to China on Monday to enhance bilateral cooperation in many areas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785980-prayut-begins-official-visit-to-china-today/

[webfact]

Strong earthquake in Indonesia this morning



BANGKOK: -- A strong earthquake has struck off the coast of eastern Indonesia, but there are no reports of injuries or damage, and authorities say a tsunami is not likely.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785985-strong-earthquake-in-indonesia-this-morning/

[webfact]

Public Health warns tourists against using charcoal stove indoors to keep them warm

BANGKOK, 22 December 2014 (NNT)-The Ministry of Public Health has warned winter tourists against drinking alcohol to keep warm and using a charcoal stove in a tent or indoors as its fumes could be harmful.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785991-thai-health-min-warns-tourists-against-using-charcoal-stove-indoors-to-keep-them-warm/

[Lite Beer]

13 rescued after Phuket cruise boat hits rock
Darawan Naknakhon

Electric Blue, listing to port, remains stuck on the rock, close to Laem Ka Beach.

PHUKET: Thirteen people, including 11 German tourists, had to be rescued on Sunday morning (December 21) when the small cruise boat they were on hit a rock and became stuck fast on it.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786005-13-rescued-after-phuket-cruise-boat-hits-rock/

[Lite Beer]

Chiang Mai declares 21 districts disaster areas

The Chiang Mai’s Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Centre has declared 21 districts of the province disaster-affected zone after average temperatures falling below 15 degrees Celsius.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786009-chiang-mai-declares-21-districts-disaster-areas/

[webfact]

Fashion Police: Truck driver fined for wearing Crocs behind wheel
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A truck driver took to the internet to complain Saturday after he was fined for wearing hideous and apparently illegal shoes behind the wheel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786027-fashion-police-thai-truck-driver-fined-for-wearing-crocs-behind-wheel/

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Former PM visits Phuket Sea Gypsies 'to show concern'
Nattha Thepbamrung


Gen Surayud: Sea Gypsies need to be more proud of their heritage

PHUKET: -- Member of HM the King’s Privy Council and Former Prime Minister, General Surayud Chulanont, on Thursday (December 18) paid a visit to Sea Gypsy people in Phuket and Phang Nga “to express concern”.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786030-former-pm-visits-phuket-sea-gypsies-to-show-concern/

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Thai exporters to adapt for EU’s GSP scrap

BANGKOK, 22 December 2014 (NNT) – The Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) has suggested Thai exporters to adapt their export model and adjust their manufacturing cost in wake of the cancellation of GSP from European Union from 1 January 2015.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786032-thai-exporters-to-adapt-for-eus-gsp-scrap/

[webfact]

Thailand cuts Japanese steel import quota
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 22 -- Thailand has slashed the import quota on steel under the Japan–Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement or JTEPA to 530,000 tonnes next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786039-thailand-cuts-japanese-steel-import-quota/

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UPDATE:

BIZ BUZZ
How Pridiyathorn arrested the SET slump
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- When the Thai stock index slumped nearly 10 per cent, or 140 points, last Monday, Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula was with Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and other economic ministers, attending an important meeting of the National Energy Policy Committee's to consider a big reduction in oil prices.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785964-set-chairman-views-fuel-price-drop-as-opportunity-in-crisis/?p=8836254#entry8836254

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Army implementing 51 projects as new year gifts

BANGKOK, 22 December 2014 (NNT)-The Ministry of Defense has organized a campaign dubbed ‘Happiness for Thais from the Army’ as a New Year gift for Thai people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786045-thai-army-implementing-51-projects-as-new-year-gifts/

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Commerce Ministry opens round four of rice bids on 400,000 tonnes of government stocks; 34 firms join auction /MCOT

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Police to maintain security on New Year holidays

BANGKOK, 22 December 2014 (NNT) – The Police Commissioner-General has said the police are ready to maintain public safety during New Year holidays and will monitor all security information closely.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786048-thai-police-to-maintain-security-on-new-year-holidays/

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ICT unveils “12 Thai Values” stickers

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Information and Communications Technology today officially launched the much-criticised seven million baht Line stickers for the "12 Core Values for Thais" with hope to get 5 million downloads.

Free download is set to go off on December 30 till January 28, 2015.

The project is a joint cooperation of three ministries, namely ICT, Science and Technology Ministry, and Culture Ministry in respond to the policy of the National Council for Peace and Order to give New Year gift to the people.

The 12 Thai Values are:

1. Loyalty to the Nation, the Religion, and the Monarchy

2. Honesty, sacrifice, endurance, and noble ideology for the greater good

3. Gratitude for parents, guardians, and teachers

4. Diligence in acquiring knowledge, via school studies and other methods

5. Preserving the Thai customs and tradition

6. Morality and good will for others

7. Correct understanding of democracy with the King as Head of State

8. Discipline, respect for law, and obedience to the older citizens

9. Constant consciousness to practice good deeds all the time, as taught by His Majesty the King

10. Practice of Self-Sufficient Economy in accordance with the teaching of His Majesty the King

11. Physical and mental strength. Refusal to surrender to religious sins.

12. Uphold the interest of the nation over oneself.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ict-unveils-12-thai-values-stickers


-- Thai PBS 2014-12-22

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Sombat hits back at Bowornsak over “super president” suggestion



BANGKOK: -- Direct election of the prime minister will not make the prime minister a super president as suggested by Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Dr Bowornsak Uwanno, said Dr Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, chairman of the political reform panel of the National Reform Council.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786050-sombat-hits-back-at-bowornsak-over-super-president-suggestion/

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Thailand and Japan to hold Green Mekong Forum

BANGKOK, 22 December 2014 (NNT) – Thailand and Japan will be co-hosting the third Green Mekong Forum in Bangkok to encourage environmental awareness.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786051-thailand-and-japan-to-hold-green-mekong-forum/

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Dr Visanu snubs at outlandish proposals for reform



BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Visanu Kruea-ngarm today snubbed at some academics for their outlandlish proposals for political reform which he described as over-excessive and should be brought back to reality.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786073-dr-visanu-snubs-at-outlandish-proposals-for-reform/

[george]

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS

NOTICE: Automatic deletion of PM's older than 2 years

Our PM (personal message) server which stores over 1.2 million PM's dating back to 2002 will be under maintenance from tomorrow December 23, 2014 and over the Christmas and New Years holidays.

The system will purge (delete) all PM's older than 2 years.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786071-notice-automatic-deletion-of-pms-older-than-2-years/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

PM on official visit to China

By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 22 -- Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha left Bangkok today on an official visit to China to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation from December 22-23.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785980-prayut-begins-official-visit-to-china-today/?p=8836641#entry8836641

[webfact]

Thai Maid Sentenced To Death For Drug Trafficking
Published by Stickboy BKK

SHAH ALAM: -- A Thai maid has been handed the death sentence at the High Court in Shah Alam, Malaysia this morning after finding her guilty as charged for trafficking in methamphetamine.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786080-thai-maid-sentenced-to-death-for-drug-trafficking/

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U.S. representative urges Thailand to expedite issuance of job broker laws

BANGKOK, 22 December 2014 (NNT) - The U.S. representative working on human trafficking suppression advised Thailand to expedite the enactment of more effective laws related to employment recruitment and job broker control.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786084-us-representative-urges-thailand-to-expedite-issuance-of-job-broker-laws/

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SET index closed 1,534.86 up 20.51; Bt/USD32.74; GBP51.11; AUD26.58; EUR39.99; CAD28.12; HKD4.21; SGD24.72; JPY27.29

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UPDATE:

Two Phuket-based Russians die in cave-diving incident
Eakkapop Thongtub


The Municipal Pier at Chiewlan Reservoir, from which the four Russians set out. Photo Sherryl Lian

PHUKET: -- Two locally-based Russian cave divers are dead after an accident in the Chiewlan Reservoir in Surat Thani.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785934-russian-tourist-dies-while-scuba-diving-in-surat-thanis-ratchaprapha-dam/?p=8836825#entry8836825

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Norwegian tourist fatally injured by speed boat rotors

KOH SAMUI: -- A Norwegian tourist was fatally injured by a speed boat's rotors when she came to the surface after scuba diving near Koh Tao in Surat Thani Monday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786089-norwegian-tourist-fatally-injured-by-speed-boat-rotors-near-koh-tao/

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MRT operates until 2am on New Year's Eve

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Metro, the operator of MRT subway, announced Monday that the subway would operate until 2am on the night of December 31 and January 1, to facilitate New Year celebration during the days.

The subway normally operates from 6am till midnight.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/MRT-operates-until-2am-on-New-Years-Eve-30250402.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-22

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Nakhon Si Thammarat alerted for worse floods after heavy rain on Sunday night

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, 22 December 2014 (NNT) - The flooding situation in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province is getting worse with higher water level in canals due to widespread rainfall from Sunday night until Monday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786093-nakhon-si-thammarat-alerted-for-worse-floods-after-heavy-rain-on-sunday-night/