PM will attend 10th anniversary of tsunami on Dec 26

BANGKOK, 23 December 2014 (NNT) - Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will be attending the 10th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami to commemorate the deaths and those injured in the disaster.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786272-pm-prayut-will-attend-10th-anniversary-of-tsunami-on-dec-26/

More than 200,000 tons of rice sold in the latest round of auction

BANGKOK, 23 Dec 2014 (NNT) - A total of 246,000 tons out of the 400,000 tons of rice were sold in the 4th round of auction this year with 21 companies able to clinch the deal, out of the 34 participants.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786273-more-than-200000-tons-of-thai-rice-sold-in-the-latest-round-of-auction/

Rubber and rice farmers to receive compensation money faster

BANGKOK, 23 December 2014 (NNT) - The Department of Agricultural Extension (DOAE) has adjusted its procedure on the payment of compensation to rubber farmers, allowing the latter to receive the payment faster. At least 300,000 of them are expected be paid by the end of this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786277-thai-rubber-and-rice-farmers-to-receive-compensation-money-faster/

ANALYSIS
Thais on right track with rail expansion
The Straits Times/ANN

BANGKOK: -- If anything is unfinished business in Thailand and its neighbourhood, it is rail. The Greater Mekong Sub-region has more than 860,000km of roads, but less than 19,000km of railways.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786279-thais-on-right-track-with-rail-expansion/

China, Thailand pledge closer relationship
By Digital Content


Chinese Premier Li Keqiang ® shakes hands with visiting Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 22, 2014. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, Dec 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held talks with his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-o-cha here on Monday and they pledged to further boost the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786303-china-thailand-pledge-closer-relationship/

Man Spotted With Hidden Shoe Cam On BTS
Published by Stickboy BKK



BANGKOK: -- A female passenger using the BTS Skytrain on Saturday has shared photos on Facebook of a man with what appears to be a “hidden” camera fitted to his left shoe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786327-bangkok-man-spotted-with-hidden-shoe-cam-on-bts/

Klong Tom vendors seek sympathy to continue trading



BANGKOK: -- More than 500 sidewalk vendors from Klong Tom, the country's largest sidewalk market that sell everything from spare car parts, DVDs and CDs, electronic devices to clothing items and toys, held a rally in front of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) head-office seeking a reprieve in continuing their businesses after they were told to end their illegal sidewalk and road trade today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786333-bangkok-klong-tom-vendors-seek-sympathy-to-continue-trading/

Phuket: Two workers injured in cable wheel explosion
Eakkapop Thongtub


Lucky to be alive: Polawat and Prapanpong. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- Two workers were severely injured when they sprayed insecticide into a cable wheel and then lit it up with a Zippo lighter in order to get rid of a wasp’s nest inside the wheel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786337-phuket-two-workers-injured-in-cable-wheel-explosion/

Patient numbers rise in Chiang Mai as cold hits region
By Digital Content



CHIANG MAI, Dec 23 -- The number of patients with respiratory diseases in this northern province has risen 5 to 6 times the normal level as freezing temperatures hit the region.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786341-patient-numbers-rise-in-chiang-mai-as-cold-hits-region/

Samui ferries remain in service despite weather conditions

SURAT THANI, 23 December 2014 (NNT)-The ferry service between Donsak and Samui Island will remain in service until the New Year celebration period.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786344-samui-ferries-remain-in-service-despite-weather-conditions/

Thailand welcomes renewed U.S.-Cuba friendship

BANGKOK, 23 December 2014 (NNT) - Thailand has welcomed the decision of both the United States and the Republic of Cuba to renew their friendly relationship, ending decades of antagonistic policies against each other.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786346-thailand-welcomes-renewed-us-cuba-friendship/

Cold weather kills elderly in Nakhon Phanom
By Digital Content



NAKHON PHANOM, Dec 23 -- A cold spell has hit Thailand's northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom where one elderly person reportedly died due to cold shock while a hundred thousand others face hardship, according to the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786347-cold-weather-kills-elderly-in-nakhon-phanom/

TAT projects Bt9.3 billion to circulate during New Year's holidays; 2.65 million tourists will travel during holidays; sees bright prospects for 2015 /MCOT

A bank manager accused of colluding with a financial officer of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang in embezzling B1bn from KMITL was arrested. /Bangkok Post

Thai and China's central banks agreed to renew bilateral currency swap deal worth 70 billion Chinese Yuan (Bt370 bn) /The Nation

Thai Rice Exporters Assoc. urged govt to improve rice selling process in 2015 to speed up rice sales to keep up w/ market needs and improve rice quality classification. /The Nation

N. Korea hit by internet outage, a few after US President Obama warned U.S. would retaliate for N. Korea's cyber attack on Sony Pictures. /The Nation

Instant noodles sales projected to grow by only 1.4% this year to Bt15.4 bn due to weak consumers' spending, particularly from low-income groups. /The Nation

Nakhon Ratchasima DLT to increase service for New Year

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, 23 December 2014 (NNT) – The Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Land Transport Office (DLT) will be providing extra bus services to accommodate the public’s commute back to their hometown during the New Year’s holidays.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786349-nakhon-ratchasima-dlt-to-increase-service-for-new-year/

UPDATE:

Finance chief, bank manager arrested for allegedly embezzling Bt1.6bn from university

BANGKOK: -- Police Tuesday arrested a bank manager and the financial division chief of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang for having allegedly embezzled Bt1.6 billion from the university.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786219-two-suspected-of-embezzling-bt1-bn-from-king-mongkut-institute/#entry8840927

One suspected insurgent killed in clash with troops in Narathiwat

NARATHIWAT: -- Troops clashed with a group of alleged insurgents in a village in Narathiwat's Rangae district at noon Tuesday.

The troops were checking the village when insurgents hiding in a house opened fire at them, leading to about 20-minute exchange of gunfire. A man was found dead after the gunfire ended and another was arrested while the rest fled the scene.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/One-suspected-insurgent-killed-in-clash-with-troop-30250479.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-23

Naver denies reports Thai govt is monitoring LINE messages

The parent company of mobile chat application LINE has moved quickly to deny reports that the Thai government is monitoring all messages sent through its service.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/naver-denies-reports-thai-govt-monitoring-line-messages/

Distressed lawyer rescued from Phuket roof
Eakkapop Thongtub


Police and locals try to persuade the man to come down.

PHUKET: -- A distressed local lawyer was wrestled into a cherry picker early this afternoon (December 23) after he climbed up on a roof in Thalad Yai, Phuket Town.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786354-distressed-lawyer-rescued-from-phuket-roof/

UPDATE:

Klong Tom vendors allowed to stay two more months at same places



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) agreed to allow vendors to continue businesses at Klong Tom market for two months, ending at the end of February next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786333-bangkok-klong-tom-vendors-seek-sympathy-to-continue-trading/#entry8841036

Most Thai satisfied with NCPO's performance after seven months

BANGKOK: -- Up to 55.54 per cent of 1,788 people surveyed by Rajabhat Suan Dusit University said they were quite satisfied with the performance of the National Council for Peace and Order seven months after the power seizure.

The survey found 34.90 per cent of the respondents said they were very satisfied and the rest said they were not.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Most-Thai-satisfied-with-NCPOs-performance-after-s-30250480.html

-- The Nation 2014-12-23

Free taxis in Bangkok!

Use Uber in Bangkok for free this Christmas

Uber in Bangkok has announced that new and existing customers can use its UberX service in the capital for free for 24 hours from 1am on December 24th 2014.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/use-uber-bangkok-free-christmas/

SET index closed 1,531.17 down 5.66; Bt/USD32.77; GBP50.97; AUD26.49; EUR39.95; CAD28.09; HKD4.21; SGD24.73; JPY27.18

10pc of Phuket beaches set aside for mat and umbrella operators
Nattha Thepbamrung


The zone will be used by listed operators from 9am to 4pm. Photo: Luke Ma

PHUKET: -- Ten per cent of the space on beaches in Muang District is to be set aside for beach mats and umbrella operators, it was announced yesterday (December 22).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786381-10-percent-of-phuket-beaches-set-aside-for-mat-and-umbrella-operators/

Cabinet agrees to reduce registration fee for immigrant workers

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet Tuesday approved a draft directive of the Interior Ministry to reduce the registration fee of immigration workers from Bt2,000 to Bt500 each, Deputy Government Spokesman Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.

The Cabinet approved the fee reduction as an incentive for the employers to register their workers.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Cabinet-agrees-to-reduce-registration-fee-for-immi-30250488.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-23

PM rides high-speed train in China

BANGKOK, 23 December 2014 (NNT) - Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha has ridden a high speed train in China during his official visit. China’s high speed train will be used as the model for the same type of transportation in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786384-pm-prayut-rides-high-speed-train-in-china/

Chiang Mai Authorities Investigating 40 Tonnes of 'Fake Snow'
By Khaosod English


Nimman Snow Festival at Eastin Tan hotel on Nimman Hemin Road, 22 December 2014.

CHIANG MAI - Officials in Chiang Mai are investigating whether the 40 tonnes of refined salt that was used as imitate snow at a PR stunt will lead to an environmental meltdown in the region.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786399-chiang-mai-authorities-investigating-40-tonnes-of-fake-snow/

Flood situation in Southern provinces still critical
By Digital Content



YALA, Dec 23 -- Flooding in Thailand's southern provinces remained critical today, where many areas still face continuing downpours, causing rivers to overflow their banks and inundating local homes.

Endless rainfall in Yala province caused the Pattani and Sai Buri Rivers to overflow, flooding Yala municipality.

One school in the city was forced to close due to the flood.

Meanwhile, villagers from Ta Lo Ha Lor sub-district in Raman district, who had evacuated to makeshift shelters near the Sai Buri bridge last Thursday due to flood, were facing shortages of rice and dried food.

Several areas in Patthalung province were still submerged under floodwater of up to 2 meter high, prompting local residents to commute by boats.

Six districts have been declared disaster areas due to severe inundation while around 10,000 households have already been affected.

The continuous downpours in Surat Thani province and high sea level also caused the Tapee River to overflow its banks and flooded four communities of Surat Thani municipality this morning. Flood level in the city stood at some 30-50 centimeters high.

Provincial workers were deployed to assist local residents move their belongings to higher ground. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-12-23

Indonesia will abolish virginity tests at state-run college for would-be civil servants following criticism of similar practice in police force /The Nation

Rumours of drug abuse among Thai workers in Israel dismissed

BANGKOK: -- The Labour Ministry has dismissed rumours that more than half of the Thai workers in Israel are drug abusers.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786440-rumours-of-drug-abuse-among-thai-workers-in-israel-dismissed/