Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,536.24, gains 5.07 points /MCOT

Joint-ticketing system for all Bangkok's electric trains to be launched in mid-2016. /The Nation

Local petrol prices down by Bt0.30/litre today, excluding gasohol 91, E85, diesel. /The Nation

Oil prices cut again, except Gasohol 91 and E 85



BANGKOK: - Bangchak and PTT Plc yesterday announced the reduction of Gasohol 95 and E 20 by 30 satang/litre, effective 5.00 am Wednesday. Prices of other oil remained unchanged.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786553-pump-prices-cut-again-except-gasohol-91-and-e-85/

14 injured on Osaka-Singapore flight due to sudden severe turbulence



SINGAPORE: -- A total of 14 passengers and crew were injured after sudden severe turbulence hit a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight from Osaka, which landed in Singapore on Tuesday morning, The Straits Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786554-14-injured-on-osaka-singapore-flight-due-to-sudden-severe-turbulence/

UPDATE:

US man faces possible murder charge in Cambodia



BANGKOK: -- A US national in Preah Sihanouk province could face life in prison after a man he has been accused of severely beating died Monday morning, according to The Phnom Penh Post.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786007-in-custody-american-is-arrested-for-beating-man/#entry8844338

Flooding critical in Phatthalung; Lumpum police station awash in floodwater; staff evacuate ground floor, move upstairs /MCOT

"You'll Never Walk Alone" campaign launched

BANGKOK: -- Metropolitan police have now come up with a new safety campaign under a new slogan " You’ll Never Walk Alone” to ensure that the people will feel safer and securer to walk on the city streets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786558-thai-police-launch-youll-never-walk-alone-campaign/

Chanthaburi to open four-nation trade fair

CHANTHABURI, 24 December 2014 (NNT) -- The eastern province of Chanthaburi is preparing to kick off its major annual festival to be held in cooperation with neighboring countries -- Cambodia, Vietnam and China.

The event is aiming to bolster trade and investment among countries in the Mekong sub-region and also to attract tourists to Chathaburi. It is also a part of preparation for the integration into the ASEAN Economic Community that will be soon started.

Producers of OTOP products from Chanthaburi and three other adjacent provinces --Trat, Rayong and Chonburi will sell their top quality goods while Chinese, Vietnamese and Cambodian vendors will also participate in the event.

The venue is the border market of Talad Ban Laem in Pong Nam Ron district. The Chathaburi governor and his counterparts from Pailin and Battambong will co-chair the opening ceremony on Thursday 25. The event will be ended on Sunday, 28 December.


-- NNT 2014-12-24

Landslide blocks 200 metres of road in Yala's Than To /MCOT

Dep PM Prawit Wongsuwon and armed forces and police chiefs left for Cambodia this morning for a 2-day visit and to attend the General Border Committee meeting. /Bangkok Post

Treasury Dept to allocate 1.3 mn rai of land to the poor in line w/ state policy to narrow social disparity. /The Nation

A bag of explosive found in Chachoengsao

CHACHOENGSAO, 24 Dec 2014 (NNT) - A local in Chachoengsao Province discovered a bag containing an explosive suspectedly belonging to a local gang of thugs. The bomb was disposed of by an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) squad shortly after the discovery.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786583-a-bag-of-explosive-found-in-chachoengsao/

Thais explain what Christmas means to them
By Prae Sakaowan



Seriously, what’s with all the Christmas?

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok may be more international than the rest of overwhelmingly Buddhist Thailand, but that doesn’t explain the annual craze that takes hold for Santa sleighs, jingle bells and songs about the Christ.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786584-thais-explain-what-christmas-means-to-them/

Parents warned after boy is stabbed for iPhone
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Parents of a boy stabbed for his smartphone earlier this month are pleading with others to tell their children not to show their valuables in public.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786586-parents-warned-after-boy-is-stabbed-for-iphone-in-bangkok/

Prawit to meet Hun Sen today



BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon led a military delegation to Cambodia for a two-day visit this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786588-thai-deputy-pm-prawit-to-meet-hun-sen-today-dec-24/

Sony Pictures to screen the movie, "The Interview", in some US theatres on X-Mas Day despite threats from N. Korea. /The Nation

To Be Number One Friends’ Corner opened in Thoen District, Lampang

BANGKOK, 24 December 2014 (NNT) - Princess Ubolratana, the eldest daughter of Their Majesties the King and Queen, yesterday opened another To Be Number One Club’s Friends Corner, at Thoen Witthaya School in Thoen District, Lampang Province.

The To Be Number One Club in Thoen Witthaya School has been set up since 2007 with an aim to reduce drug abuse among teenagers. The project has been successfully operated and was awarded this year as the To Be Number One School with the most outstanding achievements at the national level.

The To Be Number One Friends’ Corner which was officially opened on the day has 30 volunteers to provide consultations to members who are facing difficulties or in distress. The advice is intended to make them realize they can be the best without drug involvement, in pursuit of the To Be Number One’s goal to deter youngsters from experimenting with drugs. More than 300 people have already sought advice at the center this year.

Lampang Province has accepted the Princess’s To Be Number One concept for implementation since 2003, making it an important agenda of the province. It has established the 'To Be Number One District' as a center to introduce the project to educational instutions and industrial workplace. At present Lampang has 1,123 To Be Number One Clubs, 62 Friends’ Corner with nearly 170,000 people aged between 6 and 24 as members.

During her visit, the Princess also granted an audience to 30 teenagers who used to be drug addicts and their guardians, providing royal advice aimed at encouraging them to quit drugs for good.


-- NNT 2014-12-24

Poll: Lower oil prices urges craving for holiday trip

BANGKOK, 24 Dec 2014 (NNT) – A recent survey by Bangkok University has found that lower oil prices did influence Thai people to consider taking a trip during the New Year holiday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786590-thai-poll-lower-pump-prices-urges-craving-for-holiday-trip/

Random Drug Tests For Victory Monument Minivan Drivers
Published by Stickboy BKK

BANGKOK: -- Minivan drivers in Bangkok were today being randomly drug tested as part of a country wide campaign by various agencies to conduct tests of public bus drivers to ensure they are drug-free behind the wheel.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786593-random-drug-tests-for-victory-monument-minivan-drivers/

Former Thai Rak Thai party member gets 3 years in prison for attempt to bribe court

BANGKOK: -- A former police chief of a police station in Nakhon Pathom province was sentenced to three years in jail after he was found guilty of trying to bribe a Constitutional Court judge to rule in favour of the defunct Thai Rak Thai party (TRT) in 2006.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786597-former-thai-rak-thai-party-member-gets-3-years-in-prison-for-attempt-to-bribe-court/

SET up 1.36 to 1,532.53 at noon /Bangkok Post

UPDATE:

Former police officer jailed three years for offering bribe to Constitutional Court judge
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court Wednesday jailed former Tambon Phokaew police chief Pol Col Charnchai Netiratthakarn for three years for offering a bribe of Bt30 million to then Constitutional Court judge ML Krairirk Kasemsan to help the Thai Rak Thai Party in the party dissolution case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786597-former-thai-rak-thai-party-member-gets-3-years-in-prison-for-attempt-to-bribe-court/#entry8845145

Thailand and China enhance cooperation to fight illegal immigration and terror



BANGKOK: -- Thailand and China have agreed to step up their cooperation in the fight against illegal immigration and terror, as Thailand deals with an influx of Uighurs from China's far western region of Xinjiang, according to reports by China Daily Asia on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786605-thailand-and-china-enhance-cooperation-to-fight-illegal-immigration-and-terror/

US calls planned Thai poll delay to 2016 'unwise'
Reuters
BANGKOK/WASHINGTON

BANGKOK: -- A general election to return Thailand to democracy will be held in February 2016 at the earliest, a deputy prime minister said after talks with a U.S. diplomat on Tuesday, a delay Washington later called "unwise and unjustified."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786606-us-calls-planned-thai-poll-delay-to-2016-unwise/

NLA President: Different opinions on electoral system not to cause conflict

BANGKOK, 24 December 2014 (NNT) - The president of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) does not think the hotly-debated issue of electoral system will cause any conflict among members of the National Reform Council (NRC) and the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786608-nla-president-different-opinions-on-electoral-system-not-to-cause-conflict/

Anupong denies NCPO planning to remain in power after poll
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda on Wednesday refuted reports that the National Council for Peace and Order planned to remain in power after the next election by transforming itself into the constitution-protecting organisation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786610-anupong-denies-ncpo-planning-to-remain-in-power-after-poll/

Opponent of 2 Feb Poll To Prosecute Opponents of 2 Feb Poll
By Khaosod English


Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, a member of Election Commission of Thailand (EC), participates in the LSE Ice Bucket Challenge, 22 August 2014.

BANGKOK - The Election Commissioner who opposed the 2 February snap election said he is pursuing court cases against those who disrupted the poll.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786612-opponent-of-2-feb-poll-to-prosecute-opponents-of-2-feb-poll/

Fly Thai, Get Laid – Thai Airways Promoting Soi Cowboy
Published by Stickboy BKK



BANGKOK: -- I had to look twice when I seen Thai Airways promoting Soi Cowboy, one of Bangkok’s infamous redlight districts, on an official social media channel today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786619-fly-thai-get-laid-thai-airways-promoting-soi-cowboy/

PM launches New Year's mega-sale campaign



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha this morning officially launched the New Year’s mega-sale campaign staged at the Government House under the logo “Pouring Happiness to the People.”

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786623-thai-pm-launches-new-years-mega-sale-campaign/

Two went missing in Hat Yai from flood

HAT YAI: -- A man and a boy went missing and believed drowned when a jeep in which they were travelling was swept out of a bridge in Songkhla’s Thepa district by strong currents.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786625-two-went-missing-in-hat-yai-from-flood/