NBTC approves draft rules to curb profiteering by mobile operators

BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has approved a draft profiteering rule that may mandate private operators to bill consumers on telecom tariffs in accordance with actual time used or what is called per-second billing.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....bile-operators/

Palm oil spills threaten Narathat beach in South

The leaking of palm oil from a sunken Indonesian cargo vessel is threatening the beautiful beaches of Narathiwat province as now one white sand beach, Narathat, has turned waxy yellow with palm oil spills washing and stretching more than three kilometers on shore.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....beach-in-south/

10 YEARS ON
People flock to beaches to honour 2004 tsunami victims
The Nation

Relatives of tsunami victims place flower garlands in memory of their loved ones at Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial Park in Phang Nga province yesterday. The deadly tsunami hit many seaside provinces in Thailand on December 26, 2004.

BANGKOK: -- One decade on, people gathered at various seaside spots in tsunami-hit provinces to remember those who perished in the deadly waves.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786884-10-years-on-thaivisa-remembers-the-boxing-day-tsunami-in-thailand/page-3?p=8856447#entry8856447

CHARTER WRITING
No role for EC to hold polls in new charter
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Ministries to be given the task; move aimed at freeing EC from accusations of being partisan

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787152-no-role-for-ec-to-hold-polls-in-new-charter/

CHARTER WRITING
Proposal for Senate condemned
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
THE NATION

Borwornsak Uwanno, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, delivers a speech to representatives from all ministries at the Parliament yesterday. The topic was on giving officials the opportunity to express views and ideas for the new charter.

BANGKOK: -- Politicians say unelected upper House will be anti-democratic; charter drafters say Houses need to be distinct

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787153-proposal-for-senate-condemned/

BOT cuts growth forecasts for 2014 and 2015
Erich Parpart
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bank of Thailand has slashed economic growth forecast for 2014 to 0.8 per cent from 1.5 per cent and for 2015 to 4 per cent from 4.8 per cent, because of lower-than-expected government spending and slow recovery of private investment, tourism income and export expansion.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787154-bot-cuts-growth-forecasts-for-2014-and-2015/

Koh Tao murder trial rescheduled
The Nation,

KOH SAMUI: -- Court sets hearing dates from July; Myanmar embassy arranges bail guarantee money for the two suspects

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787155-koh-tao-murder-trial-rescheduled/

Many revellers plan to drive home: survey
Phatsa-on Pijansopon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Nearly a third of people planning to go drinking at New Year parties also plan to drive themselves home, a survey has revealed.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787156-many-revellers-plan-to-drive-home-survey/

3 more wanted for KMITL theft
Natthapat Phromkaew,
Supachai Phetchthewee
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Three more suspects will be facing arrests for their alleged role in the embezzling of Bt1.6 billion from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Lat Krabang (KMITL) bank accounts.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787157-3-more-wanted-for-kmitl-theft/

Coal firm shut in Ayutthaya over dust woes
Samrit Jiamcharoenpornkul
The Nation

Ayutthaya: -- A coal mining and milling company in Ayutthaya province has been shut down for 90 days, pending improvements, after residents from Nakhon Luang district lodged complaints with the Interior Ministry's Damrongtham Centre a few weeks ago.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787158-coal-firm-shut-in-ayutthaya-over-dust-woes/

Flooding eases in the far South
The Nation

PATTANI: -- It has stopped raining in Narathiwat and Pattani, while flooding in Phattalung province has eased, it was reported yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787159-flooding-eases-in-the-far-south/

Supporters, opponents of German-style electoral system air views

NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- While the Constitution Drafting Committee thinks a German-style mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system would suit this country, many political activists have shown enthusiasm for the proposal. Others, however, argue that it would cause more problems than the old system.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787161-supporters-opponents-of-german-style-electoral-system-air-views/

CDC to explain key issues in new charter
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) will launch a PR offensive to help the public understand key issues that will be included in the new charter.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787160-cdc-to-explain-key-issues-in-new-charter/

Appeal Court rejects Abhisit's defamation suit against Jatuporn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Appeal Court yesterday rejected a libel suit filed by former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva against red-shirt co-leader Jatuporn Promphan, saying Jatuporn's criticism when Abhisit was prime minister was honestly made.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787162-appeal-court-rejects-abhisits-defamation-suit-against-jatuporn/

Court finds former top cop guilty of embezzling gems
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A former senior policeman has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for embezzling jewellery and other valuables in police custody linked to the Saudi jewellery scandal 22 years ago.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787163-court-finds-former-top-cop-guilty-of-embezzling-gems/

EDITORIAL
Rushing democracy is anything but 'wise'

BANGKOK: -- The delayed election schedule draws a predictable reaction from Washington

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787164-rushing-democracy-is-anything-but-wise/

Former CIB chief and five officers sacked

BANGKOK: -- Former commissioner of Central Investigation Bureau Pol Lt-Gen Pongpat Chayapan and his five subordinates were too sacked from the police service retroactively until November 23.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787165-former-cib-chief-and-five-officers-sacked/

Russian’s car bursts into flames in Central Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- On Friday Morning Police and Fire Rescue Units were called to the Sukhumvit Road in Central Pattaya to deal with a car fire.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787166-russians-car-bursts-into-flames-in-central-pattaya/

Pattaya Nightclub Doorman surrenders following encounter with Pattaya Police Officer

PATTAYA: -- A Doorman working for a Nightclub located in Soi 16 off Walking Street, surrendered himself to Police on Friday following an incident

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787167-pattaya-nightclub-doorman-surrenders-following-encounter-with-pattaya-police-officer/

YEAR-END SPECIAL
Retail chains up focus on elderly
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation

Tesco Lotus has added a number of product lines for seniors.

BANGKOK: -- Offering products, services catering to rising demand as Thailand becomes a fully-fledged ageing society

Ful Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787168-retail-chains-up-focus-on-elderly/

Ukraine, pro-Russia rebels swap war prisoners

DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russia rebels exchanged nearly 370 prisoners Friday, a major step toward easing hostilities in eastern Ukraine.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787169-ukraine-pro-russia-rebels-swap-war-prisoners/

Wake begins for NY officer gunned down in cruiser
MIKE BALSAMO, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — The wife and two sons of a New York City policeman gunned down along with his partner have been joined by hundreds of uniformed officers at his wake.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787171-wake-begins-for-ny-officer-gunned-down-in-cruiser/

Syrian air raids on IS-held towns kill dozens

BEIRUT (AP) — Activists say Syrian air raids on two northern towns held by the militant Islamic State group have killed more than 50 people in two days.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787172-syrian-air-raids-on-is-held-towns-kill-dozens/

IRA veteran arrested after Irish wife stabbed
SHAWN POGATCHNIK, Associated Press

DUBLIN (AP) — Detectives interrogated a prominent Irish Republican Army veteran Friday on suspicion of stabbing his wife several times on Christmas Eve, an attack condemned by the IRA-linked Sinn Fein party.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787173-ira-veteran-arrested-after-irish-wife-stabbed/

RT @RichardBarrow: The 360 degree spiral jump over the canal at Khlong Rangsit for the movie “Man with the Golden Gun” #Thailand http://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/548648789771157505/photo/1

'69 sighting' in Patong leads police to Iranian thieves

Eakkapop Thongtub

Police are cheerful after working hard to book the bad boys.

PHUKET: The selective memory by one robbery eye-witness, of the number “69”, ultimately helped police track down two thieves wanted for stealing “millions of baht” from various guesthouse safes and lockers in Patong over the previous few days.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787188-69-sighting-in-patong-leads-police-to-iranian-thieves/

RT @RichardBarrow: British Ambassador @KentBKK: Visiting Tsunami memorial wall with international delegation this morning http://twitter.com/KentBKK/status/548665796055281664/photo/1 #Thailand

Hackers leak massive haul of Amazon, Dell, Walmart and PlayStation passwords

Hackers which claim to be linked to the hacktivist group Anonymous have allegedly leaked more than 13,000 username and password combinations to some of the worlds most popular websites.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/hackers-leak-massive-haul-amazon-dell-walmart-playstation-passwords/

US plagued by doubts as it exits Afghan war

By Dan De Luce

In this photograph taken on December 11, 2014, an Afghan National Army soldier is followed by three village boys while walking in the compound of the mosque where Mullah Omar founded the Taliban movement 20 years ago is located in the village of Sangesar. At the mosque where Mullah Omar founded the Taliban movement 20 years ago, villagers are weighing up whether to side with the insurgents or the government as the United States ends its long war in Afghanistan. AFP PHOTO/Roberto SCHMIDT

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787194-us-plagued-by-doubts-as-it-exits-afghan-war/

Ubon Ratchathani to curb illegal dorm operators

UBON RATCHATHANI, 27 Dec 2014, (NNT) - Ubon Ratchathani Province is planning to eradicate illegal dormitories in the province, after discovering that over 100 of them have been operating without proper licenses.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787195-ubon-ratchathani-to-curb-illegal-dorm-operators/