RT @Thai_Talk: "PM allows media to criticize govt when it's done wrong." “@Voice_TV: นายกฯ อนุญาตสื่อตำหนิรัฐบาลได้เมื่อทำผิด http://twitter.com/Voice_TV/status/548344049472528384/photo/1”

Export growth declines in November

BANGKOK: -- International Trade Department says Thailand’s export growth dropped in November after exports of farm and industrial products were below targets and global economy remains weak.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787198-export-growth-declines-in-november/

BANGKOK: -- A fire broke out at 10.00 am Saturday at the TOT Plc head-office building on Chaengwattana road and was raging.

The fire was seen originated from the eighth floor room where batteries were stored next to the computer-control room.

Many fire trucks were sent to fight the fire and was containing the fire in limited area.

Cause of the fire was not known yet an no one was hurt in the fire.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/79706

-- Thai PBS 2014-12-27

Mo Chit, Southern bus terminal, Hua Lampong crowded w/ travellers flocking to provinces for New Year; heavy traffic on Rama 2, Asian Highway /MCOT

Yala reinforces sandbags preparing for high floods after Bang Lang Dam discharges water; Pattani facing flood, some areas inundated 2 metres /MCOT

UPDATE:

Thai PM joins ten year tsunami memorial service

PHANG NGA, 26 December 2014 (NNT) -- The Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-Ocha and his key ministers have participated in the tenth anniversary tsunami memorial service, in the southern province of Phang Nga.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786884-10-years-on-thaivisa-remembers-the-boxing-day-tsunami-in-thailand/page-3?p=8857724#entry8857724

UPDATE:

A decade on, tourist survivors revisit tsunami-hit Thai beaches

Khao Lak, Thailand | AFP |

BANGKOK: -- Ten years after the Indian Ocean tsunami, foreign tourists who survived the crushing waves still return to the Thai beaches where thousands lost loved ones, seeking recovery and solace.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786884-10-years-on-thaivisa-remembers-the-boxing-day-tsunami-in-thailand/page-3?p=8857728#entry8857728

UPDATE:

PM urges all Thais to help Southern people now hardest hit by floods

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday urged all Thais to help people in the flood-stricken southern provinces where flooding remain critical in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786817-floods-create-havoc-across-southern-thai-region/#entry8857771

Surin steps up inspection on New Year's gift baskets

SURIN, 27 Dec 2014, (NNT) - Surin Provincial Administration and the Ministry of Commerce have dispatched officials to inspect New Year's gift baskets offered in the province's department stores and retailers, in their bid to prevent unfair pricing and expired items being included in the baskets.

A combined force of more than 10 officers from the provincial police department and Commerce Office has been sent to inspect New year's gift baskets being offered at Big C Department store in Muang district, Surin.

New Year's gift baskets are popular items during the holiday season, as they save gift givers time and energy trying to come up with their own presents. Undoubtedly, these baskets are widely offered in numerous stores, big or small, during the festive season.

According to Surin Commerce Office, officials have been dispatched to inspect gift baskets in the province’s department and retail stores. Unlike last year, there have been no reports so far this year of unfair pricing on these items.

Officers have asked vendors to indicate clearly on the label what items are included in each of the New Year gift basket as well as their prices. In addition, merchants are not to include in the basket any items that are past or close to expiry dates. Violators will face legal action, said the officers.

-- NNT 2014-12-27

Survey: Falling rubber price causes debts & school drop-outs

SONGKHLA, 27 Dec 2014 (NNT) - A study by Hatyai University has indicated that falling rubber prices and the ongoing flood disaster in the South not only have caused economic damage to the region but would also impair the educational opportunity of local people’s children.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787227-survey-falling-rubber-price-causes-debts-school-drop-outs/

Dutchman Beaten Unconscious At Chiang Mai Karaoke Bar
Published by Stickboy BKK

Dutchman The Latest Victim Of The Chiang Mai Karaoke Scam

CHIANG MAI: -- A 38 year old Dutchman was knocked unconscious following a dispute over a 30,000 baht bill in a Chiang Mai karaoke bar on Christmas Day.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787230-dutchman-beaten-unconscious-at-chiang-mai-karaoke-bar/

One child dies, 25 injured in school bus crash in Chiang Rai

CHIANG RAI: -- A 9-year-old student was killed and 25 students aged 4-11 years old were injured in a school bus crash in Mae Chan district of Chiang Rai province Friday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787240-one-child-dies-25-injured-in-school-bus-crash-in-chiang-rai/

PM orders officials to develop southern projects speedily
By Digital Content

NARATHIWAT, Dec 27 -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered officials and agencies responsible for implementing development projects in the South to accelerating them without delay and severe punishment would be imposed if any projects were found to receive no progress.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787244-pm-orders-officials-to-develop-southern-projects-speedily/

RT @RichardBarrow: This ticket collector on a #Bangkok bus is in the festive mood! - RT @KBoondham: กระเป๋ารถเมล์ เก็บตกเทศกาลคริสต์มาส http://twitter.com/KBoondham/status/548727907925762049/photo/1

Bicycle lanes around Rattanakosin Island opens on Sunday
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Dec 27 -- Workers of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Saturday accelerated work for the official opening of the city’s bicycle lanes around Rattanakosin Island on Sunday.

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha will preside over the opening of the bicycle lanes at 7am Sunday.

The bicycle lanes will cover 12 roads with a total distance of eight kilometres around Rattanakosin Island where the famous Emerald Buddha Temple is located and draws foreign tourists as well as locals.

Somchai Traipittayakul, director of Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon District, said while inspecting and instructing workers to oversee safety for cyclists on the bicycle lanes that more cyclists can be expected if signposts are clearer.

Noting that many tourists walk around in the area while there are also several schools there, Mr Somchai said automobile drivers will also have to cooperate by strictly following the traffic rules.

Bangkok police will also take action against violators, he added. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-12-27

N. Korea compares Obama to a monkey in hacking row

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea compared President Barack Obama to a monkey, and blamed the U.S. on Saturday for shutting down its Internet amid the hacking row over the comedy “The Interview.”

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/n-korea-compares-obama-monkey-hacking-row/

UPDATE:

Deep South put on high flood alert

One of the worst floods in the Thailand-Malaysia border area in recent history is about to get worse.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786817-floods-create-havoc-across-southern-thai-region/#entry8858377

RT @RichardBarrow: Looks like many people decided to take a 9 day instead of a 5 day holiday. #Bangkok looks deserted (Pic @mamemintt) http://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/548767494551633920/photo/1

RT @RichardBarrow: This is the Asian Highway heading North. Most roads out of #Bangkok the same today (Pic @SpringNews_TV) http://twitter.com/SpringNews_TV/status/548756465117192192/photo/1

Gov't emphasises public safety measures during New Year's holiday

BANGKOK, 27 December 2014 (NNT) - The Cabinet has emphasized the importance of tourists’ safety during the New Year’s holiday and already reiterated to the Royal Thai Police and the Transport Ministry to join hands in the matter.

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said the Cabinet has asked the units concerned to tighten safety measures for holiday makers travelling by land, water, railway and air.

The Minister also requested all tourists take care of themselves and remain vigilant throughout their trips as there will be a large number of travelers during the period.

Mrs. Kobkarn added that there will be several New Year countdown activities nationwide. The most popular is the cross-over night prayers to 2015 at Buddhist temples. In Nakhon Si Thammarat, she said such an activity will be even more interesting as all temple bells in the province will simultaneously chime at the midnight of 31st December into the New Year.

According to her, 29 million foreigners are expected to visit Thailand in 2015, bringing in 2.2 trillion baht in foreign exchange, compared to 25.5 million tourists with 1.8 trillion baht in revenue this year.

The Minister also said that the tourism promotion plan for 2015 targets tourists from Europe, Asia and ASEAN in order to distribute the risk because each group of the tourists has different strengths and weaknesses to Thai tourism sector

-- NNT 2014-12-27

Snow flurries blanket Britain

LONDON (AFP) - Overnight flurries left much of Britain blanketed in snow on Saturday, causing power shortages and delays at airports.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787330-snow-flurries-blanket-britain/

TOT computer center catches fire

BANGKOK, 27 Dec 2014 (NNT) – Staff at the TOT Building in Chaengwattana area experienced a tense time today when the building’s computer center caught fire.

The fire damaged part of the top floor of the eight storied building which serves as the computer center of TOT. The affected area is the battery storage room. It took firefighters around 20 minutes to put out the blaze. No one was injured in the incident.

Investigators have inspected the scene. Officials, meanwhile, are assessing the financial damage.

-- NNT 2014-12-27

Chiang Mai Governor warns traders not to take advantage of tourists

CHIANG MAI, 27 December 2014 (NNT) - Mr. Suriya Prasatbuntitya, Governor of Chiang Mai Province, has warned operators of restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and buses in Chiang Mai not to take advantage of tourists as such a practice will send negative impacts to the good image of this age-old city with a high culture and history.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787331-chiang-mai-governor-warns-traders-not-to-take-advantage-of-tourists/

to continue:

Thailand Live Sunday 28 Dec 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787373-thailand-live-sunday-28-dec-2014/