Thailand Live Monday 29 Dec 2014

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NBTC to meet Facebook for cooperation



BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is to ask for cooperation from Facebook to help stop messages considered lese majeste.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787608-thailands-nbtc-to-meet-facebook-for-cooperation/

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New Year celebrants start leaving Bangkok
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 29 -- Many New Year travellers started leaving the capital by train and bus over the weekend as Hua Lamphong, the capital’s main railway station, and the Mo Chit and southern bus terminal, are doing brisk business.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787610-new-year-celebrants-start-leaving-bangkok/

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Southerners remain in trouble although floods start receding
By Digital Content



NARATHIWAT, Dec 29 -- Many southerners in provinces near the Thai-Malaysian border remain in difficulty due to floodig although floodwaters began to recede in some areas on Sunday, officials said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787611-narathiwat-southerners-remain-in-trouble-although-floods-start-receding/

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,514.70, gains 4.29 points. /MCOT

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Pomelo farming in Nakhon Si Thammarat suffers from floods

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, 29 Dec 2014 (NNT) - Pomelo farming in Nakhon Si Thammarat is facing a bleak future as heavy rains and inundation intensifies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787615-pomelo-farming-in-nakhon-si-thammarat-suffers-from-floods/

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Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda praised Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for the May 22 coup and called it a national rescue and a military duty. /Bangkok Post

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AirAsia shares fall 7% in Malaysia after jet disappears. Indonesia resumes search for missing plane w/ 162 people on board early today. /The Nation

Charter drafters' proposals for new charter will benefit high-ranking state officials and weakened political parties, critics said. /The Nation

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Thai stock index opens Mon. at 1,514.70, gains 4.29 pts in line w/ most regional shares.

AirAsia shares fell nearly 10% after news of missing plane. /The Nation

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AirAsia plane which went missing en route for Singapore is likely at the bottom of the sea, Indonesia's Search & Rescue Agency chief. /MCOT

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UPDATE:

Thailand offers search and rescue assistance for missing AirAsia plane



BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Department of Civil Aviation is offering assistance to Indonesia to send aircraft and ships to join in the search for the AirAsia plane which went missing Sunday with 162 passengers on a flight from Indonesia to Singapore.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787579-search-resumes-for-missing-airasia-passenger-jet/?p=8865477#entry8865477

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UPDATE:

Thai Woman Jumps To Her Death At Pattaya Mall
By Khaosod English

CHONBURI - A Thai woman has jumped to her death at a landmark shopping mall in the resort town of Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787574-shop-worker-falls-to-his-death-from-high-floor-at-pattaya-shopping-mall/#entry8865529

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Some areas recover from floods, evacuees increase to 201,299

KELANTAN: -- The flood situation in Jeli, Kelantan, has fully recovered, but the number of flood evacuees recorded in other districts in the state remained the highest among other flood-hit states in the country, according to New Straits Times.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787621-malaysia-some-areas-recover-from-floods-evacuees-increase-to-201299/

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UPDATE:

PM expresses condolences to families of passengers on board missing AirAsia plane

BANGKOK, 29 Dec 2014, (NNT) - Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday expressed his condolences to the families and friends of those aboard the missing AirAsia plane flight QZ8501, vowing to assist the Indonesian government searching for survivors or the plane wreckage if requested.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787579-search-resumes-for-missing-airasia-passenger-jet/?p=8865587#entry8865587

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UPDATE:

AirAsia flight QZ8501: Plane’s disappearance is my worst nightmare, says Tony Fernandes



KUALA LUMPUR: -- AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes described the disappearance of QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore on Sunday as his worst nightmare, The Straits Times.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787603-vanishing-of-qz8501-a-massive-shock-tony-fernandes/#entry8865604

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Prem blesses New Year wishes to Prayut



BANGKOK: -- Privy Council chairman Gen Prem Tinsulanonda today admired the courage and sacrifices of Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha to salvage the country from political crisis, saying what he did is now welcomed and supported by the majority of the people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787622-prem-blesses-new-year-wishes-to-prayut/

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Yala Chamber of Commerce donate foods and drinking water to flood victims

YALA, 29 Dec 2014, (NNT) - The Yala Chamber of Commerce has handed out food and drinking water to the flood victims in Satengnok Sub-district.

President of the Yala Chamber of Commerce Dr. Noppong Theerawon yesterday delivered 1,000 food and drinking water survival kits to the floods affected residents of Satengnok Sub-district in Muang District of Yala Province. The event was joined by Yala Govorner Samart Waradisai and the head of the Muang Satengnok Municipal.

According to Dr. Noppong, the donation drive was part of the Chamber's efforts to help the locals of Satengnok Sub-district get back on their feet, after the floods which has recently receded severely damaged the areas.

The area is still at risk of another round of inundation, as the Meteorological Department has predicted more heavy rains over the New Year holidays.

The donation would give the locals moral support, enabling them to better prepare themselves for the floods, Dr. Noppong said.


-- NNT 2014-12-29

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The Wharf Samui – a new shopping experience in Koh Samui

KOH SAMUI: -- Bophut has seen much progression over the last 15 years since it was a sleepy fishermen’s village with only two bars and a handful of small shops along its Chinese frontage. The biggest change has come very recently and that is the addition of the Wharf Shopping Centre.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787634-the-wharf-samui-a-new-shopping-experience-in-koh-samui/

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China offers to send aircraft, ships to help in international search for missing AirAsia flight that disappeared off Indonesia. /MCOT

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RT @tonyfernandes: The warmth and support from the people of Indonesia has been incredible. Everywhere I go. Nothing but pure support.

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RT @CoconutsBangkok: Mo Chit and Hua Lamphong crowded with locals going home for holidays (PHOTOS) http://goo.gl/GXKD7G http://twitter.com/CoconutsBangkok/status/549444478524616704/photo/1

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Chinese tourists really cut in front of Thai at check-in, Lion Air staff say
By Coconuts Bangkok


Video screenshot

BANGKOK: -- More information has come to light regarding the cat fight at the check-in line of Thai Lion Air at Don Muang Airport on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787649-chinese-tourists-really-cut-in-front-of-thai-at-check-in-lion-air-staff-say/

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Indonesian navy bombs Thai vessels in fight against poachers
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

JAKARTA: -- The Indonesian navy on Sunday sunk two vessels from Thailand after the court confirmed on December 23 the ships' involvement in illegal fishing in the waters off Anambas island in Riau Islands province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787652-indonesian-navy-bombs-thai-vessels-in-fight-against-poachers/

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Phuket home owners still battling Chom Tawan developer, bank
Nattha Thepbamrung


More trouble for Napawan and the Streets: Tawan Views, photographed from a neighbouring property.

PHUKET: -- The supposed December 17 deadline for agreement on a deal over the troubled Chom Tawan development – when, some home owners feared, they would be evicted from their homes – passed without incident.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787653-phuket-home-owners-still-battling-chom-tawan-developer-bank/

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Foreigner Killed By Bus On Sukhumvit Road
Published by Stickboy BKK

BANGKOK: -- Police are investigating the death of a man who was killed after being hit by a bus on Sukhumvit Road near Soi 4 (Nana) on Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787655-foreigner-killed-by-bus-on-sukhumvit-rd-near-soi-nana/

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UPDATE:

Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and India join hands with Indonesia in search
The Star
Kuala Lumpur



KUALA LUMPUR: -- Five nations have joined hands in the massive search and rescue operation for missing Indonesia AirAsia flight QZ8501 which went off the radar en route from Surabaya to Singapore.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787579-search-resumes-for-missing-airasia-passenger-jet/page-3?p=8866453#entry8866453

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UPDATE:

PM expresses New Year’s well wishes to Privy Council President
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 29 -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha led the cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to extend their New Year wishes to Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda who in turn praised them for their decision to seize adminstrative power on May 22 for the national interest.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787622-prem-blesses-new-year-wishes-to-prayut/#entry8866503

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Differences between MH370 and AirAsia incidents
CHRIS BRUMMITT, Associated Press

SINGAPORE (AP) — The disappearance of an AirAsia passenger jet soon after takeoff inevitably brings back memories of the mystery behind Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that is still missing after it disappeared nine months ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787659-differences-between-mh370-and-airasia-incidents/

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Suvarnabhumi Airport prepared for extra passengers on New Year

SAMUT PRAKARN, The Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is now providing additional personnel and has established new measures to facilitate the increase of flights and passengers during the New Year’s holidays, said an official.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787665-suvarnabhumi-airport-prepared-for-extra-passengers-on-new-year/

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UPDATE:

Japanese arrivals drop slightly this year but will pick up in 2015



BANGKOK: -- Japanese arrivals in Thailand this year declined slightly due to political instability in the first half, but will improve next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787605-plans-to-persuade-more-japanese-to-visit-thailand/#entry8866730

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Indian tourists killed in van crash on elevated road to airport



BANGKOK: -- Two Indian tourists and a Thai driver were killed and eight other Indians injured when their rented van rammed at the rear of a water truck on the elevated motorway to Suvarnabhumi airport this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787670-indian-tourists-killed-in-van-crash-on-elevated-road-to-suvarnabhumi-airport/