HM the King Re-Emerges After Months Of Illness

By Khaosod English

BANGKOK - His Majesty the King has re-emerged in public for the first time today since he was admitted to Sriraj Hospital in Bangkok in October.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787560-thailand-live-monday-29-dec-2014/page-4#entry8868303

MAN OF THE YEAR: PRAYUT CHAN-O-CHA
The general on the front line for political stability
Kris Bhromsuthi,
Nitipol Kiravanich
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- GENERAL Prayut Chan-o-cha, a military man throughout his career spanning more than three decades, has dominated local news and the political scene since leading the bloodless coup on May 22 and later becoming the country's 29th prime minister.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787842-man-of-the-year-general-prayut-chan-o-cha/

Websites with lese majeste content to be shut down
The Nation

NBTC INTENDS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS BY DEC 31

BANGKOK: -- THE National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) intends to shut down all websites carrying lese majeste content by the year-end, according to its secretary-general Takorn Tantasith.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787843-websites-with-lese-majeste-content-to-be-shut-down/

A look into the past year



The 10 most outstanding news events of 2014, as selected by The NatIon's editorIal staff

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787844-a-look-into-the-past-year-the-10-most-outstanding-news-events-of-2014/

WORLD HERITAGE SITE
Push for marine site to get world recognition
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A National Reform Council panel on natural resources and the environment yesterday agreed to push for the vast marine conservation site in the Andaman Sea to be recognised as a World Heritage Site.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787845-andaman-sea-push-for-marine-site-to-get-world-recognition/

Political chaos takes most blame for this year's slump, analysts agree
Erich Parpart
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prolonged political uncertainty since 2006 has led to a slowdown of public and private investment, and the protests in Bangkok at the beginning of this year interrupted government functions. That led to a slowdown in government spending and it affected the confidence of the private sector, slowing domestic consumption.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787846-political-chaos-takes-most-blame-for-this-years-slump-analysts-agree/

Protests over bonus are 'temporary'
Business Reporters
The Nation



Employers advised not to yield to pressure or they will set precedent

BANGKOK: -- News of employees demanding a rise in their bonus payments has returned this year, but a labour-relations expert with MR&TS, Supachai Manusphaibool, expects such protests to be a temporary event before the bonus-payment season.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787847-thailand-protests-over-bonus-are-temporary/

EDITORIAL
Only the people can choose the PM
The Nation

Paving the way for unelected parties to become prime minister is a dangerous turn

BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC) last week adopted a key element in the new charter by ruling that the prime minister's post would henceforth be open to people other than members of the legislature.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787848-thai-editorial-only-the-people-can-choose-the-pm/

Hat Yai ready for Night Paradise Hatyai Coutdown to 2015” on 31st Dec

HAT YAI, 30 December 2014 (NNT) - Hat Yai, the major city of Thailand’s Songkhla Province, is ready to hold the "Night Paradise Hatyai Coutdown to 2015” under the concept “Fun and Happiness without Alcohol” on the night of December 31st, 2014.

The grand celebration aims to return happiness to people on the arrival of the new era. It is held in cooperation with Hat Yai Municipality, Songkhla Province, Songkhla Provincial Administrative Organization, Tourists Business Federation of Songkhla and Central Festival Hat Yai shopping mall as well as government and private sector units.

The Night Paradise Hatyai Countdown to 2015 will be organized simultaneously on three key locations. The central stage will be at Hatyai courtyard in front of the Central Festival Department Store. The celebration will feature concerts by big name Thai singers from the Star contests namely Gam Wichayanee, Dome Jaruwat, and Tum Warawut. Num Kala, Poo Blackhead and Tai Tanawut will also join the stage.

Sanehanusorn Road is another location people can go for their countdown. To begin at 7 p.m., visitors can enjoy a giant Christmas Tree, and concerts by Boonrod Band which is the winner from Workpoint music competition, Logarithm Band and Sirimongkol Band.

The third location is at the Gong Kong Villa Market where the celebration begins from 5 p.m. onwards. Highlights of the event are a show from Getsunuva Band, and a fair of products, foods and beverages.

-- NNT 2014-12-30

STREETWISE
Don't forget to expect something from yourself
Achara Deboonme

Expectations always run high when the New Year is approaching.

BANGKOK: -- It's natural for all to expect improvement in this and that. The expectations of each person differ, but one similarity is that we all expect others to deliver.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787849-thai-opinion-dont-forget-to-expect-something-from-yourself/

Gangs and Grenades shock South Pattaya Community



PATTAYA: -- Just before 3am on Tuesday, local residents in a South Pattaya community were awoken by the sounds of an explosion and the sound of many motorbikes and men shouting

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787850-gangs-and-grenades-shock-south-pattaya-community/

17 year old shot in front of North Pattaya Mosque



PATTAYA: -- A 17 year old motorbike driver was shot in his shoulder as he drove home from the Pattaya Countdown Festival in the early hours of Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787852-17-year-old-shot-in-front-of-north-pattaya-mosque/

Three Teenagers die in North Pattaya Road Crash



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Tuesday, three teenagers all aged only 15, lost their lives in a high-speed road crash on the Sukhumvit Road in North Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787853-three-teenagers-die-in-north-pattaya-road-crash/

Woman killed in East Pattaya Road Crash



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Monday a 32 year old female motorbike driver was killed after her bike hit a street sign at the base of a bridge.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787854-woman-killed-in-east-pattaya-road-crash/

Ferry passengers recount chaos: No fire alarm, just smoke
PAOLO SANTALUCIA, Associated Press
COSTAS KANTOURIS, Associated Press
COLLEEN BARRY, Associated Press

BARI, Italy (AP) — There were no fire alarms at first, no knocks on the door from the crew, just thick, acrid smoke filling cabins and waking passengers on the overnight ferry from Greece to Italy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787855-italy-ferry-death-toll-rises-to-10-ferry-passengers-recount-chaos/

Lost plane's request to change course was denied
TRISNADI MARJAN, Associated Press
MARGIE MASON, Associated Press

SURABAYA, Indonesia (AP) — The pilots sought permission to climb above threatening clouds. Air traffic control couldn't say yes immediately — there was no room. Six other airliners were crowding the airspace, forcing AirAsia Flight 8501 to remain at a lower altitude.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787856-airasia-qz8501-lost-planes-request-to-change-course-was-denied/

Google Mail blocked as China closes loophole

China has escalated things to the next level in its ongoing dispute with Google. Since the company’s Gmail service was blocked in mainland China six months ago, it was until now still accessible with third-party mail applications such as Outlook or Apple Mail.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/china-blocks-google-mail/

10 must have apps for your new Android device

Got a new Android device? If so, take a look at our list of apps which no Android smartphone or tablet, new or old should be without.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/10-must-apps-new-android-device/

British patient being treated for Ebola
GREGORY KATZ, Associated Press
JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — A female health care worker who has just returned from Sierra Leone has been diagnosed with Ebola and is being treated in a Glasgow hospital, Scottish authorities said Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787858-british-patient-being-treated-for-ebola-in-a-glasgow-hospital/

Four suspects in football gambling racket released on bail
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Four Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police officers believed to be allegedly involved in the illegal Abubakar bin Sulaiman football gambling racket were released on a Bt600,000 bail guarantee yesterday after the Criminal Court decided that they would not flee.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787862-four-csd-police-officers-in-football-gambling-racket-released-on-bail/

Road safety centre set up ahead of holidays
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE PUBLIC Health Ministry will take proactive measures to keep traffic accidents down during the "seven dangerous days" from December 30 to January 5.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787863-thailand-road-safety-centre-set-up-ahead-of-holidays/

Two new suspects surface in KMITL case
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Crime Suppression Department will seek arrest warrants for two more suspects in the Bt1.6-billion embezzlement case related to King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Lat Krabang (KMITL), CSD deputy chief Pol Colonel Nos Sawetlek said yesterday. The two suspects allegedly received the pilfered money, he added.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787864-two-new-suspects-surface-in-kmitl-case/

FLIGHT QZ8501
Multinational hunt for missing plane
The Nation, Agencies

Indonesia, Australia, Singapore cooperate as search area expanded in Java Sea

BANGKOK: -- TEAMS from different countries began hunting yesterday for signs of an AirAsia plane that went missing off Indonesia with 162 people on board, though one top official warned it was likely at the bottom of the sea.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787866-multinational-hunt-for-missing-airasia-plane/

Autopsy shows Los Angeles police shot man 3 times
TAMI ABDOLLAH, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An autopsy report released Monday shows that a 25-year-old black man killed in a confrontation with Los Angeles police this summer was shot three times, including in his right side, right arm and his back.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787870-autopsy-shows-los-angeles-police-shot-man-3-times/

US sends destroyer to help look for missing AirAsia jetliner amid fears aircraft crashed into the sea. /MCOT

King takes a little tour outside hospital ward

BANGKOK, 30 December 2014 (NNT) - His Majesty the King yesterday left Siriraj Hospital for a private visit to a royal grocery in a nearby building and had a change of scenery by the Chao Phraya.

His Majesty the King left Chalerm Prakiat Building, Siriraj Hospital, on Monday afternoon at 4.19 p.m. to visit a Golden Place outlet on the ground floor of the nearby Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital. The monarch appeared before the public with a happy face, sitting on a wheelchair and passing well-wishers who lined the way at Siriraj to catch a glimpse of him. They all chanted “Long Live the King” as he passed.

Golden Place is a retailing chain operated by Suvarnachad Company under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King. At the shop, His Majesty observed its operation and bought some milk, ice cream and fruits which were products of the royal Suan Chitralada Farm.

His Majesty later visited the Thailand Institute of Applied Medicine on the 7th floor of Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital, where he spent some time drinking tea and looking at scenic view of the Chao Phraya River before returning to Siriraj Hospital at 5 p.m.


-- NNT 2014-12-30

BREAKING: Tour bus crashes in Phuket, 10 hurt
Eakkapop Thongtub



PHUKET: -- A tour bus has crashed in the Kamala area, near the Thavorn Beach Village, injuring at least 10 – four seriously – among the 37 Russian tourists aboard the bus.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787882-tour-bus-crashes-in-phuket-10-hurt/

PM's Office: 90% of complaints lodged by public successfully addressed

BANGKOK, 30 December 2014 (NNT) – As much as 90% of some 111,000 complaints lodged with the government-run complaint center have been successfully dealt with, according to Prime Minister's Office Minister M.L. Panadda Diskul.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787884-thai-pms-office-90pct-of-complaints-lodged-by-public-successfully-addressed/

Indonesia will review AirAsia's operations following disappearance of plane w/ 162 passengers. /The Nation

Floods easing in the deep South, but Pattani province still have waterflow problems at river basin areas. /The Nation

Thais, foreigners (2,000/day) flock to various tourist destinations in Nan province, especially Ancient Salt Wells in Bo Kluea district. /The Nation

191 emergency call center opened in Chiang Mai to help tourists during New Year holidays



CHIANG MAI, 30 December 2014 (NNT) - Chiang Mai Provincial Police Headquarters is joining the returning happiness to the people campaign for the New Year festival by opening the 191 emergency call center in order to ensure public safety.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787892-191-emergency-call-center-opens-in-chiang-mai-to-help-tourists-during-new-year-holidays/