Thailand Live Saturday 3 Jan 2015

[Lite Beer]

RT @RichardBarrow: Two injured this morning when this #Bangkok bound bus crashed in Khorat (Pic @Huk_31_Korat) http://twitter.com/Huk_31_Korat/status/551239315078922241/photo/1 /via @191Thailand

[Lite Beer]

Impeachment hearing dates set for Yingluck, two others

BANGKOK: The impeachment of three former Pheu Thai-government leaders will begin next week when National Legislative Assembly (NLA) members return from their holiday break amid promises that the assembly will be completely free of interference by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788800-phuket-impeachment-hearing-dates-set-for-yingluck-two-others/

[Lite Beer]

All oil prices cut by 50 satang, but E85 20 satang

BANGKOK: -- PTT and Bangchak cut prices of all varieties of gasoline and diesel fuel, by 50 satang per litre, except Gasohol E85, effective from Saturday.

The price of Gasohol E85 will be reduced by 20 satang per litre.

New pump prices per litre in Bangkok and nearby provinces will now be as follows:

Gasoline 95 – 37.06 baht
Gasohol 95 – 29.50 baht
Gasohol 91 – 27.78 baht
Gasohol E20 – 26.18 baht
Gasohol E85 – 22.28 baht
Diesel – 26.39 baht.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/oil-prices-cut-50-satang-e85-20-satang

-- Thai PBS 2015-01-03

[Lite Beer]

Special Report: HM the King’s New Year card

-- NNT 2015-01-03

BANGKOK: -- In his New Year’s greeting card given to all Thais on the occasion of New Year 2015, His Majesty the King wishes everyone happiness and prosperity.

The greeting card features an image of Mahajanaka swimming in a stormy ocean. The image is from The Story of Mahajanaka, written by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The card says “May you be blessed with pure perseverance, sharp wisdom, and complete physical health.” Perseverance is an aspect of Dhamma that is emphasized in this book. In The Story of Mahajanaka, Prince Mahajanaka went aboard a merchant ship with other merchants to the land of Suvarnabhumi. But the ship capsized in a storm of violent waves.

All passengers died but Mahajanaka. He swam tirelessly for seven days and seven nights without giving up. Mani Mekhala, the Goddess of the Clouds and Rains, noticed Mahajanaka swimming alone in the vast ocean. She asked him why he continued to swim when there was no shore in sight.

Mahajanaka said that if he persisted with perseverance, the destination would one day be achieved. He said, “Any individual who practices perseverance, even in the face of death, will not be in debt to relatives or gods or father or mother. Furthermore, any individual who does his duty like a man will enjoy Ultimate Peace in the future.”

The goddess said, “Anyone who is so full of righteous patience will never founder in the vast ocean that has no bounds. With this manly perseverance, you will be able to go wherever you wish.” Finally, the goddess Mani Mekhala carried Mahajanaka to his destination.

In fact, the production of the book represents His Majesty's own perseverance. According to the preface of the book, His Majesty listened to a sermon about King Mahajanaka in 1977. He opined that the story clearly demonstrated a worthwhile lesson and would be of great benefit for everyone – young or old, rich or poor.

Later, in 1988, he began to translate the story into English from the Thai text, with some minor modifications for easier understanding. In order to achieve a profound impact and make it even more beneficial to readers, His Majesty had some prominent Thai artists illustrate the book.

The Story of Mahajanaka was published in 1996 on the auspicious occasion of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne. He wanted this story to become an object of constructive contemplation for all well-meaning people.

Dhamma in The Story of Mahajanaka is an encouragement to everyone, so that they will be able to face problems with courage and perseverance regardless of circumstances.

[Lite Beer]

Hatyai Ice Theme Park wows visitors

BANGKOK, 3 Jan 2015 (NNT) – The southern province of Songkhla has brought Hatyai Municipality an icy flavor with the launch of a snow theme park as a New Year treat for holiday makers.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788811-hatyai-ice-theme-park-wows-visitors/

[Lite Beer]

Concerns over heavy alcohol consumption during New Year holidays
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Jan 3 -- Understanding that many New Year partygoers have consumed significant amounts of alcohol during the five-day New Year holidays and many are preparing to drive back to the capital to resume work next Monday, Public Health Minister Dr Rajata Rajatanavin urged them to consume a large amount of warm beverages and not to drive while feeling drowsy.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788819-concerns-over-heavy-alcohol-consumption-during-new-year-holidays/

[Lite Beer]

Bangkok Bank Partner With Chelsea FC
Published by Stickboy BKK

Bangkok Bank has become the official payment card partner of Chelsea Football Club in Thailand.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788820-bangkok-bank-partner-with-chelsea-fc/

[Lite Beer]

New Year celebrants start returning to capital
By Digital Content

SONGKHLA, Jan 3 -- More buses have been prepared as New Year celebrants began returning to Bangkok to resume work next Monday after enjoying a five-day holiday upcountry.

The general atmosphere at a bus station in the southern district of Hat Yai, known as a shopping paradise of the deep South was lively again early Saturday as holidaymakers packed the station awaiting to board buses headed for Bangkok.

Tickets were fully booked in advance with bus drivers having to undertake an alcohol check before starting their long journeys.

Similar scenes were also seen in other parts of the country.

Pol Col Pongsak Chunak, deputy police chief of Prachuap Khiri Khan, has ordered subordinates to adjust traffic operations with more police personnel posted along main roads and additional checkpoints set up.

Despite stricter traffic controls, a road accident was reported slightly before dawn after a car smashed into a tree on the highway roadside in one district of the province, police said.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Interior Ministry’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has announced that over the first four days of the seven-day road accident monitoring period for the New Year holidays, there were 2,104 road accidents in which 227 persons died nd 2,163 injured.

On Friday alone, a total of 367 road accidents took place nationwide, killing 37 people and injuring 381 persons, said the Department.

The Department said drunk driving was still the major cause of accidents followed by excessive speeding.

It said 82.41 per cent of vehicles involved in accidents were motorcycles. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2015-01-03

[Lite Beer]

RT @191Thailand: Passenger van & car on fire on road out of Rayong - TR @K5_Rescue: http://twitter.com/K5_Rescue/status/551264331455660033/photo/1 #Thailand

[Lite Beer]

Thousands flee homes as Australian wildfires rage
KRISTEN GELINEAU, Associated Press

SYDNEY (AP) — Thousands of Australians fled their homes as wildfires raged across the nation's south on Saturday, with firefighters struggling to contain the blazes fanned by strong winds.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788829-thousands-flee-homes-as-australian-wildfires-rage/

[Lite Beer]

RT @RichardBarrow: Polish Film Festival 2015 from 18-22 January at SF World Cinema, CentralWorld #Bangkok http://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/551269761158766593/photo/1

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Will electronic payments in Thailand ever pay off?

Will we ever see electronic payments in Thailand or is the Land of Smiles too busy with paperwork to realise how beneficial this technology could be?

Read more here: http://tech.thaivisa.com/electronic-payments-thailand-ever-pay-of/

[Lite Beer]

French man found hanged in Koh Tao with his hands tied behind his back – foul play suspected

KOH TAO: -- At around 3pm in the 1st of January 2015 police and rescue teams were called to a bungalow on Koh Tao where the body of a 29 year old French murder suicide Koh Tao man was found hanging from the ceiling of his rented bungalow.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788835-french-man-found-hanged-in-koh-tao-with-his-hands-tied-behind-his-back-foul-play-suspected/

[Lite Beer]

RT @191Thailand: The death toll rises steadily as people head home. At least 3 dead in this road accident (Via @K5_Rescue) http://twitter.com/K5_Rescue/status/551277475896893441/photo/1 #Thailand

[Lite Beer]

PM says government to continue support for agriculturists
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Jan 3 -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha reiterated that his government is concerned about declining prices of local agricultural products including for the livelihood of rubber growers.

In his weekly address via TV and radio stations on Friday night, Gen Prayut said the government is worried about the current severe flooding situation in the South and chilly weather in the North and Northeast and has ordered concerned state agencies to provide speedy assistance to affected people.

Thanking people for assisting society, Gen Prayut said the project called ‘Pook Pinto Kao’ which he mentioned last October is certainly a positive programme as it offers genuine happiness to agriculturists.

The programme is inspired by His Majesty the King and stresses self-sufficiency, strengthening the community, fostering devotion and offering generosity to others.

The project called "Pook Pinto Kao" literally means "rice tiffin service," is a civic initiative to reduce the huge influence of middlemen and a system that has long put farmers at a disadvantage.

-- TNA 2015-01-02

[Lite Beer]

RT @W7VOA: RT @sumishanaidu: @AirAsia #Indonesia confirms it's suspended Surabaya-Singapore route per gov’t request http://twitter.com/sumishanaidu/status/551283427526180864/photo/1

[Lite Beer]

NLA President: Assize of ex-politicians affects national reform

BANGKOK, 3 January 2014 (NNT) – The NLA President has warned that the demotion proceedings of the former House Speaker, former President of the Senate, and the former Prime Minister could hinder the progress of national reform.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788852-nla-president-assize-of-ex-politicians-affects-national-reform/

[Lite Beer]

RT @191Thailand: Truck on fire in Lopburi #Thailand - TR @nuttapong_Rw: http://twitter.com/nuttapong_Rw/status/551328900282728448/photo/1

[Lite Beer]

AirAsia flight QZ8501 was not cleared to fly route, says Indonesia

The AirAsia plane that crashed off Indonesia was flying on an unauthorised schedule, the country’s transport ministry has said, adding that it has now frozen the airline’s permission to fly the route.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788896-airasia-flight-qz8501-was-not-cleared-to-fly-route-says-indonesia/

[Lite Beer]

Thai tourist dies falling from cliff in Bhutan

A 54-year-old Thai female tourist has died after falling off a cliff in Bhutan, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788898-thai-tourist-dies-falling-from-cliff-in-bhutan/

[Lite Beer]

to continue:

Thailand Live Sunday 4 Jan 2015

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788928-thailand-live-sunday-4-jan-2014/