Groups issue statement of support for ‘We Walk’ marchers

By The Nation

 

Photo from People Go Network Facebook page

 

Almost 150 organisations have released a joint statement demanding that authorities stop exercising their absolute power to intimidate ‘We Walk’ marchers.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021735-groups-issue-statement-of-support-for-‘we-walk’-marchers/

 

Video: Farang wows Thais with knowledge of Buddhist ways

 

Picture: Sanook

 

Netizens were wowed by a foreigner after videos of him showing how to pay respects to Buddhist images and monks were posted on the internet.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021736-video-farang-wows-thais-with-knowledge-of-buddhist-ways/

 

Basis curriculum school to open in Bangkok

By The Nation

 

A Basis curriculum school will open in Bangkok next year to meet rising demand globally.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021737-basis-curriculum-school-to-open-in-bangkok/

 

Apple launches HomePod voice speaker, takes on Google, Amazon

BY REUTERS

 

REUTERS/Stephen Lam

 

(Reuters) – After missing the critical holiday shopping season, Apple Inc has jumped into the voice speaker wars with the HomePod smart speaker, a device that will use its Siri voice assistant and compete against offerings from Amazon.com Inc and Alphabet Inc’s Google.

 

Full story: https://tech.thaivisa.com/apple-launches-homepod-voice-speaker-takes-google-amazon/26806/

Five-vehicle pileup on expressway causes fire

By The Nation

 

 

A pileup involving on the first-stage expressway in Bangkok caused one of the vehicles to catch fire on Wednesday morning.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021739-video-five-vehicle-pileup-on-expressway-causes-fire/

 

U.S. State Department creates Cuba Internet Task Force

 

People connect to the internet at a hotspot in a public park in Havana, Cuba, January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini

 

HAVANA (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday that it had created a Cuba Internet Task Force to promote "the free and unregulated flow of information" on the Communist-run island, an action denounced by Cuban state media as subversive.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021742-us-state-department-creates-cuba-internet-task-force/

 

Senate confirms Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chair

Howard Schneider

 

FILE PHOTO: Jerome Powell waits to testify before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on his nomination to become chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve in Washington, U.S., November 28, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Federal Reserve Governor Jerome Powell as the next head of the central bank, succeeding Janet Yellen, a move likely to provide continuity in U.S. monetary policy with the economy growing now for nine years straight.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021743-us-senate-confirms-jerome-powell-as-federal-reserve-chair/

 

Google gets into audiobooks as rivalry with Amazon heats up

BY REUTERS 

 

REUTERS/Stephen Lam/File Photo

 

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Alphabet Inc’s Google introduced audiobooks to its online store on Tuesday, making its smart speakers and virtual assistant more competitive with Amazon.com Inc’s Echo devices and Alexa voice assistant.

 

Full story: https://tech.thaivisa.com/google-gets-audiobooks-rivalry-amazon-heats/26810/

Handy new Android feature tells you how fast a Wi-Fi network is before you connect

BY STAFF WRITER 

 

 

If you have installed Android Oreo 8.1 from this week onwards, you will probably have noticed a really handy new feature.

 

Full story: https://tech.thaivisa.com/handy-new-android-feature-tells-fast-wi-fi-network-connect/26813/

Tourism and Sports Ministry launches new tourism info website

 

 

BANGKOK, 24 January 2018 (NNT) – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has issued a new standard on tourism information of Thailand. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021744-thai-tourism-and-sports-ministry-launches-new-tourism-info-website/

 

Private sector sees little impact from general election delay

 

 

BANGKOK, 24 January 2018 (NNT) – Members of the private sector have indicated continued confidence in the Thai economy despite a likelihood the general election will be delayed, noting strong factors abroad supporting investment in Thailand. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021746-private-sector-sees-little-impact-from-general-election-delay/

 

Analysts forecast Thai economic growth of 4% in 2018

 

BANGKOK, 23 January 2018 (NNT) – The Thai economy this year is expected to expand 4 percent on the back of the continued growth momentum in the export and tourism sectors as well as the acceleration of public investment. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021749-analysts-forecast-thai-economic-growth-of-4-in-2018/

 

Foreign Ministry slams HRW report as “ungrounded and politically biased”

By Thai PBS

 

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed the Human Rights Watch (HRW)’s World Report 2018, saying its narrative on human rights situation in Thailand contains ungrounded allegaltions and politically-biased accusations.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021750-thai-foreign-ministry-slams-hrw-report-as-“ungrounded-and-politically-biased”/

 

‘You’re pre-op? I love it’: Creepy cabbie fined for harassing trans passenger

By Coconuts Bangkok

 

Photo: Department of Land Transport

 

A cabbie, who decided to continue driving taxis after having his license revoked in 2015, was summoned and fined after a video of him asking a trans passenger for sex went viral this week.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021755-‘you’re-pre-op-i-love-it’-creepy-cabbie-fined-for-harassing-trans-passenger/

 

Phuket shop staff admits to stealing Chinese tourist’s possessions

The Phuket News

 

The clothes shop / barbers on Soi Ta-iad in Chalong where the theft took place. Photo: Tourist Police

 

PHUKET: A female shop worker yesterday admitted to police that she stole a bag containing various valuables from a Chinese tourists whilst in the shop on Phuket’s famed Muay Thai street Soi Ta-iad.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021757-phuket-shop-staff-admits-to-stealing-chinese-tourist’s-possessions/

 

NACC chief withdraws from panel on Prawit wristwatch scandal

By Kas Chanwanpen 
The Nation

 

NACC President Pol Gen Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit

 

Anti-graft President Pol Gen Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit will withdraw himself from examination of the case concerning Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan’s multimillion-baht collection of wristwatches.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021759-nacc-chief-withdraws-from-panel-on-prawit-wristwatch-scandal/

 

Security to be tight in Samui for re-enactment of Israeli duo's fatal attack

 

File photo : Dolev Zuarez, 24, and Eyal Bokal, 26

 

Two Israelis accused of killing a compatriot on Koh Samui will “re-enact the crime” on Sunday surrounded by dozens of heavily armed police.

 

Source: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021765-security-to-be-tight-in-samui-for-re-enactment-of-israeli-duos-fatal-attack/

 

Couple suspected of murder ‘laying low’, say police

By Sayan Chucham 
The Nation

 

 

A Thai woman and her French boyfriend, who are sought in relation to the death of the woman’s Italian ex-husband in Phichit’s Bung Narang district, are believed to be still laying low in Thailand.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021768-couple-suspected-of-murder-‘laying-low’-say-police/

 

Finance Ministry to sell its massage parlour shares

By The Nation

 

The Finance Ministry has said it is preparing to sell its shares in massage-parlour businesses.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021769-thai-finance-ministry-to-sell-its-massage-parlour-shares/

 

Suthep and 8 others formally indicted for “Bangkok Shutdown” anti-government protests 

By Thai PBS

 

 

The Office of the Attorney-General on Wednesday (Jan 24) formally charged nine core leaders of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) for the so-called “Bangkok Shutdown” protests against the Yingluck Shinawatra government in 2014.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021770-suthep-and-8-others-formally-indicted-for-“bangkok-shutdown”-anti-government-protests/

 

UPDATE:

 

Mother defends girl, 14, over ‘romance’ with school director

By Prasit Tangprasert 
The Nation

 

The mother of the 14-year-old Mathayom 2 schoolgirl at the centre of an alleged inappropriate romantic relationship scandal with a 51-year-old school director in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Bua Yai district said on Wednesday that she was puzzled by the claims.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021697-new-school-director-51-under-fire-for-‘intimate-relationship’-with-schoolgirl-14/?do=findComment&comment=12647672

 

Volcano warning for Thais in Philippines

 

Mount Mayon//EPA-EFE

 

The Thai Embassy in Philippines has issued a warning for Thais to avoid travelling to areas near the Mayon Volcano on Luzon island that has started to erupt, spewing lava and ash plumes for about three kilometers.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021777-volcano-warning-for-thais-in-philippines/

 

Heavy rain causes flooding and traffic chaos in Bangkok

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation

 

 

Unseasonal heavy rain on Wednesday morning triggered flooding in downtown areas of Bangkok and caused the traffic havoc.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021778-heavy-rain-causes-flooding-and-traffic-chaos-in-bangkok/

 

Girl, 6, injured in Phuket three-vehicle accident

Shela Riva

 

The force of the impact left a section of the Yamaha “big bike” still lodged into the heavily damaged rear of the Honda City sedan involved in the accident. Photo: Supplied

 

PHUKET: Police have confirmed that a 6-year-old girl was among three people injured in an accident involving two motorbikes and a car on Thepkrasattri Rd in Thalang last night (Jan 23).

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021780-girl-6-injured-in-phuket-three-vehicle-accident/

 

Haze pollution and burning bans addressed in Chiang Rai

By Natthawat Laping 
The Nation

 

Chiang Rai province hopes to implement an outdoor burning ban from February 17 to April 17 and to organise talks with neighbouring Laos and Myanmar to address the problem of cross-border haze pollution caused by the illegal burning of forests and fields.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021781-haze-pollution-and-burning-bans-addressed-in-chiang-rai/

 

Go Eco Phuket petitions to form official marine protection task force

Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

Ittiput Schadt (centre) explains to the press that Go Eco Phuket has been proactive in protecting Phuket’s marine environment and tourist attractions for years, but needs support. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

PHUKET: Fed up with the lack of positive action by officials in following up on environmental protection laws, local conservation group Go Eco Phuket has formally filed a request to the Phuket Governor to form a team of officials to deal with marine environmental protection.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021783-go-eco-phuket-petitions-to-form-official-marine-protection-task-force/

 

Yala market bomb suspects arrested 

By Thai PBS

 

 

Two suspects in the Phimolchai market bomb attack that killed three people and injured 18 others in Yala municipality on Jan 22 were arrested last night, according to security sources.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021785-yala-market-bomb-suspects-arrested /

 

Australian mother accused of murdering adult children

 

An Australian woman has been accused of murdering two of her children and torturing a third, in alleged crimes that spanned at least five years.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021788-australian-mother-accused-of-murdering-adult-children/

 

UPDATE:

 

Thailand charges nine in anti-government protests dating to 2013

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand on Wednesday charged nine leaders of anti-government protests in 2013 and 2014 with inciting insurrection and sedition in an attempt to oust Yingluck Shinawatra, who was prime minister at the time.

 

Full story https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021770-suthep-and-8-others-formally-indicted-for-“bangkok-shutdown”-anti-government-protests/?do=findComment&comment=12647870

 

Three siblings, one friend arrested for serial shoplifting

By The Nation

 

Crime Suppression Division police have arrested three siblings and their friend suspected of stealing from convenience stores over the past two years.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1021791-three-siblings-one-friend-arrested-for-serial-shoplifting/