North Korea says no plans to meet U.S. officials at Olympics; Washington seeks more sanctions

By Christine Kim and Hyonhee Shin

 

Members of North Korean cheering squad arrive at a hotel in Inje, South Korea, February 7, 2018. Yonhap via REUTERS

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea has no intention of meeting U.S officials during the Winter Olympics that start on Friday, the KCNA news agency reported, dampening hopes the Games will help resolve a tense standoff over the North's nuclear weapons programme.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024088-north-korea-says-no-plans-to-meet-us-officials-at-olympics-washington-seeks-more-sanctions/

 

UPDATE:

 

Mor Saeng certified as folk doctor for herbal ‘cure’

By The Nation

 

Mor Saeng

 

THE UNTRAINED medical practitioner famed for his so-called “cure” for cancer, “Mor Saeng”, has been officially certified as a folk doctor.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1023968-mor-saeng-certified-as-folk-doctor-but-banned-from-charging-money/?do=findComment&comment=12691690 

 

No laughing matter as "Big Joke" clears nitrous oxide, Viagra and Nigerians off the streets of Bangkok!

 

Picture: Komchadluek

 

The 13th swoop of the Black Eagle task force proved unlucky for many in Bangkok yesterday as top scam-buster Surachet Hakpal reported the results of a good day's work.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024090-no-laughing-matter-as-big-joke-clears-nitrous-oxide-viagra-and-nigerians-off-the-streets-of-bangkok/

 

Ministry of Education to adjust curriculum to support tourism industry

 

BANGKOK, 8th February 2018 (NNT) – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Education are working together to revise the curriculum to better support the tourism industry. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024091-ministry-of-education-to-adjust-curriculum-to-support-tourism-industry/

 

Chairman of the US Chiefs of Staffs confirms strong military ties to the PM

 

File photo: Gen Joseph Dunford (2015). Source: Wikipedia

 

BANGKOK, 8th February 2018 (NNT) – The Thai and US armies have reaffirmed their strong ties and shared goals of regional peace and stability. 

 

Full story:   https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024094-chairman-of-the-us-chiefs-of-staffs-confirms-strong-military-ties-to-pm-prayut/

 

University student falls to death from Pathum Thani boarding house

By The Nation

 

A first-year student of Bangkok University was killed in a fall from his room on the seventh floor of a boarding house in Pathum Thani's Klong Luang district early Thursday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024097-university-student-falls-to-death-from-pathum-thani-boarding-house/

 

Bill Gates come back! Burying of Pattaya's hanging wires begins 19th February

 

Picture: Komchadluek

 

The unsightly hanging wires of Pattaya and other main Thai cities are being buried underground.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024099-bill-gates-come-back-burying-of-pattayas-hanging-wires-begins-19th-february/

 

14 foreigners arrested for staying illegally in Thailand

By The Nation

 

File Photo

 

Police have arrested 14 foreigners, including one American, for staying illegally in the country, Deputy Tourist Police commissioner Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakpal said.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024103-14-foreigners-arrested-for-staying-illegally-in-thailand/

 

Burmese man beaten unconscious by the mob after taking little boy hostage

 

The drug crazed Burmese man holds a scythe to the little boy's throat in hostage drama. Picture: Thai Rath

 

Police in the western Thai border town of Mae Sot, Tak, were called to a village where a Burmese man had taken a little boy hostage.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024105-burmese-man-beaten-unconscious-by-the-mob-after-taking-little-boy-hostage/

 

Thai girlfriend says she didn't argue with her Korean boyfriend as he slashes his wrists

 

Picture: Sophon Cable

 

Police and medics rushed to the Royal Twins Hotel in Pattaya Sai 2 yesterday after reports that a South Korean man had tried to kill himself by slashing his wrists and taking ten packs of paracetamol.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024108-thai-girlfriend-says-she-didnt-argue-with-her-korean-boyfriend-as-he-slashes-his-wrists/

 

Anonymous website musters more unverifiable support for Prawit

By The Nation

 

 

A new website, konrakpa.org, has emerged apparently seeking to boost the popularity of Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024110-anonymous-website-musters-more-unverifiable-support-for-prawit/

 

Video: Thai elephant loses his rag - and a tusk - in fight over female

 

Picture: 77Jowo

 

A video taken by some cyclists in the Khao Yai National Park showed the aftermath following a fight between two male elephants.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024111-video-thai-elephant-loses-his-rag-and-a-tusk-in-fight-over-female/

 

Poaching case has lasting consequences for critically endangered leopard

By Piyaporn Wongruang 
The Nation

 

Photo credit: Sunshine Sketcher Facebook Page/ Wildlife Photographer Parinya Padungtin

 

The black leopard, which belongs to the same species as the spotted Indochinese leopard, is critically endangered worldwide, and while Thailand’s Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary is one of its few remaining habitats, there are only about 100 surviving in the area.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024112-poaching-case-has-lasting-consequences-for-critically-endangered-leopard/

 

"No one is above the law" as police host big meeting about problems in Samui, Koh Tao and Pangnga

 

video screenshot

 

A top regional policeman has assured tourists and the public that they are addressing issues ranging from drugs to the taxi mafia to foreign dive shops on the Thai southern holiday islands in the Gulf after a meeting.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024115-no-one-is-above-the-law-as-police-host-big-meeting-about-problems-in-samui-koh-tao-and-pangnga/

 

Joint police operation in Hat Yai nabs Taiwanese call center suspect "red handed"

 

Picture: Manager Online

 

A joint sting operation between immigration and tourist police in the southern Thai city of Hat Yai resulted in the arrest of a 25 year old Taiwanese man yesterday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024117-joint-police-operation-in-hat-yai-nabs-taiwanese-call-center-suspect-red-handed/

 

Italian-Thai loses out on corporate governance funding amid scandal

By The Nation

 

 

The recent arrest of Italian-Thai Development (ITD) president Premchai Karnasuta for alleged poaching appears to be affecting potential investments in his firm, which is one of Thailand’s largest construction companies.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024118-italian-thai-loses-out-on-corporate-governance-funding-amid-scandal/

 

Two severely injured while posing for photos with train

By The Nation

 

 

A man and a woman were hit by a train and severely injured while posing for photos on railway tracks at Samsen Railway Station early Thursday, police said.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024119-two-severely-injured-while-posing-for-photos-with-train-at-samsen-station/

 

Security man in a suit caught stealing in latest Bangkok airport theft

 

Picture: Sanook

 

CCTV caught a security man in a suit stealing from a passenger's bag at carousel 16 at Suvarnabhumi airport.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024120-security-man-in-a-suit-caught-stealing-in-latest-bangkok-airport-theft/

 

Smog Airpocalypse Worsens Over Bangkok

By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

 

  

Heavy smog on Thursday morning seen from a condominium in Ladprao area.

 

BANGKOK — Wake up, step outside and start coughing? You’re not the only one.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024122-smog-airpocalypse-worsens-over-bangkok/

 

Google eyes gaming with ‘Yeti’ streaming service: report

BY REUTERS

 

Image: REUTERS/Mike Blake

 

(Reuters) – Alphabet Inc’s Google is developing a subscription-based game streaming service that could work either on its Chromecast or a Google-made console, which is still being developed, the Information website reported on Wednesday.

 

Full story: https://tech.thaivisa.com/google-eyes-gaming-yeti-streaming-service-report/27089/

A charging pad that can’t harm your device

BY THE NATION

 

 

Belkin, a leader in mobile accessories, received several awards for its innovative products at the recent 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

 

Full story: https://tech.thaivisa.com/charging-pad-cant-harm-device/27091/

MBK39 election activists turn themselves in, but four are still no-shows

By Wasamon Audjarint 
The Nation

 

 

Thirty-five of 39 participants of the pro-election group MBK39 had reported to Pathumwan police as of 10am on Thursday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024123-mbk39-election-activists-turn-themselves-in-but-four-are-still-no-shows/

 

Stay on alert for dengue, doctors warn

By The Nation

 

file photo

 

Residents of Thailand – and especially those in Bangkok, neighbouring provinces and large southern cities – must stay alert to the danger of dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases even beyond the rainy season, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) warned on Thursday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024126-stay-on-alert-for-dengue-doctors-warn/

 

Phuket kicks off the third ‘Phuket City of Gastronomy’ event

By Kritsada Mueanhawong

 

  

PHOTO: pkru.ac.th

 

The Phuket Provincial Public Health Office has announced the 3rd Phuket City of Gastronomy campaign from February – March that will take place on three occasions at different locations across Phuket.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024127-phuket-kicks-off-the-third-‘phuket-city-of-gastronomy’-event/

 

One injured in fireworks explosion in Pathum Thani

By The Nation

 

 

A neighbour was slightly injured when a house storing fireworks in Pathum Thani erupted in a huge explosion that also damaged five nearby houses on Thursday morning.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024128-one-injured-in-fireworks-explosion-in-pathum-thani/

 

True love: Thai girl gives boyfriend bouquet made of 100,000 baht cash for Valentine’s

By Coconuts Bangkok 

 

 

A video of a 20-year-old Thai woman who surprised her boyfriend with a large bouquet made of THB500 bills (US$15) went viral on social media this week, making netizens envious of a dude who’s got a honey with money.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024129-true-love-thai-girl-gives-boyfriend-bouquet-made-of-100000-baht-cash-for-valentine’s/

 

If you live in Hua Hin you might be about to get a visit from the Tourist Police

 

 

Tourist Police are stepping up checks on foreigners living in Hua Hin.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024131-if-you-live-in-hua-hin-you-might-be-about-to-get-a-visit-from-the-tourist-police/ 

 

UPDATE:

 

Bangkok’s air quality drops again

By Thai PBS

 

 

Bangkok’s air quality dropped again Thursday with the Department of Pollution Control measuring system particles smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) reaching 69-74 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024122-smog-airpocalypse-worsens-over-bangkok/?do=findComment&comment=12692883

 

Tourists asked to return black stones back to Had Hin Ngam beach in Satun

By Thai PBS

 

 

The Tarurao National Marine Park Office in Satun province is asking tourists who took the black stones at the Had Hin Ngam beach back homes as souvenirs from the park to return the stones back to the place if they don’t want to keep them.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024143-tourists-asked-to-return-black-stones-back-to-had-hin-ngam-beach-in-satun/

 

Asserting 'Thailand First,' Prayuth Says US Unconcerned With Elections

By Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

 

 

U.S. President Donald Trump, left, talks with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha during the family photo session at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Danang, Vietnam on Nov. 11, 2017. Photo: Hau Dinh / Associated Press

 

BANGKOK — Junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thursday that he’s been inspired by the doctrine of US President Donald Trump to put “Thailand First” when it comes to deciding when elections will take place.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1024144-asserting-thailand-first-prayuth-says-us-unconcerned-with-elections/