It’s getting dangerous to breathe in Khon Kaen

By The Nation

 

Khon Kaen on February 9.

 

KHON KAEN, an economic hub of Thailand’s Northeast, has been struggling with serious air pollution for at least four consecutive days.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083606-it’s-getting-dangerous-to-breathe-in-khon-kaen/

 

Party faces survival test

By The Nation 

 

Thai Raksa Chart Party

 

Group, NCPO see scope for Thai Raksa Chart’s dissolution over princess nomination
 

STEPS ARE being taken for the dissolution of the political party that nominated Princess Ubolratana as its PM candidate for the March 24 general election.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083608-party-faces-survival-test/

 

Govt urged to establish EPA, introduce clean-air legislation

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

A woman wears a face mask as heavy air pollution continues to be a problem in Bangkok, Thailand, 21 January 2019. // EPA-EFE PHOTO

 

CLAIMING THE authorities had failed to protect citizens from PM2.5 smog, especially the underprivileged in urban slums, academics have called for a clean-air act and an independent environmental protection agency (EPA) to safeguard the “people’s right” to a healthy atmosphere.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083609-govt-urged-to-establish-epa-introduce-clean-air-legislation/

 

Schools to drop 3 allowances for enrolment

By The Nation

 

 

MOST STATE schools will drop three special conditions for admission as part of an effort to end corruption.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083610-schools-to-drop-3-allowances-for-enrolment/

 

REPORT: Govt’s new forest policy hailed as a breakthrough

By PIYAPORN WONGRUANG 
THE NATION 

 

Jongklai chairs the press briefing.

 

MAPS GUIDE WAY TO END ENCROACHMENT, LEAVING WOODLAND DWELLERS IN PEACE

 

OVERLAPPING claims by the government and woodland communities have for years caused headaches for forestry officials. Despite efforts to suppress encroachment on protected forests, it continues to occur and is even increasing, thanks in large part to unclear boundaries.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083611-report-govt’s-new-forest-policy-hailed-as-a-breakthrough/

 

Second huge cache of meth seized in Chiang Rai

By The Nation

 

 

Police found two million meth-amphetamine tablets in a pickup truck in Chiang Rai province on Sunday.
 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083613-second-huge-cache-of-meth-seized-in-chiang-rai/

 

Raging forest fire adds to Loei’s air pollution woes

By The Nation

 

 

A fire that began on Saturday night continued to rage through a 500-rai forest reserve in Loei province Sunday afternoon.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083614-raging-forest-fire-adds-to-loei’s-air-pollution-woes/

 

Pedestrian flyover considered after student killed while crossing road

By The Nation

 

 

Relevant authorities are planning to build a pedestrian flyover in front of a college in Nakhon Pathom province after a motorcycle fatally hit a 15-year-old student while she was crossing the road.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083615-pedestrian-flyover-considered-after-student-killed-while-crossing-road/

 

Patong bike rental shop fined B2k after death of British 17-year-old

By The Phuket News

 

Rescue workers at the scene of the accident in Kamala that killed 17-year-old British tourist Anthony Ryan late last month. Photo: Kamala Rescue

 

PHUKET: The rental operator in Patong that rented out the motorbike that 17-year-old British tourist Anthony Ryan was riding when he crashed and died late last month was fined only B2,000, Kamala Police have confirmed.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083616-death-of-17-year-old-british-tourist-patong-bike-rental-shop-fined-bt2000/

 

Krabi restaurants fined for dumping wastewater into Ao Nang canal

By The Thaiger & The Nation

 

PHOTO: ‘Thailandia Restaurant’, TripAdvisor.com

 

Krabi health authorities have taken action against two restaurants in Ao Nang, Krabi for releasing wastewater into a canal that drains into the sea.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083617-krabi-restaurants-fined-for-dumping-wastewater-into-ao-nang-canal/

 

Sightings of pink dolphins off coast of Nakhon Si Thammarat

By The Thaiger

 

 

A pink dolphin has made our Sunday better with these photos in the Gulf of Thailand. The breed is quite famous for the Gulf waters off Khanom in Nakhon Si Thammarat, near Koh Samui.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083618-sightings-of-pink-dolphins-off-coast-of-nakhon-si-thammarat/

 

Myanmar rebrands itself to woo more tourists

By Khine Kyaw 
The Nation 
Yangon 

 

 

DESPITE the current decline in tourists coming from Europe and the Americas due to international media coverage of conflicts in Rakhine state, Myanmar remains confident it can attract foreign visitors in the months to come, according to officials and industry leaders.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083619-myanmar-rebrands-itself-to-woo-more-tourists/

 

Yala woman seeks help over ‘unfair’ divorce filed by soldier husband

By The Nation

 

Google maps

 

A Yala-based woman is seeking legal help after her husband – a soldier – reportedly began “unfair” divorce proceedings against her.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083620-yala-woman-seeks-help-over-‘unfair’-divorce-filed-by-soldier-husband/

 

U.S. Senator Klobuchar joins Democratic presidential field

By Ginger Gibson

 

FILE PHOTO: Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) attends the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, U.S., February 7, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

(Reuters) - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar entered the 2020 presidential race on Sunday, becoming the first moderate in an increasingly crowded field of Democrats vying to challenge Republican President Donald Trump.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083623-us-senator-klobuchar-joins-democratic-presidential-field/

 

Talks collapse on border deal as U.S. gov't shutdown looms

By Richard Cowan and Doina Chiacu

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Senator Richard Shelby speaks during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia July 3, 2018. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Talks on border security funding collapsed after Democratic and Republican lawmakers clashed over immigrant detention policy as they worked to avert another U.S. government shutdown, a Republican senator said on Sunday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083624-talks-collapse-on-border-deal-as-us-govt shutdown looms/

 

Brexit: What will happen in the British parliament on February 14?

 

An anti-Brexit protestor ties an EU flag to a lamp post outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain February 7, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

 

LONDON (Reuters) - The British parliament is set to hold a debate on Brexit on Feb. 14 but this is not a re-run of a vote last month on whether to approve the exit deal Prime Minister Theresa May's negotiated with the European Union.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083625-brexit-what-will-happen-in-the-british-parliament-on-february-14/

 

Britain's Prince Philip gives up driving licence after crash

 

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince Philip is driven away from Papworth Hospital in southern England December 27, 2011. REUTERS/Neil Hall/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Queen Elizabeth's 97-year-old husband Prince Philip has voluntarily given up his driving licence after a crash last month, Buckingham Palace said on Saturday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083626-britains-prince-philip-gives-up-driving-licence-after-crash/

 

Virginia leader accused of rape will have to resign if claims are true - governor

By Gary Robertson

 

FILE PHOTO: Justin Fairfax, the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, opens the state's Senate meeting during a session of the General Assembly in Richmond, Virginia, U.S, February 8, 2019. Picture taken February 8, 2019. REUTERS/Jay Paul

 

RICHMOND, Va. (Reuters) - Virginia's embattled governor insisted he will not resign over a racist yearbook photo, but he said the state's lieutenant governor would have to step aside if sexual assault allegations against him are found to be true.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083627-virginia-leader-accused-of-rape-will-have-to-resign-if-claims-are-true-governor/

 

Democrat Schiff questions if Mueller probing Trump-Deutsche Bank link

 

FILE PHOTO: Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) arrives for a closed intelligence briefing for members of the House of Representatives on the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., Dec.13, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Democratic chairman of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee said on Sunday he was concerned that Special Counsel Robert Mueller may not be investigating President Donald Trump's ties to Deutsche Bank AG.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083628-democrat-schiff-questions-if-mueller-probing trump-deutsche-bank-link/

 

U.S.-backed Syrian fighters advance in clashes with Islamic State - official

 

FILE PHOTO: Fighters of Syrian Democratic Forces ride on trucks as their convoy passes in Ain Issa, Syria October 16, 2017. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

 

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have seized ground from Islamic State in a fierce battle to capture its last enclave in eastern Syria, an SDF official said on Sunday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083629-us-backed-syrian-fighters-advance-in-clashes-with-islamic-state-official/

 

Withdrawal of U.S. forces in Syria likely to start in 'weeks' - U.S. general

By Phil Stewart

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Soldiers surveil the area during a combined joint patrol in Manbij, Syria, November 1, 2018. Picture taken November 1, 2018. Courtesy Zoe Garbarino/U.S. Army/Handout via REUTERS /File Photo

 

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT (Reuters) - The United States is likely just weeks away from starting the withdrawal of ground troops from Syria ordered by President Donald Trump, the top U.S. commander overseeing American forces in the Middle East said on Sunday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083633-withdrawal-of-us-forces-in-syria-likely-to-start-in-weeks-us-general/

 

Climate change seen as top threat, but U.S. power a growing worry - poll

 

FILE PHOTO: Vapor is released into the sky at a refinery in Wilmington, California March 24, 2012. REUTERS/Bret Hartman

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - Climate change is the top security concern in a poll conducted by the Washington-based Pew Research Centre, followed by Islamist terrorism and cyber attacks while respondents in a growing number of countries worried about the power and influence of the United States.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083636-climate-change-seen-as-top-threat-but-us-power-a-growing-worry-poll/

 

UPDATE: An ‘engine malfunction’ blamed for boat collision off Phuket

By Kritsada Mueanhawong

 

 

A number of Chinese tourists and boat crew were injured as a result of their speed boat hitting a small oil tanker off the east coast of Phuket on Saturday afternoon. At this stage the investigation reveals that the speedboat’s engine ‘malfunctioned’. (Is that like ‘brake failure’?)

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083639-update-an-‘engine-malfunction’-blamed-for-boat-collision-off-phuket/

 

The bad and the good side of Thais: Japanese tourist in the wars

 

 

A Facebook post about a terrible Bangkok taxi driver had a happy ending after a Japanese tourist finally got to her destination. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083642-the-bad-and-the-good-side-of-thais-japanese-tourist-in-the-wars/

 

Prisoner captured after Chaiyaphum jailbreak

By The Nation

 

 

An inmate was recaptured Sunday just hours after he escaped from the Phu Khiao prison in Chaiyaphum.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083644-prisoner-captured-after-chaiyaphum-jailbreak/

 

Smoking: Industry hit by new taxes as illegal foreign cigarettes flooding in

 

Picture: Sanook

 

Sanook reported that the tobacco industry was in turmoil as illegal foreign cigarettes were flooding the market. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083645-smoking-industry-hit-by-new-taxes-as-illegal-foreign-cigarettes-flooding-in/

 

Two Russian tourists die in Patong Hill crash

By Kritsada Mueanhawong

 

 

Two Russian tourists have died following a crash on Patong Hill last night.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083646-two-russian-tourists-die-in-patong-hill-crash/

 

"BM man" found dead in short time hotel in Sakon Nakhon - his lady flees the scene

 

 

A maid at a short time hotel resort in Sakon Nakhon told reporters that at 9.03 am Sunday a man driving a BMW checked in with a small woman who she didn't know. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083647-bm-man-found-dead-in-short-time-hotel-in sakon-nakhon-his-lady-flees-the-scene/

 

Pompeo trip marks U.S. re-engagement with long-overlooked central Europe

By Lesley Wroughton and Gergely Szakacs

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump calls on his U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to speak during a presidential memorandum signing for the "Women's Global Development and Prosperity" initiative in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 7, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

 

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - When Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visits Hungary, Slovakia and Poland this week he wants to make up for a lack of U.S. engagement that opened the door to more Chinese and Russian influence in central Europe, administration officials say.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083648-pompeo-trip-marks-us-re-engagement-with-long-overlooked-central-europe/

 

Chinese boy dies after slipping from pool ledge on fifth floor of Kamala hotel

By Kritsada Mueanhawong

 

 

A Chinese boy has died after slipping from a pool ledge on the fifth floor at a hotel in Kamala last night. The boy fell five floors and hit the ground.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083650-chinese-boy-dies-after-slipping-from-pool-ledge-on-fifth-floor-of-kamala-hotel/