Download the Thaivisa 2020 Calendar

 

All Thai holidays and no alcohol days included.

 

Get your copy here: https://forum.thaivisa.com/files/file/772-thaivisa-calendar-2020/?changelog=100

 

 

Pattaya tries again to make drivers stop for pedestrians

 

PATTAYA:--Pattaya City Hall once again is trying to get drivers to heed pedestrian crossing signals and walks.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141863-pattaya-tries-again-to-make-drivers-stop-for-pedestrians/

 

Fabric bags starting to replace plastic since launch of campaign

By The Nation

 

 

More and more people are using fabric bags in place of plastic since the launch of the campaign on January 1.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141890-photos-fabric-bags-starting-to-replace-plastic-since-launch-of-campaign/

 

Narrow gap between govt supporters and rivals could trigger conflict: poll

By The Nation

 

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (Left), Prayut Chan-o-cha (Right)

 

A new poll points to ominous signs for the government as their supporters are now 34 per cent while their opponents are 36.6 per cent.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141891-narrow-gap-between-govt-supporters-and-rivals-could-trigger-conflict-poll/

 

AOT checkpoints to vet passengers from Wuhan over mysterious virus

The Nation

 

 

Airports of Thailand (AOT) is closely monitoring the situation of viral pneumonia from Wuhan, China, with six airports ready to cope with the situation by setting up international communicable diseases control checkpoints.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141892-aot-checkpoints-to-vet-passengers-from-wuhan-over-mysterious-virus/

 

Taxi driver killed in crash after he passes out while driving

By The Nation

 

 

A taxi driver was killed when he lost consciousness on the Dindaeng tollway while driving, leading to the taxi crashing into concrete barriers and flipping over.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141893-taxi-driver-killed-in-crash-after-he-passes-out-while-driving/

 

130 mining licences granted in 2019

By The Nation

 

 

Some 130 mining licences were granted last year since a new mining law came into effect in 2017.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141894-130-mining-licences-granted-in-2019/

 

UPDATE:

 

Prisoners may have died from toxic goiter

By The Nation

 

Pol Col Naras Savestanan

 

The recent death of four prisoners in Phitsanulok Prison were presumably caused by toxic goiter from consuming contaminated foods, such as chicken meat and pork, said Director-General of the Department of Corrections Pol Col Naras Savestanan said on January 5.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141793-committee-to-investigate-prison-officers-over-deaths-of-4-inmates/?do=findComment&comment=14928245

 

Suphanburi ready to put on spectacular Chinese New Year show

By The Nation

 

 

Suphanburi is organising a special Chinese New Year celebration on January 25-26, marking the 12th year of the miracle of the heavenly dragon event.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141895-suphanburi-ready-to-put-on-spectacular-chinese-new-year-show/

 

Angkhan Royal Agricultural Station offers floral treat to visitors

By The Nation

 

 

In the fading days of winter, people tend to travel to the North for sightseeing, to enjoy the cool weather. One of the popular places is the royal project station where many flowers have been planted.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141896-angkhan-royal-agricultural-station-offers-floral-treat-to-visitors/

 

Commerce Ministry sees short-term impact from US strike on Iranian general

By The Nation

 

Pimchanok Vonkorpon

 

The Commerce Ministry is watching the evolving situation in the Middle East after the US airstrike on a top Iranian general, expecting short-term effects from the nearly 4 per cent surge in oil prices.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141897-commerce-ministry-sees-short-term-impact-from-us-strike-on-iranian-general/

 

Exporters to meet BOT chief to voice concerns over baht's appreciation

By The Nation

 

Some businesses have suffered losses from the unfavourable exchange rate and many struggle to make profits, he said, adding that manufacturers could not increase production because of drop in orders,Visit Limluecha, vice-chairman of the TNSC, a club of Thai exporters, says.

 

Executives of the Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) will on Tuesday hold a press conference to present their assessment of the impact of the strengthening baht on the country’s exports this year, Visit Limluecha, vice-chairman of the TNSC, a club of Thai exporters, said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141898-exporters-to-meet-bot-chief-to-voice-concerns-over-bahts-appreciation/

 

Buying online, at 7-Eleven a breeze, but harm is done

By The Nation

 

 

E-commerce and convenience stores are the clear winners in the competition for modern city dwellers’ money, a recent survey by the Urban Design and Development Centre found.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141899-buying-online-at-7-eleven-a-breeze-but-harm-is-done/

 

Most poll respondents say top brass should not be senators automatically

 

 

Most respondents to a recent poll agree with House Speaker Chuan Leekpai’s suggestion that, if the Constitution is to be amended, the five military top brass and the national police chief should not be appointed ex-officio senators.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141900-most-poll-respondents-say-top-brass-should-not-be-senators-automatically/

 

PM to head command centre to tackle drought

 

 

At their meeting on Tuesday, the cabinet is expected to approve the establishment of a command centre and associated budget to tackle drought.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141901-pm-prayut-to-head-command-centre-to-tackle-drought/

 

Palang Pracharat to detail Government performance to media every Sunday

 

 

The Palang Pracharat party is to embark on a charm offensive by holding a news conference every Sunday to talk about the week’s issues of public interest, progress in projects undertaken by the party’s cabinet ministers and constituency problems raised by MPs.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141902-palang-pracharat-to-detail-government-performance-to-media-every-sunday/

 

Urgent meeting on Monday over seawater intrusion into Chao Phraya River

 

 

The Office of National Water Resources will hold an urgent meeting on Monday, with the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) and related agencies, to address the intrusion of seawater into the Chao Phraya River. The influx is threatening the production of tap water for consumers in Bangkok and its suburbs.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141903-urgent-meeting-on-monday-over-seawater-intrusion-into-chao-phraya-river/

 

UPDATE:

 

Thailand on watch for pneumonia outbreak; screens travelers from Wuhan, China

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - While China is currently controling an outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, Thailand is closely looking out for it and screening travelers arriving from that Chinese city.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141892-aot-checkpoints-to-vet-passengers-from-wuhan-over-mysterious-virus/?do=findComment&comment=14928276

 

Govt plans biomass power plants using Napier grass from communities this year

 

   

UBON RATCHATHANI (NNT) - The government plans to build biomass power plants with the use of Napier grass supplied by local communities this year, in an effort to create jobs and incomes, stimulate the local economy and strengthen national energy security.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141904-govt-plans-biomass-power-plants-using-napier-grass-from-communities-this-year/

 

Three Americans killed in al Shabaab militant attack on base in Kenya

 

An image distributed by al Shabaab after the attack on a military base in Kenya shows a Somalia's al Shabaab militant holding the group's flag next to a burning aircraft, said to be at the Manda Bay Airfield in Manda, Lamu, Kenya January 5, 2020. Al-Shabaab/Handout via REUTERS

 

NAIROBI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three Americans - one U.S. military servicemember and two contractors - were killed by Somalia's al Shabaab militant group during an attack on Sunday on a military base in Kenya used by both U.S. and Kenyan forces, the U.S. military said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141905-three-americans-killed-in-al-shabaab-militant-attack-on-base-in-kenya/

 

Iran says no limits on enrichment, stepping further from 2015 deal - TV

By Parisa Hafezi

 

FILE PHOTO: An Iranian flag flutters in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna, Austria September 9, 2019. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

 

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran announced on Sunday it would abandon limitations on enriching uranium, taking a further step back from commitments to a 2015 nuclear deal with six major powers, but it would continue to cooperate with the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141906-iran-says-no-limits-on-enrichment-stepping-further-from-2015-deal-tv/

 

Pompeo defends U.S. killing of Iranian as Democrats ask 'Why now?'

By Doina Chiacu and Daphne Psaledakis

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers remarks on human rights in Iran at the State Department in Washington, U.S., December 19, 2019. REUTERS/Erin Scott

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday defended President Donald Trump's decision to kill Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, as Democratic lawmakers questioned whether the action was justified and the United States braced for retaliation.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141909-pompeo-defends-us-killing-of-iranian-as-democrats-ask-why-now/

 

Six German tourists killed by suspected drunk driver in Italy

By Stephen Jewkes

 

Firefighters attend to the scene where a male driver of a car hit a group of German tourists, killing six in Lutago, Italy January 5, 2020. Vigili del Fuoco Lutago/Handout via REUTERS

 

MILAN (Reuters) - Six German tourists were killed on Sunday when a suspected drunk driver crashed his car into a group of people in a town in northern Italy, police said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141910-six-german-tourists-killed-by-suspected-drunk-driver-in-italy/

 

UPDATE:

 

Community power plant project to open for registration in Feb

By The Nation

 

Sontirat Sontijirawong

 

The committee tasked with preparing draft regulations for planned projects will speed up their work with completion expected in January ahead of their auctions in February, said Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141904-govt-plans-biomass-power-plants-using-napier-grass-from-communities-this-year/?do=findComment&comment=14928370

 

Three swing-district Democrats back Joe Biden's presidential bid

By Trevor Hunnicutt

 

FILE PHOTO: Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a town hall in Independence, Iowa, U.S. January 3, 2020. REUTERS/Brenna Norman

 

(Reuters) - U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden on Sunday won the support of three politicians who helped Democrats seize control of the House of Representatives in 2018, endorsements that could help bolster arguments he is best positioned to fend off Republicans this year.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141914-three-swing-district-democrats-back-joe-bidens-presidential-bid/

Rain brings brief respite in Australian bushfire crisis

 

Cobargo resident John Aish walks through a destroyed home in Cobargo, as bushfires continue in New South Wales, Australia January 5, 2020. REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy

 

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - A second day of light rain brought relief for firefighters battling bushfires that have killed 24 people across southeastern Australia, but hot, windy conditions are expected to return later in the week, officials warned on Monday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141915-rain-brings-brief-respite-in-australian-bushfire-crisis/

 

Trump doubts North Korea leader will break promises on denuclearization

 

U.S. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and their son, Barron, descend from Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., January 5, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

 

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he did not expect North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to break his promise about denuclearization, but conceded that he might.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141921-trump-doubts-north-korea-leader-will-break-promises-on-denuclearization/

 

2020: Crackdown on tourists working without work permits - 50K fines and deportation awaits

 

File photo

 

Labor Minister MR Chatumongkol Sonakul said that 2020 will be a year of going after foreigners illegally working in Thailand.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141922-2020-crackdown-on-tourists-working-without-work permits-50k-fines-and-deportation-awaits/

 

Croatia's former PM Milanovic wins presidential vote

By Igor Ilic

 

Zoran Milanovic, presidential candidate casts his ballot at a polling station during a run-off of Croatia's presidential election in Zagreb, Croatia, January 5, 2020. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

 

ZAGREB (Reuters) - Former Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic, candidate of the top opposition party the Social Democrats, will be Croatia's next president, the results of the presidential election showed on Sunday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141923-croatias-former-pm-milanovic-wins-presidential-vote/

 

Fog and cold weather to continue in northern Thailand

By The Nation

 

 

The moderate high-pressure system covering upper Thailand and the South China Sea will keep the weather cool with light fog in the upper country, the Thai Meteorological Department has forecast.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1141925-fog-and-cold-weather-to-continue-in-northern-thailand/