GOP candidates look to make the most of Trump's absence
By JULIE PACE and JILL COLVIN

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Donald Trump won't be onstage when Republican presidential candidates make their final appeals to Iowa voters in Thursday night's debate, and that gives the rest of the field a rare opportunity to frame the election in their own terms, at least for one night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890574-gop-candidates-look-to-make-the-most-of-trumps-absence/

Migrant crisis: Germany moves to cut asylum claims

LONDON: -- Germany has unveiled plans to add Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia to its list of safe countries, as it tries to curb growing numbers of migrants.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890587-germany-moves-to-cut-asylum-claims/

EU referendum: UK 'closes in on EU in-work benefits deal'

LONDON: -- The UK is said to be closing in on a deal that would allow it to deny in-work benefits to workers from other parts of the EU for up to four years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890589-eu-referendum-uk-closes-in-on-eu-in-work-benefits-deal/

Cabinet approves 15 billion baht budget for rubber planters and entrepreneurs

BANGKOK, 29 January 2016 (NNT) – The Cabinet has approved a 15 billion baht budget for the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives’ loan project for rubber planters and entrepreneurs with the help from the Government Savings Bank and six other banks from 2016 until 2026, said Prime Minister's Office spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890592-thai-cabinet-approves-15-billion-baht-budget-for-rubber-planters-and-entrepreneurs/

Tourist attacked by shark at Hanalei Bay on Kauai, Hawaii

HAWAII: -- A tourist visiting from Minnesota man who had been surfing by pier in Hanalei Bay on the island of Kauai in Hawaii was bit as he was paddling his way back to shore.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890594-tourist-attacked-by-shark-at-hanalei-bay-on-kauai-hawaii/

London's first driverless cars revealed

LONDON: -- The design for the first driverless cars to be tested on the streets of London has been revealed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890596-londons-first-driverless-cars-revealed/

Paul Kantner, Jefferson Airplane Co-Founder, Dies at 74
Dave McNary

SAN FRANCISCO: -- Paul Kantner, a founding member of Jefferson Airplane, died Thursday of multiple organ failure, his publicist told the San Francisco Chronicle. He was 74.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890602-paul-kantner-jefferson-airplane-co-founder-dies-at-74/

Death toll in Malaysia boat capsize rises to 22



JAKARTA: -- Malaysian authorities have discovered a total of 22 bodies believed to have originated from a boat carrying illegal Indonesian migrants which capsized off the shores of Johor on Tuesday, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890604-death-toll-in-malaysia-boat-capsize-rises-to-22/

Indonesia's new House Speaker wants lawmakers to limit overseas trips



JAKARTA: -- The Jakarta Globe reported that newly appointed speaker of the House of Representatives Ade Komaruddin said cuts to overseas trips for lawmakers could save the House Rp 139 million ($10,000).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890605-indonesias-new-house-speaker-wants-lawmakers-to-limit-overseas-trips/

Kuala Lumpur in Top 10 city destinations list



KUALA LUMPUR: -- Market research company Euromonitor International releases on Thursday the Top 100 City Destination Ranking for 2014 international arrivals, in which Kuala Lumpur is ranked 10th with 11.6 million arrivals in 2014, according to New Straits Times.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890606-kuala-lumpur-in-top-10-city-destinations-list/

Rescue Officer Commits Suicide in Car
by CityNews

CityNews – A rescue officer was found dead in a car parked outside a house in Yang Nerng sub-district on January 28. Officials believe he committed suicide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890607-chiang-mai-rescue-officer-commits-suicide-in-car/

Migrants Left Unpaid as Perfecto Company Cuts off Water and Electricity



CityNews – More than 120 migrant workers met with the Deputy Governor, Prachuap Kantiya, and a representative from the Chiang Mai Labour Protection and Welfare Office, asking to assist them in receiving payment from the Perfecto Company, who owes over 3 million baht in wages.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890608-migrants-in-chiang-mai-left-unpaid-as-perfecto-company-cuts-off-water-and-electricity/

SET up 4.48 points at opening /Bangkok Post

Prime minister says Australian vote to decide gay marriage
ROD McGUIRK, Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia's prime minister gave a personal assurance on Friday that his government would legalize gay marriage if a majority of Australians choose marriage equality in a popular vote.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890609-prime-minister-says-australian-vote-to-decide-gay-marriage/

V/Gov clears Laem Sing Beach of illegal vendors
Phuket Gazette


The V/Gov ordered the removal of beach furniture on Laem Sing after aerial photos supplied by a Gazette reader went viral. Photo: Gazette Reader

PHUKET: -- Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat this week removed all the beach chairs and umbrellas set up by illegal vendors on Laem Sing Beach – one of Phuket's 'virgin beaches'.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890611-phuket-vice-governor-clears-laem-sing-beach-of-illegal-vendors/

Microsoft earnings show effects of turnaround strategy
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS



SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Like a friendly but persistent sales rep, Microsoft has a message for anyone who owns a personal computer: If you haven’t yet upgraded to Windows 10, the company highly recommends it.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/microsoft-earnings-show-effects-of-turnaround-strategy/13649/

Facebook ready to broadcast live video on its iPhone app
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS



SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Facebook is ready to start broadcasting live video on its iPhone app.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/facebook-ready-to-broadcast-live-video-on-its-iphone-app/13651/

Vangkham, new tourist site in Saravan to open in April



VIENTIANE: -- Vangkham, a new tourist destination in Saravan Province of Laos, is expected to be opened for public by the coming Lao Lunar New Year's celebration in April, according to Lao News Agency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890615-laos-vangkham-new-tourist-site-in-saravan-to-open-in-april/

Myanmar close to bottom of corruption index but improving slightly



YANGON: -- Myanmar still languishes among the world’s most corrupt countries although its performance has improved slightly over the past year, according to a global review released yesterday, The Myanmar Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890618-myanmar-close-to-bottom-of-corruption-index-but-improving-slightly/

Family of NZ mum Ariana Brown calls for support


The family of New Zealand mum Ariana Brown, killed in a motorbike crash last Saturday (Jan 23), has called for donations in order to repatriate Ms Brown’s body home for proper burial. photo: Supplied

PHUKET: -- The family of New Zealand mum Ariana Brown, killed in a motorbike crash last Saturday (Jan 23), has called for donations in order to repatriate Ms Brown’s body home for proper burial.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890619-family-of-nz-mum-ariana-brown-killed-in-phuket-crash-calls-for-support/

Man Arrested for Sharing Video Mocking Prayuth
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer


Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School on Wednesday in Nakhon Nayok province.

BANGKOK — The arrest of a man last night for sharing a music video allegedly mocking and defaming junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha is evidence of an attempt to make him “untouchable” by satire or criticism, a human rights observer said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890621-man-arrested-for-sharing-video-mocking-prayut/

Five Chinese injured in speedboat crash off Phuket coast

PHUKET: -- Five Chinese tourists were injured, one seriously, when two speedboats crashed yesterday at a popular holiday atoll, about five kilometres off the Phi Phi island pier in Krabi.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890622-five-chinese-injured-in-speedboat-crash-off-phuket-coast/

Ex Thai Ambassador to France receives Legion of Honour decoration

BANGKOK, 29 January 2016 (NNT) – The former Thai ambassador to France has been awarded with France’s Legion of Honour decoration in a ceremony held at the French Embassy in Bangkok.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890625-ex-thai-ambassador-to-france-receives-legion-of-honour-decoration/

Full story:

Breaking News: Phuket underpass damaged, roadway cracked
Phuket Gazette


The southbound of the bypass road along the Samkong Underpass was severely damaged during the rain last night. Photo: Phuket City Police

PHUKET: -- Heavy rains last night left a section of road running abreast the troubled Samkong Underpass, as well as one of its walls, heavily damaged.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890630-phuket-underpass-damaged-roadway-cracked/

Sagging wires cause traffic mayhem in South Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- One of Pattaya’s infamous jumbles of power and utility wires finally sagged low enough to cause an accident when a tour bus snagged lines hanging over the Bali Hai Pier flyover, pulling down two utility poles and bringing traffic to a standstill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890626-sagging-wires-cause-traffic-mayhem-in-south-pattaya/#entry10363368

Dozens of new traffic regulations take effect
By Urasin Khantaraphan


Two dozen new traffic regulations took effect Jan. 25 aimed at thwarting street racers and curbing vehicle-registration fraud. The vast majority of the new prohibitions relate to illegal modification of cars, usually done by street racers or those adding large stereo systems to park on or cruise local streets, but the new Land Traffic Act does increase punishment and fines for almost all offenses. (Photo by Urasin Khantaraphan)

BANGKOK: -- Two dozen new traffic regulations took effect Jan. 25 aimed at thwarting street racers and curbing vehicle-registration fraud.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890637-dozens-of-new-traffic-regulations-take-effect-in-bangkok/

First 5 tigers removed from Tiger Temple by Thai authorities
By Coconuts Bangkok


A Buddhist monk with a tiger at the Tiger Temple. Photo: Reuters

BANGKOK: -- The first five tigers have been removed from the infamous Tiger Temple, according to a wildlife foundation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890645-first-5-tigers-removed-from-tiger-temple-by-thai-authorities/

US team will continue inspecting fishery situation at undisclosed areas



BANGKOK: -- Although the US inspectors have expressed satisfaction with Thailand on its effort to tackle the human trafficking problem during yesterday inspection in Samut Sakhon province, the team will continue to inspect the situation in other destinations but without the presence of Thai officials to get the real picture of the fishing industry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890647-us-team-will-continue-inspecting-thailands-fishery-situation-at-undisclosed-areas/

Heavy fogs delay flights to Chiang Mai airport

CHIANG MAI: -- Heavy fog caused 6 flight delays at Chiang Mai international airport this morning with some flights being forced to circle around the airport and others to land at Chiang Rai airport instead.

Airport director Captain Visut Chantana said visibility at the airport dropped to merely 100 metres, disrupting 6 flights arriving between 6 and 8 am.

They included flights of Thai Smile Airways, Thai Lion Air, and THAI.

But by 9 am all flights have landed safely after visibility was clear.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/148728


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-29

Pattaya tourism pushes cooperation to recover from bad press

PATTAYA:--With Pattaya’s overabundance of news outlets and social media’s tendency to blow out-of-proportion even the smallest incident, Pattaya’s business leaders have become hypersensitive to online publicity and have stepped up efforts to ensure everyone from large hotels to the smallest street vendor treat tourists fairly and work to put forward a positive image of the city.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890636-pattaya-tourism-pushes-cooperation-to-recover-from-bad-press/