2 men nabbed for total 4 years in visa overstays

PATTAYA:--Pattaya-area immigration officials continued their crackdown on visa overstayers, catching two men, including one who has lived in Thailand illegally for nearly three years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890646-2-men-nabbed-for-total-4-years-in-visa-overstays/

Temple puts up 'No Ritual' performance notice amid child angel fever



BANGKOK: -- The popular Buakwan temple in Nonthaburi today put up a sign announcing the halting of the performance of Buddhism ritual for the "child angels" after many people flocking the temple with their superstitious dolls for the rituals.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890657-temple-puts-up-no-ritual-performance-notice-amid-child-angel-fever/

No More U-Turns on Asoke Road
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


A relatively light traffic day is seen on Asoke Road in a 2014 photo. Photo: Clay Gilliland / Flickr

BANGKOK — Starting in February, making random U-turns along Asoke Road will no longer be allowed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890664-no-more-u-turns-on-asoke-road/

Chinese tourist drowns during swimming trip off Phuket
Eakkapop Thongtub


The 27-year-old woman died whilst being transported to Krabi Hospital.

PHUKET: -- A female Chinese tourist who was found unconscious in the sea while on a trip to Ao Koh Hong yesterday (Jan 28) died whilst being transported to hospital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890677-chinese-tourist-drowns-during-swimming-trip-off-phuket/

UPDATE:

GOP rivals mock Trump, try to make the most of his absence
By JULIE PACE and JILL COLVIN

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Absent Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidates strained to take advantage of a rare opportunity to step out of the front-runner's shadow in Thursday night's debate — a staid, policy-heavy contest that offered a glimpse of what the GOP contest might have been without the unpredictable businessman.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890574-gop-candidates-look-to-make-the-most-of-trumps-absence/#entry10363826

Siam Commercial Bank rumoured to be launching new tech startup fund
BY STAFF WRITER


SCB Park, Siam Commercial Bank Building.

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) is about to launch its first venture capital fund for tech start ups.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/siam-commercial-bank-rumoured-to-be-launching-new-tech-startup-fund/13660/

OnePlus X: One of the best budget smartphones now available in Thailand
BY STAFF WRITE



BANGKOK: -- The OnePlus X smartphone is now available to buy for anyone who wants it.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/oneplus-x-one-of-the-best-budget-smartphones-now-available-in-thailand-2/13658/

UPDATE:

Jefferson Airplane co-founder Paul Kantner dies at age 74

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Paul Kantner, an original member of the seminal 1960s rock band Jefferson Airplane and the eventual leader of successor group Jefferson Starship, has died at age 74.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890602-paul-kantner-jefferson-airplane-co-founder-dies-at-74/#entry10363874

First on CNN: North Korea may have tested components of a hydrogen bomb
By Barbara Starr, CNN Pentagon Correspondent

(CNN)The U.S. now believes North Korea might have attempted to test components of a hydrogen bomb on January 6, after further review and analysis of the latest intelligence information.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890682-north-korea-may-have-tested-components-of-a-hydrogen-bomb/

Migrant influx will 'impoverish European nations,' Le Pen tells far-right convention



MILAN: -- The leader of the French National Front, Marine Le Pen, has headlined a convention of European far-right parties in Milan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890684-migrant-influx-will-impoverish-european-nations-le-pen-tells-far-right-convention/

Hungarian court acquits managers over deadly alumina reservoir spill



BUDAPEST: -- Fifteen people tried in connection with a toxic spill from an alumina reservoir in western Hungary in 2010 have been acquitted.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890691-hungarian-court-acquits-managers-over-deadly-alumina-reservoir-spill/

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korean media reports say American gets 20 years in prison for 1997 killing .

Yingluck asks PM to halt civil compensation claim from her



BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra wrote another letter today requesting the prime minister to stop the ongoing civil procedure by the Finance Ministry to demand compensation from her for damages caused by her rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890694-yingluck-asks-pm-to-halt-civil-compensation-claim-from-her/

Body of Danish tourist falling off ferry returning from Koh Chang found today

KOH CHANG: -- Naval rescue workers today found the body of a 73-year-old Danish tourist after she fell into the sea from a ferry on the way to Koh Chang on Thursday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890695-body-of-danish-tourist-falling-off-ferry-returning-from-koh-chang-found-today/

Challenger disaster: space crew remembered 30 years on



KENNEDY SPACE CENTER: -- Hundreds have gathered at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida to remember the victims of the Challenger shuttle disaster, 30 years on.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890697-challenger-disaster-space-crew-remembered-30-years-on/

Health Min urges public be wary of MERS

Bangkok, 29 January 2016 (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has called for cooperation from the public in protecting themselves from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and for those returning from at-risk countries to monitor themselves for symptoms.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890699-thai-health-min-urges-public-be-wary-of-mers/

US envoy voices hopefulness Thailand will return to democracy

Bangkok, 29 January 2016 (NNT) - The United States Ambassador to Thailand has relayed the nation’s wish to thoroughly study Thailand’s new draft charter before providing an opinion while affirming it wants to see the Kingdom hold general elections as planned in the national roadmap.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890700-us-envoy-voices-hopefulness-thailand-will-return-to-democracy/

UPDATE:

5 Big Cats Removed Overnight from 'Tiger Temple'
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Monks and volunteers in April 2015 block government vehicles from leaving the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi province.

KANCHANABURI — After years of frustrated attempts, wildlife officials last night removed five tigers from the infamous Tiger Temple, a religious site that also operates an illegal commercial tourism business that has won the ire of animal rights activists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890645-first-5-tigers-removed-from-tiger-temple-by-thai-authorities/#entry10364070

More than half of the country are short of water



BANGKOK: -- About 59 percent of the total area of the country covering 548 districts are now classified as water shortage area, according to the National Water Resources Committee.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890707-more-than-half-of-thailand-short-of-water/

Chanotes issued in 2005 for Rawai sea gypsy land
Phuket Gazette


Sea gypsy representative Nirund Yangpan hands a letter pleading for help to the manager of Bangkok Bank, Phuket Branch. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Representatives from Baron World Trade Co Ltd presented a thick set of documents on Wednesday backing their claim to the land that is currently occupied by Rawai sea gypsies in Phuket.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890716-chanotes-issued-in-2005-for-rawai-sea-gypsy-land/

Thaivisa Video News 29 January

watch the bulletin here: http://www.youtube.com/thaivisacom

Could a new fund for Thai tech startups be around the corner?
Sukhumvit News

THAILAND -- Thailand is not often considered a startup hub – but that could all be about to change.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890736-could-a-new-fund-for-thai-tech-startups-be-around-the-corner/

2-year jail sentence handed down to former massage parlour king
Sukhumvit News

BANGKOK -- Chuwit Kamolvisit is staring down the nose of a two year prison sentence for the part he played in the 2003 destruction of the Sukhumvit Square development.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890749-2-year-jail-sentence-handed-down-to-former-massage-parlour-king/

Court rules EU sanctions against five Ukrainians should be overturned
Euronews

EUROPE -- The EU has suffered a blow over its decision to impose sanctions on five Ukrainians.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890750-court-rules-eu-sanctions-against-five-ukrainians-should-be-overturned/

Blonde bimbo’ Barbie blossoms into 21st century woman
Euronews

Barbie is undergoing a major makeover. No longer the “blonde, bimbo girl” Aqua sang about in their 1997 hit, the Mattel doll is now available in seven skin tones, 22 eye colours and 24 hair styles.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890751-blonde-bimbo-barbie-blossoms-into-21st-century-woman/

Plea for cash as Ethiopia battles one of its worst droughts in decades
Euronews



ETHIOPIA -- More than 450 million euros needs to be raised by the end of next month to help Ethiopia through critical food shortages.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890753-plea-for-cash-as-ethiopia-battles-one-of-its-worst-droughts-in-decades/

Germany agrees new measures to stem flow of migrants
Euronews

GERMANY -- More than a million migrants arrived in Germany last year – and now Berlin is making moves to stem the flow.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890755-germany-agrees-new-measures-to-stem-flow-of-migrants/

Emotional plea from UN on eve of Syria talks
Euronews

SYRIA -- The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has made a plea to all parties to bring a peaceful resolution to the five-year conflict with talks due to start in Geneva on Friday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890756-emotional-plea-from-un-on-eve-of-syria-talks/

Trump boycotts Fox news debate but still takes centre stage in presidential race
Euronews

USA -- Presidential hopeful Donald Trump may have been absent from the Republican debate in Iowa on the Fox News channel on Thursday but that didn’t stop him stealing the limelight.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890757-trump-boycotts-fox-news-debate-but-still-takes-centre-stage-in-presidential-race/

Myanmar generals hand over power to Suu Kyi’s NLD
Euronews

MYANMAR -- Myanmar’s election-winning party, the National League for Democracy, is preparing to form a government and take charge of the country.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890759-myanmar-generals-hand-over-power-to-suu-kyis-nld/