Molly Meldrum returns to hospital with growing concerns his condition is 'more serious' than first thought

BANGKOK: -- THERE are concerns Molly Meldrum’s condition is more serious than first thought, with the music legend returning to hospital in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891341-aussie-molly-meldrum-returns-to-hospital-in-bangkok/

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) - Myanmar's new parliament dominated by Aung San Suu Kyi's party has begun historic session.

Rice fields in Ayutthaya affected by water shortage

AYUTTHAYA, 1 February 2016 (NNT) - More than 50,000 Rai of rice fields in Ayutthaya have been damaged due to a shortage of water for second-season rice cultivation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891347-rice-fields-in-ayutthaya-affected-by-water-shortage/

UPDATE:

Human head, torso, limbs found in different locations of Chao Phraya River
By Coconuts Bangkok


File photo of Chao Phraya River. Photo: Clay Gilliland

BANGKOK: -- Police are investigating body parts that washed up in different locations along the Chao Phraya River across Bangkok over the weekend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891334-police-launch-investigation-after-body-parts-found-in-chao-phraya-river/#entry10373416

UPDATE:

Why are human body parts washing up in the Chao Phraya River?
STAFF WRITER



BANGKOK: -- A human head, torso, arm and leg have all separately washed up in the Chao Phraya River over this weekend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891334-police-launch-investigation-after-body-parts-found-in-chao-phraya-river/#entry10373425

Municipal water supply in Hua Hin cut off tomorrow (Feb 2nd)


File photo. Source Internet

HUA HIN: The water supply to large parts of Hua Hin will be cut on Tuesday tomorrow (February 2), Hua Hin Municipality has announced.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891352-municipal-water-supply-in-hua-hin-cut-off-tomorrow-feb-2nd/

Phuket underpass road works reopen with safety assurance
Supatra Sutham


The road has re-opened and workers have resumed full efforts on completing the underpass tunnel. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

PHUKET: -- The section of the collapsed road beside the Sam Kong Underpass that underwent emergency repairs over the weekend has reopened and is safe to drive over, the Phuket office of the Highways Department has confirmed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891353-phuket-underpass-road-works-reopen-with-safety-assurance/

Government to sue 15 private companies and individuals on rice scheme within this month



BANGKOK: -- The government will file civil suits to demand compensation from 15 private companies and individuals for their involvement in the rice pledging scheme that had inflicted enormous on the state.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891356-thai-govt-to-sue-15-private-companies-and-individuals-on-rice-scheme-within-this-month/

Thailand: 13 straight months of negative inflation
By Nopparat Chaichalearmmongkol

BANGKOK--Thailand registered its 13th straight month of negative inflation in January, mainly due to falling oil prices, according to the latest report from the Commerce Ministry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891357-thailand-13-straight-months-of-negative-inflation/

Korat Footballer Accused of Attempted Rape
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Football player Promphong Kransumrong, 30, of Nakhon Ratchasima FC at a Jan. 23 match in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

KORAT — A professional football player in Nakhon Ratchasima province has been accused of breaking into a woman’s room early Friday morning and sexually assaulting her.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891359-korat-footballer-accused-of-attempted-rape/

Concert held to celebrate Chinese New Year

BANGKOK, 1 February 2016 (NNT) - A grand concert will be held at the KBank Siam Pic-Ganesha Center of Performing Arts to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year.

Minister Attached to the Office of the Prime Minister ML Panadda Diskul has presided over the opening ceremony for the theater located at Siam Square One.

Among those attending the ceremony were the Minister-Counsellor of Chinese Embassy in Bangkok, Mr. Wu Zhiwu, Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, and representatives of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

The concert is not only aimed at promoting Thai and Chinese cultures, but also strengthening the bilateral relations and recognizing the growing presence of Chinese culture in Southeast Asia.


-- NNT 2016-02-01

PM praises ministries' infographic PR campaign

BANGKOK, 01 Feb 2016, (NNT) - Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed his gratitude towards all ministries for disseminating their achievements through a series of infographics.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891363-pm-prayut-praises-ministries-infographic-pr-campaign/

Two Thai teenagers arrested for murder following horrific gang attack in Phatthalung

Staff Writer

Image: Daily News

PHATTHALUNG:-- A murder investigation is underway after a man was stabbed to death and his girlfriend raped and left for dead following an argument between a group of friends in Phatthalung, southern Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891371-two-thai-teenagers-arrested-for-murder-following-horrific-gang-attack-in-phatthalung/

UPDATE:

Human parts found in Chao Phraya may be from same person



BANGKOK: -- Police investigators said they believed several body parts received from the Chao Phraya river at two locations in Nonthaburi and Pathumthani provincials on Saturday and Sunday belonged to a same person.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891334-police-launch-investigation-after-body-parts-found-in-chao-phraya-river/?p=10373788#entry10373788

Over one million Indians visited Thailand in 2015
STAFF WRITER



BANGKOK: -- When we think of tourists in Thailand, the first demographics that come to mind are usually the Chinese on their tour buses, snap-happy Japanese, drunken Brits and solo Western women hoping to ‘find themselves’.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891383-over-one-million-indians-visited-thailand-in-2015/

Misogynist military boss: Prayuth says gender equality ‘will make Thai society deteriorate’
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- While Canada gets self-proclaimed feminist Justin Trudeau, this is who Thailand is dealing with.

In the latest off-script blunder by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the junta chief scoffed at gender equality and said the country would deteriorate if women and men were equal.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/02/01/misogynist-military-boss-prayuth-says-gender-equality-will-make-thai-society-deteriorate

-- Coconuts Bangkok 2016-02-01

NRSA politics body chairman agrees with most of draft charter

Bangkok, 1 February 2016 (NNT) – The head of the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA)’s political commission has voiced approval for most parts of the draft charter and has prepared to debate aspects he does not agree with.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891387-nrsa-politics-body-chairman-agrees-with-most-of-draft-charter/

Pha Taem does not collapse



BANGKOK: -- Ubon Ratchathani governor today dismissed report that the famous Pha Taem cliff collapsed and its prehistoric paintings were damaged.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891390-famous-pha-taem-cliff-in-ubon-ratchathani-does-not-collapse/

Bavarian leader's planned meeting with Putin causes stir in Germany




Teaming up against Angela Merkel?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891406-bavarian-leaders-planned-meeting-with-putin-causes-stir-in-germany/

David Cameron wins breakthrough EU offer on migrant benefits
By Peter Dominiczak, Peter Foster and Matthew Holehouse

June referendum on cards as PM forces concession from Donald Tusk for Britain to apply brakes immediately after poll

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891408-david-cameron-wins-breakthrough-eu-offer-on-migrant-benefits/

UPDATE:

Police Stumped After Body Parts Fished Out of Chao Phraya
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Police officers inspect a boat pier Saturday in Bangkok’s Bang Phlat district where a human arm washed up.

BANGKOK — Police have yet to identify an apparent murder victim whose body parts were found scattered in the Chao Phraya River during the weekend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891334-police-launch-investigation-after-body-parts-found-in-chao-phraya-river/?p=10374050#entry10374050

Police close Hua Hin music festival after fight breaks out
Staff writer



HUA HIN:-- Police brought a music festival to an abrupt end on Friday night after several fights broke out in the crowd.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891410-police-close-hua-hin-music-festival-after-fight-breaks-out/

NBTC confident to receive first instalment payment for 900 MHz spectrum from two bidders



BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is confident that the two winners of 900 MHz spectrum will not default their first instalment payment amounting to 8,040 million baht as widely speculated, said NBTC secretary-general Thakorn Tanthasit on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891411-nbtc-confident-to-receive-first-instalment-payment-for-900-mhz-spectrum-from-two-bidders/

Thunderstorms Expected in 37 Provinces, Warnings Issued
by CityNews

CityNews – The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has released a warning to 37 provinces in the north and northeast regions to prepare for more cold weather, strong winds and rainstorms during the first week of February (2nd – 7th February).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891415-thunderstorms-expected-in-37-thai-provinces-warnings-issued/

147 arrested, more than 11 million THB seized at raids on casinos in Hat Yai
Staff Writer



HAT YAI:-- More than 140 people, including 10 foreigners, were arrested and a huge haul of cash and other items were seized by police following raids at two illegal casinos in Hat Yai on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891421-147-arrested-more-than-11-million-thb-seized-at-raids-on-casinos-in-hat-yai/

Trial of airports seizure by PAD protesters in 2008 begins

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court today began the examination of direct and circumstantial evidence presented by the state prosecutors against 98 yellow shirt protesters who laid siege to Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi airports during the anti-government protest in 2008.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891432-trial-of-airports-seizure-by-pad-protesters-in-2008-begins/

Koh Samui islanders and tourists pick up garbage and dead seaweed on public beach

SURAT THANI, 1 February 2016 (NNT) - Over 60 villagers, bungalow operators and Thai and foreign tourists joined hands in the cleaning and tidying of a public beach at Maenam Village on Koh Samui island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891431-koh-samui-islanders-and-tourists-pick-up-garbage-and-dead-seaweed-on-public-beach/

Israeli academics face growing boycott pressures
By JOSEF FEDERMAN and COLLIN BINKLEY

HAIFA, Israel (AP) — Israeli anthropologist Dan Rabinowitz is a leader in his field, heading a prestigious school of environmental studies at Tel Aviv University, authoring dozens of publications and holding visiting teaching positions over the years at leading North American universities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891435-israeli-academics-face-growing-boycott-pressures/

Phuket police struggle to identify dead foreigner
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET:-- Dysfunctional CCTV cameras in the area where a foreigner was killed after allegedly jumping in front of a bus on Wednesday have left police clueless.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891437-phuket-police-struggle-to-identify-dead-foreigner/

Thai railway police seize 50 million Baht in drugs, 5 arrested

Staff writer

Image: Kulsawek Sawekwannakorn

HUA HIN:-- Railway police officers successfully apprehended 5 individuals for allegedly transporting a large amount of narcotics in two separate raids last week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891457-thai-railway-police-seize-50-million-baht-in-drugs-5-arrested/