Clinton's narrow win sparks nervousness among supporters
By JULIE PACE and LISA LERER

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (AP) — Hillary Clinton emerged from Iowa with a razor-thin victory over Bernie Sanders — and a new round of nervous second-guessing from supporters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891834-clintons-narrow-win-sparks-nervousness-among-supporters/

Former DA says Bill Cosby is shielded from prosecution
By MARYCLAIRE DALE

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) — The former district attorney who declined a decade ago to bring sex-crime charges against Bill Cosby testified Tuesday that he believes his decision shields the comedian from ever being prosecuted in the case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891835-former-da-says-bill-cosby-is-shielded-from-prosecution/

UPDATE:

Explosion forces plane to make emergency landing in Somalia
By ABDI GULED

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — An explosion and fire blew a gaping hole in a commercial airliner forcing it to make an emergency landing at Mogadishu's international airport late Tuesday, officials and witnesses said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891823-mid-air-explosion-forces-pilot-to-perform-emergency-landing/#entry10380320

Syria allows aid into rebel-held area as peace talks stall
By JAMEY KEATEN and BASSEM MROUE

GENEVA (AP) — The Syrian government allowed aid into a rebel-held area near Damascus on Tuesday in what appeared to be a goodwill gesture after U.N.-mediated indirect peace talks got off to a rocky start in Geneva.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891836-syria-allows-aid-into-rebel-held-area-as-peace-talks-stall/

Inside the world of Luuk Thep: Psychoanalysis of the Thai mind
FRANCES SUSELO


Featured image is a still from a Thai TBS broadcast and is via Business Insider

BANGKOK: -- The international media has been having a field day since the announcement by Thai Smile Air that they will now allow passengers to buy plane tickets for their magical haunted dolls, otherwise known as luuk thep.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891837-inside-the-world-of-luuk-thep-psychoanalysis-of-the-thai-mind/

UPDATE:

Syrian opposition HNC pulls out of Geneva peace talks



"It's clear from the current situation that the regime and its allies -- in particular Russia -- are determined to reject the UN's efforts to implement international law."

GENEVA: -- The list of attendees at the United Nations-brokered peace talks on Syria has yet to be set in stone.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891833-peace-talks-do-not-legitimise-syrian-rebel-groups-says-russia/#entry10380564

Socialists get their turn to form Spanish government after Rajoy fails
By Robert Hackwill



MADRID: -- Spain is still staggering uncertainly towards a new government a month after an inconclusive general election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891846-socialists-get-their-turn-to-form-spanish-government-after-rajoy-fails/

Sexually transmitted Zika case confirmed in Texas
JAMIE STENGLE, Associated Press

DALLAS (AP) — Health officials in Texas on Tuesday reported the first case of the Zika virus being transmitted within the United States amid the current outbreak in Latin America — a person who was infected through sex.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891851-sexually-transmitted-zika-case-confirmed-in-us/

Cheap oil buoys consumers, shakes up global governments
By The Associated Press

Cheap oil will be sticking around for a while

NEW YORK -- That reality is wreaking havoc and causing uncertainty for some governments and businesses, while creating financial windfalls for others. Less expensive crude is delighting consumers in some regions, while leading to widespread job losses elsewhere.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891855-cheap-oil-buoys-consumers-shakes-up-global-governments/

South Korea warns North Korea not to launch satellite
By HYUNG-JIN KIM

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea warned on Wednesday of "searing" consequences if North Korea doesn't abandon plans to launch a long-range rocket that critics call a banned test of ballistic missile technology.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891857-south-korea-warns-north-korea-not-to-launch-satellite/

Court rules Australia can send asylum seekers to Nauru

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — More than 260 asylum seekers face the prospect of being deported from Australia to Nauru after Australia's highest court rejected a challenge to the legality of the government's refugee policy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891858-court-rules-australia-can-send-asylum-seekers-to-nauru/

Marco Rubio begins push in New Hampshire
By David Millward, Exeter, New Hampshire

Bolstered by strong showing in Iowa, Marco Rubio wants to convince conservative voters he has the right stuff

EXETER: -- Emboldened by a strong showing in Iowa, a confident Marco Rubio began his whistle stop tour of New Hampshire promising to win the White House.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891860-marco-rubio-begins-push-in-new-hampshire/

Hun Sen surpasses Rainsy in Facebook 'likes'



PNOM PENH: -- The Cambodia Daily reported that Prime Minister Hun Sen is nearing the pinnacle of Cambodian social media popularity, having now passed opposition leader Sam Rain­sy in their heated race for “likes” on Facebook.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891861-hun-sen-surpasses-rainsy-in-facebook-likes/

Indonesia's transport services open to foreigners



JAKARTA: -- The Jakarta Globe reported that Indonesia plans to allow foreigners to own up to 67 percent in air traffic navigation, ground handling and other transport supporting service companies, as the country seeks helps to improve its logistics system.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891868-indonesias-transport-services-open-to-foreigners/

Indonesians, Chinese arrested over cybercrime



JAKARTA: -- Indonesian police arrested nine Chinese nationals and three Indonesians on Jan 28 for their alleged involvement in online fraud in cooperation with Interpol and Chinese police, The Jakarta Post reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891869-indonesians-chinese-arrested-over-cybercrime/

Malaysia assures China of security



KUALA LUMPUR: -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will give his assurance to China that security in Malaysia would not be compromised despite the visa-free entry for Chinese tourists traveling to Malaysia for less than 15 days, New Straits Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891870-malaysia-assures-china-of-security/

Apple expected to introduce wireless charging on new iPhone
BY STAFF WRITER



iPhone chargers have long come in for criticism – largely due to the fact that they have a different adaptor to the usual mini USB that has been adopted by most other manufacturers. Most people would love to change this and perhaps Apple may agree.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/apple-expected-to-introduce-wireless-charging-on-new-iphone/13694/

WhatsApp now has one billion users
BY STAFF WRITER



Once again it seems that the people at Facebook were right.

The purchase of the messaging service WhatsApp for $19 billion two years ago was questioned by many but the service now has over 1 billion users.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/whatsapp-now-has-one-billion-users/13697/

College student finds glitch to own Google site, gets $12K
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS



BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts graduate student who pointed out a glitch that allowed him to briefly “own” the world’s most heavily trafficked website has been awarded more than $12,000 from Google.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/college-student-finds-glitch-to-own-google-site-gets-12k/13701/

Shan State officials seek new route for China trade



MANDALAY: -- The Mandalay-Lashio-Muse road, which passes through Shan State, is being repaired to promote trade with China, as it is plagued by constant traffic jams and frequent accidents, said U Aung Kyaw Nyunt, minister for Shan State planning and economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891892-shan-state-officials-seek-new-route-for-china-trade/

SET down 8.38 points at opening /Bangkok Post

NLD lawmakers to forfeit bonus, take pay cut for party



YANGON: -- The National League for Democracy (NLD), which on Monday entered Parliament as the new ruling party, has implemented a sweeping donation policy to raise party funds, The Irrawaddy reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891897-nld-lawmakers-to-forfeit-bonus-take-pay-cut-for-party/

Yahoo to cut 1,700 workers as CEO tries to save her own job
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS



SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Yahoo is laying off about 1,700 employees and shedding some of its excess baggage in a shake-up likely to determine whether CEO Marissa Mayer can save her own job.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/yahoo-to-cut-1700-workers-as-ceo-tries-to-save-her-own-job/13707/

PH improves in world economic freedom index

MANILA: -- The Philippines improved its ranking among the world’s freest economies as it jumped six notches in The Heritage Foundation’s 2016 Index of Economic Freedom, from 76th to 70th place, according to INQUIRER.net.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891899-philippines-improves-in-world-economic-freedom-index/

Hanoi cops begin fining jaywalkers, raise public concern



HANOI: -- Traffic police in Hanoi on Monday began to impose punishment upon jaywalkers on several streets, causing many people to be concerned as the penalization is unprecedented in the capital, Tuoi Tre News reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891900-hanoi-cops-begin-fining-jaywalkers-raise-public-concern/

CDC spokesman: Charter drafters discuss criticisms against draft constitution

BANGKOK, 3 February 2016 (NNT) – The Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) has already discussed criticisms against the latest version of the draft charter, according to the team’s spokesman.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891901-thai-cdc-spokesman-charter-drafters-discuss-criticisms-against-draft-constitution/

Famous temples forbid abandoning 'Child Angels' at temple grounds



BANGKOK: -- Two temples earlier popular among people brining their "child angels" or "Luk Thep" for superstitious rites and blessing have now forbidden people to abandon their children at the temple ground.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891902-famous-temples-forbid-abandoning-child-angels-at-temple-grounds/

Elderly Thai woman shot dead over gangland dispute involving grandson



NAKHON SI THAMMARAT:-- An elderly woman and her neighbour were shot dead at their homes in Nakhon Si Thammarat on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891903-elderly-thai-woman-shot-dead-over-gangland-dispute-involving-grandson/

Drought now affects Bhubing winter palace



CHIANG MAI: -- Drought is now not only threatening farming in several parts of the country but also is forcing a famous tourist attraction in Chiang Mai, the Bhubing Palace, the royal winter residence, to cut visiting days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891904-drought-now-affects-bhubing-winter-palace-in-chiang-mai/

PM Prayut affirmed intention to see new draft charter pass public referendum

BANGKOK, 3 February 2016 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has affirmed his intention to see the new draft charter passed in the public referendum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/891905-pm-prayut-affirms-intention-to-see-new-draft-charter-pass-public-referendum/