DSI proposes defrocking Dhammakaya abbot



BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has proposed the National Office of Buddhism to defrock the abbot of Dhammakaya temple in Pathumthani province after its investigation revealed that he was guilty of misappropriation and receiving stolen property.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892230-dsi-proposes-defrocking-dhammakaya-abbot/

UPDATE:

British-led Card Room raided by officials in South Pattaya – UPDATE

4 February 2016 – 10.00am

PATTAYA : -- One of the card players contacted Pattaya One to update the story.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892149-british-led-card-room-raided-by-officials-in-south-pattaya/page-7?p=10385059#entry10385059

UPDATE:

Dismembered corpse found floating in the Chao Phraya: More clues revealed
BY STAFF WRITER



BANGKOK: -- Earlier this week, human body parts comprising a head, torso, arm and leg were washed up separately on the banks of the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok and Nonthaburi provinces.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892173-police-say-body-parts-found-in-chao-phraya-river-belong-to-the-same-person/#entry10385091

Krabi hero attains Volunteer Defense Corp certification
Phuket Gazette


Chat Ubonjinda was one of 31 new civil defense volunteers awarded certificates by Muang Krabi District Chief Suriyun Damrongkul. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

KRABI: -- A Krabi man who was hailed a hero after rescuing two tourists stuck knee-deep in mud in October last year has now become a certified member of the Krabi Volunteer Defense Corps.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892235-krabi-hero-attains-volunteer-defense-corp-certification/

Gunfight With Police Encourages Crack Down on Illegal Weapons

by CityNews

CityNews Police promise to crack down on illegal gun owners after a gun fight between a villager and police officers broke out in Chiang Dao on February 3.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892239-gunfight-with-chiang-mai-police-encourages-crack-down-on-illegal-weapons/

NBTC to permanently revoke Thai TV’s digital TV licences



BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission will propose its broadcasting board to revoke the digital TV licences of Thai TV Co after it failed to pay the second instalment of its auction fee yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892240-nbtc-to-permanently-revoke-thai-tvs-digital-tv-licences/

'Phuket Brand' logo to revive consumer confidence, says Gov
Phuket Gazette


The rarely used 'Phuket Brand' logo was designed and approved in 2009, but has recently been revived by Governor Chamroen. Photo: Phuket Commerce

PHUKET: -- A newly revived ‘Phuket Brand’ logo can now be used by businesses to boost consumer confidence, the Phuket Office of Commercial Affairs announced yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892241-phuket-brand-logo-to-revive-consumer-confidence-says-gov/

Cisco to buy Jasper in move into ‘Internet of Things
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS



SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Cisco Systems Inc. is buying Jasper Technologies for $1.4 billion in cash in a move to help its customers connect, automate and manage billions of Internet-connected devices ranging from cars to jet engines to implanted pacemakers.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/cisco-to-buy-jasper-in-move-into-internet-of-things/13716/

Brewing Discontent: Frothy Passions Erupt When Thai Craft Beer Goes Big
By Cole Pennington
Correspondent


Photo: Quinn Dombrowski / Flickr

BANGKOK — Crack open a bottle of Chiang Mai Weizen from Thailand’s first legal craft brewery, Chiang Mai Beer, and out pours a light straw color, almost golden or banana yellow. There’s a slight haze, typical of the weizen, or wheat style.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892244-brewing-discontent-frothy-passions-erupt-when-thai-craft-beer-goes-big/

Thailand's consumer confidence falters in January
By MarketWatch
Nopparat Chaichalearmmongkol

BANGKOK--Thailand's consumer sentiment weakened in January due to global economic and geopolitical concerns, according to the latest report from the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

Full story: [/bhttp://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892268-thailands-consumer-confidence-falters-in-january/

Meet Nakadia, the DJ From Rural Thailand Who is Underground Techno's Rising Star
Diana Hubbell

Nakadia Mungphanklang now sometimes jets between multiple countries in a day, but Thailand's most prominent underground techno DJ and producer grew up without running water, let alone turntables.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892270-meet-nakadia-the-dj-from-rural-thailand-who-is-underground-technos-rising-star/

Uber announces cash payment option for Bangkok riders
BY JONATHAN FAIRFIELD



BANGKOK:– Commuters in Bangkok can now use cash payments when using the taxi app Uber.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/uber-announces-cash-payment-option-for-bangkok-riders/13722/

Assange to accept arrest if UN rules against him

LONDON (AP) — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he will accept arrest by British police if a U.N. working group on arbitrary detention decides that the three years he has spent holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy does not amount to illegal detention.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892274-wikileaks-founder-assange-to-accept-arrest-if-un-rules-against-him/

UPDATE:

Human parts found in Chao Phraya river may belong to European, Investigators say

BANGKOK: -- The human parts that were found in Chao Phraya river during the past several days may belong to the European, the latest investigation today revealed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892173-police-say-body-parts-found-in-chao-phraya-river-belong-to-the-same-person/?p=10385608#entry10385608

PM offers apology for the hot-tempered manner he shown at press interviews



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has offered an apology to media representatives and the people for his inappropriate manner and comment during a press interview yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892285-pm-offers-apology-for-the-hot-tempered-manner-he-shown-at-press-interviews/

Phuket health officials on alert for Mers, Zika
The Phuket News


Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada told the press that health officials were on alert to prevent Mers and Zika outbreaks. Photo: PR Dept

PHUKET: -- Despite not a single case reported on the island, health officials are on alert to prevent any possible outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) or the strains of the Zika virus in Phuket, Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada announced yesterday (Feb 3).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892287-phuket-health-officials-on-alert-for-mers-zika/

Move sought for Japan's oldest elephant may be too late
YURI KAGEYAMA, Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — In the humble zoo, among the small cages of owls, guinea pigs and raccoons, Japan's oldest elephant stands in a concrete pen about the size of half of a basketball court. She drinks sugar water from a bucket and munches on bananas with her last remaining tooth while a debate is being waged about where she should live out her final years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892289-move-to-thailand-sought-for-japans-oldest-elephant-may-be-too-late/

UPDATE:

Consumer confidence down ahead of Chinese New Year

BANGKOK, 4 January 2016 (NNT) - Several provinces are seeing lower-than-expected consumer spending ahead of Chinese New Year this year.

Full story: [/bhttp://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892268-thailands-consumer-confidence-falters-in-january/#entry10385703

Car market to remain depressed in 2016

Bangkok, 4 February 2016 (NNT) – Continued depression of the Thai economy has led to speculation that the auto industry will not be able to achieve positive growth this year but some analysts have noted optimism due to infrastructure investment enlivening consumer confidence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892292-car-market-to-remain-depressed-in-2016/

PM says 2017 expenditure budget to be drafted with stringency



Bangkok, 4 February 2016 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has called for greater care to be taken in drafting the 2017 government spending budget with an emphasis on fiscal discipline and wider dispersion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892303-pm-prayut-says-2017-expenditure-budget-to-be-drafted-with-stringency/

BERLIN (AP) - Germany says more than 91,000 people registered as asylum-seekers in January.

Austrian dies of fatal heart attack on Patong Beach
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- An Austrian tourist died yesterday evening while swimming with his partner at Patong Beach.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892311-austrian-dies-of-fatal-heart-attack-on-patong-beach/

Chinese New Year in full swing across Kingdom

Bangkok, 4 February 2016 (NNT) – Thais of Chinese descent have been observed organizing Chinese New Year’s festivities across the nation with Livestock Department offices ensuring no price-gouging for chicken and pork.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892316-chinese-new-year-in-full-swing-across-thailand/

Another Russian Bit by Monkey on Pattaya Island



PATTAYA: -- On Wednesday Night, a 20-year-old female Russian tourist was transported by Sea Ambulance from Larn Island to the Bali Hai Port, after suffering a monkey bite to her right-leg.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892320-another-russian-bit-by-monkey-on-pattaya-island/

Body parts found in Chao Phraya river belong to Spanish man



BANGKOK:-- Human parts found in the Chao Phraya river earlier this week belong to a Spanish man, Thai media has reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892323-body-parts-found-in-chao-phraya-river-belong-to-spanish-man/

Thaivisa Video News 04 February



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

Missing Italian Giulio Regeni found dead in Cairo with ‘signs of torture’
Euronews

CAIRO, EGYPT -- Missing Italian student Giulio Regeni has been found dead in Cairo “with signs of torture,” according to a senior Egyptian prosecutor.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892388-missing-italian-giulio-regeni-found-dead-in-cairo-with-signs-of-torture/

Man jumps five stories to death inside Silom Complex mall

By Coconuts Bangkok

Shoppers gather around the body of the deceased at the Silom Complex shopping mall. Photo: JS100

BANGKOK:-- A man reportedly jumped to his death from the fifth floor of the Silom Complex shopping mall about 5pm today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892387-man-jumps-five-stories-to-death-inside-silom-complex-mall/

WHO concerned over Zika sexual transmission reports
Euronews

The World Health Organization (WHO) has voiced its concern over reports that a case of the Zika virus contracted in the US state of Texas was transmitted sexually.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892390-who-concerned-over-zika-sexual-transmission-reports/

Captain of diver slashing speedboat charged
Matt Pond


Sergei Dmitriev, 30, whose right leg was nearly severed entirely by the speedboat propeller has since had it amputated and been taken to Bangkok for further treatment. Photo: Krabi Tourist Rescue Centre

PHUKET: -- The captain of the speedboat that struck and severely injured two Russian divers in Koh Phi Phi's Maya Bay yesterday (Feb 3) has been charged Krabi Police have confirmed.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892392-captain-of-diver-slashing-speedboat-charged/