House resolution to exempt Pia Wurtzbach from paying taxes has no bearing: BIR



MANILA: -- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) commissioner Kim S Jacinto-Henares said on Thursday the resolution of the House of Representatives to exempt 2015 Miss Universe Pia Alonso Wurtzbach from paying taxes in the Philippines has no bearing, according to Manila Bulletin.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892515-philippines-house-resolution-to-exempt-pia-wurtzbach-from-paying-taxes-has-no-bearing/

Official: Massive LA-area gas leak could be capped in a week
By BRIAN MELLEY

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California official outlined a plan Thursday to cap the massive Los Angeles-area gas leak by the end of next week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892518-california-official-massive-la-area-gas-leak-could-be-capped-in-a-week/

UPDATE:

Six found slain in Gage Park home, including child: 'We don't know what happened'
By Peter Nickeas, Jeremy Gorner, Lolly Bowean and Tony Briscoe
Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO: -- Hours after six bodies were discovered Thursday in a Gage Park bungalow, Noemi Martinez waited by the phone nearly 1,000 miles away in Texas, still not sure whether the victims were family members her husband had just visited over Christmas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892501-police-6-found-dead-in-chicago-home-in-apparent-homicide/#entry10388939

Fireworks fly as Clinton, Sanders square off face to face

By NANCY BENAC and LISA LERER

DURHAM, N.H. (AP) Fireworks flying in their first one-on-one debate, Hillary Clinton accused Bernie Sanders Thursday night of subjecting her to an "artful smear" while Sanders suggested the former secretary of state was a captive of the political establishment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892475-democratic-race-down-to-just-two-clinton-sanders-face-off/#entry10389035

GPS mix-up brings wrong turn and celebrity to American lost in Iceland
Dan Bilefksy

London: When Noel Santillan typed the word Laugarvegur instead of Laugavegur into his rental car's GPS, the New Jersey resident couldn't have imagined that the extra "r" would make him something of a celebrity in Iceland.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892540-gps-mix-up-brings-wrong-turn-and-celebrity-to-american-lost-in-iceland/

Fishing license to require background checks



BANGKOK, 5 February 2016 (NNT) - The Department of Fisheries has proposed to the Command Center for Combating Illegal Fishing (CCCIF) that background checks be conducted on a boat operator before issuing a fishing license.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892543-fishing-license-to-require-background-checks/

Samui mahout charged over inattentiveness causing death and injuries

SURAT THANI, 5 February 2016 (NNT) – A mahout responsible for the death of a Scottish tourist killed by an elephant has been charged over inattentiveness which led to death and injuries, according to the police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892544-samui-mahout-charged-over-inattentiveness-causing-death-of-scottish-tourist/

Sukhothai preps to mitigate haze and wildfire

SUKHOTHAI, 5 February 2016 (NNT) – The Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office has prepared measures to mitigate potential haze and wildfire issue that may affect the area, says an official.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892545-sukhothai-preps-to-mitigate-haze-and-wildfire/

Chinatown to celebrate Chinese New Year next week
By Coconuts Bangkok


Chinese New Year celebration in Bangkok. Photo: Shitbrain/ Flickr

Gong Xi Fa Cai! One of the most culturally vibrant events in Bangkok returns next week

BANGKOK: -- Chinatown will hold Chinese New Year celebrations on Monday and Tuesday, giving Bangkokians the chance to watch cultural performances, eat yummy Chinese food and celebrate the Year of the Monkey.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892548-chinatown-to-celebrate-chinese-new-year-next-week/

Mother desperate to find missing son, 3
Phuket Gazette


A recent photo of Nong DJ, 3, who went missing on Wednesday. Photo: Saowalak Chaiyo

PHUKET: -- A desperate mother has appealed to the police and the public to help find her three-year-old son, who has been missing since Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892553-mother-desperate-to-find-missing-son-3/

Huge fire at apartment building on Sathorn, one confirmed dead



BANGKOK: -- A huge fire broke out at a 10-storey apartment building on Soi Narathiwat 18 on Sathorn road, trapping several people inside the blazing building.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892554-huge-fire-at-apartment-building-on-sathorn-bangkok-one-confirmed-dead/

Police close in on foreign gang murdering Spanish businessman



BANGKOK: -- Metropolitan police now are confident to arrest a foreign gang responsible for the brutal murder of a Spanish businessman and dismembering of his bodies in several parts and dumped into the Chao Phraya river.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892557-police-close-in-on-foreign-gang-murdering-spanish-businessman/

UPDATE:

The fire at the Sathorn tower was kept under control at 12.30 pm today.



BANGKOK: -- Police helicopter arrived but could just hover in circle above the building due to black smoke hampering its rescue effort.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892554-huge-fire-at-apartment-building-on-sathorn-bangkok-one-confirmed-dead/page-2#entry10389633

Rape of Russian Woman Reported in Pattaya
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Pattaya City Police Station in an undated file photo.


PATTAYA — A Russian tourist said today she was drugged and raped by a Thai man in the resort town of Pattaya Thursday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892597-rape-of-russian-woman-reported-in-pattaya/

UPDATE:

Man who jumped to death at Silom mall identified as army veteran
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The man who jumped five stories to his death inside the Silom Complex shopping mall to the horror of hundreds of shoppers was identified as a 55-year-old army veteran.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892387-man-jumps-five-stories-to-death-inside-silom-complex-mall/#entry10389764

Playboy model Katie May dead at 34
BY BNO NEWS

LOS ANGELES: -- Playboy model Katie May, who was dubbed the “Queen of Snapchat” and was also popular on Instagram, has died in Los Angeles, county officials say. She was 34 years old.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892603-playboy-model-katie-may-dead-at-34/

Fire at auto spare part factory



BANGKOK: -- A midnight fire broke out last night at an automative spare part manufacturing factory inside the Bangpoo Industrial Estate in Samut Prakarn province, causing initial damage estimated at five million baht.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892606-fire-at-auto-spare-part-factory-in-samut-prakarn/

Bankruptcy Court sets March 14 for first hearing of scholarship cheat case



BANGKOK: -- The Central Bankruptcy Court has scheduled the first hearing of the scholarship obligation case which a female dentist was sued by the state for 30 million baht compensation on March 14.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892608-thai-bankruptcy-court-sets-march-14-for-first-hearing-of-scholarship-cheat-case/

Asylum-seeker reception centre petrol-bombed in Finland



"These kind of attacks are beyond comprehension. To attack a place where families with children are staying. What have these people done? Nothing"

HELSINKI: -- Police are investigating after three petrol bombs were thrown at the entrance of an asylum-seeker reception centre in central Finland.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892612-asylum-seeker-reception-centre-petrol-bombed-in-finland/

Phuket officials start marking off public walkway for sea gypsies
Suthicha Sirirat


Phuket Vice Governor Dr Prajiad Aksornthammakul (right) speaks with villagers from the sea gypsy community at Rawai. Photo: Suthicha Srirat

PHUKET: -- Vice Governor Dr Prajiad Aksornthammakul has inspected the Rawai beachfront and begun having a three-metre wide section of land marked off so that Rawai sea gypsies will have access to their boats following the violent clash with workers from Baron World Trade Co Ltd last week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892613-phuket-officials-start-marking-off-public-walkway-for-sea-gypsies/

Celebrating 12th birthday, Facebook aims for five billion users by 2030 0
BY STAFF WRITER



Like it or not you can’t ignore it – Facebook is 12 years old.

In that time it has grown to become a dominant force on the internet, the largest social media company ever, claiming 1.59 billion people go on the site at least once a month.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/celebrating-12th-birthday-facebook-aims-for-five-billion-users-by-2030/13731/

Japan may change temple map icon to avoid Nazi confusion
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

TOKYO (AP) — As Japan gears up to host the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and caters to a surging influx of foreign visitors, the country faces a cultural dilemma: Should it stop identifying Buddhist temples on maps with the traditional "manji" symbol that is often confused with a Nazi swastika?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892614-japan-may-change-temple-map-icon-to-avoid-nazi-confusion/

Zika virus spread in Thailand unlikely



Bangkok, 5 February 2016 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health has indicated it is unlikely the Zika virus will enter and spread through the Kingdom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892615-zika-virus-spread-in-thailand-unlikely/

Thailand and India sign coastal logistics cooperation

BANGKOK, 5 February 2016 (NNT) - Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and Vice President of India Hamid Ansari have presided over an agreement-signing ceremony for coastal logistics cooperation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892616-thailand-and-india-sign-coastal-logistics-cooperation/

Bangkok police hunting for Spanish suspect in gruesome murder of David Barnet



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok police released photo of 36-year-old Spanish national who they strongly believed to have conspired with several other foreign nationals to kidnap and brutally kill a Spanish businessman David Barnet and to dismember his body and throw into the Chao Phraya river.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892557-police-close-in-on-foreign-gang-murdering-spanish-businessman/page-2#entry10390052

Pyromaniac attempts firebombing Krabi cop shop
Phuket Gazette


Sanejan Jankert intended to burn down Krabi Police Station and set her car ablaze. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

KRABI: -- Police in Krabi had to hold back an angry woman intent on burning down the local police station yesterday after she pulled up outside the building in a car crammed with containers of gasoline and threatened to torch the place.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892618-pyromaniac-attempts-firebombing-krabi-cop-shop/

UPDATE: One dead, five injured in Narathiwas condo fire
By Coconuts Bangkok


The fire broke out around 10:30am today. Photo: @Jeti_ya

BANGKOK: -- After three hours, officials managed to put out the fire at the condo on Narathiwas soi 18 after one person died and five were reportedly injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892554-huge-fire-at-apartment-building-on-sathorn-bangkok-one-confirmed-dead/page-2?p=10390107#entry10390107

DIT keeping close eye on Chinese New Year's goods prices



Bangkok, 5 February 2016 (NNT) – The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has dispatched agents to inspect the price of goods used in Chinese New Year’s celebrations to ensure retailers are selling them at standard prices.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892622-dit-keeping-close-eye-on-chinese-new-years-goods-prices/

Japan to deport maker of Oscar-winning dolphin documentary
YURI KAGEYAMA, Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — The star of an Oscar-winning documentary that showed how dolphins were hunted in a Japanese village will be deported to the U.S. Friday, after his entry was barred and he was held in detention for more than two weeks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892625-japan-to-deport-maker-of-oscar-winning-dolphin-documentary/

UPDATE:

Two killed and five others injured in the fire at the Sathorn tower



BANGKOK: -- The inferno at the 10-storey apartment building on Narathiwat Soi 18 killed two occupants and injured five others, the police confirmed late this afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/892554-huge-fire-at-apartment-building-on-sathorn-bangkok-one-confirmed-dead/page-3?p=10390222#entry10390222