SET up 2.25 points at opening /Bangkok Post

Killer Phuket visa run crash driver yet to face charges in court

Yutthawat Lekmak

 

The accident in Phang Nga province left three dead and six injured. Photo: Kupai

 

PHUKET: -- Police yesterday (Jan 10) confirmed that KBV Visa Run van driver Prawit Raweewat, who has already confessed to reckless driving causing death for the accident last month that killed three people and injured six more, may suffer harsher penalties than initially reported.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963021-killer-phuket-visa-run-crash-driver-yet-to-face-charges-in-court/

 

Chiang Mai rocked by 4.0 earthquake today

 

 

CHIANG MAI: -- The Seismology Bureau of the Meteorological Department announced this  morning that a 4.0 magnitude earthquake hit Mae Wang district of Chiang Mai before dawn Wednesday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963022-chiang-mai-rocked-by-40-earthquake-today/

 

German ministers agree tougher rules for migrants posing security risk

REUTERS

 

Justice Minister Heiko Maas, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Chancellor Angela Merkel, Daniela Schadt, President Joachim Gauck and Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere (LtoR) attend New Year's reception at the presidential Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Germany, January 10, 2017. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's interior and justice ministers, representing the two blocs in Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition, agreed on Tuesday on tougher measures for asylum seekers whose documents are not in order or who are deemed to pose a security threat.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963023-german-ministers-agree-tougher-rules-for-migrants-posing-security-risk/

 

Ministry checks prices of goods in flooded areas

 

 

BANGKOK: -- With growing concern that the devastating flooding in a vast areas of the southern region could be exploited by some unscrupulous traders to either hoard or raise prices of goods, the Ministry of Commerce has sent out officials to check at various markets to ensure no exploitation.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963026-thai-commerce-ministry-checks-prices-of-goods-in-flooded-areas/

 

Tourism board pushes for standardized tourism businesses

 

BANGKOK, 11 January 2017 (NNT) – The National Tourism Policy Committee approved the creation of standard manuals and conditions for tourism businesses. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963027-tourism-board-pushes-for-standardized-tourism-businesses/

 

Govt says reservoir in flood-hit area strong

 

 

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, 11 January 2017 (NNT) - The Royal Irrigation Department has confirmed that an overflowing spillway of the Yang Chum reservoir in Prachuap Khiri Khan province will not affect the stability of the reservoir. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963028-govt-says-reservoir-in-flood-hit-area-strong/

 

Flood waters begin to subside in the South

 

TRANG, 11 January 2017 (NNT) - Rescue units have started a rehabilitation process as floods have begun to subside in many provinces in the South of Thailand. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963030-flood-waters-begin-to-subside-in-the-south/

 

Steady growth for Thai economy: WB 
By The Nation

 

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's economy is expected to maintain steady growth rate of 3.2 per cent in 2017 after the forecast 3.1 per cent growth rate in 2016, the World Bank’s January 2017 Global Economic Prospects report said. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963032-steady-growth-for-thai-economy-wb /

 

Pattaya under age sex bar busted

 

Picture: Manager Online

 

PATTAYA: -- Police conducted a sting operation in Soi Bua Khao last night and busted a beer bar selling under age sex to tourists.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963033-pattaya-under-age-sex-bar-busted/

 

Inbound and outbound traffic between Bangkok and the South now open at Bang Saphan but traffic remains very congested

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Highways has now finished constructing the second Bailey bridge before dawn today and open it to outbound traffic from Bangkok to the South to ease traffic jams formed by thousands of vehicles which many of them stranded there for over 20 hours.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963034-inbound-and-outbound-traffic-between-bangkok-and-the-south-now-open-at-bang-saphan-but-traffic-remains-very-congested/

 

Apple set to release three new iPad models later this year

BY STAFF WRITER 

 

 

Apple are looking to regain their hold on the tablet market with the launch of three new iPad devices in 2017, so it may be worth waiting to see what is on offer before you go out a buy a new tablet.

 

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/apple-set-to-release-three-new-ipad-models-later-this-year/19267/

Taiwan scrambles jets, navy as China aircraft carrier enters Taiwan Strait

REUTERS

 

China's Liaoning aircraft carrier with accompanying fleet conducts a drill in an area of South China Sea, in this undated photo taken December, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer

 

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan scrambled jets and navy ships on Wednesday as a group of Chinese warships led by China's sole aircraft carrier sailed north through the Taiwan Strait, the latest sign of heightened tensions between Beijing and the self-ruled Taiwan.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963036-taiwan-scrambles-jets-navy-as-china-aircraft-carrier-enters-taiwan-strait/

 

In final address, Obama touts values and prods Trump

By Jeff Mason

REUTERS

 

U.S. President Barack Obama delivers his farewell address in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., January 10, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

CHICAGO (Reuters) - With a final shout of his campaign mantra "Yes We Can," President Barack Obama on Tuesday urged Americans to stand up for U.S. values and reject discrimination as the country transitions to the presidency of Republican Donald Trump.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963039-in-final-address-obama-touts-values-and-prods-trump/

 

"Nadia" the giant croc terrorizing southern Thai town

 

Picture: Manager Online

 

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: -- A giant crocodile called Nadia is spooking the residents of Nakorn Sri Thammarat after it was confirmed she had escaped.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963041-nadia-the-giant-croc-terrorizing-southern-thai-town/

 

UPDATE:

 

Koh Racha receives new buoys, artificial coral

Phuket Gazette 

 

          

DMCR officers install a new buoy at Koh Racha. Photo: DMCR

 

PHUKET: -- Fifteen new buoys and sets of artificial coral were installed at Koh Racha yesterday, following the allocation and approval of a 300,000 baht budget for environmental preservation by the Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Department (DMCR). 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/962984-phuket-officials-launch-coral-restoration-project-at-koh-racha/

 

Malaysian fatal heart attack forces Turkish Airlines emergency landing in Phuket

Eakkapop Thongtub

 

The Turkish Airlines flight made the emergency landing at Phuket International Airport late last night (Jan 10). Photo: Mark Knowles / file

 

PHUKET: -- A Turkish Airlines flight en route from Turkey to Malaysia made an emergency landing at Phuket International Airport late last night (Jan 10) after a passenger suffered a fatal heart attack.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963045-malaysian-fatal-heart-attack-forces-turkish-airlines-emergency-landing-in-phuket/

 

Trump’s attorney general nominee denies KKK sympathies

 

 

WASHINGTON: -- It was a rowdy start for the confirmation hearing for Senator Jeff Sessions who is Donald Trump’s nominee for the job of attorney general. Several protesters heckled him while others dressed up as members of the anti-black Ku Klux Klan.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963049-trump’s-attorney-general-nominee-denies-kkk-sympathies/

 

Transport asks six airlines to lower fares to flood-stricken destinations in South

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The transport minister has asked airlines with flights to the flood-stricken provinces in the South to lower air fares to help relieve the trouble of affected people.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963052-transport-asks-six-airlines-to-lower-fares-to-flood-stricken-destinations-in-south/

 

Article 44 not to be invoked in matter of minivans

 

Picture: Daily News

 

BANGKOK: -- The communications ministry has suggested that sweeping powers under Article 44 are unlikely to be invoked in dealing with minivans.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963054-article-44-not-to-be-invoked-in-matter-of-minivans/

 

Cop Denies Involvement in Love Triangle Kidnap-Murder

By  Teeranai Charuvastra, Staff Reporter

 

Police believe Suphaksorn Pontaisong, at far left, was kidnapped and murdered on the orders of Col. Amnuay Pongsawat, at center. Both were romantically involved with Kannika Krumrum, at right, who is also a suspect in Suphaksorn's disappearance.

 

BANGKOK — A police station chief was being questioned Wednesday for allegedly ordering the kidnapping and possible murder of a woman in Bangkok last month with whom he was romantically involved.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963056-cop-denies-involvement-in-love-triangle-kidnap-murder/

 

Phuket deploys more flood-relief supplies to the South

The Phuket News

 

The trucks left Patong yesterday and arrived in flood-struck Nakhon Sri Thammarat before nightfall yesterday afternoon. Photo: PR Patong Municipality

 

PHUKET: -- A convoy of 13 trucks loaded with food, drinking water and other flood-relief supplies rolled out from Patong Municipality yesterday (Jan 10), bound for the Southern Thailand province of Nakhon Sri Thammarat, much of which has been declared disaster areas in the wake of the floods.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963059-phuket-deploys-more-flood-relief-supplies-to-the-south/

 

Chinese "gold diggers" arrested in North Thailand

 

Picture: Thai News Agency

 

LAMPANG: -- Four Chinese tourists face deportation after being caught panning for gold in a Lampang River.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963061-chinese-gold-diggers-arrested-in-north-thailand/

 

Khon Kaen railway project - stations and route announced

 

Picture: Daily News

 

KHON KAEN: -- Planners of the proposed Khon Kaen railway have announced the route and 16 stations that will be used on the 22 kilometer track from Tha Phra to Samran.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963065-khon-kaen-railway-project-stations-and-route-announced/

 

Floodings in 12 southern provinces affect a million people and claim 31 lives

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported today that floods that have devastated 12 provinces in the South have affected over a million people and claimed the lives of 31 people.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963067-floodings-in-12-southern-provinces-affect-a-million-people-and-claim-31-lives/

 

PM calls for morality to be present in Thai education

 

BANGKOK, 11 January 2017 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has tasked the Ministry of Education with increasing the capabilities of Thailand’s students by more stringently overseeing teachers and staff and calling on the nation’s youths to develop themselves ahead of Children’s Day. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963068-pm-prayut-calls-for-morality-to-be-present-in-thai-education/

 

Twenty people trapped on Australian roller coaster ride

REUTERS

 

Rescue workers are seen next to people stuck in the Arkham Asylum roller coaster ride at the Warner Bros. Movie World theme park in Gold Coast, Australia, January 11, 2017 in this still image from video. Nine Network/Seven Network/via Reuters TV

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Twenty people were trapped for almost two hours at the top of a roller coaster ride at a theme park on Australia's Gold Coast on Wednesday, said emergency services, only a few months after an accident on a neighbouring theme park ride killed four people.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963071-twenty-people-trapped-on-australian-roller-coaster-ride/

 

Health officials warn Nakhon Si Thammarat residents of dangers from chemical contamination left in water by floods

 

 

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: -- Public health experts today warned residents in six communities in flood-stricken Nakhon Si Thammarat of the dangers of the infection from contaminated water left behind by floods.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963072-health-officials-warn-nakhon-si-thammarat-residents-of-dangers from-chemical-contamination-left-in-water-by-floods/

 

Speed Cameras Coming to Chiang Mai

by CityNews

 

 

CityNews – The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) announced today that they will be setting up speed cameras around Chiang Mai in a bid to combat speeding drivers, and reduce accident rates in the province.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963074-speed-cameras-coming-to-chiang-mai/

 

South Korean special prosecutors to question Samsung leader as a suspect

REUTERS

 

Samsung Electronics vice chairman Jay Y. Lee arrives to attend a hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, December 6, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - A South Korean special prosecutor's office on Wednesday said it had summoned Samsung Group leader Jay Y. Lee as a suspect in a widening influence-peddling scandal involving President Park Geun-hye.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963080-south-korean-special-prosecutors-to-question-samsung-leader-as-a-suspect/