REMINDER: Alcohol restrictions in place on Saturday 

 

 

Phuket pier rubbish piles are no more

The Phuket News

 

Piles of rubbish have now been removed from the far end of Chalong Pier. Photo: Prasit Yotharak
 

PHUKET:-- A representative from the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) (OrBorJor) has confirmed to The Phuket News today that the large piles of rubbish building up at Chalong Pier have now been removed and that a meeting has been scheduled for February 14 to discuss the issue further.

 

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968111-phuket-pier-rubbish-piles-are-no-more/

 

Playboy models cry foul after seeing their images on dirty CDs!

 

Picture: Daily News

 

BANGKOK: -- Two Playboy models who posed for "artistic" pictures thought that would be a good way to promote their careers.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968136-playboy-models-cry-foul-after-seeing-their-images-on-dirty-cds/

 

"Double" charging of foreign tourists is killing our business, say Krabi long tail boat operators

 

Picture: Manager Online

 

KRABI: -- Boat operators in the south of Thailand have said that charging foreign tourists ten times more than Thais at marine national parks is killing their business.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968137-double-charging-of-foreign-tourists-is-killing-our-business-say krabi-long-tail-boat-operators/

 

Cops find 56 million baht in cash under the bed of drug lord's wife

 

Picture: Thairath

 

HAT YAI: -- Police in Hat Yai found 56 million baht in Thai and Malaysian currency under the bed of the wife of a southern Thai drug kingpin currently jailed in Malaysia.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968138-cops-find-56-million-baht-in-cash-under-the-bed-of-drug-lords-wife/

 

Old lady pays with her life for ignoring barrier at level crossing

 

Picture: Manager Online

 

HAT YAI: -- Our picture this morning shows why it is a good idea to obey the flashing lights and barriers at level crossings.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968139-old-lady-pays-with-her-life-for-ignoring-barrier-at-level-crossing-in-hat-yai/

 

Somkid wants mass transit projects in Phuket and Chiang Mai

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authority was on Thursday ordered by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak to speed up feasibility study of at least two mass transit projects in Phuket and Chiang Mai to be completed and submitted to the cabinet for consideration within this year.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968140-somkid-wants-mass-transit-projects-in-phuket-and-chiang-mai/

 

Security at Wat Ratchabophit beefed up following a fire incident at the chapel

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Security at Wat Ratchabophit has been stepped up following a fire at the ancient door of the chapel of the temple on Thursday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968141-security-at-wat-ratchabophit-beefed-up-following-a-fire-incident-at-the-chapel/

 

UPDATE:

 

Dusadee: Sub Wapee will not testify as his testimony may cause confusion

 

 

NAKHON PANOM: -- Justice deputy permanent secretary Dusadee Arayawuth is satisfied with the testifying of its witnesses in the pre-retrial hearing of the hit-and-run case held at the Nakhon Phanom provincial court on Wednesday and today (Thursday).

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968104-womans-quest-for-exoneration-enters-second-day-of-trial/?do=findComment&comment=11606585

 

ONCB freezes Boy’s 12 items of assets

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has ordered the freezing of 12 items of assets belonging to Natthapol Narkkham, alias Boy, who was suspected to be connected to alleged Laotian drug kingpin Xaysana Kaeopimpa who is being held in police custody on drug charges.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968142-thai-oncb-freezes-boy’s-12-items-of-assets/

 

Construction for Orange Line contracts signed

 

 

BANGKOK: -- CKST, a joint venture between Chor Karn Chang and Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Plc have signed three contracts with Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand to implement the Orange Line electric train project.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968143-construction-for-orange-line-contracts-signed/

 

Justice Ministry pushes for US, UK help in Rolls-Royce case
By THE NATION

 

 

BANGKOK: -- THE JUSTICE Ministry will request that the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) seek bilateral cooperation with its counterparts in the UK and the US regarding a criminal investigation into the Rolls-Royce bribery cases involving officials of Thai Airways International (THAI) and PTT plc.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968144-thai-justice-ministry-pushes-for-us-uk-help-in-rolls-royce-case/

 

Most elephants in Thailand registered for DNA checks
By The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- More than 3,440 domesticated elephants – or almost 99 percent of the animals’ total documented population in the Thailand – have been registered for DNA checks to verify their identifies and origins.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968146-most-elephants-in-thailand-registered-for-dna-checks/

 

UPDATE:

 

Lamborghini, assets seized in probe of alleged drug network
By Kornkamol Aksorndej
The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- THE NARCOTICS Control Board has seized 12 assets connected to an alleged accomplice of Xaysana Keopimpha.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968142-thai-oncb-freezes-boy’s-12-items-of-assets/

 

Employees’ free healthcare services under threat
By Puangchompoo Prasert,
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation

 

 

 

BANGKOK: -- FREE HEALTHCARE services for thousands of employees of local administrative bodies are being threatened by budgetary issues.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968147-employees’-free-healthcare-services-under-threat/

 

Protests over National Park Bill
By Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation

 

 

New legislation is meant to tackle land encroachment but affects communities

 

BANGKOK: -- THE NEW National Park Bill will not solve the problems facing people living in the forest, land-rights campaigners have claimed.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968148-protests-over-national-park-bill/

 

Reconciliation to begin with ‘agreement on truth’: Prawit
By KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

 

Prawit

 

COMMITTEE SET TO BEGIN BY SHARING IDEAS WITH POLITICAL PARTIES ON SOCIAL CONTRACT

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968149-reconciliation-to-begin-with-‘agreement-on-truth’-prawit/

 

Need for more transparency on reserves
By Sasithorn Ongdee 
 

 

BANGKOK: -- Critics of the government routinely exploit the notion of the country being broke, the intention being to discredit the government whenever treasury reserves fall.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968151-need-for-more-transparency-on-reserves/

 

Tourists in Samui fined for not wearing motorbike helmets by a fake policeman

 

 

KOH SAMUI: -- Tourists on motorbikes in Bangrak, a popular area of Koh Samui, are being pulled over for not wearing helmets by a member of the public posing as a police officer.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968152-tourists-in-samui-fined-for-not-wearing-motorbike-helmets-by-a-fake-policeman/

 

Fire at Central Embassy shopping mall in Bangkok

By Khaosod English

 

  

Fire above Central Embassy Thursday night in Bangkok.

 

BANGKOK — A fire broke out late Thursday night in a five-star hotel under construction above one of Bangkok’s luxury malls.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968153-fire-at-central-embassy-shopping-mall-in-bangkok/

 

UPDATE:

 

Phuket jet-ski death: Victim’s family show strong support as devastated boyfriend charged

The Phuket News

 

In a strong show of support for Mr Keating, members of both families and Mr Keating all held hands as they entered the police station. Photo: Premkamon Ketsara

 

PHUKET: -- Australian tourist Thomas Keating was formally charged with reckless driving causing death at Karon Police Station this morning (Feb 9).

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968067-phuket-jet-ski-accident-australian-thomas-keating-faces-month-long-wait-in-thailand/?do=findComment&comment=11606629

 

A toast to Robbie and Johnnie
By THE NATION

 

 

Scotch and Scottish heritage make a fine mix as the British Embassy pays homage to Robert Burns.

 

BANGKOK: -- SCOTCH FLOWED and kilts flew. The British Embassy and Johnnie Walker celebrated the world’s best-loved Scottish bard on Burns Night.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968154-a-toast-to-robbie-and-johnnie/

 

Chinese investors help fuel demand for housing sector in tourist areas
By   SOMLUCK SRIMALEE
THE NATION

 

BANGKOK: -- DEMAND FOR residential properties in tourist destinations - especially Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Khao Yai - is still growing strongly, driven in particular by Chinese nationals buying a second home or investing for rental income, property experts say.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968155-chinese-investors-help-fuel-demand-for-housing-sector-in-tourist-areas/

 

Exclusive - In call with Putin, Trump denounced Obama-era nuclear arms treaty: sources

By Jonathan Landay and David Rohde

REUTERS

 

U.S. President Donald Trump sits during a meeting with Chief Executive Officer of Intel Brian Krzanich in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., February 8, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In his first call as president with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump denounced a treaty that caps U.S. and Russian deployment of nuclear warheads as a bad deal for the United States, according to two U.S. officials and one former U.S. official with knowledge of the call.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968156-exclusive-in-call-with-putin-trump-denounced-obama-era-nuclear-arms-treaty-sources/

 

Russian air strikes accidentally kill three Turkish soldiers in Syria

By Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Daren Butler

REUTERS

 

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters gather during an offensive against Islamic State militants in northern Raqqa province, Syria February 8, 2017. REUTERS/Rodi Said

 

AMMAN/ANKARA (Reuters) - Russian air strikes accidentally killed three Turkish soldiers and wounded 11 others during an operation against Islamic State in northern Syria on Thursday, the Turkish military said.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968158-russian-air-strikes-accidentally-kill-three-turkish-soldiers-in-syria/

 

Stairway to heaven? Pedestrians spooked by Bangkok footbridge covered in cables and wires

 

Picture: PPTV

 

BANGKOK: -- Pedestrians using a footbridge in northern Bangkok are claiming their lives could be at risk.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968160-stairway-to-heaven-pedestrians-spooked-by-bangkok-footbridge-covered in-cables-and-wires/

 

U.S. appeals court upholds suspension of Trump travel ban

REUTERS

 

Ann Carey protests outside the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals courthouse in San Francisco, California February 7, 2017. REUTERS/Noah Berger

 

(Reuters) - A U.S. federal appeals court on Thursday unanimously upheld a temporary suspension of President Donald Trump's order that restricted travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968162-us-appeals-court-upholds-suspension-of-trump-travel-ban/

 

Exclusive - Trump border 'wall' to cost $21.6 billion, take 3.5 years to build: Homeland Security internal report

By Julia Edwards Ainsley

REUTERS

 

DAY 6 / JANUARY 25: President Trump signed directives to build a wall along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexican border and strip federal funding from "sanctuary" cities that shield illegal immigrants, as he charged ahead with sweeping and divisive plans to transform how the United States deals with immigration and national security. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s “wall” along the U.S.-Mexico border would be a series of fences and walls that would cost as much as $21.6 billion, and take more than three years to construct, based on a U.S. Department of Homeland Security internal report seen by Reuters on Thursday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968163-exclusive-trump-border-wall-to-cost-216-billion-take-35-years-to-build-homeland-security-internal-report/

 

Trump adviser Conway draws ethics complaints for touting Ivanka Trump products

By Susan Heavey

REUTERS

 

White House advisor Kellyanne Conway listens as U.S. President Donald Trump meets with county sheriffs at the White House in Washington, U.S. February 7, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway drew sharp criticism from a top Republican lawmaker and complaints on Thursday over the ethics of using her position to promote product lines of President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka, a day after he attacked a retailer for dropping them.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968164-trump adviser-conway-draws-ethics-complaints-for-touting ivanka trump-products/

 

Trump adds nuance to pro-Israel approach ahead of Netanyahu visit

By Matt Spetalnick and Luke Baker

REUTERS

 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the lobby of Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., January 11, 2017 and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem January 22, 2017 in a combination of file photos. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/Ronen Zvulun/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - During his 2016 election campaign, Donald Trump signalled his presidency would be a boon for Israel and tough on Palestinians. The U.S. Embassy would move to Jerusalem, he would name an ambassador who backs Israeli settlements on land Palestinians seek for a state and there would be no pressure for peace talks.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/968165-trump-adds-nuance-to-pro-israel-approach-ahead-of-netanyahu-visit/