ONIE launches activities to promote 12 core values

BANGKOK, 31 January 2015 (NNT) -The Office of Non-Formal and Informal Education (ONIE) is pushing forward the promotion of the government's 12 core values for Thais, with a wide range of activities involving both educators and learners nationwide.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....12-core-values/

Wild elephants of Khao Chamao still rile their neighbours
JUMPHOL NIKHOMRAK
THE SUNDAY NATION

RAYONG: -- THE LONGSTANDING problem of wild elephants from Khao Chamao mountain ridge in Rayong roaming into residential areas or eating fruit in local plantations has continued despite various measures adopted to try to stop this.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796629-wild-elephants-of-khao-chamao-still-rile-their-neighbours/

THAI-US RELATIONSHIP
US envoy invited to meet NLA
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- Committee wants explanation on state of bilateral relations; angst expressed over diplomats meeting red shirts

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796630-us-envoy-invited-to-meet-nla/

Thai filmmaker wins award at Rotterdam film festival
THE SUNDAY NATION

THAI FILM 'Vanishing Point' has won a coveted Hivos Tiger Award at the 2015 International Film Festival in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796631-thai-filmmaker-wins-award-at-rotterdam-film-festival/

Prayut govt 'may stay on longer'
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- Experts believe tenure could exceed people's expectations

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796632-prayut-govt-may-stay-on-longer/

Thai student, 26, slain in US
NANTHIDA PUANGTHONG
THE SUNDAY NATION

THAI AUTHORITIES are arranging to bring back the body of a female Thai student killed in Pittsburgh in the US on Thursday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796633-thai-student-26-slain-in-us/

Brother of former princess charged with lese majeste
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- TWO MEN have been charged with lese majeste for allegedly making claims about a royal family member, police said yesterday.

Colonel Chaiyuth Thomya, superintendent of Samut Sakhon's Muang District Police Station, named the alleged offenders as Nattapol Suvadee, 29, and Chaiya Kanchanaratanapong, 43.

Nattapol is the younger brother of Thanpuying Srirasm Suvadee, who was formerly Princess Srirasm.

He is being held at Bangkok Special Remand Prison for a separate case connected to a corruption ring led by former Special Police Bureau chief Lt-General Pongpat Chayaphan.

Pongpat was sentenced on Friday to six years in jail for lese majeste in a separate case.

Chaiyuth, the police superintendent, said yesterday that police investigators would seek to launch legal proceedings against Nattapol over the alleged lese majeste offence.

The other suspect, Chaiya, partly admitted to the charge against him following his arrest in Samut Sakhon on Friday night, according to Chaiyuth.

Chaiyuth said that police would have Chaiya put in custody at the Samut Sakhon Provincial Court during the investigation.

The lese majeste charge against the two men stems from an allegation by a group of Samut Sakhon residents protesting against coal being transported through the province, Chaiyuth said, without elaborating.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Brother-of-former-princess-charged-with-lese-majes-30253107.html

-- The Nation 2015-02-01

Ivory traders, owners must register
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- TRADERS, owners or people acquiring ivory extracted from domesticated elephants and relevant products are required to register the ivory with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) from March 22 until April 21.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796634-ivory-traders-owners-must-register/

Free tetanus-diptheria vaccine for Thais aged 20-50
The Sunday Nation

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has invited all Thais aged 20-50 to get a free tetanus-diphtheria vaccine shot at its public health service centres and hospitals until April 30.

BMA Health Office director Wanthanee Wattana described |diphtheria as a serious communicable respiratory disease with a high death rate.

He said 63 patients (10 of whom died) were found to have contracted the disease in upper Thailand in 2012 while 14 patients (four of whom died) were found nationwide in 2013.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Free-tetanus-diptheria-vaccine-for-Thais-aged-20-5-30253111.html

-- The Nation 2015-02-01

Myanmar nationals falsely claim to be workers of Thais
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- An unknown number of Myanmar nationals have crossed into Ranong to register as workers of Thai employers merely to obtain access to Thailand's superior and free public-health services, Office of the Prime Minister inspector-general Orawan Khumsap revealed yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796635-myanmar-nationals-falsely-claim-to-be-workers-of-thais/

Two men shot dead as they entered forest in Yala
The Sunday Nation

YALA: -- Two male villagers were shot dead while heading to a local forest to gather forest products in Yala's Bannang Sata district yesterday morning, police said.

Apichet Maneechote, 32 and Sutthisak Intharat, 23, were riding a motorcycle on a rural road in tambon Bacho at around 7am when an unknown number of gunmen opened fire at them and fled, police said.

Police suspect the attack might be part of the ongoing unrest in the deep South.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Two-men-shot-dead-as-they-entered-forest-in-Yala-30253113.html

-- The Nation 2015-02-01

Police chief warns station commanders
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police chief General Somyos Pumpanmuang has told police stations that their commander and his deputies will be investigated if an outside agency conducts a karaoke bar raid in search of human traffickers in their jurisdiction, police spokesman Lt-General Prawut Thavornsiri said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796636-police-chief-warns-station-commanders/

EDITORIAL
A case of from the frying pan into the fire?
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Upset by US criticism, the junta must not let their hurt ego influence foreign policy decisions by embracing China

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796637-a-case-of-from-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire/

Police beef up operations against prostitution in entertainment venues

BANGKOK, 31 January 2015 (NNT) - The Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police has instructed all police units to arrest illegal entertainment venues nationwide in an effort to prevent prostitution.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796638-police-beef-up-operations-against-prostitution-in-entertainment-venues/

Consumer protection another urgent issue of reform council

BANGKOK, 31 January 2015 (NNT) - The National Reform Council (NRC) will urgently meet to review the Independent Organization for Consumer Protection Draft Act. The council will also discuss guidelines to improve the government's services.

NRC Chairman Thianchai Keeranant has called the meeting for 2-3 February. On the first day, charter drafting committees will inform the meeting of the progress of the constitution rewrite. The council will also discuss the urgent draft act which seeks to reform Thailand's consumer protection.

The draft act stipulates a consumer protection organization that is free from government control. It also encourages the public to play a more active role in comsumer protection.

On the second day, they will discuss how to make government services more accessible, convenient and faster for the public. The meeting will also listen to the NRC members' opinions on how to strictly and fairly enforce laws and regulations.

-- NNT 2015-01-31

Suspected Yala terrorist caught in Phuket
Eakkapop Thongtub

Saudei Bahembunga, seated, with his captors.

PHUKET: Thung Thong police yesterday evening (January 30) arrested a man wanted for terrorist activity in the Deep South of Thailand, who was hiding in a rented house in Kathu.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796639-suspected-yala-terrorist-caught-in-phuket/

Video: Islamic State group beheads Japanese journalist
ELAINE KURTENBACH, Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — An online video released Saturday night purported to show an Islamic State group militant beheading Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, ending days of negotiations to save the man and heightening fears for the life a Jordanian fighter pilot also held hostage.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796640-video-islamic-state-group-beheads-japanese-journalist/

Civilians flee east Ukraine town as fighting intensifies
PETER LEONARD, Associated Press

DEBALTSEVE, Ukraine (AP) — Outgoing heavy-caliber fire boomed incessantly, shaking the ground and rattling windows around the besieged town. Residents of Debaltseve, seemingly inured to the racket, listened impassively as they mustered at the town hall on Saturday to be evacuated with as many belongings as they could carry.

Ful Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796644-civilians-flee-east-ukraine-town-as-fighting-intensifies/

Mandatory SIM card registration in Thailand starts today

Anyone that has a prepaid SIM in their Thai mobile MUST register their SIM card between today, February 1st, and the end of July. Failure to do so means your mobile number will unable to use data or make calls when the deadline passes.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/sim-card-registration-starts-today/3627/

Whitney Houston's daughter found unresponsive in tub
By KATE BRUMBACK

ROSWELL, Ga. (AP) — The daughter of late singer and entertainer Whitney Houston was found unresponsive, face down in a bathtub Saturday and taken to a hospital in the north Atlanta suburbs, police said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796645-whitney-houstons-daughter-found-unresponsive-in-tub/

British actress Geraldine McEwan dies at age 82

LONDON (AP) — The family of longtime actress Geraldine McEwan says she has died following treatment for a stroke. She was 82.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796648-british-actress-geraldine-mcewan-dies-at-age-82/

Africa agrees to send 7,500 troops to fight Boko Haram
BY ELIAS MESERET, Associated Press

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — African leaders agreed to send 7,500 troops to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in northeast Nigeria, an African Union official said Saturday, as the international community, including long-time foes the U.S. and Iran, rallied in support of Nigeria against the militants.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796649-africa-agrees-to-send-7500-troops-to-fight-boko-haram/

RT @ChadapornLin: Rama VIII Bridge outbound lanes-charity run to raise awareness about cancer til 8.30am

RT @RichardBarrow: Get your #FreeHugsBKK starting today at these locations across #Bangkok. Help @FreeHugsBKK raise money for charity http://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/561695253183221760/photo/1

RT @RichardBarrow: Last chance today to visit the NASA Expo at CentralPlaza Ladprao http://www.thaitravelblogs.com/2015/01/nasa-expo-in-bangkok-continues-until-1-february-2015/ #Bangkok http://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/561700690989707265/photo/1

RT @RichardBarrow: Two good food festivals in #Bangkok this afternoon: Flavor Fest at Warehouse 26 on Suk26 & Dishcovery at ARL Makkasan http://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/561707507651850241/photo/1

RT @191Thailand: Train engine on fire near Kanchanaburi station - RT @kikykingdom: ไฟไหม้หัวรถจักรขบวน951 http://twitter.com/kikykingdom/status/561707567429472256/photo/1 #Thailand

Three Vietnamese fishing boats with fake Thai names seized in Gulf

BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Navy has seized three Vietnamese fishing boats and rescued four Thai crews who claimed they were duped to work on board the vessels on Saturday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796674-three-vietnamese-fishing-boats-with-fake-thai-names-seized-in-gulf/

Phuket burglars hit two expat houses

Eakkapop Thongtub

Mr Tiehurst shows where his valuables were before the burglars visited.

PHUKET: The homes of two British expats and their partners in Mission Heights, Thekrasattree, were burgled on Friday night (January 30), with cash and small valuables stolen.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796675-phuket-burglars-hit-two-expat-houses/

Over 1,000 cyclists join 3rd Nation Bike Thailand in Nan

NAN: -- About 1,000 cyclists joined the Third Nation Bike Thailand event in Nan at 7 am Sunday.

The event was kicked off at the Nan Museum jointly by Kaskiorn Bank President Banthoon Lamsam, Nation Multimedia Group Chairman Suthichai Yoon and Nan Governor Ukrit Puengsopha.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Over-1000-cyclists-join-3rd-Nation-Bike-Thailand-i-30253123.html

-- 2015-02-01