Honeymoon Period Over for Kamala Harris Polls Show Tight Race

[Lite Beer]

Next government is bound to carry out reforms or faces punishment

BANGKOK:-- A clause has been added in the draft constitution which will make it mandatory for the next government to undertake national reforms as laid down by the National Reform Council failing that the government may face punishment.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....ces-punishment/g

[Lite Beer]

MILITARY RULE
Restrict the use of martial courts: EU
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The EU Delegation urged the Thai government to "restrict" the use of martial courts to military offences committed by military personnel.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....tial-courts-eu/

[Lite Beer]

Yingluck warned over rice scheme: PM

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha on Friday said he had warned Yingluck Shinawatra, while she was still prime minister and he the army chief, that there were problems over her government's rice-pledging scheme.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....rice-scheme-pm/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Yingluck ignored Prayut's concerns

The Nation February

BANGKOK: -- PM reveals he raised problems caused by ricepledging scheme long before the coup

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800212-yingluck-warned-over-rice-scheme-pm/page-2?p=9068778#entry9068778

[Lite Beer]

France seeks slice of Thailand's railway projects

The Nation

France is the latest major economic power to become attracted to Thailand's dual-track high-speed railway projects.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800248-france-seeks-slice-of-thailands-railway-projects/

[Lite Beer]

CONSTITUTION WATCH
CDC agrees to set up, empower new reform body
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Agency will be given enough authority to work independently to ensure NRC's ongoing efforts are not in vain

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800250-cdc-agrees-to-set-up-empower-new-reform-body/

[Lite Beer]

Opponents vow to fight condo ruling
Kesinee Taengkhiao
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Residents win compensation, but say EIA was illegitimate

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800251-opponents-vow-to-fight-condo-ruling/

[Lite Beer]

Chaturon's lawyers seek review of military court's jurisdiction
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- FORMER justice minister Chaturon Chaisang, who is facing the military court for refusing to answer a summons from the military junta, has asked the Criminal Court to review if the military court has the jurisdiction to put him on trial. He also asked the military court to forward his petition to the Constitutional Court to consider if the case against him is legal or not.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800252-chaturons-lawyers-seek-review-of-military-courts-jurisdiction/

[Lite Beer]

SCB chairman apologises for delay in handing over documents, vows to pay for damage
Chuleeporn Aram-net
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A HIGH-RANKING Siam Commercial Bank executive apologised yesterday for the bank's delay in handing documents to police and King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Latkrabang related to the Bt1.6 billion embezzlement scandal at the institute.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800253-scb-chairman-apologises-for-delay-in-handing-over-documents-vows-to-pay-for-damage/

[Lite Beer]

Socialite Kan-anek tests positive to using 'ice'
The Nation

Kan-anek Pachimsawat

BANGKOK: -- Businessman and socialite Kan-anek Pachimsawat has been arrested for allegedly using the drug "ice" and possessing it with intent to sell.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800254-socialite-kan-anek-tests-positive-to-using-ice/

[Lite Beer]

Reward for Bangkok pipe bombers doubled
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The reward for information leading to the arrest of two men suspected of planting and detonating two pipe bombs near Siam Paragon last week has been increased to Bt200,000, a senior police investigator said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800255-reward-for-bangkok-pipe-bombers-doubled/

[Lite Beer]

Police pursuing leads about rapist of elderly women
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police are looking into further leads about a serial rapist's crimes against elderly women east of Bangkok, a deputy Crime Suppression Division (CSD) commander said yesterday.

Some of the leads came after CSD leaflets were released noting behavioural patterns of the suspect at crime scenes, Pol Maj-General Akkharadej Phimolsri said.

The suspect appeared to live in Nakhon Pathom province, either in Buddhamondhol, Nakhon Chai Si or Bang Len district. DNA extracted from one suspect had not matched crime scenes or that from victims, he added.

Asked to be specific about the type of work the suspect was thought to do, the officer said it was too early to tell.

He said a previous assumption about the suspect's line of work would only complicate police work further.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Police-pursuing-leads-about-rapist-of-elderly-wome-30254069.html

-- The Nation 2015-02-14

[Lite Beer]

Thailand big contributor to plastic trash on ocean floors
AGENCIES

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND is one of the top 10 countries that have been mismanaging their plastic waste, which has resulted in plastic debris sinking to the bottom of the sea along its coastlines, a study published in the Science journal said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800256-thailand-big-contributor-to-plastic-trash-on-ocean-floors/

[Lite Beer]

Police find leads on source of fake announcement
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police have said they are closing in on the initial source of the fake palace announcement, which spread on social media last week.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800257-police-find-leads-on-source-of-fake-announcement/

[Lite Beer]

Study finds few investigative reports on TV
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- ONLY a combined six hours and five minutes - altogether 13 stories broadcast by seven TV stations - could be regarded as "investigative reports, the Media Monitor project has said. Of TV stations assessed in a study from August 22-September 22 last year, Spring News had six investigative reports, Nation TV four stories, Bright TV two, TNN one, while NewTV and ThaiTV showed no investigative reports during the study period.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800258-study-finds-few-investigative-reports-on-tv/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Air, water quality to be checked after dump catches fire again
Monthien Intaket,
Suttinan Kongsin
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE DEPARTMENT of Industrial Works (DIW) is checking the quality of air and water around the old Praksa dumpsite in Samut Prakan province out of concern that yesterday's fire spread harmful contaminants.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800086-garbage-dump-site-catches-fire-in-samut-prakarn/#entry9068897

[Lite Beer]

-- The Nation 2015-02-14

[Lite Beer]

Turkish tourist shot dead on Koh Samui

Koh Samui, Surat Thani: A Turkish tourist was shot and killed by a security officer of a pub on the tourist-destination island of Samui early Friday, police said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800233-turkish-tourist-shot-dead-on-koh-samui/

[Lite Beer]

Thousands of big bikers join Pattaya Bike Week 2015

Pattaya, Chon Buri:- Thousands of big bikers, most of them farang, joined the first day of the Burapa Pattaya Bike Week Asian Ride Together 2015 Friday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800237-thousands-of-big-bikers-join-pattaya-bike-week-2015/

[Lite Beer]

Thieving Brits Caught On Camera Stealing Food At Phi Phi Cafe
Published by Stickboy BKK

BANGKOK: -- A pair of light fingered British backpackers have become the laughing stock of Thai social media after they were caught on camera stealing food from the plate of a fellow diner before getting a tongue lashing, and a slap on the back of the hand, from one of the cafe employees.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800260-thieving-brits-caught-on-camera-stealing-food-at-phi-phi-cafe/

[Lite Beer]

Alabama's stand against gay marriage crumbles
By KIM CHANDLER

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama's stand against gay marriage crumbled Friday as judges in most counties sided with federal courts rather than their own chief justice, a Republican who once called homosexuality an inherent evil.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800262-alabamas-stand-against-gay-marriage-crumbles/

[Lite Beer]

Case against Argentine president moves forward
PETER PRENGAMAN, Associated Press

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The Argentine prosecutor who inherited a high-profile case against President Cristina Fernandez reaffirmed the accusations Friday, formally renewing the investigation into whether she helped Iranian officials cover up their alleged role in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800264-case-against-argentine-president-moves-forward/

[Lite Beer]

Suspect in shooting of 3 students had 13 guns, stash of ammo
MICHAEL BIESECKER, Associated Press
JONATHAN DREW, Associated Press

RALEIGH, North Carolina (AP) — The suspect in the deaths of three Muslim university students in North Carolina had at least a dozen firearms and a large ammunition stash in his home, according to search warrants released on Friday as world leaders decried the shootings.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800265-suspect-in-shooting-of-3-students-had-13-guns-stash-of-ammo/

[Lite Beer]

US says Russia violating 'spirit' of Ukraine peace deal
MATTHEW LEE, AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration on Friday accused Russia and pro-Russian separatists of violating "the spirit" of a peace deal for Ukraine with weapons shipments and intensified fighting before a cease-fire takes effect this weekend.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800266-us-says-russia-violating-spirit-of-ukraine-peace-deal/

[Lite Beer]

Bangkok:- Investigators are investigating a lead that oil-based mosquito fogging solution is the likely cause of the February 7 fire at Siam Commercial Bank headquarters, police spokesman said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800269-scb-fire-blamed-on-mosquito-spray/

[Lite Beer]

Ayutthaya: The Ayutthaya provincial administration and local administrations will jointly hold the province’s 9th grand Chinese New Year celebration from February 20 to 25.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800272-thai-ancient-capital-of-ayutthaya-to-hold-grand-chinese-new-year-celebration/

[Lite Beer]

Central Pattaya Underpass Construction Site Road Crash

PATTAYA:--As construction of the Central Pattaya Underpass on the Sukhumvit Road begins, the number of incidents connected with the construction site are beginning to mount-up. The latest incident took place on Friday Morning which left a pick-up truck on its roof.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800286-central-pattaya-underpass-construction-site-road-crash/

[Lite Beer]

Cousin’s in fatal fight in East Pattaya

PATTAYA:--A 31 year old man was arrested in the early hours of Friday accused of murdering his cousin.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/800285-cousins-in-fatal-fight-in-east-pattaya/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

To combat fraud, Visa wants to track your smartphone

NEW YORK (AP) — Those days of calling your bank to let them know that, yes, you really are in Thailand, and yes, you really did use your credit card to buy $200 in sarongs, may be coming to an end.

The payment processing company Visa will roll out a new feature this spring that will allow its cardholders to inform their banks where they are automatically, using the location function found in nearly every smartphone.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/combat-fraud-visa-wants-track-smartphone/4612/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Finland to build a new 5G test mobile network

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and the University of Oulu have already started to build a 5G test network in the city of Oulu, a northwestern city in Finland.

The network will be a testbed for key 5G technologies, which can be developed and assessed in a realistic testing environment, according to a statement by VTT this week. The network will comprise two components – the first will be a restricted network ran by VTT and the second is a public network established by the University of Oulu.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/finland-builds-5g-test-network/4627/