Alongkorn: NRSA hands over reform reports to CDC

BANGKOK, 16 January 2016 (NNT) – A deputy speaker of the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) said the reform body had already submitted reform reports of its committees to the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) for a review.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887004-alongkorn-nrsa-hands-over-reform-reports-to-cdc/

Training in works for Cambodian garment truck drivers

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has announced plans to provide truck drivers with road safety education, with the aim of having them licensed by the end of 2016, The Phnom Penh Post reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887007-training-in-works-for-cambodian-garment-truck-drivers/

National Police, intelligence agency to face House summons over Jakarta attack

JAKARTA: National Police and National Intelligence Agency, or BIN, officials will be summoned by legislators in the wake of the terrorist attack on Jakarta's Thamrin area which resulted in seven deaths, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887009-national-police-intelligence-agency-to-face-house-summons-over-jakarta-attack/

Crowds attack Mexico pipelines, steal diesel with buckets

MARK STEVENSON, Associated Press


MEXICO CITY (AP) — Rebellious crowds of townspeople in a rural area in central Mexico are defying police and soldiers to steal diesel from illegally tapped pipelines, creating what officials call an imminent threat of tragedies like fires that have burned dozens of people at other sites in Mexico.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887032-crowds-attack-mexico-pipelines-steal-diesel-with-buckets/

Pro-China party likely to lose power in Taiwan's election

CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, Associated Press


TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Voting was underway Saturday in Taiwan's presidential election in which the island's China-friendly Nationalist Party appears likely to lose power to the pro-independence opposition, amid concerns that the island's economy is under threat from China and broad opposition among voters to Beijing's demands for political unification.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887035-pro-china-party-likely-to-lose-power-in-taiwans-election/

Minister: 30 hostages freed from Burkina Faso hotel siege

BRAHIMA OUEDRAOGO, Associated Press


OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — Al-Qaida militants struck an upscale hotel and nearby cafe late Friday that were popular with Westerners in Burkina Faso's capital, taking an unknown number of hostages and forcing others to hide for their lives as gunfire and explosions rang out. The country's troops backed by French forces were still trying to retake control of the building more than nine hours later.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886974-attack-strike-upscale-hotel-in-burkina-fasos-capital/?p=10315755

Thailand is home to 4 of the worst airlines for safety in the world

BANGKOK:-- Four Thai carriers have been designated with the lowest star-ratings for aviation safety in an annual survey of the world’s biggest airlines.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887044-thailand-is-home-to-4-of-the-worst-airlines-for-safety-in-the-world/

Myanmar Army clashes with Ta’ang rebels amid national day celebrations

MYANMAR: Ethnic Ta’ang troops clashed with the government troops in Shan State’s Kutkai and Namtu townships on Jan. 12, in the midst of celebrations for Ta’ang National Revolutionary Day, The Irrawaddy reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887047-myanmar-army-clashes-with-taang-rebels-amid-national-day-celebrations/

Aquino says EDCA will enhance PH-US relations

MANILA: The defense pact between the Philippines and the United States would enhance the abilities of both nations and should not be considered a threat to others, President Aquino said on Friday, Manila Bulletin reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887051-aquino-says-edca-will-enhance-ph-us-relations/

Ho Chi Minh City flower street to open longer this Tet

HO CHI MINH CITY: An annual flower street in Ho Chi Minh City will stay open for a longer time during the upcoming Lunar New Year festival in order to welcome more visitors, according to Tuoi Tre News.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887053-ho-chi-minh-city-flower-street-to-open-longer-this-tet/?p=10315995

American dies in fall from 17th floor of Phuket hotel

The American fell from the terrace of a hotel in Phuket's primary seaside party town, Patong. Photo: Isaac Stone Simonelli

PHUKET: A 40-year-old American man fell to his death from the 17th floor of a Patong hotel early this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887057-american-dies-in-fall-from-17th-floor-of-phuket-hotel/

Joko declares life “back to normal” after terrorist attack

JAKARTA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Friday declared that the situation has returned to normal after paying a second visit to the scene of a terrorist attack in downtown Jakarta on Thursday, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887070-joko-declares-life-back-to-normal-after-terrorist-attack/?p=10316088

Thai fishing boat seized for IUU fishing off coast of Phuket

Eakkapop Thongtub

The Thepsiripron 1 was found to be fishing in a conservation area.

PHUKET: A Thai fishing boat carrying 27 crew was seized for Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing by officers from Royal Navy Third Area Command on Thursday night (Jan 14) in a conservation area between Koh Lon and Koh Hae.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887074-thai-fishing-boat-seized-for-iuu-fishing-off-coast-of-phuket/

3,000 purchasing points set up nationwide to buy rubber

BANGKOK: As a short-term relief of rubber farmers' suffering from low rubber prices, the government yesterday decided to set up 3,000 purchasing points across the country to buy rubber from farmers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887076-3000-purchasing-points-set-up-nationwide-to-buy-rubber/

No shutdown of learning centres

BANGKOK: The government won't shut down any learning centre but instead will upgrade them with even more advanced technology.

This was assured by deputy prime minister ACM Prajin Juntong during an interview National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT)

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887077-no-shutdown-of-learning-centres/

MUST READ

“Good guys in, bad guys out”, says Thailand Immigration chief

BANGKOK:-- “Good guys in, bad guys out” is the message from Pol. Lt. Gen. Nathathorn Prousoontorn, Immigration Bureau Commissioner, as immigration officials prepare to launch its latest crackdown foreign visitors who overstay their visas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887079-good-guys-in-bad-guys-out-says-thailand-immigration-chief/?p=10316209

Drug dealer busted in rented Phuket apartment

Darawan Naknakhon

Police seized from Saishon 234.67 grams of ya ice, 331 ya bah pills, a gun and bullets. Photo: Darawan Naknakhon

PHUKET: A man from Nakorn Sri Thammarat was arrested at a room in Phuthara Mansion Apartments when he was found to be in possession of drugs, a gun and ammunition when police set him up in a sting operation on Thursday (Jan 14).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887082-drug-dealer-busted-in-rented-phuket-apartment/

Weekend Fun - 20 Mind Blowing Facts You Won't Believe

Hedonist thieves captured via CCTV

PHUKET: Police arrested two suspected thieves and their accomplice on Wednesday, after collecting evidence from nearby CCTV cameras.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887137-hedonist-thieves-captured-via-cctv/

Phuket flyovers given second chance to take off

Samak Luedwonghad, director of the Phuket Highways Office, was pleased to hear the Governor's plan to re-table the flyover plans. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: The plans for flyovers at two key locations that were shot down by locals last year, will be tabled again in an effort to solve traffic troubles on Phuket.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887154-phuket-flyovers-given-second-chance-to-take-off/

Five student activists defy judicial power

BANGKOK: Five student activists of the so-called New Democracy Group today said they will not give themselves up to the police after the Bangkok Military Court issued warrants for their arrest on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887157-five-student-activists-defy-judicial-power/

Arrested Phuket serial thief released from prison 12 days ago

Darawan Naknakhon

Prayuth Kreakaew, 39, was released from prison on Jan 4. Photo: Darawn Naknakhon

PHUKET: A Phuket man who was recently released from prison after serving time for theft was arrested once again yesterday (Jan 15) for stealing valuables worth more than B23,500 from schools.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887158-arrested-phuket-serial-thief-released-from-prison-12-days-ago/

Phuket beach covered with umbrellas, chairs

Laem Sing is one of Phuket's 'virgin beaches', which means no beach furniture of any kind is supposed to be on the sands. Photo: Gazette reader

PHUKET: Though all umbrellas and beach chairs on Phuket's Laem Sing Beach are banned, photographs taken today from above the beach show beach furniture obscuring much of the sand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887159-phuket-beach-covered-with-umbrellas-chairs/

PM urges teachers to preach morality and discipline to help enhance Thai competitiveness

BANGKOK, 16 January 2016 (NNT) – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has urged teachers to educate students on topics of morality and discipline which could help enhance the country’s competitiveness while the government will look to solve the teachers' debt-related problems.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887160-pm-urges-teachers-to-preach-morality-and-discipline-to-help-enhance-thai-competitiveness/

Thailand ready to share philosophy of sufficiency economy during G-77 chairmanship to achieve sustainable development goals

BANGKOK, 16 January 2016 (NNT) - Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai has delivered a statement at the Handover Ceremony of the Chairmanship of the Group of 77 (G77) for 2016 at the Headquarters of the United Nations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887161-thailand-ready-to-share-philosophy-of-sufficiency-economy-during-g-77-chairmanship-to-achieve-sustai/?p=10317617

Iran state TV: 4 dual-national prisoners released

ALI AKBAR DAREINI, Associated Press


TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian state television is announced that the government has freed four dual-nationality prisoners.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887164-iran-state-tv-4-dual-national-prisoners-released/

Burkina Faso hotel seizure ends; 4 jihadis, 23 others dead

BRAHIMA OUEDRAOGO, Associated Press


OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — The overnight seizure of a luxury hotel in Burkina Faso's capital by al-Qaida-linked extremists ended Saturday when Burkina Faso and French security forces killed four jihadist attackers and freed more than 126 people, the West African nation's president said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887165-burkina-faso-hotel-seizure-ends;-4-jihadis-23-others-dead/

Thailand Live 17 Jan 2016 is here