Actor Tridsadee “Por” Sahawong dies at 37



BANGKOK: -- Actor Tridsadee “Por” Sahawong died peacefully at 11.50 am on Monday after suffering from dengue fever.

Ramathibidi hospital doctor said his right lung was also infected forcing his critical condition to worsen.

His left lung has earlier been removed after it was infected and leaked due to severe dengue fever.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/147104


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-19

Condolence messages flood social media for Por Tridsadee



BANGKOK: -- Dozens of actors and actresses have posted messages in the social media expressing their sorrow for the passing away of popular TV star Tridsadee “Por” Sahawong at Ramathibodi hospital before noon yesterday.

Among the entertainers who expressed their condolences through Instargram were Boom Panadda, New Wongsakorn, Maeya Nonthawan. See Siwat, Sunisa Jett and Poey Parnvart.

Condolence messages also poured in from his fans.

A statement from the hospital said that the actor died peacefully at 11.50 am today at the hospital.



The hospital said that Por’s condition deteriorated because of infection of the right lung since early this month.

The actor’s body will be moved out of the hospital to Wat Klang Phra Aram Luang in Muang district, Buri Ram, his home town, for funeral rite tomorrow. A bathing rite is scheduled at 4 pm.

Religious rites will be held every evening until January 24 when a cremation is held.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/147109


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-19

PM informed: B50bn of national park land allegedly stolen by officials
Kom Chad Luek



PHUKET: -- Allegations of officials pillaging Phuket national park land, dividing it and then illegally selling it, was brought to the attention of Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887606-pm-informed-b50bn-of-national-park-land-allegedly-stolen-by-officials/

THAI aims to increase 10 billion baht in revenue and cut costs by 6 billion baht this year



BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International is expected to earn an extra revenue of 10 billion baht and, at the same time, cut costs by 6 billion baht.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887675-thai-aims-to-increase-10bn-baht-in-revenue-and-cut-costs-by-6bn-baht-this-year/

UPDATE:

Justice minister demands evidences to prove irregularities in land mapping in Phuket



BANGKOK: -- Justice Minister Paiboon Kumchaya has challenged a member of the National Reform Steering Assembly to come forward with evidences to substantiate the allegations that the new mapping of land in Phuket’s Sirinart national park was done in favour of some land developers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887606-pm-informed-b50bn-of-national-park-land-allegedly-stolen-by-officials/#entry10325141

December's industrial confidence index slightly up to 87.5



BANGKOK: -- Confidence index for the industrial sector for December slightly increased to 87.5 from 85.8 in November, said Mr Suphan Mongkolsuthee, president of Federation of Thai Industries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887676-thai-industrial-confidence-index-slightly-up-to-875-in-december/

DSI asked to speed up probing Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen abbot's Mercedes



BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation was today (Monday) urged by a former member of the National Reform Council to speed up investigation into a luxury car allegedly owned by Somdet Phra Maharatchamangalacharn, the abbot of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887677-dsi-asked-to-speed-up-probing-wat-paknam-phasi-charoen-abbots-mercedes/

Are these really the worst tourist spots in Southeast Asia?



BANGKOK: -- Popular question-and-answer community Quora was posed with this head-scratcher recently:

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887611-are-these-really-the-worst-tourist-spots-in-southeast-asia/

Reform assembly passes NBTC bill



BANGKOK: -- The National Reform Steering Assembly today (Monday) endorsed the new National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) bill by 128 votes in favour against 11 votes with 17 abstentions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887678-reform-assembly-passes-nbtc-bill/

Thailand moves to clean up fishing industry after EU warning
By Panu Wongcha-um, Channel NewsAsia

The EU warned Thailand last April that if the country’s illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing situation does not improve, Europe may ban Thai seafood products in its markets

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887679-thailand-moves-to-clean-up-fishing-industry-after-eu-warning/

Thai Court Rules British Human Rights Crusader Andy Hall to Face Criminal Defamation Charges

BANGKOK – British human rights activist Andy Hall must face a new criminal defamation trial, a Thai court ruled on Monday (Jan 18), the latest in a slew of cases tied to a rights report documenting labor abuses in Thailand’s lucrative fruit sector.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887680-thai-court-rules-british-activist-andy-hall-to-face-criminal-defamation-charges/

Thailand's Private Sector Urging Government-to-Government Sales of Rice Stocks
BY JACOB MASLOW



BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s private sector is urging an increase in sales of the country’s rice stock through government-to-government (G-to-G) purchases.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887681-thailands-private-sector-urging-g-to-g-sales-of-rice-stocks/

Huai Khwang Market Vendors Protest City Eviction
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Huai Khwang market vendors wear yellow shirts at a Monday protest against City Hall’s decision to evict them from the sidewalks where some have operated for three decades.

BANGKOK — It’s a routine that’s become predictably familiar: City moves in to clear sidewalks, vendors cry foul, vendors leave.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887682-bangkoks-huai-khwang-market-vendors-protest-eviction/

Cameron says migrants must learn English

LONDON — Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday attacked what he called "passive tolerance" of some people in Britain's Muslim communities who support segregation and discrimination against women, and said his government would make it harder for migrants to remain in the country if they did not learn English.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887683-david-cameron-says-migrants-must-learn-english/

UPDATE:

Thai Immigration 24/7 Center officially opens

BANGKOK, 19 January 2016 (NNT) - The Thai Immigration 24/7 Center under the Immigration Bureau officially operated for the first time on Monday to be an important mechanism for transnational crime suppression in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887509-team-suvarnabhumi-opens-to-counter-international-crimes-terrorism/#entry10325198

Bukruk Fest Moves Opening Day to Jam Factory
By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee
Staff Reporter


Promotional art for the Bukruk Urban Arts Festival. Image: Courtesy Bukruk

BANGKOK — When the Bukruk Festival returns Saturday with a big party on the river, it won't go down exactly as expected.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887684-bukruk-fest-moves-opening-day-to-jam-factory/

'The Commons' Coming to Minimize Mall Misery
By Cole Pennington
Correspondent


Photo: The Commons / Facebook

BANGKOK — When British economist William Forster Lloyd coined the term “tragedy of the commons” two centuries ago to refer to the spoiling of shared resources by individuals, it must have been after seeing the sidewalks of Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887685-the-commons-coming-to-minimize-mall-misery/

UPDATE:

Crackdown on foreign mafia in Samui and Phangan required says Deputy Prime Minister

KOH SAMUI: -- Prawit Wongsuwon, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister, has instructed local authorities in the province of Surat Thani to stamp out foreign mafia groups according to a report in the Bangkok post.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887520-koh-phangan-shooting-prompts-crackdown-on-foreign-mafia/page-4?p=10325212#entry10325212

Min of Education delivers 2016 policy address to Teachers' Council



BANGKOK, 19 January 2016 (NNT) - The Education Minister has ordered all directors of the Teachers' Council of Thailand to report any potential obstacles to their assigned tasks before the end of this month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887686-thai-education-min-delivers-2016-policy-address-to-teachers-council/

NRSA deliberates mass communication reform agenda



BANGKOK, 18 January 2016 (NNT) - The National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) has deliberated on the proposal to downsize the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887687-nrsa-deliberates-mass-communication-reform-agenda/

NEW YORK (AP) - The Eagles say band founder Glenn Frey has died in New York after battling multiple ailments.

Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey dies at 67
HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Glenn Frey, who co-founded the Eagles and with Don Henley became one of history's most successful songwriting teams with such hits as "Hotel California" and "Life in the Fast Lane," has died.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887688-eagles-co-founder-glenn-frey-dies-at-67/

UPDATE:

Cameron: Language classes for Muslim women can help fight extremism
By Everton Gayle | With REUTERS



"We will now say: if you don't improve your fluency, that could affect your ability to stay in the UK"

LONDON: -- British Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged 25 million euros (20 million pounds) for English classes for women in isolated communities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887683-david-cameron-says-migrants-must-learn-english/#entry10325246

British lawmakers debate a ban on Donald Trump entering the country
By Everton Gayle | With REUTERS



LONDON: -- A petition to bar Donald Trump from entering Britain was the object of debate at Britain’s Houses of Parliament.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887689-british-lawmakers-debate-a-ban-on-donald-trump-entering-the-country/

USA: Clinton expresses 'outrage' at Flint water contamination scandal



"I think every single American should be outraged"

WASHINGTON: -- A water pollution scandal in the US has risen to the surface of this year’s presidential campaign.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887690-usa-clinton-expresses-outrage-at-flint-water-contamination-scandal/

Avalanche kills five soldiers in French Alps



PARIS: -- An avalanche has claimed the lives of five soldiers who were training off piste at the Valfréjus station in the French Alps, not far from the Italian border.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887691-avalanche-kills-five-soldiers-in-french-alps/

ISIL accused of firing rockets from Syria at Turkish schools
By Robert Hackwill



ANKARA: -- At least three rockets were fired into Turkey from Syria on Monday aimed at the border city of Kilis.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887693-isil-accused-of-firing-rockets-from-syria-at-turkish-schools/

The richest 1% own more than 99% of world's population
By Everton Gayle



"We cannot continue to allow hundreds of millions of people to go hungry while resources that could be used to help them are sucked up by those at the top"

LONDON: -- The super rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, according to a report by international aid charity Oxfam.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887694-the-richest-1-own-more-than-99-of-worlds-population/

Saudis come under pressure to find regional deal with Iran
By Robert Hackwill



LONDON: -- A day after the US announced fresh sanctions against Iran for ballistic missile tests Washington says flout UN rules, the EU announced it will discuss this week whether or not to impose new sanctions of its own.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887695-saudis-come-under-pressure-to-find-regional-deal-with-iran/

Bowie’s seven star constellation a cosmic tribute to the spaceboy



LONDON: -- ‘‘I could play the wild mutation as a rock & roll star’‘ slithered Ziggy Stardust back in 1973.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/887696-bowies-seven-star-constellation-a-cosmic-tribute-to-the-spaceboy/