Thai government hopes new computer software will combat corruption



Officials from Thailand’s Anti Corruption Commission are hoping that new computer software will help tackle corruption in the public sector.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/thai-government-hopes-new-computer-software-will-combat-corruption/13608/

-- Tech News by Thaivisa 2016-01-26

Fatal stabbing at asylum centre shocks Sweden

GOTHENBURG: -- Sweden's prime minister has described as a "terrible crime" the stabbing of a female employee at a centre for young asylum seekers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889633-fatal-stabbing-at-asylum-centre-shocks-sweden/

Laos, US enhance ties



VIENTIANE: -- US Secretary of State John Forbes Kerry paid an official visit to Laos between 24-25 Jan in response to the invitation by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongloun Sisoulith, Lao News Agency reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889645-laos-us-enhance-ties/

'Putin is corrupt' says US Treasury

WASHINGTON: -- The US Treasury has told a BBC investigation that it considers Russian President Vladimir Putin to be corrupt.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889648-putin-is-corrupt-says-us-treasury/

SET down 5.04 points at opening /Bangkok Post

Hanoi shivering with coldest spell in nearly four decades



HANOI: -- Tuoi Tre News reported that the capital city of Vietnam has experienced the most frigid weather after almost 40 years, way lower than expected, local meteorologists said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889654-hanoi-shivering-with-coldest-spell-in-nearly-four-decades/

Suu Kyi, military chief meet again as power transfer nears



YANGON: -- Myanmar Army leader Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and Aung San Suu Kyi held talks on Monday for the second time since the National League for Democracy (NLD) chairwoman and her party emerged victorious in a Nov 8 general election, The Irrawaddy reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889655-suu-kyi-military-chief-meet-again-as-power-transfer-nears/

Nakhon Phanom woman dies from cold weather
By Coconuts Bangkok


File photo of Nakhon Phanom. Photo: Nakhon Phanom Travel

BANGKOK: -- After the temperature drastically dropped in Bangkok and upper Thailand yesterday, a woman was found dead from the cold in the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889656-nakhon-phanom-woman-dies-from-cold-weather-in-isaan/

Police chief voices concern of increasing trend in carrying 'child angels'



BANGKOK: -- The commissioner of the Royal Thai Police yesterday voiced concern over growing trend of people carrying the so-called "Look Thep" or child angel dolls on planes and other mass transportation saying drug traffickers could exploit the trend to smuggle in drugs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889658-thai-police-chief-voices-concern-of-increasing-trend-in-carrying-child-angels/

ASEAN a step closer to implementing a single visa
by Samuel Medenilla

MANILA: -- The launching of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2016-2025 brings the ASEAN a step closer to implementing a single visa for foreign visitors traveling through the region.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889662-asean-a-step-closer-to-implementing-a-single-visa/

'Luk Thep' Drug Mule Busted at Chiang Mai Airport
By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee
Staff Reporter



CHIANG MAI — As soon an airline announced haunted spirit dolls could fly as passengers, someone was already turning one into a drug mule.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889665-luk-thep-drug-mule-busted-at-chiang-mai-airport/

UPDATE:

Sharp fall in temperatures claims five deaths



BANGKOK: -- The bizarre atmospheric conditions now hitting most parts of the country has claimed five deaths.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889656-nakhon-phanom-woman-dies-from-cold-weather-in-isaan/#entry10352433

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Malaysian attorney general clears PM of wrongdoing, says money was personal donation from Saudi royal family.

Aussie music legend Molly Meldrum hospitalised after Bangkok tumble
by STAFF WRITER



BANGKOK: -- 72-year old Molly Meldrum, a veteran of the Australian music industry, has been hospitalised after falling out of a taxi outside his Bangkok hotel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889671-aussie-music-legend-molly-meldrum-hospitalised-after-bangkok-tumble/

Turbulent sea damages fishing villages, beach roads, disrupts ferry services in South



BANGKOK: -- High waves and turbulent sea in the Gulf of Thailand have damaged several finishing villages and beach roads lying along the coastlines, and also forced ferry and speedboat services to Samui and other southern islets to stop for safety reason.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889687-turbulent-sea-damages-fishing-villages-beach-roads-disrupts-ferry-services-in-south/

Sri Lankan Supreme Commander visits Thailand to discuss military cooperation



BANGKOK, 26 January 2016 (NNT) - The Sri Lankan army chief has made an official trip to Thailand to discuss future military cooperation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889700-sri-lankan-supreme-commander-visits-thailand-to-discuss-military-cooperation/

Phuket sea gypsy land dispute rears its head again
Saroj Kueprasertkij


Officers from Royal Thai Army Region 41 speak to members of the sea gypsy community.

PHUKET: -- A land dispute involving one of the island’s sea gypsy communities reared its head again yesterday (Jan 25) when over 100 hundred members of the community came out to protect the disputed land after representatives from the company claiming to own it once again threatened to place a blockade there.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889703-phuket-sea-gypsy-land-dispute-rears-its-head-again/

Thailand joins JCM to reduce carbon emissions

BANGKOK, 26 January 2016 (NNT) - The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and relevant agencies have attended a meeting to discuss carbon emissions management, as Thailand resolves to drive economic growth while lowering greenhouse gases.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889705-thailand-joins-jcm-to-reduce-carbon-emissions/

Police investigate recent IUU fishing and human trafficking cases

BANGKOK, 26 January 2016, (NNT) - The Royal Thai Police has recently arrested illegal fishing suspects, and will soon probe their involvement in human trafficking.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889706-thai-police-investigate-recent-iuu-fishing-and-human-trafficking-cases/

UPDATE:

Luk Thep Drug Mule Arrested
by CityNews


Photo: CM108

CityNews – A ‘Luk Thep’ doll was arrested at Chiang Mai International Airport on Monday January 25, after officials discovered 200 Yaba pills stuffed inside it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889665-luk-thep-drug-mule-busted-at-chiang-mai-airport/#entry10352682

Phuket’s former Aussie Hon Con receives award in Australia Day honours
The Phuket News


Australian Ambassador to Thailand at the time, James Wise (left), hands Larry Cunningham a certificate of appreciation at Mr Cunningham's farewell from Phuket in 2013. Photo: The Phuket News / file

PHUKET: -- Larry Cunningham, who served as Australian Honorary Consul for Phuket, Phang-nga and Krabi for nine years, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours List in recognition for his services.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889715-phukets-former-aussie-hon-con-receives-award-in-australia-day-honours/

UPDATE:

Drugs seized hidden inside “child angel” doll



CHIANG MAIL -- Chiang Mai's narcotic suppression police today seized a "child angel" doll after it was found to have hidden methamphetamines inside.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889665-luk-thep-drug-mule-busted-at-chiang-mai-airport/#entry10352724

7-day Royal-sponsor funeral rite bestowed upon Luang Por Charan today



BANGKOK: -- The National Office of Buddhism says His Majesty the King has given scented water to bath, and urn to contain the body of the revered Phra Thammasing Burajarn, better known as Luang Por Charan Thitathammo, and to sponsor his funeral ceremony for seven days at Wat Amphawan in Phrom Buri district of Singburi province.

Director of the National Office of Buddhism Mr Phanom Sornsilpa said the royal sponsor bathing rite will be held today at 5 pm, and monks chanting will begin at 7 pm.

Royal funeral band will perform while the bathing rite begins, he said.

He said after the 7-day royal sponsor funeral rite, the public will be allowed to sponsor the monks chanting for 100 days.

He said the body of Luang Por Charan will not be cremated but kept at a great pagoda to be constructed as the deceased abbot had told his followers before his death.

The Nation reported that Luang Por Charan died Monday at age 87 at Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital while being treated for severe pneumonia.

He had been treated at the hospital since December 20. He died at 8.37am.

Dr Prasit Watthanapha, dean of Mahidol University’s Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, earlier revealed that the revered monk and his disciples had donated 50 million baht for the construction of the hospital’s Nawamintarabophit Building, a facility to treat underprivileged patients.

Luang Por Charan was born Charan Janyarak on August 15, 1928 at Ban Bang Muang in Sing Buri.

He was the fifth son out of 11 children born to Phae Janyarak and his wife Jerm Janyarak.

Following his ordination in 1948 at Wat Phrom Buri, the monk travelled to various places for meditation and became a disciple of various gurus. He studied talisman making with several famous monks, before vowing to propagate Buddhism and not to make talismans again.

Luang Por Charan received the royal title Dhamma in 2004.

He also obtained many awards for his role in propagating Buddhism and social services including a trophy from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in 1985 for his outstanding contribution to spreading Buddhism.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/148169


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-26

Whatsapp is going to start sharing your data with Facebook
BY JONATHAN FAIRFIELD



A week after announcing it would scrap subscription fees, Whatsapp is going to start sharing user data with its owner Facebook.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/whatsapp-is-going-to-start-sharing-your-data-with-facebook/13616/

China releases, deports Swede detained over rights group
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN

BEIJING (AP) — The Chinese government has released and deported a Swedish man it accused of training and funding unlicensed lawyers in the country, leading to an extraordinary taped confession broadcast on state television.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889716-china-releases-deports-swede-detained-over-rights-group/

Amnesty: Dozens of juvenile offenders face death in Iran
By ADAM SCHRECK

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Dozens of people who were arrested in Iran for crimes committed before they turned 18 remain at risk of the death penalty despite recent reforms, with many having already spent years on death row, according to a report by Amnesty International released on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889717-amnesty-dozens-of-juvenile-offenders-face-death-in-iran/

Former Army Chief 'Confident' of Being Cleared by Junta Investigators
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Tourists visit Rajabhakti Park on Dec. 9, 2015.

BANGKOK — The manager of the army-built royal monument park which became mired in corruption allegations soon after opening late last year said he’s certain those charges will be dismissed by the junta’s anti-graft watchdog.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889735-former-army-chief-confident-of-being-cleared-by-thai-govt-investigators/

UPDATE:

Cold Blamed for 8 Deaths, Storms Sink 3 Ships
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


A Singaporean cargo vessel founders Monday evening just off the coast of Narathiwat province.

BANGKOK — The recent cold snap and turbulent weather are being blamed for the deaths of six deaths in the north and sinking ships in the south.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889656-nakhon-phanom-woman-dies-from-cold-weather-in-isaan/#entry10352994

Obama bans solitary confinement for juveniles in fed prisons
By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Monday he will ban the use of solitary confinement for juvenile and low-level offenders in federal prisons, citing the potential for "devastating, lasting psychological consequences" from the use of the isolation as punishment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889737-obama-bans-solitary-confinement-for-juveniles-in-fed-prisons/

Islamic State setting up terror training camps in Europe, police agency warns
By Tom Whitehead, Security Editor

The terrorist group is planning more mass strikes on the continent and could recruit vulnerable refugees to carry out attacks, Europol report said

LONDON: -- Terror group Isil has set up secret training camps across Europe to prepare fighters to carry out “special forces style” attacks in the UK or other EU countries, Europol has warned.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889739-islamic-state-setting-up-terror-training-camps-in-europe-police-agency-warns/