NLA President discusses parliamentary cooperation with Ambassador of Belarus

BANGKOK, 28 January 2016 (NNT) – The President of the National Legislative Assembly has discussed parliamentary cooperation with the Ambassador of Belarus.

NLA President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai on Wednesday met with H.E. Dr. Valery Sadokho, Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Thailand, who paid a courtesy visit to follow up on the legislature’s review of the draft agreement on parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.

Mr. Pornpetch informed his guest that the NLA is delighted to collaborate with the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus in order to exchange support and promote relations at all levels for both nations’ benefits.

He also confirmed that the draft agreement has already been adjusted in accordance with the recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and it is now going through the process of being sent back to Belarus.

In addition, Dr. Sadokho also raised the issue about Thailand’s preparation for the official visit of the President of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Andreichenko from February 24th to 28th. The President has been invited to visit as a guest of the NLA.


-- NNT 2016-01-28

Thai Banks Urged to Beef Up Security in Wake of Cyberactivism
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Graphic: Colin / Wikimedia Commons

BANGKOK — Anxious about the possibility of looming cyberattacks, Thailand's banking association today called on its members to improve security measures and end the culture of data secrecy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890207-thai-banks-urged-to-beef-up-security-in-wake-of-cyberactivism/

UPDATE:

Thailand’s CPI for 2015 improves with the country being placed at 76th ranking



BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s corruption perception index for 2015 has improved with the country being placed at 76th ranking out of 168 countries worldwide compared to 85th place recorded a year earlier.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/889990-how-does-thailand-rank-globally-for-corruption/page-4#entry10358748

Dr Wisanu says there is no Plan B if draft charter fails in referendum



BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krea-ngarm said Wednesday that there is no Plan B in case the draft constitution fails to be endorsed in the referendum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890208-dr-wisanu-says-there-is-no-plan-b-if-draft-charter-fails-in-referendum/

Missing skipper found washed ashore

BANGKOK: -- The skipper of a fishing boat which went missing a few days ago with his Myanmar crew after the vessel capsized in the sea off Chumporn province was washed ashore yesterday (Wednesday).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890209-missing-skipper-found-washed-ashore/

Moken sea gypsies beaten up by men who try to seize their land in Phuket



PHUKET: -- Several Moken sea gypsies were beaten up by about 100 men as they tried to stop the men from blocking the entrance and exit of beachfront land in Phuket’s Muang district where they have been dwelling for years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890210-moken-sea-gypsies-beaten-up-by-men-who-try-to-seize-their-land-in-phuket/

Ivory shops closed down in face of tightened govt measures


File photo. Source Internet

BANGKOK, 28 January 2016 (NNT) – Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation deputy director general Adisorn Noochdamrong unveiled results of an inspection into ivory shops across the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890211-ivory-shops-closed-down-in-face-of-tightened-govt-measures/

Public, private, civil sectors join forces to promote meetings, incentive tourism


File photo. Source Internet

BANGKOK, 28 January 2016 (NNT) – A deal has been made between the public, private and civil sectors to collaboratively promote Thai tourism by encouraging the holding of meetings and incentive travels in the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890212-public-private-civil-sectors-join-forces-to-promote-meetings-incentive-thai-tourism/

National park ranger honored for returning money to tourist


File photo. Source Internet

KRABI, 28 January 2016 (NNT) – The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has held a ceremony to honor a park ranger who returned a large sum of money to a foreign tourist visiting Krabi province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890213-national-park-ranger-honored-for-returning-money-to-foreign-tourist/

Major govt organizations sign MoU to fight against corruption

BANGKOK, 28 January 2016 (NNT) - The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with five main organizations to tackle corruption in the public sector.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890214-major-thai-govt-organizations-sign-mou-to-fight-against-corruption/

Thailand Plans to Boost Northeastern Economy
Ron Corben


File photo. Source Internet

BANGKOK — Thailand’s northeastern economy, among the poorest in the country, is looking to expand trade with neighboring Laos and business in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) as it recovers from a two-year recession.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890217-thailand-plans-to-boost-isaan-economy/

Thailand is Top Asia-Pacific Tourist Stop Thanks to Chinese
BY MIRAL FAHMY


File photo. Source Internet

SINGAPORE: -- Chinese tourists can't seem to get enough of Thailand, with visitor numbers to the Southeast Asian kingdom surging over the past year at one of the fastest clips in the Asia-Pacific region.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890218-thailand-is-top-asia-pacific-tourist-stop-thanks-to-chinese/

Thailand plans to sell 300,000 of rice to Iran
REUTERS

BANGKOK, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Thailand plans to sell 300,000 tonnes of rice to Iran, the Thai Rice Exporters Association said on Wednesday, ahead of a visit to the Middle East to negotiate a deal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890219-thailand-plans-to-sell-300000-of-rice-to-iran/

Fourteen dead as cold snap hits Thailand

At least 14 people have died in Thailand from a cold snap that has hit the country.

BANGKOK: -- At least 14 people have died in Thailand as cold weather grips the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890220-fourteen-dead-as-cold-snap-hits-thailand/

Ghosts Spotted in Thailand (Video)



Are these really ghosts?

Thai people take ghostly sightings very seriously, and, if other Inspire stories in the UK are anything to go by, so do the Brits.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890221-ghosts-spotted-in-thailand-video/

Puppy Thrown to Death Over Messy Room
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Meyanee Sitthisuk cries over the body of Dehlee, her 4-year-old Chihuahua after she was thrown the roof of a house Wednesday in Soi Lat Phrao 122.

BANGKOK — Meyanee Sitthisuk said she almost passed out Tuesday night when looked out her window and realized the object lying on a neighbor’s roof was her beloved pet Chihuahua.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890140-puppy-thrown-to-death-over-messy-room/

UPDATE:

Activists furious after Chihuahua puppy killed when thrown from 5th floor apartment
By Coconuts Bangkok


‘Deli’ the Chihuahua puppy, looking cute while she was alive, in a video released by her owner. Photo: Merika' Maken Lanes

BANGKOK: -- A woman has been charged with animal abuse after she allegedly threw a Chihuahua puppy from her fifth floor apartment in Wang Thonglang district last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890140-puppy-thrown-to-death-over-messy-room/?p=10358827#entry10358827

AIS Beats True Move to 4.5G Debut
BY JACOB MASLOW



BANGKOK: -- Advanced Info Service, a mobile leader in Thailand, announced that it will be rolling out Thailand’s first 4.5G service in March, beating rival True Move to the punch. Although AIS will be the first company to roll out commercial LTE advanced service in the country, it was the last of the three major companies to provide 4G service, trailing behind DTAC and True Move.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890222-ais-beats-true-move-to-45g-debut/

UPDATE:

Dozens injured in violent clash at Phuket sea gypsy village
Phuket Gazette


Rocks were placed to prevent access to the area and military personnel put on site to prevent further violence. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- More than 30 people were injured in a violent confrontation between private investors and sea gypsies in Phuket today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890210-moken-sea-gypsies-beaten-up-by-men-who-try-to-seize-their-land-in-phuket/#entry10358841

Plastic rice found in Nakhon Nayok



BANGKOK: -- Nakhon Nayok provincial police have launched an investigation to find out the source of plastic rice which was found to be mixed in a sack of rice bought from a market in Muang district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890223-plastic-rice-found-in-nakhon-nayok/

Death camp survivors mark 71 years since Auschwitz liberation



"I experienced hell on earth"

WARSAW: -- Survivors of the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz, in Poland, commemorated the 71st anniversary of the camp’s liberation by Soviet troops on Wednesday (January 27).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890224-death-camp-survivors-mark-71-years-since-auschwitz-liberation/

Japanese Emperor in the Philippines amid protest from wartime sex slaves



MANILA: -- Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko paid tribute to the Philippines’ World War II heroes in Manila on Wednesday (January 27).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890225-japanese-emperor-in-the-philippines-amid-protest-from-wartime-sex-slaves/

Who's Covering Up the Italian Statue Cover-Up?
ADAM CHANDLER

Controversial cultural sensitivities were laid bare after nude statues were obscured in Italy during a state visit by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. But no one is taking responsibility.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890226-whos-covering-up-the-italian-statue-cover-up/

Por's ashes floated in the sea at Sattahip



SATTAHIP: -- The ashes of the late TV star Tridsadee “Por” Sahawong were floated in the sea at Sattahip on Wednesday in a religious ceremony limited to family, relatives and close friends.

The Royal Thai Navy arranged for a naval vessel to take the group from Sattahip naval base to the sea about two miles from the shoreline where the ashes put in a container were floated.

The RTN also assigned a chaplain to perform religious ritual on board the vessel for the dead actor and his closed ones.

A group of Por’s fans from Bangkok and Chon Buri was on hand at the port to give a final farewell for their idol.

His Majesty the King kindly bestowed an ignition flame as a special case for Por to be used in his cremation on January 24.

The King’s kindness brought joy and pride to Por’s family.

Por died of complications from dengue fever after 70 days of treatment at Ramathibodi hospital on January 18. He was survived by his wife and a two-year old daughter.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/148414


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-28

France asks EU partners for new sanctions on Iran
By GEORGE JAHN and ELAINE GANLEY

PARIS (AP) — France has asked its European Union partners to consider new sanctions on Iran for its recent missile tests, officials have told The Associated Press, even as Paris welcomed the president of the Islamic Republic, which is flush with funds from the lifting of other sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890227-france-asks-eu-partners-for-new-sanctions-on-iran/

Voters conflicted on relevance of Clinton marriage drama
By NANCY BENAC

WASHINGTON (AP) — It's fair game. It's ancient history.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890228-voters-conflicted-on-relevance-of-clinton-marriage-drama/

Chaotic run-up to Syria peace talks reflects enormous gap
By ZEINA KARAM

BEIRUT (AP) — The invitations are sent and preparations are underway at the U.N.'s Palais des Nations in Geneva, where the first peace talks in two years on the conflict in Syria are to begin Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890230-chaotic-run-up-to-syria-peace-talks-reflects-enormous-gap/

Police probe Phra Phromsuthi's death from suicide



BANGKOK: -- Police are investigating the recent death of the former abbot of Wat Saket to determine the possibility that he may not have committed suicide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890232-bangkok-police-probe-phra-phromsuthis-death-from-suicide/

8 of the best airline deals for flying out of Bangkok this year
By STAFF WRITER



BANGKOK: -- January isn’t just for making resolutions – it’s also the time to score some pretty sweet flight discounts too.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890233-8-of-the-best-airline-deals-for-flying-out-of-bangkok-this-year/

Obama, Sanders at the White House: Nice chat but that's all
By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and his aides have said a lot of nice things about Bernie Sanders, but not this one: He's ready to be president.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/890234-obama-sanders-at-the-white-house-nice-chat-but-thats-all/