North Korea 'executes' army chief, Seoul reports



SEOUL: -- North Korea is reported to have carried out the latest in a series of high-profile executions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894075-north-korea-executes-army-chief-seoul-reports/

Pope raises concerns for Christians in talks with Iraqi PM Abadi



ROME: -- Pope Francis hosted Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Wednesday and raised concerns about the desperate plight of Christians and other minorities in the war-torn country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894077-pope-raises-concerns-for-christians-in-talks-with-iraqi-pm-abadi/

Sanders and Trump make the noise in New Hampshire



MANCHESTER, N.H.: -- Democrat Bernie Sanders and Republican Donald Trump have blown open the US presidential race with significant victories in the New Hampshire primary.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894078-sanders-and-trump-make-the-noise-in-new-hampshire/

Turkey lashes out over UN demands to open Syria border to refugees



ANKARA: -- A war of words has intensified over Turkey’s decision to keep its border closed to tens of thousands of Syrians fleeing violence in Aleppo.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894079-turkey-lashes-out-over-un-demands-to-open-syria-border-to-refugees/

Turkey blames US for 'sea of blood’' in region



"You haven't had a grasp of the nature of the groups before now, and that's why the region is a sea of blood."

ANKARA: -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lashed out at Washington for not acknowledging Syria’s Kurdish Democratic Union (PYD) as an extremist organisation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894080-turkey-blames-us-for-sea-of-blood-in-region/

France: MPs back constitutional changes to strip passports from those convicted of terrorism



PARIS: -- The majority of MPs in France’s lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, have approved controversial amendments to the country’s constitution in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894081-france-mps-back-constitutional-changes-to-strip-passports-from-those-convicted-of-terrorism/

Italian paramilitary police arrest 109 suspected Mafia members



PALERMO: -- A night time anti-Mafia operation in eastern Sicily has resulted in the arrests of 109 people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894082-italian-paramilitary-police-arrest-109-suspected-mafia-members/

IMF warns Ukraine to tackle corruption or bailout stops



NEW YORK: -- The International Monetary Fund has warned Ukraine that it will block its $40bn bailout programme if Kyiv fails to confront crippling corruption.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894083-imf-warns-ukraine-to-tackle-corruption-or-bailout-stops/

Spanish speleologists rescued from French abyss



PARIS: -- Authorities in the south west of France have rescued seven Spanish speleologists after 22 hours stuck at the bottom of a 300-metre deep abyss.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894084-spanish-speleologists-rescued-from-french-abyss/

Syrian monitoring group says at least 500 killed in Aleppo offensive



PARIS: -- Amateur video footage has emerged purporting to show the aftermath of airstrikes on Syria’s largest city.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894087-syrian-monitoring-group-says-at-least-500-killed-in-aleppo-offensive/

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius bows out of government



"I have led French diplomacy with pride and I have served it with pleasure"

PARIS: -- French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius received a standing ovation in the country’s National Assembly on Wednesday after announcing that he was leaving the government, ahead of a wider cabinet reshuffle.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894088-french-foreign-minister-laurent-fabius-bows-out-of-government/

Sirhan Sirhan, assassin of Robert Kennedy, denied parole
By ELLIOT SPAGAT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — For the 15th time, officials denied parole for Sirhan Sirhan, the assassin of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, after hearing Wednesday from another person who was shot that night and called for Sirhan's release.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894090-sirhan-sirhan-assassin-of-robert-kennedy-denied-parole/

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ends 2016 White House bid
By JILL COLVIN

NASHUA, N.H. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie dropped out of the Republican nomination for president on Wednesday, a day after his disappointing sixth-place finish in New Hampshire's primary.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894093-new-jersey-gov-chris-christie-ends-2016-white-house-bid/

2 deputies killed, suspect dead in shopping center shootout
By JULIET LINDERMAN

ABINGDON, Md. (AP) — A gunman fatally shot a sheriff's deputy inside a crowded restaurant at lunchtime Wednesday and killed another deputy in a shootout, authorities and witnesses said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894095-2-deputies-killed-suspect-dead-in-us-shopping-center-shootout/

UPDATE:

Brit refused entry to Thailand after ripping out passport pages to use for toilet paper during drunken night out

Faye Wilson, 28, was left red-faced after having to explain to Thai immigration officials what happened to the vital document

LONDON: -- A British woman was refused entry to Thailand after using her passport as toilet paper during a drunken night out.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894072-brit-refused-entry-to-thailand-after-ripping-out-passport-pages-to-use-as-toilet-paper/?p=10409288#entry10409288

Hollywood spoofs Donald Trump in 'Funny or Die' movie
By Gregory Krieg, CNN

Washington (CNN)Johnny Depp is no stranger to outlandish film roles, but he has never tried his hand -- or hair -- at newly crowned New Hampshire GOP primary winner Donald Trump.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894112-hollywood-spoofs-donald-trump-in-funny-or-die-movie/

Australian deputy prime minister announces retirement
ROD McGUIRK, Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia's deputy prime minister announced his retirement Thursday, with the prime minister likely to announce a cabinet reshuffle before elections due this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894113-australian-deputy-prime-minister-announces-retirement/

Bang Kwang prison’s commandant removed after some 10 cellphones were found in prison



BANGKOK: -- The commandant of Bang Kwang maximum security prison has been removed after police seized more than 10 cellphones from some prisoners who allegedly conducted drugs trade from the prison.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894116-bang-kwang-prison-chief-removed-after-cellphones-found-in-maximum-security-jail/

Princess Sirindhorn visits royal northern projects

CHIANG RAI, 11 February 2016 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is paying a visit to the northern province of Chiang Rai from February 9-12.

On her second-day visit to the province, Her Royal Highness went to the Doi Tung Royal Development Project area in Mae Fa Luang District to observe the progress of the Black Bengal goat rearing project aimed at creating a source of income for poor villagers in the district.

The goat farming here was started in 2010 when Her Royal Highness graciously granted three Black Bengal goats that the People’s Republic of Bangladesh had presented to her for breeding and distribution to farmers. Her Royal Highness then instructed the Mae Fa Luang Foundation and the Chaipattana Foundation to bring the project to its goal. The goats, one male and two female, were then raised by the Livestock Department at the Doi Tung Royal Development Project area.

The Black Bengal goat breed has outstanding characteristics in that it produces many goats in short time. Female goats become pregnant twice a year and give birth to 2-4 baby goats each time. Despite its small size with a height of 40-60 centimeters, the goat’s milk, skin and meat are in great demand. The goat milk prevents tuberculosis and asthma. Raising Black Bengal goat is considered perfect as an additional source of income for farmers.


-- NNT 2016-02-11

Four killed in Malang plane crash, Air Force chief confirms



JAKARTA: -- Four people – two civilians, a pilot and a flight engineer – were confirmed to have died when an Indonesian Air Force training aircraft crashed into a residential area in Malang, East Java, on Wednesday, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894120-four-killed-in-malang-plane-crash-indonesia-air-force-chief-confirms/

SET down 2.62 points at opening /Bangkok Post

New Lao-Thai bridge construction expected to begin in 2019

VIENTIANE: -- The construction of 5th Lao-Thai Mekong Friendship Bridge, which will connect Laos’ Borikhamxay Province to Thailand’s Bueng Kan Province, is expected to begin in 2019, Lao News Agency reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894121-new-lao-thai-bridge-construction-expected-to-begin-in-2019/

UPDATE:

Brit denied entry to Thailand after she used passport pages as loo roll


Featured image is via ThaiCallTaxi

BANGKOK: -- British woman Faye Wilson was denied entry into Thailand recently when immigration officials spotted that her passport was missing a number of pages.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894072-brit-refused-entry-to-thailand-after-ripping-out-passport-pages-to-use-as-toilet-paper/page-3?p=10409836#entry10409836

Indonesia discusses security cooperation, Middle East peace efforts with Russia



JAKARTA: -- President Joko Widodo met with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay P Petrushev in Jakarta on Wednesday to discuss security cooperation, including Indonesia's peace efforts in the Middle East, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894123-indonesia-discusses-security-cooperation-middle-east-peace-efforts-with-russia/

Boy loses half his foot in KL Sentral escalator mishap

KUALA LUMPUR: -- A four-year-old boy lost half of his left foot when it got trapped in an escalator at KL Sentral on Monday, New Straits Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894127-boy-loses-half-his-foot-in-kl-sentral-escalator-mishap/

Five killed in military plane crash in Naypyidaw



YANGON: -- Five people were killed in a military plane crash in Naypyidaw on Wednesday morning, The Myanmar Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894129-five-killed-in-military-plane-crash-in-naypyidaw/

Cambodia orphanage director jailed for abusing children

PHNOM PENH: A court on Wednesday (Feb 10) jailed a Cambodian orphanage director who once crusaded against child abuse for three years for committing "indecent acts" against children in his care.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894085-cambodia-orphanage-director-jailed-for-abusing-children/

Six orangutans returned from Thailand flown back to their habitat in Kalimantan



JAKARTA: -- Six orangutans were flown from Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang to Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, on Wednesday, The Jakarta Post reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894136-six-orangutans-returned-from-thailand-flown-back-to-their-habitat-in-kalimantan/

Speedboat hits floating timber at sea with 63 tourists on board

PHUKET: -- A speedboat with 63 foreign tourists on board hit a floating timber while it was returning from Similan Island to shore, cracking its bottom and slowly sinking.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894139-speedboat-hits-floating-timber-at-sea-with-63-tourists-on-board/

GPF urges members to save extra money



BANGKOK, 11 February 2016 (NNT) – The Government Pension Fund (GPF) is encouraging its members to save more money with the fund through new service, says official.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894141-thai-gpf-urges-members-to-save-extra-money/