Phuket Governor orders authorities on high alert for undisclosed terror threat



PHUKET: Governor Chamroen Thipyapongthada has ordered all police and military commanders on the island to be on high alert for a terror attack, and to coordinate and carry out checkpoints at and near all of the island's prime tourist zones.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894886-phuket-governor-orders-authorities-on-high-alert-for-undisclosed-terror-threat/

Security beefup in Pattani's Muang district

PATTANI: -- Security in Pattani’s Muang district has been beefed up as a precaution against possible revenge attacks by militants following the raid of a small bomb-making factory in Nong Chik district on February 10.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894967-security-beefup-in-pattanis-muang-district/

Poll shows most people are not adequately informed about charter draft to vote



BANGKOK: -- Only 7.22 percent of the people are fully informed about the content of the charter draft while 16.1 percent know nothing about it because they are not interested in the issue at all, according to Suan Dusit Poll of Suan Dusit University.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894968-thai-poll-shows-most-people-are-not-adequately-informed-about-charter-draft-to-vote/

Singapore's freighter hits embankment in Phra Pradaeng district



BANGKOK: -- A Singapore-registered freighter collided into the embankment of Larn Khon Muang recreation centre in Phra Pradaeng district of Samut Prakan Sunday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894969-singapore-registered-freighter-hits-embankment-in-phra-pradaeng-district/

Pilot protest forces Nok Air to cancel nine flights

BANGKOK: -- A protest by a small group of pilots has forced Nok Air to cancel nine flights on Sunday causing hundreds of passengers to be stranded at Don Meuang international airport.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894970-pilot-protest-forces-nok-air-to-cancel-nine-flights/

3,486 Couples married on Valentine's Day

BANGKOK, 15 February 2016 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has revealed that the number of couples who completed wedding registrations on the 14th February in the capital's 38 districts stands at 3,486, an increase of 578 compared to last year’s Valentine's’ Day.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894974-3486-couples-married-in-bangkok-on-valentines-day/

CDC: new senate election system allows for more public participation

BANGKOK, 15 February 2016 (NNT) – The Constitution Drafting Commission has given an assurance that the new senate election system will allow for more public participation than ever before.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894976-cdc-new-senate-election-system-allows-for-more-public-participation/

NRSA's Alongkorn suggests public consider issues in Thailand before reviewing draft charter

BANGKOK, 15 February 2016 (NNT) – A vice president of the National Reform Steering Assembly has suggested the public consider all pressing issues Thailand has been facing before reviewing the draft Constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894978-nrsas-alongkorn-suggests-public-consider-issues-in-thailand-before-reviewing-draft-charter/

CDC confirms new draft charter protects freedoms more than its predecessors

BANGKOK, 15 February 2016 (NNT) – The Constitution Drafting Commission has confirmed that the new version of the draft charter protects freedoms more than any earlier charters have.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894979-cdc-confirms-new-draft-charter-protects-freedoms-more-than-its-predecessors/

CCCIF expects Thai fishing problems resolved in three to six years



BANGKOK, 15 February 2016 (NNT) – The Command Center for Combating Illegal Fishing (CCCIF) speculates Thailand's illegal fishing problems to be completely resolved in three to six years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894981-cccif-expects-thai-fishing-problems-resolved-in-three-to-six-years/

Vocational schools meet on possible merger



BANGKOK, 15 February 2016 (NNT) - The Vocational Education Commission (VEC) has convened a meeting of executives of vocational schools following the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s command to merge public schools with private schools.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894982-vocational-schools-meet-on-possible-merger/

State-owned bank giving out soft loans to Thai SMEs



BANGKOK, 15 February 2016 (NNT) – The Government Savings Bank (GSB) has been offering soft loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in a bid to help them improve liquidity.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894983-state-owned-bank-giving-out-soft-loans-to-thai-smes/

Interior Ministry expedites urgent solution to wildfire problem

BANGKOK, 15 February 2016 (NNT) – Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry Krissada Boonyarat has disclosed that the Interior Ministry has instructed all Northern and Northeastern provinces to accelerate forest fires and haze mitigation efforts, since the situation is getting critical especially in the provinces of Lampang, Chiang Mai and Lamphun.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894984-thai-interior-ministry-expedites-urgent-solution-to-wildfire-problem/

Commerce Min: Thailand must grow rice according to market demand

BANGKOK, 15 February 2016 (NNT) – The Ministry of Commerce said it is necessary that Thailand produce rice according to the actual demand in the market.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894985-commerce-min-thailand-must-grow-rice-according-to-market-demand/

Chipped paint found under sunken Similan speedboat

PHANG NGA, 15 February 2016 (NNT) – Marine officials have spotted a long strip of missing paint on the bottom of the tourist boat that sank near the Similan Islands last week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894986-chipped-paint-found-under-sunken-similan-speedboat/

Uzbekistan Tourist beaten and 'robbed' by Baht Bus Driver in South Pattaya

PATTAYA: - In the early hours of Saturday, a 21-year-old Uzbekistan man reported being assaulted and allegedly robbed of money and his passport close to the entrance of Walking Street in South Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894987-uzbekistan-tourist-beaten-and-robbed-by-baht-bus-driver-in-south-pattaya/

Pattaya Soi 6 Bar searches for Ladyboy thief



PATTAYA: -- On Saturday a CCTV video was posted on Facebook which reportedly showed a Ladyboy stealing money from behind the counter of a Beer Bar in Soi 6 off Pattaya Beach Road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894988-pattaya-soi-6-bar-searches-for-ladyboy-thief/

South Pattaya Hotel Harassment allegations by Latex Foam Business owners.



PATTAYA: -- On Saturday a Russian business owner and his wife requested assistance from the local media to highlight a case of ongoing harassment from a local Hotel who, he claims, wants them to leave their shop.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894989-south-pattaya-hotel-harassment-allegations-by-latex-foam-business-owners/

Korean drugged by Ladyboy in Central Pattaya Hotel Room



PATTAYA: -- A South Korean Tourist reported being drugged and possibly robbed of money by a Ladyboy he invited to his hotel room for sex on Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894990-korean-drugged-by-ladyboy-in-central-pattaya-hotel-room/

British Man first to marry on Valentine’s Day in Pattaya



PATTAYA; -- A British man and his Thai partner were the first couple to be married at the District Office on Valentine’s Day in Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894991-british-man-first-to-marry-on-valentines-day-in-pattaya/

Thai Immigration Police Detain Russian on Interpol Wanted List

BANGKOK – A Russian national placed on the international wanted list for attempting to sell drugs has been arrested by Thai police, a counsellor at the Russian Embassy in Thailand said Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894993-thai-immigration-detain-russian-on-interpol-wanted-list/

Taiwan CDC issues travel advisory for Thailand over Zika virus
BY LARRY BANKS



BANGKOK: -- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of Taiwan issues its second-highest travel advisory (in a three-tier system) for Thailand on Sunday, after the World Health Organization listed the South East Asian nation as one of the countries that has reported cases of the Zika virus.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894994-taiwan-cdc-issues-travel-advisory-for-thailand-over-zika-virus/

Ex-national jumps coach makes leap to Thailand
BY LOW LIN FHOONG

Obidko tasked with winning medals for Thailand at SEA Games 2017

SINGAPORE — After spending more than a decade grooming some of the Republic’s talented young athletes, former national jumps coach Valeri Obidko has now moved to Thailand for a new challenge.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894996-ex-national-jumps-coach-makes-leap-to-thailand/

Russian man's ear sliced off by flying knife in Patong fish market fight
Eakkapop Thongtub


Photo: Kusoldham Phuket

PHUKET: -- A 36-year-old Russian man is recovering after an incident at a Patong fresh market in which his left ear was sliced off, and right eye slashed by a flying knife following a dispute over B600 with a Thai fish vendor.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894997-russian-mans-ear-sliced-off-by-flying-knife-in-patong-fish-market-fight/

Uni student, 21, beaten and gunned down by gang of 'jealous ex'
Darawan Naknakhon



PHUKET: -- A junior at Rajabhat Phuket University is in critical condition after he was beaten with a baseball bat before being shot down in what police believe was a fit of jealous rage.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894998-phuket-uni-student-21-beaten-and-gunned-down-by-gang-of-jealous-ex/

UK police arrest 16-year-old on suspicion of hacking US government agent data
BY LARRY BANKS



LONDON: - Days after 30,000 profiles of FBI agents and Homeland Security workers were leaked online on Sunday, police in the UK confirmed they have arrested a 16 year old in connection with hacking the data.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894999-uk-police-arrest-16-year-old-on-suspicion-of-hacking-us-government-agent-data/

British indie band members reported killed in Sweden car crash



STOCKHOLM: -- Members of British indie band Viola Beach have reportedly been killed in a car crash in Sweden.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895000-british-indie-band-members-reported-killed-in-sweden-car-crash/

Turkish military shells Kurdish-backed positions in Syria for second day



ANKARA: -- The Turkish army shelled positions held by Kurdish-backed fighters in northern Syria for a second day on Sunday (February 14), killing two fighters, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895001-turkish-military-shells-kurdish-backed-positions-in-syria-for-second-day/

Russia and US to boost cooperation to implement Syria ceasefire deal, says Kremlin

MUNICH: -- Russia and the US have agreed to intensify diplomatic and other cooperation to implement an agreement on Syria, struck in Munich.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895002-russia-and-us-to-boost-cooperation-to-implement-syria-ceasefire-deal-says-kremlin/

Women and children bear the brunt of violence in Afghanistan



NEW YORK: -- Civilian injuries in Afghanistan’s long war with the Taliban rose last year, with women and children again bearing the brunt of the violence, the United Nations said in a report on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895003-women-and-children-bear-the-brunt-of-violence-in-afghanistan/