Large number of Buddhists attend Makha Puja Week at Royal Plaza

BANGKOK, 18 February 2016 (NNT) – Buddhism Promotion Week for Makha Puja activities organized by the government and Buddhist networks at Royal Plaza have been attended by a large number of Buddhists.

Those included teachers who have led their students to attending the activities in order to learn Dhamma religious teachings outside the classroom.

The Department of Religious Affairs has constructed a replica of Weluwan bamboo forest and temporarily placed a Ovatha Patimok Buddha statue built in Thailand for the Buddhists to worship and ask for blessings.

Various religious activities have been organized by over 20 agencies which the public may attend daily until February 22.


-- NNT 2016-02-18

PM to call in dissenting groups of monks for debate

BANGKOK, 18 February 2016 (NNT) – Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is planning to arrange talks between groups of monks and supporters involved in the current religious rift, hoping to bring a peaceful end to the issue.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895885-pm-prayut-to-call-in-dissenting-groups-of-monks-for-debate/

UPDATE:

PM warns he may resort to legal approach to end conflict over supreme patriarch’s appointment



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said that he would invite monks of opposing camps to debate on the appointment of a new supreme patriarch in an attempt to end the conflict between the two sides.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895885-pm-prayut-to-call-in-dissenting-groups-of-monks-for-debate/#entry10433680

Industrial confidence index drops for the first time in 5 months



BANGKOK: -- Industrial confidence index for the month of January dropped for the first time in five months to 86.3 points from last December’s 87.5 points, said Mr Suphan Mongkolsuthee, president of the Federation of Thai Industries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895886-thai-industrial-confidence-index-drops-for-the-first-time-in-5-months/

Nok Air management assures normal service after Monday 22



BANGKOK: -- Nok Air’s operations today (Wednesday) are not fully back to normal as the airline still has to rely on other airlines and charter flights to handle several of its passengers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895887-nok-air-management-assures-normal-service-after-monday-22/

Police Deny Torturing Bangkok Bombing Suspect
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Adem Karadag,31, aka Bilal Mohammed, is led Tuesday from the military court in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — The head investigator of Bangkok’s deadly August shrine bombing said today their chief suspect in the attack was never tortured as alleged by his lawyer, who may be charged for defaming the police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895888-police-deny-torturing-bangkok-bombing-suspect/

Monk protest leader to face charges of defying public gathering law



BANGKOK: -- Phra Metheethammacharn who led a rally by monks at Phutthamonthon Buddhist Park in Nakhon Pathom on Monday will be summoned to face charges of violating public gathering.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895889-monk-protest-leader-to-face-charges-of-defying-public-gathering-law/

Moon river dries up faster than usual in Buri Ram

BURI RAM: -- The Moon river in Buri Ram’s Satoek district has dropped sharply and prematurely exposing mid-river sand dunes and sparking off concern that they may not be enough water for consumption to last through the hot season.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895890-moon-river-dries-up-faster-than-usual-in-buri-ram/

NLA president says he does not know when the new parliament building will be completed



BANGKOK: -- The new parliament building at Kiakkai will not be completed within the extended deadline of December 15 this year and it is not known when exactly it will be completed, said National Legislative Assembly president Pornpetch Wichitvorachai on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895891-nla-president-says-he-does-not-know-when-the-new-parliament-building-will-be-completed/

Diesel price up 50 satang to 20.69 baht/litre



BANGKOK: -- PTT and Bangchak Petroleum have announced the increase of the pump price of diesel by 50 satang to 20.69 baht per litre effective as of 5 am on Thursday.

The prices of the other oil products remain unchanged as follows: 29.06 baht/litre for benzene 95, 22.10 baht/litre for gasohol 95, 21.68 baht/litre for gasohol 91, 19.54 baht/litre for E20 and 16.89 baht/litre for E85.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/151351


-- Thai PBS 2016-02-18

Anti-haze measures up North

CHIANG MAI: -- Chiang Mai authorities have prohibited people from burning grass or rubbish in an open-air space i for 60 days, or until April 15, to prevent the haze situation from worsening in the northern region.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895892-anti-haze-measures-up-north/

Commerce Ministry holds low-grade rice auction

BANGKOK: - Nine private firms submitted bids to buy about 240,000 tonnes of low-grade rice from 64 state warehouses, which accounted for 67% of the government's stockpiles, Foreign Trade Department director-general Duangporn Rodphaya said on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895893-thai-commerce-ministry-holds-low-grade-rice-auction/

UPDATE:

Husband Nabbed for Brutal Murder and Mutilation
by CityNews



CityNews – February 17th, the husband of Suree On-sanit, 46-year-old owner of Jasmine Thai massage and spa, has been arrested for her murder and mutilation. The body of Suree was found on Feb 14th, cut into six pieces and wrapped in slightly burned plastic.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895129-chiang-mai-woman-found-quartered-in-bedroom-on-valentines-day/page-3#entry10433738

Good Boy Returns Wallet to French Tourist
by CityNews

CityNews – A French couple, on holiday in Chiang Mai, had lost a wallet on the Sunday Walking Street this past weekend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895894-good-boy-returns-wallet-to-french-tourist-in-chiang-mai/

Crazed woman threatens to jump and stab Police in Central Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Wednesday Police were called to a commercial building in Soi Buakhao following reports of a woman who was threatening to jump off a 3rd floor balcony.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895895-crazed-woman-threatens-to-jump-and-stab-police-in-central-pattaya/

Man with gun and drugs caught at South Pattaya Police Checkpoint



BANGKOK: -- Just before 1am on Thursday, Police at a Checkpoint in South Pattaya stopped a car and its driver and discovered a loaded handgun and a small quantity of class 1 drugs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895896-man-with-gun-and-drugs-caught-at-south-pattaya-police-checkpoint/

Auto Theft suspect from the North-East arrested in Pattaya thanks to GPS Tracking



PATTAYA: -- On Wednesday afternoon, the Pattaya Police Chief announced the arrest of a 41-year-old man accused of stealing two rented vehicles from the North-East of Thailand who was also found to have 3 outstanding arrest warrants in Pattaya and elsewhere in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895898-auto-theft-suspect-from-the-north-east-arrested-in-pattaya-thanks-to-gps-tracking/

National Digital Radio in Thailand for Expats - Win 1 of 10 Thaivisa Radio T-Shirts

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895899-national-digital-radio-in-thailand-for-expats-win-1-of-10-thaivisa-radio-t-shirts/

Though None May Listen, Law Experts Go Through Democratic Motions on Charter
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer


Audience members at a Chulalongkorn University seminar display their opposition Feb. 8 to the junta-sponsored draft charter in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — A dozen men and women stoically push on, deliberating what should be amended in nearly every article of law proposed for the kingdom’s future. While they could almost be mistaken for members of the junta-appointed Constitution Drafting Committee, they are not.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895900-though-none-may-listen-law-experts-go-through-democratic-motions-on-thai-charter/

North Korean Follows Path to Freedom in Bangkok
By Simon Duncan
Assistant Editor


Hyeonseo Lee talks to the press Friday Feb. 12, 2016, at the Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok.

BANGKOK — In January 2008, Hyeonseo Lee boarded a flight from Shanghai to Bangkok via Seoul. Lee differed from the millions of Chinese who fly to Thailand each year: Her Chinese passport was fake.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895901-north-korean-follows-path-to-freedom-in-bangkok/

Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference Kicks off in Chiang Rai

CHIANG RAI – The PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2016 kicked off in Thailand’s northernmost province of Chiang Rai, welcoming more than 200 top travel executives who promote adventure and sustainable travel options in destinations throughout the world.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895902-adventure-travel-and-responsible-tourism-conference-kicks-off-in-chiang-rai/

Aung San Suu Kyi, military chief meet for power transition
Source: Xinhua

YANGON, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Leader of Myanmar's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) Aung San Suu Kyi met with Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services Min Aung Hlaing on Wednesday for the third time on rule of law and continued undertakings for lasting peace.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895903-aung-san-suu-kyi-military-chief-meet-for-power-transition/

U.S. Sex Offenders Challenge New Passport Law

SAN FRANCISCO – A civil rights group has filed a lawsuit challenging a law that will require sex offenders to be identified on their passports.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895904-us-sex-offenders-challenge-new-passport-law/

Bangkok strives to be 'smart city' to ease traffic
YUKAKO ONO, Nikkei staff writer

BANGKOK -- Seeking ways to solve issues in a rapidly urbanizing Thailand, Japanese companies, academics and the Thai government are working together to create so-called "smart cities" in the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895905-bangkok-strives-to-be-smart-city-to-ease-traffic/

BREAKING

At least 28 dead as car bomb targets military in Turkish capital Ankara
By Alasdair Sandford | With REUTERS



ANKARA: -- A bomb attack in the heart of the Turkish capital Ankara – apparently targeting the country’s military – has killed nearly 30 people and injured more than 60.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895906-at-least-28-dead-as-car-bomb-targets-military-in-turkish-capital-ankara/

Yemen struggles to see way out of war
By Robert Hackwill



NEW YORK: -- The war in Yemen approaches its 11th month in an atmosphere of mounting civilian casualties, accuses the UN, which says it has the figures to prove it. It is turning into a terrible slaughter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895907-yemen-struggles-to-see-way-out-of-war/

Moscow authorities defend bulldozing of small businesses



MOSCOW: -- The authorities in Moscow have defended their right to demolish small businesses they say are illegal and unsafe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895908-moscow-authorities-defend-bulldozing-of-small-businesses/

Putin and Orban talk migrants, EU relations and gas in Moscow



MOSCOW: -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Moscow.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895909-putin-and-orban-talk-migrants-eu-relations-and-gas-in-moscow/

Egypt's best known journalist Mohamed Heikal dies at 92



CAIRO: -- Mohamed Hassanein Heikal, the Arab world’s best known political commentator, died on Wednesday at age 92, Egyptian state television reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895910-egypts-best-known-journalist-mohamed-heikal-dies-at-92/

Erdogan: Turkey will 'give as good as it gets' against Kurdish forces



"Turkey will give as good as it gets"

ANKARA: -- Turkey’s president has insisted that the country’s military will not stop shelling Kurdish positions in Syria in response to cross-border fire.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895911-erdogan-turkey-will-give-as-good-as-it-gets-against-kurdish-forces/