Mass anti-government rally in Pristina to mark Kosovo independence



PRISTINA: -- Tens of thousands have gathered in the Kosovan capital, Pristina, to call for the resignation of the government and early elections.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895912-mass-anti-government-rally-in-pristina-to-mark-kosovo-independence/

Dreaming of Britain – Calais migrants don’t give up hope



"(In) Syria - if the situation is getting better. Believe me - most of the Syrian people will go back. Because we need somebody to go and build the country again"

CALAIS: -- As EU leaders set their sights on trying to reach a deal to keep the UK in the bloc, refugees in Calais are still longing to reach British shores.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895913-dreaming-of-britain-calais-migrants-dont-give-up-hope/

Dissidents fearful as Thailand, once a haven, favours China
BY ANDREW R.C. MARSHALL

BANGKOK: -- One night last month, Liu Xuehong stood weeping outside the gates of the United Nations headquarters in Bangkok, begging the guards to let her in.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895915-dissidents-fearful-as-thailand-once-a-haven-favours-china/

UPDATE:

Obama poo-poos Trump’s presidential ambitions



WASHINGTON: -- US President Barack Obama believes the Republican frontrunner in the race for the White House will lose out on the presidency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895647-obama-takes-on-donald-trump/page-4#entry10433911

Greece insists it's ready to register all migrants



ATHENS: -- Just hours before EU leaders meet in Brussels to discuss the issue, Athens has announced the opening on Wednesday of four migrant reception centres on some of its islands near Turkey.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895917-greece-insists-its-ready-to-register-all-migrants/

UPDATE:

Erdogan claims Turkey’s 'right to retaliate' after Ankara bombing



ANKARA: -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted immediately to the bombing, issuing an “official statement condemning the attack“

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895906-at-least-28-dead-as-car-bomb-targets-military-in-turkish-capital-ankara/#entry10433929

Apple resisting magistrate order to share iPhone information
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS



WASHINGTON (AP) — Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook says his company will fight a federal magistrate’s order to hack its users in connection with the investigation of the San Bernardino shootings, asserting that would undermine encryption by creating a backdoor that could potentially be used on other future devices.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/apple-resisting-magistrate-order-to-share-iphone-information/13907/

Study finds testosterone gel is no fountain of youth
By LINDSEY TANNER

CHICAGO (AP) — A landmark study suggests that testosterone treatment is no fountain of youth, finding mostly modest improvement in the sex lives, walking strength and mood of a select group of older men.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895921-study-finds-testosterone-gel-is-no-fountain-of-youth/

Nevada race tightens: A big test for Clinton's campaign
By LISA LERER and MICHELLE RINDELS

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada was supposed to be one of Hillary Clinton's safest bets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895923-nevada-race-tightens-a-big-test-for-clintons-campaign/

JACKSON, Ga. (AP) - Georgia executes former Navy crewman for killing sailor whose remains were found in 2 states .

Overstaying foreigners will face ban from re-entering Thailand



BANGKOK: -- Starting March 20, foreigners who overstay in Thailand for more than 90 days will be banned from re-entering the country as part of the immigration bureau’s new measure to tighten up security against ill-intent elements.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895943-overstaying-foreigners-will-face-ban-from-re-entering-thailand/

Georgia executes former Navy crewman

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia has executed a former Navy crewman for killing a fellow sailor whose dismembered remains were found in two states.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895945-georgia-executes-former-navy-crewman/

4 men involved in Malaysia immigration scam nabbed

JOHOR BARU: They sit inside toilets or hide in quiet corners during their break, secretly using Malaysian rubber stamps to help extend the stay of foreigners, especially women from China and Vietnam.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895947-4-men-involved-in-malaysia-immigration-scam-nabbed/

Migrant crisis: Austria sets asylum claims cap and transit limit

VIENNA: -- Austria will impose a daily quota on asylum claims and limit the flux of migrants travelling through the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895950-migrant-crisis-austria-sets-asylum-claims-cap-and-transit-limit/

2 LAPD officers accused of sexually assaulting women while on duty face charges
By Kate Mather

LOS ANGELES: -- Two Los Angeles police officers have been charged in connection with sexual assaults on four women, usually while the officers were on duty, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895953-2-lapd-officers-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-women-while-on-duty-face-charges/

Jakarta police on high alert amid terrorist threat of cyanide poisoning



JAKARTA: -- Jakarta police are on high alert amid a threat that Islamic State terrorists may be planning to use cyanide to kill Indonesian security officials, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895955-jakarta-police-on-high-alert-amid-terrorist-threat-of-cyanide-poisoning/

Joko to visit Silicon Valley, meet with Google, Facebook, Twitter executives



JAKARTA: -- The Jakarta Globe reported that Indonesia's President Joko Widodo will visit several high profile social media offices in Silicon Valley on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895956-joko-to-visit-silicon-valley-meet-with-google-facebook-twitter-executives/

US-Asean Connect initiative launched



BRUNEI: -- The US-Asean Connect initiative was unveiled yesterday as both sides upped efforts to integrate economies and reduce barriers to trade and investment, The Brunei Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895957-us-asean-connect-initiative-launched/

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama expected to visit Cuba in March

NBTC opens seminar on cyber security measures

BANGKOK, 18 February 2016 (NNT) – The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has confirmed the efficiency of current measures against cybercrime in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895958-nbtc-opens-seminar-on-cyber-security-measures/

DDPM begins drought-relief campaign

BANGKOK, 18 February 2016 (NNT) – The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has carried out a survey of 11 provinces severely hit by drought in preparation for the introduction of emergency measures.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895959-thai-ddpm-begins-drought-relief-campaign/

Chiang Rai's Mae Suai Dam in critical condition with water level declining to 3% of capacity

CHIANG RAI, 17 February 2016 (NNT) - The drought situation in Chiang Rai has caused the water volume in the province’s Mae Suai Dam to drop to 3.5 million cubic meters, or only 3 percent of the reservoir’s capacity.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895960-chiang-rais-mae-suai-dam-in-critical-condition-with-water-level-declining-to-3-of-capacity/

Hillary Clinton: I don't know if the US is ready for a female president
By Rob Crilly, New York

Democratic candidate says she is a better campaigner than when she lost to Barack Obama but that she still faces a struggle to persuade voters that a woman can do the top job

NEW YORK: -- Hillary Clinton believes she is a better candidate than her 2008 version but still wonders whether the US is ready for a female president.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895962-hillary-clinton-i-dont-know-if-the-us-is-ready-for-a-female-president/

SET up 11.59 points at opening /Bangkok Post

The comeback: Tiger population finally increasing in Thailand
By Coconuts Bangkok


A tiger caught on camera during the study. Photo: Wildlife Conservation Society

BANGKOK: -- The tiger population in Thailand is finally increasing after enhanced protection measures, a study has revealed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895964-the-comeback-tiger-population-finally-increasing-in-thailand/

President Obama expected to visit Cuba in March
KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is expected to visit Cuba next month as the two countries continue their efforts to normalize relations after a half-century of Cold War opposition.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895966-president-obama-expected-to-visit-cuba-in-march/

Villagers warned not to lit fire in water with bubbling gases



BANGKOK: -- Energy specialists have advised local residents not to lit fires or flames in and around the area surrounding a bubbling phenomenon at the Wang Chan dyke in Pong district of Phayao province, warning that it could explode.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895968-thai-villagers-warned-not-to-lit-fire-in-water-with-bubbling-gases/

UPDATE:

Trouble in Thailand as tourist deaths soar
Kate Schneider

SYDNEY: -- NEW figures have been released concerning tourist deaths in Thailand and they are so worrying that the local government has finally promised to work on improving visitor safety.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894593-thai-officials-investigate-a-54-increase-in-foreign-tourists-deaths/page-5?p=10434792#entry10434792

Turkish Ambassador visits Phuket, but not without some complaints
The Phuket News


The Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the Kingdom of Thailand Osman Bulent Tulun and Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthamkul. Photo: PR Department

PHUKET: -- The Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the Kingdom of Thailand made a visit to the island yesterday (Feb 16) to discuss diplomatic relations between Turkey and Phuket. However, the meeting didn’t go without the Ambassador making some complaints.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895975-turkish-ambassador-visits-phuket-but-not-without-some-complaints/

UPDATE:

Myanmar military chief, NLD leader begin third meeting



YANGON: -- A third meeting between military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to hammer out the terms of Myanmar’s political transition has begun in Naypyidaw Wednesday this afternoon, The Myanmar Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/895903-aung-san-suu-kyi-military-chief-meet-for-power-transition/#entry10434847