Child abduction story was fictional Phuket Police confirm
Tanyaluk Sakoot

The letter issued by the school today (Feb 19).

PHUKET: -- The Phuket School that on Tuesday (Feb 16) issued a letter on an alleged attempted child abduction in front of the school by a man driving a white van have today (Feb 19) issued a new letter explaining that the warning they initially issued is all a fictional story from a student.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....police-confirm/

PM not eyeing to extend power, urges cooperation from all sectors

Surapan Laotharanarit

BANGKOK, 19 February 2016 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has reaffirmed that newly-enacted laws are not intended to prolong his power while asking all sides to cooperate with him in propelling the country forward.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896462-pm-not-eyeing-to-extend-power-urges-cooperation-from-all-sectors/

Thai Premier League and Division 1 soccer tournaments to start on March 5

BANGKOK: National police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaichinda has been appointed president of Premier League Thailand Company by the president of the Football Association of Thailand, Pol Gen Somyot Poompunmuang.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896463-thai-premier-league-and-division-1-soccer-tournaments-to-start-on-march-5/

Deputy PM: Government's proposals to improve charter

Suwit Rattiwan

BANGKOK: Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the draft constitution will not make everyone satisfied, and that the first 13 suggestions proposed by the government would improve the draft law.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896465-deputy-pm-governments-proposals-to-improve-charter/

Pattaya Police hunt for Middle-Eastern Foreign Exchange Cheat

PATTAYA: In the early hours of Friday, the 33-year-old owner of a Foreign Exchange Booth, located in South Pattaya reported being scammed out of 100,000 Baht by a middle-eastern man during a transaction whereby Euro’s was converted to Thai Baht.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896466-pattaya-police-hunt-for-middle-eastern-foreign-exchange-cheat/

Forensic Police examine Pattaya Muay Thai Stadium Fire Damage

PATTAYA: On Friday the investigation into the severe fire at the Max Muay Thai Boxing Stadium in Central Pattaya began as the owner of the building revealed he had not taken out any insurance.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896467-forensic-police-examine-pattaya-muay-thai-stadium-fire-damage/?p=10441473

Man kills and buries his Uncle in Pig Sty at Pattaya Farm

PATTAYA: On Friday afternoon, Police made their way to a Chicken and Pig Farm located in the Huay Yai area following a confession by a 17-year-old boy who claimed he had killed his Uncle and then buries him in a shallow grave, inside a Pig Sty.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896468-man-kills-and-buries-his-uncle-in-pig-sty-at-pattaya-farm/

Kosovo opposition set off tear gas in parliament, again

Not for the first time, opposition lawmakers in Kosovo’s parliament have protested at deals with Serbia and Montenegro – by releasing tear gas in the chamber.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896469-kosovo-opposition-set-off-tear-gas-in-parliament-again/

ISS sends space junk back towards Earth to burn up

A cargo ship filled with rubbish has been released into space from the International Space Station.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896471-iss-sends-space-junk-back-towards-earth-to-burn-up/

To Kill A Mockingbird author Harper Lee dies

Harper Lee, the American novelist who wrote To Kill a Mocking Bird has died at the age of 89.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896472-to-kill-a-mockingbird-author-harper-lee-dies/

Missing Kenyan lions ‘return to Nairobi National Park’

Kenyan authorities sent park rangers into residential areas near Nairobi looking for several lions that had left a national park near the capital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896473-missing-kenyan-lions-return-to-nairobi-national-park/

3000-year-old wheel dug up from mud in the UK

By Catherine Hardy

The news

Archaeologists in the UK have unearthed what is thought to be the largest and oldest example of a wheel from the Bronze Age.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896475-3000-year-old-wheel-dug-up-from-mud-in-the-uk/

US says senior ISIL commander probably killed in Libya airstrike

US officials say it’s likely that a senior ISIL commander – linked to major attacks in Tunisia last year – was killed in air strikes on Libyan soil that destroyed a suspected training camp run by the self-styled Islamic State early on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896476-us-says-senior-isil-commander-probably-killed-in-libya-airstrike/

Syria: ISIL stronghold of al-Shadadi ‘captured by Kurdish-led forces’

A Syrian monitor is claiming that a strategically important ISIL stronghold in northeastern Syria has fallen to a Kurdish-led force backed by US-led air strikes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896477-syria-isil-stronghold-of-al-shadadi-captured-by-kurdish-led-forces/

Thousands pay respects to late US Justice Antonin Scalia

MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press
SAM HANANEL, Associated Press


WASHINGTON (AP) — The eight remaining U.S. Supreme Court justices joined family members, former law clerks and members of the public Friday in paying their respects to their late longtime colleague Antonin Scalia in a tradition-laden, solemn day at the marble courthouse atop Capitol Hill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896479-thousands-pay-respects-to-late-us-justice-antonin-scalia/

Eyewitness: Helicopter fell from sky into Pearl Harbor

JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER, Associated Press
AUDREY McAVOY, Associated Press


PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — Tourist Shawn Winrich was taking photos of Pearl Harbor when he saw a helicopter "essentially coming straight at us" at the popular tourist destination.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896480-eyewitness-helicopter-fell-from-sky-into-pearl-harbor/

Judge moves 'affluenza' teen's case to adult court

EMILY SCHMALL, Associated Press


FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A judge on Friday sent the Texas teenager who used an "affluenza" defense in a fatal drunken-driving wreck to adult court, raising the possibility that he could get jail time for the 2013 crash that killed four people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896481-judge-moves-affluenza-teens-case-to-adult-court/

Inmate who spent decades in solitary is released

KEVIN McGILL, Associated Press


NEW ORLEANS (AP) — An American inmate held for decades in solitary confinement was released Friday after pleading no contest to manslaughter and a lesser offense in the 1972 death of a prison guard.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896482-inmate-who-spent-decades-in-solitary-is-released/

Republicans get emotional on eve of South Carolina primary

STEVE PEOPLES, Associated Press
BILL BARROW, Associated Press


MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina (AP) — The Republican battle for South Carolina turned deeply personal on the eve of Saturday's presidential primary, as businessman Donald Trump eyed a delegate sweep and his Republican rivals fought for a southern surprise.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896483-republicans-get-emotional-on-eve-of-south-carolina-primary/

Egypt president calls for new law to hold police accountable

MAGGIE MICHAEL, Associated Press


CAIRO (AP) — The Egyptian president on Friday called for a new law or amending existing legislations to hold police accountable for abuses after an incident the previous night in which an officer shot and killed a truck driver who was ferrying goods for him in downtown Cairo.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896484-egypt-president-calls-for-new-law-to-hold-police-accountable/

Russian agencies clash over airport owner's case

VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV, Associated Press


MOSCOW (AP) — Russian law enforcement agencies clashed in court Friday in a case blaming the billionaire owner of the nation's biggest airport for alleged safety violations that officials say led to the deaths of 37 people in a suicide bombing five years ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896485-russian-agencies-clash-over-airport-owners-case/

Police Spokesman Prawut to be Indicted

By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter

Lt. Gen. Prawut Thavornsiri speaks in his capacity as police spokesman April 22, 2015, at the national police headquarters in Bangkok. Photo: Royal Thai Police

BANGKOK — High-ranking police officials including a well-known police spokesman will be prosecuted for allegedly installing a communications device atop Bangkok’s tallest building for a “suspicious purpose” during last August’s Bike for Mom event.

Lt. Gen. Prawut Thavornsiri and other unnamed officers face prosecution for malfeasance after their case was forwarded to the national police chief today, according to deputy police chief Sriwarah Rangsitpramkul.

Prawut has not been seen publicly since he was pulled from his post Oct. 27 when he seemed to be swept up in a crackdown on officials said to be abusing their connections to the monarchy.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1455886798

-- Khaosod English 2016-01-20

Poomtham: cabinet’s comments on charter draft a proof of the flaws of the draft

BANGKOK: The cabinet’s comments on various points of the charter draft is a clear indication that the draft is badly flawed, will not be accepted and may not sail through the referendum process, said Pheu Thai acting secretary-general Poomtham Wecchayachai on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896487-poomtham-cabinets-comments-on-charter-draft-a-proof-of-the-flaws-of-the-draft/?p=10441670

Xbot: New Android malware takes control of your phone and steals banking details

Security researchers have issued a warning about a new kind of Android malware designed to steal bank details and other confidential data from your tablet or smartphone.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/xbot-new-android-malware-takes-control-of-your-phone-and-steals-banking-details/13946/

AP EXPLAINS: Apple v FBI, is my iPhone safe?

NEW YORK (AP) — On Wednesday, a federal judge ordered Apple Inc. to help the FBI hack into an encrypted iPhone used by Syed Farook, who along with his wife, Tashfeen Malik, killed 14 people in December.

Specifically, the government wants Apple to bypass a self-destruct feature that erases the phone’s data after too many unsuccessful attempts to guess the passcode. Apple has helped the government before in this and previous cases, but this time Apple CEO Tim Cook said no and Apple is appealing the order.

What’s the big deal? Why isn’t Apple cooperating, and what does this mean for ordinary iPhone users? AP explains:

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/ap-explains-apple-v-fbi-is-my-iphone-safe/13956/

US would let Apple keep software to help FBI hack iPhone

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration told a U.S. magistrate judge on Friday it would be willing to allow Apple Inc. to retain possession of and later destroy specialized software it has been ordered to design to help the FBI hack into an encrypted iPhone used by the gunman in December’s mass shootings in California.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/us-would-let-apple-keep-software-to-help-fbi-hack-iphone/13954/

It’s a deal: Cameron hails ‘special status’ for Britain in EU

After hours of painstaking negotiations in Brussels, British Prime Minister David Cameron has reached an agreement with his European partners to give the UK as he puts it ‘special status in the EU’.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896507-its-a-deal-cameron-hails-special-status-for-britain-in-eu/

Virgin Galactic rolls out new space tourism rocket plane

JOHN ANTCZAK, Associated Press


MOJAVE, Calif. (AP) — Virgin Galactic rolled out a new version of its SpaceShipTwo space tourism rocket Friday as it prepares to return to flight testing for the first time since a 2014 accident destroyed the original craft, killing a pilot and setting back the nascent industry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896509-virgin-galactic-rolls-out-new-space-tourism-rocket-plane/

Brazil cuts budget by $6 billion amid recession

SAO PAULO (AP) — The Brazilian government Friday announced nearly $6 billion in spending cuts in its 2016 budget amid the country's worst recession in decades.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896511-brazil-cuts-budget-by-6-billion-amid-recession/

Bangkok airport safety issues 'must be addressed'

The airline industry has called on the Thai government to address problems at the country's main airport in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/896512-bangkok-airport-safety-issues-must-be-addressed/?p=10442304