Taxi driver arrested for abandoning elderly foreign tourist on Bangkok highway



BANGKOK:-- A Bangkok taxi driver has been arrested after he abandoned an 80 year foreign tourist on the side of a highway.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897596-taxi-driver-arrested-for-abandoning-elderly-foreign-tourist-on-bangkok-highway/

Despite Safety Assurances, More Tourists Hurt at Adventure Attractions
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Still image of someone jumping into ‘Grand Canyon Hangdong’ in Chiang Mai province in a video posted Aug. 24, 2015. Source: Palapilii Thailand / YouTube

CHIANG MAI — Two foreign tourists were hurt in separate incidents at Chiang Mai adventure tourism sites in the past week, four months after authorities pledged to improve safety standards in response to a string of incidents.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897747-despite-safety-assurances-more-tourists-hurt-at-adventure-attractions/

UPDATE:

'Missing' British Backpacker Flown Home
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Grace Taylor reunited with her uncle Tuesday night at Krabi International Airport. Photo: Courtesy Krabi tourism center

KRABI — A British tourist who was reported missing by her mother was escorted home last night by an uncle who arrived to make sure she returned safely.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897148-british-backpacker-grace-taylor-missing-in-thailand/page-19?p=10460373#entry10460373

War room set up to monitor and deal with smog and forest fires in the North



CHIANG MAI: -- The Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives has recently set up a war room to monitor and to deal with smog problem in northern provinces.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897748-war-room-set-up-to-monitor-and-deal-with-smog-and-forest-fires-in-the-north/

4-month government revenues exceed target by 7.9%



BANGKOK: -- Government revenues for the first four months of 2016 fiscal year starting last October amounted to 742 billion baht, representing 7.9 percent above target or 54.3 billion baht increase, according to Mr Krisda Chinavicharana, director of Fiscal Policy Office.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897750-4-month-thai-govt-revenues-exceed-target-by-79/

Justice minister reject OAG’s findings on Ratchapakdi park project



BANGKOK: -- The Office of Auditor-General’s investigating report on the Ratchapakdi park project has been rejected by Justice Minister Paiboon Kumchaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897751-thai-justice-minister-reject-oags-findings-on-ratchapakdi-park-project/

Two airmen injured in a plane crash in Nakhon Phanom



NAKHON PHANOM: -- A pilot and his assistant were injured when a two-seater training aircraft in which they were flying crashed into a tapioca plantation somewhere between Muang and Pone Sawan districts of Nakhon Phanom before noon yesterday (Wednesday).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897752-two-airmen-injured-in-a-plane-crash-in-nakhon-phanom/

Publicity campaign launched to cut water consumption by 30 percent



BANGKOK: -- Thai PBS in cooperation with ten organizations of the private and government sectors today announced the launch of a publicity campaign aimed to cut water consumption of up to 30 percent by members of the public, private and government sectors to ensure there is enough water to last through the worst dry season in 20 years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897753-publicity-campaign-launched-to-cut-water-consumption-by-30-percent/

Tourism ministry tackling illegal travel agencies

BANGKOK, 25 February 2016 (NNT) - Minister of Tourism Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul is urgently combating illegal travel agencies by setting up a special committee to tackle the problem.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897755-thai-tourism-ministry-tackling-illegal-travel-agencies/

Board of Investment aims to push more Thai investment abroad

BANGKOK, 25 February 2016 (NNT) – The Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) is aiming to encourage international investment by Thai investors throughout 2016 with more assistance, trainings, and troubleshooting sessions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897756-boi-aims-to-push-more-thai-investment-abroad/

Analysts: Economic reform in China to benefit Thai businesses

BANGKOK, 25 February 2016 (NNT) – The Economic Intelligence Center (EIC) of Siam Commercial Bank has predicted that many new opportunities will open up for Thai entrepreneurs as a result of China’s economic reform.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897757-analysts-economic-reform-in-china-to-benefit-thai-businesses/

ASEAN CEOs rank Thailand among top investment destinations

BANGKOK, 25 February 2016 (NNT) – Thailand has been placed among the top five destinations for investment by business executives in ASEAN despite their lower confidence in the economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897758-asean-ceos-rank-thailand-among-top-investment-destinations/

ASEAN unites in narcotics prevention workshop

BANGKOK, 25 February 2016 (NNT) – Member states from ASEAN have joined hands in a drug monitoring workshop meant to push forward an international information database concerning illegal drugs, according to Narcotics Control Board (NCB) Deputy Secretary-General Naramon Chuangrungsi.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897759-asean-unites-in-narcotics-prevention-workshop/

Japanese Man Arrested For Gun Possession, Yakuza Links
by CityNews



CityNews – A Japanese national was arrested in his house in The Grand Village, Nong Hoi, for possession of a firearm and bullets without a licence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897760-japanese-man-arrested-in-chiang-mai-for-gun-possession-yakuza-links/

Brother Killed After Argument With Knives Turns Fatal
by CityNews



CityNews – One man was left dead after two brothers argued with knives resulting in a fatal stab wound on February 21.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897761-brother-killed-after-argument-with-knives-turns-fatal/

'NO SMOKING, NO INDIA': Casual racism in Thailand
By Taimoor N. Sobhan


The flat listings shown to the author. Photo: Taimoor N. Sobhan

OPINION — This piece of paper was given to me while I was out flat hunting.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897763-no-smoking-no-india-casual-racism-in-thailand/

New series 'GayOk Bangkok' poised to promote HIV testing through realistic drama
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- The new YouTube series "GayOk Bangkok" which follows the lives of 6 Thai gay men has recently launched to encourage gents to keep their sexual health in check.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897764-new-series-gayok-bangkok-poised-to-promote-hiv-testing-through-realistic-drama/

World ski body pays to end defamation claim by Vanessa-Mae


File photo. Source: Internet

OBERHOFEN, Switzerland (AP) — The International Ski Federation has settled a defamation claim by Vanessa-Mae after wrongly accusing her of helping fix races so she could qualify for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897765-world-ski-body-pays-to-end-defamation-claim-by-vanessa-mae/

UPDATE:

Thai Doctors Struggle to Save Baby Stabbed 14 Times and then Buried in Khon Kaen, Thailand

KHON KAEN – Thai Doctors have been trying to save the life of a new-born baby boy who was stabbed 14 times and buried in a rice field in a village in Waeng Yai district at Khon Kaen provincial hospital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897566-khon-kaen-baby-survives-being-buried-alive/#entry10460463

Thailand's Sugar Supplies Scaled Back by 650,000 Tonnes by ISO
BY JACOB MASLOW



BANGKOK: -- The International Sugar Organization (ISO) has announced that sugar will not reach its supply forecasts as demand continues to grow. Output levels have fallen in recent months, and the London-based organization increased its sugar deficit forecast to 5 million tonnes amid lower output in Brazil, the European Union, India and Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897766-thailands-sugar-supplies-scaled-back-by-650000-tonnes-by-iso/

HP’s Elite X3 smartphone can double up as a desktop PC
BY STAFF WRITER



It is fair to say that Windows phones have received some mixed reviews of the years and indeed Microsoft have often been their own worst enemy but now the computer giant seems happy to let other manufacturers showcase their ideas.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/hps-elite-x3-smartphone-can-double-up-as-a-desktop-pc/14067/

Facebook and Samsung join forces on nascent VR market
BY STAFF WRITER

The world’s biggest mobile trade show in Barcelona is about much more than just mobile phones: the future, according to Mark Zuckerberg, is virtual reality. The Facebook boss surprised audiences as he took to the stage at the new Samsung Galaxy launch show.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/facebook-and-samsung-join-forces-on-nascent-vr-market/14071/

HTC Vive VR headset announced at MWC 2016
BY STAFF WRITER



For those of you who like or should that be love gaming a new device is about to hit the streets with HTC just announcing their Vive headset at the MWC2016.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/htc-vive-vr-headset-announced-at-mwc-2016/14074/

For some turned-off GOP voters, grudging acceptance of Trump
By JULIE PACE

MIDLOTHIAN, Va. (AP) — Sheila Covert is worried about Donald Trump.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897767-for-some-turned-off-gop-voters-grudging-acceptance-of-trump/

Republicans barrel toward Super Tuesday
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and CALVIN WOODWARD

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — Republicans are barreling toward Super Tuesday with another debate in the offing and Donald Trump's opponents reaching for perhaps their last best chance to knock him off stride for the presidential nomination.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897768-republicans-barrel-toward-super-tuesday/

White House considers Nevada Gov. Sandoval for Supreme Court
By MARY CLARE JALONICK

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is considering Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval of Nevada as a possible nominee to the Supreme Court, two people familiar with the process said Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897769-white-house-considers-nevada-gov-sandoval-for-supreme-court/

Erdogan says Syria ceasefire plan will only serve to benefit Assad
By Seamus Kearney



"We want to say frankly that these voices are a call for war rather than for peace"

ANKARA: -- A US-Russian plan for a ceasefire in Syria has been heavily criticised by the Turkish President, who claims it will really only serve to benefit the Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897770-erdogan-says-syria-ceasefire-plan-will-only-serve-to-benefit-assad/

Belgium turns back migrants and refugees at border with France



BRUSSELS: -- Migrants and refugees arriving at the Belgian town of La Panne, on the border with France, on Wednesday were being turned back by police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897771-belgium-turns-back-migrants-and-refugees-at-border-with-france/

Rescued Swedish teenager describes ‘hard life’ under ISIL in Iraq



ANKARA: -- A Swedish teenager rescued from ISIL fanatics in Iraq has said she was duped into going there by her boyfriend, describing life in the so-called caliphate as “really hard”.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897772-rescued-swedish-teenager-describes-hard-life-under-isil-in-iraq/

Full story:

UNHCR despairs over lack of solidarity in Europe in handling refugee crisis



"We are seeing on one hand increasing closures, and on the other hand no openings"

GENEVA: -- The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, on Wednesday criticised the lack of solidarity across in Europe in addressing the migration crisis.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897773-unhcr-despairs-over-lack-of-solidarity-in-europe-in-handling-refugee-crisis/