Gen Chavalit calls for election to be held this year



BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh urged the National Council for Peace and Order to stage an election within this year in order to let the new elected government to tackle political, social and economic problems.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898027-gen-chavalit-calls-for-election-to-be-held-this-year/

190,000 yaba pills seized in Lampang, 3 arrested

Image: Khaosod.co.th

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897969-190000-yaba-pills-seized-in-lampang-3-arrested/

Chinese RV arrivals in Phuket spur talks on total ban
Darawan Naknakhon

PHUKET: -- Officials in Phuket are considering a total ban on recreational vehicles (RVs) following a recent influx of Chinese RV tourists parking up at tourist areas on the island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898005-chinese-rv-arrivals-in-phuket-spur-talks-on-total-ban/

Seven year old Swiss boy dies after being electrocuted on Samui beach



SURAT THANI: -- A seven year old Swiss boy has died after being electrocuted by an exposed power cable as he played on a beach in Maenam, Koh Samui.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897968-seven-year-old-swiss-boy-dies-after-being-electrocuted-on-samui-beach/

UPDATE:

Doctor says earth helps save stabbed baby from death

KHON KAEN: -- The new-born baby who survived 14 knife wounds and underground burial escaped death miraculously because all the wounds were covered with earth which helped stop the bleeding and loss of blood, said Dr Charnchai Chanvorachaikul, director of Khon Kaen provincial hospital, on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/897566-khon-kaen-baby-survives-being-buried-alive/page-3?p=10464487#entry10464487

OAG insists it has done a good job in probing Ratchapakdi park project



BANGKOK: -- The Office of the Auditor-General has defended that it has done its job completely regarding the investigation into to the Ratchapakdi park project regarding the 20 million baht in donations to the Ratchapakdi Foundation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898028-oag-insists-it-has-done-a-good-job-in-probing-ratchapakdi-park-project/

Nok Air to cancel more flights until March 10



BANGKOK: -- Nok Air has informed the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand that it will cancel an average of 10 flights day until March 10 and will transfer its passengers to its allied airlines, said Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisit today (Thursday).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898029-nok-air-to-cancel-more-flights-until-march-10/

General Thanasak insists cable car to be built at Phu Kradung



LOEI: -- The government will press ahead with the construction of a cable car to the Phu Kradung mountainous retreat because 99.9 percent of the people agree with the project, Deputy Prime Minister Thanasak Patimaprakorn said on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898031-general-thanasak-insists-cable-car-to-be-built-at-phu-kradung/

Kamnan shot dead in a firefight with 4 assailants



PATTANI: -- A kamnan was fatally shot in a hot pursuit on a road in Mayo district of Pattani Wednesday evening.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898032-kamnan-shot-dead-in-a-firefight-with-4-assailants-in-pattani/

Exports lowest in 4 years

BANGKOK, 26 February 2016 (NNT) - Thai exports in January this year made a four-year record low following the vulnerable global economy and decreasing oil price, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898033-thai-exports-lowest-in-4-years/

CDC affirms charter drafting has been based on problems of Thailand

BANGKOK, 26 February 2016 (NNT) – The Constitution Drafting Commission has affirmed that the charter drafting process is based on the problems Thailand has faced.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898034-cdc-affirms-charter-drafting-has-been-based-on-problems-of-thailand/

CDC has denied claims of higher power above elected government

BANGKOK, 26 February 2016 (NNT) – The Constitution Drafting Commission has denied claims that the new charter will include a higher power to control any elected government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898035-thai-cdc-has-denied-claims-of-higher-power-above-elected-government/

Thailand tops list of world's 15 happiest economies: Bloomberg

BANGKOK, 26 February 2016 (NNT) - Bloomberg's Misery Index 2016 reported that Thailand has topped a list of 15 Happiest Economies in the World for two consecutive years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898036-thailand-tops-list-of-worlds-15-happiest-economies-bloomberg/

NRSA to start deliberation of proposed reform of police structure on 29 Feb - Whip

BANGKOK, 26 February 2016 (NNT) – The National Reform Steering Assembly is scheduled to start the deliberation of the proposed reform of the country’s police next week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898037-nrsa-to-start-deliberation-of-proposed-reform-of-thai-police-structure-on-29-feb/

EC to start distributing draft charter copies in mid-April

BANGKOK, 26 February 2016 (NNT) – The Election Commission of Thailand is planning to distribute copies of the new draft charter to the public within the next two months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898038-ec-to-start-distributing-draft-charter-copies-in-mid-april/

White Temple to Charge Foreign Visitors
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


The White Temple Photo: We Love Ajarn Chalermchai Kositpipat / Facebook

CHIANG RAI — A popular art temple in Chiang Rai province will start collecting entrance fees from foreign visitors later this year, its owner said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898040-white-temple-in-chiang-rai-to-charge-foreign-visitors/

Loss of Purse leads to apparent Suicide in North Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- On Thursday afternoon, Police and medics were called to a rented apartment in Soi Loilang in North Pattaya after its occupant was discovered hanging from a steel window grill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898041-loss-of-purse-leads-to-apparent-suicide-in-north-pattaya/

North Pattaya Police Checkpoint nets drug user and suspected dealer



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Thursday Nongprue and Banglamung Police worked together at a checkpoint in North Pattaya which resulted in the arrest of a suspected drug user and a suspected drug dealer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898042-north-pattaya-police-checkpoint-nets-drug-user-and-suspected-dealer/

Fishing boats in Ranong examined, no illegal labor found

RANONG, 26 February 2016 (NNT) – A combined force of related officials in the southern province of Ranong has conducted an inspection of fishing boats as part of the effort to eradicate illegal labor and human trafficking in the fishing industry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898043-fishing-boats-in-ranong-examined-no-illegal-labor-found/

173rd place: Bangkok ranks near bottom of 'safe city' list for expats
By Coconuts Bangkok


A tuk tuk on Yaowarat road. Photo: Zanyasan Tanantpapat/ Coconuts Media

BANGKOK: -- In a new survey by consulting company Mercer, political unrest has sent Bangkok close to the bottom of rankings measuring personal safety of expats.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898044-173rd-place-bangkok-ranks-near-bottom-of-safe-city-list-for-expats/

Thailand's Energy Policymakers to Allow Private Firm Development of Solar Rooftops
BY JACOB MASLOW



BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s Energy policymakers are planning to provide better access to the state’s solar rooftop program.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898045-thailands-energy-policymakers-to-allow-private-firm-development-of-solar-rooftops/

PM discusses cooperation with Dutch Ambassador

BANGKOK, 26 February 2016 (NNT) – Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has met with the Dutch Ambassador to Thailand to discuss the promotion of cooperation between the two countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898046-pm-prayut-discusses-cooperation-with-dutch-ambassador/

Italian Senate approves watered-down bill allowing civil unions
By Seamus Kearney



ROME: It was fiercely opposed by the Catholic Church and opposition parties, but Italy is closer to having a new law on civil unions for same-sex and heterosexual couples.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898049-italian-senate-approves-watered-down-bill-allowing-civil-unions/

EU Commission questions legality of Hungary's migrant referendum



"We fail to understand how it would fit into the decision-making process which was agreed to by all member states, including Hungary, under the EU treaties"

BRUSSELS: -- The European Commission says Hungary’s planned referendum on the EU’s quota plan for asylum seekers may be at odds with an agreed strategy to handle the refugee crisis.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898050-eu-commission-questions-legality-of-hungarys-migrant-referendum/

French court approves plan for partial demolition of 'Jungle' camp



CALAIS: -- The French government’s plan to clear part of the ‘Jungle’ migrant camp was on Thursday given the go-ahead by a court in Lille.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898051-french-court-approves-plan-for-partial-demolition-of-jungle-camp/

Ireland election: high risk of political stalemate – polls
By Sarah Chappell



DUBLIN: -- Ahead of Ireland’s general election on Friday (26 February), polls were suggesting a result likely to lead to political stalemate, raising concern about the country’s economic recovery.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898053-ireland-election-high-risk-of-political-stalemate-polls/

EU’s migration system close to 'complete breakdown'



BRUSSELS: -- The EU’s migration system is on the point of complete breakdown, according to a top European Commission official.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898054-eus-migration-system-close-to-complete-breakdown/

Greece fumes over Austria's 'hostile' migration policy



ATHENS: -- Austria’s tough stance on migration is undermining the EU’s response to the refugee crisis, Greece’s interior minister told euronews on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898055-greece-fumes-over-austrias-hostile-migration-policy/

Debate another chance for Rubio, Cruz to try to slow Trump
By NANCY BENAC and JULIE BYKOWICZ

HOUSTON (AP) — Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz head into Thursday's Republican debate eager to seize one last chance to slow Donald Trump's momentum before next week's Super Tuesday mega-round of voting. The situation is likely more dire for Trump's rivals than they're publicly letting on.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898057-debate-another-chance-for-rubio-cruz-to-try-to-slow-trump/

In court fight, Democrats pressure Republicans at home
By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY and JOSH LEDERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Searching for a way to put a new justice on the nation's highest court, President Barack Obama is hoping that all politics really is local — even Supreme Court politics.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898058-us-in-court-fight-democrats-pressure-republicans-at-home/