British Tourists Die In Vietnam Waterfall Climb

Sky News

VIETNAM -- Three British tourists have died while climbing waterfalls in Vietnam, according to state media.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....aterfall-climb/

Minister of Defense concludes trip to Russia

Itiporn Lakarnchua

BANGKOK, 26 February 2016 (NNT) – The Ministry of Defense has reported the outcomes of the Minister of Defense’s recent visit to Russia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898324-minister-of-defense-concludes-trip-to-russia/

Thailand, Singapore hold closing of Exercise Kocha Singa 2016

Surapan Laotharanarit

SUKHOTHAI, 26 February 2016 (NNT) – Joint military training between the Singapore Army and the Royal Thai Army has been organized successfully in Sukhothai province as part of the two countries’ effort to promote military cooperation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898325-thailand-singapore-hold-closing-of-exercise-kocha-singa-2016/

Tourism Ministry pitches cable cars for Phu Kradueng National Park

BANGKOK: The Ministry of Tourism and Sports today announced a big project to build cable cars for tourists who want to go up the mountain on Phu Kradueng National Park, a popular attraction for Thais to visit in winter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898326-tourism-ministry-pitches-cable-cars-for-phu-kradueng-national-park/?p=10468316

VDO: A young cop praised by netizens for his heroic exploit

SARABURI: Netizens have heaped praise upon a young police non-commissioned officer whose hot pursuit of a motorist who jumped a police roadblock was videotaped in a camera he bought and was attached to his police cap.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898327-vdo-a-young-cop-praised-by-netizens-for-his-heroic-exploit/?p=10468332

PM tells farmers to plant crops which consume less water

BANGKOK: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha told farmers in Uthai Thai province today (Friday) to switch from rice farming to crops which consume less water to cope with drought problem.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898328-pm-tells-farmers-to-plant-crops-which-consume-less-water/?p=10468343

TDRI opposes the use of Section 44 to solve problem in digital TVs

BANGKOK: Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) has voiced its disagreement with a proposal of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) for the invocation of Section 44 of the interim charter to settle the problem of digital TV stations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898329-tdri-opposes-the-use-of-section-44-to-solve-problem-in-digital-tvs/?p=10468351

Cabinet Roundup 23 February 2016 by Major General Weerachon Sukonthapatipak Deputy Government Spokesman

Sodchuen Limkriangkrai

BANGKOK, 23 February 2016 (NNT) – The Cabinet has approved the extension of the work permit for foreign nationals to two years while giving employers four months to bring their workers to apply for the document.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898330-cabinet-roundup-23-february-2016-by-major-general-weerachon-sukonthapatipak-deputy-government-spokes/

Court summons more witnesses in rice corruption case

Surapan Laotharanarit

BANGKOK, 26 February 2016 (NNT) – Additional witnesses have been summoned by the Court in the latest hearing of the rice fraud case against former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898331-court-summons-more-witnesses-in-rice-corruption-case/

“Early drinkers” and Gambling found at Central Pattaya store

PATTAYA: Pattaya Police arrested the shop owner and 10 other people on Friday Morning at a shop in a central Pattaya street that was serving alcohol too-early in the morning and it was also thought that gambling was taking place.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898332-early-drinkers-and-gambling-found-at-central-pattaya-store/

Chinese Tourist dies during swim at Pattaya Island

PATTAYA: A 50-year-old Chinese Tourist died as he went for a swim at a remote Island off the coast of Pattaya on Friday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898334-chinese-tourist-dies-during-swim-at-pattaya-island/

No clear winner expected as Ireland votes in general election

Ireland is voting in a general election today. Polls predicted a political stalemate where no clear winner will emerge and that could jeopardise the Irish economic recovery.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898336-no-clear-winner-expected-as-ireland-votes-in-general-election/

Iranian election will shape its future for at least a decade

Voting is underway in Iran. The election will shape the future of Iran for at least a decade.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898337-iranian-election-will-shape-its-future-for-at-least-a-decade/?p=10468412

Turkey: freed journalists’ rallying call for press freedom

By Sarah Chappell

Turkey has released two prominent journalists after the country’s top court ruled that their detention had violated their rights.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898339-turkey-freed-journalists-rallying-call-for-press-freedom/

Gianni Infantino elected President of FIFA on second count

Gianni Infantino has been elected the new President of Fifa.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898340-gianni-infantino-elected-president-of-fifa-on-second-count/

US, Russia-brokered cease-fire goes into effect across Syria

BASSEM MROUE, Associated Press
ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press


BEIRUT (AP) — A cease-fire brokered by the United States and Russia came into effect across Syria on Saturday, marking the biggest international push to reduce violence in the country's devastating conflict, but the Islamic State group and al-Qaida's branch in Syria, the Nusra Front, were excluded.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898341-us-russia-brokered-cease-fire-goes-into-effect-across-syria/

Police: 14 dead as al-Shabab gunmen attack hotel in Somalia

ABDI GULED, Associated Press


MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Militants forced their way into a hotel and a nearby public garden in the Somali capital on Friday night, exchanging fire with hotel guards in attacks that left at least 14 dead and many others wounded.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898343-police-14-dead-as-al-shabab-gunmen-attack-hotel-in-somalia/

Christie endorses Trump for president; 'Wow,' Trump says

STEVEN R. HURST, Associated Press


WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican front-runner Donald Trump won the backing Friday of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, himself a former presidential candidate, in a jolt to one of the wildest primary contests in recent memory.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898344-christie-endorses-trump-for-president;-wow-trump-says/

Training exercise off W. Africa becomes real-life navy drama

MICHELLE FAUL, Associated Press


LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — It was supposed to be a U.S.-led naval training maneuver off the coast of West Africa when real-life drama intervened, with pirates taking over an oil tanker and turning the exercise into a rescue mission.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898345-training-exercise-off-w-africa-becomes-real-life-navy-drama/

Uganda: Mass arrests following disputed presidential poll

RODNEY MUHUMUZA, Associated Press


KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Over 200 opposition figures have been detained across Uganda, hampering efforts to launch a legal challenge against the disputed re-election of the country's long-time leader, the main opposition party said Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898346-uganda-mass-arrests-following-disputed-presidential-poll/

Washington state man called officer to say he killed family

MANUEL VALDES, Associated Press
MARTHA BELLISLE, Associated Press


BELFAIR, Washington (AP) — A gunman who killed four people in rural Washington state called an officer he previously encountered to say he shot his family, leading to an hourslong standoff at a home Friday that ended with his suicide, authorities said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898347-washington-state-man-called-officer-to-say-he-killed-family/

UN: Syria talks to resume March 7 if truce 'largely holds'

MICHAEL ASTOR, Associated Press
JAMEY KEATEN, Associated Press


UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations special envoy for Syria said Friday he plans to resume peace talks on March 7 if a cessation of hostilities negotiated by the United States and Russia that began at midnight local time "largely holds."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898349-un-syria-talks-to-resume-march-7-if-truce-largely-holds/

Bang Ku Underpass construction 'well ahead of schedule', expected completion in September 2017: engineer

Tanyaluk Sakoot

Motorists travelling northbound (from bottom left corner) on Thepkrasattri Rd must first make a u-turn on the bypass road and then can choose to use one of two single lanes, on the east and west side of the roadworks.

PHUKET: Progress for the underpass roadworks at the Bang Ku Junction at the north end of the bypass road in Koh Kaew is 'well ahead of schedule', with construction 35 per cent complete, the contractor's engineer has affirmed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898351-bang-ku-underpass-construction-well-ahead-of-schedule-expected-completion-in-september-2017-engi/

NLA passes Establishment of Administrative Court and Administrative Court Procedure bill into law

Thammarat Thadaphrom

BANGKOK, 27 February 2016 (NNT) – The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) voted 158 in favor to pass the bill on the establishment of Administrative Court and Administrative Court procedure into law.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898352-nla-passes-establishment-of-administrative-court-and-administrative-court-procedure-bill-into-law/

Thailand's infamous tiger temple fights to keep big cats

By Jutarat Skulpichetrat

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's controversial Tiger Temple, dogged for years by talk that it supplies the black market and mistreats its animals, is fighting to keep the big cats after wildlife authorities rejected a bid to extend a zoo license that expired in 2013.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898353-thailands-infamous-tiger-temple-fights-to-keep-big-cats/

PM’s Office Minister urges Thais to uphold unity

Thammarat Thadaphrom

BANGKOK, 27 February 2016 (NNT) – M.L. Panadda Diskul, Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, has called on members of the public to work in unison in restoring peace and reconciliation in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898389-pms-office-minister-urges-thais-to-uphold-unity/

Nine Vietnamese nationals nabbed with chainsaws in Mondulkiri

PHNOM PENH: Cambodian forestry officials detained nine Vietnamese nationals on Wednesday, after they allegedly crossed the border to illegally log a protected forest in Mondulkiri, The Phnom Penh Post reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898390-nine-vietnamese-nationals-nabbed-with-chainsaws-in-mondulkiri/?p=10469089

Scepticism in Aleppo about whether Syria truce will hold

With a fragile truce agreement coming into force in Syria on Friday night, there are hopes that it could be a step towards bringing peace to the war-torn country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898391-scepticism-in-aleppo-about-whether-syria-truce-will-hold/

Palestinian journalist reportedly agrees to end hunger strike in Israel

By Seamus Kearney

After weeks of demonstrations in support of a Palestinian journalist on hunger strike in Israel, an agreement appears to have been reached on his case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898394-palestinian-journalist-reportedly-agrees-to-end-hunger-strike-in-israel/

Over 100,000 gather in Baghdad to urge government to carry out reforms

More than 100,000 people gathered in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square to urge Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to follow through with promised political and economic reforms.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898395-over-100000-gather-in-baghdad-to-urge-government-to-carry-out-reforms/