Guatemala convicts ex-officer, paramilitary in slavery case

SONIA PEREZ D., Associated Press


GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — In a historic ruling, a Guatemalan court on Friday convicted a retired army officer and a former paramilitary for the sexual enslavement of women during the country's civil war. It sentenced them to 120 years and 240 years in prison respectively.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898398-guatemala-convicts-ex-officer-paramilitary-in-slavery-case/

Sheriff: Cop who killed Kansas gunman a 'tremendous hero'

ROXANA HEGEMAN, Associated Press
MARIA FISHER, Associated Press


HESSTON, Kan. (AP) — A man who stormed into a Kansas factory and shot 14 people, killing three, had just been served with a protective order involving a former girlfriend that probably set off the attack, authorities said Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898075-county-sheriff-as-many-as-3-4-dead-up-to-20-hurt-in-hesston-kansas-attacks/page-3#entry10469256

Fire-damaged British Airways jet leaves Vegas for paint job

KEN RITTER, Associated Press


LAS VEGAS (AP) — A British Airways jet that was damaged by fire during an aborted takeoff in September flew from Las Vegas to a California airport on Friday after six months of repairs including an engine replacement and fuselage patch.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898402-fire-damaged-british-airways-jet-leaves-vegas-for-paint-job/

Dow Chemical settles case citing Supreme Court uncertainty

MATTHEW PERRONE, AP Business Writer


Dow Chemical said Friday it will pay $835 million to settle a long-standing class action lawsuit, after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia decreased its chances of prevailing at the Supreme Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898406-dow-chemical-settles-case-citing-supreme-court-uncertainty/

Kosovo Parliament elects Hashim Thaci as new president

FLORENT BAJRAMI, Associated Press


PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo's Parliament on Friday elected Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci as the country's new president in the absence of opposition lawmakers who accuse him of being responsible for two deals with Serbia and Montenegro that they reject.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898409-kosovo-parliament-elects-hashim-thaci-as-new-president/

Construction starts on Hun Sen’s ‘win-win’ stupa

PHNOM PENH: Construction of a massive memorial in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changva district, designed to pay homage to the achievements of Prime Minister Hun Sen, commenced on Thursday, The Cambodia Daily reported on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898412-construction-starts-on-hun-sens-win-win-stupa/

Special team to be formed to revise Indonesia’s terrorism laws

JAKARTA: Indonesia's House of Representatives will establish a special committee to revise terrorism laws to give law enforcement institutions stronger authority to take action in anticipation of terrorist attacks, The Jakarta Post reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898414-special-team-to-be-formed-to-revise-indonesias-terrorism-laws/?p=10469459

Muhyiddin suspended as Umno deputy president

MALAYSIA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been suspended as Umno deputy president until the next party elections, The Star Online reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898416-muhyiddin-suspended-as-umno-deputy-president/

Philippines troops overrun terrorists’ stronghold in Lanao del Sur

MANILA: Forty-five people, including 42 terrorists, were killed while 11 others were wounded as the government forces overran the enemy stronghold in Lanao del Sur, Manila Bulletin reported on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898417-philippines-troops-overrun-terrorists-stronghold-in-lanao-del-sur/?p=10469516

Russian demand to drive increase in Phuket-bound flights

Russians are returning to Phuket, officials confirmed. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: The island will reportedly be doubling its weekly flights to and from St Petersburg, Russia, due to a sharp increase in demand, a national-level government spokesperson said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898419-russian-demand-to-drive-increase-in-phuket-bound-flights/

National balloon and music festival coming to Phuket

Plans are afloat for the island's first national balloon and music festival to be held in April. Photo: Th Zimmermann

PHUKET: Hot air balloons will be filling the sky above the island during the Songkran holiday this April for the very first ‘Phuket Thailand Balloon Music Festival’.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898420-national-balloon-and-music-festival-coming-to-phuket/

Wat Phailom abbot asks for fair treatment from DSI over occupation of Jaquar classic car

BANGKOK: The abbot of Wat Phailom temple in Nakhon Pathom province Phra Khru Palad Sitthiwattana, also popularly known as ‘Luang Phi Namfon' yesterday questioned why the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) wanted to examine and check the classic 1977 Jaguar automobile belonging to him despite the fact that the DSI itself has examined and certified two years ago that it was all legal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898422-wat-phailom-abbot-asks-for-fair-treatment-from-dsi-over-occupation-of-jaquar-classic-car/?p=10469607

One-month test run of electric bus starts

BANGKOK: Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) yesterday conducted a month long test run of the electric bus in Bangkok with plan to put into actual shuttle service in May.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898428-one-month-test-run-of-electric-bus-starts/

Gold prices fall 100 baht in opening hours

BANGKOK: Gold prices in local markets fell 100 baht from yesterday's close for both bullions and ornaments as market opened at 9 am Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898429-gold-prices-fall-100-baht-in-opening-hours/

Songkran Will Go On Despite Drought: Tourism Authority

By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter

A Songkran reveller puts powder on a policeman’s face April 15, 2014, on Khaosan Road in Bangkok. Photo: Matichon

BANGKOK — Despite threats of persistent and severe drought, the Tourism Authority of Thailand said the annual water fight festival that marks the traditional Thai New Year will go on as normal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898430-songkran-will-go-on-despite-drought-tourism-authority/

Patong awaits bid to bury beachfront cables

Sukawin Tanthavanich

PHUKET: The project that will see unsightly power cables along Patong’s beachfront moved underground is awaiting finalization of the bidding process.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898431-patong-awaits-bid-to-bury-beachfront-cables/

China tries to reassure over economy at G20 meeting

JOE McDONALD, The Associated Press
PAUL TRAYNOR, The Associated Press


SHANGHAI (AP) — China's premier has tried to quell anxiety about his slowing economy as officials at a global finance meeting called for governments to speed up job-creating reforms to stimulate slackening growth.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898432-china-tries-to-reassure-over-economy-at-g20-meeting/

Rep: Yoko Ono hospitalized for flu symptoms, but on the mend

NEW YORK (AP) — Yoko Ono has been hospitalized in New York City for flu-like symptoms, but her representative says the artist-singer is on the mend and should be released this weekend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898435-rep-yoko-ono-hospitalized-for-flu-symptoms-but-on-the-mend/

Tiger Temple to Reapply After Zoo Permit Denied

By Teernai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter

Wildlife officials load a tiger onto a truck Tuesday at the ‘Tiger Temple’ in Kanchanaburi province.

KANCHANABURI — Authorities have rejected a zoo application from a commercial tiger temple that had been defying wildlife laws for years, though its administrators said they will apply again soon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898353-thailands-infamous-tiger-temple-fights-to-keep-big-cats/page-2#entry10469978

Blind Woman Denies Writing Defamatory Facebook Messages About 'Luk Thep'

By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter

Pailin Kiangkwa, at center, says she could not have written allegedly defamatory messages online because she has been blind for eight years.

KRABI — A woman who reportedly went blind eight years ago has been charged with defamation in Krabi province for allegedly writing insults against another Facebooker.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898441-blind-woman-denies-writing-defamatory-facebook-messages-about-luk-thep/

Chinese tour company employees claim money stolen from Phuket bedroom, Thai tour guide key suspect

Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: Three Chinese nationals employed by a local tour company filed a report this morning that B82,000 and 10,000 Yuan had gone missing from their Phuket residence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898481-chinese-tour-company-employees-claim-money-stolen-from-phuket-bedroom-thai-tour-guide-key-suspect/

Cobra takes stand in Phuket bathroom

Kongleaphy Keam

The mature cobra measured about two meters in length. After putting up a fight, it was eventually bundled into a sack and released in the wild. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: It was fright night yesterday for a woman in Phuket Town when she was confronted by a two-meter-long cobra that had taken up residence in her bathroom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898482-cobra-takes-stand-in-phuket-bathroom/

Officials investigate Kamala Beach encroachment allegations

Kongleaphy Keam

PHUKET: Officials are looking into allegations that vendors at Kamala Beach are encroaching beyond the ‘10-percent zone’, which was established to restrict commercial activities to a small portion of the popular Phuket beach.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898485-officials-investigate-kamala-beach-encroachment-allegations/?p=10471103

Six hurt in Pattani bomb blast

PATTANI: Five police and one civilian were injured in a car bomb explosion shortly after noon today in Muang district of Pattani province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898488-six-hurt-in-pattani-bomb-blast/?p=10471152

Thailand and Cambodia hold partnership talk at ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat

supawadee wangsri

BANGKOK, 27 February 2016 (NNT) – Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai discussed with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hor Namhong on the Thai-Cambodian partnership in Vientiane, Laos.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898490-thailand-and-cambodia-hold-partnership-talk-at-asean-foreign-ministers-retreat/

Deputy premier/defense minister visits Belarus

supawadee wangsri

BANGKOK, 27 February 2016 (NNT) – Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan officially visited Belarus between February 26 and 27, 2016 to strengthen security cooperation between the two countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898491-deputy-premierdefense-minister-visits-belarus/

Chinese cruise ship sinks off Laem Chabang port

SRI RACHA: Chinese cruise ship "Ocean Dream" , anchored off Laem Chanang port in Sri Racha for over a year, sank into the sea today, raising fear by Thai environmental authorities that it could cause pollution in the sea.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898492-chinese-cruise-ship-sinks-off-laem-chabang-port/?p=10471206

Weekend Fun - Who is Donald Trump?

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Thailand Live Sunday 28 Feb 2016

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898550-thailand-live-sunday-28-feb-2016/