Govt seeks international recognition of Thai herbs

BANGKOK, 29 February 2016, (NNT) - Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn has stressed that the government is urging higher industry standards and seeking international recognition of Thai herbs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898804-govt-seeks-international-recognition-of-thai-herbs/

Jakarta suburbs report heavy flooding, landslide



JAKARTA: -- While Jakarta suffered relatively minor inundations after hours of rain on Sunday morning, its suburbs reported massive flooding and a landslide, reported The Jakarta Globe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898811-jakarta-suburbs-report-heavy-flooding-landslide/

Jakarta Police and soldiers to secure Kalijodo closure



JAKARTA: -- Thousands of officers from the Jakarta Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) will be deployed to secure the official shutdown of Kalijodo, Jakarta’s red-light district in North Jakarta, The Jakarta Post reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898812-jakarta-police-and-soldiers-to-secure-kalijodo-closure/

Malaysian man found murdered in Sungai Golok



NARATHIWAT: -- A Malaysian man was found dead at the Thai side of the Golok river in Narathiwat province on Sunday, believed to have been murdered, New Straits Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898813-malaysian-man-found-murdered-in-sungai-golok/

Laos dismisses reports of illegal ivory trade

JAKARTA: -- The Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Laos has issued a statement to dismiss as untrue reports by Thai media, which alleged companies in Laos to have been smuggling elephant ivory through Thailand, Vientiane Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898814-laos-dismisses-reports-of-illegal-ivory-trade/

Tiger killed after attack in Kayin State



YANGON: -- A tiger was killed on Saturday in Kayin State after it attacked and injured two fishermen, the Myanmar Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898815-tiger-killed-after-attack-in-kayin-state/

UPDATE:

Govt not worried about Thaksin's appearance at World Policy Institute

BANGKOK, 28 February 2016 (NNT) - The Deputy Prime Minister for public security said he was not concerned about former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra giving a speech at World Policy Institute about the current state of democracy in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898756-general-prawit-hopes-thaksin-will-not-speak-anything-bad-against-thailand/page-2#entry10475338

All homes found breeding mosquitoes to face fines of $200 from Mar 14



SINGAPORE: -- Singapore's Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli has said that from March 14, all homes - whether they are within or outside dengue clusters - will be fined $200 if they are found to be breeding mosquitoes, The Straits Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898817-all-homes-found-breeding-mosquitoes-to-face-fines-of-s200-from-mar-14/

Travel firm suspended over deaths of 3 British tourists



HANOI: -- A travel firm in the central highlands province of Lam Dong has been suspended after three British nationals died during its tour at a local waterfall on Friday, Thanh Nien News reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898818-travel-firm-in-vietnam-suspended-over-deaths-of-3-british-tourists/

SET down 1.34 points at opening /Bangkok Post

PM scheduled to visit Russia in May to promote trade ties

BANGKOK, 29 February 2016 (NNT) - Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is scheduled to travel to Russia in May on an official visit to promote trade and investment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898819-pm-prayut-scheduled-to-visit-russia-in-may-to-promote-trade-ties/

Rumour: Google to kill the app drawer on Android N
BY JONATHAN FAIRFIELD



It is rumoured that Google could be about to remove one of Android’s most popular features.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/rumour-google-to-kill-the-app-drawer-on-android-n/14136/

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Mark Rylance wins best supporting actor Oscar for "Bridge of Spies"

North Korea presents detained American to media
Associated Press

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korea has presented a detained American student before media in Pyongyang.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898827-north-korea-presents-detained-american-to-media/

3 ex-execs of utility charged in Fukushima disaster

TOKYO (AP) — Three former Japanese utility executives have been formally charged for alleged negligence in the Fukushima nuclear disaster, becoming the first ones from the company to go to criminal court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898828-3-ex-tepco-execs-charged-in-fukushima-disaster/

Salman Taseer murder: Pakistan hangs Mumtaz Qadri

RAWALPINDI: -- Pakistan has hanged the former police bodyguard who shot dead Punjab's governor over his opposition to blasphemy laws, officials say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898830-pakistan-hangs-killer-of-salman-taseer/

Criminal court sentences Channel 3's TV host Sorayuth



BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court today sentenced well-known Channel 3’s TV host Sorayuth Suthassanachinda to 13 years and four months in prison after finding him guilty in cheating the state-owned MCOT Plc of over 138 million baht in advertising revenue in 2005 and 2006.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898833-criminal-court-sentences-channel-3s-tv-host-sorayuth-to-13-years/

UPDATE:

Angry Mob Assaults 5 Cambodians Accused of Raping French Women on Koh Kut
Khaosod English


Two suspects, center foreground, in the rape of two French tourists participate Sunday in a ‘re-enactment’ as a crowd gathers on Koh Kut.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898768-thai-police-5-cambodian-sailors-arrested-in-rape-assault-of-french-tourists/page-3?p=10475615#entry10475615

UPDATE:

National police chief to fly to Trat to question five Cambodian fishermen accused of raping two French tourists



TRAT: -- National police chief will fly to Koh Kood Island in Trat province in helicopter late today to personally question five Cambodian fishermen arrested after they were accused of beating two French tourists and raping their female compatriots on Koh Kood in Trat province on Saturday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898768-thai-police-5-cambodian-sailors-arrested-in-rape-assault-of-french-tourists/page-3?p=10475617#entry10475617

Chris Rock brings diversity issue front and center at Oscars
JOCELYN NOVECK, AP National Writer

LOS ANGELES: -- Oscar host Chris Rock didn't merely acknowledge the elephant in the room. He brought it stage front and center, where it stayed much of the night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898839-chris-rock-brings-diversity-issue-front-and-center-at-oscars/

Is the First Amendment safe from Donald Trump?
By Marc Randazza

(CNN)Donald Trump has said a lot of strange things -- some funny, some creepy, but none scarier than what he said on Friday: that if he is elected president, he will "open up our libel laws" to make it easier to sue the media and "win lots of money."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898843-is-the-first-amendment-safe-from-donald-trump/

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Alejandro G. Inarritu wins best director Oscar for "The Revenant"

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Brie Larson wins best actress Oscar for "Room"

UPDATE:

Driver of wrecked student tour guide bus arrested after police find meth pipe
Eakkapop Thongtub


An unnamed woman tried to prevent police and media from getting near the wrecked bus, stirring up suspicions that led to the search which uncovered a meth pipe.

PHANG NGA: -- Police have arrested and charged the driver of a bus that wrecked north of Phuket this morning after crystal meth smoking device was found in the wreckage.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898656-scores-of-students-injured-as-tour-guide-training-group-bus-flips-rolls-off-road-north-of-phuket/page-2#entry10475772

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Leonard DiCaprio wins best actor Oscar for "The Revenant"

Leonardo DiCaprio wins best actor Oscar

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Leonardo DiCaprio finally has an Oscar after winning the best actor Academy Award for his performance in the survival epic "The Revenant."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898852-leonard-dicaprio-wins-best-actor-oscar-for-the-revenant/

'Possessed by Ghosts,' Villagers Force Neighbors to Strip
By Teernai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Police face off with three suspects reportedly possessed by a ghost known as phi pob Saturday in Sa Kaeo province.

SA KAEO — Two women and one man in eastern Thailand are facing charges for forcing their family members and neighbors to strip naked in the street of their village, reportedly on the order of a ghost.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898854-possessed-by-ghosts-villagers-in-eastern-thailand-force-neighbors-to-strip/

500-strong police force arrests Krabi squatters
Phuket Gazette



KRABI: About 500 Krabi police officers joined a mass raid to arrest about 100 oil palm squatters on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898858-500-strong-police-force-arrests-krabi-squatters/

Jealousy blamed for murder of Thai woman in Chantaburi
Kwaang Siripoom



CHANTABURI:-- A man has been arrested for murder after a 58 year old woman was found shot dead in her home on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898865-jealousy-blamed-for-murder-of-thai-woman-in-chantaburi/

Video of disabled Thai man who uses mouth to draw incredible pictures goes viral
Kwaang Siripoom



SARABURI: A disabled man who uses his lips to draw stunning pictures has received widespread praise after a video showing him draw went viral.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898866-video-of-disabled-thai-man-who-uses-mouth-to-draw-incredible-pictures-goes-viral/