Google self-driving car strikes public bus in California
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS



LOS ANGELES (AP) — A self-driving car being tested by Google struck a public bus on a city street. It appears to be the first time one of the tech company’s vehicles caused an accident.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/google-self-driving-car-strikes-public-bus-in-california/14141/

Microsoft to ship developer HoloLens for $3,000 in March
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS



Microsoft says it will start shipping a developer version of its augmented reality device, HoloLens, for $3,000 on March 30.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/microsoft-to-ship-developer-hololens-for-3000-in-march/14139/

4 hurt as student opens fire in Ohio school cafeteria
LISA CORNWELL, Associated Press

HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) — A 14-year-old boy pulled out a gun in a school cafeteria Monday and opened fire, hitting two students, and then ran from the school, threw the weapon down and was apprehended nearby with the help of a police dog, authorities said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899079-4-hurt-as-student-opens-fire-in-ohio-school-cafeteria/

Jakarta starts demolition of Kalijodo red-light district



JAKARTA: -- The Jakarta administration started demolishing the notorious red-light district of Kalijodo, North Jakarta, on Monday morning without resistance from residents, according to The Jakarta Globe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899086-jakarta-starts-demolition-of-kalijodo-red-light-district/

More agents to be recruits for Indonesia's intelligence work



JAKARTA: -- Indonesia's National Intelligence Agency (BIN) plans spend Rp700 billion (US$54 million) to recruit more agents in response to concerns over personnel constraints, The Jakarta Post reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899087-more-agents-to-be-recruits-for-indonesias-intelligence-work/

KNU responds to backlash on hydropower project



YANGON: -- After being criticised for signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a hydropower dam project, the Karen National Union (KNU) released a statement saying that it will ensure local communities are involved in decision-making and benefit sharing, The Irrawaddy reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899089-knu-responds-to-backlash-on-hydropower-project/

Thaivisa Photography Competition (March 2016)

Sponsored by BizPaye

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899020-thaivisa-photography-competition-march-2016/

Ex-PM Mahathir announces decision to quit Umno



KUALA LUMPUR: -- In a stunning development, Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Monday announced that he was leaving Umno, citing loss of confidence in the party’s top leadership, New Straits Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899093-ex-pm-mahathir-announces-decision-to-quit-umno/

Rescuers find body of Belarusian drowned at Vietnam waterfall



HANOI: -- Rescue workers in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on Monday found the body of a Belarusian tourist who had apparently drowned while swimming at a waterfall the previous night, Thanh Nien News reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899095-rescuers-find-body-of-belarusian-drowned-at-vietnam-waterfall/

SET up 1.43 points at opening /Bangkok Post

Yellow and Pink Lines electric train projects get approval



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok will have two more electric train routes linking the capital's eastern suburb to the southern suburbs, and its neighbouring Samrong district of Samut Prakarn province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899110-bangkok-yellow-and-pink-lines-electric-train-projects-get-approval/

Police to tackle 10 traffic offences seriously to ease traffic congestions at tourist spots



BANGKOK: -- As several tourist destinations always have traffic congestion and accidents during holidays due mainly to people ignoring traffic laws, now the Royal Thai Police has contemplated the issue seriously and will come up with tough enforcement of traffic laws against traffic violators.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899113-thai-police-to-tackle-10-traffic-offences-seriously-to-ease-traffic-congestions-at-tourist-spots/

Min of Commerce to shorten business application process to 1 day

BANGKOK, 1 March 2016 (NNT) - The Ministry of Commerce will streamline the business application process to have a turnaround of just one day, as part of its efforts to attract more foreign investment to Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899116-thai-commerce-min-to-shorten-business-application-process-to-1-day/

Netflix launches aggressive new crackdown on VPN users
BY JONATHAN FAIRFIELD



Earlier this year, Netflix announced it was going to try and block users who use VPN or DNS services in order to access geo-blocked content from other countries.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/netflix-launches-agressive-new-crackdown-on-vpn-users/14144/

Jet Airways increases capacity between Thailand and India
BY LARRY BANKS



BANGKOK: -- Jet Airways is set to become the largest airline in India offering the most frequent number of flights between Thailand and India.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899120-jet-airways-increases-capacity-between-thailand-and-india/

US expanding its role in the push to retake Mosul
By Everton Gayle



WASHINGTON: -- The United States says its forces will have a more enlarged role in the push take the northern Iraqi city of Mosul from the so-called Islamic State.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899122-us-expanding-its-role-in-the-push-to-retake-mosul/

Journalist association calls Sorayuth to revise his media role



BANGKOK: -- The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) yesterday called for famous TV host Sorayuth Sutassanachinda to stop his role as a TV host after he was convicted to serve 13 years and four months in prison.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899124-journalist-association-calls-sorayuth-to-revise-his-media-role/

UPDATE:

Big rain making operation starts to ease troubles from expected worst drought this year



BANGKOK: -- The government yesterday launched the big ever artificial rain making operation to ease the expected worst drought in 20 years in the Central Plains, starting first in Nakhon Sawan where more than 30 aircrafts were used.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899037-rainmaking-operation-units-open-in-north-thailand/#entry10479402

UPDATE:

Student tour guide bus crash driver tested positive for drugs, say police
Eakkapop Thongtub


Officials question bus driver Tanapon Prakobmit, 32, of Nakhon Ratchasima (in light green T-shirt), at the scene of the accident.

PHUKET: -- Police in Phang Nga have today (Mar 1) confirmed that the driver of a bus which crashed north of Phuket on Sunday (Feb 28) while carrying Thai student tour guides tested positive for drugs.

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#entry10479439

Striking Images of Disparity in 'All That Glitters' at Jam
By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee
Staff Reporter

BANGKOK — A girl throws a temper tantrum in a shopping mall. An inattentive construction worker looks to the sky.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899126-bangkok-striking-images-of-disparity-in-all-that-glitters-at-jam/

Soldiers Stalk Yingluck Because She’s Pretty: Deputy Junta Chief
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra greets crowds of supporters Friday outside the Supreme Court in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — A leader of the ruling junta said that soldiers have been dispatched to monitor Yingluck Shinawatra not to harass her as alleged by a colleague of the former prime minister, but to protect her.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899127-soldiers-stalk-yingluck-because-shes-pretty-deputy-pm/

Deadly Octopus Spotted During Family Dinner-Prep
By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee
Staff Reporter


A blue-ringed octopus found at a Makro store in Yasothon province, at left, and a living one in the waters off Indonesia, at right by Jens Petersen.

RANONG — A family had sliced up the octopus and was about to cook it for dinner when they noticed blue spots on the meat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899133-deadly-octopus-spotted-during-family-dinner-prep/

Channel 3 remains confident in Sorayuth and his news hosting role won’t be affected by court’s ruling



BANGKOK: -- Channel 3's board of directors agreed last night to allow famous TV host Sorayuth Sutassanachinda to continue his news and news talk hosting role, although he was convicted to serve 13 years and four months in prison with no suspension.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899136-ch-3-remains-confident-in-sorayuth-and-his-news-hosting-role-wont-be-affected-by-courts-ruling/

Phuket Bike Week targets B1bn for Songkran fest
The Phuket News


Phuket Bike Week will return from April 8-16, with events at Patong beach and in Phuket Town.

PHUKET: -- The annual Phuket Bike Week extravaganza is set to return to Phuket from April 8-16, with organisers anticipating more than 10,000 bikes and more than 50,000 people from more than 30 countries arriving on the island to take part.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899142-phuket-bike-week-targets-b1bn-for-songkran-fest/

Police Call for Tougher Immigration Measures in Aftermath of Rape
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Five Cambodian nationals accused of assaulting a group of French tourists and raping two women are led through a ‘re-enactment’ of their alleged crimes Monday on Koh Kut in Trat province.

BANGKOK — A top police official urged tougher security checks on migrant workers in the wake of the rape and assault of two French tourists allegedly by five Cambodian workers in eastern Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899145-thai-police-call-for-tougher-immigration-measures-in-aftermath-of-rape/

Phuket police deny seizing sea gypsy phones at developer land staking
Tanyaluk Sakoot


The Chalong Police Chief has assured that police have not confiscated any mobile phones from Phuket sea gypsies in Rawai as representatives from Baron World Trade Co Ltd attempt to mark out land claimed in the village this morning (Mar 1). Photo: Chalong Police

PHUKET: -- Chalong Police Chief Col Nopadon Thiraprawat has assured The Phuket News that police have not confiscated any mobile phones from sea gypsies in Rawai as representatives from Baron World Trade Co Ltd attempt to mark out the claimed land in the village this morning (Mar 1).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899149-phuket-police-deny-seizing-sea-gypsy-phones-at-developer-land-staking/

Europe's crisis worsens: Migrants face razor wire, tear gas
By COSTAS KANTOURIS and DEREK GATOPOULOS

IDOMENI, Greece (AP) — Pressed against coils of razor wire and shouting "Help us!," refugees and migrants at Greece's northern border were pushed back by Macedonian police using tear gas and stun grenades, as authorities here raced to build more camps to shield the escalating number of stranded people from winter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899152-europes-crisis-worsens-migrants-face-razor-wire-tear-gas/

Trump and Clinton 'confident' going into Super Tuesday



WASHINGTON: -- Donald Trump may be looking stronger than ever as he goes into Super Tuesday but his popularity among Republicans continues to be dogged by controversy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899154-trump-and-clinton-confident-going-into-super-tuesday/

Thailand and the UK partnership – Rape & Sexual Assault Victim Handling Seminars

BANGKOK: -- The British Embassy hosted a seminar on Rape & Sexual Assault (RSA) Victim Handling in Bangkok, with another being held in Chiang Mai later this week. Participants included the Royal Thai Police, government agencies, Embassies, Non-Governmental Organisations, including Thailand Institute for Justice, and health service providers attended.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899161-thailand-and-the-uk-partnership-rape-sexual-assault-victim-handling-seminars/

Cambodians admit to raping French tourists in Thailand: foreign ministry

BANGKOK: -- Five Cambodian fisherman have confessed to raping and assaulting French tourists on an isolated Thai beach, Cambodia's foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899162-cambodian-fishermen-admit-to-raping-french-tourists-in-thailand/