Gunmen, 1 with rifle, worked as team to kill 6 at cookout

WILKINSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Two gunmen working as a team fatally shot five people including a pregnant woman and critically wounded two others at a backyard cookout, with one attacker using a rifle to shoot the victims in the head as they were driven in his direction, a prosecutor said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902031-us-gunmen-1-with-rifle-worked-as-team-to-kill-6-at-cookout/

Obama, Trudeau show like-minded values in White House visit
By ROB GILLIES and KEVIN FREKING

WASHINGTON (AP) — One is leaving office soon, the other just starting, but President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau basked in mutual affection Thursday over all the things they share, emphasizing common ground on trade and combatting climate change.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902032-obama-trudeau-show-like-minded-values-in-white-house-visit/

Failed Boat Trip Shows Long Arm of China's Reach Into Thailand
by Chris Blake, Ting Shi

BANGKOK: -- Song Zhiyu hid for 10 hours in the luggage compartment of a bus on the final leg of his escape from China to Thailand, a country where he planned to seek asylum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902041-failed-boat-trip-shows-long-arm-of-chinas-reach-into-thailand/

Rice Is Out, Beans Are in as Thailand's Farmers Return to School
by Supunnabul Suwannakij, Chris Blake

BANGKOK: -- Rice farmer Prapatpon Rungsatien perches on a plastic chair in a classroom in rural Thailand. Ceiling fans stir the humid air as she and 49 of her neighbors hunker down for a talk on Southeast Asian economics.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902042-rice-is-out-beans-are-in-as-thailands-farmers-return-to-school/

Obama: Cameron was 'distracted' after Libya intervention

WASHINGTON: -- David Cameron became "distracted" after the 2011 intervention in Libya, US President Barack Obama has said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902044-obama-cameron-was-distracted-after-libya-intervention/

8 men sentenced to 3 years in jail for enslaving fishermen
By DANIEL LEONARD

AMBON, Indonesia (AP) — Five Thai fishing boat captains and three Indonesians were sentenced Thursday to three years in jail for human trafficking in connection with slavery in the seafood industry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902048-5-thais-3-indonesians-sentenced-to-3-years-in-jail-for-enslaving-fishermen/

Turkish First Lady: harem was 'school' for women



ANKARA: -- Turkey’s First Lady has called the harem of Ottoman sultans a “school” preparing women for life, according to local media.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902050-turkish-first-lady-harem-was-school-for-women/

US rebuts Apple claim on password reset in iPhone case
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS



WASHINGTON (AP) — A decision to reset the password on an iCloud account tied to one of the San Bernardino attackers did not effectively thwart the investigation into the shooting, FBI officials said in a court filing Thursday as part of the Justice Department’s ongoing encryption dispute with Apple Inc.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/us-rebuts-apple-claim-on-password-reset-in-iphone-case/14278/

Sir Ken Adam, James Bond production designer, dies aged 95

LONDON: -- Production designer Sir Ken Adam, famous for his work on Dr Strangelove and seven James Bond films, has died at the age of 95.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902054-sir-ken-adam-james-bond-production-designer-dies-aged-95/

TAT and Ayutthaya to hold 12th World Muay Thai Wai Kru event

AYUTTHAYA, 11 March 2016 (NNT) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has joined with Ayutthaya Province to organize the 12th World Muay Thai Wai Kru event to promote and preserve the art of Thai boxing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902066-tat-and-ayutthaya-to-hold-12th-world-muay-thai-wai-kru-event/

Royally-sponsored funeral rites for Colonel Thanat Khoman

BANGKOK, 11 March 2011 (NNT) - His Majesty the King on Thursday designated Mr. Atthaniti Dittha-amnat, a Privy Councillor, to officiate on his behalf at the royally-sponsored funeral rite of Colonel Thanat Khoman, a former Deputy Prime Minister, at the decedent’s residence on Phetchaburi Road, in Ratchathewi area, Bangkok.

Colonel Thanat Khoman passed away on March 3, 2016 after suffering from ischemic stroke at the age of 101. His Majesty the King has graciously accepted to sponsor the 7-day funeral rites for the former politician and also granted an urn-shaped casket and multi-tiered umbrellas to honor the deceased during the funeral rites.

Colonel Thanat Khoman used to serve as Thai ambassador to many countries. He was highly respected for his roles in promoting international relations. He took a key role in the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 1967. He also used to represent Thailand at the arbitration court in the Hague, the Netherlands.


-- NNT 2016-03-11

No haze expected in Malaysia until May: Meteorological Dept



KUALA LUMPUR: -- Malaysians can breathe a temporary sigh of relief as despite the alarming number of forest fires in Indonesia, no haze is expected at least until May, New Straits Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902081-no-haze-expected-in-malaysia-until-may-meteorological-dept/

Abu Sayyaf holding foreigners sets ransom deadline



Islamic militants holding two Canadians and a Norwegian in the southern Philippine jungles have set a one-month deadline for millions of pesos in ransom to be paid, INQUIRER.net reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902083-abu-sayyaf-holding-foreigners-sets-ransom-deadline/

SET up 7.80 points at opening /Bangkok Post

Iconic photo of smiling old Vietnamese woman donated to museum



Popular French photographer Rehahn Croquevielle on Tuesday donated his famous photo of an elderly woman in the central city of Hội An to the Vietnamese Women Museum, according to Viet Nam News.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902090-iconic-photo-of-smiling-old-vietnamese-woman-donated-to-museum/

UPDATE:

'Dr. Strangelove,' Bond production designer Adam dies at 95
JAKE COYLE, AP Film Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Ken Adam, the British production designer who gave "Dr. Strangelove" its cavernous War Room and James Bond supervillains their futuristic lairs, has died. He was 95.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902054-sir-ken-adam-james-bond-production-designer-dies-aged-95/#entry10516639

UPDATE:

NLD names U Htin Kyaw for president



YANGON: -- The National League for Democracy under Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday named U Htin Kyaw as its candidate for the presidency in a session of the lower house, ending four months of uncertainty following the landslide election victory of the party, The Myanmar Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/901225-htin-kyaw-tipped-as-nld-presidential-nominee/#entry10516668

Land Transport tells operator of GrabBike motorcycle taxi to halt service



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok's only on-demand motorcycle taxi service provider, Grab Taxi Thailand, will be asked by the Land Transport to stop its GrabBike motorcycle taxi service pending the legalization of its operations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902091-land-transport-tells-operator-of-grabbike-motorcycle-taxi-to-halt-service/

Today is the last day for mafia members to turn themselves in

BANGKOK, 11 March 2016 (NNT) - The National Police Chief previously gave those associated with organized crime one week, which ends today, to come forward or face serious legal action.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902094-today-is-the-last-day-for-mafia-members-to-turn-themselves-in-thai-police/

MR Pridiyathorn: World economy to rebound in 2 years

BANGKOK, 11 March 2016 (NNT) – M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula has advised the private sector to pay attention to technology-based industries, in order to prepare itself for a global economic rebound over the next two years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902095-mr-pridiyathorn-world-economy-to-rebound-in-2-years/

Japan marking 5th anniversary of devastating tsunami
EMILY WANG, Associated Press

MINAMISANRIKU, Japan (AP) — Japan on Friday marked the fifth anniversary of the 2011 tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people and left a devastated coastline along the country's northeast that has still not been fully rebuild.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902102-japan-marking-5th-anniversary-of-devastating-tsunami/

Navy rescues British-Thai couple adrift at sea

PATTAYA: -- A British-Thai couple adrift at sea were rescued after their yacht hit a rock and sunk en route to Koh Samet.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902101-navy-rescues-british-thai-couple-adrift-at-sea/

Pattaya turns Irish at St. Patrick’s Day parade March 17

PATTAYA:--Just as everyone is Chinese for the Lunar New Year, everybody is Irish for St. Patrick’s Day which will be celebrated again in Pattaya with the sixth-annual parade and shows.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902103-pattaya-turns-irish-at-st-patricks-day-parade-march-17/

Jomtien Beach facelift hits the rocks

PATTAYA:--Plans to lay large decorative boulders along Jomtien Beach as a natural attempt to mitigate erosion are now in limbo amid protests from vendors who say they will do more harm than good.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902098-jomtien-beach-facelift-hits-the-rocks/

Sukhumvit pedestrian bridge safe, deputy mayor assures

PATTAYA:--Pattaya officials reassured the public that a temporary pedestrian crossing built over Sukhumvit Road near Pattaya School No. 5 is sturdy enough to handle nine metric tons of foot traffic.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902104-sukhumvit-pedestrian-bridge-safe-deputy-mayor-assures/

Girl gets foot stuck in moving motorbike sidecar wheel

PATTAYA:--A 9-year-old girl’s leg was mangled when her foot got caught in wheel of a moving motorbike’s sidecar.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902105-girl-gets-foot-stuck-in-moving-motorbike-sidecar-wheel/

Noppadol says Thaksin’s speech in New York “constructive”



BANGKOK: -- Former foreign minister Noppadol Pattama said what the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra spoke in New York was constructive and was an expression of his world's vision.

He dismissed as totally fabricated accusation that the ousted prime minister’s statement was hostile and negative to the country.

Thaksin was invited to be a speaker at World Police Institute’s private discussion on March 9 in New York.

The private discussion is part of its Global Leader Briefing Series, and is organised in association with the World Economic Roundtables.

The event is open only to its members.

Noppadol, who is also a personal lawyer of Mr Thaksin, said what the former prime minister said in New York was a show of his world’s vision which suggesting a solution to the country on various aspects, export and investment.

He pointed to the world how Thailand could benefit from global changes.

What he spoke was constructive, and did not attack any person.

He then dismissed as untrue over those who tried to fabricate his statement that he was attacking and damaging the country.

But AP reported that Thaksin has accused the ruling junta of trying to push through a new constitution designed to limit democracy during his speech in New York.

He said the military is now drafting a constitution that allows for an unelected prime minister and proposes giving wide powers to the Constitutional Court and appointing an unelected Senate.

He said Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has promised to hold elections by the end of 2017.

But Thaksin said any elections held under the new constitution will deny the will of the majority of the people. “That is backward democracy,” he said. “Under democracy, you have to give the power to the people.”

He said Thais are very patient people, and were willing to believe the military when it said it is taking over power to “reconcile the differences of the people in the country.”

But so far, Thaksin said “one-and-a-half years (later), they have nothing (to show for) on reconciliation,” he said, adding that in fact the opposite is true. The military rulers are “only trying to use the law to benefit their own politics, according to AP.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/154643


-- Thai PBS 2016-03-11

Four arrested in Phuket backyard shack heroin raid
Eakkapop Thongtub


The heroin raid followed a tip-off by undercover officers. Photo: Thalang Police

PHUKET: -- Police arrested four men yesterday (Mar 10) after a raid on a shack behind a house in Phuket’s Pa Khlok subdistrict netted 40.2 grams of heroin.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902109-four-arrested-in-phuket-backyard-shack-heroin-raid/

Are unlicensed teachers the key to solving Thailand's teacher shortage?
STAFF WRITER


Featured image is via Leaves From The Vine

BANGKOK: -- While the image of the gallivanting backpacker arriving in Bangkok to teach two terms of TEFL-style English is one of the most well-known tropes of Thailand, the Kingdom’s education system is actually suffering from a lack of teachers – qualified ones, at any rate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902110-are-unlicensed-teachers-the-key-to-solving-thailands-teacher-shortage/

KBank says Thai economy to grow 3% this year

BANGKOK, 11 March 2016 (NNT) - Kasikornbank (KBank) has forecast that continuous government spending this year could lead to a maximum of 3% economic growth.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902112-kbank-says-thai-economy-to-grow-3-this-year/