Russian tourism to Phuket rising sharply

Phuket Gazette

 

 

PHUKET:-- Last year, rebounding Russian tourism contributed an estimated 30 billion baht (approximately US$848 million) to Phuket’s economy, according to C9 Hotelworks' latest report on the segment. One clear-cut metric of the attraction of Phuket for Russians is that 51 per cent of the country’s travelers to Thailand now come here. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973414-russian-tourism-to-phuket-rising-sharply/

He pledged to unite Thais under world's tallest flagpole. Now he's accused of fraud.

By Teeranai Charuvastra, Staff Reporter

 

In a 2015 promotional video, Trin Nilprasert points at map as he inspects the site in Chiang Rai province for what he promised to be the world’s tallest flagpole. Image: Sak Atthaklit Kawngern / YouTube

 

CHIANG RAI — It seems Thailand won’t see its colors fly atop the world’s tallest flagpole as promised by a businessman last year after all.

 

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973423-he-pledged-to-unite-thais-under-worlds-tallest-flagpole-now-hes-accused-of-fraud/

 

British, Australian nationals jailed in Bali for murder of policeman

By Tommy Ardiansyah

 

 

DENPASAR, Indonesia (Reuters) - A court in the Indonesian holiday island of Bali jailed a British man and his Australian girlfriend on Monday for their roles in the murder of a traffic policeman on a popular surfing beach.

 

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973427-british-australian-nationals-jailed-in-bali-for-murder-of-policeman/

Video: Sickening violence as security guard kicked in the face

 

Picture: Sanook

 

BANGKOK: -- CCTV shows a security guard at a Nonthaburi housing estate being repeatedly kicked in the head by a group of three men.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973463-video-sickening-violence-as-security-guard-kicked-in-the-face/

 

Video: Young Thais step in to help foreigner after theft of phone by ladyboy

 

Picture: Thairath

 

BANGKOK: -- A video is doing the rounds of social media that shows a young Thai man and his friends helping out a foreigner who has had his phone and some money stolen by a ladyboy.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973464-video-young-thais-step-in-to-help-foreigner-after-theft-of-phone-by-ladyboy/

 

Pattaya - Hua Hin Ferry 50% - 60% full in first month

 

Picture: Thairath

 

PATTAYA: -- Thai Rath reported that the first month of regular services on the Pattaya to Hua Hin ferry across the Gulf of Thailand had been a success.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973465-pattaya-hua-hin-ferry-50-60-full-in-first-month/

 

Video: Motorway pile-up as "foreigner" kills nurse who came to help

 

Picture: Thai News Network

 

CHONBURI: -- A video was uploaded to Facebook that shows several scenes from an accident on the motorway going in the Chonburi direction.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973466-video-motorway-pile-up-as-foreigner-kills-nurse-who-came-to-help/

 

Monks banned from discussing Dhammachayo’s legal cases in temple

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Monks and lay followers in Wat Dhammakaya are allowed to perform activities as normal but banned from talking about the legal cases pending against Phra Dhammachayo and other monks.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973467-monks-banned-from-discussing-dhammachayo’s-legal-cases-in-temple/

 

Incentive package to lure foreign investment for BEV project

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The Finance Ministry is to propose to the cabinet this month a package of measures to attract foreign investments in the development and production of BEVs (battery electric vehicles) in the country.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973468-incentive-package-to-lure-foreign-investment-for-bev-project/

 

UPDATE:

 

Protection sought for witnesses of Silpakorn student’s murder

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Justice was on Monday asked to provide protection to witnesses in the crime case related to a Silpakorn University student who was killed by a group of 18 men at the victim’s dormitory in Cha-am district of Phetchaburi in February.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973426-stabbed-silpakorn-university-student-died-from-bleeding-in-brain-second-autopsy-confirms/?do=findComment&comment=11708450

 

Man accused of being Uber driver after giving ride to foreign friends

By Coconuts Bangkok 

 

Photos: CM108

 

CHIANG MAI: -- A Thai motorist was puzzled when he was accused of being an Uber driver just because he gave a ride to two foreign friends in Chiang Mai.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973470-man-accused-of-being-uber-driver-after-giving-ride-to-foreign-friends-in-chiang-mai/

 

Chiang Mai student wins Junior Dublin Literary Award
By THE NATION

 

Former deputy education minister Dr Sirikorn Maneerin, Irish Ambassador Brendan Rogers, Nation News Network’s president Pana Janviroj and NJ Digital Editor Pimpimol Kongkreingkrai pose for photos with winners of the 12th Junior Dublin Literacy Awards

 

CHIANG MAI: -- A CHIANG MAI student has beaten more than 1,000 candidates to win the 12th Junior Dublin Literary Awards for Thailand for essay writing.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973471-chiang-mai-student-wins-junior-dublin-literary-award/

 

Several contractors monopolise state construction projects: study 
By The Nation

 

File photo: Tippatrai

 

BANGKOK: -- There is a lack of competition for government construction projects, Tippatrai Saelawong, a senior researcher at the Thailand Development Research Institute, said on Monday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973472-several-contractors-monopolise-state-construction-projects-study /

 

Monks protest outside Thai embassy in Yangon over death sentence ruling for Koh Tao murders
By The Nation

 

Photo credit: Irrawady

 

BANGKOK: -- At least 50 protesters – mostly Buddhist monks – gathered briefly outside the Thai Embassy in Yangon on Monday to call for the abolition of the death penalty in Thailand. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973473-monks-protest-outside-thai-embassy-in-yangon-over-death-sentence-ruling-for-koh-tao-murders/

 

UPDATE:

 

Big team to defend human rights policies at UN
By  Wasamon Audjarint,
Nattapat Promkaew,
Kasamakorn Chanwanpen
The Nation

 

 

Thailand has 46 officials in geneva, more than any other country, for its second review at un rights body

 

BANGKOK: -- AFTER years of international criticism over its human rights policies, a 46-member delegation is strong enough to defend Thailand’s position before the Human Rights Committee on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR), senior government officials said. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973421-wissanu-defends-sending-46-thai-delegates-to-human-rights-session-in-switzerland/?page=2#comment-11708485

 

Number of new companies increase by 3% in Feb

 

BANGKOK, 14 March 2017 (NNT) - More than 5,700 new companies registered with the Ministry of Commerce in February. The ministry has expressed confidence that the continuously recovering economy will lead to an increase in new companies by more than 66,000 companies this year. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973474-number-of-new-companies-increase-by-3-in-feb/

 

Govt to consider development of U-Tapao airport

 

BANGKOK, 14 March 2017 (NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Chatusripitak, has called a meeting with the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) management committee to follow up on a project to develop the U-Tapao airport. 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973475-govt-to-consider-development-of-u-tapao-airport/

 

British PM May to reject Scottish referendum demand - Times newspaper

REUTERS

 

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives for a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain March 13, 2017. REUTERS/Toby Melville - RTX30TCA

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May is preparing to reject Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's demand for an independence referendum on the eve of the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union, the Times newspaper reported.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973477-british-pm-may-to-reject-scottish-referendum-demand-times-newspaper/

 

Several states jointly sue to block Trump's revised travel ban

By Mica Rosenberg

REUTERS

 

U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, U.S., March 10, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

 

(Reuters) - A group of states renewed their effort on Monday to block President Donald Trump's revised temporary ban on refugees and travellers from several Muslim-majority countries, arguing that his executive order is the same as the first one that was halted by federal courts.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973478-several-states-jointly-sue-to-block-trumps-revised-travel-ban/

 

Brexit bill: Lords pass landmark legislation on leaving EU

 

LONDON: -- The House of Lords has passed the Brexit bill, paving the way for the government to trigger Article 50 so the UK can leave the EU.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973479-brexit-bill-lords-pass-landmark-legislation-on-leaving-eu/

 

Trump gives CIA authority to conduct drone strikes - WSJ

REUTERS

 

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a visit to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Langley, Virginia U.S. January 21, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

 

(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has given the Central Intelligence Agency new authority to conduct drone attacks against suspected militants, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing U.S. officials.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973480-trump-gives-cia-authority-to-conduct-drone-strikes-wsj/

 

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to be released

By Lin Noueihed and Ahmed Aboulenein

REUTERS

 

Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak waves to his supporters outside the area where he is hospitalized during the celebrations of the 43rd anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, at Maadi military hospital on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt October 6, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

 

CAIRO (Reuters) - Hosni Mubarak, overthrown as president of Egypt in 2011 and the first leader to go on trial in the wake of the Arab Spring, will walk free this week for the first time in six years.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973481-former-egyptian-president-hosni-mubarak-to-be-released/

 

Turkey targets Dutch with diplomatic sanctions as 'Nazi' row escalates

By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Tulay Karadeniz

REUTERS

 

Demonstrators clash with riot police during running battles in the streets near the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam, Netherlands March 12, 2017. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

 

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey said on Monday it would suspend high-level diplomatic relations with the Netherlands after Dutch authorities prevented its ministers from speaking at rallies of expatriate Turks, deepening the row between the two NATO allies.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973482-turkey-targets-dutch-with-diplomatic-sanctions-as-nazi-row-escalates/

 

Trump Middle East envoy meets Netanyahu in Jerusalem

REUTERS

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem March 5, 2017. REUTERS/Abir Sultan/Pool

 

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Monday, Netanyahu's office said, as the new administration tries to try to restart peace talks with the Palestinians.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973485-trump-middle-east-envoy-meets-netanyahu-in-jerusalem/

 

Republican plan to repeal Obamacare would leave millions uninsured -report

By David Lawder

REUTERS

 

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, sitting with Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, discusses the American Health Care Act during a meeting with local business leaders at the Harshaw-Trane Parts and Distribution Center in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., March 11, 2017. REUTERS/Bryan Woolston

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fourteen million Americans would lose medical insurance by next year under a Republican plan to dismantle Obamacare that would also reduce the budget deficit, the nonpartisan U.S. Congressional Budget Office said on Monday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973488-republican-plan-to-repeal-obamacare-would-leave-millions-uninsured-report/

 

UPDATE:

 

Exclusive - Russia appears to deploy forces in Egypt, eyes on Libya role: sources

By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Lin Noueihed

REUTERS

 

WASHINGTON/CAIRO (Reuters) - Russia appears to have deployed special forces to an airbase in western Egypt near the border with Libya in recent days, U.S., Egyptian and diplomatic sources say, a move that would add to U.S. concerns about Moscow's deepening role in Libya.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973431-russia-says-ready-to-resume-contacts-with-usa-on-syria-ifax/?do=findComment&comment=11708693

 

NCPO investigating if Nonthaburi motorcycle taxis being made to pay influential people

 

NONTHABURI, 14 March 2017 (NNT) - The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has launched an investigation into allegations of motorcycle taxis being made to pay off influential people in Nonthaburi. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973493-ncpo-investigating-if-nonthaburi-motorcycle-taxis-being-made-to-pay-influential-people/

 

Notorious German beggar is in M’sia

By MEI MEI CHU
The Star
KUALA LUMPUR

 

Benjamin Holst takes a selfie shot for checking at Penang Ferry Terminal on his Facebook wall.

 

KUALA LUMPUR: -- Benjamin Holst, the notorious traveller with one swollen leg, has been spotted panhandling here.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973496-notorious-german-beggar-with-a-swollen-leg-is-in-malaysia/

 

SET falls 2.00 to 1,533.51 at opening /Bangkok Post

Chinese appeal for tourists’ safety in Phuket met with promises

The Phuket News

 

Rescue workers attend to a Chinese tourist injured in a boat trip off Phuket. Photo: The Phuket News / file

 

PHUKET: -- A high-powered appeal by the Chinese government asking the Thai authorities to take more action to prevent deaths and injuries to Chinese tourists in Phuket and the surrounding region has been met with a slew justifications and promises.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973497-chinese-appeal-for-tourists’-safety-in-phuket-met-with-promises/