UPDATE:

EARTHQUAKE
Big quake rocks North
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- People in Chiang Rai's Phan district ran out of their homes and buildings in panic as ground in the far North shook during a 6.1-magnitude earthquake yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723853-strong-60-magnitude-quake-rattles-northern-thailand-usgs/page-6?p=7780041#entry7780041

Thai PM set to face court as legal troubles intensify

BANGKOK, May 6, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's besieged Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is due to appear in front of the nation's Constitutional Court on Tuesday facing allegations of abuse of power that could see her sacked from office.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723949-thai-pm-yingluck-set-to-face-court-as-legal-troubles-intensify/

CORONATION DAY
Crowds gather to honour King
The Nation



Visitors mass in Hua Hin to pay tribute to beloved monarch

HUA HIN: -- Thousands upon thousands of people, dressed in yellow, gathered at different locations to mark Coronation Day yesterday, with the biggest ceremony held in the resort town of Hua Hin, where His Majesty the King currently resides. Yesterday marked His Majesty's 64th year on the throne.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723950-hua-hin-crowds-gather-to-honour-king/

EDUCATION
Institute cans controversial U-Net test
Chuleeporn Aramnet
The Nation

No agency willing to use exam after public criticism

BANGKOK: -- The National Institute of Educational Testing Service (NIETS) board yesterday cancelled a pilot English language test under the University National Education Test (U-Net) for this year and indefinitely postponed all U-Net subjects for next year, on grounds that there are no users of U-Net scores.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723952-thai-institute-cans-controversial-u-net-test/

KAREN ACTIVIST
UN condemns disappearance of 'Billy'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The disappearance of Karen activist "Billy" has prompted the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) to condemn the "pattern of killings and forced disappearances of environmental activists in Southeast Asia" and to urge authorities to conduct thorough and independent investigations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723955-un-condemns-disappearance-of-karen-activist-billy/

ACCIDENT
Four women slip to their death at Kanchanaburi waterfall
The Nation

KANCHANABURI: -- A probe into the drowning of four Bangkok women at a waterfall in Kanchanaburi's Si Sawat district on Sunday has revealed theywere taking photos when they slipped into the water, losing their life vests in strong currents before being pulled into an underwater cave.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723956-four-women-slip-to-their-death-at-kanchanaburi-waterfall/

EDITORIAL
Asean must raise its voice over Thai crisis
The Nation

Our neighbours cannot stand by idly while our predicament damages regional integration

BANGKOK: -- The region's leaders must do more than just whisper among themselves when Thai delegates to the Asean summit in Nay Pyi Taw next weekend update them on our political conflict. The truth is that Thais need advice on how to solve their deadlocked crisis.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723957-asean-must-raise-its-voice-over-thai-crisis/

STREETWISE
Carefree culture leads to one thing: dark, lonely days ahead
Achara Deboonme

BANGKOK: -- A night on Phaholyothin Road followed by a visit to a nursing home in Pathum Thani shed light for me on how low-income poor Thais are preparing for the ageing society.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723958-carefree-culture-leads-to-one-thing-dark-lonely-days-ahead-thai-opinion/

UPDATE:

Brunei's crackdown on gay sex riles Hollywood jet-set
Catherine A Traywick
Foreign Policy
Washington


The Sultan of Brunei announces the three-phase implementation of sharia law last week. The third phase will include a law against gay sex that carries the death penalty.

WASHINGTON: -- Typically, the imposition of sharia law in a distant land doesn't make much of a splash in Hollywood. But in the case of Brunei, a tiny, oil-rich country whose overseas investments include California landmarks like the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Hotel Bel Air, the imposition of a law mandating the death penalty for gay sex is riling Hollywood elites.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722642-brunei-announces-may-1-start-of-sharia-law-implementation/page-3?p=7780111#entry7780111

Arrest Warrant issued for British National following Jomtien Shooting



PATTAYA: -- Following the shooting of a 41 year old English resident of Pattaya on Sunday Night in Jomtien, Pattaya Police have announced that an arrest warrant has been issued for a British National who is thought to have conducted the shooting.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723960-arrest-warrant-issued-for-british-national-following-jomtien-shooting/

Norwegian threatens to electrocute himself at Jomtien Restaurant



PATTAYA: -- Police were called to a Restaurant and Guest House on Dongtan Beach, 100 meters from the Dongtan Police Station on Jomtien Beach, on Monday Night, to assist a Norwegian who was threatening to throw himself onto a transformer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723961-norwegian-threatens-to-electrocute-himself-at-jomtien-restaurant/

PDRC supporters vow to get rid of Thaksin regime



BANGKOK: -- Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban led supporters of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee to make a vow to get rid of Thaksin regime in order to change the country into a real democracy and to have the country reformed before there is an election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723962-pdrc-supporters-vow-to-get-rid-of-thaksin-regime/

1.2 Million Baht Police Raid at South Pattaya IT Center



PATTAYA: -- Fifty Officers from the Police Region 2 Intellectual Property Rights Unit conducted a raid of the Tuk Com IT Center on the South Pattaya Road on Monday evening and seized an estimated 1.2 Million Baht’s worth of counterfeit goods and arrested 26 people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723964-12-million-baht-police-raid-at-south-pattaya-it-center/

CRIME
Fake foreign passports sold in Bangkok
The Star/ANN

BANGKOK: -- Fake copies of Malaysian MyKad and passports of various countries can be easily bought in the streets of Bangkok, according to China Press.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723965-fake-foreign-passports-sold-in-bangkok/

Police probe shooting at Kalasin BAAC bank
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police yesterday summoned employees of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC)'s Song Puai branch in Kalasin's Muang district for information after unknown party in a truck opened fire at the branch office on Sunday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723966-police-probe-shooting-at-kalasin-baac-bank/

Man 'accidentally' shoots 2 at rally site
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A Nakhon Si Thammarat man, arrested for shooting and slightly wounding two women at a People's Army to Overthrow the Thaksin Regime rally on Sunday night, claimed his gun went off accidentally, Nang Lerng police investigator Pol Lt-Colonel Anurak Pimpa said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723967-bangkok-man-accidentally-shoots-2-at-rally-site/

Forest flood hits 100 homes in Lampang
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Hours of heavy downpours on Sunday night caused a forest flood in Lampang's Muang district early yesterday, affecting 100 homes.

The flood, caused by heavy rains in Chaeson Nation Park mountains, also damaged a local bridge, swept away villagers' fowls and inundated hundreds of rai of farmland. Officials yesterday dispatch aid to affected residents and survey damage in three villages - Ban Kha Thung Jo, Ban Kha Klang and Ban Kha Luang.


-- The Nation 2014-05-06

Evidence sought to link pair to illegal logging
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Anti-Money Laundering Office and police are collecting more evidence against two alleged financiers of illegal rosewood logging operations in Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum in a move to seize more than Bt200 million worth of assets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723968-korat-evidence-sought-to-link-pair-to-illegal-logging/

Outgoing SET president suggests goals for future of Thai bourse
Erich Parpart,
Somluck Srimalee
The Nation


Charamporn: The bourse would today open a system for derivatives trading and clearing that would support the market value rising by as much as 10 times from the current level.

BANGKOK: -- As he prepares to step down at the end of this month as president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, Charamporn Jotikasthira has outlined a broad range of goals for the bourse in the future.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723969-outgoing-set-president-suggests-goals-for-future-of-thai-bourse/

Kittirat repeats Thailand’s role in GMS development

BANGKOK, 6 May 2015 (NNT) -The Minister of Finance, Mr.Kittirat Na Ranong, has recalled Thailand’s role in the GMS development, when speaking during the 47th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723970-kittirat-repeats-thailands-role-in-gms-development/

Bangkok signboards going bilingual for the AEC

BANGKOK, 6 May 2014 (NNT) -The Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reports that the Bangkok Traffic and Transportation Department is installing bilingual Thai and English signage around the Bangkok area.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723972-bangkok-signboards-going-bilingual-for-the-aec/

Chart Thai Pattana Party adviser says political reformation cannot breach the Constitution

BANGKOK, 6 May 2014 (NNT) - A Chart Thai Pattana Party adviser has suggested that all sides should come together to set up guidelines for political reformation without breaching the Constitution, adding that an election on 20 July is the best way forward.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723973-chart-thai-pattana-adviser-political-reformation-cannot-breach-the-constitution/

World facing polio health emergency

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723986-world-facing-polio-health-emergency/

UPDATE:

More than 50 aftershocks follow Monday quake: disaster prevention department

BANGKOK: -- More than 50 aftershocks followed the 6.3-Richter earthquake that hit Chiang Rai and nearby provinces Monday evening, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department announced.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723853-strong-60-magnitude-quake-rattles-northern-thailand-usgs/page-7?p=7780574#entry7780574

UPDATE:

Major dams unaffected by Chiang Rai quake

TAK, 6 May 2014 (NNT) – Major dams were reportedly unaffected by the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that originated in Chiang Rai province on Monday evening.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723853-strong-60-magnitude-quake-rattles-northern-thailand-usgs/page-7?p=7780602#entry7780602

UPDATE:

Damage reported in several northern provinces after Chiang Rai quake

CHIANG RAI, 6 May 2014 (NNT) – Damage has been reported in several provinces in the North after a magnitude 6.3 quake occurred in Chiang Rai, with an epicenter located 10 kilometers deep in Phan district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723853-strong-60-magnitude-quake-rattles-northern-thailand-usgs/page-7?p=7780615#entry7780615

DCA plans to expand regional airports

BANGKOK, 6 May 2014, (NNT) - The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) plans to invest a billion baht in upgrading the old and constructing new regional airports under its supervision, as part of its preparation for the expansion of domestic routes after the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723999-thailands-dca-plans-to-expand-regional-airports/

PM to testify to Constitutional Court at 9:30 am

Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will defend herself in the Constitutional Court in the case of National Security Council chief transfer at 9:30 am Tuesday.


-- The Nation 2014-05-06

World's first trillionaire just a matter of time

LONDON: -- The world’s first trillionaire could emerge within just 25 years, financial forecasters have claimed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724002-worlds-first-trillionaire-just-a-matter-of-time/

Deadly clashes in Ukraine as troops push toward rebel-held city
C.J. Chivers and Noah Sneider

Slaviansk, Ukraine: Ukrainian security forces and anti-government rebels clashed on the edges of this rebel-controlled city on Monday as the acting president, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, said roadblocks were being set up around Ukraine's capital, Kiev, because of fears of disturbances or violence during an emotionally charged holiday later in the week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724003-deadly-clashes-in-ukraine-as-troops-push-toward-rebel-held-city/