Haze in North remains hazardous to health



CHIANG MAI: -- Haze is still posing threat to health of people in the North with health officials revealing over 7,000 patients seeing doctors at Chiang Mai hospital daily.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....dous-to-health/

Up for auction
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Anti-Money Laundering Office will hold a second auction of 20,000 assets confiscated from former Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Pongpat Chayapan from tomorrow till Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810757-up-for-auction/

UPDATE:

Corn farm fires causing North smog
Ayuthai Nonnitirat
The Sunday

Chiang Mai chamber reveals 5 million rai being burnt to clear fields, asks businesses to take responsibility

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810723-haze-in-north-remains-hazardous-to-health/#entry9214992

Isaan activists slam martial law
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Groups tell thammasat forum the law threatens their work and violates their basic rights

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810758-isaan-activists-slam-martial-law/

Debate begins on the pros and cons of a referendum on the new charter
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
THE SUNDAY NATION

MANY proponents of the proposed charter agree that they won't have a lot of choice when the time comes for the referendum on the constitution, which is expected to be held late next year, if the junta gives it the go ahead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810759-debate-begins-on-the-pros-and-cons-of-a-referendum-on-the-new-charter/

Singaporeans pray as Lee's condition worsens
The Straits Times, Reuters
Asia News Network
Singapore

SINGAPORE: -- Four-year-old Lim Kai Jun is usually at his English tuition class on Saturday afternoons. But this week, he skipped the class to go to the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and wish Singapore's former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew well.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810760-singaporeans-pray-as-lees-condition-worsens/

Klongchan gets funds ready for creditors as rehab looms
Pimnara Pradapwit,
Prasit Tangprasert
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- KLONGCHAN Credit Union Cooperative has arranged Bt300 million to ensure liquidity after it was rocked by the embezzlement of Bt16 billion, chairman Padet Mungthanya said yesterday. He said details of a court-ordered rehabilitation plan should be clearer after April 4.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810761-klongchan-gets-funds-ready-for-creditors-as-rehab-looms/

Monks confirm getting big cheques from former cooperative boss Supachai
Piyanut Tamnukasetchai
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- TWO MONKS from Wat Dhammakaya told Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officials that they had received donations from Supachai Supa-aksorn, former president of Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative and a key embezzlement suspect, but insisted they were not close to Supachai, a source at the DSI revealed yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810762-monks-confirm-getting-big-cheques-from-former-cooperative-boss-supachai/

Many state positions must comply with anti-graft laws: NACC
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- MORE than 50 positions for state officials must comply with anti-graft laws on conflict of interest in addition to the top jobs of prime minister, ministers local administration chiefs and deputies, National Anti-Corruption Commission member Vicha Mahakun said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810763-many-state-positions-must-comply-with-anti-graft-laws-nacc/

EDITORIAL
Winning the battle against Islamist fanaticism
The Nation

The world needs to support muslim leaders facing attacks by islamic state extremists in the middle east

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810764-winning-the-battle-against-islamist-fanaticism/

Thailand is kicking off two festivals this weekend: the Splash and Spice Festival and the Pattaya International Music Festival 2015. The music festival will run from March 20-22, while the food festival will run until May 31.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810746-thailand-kicks-off-food-and-music-festivals/

http://January Tourism Up 16% One Year After Bangkok Shutdown

British male tourist commits suicide at Phuket shooting range
Eakkapop Thongtub

Thalang shooting range.

PHUKET: A British man shot himself to death at Thalang shooting range earlier today (March 21).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810768-british-male-tourist-commits-suicide-at-phuket-shooting-range/

Thousands attend the first night of the Pattaya Music Festival 2015

PATTAYA: -- It is now in its 14th year and is the longest running Music Festival in Asia, the Pattaya Music Festival, which is taking place over the weekend.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810769-thousands-attend-the-first-night-of-the-pattaya-music-festival-2015/

Police: Man swinging a machete shot at New Orleans airport
Associated Press

KENNER, La. (AP) — The New Orleans airport concourse that became a scene of chaos when a machete-wielding man was shot by a sheriff's lieutenant re-opened Saturday morning and a spokeswoman said airport operations were normal.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810770-man-swinging-a-machete-shot-at-new-orleans-airport/

Obama takes Netanyahu 'at his word' on Palestinian state
DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said he takes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "at his word" for saying that an independent Palestinian state will never co-exist with Israel as long as he is in office, yet another sign of the strained relations between longtime allies.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810778-obama-takes-netanyahu-at-his-word-on-palestinian-state/

Bangkok: – The education authorities have launched a fact-finding investigation into a male teacher on suspicion of having molested four boys, aged 8 to 11, during a school trip to Singapore.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810791-male-teacher-under-probe-for-molesting-four-boys/

Roi Et: – Provincial police have sought and received the arrest warrants for job fraud suspect after a senior official unwittingly walked into the crime in progress at a Buddhist temple.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810792-senior-official-stumbles-on-job-placement-scam/

UPDATE:

Phuket:- A 21-year-old Briton turned a pistol on himself and was killed inside a shooting range in Phuket’s Thalang district Saturday afternoon, police said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810768-british-male-tourist-commits-suicide-at-phuket-shooting-range/#entry9215763

US evacuates all personnel from Yemen: State Dept

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States said Saturday it will evacuate its staff from Yemen for security reasons, one day after several suicide bombings claimed by the Islamic State group killed 142 people in Sanaa.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810836-us-evacuates-all-personnel-from-yemen/

Prime Minister: VAT increase must wait until economy improves

BANGKOK, 21 March 2015 (NNT) – Any raising of the value added tax (VAT) would have to wait until the economy improves, and it would take slightly more than two years for the land and building tax to be implemented, according to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810839-prime-minister-vat-increase-must-wait-until-economy-improves/

Thai-Chinese standard-gauge rail network will be in use by 2018, PM says

BANGKOK, 21 March 2015 (NNT) - Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has indicated during his weekly television program that the 1.435-meter standard-gauge rail network project under the Thai-Chinese cooperation will become concrete in 2018.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810840-thai-chinese-standard-gauge-rail-network-will-be-in-use-by-2018-pm-says/

Poll: Thai people find post-coup politics better

BANGKOK, 22 March 2015 (NNT) – A recent survey by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University has found that most Thai people think better of Thai politics after the coup.

Full story: http://Poll: Thai people find post-coup politics better

Airport Rail Link to resume normal operation hours due to deficit

BANGKOK, 21 March 2015 (NNT) – Airport Rail Link is planning to resume its normal operation hours after its extended timetable has proven to be loss-making.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810843-airport-rail-link-to-resume-normal-operation-hours-due-to-deficit/

British Ambassador tours Sukhothai

SUKHOTHAI, 21 March 2015 (NNT) – British ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent has paid a visit to Sukhothai province to tour historical places of the country’s former capital.

The ambassador and his group were greeted by Sukhothai provincial governor Piti Kaewsalabsri. Those accompanying him include his spouse, Ms. Marine Delogne, and director-general of the Central Institute of Forensic Science Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan.

The ambassador spent the first day of his two-day visit touring Sukhothai Historical Park, Ramkhamhaeng National Museum and watching a light and sound performance by students of Sukhothai Dancing Art College.

As for tomorrow's program, the ambassador and his group will be touring Si Satchanalai Historical Park and Gold Textile Museum as well as observing the making of ancient-style gold articles in Si Satchanalai district before returning to Bangkok. Tourism-related agencies hope that Mr. Mark Kent’s trip to Sukhothai would help promote tourism in the province.

-- NNT 2015-03-22

Former Democrat MP calls on Prayut to reject charter draft

BANGKOK: -- Former Democrat MP Watchara Phetthong Sunday called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to reject the draft constitution prepared by the Constitution Drafting Committee, saying the draft would fuel rifts in Thailand instead of reforming the country.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Former-Democrat-MP-calls-on-Prayut-to-reject-chart-30256520.html

-- The Nation 2015-03-22

Former Pheu Thai MP Urges Junta to Resurrect Blanket Amnesty

By Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK — A former Pheu Thai Party lawmaker has urged Thailand's ruling military junta to issue blanket amnesty to anyone convicted of "politically-related" charges over the past decade, a move attempted by the former government that sparked mass protests in 2013.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810851-former-pheu-thai-mp-urges-junta-to-resurrect-blanket-amnesty/

Govt to extend free health care to 285,000 more stateless people

BANGKOK: -- Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin said he will ask the Cabinet to approve the ministry's plan to provide free health care to 285,171 more stateless people living in Thailand.

He said the ministry has earlier received the Cabinet's approval to provide health care for 208,631 stateless people.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Govt-to-extend-free-health-care-to-285000-more-sta-30256522.html

-- The Nation 2015-03-22

Australia a puzzling hotbed of Islamic State recruiting
By ROD McGUIRK

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A nightclub bouncer who reportedly became a terror group leader. A man who tweeted a photo of his young son clutching a severed head. A teenager who is believed to have turned suicide bomber, and others suspected of attempting to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State movement. All of them, Australian.

Full Story: http://Australia a puzzling hotbed of Islamic State recruiting

Two men arrested in Phuket drug bust
Eakkapop Thongtub

Somyot Panumpai.

PHUKET: Two men were arrested yesterday (March 21) after police searched their grocer’s shop and found kratom leaves, guns and ammunition.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810878-two-men-arrested-in-phuket-drug-bust/