Obama says climate change is harming Americans' health
JOSH LEDERMAN, Associated Press
NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Global warming isn't just affecting the weather, it's harming Americans' health, President Barack Obama said Tuesday as he announced steps government and businesses will take to better understand and deal with the problem.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815671-obama-says-climate-change-is-harming-americans-health/

Bangkok has highest rate of domestic violence

Bangkok: – Thailand’s capital is the hotbed for domestic violence and sees a highest number of suicides in comparison to the rest of the country.

To mark Family’s Day on April 14, three advocacy groups have launched an awareness campaign by releasing a report on domestic violence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815674-bangkok-has-highest-rate-of-domestic-violence/

Government saving bonds sale below target

Bangkok: – The Finance Ministry has conceded to the lower-than-expected subscription of government saving bonds from December to March.

The ministry issued the three-year bonds at 3.25 per cent interest rate. The bonds were designed to a secondary fiscal instrument to supplement government borrowing and to encourage the public saving.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815675-government-saving-bonds-sale-below-target/

TAT expects Songkran foreign tourist arrivals to rise 30%

BANGKOK, 8 April 2015 (NNT) – The lifting of martial law is expected to result in more foreign tourists visiting Thailand during the Songkran festival, whereas Japan and South Korea's banning of Thai chartered flights should not affect foreign tourist arrivals into the kingdom, said Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) acting governor Chuthaporn Roengronasa.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815688-tat-expects-songkran-foreign-tourist-arrivals-to-rise-30/

American couple in Bali suitcase murder appeal for lighter sentence
Ni Komang Erviani
The Jakarta Post

JAKARTA: -- Two Americans, Heather Lois Mack and her boyfriend Tommy Schaefer, begged for lighter sentences from judges in a trial regarding the death of Mack’s mother, at the Denpasar District Court in Bali on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815702-american-couple-in-bali-suitcase-murder-appeal-for-lighter-sentence/

4 killed, 6 injured in chartered van crash

Kamphaeng Phet:- Twelve Myanmar workers chartered a van from Nonthaburi to Mae Sot, Tak, hoping to go home to celebrate Songkran but the sleepy driver crashed the van into trees at a sharp curve, killing four and injuring six others.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815703-4-killed-6-injured-in-chartered-van-crash/

Phuket beach raids net 155 'illegal' items
Eakkapop Thongtub


Wrong place: Officials carry away umbrellas and mattresses from Surin Beach.

PHUKET: A total of 155 beach umbrellas, sunbeds, and other pieces of beach furniture were seized from Laypang Beach and Surin Beach yesterday (April 7) on the grounds that they were “encroaching” on public areas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815712-phuket-beach-raids-net-155-illegal-items/

"4 NOs" Safe Songkran zones to be identified in Bangkok



BANGKOK, 8 April 2015 (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has zoned off “Safer Songkran” areas in fifty districts in Bangkok where sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, obscene activities and powder will be strictly prohibited under the slogan "4 NOs", Deputy Governor of Bangkok Pusadee Tamthai announced.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815719-4-nos-safe-songkran-zones-to-be-identified-in-bangkok/

SET up 3.77 points at opening /Bangkok Post

Tropical storms ravage Bangkok and several provinces



BANGKOK: -- Tropical torrential rainstorms and hail storms ravaged several northern, northeast and central provinces yesterday and today destroying hundreds of homes, and bringing down power poles, trees and billboards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815722-tropical-storms-ravage-bangkok-and-several-provinces/

Fire rips through Phuket convenience store
Eakkapop Thongtub



PHUKET: -- The Super Cheap Store at Phuket Villa 5 burned down early this morning (April 8), with damage estimated at several million baht.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815725-fire-rips-through-phuket-convenience-store/

Bonanza Khao Yai resort faces demolition for encroachment of Khao Yai national park



BANGKOK: -- Bonanza Golf and Country Club is facing partly demolition and its owner facing criminal charge after it was found that part of its areas encroached on the Khao Yai National Park.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815728-bonanza-resort-faces-demolition-for-encroachment-of-khao-yai-national-park/

100 Satellite reception kits to be delivered to schools in Nong Khai

NONG KHAI, 8 April 2015, (NNT) - Leo Technology and Marketing Co. Ltd. (Leotech) yesterday donated 100 satellite reception kits to the Office of Education, Religion and Culture in Nong Khai. The device will be used for educational purposes at several remote secondary-level schools in the province.

Leotech’s Marketing Director Lapatsarada Namwong represented the company in handing over the equipment to Provincial Governor Suchart Noppawan .

The company is one of Thailand’s leading producers of satellite reception kits and digital TV set top box. The donation is part of the firm’s larger campaign in providing a total of 1,000 satellite reception kits worth two million baht to remote schools nationwide.


-- NNT 2015-04-08

Pathum Thani Public Health Office clamps down on false ads

PATHUM THANI, 8 April 2015, (NNT) - The Public Health Office in Pathum Thani province has held a seminar on regulating advertisements for health products and services.

The office said the purpose behind the talks yesterday was to inform providers and advertisers in the consumer health sector about regulations for advertisements of health products and services. The regulations protect health and wellness consumers from falling prey to false advertising.

The organizer also hope to create an information database of health advertisements that make false or misleading claims about the effects of its product or service.

The seminar was well-received by related units, with 150 representatives of advertisers and health product and service providers attending the event.


-- NNT 2015-04-08

UPDATE:

Half a million tourists flying in to celebrate Songkran festival

BANGKOK: -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says the upcoming Songkran festival will see over half a million tourists visiting the country to enjoy the festival.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815688-tat-expects-songkran-foreign-tourist-arrivals-to-rise-30/#entry9282501

Phuket police hunt for hit and run minivan driver
Eakkapop Thongtub


The motorcycle was found in a ditch, a body was found nearby.

PHUKET: -- Police are looking for the driver of a minivan who had a collision with a motorcycle last night (April 7) killing the driver, a man from Nakorn Sri Thamarat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815745-phuket-police-hunt-for-hit-and-run-minivan-driver/

BMA to raise safety standards for Bangkok residents

BANGKOK, 8 April 2015 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has been planning to enhance safety measures for Bangkok residents by installing more lights and CCTV cameras.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815747-bma-to-raise-safety-standards-for-bangkok-residents/

Stowaway survives 1-hour Indonesia flight

Indonesian media reports say a man has survived a one-hour flight by hiding in a passenger jet's landing gear bay

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815750-stowaway-survives-1-hour-indonesia-flight/

UDD's request to commemorate 2010 bloodshed rejected

BANGKOK:-- Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said Wednesday that members of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship or red-shirt movement must individually hold religious rites at their own homes to commemorate their peers killed during the 2010 crackdowns.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815751-udds-request-to-commemorate-2010-bloodshed-rejected/

Expect cancellations: Air traffic Controller on Strike in France

PARIS: -- Following Lufthansa in Germany, another EU country is harassing airline passengers with frustration, delays and cancellations. The SNCTA union - France's largest - has called a nationwide air traffic controller strike in France for today, Wednesday and tomorrow Thursday. The reason:A dispute over working conditions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815754-expect-cancellations-air-traffic-controller-on-strike-in-france/

SET up 1.12 to 1,550.65 at midday /Bangkok Post.

AP - Royal Dutch Shell to buy BG Group in $69.7 billion takeover

PM undecided about constitutional referendum

BANGKOK, 8 April 2015 (NNT) - Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has said that he remains undecided whether to hold a referendum on the new constitution, saying it was not yet time to make such a decision.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815789-pm-undecided-about-constitutional-referendum/

Phuket man arrested with gun and ammunition
Eakkapop Thongtub


Police had gone to Sakdachai's house looking for drugs but found a gun and bullets.

PHUKET: -- A 23-year-old man was arrested with a gun and bullets last night (April 7). Police had actually gone to his home to search for drugs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815792-phuket-man-arrested-with-gun-and-ammunition/

UPDATE:

Redshirts plan for merit-making April 10 in remembrance of slain colleagues rejected



BANGKOK: -- Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan today rejected a request by the redshirt leaders to hold a mass merit-making ceremony to remember their colleagues who died during the military crackdown of violent anti-government protests on April 10, 2010.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815751-udds-request-to-commemorate-2010-bloodshed-rejected/#entry9283248

Bigger cigarette pictorial warnings soon

Bangkok:- Scary pictorial warnings on cigarette packs will be getting bigger in the Thai market in response to the Public Health Ministry’s intensifying efforts to curb smoking. But some smokers have already said they can find a way to deal with the disturbing pictures and not give up smoking.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815793-bigger-cigarette-pictorial-warnings-soon/

THAI-RUSSIA RELATIONS
Russia, Thailand sign cooperation pacts



BANGKOK: -- Thailand and Russia on Wednesday signed five agreements aimed at boosting cooperation as part of the official visit of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815795-russia-thailand-sign-cooperation-pacts/

Filipino family appeals to Indonesia to save convicted maid

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Family members of a Filipino maid facing the death penalty after being convicted of drug trafficking in Indonesia made a last-minute appeal Wednesday for clemency to the country's president.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815797-filipino-family-appeals-to-indonesia-to-save-convicted-maid/

Request to lift hold of Obama immigration action denied
By JUAN A. LOZANO

HOUSTON (AP) — A federal judge in Texas late Tuesday kept a temporary hold on President Barack Obama's executive action that sought to shield millions of immigrants from deportation, rejecting a U.S. Department of Justice request that he allow the action to go ahead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815801-request-to-lift-hold-of-obama-immigration-action-denied/

NRC reaches agreement on cyber law reform

BANGKOK, 8 April (NN) - The National Reform Council (NRC) has approved of measures to improve cyber laws to benefit the economy and society as well as to protect the rights of citizens, and will submit the proposals to the Cabinet for consideration.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815806-nrc-reaches-agreement-on-thai-cyber-law-reform/