Thailand agrees closer military ties with China during visit by top Beijing official
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand and China Friday agreed to forge closer military ties, creating more mechanisms for cooperation on defence and security matters, according to a visiting senior Chinese military officer, Air Chief Marshal Xu Qiliang.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....ijing-official/

King views Chao Phraya river

His Majesty the King today briefly left the Siriraj hospital room to view the Chao Phraya River.
The Royal Household Bureau said in a statement released late Friday afternoon that His Majesty the King was driven from Siriraj hospital in a royal motorcade to the nearby Royal Thai Navy’s auditorium building in the afternoon.

The King briefly viewed the river from the building, and later returned to the hospital.

The King was admitted to the Siriraj Hospital in October 2014 with high fever and later underwent a surgery to remove his gallbladder.

It was the King’s second time to leave the hospital grounds since he was admitted six months ago.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/king-views-chao-phraya-river

-- Thai PBS 2015-04-25

DNP, temple achieve an agreement on tigers
THE NATION

Kanchanaburi: -- AFTER what began as a big showdown, the Tiger Temple in Kancha-naburi and wildlife officials finally found middle ground yesterday by agreeing that the 146 tigers would be kept in the temple compound but would be seen as state assets.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819987-dnp-temple-achieve-an-agreement-on-tigers/

Poll delay proposal slammed
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK,
WIRAJ SRIPONG
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai demands speedy election; politicians who attended Thursday's meeting do not represent the people, say experts

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819988-poll-delay-proposal-slammed/

NGO pushes for production sharing in oil exploration bids
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The People's Network for Energy Reform has urged the government to include special conditions in the amendments to the petroleum act so as to allow the use of a production sharing contract (PSC) in the upcoming round of bidding for oil and gas exploration.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819989-ngo-pushes-for-production-sharing-in-oil-exploration-bids/

THAI aims to be the 'safest airline'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International Plc ( THAI) President Charamporn Jotikasthira yesterday said the airline aims to be the safest carrier in the Asia-Pacific region within this year. The airline is now running internal audit procedure in the wake of safety issues raised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819990-thai-aims-to-be-the-safest-airline/

Some provisions prejudiced: Seree
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
THE NATION


NRC justice panel chief questions need for new election organising committee

BANGKOK: -- MANY OF the provisions in the new charter were created with "prejudice and emotion" and they will consequently create problems in the future, a judicial expert said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819991-some-provisions-prejudiced-seree/

Two women shot dead in deep South
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Man and three children wounded in Narathiwat blast targeting officials

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819992-two-women-shot-dead-in-deep-south/

UFUN ringleaders sought as number of complaints rises to 193
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- AT LEAST 193 people have come forward to lodge complaints against UFUN Thailand over its alleged operation of a fraudulent scheme.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819993-ufun-ringleaders-sought-as-number-of-complaints-rises-to-193/

Retiree, 65, gives himself up to fight kidnap charges
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A RETIRED provincial chief of the Teachers' Welfare Office in Samut Sakhon province yesterday gave himself up to local police to fight charges that he abducted the chairman of a football club and extorted Bt177 million from him.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819994-retiree-65-gives-himself-up-to-fight-kidnap-charges/

Teachers' boards suspend panels

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The current boards of the Teachers Council of Thailand and the Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Educational Personnel (Otep) have suspended all, except two, committees and subcommittees established by their predecessor.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819995-teachers-boards-suspend-panels/

Asia News Network editors agree to tighter collaboration
THE NATION
TOKYO

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, second from right, with editors and publishers from the Asia News Network

TOKYO: -- EDITORS from member media of the Asia News Network have agreed to integrate their respective newsrooms further on news exchanges and combined reporting on Asia.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819996-asia-news-network-editors-agree-to-tighter-collaboration/

PM to push for people-centred Asean
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand will push for an Asean Community with its people at the centre and encourage more mutual cooperation, particularly on border economic zones, when Asean leaders meet in Kuala Lumpur next week.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819997-pm-to-push-for-people-centred-asean/

Prayut confident Thailand will meet EU fishery deadline
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday he was confident that Thailand would be able to solve the problem of unregulated and unreported fishing practices within the time frame set by the European Union, which this week warned that it would ban Thai products if the problem was not solved within six months.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819998-prayut-confident-thailand-will-meet-eu-fishery-deadline/

EDITORIAL
"Liquor ad" crackdown must be fair
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Tough measures also call for a just enforcement

A restaurant owner was recently fined for having some "illegal" photos of alcoholic drinks on the menu. It was an oversight on his part, but the legal action just confirms how awkward law enforcement is in Thailand, and probably in many other countries, regarding cigarettes and liquor. To begin with, he's not fined for selling the drinks, but for advertising them. That's really strange, if we really think about it.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819999-liquor-ad-crackdown-must-be-fair/

Thailand ranked 34th in world’s happiest country

BANGKOK: -- Thailand has been ranked the 34th happiest country in the world for 2012-2014, according to World Happiness Report 2015 released Thursday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820000-thailand-ranked-34th-in-worlds-happiest-country/

Green groups launch campaign against Pak Bara deep-sea port project

BANGKOK: -- Green groups launch campaign against Pak Bara deep-sea port projectGreen groups launch campaign against Pak Bara deep-sea port projectGreen groups launch campaign against Pak Bara deep-sea port project

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820002-green-groups-launch-campaign-against-pak-bara-deep-sea-port-project/

Poland bans 'provocative' Russian bikers loyal to Putin
VANESSA GERA, Associated Press

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish authorities said Friday they will not allow a nationalistic Russian motorcycle group loyal to President Vladimir Putin to enter Poland, but insisted the move is not political and was made in part because Polish authorities would not be able to guarantee their security.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820004-poland-bans-provocative-russian-bikers-loyal-to-putin/

Bangkok:- A 35-year-old man was Friday arrested for allegedly smashing his wife’s head with a rock pestle after he found that she had cordial Facebook chats with another man.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819978-man-kills-wife-out-of-facebook-jealousy/

Families stream to battlefields for 100th year of Gallipoli
DESMOND BUTLER, Associated Press

GALLIPOLI, Turkey (AP) — Families of soldiers who served in the Gallipoli campaign of World War I, along with world leaders, streamed onto the battle sites on Friday for ceremonies marking 100 years since the disastrous British-led invasion.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820006-families-stream-to-battlefields-for-100th-year-of-gallipoli/

After drone killings, pressure for a new hostage strategy
By MATTHEW LEE

WASHINGTON (AP) — The accidental killing of two hostages in a U.S. operation against al-Qaida has put a new spotlight on the Obama administration's reliance on drones in the battle against terrorism — and has also raised pressure on the White House to revise the nation's oft-criticized strategy for dealing with abducted Americans and their families.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820007-after-drone-killings-pressure-for-a-new-hostage-strategy/

Thais welcome His Majesty short trip

Bangkok: HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej made a short recreational trip to the Royal Thai Navy Convention Hall on Friday, bringing much delight to his loyal subjects.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820005-thais-welcome-his-majesty-short-trip/

Diet Pepsi dropping aspartame on customer concerns
By CANDICE CHOI

NEW YORK (AP) — PepsiCo says it's dropping aspartame from Diet Pepsi in response to customer worries and replacing it with sucralose, another artificial sweetener commonly known as Splenda.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820008-diet-pepsi-dropping-aspartame-on-customer-concerns/

Krabi launches a new campaign to promote the province as all-year-round destination

KRABI, 24 April 2015 (NNT) - Krabi Province will hold a “KRABI 365 days” fair during 8-10 May 2015 to promote the province as an all-year-round tourist destination.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820010-krabi-launches-a-new-campaign-to-promote-the-province-as-all-year-round-destination/

Yasothon to celebrates 20th anniversary of Thai-Japanses Rocket Festival

YASOTHON, 24 April 2015 (NNT) - Yasothon Province is to hold "Bun Bang Fai 2015” which is the annual Rocket Festival of the province. This year the festival will be even more grand than usual, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Thai-Japanese Joint Rocket Festival.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820011-yasothon-to-celebrates-20th-anniversary-of-thai-japanses-rocket-festival/

RT@RichardBarrow: #Thailand - RT @KentBKK: Moving Anzac Day dawn service at Hellfire Pass, Kanchanaburi on the centenary of Gallipoli http://t.co/SsU5HxECEh

Adam Sandler movie sparks debate over American Indian images
By RUSSELL CONTRERAS

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — When a group of American Indian actors walked off the set of an Adam Sandler movie this week, their decision generated praise and scorn on social media.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820016-adam-sandler-movie-sparks-debate-over-american-indian-images/

Phuket:- Police have arrested two Thai men for allegedly snatching a handbag of a Chinese tourist on Thursday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820019-two-arrested-for-snatching-chinese-tourists-bag-in-phuket/

RT@RichardBarrow: Singha Mobile Happiness at CentralWorld this weekend featuring 20 food trucks & concerts, 4pm-10pm #Bangkok #Thailand http://t.co/g2gTvtSM47

@RichardBarrow: Bangkok Farmers' Market at Siam Square One this weekend from 10am-7pm #Bangkok http://t.co/q8p9Yl1ham