Songkhla Cops Charged, Suspended for Extorting Malaysian Tourists

By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter

Songkhla police commander Krissakorn Plithanyawong apologizing to the Malaysian tourists on Friday at Sadao Police Station.

SONGKHLA — Two police officers in the border province of Songkhla are facing criminal charges for allegedly forcing a pair of Malaysian tourists to pay 20,000 baht for a bogus offense.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ffi/?p=10546903

Major new crackdown on visa overstay in Thailand starts today

Thaivisa Reporters

“Good guys in, bad guys out”, says Thai Immigration chief
Unprecedented crackdown on foreigners who overstay starts March 20th
Overstayers face being banned from Thailand

BANGKOK:-- New tough penalties for foreigners who overstay their visas come into effect today (March 20th).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904348-major-new-crackdown-on-visa-overstay-in-thailand-starts-today/

Thai delegation to IPU confirms Thailand’s determination to strengthen democracy

Kitti Cheevasittiyanon

BANGKOK, 20 March 2016 (NNT) - The Thai delegation attending the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly has confirmed Thailand’s determination to strengthen democracy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904350-thai-delegation-to-ipu-confirms-thailands-determination-to-strengthen-democracy/

PM highlights importance of Security Business Act, B.E. 2558

Thammarat Thadaphrom

BANGKOK, 19 March 2016 (NNT) – Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has highlighted the importance of the Security Business Act, B.E. 2558, saying the enforcement of the law is to ensure the highest standards of security services in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904351-pm-highlights-importance-of-security-business-act-be-2558/

CDC asked to maintain chapter concerning provincial administration

Thammarat Thadaphrom

BANGKOK, 19 March 2016 (NNT) – The Association of Village Chiefs has asked the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) to maintain the provision pertaining to provincial administration in the new charter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904352-cdc-asked-to-maintain-chapter-concerning-provincial-administration/

NLA accepts legislation on public referendum

Thammarat Thadaphrom

BANGKOK, 19 March 2016 (NNT) – The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has accepted in principle legislation that will allow a public referendum on the draft charter to take place on August 7 this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904353-nla-accepts-legislation-on-public-referendum/

National legislature to receive referendum questions from NRSA on April 1st

Thammarat Thadaphrom

BANGKOK, 19 March 2016 (NNT) – The National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) will submit its questions for inclusion in the public referendum, to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on April 1st.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904354-national-legislature-to-receive-referendum-questions-from-nrsa-on-april-1st/

KU Poll: Govt performance rated 5.99 out of 10

supawadee wangsri

BANGKOK, 18 March 2016 (NNT) - Paitoon Khetthamrongchai, director of Asia Market Expertise Center, Department of Marketing, Faculty of Business Administration, Kasetsart University, revealed the results of a survey on "the well-being of Thai people in the past one year and six months (during Prayut Chan-O-Cha’s government)" among 4,000 respondents aged 20-60 years from five regions across the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904355-ku-poll-govt-performance-rated-599-out-of-10/

Fans requested at high-ranking Krabi official’s funeral

Kritsada Mueanhawong

KRABI: The family of a high-ranking officer in Krabi has requested that fans be brought to the late lieutenant colonel's funeral in lieu of wreaths.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904356-fans-requested-at-high-ranking-krabi-officials-funeral/?p=10548709

Lyon beats Nantes 2-0 to move up to 3rd in French league

PARIS (AP) — Striker Alexandre Lacazette scored his 14th league goal of the season as resurgent Lyon beat Nantes 2-0 to move provisionally up to third place in the French league on Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904357-lyon-beats-nantes-2-0-to-move-up-to-3rd-in-french-league/

Atletico loses at Sporting to stumble in Spanish title race

JOSEPH WILSON, Associated Press


BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Atletico Madrid stumbled in its pursuit of Barcelona for the Spanish league title after conceding two late goals to lose at relegation-threatened Sporting Gijon 2-1 on Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904358-atletico-loses-at-sporting-to-stumble-in-spanish-title-race/

Leicester closer to title, Arsenal hoping leaders slip up

ROB HARRIS, AP Sports Writer


LONDON (AP) — The lethal striking duo of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy combined again to nudge Leicester closer to the title on Saturday, although Arsenal remains primed to pounce on any slip-ups by the leaders after ending a three-game winless run in the Premier League.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904359-leicester-closer-to-title-arsenal-hoping-leaders-slip-up/

Roma draws 1-1 with Inter, keeps Champions League in sight

ROME (AP) — Roma kept its grip on the third Champions League qualifying place in Serie A by drawing with Inter Milan 1-1 on Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904360-roma-draws-1-1-with-inter-keeps-champions-league-in-sight/

Bayern beats Cologne 1-0 to go 8 points clear in Bundesliga

CIARAN FAHEY, Associated Press


BERLIN (AP) — Bundesliga top-scorer Robert Lewandowski's 25th goal of the season was enough for Bayern Munich to comfortably beat Cologne 1-0 and provisionally stretch its lead to eight points on Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904361-bayern-beats-cologne-1-0-to-go-8-points-clear-in-bundesliga/

Leicester beats Palace to take another step to league title

ROB HARRIS, AP Sports Writer


LONDON (AP) — More than 15 minutes after the final whistle, Leicester fans were still singing, finally ready to believe their team will become the unlikeliest of champions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904362-leicester-beats-palace-to-take-another-step-to-league-title/

Chelsea scores late to stop West Ham moving into EPL top 4

LONDON (AP) — With its season all but over, Chelsea took some pleasure in stopping London rival West Ham from moving into the top four of the English Premier League in a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904364-chelsea-scores-late-to-stop-west-ham-moving-into-epl-top-4/

Football results and league tables from Saturday 19 March

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904365-football-results-and-league-tables-from-saturday-19-march/

Weekend Fun - 10 Craziest Prison Escapes Of All Time

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904373-weekend-fun-10-craziest-prison-escapes-of-all-time/

Russia plane crash: Flydubai says ‘too early’ to determine cause

By Alasdair Sandford

Aviation experts are investigating what caused a passenger jet to crash as it tried to land in southern Russia, killing all 62 people on board.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904188-airliner-crashes-in-russia;-55-aboard-reported-dead/page-3#entry10548886

Anti-Trump protesters clash with police at Utah rally

Donald Trump has said he believes he can secure enough backing to win the Republican US presidential nomination outright – and avoid a difficult selection process by delegates at a special convention.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904374-anti-trump-protesters-clash-with-police-at-utah-rally/

Turkey: central Istanbul hit by suicide bomb

By Alasdair Sandford

An explosion has torn through the centre of Turkey’s largest city Istanbul. Reports say it was a suicide bombing on a main shopping street in Taksim, an area popular with tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904377-turkey-central-istanbul-hit-by-suicide-bomb/?p=10548914

The week that was on Thaivisa - 20 March

Gerry Carter

Surely happiness has been returned to the people at last?

BANGKOK:-- One of the most surprising stories of an eventful week on Thaivisa was the news that Thailand continues to languish so far down the league table of happy countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904380-the-week-that-was-on-thaivisa-20-march/

Salah Abdeslam ‘cooperating with police’, says lawyer

Europe’s most wanted man, Salah Abdeslam has been moved from hospital to a high-security jail in Belgium where he has been questioned and awaits charges for his alleged role in the Paris terror attacks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904383-salah-abdeslam-cooperating-with-police-says-lawyer/

Debt fills Thailand's rice bowl

BAAN PLABOO, Thailand -- Phayu Longklan, a rice farmer in Thailand's poor northeast, recently sold a fifth of her land for 600,000 baht ($17,247) to pay off debt. But she still needs to repay 200,000 baht in loans, mostly owed to the Bank for Agriculture and Agriculture Cooperatives, a leading government lender to rural communities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904385-debt-fills-thailands-rice-bowl/

UPDATED: Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam charged with ‘terrorist murder’

Europe’s most wanted man, Salah Abdeslam has been charged with ‘terrorist murder’, the Belgian prosecutor has announced.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904168-top-fugitive-in-paris-attacks-captured-during-brussels-raid/?p=10549025

Militants kill 13 policemen in Egypt's northern Sinai

ASHRAF SWEILAM, Associated Press


EL-ARISH, Egypt (AP) — Militants killed 13 Egyptian policemen in an attack Saturday on a checkpoint south of northern Sinai's provincial capital of el-Arish, the Egyptian Interior Ministry said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904394-militants-kill-13-policemen-in-egypts-northern-sinai/

Video of feeding frenzy by ‘greedy’ Chinese tourists in Chiang Mai goes viral

Thaivisa Reporters

We all love an all you can eat buffet, but this is ridiculous! Image: People’s Daily, China

CHIANG MAI:-- The behaviour of a group of Chinese tourists gorging on an all you can eat buffet in Chiang Mai has been widely criticised on Thai media, reports Thaivisa News.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904396-video-of-feeding-frenzy-by-greedy-chinese-tourists-in-chiang-mai-goes-viral/

Coast Guard: 9 Cuban migrants die, 18 rescued off Florida

BRENDAN FARRINGTON, Associated Press


MIAMI (AP) — Nine Cuban migrants died at sea and 18 others were rescued by a cruise ship after their 30-foot boat was found about 130 miles from the Florida coast, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904401-coast-guard-9-cuban-migrants-die-18-rescued-off-florida/

Protesters block main road to Trump rally in Arizona

NICHOLAS RICCARDI, Associated Press
JACQUES BILLEAUD, Associated Press


PHOENIX (AP) — Protesters blocked a main highway leading into the Phoenix suburb Saturday where Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump was staging a campaign rally alongside Arizona's contentious sheriff, Joe Arpaio.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904404-protesters-block-main-road-to-trump-rally-in-arizona/

Heavy winds as FlyDubai plane crashes in Russia, killing 62

JIM HEINTZ, Associated Press
VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV, Associated Press


MOSCOW (AP) — Winds were gusting before dawn Saturday over the airport in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don when a plane carrying 62 people from a favorite Russian holiday destination decided to abort its landing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904188-airliner-crashes-in-russia;-55-aboard-reported-dead/page-3#entry10549132