Foreign tourist claims he was robbed at knifepoint minutes after arrival in Pattaya

Thaivisa Reporters

PATTAYA:-- A young tourist had been in Pattaya only a matter of minutes as he was robbed at knifepoint opposite the bus station losing some 90,000 baht in cash, reports Thaivisa News.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904692-foreign-tourist-claims-he-was-robbed-at-knifepoint-minutes-after-arrival-in-pattaya/

Thaivisa Photography Competition (March 2016)
Sponsored by BizPaye



Info: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899020-thaivisa-photography-competition-march-2016/

Moldovan busted for ATM askimming in Phuket
Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Police arrested a Moldovan national on Saturday for using fake ATM cards in Patong.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904712-moldovan-busted-for-atm-skimming-in-phuket/

Heavily pregnant young waitress stabbed to death in downtown Udon
Thaivisa Reporters

UDON THANI:-- A woman six months pregnant was stabbed multiple times in a vicious murder that has shocked Udon Thani, reports Thaivisa News.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904717-heavily-pregnant-young-waitress-stabbed-to-death-in-downtown-udon/

3 Shot When Police Stop Turns Into Gun Battle North of Bangkok (Video)
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Drugs were found inside a vehicle at the center of a firefight with police Monday afternoon in northern metro Bangkok.

PATHUM THANI — Police are still hunting a man who opened fire on officers in broad daylight Monday to evade a checkpoint in northern metro Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904771-3-shot-when-police-stop-turns-into-gun-battle-north-of-bangkok/

Urgent appeal for information on missing French man last seen in Surat Thani



SURAT THANI: -- Family, friends, police and rescue services have still not been able to establish the whereabouts of a French man who went missing in Surat Thani on his way back to Koh Tao.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904772-urgent-appeal-for-information-on-missing-french-man-last-seen-in-surat-thani/

Fresh Charge Against Jenphop as Model Student Victims Laid to Rest
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Krissana ‘Tong’ Thaworn, at left, and Thantapat ‘Benz’ Horsaengchai in a promotional image for their university’s program on Buddhist peace studies. Image: MCU website

BANGKOK — One was on his way to a final step to obtaining his master’s degree; the other to apply for a dream trip to India.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904774-fresh-charge-against-jenphop-as-model-student-victims-laid-to-rest/

Justice minister defends he has no intention to offend Somdet Chuang



BANGKOK: -- Justice Minister Paiboon Kumchaya has defended that he has no intention whatsoever to offend Somdet Phra Maharatchamangalacharn or Somdet Chuang, the acting supreme patriarch, as accused by the latter’s faithful followers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904775-justice-minister-defends-he-has-no-intention-to-offend-somdet-chuang/

Special one-time bonus for government officials during Songkran festival



BANGKOK: -- Low- and middle-ranking government officials will receive a one-time cost of living bonus averaging about 1,000 baht each during the Songkran festival as part of the government’s new stimulus package.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904776-special-one-time-bonus-for-government-officials-during-songkran-festival/

NLA president insists no damage was caused to the parliament over the procurement of faulty digital clocks



BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly president has defended that no financial damage has been rendered to the parliament following the removal of all over 200 digital clocks from the parliament after they have stopped functioning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904777-no-damage-was-caused-to-parliament-over-procurement-of-faulty-digital-clocks-nla-president/

Court postpones pre-trial hearing of defamation case against a junior citizen journalist



BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court today (Monday) postponed the preliminary hearing of a defamation case brought against a citizen journalist of Thai PBS TV station and four other people by Thung Kham gold mining company in Loei province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904778-court-postpones-pre-trial-hearing-of-defamation-case-against-a-junior-citizen-journalist/

An alleged hit-and-run driver surrenders to police to acknowledge charges against him



BANGKOK: -- An alleged hit-and-run driver reported himself to the police at Bangsue police station today (Monday) and admitted that he did not stop his car after hitting a family of three riding on one motorcycle because he was in a hurry to visit his sick father.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904779-alleged-hit-and-run-driver-surrenders-to-thai-police-to-acknowledge-charges-against-him/

Illegal motorcycle street racers were made to conduct community services in Ratchaburi



RATCHABURI: -About 30 motorcycle street racers in police custody were ordered to conduct community services at Ratchaburi provincial hall before they were released on probation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904780-illegal-motorcycle-street-racers-were-made-to-conduct-community-services-in-ratchaburi/

NCPO continues to suppress mafia groups

BANGKOK, 22 March 2016 (NNT) – The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is maintaining its focus on the crackdown against influential groups while reminding state officials not to get involved in illegal practices.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904781-ncpo-continues-to-suppress-mafia-groups/

Hunting for fugitive militants continues



NARATHIWAT: -- Security forces comprising soldiers and rangers today continued hunting for two RKK core leaders responsible for the seizure of Cho Airong district hospital to launch attacks on an adjacent security base last Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904782-hunting-for-fugitive-militants-continues/

Tap water services to parts of Bangkok to be suspended

BANGKOK, 21 March 2016 (NNT) – The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) has announced the suspension of tap water services to three areas of Bangkok while residents are urged to reserve water for use.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904783-tap-water-services-to-parts-of-bangkok-to-be-suspended/

Pattaya Man Found Hanged

PATTAYA: -- At 7:00pm on March 20th, a man was found hanged in the bathroom in a 2-story luxury villa.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904784-pattaya-man-found-hanged/

Bad romance: Farang vandal spray-paints love note on public road
By Coconuts Bangkok


The message was filled with passion and grammar mistakes. Photo: MThai

PATTAYA: -- Pattaya police vow to track down the foreigner who made a Pattaya street even dirtier by spray-painting a love note to his girlfriend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904785-bad-romance-farang-vandal-spray-paints-love-note-on-public-road-in-pattaya/

Water Turned Off In These Areas, March 22
by CityNews

CHIANG MAI: -- The Waterworks Authority has announced they will be turning off the water supply from 7am – 9pm on March 22 in the following areas:

More Info: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904786-chiang-mai-water-turned-off-in-these-areas-march-22/

CDC president: Drafting constitution is like building new house

BANGKOK, 22 March 2016 (NNT) – Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) president Meechai Ruchupan said that the country’s problems and conflicts were caused by four factors, including injustice in society due to the government’s lack of care for the people, sustained corruption, indiscipline and lack of law enforcement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904787-thai-cdc-president-drafting-constitution-is-like-building-new-house/

Obama and Castro meet ahead of high-profile talks in Havana
By Joanna Gill | With AFP, REUTERS



HAVANA: -- After a formal handshake in the Palace of the Revolution the presidents of the US and Cuba have headed off for a high-level meeting.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904788-obama-and-castro-meet-ahead-of-high-profile-talks-in-havana/

'Selfish' air traffic controllers disrupt travel plans for thousands
By Keith Walker



PARIS: -- About a third of flights have been cancelled at French airports as air traffic controllers strike over caps on recruitment and lack of investment in new technology.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904789-selfish-air-traffic-controllers-disrupt-travel-plans-for-thousands/

French prosecutor expects Belgium to hand over Abdeslam



PARIS: -- A top French prosecutor says he expects Paris terror suspect Salah Abdeslam to be handed over to authorities in France.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904790-french-prosecutor-expects-belgium-to-hand-over-abdeslam/

Landmark ruling at the International Criminal Court in Jean-Pierre Bemba case



THE HAGUE: -- Eight years after he was arrested Jean-Pierre Bemba learned of his fate. The former Congolese rebel leader had been in exile in Belgium before his arrest to where he had fled in 2007 after clashes in Kinshasa.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904791-landmark-ruling-at-the-international-criminal-court-in-jean-pierre-bemba-case/

One million and counting: EU migrant deal has little effect on Greece



BRUSSELS: -- Greece is bearing the brunt of the migrant crisis. Following the EU-Turkey deal, migrants and refugees attempting to cross the Aegean Sea to Greece now face a multitude of barriers, including patrols by Frontex, NATO and the Greek and Turkish Coast Guards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904792-one-million-and-counting-eu-migrant-deal-has-little-effect-on-greece/

Turkish officials arrive on Lesbos to oversee EU deal on migrants



LESBOS: -- At least 18 Turkish officials have arrived on the Greek island of Lesbos a day after the formal start of an agreement with the European Union aimed at tackling the migrant crisis.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904794-turkish-officials-arrive-on-lesbos-to-oversee-eu-deal-on-migrants/

Russia says might use force on cease-fire violators in Syria
By NATALIYA VASILYEVA and JAMEY KEATEN

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia on Monday warned the United States that it will start responding unilaterally to cease-fire violations in Syria if the U.S. refuses to coordinate rules of engagement against violators. The U.S. State Department insisted that Moscow and Washington were working constructively to monitor the truce and warned Russia against taking unilateral action.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904795-russia-says-might-use-force-on-cease-fire-violators-in-syria/

LOS ANGELES (AP) - FBI says it may have found method to unlock San Bernardino attacker's iPhone.

Fire leads to Caesars Palace hotel evacuation on Vegas Strip
By SALLY HO

LAS VEGAS (AP) — An escalator fire sent smoke billowing into parts of Las Vegas' glitzy Caesars Palace, sending three hotel workers to the hospital with smoke inhalation and leading to an evacuation early Monday, officials said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904797-fire-leads-to-caesars-palace-hotel-evacuation-on-vegas-strip/

Broadcasting Commission mulls new auction after JAS defaults first payment



BANGKOK: -- The Broadcasting Commission will meet on Wednesday to consider details of staging a fresh auction for the 900 MHz 4G spectrum after JAS Mobile defaulted its payment of the first installment 8.04 billion baht of the license fees scheduled on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/904798-broadcasting-commission-mulls-new-auction-after-jas-defaults-first-payment/