BEIJING (AP) - State media report 19 miners killed in coal mine accident in northern China.

Syrian army reaches outskirts of IS-held town of Palmyra
ALBERT AJI, Associated Press

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrian government forces backed by Russian airstrikes advanced swiftly in central Syria on Wednesday, seizing high ground around Palmyra and positioning themselves to recapture the historic town held by the Islamic State group.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905327-syrian-army-reaches-outskirts-of-is-held-town-of-palmyra/

IS trains 400 fighters to attack Europe in wave of bloodshed
By LORI HINNANT and PAISLEY DODDS

PARIS (AP) — The Islamic State group has trained at least 400 fighters to target Europe in deadly waves of attacks, deploying interlocking terror cells like the ones that struck Brussels and Paris with orders to choose the time, place and method for maximum chaos, officials have told The Associated Press.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905331-is-trains-400-fighters-to-attack-europe-in-wave-of-bloodshed/

SYDNEY (AP) - Australian officials say debris found in Mozambique likely came from the missing Malaysian plane .

Belgium ups security at nuclear plants following Brussels bombings



BRUSSELS: -- Security has been stepped up at nuclear plants around Belgium amid fears they could be the next target after the Brussels attacks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905333-belgium-ups-security-at-nuclear-plants-following-brussels-bombings/

Australia: Mozambique debris likely from Malaysia jet

SYDNEY (AP) — Australian officials say two pieces of debris recently discovered in Mozambique are "highly likely" to have come from missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905334-australia-mozambique-debris-likely-from-missing-malaysia-airlines-mh370/

Shakespeare's skull 'probably stolen' from Stratford grave

STRATFORD: -- A hi-tech investigation of William Shakespeare's grave has concluded his skull was probably stolen.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905335-shakespeares-skull-probably-stolen-from-stratford-grave/

British 'Flash Crash' trader may be extradited to US, judge rules
Kaja Whitehouse

New York: Navinder Sarao, the 36-year-old trader whose allegedly bogus trades contributed to the 2010 "flash crash" can be extradited to the US to stand trial, a British judge has ruled.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905338-british-flash-crash-trader-may-be-extradited-to-us-judge-rules/

Jakarta police detain four after violent public transportation protest



JAKARTA: -- Police have detained four of the 83 people who were arrested on Tuesday following a violent protest of 10,000 public transportation drivers against the operation of ride-hailing apps, according to The Jakarta Post.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905342-jakarta-police-detain-four-after-violent-public-transportation-protest/

Montrose man indicted for traveling to Thailand for sex with young boys
POSTED BY HILLARY JACKSON

LOS ANGELES: -- A federal grand jury in Los Angeles Wednesday indicted a 69-year-old Montrose man accused of traveling to Thailand to have sex with boys as young as 14.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905343-us-man-indicted-for-traveling-to-thailand-for-sex-with-young-boys/

Bali Process agrees on regional mechanism to mitigate irregular migration



JAKARTA: -- Indonesia, Australia and the member states of Bali Process have agreed to form a regional mechanism to enhance effective cooperation and coordination in handling irregular migration, including asylum seekers and refugees, across nations, the Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905344-bali-process-agrees-on-regional-mechanism-to-mitigate-irregular-migration/

Four out of 20 dams in Malaysia at critical levels



KUALA LUMPUR: -- Water capacity at four out of 20 dams monitored by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) was at a critical level as of Monday, The Star Online reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905346-four-out-of-20-dams-in-malaysia-at-critical-levels/

Flight attendant who ditched heels, fled LAX security nabbed
AMANDA LEE MYERS, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A JetBlue flight attendant who authorities say left behind 70 pounds (32 kilograms) of cocaine worth up to $3 million after flinging off her heels and running from security at Los Angeles International Airport was arrested Wednesday in New York.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905350-flight-attendant-who-ditched-heels-fled-lax-security-nabbed/

Suu Kyi takes four cabinet posts



NAYPYIDAW: -- National League for Democracy chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi is to take four ministerial positions in the new government, with the party intending to make up one-third of the proposed 18-member cabinet and hand key portfolios to allied politicians and technocrats, reported The Myanmar Times.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905352-suu-kyi-takes-four-cabinet-posts/

Aquino creates new task force to protect West Philippines Sea



MANILA: -- With less than 100 days in office, President Benigno Aquino III has created a high-level task force that would synchronize a “unified” government action in protecting the country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, Manila Bulletin reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905353-aquino-creates-new-task-force-to-protect-west-philippines-sea/

Ho Chi Minh City plans '5-star' public toilets



HO CH MINH CITY: -- Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 is planning to build a series of public toilets of high standard to serve local people and tourists after launching a crackdown on public urination, Thanh Nien News reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905355-ho-chi-minh-city-plans-5-star-public-toilets/

SET down 5.75 points at opening /Bangkok Post

Man, 19, arrested in Phuket with ganja, guns and bullets
Darawan Naknakhon


Anusit Kurihara had in his possession a .22 pen gun, homemade zip gun (Thai pradit), one M16 bullet, two shot gun shells, two .45 bullets, 192.06 grams of marijuana and a bamboo bong.

PHUKET: -- Thalang Police yesterday morning (Mar 23) arrested a 19-year-old man who was found to be in possession of marijuana, guns and bullets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905356-man-19-arrested-in-phuket-with-ganja-guns-and-bullets/

Thailand vows to reduce carbon emission by 35% at SETA 2016

BANGKOK, 24 March 2016 (NNT) - Thailand has been hosting the Sustainable Energy & Technology Asia (SETA) 2016, where it vowed to reduce carbon emission by 35% in 20 years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905358-thailand-vows-to-reduce-carbon-emission-by-35-at-seta-2016/

Lifetime ban to be considered on Mercedes Benz driver in Ayutthaya fatal crash



BANGKOK: -- Transport authorities are considering to impose lifetime driving ban on the driver of the Mercedes-Benz which hit another vehicle killing two persons.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905360-lifetime-ban-to-be-considered-on-mercedes-benz-driver-in-ayutthaya-fatal-crash/

American Muslims defy Sen. Ted Cruz's call for surveillance
GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — A few miles from Disneyland is a place most tourists never see. The signs along the thoroughfare suddenly switch to Arabic script advertising hookah shops, Middle Eastern sweets and halal meat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905366-american-muslims-defy-sen-ted-cruzs-call-for-surveillance/

A tourism reality check: Security and Open Borders

This story was written while the latest terror attack was unfolding in Brussels, Belgium. The president of the Brussels- Hawaii- Seychelles based International Coalition of Tourism Partner (ICTP)Professor Geoffrey Lipman was at his residence in Brussels living through the citywide lockdown.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905390-a-tourism-reality-check-security-and-open-borders/

The Balcony Did It? Why Thailand's Falling Deaths Raise Eyebrows
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter



PATTAYA — When Unto Kilvonen’s body was found 10 floors below a Jomtien Beach condo, it didn’t take long for speculation to mount.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905393-the-balcony-did-it-why-thailands-falling-deaths-raise-eyebrows/

Tout who attacked Russian tourist sorry for spoiling Pattaya's image
Thaivisa Reporters



PATTAYA:-- The Walking Street tout responsible for attacking a Russian tourist outside McDonald's on Wednesday turned himself in to Pattaya police saying he was sorry for spoiling the good name of the resort, reports Thaivisa News.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905395-tout-who-attacked-russian-tourist-sorry-for-spoiling-pattayas-image/

What a birthday! Chinese tourist robbed on the way to hotel on Pattaya
Thaivisa Reporters



PATTAYA:-- A Chinese tourist out with friends to celebrate his birthday was robbed in the street as a motorcycle thief made off with a valuable Cartier gold necklace, reports Thaivisa News.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905396-what-a-birthday-chinese-tourist-robbed-on-the-way-to-hotel-on-pattaya/

UPDATE:

Ex-Husband Prime Suspect in Attempted Assassination on Rama IV Road
By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee
Staff Reporter


Acting metro police chief Sanit Mahatavorn inspects the scene of an apparent attempted murder Wednesday on Rama IV Road in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — Police suspect the man who pulled up and shot the driver of a Toyota six times yesterday was the ex-husband of the victim’s wife, who was also riding in the car but escaped unharmed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905133-motorist-survives-bangkok-rama-iv-road-assassins/page-2#entry10564834

Governor orders tsunami evacuation brochures
Phuket Gazette


The brochures will include a map of the nearest evacuation routes and instructions on what to do should the tsunami warning tower sound the alarm. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- Tsunami evacuation brochures will be drawn up and printed following a request by Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905398-phuket-governor-orders-tsunami-evacuation-brochures-phuket-gazette/

Pracharat housing scheme receives phenomenal response from low income earners



BANGKOK: -- The first day of applications for loans for the Pracharat (Civil State) low-cost housing scheme was met with phenomenal response from aspiring first home owners with four billion baht loans being sought yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905401-pracharat-housing-scheme-receives-phenomenal-response-from-low-income-earners/

Patong pub security guards arrested for fatal stabbing of Frenchman
Eakkapop Thongtub


The knife believed to have been used in the stabbing. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- Two Patong pub security guards were arrested yesterday (Mar 23) for a stabbing incident in Soi Sansabai in the early hours of yesterday morning which left a French tourist dead and a second tourist wounded.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905406-patong-pub-security-guards-arrested-for-fatal-stabbing-of-frenchman/

Malaysian drug smuggling gang busted



PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: -- A combined force of narcotic suppression, railway, highway, crime suppression, and local police last night encircled a Bangkok-Butterworth express train at Prachuap Khiri Khan railway station and arrested seven Malaysian suspects and seized a large cache of "Ice" drugs weighed 75 kilogrammes worth 148 million baht.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905408-malaysian-drug-smuggling-gang-busted-at-prachuap-khiri-khan-railway-station/