Filipina beauty crowned Miss Hooters Phuket in bikini pageant, eyes Vegas International glory
The Phuket News

Miss Mena Mana will represents Phuket at Hooters Contest in Las Vegas. PHOTO: Wai Netiya

PHUKET: -- Mena Mana of the Philippines was crowned Miss Hooters Phuket at The Miss Hooters Phuket Swimsuit Pageant held at the iconic American bar and restaurant in Patong last night (April 3).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908006-filipina-beauty-crowned-miss-hooters-phuket-in-bikini-pageant-eyes-vegas-international-glory/

Useless gang attempts to rob two cash machines in two days, fail twice
Kwaang Siripoom

Image: Thairath

CHACHOENGSAO:-- Police are hunting for a gang wanted for carrying out two attempted robberies on cash machines in the Chachoengsao province.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908011-useless-gang-attempts-to-rob-two-cash-machines-in-two-days-fail-twice/

Pak Klong Talad vendors petition the prime minister for more time



BANGKOK: -- As the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration launched its “big cleaning” campaign to reclaim the famous flower market at Pak Klong Talad from vendors, a group of representatives of about 1,000 vendors lodged a petition with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha to put off the campaign.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908072-bangkoks-pak-klong-talad-vendors-petition-pm-prayut-for-more-time/

Motorbikers to stage a 'show of force' against traffic ban



BANGKOK: -- Motorcyclists in Bangkok and its peripherals will stage a “show of force” on Tuesday to protest against the recent police order banning them from using 39 bridges and six tunnels in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908073-motorbikers-to-stage-a-show-of-force-against-traffic-ban/

New Recruit Beaten to Death As Draft Season Begins
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Potential recruits at a drafting station Monday in Nong Khai province.

BANGKOK — A 23-year-old soldier died in southern Thailand after suffering a severe beating at his army base two days ago, according to his family.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908074-new-recruit-beaten-to-death-as-draft-season-begins/

25 provinces declared drought-stricken areas



BANGKOK: -- 25 provinces which cover 114 districts and 501 villages have been declared drought-stricken areas by the Department of Prevention and Mitigation of Public Disasters, said Mr Chatchai Promlert, the department chief, on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908075-25-thai-provinces-declared-drought-stricken-areas/

PTT Plc maintains it has fully returned gas pipelines to Finance Ministry



BANGKOK: -- PTT Public Company has insisted that it has returned all the gas pipeline system to the Finance Ministry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908076-ptt-plc-maintains-it-has-fully-returned-gas-pipelines-to-finance-ministry/

McDonald's fast-food chain store admits rat at its Hat Yai store



BANGKOK: -- McDonald's Thailand has offered an apology to its clients over an incident at its chain store in Hat Yai where a rat was seen in a widely-shared video clip eating icecream toppings on a tray.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908078-mcdonalds-fast-food-chain-store-admits-rat-at-its-hat-yai-store/

Child labor allegations may have been inaccurate and misleading: Ministry of Labor

BANGKOK, 5 April 2016 (NNT) – Ministry of Labor spokesman Theeraphol Khunmuang said allegations pertaining to child labor may have been inaccurate and misleading.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908079-child-labor-allegations-may-have-been-inaccurate-and-misleading-thai-labour-min/

Public urged to help prevent drowning accidents

SAMUT PRAKAN, 5 April 2016 (NNT) – Samut Prakan Province is asking parents and the general public to be vigilant for drowning incidents among children, says vice governor.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908080-public-urged-to-help-prevent-drowning-accidents/

TAT to boost domestic travels with four-hour flash sale during Songkran festival



BANGKOK, 5 April 2016 (NNT) - Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yutthasak Suphasorn disclosed that TAT has cooperated with the Thai Hotels Association (THA), the Association of Domestic Thailand (ADT), the Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA) and the Thai Tourism Promotion Association (TTPA) in organizing a four-hour flash sale to help boost domestic travels during Songkran festival.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908081-tat-to-boost-domestic-travels-with-four-hour-flash-sale-during-songkran-festival/

Bangchak to peg oil prices during Songkran

BANGKOK, 5 April 2016 (NNT) – Bangchak Petroleum has confirmed that no oil price hikes will be imposed during the upcoming Songkran holidays in order to help ease people’s burden from traveling expenses.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908082-bangchak-to-peg-oil-prices-during-songkran/

EC holding information session to prepare for public referendum

BANGKOK, 5 April 2016 (NNT) - The Election Commission (EC) is holding information sessions for various provincial officials to clarify its guidelines the public referendum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908083-thai-ec-holding-information-session-to-prepare-for-public-referendum/

Dead Man Found In Room On Khao Talo



PATTAYA: -- A Thai man was found dead in his bed by his sister in Khao Talo, Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908084-dead-man-found-in-room-on-khao-talo-pattaya/

Shot Gun Shells Found Near School in North Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Several shotgun shells found on the side of the road near Aksornsuksa School in Naklua, North Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908085-shot-gun-shells-found-near-school-in-north-pattaya/

Car Collision in Pattaya Klang



PATTAYA: -- A car and a pick up truck collided into each other in Pattaya Klang.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908086-car-collision-in-pattaya-klang/

To Drink or Not to Drink? Alcohol Laws this Songkran
by CityNews

CityNews – Tassanai Buranupakorn, Mayor of the city of Chiang Mai told CityNews that there will be strict rules and enforcement relating to the sale and consumption of alcohol this Songkran in the city.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908087-to-drink-or-not-to-drink-chiang-mai-alcohol-laws-this-songkran/

Practice Rescue Held in Chaiprakarn
by CityNews

CityNews – Chaiparkarn district held a practice emergency response to serious traffic accidents in preparation for Songkran.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908089-practice-rescue-held-in-chaiprakarn/

Chiang Saen’s Pa Sak Sub District Unveils Nong Bua Luang, New Tourist Attraction

CHIANG RAI – The Pa Sak sub district Administrative Organization has unveiled a new tourist attraction, launching a campaign to promote the new tourist spot called Nong Bua Luang as a treat for nature lovers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908090-chiang-saens-pa-sak-sub-district-unveils-nong-bua-luang-new-tourist-attraction/

Thai people eat too much salty food and risk suffering from kidney diseases



BANGKOK: -- Thais are at risk of suffering from chronic kidney diseases because they have the habit of adding food seasoning such as fish sauce, soybean sauce and shrimp paste to add flavours to their food.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908091-thai-people-eat-too-much-salty-food-and-risk-suffering-from-kidney-diseases/

Last Dutch holocaust survivor Jules Schelvis dies aged 95



AMSTERDAM: -- The last holocaust survivor in the Netherlands has died. Jules Schelvis, who had been imprisoned in six different death camps throughout the war, died at his home aged 95.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908093-last-dutch-holocaust-survivor-jules-schelvis-dies-aged-95/

'Panama Papers': Putin's circle



MOSCOW: -- For years there have been rumours about Vladimir Putin’s secret wealth. But a detailed picture of the hidden financial dealings of the Russian President remained elusive.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908094-panama-papers-putins-circle/

Iceland's PM refuses to resign over Panama Papers scandal



REYKJAVIK: -- Under mounting pressure from the opposition, Iceland’s Prime Minister Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson is adamant he has no plans to resign over the Panama Papers leaks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908095-icelands-pm-refuses-to-resign-over-panama-papers-scandal/

'Putinophobia abroad': Panama Papers 'direct attack on Russian president' – Kremlin



"It's obvious that the intention, the main target, of this attack, was in the first place against our country, and against President Putin himself."

MOSCOW: -- Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Russian President Vladimir Putin has very publically labelled the Panama Papers revelations an attack on himself and the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908096-putinophobia-abroad-panama-papers-direct-attack-on-russian-president-kremlin/

Panama Papers: Ukraine's President Poroshenko insists offshore assets are clean



"If the head of the State did lie in his asset declarations, this is really serious damage to any anti-corruption fight in the country"

KIEV: -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Monday (April 4) he had done nothing wrong, after lawmakers called for an investigation into allegations he used an offshore firm to avoid tax.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908097-panama-papers-ukraines-president-poroshenko-insists-offshore-assets-are-clean/

First Syrian refugees arrive in Germany under EU-Turkey exchange deal



HANOVER: -- The first group of Syrian refugees to be sent to Europe in exchange for those returned to Turkey arrived in northern Germany on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908098-first-syrian-refugees-arrive-in-germany-under-eu-turkey-exchange-deal/

US says Iran forces pulling back in Syria; others say no
By DEB RIECHMANN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is making the case that Iran is drawing down its elite fighting force from Syria in an effort to allay fears that Tehran is using its powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria to strengthen its influence across the Middle East. Yet the Iranian government said Monday it has dispatched commandos to the war and it is still taking high-ranking casualties.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908099-us-says-iran-forces-pulling-back-in-syria;-others-say-no/

Supreme Court bolsters political influence of US Latinos
By MARK SHERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court unanimously endorsed election maps that bolster the growing political influence of America's Latinos on Monday, ruling that states can count everyone, not just eligible voters, in drawing voting districts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908100-supreme-court-bolsters-political-influence-of-us-latinos/

Data trove offers glimpse of how the rich hide their money
By DAVID McHUGH and FRANK JORDANS

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — A leak of 11.5 million documents from a Panama-based law firm offers a glimpse into the shadowy world where the rich and powerful hide their money, raising sharp questions about the use of shell companies that obscure the identities of their true owners.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908101-data-trove-offers-glimpse-of-how-the-rich-hide-their-money/

UPDATE:

Leaks about offshore accounts leave Russians unimpressed
By NATALIYA VASILYEVA

MOSCOW (AP) — In the list of presidents, prime ministers, sheikhs, billionaires and other magnates cited in a sweeping worldwide investigation into hidden assets in offshore accounts, there was an odd man out: A Russian cellist.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908094-panama-papers-putins-circle/#entry10604877