Porsche exonerated in Paul Walker, Roger Rodas crash



LOS ANGELES: -- A judge has dismissed a lawsuit claiming Porsche was responsible for crash that killed fast and furious actor Paul Walker and his friend Roger Rodas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908342-porsche-exonerated-in-paul-walker-roger-rodas-crash/

Police seize 1.2 tons of ganja in north Thailand but Laotian gang escape
Thaivisa Reporters


Image: Khaosod.co.th

BUENG KAN:-- Police made a massive ganja bust in the far north east but more than two dozen drug henchmen managed to flee back to Laos. A total of 1.2 tons of marijuana worth 25 million baht was seized.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908344-police-seize-12-tons-of-ganja-in-north-thailand-but-laotian-gang-escape/

Dress inappropriately or dance provocatively and face Songkran arrest, warns PM
Thaivisa Reporters


Image: Khaosod

BANGKOK:-- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has warned Thai women and ladyboys about provocative behaviour at the upcoming Songkran festival cautioning about allowing too many "Western cultural values" to become part of the traditional celebration.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908345-dress-inappropriately-or-dance-provocatively-and-face-songkran-arrest-warns-pm/

Are this year's crop of potential Thai army recruits cuter than ever?
Thaivisa Reporters



NAKHON RATCHASIMA:-- Many Thais continued to ask the big question on everyone's lips at the annual draft for the military this week: Are this year's crop of potential recruits cuter than ever?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908346-are-this-years-crop-of-potential-thai-army-recruits-cuter-than-ever/

WASHINGTON (AP) - Ted Cruz wins Republican presidential primary in Wisconsin

WASHINGTON (AP) - Bernie Sanders wins Democratic presidential primary in Wisconsin.

Rights group: Dramatic increase in executions in 2015
EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) Amnesty International reports that there was a dramatic 54 percent increase in executions globally in 2015, with Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia responsible for nearly 90 percent of the killings.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908356-amnesty-international-dramatic-increase-in-executions-in-2015/

Chaiyaphum holds a workshop on prevention of domestic violence

CHAIYAPHUM, 6 April 2016 (NNT) – Chaiyaphum’s provincial administration and the Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office have recently organized a workshop on domestic violence prevention for local administrative officials at Tat Ton National Park in the central district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908362-chaiyaphum-holds-workshop-on-prevention-of-domestic-violence/

Fed set up fake university, arrest 21 in bogus visa case

NEWARK, New Jersey (AP) — The University of Northern New Jersey fielded no sports teams, held no graduation ceremonies and had no instructors, classes or degree programs. It did have a very attractive website that promised an "exceptional" education for foreign students wishing to study in the U.S.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908369-fed-set-up-fake-us-university-arrest-21-in-bogus-visa-case/

Deforestation 'destroyed habitat of 51 tigers in Sumatra since 2001'



JAKARTA: -- A joint study by the scientific journal, Science Advances, released on Tuesday reveals that deforestation in the Bukit Tiga area in Sumatra has destroyed the natural habitat of at least 51 tigers since 2001, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908376-deforestation-destroyed-habitat-of-51-tigers-in-sumatra-since-2001/

Malaysia helps Abu Sayyaf hostage investigation



JAKARTA: -- Malaysian authorities have offered its help in investigations of the hostage situation by Abu Sayyaf terrorist group as the Indonesian-flagged Adnan 12 barge was found in waters off Malaysia on Monday, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908381-malaysia-helps-abu-sayyaf-hostage-investigation/

Indonesia sinks 23 foreign boats including 10 from Malaysia



JAKARTA: -- Indonesia sank 23 foreign fishing boats on Tuesday, saying they were “operating illegally in the archipelago’s vast waters in continuation efforts for anti-poaching,” New Straits Times reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908385-indonesia-sinks-23-foreign-boats-including-10-from-malaysia/

Bloody stabbing in Nakhon Sawan government office caught on tape
Thaivisa Reporters


Image: Khaosod.co.th

NAKHON SAWAN:-- CCTV caught a vicious fight between two men in a local government office in downtown Nakhon Sawan yesterday with blood spurting all over the floor.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908387-bloody-stabbing-in-nakhon-sawan-government-office-caught-on-tape/

Is mysterious object on Rayong beach from MH370? No! Says Eddie the Engineer!
Thaivisa Reporters


Image: Thairath

RAYONG:— Tourists and locals thought they had made the find of the year when a large piece of metal washed up on a Rayong beach. Could it be a piece of flight MH370 missing for over two years?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908388-is-mysterious-object-on-rayong-beach-from-mh370-no-says-eddie-the-engineer/

Zika virus spreads to Vietnam with first 2 confirmed cases



HANOI: -- Vietnam’s health ministry on Tuesday confirmed the country’s first two infections of the Zika virus in Ho Chi Minh City and the central resort town Nha Trang, according to Thanh Nien News.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908389-zika-virus-spreads-to-vietnam-with-first-2-confirmed-cases/

Myanmar's new religion minister visits firebrand monk Wirathu



YANGON: -- Aung Ko, Myanmar's new religious affairs minister, on Monday paid a visit to nationalist Buddhist monks from the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion, in Yangon, including the firebrand U Wirathu, The Irrawaddy reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908390-myanmars-new-religion-minister-visits-firebrand-monk-wirathu/

Sand sculptures help mark Lao New Year



VIENTIANE: -- Sand sculptures on Don Chan Beach near the Mekong River in Vientiane are nearing completion for annual Pi Mai Lao celebrations from April 13-16 with authorities expecting large crowds, according to Vientiane Times.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908395-sand-sculptures-help-mark-lao-new-year/

Songkran poll: Have over half female revellers really been groped?
STAFF WRITER


Featured image is by LightOnDude and used under a Creative Commons licence

BANGKOK: -- Songkran celebrations, held every April to celebrate the traditional Thai New Year, are usually a time of festival and frolics as communities join in the “sprinkling of water” (read: huge water fights) to ring in the new year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908405-songkran-poll-have-over-half-female-revellers-really-been-groped/

UPDATE:

PM warns drunk drivers and topless dancers



BANGKOK: -- The effort to reduce road mishaps and encourage all Thais to celebrate the Songkran festival properly, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday reiterated a tough measure to deal with drunk drivers, and to make on the spot arrest topless dancers on streets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908345-dress-inappropriately-or-dance-provocatively-and-face-songkran-arrest-warns-pm/page-5?p=10609517#entry10609517

Indian Navy training vessels berth in Phuket
Phuket Gazette


Royal Thai sailors welcome their Indian counterparts. Photo: RTN

PHUKET: -- Four Indian Navy vessels berthed at the Deep Sea Port in Phuket as naval and Coast Guard trainees take on 24 weeks of at-sea exercises.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908408-indian-navy-training-vessels-berth-in-phuket/

More to sensational murder of mother in Nakhon Sawan, say relatives
Thaivisa Reporters


Image: Thairath

NAKHON SAWAN:-- Police are set to reopen an investigation into the sensational case that captivated Nakhon Sawan two years ago when a girl is said to have murdered her mother for refusing to let her go out.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908409-more-to-sensational-murder-of-mother-in-nakhon-sawan-say-relatives/

Migrant workers jump ship, tangle fishing vessels in red tape
Phuket Gazette


Phuket Employment Office Chief Pitool Dumsakorn suggested that a streamlined process for registering non-Thai fishermen with new employers needed to be put in place. Photo: Kongleahy Keam

PHUKET: -- Migrant labors jumping ship for better paying jobs on other fishing vessels is causing a logistical tangle at the Port in – Port out Control Center (PIPO), which is stopping many boats from departing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908411-phuket-migrant-workers-jump-ship-tangle-fishing-vessels-in-red-tape/

Cruz, Sanders emerge victorious in Wisconsin primaries

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Republican Ted Cruz stormed to a commanding victory in Wisconsin Tuesday, denting front-runner Donald Trump's chances of capturing the Republican nomination before the party's convention. Democrat Bernie Sanders defeated Hillary Clinton, but still faces a mathematically difficult path to the White House.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908416-cruz-sanders-emerge-victorious-in-wisconsin-primaries/

WhatsApp extends encryption to photos, video, other messages
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — WhatsApp says it’s now using a powerful form of encryption to protect the security of photos, videos, group chats and voice calls in addition to the text messages sent by its more than a billion users around the globe.

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/whatsapp-extends-encryption-to-photos-video-other-messages/14652/

Scrutiny on officials worldwide increases in offshore leaks
JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press
DAVID McHUGH, Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Iceland's prime minister became the first major figure brought down by the leak of millions of records on offshore accounts as the scrutiny intensified around officials from other countries, including Ukraine's president.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908418-scrutiny-on-officials-worldwide-increases-in-offshore-leaks/

Lending rate cut will stimulate recovery



BANGKOK: -- The government yesterday lauded the state banks for lowering interest rates on loans to stimulate economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908420-state-banks-lending-rate-cut-will-stimulate-recovery/

All measures to ensure safe travel during Songkran now in force



BANGKOK: -- As Songkran festival is imminent, all measures to ensure full safety for revellers going homes for family reunions on this traditional Thai New Year with happiness are now rolled out.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908423-all-measures-to-ensure-safe-travel-during-songkran-now-in-force/

Lowering interest rates indicates economic slowdown



BANGKOK: -- The Center for Economic and Business Forecast says the cutting of interest rates by banks has signalled that the country is now facing economic slowdown.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908426-lowering-interest-rates-indicates-thailands-economic-slowdown/

Angola yellow fever outbreak spreads



GENEVA: -- The number of deaths from a yellow fever outbreak in Angola has risen to 225 with at least another 1,600 infected. However experts fear the numbers could be greater in rural areas where reporting is difficult.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908427-angola-yellow-fever-outbreak-spreads/

Military junta orders probe to find out supporters of defiant student activist Ja New



BANGKOK: -- Deputy prime minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan said today he has ordered intelligence officers to investigate and find out persons who are behind a student activist group that disrupted constitution drafting Commission chairman Meechai Ruchupan's charter speech at Thammasat University yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908434-govt-orders-probe-to-find-out-supporters-of-defiant-student-activist-ja-new/