Thailand Live Monday 11 Apr 2016

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Thaivisa Photography Competition (April 2016)

Enter the Thaivisa Photography Competition where you can win a two night stay at the luxury Palm Grove Resort in Pattaya, worth an estimated 10,000 Baht.

Submit your photos here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/907140-thaivisa-photography-competition-april-2016/

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Massive police force mobilized to ensure public safety during Songkran festival



BANGKOK: -- About 90,000 policemen nationwide have been mobilized to be on the streets to ensure safety in life and properties for the public during the Songkran festival from Monday until April 17.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909422-massive-police-force-mobilized-to-ensure-public-safety-during-songkran-festival/

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Price of condo units edge up 4.9 percent for first quarter



BANGKOK: -- The price of condominium units in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan for the first quarter of this year has increased 4.9 percent compared to the same period last year with the price of mid-range condominium units priced between 80,000-120,000 baht per square metre going up by an average of 5.6 percent.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909423-price-of-condo-units-edge-up-49-percent-for-first-quarter/

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Over half of motorcyclists say they don’t normally use flyover bridges and tunnels



BANGKOK: -- Over 50 percent of motorcyclists told Nida Poll that they don’t use flyover bridges and tunnels while 43.28 percent of the respondents disagree with motorcyclists using the bridges and tunnels.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909424-over-half-of-motorcyclists-say-they-dont-normally-use-flyover-bridges-and-tunnels/

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PM happy as Thais read more

BANGKOK, 11 April 2016 (NNT) - Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha has voiced his satisfaction with a growing interest in reading among Thai people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909425-pm-happy-as-thais-read-more/

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Public vans still popular among Songkran holidaymakers

BANGKOK, 11 April 2016 (NNT) - Public van stations surrounding the Victory Monument are flocked by holidaymakers heading to other provinces to celebrate the Songkran festival.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909426-public-vans-still-popular-among-songkran-holidaymakers/

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Meechai: Additional question will not confuse the public



BANGKOK, 11 April 2016 (NNT) – The chairperson of the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) has given a strong assurance that the public will not be confused by the additional question to be attached with the public referendum on the permanent constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909427-meechai-additional-question-will-not-confuse-the-public/

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NRSA optimistic about criticisms against additional question in referendum



BANGKOK, 11 April 2016 (NNT) – The National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) is not disconcerted by the disagreement some people have shown towards the additional question to be included in the public referendum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909428-nrsa-optimistic-about-criticisms-against-additional-question-in-referendum/

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US Ambassador to Thailand visits Trang

TRANG, 11 April 2016 (NNT) – United States Ambassador to Thailand and his consort met with Trang Governor Detrat Simsiri at Trang Airport, discussing the province's tourism industry and steps to solve the issue of Illegal and Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909429-us-ambassador-to-thailand-visits-trang/

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CDC to revise transitional provisions once draft charter passes referendum



BANGKOK, 11 April 2016 (NNT) – The Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) says it will amend transitional provisions of the new constitution after the draft has been approved by the public.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909430-cdc-to-revise-transitional-provisions-once-draft-charter-passes-referendum/

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Tax deduction campaign to push Songkran spending up to 10 bil. baht

BANGKOK, 11 April 2016 (NNT) - The Revenue Department believes the tax deduction campaign recently approved by the government will push up public spending during the Songkran festival.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909431-tax-deduction-campaign-to-push-songkran-spending-up-to-10-bil-baht/

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UPDATE:

Phuket Sam Kong Underpass opens northbound lanes
The Phuket News


The two northbound lanes through the Sam Kong Underpass opened to traffic today (Apr 10). Photo: Supatra Sutham

PHUKET: -- Highways officials opened two lanes northbound through the long-awaited Sam Kong Underpass today (Apr 10) to alleviate traffic at the busy site until after the Thai New Year Songkran holidays are over.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/908953-samkong-underpass-opens-sunday-not-completely-finished-until-july/#entry10625262

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Runaway boyfriend of missing Scot Lisa Brown spotted in Thailand resort
BY STEPHEN STEWART

A TOURIST claims to have spotted Simon Corner, 33, who has been wanted for questioning over the disappearance of mum-of-one Lisa since she vanished in Spain in November.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909432-runaway-boyfriend-of-missing-scot-lisa-brown-spotted-in-thailand-resort/

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Thailand's 'F' word: Offensive or harmless?
By CHRIS WOTTON



BANGKOK: -- Some years ago, I wrote an article about perspectives on the word ‘farang’ in Thailand. It went unpublished, since the magazine in question was afraid of upsetting its advertisers in Thai local government – ironic, given that my conclusion was to be that I didn’t really have a problem with the term.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909433-thailands-f-word-offensive-or-harmless/

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British Embassy Bangkok launches #SongkranSafe Campaign

BANGKOK: -- Songkran is considered one of the most significant festivals in Thailand: it’s an important occasion for families to come together and represents a time for positive change and transformation for the New Year. Water is very symbolic as it is a sign of cleansing and starting afresh.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909434-british-embassy-bangkok-launches-songkransafe-campaign/

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Intelligence: ISIS Terrorists want to extend its war on tourism to Germany

DALLAS: -- The travel and tourism industry is on edge already. At the recently concluded WTTC Summit in Dallas, Marriott chief Bill Marriott said the biggest threat to global tourism is terror.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909435-intelligence-isis-terrorists-want-to-extend-its-war-on-tourism-to-germany/

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Fireworks accident at temple in India kills more than 100
By ANNA MATHEWS

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India (AP) — The Hindu temple in southern India was packed with thousands for a religious festival early Sunday when the fireworks began — an unauthorized pyrotechnic display that went horribly wrong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909436-fireworks-accident-at-temple-in-india-kills-more-than-100/

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Brussels bombers ‘initially planned to target France’
By Catherine Hardy | With REUTERS



"The terrorist group initially had the intention to strike in France again"

BRUSSELS: -- The bombers who attacked Belgium last month had initially been planning to target France.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909437-brussels-bombers-initially-planned-to-target-france/

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UPDATE:

Officials: Group that hit Brussels planned 2nd France attack
By RAPHAEL SATTER and RAF CASERT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The extremists who struck Brussels last month and killed 32 people initially planned to launch a second assault on France in the wake of the November attacks in Paris, authorities said Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909437-brussels-bombers-initially-planned-to-target-france/#entry10625323

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UPDATE:

Indian PM visits area where temple fire killed 100 Hindu devotees



THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: -- A fire in the southern Indian state of Kerala has killed about 100 people gathered at a temple for a fireworks display marking the start of the local Hindu new year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909436-fireworks-accident-at-temple-in-india-kills-more-than-100/#entry10625314

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Voters stand by Trump as champion of political incorrectness
By ADAM GELLER and BRYNA GODAR

NEW YORK: -- Donald Trump's inflammatory statements about Mexican immigrants, Muslim refugees and women who get abortions may eventually be his campaign's undoing, some analysts say. But don't tell that to the many supporters such as Titus Kottke, attracted to the Republican front-runner specifically because he shoots from the lip.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909438-voters-stand-by-trump-as-champion-of-political-incorrectness/

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Police: Ex-Saint Will Smith gunned down in case of road rage
By JANET MCCONNAUGHEY

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith was shot and killed in a case of road rage by a man who had rear-ended his car, police said Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909439-us-police-ex-saint-will-smith-gunned-down-in-case-of-road-rage/

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Hundreds injured on the Greece-FYROM border
By Catherine Hardy | With REUTERS



ATHENS: -- Hundreds of migrants and refugees have been injured during a confrontation with police on the border between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909440-hundreds-injured-on-the-greece-fyrom-border/

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Poland: six years since Smolensk crash
By Catherine Hardy | With AFP



WARSAW: -- The Polish President has led a ceremony marking the sixth anniversary of the death of his twin brother.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909441-poland-six-years-since-smolensk-crash/

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Ukraine's prime minister resigns in televised address
By Catherine Hardy | With REUTERS



"My decision is based on several reasons"

KIEV: - The Ukrainian Prime Minister says he is to step down.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909442-ukraines-prime-minister-resigns-in-televised-address/

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Bank robbers rumbled two years after digging through sewer into vault



TOULOUSE: -- Fourteen men have been arrested in connection with a bank robbery two years ago in the French city of Toulouse.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909443-bank-robbers-rumbled-two-years-after-digging-through-sewer-into-vault/

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Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate visit India



LONDON: -- Britain’s Duke and Duchess of Cambridge played a charity cricket match with underprivileged children in Mumbai on Sunday, the first day of a week-long tour of India that will include a trip to the isolated Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909444-britains-prince-william-and-his-wife-kate-visit-india/

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Reports: Panama firm usurped name of Red Cross to hide money
By RAPHAEL SATTER

PARIS (AP) — The law firm at the center of the Panama offshore accounts scandal routinely usurped the name of the Red Cross and other charities to help obscure the origin of millions of dollars in questionable funds, two newspapers involved in the investigation reported Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909445-reports-panama-firm-usurped-name-of-red-cross-to-hide-money/

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Candidates - even Trump - shift to delegate hunt
By LAURIE KELLMAN and LISA LERER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic and Republican presidential candidates are coming to terms with the cold mathematical reality of chasing delegates ahead of their nominating conventions, with front-runners Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump driving for challenge-proof majorities against rivals who won't go away.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909446-candidates-even-trump-shift-to-delegate-hunt/

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Democrat party rejects referendum question



BANGKOK: -- The Democrat party has announced the rejection of the draft constitution and the question for voters to answer during the referendum whether they want senators to select a prime minister or not.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909447-democrat-party-rejects-thai-referendum-question/