Phuket City Mayor resigns over mural fiasco
Darawan Naknakhon


Phuket City Deputy Mayor Dr Kosol Tang-utai (centre). Photo: Darawan Naknakhon

PHUKET: -- The Deputy Mayor of Phuket City Municipality handed in his resignation ollowing the fiasco surrounding a mural painted on the old Standard Chartered Bank building in Phuket Town.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909825-fate-of-phuket-mural-to-be-decided-april-22/?p=10631808

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/

S44 expected to be invoked to solve 2G network shutdown



BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order chief General Prayut Chan-ocha has decided to invoke Section 44 of the interim constitution to solve the problem of 2G network shutdown of 900 MHz spectrum on April 14.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909895-s44-expected-to-be-invoked-to-solve-2g-network-shutdown/

Six injured in THAI flight during air turbulence over Singapore



BANGKOK: -- One passenger and five crew members of a Thai Airways International’s flight from Jakarta to Bangkok on Monday were slightly injured when the plane hit air turbulence while flying over Singapore.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909897-six-injured-in-thai-flight-during-air-turbulence-over-singapore/

Pattaya tourists enter bike showroom - in their car



PATTAYA: -- A French tourist went into a South Pattaya motorcycle showroom with his wife on Tuesday - unfortunately they were still in their car!

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909898-pattaya-tourists-enter-bike-showroom-in-their-car/

Junta explains why the Democrats’ handout sets are confiscated



BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has to confiscate the Democrat party’s handout sets which include a blue towel and a medicinal box because they are deemed to be politically divisive, said Colonel Piyapong Klinpant, a member of the spoke persons of the council, on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909899-ncpo-explains-why-the-democrats-handout-sets-are-confiscated/

NLA president warns of criminal litigation against those who distort referendum question



BANGKOK: -- Anybody who distorts the essence of the question for the voters in the national referendum may face criminal litigation, National Legislative Assembly president Pornpetch Wichitcholachai warned on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909900-nla-president-warns-of-criminal-litigation-against-those-who-distort-referendum-question/

Suvarnabhumi revamps control to handle growing number of flights

BANGKOK, 13 April 2016 (NNT) – Suvarnabhumi International Airport has prepared to accommodate an expected throng of travelers during this Songkran holiday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909901-suvarnabhumi-revamps-control-to-handle-growing-number-of-flights/

Drought committee gives report to Cabinet

BANGKOK, 13 April 2016 (NNT) – A committee handling the drought situation has informed the Cabinet that water levels this year should be better than last.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909902-drought-committee-gives-report-to-thai-cabinet/

NCPO steps up road safety measures



BANGKOK, 13 April 2016 (NNT) – The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has asked the public for cooperation in following suggestions from security agents to bolster their safety following the discovery that over 3,000 drunk drivers took to roads during the first 3 days of Songkran.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909908-ncpo-steps-up-road-safety-measures/

Dam erosion damages homes in Nonthaburi

NONTHABURI, 13 April 2016 (NNT) – Erosion at a Chao Phraya River dam in Nonthaburi province has resulted in damage to riverside homes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909909-dam-erosion-damages-homes-in-nonthaburi/

Premier meets with Thai Red Cross Society in blood donation campaign

BANGKOK, 13 April 2016 (NNT) – The National Blood Center of the Thai Red Cross Society led actors and actresses in a meeting with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the cabinet at Government House to campaign for blood donation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909910-premier-meets-with-thai-red-cross-society-in-blood-donation-campaign/

UPDATE:

Turbulence Injures 6 on Thai Airways Flight
By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee
Staff Reporter


The scene when Thai Airways Flight TG434 landed at Suvarnabhumi airport Monday afternoon. Photo: Kru P'Birth / Facebook

BANGKOK — Air turbulence was blamed for six injuries on a Thai Airways flight from Jakarta to Bangkok Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909897-six-injured-in-thai-flight-during-air-turbulence-over-singapore/#entry10632550

Latest on spate of robberies in Chonburi area



PATTAYA: -- Police suspect that two gangs are at work in a spate of robberies to hit the Chonburi area in the last few weeks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909911-latest-on-spate-of-robberies-in-chonburi-area/

Critics: Keeping Public in Dark About Draft Charter Rejection Unfair
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer


Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha splashes water on the media Tuesday morning at Government House

BANGKOK — It’s unfair for the junta not to tell the public what Thailand will get if the draft charter gets voted down, say critics. Some add that this is a psychological tactic to persuade the public to opt for the known-quantity, which is the charter draft. Critics differ on whether this constitutes as a shrewd move by the junta or not.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909912-critics-keeping-public-in-dark-about-draft-charter-rejection-unfair/

Thailand to Face Three Middle Eastern Nations in World Cup Qualifiers
By Simon Duncan
Assistant Editor


Asian Football Confederation (AFC) General Secretary Windsor John holds the country name card of Japan in the draw for 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers final round in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Tuesday, April 12, 2016. Photo: Vincent Thian / Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR — The draw for the the final qualifying round of the 2018 World Cup in Russia was made this afternoon at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909914-thailand-to-face-three-middle-eastern-nations-in-world-cup-qualifiers/

Chinese Demand for Rosewood Has Turned Thailand’s Forests Into Virtual War Zones
Charlie Campbell

Illegal loggers and forest rangers regularly do battle over the precious timber

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909915-chinese-demand-for-rosewood-has-turned-thailands-forests-into-virtual-war-zones/

PR rep shoots herself dead at Navy firing range in Bangkok

Image: Thairath

BANGKOK: -- A public relations representative shot herself dead at the Navy firing range in Bang Na on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909916-pr-rep-shoots-herself-dead-at-navy-firing-range-in-bangkok/

French Catholic Church announces new measures to deal with cases of paedophilia



PARIS: -- The Catholic Church in France has pledged to set up an independent commission to ‘shed light’ on cases of paedophilia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909917-french-catholic-church-announces-new-measures-to-deal-with-cases-of-paedophilia/

Austria beefs up border controls, expecting a massive migrant influx



VIENNA: -- Austria has begun construction work at the Brenner Pass Alpine crossing with Italy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909918-austria-beefs-up-border-controls-expecting-a-massive-migrant-influx/

Police swoop on 'criminal families' in Berlin
By Catherine Hardy | With ARD



BERLIN: -- Eight people have been arrested in Berlin as part of an investigation into a suspected network of criminal families.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909919-police-swoop-on-criminal-families-in-berlin/

Greenpeace stage roof protest in Warsaw



WARSAW: -- Campaigners from Greenpeace have staged a protest on the roof of government buildings in Poland.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909920-greenpeace-stage-roof-protest-in-warsaw/

Is that a Caravaggio in the attic?
By Catherine Hardy | With ANSA



TOULOUSE: -- A leaky roof could prove to be a lucky break for one family in France.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909921-is-that-a-caravaggio-in-the-attic/

Diplomatic tension escalates between Egypt and Italy
By Catherine Hardy | With REUTERS, AFP



ROME: -- Diplomatic tension is escalating in the wake of the death of an Italian student in Egypt.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909922-diplomatic-tension-escalates-between-egypt-and-italy/

House Speaker Ryan rules out presidential bid
By ERICA WERNER

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday definitively ruled out a bid for president this year, insisting that the party's choice should emerge from the group of candidates who pursued the GOP nomination. "Count me out," he said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909923-house-speaker-ryan-rules-out-presidential-bid/

Syria talks to resume amid disputes, escalating violence
By BASSEM MROUE

BEIRUT (AP) — Indirect peace talks between Syria's warring parties are scheduled to resume in Geneva on Wednesday, the third round this year. There are two main groups at the negotiations in Switzerland, in addition to others that were invited by the United Nations as advisers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909924-syria-talks-to-resume-amid-disputes-escalating-violence/

Trump amassing delegates who might not be loyal to him
By THOMAS BEAUMONT and STEPHEN OHLEMACHER

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Already behind the curve in organizing for the Republican convention, Donald Trump has missed crucial deadlines in a number of states to lock up delegates who would stay loyal beyond the first ballot.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909925-trump-amassing-delegates-who-might-not-be-loyal-to-him/

Fake monk with porno mag and orange car arrested


Image: Thairath

PETCHABUN: -- Petchabun police rounded up an old con artist pretending to be a monk Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909926-fake-thai-monk-with-porno-mag-and-orange-car-arrested/

Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam evacuated



AMSTERDAM: -- Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has reportedly been evacuated due to a security alert.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/909927-schiphol-airport-near-amsterdam-evacuated/

JACKSON, Ga. (AP) - Georgia executes man who killed woman during 1996 burglary.