Thailand Live Monday 18 Apr 2016

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Here to stay: Soldiers on Phuket streets to ‘bolster’ police efforts, take down influential figures

Tanyaluk Sakoot

Lt 1st Class Yotsawan Raknuanlaong has taken up direct command of the Army’s Phuket headquarters, located on Sakdidet Rd. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

PHUKET: -- Soldiers seen on the streets over Songkran are to become a familiar sight as the Army has now assigned personnel to “assist and support” police in performing their duties.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910753-here-to-stay-soldiers-on-phuket-streets-to-bolster-police-efforts-take-down-influential-figures/

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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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SURVEY:

Brexit, do you support it?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910624-survey-brexit-do-you-support-it/

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Most university students and personnel prefer Thai academic calendar to ASEAN calendar



BANGKOK: -- Over 85 percent of higher education personnel want Thai universities to stick to the traditional academic dates instead of adopting the ASEAN calendar dates, according an opinion survey conducted by the Coordinating Centre for Public Higher Education Staff (CHES).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910834-most-university-students-and-personnel-prefer-thai-academic-calendar-to-asean-calendar/

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Defiant Watana insists on his innocence but agrees to report to NCPO on Monday



BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai party’s core member Watana Muangsook has insisted that the military has no right to detain him for his free expressions but has vowed to turn himself in to the military on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910835-defiant-watana-insists-on-his-innocence-but-agrees-to-report-to-ncpo-on-monday/

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397 people died in road accidents during April 11-16



BANGKOK: -- A total of 397 people died and 3,271 others injured in nationwide road accidents during the past six days of Songkran celebrations as of April 11, according to Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisit.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910836-397-people-died-in-road-accidents-during-april-11-16/

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Thai embassy tries to help evacuate 50 Thais from earthquake-hit Kumamoto prefecture



TOKYO: -- The Thai embassy in Tokyo has been coordinating with Japanese officials to help evacuate to safety about 50 Thai students and tourists trapped in Kumamoto prefecture following Thursday’s earthquake and aftershocks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910837-thai-embassy-tries-to-help-evacuate-50-thais-from-earthquake-hit-kumamoto-prefecture/

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Bangkok to Rein in Illegal Billboards
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Photo: Matichon

BANGKOK — Large and small, they lean from every perch in the capital city, but now City Hall vows to enforce regulations on the innumerable advertisements found in public spaces.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910838-bangkok-to-rein-in-illegal-billboards/

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Police Find No Evidence Net Idol Shot Himself on Facebook Live
Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Makharin Phumsaart, aka Nae Wat Dao shows his bandaged forehead in a video chat with a friend posted Sunday to Facebook , at left. Image: Wannapa Pongson / Facebook. At right, He presents a brand of skin cream he promotes through social media. Image: Makharin Phumsaart / Facebook.

BANGKOK — Neither gun nor gunshot wound could be found after internet celebrity Nae Wat Dao purportedly shot himself during a streaming broadcast on Facebook Live yesterday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910839-police-find-no-evidence-net-idol-shot-himself-on-facebook-live/

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Officials Burn Writings of Krabi’s ‘New Prophet of Islam’
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Meed Mamart, Krabi’s self-declared 25th Muslim prophet, poses beneath a placard demanding the monarchy and politics be kept separate from matters of faith in a photo posted April 7 to Facebook. Photo: Panyaa Krabi

KRABI — A combined task force of security officers and Muslim clerics yesterday raided the home of a 62-year-old man in Krabi who decreed himself the new prophet of Islam.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910840-officials-burn-writings-of-krabis-new-prophet-of-islam/

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CDC's Thitipan unworried about question to be asked at public referendum on new draft charter

BANGKOK, 18 April 2016 (NNT) - A member of the Constitution Drafting Commission has expressed no worries about the dispute over the question, which has been proposed to be included in the public referendum on the new draft charter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910841-cdcs-thitipan-unworried-about-question-to-be-asked-at-public-referendum-on-new-draft-charter/

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NRSA's 1st VP disagree with calls for advance announcement of back-up charter

BANGKOK, 18 April 2016 (NNT) - A vice president of the National Reform Steering Assembly disagrees with calls for an advance announcement by the National Council for Peace and Order related to the version of the previous Constitution to be put to use in case that the latest draft does not pass the public referendum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910842-nrsas-1st-vp-disagree-with-calls-for-advance-announcement-of-back-up-charter/

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NRSA Whip to discuss assembly’s role in explaining public referendum question

BANGKOK, 18 April 2016 (NNT) - The National Reform Steering Assembly Whip will be this week discussing if the assembly should assist the National Legislative Assembly in explaining the public referendum question to the public.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910843-nrsa-whip-to-discuss-assemblys-role-in-explaining-public-referendum-question/

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Tourism Min hopes tourism revenue will reach 2.4 trillion baht this year

BANGKOK, 18 April 2016 (NNT) – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is hopeful that Thailand will this year earn 2.4 trillion baht from the tourism industry which is constantly thriving.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910844-tourism-min-hopes-tourism-revenue-will-reach-24-trillion-baht-this-year/

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Meteorological Department warns over extremely hot weather until early May

BANGKOK, 18 April 2016 (NNT) – The Meteorological Department's Director-General Wanchai Sakudomchai explained that Thailand will continue to experience a hot climate until early May, partly as a result of the sun being perpendicular to the Kingdom and the persisting drought condition.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910845-thai-meteorological-dept-warns-over-extremely-hot-weather-until-early-may/

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Higher accidents in this year Songkran, says Transport Minister

BANGKOK, 18 April 2016 (NNT) – This year's Songkran holidays recorded higher accident counts compared to the previous year, with trucks, vans and personal cars being the most common vehicles involved in accidents, says the Transport Minister.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910846-higher-accidents-in-this-year-songkran-says-transport-minister/

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Governor to hold youth training in wake of Songkran crime rate

CHAI NAT, 17 April 2016 (NNT) – Chai Nat Governor has initiated a youth training activity, in wake of the youth crime rate hike during the Songkran holidays.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910847-governor-to-hold-youth-training-in-wake-of-songkran-crime-rate/

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PM Prayut shows appreciation for Thailand’s new badminton world champion

BANGKOK, 18 April 2016 (NNT) - The Prime Minister has shown appreciation to the success of Thailand’s badminton champion who has just risen to the world’s top-ranked player.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910848-pm-prayut-shows-appreciation-for-thailands-new-badminton-world-champion/

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What's the problem with western women in Thailand?
STEPH JOHNSON


Featured image is by Exile on James Street and used under a Creative Commons licence

BANGKOK: -- When I first announced my plans to move to Thailand a couple of years ago, a few of my male friends were curious.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910849-whats-the-problem-with-western-women-in-thailand/

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Just announced: State of Palestine Passports

RAMALLAH: -- Hussein al-Sheikh, the Palestinian Minister of Civil Affairs, informed Israel on Wednesday that his government intends to issue passports stamped with the name and seal of the State of Palestine.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910850-just-announced-state-of-palestine-passports/

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Death toll and number of injured soar following Ecuador 'quake
By Sarah Joanne Taylor | With REUTERS, US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY



"The immediate priority is to rescue people in the rubble."

PEDERNALES: -- The death toll from the earthquake in Ecuador has risen to 235, President Rafael Correa has confirmed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910851-death-toll-and-number-of-injured-soar-following-ecuador-quake/

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Germany says goodbye to Genscher
By Catherine Hardy



BONN: -- Senior German leaders have gathered in the former capital of Bonn for a memorial to honor the country’s longest-serving foreign minister, Hans-Dietrich Genscher.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910852-germany-says-goodbye-to-genscher/

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Hollande wraps up Lebanon trip with visit to Syrians due to be resettled in France



BEIRUT: -- The second and final day of the French president’s visit to Lebanon took him to the Bekaa Valley camp for Syrians, in the east of the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910853-hollande-wraps-up-lebanon-trip-with-visit-to-syrians-due-to-be-resettled-in-france/

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US to join quake relief effort in Japan; 41 dead, 11 missing
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

MINAMIASO, Japan (AP) — Eleven people remained missing Sunday in southern Japan from two powerful earthquakes that killed at least 41 people, as the U.S military announced it was preparing to join relief efforts and Toyota said it would suspend nearly all of its vehicle production in Japan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910854-us-to-join-quake-relief-effort-in-japan;-41-dead-11-missing/

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Axl Rose to join AC/DC on tour, replacing Brian Johnson

NEW YORK (AP) — Along with prepping a reunion tour with Guns N' Roses, Axl Rose is joining AC/DC on the road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910855-axl-rose-to-join-acdc-on-tour-replacing-brian-johnson/

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Hundreds of migrants rounded up in Tripoli
By Catherine Hardy | With REUTERS



TRIPOLI: -- Libyan security forces have detained more than 200 migrants in an early morning raid on two hideouts in the capital, Tripoli.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910856-hundreds-of-migrants-rounded-up-in-tripoli/

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Two European parliament drivers carrying ISIL propaganda – reports



HAMBURG: -- Two drivers for a private company serving the European parliament have been found carrying compact discs containing propaganda for militants from the so-called Islamic State (ISIL), according to Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910857-two-european-parliament-drivers-carrying-isil-propaganda-reports/

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EU and Iran 'turn a new page' in diplomatic relations



BRUSSELS: -- EU representative Federica Mogherini held several meetings in Iran to reopen economic relations between Europe and Tehran.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910858-eu-and-iran-turn-a-new-page-in-diplomatic-relations/

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'Drone' hits British Airways plane approaching Heathrow Airport

LONDON: -- A plane approaching Heathrow Airport is believed to have hit a drone before it landed safely, the Metropolitan Police has said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/910859-drone-hits-british-airways-plane-approaching-heathrow-airport/

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Brazil's governing Workers' Party admits defeat in lower house impeachment vote against President Dilma Rousseff /BBC