More evidence points to 500 deaths off Libyan coast
By Robert Hackwill



"We have seen the number of people crossing from Libya into Italy increase dramatically"

TRIPOLI: -- More light has been thrown on a still-unconfirmed migrant tragedy in the Mediterranean, but survivors picked up by a merchant ship just landed in Greece have been telling their stories. Last weekend reports of 400 people drowning came in, but it may be worse.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911675-more-evidence-points-to-500-deaths-off-libyan-coast/

Cubans fleeing in high numbers despite new diplomatic ties
By ALICIA A. CALDWELL

WASHINGTON (AP) — While more than 50 years of enmity between the United States and Cuba is slowly vanishing, the renewed relationship is raising concerns among some on the communist island nation that the U.S. could also erase a unique immigration policy that favors Cubans.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911676-cubans-fleeing-in-high-numbers-despite-new-diplomatic-ties/

UPDATE:

Source: VW to pay $1B to diesel owners, buy back some cars
By TOM KRISHER

DETROIT (AP) — Volkswagen, the U.S. government and private lawyers have reached a deal for the automaker to buy back some of the 600,000 diesel cars that cheat on emissions tests and spend just over $1 billion to compensate owners, according to a person briefed on the matter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911669-vw-avoids-federal-us-trial-by-paying-diesel-customers-5000-dollars/?p=10659985

Tubman to be new face of $20 bill, Hamilton stays on $10
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Harriet Tubman, an African-American abolitionist who was born a slave, will stand with George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin among the iconic faces of U.S. currency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911678-tubman-to-be-new-face-of-us20-bill-hamilton-stays-on-us10/

UPDATE:

Norwegian court: Mass killer Breivik's rights were violated
By MARK LEWIS and KARL RITTER

STAVANGER, Norway (AP) — Norwegian authorities have violated the human rights of mass killer Anders Behring Breivik by holding him in solitary confinement in a three-cell complex where he can play video games, watch TV and exercise, a court in Oslo ruled Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911671-mass-killer-breivik-wins-court-case-over-inhuman-prison-conditions/#entry10660183

UPDATE:

Queen Elizabeth II at 90: A look at highs, lows of her reign
By GREGORY KATZ

LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II marks her 90th birthday on Thursday as Britons and many throughout the world celebrate her long and dignified reign. She will celebrate again in June with national events to mark her official birthday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911674-britain-marks-queen-elizabeths-90th-birthday-royal-mails-500th/?p=10660239#entry10660239

Petrochemical plant blast kills 3, injures dozens in Mexico
PETER ORSI, Associated Press
E. EDUARDO CASTILLO, Associated Press

MEXICO CITY (AP) — An explosion ripped through a petrochemical plant on the southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, killing three people, injuring dozens and sending flames and a toxin-filled cloud into the air, officials said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911698-petrochemical-plant-blast-kills-3-injures-dozens-in-mexico/

Dane found dead in Cambodia

Local Cambodian media is reporting that a 56-year-old Danish man has been found dead in a rented room in the port city of Sihanoukville in southern Cambodia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911690-dane-found-dead-in-cambodia/

Alleged Drug Dealers, Brit and American and Khmer, Rat on Each Other

Khmer Times/Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

A group of alleged drug dealers, including an elderly British national, his Khmer girlfriend, a Cambodian-American and a DJ, were tried by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday over allegations of drug trafficking committed last year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911687-alleged-drug-dealers-brit-and-american-and-khmer-rat-on-each-other/

Calls for Angkor Beer Boycott Over Dam

Khmer Times/Pav Suy

Members of civil society, a youth group and communities affected by the Don Sahong hydropower project have called for a boycott of Angkor Beer, claiming the brewer’s parent company Cambrew is funding the controversial project which started in December last year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911520-calls-for-angkor-beer-boycott-over-dam/

UPDATE:

Update: Foreign Tourist Viciously Beaten by Drunken Thai Men



PATTAYA: -- At 12:30 AM on Thursday 21st April a 20 year old Thai woman stepped forward as an eyewitness to the previous night’s vicious attack by the two Thai men.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911657-foreign-tourist-viciously-beaten-by-drunken-thai-men/page-3?p=10660477#entry10660477

Jokowi meets with German President, discusses death penalty



BERLIN: -- President Joko Widodo has reiterated his government’s insistence on applying the death penalty is due to growing drug crimes in Indonesia, which have reached alarming levels, The Jakarta Post reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911702-jokowi-meets-with-german-president-discusses-death-penalty/

SET opens up 10.76 to 1,425.72 /Bangkok Post

Bounnhang Vorachit new President of Laos



VIENTIANE: -- Members of the National Assembly's 8th Legislature of Laos elected Mr Bounnhang Vorachit as the new President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic at the Assembly's inaugural session on Wednesday morning, according to Vientiane Times.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911704-bounnhang-vorachit-new-president-of-laos/

Five Malaysian students fall into 24m-deep ravine while taking selfie



KUALA BESUT: -- Five university students were spared their lives when they fell into a 24-metre deep ravine while taking selfies, The Star Online reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911706-five-malaysian-students-fall-into-24m-deep-ravine-while-taking-selfie/

Oil tank catches fire on Jurong Island



SINGAPORE: -- An oil tank caught fire on Wednesday afternoon on Jurong Island, sparking a massive fire-fighting operation involving 150 Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers, reported Channel News Asia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911712-oil-tank-catches-fire-on-jurong-island/

18 people killed after boat accident off Arakan State



YANGON: -- Eighteen Rohingya people were confirmed dead after a boat capsized on Tuesday off the coast of Thae Chaung village near Sittwe, the capital of Myanmar's Arakan State, The Irrawaddy reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911720-18-people-killed-after-boat-accident-off-arakan-state/

Summer storms wreak havoc in North, Northeast



BANGKOK: -- More than 700 homes in five provinces in the North and the Northeast were damaged after summer storms lashed the areas this week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911722-summer-storms-wreak-havoc-in-north-isaan/

Clinton close to nomination prize; Trump strengthens hand
KEN THOMAS, Associated Press
JULIE PACE, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Clinton, the nearly unstoppable Democrat, and Republican front-runner Donald Trump accelerated Wednesday toward upcoming primaries on an increasingly direct path to presidential nominations after trouncing party challengers in New York.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911723-clinton-close-to-nomination-prize;-trump-strengthens-hand/

Thai police say 15 bomb suspects at large as two appear in court
BY AMY SAWITTA LEFEVRE AND ANDREW R.C. MARSHALL

BANGKOK: -- Thai police cannot find 15 suspects in connection with a bomb at a shrine in Bangkok last year that killed 20 people, an officer said on Wednesday, as two ethnic Uighur Muslims from China accused of involvement appeared in a military court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911725-thai-police-say-15-bomb-suspects-at-large-as-two-appear-in-court/

UPDATE:

Fishery chief removed for delay in resolving IUU fishing



BANGKOK: -- The Thai government has removed the Fisheries Department chief over his delay in solving the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing issue.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911653-ncpo-appoints-new-head-of-fisheries-department-to-speed-up-solving-illegal-fishing-problem/#entry10660722

Banana boat death - Ubon mother calls for justice from jetski operators

Image: Thairath

BANGKOK: -- A grieving mother is calling for justice after a Banana Boat accident in Ubon killed her young daughter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911727-banana-boat-death-ubon-mother-calls-for-justice-from-jetski-operators/

More than 1 billion liters of water distributed to drought stricken zones

BANGKOK, 21 April 2016 (NNT) - More than 1billion liters of water have been distributed to local residents nationwide as drought crisis continues to ravage many parts of the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911729-more-than-1-billion-liters-of-water-distributed-to-drought-stricken-zones/

Frenchman sends girlfriend picture before he falls from Silom condo


Image: Daily News

BANGKOK: -- A young French man sent his Thai girlfriend a picture as he clambered out of his 26th floor apartment in Silom. Then he fell to his death on the ground below.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911731-frenchman-sends-girlfriend-picture-before-he-falls-from-silom-condo/

Former prime minister taken to hospital with breathing problems



BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Banharn Silpa-archa was rushed to Siriraj hospital this morning after having difficulties in breathing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911734-former-pm-banharn-silpa-archa-taken-to-hospital-with-breathing-problems/

Whatever next! Getting lottery numbers from a kilometer marker!

Image: Thairath

LOEI: -- It is not a sight you see every day - people praying to a kilometer marker for lottery numbers!

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911735-whatever-next-getting-lottery-numbers-from-a-kilometer-marker/

UPDATE:

Thailand keeps an eye on 3 Turkish extremists

BANGKOK, 21 April 2016 (NNT)-The Immigration Bureau is now keeping an eye on three Turkish nationals after receiving a warning from Singapore regarding their attempt to launch an attack on Thai soil.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911640-suspected-uighur-militant-in-threat-warning-twice-entered-thailand/?p=10660863#entry10660863

Paris climate deal on track for early start
By KARL RITTER and CARA ANNA

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — About 160 countries are expected to sign the Paris Agreement on climate change Friday in a symbolic triumph for a landmark deal that once seemed unlikely but now appears on track to enter into force years ahead of schedule.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911740-paris-climate-deal-on-track-for-early-start/

NRSA recommends postponement of Klong Dan waste water treatment plant compensation

BANGKOK, 21 April 2016 (NNT) - The National Reform Steering Assembly has recommended the government postpone the next installment of the compensation payment incurred in a controversial waste water treatment plant construction project.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911742-nrsa-recommends-postponement-of-klong-dan-waste-water-treatment-plant-compensation/

Military junta officially charges Watana of violating its political activities ban



BANGKOK: -- The military junta today formally asked the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police to charge former commerce minister Watana Muangsook of defying Order 39/2557 of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) banning political movement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911744-ncpo-officially-charges-watana-of-violating-its-political-activities-ban/