Music world in shock as Prince dies suddenly aged 57
By Robert Hackwill



The music world has been stunned by the shock news of Prince’s sudden death aged 57 at his home recording studio.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911888-music-world-in-shock-as-prince-dies-suddenly-aged-57/?

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/

Phuket voted 8th among world's top 10 islands

PHUKET: -- Phuket has won eighth place among the world's top 10 islands in the latest reader survey conducted by travel review website TripAdvisor.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911805-phuket-voted-8th-among-worlds-top-10-islands/

Suspected mass cremation sites found n the woods in Udon Thani



BANGKOK: -- Police and forensic experts have been sent to an illegal graveyard in the woods in Ban Phue district of Udon Thani where several several cremation sites and bones were found.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911890-suspected-mass-cremation-sites-found-n-the-woods-in-udon-thani/

Five million baht worth of fake weight loss pills seized in Maha Sarakham



MAHA SARAKHAM: -- Consumer protection police and officials of the Food and Drugs Administration have seized about 160,000 fake weight loss and diet pills worth about five million baht from three houses in Maha Sarakham province, according to Post Today Online.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911891-five-million-baht-worth-of-fake-weight-loss-pills-seized-in-maha-sarakham/

Mrs Angkana launches signature collection campaign to demand revival of Somchai’s case



BANGKOK: -- The widow of missing Muslim lawyer Somchai Nilapaichit has launched a signature collection campaign to demand the revival of the enforced disappearance case of her husband.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911893-mrs-angkana-launches-signature-collection-campaign-to-demand-revival-of-somchais-case/

UPDATE:

PM accuses Thaksin of behind current anti-government political activities



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha today (Thursday) accused fugitive former prime minister Thaksin of being the man who pulls the strings behind all the recent and current disruptive political activities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911761-prayut-names-thaksin-as-plotter-behind-protests/page-5?p=10663509#entry10663509

Protests Called Off as Watana Released on Bail
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Watana Muangsook, who served in the former Pheu Thai led government, is escorted into the military court Thursday in Bangkok

BANGKOK — Activists today canceled daily protests demanding the release of Pheu Thai politico Watana Muangsook from military detention after a martial court released him on bail this afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911894-protests-called-off-as-watana-released-on-bail/

NRSA Whip confirms assembly's readiness to help explain referendum questions

BANGKOK, 22 April 2016 (NNT) – The National Reform Steering Assembly is ready to help with the process to explain details of the public referendum questions to the public, if asked, according to its Whip.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911895-nrsa-whip-confirms-assemblys-readiness-to-help-explain-referendum-questions/

NLA's societal committee chairman has faith in Thailand's democratic youth

BANGKOK, 22 April 2016 (NNT) – The chairman of a committee under the National Legislative Assembly is placing its faith in the country’s democratic youth and their future as good politicians.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911896-nlas-societal-committee-chairman-has-faith-in-thailands-democratic-youth/

PM pleased with development of Thailand’s competitive edge

BANGKOK, 22 April 2016 (NNT) – Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed satisfaction with the success of related agencies in enhancing the competitive edge of Thailand in all dimensions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911897-pm-prayut-pleased-with-development-of-thailands-competitive-edge/

Thailand preparing to host World Irrigation Forum in Nov

BANGKOK, 22 April 2016 (NNT) – The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is making preparations for the 2nd World Irrigation Forum, which will be hosted by Thailand in Chiang Mai province this November.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911898-thailand-preparing-to-host-world-irrigation-forum-in-november/

Northern hospitals to get prepared for haze-affected patients

BANGKOK, 22 April 2016 (NNT) - Public Health Minister Piyasakon Sakolsattayatorn said that there are still a few areas in the haze-affected provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai where the PM10 values remain at unhealthy levels.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911899-northern-hospitals-to-get-prepared-for-haze-affected-patients/

Deputy PM: Thai economy shows signs of better growth

BANGKOK, 22 April 2016 (NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Chatusripitak has expressed his confidence that the Thai economy has started to improve following growth in the export sector.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911900-deputy-pm-thai-economy-shows-signs-of-better-growth/

Asia to foster greater cooperation against natural disasters



BANGKOK, 22 April 2016 (NNT)-The government and the private sectors are expected to unite in stronger cooperation against natural disasters via discussions currently being held at the Asian Business Forum 2016 Risk Reduction and Resilience Building.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911901-asia-to-foster-greater-cooperation-against-natural-disasters/

Investigation ordered into traffic police activities over ticket fraud

BANGKOK, 22 April 2016 (NNT) – The police chief has ordered an investigation into traffic police operations nationwide to ensure operational transparency, in the wake of fraudulent activities allegedly committed by central traffic officers regarding traffic tickets, says the police spokesman.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911902-investigation-ordered-into-traffic-police-activities-over-ticket-fraud/

Western Couple Caught Having Sex On North Pattaya Beach



PATTAYA: -- Another video clip has risen to further damage Thailand and Pattaya’s reputation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911903-western-couple-caught-in-the-act-on-north-pattaya-beach/

Instagram drama: Soap star deletes photos of Hermes bags after furore over customs duty
By Coconuts Bangkok



According to scientists, shopping makes us happy

BANGKOK: -- Which begs the question, how ecstatic would you be after buying a dozen Hermes bags and accessories for your upcoming birthday?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911904-instagram-drama-soap-star-deletes-photos-of-hermes-bags-after-furore-over-customs-duty/

UPDATE:

Watana released on bail after he was given 12-day detention



BANGKOK: -- Former commerce minister Watana Muangsook was released on a 80,000 baht bail on Thursday after the Bangkok Military Court ordered him detained for another 12 days as requested by the police enquiry officer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911894-protests-called-off-as-watana-released-on-bail/#entry10663571

Findings show Chokechai Farm’s land encroaches on public land



KORAT: -- Nakhon Ratchasima’s panel charged with resolving land encroachment problem is considering revoking ten land title deeds of Chokechai Farm which were found to have encroached on public land.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911905-findings-show-chokechai-farms-land-encroaches-on-public-land/

The argument against dual pricing in Thailand
CHRIS WOTTON


Featured image is by Wachira tasee and used under a Creative Commons licence

BANGKOK: -- If there’s one thing in Thailand that regularly has expats up in arms, it’s dual pricing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911906-the-argument-against-dual-pricing-in-thailand/

Two senior education officials sacked by CSC subcommittee



BANGKOK: -- Former secretary-general of the Basic Education Commission Mr Chinnapat Phumirat and former director of the Personnel Administration Development and Legal Affairs Mr Krai Katethun have been ordered sacked by a subcommittee of the Civil Service Commission.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911908-two-senior-education-officials-sacked-by-csc-subcommittee/

Volkswagen agrees to compensate US owners of rigged diesel vehicles
By Natalie Huet | With AP, REUTERS, BLOOMBERG



WOLFSBURG: -- Volkswagen has reached a framework deal with US authorities to compensate the owners of about half a million cars that cheated diesel emissions tests, a federal judge said on Thursday (April 21).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911910-volkswagen-agrees-to-compensate-us-owners-of-rigged-diesel-vehicles/

Syrian peace talks in Geneva collapse in acrimony
By Robert Hackwill



GENEVA: -- It appears the protagonists in the Syria conflict may soon have any shackles removed with what looks like the imminent collapse of peace talks in Geneva.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911912-syrian-peace-talks-in-geneva-collapse-in-acrimony/

Up to 500 migrants may have drowned in Mediterranean – UNHCR



AUGUSTA: -- More than two hundred migrants arriving into the Sicilian port of Augusta on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911914-up-to-500-migrants-may-have-drowned-in-mediterranean-unhcr/

Olympic torch lit for Rio Games



OLYMPIA: -- The torch of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games was lit in southern Greece on Thursday (April 21).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911915-olympic-torch-lit-for-rio-games/

Mitsubishi centre raided as Japan probes faked fuel economy tests



TOKYO: -- Mitsubishi’s shares plunged by 20 percent on Thursday following the carmaker’s admission that it faked fuel economy data on cars sold in Japan. They had already fallen by 15 percent on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911916-mitsubishi-centre-raided-as-japan-probes-faked-fuel-economy-tests/

Obama's UK visit overshadowed by debate about leaving EU
By JILL LAWLESS

LONDON (AP) — It's springtime in London, but President Barack Obama might sense a chill in the air.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911917-obamas-uk-visit-overshadowed-by-debate-about-leaving-eu/

Firms that paid for Clinton speeches have US gov't interests
By STEPHEN BRAUN

WASHINGTON (AP) — It's not just Wall Street banks. Most companies and groups that paid Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to speak between 2013 and 2015 have lobbied federal agencies in recent years, and more than one-third are government contractors, an Associated Press review has found. Their interests are sprawling and would follow Clinton to the White House should she win election this fall.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911918-firms-that-paid-for-clinton-speeches-have-us-govt-interests/

"Naked pics not me!" - says Thai glamour cop Eve


Image: Thairath

BANGKOK:-- One of the most "arresting" female cops in Thailand has complained to authorities after she was compared to a naked model in sexy online pictures.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/911919-naked-pics-not-me-says-thai-glamour-cop-eve/