V/Gov cracks down on 'slovenly' tour guides
Sukawin Tanthavanich

PHUKET: -- What began as new regulations aimed at curbing cheating and poorly dressed taxi drivers has now turned into an additional island-wide action to imporve tour guides' dress codes, officials announced last week.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914370-vgov-cracks-down-on-slovenly-tour-guides/

'I still have nightmares,' says British grandmother who was beaten unconscious in Thailand
By Andrew Marszal, new delhi

HUA HIN -- The British grandmother who was brutally attacked at a popular Thai beach resort last month has described her ordeal for the first time, telling a court that she “still has nightmares”.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914369-i-still-have-nightmares-says-british-grandmother-who-was-beaten-unconscious-in-thailand/

British couple vows to return to Hua Hin despite brutal attack



HUA HIN: -- Prime Minister’s Office Minister Panadda Diskul today visited an elderly British couple at Bangkok hospital in Hua Hin.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914348-british-couple-vows-to-return-to-hua-hin-despite-brutal-attack/

New student group asks CSD to probe motive of Ja New’s activist group



BANGKOK: -- A new rival student group emerged today when it filed a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) seeking its hand to probe into the motive of the New Democracy Movement in waging anti-government activities currently.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914449-new-student-group-asks-csd-to-probe-motive-of-ja-news-activist-group/

Leicester win Premier League title

Leicester City, who started the season as 5,000-1 outsiders, become English Premier League champions for first time /BBC

LONDON (AP) - Leicester City clinches first Premier League title after Chelsea-Tottenham draw.

Leicester wins English title for 1st time in 132-yr history
ROB HARRIS, AP Global Soccer Writer

LONDON (AP) — Leicester secured an incredible first Premier League title without playing on Monday after second-place Tottenham drew 2-2 at Chelsea.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914450-leicester-wins-english-title-for-1st-time-in-132-yr-history/

UPDATE:

Leicester City win Premier League title after Tottenham draw at Chelsea

LONDON: -- Leicester City have won the Premier League title in one of the greatest sporting stories of all time.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914450-leicester-wins-english-title-for-1st-time-in-132-yr-history/#entry10705089

TU student union demands free expression for the sake of true democracy



BANGKOK: -- Thammasat Student Union (TSU) today issued a statement calling on the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to allow free expression of opinions on the scheduled August 7 referendum and the draft charter saying it will contribute greatly to true democracy and eventual benefits to the people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914451-tu-student-union-demands-free-expression-for-the-sake-of-true-democracy/

Mahakarn Fort residents form guards to defend their community



BANGKOK: -- Residents of Mahakarn Fort community have formed sentries to guard their community against city officials as deadline for their stay has expired on April 30.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914452-bangkok-mahakarn-fort-residents-form-guards-to-defend-their-community/

Drinks with high content of sugar will be taxed 20-25 percent



BANGKOK: -- The National Reform Steering Assembly on Monday approved by 153 votes against two a proposal of its panel on health and environment affairs to increase taxes for non-alcoholic drinks with high content of sugar.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914453-drinks-with-high-content-of-sugar-will-be-taxed-20-25-percent/

UPDATE:

British family attacked in Thailand recount assault in court

BANGKOK (AP) — A British couple in their 60s who were brutally attacked during a family holiday in Thailand recounted the assault Monday in court, after a visit from government officials bearing gifts and apologies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914369-i-still-have-nightmares-says-british-grandmother-who-was-beaten-unconscious-in-thailand/

Japan announces $7 billion plan to develop Mekong region
TASSANEE VEJPONGSA, Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — Japan's foreign minister announced a $7 billion initiative Monday to promote development in Southeast Asia's Mekong region, which encompasses parts of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand through which the river flows.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914454-japan-announces-7-billion-plan-to-develop-mekong-region/

Thailand aims to show responsibility by running for non-permanent UN Security Council seat



BANGKOK, 3 May 2016 (NNT) - Thai Ambassador to the United Nations Virachai Plasai said Thailand has aimed to show responsibility to the world community by running as candidate for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914455-thailand-aims-to-show-responsibility-by-running-for-non-permanent-un-security-council-seat/

UPDATE:

PMO minister visits British tourists earlier assaulted in Hua Hin

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, 3 May 2016 (NNT) – Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Panadda Dissakul, Prachuap Khiri Khan provincial governor Tawee Narissirikul and representatives from the British Embassy in Bangkok visited a British couple physically assaulted during the recent Songkran festival in Hua Hin.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914348-british-couple-vows-to-return-to-hua-hin-despite-brutal-attack/page-4?p=10705130#entry10705130

CDC to have volunteers explain about draft charter to Bangkokians

BANGKOK, 3 May 2016 (NNT) – Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) spokesman Chatchai Na Chiangmai said CDC has planned to have volunteers visit Bangkokians to explain about the draft constitution in door-knocking fashion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914456-cdc-to-have-volunteers-explain-about-draft-charter-to-bangkokians/

Ministry of Agriculture gets prepared for royal plowing ceremony

BANGKOK, 3 May 2016 (NNT) - The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has made preparations for a royal plowing ceremony on May 9, 2016. The annual ritual marks the beginning of a rice-growing season in Thailand.

Ten royally-bestowed rice strains prepared by the Rice Department with a total weight of 2,667 kilograms will be used during the ceremony from 8.29 a.m. to 9.09 a.m.

Plastic packets of rice grains will be handed out to farmers and people attending the ceremonial grounds.


-- NNT 2016-05-03

April's inflation rate rises 1st time in 16 months

BANGKOK, 3 May 2016 (NNT) - The inflation rate in April 2016 increased for the first time in 16 months to 106.47 due to increasing prices of meat and fresh vegetables.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914457-thailands-april-inflation-rate-rises-1st-time-in-16-months/

Public health ministry sets THB11-bn budget to develop health services

BANGKOK, 3 May 2016 (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health is urgently developing a health service plan for all health regions nationwide for the years 2018 – 2022. More than 11 billion baht has been approved for all 12 health regions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914458-thai-health-ministry-sets-thb11-bn-budget-to-develop-health-services/

Rayong tops provinces with highest income per capita

RAYONG, 3 May 2016 (NNT) – Rayong remains the province with the highest income per capita, with income at almost one million baht per person, despite signs of recession in the province's economic outlook.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914459-rayong-tops-provinces-with-highest-income-per-capita/

Army continues peace dialogue in Deep South

BANGKOK, 3 May 2016 (NNT) - The Royal Thai Army has continued a peace dialogue in the southern border provinces. Commander-in-Chief Gen. Teerachai Nakwanich has reported the progress of the army's work to develop the region with the Southern Border Provinces Administration (SBPAC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914461-thai-army-continues-peace-dialogue-in-deep-south/

Startup Thailand 2016 receives “beyond expectation success”, says MOST

BANGKOK, 3 May 2016 (NNT) – The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) proclaims success in organizing the Startup Thailand 2016 activity, aiming to hold similar activities nationwide to encourage the development of startup businesses as the nation’s key economic driver.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914462-startup-thailand-2016-receives-beyond-expectation-success-says-most/

Ministry of Social Development accelerating efforts to tackle domestic violence issues

BANGKOK, 3 May 2016 (NNT) - The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is accelerating efforts to tackle domestic violence, as the number of reported victims has increased.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914463-ministry-of-social-development-accelerating-efforts-to-tackle-domestic-violence-issues/

URGENT

Phuket expat requests A-negative blood donations

Phuket Gazette


Donations of A-negative blood are needed in Phuket for a pensioner from the UK currently being treated at Phuket International Hospital.

PHUKET: A pensioner from the UK currently being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Phuket International Hospital is in urgent need of A-negative blood.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914463-ministry-of-social-development-accelerating-efforts-to-tackle-domestic-violence-issues/

Death of the Bar Girl by Mobile Phone



Technology fuels different interaction platforms

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914466-death-of-the-bar-girl-by-mobile-phone/

Three Earth-like planets found outside the Solar System
By Catherine Hardy | With AFP



"These three planets are the first chance to find chemical traces of life outside our Solar System"

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914469-three-earth-like-planets-found-outside-the-solar-system/

Denmark extends controls on German border, EU set to allow more Schengen exceptions



"We have to protect ourselves against the Islamic State group, who are trying to take advantage of the situation where there are holes in borders. But also as protection against the influx of refugees coming through Europe"

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914470-denmark-extends-controls-on-german-border-eu-set-to-allow-more-schengen-exceptions/

Incredible scenes in the Turkish parliament
By Catherine Hardy | With AFP



Punching, pushing and shoving

ANKARA: -- There have been scuffles between politicians in the Turkish parliament for the second time in a week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914471-incredible-scenes-in-the-turkish-parliament/

Reckitt Benckiser apologises over South Korea deadly disinfectant



SEOUL: -- No sooner had the company boss in South Korea taken the stage to apologise, than he was promptly struck by an angry relative of one of the firm’s victims.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914472-reckitt-benckiser-apologises-over-south-korea-deadly-disinfectant/

Jail term upheld for faulty breast implants company boss



PARIS: -- The founder of a company that made faulty breast implants has had a four-year jail sentence upheld by a French appeals court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914473-jail-term-upheld-for-faulty-breast-implants-company-boss/