Thaivisa Photography Competition (May 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/913956-thaivisa-photography-competition-for-may-2016/

Spanish murder suspect Artur Segarra Princep pleads not guilty, trial set for July

BANGKOK:-- A Spanish man who is the prime suspect in the gruesome murder of a Catalan businessman in Bangkok says he is innocent of the crime

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914925-spanish-murder-suspect-artur-segarra-princep-pleads-not-guilty-trial-set-for-july/

Artificial rain-making operation launched to douse peat forest fires in Narathiwat



BANGKOK: -- Planes from the Royal Rain-making and Agricultural Aviation Department have started cloud seeding today in an effort to control peat forest fire in Toh Daeng, Su-ngai Padi and Su-ngai Kolok districts of Narathiwat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914965-artificial-rain-making-operation-launched-to-douse-peat-forest-fires-in-narathiwat/

CDC's Meechai opposes idea of foreign groups observing public referendum

BANGKOK, 5 May 2016 (NNT) – The Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Commission is opposing the idea that foreign groups should be allowed to observe the public referendum process.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914967-cdcs-meechai-opposes-idea-of-foreign-groups-observing-public-referendum/

Chief of southern negotiating team confirms continuation of peace talks

BANGKOK, 5 May 2016 (NNT) – The chief of the southern peace negotiation team has denied rumors that talks have been suspended.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914968-chief-of-southern-negotiating-team-confirms-continuation-of-peace-talks/

Ministry of Commerce prepares to help low-income workers

BANGKOK, 5 May 2016 (NNT) - The Ministry of Commerce are searching for measures to take care of the laborers whose income is insufficient to cover expenditure.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914970-ministry-of-commerce-prepares-to-help-low-income-workers/

Foreign life insurance firm to expand business in Thailand

BANGKOK, 5 May 2016 (NNT) - Pacific Century Group (PCG) President Richard Li and a consultant, namely former Canadian foreign affairs minister John Baird, visited Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak at Government House.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914971-foreign-life-insurance-firm-to-expand-business-in-thailand/

SUNGAIGOLOK BIKE WEEK 2016 expects over 5,000 participants



NARATHIWAT, 5 May 2016 (NNT) – Narathiwat province's tourism and sports office and Kolok Rider Club in Sungai Kolok district will hold SUNGAIGOLOK BIKE WEEK 2016 between May 13-14, 2016.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914972-sungaigolok-bike-week-2016-expects-over-5000-participants/

Education Ministry solving discontinuation issue



BANGKOK, 5 May 2016 (NNT) – The Ministry of Education will be working to solve the problem of students dropping out of the education system found both in the basic and vocational education programs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914973-thai-education-ministry-solving-discontinuation-issue/

Illegal fishing boats to be used as artificial corals



BANGKOK, 5 May 2016 (NNT)-The Cabinet has approved a 105 million baht budget to buy 54 fishing vessels that have breached the Fisheries Act and use them to create artificial coral reefs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914974-illegal-fishing-boats-to-be-used-as-artificial-corals/

Cabinet passes Sanatorium Act improving healthcare facilities’ quality



BANGKOK, 5 May 2016 (NNT) – The Cabinet has approved a new Sanatorium Act, aiming to enhance services at public healthcare facilities to be on par with private hospitals, according to a spokesman.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914975-thai-cabinet-passes-sanatorium-act-improving-healthcare-facilities-quality/

Labour Day proposals under consideration: Min of Labour

BANGKOK, 5 May 2016 (NNT) – The Minister of Labour has ordered related agencies to urgently consider suggestions made on Labour Day, and ordered committees to be established to oversee operations on this matter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914976-labour-day-proposals-under-consideration-min-of-labour/

Defense Minister says posting information that distorts facts is punishable by law

BANGKOK, 5 May 2016 (NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan has warmed that posting information that distorts facts is punishable by law.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914977-deputy-pm-prawit-says-posting-information-that-distorts-facts-is-punishable-by-law/

Thailand celebrates Reserve Forces Day

BANGKOK, 5 May 2016 (NNT) - The Royal Thai Army has been accelerating the development of reserve personnel’s capabilities in national defense and public service, as Thailand celebrates Reserves Forces Day.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914978-thailand-celebrates-reserve-forces-day/

Govt spending and tourism boom, reasons for optimism in Thai private sector

BANGKOK, 5 May 2016 (NNT) - Despite the recent move by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to lower its global economic forecast for this year to 3.2 percent from 3.4 percent, in addition to downgrading Thailand's economic growth this year to 3 percent, the countrys private sector still projects a growth rate for 2016 of 3-3.5 percent due to government disbursements and an expanding tourism sector.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914979-govt-spending-and-tourism-boom-reasons-for-optimism-in-thai-private-sector/

Unknown Pattaya Man Dies On The Street



PATTAYA: -- A man was seen walking up and down the street when he suddenly collapsed and died.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914980-unknown-pattaya-man-dies-on-the-street/

Drugs and Theft at Pattaya Local Administration Office



PATTAYA: -- Staff members of The Division of Local Administration Office around Pattaya were tested positive for drugs in their system. Fourteen of them were found to have purple urine.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914981-drugs-and-theft-at-pattaya-local-administration-office/

Man Gets Serious About Trespassers and Rubbish Tippers on his Land
by CityNews



CityNews – A man has set up large signs on his land warning people against dumping rubbish or trespassing on his land, threatening legal action for anyone who does.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914982-man-gets-serious-about-trespassers-and-rubbish-tippers-on-his-land/

Families of Detained Facebookers Speak Out
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Harit Mahaton is brought to the martial court on Friday morning. He and seven other Facebookers stand accused of sedition and Computer Crime Act.

BANGKOK — The sun had yet to rise when armed soldiers surrounded their homes and took their sons and daughter into custody.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914983-families-of-detained-facebookers-speak-out/

UPDATE:

Spanish man pleads not guilty to murdering, dismembering compatriot
By Coconuts Bangkok


Artur Segarra. Photo: Cambodian police.

BANGKOK: -- A Spanish man has pleaded not guilty to the gruesome murder of a compatriot in Bangkok in January.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914925-spanish-murder-suspect-artur-segarra-princep-pleads-not-guilty-trial-set-for-july/#entry10712915

Political turmoil on the horizon in Turkey?



ANKARA: -- Turkey could be thrown into political uncertainty in a matter of weeks as AKP officials announce the prime minister will not run for re-election as leader of the ruling party.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914984-political-turmoil-on-the-horizon-in-turkey/

Donald Trump is set to be the Republican US presidential candidate
By Catherine Hardy | With REUTERS, AFPF



John Kasich bows out
Ted Cruz had already retired
Trump faces a battle to unite the party
Search is on for a VP candidate

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914985-donald-trump-is-set-to-be-the-republican-us-presidential-candidate/

Migrants in Idomeni react angrily to idea of visa-free Schengen travel for Turkey



IDOMENI: -- Those anxiously waiting on the Greek-Macedonian border have reacted angrily to the European Commission’s decision to conditionally recommend visa-free access to Turkish citizens.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914986-migrants-in-idomeni-react-angrily-to-idea-of-visa-free-schengen-travel-for-turkey/

“Life was better then” – Serbs commemorate death of Marshal Tito

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914987-life-was-better-then-serbs-commemorate-death-of-marshal-tito/

Papa Wemba buried in Kinshasa



KINSHASA: -- The Democratic Republic of Congo has been remembering its favourite son, Papa Wemba, who has been buried in Kinshasa.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914988-papa-wemba-buried-in-kinshasa/

US government: North Carolina LGBT law violates civil rights
By EMERY P. DALESIO and GARY D. ROBERTSON

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina law limiting protections to LGBT people violates federal civil rights laws and can't be enforced, the U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday, putting the state on notice that it is in danger of being sued and losing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914989-us-government-north-carolina-lgbt-law-violates-civil-rights/

US declares Aleppo cease-fire, Syria says only for 48 hours
By ALBERT AJI and MATHEW LEE

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Sporadic violence persisted in Aleppo on Wednesday as U.S. officials announced an agreement had been reached with Russia to extend Syria's fragile cease-fire to the deeply contested northern city. The Syrian military said the truce would last only 48 hours.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914990-us-declares-aleppo-cease-fire-syria-says-only-for-48-hours/

UPDATE:

Trump's open path to nomination causes agony for some in GOP
By JULIE PACE and STEVE PEOPLES

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump's last Republican foe, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, ended his quixotic presidential campaign Wednesday, cementing Trump's remarkable triumph as his party's presumptive nominee and launching him toward a likely fall battle with Hillary Clinton. Some reluctant Republicans began to rally around Trump, but others agonized over their party's future.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914985-donald-trump-is-set-to-be-the-republican-us-presidential-candidate/#entry10712958

Obama tells Flint residents: 'I've got your back'
By KEVIN FREKING

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Sipping filtered city water to show it's again drinkable, President Barack Obama promised Wednesday to ride herd on leaders at all levels of government until every drop of water flowing into homes in Flint, Michigan, is safe to use.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914991-obama-tells-flint-residents-ive-got-your-back/

Thailand rebuffs railway deal with China

Failure of deal highlights challenge facing China's 'Belt and Road' plan

BANGKOK • Chinese President Xi Jinping is so devoted to his Silk Road project for China to deepen economic ties across Asia that he recently had top Communist officials attend a "study" session on the millennia-old history of the route.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/914992-thailand-rebuffs-railway-deal-with-china/