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/

Three-year old girl died of suffocation in a locked van

SAMUT PRAKAN:-- A three-year old kindergarten girl died of suffocation and heat in a locked van at a housing estate in Bang Pu district of Samut Prakan Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916583-three-year-old-girl-died-of-suffocation-in-a-locked-van/

Canadian crash victim's father appeals for more A-negative blood
Nick Davies

PHUKET: -- Dennis Connelly, the father of Canadian crash victim David Lee Connelly, 40, has appealed for more donations of A-negative blood to help save his son.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916408-blood-drive-for-canadian-praised-police-yet-to-close-accident-investigation/?p=10736933

Labour department to make sure all workers of gold mining companies are compensated properly



BANGKOK: -- The Labour Welfare and Protection Department will make sure that all about 1,000 employees of Akra Resources gold mining company and 10 other subcontracting firms will be properly compensated in accordance with the labour law after they are to close down their businesses within this year as a result of the cabinet’s decision.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916617-labour-department-to-make-sure-all-workers-of-gold-mining-companies-are-compensated-properly/

Policy rate remains unchanged at 1.5 percent



BANGKOK: -- The Fiscal Policy Board agreed at its meeting today (Wednesday) to keep the benchmark policy rate unchanged at 1.5 percent citing the economic growth rate which is close to the projection made at the last meeting.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916618-policy-rate-remains-unchanged-at-15-percent/

Decha hospital ordered shut down for 30 days for being substandard



BANGKOK: -- The Department of Health Service Support has ordered the temporary closure of Decha hospital for 30 days because the hospital is inadequately staffed and below standard.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916621-decha-hospital-ordered-shut-down-for-30-days-for-being-substandard/

Joey Boy in parliament to discuss reforestation in Nan province



BANGKOK: -- Wellknown rapper and entertainer Joey Boy has earned widespread praise from his fans and netizens in general when his images attending a meeting of a parliamentary panel discussing reforestation were posted in the social media.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916622-joey-boy-in-parliament-to-discuss-reforestation-in-nan-province/

Explosion at Hua Lampong railway station was caused by potassium nitrate



BANGKK: -- A minor explosion at Hua Lampong railway terminal on Wednesday was an accident when someone unknowingly used a discarded bottle partially stuffed with potassium nitrate as an ashtray, said Pol Pol Lt-Gen Srivara Rangseepromnakul, the deputy national police chief.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916624-explosion-at-hua-lampong-railway-station-was-caused-by-potassium-nitrate/

New record set for power consumption on May 11



BANGKOK: -- Electricity consumption broke the record for the 7th time this year with usage peaked at 2.12 pm on Wednesday at 29,600.8 megawatts, said Mr Soonchai Kamnoonseth, governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916625-new-record-set-for-power-consumption-on-may-11/

Drought has take toll on Kwan Phayao and its fish stocks



BANGKOK: -- Kwan Phayao, the biggest fresh-water lake in the North, is fast drying up with many fish getting killed due to the extreme hot weather.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916626-drought-has-take-toll-on-kwan-phayao-and-its-fish-stocks/

Panel agrees to revoke land certificate of Phu Khao Hok Look Company on Naka Noi island

PHUKET: -- An investigating panel of the Phuket’s land office has resolved unanimously to revoke the Nor Sor Sam Kor land certificate of 24 rai land plot on Naka Noi island of Phu Khao Hok Look Company.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916627-panel-agrees-to-revoke-land-certificate-of-phu-khao-hok-look-company-on-naka-noi-island/

Countdown to Deportation of Chinese Dissidents Worries Loved Ones
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Lisa Zhang and husband Song Zhiyu on the day of their wedding. Lisa says it is the only photo she has of them together – all others were on a laptop destroyed when he swam for safety from a boat he'd hoped would get him to New Zealand.

BANGKOK — Lisa Zhang is counting the days. Ten remain before her husband, now in police custody, faces deportation back to China, the homeland they fled two years ago. Zhang said Wednesday she is losing hope.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916628-countdown-to-deportation-of-chinese-dissidents-worries-loved-ones/

Pledge to Probe People Pinned to Panama Papers
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


A screenshot from the data trove in the "Panama Papers."

BANGKOK — Authorities today said they will investigate whether any resident in Thailand named in a recent massive leak of information about offshore assets has broken any laws.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916629-pledge-to-probe-people-pinned-to-panama-papers/

Cabinet orders reconsideration of cash-back offer for foreign movie production in Thailand



BANGKOK, 12 May 2016 (NNT) – The Cabinet has accepted the principles of a cash-back offer for foreign movie production in Thailand that has been proposed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, but has ordered the Ministry of Finance to reconsider the cash-back ratio for appropriateness, according to the spokesman.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916630-cabinet-orders-reconsideration-of-cash-back-offer-for-foreign-movie-production-in-thailand/

DDPM extinguishes forest fires in three provinces

BANGKOK, 12 May 2016 (NNT) - Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) director general Chatchai Promlert disclosed that forest fires broke out in three provinces, namely Narathiwat, Chumporn and Chiang Mai.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916631-ddpm-extinguishes-forest-fires-in-three-provinces/

AIS confirmed to join 4G auction this month

BANGKOK, 12 May 2016 (NNT) – Advanced Info Service (AIS) is the first mobile carrier confirmed to join the auction of the 4G mobile network on 900 MHz frequency later this month, while the auction will continue to take place even if there is only one bidder, says NBTC.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916632-ais-confirmed-to-join-4g-auction-this-month/

Committee on Mobilizing Social Reform Agendas delivers 6-month progress report

BANGKOK, 12 May 2016 (NNT) - The Committee on Mobilizing Social Reform Agendas of the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) has delivered its progress report of the past 6 months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916633-committee-on-mobilizing-social-reform-agendas-delivers-6-month-progress-report/

Thailand accedes FAO’s Port State Measures

ROME, 12 May 2016 (NNT) – Thailand has pledged accession to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Agreement on Port State Measures in an attempt to combat the illegal fishing issue in Thai waters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916634-thailand-accedes-faos-port-state-measures/

NRSA’s social committee presents six-month performance report

BANGKOK, 12 May 2016 (NNT) – A committee under the National Reform Steering Assembly has presented a report on its performances during the past six months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916635-thai-nrsas-social-committee-presents-six-month-performance-report/

CDC continued discussion of preparation for trips to explain draft charter

BANGKOK, 12 May 2016 (NNT) – The Constitution Drafting Commission has continued discussing the preparation for trips to explain the draft charter to people throughout the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916636-cdc-continued-discussion-of-preparation-for-trips-to-explain-draft-charter/

PM praises success of Shanghai's development policy



BANGKOK, 12 May 2016 (NNT) - Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-Cha has praised the success of Shanghai's development policy and has expressed Thailand’s readiness to cooperate on all strategic fronts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916637-pm-prayut-praises-success-of-shanghais-development-policy/

Zimbabwe puts its wild animals up for sale



HARARE: -- Zimbabwe’s government has said it is ready to sell its wildlife.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916639-zimbabwe-puts-its-wild-animals-up-for-sale/

UPDATE:

Broadcasters show footage of HM The Queen’s “diplomatic gaffe”
By Catherine Hardy | With REUTERS



""They were very rude to the ambassador""

LONDON: -- The Queen has become the second high-profile British figure to be overheard making a diplomatic gaffe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916502-uk-queen-overheard-calling-chinese-officials-very-rude/page-2?p=10738083#entry10738083

Rogue taxi driver or innocent? Online court decides but police not so sure


Image: Manager Online

BANGKOK:-- Police are yet to press charges against a taxi driver observed on an apartment's CCTV pulling a female passenger who owed him money for a fare.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916641-rogue-taxi-driver-or-innocent-online-court-decides-but-police-not-so-sure/

German woman suffers broken nose after attack in Ayutthaya historical park



AYUTTHAYA:-- A young German tourist suffered a broken nose after she fought back in an attempted bag snatch at the historical ruins in Ayutthaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916642-german-woman-suffers-broken-nose-after-attack-in-ayutthaya-historical-park/

"Grab Bike" rider grabbed by police and fined 4K in Bangkok


Image: Thairath

BANGKOK:-- A "Grab Bike" rider has been fined 4,000 baht for operating an illegal service.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916643-grab-bike-rider-grabbed-by-police-and-fined-4k-in-bangkok/

Indian robbed fellow tourists at Chiang Mai hotels and guest houses, say police


Image: Manager Online

CHIANG MAI:-- Police have arrested an Indian tourist who was thieving from other visitors to Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916645-indian-robbed-fellow-tourists-at-chiang-mai-hotels-and-guest-houses-say-police/

Safe crackers rob home of Swedish expats in Hua Hin then celebrate with a bottle of their wine


Image: Daily News

HUA HIN:-- Safe breakers who robbed a Swedish couple while they were out of Thailand celebrated their haul with wine and chocolates from the fridge.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916646-safe-crackers-rob-home-of-swedish-expats-in-hua-hin-then-celebrate-with-a-bottle-of-their-wine/

Venezuelan opposition leads marches against President Maduro



CARACAS: -- Soldiers and demonstrators have clashed following largely peaceful protests in Venezuela.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916647-venezuelan-opposition-leads-marches-against-president-maduro/

Italy: approving same-sex civil unions ‘a huge step forward,’ say right groups



ROME: -- Italy’s lower house of parliament has approved a bill allowing same-sex civil unions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/916648-italy-approving-same-sex-civil-unions-a-huge-step-forward-say-right-groups/