Thaivisa Photography Competition (July 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/928582-thaivisa-photography-competition-july-2016/

Phuket marine chief replaced – again
Kongleaphy Keam

PHUKET:-- Phuket Marine Office chief Surachai Burapanontachai is to be transferred at the end of July to the Marine Department headquarters in Bangkok.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933082-phuket-marine-chief-replaced-again/?p=10980069

CDC will not join in public debates on draft charter



BANGKOK: -- The Constitution Drafting Committee has turned down the Election Commission’s invitation for it to join public debates on the draft constitution which will be open to both supporters and opponents of the draft.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933141-cdc-will-not-join-in-public-debates-on-draft-charter/

ALRO to use Section 44 to take back Sor Por Kor land plots from encroachers



BANGKOK: -- The Office of Land Reform for Agriculture will withdraw the lawsuits filed against big-time encroachers on Sor Por Kor land plots from the court and to, instead, make use of the NCPO order issued under Section 44 of the interim charter to take back the encroached land plots.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933142-alro-to-use-section-44-to-take-back-sor-por-kor-land-plots-from-encroachers/

UPDATE:

A district police chief axed for failure to report on the tearing up a list of eligible voters



KAMPHAENG PHET: -- The chief of Chanuworalak Buri district police in Kamphaeng Phet province has ordered transferred to an inactive post at the 6th provincial police bureau pending an investigation for his alleged failure to report to his superior an incident about the tearing of a list of eligible voters allegedly by a young girl.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933034-local-police-chief-loses-job-for-not-reporting-8-year-old-vandals/page-2#entry10981078

Plan to push for Thai traditional massage to be included in Unesco’s World Heritage list



BANGKOK: -- Thailand will try to push for traditional Thai massage to be included in Unesco’s list of world’s cultural heritage, said Dr Boonruang Trairuangworawat, director-general of Health Service Support Department, on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933143-plan-to-push-for-thai-traditional-massage-to-be-included-in-unescos-world-heritage-list/

Authorities report over 100,000 traffic violations during the long holiday

BANGKOK, 21 July 2016 (NNT) - The Royal Thai Police has revealed that it has arrested over 100,000 motorists for traffic offenses during the long holiday, with most cases involving motorcycle drivers failing to wear helmets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933144-thai-authorities-report-over-100000-traffic-violations-during-the-long-holiday/

Thai artist wins 14 gold medals at WCOPA contest in L.A.

BANGKOK, 21 July 2016 (NNT) - Thai singer Thachaya Patumwan or Keng The Voice has captured 14 gold medals and five trophy awards in a range of categories at the 20th Annual World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA), held in Los Angeles, the United States.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933145-thai-artist-wins-14-gold-medals-at-wcopa-contest-in-la/

Thai workers abroad bringing home 59 billion baht in earnings:Labor ministry

BANGKOK, 21 July 2016 (NNT) - Thai workers abroad have brought nearly 59 billion baht in combined earnings to the home country during the first half of this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933146-thai-workers-abroad-bringing-home-59-billion-baht-in-earningslabor-ministry/

Deputy police chief named head of referendum monitoring center

BANGKOK, 21 July 2016 (NNT) – Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Srivara Ransibrahmanakul has been entrusted with leading the security center for monitoring and promoting the August 7 constitutional referendum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933148-deputy-thai-police-chief-named-head-of-referendum-monitoring-center/

Drive by Shooting in Pattaya. Taxi Drivers Target American National
Story by Albert Jack



Are Pattaya Police Being Controlled By Motorbike Taxi Drivers?

PATTAYA: -- On June 13 sixty-year old American national, Steve Short, a Thai resident of sixteen years, pulled up at the Tesco Lotus on Naklua 16, Wongamat, to pick up some supplies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933150-drive-by-shooting-in-pattaya-taxi-drivers-target-american-national/

30 Year-Old Australian Man Found Dead in Phuket Dormitory

PHUKET – Police in Phuket have revealed to the press that a 30-year-old Australian tourist was found dead inside a room in Muang district on Wednesday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933151-30-year-old-australian-man-found-dead-in-phuket-dormitory/

Does Thailand Really Need Submarines?
The Royal Thai Navy has outlined its reasons for wanting submarines. They’re not very convincing.
By Eugene Mark

BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) will seek Cabinet approval to purchase three Chinese-made Yuan class S26T submarines for 36 billion baht ($1 billion). Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan confirmed the news in July 2016.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933152-does-thailand-really-need-submarines/

May and Merkel in first face-to-face talks in Berlin



BERLIN: -- Britain’s new Prime Minister Theresa May has arrived in Berlin for her first face-to-face talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933153-may-and-merkel-in-first-face-to-face-talks-in-berlin/

FYR Macedonia charges suspected migrant trafficking gang



MACEDONIA: -- Police in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have arrested 19 suspected members of a gang and charged them with trafficking hundreds of migrants and other crimes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933154-fyr-macedonia-charges-suspected-migrant-trafficking-gang/

Pakistan ‘honour killing’ suspect in court over ‘social media’ murder

ISLAMABAD: -- A man accused of murdering his sister, a well-known Pakistani model, because he was outraged at her social media activity has appeared in court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933155-pakistan-honour-killing-suspect-in-court-over-social-media-murder/

French Muslims apprehensive and alienated



PARIS: -- France is home to over 6 million Muslims around 9.6 percent of the population, the largest Muslim minority in Europe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933156-french-muslims-apprehensive-and-alienated/

Italian police seize seven million euros of fake banknotes, including new 20 bill



ROME: -- Italian police have seized more than seven million euros in fake banknotes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933158-italian-police-seize-seven-million-euros-of-fake-banknotes-including-new-20-bill/

Erdoğan’s post coup attempt purge hits 50,000



ANKARA: -- The evisceration of elements of Turkish society continues unabated following last Friday’s failed coup attempt.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933159-erdogans-post-coup-attempt-purge-hits-50000/

UK gives up EU presidency in 2017 to focus on Brexit



LONDON: -- The UK is to give up its scheduled six-month presidency of the European Council as it prepares to leave the bloc.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933160-uk-gives-up-eu-presidency-in-2017-to-focus-on-brexit/

Death penalty executions at a 25 year high, Amnesty reports



The number of people executed around the world has reached a sobering new record. New figures released by Amnesty International show a 50 per cent rise in executions in 2015.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933161-death-penalty-executions-at-a-25-year-high-amnesty-reports/

Hating on Hillary: Republican convention down and dirty
By JOSH LEDERMAN and ERICA WERNER

CLEVELAND (AP) — Liar. Garbage. Lock her up.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933163-hating-on-hillary-republican-convention-down-and-dirty/

Police top brass demand swift action in Swedish man's "execution" in Cha Am


Image: Thairath

CHA AM: -- The National Police Bureau has called for quick results in the death of the Swedish man in Cha-Am on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933164-police-top-brass-demand-swift-action-in-swedish-mans-execution-in-cha-am/

Disgusting! Thais online pass judgment on foreigners' lewd behaviour on Koh Phi Phi


Image: Sanoo

KRABI: -- Two Caucasian foreigners videoed in a public street engaging in oral sex have incurred the wrath of an outraged Thai public.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933166-disgusting-thais-online-pass-judgment-on-foreigners-lewd-behaviour-on-koh-phi-phi/

Eight month old baby killed after collision with teenager on bike


Image: Daily News

HAT YAI: -- A Hat Yai family has called for justice after an eight month old baby was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident caught on a dash cam.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933167-eight-month-old-baby-killed-after-collision-with-teenager-on-bike/

Drivers of public vehicles threatened with top fines as long holiday reaches conclusion


Image: Thairath

BANGKOK: -- The Land Transport Department promised tough action on public vehicles speeding, refusing fares and taking advantage of passengers as the long holidays came to an end yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933168-drivers-of-public-vehicles-threatened-with-top-fines-as-long-holiday-reaches-conclusion/

Turkey declares 3-month state of emergency after failed coup
By SUZAN FRASER and CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's president on Wednesday declared a three-month state of emergency following a botched coup attempt, declaring he would rid the military of the "virus" of subversion and giving the government sweeping powers to expand a crackdown that has already included mass arrests and the closure of hundreds of schools.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933182-turkey-declares-3-month-state-of-emergency-after-failed-coup/

Defense, foreign ministers to plan next steps against IS
By LOLITA C. BALDOR

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AP) — Defense leaders at a counter-Islamic State meeting expressed concerns about what happens after the expected defeat of the militant group, and whether countries are ready to help stabilize and rebuild the war-torn cities, particularly in Iraq, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933183-defense-foreign-ministers-to-plan-next-steps-against-is/

Pattaya Policeman Denies Bribery Allegations As Nangfah Karaoke Bar Staff Flee In Fear
Story by Albert Jack



PATTAYA: -- In what has been a terrible week for the image of Pattaya Police Department events relating to the kidnap and extortion allegations, surrounding the Nangfah Karaoke Bar on Third Road, rumble on.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933186-pattaya-policeman-denies-bribery-allegations-as-nangfah-karaoke-bar-staff-flee-in-fear/

Tangled Overhead Cables Feature in Electrocution of Electrician
Story by Albert Jack



PATTAYA: -- At 3pm on the afternoon of July 20 the Sawangboriboon Rescue Services were called to the Indoor Stadium Soi Chaiyapreuk 2, on the Dark Side, after reports of an electrocution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/933190-tangled-overhead-cables-feature-in-electrocution-of-electrician/