SONGKHLA, April 20 - Over 4,000 residents of Thailand’s lower South are experiencing mental health problems owing to the ongoing insurgency-related violence, Deputy Public Health Minister Surawit Khonsomboon said Friday.

NARATHIWAT, April 20 – One paramilitary ranger was wounded in a bombing, followed by shooting by presumed insurgents in this southern border province on Friday.

YALA, April 20 - One of the five believed-to-be insurgents shot dead in a gunfight with security personnel in this southern border province on Thursday has been identified as an operational-level leader of the separatist group Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK), a man having seven outstanding arrest warrants including the ambush shooting of passengers on a public van which killed eight persons in 2007, according to a police official.

TOKYO, April 20 -- Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Friday began her visit to Japan for the 4th Mekong-Japan Summit scheduled to begin Saturday, and will meet with Japanese business leaders. 

BANGKOK, April 18 - The twin 33rd Bangkok International Gift Fair and Bangkok International Houseware Fair April 2012 (BIG+BIH April 2012) is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors and generate more than Bt1 billion in circulation, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

BEIJING, April 19 - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is scheduled to leave Beijing for Tokyo to attend the Fourth Mekong-Japan Summit highlighting discussion on cooperation on natural disaster management and connectivity with the Southeast Asian region.

BANGKOK, April 18--- Thailand’s death toll from road accidents nationwide during Thailand’s traditional week-long Songkran new year reached 320 with the number of injuries at 3,320 persons, according to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department.

BANGKOK, April 18 –  To allay concern among residents and tourists following a series of more than 40 detected earthquake aftershocks, Phuket’s deputy governor said Wednesday that the public should not panic as the province has a contingency plan ready to cope with any effects of the tremors.

NARATHIWAT, April 19 - A school building was set on fire here Wednesday night and a bomb exploded nearby, targeting government personnel, but no one was wounded in either incident on the eve of the visit of Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa, who oversees national security, and Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Malaysian tourists have begun their annual migration to Hat Yai and are checking in at the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel, which temporarily closed after the March 31 car bombing.