THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Monday 9 Oct 2017

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PM asks state offices to fly national flag at half mast during cremation ceremony

 

 

BANGKOK, 9th October 2017 (NNT) – State offices in Thailand have been told to fly the national flag at half staff during the cremation of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. 

Addressing the public this week, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said October is a special month filled with activities in relation to the royal funeral rites. These activities enable members of the Thai public to demonstrate their love and loyalty to His Majesty the late King whose body is lying in state. 

He added that the government has decided to extend the 1-year mourning period, due to end this October 13th, to October 27th, 2017. The 15-day extension will allow the funeral rites to go smoothly. 

During the extended period, Gen Prayut said educational institutions and state offices both inside and outside the country shall fly the Thai national flag at half staff. 

The prime minister then asked entertainment outlets, television channels, radio stations, and printed media to refrain from all recreation and entertainment activities in their programs, in line with the mood and tone of the nation and the sentiments of the people.

 

-- nnt 2017-10-09

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Abhisit, academics criticise 'risky' new election delay

By KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN, 
WICHIT CHAITRONG 
THE NATION 

 

 

INCREASED UNCERTAINTY AFTER FURTHER POSTPONEMENT UNTIL 2019 SEEN AS HURTING ECONOMIC SENTIMENT, THREATENING STABILITY

 

A FORMER prime minister and academics have raised objections regarding the deferment of the promised election as a result of the complicated organic law legislative process, which they said could no longer be justified while warning the delay would not be good for anyone in the long run.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006015-abhisit-academics-criticise-risky-new-election-delay/

 

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Attorney-General to review old Thaksin cases under new legislation

By The Nation

 

 

The Office of the Attorney-General plans to appoint a working group to review criminal cases involving former premier Thaksin Shinawatra as a key suspect, even though the cases were previously suspended due to the courts’ inability to conduct trials in absentia.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006016-attorney-general-to-review-old-thaksin-cases-under-new-legislation/

 

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Thai-US relations ‘hinge on future US trade policy’

By WICHIT CHAITRONG 
THE NATION 

 

 

PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s trip to Washington last week may have improved the junta-government’s image, but Thai-US economic relations hinge on future US actions, according to experts.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006017-thai-us-relations-hinge-on-future-us-trade-policy/

 

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End of fossil fuel is near: industry

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION 

 

 

DESPITE INVESTMENT IN COAL, CLEAN ENERGY IS GAINING MOMENTUM
 

RENEWABLE energy is gradually growing in prominence and will be the main source of power in the future for Thailand and internationally, according to industry experts.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006018-end-of-fossil-fuel-is-near-industry/

 

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Hospital reprimanded for female genital mutilation

By The Nation

 

 

The Health Support Service Department is taking action against the Lelux Hospital for advertising surgery for female genital mutilation.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006019-hospital-reprimanded-for-advertising-surgery-for-female-genital-mutilation/

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Newborn found abandoned in Chiang Mai

By The Nation

 

 

A newborn baby was found in a garbage bin in Chiang Mai province on Sunday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006020-newborn-found-abandoned-in-chiang-mai/

 

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Officials arrest 17 as they try to return to Cambodia

By Chatchawan Sopapan 
The Nation

 

Authorities have arrested 17 Cambodians as they were allegedly trying to sneak out of Thailand on Sunday morning. The 17 were seen in a forest zone near the border in Sa Kaew province.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006021-sa-kaew-officials-arrest-17-as-they-try-to-return-to-cambodia/

 

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Police seize 600 million baht worth of illicit drugs in Samut Prakan and Bang Na

By Thai PBS

 

 

Metropolitan police seized 400 kilogrammes of Ice or crystal meth, one million methamphitamine pills and ketamine worth altogether about 600 million baht from two houses in Bang Sao Thong district in Samut Prakan province and in Bang Na Saturday night.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006022-police-seize-600-million-baht-worth-of-illicit-drugs-in-samut-prakan-and-bang-na/

 

 

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Meechai Ruchupan tops the list as most trusted government’s legal advisor

By Thai PBS

 

 

Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Meechai Ruchupan tops the list of government’s legal experts as being most trusted by the people whereas the Royal Thai Police ranks the top of the list of government agencies badly in need of reforms, according to results of Super Poll.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006023-meechai-ruchupan-tops-the-list-as-most-trusted-government’s-legal-advisor/

 

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Lt-Gen Sansern affirms there is no confusion about PM’s statement on election

By Thai PBS

 

 

Government spokesman Lt-Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd on Sunday shrugged off doubt about the election date raised by former Pheu Thai MP and former energy minister Pichai Naripthapant.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006024-lt-gen-sansern-affirms-there-is-no-confusion-about-pm’s-statement-on-election/

 

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Lodgings in national parks open for advance bookings

By Thai PBS

 

 

Lodgings in national parks are now open for advance bookings for tourists who are interested to spend time there during the upcoming high tourist season, said Mr Tunya Netithammakul, director-general of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation Department, on Sunday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006025-lodgings-in-national-parks-open-for-advance-bookings/

 

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PM Prayut happy with zero-dollar tour suppression

 

BANGKOK, 9th October 2017 (NNT) - Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha has voiced his satisfaction with the success of the campaign against zero-dollar tour operators. 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006026-pm-prayut-happy-with-zero-dollar-tour-suppression/

 

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UK's May signals foreign minister Johnson could be sacked

By Paul Sandle

 

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson walks to the main hall on the final day of the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, Britain October 4, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May has signalled that she could sack Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, a Sunday newspaper said, as she tries to reassert her authority after a series of political disasters.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006027-uks-may-signals-foreign-minister-johnson-could-be-sacked/

 

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Moscow warns it may restrict U.S. media in Russia

 

Spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova gestures as she attends a news briefing in Moscow, Russia, October 6, 2015. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/Files

 

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is within its rights to restrict the operations of U.S. media organisations in Russia in retaliation for what Moscow calls U.S. pressure on a Kremlin-backed TV station, a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said on Sunday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006028-moscow-warns-it-may-restrict-us-media-in-russia/

 

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Thousands protest in Barcelona against Catalan independence

By Sam Edwards

 

Tens of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Barcelona on Sunday asking for Spain to remain united, while Spain's Prime Minister says Cataln's declaration will have no effect. 

 

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Catalonia's capital Barcelona on Sunday to express their opposition to declaring independence from Spain, showing how divided the region is on the issue.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006029-thousands-protest-in-barcelona-against-catalan-independence/

 

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U.S. VP Pence leaves NFL game after players kneel during anthem

 

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is joined by his wife, Karen, as he speaks in Las Vegas City Hall following a Unity Prayer Walk in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., October 7, 2017. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence walked out of a National Football League game on Sunday in his home state of Indiana after some players knelt during the national anthem, a form of demonstration that began last year as a symbolic protest about police violence against racial minorities.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006030-us-vp-pence-leaves-nfl-game-after-players-kneel-during-anthem/

 

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Merkel settles migrant row with allies to pursue coalition

By Andreas Rinke and Madeline Chambers

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses a meeting of her conservative CDU's youth organization, the Junge Union (Young Union), in Dresden, Germany, October 7, 2017. REUTERS/Matthias Rietschel

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) reached a deal on migrant policy with her conservative Bavarian allies on Sunday, removing a major obstacle to pursuing talks on a coalition with other parties.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006031-merkel-settles-migrant-row-with-allies-to-pursue-coalition/

 

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NRA opposes outright U.S. ban on gun devices used by Las Vegas killer

By Sarah N. Lynch and Lindsay Dunsmuir

 

The National Rifle Association said on Sunday it would oppose an outright ban on bump stock devices that Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock used to turn rifles into automatic weapons. 

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The powerful U.S. gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, said on Sunday it would oppose an outright ban on bump-stock devices that the killer in the Las Vegas massacre of 58 people used to turn rifles into automatic weapons and strafe a crowd with bursts of sustained gunfire.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006032-nra-opposes-outright-us-ban-on-gun-devices-used-by-las-vegas-killer/

 

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U.S., Turkey mutually suspend visa services for security reasons

By Ece Toksabay

 

An armoured Turkish police vehicle is parked near the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, December 20, 2016. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

 

ANKARA (Reuters) - The U.S. mission in Turkey and subsequently Turkish mission in Washington mutually reduced visa services after a U.S. mission employee was detained in Turkey last week, saying they needed to reassess each other's commitment to the security of their personnel.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006033-us-turkey-mutually-suspend-visa-services-for-security-reasons/

 

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Trump derides Corker for Iran deal; Corker strikes back

By Doina Chiacu and Patricia Zengerle

 

Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) speaks to reporters after the Senate approved $15.25 billion in aid for areas affected by Hurricane Harvey along with measures that would fund the federal government and raise its borrowing limit on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 7, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump blamed Senator Bob Corker for the Iran nuclear deal on Sunday in a series of derisive Twitter posts that drew a sharp comeback from the lawmaker, an influential fellow Republican and onetime ally.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006034-trump-derides-corker-for-iran-deal-corker-strikes-back/

 

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Here’s a round up of the best new tech released in Thailand this week – 09 Oct

BY THE NATION ON

 

Xiaomi Mi A1

 

Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi has made its affordable Mi A1 phone available in Thailand for Bt7,990.

 

Full story: https://tech.thaivisa.com/heres-round-best-new-tech-released-thailand-week-08-oct/24826/

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Watch an Emirates Airbus A380 make a terrifying landing in high winds

BY STAFF WRITER

 

 

Here is the terrifying moment an Airbus A380 drifts across the runway after being caught in a huge gust of wind as it attempted to land.

 

Full story: https://tech.thaivisa.com/watch-emirates-airbus-a380-make-terrifying-landing-high-winds/24852/

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Review: Magic Keyboard is a must for any serious typing

BY THE NATION

 

The magic’s in the numbers

 

An optional extra with the new iMac, the Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad is a must for any serious typing

 

Full story: https://tech.thaivisa.com/review-magic-keyboard-must-serious-typing/24855/

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Woman charged after trying to scale Buckingham Palace gates

 

Tourists are seen outside Buckingham Palace in London, Britain August 26, 2017. REUTERS/Paul Hackett

 

LONDON (Reuters) - A woman who tried to scale the gates of Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth's London residence, has been charged with being drunk and disorderly, police said on Sunday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006036-woman-charged-after-trying-to-scale-buckingham-palace-gates/

 

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Venezuela leader thanks hostile Trump for making him 'famous'

 

FILE PHOTO: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro attends a joint news conference with his Belarussian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko following their meeting at the Independence Palace in Minsk, Belarus October 5, 2017. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko

 

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro baited U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday by thanking him for a barrage of criticism that had made him famous worldwide.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006037-venezuela-leader-thanks-hostile-trump-for-making-him-famous/

 

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Exclusive - Trump seeks border wall, crackdown on unaccompanied minors for 'Dreamer' deal

By Jeff Mason

 

U.S. President Donald Trump talks to the media on South Lawn of the White House in Washington before his departure to Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S., October 7, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump, who pledged to work with Democrats to protect "Dreamers" - young people brought illegally to the United States as children - called on Sunday for money to fund a border wall and thousands more immigration officers to be part of any deal.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006038-exclusive-trump-seeks-border-wall-crackdown-on-unaccompanied-minors-for-dreamer-deal/

 

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Philippine president sees biggest ratings dip, but popularity intact

 

Philippines 'President Rodrigo Duterte stands at attention during a courtesy call with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers in Manila, Philippines, September 6, 2017. REUTERS/Pool/Mark Cristino/Files

 

MANILA (Reuters) - Trust and satisfaction in Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte fell to the lowest of his presidency in the third quarter of this year, a survey showed on Sunday, although sentiment about his leadership remained positive overall.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006039-philippine-president-sees-biggest-ratings-dip-but-popularity-intact/

 

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Likely successor to Cuba's Castro rejects U.S. demands for change

By Marc Frank

 

Cuba's First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel shakes hands with Cuba's President Raul Castro during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of the revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara in Santa Clara, Cuba, October 8, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer

 

HAVANA (Reuters) - The man forecast to replace Cuban President Raul Castro early next year rejected U.S. demands that the Communist-run country change its political and economic system.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006043-likely-successor-to-cubas-castro-rejects-us-demands-for-change/

 

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Hezbollah leader says U.S. actions aiding Islamic State in Syria

 

Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah addresses his supporters during a public appearance at a religious procession to mark Ashura in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon October 12, 2016. REUTERS/Aziz Taher

 

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Sunday that the United States was serving the interests of Islamic State by preventing the Syrian army and its allies advancing in some areas of eastern Syria.

 

Full story; https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1006045-hezbollah-leader-says-us-actions-aiding-islamic-state-in-syria/