THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Friday 21 Sep 2018

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Two men jailed for life for mall bombing

By Teeranai Charuvastra, Staff Reporter

 

Scene of destruction at Pattani Big C shopping center on May 7, 2017.

 

PATTANI — A southern court sentenced two men to life in prison Thursday for engineering a car bomb attack that injured more than 50 people.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058186-two-men-jailed-for-life-for-mall-bombing/

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Phuket surf drowning victim on life support

By The Phuket News

 

Rescue workers attend to Mr Ding on the beach yesterday (Sept 19). Photo: Mai Khao OrBorTor rescue workers

 

PHUKET:-- The chief of the Tha Chatchai Police has confirmed that the man pulled from the surf unconscious at Mai Khao Beach yesterday remains comatose and now depends on life support.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058170-phuket-surf-drowning-victim-on-life-support/

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Donald Trump urged Spain to 'build the wall' – across the Sahara

Spanish foreign minister says US president advised tactic to stem migration across the Med

Sam Jones in Madrid

The Guardian

 

Donald Trump suggested the Spanish government tackled the Mediterranean migration crisis by emulating one of his most famous policies and building a wall across the Sahara desert, the country’s foreign minister has revealed.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058205-donald-trump-urged-spain-to-build-the-wall-–-across-the-sahara/

 

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THAI plans swift upgrade of fleet to reverse losses

By THE NATION

 

 

National carrier told to quickly finalise new business plan ahead of election.
 

THAI AIRWAYS International must revamp its business strategy and quickly finalise a multibillion-baht plan to buy new jetliners in order to tackle chronic losses, says deputy premier Somkid Jatusripitak.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058206-thai-plans-swift-upgrade-of-fleet-to-reverse-losses/

 

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UPDATE:

 

Pattani court sentences duo to death over Big C bombing

By The Nation

 

File photo

 

THE PATTANI Provincial Court yesterday sentenced Su-ai-mee Sama-ae and Sama-ae Mamah to death for their role in the 2017 Big C department store bomb attack that injured 61 people, including children, and caused millions of baht worth of property damage, Pattani Task Force commander Maj-General Jatuporn Kalampasut said.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058186-two-men-jailed-for-life-for-mall-bombing/?do=findComment&comment=13384906

 

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NHRC to probe Army’s ‘special measures’ in Pattani district

By Chularat Saengpassa 
The Nation

 

 

THE National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken up a complaint by Pattani residents against the Fourth Army Region’s declaration of “special control zones” in Nong Chik district.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058207-nhrc-to-probe-army’s-‘special-measures’-in-pattani-district/

 

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Loan-shark victims get land back

By The Nation

 

Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan poses with some of the 1,358 northeastern debtors who got their land-title deeds back in a ceremony yesterday in Kalasin.

 

Over 4,000 land documents returned in ceremonies nationwide yesterday
 

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER General Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday returned 1,534 land title deeds worth Bt3 billion to 1,358 Northeast residents who had fallen victim to loan sharks, in a ceremony held in Kalasin. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058208-loan-shark-victims-get-land-back/

 

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Germany’s Daimler optimistic of truck sales in Thailand and region

By WICHIT CHAITRONG 
THE NATION 
HANOVER, GERMANY

 

FUSO Vision One: A prototype for the electric Heavy Duty truck.

 

DAIMLER AG, Germany’s leading automaker, is confident that the sale of its trucks in Thailand and other Asian countries will grow significantly this year.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058209-germany’s-daimler-optimistic-of-truck-sales-in-thailand-and-region/

 

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What the interest rate hike will mean

By The Nation

 

 

Given economic advances and global uncertainty, the Bank of Thailand is poised to nudge the figure up

 

The Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is drawing closer to ending its low-interest policy, which has been in place for several years. Two of the panel’s seven members signalled at its latest meeting, on Wednesday, that they were now in favour of a rate hike.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058210-what-the-interest-rate-hike-will-mean/

 

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Air force to expand helicopter fleet

By The Nation

 

FILE photo

 

Airbus Helicopters has received an additional order of four H225M (previously known as EC725) multirole utility helicopters from the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), as part of the fleet strengthening programme. This follow-on order will bring the RTAF’s H225M fleet to 12 by 2021.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058211-air-force-to-expand-helicopter-fleet/

 

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North to face cold season sooner and longer dry spell

 

 

Cold season will come sooner to the northern region which will experience longer period of dry season due to less than normal accumulated rainfall estimated at just 50 percent of the normal level, said Mr Methi Mahayotnant, director of the northern meteorological centre, on Thursday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058212-north-to-face-cold-season-sooner-and-longer-dry-spell/

 

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All eyes on Prayut, and just a bit on Democrats and Pheu Thai

 

 

The new laws on elections and structures of the House of Representatives and the Senate have set the ball rolling for Thailand’s first democratic exercise at ballot boxes since the coup in 2014. The most anticipated part, however, is yet to come.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058213-all-eyes-on-prayut-and-just-a-bit-on-democrats-and-pheu-thai/

 

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Thai and Malaysian anti-corruption commissions meet in Phuket

By The Phuket News

 

In attendance at the opening of the event yesterday were NACC president Pol Gen Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, Phuket Governor Narraphat Plodtong, a deputy anti-corruption commission (NACC) Sakchai Metineepisalku, and Director of MACC Intelligence Dato Sri Ahmad Khusairi Bin Yahaya along with members of both the NACC and MACC. Photo: PR Dept

 

PHUKET: The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and its Malaysian counterpart, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, gathered in Phuket yesterday at the start of a two-day event titled ‘The 4th Working Group Meeting between MACC and NACC’.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058214-thai-and-malaysian-anti-corruption-commissions-meet-in-phuket/

 

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UPDATE:

 

THAI aims to become national premium airline by 2022

 

BANGKOK, 21 September 2018 (NNT) - Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) has announced its plan to become a national premium airline by 2022. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058206-thai-plans-swift-upgrade-of-fleet-to-reverse-losses/?do=findComment&comment=13384970

 

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Political parties still banned from launching election campaign

 

FILE photo

 

BANGKOK, 21st September 2018 (NNT) -- A deputy prime minister in charge of legal affairs has confirmed that political parties are still banned from campaigning for the upcoming election. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058215-political-parties-still-banned-from-launching-election-campaign/

 

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NLA confirms determination to enable Thais to vote in 2019

 

FILE photo

 

BANGKOK, 21st September 2018 (NNT) -- A vice president of the National Legislative Assembly has confirmed the legislature’s role in paving the way to a general election in 2019. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058218-nla-confirms-determination-to-enable-thais-to-vote-in-2019/

 

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Thailand prepares to chair ASEAN

 

FILE photo

 

BANGKOK, 21 September 2018 (NNT) – In preparation for Thailand chairing ASEAN in 2019, government agencies today issued reports on their readiness. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058219-thailand-prepares-to-chair-asean/

 

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EU pushes October Brexit agreement, threatens no deal

By Elizabeth Piper, Gabriela Baczynska and Francois Murphy

 

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May talks to the media as she arrives for the informal meeting of European Union leaders ahead of the EU summit, in Salzburg, Austria, September 19, 2018. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

 

SALZBURG, Austria (Reuters) - European Union leaders will push for a Brexit deal next month but warned Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday that if she will not give ground on trade and the Irish border by November they are ready to cope with Britain crashing out.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058220-eu-pushes-october-brexit-agreement-threatens-no-deal/

 

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Maryland woman kills three people and herself in warehouse gun rampage

By Gina Cherelus

 

Several people were shot on Thursday in Perryman, Maryland, near an Army facility, according to authorities. 

 

(Reuters) - A 26-year-old woman armed with a handgun opened fire on Thursday at a Maryland distribution centre for the Rite Aid drugstore chain, killing three people and wounding three others before taking her own life, the Harford County sheriff said.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058221-maryland-woman-kills-three-people-and-herself-in-warehouse-gun-rampage/

 

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French court orders Le Pen to submit to psychiatric evaluation

 

French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National) party leader Marine Le Pen attends a questions to the government session at the National Assembly in Paris, France, September 18, 2018. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

 

PARIS (Reuters) - A French court ordered Marine Le Pen to submit to a psychiatric evaluation as part of its investigation into her decision to post images of Islamic State executions on Twitter, the far rightleader said on Thursday and denounced the order.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058222-french-court-orders le pen to-submit-to-psychiatric-evaluation/

 

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North Korea's Kim wants another Trump summit to speed denuclearization: South Korea's Moon

By Hyonhee Shin and Joyce Lee

 

South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during a news conference in Seoul, South Korea, September 20, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's Kim Jong Un wants a second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump soon to hasten denuclearization, but a key goal is declaring an end this year to the 1950-53 Korean War, the South's President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058223-north-koreas-kim-wants-another-trump-summit-to-speed-denuclearization-south-koreas-moon/

 

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Arizona head-on crash kills eight, including four illegal immigrants

By David Schwartz

 

PHOENIX (Reuters) - A sport utility vehicle carrying seven suspected illegal immigrants was hit head-on by another car on an Arizona highway, killing eight people, state police said on Thursday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058224-arizona-head-on-crash-kills-eight-including-four-illegal-immigrants/

 

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Many rape cases stalled or 'settled' by police, says foundation

By KORNRAWEE PANYASUPPAKUN 
THE NATION

 

 

MOST RAPE CASES – including child rape cases – are “settled” by police before they reach court, according to the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation, which monitors rape case reports and helps victims of domestic and sexual violence.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058231-many-rape-cases-stalled-or-settled-by-police-says-foundation/

 

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Britain's anti-EU party launch populist manifesto, demand clean Brexit

By William James

 

FILE PHOTO - UKIP Brexit spokesman Gerard Batten speaks during a news conference in Stoke on Trent, February 13, 2017. REUTERS/Darren Staples

 

BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - Britain's anti-European Union UK Independence Party (UKIP) launched a set of populist policies on Friday hoping to revive their dwindling political influence and capitalise on outrage over the government's handling of Brexit.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058233-britains-anti-eu-party-launch-populist-manifesto-demand-clean-brexit/

 

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Mystery woman found dead at waterfalls: Could she be Singaporean?

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Authorities said they were baffled as to the identity and prior movements of a "white skinned" woman found dead at some waterfalls in Hat Yai, Songkhla. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058236-mystery-woman-found-dead-at-waterfalls-could-she-be-singaporean/

 

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Mixed Martial Arts-McGregor promotes fight, whiskey at raucous press conference

By Rory Carroll

 

Sep 20, 2018; New York, NY, USA; Conor McGregor holds up a bottle of whiskey during a press conference for UFC 229 at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

 

(Reuters) - Conor McGregor sipped whiskey and boasted he would need just one round to defeat Khabib Nurmagomedov and reclaim the UFC lightweight title during a typically wild news conference to promote his return to the octagon on Thursday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058237-mixed-martial-arts-mcgregor-promotes-fight-whiskey-at-raucous-press-conference/

 

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Walmart warns Trump tariffs may force price hikes - The Hill

 

FILE PHOTO: A Walmart store is seen in Encinitas, California April 13, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - Walmart Inc <WMT.N> has issued a warning in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that it may have to raise prices due to tariffs on Chinese imports, CNN Money reported.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058238-walmart-warns-trump-tariffs-may-force-price-hikes-the-hill/

 

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Thai women travelling alone abroad: Authorities assume sex work

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

A Thai woman went online to recount her experiences of being banged up in a Johur Bahru immigration cell for three days.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058241-thai-women-travelling-alone-abroad-authorities-assume-sex-work/

 

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Google staff discussed tweaking search results to counter travel ban: WSJ

 

FILE PHOTO - A Google sign is seen during the WAIC (World Artificial Intelligence Conference) in Shanghai, China, September 17, 2018. REUTERS/Aly Song

 

(Reuters) - Google employees brainstormed ways to alter search functions to counter the Trump administration's controversial 2017 travel ban, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing internal emails.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058242-google-staff-discussed-tweaking-search-results-to-counter-travel-ban-wsj/

 

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Fake passport checks being stepped up as people use Thailand to get into the West

 

 

TNA reported on their "Khap Khao" news program on the issue of people travelling with fake passports using Thailand to cover their tracks to the West. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1058244-fake-passport-checks-being-stepped-up-as-people-use-thailand-to-get-into-the-west/