Best of British at Villa Market - 21 Feb - 20 March

 



 

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British motorcyclist dies in Rawai crash
By Waranya Prompinpiras

 

 

PHUKET: A 70-year-old British man has died after his motorbike hit a pickup truck in Rawai yesterday afternoon (Mar 11).

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089046-british-motorcyclist-dies-in-rawai-crash/

Five foreigners spend their holidays cleaning up rubbish along Krabi Beach

By Kritsada Mueanhawong

 

 

Five foreign tourists have spent their holidays today collecting rubbish along Laem Pong Beach in Krabi. They say they say they are very sad to see rubbish strewn all over the beaches and felt compelled to clean it up.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089059-five-foreigners-spend-their-holidays-cleaning-up-rubbish-along-krabi-beach/

Battle for democracy

By KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION

 

file photo

 

Junta's ambition to stay on in power has given rise to a unique scenario marked by a distinct ideological divide Experts believe Prayut can be defeated in the election but consensus will be needed to end a culture of coups.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089113-battle-for-democracy/

 

Major parties outline vision on farm issues

By The Nation

 

File photo

 

FOUR KEY and emerging parties, including Pheu Thai, Democrat and Future Forward, yesterday revealed their vision and policies to solve longstanding farm and land issues following requests from agricultural groups.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089114-major-parties-outline-vision-on-farm-issues/

 

UPDATE:

 

Cabinet okays bid for southern dance Nora on Unesco heritage list

By The Nation

 

 

Nora, a southern traditional dance, has been given the nod to seek a place on Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage representatives list.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089087-cabinet-nod-for-‘nora’-dance-drama’s-nomination-for-unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-list/?do=findComment&comment=13932218

 

BREAKING:

 

Britain in Brexit chaos - parliament crushes May's EU deal again

 By Elizabeth Piper, Kylie MacLellan and William James

 

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks in Parliament in London, Britain, March 12, 2019. UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via REUTERS

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British lawmakers crushed Prime Minister Theresa May's European Union divorce deal on Tuesday, thrusting Britain deeper into crisis and forcing parliament to decide within days whether to back a no-deal Brexit or seek a last-minute delay.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089115-britain-in brexit chaos-parliament-crushes-mays-eu-deal-again/

 

EU suspends Boeing 737 MAX flights, U.S. senators suggest similar move

By Duncan Miriri and Tim Hepher

 

A page of a flight crew operations manual is seen at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 plane crash, near the town of Bishoftu, near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia March 12, 2019. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

 

ADDIS ABABA/PARIS (Reuters) - The European Union's aviation safety regulator on Tuesday suspended all flights in the bloc by Boeing 737 MAX and the U.S. Senator who chairs a panel overseeing aviation suggested the United States take similar action following a crash in Ethiopia that killed 157 people.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089116-eu-suspends-boeing-737-max-flights-us-senators-suggest-similar-move/

 

EC absolves Phalang Pracharat in fundraising case

By The Nation

 

File photo

 

THE PRO-JUNTA Phalang Pracharat Party was yesterday cleared of wrongdoing over its high-profile fund-raising banquet last December after the Election Commission (EC) found no illegal donations to justify disbanding the party.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089117-ec-absolves-phalang-pracharat-in-fundraising-case/

 

EU commits Bt80m to Unicef for protection of migrant and stateless children in Thailand

By The Nation

 

Hugh Delaney, Officer in Charge for UNICEF Deputy Representative for Thailand

 

The European Union has committed more than Bt80 million to Unicef over the next three years to support efforts to strengthen policies and practice for the protection of migrant and stateless children in Thailand, Unicef said on Tuesday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089118-eu-commits-bt80m-to-unicef-for-protection-of-migrant-and-stateless-children-in-thailand/

 

Deadly weight-loss network smashed

By The Nation

 

 

A NETWORK of clinics and doctors are suspected of supplying controlled psychotropic drugs to a weight-loss business, whose owner has already been arrested.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089119-deadly-weight-loss-network-smashed/

 

Saraburi mining can ‘end unique species’

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation 
Saraburi

 

This blasted mountain in Saraburi is a relic of limestone mining for the cement industry. / photo by Pratch Rujivanarom

 

Mountains host flora, fauna not seen anywhere else: expert

 

LIMESTONE MINING for the cement industry endangers many distinct endemic species found amid Saraburi’s karst ecosystem and poses a threat of extinction, environmental experts caution.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089120-saraburi-mining-can-‘end-unique-species’/

 

Siam Piwat renews itself as creator 

By   KWANCHAI RUNGFAPAISARN 
THE NATION

 

 

SIAM PIWAT Co Ltd, Thailand’s leading mall developer, yesterday announced its five-year business plan, which requires a new capital investment of more than Bt70 billion in new mixed-use developments.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089121-siam-piwat-renews-itself-as-creator/

 

The qualifying tournament Thailand didn’t need to enter

By  Lerpong Amsa-ngiam 
The Nation

 

Alexandre Gama

 

Thailand under-23 coach Alexandre Gama is confident his side will be fully prepared for the upcoming AFC Championship qualifiers, which will be played in Hanoi from March 22 to 26.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089122-the-qualifying-tournament-thailand-didn’t-need-to-enter/

 

Time to tackle the spectre of enforced disappearance 

By The Nation

 

 

Fifteen years after Muslim lawyer Somchai went missing, politicians once again have an opportunity to change the law 
 

With 12 days to go before Thailand finally returns to at least a semblance of civilian rule, politicians are making pledges on how to achieve national progress. Those keen to restore basic human rights withdrawn by the military could begin by reinstating efforts to bring justice in the case of prominent Muslim lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit, who went missing 15 years ago.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089124-time-to-tackle-the-spectre-of-enforced-disappearance/

 

Corruption versus Democracy: The picture gets blurrier

By Tulsathit Taptim 
The Nation

 

 

Their ongoing, years-long showdown over the Kingdom of Thailand has been dominated by Corruption’s carrot-and-stick approach.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089125-corruption-versus-democracy-the-picture-gets-blurrier/

 

EC urged to allow international monitoring of election

 

 

Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) has been urged to speed up its approval of requests from international organizations to send observers to monitor the upcoming general election.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089126-ec-urged-to-allow-international-monitoring-of-election/

 

OPINION

 

Fighting populism with more populism?

 

 

The lead–up to the March–24 general election sees an unprecedented clash of populist policies.  Absent in the debate, however, are convincing ideas as to how they would be financed. 

 

Full story: 

 

Biggest U.S. college fraud bust nets actors Felicity Huffman, Lori Loughlin

By Nate Raymond

 

FILE PHOTO: The Hoover Tower rises above Stanford University in this aerial photo in Stanford, California, U.S. on January 13, 2017. REUTERS/Noah Berger/File Photo

 

BOSTON (Reuters) - Federal authorities arrested dozens on Tuesday for a $25 million scheme to help wealthy Americans, including actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin and some CEOs, cheat their children's way into elite universities, such as Yale and Stanford.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089129-biggest-us-college-fraud-bust-nets-actors-felicity-huffman-lori-loughlin/

 

Hundreds surrender as Islamic State nears defeat in last enclave

By Rodi Said

 

Islamic state fighters and their families walk as they surrendered in the village of Baghouz, Deir Al Zor province Syria March 12, 2019. REUTERS/Rodi Said

 

BAGHOUZ, Syria (Reuters) - Islamic State faced imminent defeat in its final enclave on Tuesday as hundreds of jihadist fighters and their families surrendered and the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said the battle was as good as over.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089131-hundreds-surrender-as-islamic-state-nears-defeat-in-last-enclave/

 

Former Trump adviser Flynn asks judge to delay sentencing - court filing

 

FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. national security adviser Michael Flynn seen at U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., December 18, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawyers for President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn asked a judge on Tuesday to delay his sentencing in a case that stemmed from an investigation of possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential election campaign.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089138-former-trump-adviser-flynn-asks-judge-to-delay-sentencing-court-filing/

 

Venezuela, blaming U.S. for six-day blackout, orders diplomats to leave

By Vivian Sequera and Deisy Buitrago

 

A resident looks at a burnt electrical substation after a massive blackout in Caracas, Venezuela, March 11, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso

 

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela ordered American diplomats on Tuesday to leave within 72 hours after President Nicolas Maduro accused U.S. counterpart Donald Trump of cyber "sabotage" that plunged the South American country into its worst blackout on record.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089142-venezuela-blaming-us-for-six-day-blackout-orders-diplomats-to-leave/

 

UPDATE:

 

Mueller says former Trump adviser Flynn's cooperation 'otherwise complete'

 

FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. national security adviser Michael Flynn passes by members of the media as he departs after his sentencing was delayed at U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., December 18, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn has completed his cooperation with the special counsel's Russia investigation, although he is still aiding another federal probe, according to a court filing on Tuesday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089138-former-trump-adviser-flynn-asks-judge-to-delay-sentencing-court-filing/?do=findComment&comment=13932716

 

Truck crash in Rawai pulls down power lines causing six hour blackout

By The Thaiger

 

PHOTOS: PEA

 

A truck accident in Rawai has caused a blackout in Rawai for over six hours.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089144-truck-crash-in-rawai-pulls-down-power-lines-causing-six-hour-blackout/

 

Pentagon sets limits on transgender troops

 

FILE PHOTO: Aerial view of the United States military headquarters, the Pentagon, September 28, 2008. REUTERS/Jason Reed

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Defence Department signed a memo on Tuesday that would enforce limitations on transgender people serving in the military, a policy that has been the subject of court challenges.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089147-pentagon-sets-limits-on-transgender-troops/

 

Jordanian child murderer: Jordanian wife and mother not involved

 

Picture: The Pattaya News

 

Immigration chief Lt-Gen Surachate Hakparn has said that the wife and mother of the little boy murdered by his Jordanian father is innocent of any involvement. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089153-jordanian-child-murderer-jordanian-wife-and-mother-not-involved/

 

Korat: "Pum Pui" plod put though their paces

 

Picture: Spring News

 

Police at the Nong Sarai station in Nakorn Rathcasima have been told they are overweight. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089154-korat-pum-pui-plod-put-though-their-paces/

 

Former Vatican treasurer Pell jailed for 6 years for sexually abusing choir boys

By Sonali Paul

 

FILE PHOTO - Australian Cardinal George Pell speaks to journalists at the end of a meeting with the sex abuse victims at the Quirinale hotel in Rome, Italy, March 3, 2016. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi/File Photo

 

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Former Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell was sentenced to six years in jail on Wednesday by an Australian court for sexually abusing two choir boys in Melbourne in the 1990s, and will be registered as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089156-former-vatican-treasurer-pell-jailed-for-6-years-for-sexually-abusing-choir-boys/

 

Big Joke in Pattaya: Online Korean betting gang arrested - condo owner to face prosecution too

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Immigration chief Lt-Gen Surachate Hakparn announced the arrest of four South Koreans who were running an online betting business from a South Pattaya condominium. 

 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089157-big-joke-in-pattaya-online-korean-betting-gang-arrested-condo-owner-to-face-prosecution-too/

 

Finnish man found dead on chopper in Pattaya

By The Thaiger

 

PHOTOS: Pattaya Law Enforcement

 

A Finnish man has been found dead on a ‘chopper’ and sidecar in Pattaya yesterday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1089158-finnish-man-found-dead-on-chopper-in-pattaya/