THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Tuesday 26 Mar 2019

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Pentagon chief says $1 billion of funding shifted to border wall

 

FILE PHOTO: Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan speaks at a “Strategic National Security Space: FY2020 Budget and Policy Forum,” hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, U.S., March 20, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Defense shifted $1 billion (£757.5 million) to plan and build a 57-mile section of "pedestrian fencing", roads and lighting along the border between the United States and Mexico, the Pentagon chief said on Monday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091626-pentagon-chief-says-1-billion-of-funding-shifted-to-border-wall/

 

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Pheu Thai claims to have enough support to form post-election coalition

 

 

Pheu Thai Party, which has apparently emerged as the winner in last Sunday’s general election, has gathered enough support from its political allies to cobble up a coalition government, its secretary general Phumtham Vechayachai claimed this morning.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091627-pheu-thai-claims-to-have-enough-support-to-form-post-election-coalition/

 

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Maya Bay rehabilitation: Volunteer divers needed

 

PHOTOS: The Marine National Park Operation Center 3 (Trang)

 

It’s still closed but the coral reef restoration project at Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Ley needs more volunteer divers.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091628-maya-bay-rehabilitation-volunteer-divers-needed/

 

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Video: Gang of Four burglars paraded for the press in Pattaya

 

Picture: The Pattaya News

 

Bang Lamung police held a press conference conference yesterday to announce the arrest of four Thai men responsible for a large number of burglaries in the Pattaya area. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091629-video-gang-of-four-burglars-paraded-for-the-press-in-pattaya/

 

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Future Forward outlines pre-conditions in joining coalition

 

 

The Future Forward party has set three pre-conditions to be agreed before the party will join the anti-junta alliance in forming a coalition government.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091631-future-forward-outlines-pre-conditions-in-joining-coalition/

 

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Mexican president asks Spain to apologize for actions during conquest

 

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador speaks to the media during a news conference to announce a plan to strengthen the finances of state oil firm Pemex, at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Romero/Files

 

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said on Monday he had asked the Spanish government and Pope Francis to apologize to indigenous Mexicans for wrongs committed during the Spanish conquest some 500 years ago.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091632-mexican-president-asks-spain-to-apologize-for-actions-during-conquest/
 

 

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Sixteen year old girl attacked by pervert in Chonburi gas station toilets - man arrested

 

Caption: Male pervert nabbed

 

A sixteen year old girl who went into a gas station toilets in the Phan Thong area with her mother was attacked by a man who followed her in.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091635-sixteen-year-old-girl-attacked-by-pervert-in-chonburi-gas-station-toilets-man-arrested/

 

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Sea turtle dies after getting tangled in a fishing net – Prachuap Khiri Khan

 

PHOTOS: The Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand

 

A series of photos that convey everything we should be concerned about in Thailand’s marine ecology.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091636-sea-turtle-dies-after-getting-tangled-in-a-fishing-net-–-prachuap-khiri-khan/

 

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UPDATE:

BA jet flies to wrong city, lands in Scotland instead of Germany

 

FILE PHOTO: British Airways logos are seen on tail fins at Heathrow Airport in west London, Britain, February 23, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Airways has been forced to apologise after a flight from London to Dusseldorf landed more than 600 miles (965 km) away in Edinburgh by mistake.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091600-ba-flight-lands-in-edinburgh-instead-of-düsseldorf-by-mistake/?do=findComment&comment=13978485

 

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Video: Pattaya "good Samaritan" turns out to be experienced snatch thief

 

 

Police in Pattaya made a quick arrest after a snatch theft at the resort in the early hours of Friday morning.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091640-video-pattaya-good-samaritan-turns-out-to-be-experienced-snatch-thief/

 

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More than 10 injured in seven-vehicle pileup in Prachin Buri

By The Nation

 

 

More than 10 people were injured when a trailer truck lost control and hit six other vehicles in Prachin Buri's Na Dee district late Monday night.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091642-more-than-10-injured-in-seven-vehicle-pileup-in-prachin-buri/

 

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Video: Much debate as big biker hits pick-up after "tow truck" goes the wrong way

 

Caption: Rushing to an accident scene

 

Helmet cam footage from an accident posted on the "Hia" site on Facebook showed a big biker slam into the back of a pick-up. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091643-video-much-debate-as-big-biker-hits-pick-up-after-tow-truck-goes-the-wrong-way/

 

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Indian man, Thai girlfriend arrested for deceiving Indian tourist in Pattaya

By The Nation

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Pattaya police Tuesday morning arrested an Indian man and his Thai girlfriend for cheating an Indian tourist out of Bt6,000 in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091645-indian-man-thai-girlfriend-arrested-for-deceiving-indian-tourist-in-pattaya/

 

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Petition aims to impeach Election Commissioners

 

PHOTO: Election Commission chief Ittiporn Boonpracong – The Nation

 

More than 670,000 people have signed a petition at the change.org website calling for the Election Commission’s five commissioners to be ‘stood aside’ pending an investigation in the aftermath of the March 24 Thai election.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091646-petition-aims-to-impeach-election-commissioners/

 

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Australian prosecutors seek jail for media over Pell trial coverage

By Sonali Paul

 

FILE PHOTO: Cardinal George Pell arrives at County Court in Melbourne, Australia, February 27, 2019. AAP Image/David Crosling/via REUTERS

 

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian prosecutors are seeking jail and fines for dozens of journalists and media outlets for alleged contempt of court over their coverage of Cardinal George Pell's child sex abuse trial last year, a court summons showed on Tuesday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091653-australian-prosecutors-seek-jail-for-media-over-pell-trial-coverage/

 

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Mixed Martial Arts-McGregor announces shock retirement

 

Mar 16, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; Irish mix martial artist Conor McGregor reacts after a first period goal by Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (not seen) against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

 

(Reuters) - Irish mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Conor McGregor announced his retirement from the sport on Tuesday, five months after losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov in a controversial title fight in Las Vegas.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091676-mixed-martial-arts-mcgregor-announces-shock-retirement/

 

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Following one’s dreams is like flying a kite, says Prayut

By The Nation

 

 

Junta chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday dabbled in metaphor to convey the importance of following one’s hopes and dreams after his affiliated party won the popular vote in the recent general election.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091677-following-one’s-dreams-is-like-flying-a-kite-says-prayut/

 

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Phayao and other Northern provinces choke as air quality worsens

By The Nation

 

 

Phayao provincial governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn has issued an urgent letter instructing disaster prevention and mitigation officials to ask industrial factories, whose activities generate PM2.5 dust, to suspend work for one or two days or until the situation returns to normal.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091678-phayao-and-other-northern-provinces-choke-as-air-quality-worsens/

 

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Phuket Governor ‘urges’ action to save water ‘in case of drought’

By The Phuket News

 

Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana speaking at yesterday’s meeting, calling on officials to take steps ’in case of a drought’. Photo: PR Dept

 

PHUKET: The Governor of Phuket has urged relevant agencies to find raw water reserves to supplement public water supply and to conduct public-awareness campaigns for conserving water use in order to reduce the volume of water residents are using “in case of a drought”.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091680-phuket-governor-‘urges’-action-to-save-water-‘in-case-of-drought’/

 

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EU lauds election as ‘important step’ towards democracy

By The Nation

 

 

The European Union [EU] has praised Sunday’s election in Thailand as an important step towards restoring a democratic form of governance.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091686-eu-lauds-election-as-‘important-step’-towards-democracy/
 

 

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Monitor says Thai election campaign 'heavily tilted' to benefit junta

By Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Juarawee Kittisilpa

 

An electoral staff member shows a ballot during vote counting at the general election in Mae Hong Son, Thailand, March 24, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - The run-up to Thailand's weekend vote was "heavily tilted" to benefit a party close to the ruling military junta, an Asian election monitor said on Tuesday, and criticised a messy ballot-counting process that created mistrust.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091687-monitor-says-thai-election-campaign-heavily-tilted-to-benefit-junta/

 

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Emergency crews participate in fire drill at Phuket airport

 

PHOTOS: The Phuket International Airport

 

Phuket International Airport emergency crews battled fake fires near the main runway today.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091693-emergency-crews-participate-in-fire-drill-at-phuket-airport/

 

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UPDATE:

 

EU urges speedy declaration of election results

 

 

The European Union has expressed hope that Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) will be able to declare the final election result as soon as possible and that any reported irregularities are resolved swiftly and transparently.

 

Full story:  https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091686-eu-lauds-election-as-‘important-step’-towards-democracy/?do=findComment&comment=13979530

 

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Fourteen kilograms of marijuana seized in pre-Songkran drug crackdowns

 

 

Phuket police have sized a total of 14 kilograms of marijuana in three separate cases, including intercepting parcel post yesterday. It’s all part of the annual pre-Songkran drugs crackdown.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091699-fourteen-kilograms-of-marijuana-seized-in-pre-songkran-drug-crackdowns/

 

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S African suspect in killing of Thai businesswoman captured in Vancouver

By The Nation

 

 

A South African man – who allegedly killed a Thai jewellery businesswoman in a Bangkok hotel on Sunday before fleeing to Hong Kong – has been captured in the Canadian city of Vancouver, Immigration Bureau commissioner Pol Lt-General Surachate Hakparn said on Tuesday.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091717-s-african-suspect-in-killing-of-thai-businesswoman-captured-in-vancouver/

 

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Two jailed for seven years, fined Bt6.3m for violent assault of 28-year-old man

By The Nation

 

 

The Criminal Court on Tuesday sentenced two men to seven years in jail and a joint fine of Bt6.349 million for violently attacking a victim, who later had to have a leg amputated.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091719-two-jailed-for-seven-years-fined-bt63m-for-violent-assault-of-28-year-old-man/

 

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Watchdog calls for EC to address flaws and issues, announce official election result as soon as possible

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation

 

 

An international election-observer group on Tuesday urged the Election Commission to announce the official result of the general election as soon as possible, in order to ensure the transparency and integrity of the poll and prevent any suspicions escalating into distrust and conflict, particularly in regard to doubtful unofficial-votes counting.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091720-watchdog-calls-for-ec-to-address-flaws-and-issues-announce-official-election-result-as-soon-as-possible/

 

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Democrats rule out joining Pheu Thai-led camp, while Bhumjaithai keeps powder dry over ‘swing’ intentions

By The Nation

 

Korn Chatikavanich. Photo: Korn Chatikavanich's Facebook.

 

Emerging as swing parties potentially supporting one of the two camps hoping to successfully form the next government, the Democrat Party has stated its strong stance against joining the pro-Shinawatra camp, while Bhumjaithai remains silent about which way it will lean.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091721-democrats-rule-out-joining-pheu-thai-led-camp-while-bhumjaithai-keeps-powder-dry-over-‘swing’-intentions/

 

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Prayut to end his weekly TV programme on March 29

By The Nation

 

File photo

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is also leader of the National Council of Peace and Order, said on Tuesday that he will stop delivering his weekly televised speech from March 29 onwards.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091722-prayut-to-end-his-weekly-tv-programme-on-march-29/

 

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Shocking Secrets of Rosie O'Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck's Relationship on The View

by BILLY NILLES

 

Lou Rocco/ABC

 

When Rosie O'Donnell joined The View in 2006, it had been four years since she'd been a regular fixture on daytime television.

 

Full Story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1091728-shocking-secrets-of-rosie-odonnell-and-elisabeth-hasselbecks-relationship-on-the-view/