THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Wednesday 8 May 2019

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Seeking to avert higher tariffs, China dispatches top negotiator to U.S.

By David Lawder and Ben Blanchard

 

FILE PHOTO: Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer arrive for a group photo session after concluding their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, May 1, 2019. Andy Wong/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese Vice Premier Liu He will travel to Washington for two days of trade talks this week, China said on Tuesday, setting up a last-ditch bid for a deal that would avoid a sharp increase in tariffs on Chinese goods ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099175-seeking-to-avert-higher-tariffs-china-dispatches-top-negotiator-to-us/

 

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Good news for cigarette smokers - less so for those who roll their own

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Smokers of regular cigarettes received some good news yesterday when the government decided to delay plans to increase tax by 40% on cigarettes costing around 60 baht a pack. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099177-good-news-for-cigarette-smokers-less-so-for-those-who-roll-their-own/

 

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Pork-seller arrested with gun, ammunition and drugs in Kathu

By Nattha Thepbamrung

 

 

A pork seller has been arrested with a gun and crystal methamphetamine in Kathu.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099180-pork-seller-arrested-with-gun-ammunition-and-drugs-in-kathu/

 

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Video: What has burning rubber on public roads to do with Buddhist ordination?

 

Caption: We want to say sorry to society

 

A video on Facebook showed a number of men in souped up pick-ups burning rubber as they raced down a sealed off public road in southern Thailand. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099181-video-what-has-burning-rubber-on-public-roads-to-do-with-buddhist-ordination/

 

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Video: Tour bus driver confronts girlfriend - passengers get off in fear of their lives

 

Capion: Fear spread throughout the bus

 

A video posted on Facebook showed a tour bus driver stop his vehicle and argue violently with his girlfriend sitting beside him.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099182-video-tour-bus-driver-confronts-girlfriend-passengers-get-off-in-fear-of-their-lives/

 

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U.S. Justice Department may advise Trump to claim privilege over Mueller report

 

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at an event to celebrate the anniversary of first lady Melania Trump's “Be Best” initiative in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 7, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department threatened on Tuesday to completely withhold Special Counsel Robert Mueller's unredacted report from Congress if House Democrats decide to move ahead with plans to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099183-us-justice-department-may-advise-trump-to-claim-privilege-over-mueller-report/

 

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Warning for boats going to sea off Phuket

By The Thaiger

 

 

The Phuket Marine Office has made another official announcement today for boats that will remain in force until May 10.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099186-warning-for-boats-going-to-sea-off-phuket/

 

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Legitimate tourist or something else? Thai woman rants after being denied entry to Taiwan

 

Picture: Spring News

 

A Thai woman who was denied entry to Taiwan had some foul language in both Thai and English for the island nation. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099187-legitimate-tourist-or-something-else-thai-woman-rants-after-being-denied-entry-to-taiwan/

 

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Passenger charged with attempted murder of Grab Car driver

 

 

Police have upgraded the charges against a man who attacked a Grab Car taxi driver in the Pakkred area of Bangkok last Friday. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099190-passenger-charged-with-attempted-murder-of-grab-car-driver/

 

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Large tree crashes onto car in Chalong

By  Kritsada Mueanhawong

 

 

A big tree has fallen in Chalong where it has tried to squash a parked Honda Jazz parked in front of a house in Chalong this morning.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099191-large-tree-crashes-onto-car-in-chalong/

 

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Pompeo briefs Iraqi leaders on U.S. security concerns over Iran

 

Iraq's President Barham Salih meets with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Baghdad, Iraq May 7, 2019.The Presidency of the Republic of Iraq Office/Handout via REUTERS

 

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Tuesday and met with Iraq's prime minister and other top officials to discuss the safety of Americans in Iraq and explain U.S. security concerns amid rising Iranian activity.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099195-pompeo briefs-iraqi-leaders-on-us-security-concerns-over-iran/

 

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[PODCAST] Vincent Kompany wonder goal edges Man City closer to EPL title + final day preview

 

Image: Manchester City FC

Dan about Thailand has teamed up with Thaivisa.com and ex-Spurs and England footballer Gary Stevens for the Final Whistle podcast - a weekly football review show covering the English Premier League and Thai League (T1).

 

Full story: 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099192-podcast-vincent-kompany-wonder-goal-edges-man-city-closer-to-epl-title-final-day-preview/

 

 

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Big tax increases for motorcycle riders - severe curbs on second hand car imports

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

The Thai government has announced big increases in tax on motorcycles from next January. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099199-big-tax-increases-for-motorcycle-riders-severe-curbs-on-second-hand-car-imports/

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Australian Ambassador calls for better safety precautions by travellers

By Chris Husted

 

Australian Ambassador to Thailand Allan McKinnon.

 

PHUKET: Australian Ambassador to Thailand Allan McKinnon has made his stance on Australians travelling to Thailand very clear: they need to read travel advisories and learn about the culture and the risks present in the places where they are travelling to, take out appropriate insurance and use common sense while abroad to not take risks they wouldn’t take back home.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099201-australian-ambassador-calls-for-better-safety-precautions-by-travellers/

 

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Celebrity medium: Nothing illegal in being with a scantily clad woman

 

Caption: I'm just a professional entertainer

 

A Thai celebrity medium has hit back at suggestions that he broke the law by appearing on a promotional website with a woman in a bikini.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099205-celebrity-medium-nothing-illegal-in-being-with-a-scantily-clad-woman/

 

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Retiree hangs himself from tree in the garden "because people just wanted to borrow pension payment"

 

Caption: People just wanted to borrow money from him.

 

A Thai man in Buriram hanged himself after going into a spiral of depression following his retirement. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099216-retiree-hangs-himself-from-tree-in-the-garden-because-people-just-wanted-to-borrow-pension-payment/

 

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Man found hanged at rental property in Wichit

By Kritsada Mueanhawong

 

 

A man has been found hanged at a rental property in Wichit. His mother believed that he was stressed after being arrested with drugs, and was unemployed.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099217-man-found-hanged-at-rental-property-in-wichit/

 

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Italian men, both 70, still behind bars pending trial for fishing in national park

By Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

The speedboat was found on the east side of Huyong Island with one person fishing and a haul of 46.5kg already landed on board. Photo: DNP

 

PHUKET: Two Italian men, both 70 years old, have spent the past three weeks in detention cells at Phang Nga Provincial Court while still waiting for formal charges to be brought against them for fishing in a national park.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099219-italian-men-both-70-still-behind-bars-pending-trial-for-fishing-in-national-park/

 

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Hunt on for smugglers after 26 migrant workers released from Chiang Mai shed

By Siriya Chankantha 
The Nation

 

 

Police have launched an investigation after discovering 26 migrant workers imprisoned in miserable conditions at an orchard in Chiang Mai on Tuesday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099225-hunt-on-for-smugglers-after-26-migrant-workers-released-from-chiang-mai-shed/

 

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Constitutional Court gives green light to MP calculation method

By The Nation 

 

File photo : The Constitutional Court's office

 

The Constitutional Court on Wednesday ruled that the contentious stipulation in the MP election law for calculating the number of party-list MPs did not violate the Constitution.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099239-constitutional-court-gives-green-light-to-mp-calculation-method/

 

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Maya Bay closed for at least another two years

By The Thaiger

 

 

Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Ley, closed last June to allow coral restoration and beach recovery, will now remain closed to visitors for at least another two years.

 

Full story:  https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099241-maya-bay-closed-for-at-least-another-two-years/

 

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Fast Auto Show Thailand 2019 scheduled for June 26-30

 

   

BANGKOK, 8 May 2019 (NNT) - Automotive business operators confirm that economic fluctuations usually don’t affect car buyers all that much, as consumers in the market for a new vehicle, usually decide to buy one as soon as they have enough money. In order to show potential buyers what’s on the market, the Fast Auto Show Thailand 2019 is being organized. New and used cars will be displayed at the event in June.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099244-fast-auto-show-thailand-2019-scheduled-for-june-26-30/

 

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Iran threatens to resume higher uranium enrichment in standoff on nuclear deal

By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin

 

FILE PHOTO: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a news conference with Iraqi President Barham Salih (not pictured) in Baghdad, Iraq, March 11, 2019. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Iran will resume high level enrichment of uranium if world powers did not protect its interests against U.S. sanctions, President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday, responding to the U.S. withdrawal from a nuclear deal a year ago.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099247-iran-threatens-to-resume-higher-uranium-enrichment-in-standoff-on-nuclear-deal/

 

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Samui airport chief shoots himself dead

By The Nation

 

 

The chief technician of the Samui International Airport shot himself to death in his house on the island early on Wednesday, police said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099250-samui-airport-chief-shoots-himself-dead/

 

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15 drivers arrested in Songkhla for petrol smuggling from Malaysia

By The Nation

 

 

Soldiers and customs officials stopped 15 vehicles and seized some 5,100 litres of petrol and diesel allegedly being smuggled into Songkhla’s Sadao district on Wednesday morning at the Tha Khoi-Padang Bezar crossing.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099252-15-drivers-arrested-in-songkhla-for-petrol-smuggling-from-malaysia/

 

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Trump tax returns from 1985 to 1994 show $1 billion in losses - New York Times

 

U.S. President Donald Trump attends an event to celebrate the first anniversary of first lady Melania Trump's “Be Best” initiative in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 7, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's businesses lost a total of more than $1 billion from 1985 to 1994, according to the New York Times, which said it obtained printouts from Trump's official Internal Revenue Service tax transcripts.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099260-trump-tax-returns-from-1985-to-1994-show-1-billion-in-losses-new-york-times/

 

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Meth-fuelled driver jailed for four years for fatal 2016 accident

By The Nation

 

 

The Appeals Court on Wednesday upheld a guilty verdict against a driver of a Mercedes Benz who crashed into another vehicle, causing a fire that killed the driver and his girlfriend in 2016.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099261-meth-fuelled-driver-jailed-for-four-years-for-fatal-2016-accident/

 

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Thai central bank stands pat despite seeing economic growth slow

By Orathai Sriring and Kitiphong Thaichareon

 

FILE PHOTO: A view of the Bank of Thailand in Bangkok, Thailand April 26, 2016. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's central bank on Wednesday left its benchmark rate where it has been since December, as expected, saying policy is accommodative enough to aid a slowing economy as global and domestic uncertainties remain high.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099263-thai-central-bank-stands-pat-despite-seeing-economic-growth-slow/

 

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Manhunt underway for elusive drug suspect who torched mule vehicle

By Pratheep Nanthaparp 
The Nation

 

 

Police have launched a manhunt for an elusive 24-year-old drug suspect, who set alight an Isuzu MU-7 SUV along with a large haul of narcotics on the side of Paholyothin Highway in Lampang’s Sop Prap district and fled a police chase on Tuesday afternoon.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099268-manhunt-underway-for-elusive-drug-suspect-who-torched-mule-vehicle/

 

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Ex-TAT boss' jail term upheld over US graft case

 

Juthamas Siriwan addressing the opening ceremony of the 2006 Bangkok International Film Festival in Bangkok.//Photo: AFP

 

An appeals court on Wednesday upheld a lower court’s prison sentence of 50 years on the former governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Juthamas Siriwan, for accepting Bt62 million in bribes from an American couple seeking the rights to host a Bangkok film festival between 2002 and 2007.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1099285-ex-tat-boss 50-year-jail-term-upheld-over-us-graft-case/