U.S. Seeks to Weaken Hezbollah’s Grip on Lebanon Amid Israeli Offensive

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IPHONE 6S AND 6S PLUS
Apple picks Thai lensman
The Nation


Apple CEO Tim Cook talks about the new iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus during an Apple launch event at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, California, USA, 09 September 2015. Media reports indicate a launch of updated iPhone models, updated iP

BANGKOK: -- IMAGES OF Siamese fighting fish by a Thai photographer were displayed prominently during the launch of Apple's new iPhones in San Francisco.

A set of photographs by Visarute Angkatavanich, an independent professional photographer, were chosen to be official wallpapers on the screens of iPhone 6S and 6S Plus during the presentations by Apple chief executive Tim Cook and the tech firm's senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller on Wednesday night.

Visarute told The Nation that he believed his work was chosen by Apple because it was unique.

"The photos are unique and they are presented in unusual angles," he said in a Facebook message in response to a question by The Nation.

Visarute is well known for photographs of fighting fish. His work has been featured in online and print media in many countries, including Japan, South Korea, China, Russia, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Apple-picks-Thai-lensman-30268574.html


-- The Nation 2015-09-11

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Bomb suspect bribed his way into Thailand: police

Photo caption: Adem Karadag, a key suspect in last monthʼs deadly Bangkok blast paid a $600 (B21,679) bribe to illegally enter Thailand. Photo AFP/Royal Thai Police

BANGKOK: A key suspect in last monthʼs deadly Bangkok blast paid a $600 (B21,679) bribe to illegally enter Thailand, police said today (Sept 10), highlighting widespread corruption at the kingdomʼs borders.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855025-bomb-suspect-bribed-his-way-into-thailand-police/

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UPDATE:

BANGKOK BLAST
Border cops under fire over graft accusations
THE NATION



SHRINE BLAST SUSPECT CLAIMS HE BRIBED THAI IMMIGRATION POLICE MANY TIMES

BANGKOK: -- A SUSPECT arrested in connection with the deadly Bangkok bomb attack allegedly confessed to having paid immigration police more than Bt21,000 in bribes each time he travelled in and out of Thailand, the national police chief said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855025-bomb-suspect-bribed-his-way-into-thailand-police/#entry9839441

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Pheu Thai urges NCPO to release critics of the junta
THE NATION

PRAYUT SAYS HE WILL DETAIN MORE DISSENTERS AND TAPE THEIR MOUTHS SHUT

BANGKOK: -- KEY MEMBERS of the Pheu Thai Party have called for the immediate release of former energy minister Pichai Naripthapan, who was detained for "attitude adjustment" at an undisclosed location on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855063-pheu-thai-urges-ncpo-to-release-critics-of-the-junta/

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New CDC members to be selected before Prayut heads to UN session
WASAMON AUDJARINT,
NATTHAPAT PHROMKAEW
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that the complete roster for new 21-member Constitution Drafting Committee would be ready by September 22, the day before he leaves to attend a United Nations meeting.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855064-new-cdc-members-to-be-selected-before-prayut-heads-to-un-session/

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Society 'must reach out to cut suicides'
The Nation

Minister worries over social media link to people taking their own lives

BANGKOK: -- A THAI commits suicide every two hours, with the youngest recorded victim 10 years old and the oldest 93.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855065-thai-minister-worries-over-social-media-link-to-people-taking-their-own-lives/

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Cabinet gets NRC proposals on boosting bureaucratic efficiency
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE CABINET has acknowledged the proposals of the now-defunct National Reform Council (NRC) on improving the efficiency and quality of the bureaucracy, which include suggestions for a principal law to push forward reform of the bureaucracy plus amendments to some 17 laws and regulations concerning public administration.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855066-thai-cabinet-gets-nrc-proposals-on-boosting-bureaucratic-efficiency/

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Tourism Council ups 2015 arrival target to 30 million
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION


Ittirit Kinglake, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand

BANGKOK: -- THE TOURISM Council of Thailand now expects 30 million international tourist arrivals this year, up from its original projection of 28.8 million. Last month's deadly bomb blast in Bangkok is no longer expected to affect the tourism sector in the coming high season.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855067-thai-tourism-council-ups-2015-arrival-target-to-30-million/

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Local Government Worker killed in North Pattaya Road Crash



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Thursday a 25 year old Pattaya City Hall worker was killed after she is suspected of falling asleep at the wheel and smashing into the wall of a North Pattaya Temple with her car.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855068-local-government-worker-killed-in-north-pattaya-road-crash/

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13 vehicle pile-up causes traffic chaos on Pattaya Highway



PATTAYA: -- 13 vehicles were damaged in a road crash on Highway 36 on Thursday morning and Police reported that no injuries to any drivers or passengers in any of the vehicles was sustained.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855069-13-vehicle-pile-up-causes-traffic-chaos-on-pattaya-highway/

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Final ruling in activist murder case postponed
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE SUPREME Court's verdict on the 2004 murder of environmentalist Charoen Wat-aksorn was postponed yesterday to October 13, after a defendant former kamnan Juea Hinkaew did not show up due to illness.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855070-final-ruling-in-thai-activist-murder-case-postponed/

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DSI files charges against 7 more Klongchan officials
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) yesterday filed fraud charges against seven more officials at the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative, including a former deputy manager.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855071-dsi-files-charges-against-7-more-klongchan-officials/

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Court upholds sentence
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Appeals Court yesterday upheld the six years and eight months jail term for seven subordinates of a former Nakhon Si Thammarat-based border patrol policeman, Pol Captain Nat Chonnitiwanich, for their roles in the October 2007 abduction of three narcotics suppression policemen and a civilian.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855072-thai-court-upholds-sentence-for-border-patrol-policeman/

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Autopsy on gold mine employee to determine if his work killed him
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- AN ex-Akara Resources employee was found dead yesterday after suffering from a fatal neurological disease that his family suspects was the result of his long-term exposure to cyanide and other hazardous chemicals.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855073-autopsy-on-akara-gold-mine-employee-to-determine-if-his-work-killed-him/

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'Siam Mafia' thug gets 14 months in jail
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court yesterday sentenced 38-year-old Laos national Weerapan Inthawong - known in social media as the "Siam Mafia" thug - to one year, two months and 15 days in prison.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855074-thai-court-sentences-siam-mafia-thug-to-14-month-in-jail/

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Prime minister warned against commenting on Yingluck cases
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- YINGLUCK Shinawatra's lawyer Norawit Lalang yesterday called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to stop making remarks about the rice pledging and first-car rebate schemes as the cases are still in court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855075-prime-minister-warned-against-commenting-on-yingluck-cases/

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BURNING ISSUE
All onus on Somkid to shepherd the Thai economy
SASITHORN ONGDEE

BANGKOK: -- IF THE RECENT rejection of the charter draft means the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration can stay in power for at least another six months, it should also give enough time to the economic team led by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak to fix the economy and pave the way for a recovery.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855076-all-onus-on-somkid-to-shepherd-the-thai-economy/

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Fishermen defy order to get rid of fish traps



BANGKOK: -- Fishermen in Songkhla’s Singha Nakorn district have defied the government’s order to remove their stake fish traps, surrounding nets and other illegal fishing gears and instead threatened to block the Songkhla lake.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855077-thai-fishermen-defy-order-to-get-rid-of-fish-traps/

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Police team in Malaysia to track down bomb suspect



BANGKOK: -- A police team has been sent to Malaysia to coordinate with Malaysian police to track down a key bombing suspect who was believed to have escaped to Malaysia via Su-ngai Kolok district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855078-thai-police-team-in-malaysia-to-track-down-bomb-suspect/

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Colonel Winthai: Pichai broke the condition with the military



BANGKOK: -- Former energy minister Pichai Naripthapant has broken the condition set by the military by giving public statements in a way which mislead the public to lose trust and confidence in the military regime, Colonel Winthai Suvaree, spokesman of the National Council for Peace and Order said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855079-colonel-winthai-former-energy-minister-pichai-broke-the-condition-with-the-military/

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Commerce Ministry launches “3 Big Boom” campaign to cut costs of living

BANGKOK, 11 September 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Commerce has launched a “3 Big Boom” campaign to reduce costs of living in Thailand and assure consumers of fair prices of products and services, Minister Apiradi Tantraporn announced on Thursday. The plan came as prices of numerous products remain high despite the falling oil price.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855080-thai-commerce-min-launches-3-big-boom-campaign-to-cut-costs-of-living/

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Austrian Kurt Schaumberger Found Hanged in Bathroom in Surin Province

SURIN – Pol Capt Thanakorn Puangchampa a duty officer at Thungmon police station in Prasat district in Surin has reported that 52-year-old Austrian Kurt Schaumberger was found hanged at his house in Surin’s Prasat district on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855081-austrian-man-found-hanged-in-bathroom-in-surin-province/

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Terror in Bangkok creates a new headache — for China
By Simon Denyer
THE WASHINGTON POST

BEIJING – As evidence trickles in that Chinese nationals may have played a role in last month’s Bangkok bomb attack, the government in Beijing has a headache.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855082-terror-in-bangkok-creates-a-new-headache-for-china/

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Iran nuclear deal survives: Democrats block disapproval vote
By ERICA WERNER and DEB RIECHMANN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats voted to uphold the hard-fought nuclear accord with Iran on Thursday, overcoming ferocious GOP opposition and delivering President Barack Obama a legacy-making victory on his top foreign policy priority.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855083-iran-nuclear-deal-survives-democrats-block-disapproval-vote/

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Russian troops already in Syria, Israel says
By JOSEF FEDERMAN and VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

NEW YORK (AP): -- Russia has been sending military forces into Syria in recent days, Israel's defense chief announced Thursday, as Moscow hinted at broader action to bolster President Bashar Assad's embattled army following a string of battlefield losses.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855084-russian-troops-already-in-syria-israel-says/

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Migrants' long and winding road to Europe turns cold, muddy
By SHAWN POGATCHNIK

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Soaked to the bone and ankle deep in mud, thousands of people seeking refuge in Europe are finding that their path to a new life is growing harder by the hour.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855085-migrants-long-and-winding-road-to-europe-turns-cold-muddy/

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US official: 'IS making and using chemical weapons in Iraq and Syria'
By Paul Blake
BBC News, Washington

WASHINGTON: -- There is a growing belief within the US government that the Islamic State militant group is making and using crude chemical weapons in Iraq and Syria, a US official has told the BBC.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855086-us-official-is-making-and-using-chemical-weapons-in-iraq-and-syria/

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Clinton: Trump insults women every chance he gets
By LISA LERER

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton is criticizing Donald Trump's remarks on women after he insulted Republican presidential rival Carly Fiorina for her looks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855087-clinton-trump-insults-women-every-chance-he-gets/

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Singapore voters head to polls for general election

SINGAPORE: -- Singaporeans are heading to the polls to vote in an election that is widely expected to see the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) return to power.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855089-singapore-voters-head-to-the-polls/

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A squeeze down a narrow crack, and then an amazing discovery
By LYNSEY CHUTEL

MAGALIESBURG, South Africa (AP) — Jagged rocks hooked into Steven Tucker's overalls as he squeezed through a crack deep in a subterranean cave. Upon emerging at the other end, he saw he was in a chamber dripping with stalactites. Then his headlamp shone onto a bone. Then more bones, and half of a skull.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855099-new-human-like-species-discovered-in-south-africa/