Clinton grapples with Trump's ability to stay in spotlight
By JULIE PACE

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump kept himself planted firmly in the political spotlight this week with one headline-grabbing move after another — launching a social media defense of his treatment of women, listing possible Supreme Court nominees, rapidly declaring an Egyptian plane crash an act of terrorism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918686-clinton-grapples-with-trumps-ability-to-stay-in-spotlight/

Trump helps Chris Christie pay off his campaign debt
JILL COLVIN, Associated Press
MICHAEL CATALINI, Associated Press

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. (AP) — Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, delivered a thank-you gift Thursday to the man who arguably risked the most to endorse him: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918700-trump-helps-chris-christie-pay-off-his-campaign-debt/

Washington could take part in EgyptAir investigation



WASHINGTON: -- Washington has yet to indicate whether it will take part in the investigation into the apparent crash of EgyptAir Flight MS804 which went missing over the Mediterranean south of Greece earlier on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918702-washington-could-take-part-in-egyptair-investigation/

UPDATE:

Terrorism suspected in crash of Egyptian jet; 66 feared dead
By MAGGIE MICHAEL, ELENA BECATOROS and RAPHAEL SATTER

CAIRO (AP) — An EgyptAir jetliner en route from Paris to Cairo with 66 people aboard veered wildly in flight and crashed in the Mediterranean Sea early Thursday, authorities said. Egyptian and Russian officials said it may have been brought down by terrorists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918678-terrorism-likely-cause-of-air-crash-in-egypt-which-kills-66/?p=10766681

Death row convict in Singapore granted last-minute reprieve
ANNABELLE LIANG, Associated Press

SINGAPORE (AP) — Singapore's Supreme Court has given a last-minute reprieve to a Malaysian murder convict hours before he was scheduled to be executed Friday, the latest twist in what has been a series of legal ups-and-downs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918703-death-row-convict-in-singapore-granted-last-minute-reprieve/

Thai-Lao border trade thrives after advent of AEC

NONG KHAI, 20 May 2016 (NNT) – The opening of the ASEAN Economic Community has provided a boost for border trade between Thailand and Laos in Nong Khai province, with petroleum exports generating the most income for the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918706-thai-lao-border-trade-thrives-after-advent-of-aec/

UPDATE:

Largest Ho Chi Minh memorial site overseas inaugurated in Thailand
VNA


The commemorative site for President Ho Chi Minh in Nachok village, Muang district (Photo: VNA)

Bangkok (VNA) – The largest commemorative site for President Ho Chi Minh outside Vietnam was inaugurated in Nachok village, Muang district, in Thailand’s northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom on May 19, the date of the late President’s birthday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918670-memorial-for-late-vietnamese-leader-ho-chi-minh-opened-in-nakorn-panom/#entry10766829

San Francisco's police chief resigns amid racial issues
PAUL ELIAS, Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco's police chief resigned Thursday at the request of the mayor hours after an officer fatally shot a young black woman driving a stolen car — the culmination of several racially charged incidents in the past year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918707-san-franciscos-police-chief-resigns-amid-racial-issues/

Love triangle sees two shot dead at Korat resort

Image: Daily News

KORAT: -- A husband told by police that his wife had been shot went to a resort Thursday to find her dead with a close friend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918708-love-triangle-sees-two-shot-dead-at-korat-resort/

Yala to introduce stagecoach services to boost tourism

YALA, 20 May 2016 (NNT)-Yala wants to use stagecoaches to attract tourists to the province to boost local tourism and generate extra income for local families.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918709-yala-to-introduce-stagecoach-services-to-boost-tourism/

Hammer attack leaves Phitsanulok chicken seller bloodied


Image: Thairath

BANGKOK: -- An older man with a hammer crept out of the undergrowth to attack a female chicken seller in her Phitsanulok shop on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918720-hammer-attack-leaves-phitsanulok-chicken-seller-bloodied/

Vietnam to launch 4 satellites during 2018-2022

HANOI: -- Vietnam has planned to launch four earth observation satellites of which three are made by Vietnamese engineers between 2018-2022, VietNamNet website reported on Thursday quoting Vietnam National Satellite Centre.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918722-vietnam-to-launch-4-satellites-during-2018-2022/

Vietnam to get two Russian frigates this year



HANOI: -- Vietnam will get two Gepard-class frigates in August and September this year, Thanh Nien News reported on Thursday quoting Russian news agency TASS.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918724-vietnam-to-get-two-russian-frigates-this-year/

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) - New Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen omits mention of one-China policy in inaugural address in move likely to anger Beijing.

Confusion reigns as Thailand ATM users set to pay more


Image: tnamcot

BANGKOK: -- Confusion about new charges has been rife among the Thai public and on social media after it was announced recently that all ATM cards would be changed to include chips as well as metal strips.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918727-confusion-reigns-as-thailand-atm-users-set-to-pay-more/

Australian retiree John Bourke dies after alleged vicious attack in Bali villa
Jewel Topsfield
Indonesia Correspondent, Fairfax Media

BALI: -- The expat community in Bali is in mourning after a retired Australian engineer who was allegedly viciously attacked twice in his Bali villa died overnight.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918743-australian-retiree-john-bourke-dies-after-alleged-vicious-attack-in-bali-villa/

Bangkok uni student dead in stabbing frenzy - suspected knifeman hangs himself


Image: Daily News

BANGKOK: -- A Thai man who tried to get back together with his university girlfriend stabbed her in a frenzy then went home and hanged himself, police in Bangkok say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918745-bangkok-uni-student-dead-in-stabbing-frenzy-suspected-knifeman-hangs-himself/

Taiwan installs 1st woman president amid tension with China
RALPH JENNINGS, Associated Press
JOHNSON LAI, Associated Press

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan inaugurated Tsai Ing-wen as its first female president on Friday, returning the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party to power amid new concerns over increasingly fractious relations with Beijing and a flagging economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918748-taiwan-installs-1st-woman-president-amid-tension-with-china/

LAX Police reacts to Egypt Air crash with security statement

LOS ANGELES: -- Is there a terror threat for LAX Airport? The Los Angeles Police Department responsible also for security at one of America's largest gateway airport LAX issued a statement in regards to security and in response to today's Egypt Air crash and possible terror threat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918749-lax-airport-police-reacts-to-egypt-air-crash-with-security-statement/

Thai Buddhists celebrate Visakha Bucha Day nationwide today



BANGKOK: -- Millions of Thai Buddhists today joined together to mark Visakha Bucha Day going to temples across the country offering alms to monks in the morning as part of merit-making in this important Buddhist day.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918750-thai-buddhists-celebrate-visakha-bucha-day-nationwide-today/

Voices from Thailand: Reflections on 2-year coup anniversary
By JOCELYN GECKER and NATNICHA CHUWIRUCH

BANGKOK (AP) — In the early evening of May 22, 2014, all TV screens in Thailand turned blue and up flashed an army emblem. That was the first sign of change. Suddenly, the country's army commander appeared to say he was now in charge.

Without firing a shot or spilling any blood, the military had staged its second coup in eight years — and its 12th since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.

A stern-faced Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha said at the time he had acted to restore stability after six months of political deadlock, protests and deadly violence. He said his goal was to heal Thailand's intractable political divide and "quickly bring the situation back to normal."

Two years later, Thailand is still firmly under military control, although Prayuth has changed his title from general to prime minister.


Outwardly, the country has returned to normal. Bangkok is clogged with traffic, protesters have stayed off the streets, resorts and beaches are full of tourists. But under the surface, Thai society, politics and freedoms are in a state of flux. What do Thais think about the coup, and how has Thailand changed in the two years under military control? The AP presents the views of ordinary people and well-known figures in Thai society to answer those questions in their own voice.

___

PROFESSOR

Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a leading expert on Thai politics from Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.

"Thailand has changed, but in a way that goes back to the past rather than into the future."

"A lot of people had some relief when the coup took place after six months of mayhem and protests. On a daily basis, Thailand became unworkable, ungovernable."

"Initially, there was relief that we had some law and order. Safety in the streets, no demonstrations. But at the expense of pent-up frustrations. And also at the expense of popular rule that people have come to expect."

"But two years is a long time in Thai politics. Now people are saying, yes, we had some law and order, to the extreme in fact, too much of it. People have been detained. There has been a lot of coercion, violations of basic civil liberties, at the expense of longer term stability."

"The way ahead is murky. Most worryingly, the coup makers do not have an exit strategy. And it looks the generals aren't taking over for the future of Thailand and the Thai people, but for the generals themselves. So I think more people are seeing that and more people are showing dissatisfaction that is going to mount."

___

JOURNALIST

Pravit Rojanaphruk, a Thai journalist who is one of the junta's prominent critics.

"It's pretty bleak."

"As a journalist, there's been a lot of self-censorship as well as the arbitrary detention of those who refuse to stop calling this regime illegitimate. I have been detained without charges twice. Most recently they have banned my travel to Finland to attend the World Press Freedom Day celebration, which is co-organized with UNESCO."

"These are very concrete examples and prove that there exists repression against the media here in Thailand."

"Thailand needs able journalists to continue to do their jobs properly despite the fact that they are facing the threat of arbitrary detention and charges as well as possibly the threat of being put on a military tribunal."

"The future is pretty uncertain as we speak. What is certain is that the younger generation of Thais have been made to realize that freedom and democracy cannot be taken for granted. That we are now seeing a small but a very active group of university students playing a pivotal role in protesting and resisting the militarization of Thai society."

___

STUDENT

Kornkanok Khamta, 22, a political science student at Bangkok's Thammasat University who has become an anti-coup activist.

"In the first year after the coup, I was really just an ordinary student. But after that year, I started becoming more involved in student and youth movements with my friends. I realized that I've been abused by the government. When I speak out or try to express normal things in public, I've been stifled by the government. And this is not right.

"But it's not just being stifled or blocked, they have 'attitude adjustment' camps. They have physically invaded human rights. After I came out to speak against (government) corruption, I was put in military court, jailed and detained."

"Some groups have become less vocal. Some closed down their Facebook pages after the army apprehended the administrators of an (anti-government) Facebook page. But the only reason we're still fighting is because the more we get threatened or punished, the more we feel we need to act. If no one does or says anything, they will win."

___

BUSINESSMAN

Bill Heinecke, U.S.-born billionaire whose company Minor International owns 147 hotels, including the St. Regis, Marriott and Four Seasons in Thailand. Among his 1,800 fast food and retail businesses are the Thai franchises for Burger King, Swensen's, the Gap, Esprit and Brooks Brothers. Heinecke is now a Thai citizen.

"There certainly has been change. Bangkok if we remember correctly was almost at a standstill. No one could vote, an election couldn't take place, traffic was blocked, protests were ongoing. So we've seen a return to stability. And that's always good for business."

"When you see instability on the streets, and in the mass media worldwide, it effects our business in every possible way. There's a lack of confidence, there's a lack of tourists, the economy was being strangled."

"I think we've seen a return to normalized business. I think there has been significant improvement. To me, I know of no one that's concerned about the protection of their rights — in terms of living peacefully, going about their business. Yes, if you say, 'Do I have the right to rally in the streets?' you may not, but to me that's less critical than it is to make sure we can all continue with business and to make sure we can provide education for our kids."

"Is it perfect? I'm sure it's not. Is it better than it was? I think it is."

___

BANGKOK RESIDENT

Punthit Unhasut, 45, software developer in Bangkok.

"In my opinion, the country has changed for the better. Before, during the political turmoil, the country was at a standstill because the two political sides didn't like each other. Because of that country was not able to move forward in business or politics.

"Since the coup, even though the two political sides still don't agree with each other, it's like there's a mediator who forces things along."

"But in the long term having a junta might not be good because so many international countries have failed under military rule. Coups are not a good thing, in general. But at this point right now, it's a good thing because the country was not moving forward for so long. It's what we needed at the time.

___

MOTHER

Payao Akkhahad, the mother of 25-year-old volunteer medic Kamolkate Akkhahad who was shot dead while treating political protesters sheltering at a Bangkok temple in 2010 after the army swept in.

"The coup was not the right thing to do, considering we're supposed to be a democracy."

"You can't trust this government. They keep promising things like reforms, changes, and this and that. They promised us elections and that hasn't happened yet. Things have just gotten worse and worse, and if we go out and try to voice our opinions, we get silenced and put in jail. They say that we have to follow the law and the rules that they made but they haven't even followed it themselves. Instead, they abuse their power."

"It feels like our breath doesn't belong to us anymore, it belongs to the army. If we breathe too loud, we get in trouble. I'm one of the few people who are publicly against the government."

___

POLITICIAN

Kasit Piromya, former Thai foreign minister from 2008-2011 under ex-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

"The military establishment is doing things that should not be done. And not doing things that should be done. They have not been answering to the cries of the people on the street. They say they should be in power because they are the stabilizing factor — their presence in the political process provides stability to the country. So Thailand now has less democratic practices, less freedom of expression and human rights."

"The political divide hasn't disappeared. It's just been silenced. But the military is still in power. They love power. They are going to be embedded for a long, long time. There will be an election, we don't know when. Then we will be a mini-Myanmar, a mini-China with one party — the military party or military backed sets of smaller parties."

"I think they're bringing Thailand into further brinkmanship."


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-05-20

Third round rice auction successful

BANGKOK: -- The Commerce Ministry's 1.1 million tons rice auction ended with success as were bought up by private buyers, generating almost 10 billion baht into national coffers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918760-third-round-rice-auction-successful/

Stricter observance of safety rules ordered at petrol and gas stations



BANGKOK: -- The Department of Energy Business yesterday issued an announcement warning all petrol and gas stations to strictly enforce safety protocols for their clients to prevent the risk of fires.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918763-stricter-observance-of-safety-rules-ordered-at-petrol-and-gas-stations/

Escaped crocodile recaptured in Nong Khai



NONG KHAI: -- A 3-metre long and 300-kilo weighed crocodile escaped from a farm in Nong Khai was recaptured last night lying near a dog cage.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918764-escaped-crocodile-recaptured-in-nong-khai/

Watchdogs ‘Too Late’ to Stop Media Spellbound by Slow-Motion Suicide
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


In this screenshot from a Thairath live broadcast, reporters swarm into the motel where murder suspect Wanchai Danaitamonut fatally shot himself just minutes earlier on Thursday in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — It was the kind of media event that would have once been unthinkable, but in a time of everything-everywhere expectations, the rapt coverage of an unfolding suicide Thursday seemed to raise ratings more than editorial alarms.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918765-watchdogs-too-late-to-stop-media-spellbound-by-slow-motion-suicide/

GHB aims to help 800 thousand people acquire homes over 4 years

BANGKOK, 20 May 2016 (NNT) – The Government Housing Bank’s (GHB) new president has announced his intention to aid 800,000 Thai citizens to acquire homes over the next 4 years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918767-ghb-aims-to-help-800-thousand-people-acquire-homes-over-4-years/

Sisaket Rocket Fest to kick off in May

SISAKET, 20 May 2016 (NNT) – The northeastern province of Sisaket has held a press conference, announcing the upcoming Rocket Festival.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918768-sisaket-rocket-fest-to-kick-off-in-may/

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's defense minister is resigning, citing a lack of 'trust' in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

EC explains how referendum will be held to politicians

BANGKOK, 20 May 2016 (NNT) - The government and the Election Commission (EC) have jointly held a meeting with representatives of political parties and groups to explain how the referendum will be held.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918769-ec-explains-how-referendum-will-be-held-to-politicians/

Egyptair retracts claim that debris was spotted



CAIRO: -- Scouring the Mediterranean for clues, Egyptian search teams have been joined by teams from Greece, France, US, UK and Turkey to hunt for signs of missing Egyptair flight MS804.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918772-egyptair-retracts-claim-that-debris-was-spotted/