THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Tuesday 28 Feb 2017

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U.S. Senate confirms Wilbur Ross as Commerce Secretary

REUTERS

 

U.S. President Donald Trump and Wilbur Ross (L) meet with representatives of Harley-Davidson at the White House in Washington, U.S. February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate easily confirmed billionaire investor Wilbur Ross as U.S. commerce secretary on Monday with strong support from Democrats, installing President Donald Trump's top official on trade matters.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971104-us-senate-confirms-wilbur-ross-as-commerce-secretary/

 

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DPM says reconciliation effort progressing well

 

BANGKOK, 28 February 2017 (NNT) – The Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs has voiced satisfaction with the national reconciliation commission’s meetings with political parties so far, commending the parties for their cooperation. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971107-prawit-says-reconciliation-effort-progressing-well/

 

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U.S. appeals court will not put Trump travel ban case on hold

By Dan Levine

REUTERS

 

Shanez Tabarsi (L) is greeted by her daughter Negin after traveling to the U.S. from Iran following a federal court's temporary stay of U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order travel ban at Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. February 6, 2017. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

 

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Monday rejected a U.S. Department of Justice request to place on hold an appeal over President Donald Trump's travel ban on people from seven majority-Muslim countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971108-us-appeals-court-will-not-put-trump-travel-ban-case-on-hold/

 

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UPDATE:

 

Family of Englishman who died after Full Moon Party suspects foul play

By Coconuts Bangkok

 

Photo: Facebook

 

SAMUI: -- Last week, Englishman Andrew Apperley, 38, was found dead four days after going alone to Koh Phangan’s famous Full Moon Party.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971069-andrew-apperley-thailand-death-brother-wants-answers/

 

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Trump, China's top diplomat, discuss cooperation, possible Xi meeting

By Steve Holland and David Brunnstrom

REUTERS

 

FILE PHOTO - Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi delivers a speech at the Reception for the 45th Anniversary of the Restoration of the Lawful Seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, October 25, 2016. REUTERS/Kenzaburo Fukuhara/Pool/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump, who has attacked China on issues from trade to the South China Sea, held his first face-to-face talks with a member of the Chinese leadership on Monday, and the White House said it was a chance to discuss shared security interests and a possible meeting with President Xi Jinping.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971109-trump-chinas-top-diplomat-discuss-cooperation-possible-xi-meeting/

 

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Pentagon delivers draft plan to defeat Islamic State to White House

By Idrees Ali

REUTERS

 

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis addresses a news conference during a NATO defence ministers meeting at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, February 16, 2017. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Pentagon-led preliminary plan to defeat Islamic State was delivered to the White House on Monday and U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was expected to brief senior administration officials, a Defense Department spokesman told reporters.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971111-pentagon-delivers-draft-plan-to-defeat-islamic-state-to-white-house/

 

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Dhammakaya Temple siege and search continues

 

 

BANGKOK, 28 February 2017 (NNT) – Army personnel and explosives ordinance officers were called to investigate a suspicious item at Khlong Luang Central Market yesterday, the gathering place of Dhammakaya Temple followers, but reported no such item found. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971117-dhammakaya-temple-siege-and-search-continues/

 

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Immigration chief hits back: Sunday missed flight claims are rubbish

 

Picture: Sanook

 

BANGKOK: -- Immigration chief Natathorn Phrosunthorn has hit back at claims that more than a dozen people missed their flights on Sunday because of slow service and empty counters at Suvarnabhumi airport.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971120-immigration-chief-hits-back-sunday-missed-flight-claims-are-rubbish/

 

 

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SET up 3.18 points at opening /Bangkok Post

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UPDATE:

 

Defiant monks told to stop obstructing DSI to search the temple

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The National Office of Buddhism this morning puts up sign boards on roads around  the  Dhammakaya temple prohibiting monks to assemble and obstruct authorities to perform their duties.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971117-dhammakaya-temple-siege-and-search-continues/?do=findComment&comment=11664342

 

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Foreign illegals annoying tourists rounded up in Pattaya in "important case"

 

Picture: 77jowo news

 

PATTAYA: -- A group of illegal immigrants annoying tourists by begging and selling garlands have been rounded up by Pattaya police.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971125-foreign-illegals-annoying-tourists-rounded-up-in-pattaya-in-important-case/

 

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Phuket Police hunt for love-struck stabber

Phuket Gazette

 

          

The incident occurred at 'Dry Cleaning World' in Patong. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

 

PHUKET: -- Police are on the lookout for five men allegedly involved in stabbing and killing a Myanmar man at a Patong laundromat yesterday morning. The incident is believed to have been prompted by a ‘love triangle’.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971126-phuket-police-hunt-for-love-struck-stabber/

 

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Fire under Thai-Belgian flyover causes traffic snarl on Rama IV road
By The Nation

 

Photo credit: Rescuer with call sign of Shinket 26

 

BANGKOK: -- Garbage bins stored under the Thai-Belgian flyover near the Lumpini Park caught fire Tuesday morning, resulting in traffic snarl on the Rama IV road and nearby streets.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971128-fire-under-thai-belgian-flyover-causes-traffic-snarl-on-rama-iv-road/

 

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UPDATE:

 

Five men sent to Court for detention over celebratory shooting that killed a passerby

 

 

CHONBURI: -- Chonburi police will escort five suspects who fired celebratory shots during a wedding procession but accidentally killed a passerby to Pattaya Provincial Court for detention.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/970936-shotgun-wedding-man-killed-after-revelers-shoot-in-the-air/?do=findComment&comment=11664481

 

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Iranian's safe robbed as Thai hooker claims he didn't pay for play

 

Picture: 77jowo

 

PATTAYA: -- An Iranian tourist had his hotel safe robbed of 40,000 baht after taking two girls to his room in South Pattaya on Monday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971138-iranians-safe-robbed-as-thai-hooker-claims-he-didnt-pay-for-play/

 

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'Net Idol' husband on murder charge after relatives sought change in police investigation team

 

Picture: Daily News

 

BANGKOK: -- The husband of a famous net idol who died in a shooting at his home has now been charged with murder.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971143-net-idol-husband-on-murder-charge-after-relatives-sought-change-in police-investigation-team/

 

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Phuket residents left powerless after cement lorry brings down pylons, cables

Eakkapop Thongtub

 

The driver of the cement lorry didn't stop even though he knew cables had got caught on his vehicle. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

 

PHUKET: -- The hopper of a cement lorry got caught in electricity cables in Rawai yesterday bringing down two pylons and leaving a pickup truck damaged and local residents without power for six hours.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971151-phuket-residents-left-powerless-after-cement-lorry-brings-down-pylons-cables/

 

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Ladyboy "medium" arrested in 60 million baht merit making swindle

 

Picture: Daily News

 

KANCHANABURI: -- Police in Kanchanaburi announced the arrest of a 34 year old ladyboy who they say is a master swindler conning people out of millions on the Line application.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971153-ladyboy-medium-arrested-in-60-million-baht-merit-making-swindle/

 

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Thailand enjoys export growth for three consecutive months

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's exports continued to increase for three consecutive months with over 8% growth in January.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971158-thailand-enjoys-export-growth-for-three-consecutive-months/

 

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Hunt continues in Phuket for wife-burning ex-husband

Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

The hunt is continuing for 50-year-old Somkuan Jongsuk. Photo: Eakapop Thongtub

 

PHUKET: -- An officer from Thalang Police has confirmed that the hunt is still ongoing for a man who set his ex-wife on fire last Monday (Feb 20).

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971166-hunt-continues-in-phuket-for-wife-burning-ex-husband/

 

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Destruction of remaining Mahakan Fort homes to start Monday

By Coconuts 

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The 42 houses that still stand at the historic Mahakan Fort community will be knocked down if City Hall has its way, despite continued passionate protests from the occupants of the area, historians and preservation groups.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971168-destruction-of-remaining-mahakan-fort-homes-to-start-monday/

 

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Detained Japanese man 'bought animals from Chatuchak'
By The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- A 57-year-old Japanese man, who was arrested at Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport on Monday night for allegedly attempting to smuggle wildlife animals back to his home country, claimed he had bought the animals from the Chatuchak Weekend Market on Sunday for a total of 50,000 yen or Bt15,000 to raise as pets in Japan.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971170-detained-japanese-man-bought-animals-from-chatuchak/

 

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Bringing Dhammakaya back to the fold a key task of new Buddhism Office chief
By The Nation

 

New Buddhism Office chief Pongporn Parmsneh.

 

BANGKOK: -- An important mission of the new chief of the National Office of Buddhism is to turn the scandal-hit Dhammakaya Temple into an ordinary temple like others, according to observers.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971171-bringing-dhammakaya-back-to-the-fold-a-key-task-of-new-buddhism-office-chief/

 

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BMW off to a roaring start in 2017
By The Nation

 

BANGKOK: -- BMW Group Thailand is having its best-ever start to a new year with 745 BMW and MINI car deliveries in January, achieving an impressive 22 per cent growth year on year.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971172-bmw-group-thailand-off-to-a-roaring-start-in-2017/

 

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Thai Firefighter Dies after Motorbike Crash

By Danny Boy -

 

 

 

A Thai Firefighter has died after crashing his motorbike into the back of a 10 wheeler lorry

 

PATTAYA: -- On February 27th, at around 10:00pm, Pattaya police and emergency services were called to the scene of a fatal road accident involving a motorbike and a 10 wheeler lorry.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971174-thai-firefighter-dies-after-motorbike-crash-in-pattaya/

 

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Great news for iPhone users: Apple relaxes its policy on third party screen repairs

BY JONATHAN FAIRFIELD

 

 

Apple has reportedly made a small but hugely significant change to its warranty policy.

 

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/great-news-for-iphone-users-apple-relaxes-its-policy-on-third-party-screen-repairs/20105/

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Taxi driver fined Bt1,000 for calling passenger ‘whore’
By The Nation

 

BANGKOK: -- A taxi driver was fined Bt1,000 after he was caught on a video clip that went viral, bursting out at a female university student and calling her a whore.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971181-taxi-driver-fined-bt1000-for-calling-passenger-‘whore’/

 

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Excise tax chief assures new alcoholic law will be fairer for business operators and consumers

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The Excise Department today dismissed the new excise tax structure on whiskey, beer and wine now widely shared on the social media saying the actual collection won't be as high as what it appeared on the tax structure.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971182-excise-tax-chief-assures-new-alcoholic-law-will-be-fairer-for-business-operators-and-consumers/

 

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UPDATE:

 

Driver fined for calling passengers 'whores,' threatening to rape them

By Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

 

Screenshot of Kunyaphat Pitchayapukdee’s video showing taxi driver Wirat Thassanatikorn’s tirade, posted Sunday.

 

BANGKOK — A taxi driver recorded calling young female passengers “whores” and threatening to kill them was fined Tuesday and ordered to undergo three hours of etiquette training.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971181-taxi-driver-fined-bt1000-for-calling-passenger-‘whore’/?do=findComment&comment=11665295

 

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UPDATE:

 

Thai-Belgian flyover to close 45 days

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Thai-Belgian flyover will be closed to traffic 45 days for repair, Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Gen Sanit Mahathavorn said today.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971128-fire-under-thai-belgian-flyover-causes-traffic-snarl-on-rama-iv-road/?do=findComment&comment=11665335