THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Wednesday 23 Aug 2017

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Visa overstayer alleges extortion of Bt600,000

By The Nation

 

 

A Syrian man has filed a complaint with the Justice Ministry, alleging that a group of foreigners and Lumpini police had extorted money from him.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998404-visa-overstayer-alleges-extortion-of-bt600000/

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Interpol issues “Blue Notice” to member countries to locate Red Bull heir

 

 

Interpol has sent out a notice to 190 member countries upon request from the Royal Thai Police to ask for cooperation in locating Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998385-interpol-issues-“blue-notice”-to-member-countries-to-locate-red-bull-heir/

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Hospital change to affect 100,000 patients

By The Nation

 

 

NEARLY 100,000 universal healthcare scheme subscribers will be affected by the decision of Bangkok’s Mahaesak Hospital to resign from the scheme, effective September 30.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998395-hospital-change-to-affect-100000-patients/

 

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Five of 9 judges to rule on both Yingluck, Boonsong cases

By The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- FIVE of the nine judges adjudicating the controversial rice scheme case against Yingluck Shinawatra will also sit on the panel in the rice deal case involving former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, and are involved in other cases linked to the Thaksin camp.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998426-five-of-9-judges-to-rule-on-both-yingluck-boonsong-cases/

 

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Judges face 3 questions in deciding ex-PM guilt

By ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM 
THE NATION

 

File photo

 

>> Did Yingluck’s govt actually “pledge” rice from farmers?

>> Was rice from govt stocks sold via govt-to-govt deals?

>> was the then-Prime minister aware of irregularities?

BANGKOK: -- LEGAL EXPERTS have outlined three major points that Supreme Court judges in the negligence case against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra are likely to focus on.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998427-judges-face-3-questions-in-deciding-ex-pm-guilt/

 

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Politician’s risky detective work uncovered irregularities

By JAKRAWAN SALAYTOO 
THE NATION

 

Warong Dechgitvigrom

 

BANGKOK: -- DEMOCRAT Party key figure Warong Dechgitvigrom realised just days after the 2011 election that a full-scale implementation of a rice mortgage scheme by Yingluck Shinawatra’s government would open up many problems.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998428-politician’s-risky-detective-work-uncovered-irregularities/

 

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Yingluck supporters ‘blocked at every turn’

By KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN, 
SEKSANTI KANLAYANAWISUT, 
KAWINTRA JAISEU 

 

File photo

 

RED-SHIRT LEADER SAYS RESIDENTS IN ‘TARGET VILLAGES’ BEING PRESSURED TO STAY HOME, WARNS REPRESSION COULD BACKFIRE

BANGKOK: -- AUTHORITIES have employed different measures to block supporters of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra from appearing at the Supreme Court on Friday to hear the reading of the verdict in the negligence case against her, a key red-shirt leader said yesterday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998430-yingluck-supporters-‘blocked-at-every-turn’/

 

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‘Sidechick’ law comment was merely a joke, PM says

By The Nation

 

PM Prayut during his two-day mobile Cabinet meeting.

 

KORAT: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s recent half-joke, in which he mentioned a coming law to ban people from having “sidechicks”, was actually him just being playful, he said on Tuesday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998431-‘sidechick’-law-comment-was-merely-a-joke-pm-says/

 

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Generic medicine law ‘may hurt patients’

By Chularat Saengpassa 
The Nation 

 

Suttirat Rattanachot

 

Warning after medical-school hospitals made to forego original drugs needed by some

 

BANGKOK: -- THE UNIVERSITY Hospital Network has warned that some patients may suffer at the hands of the new Government Procurement and Supply Management Act, which requires them to use more generic medicines.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998432-generic-medicine-law-‘may-hurt-patients’/

 

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New Northeast flood plan approved despite objection

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation 

 

 

BANGKOK: -- THE PRIME MINISTER approved in principle the Northeastern Region water management plan for 2018 to 2019, which includes new reservoirs in the Chi River Basin, the Khong-Loei-Chi-Mun Irrigation Project and a new irrigation project in the Songkram River to improve irrigation in the region.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998433-new-northeast-flood-plan-approved-despite-objections/

 

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Go-ahead for Nakon Ratchasima rail elevation project

By The Nation

 

File photo

 

KORAT: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s mobile Cabinet meeting in Nakon Ratchasima yesterday approved a Bt2.6 billion plan to elevate an inner-city section of the Map Krabao-Jira double track rail project to avoid inconvenience to city residents and commuters.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998434-go-ahead-for-nakon-ratchasima-rail-elevation-project/

 

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EDITORIAL

Legal and political precedents will be forged by Yingluck verdict

By Tulsathit Taptim 
The Nation

 

In two days, Prayut Chan-o-cha’s controversial reign will likely be marked by a “super irony”. No matter what the Supreme Court’s division for politicians rules in the rice-scheme case, his pledge to restore peace after a bloody era in Thai politics will be severely tested. But make no mistake, this a damned-if-you-damned-if-you-don’t situation.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998435-legal-and-political-precedents-will-be-forged-by-yingluck-verdict/

 

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OPINION

Deaths in uniform and cases growing cold

By The Nation

 

The Army has been less than accountable over recent tragedies

 

An unwanted spotlight is shining once again on the Army’s Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in Surat Thani following the second death there of a young soldier in four months. Private Noppadol Worakitphan, 21, died from internal injuries after arriving at his family’s home on Saturday night. His mother’s reaction on seeing her dead son was heartbreaking to everyone who saw the video. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998436-deaths-in-uniform-and-cases-growing-cold/

 

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UPDATE:

 

A Syrian claims to be a victim of extortion by police volunteers

By Thai PBS

 

 

BANGKOK: -- A Syrian national has lodged a complaint with the Justice Ministry, accusing a group of foreign volunteers at Lumpini police station of extorting him of 500,000 baht in cash in exchanging for not reporting to the immigration about his son’s overstaying in the country.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998404-visa-overstayer-alleges-extortion-of-bt600000/?do=findComment&comment=12202962

 

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Gates of Hell open early in Phuket

Eakkapop Thongtub

 

 

PHUKET: -- A Phuket man claims the Gates of Hell opened in Phuket last night ahead of the Hungry Ghost Festival, also known on the island as the “Por Tor Festival”. However, he might have been a tad premature.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998437-gates-of-hell-open-early-in-phuket/

 

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U.S.' Tillerson sees possible path to North Korea dialogue 'in near future'

By David Brunnstrom and Yeganeh Torbati

 

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks at a press briefing at the State Department in Washington, U.S., August 22, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appeared to make a peace overture to North Korea on Tuesday, welcoming what he called the restraint it had shown recently in its weapons programs and saying he hoped a path could be opening for dialogue "sometime in the near future.""We have had no missile launches or provocative acts on the part of North Korea since the unanimous adoption of the U.N. Security Council resolution," Tillerson told reporters, referring to U.N. sanctions on North Korea agreed on Aug. 5.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998439-us-tillerson-sees-possible-path-to-north-korea-dialogue-in-near-future/

 

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Barcelona van attackers plotted major bombings, Spanish court hears

By Adrian Croft

 

Spanish Civil Guards escort one of four men accused of involvement in an Islamist cell behind a van attack in Barcelona last week, in Tres Cantos, Spain, August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Juan Medina

 

MADRID (Reuters) - An Islamist militant cell that last week used a van to kill 13 people in Barcelona had planned one or several major bomb attacks, possibly against churches or monuments, one suspect told a court on Tuesday, according to sources close to the investigation.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998440-barcelona-van-attackers-plotted-major-bombings-spanish-court-hears/

 

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Britain outlines plans to break free of European Court after Brexit

By Elizabeth Piper

 

EU and British flags fly outside the European Commission building in London, Britain August 12, 2017. REUTERS/Neil Hall

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will outline its plans on Wednesday to escape the "direct jurisdiction" of the European Court of Justice after Brexit, one of Prime Minister Theresa May's main aims in talks to unravel 40 years of European Union membership.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998441-britain-outlines-plans-to-break-free-of-european-court-after-brexit/

 

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U.S. targets Chinese, Russia entities for helping North Korea

By David Brunnstrom and Doina Chiacu

 

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin walks through the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City, U.S., August 15, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday imposed new North Korea-related sanctions, targeting Chinese and Russian firms and individuals for supporting Pyongyang's weapons programs, but stopped short of an anticipated focus on Chinese banks.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998442-us-targets-chinese-russia-entities-for-helping-north-korea/

 

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Moroccan who admitted killing two in Finland knife attack was refused asylum

By Jussi Rosendahl and Lefteris Karagiannopoulos

 

The 18-year-old Moroccan Ilyas Berrouh, covers his face during the initial remand hearing of suspects of killing two people and attempting to kill eight others with terrorist intent (with reasonable doubt) in Turku last week, at the Southwest Finland District Court in Turku, Finland, August 22, 2017. LEHTIKUVA / Martti Kainulainen via REUTERS

 

HELSINKI (Reuters) - A teenage Moroccan asylum seeker who admitted on Tuesday that he had killed two women and injured eight other people in a knife attack in the Finnish town of Turku had had his application for asylum rejected before the attack, authorities said.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998443-moroccan-who-admitted-killing-two-in-finland-knife-attack-was-refused-asylum/

 

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Headless torso could belong to submarine journalist - Danish police

By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Stine Jacobsen

 

A photo of Swedish journalist Kim Wall who was aboard a submarine "UC3 Nautilus" before it sank. TT NEWS AGENCY/ Tom Wall Handout via REUTERS

 

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danish police said on Tuesday the size of a headless female torso found on the sea's edge in Copenhagen suggested it could be that of a Swedish journalist who died after taking a submarine ride with the vessel's Danish inventor.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998444-headless-torso-could-belong-to-submarine-journalist-danish-police/

 

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U.S. puts more pressure on Pakistan to help with Afghan war

By Yeganeh Torbati

 

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Tuesday that Pakistan must adopt a different approach to terrorism and that the United States will condition its support on Islamabad's delivering results in this area. 

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States suggested on Tuesday it could cut U.S. aid to Pakistan or downgrade Islamabad's status as a major non-NATO ally to pressure the South Asian nation to do more to help it with the war in Afghanistan.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998449-us-puts-more-pressure-on-pakistan-to-help-with-afghan-war/

 

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A guilty verdict for Thailand's Yingluck may stoke anger but military firmly in charge

By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Aukkarapon Niyomyat

 

Ousted former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra greets supporters as she leaves the Supreme Court in Bangkok, Thailand, August 1, 2017. REUTERS/Aukkarapon Niyomyat

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A long-awaited verdict in the trial of former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra this week could inflame tension and would likely have far-reaching implications in the politically divided kingdom.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998450-a-guilty-verdict-for thailands-yingluck-may-stoke-anger-but-military-firmly-in-charge/ 

 

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Thailand approves design contract for rail project with China

 

NAKHON RATCHASIMA (Reuters) - Thailand's cabinet on Tuesday approved a draft contract for a detailed plan on the design and construction of the first phase of the country's high-speed railway project with China.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998451-thailand approves-design-contract-for-rail-project-with-china/

 

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Kremlin says support for ceasefire in Ukraine 'decisive'

 

FILE PHOTO: A Ukrainian serviceman holds a flag of Ukraine and smokes at a military base in the Crimean town of Belbek, near Sevastopol, Ukraine March 22, 2014. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov/File Photo

 

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany have held a phone talk on Tuesday and "decisively" supported a proposed ceasefire in eastern Ukraine before the start of a new school year, the Kremlin said in a statement.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998452-kremlin-says-support-for-ceasefire-in-ukraine-decisive/

 

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George and Amal Clooney give $1 million to combat U.S. hate groups

 

FILE PHOTO: Actor George Clooney and his wife Amal pose as they arrive at the 42nd Cesar Awards ceremony in Paris, France, February 24, 2017. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo

 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor George Clooney and his humanitarian lawyer wife, Amal Clooney, have donated $1 million to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a U.S. non-profit that monitors extremists and domestic hate groups, in response to protests in Charlottesville, Virginia earlier this month.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998454-george-and-amal-clooney-give-1-million-to-combat-us-hate-groups/

 

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Tourists warned of threat from jellyfish

By Thai PBS

 

 

Municipal officials in Phetchaburi’s Muang district have warned tourists not to swim in the sea off Chao Samran beach while it is raining because of the threat of poisonous jellyfish.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998455-tourists-warned-of-threat-from-jellyfish/

 

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U.S. Navy to relieve admiral of command after collisions - WSJ

 

Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin, U.S. 7th Fleet Commander, speaks to media on the status of the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Fitzgerald, damaged by colliding with a Philippine-flagged merchant vessel, and the seven missing Fitzgerald crew members, at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, Japan June 18, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy plans to remove from duty the commander of the fleet that has suffered four recent collisions in Asia and the deaths of a number of sailors, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing U.S. officials.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998457-us-navy-to-relieve-admiral-of-command-after-collisions-wsj/

 

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Thailand braces itself for influences of Typhoon Hato

 

BANGKOK, 23 August 2017 (NNT) - The Royal Irrigation Department has instructed irrigation projects nationwide to prepare for the influences of Typhoon Hato expected to cause heavy rains from 23-28 August 2017. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998461-thailand-braces-itself-for-influences-of-typhoon-hato/

 

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MRT ridership increases due to Blue-Purple lines connection

 

 

BANGKOK, 23 August 2017 (NNT) – The number of MRT passengers has increased up to 50,000 daily due to the connection between its Blue Line and Purple Line at Tao Poon station.

 

Full story:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/998463-mrt-ridership-increases-due-to-blue-purple-lines-connection/