UN slams deportation of Uighurs (Video clip)

PM SAYS REPATRIATION TO CHINA WAS IN KEEPING WITH INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS

THE UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the broader international community yesterday expressed alarm after the government deported some 100 Uighur Muslims to China, a move that prompted an attack on the Thai embassy in Istanbul.

It is believed that the Turkic-speaking deportees were taken to China on two flights early yesterday, despite having indicated that they did not wish to be deported to China. The group may have included women and children, according to a UN statement.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Thailand, as an illegal migrant transit country, repatriated the Uighurs in accordance with its international obligations and national procedures.

"We repatriated them in accordance with the processes and evidence [of their nationality]," he said, noting that the illegal migrant problem would be solved at the government level.

The government's Deputy Spokesman Major-General Werachon Sukondhapatipak said the Uighurs were deported after it was determined they were Chinese nationals.

The group entered the Kingdom in March last year, expressing their desire to be settled in third countries. Thailand treated them as illegal migrants, detained them and began the deportation process.

The authorities deported 170 Uighurs to Turkey late last month, according to Werachon.

Werachon said the government understood that the Uighurs had political difficulties with the Chinese government.

But the deportation was conducted in accordance with Thai and international laws as well as justice and humanitarian processes, he said. Uighurs identified as Turkish were repatriated to Turkey while Uighurs who are Chinese nationals are sent to China, he said.

"Indeed, China disagreed with us over the repatriation of 170 of them to Turkey but as long as they can prove Turkish nationality, we have to send them to their place of origin," he said.

"For the group repatriated to China, the Chinese government said it had guaranteed their safety and will bring them into the Chinese justice system," Werachon said. "Security officials of the two countries reached an agreement on the conditions [of the repatriations] before the repatriations," he said.

Thailand provided sufficient humanitarian assistance to all illegal migrants, he said, noting that there were some 50 Uighurs in the process of being repatriated.

Prayut said he could explain to Muslims that his government had no intention of harming them. "Or do you want us to feed them and all their offspring?" he furiously asked reporters yesterday.

The UNHCR has been aware of this case for several months, and made numerous interventions on the Uighurs' behalf to the government. In response, the agency was given assurances that the matter would be handled in accordance with international legal standards, and that the group would continue to receive protection, the UN said.

"While we are seeking further clarifications on what happened exactly, we are shocked by this deportation of some 100 people and consider it a flagrant violation of international law," said Volker Turk, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, who is currently in the region.

"I strongly urge the Thai authorities to investigate this matter and appeal to Thailand to honour its fundamental international obligations, notably the principle of non-refoulement, and to refrain from such deportations in the future," he added.

The UNHCR also urged the government in the strongest possible terms to allow the remaining Uighurs in the country to depart voluntarily as soon as a country of their choice was willing to receive them.

A Thailand researcher at Human Rights Watch, Sunai Phasuk, said the organisation was shocked over the deportations.

By forcing them to face danger, the government had violated the non-refoulement principle, he said.

The Nation received no official comment from the Chinese embassy in Thailand while the Turkish embassy said it was waiting for official instructions from Ankara.

Human rights lawyer Surapong Kongchantuk, chairman of the Lawyers Council of Thailand's human rights subcommittee on ethnic minorities, said that states should be careful when determining Uighurs' legal status. Upon their arrival in Thailand, they were considered illegal migrants but the authorities should examine why they decided to leave their homes to come to Thailand and where they wished to go, said the human rights lawyer.

The treatment of the deported Uighurs was a hot topic in the inner circle of the concerned agencies, including the National Security Council, the Defence Ministry and the Foreign Ministry, as they had different approaches to the issue.

The security agencies wanted to repatriate them to China while the Foreign Ministry wanted more support from the international community.

There was no basis for the UN to get involved in the case, as the group did not seek asylum.

A source close to the case said all of the Uighurs identified themselves as Turks and wanted to go to Turkey.

The UN consistently communicated with Thai authorities that they must not be sent to a place where their lives and freedoms could be in danger, and they should have been free to go to a place that had agreed to receive them.

The Thai embassy in Ankara posted on its Facebook page that a group of protesters had gathered outside and advised Thai nationals against visiting the mission.

Those requiring consular services have been advised to call (+90) 312 437 4318 or, in cases of emergency, to call (+90) 533 641 5698.

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Source:http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/UN-slams-deportation-of-Uighurs-30264142.html

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Typhoon lashes Japan islands and Taiwan, heading to China

Giant waves crash into the coastline in Keelung as Typhoon Chan-hom brings rain to northern Taiwan on Friday. AFP PHOTO / Sam Yeh

TOKYO (AFP) - Typhoon Chan-hom lashed Japan's Okinawa island chain on Friday as it pushed towards Taiwan and onto China, leaving at least 23 people injured.

Thousands were evacuated from eastern China in preparation for the storm which left five dead in the Philippines earlier in the week after heavy rains.

The powerful typhoon -- categorised as a "super typhoon" by some regional weather bureaus -- was moving northwest between the islands of Okinawa and Miyako on Friday morning, with recorded gusts of 234 kilometres (145 miles) per hour, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

As trees were uprooted and buildings battered at least 23 people were injured and 180 evacuated across the area, the Tokyo Broadcasting System said.

The meteorological agency warned that strong winds and high waves would continue to pound the island chain where 42,000 households have been left without power.

The storm left five dead in the Philippines, including three children, as it swept through from Tuesday with flooding almost a metre (three feet) deep in the northern island of Luzon and 1,500 people displaced.

Chan-hom began to bear down on Taiwan Friday, where the weather bureau categorised it as a "severe typhoon".

The island’s stock market was closed and schools and offices shut as heavy rainfall and fierce winds battered the north.

Troops have been deployed to northeastern areas and fishing boats called back to ports.

Mountain communities were particularly at risk with warnings over landslides, authorities said. The township of Chien-shih in Hsinchu county was deluged with 150 mm (six inches) of rainfall overnight and into Friday morning.

"As the storm is swirling towards the waters off the north and northeast, rains and winds are expected to be on the rise," the weather bureau said.

A number of flights in and out of Okinawa and northern Taiwan have been cancelled.

China’s National Meteorological Center issued a red alert, the highest, on Friday morning for Chan-Hom, according to state news agency Xinhua.

The storm is due to pass northern Taiwan overnight before making landfall on the east coast of mainland China.

More than 10,000 people have been evacuated from the coastal province of Zhejiang and 10,000 fishing vessels returned to harbour for shelter.

People on coastal fishing farms in Fujian province were also asked to move out Friday morning.

Chan-hom was expected to hit eastern China’s coastline early Saturday and is forecast to change course and head northeast toward Shanghai and the Korean peninsula.

Hot on the heels of Chan-hom, Typhoon Nangka was swelling over the Pacific Ocean Friday and is expected to travel northwest towards Japan’s Ryukyu Islands in the coming days. The Japan Meteorological Agency described the intensity of the storm as "very strong".

Hong Kong had been braced Thursday for severe tropical storm Linfa but it weakened after making landfall on the coast of the southern Chinese province of Guangdong and skirted the city late at night making little impact.

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Source:http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Typhoon-lashes-Japan-islands-and-Taiwan-heading-to-30264164.html

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The 10 Wealthiest Women Around The World

When it comes to women with money, rightly or wrongly, people tend to assume they either come from money, or married in to it. On this list there are definitely women who received a huge head start in life by being born to the right (extremely rich!) parents, but that doesn’t mean they are spoiled airheads! Not every heiress acts like Paris Hilton, these women earned their “richest women” title by working hard with what they had, and making it grow in to even more. Sure, they may be billionaire babies, but they’re the rare form of rich kid who decided to be disciplined and work hard, rather than post the spoils of their wealth on Instagram all day.
You may not have heard of some of them, but trust me, they’re powerful! Heck, a couple of them are more powerful than the leaders of their country… because their bank accounts can actually buy them their own country! Beyoncé who? She may be a billion dollar brand making $100 million a year, but her bank account is still not big as these women’s. Here’s ten of the richest women in the world that proves that females can play better than the big boys sitting on top of the ladder… because you know that they’d just kick them off that ladder with their killer Louboutins.

Holly Branson is the daughter of billionaire daredevil, Sir Richard Branson. Before you complain that she got rich because of her pedigree— think again. Miss Holly is one smart cookie. She finished med school and worked in the neurology department of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. So, she knows how to mess with your brain. Do you want to be lobotomized? Because I’m pretty sure that behind that pretty face, lies a dark side that comes out when you mess with her!
Holly is also very involved with her father’s empire. She goes around the world and helps with charitable causes. However, that might be halted for a bit. She’s expecting twins!

Lydia Hearst

Lydia Hearst is the total package. She’s rich, comes from a good family, and is a fashion model. She’s the reason why I cry at night, basically. Lydia is perfection. She’s a philanthropist and a Smile Ambassador for Operation Smile. She’s on a mission to put a smile on the faces of less fortunate children.

Lydia is also a successful blogger, who’s an heiress to a publication empire established by her great grandfather. Talk about being a lucky kid! Old money definitely has its perks. No money? Well, maybe we can eat the words that I’m writing so I can be as fab as Lydia. Hashtag envious!

Ivanka Trump

Ivanka Trump is another beauty that didn’t mind playing (and beating) a game that only big boys have played. She is the daughter of magnate (and occasional WWE talent— seriously, he was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame and made me laugh) Donald Trump. Ivanka graduated summa cum laude of her class at Wharton School of Business.

Ivanka’s more recognized than her brother Donald Jr. because, well… I personally think it’s because she’s prettier to look at. And we all know that Donald Jr is going to be rocking a thin comb-over like their dad in a few years. I don’t see Ivanka ever sporting that hairstyle. That’s what weaves are for. Thank heavens for better hair services for women.

Elizabeth Holmes

Oh, Elizabeth! She established a company that’s now valued at $8 billion dollars using money that her parents had saved up for her. So, no old money here! Just pure perseverance and the natural resilience of a woman. She used her blood, sweat, and tears to become richer. Elizabeth’s now the youngest self-made female billionaire because of it, and all because she dropped out of college to focus on her business! And being a woman, her strategy of keeping her company’s business a secret is surprising. I mean, it succeeded! A woman successfully kept a huge secret and now has a personal net worth of $4.5 billion!

Now, how do I inform my mother that I need to drop out of university so I can become a billionaire?

Marta Ortega-Perez

Marta is the daughter of Amancio Ortega, the founder and head of Inditex, the company responsible for brands like Zara. Now, Marta was born rich, but she had to work for her status. Her dad may be worth $62 billion, but she worked her way up from the bottom of the career ladder. My dad’s not worth that much, heck, I don’t even know if he’s worth anything. But I still have to work from the bottom (and still stuck, fyi)— something that I have in common with Marta! Except she’s worth billions because of her hard work. See, Marta was raised well because she was raised with money and morals (*cough* take note, rich kids of Instagram *cough*).

Jocelyn Wildenstein

Jocelyn’s dubbed as “Catwoman”, and she’s the woman that I aspire to be when I grow up. Mostly because she’s deemed insane by some and doesn’t give a damn about the haters! She lives such an extravagant lifestyle, her food bill alone is around $550,000 per year!

Jocelyn’s divorce settlement granted her $2.5 billion, with an additional $100 million per year for the next thirteen years. The downside? She’s not allowed to use any of that money for more plastic surgery. Figures, since she looks so, uhm, different. Or maybe her doctor’s a horrible person who’s main goal is to make his patients look like swollen munchkin cats.

Donatella Versace

Please forgive me if I introduce Donatella on this list by admitting that I think she looks like a wrinkled, pink prune. That being said, I think she’s awesome because she has the money to pull off the look. Donatella’s well-known as that other ninja turtle (wait, that’s Donatello.) Oh, right. She’s the head of Versace, one of the most well-known fashion houses in the world, which she inherited from her brother Gianni upon his passing in 1997.

Donatella’s current net worth is $200 million, but only because she gave away 70% of the company to her daughter and other brother. Still, 30% at 200 mil? Not freaking bad!

Liliane Bettencourt

The richest person in France, and the richest woman in the world. Liliane Bettencourt is the head of L’Oreal, the largest cosmetics company on the planet. Originally, she inherited the company from her father, but it was her hard work that really improved the company, despite it being bipolar with prices (seriously! make up your damn mind when it comes to price tags). Liliane is currently worth $200 billion and can probably afford to buy her own country by now.

I heard Liliane sold her own island paradise for $42 million. Does she need grandchildren? If so, where can I sign up and do I get free stuff?

Christy Walton

Christy Walton has $22.5 billion to her name due to the fact that she’s the widow of John Walton (son of Sam Walton, founder of Walmart). Yep, she’s part of the Walmart family and she’s now the second richest woman in the world. Christy has significant holdings in the company, and probably gets free groceries delivered to her regularly— she gets to save her precious money!

I don’t think Christy knows what’s happening to their customers. Some shocking stuff has been witnessed in their stores. But there have been some gems, thanks to the “People Of Walmart.” Maybe she just has too much money to care?

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Source:http://myfirstclasslife.com/10-wealthiest-women-around-world/

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The couple who work out together... Daniel Radcliffe and girlfriend Erin Darke shop for workout kit together in New York City

By MAILONLINE REPORTER

Clearly his recent Rear of the Year win has spurred Daniel Radcliffe to keep in shape.

The 25-year-old Harry Potter actor stepped out in Soho, New York with his actress girlfriend, Erin Darke, 30, who has starred in Girls and Pan-Am, to buy some workout kit earlier this week.

The couple bought matching yoga exercise mats during the shopping trip.

Working out: The couple shop for matching yoga mats on an outing in Soho in New York City earlier this week

The Woman in Black star kept things casual in dark T-shirt and jeans, teamed with a colourful baseball cap and he was sporting a scruffy beard for the outing.

Meanwhile the American actress wore a grey top which she tied at the bottom, showing off her flat stomach and a black patterned skirt, showing off her toned legs.

She teamed the ensemble with simple tan sandals and dark sunglasses. The low-key couple met on the set of the 2012 film, Kill Your Darlings and revealed their relationship last year.

In love: The couple met on the set of the 2012 film, Kill Your Darlings and Daniel called her his 'best friend'

He told People last August: 'I'm going out with my best friend at the moment. And that's, I think, the way it should be.

He added: 'If you can get to a point where you're dating or married to somebody you consider your best friend, that's what will make it work.' 

Over the past few weeks, Daniel has been enjoying some down-time in amongst filming his numerous current projects, which include the Now You See Me sequel and TV movie Game Changer.  

Keeping it casual: Daniel covered up in jeans and a T-shirt while Erin showed off her long legs and taut stomach in a skirt and cropped top

Daniel recently stepped out in support of his stunning girlfriend on the opening night of her off-Broadway play, The Spoils.

The play has been written by Jesse Eisenberg, about a woman plagued by her ex-boyfriend.

The reviews have been positive with The New York Times calling her performance 'excellent' and the New York Daily News praised her as 'always believable.'

                                Lucky girl: The Harry Potter star fought off some serious competition to be crowned Rear Of The Year




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Source:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3147054/Daniel-Radcliffe-girlfriend-Erin-Darke-shop-workout-kit-New-York-City.html

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ISIS takes a sledgehammer to civilization once again: Activists caught smuggling Palmyra statues to safety are lashed - then forced to destroy priceless antiquities in front of a baying crowd

 Activists forced to smash up statues after ISIS militants discovered them

 The activist was also publicly flogged for trying to save the statues 

 ISIS have previously destroyed countless statues in Mosul Museum 

New photos have emerged of ISIS destroying a number of historic statues from the ancient archaeological site of Palmyra in Syria. 

An activist had been attempting to smuggle the statues out of Palmyra only for the statues to be uncovered when he was caught by the militant group.

As punishment for his crime, pictures show the activist being publicly flogged after being forced to use a hammer to destroy the statues he had been trying to save from ISIS.

The photos provide more evidence that the brutal jihadis remain hell bent on eradicating any trace of Syria and Iraq's rich heritage.

Scroll down for video: 

According to the ISIS statement which accompanied the pictures, the historical statues are described as 'contraband'.

It claims that activists had been trying to smuggle out the statues, fearing their destruction at the hands of ISIS

Archaeologists had feared for some time that the group would have no mercy with Syria's historic artefacts when the jihadists rapidly seized the Syrian city of Palmyra.

Also known in Arabic as Tadmur, the city is situated near one of the oldest historical sties in the Middle East.

Jihadists quickly posted photos from within the stunningly well preserved city of Palmyra, drawing fears that ISIS would destroy the once Roman occupied site.

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3147298/ISIS-sledgehammer-civilization-Islamist-group-capture-activists-trying-smuggle-ancient-statues-safety-force-destroy-lashing-baying-crowd.html

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Did Nadech's mother buy Yaya a van?

Did Nadech's mother buy Yaya a van?

It reinforces the strong relationship between the two families, when someone saw Yaya Urassaya took Nadech's mother hand to go help choose a van for herself.

Below is the interview that Yaya gave at the Siam Star Award of 2015.

Did Mae Gaew (Nadech's mother) ask you to go look for a van with her?

"Oh, I wanted a van. Mae Gaew suggested the location for me, so we went together but there weren't any."

Is it true that she is buying it for you?

"No, no, not for sure. I didn't know where to look for it. Mae Gaew suggested the place, so we went together to see."

Is the van the same brand and year as the one Nadech has?

"No. It's a different brand; looks different from Nadech's, too. The one I got wasn't from the place that Mae Gaew suggested, because they didn't have it there."

How much did it cost?

"I'm sure it's not cheap, but I don't know. My mom paid for it."

Why does it have to be a van?

"I get tired. I want a convenient and comfortable car where I could sleep and also change clothes in."

People take it has a further reinforcement of the two relationships, since you can ask for advice from Nadech's mother.

"Actually, I do ask for advice when I needed, because we are close. But we aren't close to the point where we are one family."

Yaya at Siam Star Award of 2015

Yaya and Nadech and their moms.

SOURCE: Sanook!

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Top 5 Slap and Kiss Lakorns

According to a variety TV show on Thaich2, fans have rated these as their top 5 "Slap and Kiss" lakorn of all time.

In 5th Place: Sanaeha Sunya Kaen/Bittersweet Promise of Revenge /ละครเสน่หา สัญญาแค้

 

5th place voted by fans is this lakorn played by Janie and Dome Pakorn. Exactly like the title, this is a slap/kiss lakorn revenge type drama. It's your typical Asian drama with a rich CEO and poor girl. Kim (Dome) is revenging Tawan (Janie) for the death of his wife. Kim was married for only one night. That night, he was waiting for her to get home, but Tawan crossed the street while the wife was talking on the phone with Kim which caused a big accident, and she died. Kim searched for the killer, and he finally found Tawan. After that, he did everything he could to get close to her, then destroy her in one blank of an eye.

In 4th Place: เมียเถื่อน / Mia Tuean(The Illicit Wife)

Fah (the main girl) was sent as a maid to Kade(Film), whom her step mother was indebted to. Fah's father was ill; leaving her with no choice, she agrees to go work as a maid to pay off the debts and have enough for her father's hospital fees. And then the slap and kiss jump in.

 In 3rd Place: Fai Ruk Arsoon/Love Fire Of The Beast / ไฟรักอสูร 

 

A drama about a fisherman who was left behind with her daughter after his wife ran away. One day when he saw her again; he kidnapped her back and punished her by making her work hard around the house. But the twist is that she isn't his wife, but someone that looks like her.

The 2nd Place: Sawan Biang or Sawan Bieng (สวรรค์เบี่ยง/ "Paradise Diversion"

 We all know how this drama went, no need to put on a summary here. But if you don't know what this drama is then you have been missing out on one of the best Thai lakorn. 

and the 1st Place goes to....

จำเลยรัก, Jam Loey Rak, Slave of Love

 Also, another that we should all know. If not, you should go watch. It's about a guy kidnapping the wrong woman into an island with him for the death of his younger brother.

 If you are interested about watching one of these dramas but needs help finding, comment below. Otherwise, do you agree with this top five slap and kiss list?

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