Potential jurors in the defamation trial of high-tech entrepreneur <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-back-on-twitter-after-break-260218">Elon Musk</a> may be excused from the case if they voice strong feelings about billionaires or people who visit Thailand.

Jury selection was set to begin on Tuesday in the civil suit brought against the Tesla Inc chief executive by a British cave explorer who gained fame for his leading role in the rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Thailand last year.

The explorer, Vernon Unsworth, says the billionaire, who also founded private rocket company SpaceX, falsely labelled him "pedo guy" on Twitter and should pay punitive and other damages for harming his reputation.

At a pretrial hearing on Monday, US&nbsp;District Judge Stephen Wilson in Los Angeles ruled on several procedural matters and went over ground rules with attorneys for both sides, including the list of questions he will pose during jury selection.

In addition to relatively standard queries such as "Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit," the judge said he would ask prospective jurors some questions unique to the Musk case, including: "Do you have a strong opinion about billionaires?" and "Do you have strong opinions of people who visit or live in Thailand?"

Although an affirmative answer does not necessarily ensure that a potential juror would be excused, such questions are designed to discern an individual's ability to be impartial.

The judge will empanel six to 12 jurors, though Wilson said he finds an eight-member panel to be ideal. Opening statements are expected to begin right after jury selection finishes on Tuesday.

Musk is slated to be the first witness for the plaintiff's team once testimony begins.

The case stems from an offer Musk made to furnish a mini-submarine from his SpaceX company to help with the cave rescue in July 2018.

Unsworth told CNN on July 13, 2018, three days after the rescue was completed, that the offer was a "PR stunt" and that Musk could "stick his submarine where it hurts."

Two days later, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-tries-off-hand-humour-again-compares-queen-elizabeth-ii-to-teletubbies-240678">Musk lashed out at Unsworth</a> in a series of tweets, including one which called him a "pedo guy." Musk later apologized for that comment.

The judge explained the case hinges on whether a reasonable person would take Musk's Twitter statement to mean that he was calling Unsworth a paedophile.

To win the defamation case, Unsworth needs to show that Musk was negligent in publishing a falsehood that clearly identified the plaintiff and caused him harm. "Actual malice" on Musk's part does not need to be proven because the judge has deemed Unsworth a private individual rather than a public figure.

Although the case does not involve&nbsp;Tesla, Musk's Twitter habits have long been under close scrutiny, with investors and regulators expressing concerns about his tweets.

With 29.8 million followers, Musk's Twitter account is a major source of publicity for his Palo Alto, California-based electric car company, which does not advertise.

On Monday, the judge refused a defence request to reverse a decision allowing Unsworth's attorneys to introduce an email Musk sent to the news website BuzzFeed in which Musk chided a reporter there to "stop defending child rapists."

Wilson also refused to reverse a ruling that bars plaintiff's lawyers from introducing Musk's financial statements, after defence attorneys acknowledged in court that their client has publicly put his net worth at $20 billion.

Potential jurors in the defamation trial of high-tech entrepreneur Elon Musk may be excused from the case if they voice strong feelings about billionaires or people who visit Thailand.

Potential jurors in the defamation trial of high-tech entrepreneur Elon Musk may be excused from the case if they voice strong feelings about billionaires or people who visit Thailand. Jury selection was set to begin on Tuesday in the civil suit brought against the Tesla Inc chief executive by a British cave explorer who gained fame for his leading role in the rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Thailand last year. The explorer, Vernon Unsworth, says the billionaire, who also founded private rocket company SpaceX, falsely labelled him "pedo guy" on Twitter and should pay punitive and other damages for harming his reputation. At a pretrial hearing on Monday, US District Judge Stephen Wilson in Los Angeles ruled on several procedural matters and went over ground rules with attorneys for both sides, including the list of questions he will pose during jury selection. In addition to relatively standard queries such as "Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit," the judge said he would ask prospective jurors some questions unique to the Musk case, including: "Do you have a strong opinion about billionaires?" and "Do you have strong opinions of people who visit or live in Thailand?" Although an affirmative answer does not necessarily ensure that a potential juror would be excused, such questions are designed to discern an individual's ability to be impartial. The judge will empanel six to 12 jurors, though Wilson said he finds an eight-member panel to be ideal. Opening statements are expected to begin right after jury selection finishes on Tuesday. Musk is slated to be the first witness for the plaintiff's team once testimony begins. The case stems from an offer Musk made to furnish a mini-submarine from his SpaceX company to help with the cave rescue in July 2018. Unsworth told CNN on July 13, 2018, three days after the rescue was completed, that the offer was a "PR stunt" and that Musk could "stick his submarine where it hurts." Two days later, Musk lashed out at Unsworth in a series of tweets, including one which called him a "pedo guy." Musk later apologized for that comment. The judge explained the case hinges on whether a reasonable person would take Musk's Twitter statement to mean that he was calling Unsworth a paedophile. To win the defamation case, Unsworth needs to show that Musk was negligent in publishing a falsehood that clearly identified the plaintiff and caused him harm. "Actual malice" on Musk's part does not need to be proven because the judge has deemed Unsworth a private individual rather than a public figure. Although the case does not involve Tesla, Musk's Twitter habits have long been under close scrutiny, with investors and regulators expressing concerns about his tweets. With 29.8 million followers, Musk's Twitter account is a major source of publicity for his Palo Alto, California-based electric car company, which does not advertise. On Monday, the judge refused a defence request to reverse a decision allowing Unsworth's attorneys to introduce an email Musk sent to the news website BuzzFeed in which Musk chided a reporter there to "stop defending child rapists." Wilson also refused to reverse a ruling that bars plaintiff's lawyers from introducing Musk's financial statements, after defence attorneys acknowledged in court that their client has publicly put his net worth at $20 billion.

Elon Musk's jury to be queried on opinions of billionaires, visitors to Thailand

Pope Francis Kicks Off Asia Tour In Thailand, Visits Supreme Buddhist Patriarch.

Gravitas: Pope Francis on Asian tour

While attending a Sunday mass with her son, there is only one thing on 51-year-old Thai bakery owner Pajonglak Dardarananda's mind - she will be singing in the choir for Pope Francis when he visits Bangkok for the first time later this week.

Thai bakery owner says 'singing for Pope' highest honour in life

A shallow 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit northwestern Laos near the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-arrives-in-thailand-at-start-of-asia-trip-263302">Thai border early Thursday</a>, the United States Geological Survey reported, alarming locals who felt buildings shake as far away as Bangkok.

There were no immediate reports of damage after the quake hit at 6:50 am.

But tremors could be felt more than 700 kilometres&nbsp;away in the Thai capital, where Pope Francis is currently on a four-day visit.&nbsp;

"The shaking... was the main shock from a quake in Laos at 6:50 am and was felt in northern and northeastern Thailand and Bangkok and suburbs," said Sophon Chaila, an official at the Thai Meteorological Department.

"As of now there is no report of damage," Sophon said.

The department said the quake-affected nine provinces in Thailand and there were four lesser aftershocks. It also became a top trending topic on Twitter in Thailand.

Residents in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi also felt buildings sway.&nbsp;

"The ceiling lights were shaking quite strongly. I felt dizzy and scared," said Hanoi resident Tran Hoa Phuong, who felt the earthquake in her 27-storey apartment building.&nbsp;

It hit about three hours after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck the same region of Laos, near the site of the large Xayaburi dam project, which reported no damage so far.&nbsp;

Information is slow to trickle out of the closed communist state, and there were similarly no official reports of damage or injuries after the twin quakes hit early Thursday.

Impoverished Laos has ploughed ahead with ambitious dam-building projects that critics say lack transparency and stringent safety measures.

The cost was laid bare last year when a massive hydropower project collapsed in southern Laos, killing dozens and leaving thousands homeless.

Pope Francis arrived in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/seven-suspects-arrested-for-rebel-attacks-in-thailands-south-260958">Bangkok</a> on Wednesday and has a busy agenda Thursday meeting officials and the Thai king before he leads a mass in the evening.&nbsp;

There was no word from his team on whether he felt the quake.&nbsp;

Powerful earthquakes occasionally strike hard in Southeast Asia.

In 2016 a 6.8-magnitude quake struck Myanmar, killing at least three people and damaging temples in the ancient temple town of Bagan.&nbsp;

A shallow 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit northwestern Laos near the Thai border early Thursday, the United States Geological Survey reported, alarming locals who felt buildings shake as far away as Bangkok.

A shallow 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit northwestern Laos near the Thai border early Thursday, the United States Geological Survey reported, alarming locals who felt buildings shake as far away as Bangkok. There were no immediate reports of damage after the quake hit at 6:50 am. But tremors could be felt more than 700 kilometres away in the Thai capital, where Pope Francis is currently on a four-day visit. "The shaking... was the main shock from a quake in Laos at 6:50 am and was felt in northern and northeastern Thailand and Bangkok and suburbs," said Sophon Chaila, an official at the Thai Meteorological Department. "As of now there is no report of damage," Sophon said. The department said the quake-affected nine provinces in Thailand and there were four lesser aftershocks. It also became a top trending topic on Twitter in Thailand. Residents in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi also felt buildings sway. "The ceiling lights were shaking quite strongly. I felt dizzy and scared," said Hanoi resident Tran Hoa Phuong, who felt the earthquake in her 27-storey apartment building. It hit about three hours after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck the same region of Laos, near the site of the large Xayaburi dam project, which reported no damage so far. Information is slow to trickle out of the closed communist state, and there were similarly no official reports of damage or injuries after the twin quakes hit early Thursday. Impoverished Laos has ploughed ahead with ambitious dam-building projects that critics say lack transparency and stringent safety measures. The cost was laid bare last year when a massive hydropower project collapsed in southern Laos, killing dozens and leaving thousands homeless. Pope Francis arrived in Bangkok on Wednesday and has a busy agenda Thursday meeting officials and the Thai king before he leads a mass in the evening. There was no word from his team on whether he felt the quake. Powerful earthquakes occasionally strike hard in Southeast Asia. In 2016 a 6.8-magnitude quake struck Myanmar, killing at least three people and damaging temples in the ancient temple town of Bagan.

6.1-magnitude quake hits Thailand-Laos border

Three people were killed in a shootout at a Thai courtroom on Tuesday during a hearing into an inheritance dispute, according to police, who said two of the victims were lawyers.

The gunman opened fire on the opposing side in the dispute in Chanthaburi provincial court before a guard shot back and fatally wounded him.

National police office spokesman Krissana Pattanacharoen said three people including the assailant were confirmed dead, while others were injured in the melee.

"Two are lawyers another one is the shooter," he said, adding that they are still investigating why the courtroom feud turned deadly.

The identities of the victims were not released.

Gruesome images of the bloody courtroom scene, some 250 kilometres&nbsp;southeast of Bangkok, circulated on social media.

Thailand has high rates of gun ownership and petty personal disputes, romantic and business rivalries are often resolved with bullets.

But the incident is the latest in a series of high-profile courthouse shootings that have exposed flaws in the legal system's security.

A week ago three drug suspects,&nbsp;including an American,&nbsp;shot and stabbed their way out of a court in the seaside town of Pattaya before being tracked down by police.

Early last month a Thai judge in the insurgency-battered south shot himself in the chest in front of a packed court after acquitting several murder suspects and decrying the judicial system in an impassioned speech.

Three people were killed in a shootout at a Thai courtroom on Tuesday during a hearing into an inheritance dispute, according to police, who said two of the victims were lawyers.

Three people were killed in a shootout at a Thai courtroom on Tuesday during a hearing into an inheritance dispute, according to police, who said two of the victims were lawyers. The gunman opened fire on the opposing side in the dispute in Chanthaburi provincial court before a guard shot back and fatally wounded him. National police office spokesman Krissana Pattanacharoen said three people including the assailant were confirmed dead, while others were injured in the melee. "Two are lawyers another one is the shooter," he said, adding that they are still investigating why the courtroom feud turned deadly. The identities of the victims were not released. Gruesome images of the bloody courtroom scene, some 250 kilometres southeast of Bangkok, circulated on social media. Thailand has high rates of gun ownership and petty personal disputes, romantic and business rivalries are often resolved with bullets. But the incident is the latest in a series of high-profile courthouse shootings that have exposed flaws in the legal system's security. A week ago three drug suspects, including an American, shot and stabbed their way out of a court in the seaside town of Pattaya before being tracked down by police. Early last month a Thai judge in the insurgency-battered south shot himself in the chest in front of a packed court after acquitting several murder suspects and decrying the judicial system in an impassioned speech.

Two lawyers, gunman killed in Thai courtroom shootout: Police

Seven suspected rebels have been arrested in Thailand's violence-wracked south, authorities said Saturday, as a manhunt sweeps through remote villages for gunmen who killed 15 in an ambush considered the deadliest attack in the yearslong insurgency.

Thailand's three southernmost provinces have been in the grip of a simmering 15-year conflict that has killed more than 7,000 people, the majority civilians, as Malay-Muslim militants fight for more autonomy from the Thai state.&nbsp;

The fighting is characterised by tit-for-tat attacks that usually target symbols of the mostly Buddhist Thai state and its security forces.

But Tuesday night's ambush in Yala province was on two checkpoints manned by civilian defence volunteers -- villagers trained and armed by the Thai state -- which left 15 of both Buddhist and Muslim faith dead.

A suspect was swiftly arrested the following day and raids carried out late Friday night in Yala and Pattani provinces netted six more, said southern army spokesman Pramote Prom-in.

Authorities also found bloodied gauze in the home of a local village doctor near the crime scene, which is under "forensics" investigation to match the blood traces left from the shoot-out, he told AFP.&nbsp;

"We suspect around 30 to 40 people were involved," Pramote said, adding that it remains unclear which particular separatist group orchestrated this highly organised attack.

No group has stepped forward to claim responsibility in this attack, as is the case with most incidents in the so-called "deep south".&nbsp;

But a shadowy patchwork of rebel groups have long warred with Thai security forces, accused of heavy-handed tactics by Muslim communities who feel targeted in their homes.&nbsp;

The region is also under martial law, with numerous checkpoints dotting remote villages and security forces given the right to detain any person without warrant.&nbsp;

All suspects have been moved to the notorious Inkayuth military camp in Pattani province, said Pramote -- the army's biggest detention centre in the south where rights groups have documented torture.&nbsp;

A Muslim man who was detained there in July was left in a coma after an interrogation session. Abdulloh Esormusor died in August and an army probe found that his death could have been due to "suffocation".&nbsp;

Anger had snowballed over the case, with an umbrella group representing some of the shadowy rebel groups saying they suspected "foul play" in Abdulloh's case and calling for an international probe.&nbsp;

Seven suspected rebels have been arrested in Thailand's violence-wracked south, authorities said Saturday, as a manhunt sweeps through remote villages for gunmen who killed 15 in an ambush considered the deadliest attack in the yearslong insurgency.

Seven suspected rebels have been arrested in Thailand's violence-wracked south, authorities said Saturday, as a manhunt sweeps through remote villages for gunmen who killed 15 in an ambush considered the deadliest attack in the yearslong insurgency. Thailand's three southernmost provinces have been in the grip of a simmering 15-year conflict that has killed more than 7,000 people, the majority civilians, as Malay-Muslim militants fight for more autonomy from the Thai state. The fighting is characterised by tit-for-tat attacks that usually target symbols of the mostly Buddhist Thai state and its security forces. But Tuesday night's ambush in Yala province was on two checkpoints manned by civilian defence volunteers -- villagers trained and armed by the Thai state -- which left 15 of both Buddhist and Muslim faith dead. A suspect was swiftly arrested the following day and raids carried out late Friday night in Yala and Pattani provinces netted six more, said southern army spokesman Pramote Prom-in. Authorities also found bloodied gauze in the home of a local village doctor near the crime scene, which is under "forensics" investigation to match the blood traces left from the shoot-out, he told AFP. "We suspect around 30 to 40 people were involved," Pramote said, adding that it remains unclear which particular separatist group orchestrated this highly organised attack. No group has stepped forward to claim responsibility in this attack, as is the case with most incidents in the so-called "deep south". But a shadowy patchwork of rebel groups have long warred with Thai security forces, accused of heavy-handed tactics by Muslim communities who feel targeted in their homes. The region is also under martial law, with numerous checkpoints dotting remote villages and security forces given the right to detain any person without warrant. All suspects have been moved to the notorious Inkayuth military camp in Pattani province, said Pramote -- the army's biggest detention centre in the south where rights groups have documented torture. A Muslim man who was detained there in July was left in a coma after an interrogation session. Abdulloh Esormusor died in August and an army probe found that his death could have been due to "suffocation". Anger had snowballed over the case, with an umbrella group representing some of the shadowy rebel groups saying they suspected "foul play" in Abdulloh's case and calling for an international probe.

Seven suspects arrested for rebel attacks in Thailand's south

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - November 5th, 2019

Thailand: PM Modi to hold talks with 3 counterparts on 3rd Day of visit. Watch video to know more.

Thailand: PM Modi to hold talks with 3 counterparts on 3rd Day of visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday outlined "global challenges facing the world today and highlighted the need for working together to find common solutions," informed Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar. 
 
"Attaching priority to an important confidence-building mechanism. PM Narendra Modi participates at the 14th EAS 2019, his 6th since assuming office. PM outlined global challenges facing the world today and highlighted that the need for working together to find common solutions," Raveesh Kumar wrote on his Twitter handle. 
&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Attaching priority to an important confidence building mechanism. 
 
PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> participates at the 14th <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EAS2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EAS2019</a>, his 6th since assuming office. PM outlined global challenges facing the world today &amp; highlighted that the need for working together to find common solutions. <a href="https://t.co/4YIJEe3T2E">pic.twitter.com/4YIJEe3T2E</a>
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1191276704397848576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 
The agenda on the East Asia summit is to review the future direction of East Asia cooperation and exchange views on regional and international issues. 
 
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi had a luncheon with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders to discuss the issue of sustainable development. 
 
Modi also met his Japanese counterpart and welcomed the inaugural 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue, which will take place later this month in India. 
 
Prime Minister Modi is also scheduled to attend the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) summit, where the leaders of the member countries will review the state of negotiations, which are ongoing in Bangkok currently. 
 
Modi is also slated to attend several bilaterals including with Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Australia PrimeMinister Scott Morrison.

&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday outlined "global challenges facing the world today and highlighted the need for working together to find common solutions," informed Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday outlined "global challenges facing the world today and highlighted the need for working together to find common solutions," informed Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar. "Attaching priority to an important confidence-building mechanism. PM Narendra Modi participates at the 14th EAS 2019, his 6th since assuming office. PM outlined global challenges facing the world today and highlighted that the need for working together to find common solutions," Raveesh Kumar wrote on his Twitter handle. Attaching priority to an important confidence building mechanism. PM @narendramodi participates at the 14th #EAS2019, his 6th since assuming office. PM outlined global challenges facing the world today & highlighted that the need for working together to find common solutions. pic.twitter.com/4YIJEe3T2E — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) November 4, 2019 The agenda on the East Asia summit is to review the future direction of East Asia cooperation and exchange views on regional and international issues. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi had a luncheon with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders to discuss the issue of sustainable development. Modi also met his Japanese counterpart and welcomed the inaugural 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue, which will take place later this month in India. Prime Minister Modi is also scheduled to attend the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) summit, where the leaders of the member countries will review the state of negotiations, which are ongoing in Bangkok currently. Modi is also slated to attend several bilaterals including with Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Australia PrimeMinister Scott Morrison.

PM Modi calls on world to collaboratively solve common challenges

Today is the last day of Indian PM Narendra Modi's visit to Thailand for the ASEAN Summit, He met Japanese PM and held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of ASEAN.

Day 3: Indian PM Modi meets Japanese PM on the sidelines of ASEAN

During the meeting of PM Modi and Thailand's Prime Minister, PM Modi said that ASEAN is an integral part of Act East policy. Watch this video to find out more.

PM Modi: 'ASEAN is an integral part of Act East policy'

PM Modi attends India-ASEAN summit for the 7th time. PM Modi co-chairs summit with Thailand's PM. Watch this video to find out more in details.

Bangkok: PM Modi co-chairs summit with Thailand's PM

WION Exclusively speaks to Gurjit Singh, Former Ambassador of India to ASEAN on PM Modi's 3-day Thailand visit. Watch this video to listen to his perspective.

WION Exclusively speaks to Former Ambassador of India to ASEAN over Modi's 3-day Thai-visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on 3-day Thailand visit. Today, Diplomatic engagements on agenda of Day 2. Watch this complete video and find out more on the agenda of PM Modi's Thailand visit.

PM Modi's 3-day Thailand visit: Diplomatic engagements on agenda of Day 2

ASEAN Summit: PM Modi holds talks with Thai PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had bilateral talks with President of Indonesia Joko Widodo today that is the second day of PM Modi's 3-day Visit of Thailand. Watch this video to find out more in details.

India-ASEAN Summit: PM Modi had bilateral talks with President of Indonesia Joko Widodo

WION Exclusively speaks to Vivek Katju, Former Ambassador of India to Thailand, Myanmar & Afghanistan over Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 3-day Thailand visit and ASEAN-India summit. Watch this video to listen to his perspective.

WION Exclusively speaks to former ambassador of India to Thailand over ASEAN-India summit

WION Exclusively speaks to Brahma Chellaney, Professor for Strategic studies at Centre for Policy Research over ASEAN-India summit.

WION Exclusively speaks over ASEAN-India summit  to Brahma Chellaney, An analyst

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on 3-day visit to Thailand. He interacted with the Indian diaspora during ‘Sawasdee PM Modi’ programme today. Prime Minister will also participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), East Asia, and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) summits during the visit.

Indian PM Modi: ASEAN summit is the key part of our Act East policy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the Indian diaspora in the capital city of Thailand, Bangkok. The prime minister said that he didn't feel as if he is in a foreign land. "The ambience, the attire, everything here makes me feel at home," PM Modi said.

Bangkok hosts 'Sawasdee PM Modi' event, PM Modi addresses Indian Diaspora

On PM Modi's 3 day visit to Thailand, he will hold a series pf meetings on ASEAN sidelines.

Indian PM Modi arrives in Bangkok

PM Modi to attend ASEAN-Related summits in Thailand

Thailand unveiled an "anti-fake news" centre on Friday, the Southeast Asian country's latest effort to exert government control over a sweeping range of online content.

The move came as Thailand is counting on the digital economy to drive growth amid domestic political tensions, following a March election that installed its junta leader since 2014 as a civilian prime minister.

Thailand has recently pressed more cybercrime charges for what it says is misinformation affecting national security. Such content is mostly opinion critical of the government, the military or the royal family.

Minister of Digital Economy and Society Puttipong Punnakanta broadly defined "fake news" as any viral online content that misleads people or damages the country's image. He made no distinction between non-malicious false information and deliberate disinformation.

"The centre is not intended to be a tool to support the government or any individual," Puttipong said on Friday before giving reporters a tour.

The centre is set up like a war room, with monitors in the middle of the room showing charts tracking the latest "fake news" and trending Twitter&nbsp;hashtags.

It is staffed by around 30 officers at a time, who will review online content, gathered through "social listening" tools,&nbsp;on a sweeping range of topics from natural disasters, the economy, health products and illicit goods.

The officers will also target news about government policies and content that broadly affects "peace and order, good morals, and national security," according to Puttipong.

If they suspect something is false, they will flag it to relevant authorities to issue corrections through the centre's social media platforms and website and through the press.

Rights groups and media freedom advocates were concerned the government could use the centre as a tool for censorship and propaganda.

"In the Thai context, the term 'fake news' is being weaponised to censor dissidents and restrict our online freedom," said Emilie Pradichit, director of the Thailand-based Manushya Foundation, which advocates for online rights.

Pradichit said the move could be used to codify censorship, adding the centre would allow the government to be the "sole arbiter of truth".

Transparency reports from internet companies such as Facebook&nbsp;and Google&nbsp;show Thai government requests to take down content or turn over information have ramped up since the military seized power in 2014.

A law prohibiting criticism of the monarchy has often been the basis for such requests for Facebook. In Google's cases, government criticism was the main reason cited for removal of content.

Thailand unveiled an "anti-fake news" centre on Friday, the Southeast Asian country's latest effort to exert government control over a sweeping range of online content.

Thailand unveiled an "anti-fake news" centre on Friday, the Southeast Asian country's latest effort to exert government control over a sweeping range of online content. The move came as Thailand is counting on the digital economy to drive growth amid domestic political tensions, following a March election that installed its junta leader since 2014 as a civilian prime minister. Thailand has recently pressed more cybercrime charges for what it says is misinformation affecting national security. Such content is mostly opinion critical of the government, the military or the royal family. Minister of Digital Economy and Society Puttipong Punnakanta broadly defined "fake news" as any viral online content that misleads people or damages the country's image. He made no distinction between non-malicious false information and deliberate disinformation. "The centre is not intended to be a tool to support the government or any individual," Puttipong said on Friday before giving reporters a tour. The centre is set up like a war room, with monitors in the middle of the room showing charts tracking the latest "fake news" and trending Twitter hashtags. It is staffed by around 30 officers at a time, who will review online content, gathered through "social listening" tools, on a sweeping range of topics from natural disasters, the economy, health products and illicit goods. The officers will also target news about government policies and content that broadly affects "peace and order, good morals, and national security," according to Puttipong. If they suspect something is false, they will flag it to relevant authorities to issue corrections through the centre's social media platforms and website and through the press. Rights groups and media freedom advocates were concerned the government could use the centre as a tool for censorship and propaganda. "In the Thai context, the term 'fake news' is being weaponised to censor dissidents and restrict our online freedom," said Emilie Pradichit, director of the Thailand-based Manushya Foundation, which advocates for online rights. Pradichit said the move could be used to codify censorship, adding the centre would allow the government to be the "sole arbiter of truth". Transparency reports from internet companies such as Facebook and Google show Thai government requests to take down content or turn over information have ramped up since the military seized power in 2014. A law prohibiting criticism of the monarchy has often been the basis for such requests for Facebook. In Google's cases, government criticism was the main reason cited for removal of content.

Thailand unveils 'anti-fake news' centre to police the internet

Thailand King Says Royal Consort Koi Was Disloyal In A Shocking Move Few months ago, King of Thailand gave Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi the title of Royal Noble Consort in a bizarre kneeling ceremony.

Gravitas: Thailand King Strips Royal Consort Of All Titles & Ranks

Residents of four provinces in southern Thailand have been warned that haze from Indonesia's forest fires has reached hazardous levels.

Your Story: Indonesian fire haze spreads to Thailand

Shuttler PV Sindhu crashed out of the China Open on Thursday, losing her second-round match against Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong.

Reigning world champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/whenever-i-lose-he-is-like-its-okay-well-try-next-time-pv-sindhu-on-coach-pullela-gopichand-245912">Sindhu</a> dominated the first game, winning it 21-12.

However, the shuttler from Thailand bounced back in the next two games and Sindhu had no answer for the gameplay showed by Chochuwong.

Chochuwong won the second and third game 21-13, 21-19 to enter the third round of the tournament.

Sindhu had defeated China's Li Xue Rui 21-18, 21-12 on Wednesday to enter the second round of the China Open.

Earlier in the day, the men's doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy also bowed out of the tournament after losing to Japan's Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda.

Shuttler PV Sindhu crashed out of the China Open on Thursday, losing her second-round match against Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong. Reigning world champion Sindhu dominated the first game, winning it 21-12.

Shuttler PV Sindhu crashed out of the China Open on Thursday, losing her second-round match against Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong. Reigning world champion Sindhu dominated the first game, winning it 21-12. However, the shuttler from Thailand bounced back in the next two games and Sindhu had no answer for the gameplay showed by Chochuwong. Chochuwong won the second and third game 21-13, 21-19 to enter the third round of the tournament. Sindhu had defeated China's Li Xue Rui 21-18, 21-12 on Wednesday to enter the second round of the China Open. Earlier in the day, the men's doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy also bowed out of the tournament after losing to Japan's Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda.

PV Sindhu crashes out of China Open; loses to Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong

More than half of the tigers that Thai authorities confiscated in 2016 from an infamous Tiger Temple tourist attraction have died from a viral disease because their immune systems were weakened by inbreeding, media reported.

 
The Buddhist temple west of Bangkok was a tourist destination where visitors took selfies with tigers and bottle-fed cubs until authorities removed its nearly 150 tigers in 2016 in response to global pressure over wildlife trafficking.

 
The confiscated animals were taken to two state-run sanctuaries but it soon became apparent they were susceptible to canine distemper virus, said a senior official from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

 
"When we took the tigers in, we noted that they had no immune system due to inbreeding," the department's deputy director-general, Prakit Vongsrivattanakul, told the state-owned broadcaster MCOT on the weekend.

 
"We treated them as symptoms came up," Prakit said.

 
Prakit did not give a figure for the number of tigers that had died but public service broadcaster Thai PBS reported that the toll was 86 of the 147 rescued animals.

 
The temple had promoted itself for years as a wildlife sanctuary, but it was eventually investigated for suspected links to wildlife trafficking and animal abuse.

 
Wildlife activists accused the temple's monks of illegally breeding tigers, while some visitors said the animals appeared drugged. The temple denied the accusations.

 
Government officials could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

More than half of the tigers that Thai authorities confiscated in 2016 from an infamous Tiger Temple tourist attraction have died from a viral disease because their immune systems were weakened by inbreeding, media reported.

More than half of the tigers that Thai authorities confiscated in 2016 from an infamous Tiger Temple tourist attraction have died from a viral disease because their immune systems were weakened by inbreeding, media reported. The Buddhist temple west of Bangkok was a tourist destination where visitors took selfies with tigers and bottle-fed cubs until authorities removed its nearly 150 tigers in 2016 in response to global pressure over wildlife trafficking. The confiscated animals were taken to two state-run sanctuaries but it soon became apparent they were susceptible to canine distemper virus, said a senior official from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. "When we took the tigers in, we noted that they had no immune system due to inbreeding," the department's deputy director-general, Prakit Vongsrivattanakul, told the state-owned broadcaster MCOT on the weekend. "We treated them as symptoms came up," Prakit said. Prakit did not give a figure for the number of tigers that had died but public service broadcaster Thai PBS reported that the toll was 86 of the 147 rescued animals. The temple had promoted itself for years as a wildlife sanctuary, but it was eventually investigated for suspected links to wildlife trafficking and animal abuse. Wildlife activists accused the temple's monks of illegally breeding tigers, while some visitors said the animals appeared drugged. The temple denied the accusations. Government officials could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

Scores of tigers rescued from infamous Thai temple have died: Report

Pope Francis will travel to Thailand in November, the Vatican said Friday, in a visit to Asia that will sweep in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which were both decimated by atomic bombs in 1945.

It has been nearly four decades since a pontiff visited Thailand and Japan, both Buddhist-majority countries.

The late Pope John Paul II went to Japan -- where Shinto and Buddhism are the main religions -- in 1981, and he travelled to Thailand three years later where he met with the late King Rama IX and the Queen Mother.

The current pontiff will travel to Thailand from November 20-23, and then Japan to November 26, the Vatican said.

In Bangkok, Pope Francis will "preside at religious ceremonies and pastoral visits to Catholic communities," said a press statement from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand.

He would hold "two masses", added Monsignor Vissanu Thanya-anan of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Thailand.

The four-day papal visit will mark the 350th anniversary of the founding of the "Mission de Siam", which was first established by Pope Clement IX in 1669.

Today, the 388,000-strong Christian community makes up an estimated 1 per cent of the population in Thailand, with the majority residing in the north and many within ethnic minority groups like the Jarai and the Akha.

Embattled ethnic groups, like the Montagnards who fled religious persecution in neighbouring communist Vietnam, also reside in Thailand seeking asylum.

Sister Ana Rosa Sivori, the Pope's second cousin who runs a Catholic girls' school in northeast Thailand, said his visit to a Buddhist-majority Thailand is meant as an outreach to other religions.

"This visit shows his desire... to bring a message of peace," she told AFP, adding that she would be with her cousin during the Bangkok visit and hopes for some "private" time.

A-bomb sites

The Vatican also provided more details of a visit to Japan, which was announced in January. The Pope had wanted to work in the country as a missionary in his youth but the plan was abandoned following a lung operation.

Japan is home to some 450,000 Catholics and 510,000 Protestants.

"During the latter visit, the Holy Father will visit Tokyo, Nagasaki, and Hiroshima," said the statement, adding that an official schedule will be provided on a later date.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were decimated after the US dropped nuclear bombs at the end of World War II in 1945.

More than 140,000 people were killed in Hiroshima, while the port city of Nagasaki suffered a death toll of 74,000.

The Pope has referenced the bombings in the past.

In January last year, he printed cards with a 1945 photo of victims of the Nagasaki bombing, inscribing the words "the fruit of war" in Italian on the card above his signature.

The photo, captured by American photographer Joe O'Donnell, showed a young boy standing ramrod straight carrying his dead younger brother on his back while waiting for his turn at a cremation site.

Since Pope Francis' election six years ago, he has made two trips to Asia, visiting the Philippines and Sri Lanka in 2014, followed by Myanmar and Bangladesh in 2017.

In Dhaka, he met with Rohingya refugees who fled from Myanmar following a brutal military crackdown, which UN investigators have said amounts to "genocide".

Referring to the Muslim minority group as "Rohingya", he asked for their forgiveness for their persecution -- his words sparking great controversy in neighbouring Myanmar, where they are reviled as so-called "Bengali" illegal immigrants.

Pope Francis on Tuesday returned to Rome after a weeklong visit to Africa, with stops in Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius -- a prosperous island nation where he urged citizens to welcome migrants in search of a better life.

Pope Francis will travel to Thailand in November, the Vatican said Friday, in a visit to Asia that will sweep in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which were both decimated by atomic bombs in 1945.

Pope Francis will travel to Thailand in November, the Vatican said Friday, in a visit to Asia that will sweep in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which were both decimated by atomic bombs in 1945. It has been nearly four decades since a pontiff visited Thailand and Japan, both Buddhist-majority countries. The late Pope John Paul II went to Japan -- where Shinto and Buddhism are the main religions -- in 1981, and he travelled to Thailand three years later where he met with the late King Rama IX and the Queen Mother. The current pontiff will travel to Thailand from November 20-23, and then Japan to November 26, the Vatican said. In Bangkok, Pope Francis will "preside at religious ceremonies and pastoral visits to Catholic communities," said a press statement from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand. He would hold "two masses", added Monsignor Vissanu Thanya-anan of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Thailand. The four-day papal visit will mark the 350th anniversary of the founding of the "Mission de Siam", which was first established by Pope Clement IX in 1669. Today, the 388,000-strong Christian community makes up an estimated 1 per cent of the population in Thailand, with the majority residing in the north and many within ethnic minority groups like the Jarai and the Akha. Embattled ethnic groups, like the Montagnards who fled religious persecution in neighbouring communist Vietnam, also reside in Thailand seeking asylum. Sister Ana Rosa Sivori, the Pope's second cousin who runs a Catholic girls' school in northeast Thailand, said his visit to a Buddhist-majority Thailand is meant as an outreach to other religions. "This visit shows his desire... to bring a message of peace," she told AFP, adding that she would be with her cousin during the Bangkok visit and hopes for some "private" time. A-bomb sites The Vatican also provided more details of a visit to Japan, which was announced in January. The Pope had wanted to work in the country as a missionary in his youth but the plan was abandoned following a lung operation. Japan is home to some 450,000 Catholics and 510,000 Protestants. "During the latter visit, the Holy Father will visit Tokyo, Nagasaki, and Hiroshima," said the statement, adding that an official schedule will be provided on a later date. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were decimated after the US dropped nuclear bombs at the end of World War II in 1945. More than 140,000 people were killed in Hiroshima, while the port city of Nagasaki suffered a death toll of 74,000. The Pope has referenced the bombings in the past. In January last year, he printed cards with a 1945 photo of victims of the Nagasaki bombing, inscribing the words "the fruit of war" in Italian on the card above his signature. The photo, captured by American photographer Joe O'Donnell, showed a young boy standing ramrod straight carrying his dead younger brother on his back while waiting for his turn at a cremation site. Since Pope Francis' election six years ago, he has made two trips to Asia, visiting the Philippines and Sri Lanka in 2014, followed by Myanmar and Bangladesh in 2017. In Dhaka, he met with Rohingya refugees who fled from Myanmar following a brutal military crackdown, which UN investigators have said amounts to "genocide". Referring to the Muslim minority group as "Rohingya", he asked for their forgiveness for their persecution -- his words sparking great controversy in neighbouring Myanmar, where they are reviled as so-called "Bengali" illegal immigrants. Pope Francis on Tuesday returned to Rome after a weeklong visit to Africa, with stops in Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius -- a prosperous island nation where he urged citizens to welcome migrants in search of a better life.

Pope Francis to visit Thailand, Japan in November

Top officials from Thailand and the U.S. kicked off the opening ceremony of the 11th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC XI) on Monday (September 9), one of the largest bi-annual gathering of military chief of staffs in the region.

WION Playlist: Indo-Pacific armies chief's conference

Two Myanmar migrant workers sentenced to death for the murder of two British backpackers on a Thai holiday island will learn their fate Thursday when the verdict on their final appeal is delivered.

Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun were found guilty of the rape and murder of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and of killing David Miller, 24.

The pair's battered bodies were found on a beach on the southern diving resort of Koh Tao in September 2014.

Prosecutors insisted the evidence against the men from Myanmar's impoverished Rakhine state was clear, and a lower court upheld their conviction in 2017.

But during the proceedings, the defence said authorities mishandled the investigation and DNA evidence, not allowing independent analysis of samples and using confessions the pair said were coerced.&nbsp;

Police were accused of buckling to pressure to solve a crime that made global headlines and threatened to damage a tourism sector that accounts for a fifth of Thailand's economy.

Andy Hall, an international adviser to the defence, said the evidence was "unreliable".

"The death penalty sentence against the two accused and their conviction should be reversed and quashed."

Thailand's legal system is notoriously opaque, with some cases flying through the courts while others take years.

The 2017 appeal decision was presented to the two men with no translator and without lawyers present, according to the defence.

If the Supreme Court's verdict on Thursday upholds the ruling their last hope is the possibility of a royal pardon.

Last year Thailand carried out its first execution since 2009, a sudden resumption of the death penalty that was condemned by rights groups who hoped the country was moving towards abolishing the practice.

The verdicts on the 2014 double killing divided relatives.

Miller's parents backed the court's conviction, but Witheridge's family were more cautious in drawing conclusions while her sister Laura later called the investigation "bungled".

Two Myanmar migrant workers sentenced to death for the murder of two British backpackers on a Thai holiday island will learn their fate Thursday when the verdict on their final appeal is delivered.

Two Myanmar migrant workers sentenced to death for the murder of two British backpackers on a Thai holiday island will learn their fate Thursday when the verdict on their final appeal is delivered. Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun were found guilty of the rape and murder of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and of killing David Miller, 24. The pair's battered bodies were found on a beach on the southern diving resort of Koh Tao in September 2014. Prosecutors insisted the evidence against the men from Myanmar's impoverished Rakhine state was clear, and a lower court upheld their conviction in 2017. But during the proceedings, the defence said authorities mishandled the investigation and DNA evidence, not allowing independent analysis of samples and using confessions the pair said were coerced. Police were accused of buckling to pressure to solve a crime that made global headlines and threatened to damage a tourism sector that accounts for a fifth of Thailand's economy. Andy Hall, an international adviser to the defence, said the evidence was "unreliable". "The death penalty sentence against the two accused and their conviction should be reversed and quashed." Thailand's legal system is notoriously opaque, with some cases flying through the courts while others take years. The 2017 appeal decision was presented to the two men with no translator and without lawyers present, according to the defence. If the Supreme Court's verdict on Thursday upholds the ruling their last hope is the possibility of a royal pardon. Last year Thailand carried out its first execution since 2009, a sudden resumption of the death penalty that was condemned by rights groups who hoped the country was moving towards abolishing the practice. The verdicts on the 2014 double killing divided relatives. Miller's parents backed the court's conviction, but Witheridge's family were more cautious in drawing conclusions while her sister Laura later called the investigation "bungled".

Myanmar pair await final appeal ruling over Brit killings in Thailand

Thailand's Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the murder convictions of two migrant workers from Myanmar in the killings of two British backpackers that drew world attention to the tourist island of Koh Tao.

The workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, were sentenced to death for the September 2014 murder of David Miller, 24 and the murder and rape of Hannah Witherridge, 23, on the Thai island, a haven for divers.

In their verdict, a panel of two judges said the death sentences handed down by lower courts would be upheld as the men had been found guilty of murder and rape on the basis of evidence and forensic results.

The men displayed no emotion as they listened intently to a translator while the verdict was read at a court in the province of Nonthaburi, just north of Bangkok, the capital.

The men's legal team said it would seek a royal pardon within 60 days, as provided in Thai law.

After the discovery of the British tourists' bodies on a beach on Koh Tao, police said Witheridge had been raped and bludgeoned to death and Miller had suffered blows to his head.

The murders sullied Thailand's image in the tourism industry, which accounts for about 10 percent of the country's economy.

Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun were quickly arrested and later sentenced to death in 2015, a verdict that was upheld by the appeal court in 2017.

Thai police have faced widespread domestic and international criticism for their handling of the case and the evidence.

A pro-bono legal team defending the men has said evidence collected by police was unreliable and not in accordance with internationally accepted standards, arguing it should not have been used to convict them.

The lawyers have also said the accused men were tortured and coerced into making confessions they later retracted.

"The death sentence against the two accused and their conviction should be reversed and quashed," Andy Hall, an adviser to the men's legal team, said in a statement to media.

"DNA and forensics evidence relied on to convict Zaw Law and Wai Phyo, and sentence them to death in the Koh Tao murder case, was fundamentally flawed and unreliable in terms of international standards."

Thai courts have rejected accusations of torture and ruled that DNA evidence linked the workers to the crime.

Thailand's Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the murder convictions of two migrant workers from Myanmar in the killings of two British backpackers that drew world attention to the tourist island of Koh Tao.

Thailand's Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the murder convictions of two migrant workers from Myanmar in the killings of two British backpackers that drew world attention to the tourist island of Koh Tao. The workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, were sentenced to death for the September 2014 murder of David Miller, 24 and the murder and rape of Hannah Witherridge, 23, on the Thai island, a haven for divers. In their verdict, a panel of two judges said the death sentences handed down by lower courts would be upheld as the men had been found guilty of murder and rape on the basis of evidence and forensic results. The men displayed no emotion as they listened intently to a translator while the verdict was read at a court in the province of Nonthaburi, just north of Bangkok, the capital. The men's legal team said it would seek a royal pardon within 60 days, as provided in Thai law. After the discovery of the British tourists' bodies on a beach on Koh Tao, police said Witheridge had been raped and bludgeoned to death and Miller had suffered blows to his head. The murders sullied Thailand's image in the tourism industry, which accounts for about 10 percent of the country's economy. Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun were quickly arrested and later sentenced to death in 2015, a verdict that was upheld by the appeal court in 2017. Thai police have faced widespread domestic and international criticism for their handling of the case and the evidence. A pro-bono legal team defending the men has said evidence collected by police was unreliable and not in accordance with internationally accepted standards, arguing it should not have been used to convict them. The lawyers have also said the accused men were tortured and coerced into making confessions they later retracted. "The death sentence against the two accused and their conviction should be reversed and quashed," Andy Hall, an adviser to the men's legal team, said in a statement to media. "DNA and forensics evidence relied on to convict Zaw Law and Wai Phyo, and sentence them to death in the Koh Tao murder case, was fundamentally flawed and unreliable in terms of international standards." Thai courts have rejected accusations of torture and ruled that DNA evidence linked the workers to the crime.

Thailand's top court upholds Myanmar workers' death penalty in British backpacker murders

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