At least 20 killed in shooting in Thailand: defense ministry

BANGKOK (Reuters) – A Thai soldier killed at least 20 people in a shooting rampage on Saturday in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima in the northeast of Thailand, defense ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanit told Reuters.

Kongcheep did not give a figure for the number of wounded. He said it was unclear whether the gunman had taken hostages inside the shopping mall, where he is still thought to be at large.

Thai security forces storm mall to help hundreds escape – defense ministry

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Police and soldiers have stormed into the Thai shopping mall where a soldier has been on a shooting rampage and helped hundreds of people to escape, defense ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanit told Reuters.

“Police officers and soldiers are joining forces and have helped evacuate hundreds of people from inside the mall,” he said. “It’s not known how many are still inside.”

He said the suspected gunman was still inside the Terminal 21 mall in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Gunshots heard at mall in Thailand where shooter holed up

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand (Reuters) – Several bursts of automatic gunfire were heard early on Sunday from a shopping mall in northeastern Thailand where police said a soldier was holed up after killing at least 20 people, Reuters witnesses said.

Security forces stormed into the mall earlier to bring out hundreds of people who were trapped inside.

Police made no immediate comment about the bursts of gunfire.

Two casualties brought out of Thai mall after shooting: witness

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Two casualties were brought out of a Thai shopping mall early on Sunday after security forces stormed in to rescue trapped people and hunt down a soldier on a shooting rampage, a Reuters witness said.

They were brought out after repeated bursts of automatic gunfire from inside the mall in Nakhon Ratchasima.

“I saw them carry out two casualties,” said Reuters photographer Athit Perawongmetha, who was near the scene. The identity of the casualties was not immediately clear and police made no comment.

China urges medical equipment makers to step up output: state planner

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s state planner urged medical equipment manufacturers on Sunday to step up output amid the ongoing coronavirus epidemic, and said the government will set up stockpiles, including masks, goggles and protective suits to be able to better deal with epidemics.

Issuing a statement on its website, the National Development and Reform Commission said it would support manufacturers efforts to increase supplies to cover a severe shortage. China has reported that the virus has killed more than 800 people.

Don’t give out your Social Security number to online scammers

Dear John: Please tell your readers not to give Social Security information online!

I recently received an email from “Walmart” offering a $1,000 gift card if I accepted one of three offers. I was requested to give my Social Security info to implement those offers.

I knew not to respond, but others do not.

I contacted Walmart and was summarily dismissed and told to contact the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov.

I then sent an email to Walmart and received a two-page diatribe on fake emails and told not to answer or click on any further details.

I was the one who tried to tell them this was going on!

I know you have so many readers who listen to you. DO NOT give out your info on the internet!! It is a scam, and your money will be lost!

I hope this helps someone! E.S.

Dear E.S.: I don’t have to tell people, you just did.

And thanks for that.

I’m sure the folks at Walmart are pretty frustrated that its name is being used for these scams. And that’s why you got attitude when you tried to let them know.

But you did a good deed. I hope 2020 is a great year for you.

Thai mass shooter killed 20, wounded 42: health official

NAKHON RATCHASIMA Thailand (Reuters) – A mass shooter in Thailand killed a total of 20 people and wounded 42 before he himself was shot dead by security forces on Sunday, a health official said.

This revised down an earlier figure of 21 dead which had been given by officials.

“The official number of the dead right now is 20 and 42 wounded. Of them, 21 are still in hospital and 21 have gone home,” Narinrat Phitchayakhamin, head of the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Office of Public Health told a news conference in the northeastern city.

Mass shooter killed in northeast Thailand: minister

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Security forces on Sunday shot dead the mass shooter who went on a rampage in northeastern Thailand that left at least 21 people dead, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said.

“Thank you police and army for ending the situation. Shooter shot dead!!!” Anutin said in a post on Facebook.

Thai soldier's killing spree left 26 dead, 57 wounded: PM

BANGKOK (Reuters) – A Thai soldier who went on a rampage in a northeastern city that ended in a standoff in a packed shopping mall killed 26 people and wounded at least 52, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Sunday.

The soldier was motivated by a grudge over a land deal in which he felt he had been cheated, said Prayuth, who traveled to the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima to visit wounded survivors.

The soldier was killed by armed forces after an overnight siege at the Terminal 21 shopping center in the city.

Japan Finds 6 More Coronavirus Cases on Cruise Ship: TV Asahi

Another six passengers on a cruise ship quarantined in Japan have been infected with the new coronavirus, TV Asahi reported, without saying where it got the information.

That brings the total number of infections on the Diamond Princess to 70, from 64 the previous day, according to the TV report. It’s the biggest center of infections outside of China.

Japan’s Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said Sunday the country will give priority on virus inspections to elderly people on the ship in Yokohama. There are about 600 people on the vessel who need medicine, he said.

The worldwide spread of the coronavirus has killed 813 people, eclipsing the death toll from the global outbreak of SARS almost two decades ago.