MILESTONES

Sentenced: To four years in prison, 62-year-old pipe-bomber Watana Pumret. He placed the bomb that injured 21 medical staff and patients in the Prawit Wongsuwon waiting room of Phramongkutklao Hospital on May 22. He never has explained his motives except that he “hates the army”. Watana was sentenced to eight years, with the sentenced halved because he confessed.

Disclosed: By the commander of the army’s 25th Infantry Regiment based in Ranong, a decision to bar all Rohingya refugees from Thailand. The government had earlier ordered an alert to receive possible fleeing Rohingya. Col Santi Sakultanak said a new directive ordered the military to intercept Rohingya, provide them food and water, and lead them out of Thai territory or waters.

Ended: By two US labour unions, all contacts with motorcycle makers Harley-Davidson. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the United Steelworkers said Harley’s decision to open a plant in Bangkok made it impossible to work with the firm. Closing plants and shifting jobs overseas is a major concern of the US labour movement.

Introduced: By Apple, the world’s most expensive mobile phones, the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. In return for taking your $999 (33,000 baht-plus in real money), Apple gives you the following feature: removal of the start button. Not introduced, to the distress of many fashion conscious: the Apple iAnkle monitor for white-collar criminals.

Approved: By the United Nations Security Council, yet another set of economic sanctions, described yet again as “the most potent so far”. The unanimous vote bans all exports and sales of coal, lead and seafood by Pyongyang in retaliation for its sixth nuclear test of a hydrogen bomb. President Donald Trump says he is considering trade restrictions on countries “doing business” with North Korea, which would harm countries beginning with “T”.