Florence Cathedral museum opens its doors to the world



FLORENCE: -- “If you haven’t seen this, you haven’t seen Florence,” according to the website of the new Opera del Duomo museum, which has opened in the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region after two years of expansion and renovation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866724-florence-cathedral-museum-opens-its-doors-to-the-world/

Paul Ryan becomes new US House speaker



WASHINGTON: -- Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan officially became the new speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday (October 29).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866726-paul-ryan-becomes-new-us-house-speaker/

Putin's approval rating climbs to 88%



MOSCOW: -- A new survey suggests the approval rating for Russian President Vladimir Putin has climbed to 88 percent, only one percent from his all-time high.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866727-putins-approval-rating-climbs-to-88/

Floods in Baghdad threaten Iraq’s internally displaced



BAGHDAD: -- The Iraqi capital’s internally displaced have been swamped following heavy rains.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866728-floods-in-baghdad-threaten-iraqs-internally-displaced/

Experts want 'real driving emissions' tests for EU cars



BRUSSELS: -- Motor industry experts from EU member states gathered in Brussels have agreed that cars will undergo real driving emissions tests as well as laboratory tests from 2017.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866729-experts-want-real-driving-emissions-tests-for-eu-cars/

Protesters clash with police over planned US airbase in Japan



OKINAWA: -- Police have dragged away protesters trying to block work on a contentious US airbase in Japan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866730-protesters-clash-with-police-over-planned-us-airbase-in-japan/

Bloodshed continues in occupied West Bank



JERUSALEM: -- Israeli police shot dead a Palestinian who had stabbed an IDF soldier at a military checkpoint on Thursday (October 29) as a month-long spate of attacks showed no signs of abating.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866731-bloodshed-continues-in-occupied-west-bank/

After dismal debate, Bush seeks ways to steady campaign
By JULIE PACE, THOMAS BEAUMONT and KATHLEEN RONAYNE

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) — Jeb Bush emerged from the third Republican debate as a candidate in crisis, with supporters struggling to understand why he keeps underperforming and advisers promising a turnaround before it's too late.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866732-after-dismal-debate-bush-seeks-ways-to-steady-campaign/

UPDATE:

New day for House as Paul Ryan becomes 54th speaker
By ERICA WERNER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Paul Ryan became the 54th speaker of the U.S. House on Thursday in a day of high political theater, a young new leader for a fractured Congress, charged with healing Republican divides and quieting the chaos of Capitol Hill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866726-paul-ryan-becomes-new-us-house-speaker/#entry10019952

Carson tells AP: Seventh-day Adventism is right for him
By RACHEL ZOLL

BROOMFIELD, Colo. (AP) — As his surge in heavily evangelical Iowa puts a spotlight on his faith, Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson is opening up about his membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He embraces it as right for him while also framing his beliefs in broad terms that aim to transcend divisions among Christians.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866733-carson-tells-ap-seventh-day-adventism-is-right-for-him/

UPDATE:

Divided Hebron, West Bank largest city, focus of violence
By KARIN LAUB and MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH

HEBRON, West Bank (AP) — The West Bank's largest city has become a focal point of Israeli-Palestinian violence, with near-daily deadly confrontations erupting at Israeli army checkpoints that guard enclaves of Jewish settlers in the once-thriving center of Hebron.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866731-bloodshed-continues-in-occupied-west-bank/#entry10019963

STARKE, Florida (AP) - Florida executes man convicted of fatally stabbing ex-wife, daughter and 2 in-laws.

BOT tells banks to tighten IT security
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bank of Thailand yesterday asked all commercial banks to tighten IT security and be ready to cope with any invasion of their online services, while continuing close monitoring.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866742-bot-tells-banks-to-tighten-it-security/

Arctic withdrawal pushes Royal Dutch Shell into loss



LONDON: -- Royal Dutch Shell has reported a pre-tax loss of $9.1 billion (8.3 billion euros) in the third quarter, largely due to the cost of shelving several major projects, including in the Alaskan Arctic and Canada.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866744-arctic-withdrawal-pushes-royal-dutch-shell-into-loss/

China to buy 130 Airbus planes



BERLIN: -- Chinese airlines are to buy 130 Airbus planes under a deal signed by China and Germany and worth over 15 billion euros.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866746-china-to-buy-130-airbus-planes/

Florida executes man convicted of fatally stabbing 4
JASON DEAREN, Associated Press

STARKE, Florida (AP) — A Florida man was executed Thursday nearly three decades after he was convicted of fatally stabbing his ex-wife, young daughter and two in-laws.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866751-florida-executes-man-convicted-of-fatally-stabbing-4/

Foreigners cannot rent womb in India
News Desk
The Statesman

INDIA: -- Foreigners cannot rent a womb in India, the government on Wednesday submitted in the Supreme Court.Surrogacy services would only be available for Indian couples, it said in an affidavit filed before the apex court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866755-foreigners-cannot-rent-womb-in-india/

US jets intercept Russian warplanes off Korean peninsula

WASHINGTON: -- The US Navy scrambled four F/A-18 jets to intercept Russian warplanes which flew near a US aircraft carrier off the Korean peninsula, officials say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866759-us-jets-intercept-russian-warplanes-off-korean-peninsula/

Phuket motorists can't stop making illegal u-turns
Supatra Sutham


The small section of road now needing the barriers is a break in the median in front of Phuket International Hospital.

PHUKET: -- The Phuket Highways Office has vowed to install more barriers at a second section of the bypass road where concrete barriers have been removed so that motorbikes can again make illegal turns.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866761-phuket-motorists-cant-stop-making-illegal-u-turns/

UPDATE:

Final preparations being made as Jolie project ready for filming



BANGKOK: -- Shooting for Angelina Jolie Pitt’s film adaptation of the Khmer Rouge memoir "First They Killed My Father" is set to begin next month in Siem Reap and feature a cast of thousands, The Phnom Penh Post reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866736-angelina-jolie-pitt-filming-war-memoir-in-cambodia-from-november/#entry10020569

Three bodies found in collapsed illegal mine search



JAKARTA: -- Indonesian police on Thursday identified three bodies pulled from an illegal gold mine which collapsed in the hills of Pongkor, Bogor, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866763-indonesia-three-bodies-found-in-collapsed-illegal-mine-search/

SET open up 1.44 to 1,391.48 /Bangkok Post

CDC Spokesman: Charter drafters already started discussing “constitutional organizations”

BANGKOK, 30 October 2015 (NNT) - The spokesman of the Constitution Drafting Committee has revealed that the charter drafters already started deliberating the issue of “constitutional organizations” although no conclusion has been reached yet.

CDC spokesman Amorn Winichwiwatana said that the charter drafters on Thursday has started the discussion on the origin, elements, qualifications and duties of independent organizations set up under the Constitution.

Such organizations are, for example, the Election Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman Thailand, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Auditor-General.

Mr. Amorn said that the CDC has not reached any conclusion on these issues yet.

He added that the subcommittee in charge of the collection of opinions and suggestions has prepared seven channels for those who are interested to send in their ideas, including the Parliament’s P.O. box, the CDC’s website, Facebook page and Line account, for instance.


-- NNT 2015-10-30

Lonely Planet names Hanoi, HCMC among 'magical' choices for budget travel



VIETNAM: -- Thanh Nien News reported that the popular travel guide site Lonely Planet has listed Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City among 11 best value destinations for tourists in 2016.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866774-lonely-planet-names-hanoi-hcmc-among-magical-choices-for-budget-travel/

UPDATE:

More celebrities reported to alcohol control panel over disguised advertisements



BANGKOK: -- A number of celebrities yesterday reported themselves to the Office of the Alcohol Control Committee over the furor raised by photos posted on Instagram that showed them with beer bottle.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866425-how-thailand-could-really-boost-its-economy/page-2?p=10020752#entry10020752

Nen Air's wife arrested for fraud

BANGKOK: -- Chamaiporn Raksajit, former wife of Harn Raksajit otherwise known as Nen Air, a former notorious monk, was arrested yesterday by CSD police and AMLO officials at Soi Samakhee 59 in Nonthaburi municipality just outside of Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866780-illicit-black-magic-rituals-nen-airs-wife-arrested-for-fraud/

Patong Carnival ready to surprise
The Phuket News


The Patong Carnival will depart from its usual line-up of celebrity concerts, Patong Mayor Chalermluck announced earlier this month. Photo: PR Dept

PHUKET: -- Patong Carnival 2015, this year’s edition of the annual island festival to usher in Phuket’s tourism high season, gets underway on Sunday (Nov 1), with seafood and surprises to be among the main attractions of this year’s festivities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866781-patong-carnival-ready-to-surprise/

N. Korea to hold biggest party congress in decades

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea's ruling party said Friday it will hold its biggest convention in decades next May.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866786-north-korea-to-hold-first-ruling-party-congress-for-35-years/

Sabotages black out several southern towns last night



NARATHIWAT: -- Security officials in four southern provinces today tightened maximum security at all business towns, and train services to these provinces following a coordinated arson and bomb attacks by Muslim terrorists in Yala and Narathiwat provinces last night and early this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866788-sabotages-black-out-several-southern-towns-last-night/

Sky lanterns banned in five districts of Chiang Mai



CHIANG MAI: -- Chiang Mai authorities yesterday issued an announcement banning the floating of sky lanterns in five districts during the traditional Yi Peng festival starting November 24, with the exception of November 25, and December 31.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866794-sky-lanterns-banned-in-five-districts-of-chiang-mai/