Thailand Live Wednesday 4 Nov 2015

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ENGLISH SKILL
Thailand ranks 62nd out of 70 in English skills
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand ranks 62 out of 70 countries in a global ranking of English skills by EF Education First.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/867983-thailand-ranks-62nd-out-of-70-in-english-skills/

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Osborne takes UK's EU reform demands to Berlin



BERLIN: -- Taking his message to Germany on Tuesday, Britain’s finance minister has outlined reforms sought by the UK ahead of its referendum on ongoing EU membership.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/867984-osborne-takes-uks-eu-reform-demands-to-berlin/

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Spanish say imminent attack foiled and claim ISIL cell is busted



MADRID: -- Spanish security forces have swooped on a number of sites in and around the capital Madrid and have made a number of arrests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/867985-spanish-say-imminent-attack-foiled-and-claim-isil-cell-is-busted/

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Pegida: German Justice Minister likened to Goebbels



BERLIN: -- There is outrage in Germany after the leader of the far-right Pegida movement likened the country’s justice ministed to a notorious figure from the Nazi era.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/867986-pegida-german-justice-minister-likened-to-goebbels/

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Sinai crash: black boxes to reveal their secrets



PARIS: -- Experts are turning their attention to the black box recorders from the passenger plane that crashed in Egypt on Saturday with the loss of 224 lives.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/867987-sinai-crash-black-boxes-to-reveal-their-secrets/

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Ahmed Chalabi dies



BAGHDAD: -- The Iraqi politician who is said to have played a key role in persuading the US to topple Saddam Hussein in 2003 has died.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/867988-iraq-ahmed-chalabi-dies/

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Germany: Merkel moves to reassure over migrant influx as coalition divisions deepen



"I am working on reducing the number of refugees"

BERLIN: -- Chancellor Angela Merkel has reiterated calls for other EU members to take in more migrants and refugees as her ruling coalition comes under growing pressure from the unprecedented influx entering Germany.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/867989-germany-merkel-moves-to-reassure-over-migrant-influx-as-coalition-divisions-deepen/

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Michelin to shed 1,600 jobs in European plant shake-up



PARIS: -- Michelin says it is closing several European sites with the loss of around 1,600 jobs as part of a major restructuring plan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/867990-michelin-to-shed-1600-jobs-in-european-plant-shake-up/

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Standard Chartered bank to cut workforce by 17 percent



LONDON: -- The London-listed bank Standard Chartered is to shed 15,000 jobs by 2018 – the result of turbulence in Asian markets where it does most of its business. It employs 86,000 people worldwide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/867992-standard-chartered-bank-to-cut-workforce-by-17-percent/

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Volkswagen CEO under pressure to explain Porsche emissions claims



WOLFSBURG: -- Volkswagen’s new boss is under pressure to explain claims by US regulators that they’ve found more cars equipped to cheat emissions tests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/867993-volkswagen-ceo-under-pressure-to-explain-porsche-emissions-claims/

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FIFA: football funding row spreads to Germany



FRANKFURT: -- Police in Frankfurt have raided the headquarters of the German football association, the DFB.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/867994-fifa-football-funding-row-spreads-to-germany/

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Palestinians say amateur video backs claims of Israeli abuse
By KARIN LAUB and JOSEF FEDERMAN

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Recent videos show Israeli troops shooting a wounded Palestinian at close range, pepper-spraying Palestinian medics, ramming a Palestinian with a jeep and threatening refugee camp residents with tear gas "until you die" unless they stop throwing stones.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/867995-palestinians-say-amateur-video-backs-claims-of-israeli-abuse/

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Japanese company fined $70 million over exploding air bags
By TOM KRISHER

DETROIT (AP) — U.S. auto safety regulators fined Japan's Takata Corp. $70 million Tuesday for concealing evidence for years that its air bags are prone to explode with grisly consequences — a defect linked to eight deaths and more than 100 injuries worldwide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/867996-japanese-company-fined-70-million-over-exploding-air-bags/

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Germany's VW: New C02 problems with 800,000 vehicles
By DAVID RISING

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's Volkswagen, already reeling from the fallout of cheating on U.S. emissions tests for nitrogen oxide, said Tuesday that an internal investigation has revealed "unexplained inconsistencies" in the carbon dioxide emissions from 800,000 of its vehicles — a development it said could cost the company another 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/867999-germanys-vw-new-c02-problems-with-800000-vehicles/

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BEIJING (AP) - China confirms Chinese and Taiwanese presidents will meet Saturday in Singapore.

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No Thai-Myanmar border closed as rumored

TAK, 4 November 2015 (NNT) - Myanmar says it did not close its borders along Thailand’s Tak province as rumored.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868017-no-thai-myanmar-border-closed-as-rumored/

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Phuket to organize International Boat Show

BANGKOK, 4 November 2015 (NNT) - Chawanee Thongroj, assistant to the Tourism and Sports Minister, said Phuket has accommodated over six million tourists, both Thai and foreign, yearly and the number has increased every year, with more than half the total number coming from Asia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868022-phuket-to-organize-international-boat-show/

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Mount Rinjani volcanic ash prompts Virgin Australia to cancel all Bali flights



JAKARTA: -- The Jakarta Globe reported that disaster mitigation authorities in West Nusa Tenggara have raised the status of Indonesia's second highest active volcano to "alert" as it continues to spew ash, prompting an Australian airline to cancel all flights to and from Denpasar airport on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868025-mount-rinjani-volcanic-ash-prompts-virgin-australia-to-cancel-all-bali-flights/

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Public security forces of Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia cement friendship



VIENTIANE: -- Delegations from Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security and Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior made working visits to Laos from Oct 30-Nov 1, Lao News Agency reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868028-public-security-forces-of-laos-vietnam-cambodia-cement-friendship/

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Almost 44,000 Malaysians 100 years old and above



KUALA LUMPUR: -- There are 43,599 Malaysians who are 100-years-old and above, New Straits Times reported, citing Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamadi.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868035-almost-44000-malaysians-100-years-old-and-above/

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SET opens up 7.76 to 1,420.38 /Bangkok Post

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Xi's visit to Singapore will open new chapter for bilateral ties: Envoy



SiNGAPORE: -- President Xi Jinping’s first state visit to Singapore later this week will provide the platform for both countries to look at how to reposition the bilateral relationship and chart the way forward for another 25 glorious years of cooperation, said Chinese Ambassador Chen Xiaodong on Tuesday, Channel News Asia reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868039-xis-visit-to-singapore-will-open-new-chapter-for-bilateral-ties-envoy/

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Private sector remains optimistic about economic growth



BANGKOK: -- The private sector remains optimistic about the country's economy although export growth has contracted 5% saying the last three months could see rise in tourist arrivals.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868041-thai-private-sector-remains-optimistic-about-economic-growth/

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Taiwan, Chinese presidents to meet for first time since '49
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN and RALPH JENNINGS

BEIJING (AP) — The presidents of China and Taiwan will meet this weekend for the first time since civil war divided their lands 66 years ago, their governments said Wednesday, a highly symbolic move that reflects quickly improving relations between the formerly bitter Cold War foes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868043-taiwan-chinese-presidents-to-meet-for-first-time-since-49/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Myanmar elections ‘free’, except Buddhists stifling minority Muslims

Myanmar has been preparing for its first free elections in 25 years. This Sunday 8th November, 30 million Myanma are expected at polling stations to elect three quarters of the members of the 664-seat bicameral parliament. One quarter of all the seats are reserved for candidates put up by the military, which has governed the southeast Asian country for half a century.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868042-myanmar-elections-free-except-buddhists-stifling-minority-muslims/

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Thailand's Veerathai May Hold Key Rate as Junta Adds to Stimulus
by Suttinee Yuvejwattana and Lee J Miller

- Veerathai's scope limited with borrowing costs near record low
- World Bank sees Thai economy expanding less than 3% until 2017

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868070-thailands-veerathai-may-hold-key-rate-as-govt-adds-to-stimulus/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi not ready to govern, says radical Buddhist monk

Vimala Buddhi at his monastery in Mawlamyine, Mon State, on Oct. 13. (PHOTO:- Myanmar Now/Phyo Thiha Cho)

MAWLAMYINE, Myanmar (Myanmar Now) – The low monotone of maroon-robed monks reciting Buddhist scriptures mingles with the sound of birdsong at Myazedi monastery, with little to indicate that this serene place is home to an extremist brand of Buddhism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868069-myanmars-suu-kyi-not-ready-to-govern-says-radical-buddhist-monk/

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NCPO urges all govt sectors to work collaboratively for the country

BANGKOK, 4 November 2015 (NNT) - The Secretary-General of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has urged every government sector to work collaboratively in order to ensure national security.

NCPO Secretary-General and Army Chief General Theerachai Nakawanich handed down this policy at a meeting of organizations under the Internal Security Operations Command and the 1st Army Area’s Peace and Order Maintaining Command.

The NCPO Secretary-General added that they are expected to raise public awareness about the draft constitution and follow government policies.

Attending the meeting were 26 provincial governors, 50 Bangkok district chiefs, and top officials from the Royal Thai Police and 1st Army Area, as well as other relevant agencies.


-- NNT 2015-11-04

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Indian court sentences Uber cab driver to life sentence for raping woman passenger
English.news.cn

NEW DELHI, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- An Indian court Tuesday sentenced Uber cab driver Shiv Kumar Yadav, who raped a woman last year to life in prison till death.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868073-indian-court-sentences-uber-cab-driver-to-life-sentence-for-raping-woman-passenger/

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Taliban stones woman in W. Afghanistan: media
English.news.cn

KABUL, Nov. 4 (Xinhua)-- Taliban militants have stoned to dead a woman on charge of eloping and adultery in the western Ghor province, a local television channel aired Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868075-taliban-stones-woman-in-afghanistan-for-adultery/