Thailand Live Thursday 5 Nov 2015

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Foreign Affairs Minister to attend 12th ASEM FMM in Luxembourg

BANGKOK, 5 November 2015 (NNT) – Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai will attend the 12th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting (ASEM FMM ) in Luxembourg between 5th-6th November 2015.

Thailand will focus on promoting connectivity in terms of transportation routes and strengthening relations between the two regions in all areas such as economy, education, tourism, technology transfer and cultural exchange. The connectivity will be key platforms in driving the future directions of ASEM meetings.

Also the ASEM FMM will discuss challenges with which Asia and Europe are currently confronted such as unusual migrations.

However, the Asia - Europe Meeting (ASEM) is a dialogue forum between Asia and Europe on issues of mutual interest designed to strengthen the relationships, expand international cooperation and enhance mutual understanding involving three pillars, namely 1) politics 2) economy and 3) society, culture and education.

ASEM is currently the only collaborative framework which links Asia with Europe.


-- NNT 2015-11-05

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Toyota Logo Removed from Building Under Buddhist Pressure

The Toyota logo on a building in a cemetery in Lopburi province. Some Buddhists mistook it to be in a famous temple in Kanchanburi province.

By Teeranai Charuvastra

Staff Reporter

LOPBURI — A Toyota logo at a cemetery in Lopburi province will be removed after it outraged a number of Buddhists online who thought it was affixed to a famous temple in Kanchanaburi province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868255-toyota-logo-removed-from-building-under-buddhist-pressure/

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Japanese Golfer Allegedly Beaten Over Disputed Fare in Chiang Mai

A red truck taxi called 'rot daeng' seen in a December 2013 file photo. Photo: Abdul Rahman

By Teeranai Charuvastra

Staff Reporter

CHIANG MAI — A Japanese man was allegedly assaulted Tuesday by a driver of one of the red songtaew which circulate through Chiang Mai, and police said they are searching for his attacker.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868263-japanese-golfer-allegedly-beaten-over-disputed-fare-in-chiang-mai/

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UPDATE:

THAI-INDIA RELATIONS
Arms dealer to be extradited to India
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE COURT of Appeals yesterday ordered the extradition of Wuthikorn Naruenartwanich, an alleged arms dealer of Nagaland origin, who is wanted in India in connection with brokering arms deals between Chinese suppliers and insurgent outfits in India's Northeast.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868252-thai-court-orders-extradition-to-india-of-alleged-arms-dealer/#entry10041615

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WRITING A NEW DRAFT
Democrats propose two-ballot poll system
Kasamakorn Chanwanpen
Khanittha Theppajorn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- STRESSING that every person's vote should matter, the Democrat Party yesterday proposed a two-ballot voting system to the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC), as a single-ballot system would not truly represent voters' intentions in a general election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868294-thai-charter-draft-democrats-propose-two-ballot-poll-system/

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RANONG
Migrants to be zoned together to reduce crime
BOONLEUN PROMPRATHANKUL
THE NATION

RANONG: -- RANONG is being used as the project model for the zoning of migrant communities together in a bid to reduce crime and social problems as well as lead to a host of other benefits for Thailand and migrants.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868295-migrants-in-ranong-to-be-zoned-together-to-reduce-crime/

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ONE YOUNG WORLD
Bangkok is ready
The Nation

Capital set to roll out red carpet for some 1,000 leaders aspiring to create a better world

BANGKOK: -- BANGKOK IS ready to host more than 1,000 aspiring young leaders who want to change the world for the better, said Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868296-one-young-world-summit-2015-bangkok-is-ready/

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FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - Moody's downgrades Volkswagen credit rating due to emissions scandal

LONDON (AP) - UK suspends Sinai flights, says Russian jet may have been brought down by explosive device

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TOT labour union sues members of NBTC in dispute over 900MHz
USANEE MONGKOLPORN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- TOT'S LABOUR union yesterday submitted a legal complaint against the members of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission and its secretary-general to defend the state agency's right to continue using the 900-megahertz spectrum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868297-tot-labour-union-sues-members-of-nbtc-in-dispute-over-900mhz/

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Trade with Chile to double as FTA starts
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION


Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn

BANGKOK: -- ANNUAL trade between Thailand and Chile should double to US$2 billion (Bt71 billion) in the next three to five years, thanks to the free-trade agreement (FTA) between the countries, which comes into force today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868298-trade-between-thailand-and-chile-to-double-as-fta-starts/

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CRIME
Police chief accepts Prawut's resignation
The Nation

Chakthip apologises to media for denying the spokesman had quit

BANGKOK: -- The national police chief yesterday revealed he had already approved the resignation of former police spokesman Pol General Prawut Thavornsiri who disappeared from public view after returning from a vacation abroad.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868299-thai-police-chief-chakthip-accepts-prawuts-resignation/

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Sales hitch vexes Loei lottery vendors
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- HUNDREDS OF lottery sellers yesterday protested at the Bannalak lottery market in Loei's Wang Saphung district after they failed to reserve lottery tickets through banks, while some lottery ticket wholesalers also reportedly try to charge them too much money.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868300-sales-hitch-vexes-loei-lottery-vendors/

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Ex-officials jailed over dredger purchase

BANGKOK: -- THE SUPREME Court yesterday handed down a two-year jail term against seven former officials of the Marine Department, including its former director-general, for abuse of authority related to dredger procurement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868301-ex-officials-jailed-over-dredger-purchase/

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Trafficking suspects sent to Myanmar
Boonleun Promprathankul
The Nation
Ranong

RANONG: -- TWO MYANMAR HUMAN trafficking suspects, who allegedly lured their compatriots for hard labour on fishing trawlers in Indonesian waters, were yesterday handed over to the Myanmar authority.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868302-human-trafficking-suspects-sent-to-myanmar/

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Wissanu urges more discussion on election strategy
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday he agreed that every vote should be counted and not go in vain, but more discussion was needed about the details of transforming this idea into action in an election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868303-wissanu-urges-more-discussion-on-election-strategy/

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Abhisit proposes reduction of state power
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has come up with proposals for those tasked with drafting the new constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868304-abhisit-proposes-reduction-of-state-power/

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PM: Pheu Thai must not mislead public on rice scheme
The Nation

Prayut says 'present your evidence in court instead of creating chaos'

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has urged former Pheu Thai MPs to stop using the previous government’s rice-pledging scheme to mislead the public, suggesting they should legally contest the case by providing evidence in the courts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868305-pm-prayut-pheu-thai-must-not-mislead-public-on-rice-scheme/

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BURNING ISSUE
CDC's goal - a simple electoral system based on trust
Attayuth Bootsripoom

BANGKOK: -- A proposal by the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) to adopt a new electoral system called Mixed Members Apportionment (MMA) has received lukewarm response from politicians and academics alike. They voiced concern that this proposed voting and vote-count system could lead to unstable coalition governments. They pointed out that the system might not reflect the real intention of voters in choosing their representatives.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868306-thai-politics-cdcs-goal-a-simple-electoral-system-based-on-trust/

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Shoplifter caught-on-camera at East Pattaya Convenience Store



PATTAYA: -- Police were called to a convenience store in East Pattaya on Wednesday afternoon following the theft of an IPhone and other items.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868307-shoplifter-caught-on-camera-at-east-pattaya-convenience-store/

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Checkpoint for Motorbike Taxi Drivers in Central Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- On Wednesday a checkpoint was set-up in Central Pattaya which focused on stopping motorbike taxi drivers to check their registration documents and those that did not possess them were detained for further investigation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868308-checkpoint-for-motorbike-taxi-drivers-in-central-pattaya/

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Dr Samarn: Beer gardens are against the law



BANGKOK: -- Beer garden is against the alcoholic drinks control law because the venue amounts to advertisement of alcoholic drinks but only the Excise Department is authorized to close it down, said Dr Samarn Futrakul, director of the Office of Alcoholic Drinks Control Committee, on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868309-dr-samarn-beer-gardens-are-against-the-law/

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PM urges media to help solve internal conflicts



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha wants the media to exercise caution in their news presentation in a way which may cause conflicts or in the presentation of news from certain self-serving groups of in a way which is not beneficial to the society, said government spokesman Maj-Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868310-pm-prayut-urges-media-to-help-solve-internal-conflicts/

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Rural Doctors Society opposes attempt to amend ThaiHealth law



BANGKOK: -- The Rural Doctors Society has voiced its objection to an attempt to amend the law governing the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868311-rural-doctors-society-opposes-attempt-to-amend-thaihealth-law/

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Russian fugitive arrested for role in multi-million-baht ESP fraud case
Phuket Gazette


Mr Gasanguseynov allegedly misappropriated money from people wishing to obtain parapsychological and extrasensory services. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Immigration scooped up a Russian fugitive in Phuket who was wanted by Interpol in a more than 62-million-baht clairvoyance fraud case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868312-russian-fugitive-arrested-in-phuket-for-role-in-multi-million-baht-esp-fraud-case/

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Phuket sea cow 'decapitated for teeth'
Darawan Naknakhon


Villagers found the headles sea cow washed up at Koh Yao Yai Island yesterday. Photo: Darawan Naknakhon

PHUKET: -- Experts at the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) believe that a sea cow off the east coast of the island was decapitated for its teeth, which are revered by some as omens of good luck.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868313-phuket-sea-cow-decapitated-for-teeth/

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New consumer rights report reveals dishonest meat labelling in certain EU supermarkets



BRUSSELS: -- Certain meat-based foods sold in supermarkets in the European Union are not properly labelled or do not contain accurate information about their ingredients – says Brussels based consumer lobby group – the European Consumers Organisation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868315-new-consumer-rights-report-reveals-dishonest-meat-labelling-in-certain-eu-supermarkets/

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Refugee influx into Germany 'could boost tobacco sales'



BERLIN: -- The influx of refugees into Germany could boost tobacco sales, according to industry analysts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868316-refugee-influx-into-germany-could-boost-tobacco-sales/

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At 70, Rod Stewart still going strong with new album



LOS ANGELES: -- Seventy and still going strong – Rod Stewart has launched his eagerly awaited album ‘Another Country’.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868317-at-70-rod-stewart-still-going-strong-with-new-album/

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Adele smashes records with comeback single 'Hello'



LONDON: -- British singer-songwriter Adele has smashed records with her comeback single ‘Hello’.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868318-adele-smashes-records-with-comeback-single-hello/

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At least 16 dead and dozens trapped in Pakistan factory collapse



LAHORE: -- At least 16 people were killed on Wednesday and up to 150 trapped under the rubble when a factory collapsed in an industrial area of Lahore in eastern Pakistan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868319-at-least-16-dead-and-dozens-trapped-in-pakistan-factory-collapse/