Thailand Live Thursday 5 Nov 2015

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Erdogan seeks agreement for change in Turkish constitution



ANKARA: -- AK party boss and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has a long cherished dream; to scrap a 1982 coup-era constitution everyone agrees is no longer fit for purpose, and replace it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868320-erdogan-seeks-agreement-for-change-in-turkish-constitution/

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Sinai crash: plane ‘may have been brought down by explosive device’
By Sarah Joanne Taylor | With BRITISH GOVERNMENT, REUTERS



LONDON: -- The Metrojet plane which crashed over the Sinai peninsula on Saturday may have been “brought down by an explosive device”.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868321-sinai-crash-plane-may-have-been-brought-down-by-explosive-device/

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Canada: Justin Trudeau breaks new ground as he is sworn in as PM



OTTAWA: -- Autumn sunshine and adoring crowds were on hand as Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, 43, headed to his swearing-in ceremony as Canada’s new prime minister on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868322-canada-justin-trudeau-breaks-new-ground-as-he-is-sworn-in-as-pm/

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Two weeks of danger end with Syrian family's arrival in Sweden



STOCKHOLM: -- For refugees arriving in Sweden for the first time on the high-speed train it is a taste of the comfort promised by the West. But this has been a sometimes terrifying journey for Zaki, Nagwa, and their four children.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868323-two-weeks-of-danger-end-with-syrian-familys-arrival-in-sweden/

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France to abolish ban on blood donation for gay men



PARIS: -- A more than 30-year law banning homosexual men from donating blood in France is to be abolished.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868324-france-to-abolish-ban-on-blood-donation-for-gay-men/

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Who is Syria's legitimate opposition? Russia demands clarity ahead of next crisis talks



MOSCOW: -- Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that decisions must be made about who to consider terrorists and who should be deemed legitimate opposition groups in Syria before the next round of international talks on the country’s civil war.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868325-who-is-syrias-legitimate-opposition-russia-demands-clarity-ahead-of-next-crisis-talks/

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SACRAMENTO, California (AP) - Police: Man arrested in California stabbing of US airman who helped thwart French train attack.

WASHINGTON (AP) - US official: Early intelligence suggests bomb brought down the Russian airliner

ATHENS, Alabama (AP) - 2nd mistrial declared in retrial of Alabama officer accused of excessive force on Indian man

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Maldives declares state of emergency



MALDIVES: -- Authorities in the Maldives have declared a 30-day state of emergency, citing a threat to national security.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868326-maldives-declares-state-of-emergency/

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Dozens die in South Sudan plane crash



JUBA: -- A cargo plane with passengers on board has crashed on take-off at the main airport in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868327-dozens-die-in-south-sudan-plane-crash/

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Historic talks between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia



SARAJEVO: -- Sarajevo has set the scene of historic talks between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, 20 years after the end of the Bosnian War.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868328-historic-talks-between-bosnia-and-herzegovina-and-serbia/

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UPDATE:

Bomb may have downed Russian jet, US, UK officials say
By JILL LAWLESS and KEN DILANIAN

LONDON (AP) — British and U.S. officials said Wednesday they have information suggesting the Russian jetliner that crashed in the Egyptian desert may have been brought down by a bomb, and Britain said it was suspending flights to and from the Sinai Peninsula indefinitely.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868321-sinai-crash-plane-may-have-been-brought-down-by-explosive-device/#entry10041824

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Conflict hard to ignore as stabbings reach Israeli heartland
By ARON HELLER

RISHON LEZION, Israel (AP) — Twenty-four-year-old shopkeeper Darya Zelenkov was working her shift in a downtown clothing shop in this central Israeli city when she was startled by a knife-wielding Palestinian trying to burst in. The quick-thinking saleswoman quickly slammed the glass door in his face.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868329-conflict-hard-to-ignore-as-stabbings-reach-israeli-heartland/

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NATO tests its capabilities - and wants Russia to take note
By JOHN-THOR DAHLBURG

ZARAGOZA, Spain (AP) — NATO is putting on its most fearsome display of military might in over a decade, a choreographed large-scale movement of soldiers, ships and planes meant to hone its capabilities as well as transmit an unmistakable signal to Russia and other possible foes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868330-nato-tests-its-capabilities-and-wants-russia-to-take-note/

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Iran holds negative attitude toward US despite nuclear deal
By ALI AKBAR DAREINI and JON GAMBRELL

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — As Iran marks the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, there are signs that the Islamic Republic's attitude toward the United States is as negative as ever.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868331-iran-holds-negative-attitude-toward-us-despite-nuclear-deal/

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Pressure grows on Volkswagen as bad news piles up
By DAVID McHUGH and GEIR MOULSON

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The fallout from Volkswagen's emissions-cheating scandal intensified Wednesday, as investors bailed out and European regulators pressured VW to quickly disclose the findings of an internal investigation. In the U.S., the company halted sales of seven models that allegedly were part of the cheating.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868332-pressure-grows-on-volkswagen-as-bad-news-piles-up/

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Warning signs for both parties in state and local elections
By JULIE PACE and DAVID LIEB

WASHINGTON (AP) — State and local elections across the country this week produced warning signs for both Democrats and Republicans as they press toward the 2016 presidential contest, now just a year away.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868334-warning-signs-for-both-us-parties-in-state-and-local-elections/

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Trump, O'Malley file for New Hampshire primary ballot
By HOLLY RAMER

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A leading Republican and a lagging Democrat became the first major candidates Wednesday to file for New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868335-trump-omalley-file-for-new-hampshire-primary-ballot/

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Pai Rape Victim Speaks Up about Ordeal

CityNews – Following the story published in CityNews yesterday about a British tourist who was raped in Pai, the victim contacted CityNews today in order to give her account of what happened.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868337-pai-british-rape-victim-speaks-up-about-ordeal/

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DDC asks parents to protect children from HFMD

BANGKOK, 5 November 2015 (NNT) – The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has reported a rise in the number of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases and urged parents and child care centers to safeguard children against infection.

According to DDC Director-General Dr Amnuay Gajeena, more than 30,000 children in Thailand have this year been diagnosed with HFMD during the transition from the rainy season to winter and three of the cases were fatal. Most of the infections were found in children of 1-3 years of age within Surat Thani, Phayao, Nan, Chiang Rai and Phuket.

HFMD is caused by enterovirus 71 and is usually found in small children younger than 5 years old. Symptoms include fever, skin rashes and blisters on the hands and feet and in the mouth.

Dr Amnuay advised parents and child care centers to ensure hygiene among children and seek medical attention for them immediately if any symptoms of HFMD are detected.


-- NNT 2015-11-05

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Protest against Trump hosting 'Saturday Night Live' grows
FRAZIER MOORE, AP Television Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Pressure continued to mount on NBC to cancel Donald Trump's guest-host appearance on this weekend's "Saturday Night Live" as a coalition of advocacy groups delivered petitions to the network Wednesday calling for him to be dropped from the show.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868367-protest-against-trump-hosting-saturday-night-live-grows/

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51 treated for gas poisoning after Bekasi factory malfunction



JAKARTA: -- Ten children and more than 40 employees of a pesticide factory in Bekasi, on the eastern outskirts of Jakarta, were rushed to hospitals on Monday to receive treatment for gas poisoning, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868368-indonesia-51-treated-for-gas-poisoning-after-bekasi-factory-malfunction/

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Energy Policy Committee maintains LPG price at 22.29 baht

BANGKOK, 5 November 2015 (NNT) - The Energy Policy Management Committee has resolved to maintain the LPG price, despite a rise in the global market price. The move is aimed at helping the public shoulder the cost of living.

The Committee’s meeting today, chaired by Energy Minister General Anantaporn Kanjanarat, looked into the capital cost of LPG, following a rise in the world’s LPG price to 411 US dollars per tonne. However, the committee forecast the product’s price would remain steady, while the domestic LPG Fund which currently stands at 8 billion baht was still in the position to provide subsidy for Thai consumers.

The Committee has resolved to maintain LPG price at 22.29 baht per kilogram in an effort to reduce the burden on consumers. In addition, authorities have also extended the NGV discount card program for another year, with the same conditions applied. Large buses will be able to enjoy a discount of 35,000 baht per month, while smaller commercial vehicles such as taxis will receive a 9,000 baht discount per month.

Meanwhile, the Committee has tasked the PTT with studying the real cost of NGV, the results of which will be discussed in their next meeting.


-- NNT 2015-11-05

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Singapore happy to facilitate meeting between China, Taiwan leaders

SINGAPORE: -- Singapore is happy to facilitate a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, as reported by Channel News Asia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868369-singapore-happy-to-facilitate-meeting-between-china-taiwan-leaders/

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Vietnam improves global English proficiency ranking



VIETNAM: -- Vietnam has risen in the world's largest ranking of countries by English skills from “low proficiency” to “moderate proficiency," according to Thanh Nien News.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868370-vietnam-improves-global-english-proficiency-ranking/

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SET falls 2.87 to 1,420.55 at opening /Bangkok Post

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Purple Line route is now ready

BANGKOK: -- The newly completed purple sky train line is now ready for testing as early as December this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868374-purple-line-route-is-now-ready/

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YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Myanmar's Suu Kyi says she's concerned by Election Commission conduct ahead of historic polls

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Water situation in Thailand remains critical



BANGKOK, 5 November 2015 (NNT)-The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has urged everyone in Thailand to use water wisely.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868380-water-situation-in-thailand-remains-critical/

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New German Ambassador pays courtesy visit to PM Prayut

BANGKOK, 5 November 2015 (NNT) – The new Ambassador of Germany has paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868382-new-german-ambassador-pays-courtesy-visit-to-pm-prayut/

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UPDATE:

Russian fugitive arrested in Phuket

Eakkapop Thongtub

Eldar Gassanguseynov was arrested in the car park of Nai Harn Gym in Rawai.

PHUKET: A Russian fugitive who was wanted in his home country for fraud and extortion relating to demands for protection fees from his countrymen amounting over B60 million has been arrested by Phuket Immigration police in front of a gym in Nai Harn.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868312-russian-fugitive-arrested-in-phuket-for-role-in-multi-million-baht-esp-fraud-case/#entry10042879