Thailand Live Friday 20 Nov 2015

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UPDATE:

5 dead after separate attacks in Tel Aviv and the West Bank
BY BNO NEWS

TEL AVIV: -- Five people have been killed and others have been injured after a stabbing attack in southern Tel Aviv and a shooting attack in the West Bank, Israeli officials say, making it Israel’s deadliest day in the recent wave of violence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872161-us-teen-among-five-dead-in-west-bank-and-tel-aviv-attacks/#entry10099439

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Vietnam to punish Facebook users who incite terrorism, Islamic extremism



VIETNAM: -- Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security has said users of social networking sites who upload content that stirs up terrorism and Islamic extremism will be severely penalized, Tuoi Tre News reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872216-vietnam-to-punish-facebook-users-who-incite-terrorism-islamic-extremism/

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New Zealand opens voting on new flag

WELLINGTON: -- Voting has begun in New Zealand in a referendum which could see the country getting a new national flag.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872217-new-zealand-opens-voting-on-new-flag/

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Parents reminded to watch over children during Loy Krathong

BANGKOK, 20 November 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health has suggested parents to keep a close watch on their children while partaking in Loy Krathong festivities to protect them from accidents.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872218-parents-reminded-to-watch-over-children-during-loy-krathong/

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More Thais celebrate Loy Krathong festival next week



BANGKOK: -- Loy Krathong festival this year will see the highest number of Thais celebrating for the past three years, reflecting the increased confidence that the national economy is on the path to recovery.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872228-more-thais-celebrate-loy-krathong-festival-next-week/

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Georgia executes man convicted in 1994 slaying
KATE BRUMBACK, Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — A man convicted of killing a woman he met at a Georgia nightclub was executed Thursday after losing a last-minute round of appeals.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872231-georgia-executes-man-convicted-in-1994-slaying/

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UPDATE:

Suspected mastermind of Paris attacks confirmed dead in raid
BY BNO NEWS

PARIS: -- Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who is suspected of having organized last week’s deadly terror attacks in the French capital, was killed in Wednesday’s raid on an apartment complex north of Paris, officials have confirmed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872168-officials-confirm-abdelhamid-abaaoud-killed-in-wednesdays-raids/#entry10099619

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Renovation of royal chariots for funeral ceremony of the late Supreme Patriarch finished



BANGKOK: -- The government has now finished the renovation of two royal chariots that are to be used in the funeral ceremony of the late Supreme PatriarchSomdet Phra Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana Mahathera, and will be brought in "Buang Sruang" blessing ceremony today

Progress in the renovation was disclosed after the deputy prime minister Gen Tanasak Patimapagorn made an inspection trip to the Sib Moo Office of Traditional Arts of the Fine Arts Department in Nakhon Pathom province yesterday to follow up the repairs and maintenance of the traditional vehicles used for royal funeral ceremony.

The chariots will be used to transport the body of the late Supreme Patriarch in the official funeral ceremony.

The repairs were being carried out at the Sib Moo Office of Traditional Arts of the Fine Arts Department located in Nakorn Pathom province.

Official repair work began in earnest in January 24 of this year and centred on repairs to the intricate carvings as well as the replacement of wheels on the chariots.

New ropes that will be used to pull the chariots have also been made available and as of the present, all repairs have been completed.

A religious ‘Buang Sruang’ blessing ceremony will be carried out today before they are finally handed over to the Bureau of the Royal Household.

Similarly, work on official bookmarks and journals for the funeral ceremony have also been completed.

Work on pavilions for placing ‘Dok Mai Jan’ or official ceremonial wooden flowers have similarly been completed.

What remains is work on the official memorial archives chronicling the function itself which can only be done after the conclusion of the funeral ceremony.

His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana Mahathera died on October 24, 2013. He was 100 years old. The incumbent Supreme Patriarch served in this position since 1989.

He was ordained as a novice when he was 14 years old and he never left the monastic life.

His Holiness was born on Oct 3, 1913 in Kanchanaburi province. He was formerly known as Charoen Gajavatra.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/renovation-of-royal-chariots-for-funeral-ceremony-of-the-late-supreme-patriarch-finished


-- Thai PBS 2015-11-20

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EGAT plans LED Expo Thailand and Thailand Energy Saving Week in 2016

BANGKOK, 20 November 2015, (NNT) - The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) is planning to hold the LED Expo Thailand 2016 and the Thailand Energy Saving Week 2016 in April next year, showcasing innovations in power conservation.

The LED Expo Thailand 2016 and Thailand Energy Saving Week 2016 are scheduled for April 19 – 22, 2016 at Halls 4 - 6 in Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani. EGAT Governor Soonchai Kumnoonsate told local media that the two expositions are joint efforts between his agency, the Ministry of Energy, Impact Exhibition Management Co. Ltd. and MEX Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd.

Another event, the PCB Expo Thailand 2016, will be held later next year. The EGAT Governor said the three expositions would turn out a combined 30,000 attendees.

Mr. Soonchai also spoke regarding the Ministry of Energy’s short- and long-term plans to conserve energy across all sectors. The long-term plan aims to reduce energy consumption by 30% or 10,000 megawatts by 2036.


-- NNT 2015-11-20

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Fourth quarter growth to be 3.5-4% this year



BANGKOK: -- The private sector yesterday voiced confidence of 3.5-4% economic growth in the fourth quarter of this year under condition that the government accelerates budget spendings on infrastructure projects, work employments, and village funds.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872251-thai-economy-fourth-quarter-growth-to-be-35-4-this-year/

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ISIS vows to blow up the White House in new video

NEW YORK: -- The Islamic State terror group released a new, six-minute video Thursday vowing to blow up the White House, the latest ISIS video that emerged less than a week after the deadly attacks in Paris.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872255-isis-vows-to-blow-up-the-white-house-in-new-video/

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Military junta shuts down a satellite TV channel for defying Order 44



BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has ordered the shut down of a satellite TV channel, Fa Hai TV, after the news channel broadcast contents that it considered detrimental to national security and peace and order of the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872257-ncpo-shuts-down-a-satellite-tv-channel-for-defying-order-44/

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Phuket beach-wedding ban lifted
Phuket Gazette


These activities help to promote Phuket, Vice Governor Chokdee said. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- The Phuket ban on beach-wedding ceremonies was lifted earlier this week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872259-phuket-beach-wedding-ban-lifted/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

State Department to stop adding page inserts to U.S. passports

As of January 1, 2016, however, the State Department has announced it will no longer be inserting the 24-page supplements into passports.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872261-state-department-to-stop-adding-page-inserts-to-us-passports/

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US set to release Jonathan Pollard, who spied for Israel
By DAVID B. CARUSO

NEW YORK (AP) — Former spy Jonathan Pollard is set to be released from a federal prison in North Carolina on Friday, 30 years after he was caught selling American intelligence secrets to Israel. But he'll be on a short leash as he rebuilds his life as a free man.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872263-us-set-to-release-jonathan-pollard-who-spied-for-israel/

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Min of Tourism & Sports organizes caravan to promote Thai attractions

BANGKOK, 20 November 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Tourism and Sports and private companies have co-organized a caravan to promote tourist attractions across the country.

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul explained that the caravan is meant to promote roadtrips to various tourist attractions along its route, thereby stimulating local economy. The tourism caravan will travel from Bangkok to Chiang Rai province, with scenic detours and possible side trips to neighboring countries.

The ministry also expressed confidence that it would achieve its annual target of seven million visitors from the ASEAN region, up from six million visitors last year. In 2016, the ministry will focus on developing Thailand's relatively obscure destinations into viable tourist attractions.


-- NNT 2015-11-20

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Beijing vows justice as ISIS kills Chinese, Norwegian hostages
By Katie Hunt, Matt Rivers and Yuli Yang, CNN

Hong Kong (CNN) Beijing has vowed to bring ISIS to justice after the group said it had executed two hostages, a Chinese and a Norwegian.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872266-beijing-vows-justice-as-isis-kills-chinese-norwegian-hostages/

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Australian trio arrested in Bolivia accused of trying to board flight to Brazil with explosives
Lia Timson and Liam Mannix

SYDNEY: -- Three young Australians apparently on the holiday of a lifetime have been arrested at a Bolivian international airport after explosives were found in one of the men's backpack.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872267-australian-trio-arrested-in-bolivia-accused-of-trying-to-board-flight-to-brazil-with-explosives/

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Prachachuen Shop Fire Kills Owner’s Daughter
By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee
Staff Reporter


A woman died in a fire at the 'Klae' tailor shop early this morning in the Bang Sue district of Bangkok.

BANGKOK — A fire gutted a tailor’s shop on Soi Prachachuen 5 early this morning, killing one resident.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872288-bangkok-shop-fire-kills-owners-daughter/

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UPDATE:

No Corruption in Rajabhakti Park, Army Rules
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Rajabhakti Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

BANGKOK — An internal review into the billion-baht Rajabhakti Park found no evidence of corruption, army chief Teerachai Nakwanich announced today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872141-army-probe-finds-traces-of-corruption-in-rajabhakti/page-2#entry10100203

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U.S. Ambassador meets with Thai DPM ACM Prajin

BANGKOK, 20 November 2015, (NNT) - U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand His Excellency Glyn T. Davies has recently met Deputy Prime Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872290-us-ambassador-meets-with-thai-dpm-acm-prajin/

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Rival Koreas agree to meet at border village next week

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The rival Koreas on Friday agreed to hold talks next week as part of a previous deal aimed at improving ties in the wake of a military standoff in August.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872292-rival-koreas-agree-to-meet-at-border-village-next-week/

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Excessive speed caused deadly train derailment in France



PARIS: -- Excessive speed caused the derailment of a high speed French TGV train, in which 11 people were killed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872293-excessive-speed-caused-deadly-train-derailment-in-france/

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3G technology for Gaza and West Bank



JERUSALEM: -- Gaza and the West Bank are set to get 3G technology, after Israel and the Palestinian Authority signed an agreement to introduce the long-awaited mobile network.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872294-3g-technology-for-gaza-and-west-bank/

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Thousands trapped as Balkans filter migrant flow to Europe



BRUSSELS: -- Balkan countries have begun a priority system to stem the flow of migrants to Europe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872295-thousands-trapped-as-balkans-filter-migrant-flow-to-europe/

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France vows to 'destroy' ISIL after deadly Paris attacks



"It is the wish of France, and of the French President, to fight this war until the end - to destroy Daesh in Iraq and in Syria"

PARIS: -- France is vowing to “destroy” the ISIL militant group after last Friday’s attacks in Paris, which left 129 people dead and hundreds injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872296-france-vows-to-destroy-isil-after-deadly-paris-attacks/

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Greek approves reforms to unlock further bailout cash



ATHENS: -- Greece has approved a reform bill, which paves the way for the release of further bailout funds from its international lenders.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872303-greek-approves-reforms-to-unlock-further-bailout-cash/

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Video Report: Police fail to bust gibbon touts despite video evidence
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Officers have yet to arrest a gibbon tout caught on video earlier this week while working on the walking streets of Phi Phi Don.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872305-video-report-police-fail-to-bust-gibbon-touts-despite-video-evidence/

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Thaivisa Video News - 20 November




watch the bulletin here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872309-thaivisa-video-news-20-november/

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Blood donations urged as dengue cases TRIPLE in Thailand
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- People have been urged to donate blood as the number of dengue fever cases in Thailand have tripled in the last year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872314-blood-donations-urged-as-dengue-cases-triple-in-thailand/