Ubon Ratchathani to hold meeting for narcotics suppression officials at Thai – Lao border

BANGKOK, 23 November 2015, (NNT) – Officials from the Thai-Lao Border Liaison Offices (BLO) will be meeting to discuss narcotics prevention and suppresion measures, with representatives from both sides sharing information aimed at maximizing suppression efforts.

Ubon Ratchathani Governor, Somsak Jangtrakul has said that the Ubon Ratchathani Administration Center for Narcotics Prevention and Suppression will be discussing with the Office for Narcotics Prevention and Suppression, Region 3, in a meeting that will designate and develop the Thai-Lao Border Liaison Offices' (BLO) narcotics prevention and supression measures in parallel with each other.

The meeting serves as a stage where each side's BLO representative will announce their accomplishments, and discuss on the policies to monitor the transport of narcotics, including checkpoint placements to maximize suppression efforts.


-- NNT 2015-11-23

ASEAN SUMMIT
Free-trade groups' rivalry heating up
THE NATION



Thai, other regional leaders planning challenge to US-led TPP partnership

KUALA LUMPUR: -- THAI and other leaders of 16 Asean and Asia Pacific countries have pledged to conclude negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade and investment agreement by the end of next year. They hope to create a new "high-impact" economic grouping that will rival the US-led Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), which currently excludes Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872842-asean-summit-free-trade-groups-rivalry-heating-up/

SAFETY
Security beef-up ordered for Loy Krathong, festive season
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered security agencies and related ministries to beef up security during the Loy Krathong and New Year festivals.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872843-security-beef-up-ordered-for-loy-krathong-festive-season/

SPECIAL REPORT
Thai-style charters nothing to be ashamed of: law expert
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION


Henning Glaser

BANGKOK: -- THAI-STYLE constitutions are "strong" and "meaningful" despite being nothing like those of the West and other Asean countries, a public law expert has said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872844-thai-style-charters-nothing-to-be-ashamed-of-law-expert/

HEALTH
Border disease patrols
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry ordered that three contagious diseases be closely monitored along the border region in Ranong province as the establishment of the Asean Community will encourage the movement of more people in the future.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872846-thai-myanmar-border-disease-patrols/

EDU UPDATE
500 top teachers to attend English course run by British Council
KETKAN BOONPEN, THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- To improve the quality of English-language teachers, the Education Ministry is selecting 500 Thai teachers to undergo a six-week intensive training programme, after which their teaching would be studied and assessed in the first semester of the 2016 academic year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872847-thai-education-500-top-teachers-to-attend-english-course-run-by-british-council/

Hundreds of satellite and cable channels bite the dust
USANEE MONGKONPORN
WATCHIRANONT THONGTEP
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- MORE THAN 400 cable and satellite TV channels have been scrapped this year mainly due to the fast-changing media landscape with the addition of dozens of new digital TV channels and the poor economic conditions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872848-hundreds-of-satellite-and-cable-channels-bite-the-dust/

Ministry will arrange field trips to SEZs for foreign officials
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE COMMERCE Ministry will next year invite ambassadors, consuls, representatives from foreign chambers of commerce, and foreign enterprises for a trip visit to 10 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as part of strategy to draw more investment from overseas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872849-thai-ministry-will-arrange-field-trips-to-sezs-for-foreign-officials/

CAT aims to seal network deal with True for 4G service
USANEE MONGKOLPORN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- CAT TELECOM hopes to wrap up talks with True Corp over the state agency acquiring a Bt10-billion transmission network which is part of the nationwide 3G network of True subsidiary BFKT (Thailand).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872850-cat-aims-to-seal-network-deal-with-true-for-4g-service/

Buildings and roads by canals monitored for structural woes
THE NATION



LOW WATER LEVEL EXPECTED TO CAUSE PROBLEMS; WATER FOR CROPS BANNED

BANGKOK: -- BANGKOK officials have ordered close monitoring of buildings and roads for structural damage due to the very low water level in the current dry season. They have also warned people not to plant rice.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872851-buildings-and-roads-by-canals-monitored-for-structural-woes/

SURVEY:

Is Thailand prepared to effectively teach English without Foreign Teachers?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872751-survey-is-thailand-prepared-to-effectively-teach-english-without-foreign-teachers/

Couple arrested for extortion
SUPACHAI PETCHTHEWEE
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- A man who was pretending to be a police inspector named "Jo" has been arrested along with a female accomplice for allegedly extorting money from motorbike taxies around Esplanade Cineplex Ratchadapisek in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872852-couple-arrested-for-extortion-in-bangkok/

EDUCATION
Educator dreams up hydro plant
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation
Chiang Mai


A hydropower plant has been constructed on a stream in Chiang Mai

Innovative charity-funde project aims to provide free electricity in remote Chiang Dao district

CHIANG MAI: -- VOCATIONAL teachers and students have joined forces with local people to construct a hydropower plant at the foot of Doi Luang Chiang Dao Mountain.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872853-chiang-mai-educator-dreams-up-hydro-plant/

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Decent politicians and transparent parties the cornerstones to a workable political system
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- SERI SUWANNAPANON is a veteran lawyer whose parliamentary experience includes a stint as a senator and several terms as a charter drafter. He is a former chairman of the now-defunct National Reform Council's law reform committee and he currently serves as chairman of the National Reform Steering Assembly's political reform committee.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872854-decent-politicians-and-transparent-parties-the-cornerstones-to-a-workable-political-system/

CDC urged to review move to take away Senate's impeachment power
THE NATION

TRANSFER OF POWER TO NACC, CONSTITUTIONAL COURT WILL CREATE CONFUSION: EXPERTS

BANGKOK: -- THE CONSTITUTION Drafting Commission has been urged to review the proposal to deprive the Senate of the right to impeach political office holders and give that power to the anti-graft agency and Constitutional Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872855-cdc-urged-to-review-move-to-take-away-senates-impeachment-power/

'Step forward' in 2010 crackdown cases: NACC
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has received documents from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on the anti-government protest crackdown in 2010 that resulted in 91 deaths, NACC member Vicha Mahakun said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872856-step-forward-in-2010-crackdown-cases-nacc/

EDITORIAL
Hate coups? Then Don't spoil politicians
The Nation

Clean politics is the only way we can pre-empt military intervention

BANGKOK: -- There is absolutely no such thing as a "perfect relationship" between soldiers and politicians. Thailand is among the "Exhibit A's" for obvious reasons.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872857-hate-coups-then-dont-spoil-politicians/

Man Jumps to his death from South Pattaya Shopping Mall



PATTAYA: -- On Sunday Night, as a Security Guard was closing the 10th floor Swimming Pool area at Mike Shopping Mall in South Pattaya, he witnessed a man jump off a ledge to his death.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872858-man-jumps-to-his-death-from-south-pattaya-shopping-mall/

5 Men Sexually Assault 19 year old woman at South Pattaya Apartment



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Saturday, Police were called to an apartment complex in South Pattaya after residents had apprehended two men who were thought to be part of a group of five who took their turn to sexually assault a 19 year old woman inside her apartment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872860-5-men-sexually-assault-19-year-old-woman-at-south-pattaya-apartment/

East Pattaya Home Owner impaled on Steel Fence



PATTAYA: -- On Sunday Evening Rescue Services were called to a house in East Pattaya to assist the owner who had become impaled on a steel fence post as he tried to pick leaves from a tree located at the front of his house.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872861-east-pattaya-home-owner-impaled-on-steel-fence/

Thai Police find South Korean Man Beaten to Death in Chon Buri Resort

CHON BURI -Pol Maj Gen Amporn Buarapporn, chief of Chon Buri police, has reported the body of 25-year-old South Korean, Im Dong Jun, was found at a luxury resort in Bang Lamung district early Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872862-thai-police-find-south-korean-man-beaten-to-death-in-chon-buri-resort/

Over 80 percent want parties to announce their candidates for prime minister’s post



BANGKOK: -- Over 80 percent of people responding to an opinion poll want political parties to announce their candidates for the prime minister’s post before an election, according to Nida Poll.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872863-over-80-percent-want-parties-to-announce-their-candidates-for-thai-pms-post/

Volkswagen Reduces 2016 Investment Plan Commitment by $1.1 Billion
BY JACOB MASLOW


PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - OCTOBER 1: Volkswagen car maker logo on a building of dealership on October 1, 2015 in Prague, Czech republic.

PRAGUE: -- Automaker Volkswagen (ETR:VOW3) has announced that the company plans to cut 2016 investment plans by over €1 billion. The company’s board stated that the carmaker is bracing for penalties due to the emissions scandal that took place this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872864-volkswagen-reduces-2016-investment-plan-commitment-by-11-billion/

Belgium raises threat level for Brussels to highest possible level
BY BNO NEWS

BRUSSELS: -- The threat level for the Belgian capital of Brussels has been raised to the highest possible level over a “severe and imminent threat” in connection with last week’s terror attacks in Paris, bringing life in the city to a near-standstill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872865-belgium-raises-threat-level-for-brussels-to-highest-possible-level/

UACJ Group to Open Aluminum Plant in Rayong
BY JACOB MASLOW

BANGKOK: -- UACJ Group, the largest aluminum manufacturer in Japan, announced on Thursday that it would be officially opening an aluminum rolling plant in Rayong. The plant will be the first of its kind in the Southeast Asia region, and will cost Bt21 billion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872866-uacj-group-to-open-aluminum-plant-in-rayong/

KBank Prepares for AEC+3 0
BY JACOB MASLOW

BANGKOK: -- Kasikornbank, or KBank, plans to focus on digital banking and the Asian Economic Community, which includes South Korea, China and Japan. The bank is preparing for AEC+3, which will be a new growth area for the bank over the next few years as the domestic market matures, and the company achieves a full market share of 30%.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872867-kbank-prepares-for-aec3-0/

UPDATE:

Brussels remains on high alert: ‘multiple operations underway’ across Belgium



BRUSSELS: -- Belgian police say a number of operations are underway across the country in response to terror threats referred to by Prime Minister Charles Michel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872865-belgium-raises-threat-level-for-brussels-to-highest-possible-level/#entry10109650

Argentina goes to the polls



CARACAS: -- More than 30 million voters are heading for the ballot box in Argentina.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872868-argentina-goes-to-the-polls/

Israeli and Palestinian casualties follow further stabbings in West Bank



JERUSALEM: -- More than a month of violence in the West Bank shows no signs of calming down.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872869-israeli-and-palestinian-casualties-follow-further-stabbings-in-west-bank/

Paris: 'I would rather see my brother in prison than in a cemetery'



PARIS: -- Suspected Paris attacker Salah Abdelslam is on the run. The 26-year-old may have assumed a false identity.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/872870-paris-i-would-rather-see-my-brother-in-prison-than-in-a-cemetery/