Thailand Live Wednesday 25 Nov 2015

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Sea-rescue drill to simulate small aircraft crash off Phuket
Tanyaluk Sakoot


The sea-rescue drill will require the co-ordinated efforts of rescue workers, paramedics, hospital staff, said Phuket Airport Director Monrudee Gettuphan. Photo: The Phuket News file

PHUKET: -- Tourists and residents at Nai Yang Beach have been urged not to panic while emergency rescue teams from Phuket International Airport conduct a sea-rescue exercise at the usually quiet beach on Thursday (Nov 26).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873482-sea-rescue-drill-to-simulate-small-aircraft-crash-off-phuket/

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Tunisia: Deadly bus blast kills at least 12



TUNIS: -- At least 12 people have died in what is thought to have been a suicide bomb attack on a bus full of Tunisian presidential guards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873483-tunisia-deadly-bus-blast-kills-at-least-12/

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All hostages are freed after a botched robbery in northern France



ROUBAIX: -- A hostage taking incident in the northern French town of Roubaix appears to be over.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873484-all-hostages-are-freed-after-a-botched-robbery-in-northern-france/

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France and US urge Russia to change tactics in fight against ISIL



WASHINGTON: -- Barack Obama and Francois Hollande have repeated their call for a renewed international effort to degrade and destroy Islamic State militants.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873485-france-and-us-urge-russia-to-change-tactics-in-fight-against-isil/

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Paris attacker Abdelhamid Abaaoud 'returned to scene of shootings'
By Sarah Joanne Taylor | With ITELE, BFMTV, REUTERS



"Abaaoud and the man found by his side in the apartment had a plan to blow themselves up on Wednesday 18 or Thursday 19 November at la Defense."

PARIS: -- Paris attacks ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud appears to have returned to the scene of the Paris attacks later in the same evening.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873487-paris-attacker-abdelhamid-abaaoud-returned-to-scene-of-shootings/

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UPDATE:

Obama and Hollande call for greater cooperation against ISIL



WASHINGTON: -- The presidents of France and the United States have called for a renewed international effort to fight Islamic State militants.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873485-france-and-us-urge-russia-to-change-tactics-in-fight-against-isil/#entry10117407

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UPDATE:

Turkey downing of Russian plane “a stab in the back” says President Vladimir Putin



MOSCOW: -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the Russian plane which was shot down had in no way threatened Turkey but was doing its duty in the fight against militants in Syria.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873340-turkey-shoots-down-warplane-near-syrian-turkish-border/page-6?p=10117415#entry10117415

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Anti-ISIL coalition courts Russia to destroy ISIL
By Adrian Lancashire | With REUTERS, AFP, TASS, THE GUARDIAN, USA TODAY, IRISH TIMES



PARIS: -- Diplomacy has increasingly been mixing with war measures as allies redouble efforts to destroy the radical Islamic State movement ISIL — talking while bombing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873488-anti-isil-coalition-courts-russia-to-destroy-isil/

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Imagine eight million children of Syria
Produced by Beatriz Beiras



"My name is Ahmad. I'm nine, from Aleppo. I haven't been to school for two years."

NEW YORK: - - The winter boats keep coming to Europe, with many children on board.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873489-imagine-eight-million-children-of-syria/

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French police hunt new suspect over Paris attacks



PARIS: -- Olivier Corel is the latest person wanted by French police investigating the deadly Paris attacks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873490-french-police-hunt-new-suspect-over-paris-attacks/

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UPDATE:

Obama and Hollande pledge solidarity against Islamic State
By JULIE PACE

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a show of Western solidarity, President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande vowed Tuesday to escalate airstrikes against the Islamic State and bolster intelligence sharing following the deadly attacks in Paris. They called on Russia to join the international efforts, but only if Moscow ends its support for Syria's embattled president.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873485-france-and-us-urge-russia-to-change-tactics-in-fight-against-isil/#entry10117448

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Turkey shoots down Russian jet it says violated its airspace
By JIM HEINTZ and SUZAN FRASER

MOSCOW (AP) — Turkey shot down a Russian warplane on Tuesday that it said ignored repeated warnings and crossed into its airspace from Syria, killing at least one of the two pilots in a long-feared escalation in tensions between Russia and NATO. Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced what he called a "stab in the back" and warned of "significant consequences."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873340-turkey-shoots-down-warplane-near-syrian-turkish-border/

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Thailand's Securities Industry Drop 7% On The Year
BY JACOB MASLOW

BANGKOK: -- Tougher competition has caused Thailand’s securities industry to dip 7% this year. Chief executive of Asia Plus Securities (APS), Kongkiat Opaswongkarn, stated that despite the decline in the industry in 2015, Thailand is confident that the securities industry will bounce back in 2016 amid a more stable global economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873493-thailands-securities-industry-drop-7-on-the-year/

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Nakhon Ratchasima Airport Draws Interest of Thai Lion Air
BY JACOB MASLOW

KORAT: -- Thai Lion Air (TLA), a budget carrier in Thailand, has shown interest in the Nakhon Ratchasima airport. The company is currently discussing regular flights going through the airport with hopes of connecting northeastern provinces with Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai. There have also been rumors that the company wants to connect with Bangkok from the airport.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873495-nakhon-ratchasima-airport-draws-interest-of-thai-lion-air/

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Commerce ministry promotes riceberry rice

BANGKOK, 24 November 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Commerce is promoting the production of riceberry rice following high demands for the rice in foreign markets. The ministry will offer good grade riceberry rice seeds for farmers and provide markets for them.

Permanent Secretary for Commerce Chutima Boonyapraphatson on Tuesday inspected an organic riceberry rice project in the Ban Wo Kaeo community on Lam Pang province. The riceberry rice fields there had decreased from 260 to 70 Rai due to drought and yielded only 30 tons per year. After an organic riceberry rice community enterprise was founded in the community, the produce has been developed into many products, increasing income for the farmers in the community enterprise. However, it still has trouble finding quality riceberry rice seeds and doing marketing for the products.

The permanent secretary said that riceberry rice was popular in foreign markets and there was not sufficient produce for export. The ministry imposed measures to control riceberry rice after it found that some rice sellers mixed riceberry rice with other varieties of rice and sold it to consumers, said the official.

Ms. Chutima added that the Ministry of Commerce had a project to encourage farmers to plant 100% riceberry rice and worked with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in developing standards to assure the quality of the rice.


-- NNT 2015-11-25

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Seoul: North Korean leader Kim demotes top official
KIM TONG-HYUNG, Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is believed to have demoted one of his top officials and sent him to a rural collective farm for reeducation, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873522-seoul-north-korean-leader-kim-demotes-top-official-sends-him-to-rural-farm/

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Since '01, Clintons collected $35M from financial businesses
By LISA LERER and KEN THOMAS

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton wants voters to know she is no friend of Wall Street. But Wall Street has frequently been a friend to her.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873523-since-01-clintons-collected-35m-from-financial-businesses/

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Officer charged with murder in teen's death; video released
By DON BABWIN and JASON KEYSER

CHICAGO (AP) — A white Chicago police officer who shot a black teenager 16 times last year was charged with first-degree murder Tuesday, hours before the city released a video of the killing that many people fear could spark unrest.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873524-chicago-cop-charged-with-murder-in-teens-death;-video-released/

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Republican campaign rhetoric has Muslim-Americans on edge
By JOSH CORNFIELD

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Muslim-Americans who sued the New York Police Department over a surveillance program launched after 9/11 say calls from the Republican presidential campaign to put them under more scrutiny are recklessly seizing on public fears and distressing Muslims in the U.S.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873525-republican-campaign-rhetoric-has-muslim-americans-on-edge/

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Two-year-old drowns after wandering away from home
Phuket Gazette

KRABI: A two-year-old boy drowned in Krabi on Monday after falling from his home in a mangrove forest.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873527-two-year-old-drowns-after-wandering-away-from-home/

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MIAMI (AP) - Sandra now a hurricane in eastern Pacific off Mexican coast; expected to strengthen further.

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SRT welcomes public opinions on Don Mueang-Bang Sue Airport Rail Link

BANGKOK, 24 November 2015 (NNT) – The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is allowing the public to voice their opinions on the Don Mueang– Bang Sue Airport Rail Link extension, following the completion of the revised plan to the construction by the private sector hired for the purpose.

The SRT is reviewing the newly adjusted proposal for the Don Mueang – Bang Sue Airport Rail Link by analyzing the economic impacts, cost, and environmental impacts. Authorities are also preparing the necessary documents as they gearing up to select the contractor once the hearing is completed.

In a bid to reduce costs on the Airport Rail Link project, the construction will take place at the same time as the red rail project, or the Bang Sue-Rangsit route. The budget is set at 22 billion baht. Authorities expect the project to be completed by 2018 and forecast the number of passengers to hit 223,000 per day by 2022. The number of passengers is expected to increase to 355,000 by 2052.


-- NNT 2015-11-25

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PM wishes to see Thai-Chinese joint railway project reach satisfactory agreement soon



BANGKOK: -- The prime minister has made clear his strong wish to see a joint railway project between Thailand and China to reach satisfactory agreement as soon as possible.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873534-pm-wishes-to-see-thai-chinese-joint-railway-project-reach-satisfactory-agreement-soon/

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SET up 5.27 points at opening /Bangkok Post

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Runners think twice about Thailand after Bangkok half-marathon gaffe
by Murray Hunter

Short-sighted race organizers are hindering the development of Thailand as a runners’ destination

BANGKOK: -- MARATHONS in Thailand have the potential to draw in big foreign crowds. However, local organizers appear to be more concerned with pulling in quick money than making improvements and investing in the long-term development and market positioning of their races.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873535-runners-think-twice-about-thailand-after-bangkok-half-marathon-gaffe/

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Phuket alcohol ban near schools plan back to the drawing board
Saroj Kueprasertkij


Students hold up a sign promoting the alcohol-free zone around Phuket Rajabhat University. Photo: The Phuket News file / Tanyaluk Sakoot

PHUKET: -- The plan to implement alcohol-free zones around schools in Phuket went back to the drawing board yesterday (Nov 24) after Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Armornwat faulted a map for “inconsistencies”.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873537-phuket-alcohol-ban-near-schools-plan-back-to-the-drawing-board/

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Marcos jewelry being appraised ahead of possible auction



MANILA: -- The Philippine government is appraising millions of dollars' worth of jewelry seized three decades ago from Imelda Marcos, the former first lady known mainly for her massive stash of shoes, as it decides what to do with the dazzling collection, according to philstar.com.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873538-imelda-marcos-jewelry-being-appraised-ahead-of-possible-auction/

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Indonesian Islamic State returnees number 100, says intelligence chief

JAKARTA: -- State Intelligence Agency chief Sutiyoso says at least 100 Indonesians known to have joined the Sunni militant group Islamic State in Syria have returned home, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873539-indonesian-islamic-state-returnees-number-100-says-intelligence-chief/

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Industrial confidence index rises



BANGKOK: -- The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) says Thai Industries sentiment index (TISI) rose again from 82.8 point in September to 84.7 points in October.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873540-thai-industrial-confidence-index-rises/

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Klong Ong Ang now ready for Loy Krathong festival tonight



BANGKOK: -- One of Bangkok's old canals, Klong Ong Ang, is now ready to welcome visitors finding a new place for the celebration of Loy Krathong tonight.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873543-bangkoks-klong-ong-ang-now-ready-for-loy-krathong-festival-tonight/