Thailand Live Wednesday 2 Dec 2015

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Christmas concert row forces Italian school head to quit



MILAN: -- An Italian primary school headmaster has been forced to stand down after organising a Winter concert in January instead of a traditional Christmas concert – all in the name of multiculturalism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875294-christmas-concert-row-forces-italian-school-head-to-quit/

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People traffickers in Med escape French fire-power
By Adrian Lancashire | With TF1



PARIS: -- On the lookout for trouble, the French navy frigate Courbet is plying the Mediterranean with a crew of almost 200 on board, with a helicopter ready for action. Disrupting people smuggling operations is their business, and saving lives.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875296-people-traffickers-in-med-escape-french-fire-power/

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Obama urges Turkey and Russia to reduce tensions



PARIS: -- A week after Turkey downed a Russian warplane, President Barack Obama has reiterated US support for its NATO ally.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875297-obama-urges-turkey-and-russia-to-reduce-tensions/

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Migrant numbers reaching Europe slides says UN



PARIS: -- The number of migrants and refugees reaching Europe has dropped, according to the United Nations refugee agency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875299-migrant-numbers-reaching-europe-slides-says-un/

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Merkel's cabinet backs German role in fight against Islamic State militants



BERLIN: -- The German cabinet has agreed to join the military campaign against Islamic State militants in Syria.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875300-merkels-cabinet-backs-german-role-in-fight-against-islamic-state-militants/

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Prisoner swap frees Lebanese soldiers and ISIL leader's ex-wife



PARIS: -- 16 Lebanese soldiers and policemen held captive by Al Qaeda’s Syrian wing, the Nusra Front, have been released.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875301-prisoner-swap-frees-lebanese-soldiers-and-isil-leaders-ex-wife/

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UPDATE:

Deadly AirAsia crash: crew response and faulty equipment key factors says inquiry



JAKARTA: -- The crew response and faulty equipment are among a series of factors that caused last year’s deadly AirAsia jet crash which killed all 162 people on board.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875132-airasia-crash-faulty-part-major-factor/#entry10142519

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Climate deal needs legally binding periodic reviews, says Obama



PARIS: -- US President Barack Obama has said that for nations to be accountable on greenhouse gas emissions, legally binding “periodic reviews” are needed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875303-climate-deal-needs-legally-binding-periodic-reviews-says-obama/

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NATO moves to bolster Turkey’s security



BRUSSELS: -- NATO wants to increase security on Turkey’s border with Syria after a meeting of foreign and defence ministers in Brussels on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875305-nato-moves-to-bolster-turkeys-security/

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US sending new special ops force to fight Islamic State
By DEB RIECHMANN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military will deploy a new special operations force to Iraq to step up the fight against Islamic State militants who are unleashing violence and are determined to hold territory they have seized in Iraq and Syria, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told Congress on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875306-us-sending-new-special-ops-force-to-fight-islamic-state/

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Voters wonder if Cruz can heal Washington's bitter divisions
By JULIE PACE

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican Sharon Gilbert thinks her party veered off course in the past two presidential elections by nominating candidates who were too moderate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875307-voters-wonder-if-cruz-can-heal-washingtons-bitter-divisions/

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For gays under IS rule, isolation and fear of a cruel death
By BASSEM MROUE

REYHANLI, Turkey (AP) — Before a crowd of men on a street in the Syrian city of Palmyra, the masked Islamic State group judge read out the sentence against the two men convicted of homosexuality: They would be thrown to their deaths from the roof of the nearby Wael Hotel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875308-for-gays-under-is-rule-isolation-and-fear-of-a-cruel-death/

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Abducted former Hells Angels member Wayne Rodney Schneider found dead

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875324-abducted-former-hells-angels-member-wayne-rodney-schneider-found-dead/

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Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg to give away 99% of shares

(BBC) Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan say they will give away 99% of their shares in the company to good causes as they announce the birth of their daughter Max.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875345-facebooks-mark-zuckerberg-to-give-away-99-of-shares/

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Annotated Hitler's Mein Kampf to be published

MUNICH: -- Adolf Hitler's political manifesto Mein Kampf with critical notes by scholars is to be published next month - for the first time since the end of WWII.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875347-hitlers-mein-kampf-to-be-published/

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UPDATE:

Body of kidnapped Australian Hells Angels gang member found in Thailand
Lindsay Murdoch

Bangkok: The body of kidnapped Australian Hells Angels motor cycle gang leader Wayne Rodney Schneider has been found buried in a shallow grave in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875324-abducted-former-hells-angles-member-wayne-rodney-schneider-found-dead/#entry10143045

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Kidnapped Australian former motorbike gang member found killed and buried in Sattahip



SATTAHIP: -- The kidnapped 38-year-old Australian Hells Angles motorcycle gang member Wayne Rodney Schneider was found dead at a roadside bush in Sattahip district in Chonburi province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875324-abducted-former-hells-angels-member-wayne-rodney-schneider-found-dead/

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SET up 1.37 points at opening /Bangkok Post

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This week PRD’s ‘Music in the Garden’ honors the King

BANGKOK, 2 December 2015, (NNT) – The Government Public Relations Department (PRD) is scheduled to hold its weekly ‘Music in the Garden’ event at its auditorium in Soi Ari area, Bangkok, on Thursday (December 3rd, 2015) from 4:00-8:00 p.m.

This week’s concert, which is the 48th in its series, will honor His Majesty the King on the auspicious occasion of His 88th Birthday Anniversary on the 5th of December. The concert will feature well known Thai singers namely Santi Lunpae, Rungrudee Pangpongsai, and Dr. Supachai Pongsawat along with artists from the PRD band. They will sing numerous musical compositions especially those written to honor His Majesty the King. The event promises to be the most enjoyable one.

‘Music in the Garden’ will be held at the PRD Conference Hall in Soi Areesampan, Rama 6 Road, Phayathai District, Bangkok; beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday. Admission to the concert is free.


-- NNT 2015-12-02

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Proposal to set up nuclear plant in Malaysia not finalised, says minister



KUALA LUMPUR: -- The Malaysian government government has not made any decision on the proposal to build the first nuclear generation plant in the country, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Mah Siew Keong, as reported by New Straits Times.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875372-proposal-to-set-up-nuclear-plant-in-malaysia-not-finalised-says-minister/

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UPDATED OP

Australian abducted in Pattaya found dead in Sattahip

SATTAHIP: -- The abduction case involving a former Australian Hells Angels Motorbike Club member, became a murder case in the early hours of Wednesday following the discovery of a body, thought to be that of the victim, in a 2-meter-deep grave in Sattahip.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875324-abducted-former-hells-angels-member-wayne-rodney-schneider-found-dead/

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Philippines hopes to craft migration deal with France, says envoy



MANILA: -- The Philippine government hopes to forge a migration agreement with the French government so that undocumented Filipinos could legalize their stay in France, according to Manila Bulletin.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875375-philippines-hopes-to-craft-migration-deal-with-france-says-envoy/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Stigma stalks Myanmar’s HIV patients despite advances in treatment

An HIV patient stares out of an window at a HIV clinic run by MSF in Yangon’s Tharketa township. (Photo: Ei Cherry Aung/Myanmar Now)

By Ei Cherry Aung

YANGON (Myanmar Now) – Two weeks after Cho’s husband died at his parent’s home in 2013, his family called her and told her he died of AIDS. She should get tested, they told her.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875376-stigma-stalks-myanmars-hiv-patients-despite-advances-in-treatment/

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Vietnam may grant one-year visa to US tourists: official



VIETNAM: -- Tuoi Tre News reported that Vietnam is working to grant a one-year visa to US citizens on their travels or conference trips to the Southeast Asian country, citing an immigration official.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875377-vietnam-may-grant-one-year-visa-to-us-tourists-official/

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Thailand puts on hold signing railway development project with China



BANGKOK: -- Thailand will put on hold its scheduled signing of memorandum of cooperation (MOC) on railway project with China tomorrow after the latter does not honour the cooperation agreement both had earlier reached on railway, rubber and rice deals.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875381-thailand-puts-on-hold-signing-railway-development-project-with-china/

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"Most" Iraqis believe US is an Islamic State ally
Liz Sly in Baiji, Iraq

BAIJI: -- On the front lines of the battle against the Islamic State, suspicion of the United States runs deep. Iraqi fighters say they have all seen the videos purportedly showing US helicopters airdropping weapons to the militants, and many claim they have friends and relatives who have witnessed similar instances of collusion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875382-most-iraqis-believe-us-is-an-islamic-state-ally/

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The Cabinet approves transnational crime prevention framework

BANGKOK, 2 December 2015 (NNT) - The Cabinet has approved the transnational crime prevention framework for the year 2015 – 2021.

According to Prime Minister’s Office Spokesperson Maj Gen Sansern Keawkamnerd, the framework was proposed by National Security Council and will serve as a guideline for the country to deal with current transnational crimes.

A transnational crime prevention committee will be established to oversee details of the framework, while a sub-committee will be appointed to facilitate its implementation.

The Cabinet has also approved a budget proposal by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, which will aid farmers affected by natural disasters from March last year to June this year.

They include flooding, drought, pests, crop disease, storms, and fires.


-- NNT 2015-12-02

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UPDATE:

Abducted Aussie biker found dead in Chonburi
By Coconuts Bangkok



CHONBURI: -- The Australian ex-motorcycle gang member kidnapped from his home in Pattaya by five men has been found dead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875324-abducted-former-hells-angels-member-wayne-rodney-schneider-found-dead/page-5?p=10143685#entry10143685

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PM orders immediate improvements of aviation industry



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said today he has ordered immediate improvements of the country's aviation industry after the industry was downgraded by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875387-pm-prayut-orders-immediate-improvements-of-aviation-industry/

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VIDEO : Sondhi gets one year sentence for defaming MR Pridiyathorn



BANGKOK: -- Former leader of the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) Sondhi Limthongkul was today sentenced by the Supreme Court to one year in prison after finding him guilty of defaming the former finance minister in 2007.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/875394-sondhi-gets-one-year-sentence-for-defaming-former-finance-minister-pridiyathorn/