Turkey to send troops to Libya at Tripoli's request - Erdogan

By Ece Toksabay and Ahmed Elumami

 

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a meeting of his ruling AK Party in Ankara, Turkey, December 26, 2019. Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS

 

ANKARA/TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Turkey will send troops to Libya at the request of Tripoli as soon as next month, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, putting the North African country's conflict at the centre of wider regional frictions.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140590-turkey-to-send-troops-to-libya-at-tripolis-request-erdogan/

 

Cannabis use rising faster among depressed Americans

By Lisa Rapaport

 

FILE PHOTO: A marijuana leaf is displayed at Canna Pi medical marijuana dispensary in Seattle, Washington, November 27, 2012. REUTERS/Anthony Bolante/File Photo

 

(Reuters Health) - Regular cannabis use has risen more quickly among people with depression, and they're less likely to perceive it as risky, compared with people who aren't depressed, a U.S. study suggests.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140591-cannabis-use-rising-faster-among-depressed-americans/

 

U.N. rebuffs Russia accusation that U.S. visa delays being ignored

 

FILE PHOTO: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a news conference after the First Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, Switzerland December 17, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

 

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly expressed concern to Washington over U.S. visa delays for officials from Russia and other countries, a U.N. spokesman said on Thursday after Moscow accused Guterres of turning a blind eye.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140595-un-rebuffs-russia-accusation-that-us-visa-delays-being-ignored/

 

Japan to send warship, aircraft to Middle East to protect vessels

By Kiyoshi Takenaka

 

FILE PHOTO: Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe answers questions at a news conference at the 8th trilateral leaders' meeting between China, South Korea and Japan in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China December 24, 2019. Wang Zhao/Pool via REUTERS

 

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will send a warship and patrol planes to protect Japanese ships in the Middle East as the situation in the region, from which it sources nearly 90% of its crude oil imports, remains volatile, a document approved by the cabinet showed on Friday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140599-japan-to-send-warship-aircraft-to-middle-east-to-protect-vessels/

 

Alaska set to finish 2019 with record warm year

By Yereth Rosen

 

Winter rains atop of snow create a glaze on roads and parking lots and melt Westchester Lagoon, a popular ice-skating and pond-hockey site in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., December 9, 2019. REUTERS/Yereth Rosen

 

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Alaska is set to finish 2019 with a record average high temperature after a year of extremes ranging from a sweltering summer and rampant wildfires to vanishing sea ice and winter rains where heavy snows were once the norm.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140597-alaska-set-to-finish-2019-with-record-warm-year/

 

DSI - 2019 featured 19 cases, two had a big impact on expats in Thailand

 

 

The Department of Special Investigation held a press conference to report on their activities in 2019, reported Daily News. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140601-dsi-2019-featured-19-cases-two-had-a-big-impact-on-expats-in-thailand/

 

Fire at Chonburi plastics factory: No injuries but losses expected to be 30 million baht

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Police and fire services were called to a plastics factory at the Mangkorn Thong Industrial estate in Nong Yai district of Chonburi yesterday evening. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140603-fire-at-chonburi-plastics-factory-no-injuries-but-losses-expected-to-be-30-million-baht/

Upper Thailand gets colder by 1-3 °C, isolated rains forecasted in some areas

By THE NATION

 

 

A strong high-pressure system over upper Thailand is expected to cover the upper northeast of Thailand and the South China Sea meeting a westerly trough moving across the upper North and the upper Northeast and bringing a drop of 1-3 degrees Celsius in temperature, the Thailand Meteorological Department forecast on Friday (December 27).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140604-upper-thailand-gets-colder-by-1-3-°c-isolated-rains-forecasted-in-some-areas/

 

Frenchman in alleged extortion case: Four Bangkok policemen suspended

 

Picture: Daily News

 

A national police spokesman has said that four officers at Bangkok's notorious Thong Lo police station have been suspended. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140605-frenchman-in-alleged-extortion-case-four-bangkok-policemen-suspended/

 

Phuket in joint venture to beautify Promthep Cape

By The Nation

 

 

The Phuket governor's office is working with the Rawai subdistrict municipality and Nongnooch Garden Pattaya to improve the scenery in Promthep Cape.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140606-phuket-in-joint-venture-to-beautify-promthep-cape/

 

Pattaya: Pitiful old man at the police station will be "repatriated to Britain"

 

Picture: Pattaya City Law Enforcement

 

The Pattaya City Law Enforcement page provided an update on the pitiful case of a western man who had been sitting half naked in a wheelchair at Pattaya police station for days. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140607-pattaya-pitiful-old-man-at-the-police-station-will-be-repatriated-to-britain/

 

Wildfire in Chilean port city of Valparaiso leaves 700 homeless

By Aislinn Laing and Natalia A. Ramos Miranda

 

A Chilean flag hangs off the remains of a house, after it was destroyed by fire, following the spread of wildfires in Valparaiso, Chile December 26, 2019. REUTERS/Rodrigo Garrido

 

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - More than 245 homes have been destroyed and 700 people left destitute after a forest fire tore through a low-income area of the Chilean seaside city of Valparaiso on Christmas Eve.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140608-wildfire-in-chilean-port-city-of-valparaiso-leaves-700-homeless/

 

Pattaya: Police arrest US man after growth hormone sting

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

Police and Health department officials in Pattaya conducted a sting on a 66 year old American man living at the resort. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140610-pattaya-police-arrest-us-man-after-growth-hormone-sting/

 

Notre-Dame restoration enters risky phase with scaffolding removal

 

FILE PHOTO: General view shows the Notre Dame Cathedral, as works continue to stabilise the cathedral's structure nine months after a fire caused significant damage, in Paris, France, December 23, 2019. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

 

PARIS (Reuters) - The operation to shore up fire-ravaged Notre-Dame Cathedral is entering a risky stage as engineers resume preparations for the removal of scaffolding that could provoke a further collapse.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140613-notre-dame-restoration-enters-risky-phase-with-scaffolding-removal/

 

Pattaya: Immigration in Xmas charm offensive... but still time for those who've been naughty not nice!

 

 

Smiling Chonburi immigration officials went to Walking Street on Christmas Eve for a charm offensive. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140615-pattaya-immigration-in-xmas-charm-offensive-but-still-time-for-those-whove-been-naughty-not-nice/

 

Goat raising increasing but still not enough to meet demand: Livestock Dept

By THE NATION

 

 

Sorawit Thanito, director-general of the Livestock Development Department said this week that the goat market in Thailand has been growing exponentially with increasing demand for domestic consumption and export.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140617-goat-raising-increasing-but-still-not-enough-to-meet-demand-livestock-dept/

 

Death toll reaches 28 as Philippines recovers from Christmas typhoon

 

FILE PHOTO: A man walks past storm debris in Biliran, Philippines December 26, 2019. in this picture obtained from social media. VERMALYN MALOLOY-ON NAVARRETE via REUTERS

 

MANILA (Reuters) - The death toll from a Christmas typhoon that tore through the central Philippines rose to 28 on Friday, with 12 people missing, the disaster agency said, as authorities moved to restore power and residents tried to repair damaged homes.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140619-death-toll-reaches-28-as-philippines-recovers-from-christmas-typhoon/

 

Serial fraudster used her own severely autistic daughter to extort men in sex scam

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

Police in Udon Thani have announced the arrest of a Thai mother who used her severely handicapped daughter in an elaborate sex extortion scam. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140620-serial-fraudster-used-her-own-severely autistic-daughter-to-extort-men-in-sex-scam/

 

Poor refuse collector donates his life savings to the temple before dying

 

Thai caption: Last merit making before dying

 

Relatives of a poor refuse collector said on Facebook that he had donated his life savings to a temple before he died.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140621-poor-refuse-collector-donates-his-life-savings-to-the-temple-before-dying/

Wind surfer discovers corpse floating off Jomtien beach

 

Thai caption: Surfers discover a (floating) corpse

 

Police and rescue services were called to Jomtien beach yesterday after a life guard reported that a wind surfer had discovered the body of a man floating offshore. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140623-wind-surfer discovers-corpse-floating off-jomtien-beach/

 

Pattaya: Man caught removing parking restrictions with thinner!

 

Thai caption: You see... I want to park here!

 

Netizens in Pattaya were commenting in large numbers after a post was made online that showed a man in a red top removing red and white parking restrictions from the kerb with a brush and thinner. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140625-pattaya-man-caught-removing-parking-restrictions-with-thinner/

 

Jail break in Songkhla prison

By The Nation

 

 

A man jailed for burglary escaped from Songkhla provincial prison yesterday (December 26) by climbing out through the ceiling and stealing a prison officer’s clothes.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140627-jail-break-in-songkhla-prison/

 

Plane crashes in Kazakhstan shortly after takeoff, at least 14 dead

 

Emergency and security personnel are seen at the site of the plane crash near Almaty, Kazakhstan, December 27, 2019. REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev

 

ALMATY (Reuters) - A Bek Air plane with 93 passengers and five crew members on board crashed near the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan on Friday shortly after taking off, killing at least 14 people, authorities in the Central Asian country said.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140642-plane-crashes-in-kazakhstan-shortly-after-takeoff-at-least-14-dead/

 

Thais choosing to escape abroad during NY holidays: TTAA

By The Nation

 

 

The New Year holiday has become an increasingly popular time with Thais to travel abroad thanks to a strong baht and competitive packages offered by airlines, hotels, travel agencies and online travel booking platforms (OTA).

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140650-thais-choosing-to-escape-abroad-during-ny-holidays-ttaa/

 

Department of Highways halts roadworks to ease traffic conditions over New Year

By THE NATION

 

 

Transport Minister Saksyam Chidchob has ordered Department of Highways to ease the tailbacks faced by motorists heading home over the New Year holidays by asking contractors to temporarily halt their construction of roads and reopen lanes.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140652-department-of-highways-halts-roadworks-to-ease-traffic-conditions-over-new-year/

 

Air Force deploys drones in traffic management over holidays

 

 

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has deployed a fleet of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), or drones, to provide real-time traffic monitoring of main highways to the Department of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DPDPM) during the New Year holiday period.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140653-thai-air-force-deploys-drones-in-traffic-management-over-holidays/

 

Bruce Lee's daughter sues Chinese fast food chain for using late kungfu master's image

 

Shannon Lee, daughter of the late Kung Fu legend Bruce Lee, reacts during an interview at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, before the start of a five-year exhibition on Lee, July 18, 2013. REUTERS/Bobby Yip/Files

 

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - A firm run by the daughter of Bruce Lee has sued a Chinese fast food for using the late kungfu star's image in its logo without permission and is seeking over 210 million yuan ($30 million) in compensation, Chinese media outlet The Paper reported.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140656-bruce-lees-daughter-sues-chinese-fast-food-chain-for-using-late-kungfu-masters-image/

 

Industry Ministry poised to launch i-industry systems

By The Nation

 

 

Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said that he has ordered fragmented data records from various department stores to be centralised in the server of the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Industry.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140663-industry-ministry-poised-to-launch-i-industry-systems/

 

Increase in chicken products to China as competition increases

By THE NATION

 

 

The Thai Broiler Processing Exporters Association this week said that exports of chicken products to China will be increased in response to demand but warned that Thailand faced strong competition from the US.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140666-increase-in-chicken-products-to-china-as-competition-increases/

 

Philippines bans two U.S. senators, mulls new visa rules for Americans

 

FILE PHOTO: Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) speaks to reporters as he arrives for a vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 17, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File photo

 

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines has banned two U.S. lawmakers from visiting and will introduce tighter entry restrictions for U.S. citizens should Washington enforce sanctions over the detention of a top government critic, the president's spokesman said on Friday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1140668-philippines-bans-two-us-senators-mulls-new-visa-rules-for-americans/