Seven case files against ex-CIB chief to the OAG

BANGKOK: -- Seven case files against former commissioner of Central Investigation Bureau Pol Lt-Gen Pongpat Chayapan have been submitted to the Office of the Attorney-General by the police, said Pol Lt-Gen Srivara Rangseepromnakul, commissioner of Metropolitan Police, today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....ief-to-the-oag/

Daughter warned that family may commit suicide, mother says
Kanoklak Thanarakkittichote
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The former wife of a man who was found dead with four members of his family in a rented house in Bangkok's Thon Buri district on New Year's Eve told police yesterday that her late daughter had asked her for Bt20,000 a month ago.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788718-daughter-warned-that-family-may-commit-suicide-mother-says/

Army 'needs martial law to shield itself'
Pakorn Puengnetr
The Nation

Prayut

BANGKOK: -- Current power structure puts too much pressure on Prayut: academic

The military is expected to have increased political roles in this new year although there is a unity problem among top commanders in the Army, according to sources familiar with the armed forces.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788719-army-needs-martial-law-to-shield-itself/

Energy policies out of touch with reality, Abhisit says
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday criticised the Prayut Chan-o-cha government's energy policies as out of touch with reality, saying they do not reflect global trends and the regime would lose opportunities to stimulate the economy and raise purchasing power.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788720-energy-policies-out-of-touch-with-reality-abhisit-says/

Deaths, injuries up in first three 'dangerous days' from a year ago
Wattana Khamchu,
Supachai Petchthewee
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- With the New Year break coming to an end in a few days, many holiday-makers started returning to Bangkok yesterday, causing more traffic and prompting the authorities to adjust road-safety measures accordingly.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788721-deaths-injuries-up-in-first-three-dangerous-days-from-a-year-ago/

Key player in KMITL case may have fled
Kamonchanok Thikhakul,
Supachai Petchthewee
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police have launched a manhunt for Kitisak Mattujad, who is believed to be a key person in the embezzlement of Bt1.6 billion from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Lat Krabang (KMITL). It is believed he fled to Hong Kong.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788722-key-player-in-kmitl-case-may-have-fled/

Flight cancelled after lantern pieces found blocking turbine
The Nation

CHIANG MAI: -- A Bangkok Airways flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok was cancelled after pieces of a paper lantern were found stuck to an engine turbine fan, a senior official at Chiang Mai airport said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788723-flight-cancelled-after-lantern-pieces-found-blocking-turbine/

Police hunt for New Year shooters
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police said they were confident that they would be able to find the people who fired shots into the sky during New Year celebrations and injured people with stray bullets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788724-police-hunt-for-new-year-shooters/

NLA passed 49 bills since taking over

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly has passed 49 laws since it was set up after the May 22 coup, and most of them were bills waiting for deliberation by the House of Representatives before it was dissolved in December 2013.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788725-nla-passed-49-bills-since-taking-over/

PDRC to follow up on reforms effort
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The People's Democratic Reform Committee has set up a "Great Mass of People's Foundation" to follow up on the national reform efforts of the military-led regime, PDRC spokesman Akanat Promphan said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788726-pdrc-to-follow-up-on-reforms-effort/

EDITORIAL
Big parties' rivalry poses reform headache
The Nation January 3, 2015 1:00 am

BANGKOK: -- How to fit Democrats and Pheu Thai in new system is big question

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788727-big-parties-rivalry-poses-reform-headache/

PM pushes ahead with bike route development on Rattanakosin Island

BANGKOK, 2 January 2015 (NNT) – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed confidence that the project to develop bicycle routes in the historic area of Bangkok will help promote happiness among residents.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788728-pm-pushes-ahead-with-bike-route-development-on-rattanakosin-island/

Swiss Tourist assaulted by street vendors close to Pattaya Port



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Friday, Pattaya Police were called to the Bali Hai Port area to assist a Swiss Tourist who had allegedly been attacked by three Thai street vendors who were reportedly angry that he refused to purchase an item from them.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/112-pattaya-news-clippings/

Donna Douglas, 'Beverly Hillbillies' star, is dead
By FRAZIER MOORE

NEW YORK (AP) — Donna Douglas, who played the buxom tomboy Elly May Clampett on the hit 1960s sitcom "The Beverly Hillbillies," has died.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788731-donna-douglas-beverly-hillbillies-star-is-dead/

Buckingham Palace denies sex claim against Prince Andrew
SYLVIA HUI, Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Royal officials on Friday denied that Britain's Prince Andrew engaged in any "impropriety with underage minors" after he was named in U.S. court documents related to a lengthy lawsuit against American financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788733-buckingham-palace-denies-sex-claim-against-prince-andrew/

US sanctions North Korea over Sony cyberattack
JOSH LEDERMAN, Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — The United States imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Friday, targeting the North's defense industry and spy service in an attempt to punish Pyongyang for a crippling cyberattack against Sony. The sanctions marked the first public act of retribution by the U.S. for North Korea's alleged involvement.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788734-us-sanctions-north-korea-over-sony-cyberattack/

Swedes rally in support of mosques after arson attacks

HELSINKI (AP) — Hundreds of demonstrators in three major Swedish cities have rallied in support of Muslims, condemning recent arson attacks against mosques in which at least five people were injured.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788738-swedes-rally-in-support-of-mosques-after-arson-attacks/

Palestinians submit documents to join ICC
EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Palestinians took the last formal step Friday to join the International Criminal Court, seeking to pursue war-crimes charges against Israel over the recent conflict in Gaza and Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788740-palestinians-submit-documents-to-join-icc/

FLIGHT QZ8501
More bodies found, search in full swing
Jakarta January 3, 2015 1:00 am

Divers still seeking main fuselage of AirAsia jet; tail of plane detected

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788741-more-bodies-found-search-in-full-swing/

10,000 apply for human paintball bullet tester job

LONDON (AFP) - Some 10,000 people from around the world have applied to be shot at as a paintball bullet tester, the British company posting the job advert said Friday.

UKPaintball, which has more than 60 paintballing venues in Britain, said it was stunned by the response to its search for a "human bullet impact tester".

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/10000-apply-for-human-paintball-bullet-tester-job-30251128.html

-- The Nation 2015-01-03

Constipated goldfish gets gold-plated surgical treatment

London (dpa) - A constipated goldfish cost its owner 300 pounds (460 US dollars) in veterinary bills to get its bowels working properly again, a news report said Friday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788755-constipated-goldfish-gets-gold-plated-surgical-treatment/

Publisher pulls atlas that omits Israel

NEW YORK (AP) — A leading publisher has pulled an atlas tailored for students in the Middle East that omits any references to Israel.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788760-publisher-pulls-atlas-that-omits-israel/

UPDATE:

AirAsia QZ8501: Search teams find bodies in seats

It's been almost a week since AirAsia flight QZ8501 went missing but recovery teams have yet to locate the black box flight recorders, though they have recovered 30 bodies, including some strapped in their seats, and spotted debris resembling parts of the tail, according to The Star Online.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788674-some-airasia-victims-found-belted-in-seats/#entry8886791

RT @RichardBarrow: Good to see that the supermarkets in #Thailand have such big discounts over the New Year holiday! (Pic @thetimeboyd) http://twitter.com/thetimeboyd/status/550933380263456768/photo/1

RT @AP: BREAKING: Police: 7-year-old girl says she survived Kentucky plane crash; police looking for crash site.

RT @AP: MORE: Kentucky police say 4 people killed in small plane crash, 7-year-old girl survived http://apne.ws/13NSRby

RT @AP: BREAKING: Indonesian officials investigating AirAsia crash say 2 large objects found on sea floor.

2 large objects found in AirAsia wreckage hunt
MARGIE MASON, Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian officials are hopeful they are honing in on the wreckage of AirAsia Flight 8501 after sonar equipment detected two large objects on the ocean floor.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788792-2-large-objects-found-in-airasia-wreckage-hunt/

UPDATE:

Flight grounded in Chiang Mai by New Year lantern

CHIANG MAI: A New Year hot-air lantern sucked into the engine of a Bangkok Airways jet at Chiang Mai airport forced authorities to cancel a flight on Thursday (January 1).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/788723-flight-cancelled-after-lantern-pieces-found-blocking-turbine/#entry8887088

RT @RichardBarrow: Day 4 of the 7 Dangerous Days of the New Year holiday saw 367 reported accidents, 381 injuries & 37 deaths on #Thailand’s roads.

227 killed, 2,163 injured in road accidents in first four days of seven-day road accident monitoring period for New Year holidays /MCOT