Suspected recruiter of 'Jihad Jane' is arrested in Spain

ALAN CLENDENNING, Associated Press

CIARAN GILES, Associated Press

MADRID (AP) — An Algerian-Irish man accused of recruiting an American woman who called herself "Jihad Jane" and plotted to kill a Swedish artist has been arrested in Spain, officials said Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878075-suspected-recruiter-of-jihad-jane-is-arrested-in-spain/

Prominent tycoon entangled in Chinese investigation

JOE McDONALD, AP Business Writer

BEIJING (AP) — One of China's top entrepreneurs, the chairman of the Fosun conglomerate that owns Club Med and other businesses in Europe and the U.S., is assisting Chinese authorities with an investigation, his company said, a possible sign that an anti-corruption campaign is widening beyond state companies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878076-prominent-tycoon-entangled-in-chinese-investigation/

Phuket driver to be charged for death of German, Andreas Walter

PHUKET: Police have confirmed they will charge a Phuket man for the road collision that killed German national Andreas Walter, 47, in Karon last week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878078-phuket-driver-to-be-charged-for-death-of-german-andreas-walter/

Political reform committee pushing for fair, clean elections

BANGKOK, 12 December 2015 (NNT) - The political reform committee under the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) is pushing for a reform in the country’s electoral system, hoping to see fair and clean elections.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878079-political-reform-committee-pushing-for-fair-clean-elections/

Charter drafters to discuss composition of PM next week

BANGKOK, 12 December 2015 (NNT) - The Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) will touch on the composition of prime minister next week, according to its spokesperson.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878080-charter-drafters-to-discuss-composition-of-pm-next-week/

JJ Watch Sellers Defy the Digital Age

By Cole Pennington

Correspondent

Watch seller Tongchai, aka Dr. Air Watch, at his shop in the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok. Photo: Cole Pennington

BANGKOK — As shoppers capitalize on the efficiency of the digital age, traditional transactions are dying.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878088-jj-watch-sellers-defy-the-digital-age/

PM delighted for success in “Bike for Dad”

BANGKOK:— Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha was delighted to see the "Bike for Dad" ended with happiness of the entire people and appreciated the good cooperation of all of them to make this event impressive, and a history.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878089-pm-delighted-for-success-in-bike-for-dad/

Singapore designated as a Creative City of Design by UNESCO

TODAY online reported that Singapore has been designated as a Creative City of Design by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878090-singapore-designated-as-a-creative-city-of-design-by-unesco/

Vietnam to offer US visitors one-year visa to boost investment, tourism

Top legislators in Vietnam on Friday approved the government's proposal to extend the validity of temporary visas for US citizens from three months to one year, Thanh Nien News reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878091-vietnam-to-offer-us-visitors-one-year-visa-to-boost-investment-tourism/

Phuket man reeking of alcohol survives after smashing car into electric pole

PHUKET: Police believe that the Phuket man who was speeding before smashing his car into an electric pole in Koh Kaew early this morning was under the influence of alcohol.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878097-phuket-man-reeking-of-alcohol-survives-after-smashing-car-into-electric-pole/

Samui community member needs your help in finding forever homes for fostered dogs

SAMUI: A member of our community is looking for help in order to take care of some of the islands stray dogs. Here is his story.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878098-samui-community-member-needs-your-help-in-finding-forever-homes-for-fostered-dogs/

COP21: climate deal draft agreed after marathon talks

Negotiators at the UN-sponsored climate summit in Paris have come up with a draft agreement that will be presented to ministers at 1030 GMT, a French government source said on Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878099-cop21-climate-deal-draft-agreed-after-marathon-talks/

50,000 estimated IS sympathizers said to be in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur - There are at least 50,000 Malaysians who are sympathizers of Islamic State (IS) militants, a senior official said Saturday, warning that the threat of radicalism in the country can not be ignored.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878100-50000-estimated-is-sympathizers-said-to-be-in-malaysia/

Whale Sharks Spotted off Krabi

A whale shark swims alongside the boat of a national park officer Friday in Krabi province. Photo: Courtesy Jampen Phompakdi

KRABI — A whale shark was spotted swimming off a small island in the Andaman Sea off the shore of Krabi yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878103-whale-sharks-spotted-off-krabi/

Officer shot dead in Pattani

PATTANI:— police officer of Saiburi district of Pattani province was shot dead last night while he was about to enter his house after a Muslim prayer at a mosque.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878105-officer-shot-dead-in-pattani/

British woman, 28, killed after motorbike rammed by Phuket pickup truck on Patong Hill

Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: A 28-year-old British woman has died from neck and head injuries sustained in a traffic accident that took place this morning on the notorious Patong Hill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878110-british-woman-28-killed-after-motorbike-rammed-by-phuket-pickup-truck-on-patong-hill/

Four 'diggers' scooped up, backhoe and lorries seized at illegal excavation site

PHUKET: A joint army-navy special task force last night (December 11) arrested four men and seized several construction vehicles during a raid of an illegal excavation site in Chalong's Moo 6.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878113-four-diggers-scooped-up-backhoe-and-lorries-seized-at-illegal-excavation-site/

Social enterprise: a new business model for Europe

This week Business Planet looks at the concept of social enterprise – sustainable, innovative entrepreneurial answers to society’s challenges.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878116-social-enterprise-a-new-business-model-for-europe/?p=10184332

Volkswagen blames ‘small group’ of employees for ‘dieselgate’ scandal



Volkswagen says a “chain of errors” led to the emissions cheating scandal rather than a one-off mistake, adding that it struggled with deadlines to meet strict conditions on limits in the US when it launched a diesel promotion campaign ten years ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/877735-volkswagen-blames-small-group-of-employees-for-dieselgate-scandal/

10 Things You Didn't Know About KFC

10 Most Bizarre Murder Weapons

Human torso found at reservoir in Korat

KORAT: A human torso was found inside a black plastic bag part dumped at Huey Ban Yang reservoir in Muang district of Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878204-human-torso-found-at-reservoir-in-korat/

FB users face arrest over street racing

BANGKOK: THE Justice Ministry has told police to proceed with taking legal action against administrators of Facebook pages who provide youngsters with street race times and dates.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878206-fb-users-face-arrest-over-street-racing/

Saudi Arabia: women vote for first time in local elections

Women are getting to vote for the first time ever in Saudi Arabia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878209-saudi-arabia-women-vote-for-first-time-in-local-elections/

Alleged Islamist militant arrested in Spain over plot to kill Swedish cartoonist

An alleged Islamist militant has been arrested in Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia over a foiled plot to kill a Swedish artist.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878210-alleged-islamist-militant-arrested-in-spain-over-plot-to-kill-swedish-cartoonist/

Foreign Affairs Ministry to host fifth Thai – U.S Strategic Dialogue

BANGKOK, 12 December 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United States Department of State will organize the fifth Thai – U.S. Strategic Dialogue on December 16, 2015 at the ministry's headquarters in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878212-foreign-affairs-ministry-to-host-fifth-thai-us-strategic-dialogue/