Koala rescued from Australian bushfire



SYDNEY: -- In Australia, where bushfires have ravaged the southern coastline of Great Ocean Road, some residents were allowed on Sunday (December 27) to return to their homes to assess the damage.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882045-koala-rescued-from-australian-bushfire/

Iraqi forces retake control of Ramadi from ISIL



RAMADI: -- Iraqi forces in Ramadi have taken control of the city’s government complex from the group calling itself Islamic State, or ISIL.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882046-iraqi-forces-retake-control-of-ramadi-from-isil/

Taliban fighters captures more ground in Helmand, Afghanistan



KABUL: -- The Taliban has captured more ground in Afghanistan’s Helmand province after months of heavy fighting.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882047-taliban-fighters-captures-more-ground-in-helmand-afghanistan/

Israeli liberals cry foul over funding disclosure bill
By JOSEF FEDERMAN

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Cabinet ministers gave preliminary approval Sunday to a bill that imposes new disclosure requirements on nonprofit groups that receive foreign funding — drawing accusations the government was trying to crack down on government critics, rattling relations with Europe and deepening an increasingly toxic divide between liberal and hawkish Israelis.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882048-israeli-liberals-cry-foul-over-funding-disclosure-bill/

'Force Awakens' becomes fastest movie to $1 billion
By SANDY COHEN

LOS ANGELES (AP) — "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" has reached $1 billion at the box office, achieving the milestone with record-setting hyper speed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882049-force-awakens-becomes-fastest-movie-to-us1-billion/

Activists predict abortion will be a hot issue in campaigns
By DAVID CRARY

NEW YORK (AP) — With a deeper-than-ever split between Republicans and Democrats over abortion, activists on both sides of the debate foresee a 2016 presidential campaign in which the nominees tackle the volatile topic more aggressively than in past elections.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882050-us-activists-predict-abortion-will-be-a-hot-issue-in-campaigns/

NRSA has no objection on allowing relatives of MPs to run in senate election

BANGKOK, 28 December 2015 (NNT) - The National Reform Steering Assembly has no objection to the consideration to allow relatives of members of parliament to run in the senate election under the new Constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882052-nrsa-has-no-objection-on-allowing-relatives-of-mps-to-run-in-senate-election/

NRSA to make 2016 the year of active steering of national reform process

BANGKOK, 28 December 2015 (NNT) - The National Reform Steering Assembly is determined to make 2016 the year that the national reform process will be actively implemented.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882053-nrsa-to-make-2016-the-year-of-active-steering-of-national-reform-process/

European capitals warned of possible attack in coming days
BY BNO NEWS

VIENNA: -- A number of European capitals have been warned of a possible plot to carry out a shooting or bomb attack in the days between Christmas and New Year, Vienna police say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882056-european-capitals-warned-of-possible-attack-in-coming-days/

UK Home Secretary defends Internet surveillance bill
BY LARRY BANKS


UK Home Secretary Theresa May defends the Investigatory Powers Bill.

LONDON: -- Tech companies and those concerned about privacy online are joining forces to speak out against the UK’s new surveillance bill. But the Home Secretary, Theresa May, claims there is no reason to worry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882057-uk-home-secretary-defends-internet-surveillance-bill/

Former El Salvador footballer Pacheco murdered

SAN SALVADOR: -- Former El Salvador national team footballer Alfredo Pacheco has been shot dead, officials say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882058-former-el-salvador-footballer-pacheco-murdered/

Loxley plant in Bang Pakong ready to make electric vehicles
PATCHAREE LUENGUTHAI
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- LOXLEY, a leading Thai trading conglomerate, has said a joint venture Loxley-BYD assembly plant in Bang Pakong, in Chachoengsao, is ready to produce electric vehicles with zero emissions and energy saving for the Thai market.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882073-loxley-plant-in-bang-pakong-ready-to-make-electric-vehicles/

Boko Haram attacks northeast Nigerian city, many killed
ISMAIL ALFA, Associated Press
MICHELLE FAUL, Associated Press

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — Boko Haram Islamic extremists struck the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri for the first time in months Monday with rocket-propelled grenades and multiple suicide bombers, witnesses said. At least 15 people were killed but the toll was feared many times higher.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882074-boko-haram-attacks-northeast-nigerian-city-many-killed/

'One inmate a week' released in error

LONDON: -- Prisoners are being released early by mistake at a rate of just under one every week in England and Wales, figures have revealed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882075-uk-one-inmate-a-week-released-in-error/

Angkor Thom restoration complete

PHNOM PENH: -- The Phnom Penh Post reported that major restoration works have been completed at the former seat of power of the Angkorian civilisation, Angkor Thom, following damage inflicted to the site by Typhoon Nesat in 2011.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882077-angkor-thom-restoration-complete/

Hundreds of Indonesians dead, over 1m evacuated in 2015 natural disasters



BANGKOK: -- Hundreds of Indonesians have been killed and 1.18 million evacuated from their homes this year due to natural disasters, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, or BNPB, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882080-hundreds-of-indonesians-dead-over-1m-evacuated-in-2015-natural-disasters/

Senior official resigns over holiday traffic mayhem



JAKARTA: -- Director general for land transportation, Djoko Saksono, of Indonesia's Transport Ministry, unexpectedly resigned on Saturday over his failure to prevent traffic chaos in the Greater Jakarta area at the start of the Christmas and New Year holiday season in the past week, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882082-senior-official-resigns-over-jakarta-holiday-traffic-mayhem/

Freight train carrying sulphuric acid derails in Queensland, Australia

(BBC)An exclusion zone is in place after a 26-carriage freight train carrying approximately 200,000 litres of sulphuric acid derailed in Australia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882083-freight-train-carrying-sulphuric-acid-derails-in-queensland-australia/

SET up 2.74 points at opening/ Bangkok Post

Malaysian travel agency halts Chiang Mai tours

BANGKOK: -- The Malaysian travel agency which handled the tour group involved in a fatal bus crash in Chiang Mai last week has ceased its holiday packages to the northern Thai province indefinitely, according to New Straits Times.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882085-malaysian-travel-agency-halts-chiang-mai-tours/

Oscar winning cameraman Haskell Wexler dies at 93
JOHN ROGERS, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Haskell Wexler, one of Hollywood's most famous and honored cinematographers and one whose innovative approach helped him win Oscars for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and the Woody Guthrie biopic "Bound for Glory," died Sunday. He was 93.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882087-oscar-winning-cameraman-haskell-wexler-dies-at-93/

Philippines govt reiterates call against use of firecrackers



MANILA: -- Just days before New Year, Malacanang reiterated its call for people to cooperate in preventing the use of firecrackers and to welcome 2016 safely, according to Manila Bulletin.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882089-philippines-govt-reiterates-call-against-use-of-firecrackers/

Donald Trump: Hillary Clinton is playing the 'woman's card'
By Gregory Krieg, CNN

(CNN)Donald Trump on Sunday accused Hillary Clinton of unfairly trading on her gender while declaring Bill Clinton to be "fair game" as the former president hits the trail to campaign for his wife.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882110-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-is-playing-the-womans-card/

Thai embassy in Myanmar closed until December 30th due to protests in Yangon

BANGKOK, 28 December 2015 (NNT)-The Thai embassy in Yangon, Myanmar is closed until December 30th after the court’s decision to sentence two Burmese nationals to death for murdering two British tourists last year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882118-thai-embassy-in-myanmar-closed-until-december-30th-due-to-protests-in-yangon/

UPDATE:

New tax deduction scheme well-received by shoppers



BANGKOK, 28 December 2015 (NNT) - The government’s ‘shopping for nation’ campaign has been well-received by the public after it was introduced on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882019-thai-malls-ready-to-cash-in-on-tax-initiative/#entry10243024

UPDATE:

Royal Thai Police insists transparency, justice standards in Koh Tao murder case



BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Police yesterday reiterated strongly that the probe into the Koh Tao murder case met international standards, was transparent, and most of all supported by forensic DNA testing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882034-thai-police-defend-koh-tao-murders-investigations/page-4?p=10243050#entry10243050

Paramotor flyer going astray into Laotian border



BANGKOK: -- Thai paramotor flyer who went missing Saturday while flying to join a fruit exhibition in Chiang Rai was located inside the Laotian border yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882128-thai-paramotor-flyer-going-astray-into-laotian-border/

Kurdish groups in southeastern Turkey call for self-rule



ANKARA: -- Kurdish groups in southeastern Turkey are calling for self-rule.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882130-kurdish-groups-in-southeastern-turkey-call-for-self-rule/

UPDATE:

Hundreds more troops sent to northern England amid severe flooding



"I think it's absolutely unprecedented, but what we need to do is plan to ensure that this doesn't happen again in the future"

LONDON: -- With northern England hit by “unprecedented” flooding, hundreds more military troops are being sent to areas under water.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882044-hundreds-evacuated-amid-northern-england-floods/#entry10243273

Millions of amphetamine pills seized in Saudi drugs bust



PARIS: -- Authorities in Saudi Arabia have reportedly seized more than five million amphetamine pills.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882133-millions-of-amphetamine-pills-seized-in-saudi-drugs-bust/