21 foreigners detained for staying in Vietnam illegally for years



HO CHI MINH CITY: -- Police in Ho Chi Minh City said they have detained 21 foreign men for staying in the city without personal papers, some for as long as nine years,Thanh Nien News reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882649-21-foreigners-detained-for-staying-in-vietnam-illegally-for-years/

California law allowing seizure of guns without notice begins Jan. 1
The Washington Times

WASHINGTON: -- Gun control legislation going into effect in California next week will allow authorities to seize a person’s weapons for 21 days if a judge determines there is potential for violence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882651-california-to-seize-guns-without-notice-from-january-1st-2016/

No change in tuk-tuk safety regulations
Phuket Gazette


Tuk-tuk drivers say modifications, such as a gate or door, would be an inappropriate reaction to the tragic death of the 29-year-old British woman. Photo: Jeremie Schatz

PHUKET: -- There will be no immediate changes in safety regulations following a British woman's fall to her death from the back of a tuk-tuk on December 20.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882653-phuket-no-change-in-tuk-tuk-safety-regulations/

Cabinet approves several measures, projects at last meeting this year



BANGKOK: -- Several measures and projects to ensure safety travel for the people during the New Year festival, to fight drought, to assist villagers, rice traders were acknowledged and approved by the Cabinet at its last meeting this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882655-thai-cabinet-approves-several-measures-projects-at-last-meeting-this-year/

UPDATE:

Only flicker of light at Phuket tsunami memorial ceremony
Phuket Gazette


Governor Chamroen led other Phuket officials in laying out flowers in memory of the victims. Photo: Phuket PR

PHUKET: After much fanfare marking the 10th anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami last year, the Light Up Phuket memorial on Patong Beach was extraordinarily quiet.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/881691-phuket-marks-11-years-since-tsunami/#entry10251161

Pataki announces he's ending White House bid
KATHLEEN RONAYNE, Associated Press
JILL COLVIN, Associated Press

BERLIN, New Hampshire (AP) — Former New York Gov. George Pataki said Tuesday that he's ending his bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, with just over a month to go before the first nominating contests begin.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882663-pataki-announces-hes-ending-white-house-bid/

Cooler air until early January



BANGKOK: -- Thailand's upper regions will experience cooler conditions from today until early next year with temperatures falling 4-6 degrees Celsius, according to the Meteorological Department.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882664-thai-meteorological-dept-cooler-temperatures-until-early-january/

PM declares Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem market a success



BANGKOK, 30 December 2015 (NNT) - Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said he was pleased that all product fairs that were held at Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem were successful.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882665-pm-declares-khlong-phadung-krung-kasem-market-a-success/

Facebook class action lawsuits to go ahead

LONDON: -- Two US class action lawsuits against Facebook by shareholders alleging it hid growth concerns ahead of its 2012 public listing can now go ahead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882666-facebook-to-face-us-class-action-lawsuits/

BEIJING (AP) - Rescuers find 8 survivors 5 days after a gypsum mine collapsed in eastern China.

Clinton calls IS killings of Christians, Yazidis 'genocide'
By KATHLEEN RONAYNE

BERLIN, N.H. (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says she now believes the Islamic State group's persecution of Christians, the Yazidi minority and other religious and ethnic minorities in the Middle East should be defined as "genocide."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882668-clinton-calls-is-killings-of-christians-yazidis-genocide/

Phuket rescue teams scramble to locate sinking ship
Phuket Gazette


The ship was reportedly sinking 110 nautical miles from the Royal Thai Area 3 Navy Base. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- The Royal Thai Navy launched a helicopter rescue mission after receiving a report that a cargo ship carrying wood from Myanmar to Malaysia was sinking about 100 nautical miles from Phuket’s coast.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882671-phuket-rescue-teams-scramble-to-locate-sinking-ship/

Monk flips off man who refuses to make donation to Buddhism
By Coconuts Bangkok


A photo of a monk and his middle finger went viral this week. Photo: Chaiyuti Janrakongtong

CHIANG MAI: -- This monk did not take it well when a Chiang Mai man refused to give him a donation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882674-monk-flips-off-man-who-refuses-to-make-donation-to-buddhism/

Night fire guts Nakoya factory in Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A huge broke out last night at Nakoya Industrial Co Ltd in Nong Khaem district of Bangkok causing initial damages estimated at 10 million baht.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882678-night-fire-guts-nakoya-factory-in-bangkok/

One dead as Phuket begins Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign
Eakkapop Thongtub


Muslim Dakan, 23, died after the motorbike he was riding slammed into a power pole beside Thepkrasattri Rd. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- One man has died and a young woman is in hospital after a motorbike accident early this morning (Dec 30) as Phuket began it’s part in the nationwide Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign for the New Year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882680-one-dead-as-phuket-begins-seven-days-of-danger-road-safety-campaign/

British couple found guilty of bomb plot and supporting ISIL
By Robert Hackwill



"You're seeing also the development of individual lone wolves, like Mr. Rehman who is self-taught, who decide... that they have a jihadist mission to pursue"

LONDON: -- A husband and wife have been convicted in Britain for planning a terrorist attack.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882690-british-couple-found-guilty-of-bomb-plot-and-supporting-isil/

US and Russia get differing results in the air over Syria
By Robert Hackwill



"We still have a fight ahead of us. Mosul is different to Ramadi, it's a big, big, big city"

LONDON: -- The US is claiming its airstrikes in Syria and Iraq have killed 10 mid-level ISIL leaders in the past month, notably a French national implicated in the Paris attacks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882691-us-and-russia-get-differing-results-in-the-air-over-syria/

Three Pagodas Pass shut as protest resumes this morning



KANCHANABURI: -- Thai military and police today forbid Thai tourists to cross into Myanmar from the Three Pagodas Pass in Sangkhla Buri district of Kanchanaburi province for safety reason as protest of Thai court's ruling on Koh Tao case emerged at the Myanmar border for the third time in five days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882693-three-pagodas-pass-shut-as-koh-tao-verdict-protest-resumes-this-morning/

Gen Prem urges “love and unity” to run the country



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha today led commanders-in-chief of the three armed forces and commissioner of the Royal Thai Police to offer New Year wishes to the Privy Council chairman Gen Prem Tinsulanonda and to receive his blessings at Sisao Theves official residence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882698-gen-prem-urges-love-and-unity-to-run-the-country/

UPDATE:

Phuket Navy launches search for Myanmar ship in distress, missing crew
Darawan Naknakhon


The Myanmar timber cargo ship Aung Chat Sar was reported in distress 110 nautical miles west of Phuket at 5pm yesterday (Dec 29).

PHUKET: -- The Royal Thai Navy and Phuket Marine Police have launched an air-sea rescue mission looking for eight crewman missing on board a Myanmar timber cargo ship bound for Penang.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882671-phuket-rescue-teams-scramble-to-locate-sinking-ship/#entry10251734

UPDATE:

Two dead in first 30 hours of 'Seven Days of Danger' campaign
Phuket Gazette


The death of Mutslim Dakhan this morning marked the second fatality in the first 30 hours of the 'Seven days of Danger' road-safety campaign. Photo: Winai Sarot

PHUKET: -- As the first full day of the ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road safety campaign came to a close, the goal of zero road fatalities was already dashed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882680-one-dead-as-phuket-begins-seven-days-of-danger-road-safety-campaign/#entry10251748

Cambodians arrested for cutting Rosewood trees in Thai national park



PRACHINBURI: -- Two Cambodian villagers were arrested after they and 50 others crossed into the Thai border to cut Siamese rosewood trees.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882701-cambodians-arrested-for-cutting-rosewood-trees-in-thai-national-park/

Tea festival kicks off in Chiang Rai



CHIANG RAI, 30 December 2015 (NNT) – The northernmost province of Chiang Rai has kicked off the tea festival held on Doi Mae Salong mountain.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882702-tea-festival-kicks-off-in-chiang-rai/

OIE says industrial growth will rise by 2.5% in 2016



BANGKOK, 30 December 2015 (NNT)-The Office of Industrial Economics (OIE) is confident the government's economic stimulus measures will drive industrial growth in 2016 by 2.5%.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882703-oie-says-thai-industrial-growth-will-rise-by-25-in-2016/

First day road safety campaign claims 39 deaths

BANGKOK: -- Thai transport authorities kicked off a weeklong campaign to reduce highway accidents during the New Year festival with 39 people killed and 456 injured in the first day of the campaign.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882704-first-day-thai-road-safety-campaign-claims-39-deaths/

Koh Samui: Two dead, five injured on Chaweng Beach

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882706-koh-samui-two-dead-five-injured-on-chaweng-beach/

DFT head assures that China will continue to import cassava from Thailand

BANGKOK, 30 December 2015 (NNT) - The Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) has assured Thai cassava exporters that China will not reduce its long-term cassava imports from Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882710-dft-head-assures-that-china-will-continue-to-import-cassava-from-thailand/

Switzerland Wraps Up Stripper Visa Program
RACHEL STOLTZFOOS

GENEVA: -- Switzerland wrapped up a special visa program for strippers Tuesday, issuing the last of its work permits to foreign strippers looking for work in the country before the program expires in the new year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882711-switzerland-grants-its-final-special-stripper-visas/

Officials mull over marine waste management and safety
By Kongleaphy Keam
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- The Phuket Marine Office will discuss new measures to promote marine cleanliness and safety during a meeting today with boat and pier operators.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882719-officials-mull-over-marine-waste-management-and-safety-see-more-at-httpwwwphuketgazettenetp/?p=10252707

Annual safety checks on tourist boats begin
By Kritsada Mueanhawong
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- The Phuket Marine Office has begun making their annual inspections of boats and ferries carrying tourists out of Rassada Pier to ensure their safety during the New Year holiday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/882720-annual-safety-checks-on-tourist-boats-begin/