Freight train loaded with over 300,000 litres of diesel derails in Lamphun province

LAMPHUN -- A freight train loaded with over 300,000 litres of diesel derailed near Nonglom railway station in Lamphun province, paralysing rail service between Bangkok and the northern cities this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884219-freight-train-loaded-with-over-300000-litres-of-diesel-derails-in-lamphun-province/

GDP growth forecast this year at 3-3.5%



BANGKOK: -- Increased government spending from mega projects, and economic stimulus packages are expected to drive the country's growth to 3-3.5 percent this year, the private sector says.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884223-thai-gdp-growth-forecast-this-year-at-3-35/

UPDATE:

North Korea says it conducted successful hydrogen bomb test
FOSTER KLUG, Associated Press
KIM TONG-HYUNG, Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Wednesday it had conducted a hydrogen bomb test, a defiant and surprising move that, if confirmed, would put Pyongyang a big step closer toward improving its still-limited nuclear arsenal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884195-s-korea-artificial-quake-near-n-korean-nuke-test-site/#entry10276226

UPDATE:

Oil train derails in Lamphun



LAMPHUN: -- An oil train hauling oil and cement from Saraburi to Chiang Mai derailed early this morning in Lamphun province, spilling more than 300,000 litres of diesel oil on the railroad.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884219-freight-train-loaded-with-over-300000-litres-of-diesel-derails-in-lamphun-province/#entry10276253

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ROTTERDAM
Thai indie films to screen in Rotterdam

BANGKOK: -- Two Thai films will be screening in competition in the upcoming International Film Festival Rotterdam, which this year runs from to January 27 to February 7 in the Dutch port city.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884228-thai-indie-films-to-screen-in-rotterdam/

Graft buster looks into Chalerm's assets



BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has appointed a panel to look into the properties of former prime minister and labour minister Chalerm Yoobamrung after finding his latest declaration of assets was unusual.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884229-graft-buster-looks-into-chalerms-assets/

Sister of 'CP' tycoon burglarized, loses THB10 million diamonds and brand-name bags
By Coconuts Bangkok


A screenshot of the burglarized home from Google Street View.

BANGKOK: -- A sister of Thailand's richest man, also known as CP All chairman Dhanin Chearavanont, was burglarized on Sunday by a very discerning thief who stole an entire safe containing jewelry 13 pieces of diamond jewelry with an estimated worth of THB10 million.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884231-sister-of-cp-tycoon-burglarized-loses-thb10-million-diamonds-and-brand-name-bags/

NEW DELHI (AP) - Bangladesh Supreme Court upholds death penalty against Islamist party chief for 1971 war crimes.

1 U.S. service member killed during operation in southern Afghanistan
BY BNO NEWS

KABUL: -- At least one U.S. service member has been killed and two others have been wounded after coming under attack during a counter-terrorism operation in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military says.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884236-1-us-service-member-killed-during-operation-in-southern-afghanistan/

VIDEO: Police search for suspects after violent attack near popular Phuket night market
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- Police are looking for four suspects wanted for the gang bashing of two men – one of them a Thai tour guide working for a Chinese tour company in Phuket – as they exited a restaurant near the Naka night market in Wichit early yesterday morning (Jan 5).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884238-video-police-search-for-suspects-after-violent-attack-near-popular-phuket-night-market/

Man Dies After Jumping In Front of Moving Bus on Sukhumvit Road
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Police at the scene after a man reportedly died by jumping in front of a 511 bus on Sukhumvit Road on Jan.6.

BANGKOK — A 29-year-old man died after he reportedly jumped in front of a bus during the Sukhumvit rush hour on Wednesday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884248-man-dies-after-jumping-in-front-of-moving-bus-on-sukhumvit-road/

Don Mueang airport advises air passengers to arrive earlier on January 8-9



BANGKOK: -- Air passengers planning to travel from Don Mueang Airport during January 8-9 are requested to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their usual arrivals as the Thai Air Force will hold air show rehearsals on January 8 and actual show on January 9 to mark the National Children's Day.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884250-don-mueang-airport-advises-travelers-to-arrive-earlier-on-january-8-9/

Handle with care: Hospital care for foreigners without travel insurance
The Phuket News


For now, tourists without travel insurance can get some free basic hospital care.

PHUKET: -- Reports keep resurfacing of foreigners, expats and tourists alike, requiring hospital treatment despite the visitor having inadequate or no travel insurance at all. It seems that sometimes the government hospitals keep providing free medical care, while other times it seems they charge for their services. Here The Phuket News answers that vital question: What free medical care are foreigners entitled to?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884254-handle-with-care-hospital-care-for-foreigners-without-travel-insurance/

District Officers and Army check 'drug' village in North Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Late on Tuesday Night a team of over 30 District Officials and Army personnel conducted a raid on a village in North Pattaya where illegal drug activity was thought to be prevalent.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884257-district-officers-and-army-check-drug-village-in-north-pattaya/

UPDATE:

North Korea claims hydrogen bomb test



SEOUL: -- North Korea claims to have carried out its first successful test of a miniaturised hydrogen nuclear device.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884195-s-korea-artificial-quake-near-n-korean-nuke-test-site/#entry10276835

US: gun control shaping up to be an election issue



Obama announces executive action on gun control
Republicans and pro-gun campaigners vow to fight it
Legal challenges expected

WASHINGTON: -- Opponents of tighter gun rules in the US have condemned executive action announced by President Obama requiring more gun sellers to get licenses and more gun buyers to undergo background checks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884258-us-gun-control-shaping-up-to-be-an-election-issue/

Prayut turns down Democrat's request to hold party meeting
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Wednesday that he would not yet allow the Democrat Party to hold a party meeting.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884260-prayut-turns-down-democrats-request-to-hold-party-meeting/

Saudi diplomats return from Tehran



RIYADH: -- Saudi Arabian diplomats who had been based in Tehran have returned home to Riyadh’s with stories of mistreatment at the hands of Iranian officials.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884261-saudi-diplomats-return-from-tehran/

UPDATE:

Charges yet to be filed against killer speedboat driver
Phuket Gazette


Speedboat driver Yothin Suebsak (in pink) and Myanmar national Maling El @ Aee were questioned by Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana. Photo: Phuket Marine Police

PHUKET: -- Police have yet to press charges against the speedboat driver who killed a French snorkeller in Krabi yesterday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884135-two-arrested-in-phuket-after-french-tourist-killed-by-speedboat-propeller/page-2?p=10276928#entry10276928

Thaivisa Video News 6 January



watch the bulletin here: http://www.youtube.com/thaivisacom

Briton arrested in Chiang Mai with child pornography
The Nation

CHIANG MAI: -- A 64-year-old British man was arrested in Chiang Mai Wednesday after a lot of pornographic photos of children were found in his computer’s hard drive.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884284-briton-arrested-in-chiang-mai-with-child-pornography/

Samui rescue proudly deliver twins in a car in Maenam



KOH SAMUI: -- Yesterday, 5th of January the Samui Volunteer rescue team were called to a car near Soi 7 in Maneam to assist a lady Samui Rescue deliver in childbirth.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884292-samui-rescue-proudly-deliver-twins-in-a-car-in-maenam/

MSDHS to take custody of illegal migrant children

BANGKOK, 6 January 2016 (NNT) - The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is planning to use the government’s childcare and development center to care for the children of illegal migrants.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884294-msdhs-to-take-custody-of-illegal-migrant-children/

Japan pledges firm response after North Korea H-bomb test claim



"North Korea's nuclear test is a serious threat to our nation's security and absolutely cannot be tolerated"

TOKYO: -- Addressing Japan’s parliament, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has condemned North Korea’s reported test of a hydrogen bomb as a threat to his country’s safety.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884295-japan-pledges-firm-response-after-north-korea-h-bomb-test-claim/

Obama's plan in detail: keeping guns out of the wrong hands
By Dr. Stefan Grobe



WASHINGTON: -- More than four million Americans were victims of assaults, robberies, and other crimes involving a gun in the last decade, more than 20,000 of them were children under 18, according to official statistics. Last year alone, more than 30,000 people were killed by guns and two thirds of them committed suicide with a firearm – a fact that President Barack Obama stressed during his remarks in the White House East Room on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884303-obamas-plan-in-detail-keeping-guns-out-of-the-wrong-hands/

Ranger killed in Narathiwat bomb attack
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A ranger was killed Wednesday after insurgents detonated a homemade bomb to ambush his patrol unit in Narathiwat, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884305-ranger-killed-in-narathiwat-bomb-attack/

HM the King present relief materials to victims of bridge collapse in Ayutthaya
Thai PBS

THAILAND -- His Majesty the King today (Wednesday) presented bags of relief materials to victims from the collapse of a construction crane undertaking construction of a bridge across the Chao Phraya river in Ayutthaya province.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884346-hm-the-king-present-relief-materials-to-victims-of-bridge-collapse-in-ayutthaya/

Man dead after jumping in front of bus during Sukhumvit rush hour
By Coconuts Bangkok

Scene of the accident captured by Ruamkatanyu rescue volunteers

THAILAND -- A 29-year-old man died immediately after being hit by a bus along Sukhumvit Road this morning during rush hour.

Full STory: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884353-man-dead-after-jumping-in-front-of-bus-during-sukhumvit-rush-hour/

Doctor, Starbucks barista among dream jobs of Thai kids
Coconuts Bangkok

Children dressed at Pikachu at the 'Pokemon Together: Let’s Meet Pikachu' event on Children's Day last year. Photo: Watsamon Tri-yasakda/Coconuts Bangkok

THAILAND -- Ahead of Children’s Day on Saturday, a group of Thai children were asked the classic question that we all still ask each other here in the office, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884356-doctor-starbucks-barista-among-dream-jobs-of-thai-kids/

Ban Phue police chief axed after bar raids found 16 Laotian women
Thai PBS

THAILAND -- Udon Thani’s Ban Phue district police chief was immediately transferred to an inactive post at the provincial police office after the raid of three karaoke bars on Tuesday where 16 Laotian women, some of them underaged, were found to be working in the premises.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/884361-ban-phue-police-chief-axed-after-bar-raids-found-16-laotian-women/