PM says he will not bow to threats or intimidation

BANGKOK: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha reiterated today that he would not bow to threatened protest by southern rubber farmers if the government does not respond to their demand to fix price of rubber sheets at 60 baht/kg.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....r-intimidation/

Oil prices to be cut 30-50 satang tomorrow

BANGKOK: PTT Plc and Bangchak Petroleum today announced the reduction of benzene and gasohol by 30 satang, and diesel 50 satang , effective 5 am tomorrow.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885055-oil-prices-to-be-cut-30-50-satang-tomorrow/

Four army troopers narrowly escape death and injury

YALA: Four special force army troopers escaped death and injury when a pickup truck in which they were travelling to join a Children’s Day celebration at a school in Yala’s Bannang Sata district narrowly missed a bomb explosion Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885056-four-army-troopers-narrowly-escape-death-and-injury/

Education Ministry threatens to take over Abac University if internal conflict cannot be settled in 7 days

BANGKOK: The two opposing factions of the council of Assumption University of Thailand was today given a 7-day deadline to settle their dispute or the Education Ministry will step in to take control of the management of the university.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885057-education-ministry-threatens-to-take-over-abac-university-if-internal-conflict-cannot-be-settled-in/

‘Carol,’ ‘Bridge of Spies’ and ‘The Revenant’ in the box (office) seat for a Bafta

The three films in the box office seat to win a Bafta award are ‘Carol,‘directed by Todd Haynes, ‘Bridge of Spies’ directed by Steven Spielberg and ‘The Revenant’ directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885060-carol-bridge-of-spies-and-the-revenant-in-the-box-office-seat-for-a-bafta/

Suspect in New Year’s Day shooting rampage killed by police in Israel

By Seamus Kearney

A man suspected of carrying out a shooting rampage in Israel on New Year’s Day has been shot and killed by police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885061-suspect-in-new-years-day-shooting-rampage-killed-by-police-in-israel/

British man found dead on Koh Tao

SURAT THANI:-- A MAN believed to be from the Isle of Wight has been found dead in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885062-british-man-found-dead-on-koh-tao/

Foreigners wounded in hotel gun attack in Egyptian resort town of Hurghada

Three foreign tourists have been injured after a gunman opened fire at the entrance to a hotel in the Egyptian resort town of Hurghada.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885063-foreigners-wounded-in-hotel-gun-attack-in-egyptian-resort-town-of-hurghada/

Seoul Secret apologizes for racist black face advert ‘White is winning’

By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK:-- Seoul Secret, the whitening supplementary brand, has apologized for its latest advert with the appalling slogan, "White is winning," a racist message that has made headlines globally.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885064-seoul-secret-apologizes-for-racist-black-face-advert-white-is-winning/

Mexican president: Drug lord Chapo Guzman recaptured

E. EDUARDO CASTILLO, Associated Press
MARK STEVENSON, Associated Press


MEXICO CITY (AP) — The world's most-wanted drug lord was captured for a third time in a daring raid Friday by Mexican marines, six months after he tunneled out of a maximum security prison in a made-for-Hollywood escape that deeply embarrassed the government and strained ties with the United States.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885065-mexican-president-drug-lord-chapo-guzman-recaptured/

US judge: Man must stand trial in workplace beheading

TIM TALLEY, Associated Press


NORMAN, Oklahoma (AP) — A man accused of beheading a co-worker with a large butcher knife at an Oklahoma food processing plant must stand trial for first-degree murder, a judge ruled Friday after a hearing at which witnesses graphically described what they saw in the September 2014 attack.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885067-us-judge-man-must-stand-trial-in-workplace-beheading/

Vietnamese man pleads guilty in NYC to terrorism charges

NEW YORK (AP) — Just weeks before trial in New York, a Vietnamese man has pleaded guilty to terrorism charges, agreeing not to challenge any prison sentence between 30 and 50 years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885068-vietnamese-man-pleads-guilty-in-nyc-to-terrorism-charges/

Cologne police chief dismissed over New Year's Eve assaults

GEIR MOULSON, Associated Press
FRANK JORDANS, Associated Press


BERLIN (AP) — The police chief of the German city of Cologne was dismissed Friday amid mounting criticism of his force's handling of a string of New Year's Eve sexual assaults and robberies blamed largely on foreigners.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885069-cologne-police-chief-dismissed-over-new-years-eve-assaults/

EU pledges 100 million euros to aid Libya's unity government

TUNIS (AP) — The European Union's foreign policy chief has unveiled a 100 million euro ($109 million) aid package for Libya's fledgling unity government one day after an attack by a suicide bomber killed at least 60 policemen.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885070-eu-pledges-100-million-euros-to-aid-libyas-unity-government/

Philadelphia police: Suspect shot officer in name of Islam

ERRIN WHACK, Associated Press


PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A man accused of ambushing a police officer and firing shots at point-blank range said he was acting in the name of Islam and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, Philadelphia authorities said Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885072-philadelphia-police-suspect-shot-officer-in-name-of-islam/

IS militant in Syria kills his mother in public for apostasy

BASSEM MROUE, Associated Press
BRAM JANSSEN, Associated Press


BEIRUT (AP) — An Islamic State fighter shot and killed his own mother before onlookers at a public square in the Syrian city of Raqqa after he was told that she was not a true believer, activists reported Friday, the latest in IS's brutal public killings over the past two years in the de facto capital of the group's self-proclaimed caliphate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885074-is-militant-in-syria-kills-his-mother-in-public-for-apostasy/

Man arrested for alleged Facebook death threat against Hun Sen

PHNOM PENH: A man man was arrested for allegedly insulting and threatening to kill Hun Sen in a social media post and a soldier questioned after a Facebook account linked to his name disparaged the Cambodian prime minister,The Phnom Penh Post reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885102-man-arrested-for-alleged-facebook-death-threat-against-hun-sen/

Lion Air grounds planes due to Bromo eruption

JAKARTA: Lion Air, Indonesia's biggest budget airline, cancelled six flights to Malang, East Java, because of intensifying volcanic activity at the nearby Mount Bromo, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885105-lion-air-grounds-planes-due-to-bromo-eruption/

War, natural disasters send more than 100,000 Indonesians home in 2015

JAKARTA: Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Ministry repatriated more than 100,000 of its citizens living abroad last year, ranging from undocumented workers to students and professionals trapped in conflict areas, according to The Jakarta Globe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885106-war-natural-disasters-send-more-than-100000-indonesians-home-in-2015/

Laos’ special and specific economic zones attract overseas companies

LAOS: The special and specific economic zones estblished in Khammouane Province (KPL) have attracted more overseas investors, Lao News Agency reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885115-laos-special-and-specific-economic-zones-attract-overseas-companies/

Road fatalities in Myanmar continue to rise

YANGON: Traffic accident fatalities in Myanmar continued to climb last year, with the latest data placing the figure at more than 4,000 deaths in 2015, The Irrawaddy reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885121-road-fatalities-in-myanmar-continue-to-rise/

Vietnam Airlines plane lands safely in Hanoi after emergency

HANOI: A Vietnam Airlines aircraft with 162 passengers aboard landed safely in Hanoi on Friday morning after a tire problem was detected in mid-air, according to Thanh Nien News.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885123-vietnam-airlines-plane-lands-safely-in-hanoi-after-emergency/

Rift deepens between Saudi Arabia and Iran

By Keith Walker

Further demonstrations against Saudi Arabia have taken place in Iran as the diplomatic rift between the two regional rivals grows.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885127-rift-deepens-between-saudi-arabia-and-iran/

Man who allegedly went to DC to kidnap Obamas' dog arrested

JESSICA GRESKO, Associated Press


WASHINGTON (AP) — Officials in Washington say they've arrested a North Dakota man who allegedly traveled to the nation's capital to kidnap a dog belonging to President Barack Obama.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885132-man-who-allegedly-went-to-dc-to-kidnap-obamas-dog-arrested/

FBI says refugees used social media to plan fight in Syria

DON THOMPSON, Associated Press


SACRAMENTO, California (AP) — An Iraqi man bragged about his experience fighting in Syria and the skills he developed as a teenage insurgent as he urged a fellow Iraqi refugee in the U.S. to join him in what both hoped would be martyrdom, according to documents filed in federal court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885142-fbi-says-refugees-used-social-media-to-plan-fight-in-syria/

Record-breaking 'Star Wars' movie opens in China

BEIJING (AP) â The record-breaking "Star Wars" opened Saturday in China, where it is far from certain to draw in enough movie-goers to knock off "Avatar" as the world's all-time biggest grossing movie.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885144-record-breaking-star-wars-movie-opens-in-china/

As crunch time nears, the reserved Jeb Bush flashes emotions

MEREDITH, New Hampshire (AP) — 2016 Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush describes himself as a policy nerd, and insurgent rival Donald Trump has tagged him "low energy." But Bush is reaching deep to show voters the man inside as he fights for his political survival ahead of the New Hampshire primary vote.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885145-as-crunch-time-nears-the-reserved-jeb-bush-flashes-emotions/

Violent protests in Brazil to protest increased bus fares

MAURICIO SAVARESE, Associated Press


SAO PAULO (AP) — Police used tear gas, stun grenades and pepper spray Friday to disperse sometimes violent demonstrations against bus fare increases in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the two biggest Brazilian cities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885146-violent-protests-in-brazil-to-protest-increased-bus-fares/

US meets with tech leaders on anti-terror efforts

BRANDON BAILEY, Associated Press
KATHLEEN HENNESSEY, Associated Press


SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — After clashing with technology companies over encryption and government surveillance, the Obama administration adopted a friendlier tone Friday as it sought to enlist Silicon Valley's help in stopping terrorist groups from recruiting and mobilizing followers online.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885150-us-meets-with-tech-leaders-on-anti-terror-efforts/

Koreas slide into Cold War standoff after nuke test by North

FOSTER KLUG, Associated Press
KIM TONG-HYUNG, Associated Press


SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea trumpets a hydrogen bomb test. South Korea responds by cranking up blasts of harsh propaganda from giant green speakers aimed across the world's most dangerous border. Now Pyongyang warns of war.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885153-koreas-slide-into-cold-war-standoff-after-nuke-test-by-north/