Thailand Live Tuesday 12 Jan 2016

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Bowie, from glam star to Blackstar, a serial (re)inventor



"Ground Control to Major Tom, Commencing countdown, engines on. Check ignition and may God's love be with you. (Vatican)"

LONDON: -- We talk to music industry commentator Martin Talbot, chief executive of the Official Charts Company in the UK, in London.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885784-bowie-from-glam-star-to-blackstar-a-serial-reinventor/

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A 'genius', a 'starman': politicians join pop stars in Bowie tributes
By Alasdair Sandford | With REUTERS



"He provided a lot of the soundtrack of our lives from the first time I heard 'Space Oddity' to watching our athletes appear in those wonderful (London 2012) Olympics to the strains of 'Heroes'"

LONDON: -- From London to Los Angeles and beyond, David Bowie fans have been paying tribute following the news of his death.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885785-a-genius-a-starman-politicians-join-pop-stars-in-bowie-tributes/

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Vital aid arrives in the besieged Syrian town of Madaya



DAMASCUS: -- Vital aid has arrived at the besieged Syrian town of Madaya. A convoy with enough basic food to last 40,000 people a month is one of three which left Damascus after an agreement between the warring sides.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885786-vital-aid-arrives-in-the-besieged-syrian-town-of-madaya/

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Dutch call for greater sharing of intelligence



THE HAGUE: -- An international meeting at the Europol HQ in the The Hague has heard a call for greater sharing of intelligence across borders including lists of suspected foreign fighters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885787-dutch-call-for-greater-sharing-of-intelligence/

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Majority under investigation for Cologne sex attacks of 'migrant origin'



BERLIN: -- A record number of allegations of group assaults in Berlin, Hamburg and other German cities on New Year’s Eve has shocked the nation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885788-majority-under-investigation-for-cologne-sex-attacks-of-migrant-origin/

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Containers replace tents for 1,500 migrants in Calais 'Jungle' camp



PARIS: -- Authorities have moved 140 people living in the so-called Jungle refugee camp in northern France into newly-constructed accommodation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885789-containers-replace-tents-for-1500-migrants-in-calais-jungle-camp/

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Turkey to offer work permits to Syrian migrants



ANKARA: -- At least three migrants died on Monday when their boat capsized in the Aegean sea off the coast of Turkey. It’s understood the vessel was heading for the Greek island of Lesbos.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885791-turkey-to-offer-work-permits-to-syrian-migrants/

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EU orders Belgium to claw back extra taxes from major firms



BRUSSELS: -- EU regulators have told Belgium to claw back 700 million euros in extra taxes after they ruled 35 multinationals had benefitted from an illegal tax break.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885792-eu-orders-belgium-to-claw-back-extra-taxes-from-major-firms/

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Sean Penn: Nothing to hide over drug lord interview
By MARIA VERZA and FRANK BAJAK

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Actor Sean Penn said he has "nothin' to hide," after images published Monday indicated he was under surveillance when he met with the Mexican actress who led him to Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman — and the pair was apparently followed and photographed as they set out for the supposedly secret meeting with the drug lord.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885793-sean-penn-nothing-to-hide-over-drug-lord-interview/

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Clinton confronts rival Sanders as Iowa polls tighten
By LISA LERER and KEN THOMAS

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Hillary Clinton has spent much of her presidential campaign looking past Democratic rival Bernie Sanders, focusing instead on Republicans and the November general election. No longer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885794-clinton-confronts-rival-sanders-as-iowa-polls-tighten/

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Obama's State of the Union address seeks to frame 2016 race
By JULIE PACE

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's final State of the Union address will unmistakably attempt to frame the choice facing Americans as they select his successor, doling out an optimistic vision of the country's future in contrast with what he sees as the pessimism that's pervasive in the Republican primary.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885795-obamas-state-of-the-union-address-seeks-to-frame-2016-race/

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Apparent security easing precedes drug lord's recapture
By FRANK BAJAK

LIMA, Peru (AP) — As the world's most hunted man, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman had to know the most sophisticated information and surveillance technology available was marshalled against him: satellites, unmanned aircraft, NSA and DEA eavesdroppers, malware-sowing Mexican state hackers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885796-apparent-security-easing-precedes-drug-lords-recapture/

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At least 77 journalists and media workers killed in 2015

TORONTO, Canada - 2015 was another grim year for threats and attacks against journalists around the world. According to CJFE's research, 77 journalists and media workers were killed in relation to their work in 2015. The numbers are down from 2014 (100 journalists killed), but the dangers faced by journalists remain unchanged.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885812-at-least-77-journalists-and-media-workers-killed-in-2015/

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Hero who thwarted train attack considers career in politics

SACRAMENTO, California (AP) — A U.S. airman who was hailed as a hero for helping thwart a terror attack on a Paris-bound train and later survived a stabbing attack in his hometown of Sacramento will be a guest Tuesday of first lady Michelle Obama at the State of the Union address.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885816-us-airman-who-thwarted-train-attack-considers-career-in-politics/

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First on CNN: U.S. bombs 'millions' in ISIS currency holdings
By Barbara Starr, CNN Pentagon Correspondent

Washington (CNN)In an extremely unusual airstrike, the U.S. dropped bombs Sunday in central Mosul, Iraq, destroying a building containing huge amounts of cash ISIS was using to pay its troops and for ongoing operations, two U.S. defense officials told CNN.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885818-us-bombs-millions-in-isis-currency-holdings/

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Canadian Colin Rutherford freed after 5 years as Taliban captive in Afghanistan
By Joshua Berlinger, CNN

(CNN)Colin Rutherford, a Canadian, has been freed after being held for nearly five years in Afghanistan, according to Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885819-canadian-colin-rutherford-freed-after-5-years-as-taliban-captive-in-afghanistan/

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Saudi prisoner at Guantanamo released by US after 14 years

MIAMI (AP) — A Saudi prisoner at the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who authorities said was a recruiter and fighter for al-Qaida has been sent back to his homeland, the Pentagon said Monday amid a wave of releases from the detention center.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885821-saudi-prisoner-at-guantanamo-released-by-us-after-14-years/

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American action hero Steven Seagal gets Serbian citizenship

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia has granted citizenship to American action hero Steven Seagal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885823-american-action-hero-steven-seagal-gets-serbian-citizenship/

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Rand Paul, Carly Fiorina cut from main Republican debate
STEVE PEOPLES, Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and former technology executive Carly Fiorina will not appear on the main primetime debate stage when the Republican Party's 2016 presidential class faces off later this week in South Carolina.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885824-rand-paul-carly-fiorina-cut-from-main-republican-debate/

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BEIJING (AP) - China's Wanda Group buying Hollywood's Legendary Entertainment for $3.5 billion.

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Presidential guard member caught with drugs at N Sumatra Airport

JAKARTA: -- The Jakarta Globe reported that a member of Indonesia's elite Presidential Security Forces (Paspampres) was caught on Monday trying to bring a small amount of narcotics on board a civilian airplane at Kualanamu International Airport in North Sumatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885825-presidential-guard-member-caught-with-drugs-at-n-sumatra-airport/

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Indonesia, South Korea sign $1.3b fighter jet development deal

JAKARTA: -- Indonesia and South Korea have signed a $1.3 billion deal on the development of Seoul's next-generation fighter jets aimed at replacing an aging fleet, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885827-indonesia-south-korea-sign-13b-fighter-jet-development-deal/

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China's Wanda buys Legendary Entertainment for $3.5 billion

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group says it is buying Hollywood film company Legendary Entertainment for $3.5 billion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885829-chinas-wanda-buys-hollywood-film-company-legendary-entertainment-for-35-billion/

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Xayaboury's Elephant Festival to be held next month



VIENTIANE: -- The 10th annual Elephant Festival will be held on Feb 19-21 at the stadium in Xayaboury district, Xayaboury Province, according to Lao News Agency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885830-laos-xayabourys-elephant-festival-to-be-held-next-month/

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Najib shocked over Malaysian suicide bombers

KUALA LUMPUR: -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Monday expressed his shock over reports that two Malaysians were involved in the recent suicide bombings in Iraq and Syria, according to New Straits Times.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885831-najib-shocked-over-malaysian-suicide-bombers/

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Cabinet meets to discuss rubber prices



BANGKOK: -- The cabinet met this morning to discuss how to address drastically low rubber prices which has badly affected rubber planters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885832-thai-cabinet-meets-to-discuss-rubber-prices/

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Karen New Year celebrated in Myanmar and abroad



YANGON: -- The Karen New Year, 2755, was marked on Sunday as jubilant crowds of ethnic Karen people celebrated across the globe, The Irrawaddy reported on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885834-karen-new-year-celebrated-in-myanmar-and-abroad/

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SET up 0.37 point at opening /Bangkok Post

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UPDATE:

Philippines police arrest 14 people on first day of Comelec gun ban



MANILA: -- Authorities have arrested 14 people in different parts of the country for violating the Commission on Election (Comelec)’s gun ban rule that was implemented starting on Sunday, Manila Bulletin reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885543-gun-ban-now-in-place-in-philippines-as-election-period-starts/#entry10298414

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Illegal gibbon touts spotted on Phi Phi again
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Officers are hunting more gibbon touts on Phi Phi Island after receiving a video of a man using the protected species as a photo prop for tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885835-illegal-gibbon-touts-spotted-on-phi-phi-again-video/