UPDATE:

Germany’s Merkel offers condolences to families of Istanbul bomb victims



"Terrorists are the enemies of freedom."

BERLIN: -- “Terrorists are the enemies of freedom:” a powerful statement from German Chancellor Angela Merkel following the suicide bomb attack in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886015-turkey-explosion-hits-istanbuls-main-tourist-district/#entry10301941

UPDATE:

Timeline of terrorism in Turkey



Turkey is involved in regional and national conflicts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886015-turkey-explosion-hits-istanbuls-main-tourist-district/#entry10301943

UPDATE:

Istanbul blast: “I thought there was an earthquake”



ISTANBUL: -- Turkish police have made clear the attack could have been much more devastating if the square, also known as the Hippodrome of Constantinople, had been densely packed at the time of the explosion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886015-turkey-explosion-hits-istanbuls-main-tourist-district/#entry10301961

UPDATE:

Turkey assesses security after Istanbul suicide bomb



ISTANBUL -- Tuesday morning’s suicide bomb in Istanbul came as Turkey was still in shock after last October’s attacks in Ankara, which killed more than 100 people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886015-turkey-explosion-hits-istanbuls-main-tourist-district/#entry10301964

UPDATE:

Suicide bomber kills 10, wounds 15 in Istanbul tourist area
By MEHMET GUZEL and SUZAN FRASER

ISTANBUL (AP) — A suicide bomber detonated a bomb in the heart of Istanbul's historic district on Tuesday, killing 10 foreigners — most of them German tourists — and wounding 15 other people in the latest in a string of attacks by the Islamic extremists targeting Westerners.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886015-turkey-explosion-hits-istanbuls-main-tourist-district/#entry10301977

Leipzig counts the cost of anti-Muslim protest



LEIPZIG: -- A massive clean-up operation is underway in the eastern German city of Leipzig after hundreds of right-wing supporters went on a rampage.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886108-leipzig-counts-the-cost-of-anti-muslim-protest/

EU to discuss Polish media laws



BRUSSELS: -- Poland’s new conservative government faces further scrutiny on Wednesday as the European Commission debates new laws seen as reining in the country’s state media.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886112-eu-to-discuss-polish-media-laws/

Iran seizes two US Navy boats after straying into Iranian-claimed waters

WASHINGTON: -- Iranian military forces have taken two US Navy boats into custody after allegedly straying into Iranian-claimed waters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886114-iran-seizes-two-us-navy-boats-after-straying-into-iranian-claimed-waters/

UN war crimes investigate malnutrition claims in Madaya



NEW YORK: -- UN war crimes investigators have begun an inquiry into claims residents of a besieged Syrian town have been starved in violation of international law.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886117-un-war-crimes-investigate-malnutrition-claims-in-madaya/

Coins, catfish, bikes and bottles: the treasures of Paris' Canal Saint-Martin



PARIS: -- It’s 4.5 kilometres long, holds 90,000 cubic metres of water and contains treasures ranging from gold coins to washing machines…

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886120-coins-catfish-bikes-and-bottles-the-treasures-of-paris-canal-saint-martin/

Obama to declare nation's future depends on fixing politics
By JULIE PACE

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lamenting the nation's persistently deep divides, President Barack Obama will declare Tuesday night that opportunity and security for American families "will only happen if we fix our politics."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886122-obama-to-declare-nations-future-depends-on-fixing-politics/

High court: Florida death penalty system is unconstitutional
By SAM HANANEL

WASHINGTON (AP) — Florida's unique system for sentencing people to death is unconstitutional because it gives too much power to judges — and not enough to juries — to decide capital sentences, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886123-high-court-florida-death-penalty-system-is-unconstitutional/

House approves bill to sanction North Korea after nuke test
By RICHARD LARDNER

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans and Democrats joined together Tuesday to overwhelmingly approve legislation that aims to punish North Korea for conducting its latest nuclear test.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886129-us-house-approves-bill-to-sanction-north-korea-after-nuke-test/

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korea calls for Chinese help in 'strongest' punishment for North Korea over bomb test .

'Like coming back to life' says child soldier who escaped ISIS
By Nima Elbagir in Gweyr and Peter Wilkinson in London, CNN

Gweyr, Iraq (CNN)"Nasir" is one of the lucky ones. He managed to escape from the grasp of ISIS, which was training him to be a suicide bomber. He is just 12 years old.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886130-like-coming-back-to-life-says-child-soldier-who-escaped-isis/

Sell everything! 2016 will be a 'cataclysmic year,' warns RBS
by Jim Boulden

"Sell everything."

(CNN)That harrowing advice is from The Royal Bank of Scotland, which has warned of a "cataclysmic year" ahead for markets and advised clients to head for the exit. Do not wait. Do not pass go.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886131-scottish-banks-advice-sell-everything/

Jeb Bush: Donald Trump will create a 'global depression'
By Ashley Killough, CNN

Grinnell, Iowa (CNN)Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush Tuesday argued that front-runner Donald Trump, if elected president, would create a "global depression" because of his proposal to impose high tariffs on Chinese goods.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886132-jeb-bush-donald-trump-will-create-a-global-depression/

California regulators reject Volkswagen recall plan
GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press
MICHAEL BIESECKER, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California regulators on Tuesday rejected Volkswagen's recall plan for some of the German automaker's most popular diesel models that used software to intentionally deceive government emissions tests, including the Beetle, Jetta, Golf and Passat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886134-volkswagen-recall-plans-rejected-by-us-regulators/

Immigrant raids divide Obama from Democrats and Clinton
By ERICA WERNER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal immigration raids have wrenched open new divides between President Barack Obama and his Democratic allies, including the woman who hopes to replace him, Hillary Clinton.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886135-immigrant-raids-divide-obama-from-democrats-and-clinton/

David Bowie: Brit Awards tribute for 'visionary' musician

LONDON: -- A tribute will be paid to "visionary and ground-breaking" David Bowie at next month's Brit Awards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886136-david-bowie-brit-awards-tribute-for-visionary-musician/

Venezuela's first lady says DEA kidnapped her nephews

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's first lady on Tuesday broke her silence on the arrest of her two nephews on drug trafficking charges, saying they were kidnapped by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886138-venezuelas-first-lady-says-dea-kidnapped-her-nephews/

S. Korea leader calls for Chinese help to punish North Korea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's president is calling for Chinese help to launch what she calls the "strongest" international sanctions on North Korea over its recent nuclear test.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886140-s-korea-leader-calls-for-chinese-help-to-punish-north-korea/

Police: US man mistakes teen son for intruder, kills him

CINCINNATI (AP) — Police in Cincinnati say a man has fatally shot his 14-year-old son in their home, thinking he was an intruder.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886144-us-father-fatally-shoots-son-mistaken-for-intruder/

Indonesia's ex-religious affairs minister gets 6 years for Hajj graft cases



JAKARTA: -- The Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court on Monday sentenced former religious affairs minister Suryadharma Ali to six years in jail and ordered to pay Rp 300 million ($21,000) in fines for his involvement in several hajj graft cases during his time at the ministry, according to a Jakarta Globe report.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886150-indonesias-ex-religious-affairs-minister-gets-6-years-for-hajj-graft-cases/

LANSING, Michigan (AP) - Michigan governor activates National Guard to help distribute bottled water, filters in Flint

Indonesia urged to lift ban on French journalist after Papua documentary



JAKARTA: -- Reporters Without Borders, a media freedom organisaion, has condemned the Indonesian government for imposing a ban on a French journalist after releasing a documentary on the conflict in Papua, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886152-indonesia-urged-to-lift-ban-on-french-journalist-after-papua-documentary/

Chaos at Penang airport as Indonesian woman yells 'bomb'



PENANG: -- A 32-year-old Indonesian woman was arrested for allegedly shouting the word "bomb" at the Penang International Airport on Tuesday morning, according to New Straits Times.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886154-chaos-at-penang-airport-as-indonesian-woman-yells-bomb/

SET up 12,96 points at opening /Bangkok Post

UPDATE:

Political dialogue begins in Myanmar's capital



YANGON: -- A five-day Union Peace Conference kicked off in Naypyidaw on Tuesday, marking the beginning of a long-sought political dialogue between the Myanmar government and a fraction of the country’s ethnic armed groups, The Irrawaddy reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886014-myanmar-aung-sang-suu-kyi-address-peace-talks/?p=10302723

Philippines Supreme Court upholds constitutionality of military accord with US



MANILA: -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA)between the Philippines and the United States is constitutional, according to philstar.com.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/886160-philippines-supreme-court-upholds-constitutionality-of-military-accord-with-us/