Carrie Fisher remains in intensive care unit, brother says

SANDY COHEN, AP Entertainment Writer

 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — "Star Wars" actress Carrie Fisher is receiving treatment in an intensive care unit after suffering a medical emergency on a flight Friday, according to her brother.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960171-carrie-fisher-remains-in-intensive-care-unit-brother-says/

The week that was in Thailand news: Gifts galore as Thailand celebrates Christmas

 

 

One could be forgiven for thinking that the Thais have finally embraced Christmas this week, such was the large number of gifts of all sorts on display.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960193-the-week-that-was-in-thailand-news-gifts-galore-as-thailand-celebrates-christmas/

 

Three Thai youths gang raped 12 year old girl after Facebook chat

 

Image: Daily News 

 

Two juveniles and one man have been arrested after a 12 year old girl was raped in Bang Bua Thong on Friday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960194-three-thai-youths-gang-raped-12-year-old-girl-after-facebook-chat/

 

"No special threat - just taking care of the public" as police mount festive season watch

 

Image: Sanook

 

BANGKOK:-- Police in Bangkok are being mobilized to take care of public gatherings in the capital during the festive season.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960195-no-special-threat-just-taking-care-of-the-public-as-police-mount-festive-season-watch/

 

Conned out of a quarter million baht for designer shoes and phones

 

Image: Thairath

 

Six complainants visited tech police yesterday saying they had been ripped off for 267,000 baht after they order brand name footwear and smartphones on a Facebook page.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960197-conned-out-of-a-quarter-million-baht-for-designer-shoes-and-phones/

 

Military and local authorities clamp down illegal hotel business on Hua Hin beach

 

HUA HIN:-- Encroachment of Hua Hin beach for over a decade to build houses and buildings and later converted to hotel accommodations for tourists is now no longer allowed to continue after local district and military authorities started to get tough with such illegal operations that not only affect legal hotel operations but also affect tourism industry.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960198-military-and-local-authorities-clamp-down-illegal-hotel-business-on-hua-hin-beach/

 

Royal Thai Navy declares sand-beds ‘illegal’

Kritsada Mueanhawong

 

 

PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy has overturned the Patong Mayor’s ruling regarding beach mats laid out on raised beds of sand at Patong Beach, and declared that they are, in fact, "illegal".

 

Full story:  http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960210-royal-thai-navy-declares-sand-beds-‘illegal’/

 

Tsunami Memorial to take place in Patong on Boxing Day 

The Phuket News

 

 

People light candles in remembrance of the Tsunami victims at last year's memorial service. Photo: Phuket News File
 

PHUKET: A memorial service for the 12th Anniversary of the Boxing Day Tsunami will be held in Patong on Monday (Dec 26).

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960209-tsunami-memorial-to-take-place-in-patong-on-boxing-day/

 

More snakes at Patong Police Station

Kritsada Mueanhawong

 

 

PHUKET: Four snakes, including a king cobra, a cobra and a radiated rat snake, have invaded Patong Police Station three times this week, causing the officers there to panic and send for rescue workers.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960208-more-snakes-at-patong-police-station/

 

Former assistant Army chief Gen Kampanat appointed new privy councillor

By The Nation

 

 

Gen Kampanat Ruddit, a former assistant Army chief and former National Legislative Assembly member, was appointed as a new privy councillor Saturday, raising the number of the Privy Council members to 14.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960201-former-assistant-army-chief-gen-kampanat-appointed-new-privy-councillor/

 

Most graft at local bodies

By The Nation

 

Jirachai

LOCAL administrative organisations received the most complaints for alleged corruption at 1,496, followed by the Interior Ministry at 219 and the Education Ministry at 218, permanent secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office Jirachai Moontongroy has said.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960207-most-graft-at-local-bodies/

 

 

Jasmine rice exports jump 16% this year

 

BANGKOK:-- The Office of Agricultural Economics has announced a good news that will make Thai farmers happier as now Thai rice exports are showing strong signs of expanding.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960200-jasmine-rice-exports-jump-16-this-year/

 

3.2% growth this year achievable, says central bank governor

 

The central bank is confident that this year's economic growth will rise over 3.2%, and 4-5% in the coming two years.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960211-32-growth-this-year-achievable-says-central-bank-governor/

 

Singapore teen critic held in US while appealing for asylum

 

SINGAPORE (AP) — A Singaporean teenager whose video posts and blogs mocking his government and its late founder landed him in jail twice has been detained in the U.S. where he is seeking asylum, his lawyer and a human rights group said Saturday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960199-singapore-teen-critic-held-in-us-while-appealing-for-asylum/

 

Philippines Central bank deputy governor insists bank does not serve politics

 

 

A deputy governor of the Philippine central bank has stressed that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilinas (BSP) is not playing politics and is an independent agency, The Manila Times Online reported on Saturday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960204-philippines-central-bank-deputy-governor-insists-bank-does-not-serve-politics/

 

Cases of family rape and violence surged this year, Paveena says

By ANAN WICHITPRACHA 
THE SUNDAY NATION

 

 

REPORTED cases of domestic violence, rape, and battery surged this year, Paveena Foundation for Children and Women has revealed.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960223-cases-of-family-rape-and-violence-surged-this-year-paveena-says/

 

New body ‘needed for cyber threats’

By THE SUNDAY NATION, AGENCIES

 

EXPERTS yesterday called on the government to set up a new agency to specifically deal with threats to national cybersecurity, following a series of attacks on state agency websites.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960224-new-body-‘needed-for-cyber-threats’/

 

Policies ‘must adapt’ to changes in US

By CIMI SUCHONTAN 
THE SUNDAY NATION 
LAMPHUN

 

RAPID shifts in world markets caused by the Asian bird-flu outbreak and Donald Trump’s presidency in the US may be challenges for some parties but they are opportunities to tap for Thai businesses.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960226-policies-‘must-adapt’-to-changes-in-us/

 

Bus crashes in Paklok, two cars damaged, no injuries reported 

Eakkapop Thongtub

 

 

PHUKET: A bus has crashed into a house in Paklok today, destroying a pick up truck and a car in the process, but no injuries have been reported.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960227-bus-crashes-in-paklok-two-cars-damaged-no-injuries-reported/

 

Hotel association calls for hotel legalisation to stop price war, better safety standards

 

 

Thai Hotels Association has called on the government to legalize all hotels in the country as now more than half operating without licenses, thus creating price war and affecting tourism.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960228-hotel-association-calls-for-hotel-legalisation-to-stop-price-war-better-safety-standards/

 

Phuket officials demolish illegal man-made plantations

Winai Sarot

 

 

PHUKET: Thalang District locals are furious after a joint task force of government officers demolished a man-made plantation in Suan Pa Bang Kanun this week as it was reportedly encroaching on 120 rai of public forest land in Phuket.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960230-phuket-officials-demolish-illegal-man-made-plantations/

 

Wrap-up: Thailand Yacht Show

Phuket Gazette

 

 

PHUKET: The second edition of the Thailand Yacht Show saw visitors enjoying sea trials, parties on superyachts, fashion shows, supercars and the latest water-borne toys.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960231-wrap-up-thailand-yacht-show/

 

Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt dies aged 68

 

 

Tributes are being paid to Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt who has died in Spain at the age of 68.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960232-status-quo-guitarist-rick-parfitt-dies-aged-68/

 

Christmas Eve crowds flock to Bethlehem

 

 

Christian pilgrims from around the world have been gathering this Christmas Eve in Bethlehem – revered as the birthplace of Jesus.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960233-christmas-eve-crowds-flock-to-bethlehem/

 

Nigeria: Boko Haram driven from Sambisa forest by army

 

 

Nigeria’s army has driven Boko Haram militants from their last camp in the northeastern Sambisa forest the group’s, the president Muhammadu Buhari has said in a statement.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960234-nigeria-boko-haram-driven-from-sambisa-forest-by-army/

 

US abstention allows Israeli defeat

Patrick Atack

 

 

The US has taken the strongest action in years against long standing ally Israel.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960236-us-abstention-allows-israeli-defeat/

 

Berlin truck attack: Three detained in Tunisia 'including suspect's nephew'

 

 

Tunisia has arrested three suspected jihadists said to be linked to supposed Berlin truck attacker Anis Amri.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960238-berlin-truck-attack-three-detained-in-tunisia-including-suspects-nephew/

 

With Aleppo battle won, Syria and Russia look to 'next stage'

 

 

The rubble of war is being cleared from the streets of eastern Aleppo, after the last groups of rebels were removed from the city this week.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960239-with-aleppo-battle-won-syria-and-russia-look-to-next-stage/

 

Israel to re-assess UN ties after settlement vote

 

 

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country will re-assess its ties with the United Nations, after the Security Council adopted a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlement building on occupied Palestinian territory.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960242-israel-to-re-assess-un-ties-after-settlement-vote/

 

Trump says he will dissolve foundation amid NY investigation 

VIVIAN SALAMA, Associated Press

 

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday he will dissolve his charitable foundation amid efforts to eliminate any conflicts of interest before he takes office next month.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960244-trump-says-he-will-dissolve-foundation-amid-ny-investigation/