Year: 2020

  • Politics NewsThai PM on the defensive before the censure debate even begins

    Thai PM on the defensive before the censure debate even begins

    “A soothsayer is always a soothsayer, but that does not mean I am insulting their predictions. I respect opinions based on astrology.” Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is warning the opposition parties not to censure the performance of his previous administration (the NCPO) and to concentrate on the current government, which has been operating for nearly five months. He reminded critics…

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  • Environment NewsStarbucks Thailand introduces paper straws from next Monday

    Starbucks Thailand introduces paper straws from next Monday

    The Thai operators of Starbucks Coffee says it will provide paper straws to customers at all stores across Thailand starting next Monday, January 6. The announcement is most likely in response to the national mood to reduce usage of single-use plastic items although the local Starbucks franchise say the announcement has been in the pipeline for the past year. Starbucks…

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  • Environment NewsFirst meteor shower of the year to be visible January 4th

    First meteor shower of the year to be visible January 4th

    PHOTO: Artists impression. In truth there could be up to two meteors per minute at the peak, but you’ll need to be in a very dark location to get the best from the experience. Set the alarm and boil the kettle for a wake-up coffee. The year’s first meteor shower will grace Thailand’s skies on January 4, according to the…

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  • Environment News31 Thai provinces bracing for “severe drought”

    31 Thai provinces bracing for “severe drought”

    The drought situation across nearly half of Thailand is about to get worse. The water levels in the Mekong River is at its lowest level since 1992 and the Provincial Waterworks Authority is warning 31 provinces to prepare for severe drought this year. Thai PM Prayuth Chan-o-cha is expressing concern over the situation and instructed officials to distribute water to…

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  • Politics NewsEx-PM Thaksin reunites with daughter on New Year’s Eve

    Ex-PM Thaksin reunites with daughter on New Year’s Eve

    Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who’s been in self-imposed exile since being ousted in a 2006 coup, has appeared in a photo with his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted on her Facebook page on New Year’s Eve. The accompanying message said that she is again celebrating New Year with her father abroad and that she misses her mother, siblings and three…

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  • Politics NewsRival demonstrations scheduled for January 12 in Bangkok

    Rival demonstrations scheduled for January 12 in Bangkok

    Over 10,000 people have registered for the “Run Against Dictatorship” in Bangkok on January 12, while government supporters say they are planning a rival event on the same day. The two events point to increasing political tension in Thailand, which has seen violent street protests and even coups in recent decades. Critics say the general election in March was manipulated to…

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  • World News“Not ordinary rain” – Jakarta floods break records, 21 dead

    “Not ordinary rain” – Jakarta floods break records, 21 dead

    PHOTO: Arsi Agnitasari/The Jakarta Post At least 21 people are now thought to have lost their lives in the flash floods and landslides in and around Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, today. More heavy rain is forecast, compounding the situation. The victims have ranged in age from 8 to 82 years of age. The heavy rains stated falling on Jakarta and nearby towns…

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  • Expats50 year old British man dies at scene after fireworks explosion in Pattaya

    50 year old British man dies at scene after fireworks explosion in Pattaya

    PHOTO: dailymail.co.uk A British man died after a firework exploded in his face just after midnight during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Pattaya. 50 year old Gary McLaren died at the scene after a large cylindrical firework he was trying to light exploded. He was a tourist visiting Pattaya for New Year. He had visited Thailand before and arrived just…

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  • Environment NewsSingle-use plastic bag ban just the beginning – Thai Minister

    Single-use plastic bag ban just the beginning – Thai Minister

    “It is a huge New Year’s gift to Thailand and the world.” This proud announcement from the Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varavuth Silpa-archa voicing his strong support of the ban on plastic bags that kicked in yesterday. 75 companies, covering shopping malls, department and convenience stores, have stopped distributing single-use plastic bags. It’s a positive step as Thailand’s starts to…

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  • Northern Thailand NewsNew road projects around Thailand in 2020

    New road projects around Thailand in 2020

    PHOTO: Nation Thailand The Thai Department of Highways plans to spend 124 billion baht during the next 12 months with five of the projects already budgeted and ready for the tender process. Contracts are expected to be signed in May for those projects. There will be a 16 kilometre eastern bypass around Nong Khai, just south of Vientiane and the…

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  • Thailand News17 year old reports to Chon Buri police that she was molested and raped

    17 year old reports to Chon Buri police that she was molested and raped

    PHOTO: khaosod.co.th A 17 year old girl is safe after a potentially dangerous situation ended well thanks to her intuition to call a relative. The teenager ‘met’ a man online and they had been talking on the Line application for many months. But their two versions of events are not quite the same… According to her report to police, the…

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  • Environment NewsThai retailers start plastic bag ban. What are you doing to help?

    Thai retailers start plastic bag ban. What are you doing to help?

    And so it begins, a new era in Thailand, and a new paradigm where plastic bags may be seen as environmental pariahs instead of day to day necessities the Land of Smiles. Yesterday marked the first day of the ban on single use plastic bags implemented by around 75 brands under the Thai Retailers Association to reduce plastic waste. The…

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  • World NewsAustralian Navy evacuates coastal residents whilst southern NSW and eastern Victoria burns

    Australian Navy evacuates coastal residents whilst southern NSW and eastern Victoria burns

    PHOTO: Victorian Government Emergency officials in Australia have a 24 hour deadline to move thousands of people stranded on the New South Wales (NSW) South Coast who could face a looming fire crisis when this weekend’s latest heatwave arrives. Bushfire-ravaged communities in southern NSW are assessing the damage after seven lives and 176 homes were lost. In Victoria, south of NSW,…

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  • Tourism NewsVietnamese woman arrested using someone else’s passport documents

    Vietnamese woman arrested using someone else’s passport documents

    The Immigration Police have arrested a Vietnamese tourist posing as someone else. Immigration Police at Suvarnabhumi Airport report that on December 31 a foreigner, holding a passport with ID that didn’t look anything like her, tried to check in with the dodgy documents. Officials intervened and apprehended the girl when she was trying to use the passport to check-in with an…

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  • Road deathsDay Five – Bangkok the most deadly province for NY road toll

    Day Five – Bangkok the most deadly province for NY road toll

    The death toll for Thailand after the first 5 days of the 7 day road safety campaign was up to 256 out of 2,529 road incidents. This includes 12 road deaths in Bangkok, the most of any province The figures from the Directorate Centre to Prevent and Reduce Road Accidents. According to their stats, 42 people died on New Year’s Eve…

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  • Bangkok NewsEssilorLuxottica fraud linked to merger friction of the Euro eyewear giants

    EssilorLuxottica fraud linked to merger friction of the Euro eyewear giants

    PHOTO: Global Retail Alliance Latest info on the fraud at a Thai factory making lenses for the multinational eyewear conglomerate, EssilorLuxottica. The newly merged Italian-French manufacturer of ophthalmic lenses, frames and sunglasses says it was the target of a 190 million euro (6.3 billion baht) fraud at a Thai factory as an ongoing power struggle over the 2017 merger of the…

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  • Economy NewsGreenback falls below 30 baht to the USD

    Greenback falls below 30 baht to the USD

    The Greenback has dropped below 30 baht against the US$, its strongest position in six years. The currency closed at 29.88 baht to the dollar yesterday. But Thai officials say the drop through the 30 baht barrier is not a concern and more of a ‘blip’ than an ongoing trend to increase its value against the Dollar. At 4pm this…

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  • Thailand NewsHM The King offers New Year’s blessings to the Thai people

    HM The King offers New Year’s blessings to the Thai people

    His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn has commemorated the Gregorian new year and given his blessings and best wishes to the Thai people for 2020. His Majesty conveyed his blessings and good wishes for “a healthy body and cheerful mind, bright intelligence, strong faith and conscience to behave oneself under the guidance of morality, ethics and moderation, and determination to contribute…

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  • Northern Thailand NewsOver 400 arrested for drink-driving in Kalasin province during holiday campaign

    Over 400 arrested for drink-driving in Kalasin province during holiday campaign

    PHOTO: 200 drink-drivers ended up in court after being arrested on NY Eve – INN News More than 400 people have been arrested for drink-driving in the northeastern province of Kalasin alone over the holiday period. This, an appalling result during the first four of Thailand’s “7 Dangerous Days” safety campaign over the Christmas/New Year holidays. The drivers were caught…

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  • Pattaya NewsBritish tourist killed in Pattaya fireworks incident

    British tourist killed in Pattaya fireworks incident

    PHOTO: The errant firework cylinder that police believe was the one that exploded in Mr. McLaren’s face – The Pattaya News A British tourist has died after fireworks exploded adjacent to where he was standing during New Year celebrations in central Pattaya. Police were notified at 12:30am and rushed to the scene. The 51 year old man, named by police as…

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  • Crime NewsEssilorLuxottica announces a 6.3 billion baht fraud at a plant in Thailand

    EssilorLuxottica announces a 6.3 billion baht fraud at a plant in Thailand

    EssilorLuxottica has reported a 213 million US$ (6.3 billion baht) fraud in on of its plants in Thailand. EssilorLuxottica is a French-Italian multinational corporation based in Paris with subsidiaries and manufacturers around the world. Essilor Luxottica, a global designer, manufacturer and distributor of ophthalmic lenses, frames and sunglasses, has announced that its subsidiary Essilor International recently discovered fraudulent fund transfers in one…

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