Month: May 2023
- Business News
Biden and McCarthy hold productive talks on US debt ceiling deal
Negotiations between Democratic President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy have progressed as both parties aim to reach a deal to raise the United States’ US$31.4 trillion debt ceiling and prevent a catastrophic default. Following a four-hour meeting at the White House, McCarthy stated that negotiations had improved and would continue. Although several issues remain unresolved, he predicted…
Read More » - Thailand News
Thai King to cover medical costs for victims of Phichit school roof collapse
His Majesty the King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua has pledged to cover the medical expenses of those injured in a tragic roof collapse at a school in Phichit during a storm on Monday evening. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced this decision during a visit to the affected Ban Noen Po School and the local community in Sam Ngam district, following…
Read More » - Business News
Meta finalises layoffs, cutting 10,000 jobs, refocusing on AI
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, completed its final phase of a three-part round of job cuts, reducing its workforce by 10,000. Employees from various departments, including marketing, site security, enterprise engineering, program management, content strategy, and corporate communications, announced their layoffs on LinkedIn. Privacy and integrity units were also affected by the job cuts. The social media giant…
Read More » - Press Room
Family and folklore define pioneering hotel design at South Palms Resort Panglao Bohol – MGallery
With craft, community and a deeply held intrinsic value for the cultural mores and history of the island, South Palms Resort Panglao Bohol – MGallery is shaping up to be anything but a cookie-cutter hotel. Six world-class innovation and sustainability leaders in architecture, interior design and green development have gathered to create a hotel like no other – weaving the…
Read More » - Thailand News
Drunk husband arrested for alleged murder of wife in jealousy-fuelled tragedy
A drunk husband was arrested by the police for allegedly murdering his wife out of jealousy and financial disputes at a residence in the central province of Ratchaburi yesterday. The incident unfolded when the man, identified as 36 year old Mongkon, confessed to repeatedly slashing his wife with a sickle knife used for coconut harvesting. Officers from Baan Pong Police…
Read More » - World News
Imran Khan faces anti-graft agency questioning over corruption charges
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan faced questioning by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on corruption charges yesterday, according to his lawyer Faisal Chaudhry. This comes less than a week after Khan refused a summons to appear and dismissed the allegations against him. The ex-cricket star, who has been in a confrontational relationship with the country’s powerful military, was arrested…
Read More » - World News
Indonesia adopts cool roofs to combat heatwaves and reduce energy costs
A low-cost, sustainable solution to the increasing heatwaves in Southeast Asia is being implemented in Indonesia through the use of “cool” roofs. These roofs have a special coating applied to them that reflects sunlight and reduces the amount of heat absorbed by a building, resulting in lower indoor temperatures. In Indonesia, the Cool Roofs project, led by architecture lecturer Beta…
Read More » - Environment News
Thailand to implement new law to save blue whales from extinction
In a bid to save endangered blue whales from extinction, Thailand‘s Cabinet yesterday approved in principle a draft royal decree which designates blue whales and leopard sharks as “wildlife reserves,” under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act of 2019. Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) are already protected wild animals in Thailand, but the current laws have not been effective in stopping…
Read More » - Politics News
MFP leader promises reasonable minimum wage increase without economic damage
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat recently assured that a coalition government under his leadership would not immediately raise the minimum daily wage to 450 baht but would ensure a reasonable increase without causing damage to industry or the economy. Limjaroenrat, the party’s prime ministerial candidate, made this promise during a meeting with representatives of the Federation of Thai…
Read More » - Politics News
China downplays Micron ban as individual case, not broader US firm targeting
China is attempting to mitigate the fallout from its recent decision to partially ban sales of US chipmaker Micron‘s products in the country on national security grounds. The ban has been challenged by Washington, which views it as a deliberate targeting of US businesses in response to export controls imposed on China. However, Chinese authorities, including the foreign ministry and…
Read More » - Business News
Thai car production dips 0.13% in April as exports surge 43.53%
Thailand experienced a slight decline of 0.13% in car production in April compared to the previous year, with a total of 117,636 units produced, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). This decrease was primarily due to a drop in truck production. However, the country witnessed a significant surge in auto exports during the same month, owing to a…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket police arrest man with over 5,000 methamphetamine pills
Phuket police have apprehended a man in Ratsada who was found to be in possession of over 5,000 methamphetamine pills, also known as ya bah. The arrest occurred yesterday afternoon as part of an ongoing campaign targeting drug users and dealers, led by Phuket Provincial Police Chief Maj Gen Sermphan Sirikong and other senior officers on the island. The suspect,…
Read More » - Thailand News
Shooting at noodles shop near Bangkok claims life of groom-to-be, 2 others injured
A shooting at a noodles shop in the Nonthaburi province near Bangkok resulted in the death of a groom-to-be and injury to two others. Reports suggest that the motive behind the shooting was a dispute over debt and an illegal business venture. The shooting occurred at midnight at a noodles shop in the Sai Ma sub-district of Mueang district in…
Read More » - Thailand News
Worker fatally electrocuted during rainstorm while retrieving equipment
A 35 year old man died in Ratchaburi after trying to retrieve electrical equipment during heavy rain. Authorities found his lifeless body beside a large electrical box, with his left index finger on an outlet. On May 24, Police Lieutenant Santiphol Nuuchua, an investigative officer at Bang Phae Police Station, in Ratchaburi, received a report about a man who had…
Read More » - Pattaya News
Pattaya hit by floods as Thailand enters rainy season
Pattaya experienced significant flooding in various areas last night, following the official start of Thailand’s rainy season on Monday. The heavy downpour, which lasted for about an hour and was accompanied by strong winds, affected flood-prone locations such as Sukhumvit Road, South Pattaya Road, Pattaya Beach Road, Third Road near the Paniat Chang intersection, Moom Aroi intersection, and the road…
Read More » - Pattaya News
Devastating Pattaya motorbike crash claims life of 34 year old Korean bar manager
A tragic accident occurred in Pattaya when a 34 year old Korean man, known locally as a bar manager and expatriate, lost his life in a motorbike crash. The incident took place in front of Pattaya 7 School, where the man collided with a roadwork sign early in the morning. Rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation arrived at…
Read More » - Thailand News
Outrage as Thai rape sentence slashed in half, raising questions about justice system
A Thai woman and her boyfriend questioned the justice system in Thailand after a Bangkok taxi driver’s rape sentence was reduced from six years to only three years. The victim suffered both physical and mental health damage as a consequence of the sexual assault. The victim’s boyfriend shared the story about his girlfriend on Facebook on Thursday, May 11. He…
Read More » - Thailand News
Thailand’s giant panda Lin Hui died of multiple organ failure, experts rule
UPDATE Post-mortem examinations ruled that Thailand‘s beloved giant panda Lin Hui, who passed away at 21 years old at Chiang Mai Zoo last month, died of multiple organ failure. China loaned the giant panda to Thailand in 2003 as a goodwill ambassador between the two countries for 20 years. She was set to return home this year. A joint team…
Read More » - World News
12 year old boy killed by crocodile in Sabah, second attack in a month
A 12 year old boy was fatally attacked by a crocodile in Sabah’s Sandakan district, located in eastern Malaysia’s Sabah state. The tragedy occurred on Sumangat Payau Island, and the victim’s body was found around 2 kilometres away from the last sighted location. The incident took place on Tuesday, 23 May, at around 8am local time. Hamza Isnurdini, assistant operations…
Read More » - Thailand News
Leopard cat struck by car in southern Thailand
A leopard cat is seriously injured after being hit by a car in Phang Nga province in southern Thailand on Monday. A young man named Somchai (pseudonym) from Thung Kha Ngok subdistrict was driving his motorbike along the Phang Nga – Takua Pa route when he saw an animal get hit by a car. He parked his motorbike to check…
Read More » - World News
Cathay Pacific fires staff amid discrimination row and foreigner worship claims
Cathay Pacific Airways today dismissed three flight attendants following allegations of discrimination against non-English speakers. The incident occurred on flight CX987 from Chengdu to Hong Kong and led to widespread concern, prompting the airline to issue a sincere apology. Cathay Pacific CEO Ronald Lam announced the staff dismissals after an internal investigation and reiterated the company’s zero-tolerance approach to serious violations…
Read More » - Thailand News
Future Thailand PM at odds with cannabis sellers and government over drug law reform
Cannabis sellers and several governmental departments have clashed with future Prime Minister, Pita Limcharoenrat, and his Move Forward Party (MFP) over the reclassification of cannabis and the reversal of the drug laws. The sellers are demanding clear clarification from the concerned departments on this issue. On Monday, May 22, the MFP, led by Pita, and leaders of the coalition parties…
Read More » - Phuket News
First flight from Russia’s Red Wings Airlines makes its way to Phuket
Russian tourists are continuing to flock to Thailand’s holiday paradise of Phuket. Yesterday morning, officials and staff at Phuket International Airport welcomed the first Red Wings Airlines flight from Zhukovsky, Russia, to Phuket. The flight carried 400 passengers. Earlier this month, it was reported that Russians were Thailand’s fourth largest tourist group this year, with a total of 115,743 tourists so…
Read More » - Thailand News
Bangkok to expand Google Classroom project to all 437 schools by 2026
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has unveiled its plans to implement the Google Classroom project across all 437 schools under its jurisdiction within the next three years. The announcement follows a successful pilot project in collaboration with Google at Thainiyomsongkroa School in the Bang Khen district. The Google Classroom project emphasises “learning connectivity and data accessibility,” providing each student with…
Read More » - World News
Tigray conflict displaces thousands, demand withdrawal of invading forces
Thousands of displaced individuals from Ethiopia’s Tigray region took to the streets to demand a return to their homes and the withdrawal of “invading forces,” according to witnesses and local television. The conflict in Africa’s second most populous country lasted two years, resulting in countless civilian deaths and displacing around two million people before a surprise truce was declared in…
Read More » - Business News
Netflix expands password crackdown to US and 100+ countries
In an effort to tackle password sharing and increase revenue, Netflix has expanded its crackdown on account sharing to the United States and over 100 other countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Singapore, Mexico, and Brazil. The streaming giant has been seeking new ways to generate income as it faces potential market saturation, with measures such as limiting…
Read More » - Tourism News
Only a week left to experience Grand Canyon of Thailand before rain
Travellers are advised to seize the opportunity to witness the extraordinary beauty of a natural site known as Thailand‘s “Grand Canyon,” locally known as Sam Phan Bok, before the end of May, when it will start to rain more. This leaves only a week left for exploration. Located in the Ban Pho Sai district of Ubon Ratchathani province in Thailand’s…
Read More » - Best of
Best restaurants to try in Siam Paragon
Heads up! For all the foodies, here are the Best Restaurants in Siam Paragon. We’ve got you covered with an updated 2023 list of 10 delicious dining restaurants all in one place. Have you ever gone for a walk aimlessly, not knowing where to eat? We’ve picked 10 welcoming restaurants, serving dishes from around the world (Japanese, Thai, Northeastern, BBQ,…
Read More » - Crime News
Body found in Thailand forest wearing someone else’s school uniform
A man searching for wild mushrooms discovered a corpse wearing a high schooler’s gym shirt in a forest in Chanthaburi province in central Thailand today. Officers at Mueang Chanthaburi Police Station were informed that a local man found the body of a man wearing a gym shirt from a famous high school in a ditch in the forest in Moo…
Read More » - South Thailand News
South Thailand bus crash leaves 10 wounded
A bus crash in South Thailand‘s Songkhla province left 10 people wounded yesterday morning. The bus was carrying 30 passengers from Bangkok to Hat Yai. Rattaphum Police were alerted to the incident on Asia Road in the Kamphaengphet sub-district of Rattaphum district. Emergency responders arrived at the scene and found the bus on the side of the road. Ten injured…
Read More » - Thailand News
Teenager arrested for selling ghost SIM cards online
Police arrested a 17 year old boy who sold ghost SIM cards online at his house in Ranong province in southern Thailand. The teenager used information from his previous customers to repeatedly register SIM cards for sale. Narudom managed to make over 500 transactions. Officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau raided a house in the Khao Niwet sub-district, Mueng…
Read More » - Thailand News
Thai family seeks help moving deceased father to temple amidst wild bees concerns
A Thai family asked for emergency services assistance in transferring their deceased father to a temple for a funeral ceremony, amid concerns that noise and lights from the event might disturb a hive of wild bees situated near their residence. The authorities in the Buriram area responded to the request in order to ensure the safety of the hosts and…
Read More » - World News
France bans short-haul flights with train alternatives to cut emissions
In an effort to reduce carbon emissions, France has implemented a ban on domestic short-haul flights where train alternatives are available. The legislation comes into effect two years after it was initially approved by lawmakers, targeting routes where train journeys can be completed in under two-and-a-half hours. This restriction essentially eliminates air travel between Paris and cities such as Nantes,…
Read More » - World News
DeSantis announces presidential bid with Musk in live Twitter event
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is set to announce his challenge for the Republican party’s 2024 presidential nomination, presenting his ultra-conservative record as a potential blueprint for the nation. The announcement will be made during a live Twitter event with the platform’s owner, Elon Musk. “I will be interviewing Ron DeSantis and he has quite an announcement to make,” Musk confirmed,…
Read More » - Thailand News
Speeding pickup truck flips on Si Rat expressway – driver dies in collision
A high-speed collision involving a pickup truck on the Si Rat Expressway in Bangkok resulted in the vehicle flipping over and the driver tragically losing his life. The incident occurred at the expressway’s entrance near Ngamwongwan Road, where the pickup truck was found completely wrecked. The accident involved an Isuzu D-Max, which collided with a cement barrier due to excessive…
Read More » - World News
Trump barred from posting sensitive case evidence on social media
In a recent court appearance via video link, former US President Donald Trump was informed by Judge Juan Merchan that he is prohibited from posting sensitive evidence related to his criminal case on social media platforms. Trump is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with alleged hush money paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in 2016.…
Read More » - Business News
Thailand to ease yuan rules for trade amid rising US dollar volatility
Amid the increasing volatility of the US dollar in relation to other global currencies, regulators are considering loosening restrictions on the utilization of the yuan in yuan-baht trade transactions. The Bank of Thailand, in collaboration with Asian and ASEAN central banks, is actively working toward establishing frameworks for local currency settlements. This initiative aims to encourage the use of local…
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