Month: May 2023
- Business News
OCBC reports record net profit in Q1 as strong net interest income growth boosts earnings
Singapore‘s second-largest lender, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC), has reported a 39% increase in first-quarter profit compared to a year ago, driven by robust net interest income expansion. OCBC, also the second-largest bank in Southeast Asia by assets, revealed a net profit of US$1.42 billion between January and March, up from US$1.02 billion during the same period last year, significantly surpassing…
Read More » - World News
Trudeau slams Meta over plans to block Canadian news in response to proposed legislation
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has criticized Meta after the company’s executives announced plans to block news for Canadian Facebook and Instagram users in response to proposed legislation. The new law, known as the Online News Act, would require digital giants to pay for local journalism content. Currently, the bill is being considered by the Senate. Google also revealed in February…
Read More » - World News
Lionel Messi’s potential move to Saudi Arabia: A look at football greats who played in unexpected leagues
Lionel Messi, the 35 year old Argentine football superstar, is reportedly preparing to continue his illustrious career by making a surprising move to Saudi Arabia. As a result, Barcelona fans will be left heartbroken, as they had hoped for Messi to return to his former club. However, Messi is not the first prominent player to seek opportunities in less renowned…
Read More » - Business News
Airbnb forecasts fewer bookings and lower daily rates in Q2 compared to last year
Airbnb Inc announced on Tuesday that it anticipates fewer bookings and reduced average daily rates in the second quarter compared to the previous year, resulting in an 11.5% decrease in share value during after-hours trading. US travel companies, which have profited from increased prices and hybrid work, are adjusting their 2023 forecasts as pre-pandemic travel patterns resume and consumers seek…
Read More » - Economy News
Thailand is the world’s biggest exporter of durian
Thailand, known for its rich culture and stunning beaches, is also the world’s biggest exporter of the notorious fruit, durian. According to the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand has retained its top spot for durian exports, accounting for a whopping 93.3% of the global market share, Pattaya Mail reported yesterday. In 2022, Thailand exported fresh durian…
Read More » - Crime News
Hungarian diver summoned by police for touching pipefish in Thailand
A Hungarian diver was summoned to the police station in Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani province in southern Thailand yesterday for allegedly touching a pipefish. Police say he was formerly charged with touching protected marine life once before in 2020. In a video entitled “Scuba diving in the paradise, Koh Phangan” on the YouTube channel “Paradise Films by Attila…
Read More » - Thailand News
Pheu Thai sets conditions for coalition government formation
Pheu Thai Family leader and prime ministerial candidate Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra has revealed three conditions for the party to form a coalition government, with one condition being that Pheu Thai must manage all major ministries. During an hour-long interview published on TikTok and Instagram Live, which was hosted by celebrity Kachapa “Mod Dam” Tancharoen on Monday night, Paetongtarn maintained…
Read More » - Thailand News
Eastern economic corridor barely accessible to small businesses
The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project in Thailand is falling short of its intended purpose, as only a few small local businesses are able to access and benefit from it, according to the Thai Sang Thai (TST) Party. Prime ministerial candidate for the TST, Supan Mongkolsutee, stated that the EEC scheme is predominantly aimed at larger companies, leaving small businesses…
Read More » - Pattaya News
Minivan collides with trailer truck in Pabon: 11 passengers injured
A driver has sustained significant injuries, while 11 passengers have sustained minor injuries after a minivan crashed into a trailer truck in Pabon. Pabon Police were notified of the accident earlier this week on Songkhla Road in Trang. Emergency responders arrived at the scene to discover the damaged minivan on the road, behind the trailer truck. Inside the minivan, rescue…
Read More » - Thailand News
Royal guard dismissed for misconduct without pension
A recent royal command has resulted in the dismissal of a Royal Security Command officer from military service and the royal guard, without a pension, due to severe misconduct. The order, which became effective on May 5, was announced in the Royal Gazette yesterday. The officer in question is Colonel Chaimethi Phubodiwarochuphan, who served in the office of the deputy…
Read More » - World News
China and Germany tensions worsen over Ukraine sanctions and neutrality stance
China-Germany tensions escalated yesterday as the two nations exchanged sharp words over the Ukraine crisis. with Beijing warning the EU not to sanction Chinese firms while Berlin argued that “neutrality” in the conflict meant siding with Russia. During their second meeting in a month, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock clashed repeatedly over the responsibilities of…
Read More » - World News
Robert De Niro becomes a father again at 79
Legendary actor Robert De Niro, 79 years old, recently shared in an interview that he has become a father for the seventh time. The well-known “Raging Bull” star corrected an interviewer who believed he had six children, telling her it was “seven, now.” De Niro did not disclose further details about the baby’s gender or the mother’s identity during the…
Read More » - Phuket News
Chumphon man shoots girlfriend and kills himself in Phuket
A 56 year old man from Chumphon shot his girlfriend, resulting in her injury, following their breakup in a house in Wichit on a recent night, before taking his own life with a gunshot to the head. The violence occurred at a home in Wichit, where local police were called to respond at around 10pm. Upon their arrival along with…
Read More » - World News
ASEAN nations express deep concern over ongoing violence in Myanmar
Southeast Asian nations expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence in Myanmar during this week’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Indonesia. The regional bloc has been under scrutiny for its perceived inaction and inability to resolve the crisis amid the bloodshed following a military coup in 2021. In a statement, ASEAN leaders urged “the immediate cessation of…
Read More » - World News
Victory Day celebrations in Russia amidst ongoing conflict in Ukraine
As Russia’s troops continue their campaign in Ukraine and the country experiences sabotage attacks at home, Russians have recently celebrated the wartime Victory Day with hopes for success on the modern battlefield. President Vladimir Putin frequently links the ongoing conflict in Ukraine to the Soviet fight against Nazi Germany 80 years ago, a narrative widely accepted by many Russians due…
Read More » - Crime News
Phuket court issues arrest warrant for suspect who stabbed grocer to death
The Phuket Provincial Court issued an arrest warrant for a suspect who allegedly stabbed a grocer to death in the main city district on Saturday. The incident is believed to have occurred following a dispute with a former customer. Phuket City Police Captain Wichit Nokkaew said that the Phuket Provincial Court issued an arrest warrant for 34 year old Tarapong…
Read More » - World News
Canada won’t be intimidated by China’s expulsion of Canadian consul, says Trudeau
Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, stated yesterday that the country would not be intimidated by China’s tit-for-tat expulsion of a Canadian consul. This came after Ottawa expelled a Chinese diplomat earlier this week, who was accused of targeting a lawmaker critical of Beijing. Trudeau emphasised that his administration’s decision to expel the Chinese official was taken to convey a clear…
Read More » - World News
Ukraine urges faster EU support and clear membership path
Ukraine has issued a warning that it requires more effective support from Brussels, including a defined path towards European Union membership, during European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s recent visit to Kyiv. Coinciding with Europe Day, which promotes peace and unity within the continent, von der Leyen discussed Ukraine’s development in democratic and anti-corruption reforms ahead of an October…
Read More » - World News
China dismisses accusations of maritime militia disrupting Indian and Asean naval drills
China’s foreign ministry has dismissed allegations that vessels belonging to its maritime militia deliberately encroached upon an area of the South China Sea where Indian and ASEAN navies were conducting exercises. However, an independent expert in Vietnam argues that Beijing is using the militia to intimidate and disrupt the naval drills. In a statement to Reuters, China’s foreign ministry said…
Read More » - Health
Chula University’s dentistry faculty ranked Top 70 in QS World University Rankings by Subject
Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Dentistry has achieved a global ranking of 70th, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject. Dean of the Faculty, Pornchai Jansisyanont, revealed that this is the first time a Thai dental faculty has reached such esteem. It serves as a reward for their mission to enhance research capabilities leading to innovative breakthroughs. The faculty…
Read More » - World News
Resumption of live pig exports from Indonesia’s Pulau Bulan to Singapore could take a year
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has indicated that it could take up to a year for Indonesia’s Pulau Bulan to resume live pig production and exports. Singapore halted imports of live pigs from the island after African swine fever (ASF) was detected in some pig carcasses last month. The affected carcasses, part of a consignment of live pigs from Pulau…
Read More » - World News
Deadly shooting at Tunisian synagogue during annual pilgrimage
Two people participating in an annual pilgrimage and two security service members were fatally shot at the Ghriba Synagogue on Tunisia’s Djerba Island yesterday, according to the interior ministry. The gunman, a police officer, was also killed in the incident. Several others, including four visitors to the synagogue and five security officers, were injured in the attack. The Tunisian foreign…
Read More » - World News
US-Mexico border braces for chaos as asylum rules change
A surge of people is expected at the United States border with Mexico, as US President Joe Biden acknowledges the situation will be “chaotic for a while.” Title 42 pandemic-era rules, which made claiming asylum at the border nearly impossible, are set to expire in the coming days. This has led tens of thousands of people to gather at border…
Read More » - Crime News
Murderer arrested in Thailand after 16 years on the run
A Thai man who brutally murdered his wife 16 years ago was arrested at a temple in Roi Et province in northeast Thailand yesterday. He confessed to beating his wife to death with a helmet in 2007. Police arrested 63 year old Adirek at a temple in Nong Phok district under an arrest warrant from Phitsanulok Provincial Court dated August…
Read More » - Thailand News
6-wheel truck crashes into 4 cars: 11 injured including 5 month old child
A six-wheel truck smashed into four cars resulting in 11 injuries, including a five month old child, on Bang Na-Trat Road in the Bang Wua sub-district, Bang Pakong district, Chachoengsao province. The driver allegedly confessed that he picked up his phone to answer a call and did not notice the other cars. At 8.30pm yesterday, officers from Bang Pakong Police…
Read More » - Thailand News
Thai monk dies in sweltering heat after drunk policeman causes power outage
A drunk policeman crashed into an electric pole causing a power outage in Surin province in northeast Thailand on Thursday amid soaring temperatures. This caused problems for a Buddhist monk with a lung complaint because he was hot and couldn’t turn on his fan because of the power outage. His naked body was discovered in his room the next morning, reports…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket officials target motorbike rental shops to reduce road accidents
Phuket authorities have decided to implement inspections of motorbike rental shops in an effort to decrease the number of deaths and injuries from accidents on the popular island’s roads. The decision was announced at a special meeting, chaired by Phuket Vice Governor Anupap Rodkwan Yodrabam, which was organised to discuss and draft guidelines for controlling and organising motorcycle rentals in…
Read More » - Environment News
Thai university makes bulletproof vests from recycled plastic
Scientists at Naresuan University in northern Thailand made bulletproof vests out of recycled plastic waste which they donated to the soldiers of Royal Thai Army Area 3 in Phitsanulok province on Monday. The vests are made from a mixture of car headlight parts, dialysis bags, rubber shoes, and plastic from the sea. The bulletproof vests were created under the project…
Read More » - World News
Sudan’s escalating conflict displaces over 700,000 civilians, warns UN
The escalating conflict between Sudanese military generals continues to take a toll on civilian lives, causing an alarming increase in the number of people fleeing their homes. According to the United Nations, over the past week, the number of internally displaced persons has doubled from 340,000 to more than 700,000. Furthermore, the International Organisation for Migration reports that hundreds have…
Read More » - World News
Singapore’s prime minister urges ASEAN to work towards a joint power grid
Following the success of the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore power integration project, Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, 70 years old, called on ASEAN yesterday to continue working towards a joint power grid. A regional power grid will strengthen energy security, and resilience in member states, and advance regional decarbonisation, Lee said. The Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore project demonstrates that “multilateral power trading in…
Read More » - Thailand News
Thai man dies reconciling with wife: Fatal asthma attack in rice field
A man from Thailand died in a rice field in Ang Thong province while trying to walk 24 kilometres to his wife’s house to reconcile with her. It was later revealed that he had suffered a fatal asthma attack during the journey. Officers from Meaung Ang Thong Police Station were notified of the man’s death by 45 year old tractor…
Read More » - World News
Deaf Taiwanese man saved from online love scam by alert bank and police
Employees at a Taiwanese bank and police officers exhibited quick thinking and calm responses in helping a deaf man to escape a potentially disastrous internet love scam. According to reports, the incident took place at a Taipei Fubon Bank branch in Peitou, Taiwan. The 48 year old man approached the bank counter intending to apply for a significant loan. Due…
Read More » - Crime News
Tattooed Thai gangster-turned-movie star arrested on gambling charges
Thai gangster-turned-actor Panya Yimumphai – famous for his role in ‘A Prayer Before Dawn’ – was arrested on gambling charges at a house in Pathum Thani, just north of Bangkok, on Monday. Thailand’s Cyber Police raided the property after Panya, better known for his gang name Keng Laiprang (“Keng Camouflage”), posted a TikTok clip inviting his followers to gamble on…
Read More » - World News
Protests across Pakistan after Imran Khan’s arrest and military rebuke
Protests broke out across Pakistan following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan during a court appearance in the capital, Islamabad. The arrest comes amid political turmoil and hours after the powerful military criticised the former international cricketer for accusing a high-ranking military officer of plotting to kill him. Demonstrators in several cities directed their anger at the military,…
Read More » - Thailand News
Elderly woman dies in heatstroke after walking 2km barefoot
An elderly woman, famously known for walking barefoot for two kilometres to ask for money for food, was found dead alongside a road in Udon Thani province yesterday. The 81 year old woman named Boon, who was discovered naked, is believed to have succumbed to the sweltering heat. At 9am, Ratpol Mora Rat, an investigator at Na Kha Police Station,…
Read More » - Expats
Man discovers his 17 year old twins aren’t his, DNA test reveals wife’s cheating
A man was left stunned after discovering that his wife cheated on him and that the twins he had raised for 17 years were not his children after they took a random DNA test. The unnamed American man immediately realised that his wife had cheated on him when news of the DNA test was revealed. He shared the story on…
Read More » - Business News
Doi Kham Food Products expands into ice cream market amid declining fruit juice demand
Doi Kham Food Products Co, a Thai manufacturer and distributor of fruit juice and dried fruit has expanded its business to enter Thailand’s 15-billion-baht ice cream market in an effort to counter the ongoing decline in fruit juice demand. Chanannat Polpathapee, the company’s executive vice president for sales and marketing, said the Thai fruit juice market, particularly in the middle…
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