Ann Carter
- Events
John Cena breaks world record for most wishes granted in foundation
WWE superstar John Cena has broken another record, but this time it isn’t in the ring. Cena is now the world record holder of the most wishes granted through the Make-A-Wish foundation, with 650 wishes fulfilled. The foundation helps children who have been diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses by granting their wishes. Some choose to meet a celebrity, give a gift…
- Hot News
WTO chief says world economy tipping towards recession
The World Trade Organisation chief is echoing others in their concern over the world economy falling into a recession. WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala didn’t hold back when she recently commented on the situation. “The indicators are not looking good. I think a global recession-that is what I think we are edging into.” Her analysis comes as the WTO intends to…
- World News
Thailand’s northeast braced as Typhoon Noru slams Vietnam
Typhoon Noru slammed into Vietnam today forcing hundreds of thousands of people to take shelter after the country imposed a mandatory curfew. High-rise buildings shook in Danang, as winds have been compared to that of a category five hurricane. Wind speeds were clocked between 103 and 117 kilometres per hour. According to authorities, almost half of Vietnam’s airports have been…
- Hot News
Former Miss Grand Myanmar denied entry to Thailand, not arrested
In an update to a previous story, Miss Grand Myanmar 2020 was not arrested but was denied entrance to Thailand after returning from Vietnam. Previously, it was reported that she was arrested by the Royal Thai Police but authorities are now saying she was not arrested, only denied entry based on irregularities in her passport. Han Lay, the 23-year-old beauty…
- Hot News
At least 31 dead as Iranian security forces crack down on civilians protesting woman’s death
At least 31 civilians have been reported dead after Iranian security forces cracked down on protests over a young woman’s death. The woman, Mahsa Amini, 22, was visiting Tehran with her family last week when the morality police arrested her for violating Iran’s strict dress code for women. The code has been in place since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, in…
- Covid-19 News
Meeting today could decide whether to end Emergency Decree
A meeting today could decide whether to end Thailand’s long-standing Emergency Decree. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration is meeting today in which the Covid-19 operations centre is expected to propose the revocation of the decree from October 1. Secretary-general of the National Security Council and head of the operations centre said yesterday that members have agreed that there has…
- Hot News
More heavy rain to continue today in 62 of Thailand’s provinces
More heavy rain is in today’s forecast for 62 of the 72 Thai provinces. The Meteorological Department warned civilians in these provinces, which include Bangkok, to brace for torrential rain. According to the forecast, a monsoon trough is moving its way down the lower northern region of the country and the upper Central Plains over the next day. A moderate southwesterly…
- World News
Suspected Myanmar military businessman arrested in Thailand for drug trafficking
A Myanmar businessman, who is suspected of being linked to the country’s ruling military junta, has been arrested in Bangkok. According to Reuters, three unnamed sources supplied information about his connections to the junta, after police arrested him over drug trafficking. Thailand’s deputy police spokesperson Kissana Phathanacharoen, says they conducted an early morning raid in Bangkok last week, finding the…
- Hot News
Weakening baht is in focus as meeting called to discuss its impact
The Bank of Thailand is scrambling to find the sources behind the weakening baht as a meeting is called to discuss its impact. Finance Minister, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, says the depreciating currency is adding to the inflationary pressures and is vowing to determine whether the decline is linked to the country’s economic fundaments. The Finance Ministry is set to hold talks…
- Thailand News
Thailand lifts ban on foreigners with Covid from visiting
Got Covid? Thailand is now saying feel free to come after a new provision has unbarred those with the virus from entering the Kingdom. The Cabinet moved forward with the decision to allow foreign visitors with the virus to enter Thailand while removing the virus from a list of forbidden diseases in foreign visitors. Deputy Government Spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek says…
- Hot News
Alleged Ukrainian torture victims come forward to testify
After Ukraine’s military advance north of Kharkiv this month, evidence of torture has been allegedly uncovered. Ukrainian police and prosecutors have reportedly taken over the border town of Kozacha Lopan, forcing Russian troops back across the border. Now, an investigation has been launched over alleged war crimes. The small town was previously occupied by a pro-Russia militia, with alleged torture victims…
- Thailand News
Agoda: Thailand leading Asia bookings post-pandemic
Popular booking website Agoda says Thailand is one of the first Asian countries to see tourism rebound after the Covid-19 pandemic. Omri Morgenshtern, Agoda’s chief executive says even though the inbound search rate for Thailand on the website was 39% lower than in the same period in 2019, it has begun to rise since the beginning of 2022. “Thailand is…
- Thailand News
THAI expects bankruptcy court to approve revised rehabilitation plan
Thai Airways International (THAI) is expecting its revised rehabilitation plan to be approved by the Central Bankruptcy Court. The submitted revision comes after the ailing carrier bounced back better than expected after its Covid-19-induced downfall. But, its rehab plan hasn’t come without pushback from some creditors. Chai Eamsiri, the airline’s acting chief financial officer and senior chief, says once the…
- Hot News
Electric vehicles may need long-term solar power plan
As popularity rises with electric vehicles (EVs), future charging options may include solar power. Long-term planning is being pushed by Delta Electronics (Thailand) Plc., as a result of the need to ensure adequate power supplies. One idea is that of using microgrids at charging stations. The electronics manufacturer is suggesting that each charging facility should act as a microgrid that…
- Hot News
Cardi B pleads guilty for her part in strip club fight
US rapper Cardi B is pleading guilty for her part in a strip club fight in a final conclusion to a years-long case. The singer plead guilty to two misdemeanour charges in a New York court, which helped her to avoid jail time. The case originally started due to a brawl back in 2018, in which Cardi B was in…
- Hot News
Woman gets death penalty for poisoning kids
A Thai woman was handed the death sentence after being found guilty of poisoning her two children and garnering donations by posting their sickness on social media. Nattiwan Rakkunjet, 29 years old, was charged with one count of murder with prosecutors recommending the death penalty. Nattiwan adopted one of her two children at the age of four in 2015. But,…
- Hot News
US rail companies reach initial agreement to stop strike
After all night deliberations, US President Joe Biden announced that a crippling railroad union strike has been avoided. The president says a tentative agreement has been reached to avert disruptions to US supply chains in the run-up to midterm elections. Biden says he was personally calling into the negotiations as late as 9pm on Wednesday. The result of those negotiations…
- Hot News
Report indicates TikTok’s search results create polarisation
A new report on TikTok’s search feature has concluded that the social media platform is producing polarising information. Climate change, politics, the war in Ukraine and Covid-19 searches were all found to produce misinformation on the platform. The study, by NewsGuard, claims that toxicity and false claims are a “significant threat” at TikTok. NewsGuard is self-described as a “journalism and…
- Thailand News
WHO urges world to end Covid pandemic
The World Health Organisation is urging the world to end the Covid-19 pandemic as newly reported cases decline. The organisation’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, says the number of new cases dropped to its lowest level since March 2020. “We have never been in a better position to end the pandemic. We are not there yet, but the end is in…
- Thailand News
Celebrity Thai couple charged over Forex-3D scam
A Thai celebrity couple is being charged over their role in a Forex-3D online Ponzi scheme. Thailand’s Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Pattanapon “DJ Man” Minthakhin and his wife, singer Suteewan “Baitoey” Thaweesin. They reported to the Department of Special Investigation yesterday to acknowledge the charges. The three charges include public fraud, putting false information into a computer…
- Thailand News
Swiss Student Alumni Association honours late King Bhumibol
The Swiss Student Alumni Association has honoured the late King Bhumibol’s memory with a life-sized, bronze bust. The statue is now overlooking Lake Geneva in the western city of Lausanne. Bhumibol studied and lived in the canton of Vaud for 18 years, with authorities saying that he helped establish a friendship between Thailand and Switzerland. The bust of the late…
- Thailand News
Heaviest rain in two decades pushes Bangkok’s canals to the brink
Bangkok’s heaviest rains in over two decades are pushing its canals to the brink. The downpours started Tuesday evening, overwhelming the canals. Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said Bang Khen district has reported 170 millimetres of rain since Tuesday, which has been the highest amount in 20 years. Klong Lat Phrao and Kong Prem Prachakon canals have seen water levels rising to…
- Covid-19 News
Thai government to downgrade Covid-19 disease status from October 1
Thailand’s government is expected to downgrade the Covid-19 disease status from October 1. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul made the announcement, saying that the disease will be classified as “communicable under surveillance.” Until now, the Covid-19 disease was classified as a “dangerous communicable disease,” but Anutin says the current situation has been deemed suitable for regrading. In February 2020, the…
- Transport News
AirAsia X disagrees with government’s proposed tourism fee
AirAsia X’s chief executive disagrees with the Thai government’s proposal of a tourism fee on flights. Tony Fernandes, the acting group chief executive of AirAsia X says, instead, that the government should bank on the influx of travellers as aiding the economy. He says the tourism fee would be a smaller impact on the economy than an increase in tourism.…
- Hot News
Central department stores to get facelift funding
The Central department stores, seen throughout Thailand and other countries, may be looking a lot less shabby as the retail giant has approved a 15 billion baht makeover for its stores. Central Department Store Co, under Central Retail Corporation, has approved the funding as part of its efforts to expand the retail business from 2023 to 2027. Oliver Bron, the…
- Hot News
Anti-Thai government group plans to hold rally despite bad timing
Even though they admit that the timing isn’t right to try and bring down the current regime, an anti-government group is still plowing on with plans to hold a rally. The Kana Lomruam Prachachon (Melting Pot Group) is planning to rally in central Bangkok this weekend at the Skywalk at Pathumwan intersection. Jatuporn Prompan, the group’s co-leader and chair for…
- Economy News
Thailand to host APEC CEO Summit 2022 with a focus on post-Covid economies
Thailand is set to host the APEC CEO Summit 2022 with a key theme of focusing on rehabilitating economies after the Covid-19 epidemic. The Embrace, Engage and Enable theme will see a gathering of the world’s top CEOs, policymakers, and other leaders from 21 member economies. Set to start on November 16-18, 2022, organisers say the summit will be the…
- Health
Thailand’s student monks get diet overhaul to combat obesity
After a recent study concluded that over a quarter of student monks in the Phra Pariyatti Dhamma General Education schools nationwide are overweight, a new food and health programme has arrived. The National Health Commission Office has launched the project together with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences of Chulalongkorn University, and six other organisations.…
- World News
Laos-China high-speed railway to bring increased trade opportunities
The high-speed railway from Laos to China is full steam ahead as Laotian authorities say they hope it will increase trade opportunities for the region. The link, known as the Vientiane-Boten railway was opened late last year on December 3, as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Now, the railway operates daily to offer more economical travel, cutting travel…
- Travel
City Guide: Top 5 beaches to visit in Phuket
One of the best things about visiting Thailand is, indeed, its beaches, which are some of the most beautiful in the world. Phuket, in Thailand’s south, is clearly one of the most popular areas to be a beach bum. Located off the Andaman Sea, its islands surrounding it provide day trips galore. But, a few of those beaches seem to…