Jon Whitman
- Technology News
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Why does Thailand need F-35 fighter jets? [video]
Thailand‘s attempts to beg the new F-35 Fifth Generation fighter jet from the United States have progressed at a snail’s pace. The acquisition has been questioned on all sides since its inception, and continues to be. The issues standing in Thailand’s way seem to amount to three main things. The US certainly doesn’t want its shiny (actually not shiny at…
- Thailand News
Thailand, an interfaith paradise?
Today’s Pakistan Observer provides an interesting insight into Thailand as an interfaith paradise, seen from overseas, but not through the more usual Western lens. In Pakistan, Thailand is seen as a paradise of interfaith tolerance, and perhaps it is. Former Head of the Department of International Relations & Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University of Bangkok Prof. Dr Jaran Maluleem…
- Bangkok News
‘Big Joke’ moves on Chinese passport forgers
The Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, swooped on Chinese passport forgers hiding at the Bangkok residence of a Nauruan diplomat. Onassis Dame, consul-general to Thailand from the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru, and his family no longer live there, according to Radio Free Asia. Instead, the residence, which investigators raided on December 22,…
- Transport News
GWM announces range of new models
Great Wall Motor (GWM) has announced plans for a range of new models. At the recent Guangzhou motor show, Zhang Haobao, CEO of GWM Pickup, said the company would focus on new products for the global market, creating a matrix of pure electric, hybrid, and hydrogen energy pickup trucks. According to the company’s 2025 Strategy, GWM aims to raise its…
- World News
Norwegian lessons for Thai shipwrecks
A Norwegian naval officer is on stand trial, accused of negligence that led to a 2018 collision between the frigate he commanded and an oil tanker. The warship sank and has since been salvaged for scrap. A replacement for the lost Helge Ingstad frigate will cost up to US$1.3 billion (40 billion baht). The case demonstrates that strange things do…
- World News
Thailand 3rd choice of red carpet for Chinese ‘friends’
China and Indonesia are best of friends again, and it’s all thanks to Beijing’s optimised Covid-19 response policy. Thousands of Chinese people are now welcome to flood into Bali on a daily basis. Likewise, in Tanzania, unlimited thousands of happy Chinese shoppers are now welcome to flood up and down Kilimanjaro. Third of the tourism triumvirate – friendly countries with…
- Economy News
China top source of Thailand investment in 2022
Thailand’s main source of investment in 2022 was China, for the first time in three years. The world’s second-largest economy poured US$2.3 billion (75 billion baht) into electronics, automotive and data centres. The figures, of course, do not include the tide of Chinese investment in grey areas such as drugs and gambling. China last held the No.1 position in 2019,…
- Events
What kids want for Children’s Day – strong morals
The most popular career choice among Thai children is teaching. That was the result of a Children’s Day opinion poll, jointly conducted by the Thai Ministry of Culture and Suan Dusit University. More than 7,000 kids – 3,000 boys and 4,000 girls – across the country took part in the survey. The poll shows 15% of the kids want to become…
- China News
Chinese business leaders to gather in Bangkok
Around 4,000 Chinese business leaders are set to gather in Bangkok in June to meet entrepreneurs from around the globe at the first World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention since the pandemic and the 16th since it was launched in 1991. Today, WCEC is the biggest forum for connecting Chinese entrepreneurs with international partners. Narongsak Putthapornmongkol, president of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of…
- Transport News
Isuzu dominates Thai pickup sales 2022
Pickups are an integral part of the landscape in Thailand, with a long history and a big impact on the economy and culture. These versatile and durable vehicles dominate Thailand’s auto industry. In 2022, pickups accounted for 46% of all vehicles sold in Thailand. Some 390,000 pickup trucks were sold in Thailand in 2022. Two models regularly outsell the rest…
- Tourism News
Covid meds running out in Bangkok
Pain and fever relief medications in Bangkok are running out at some pharmacies, particularly in areas where there is a high concentration of tourists from China, according to a survey by Thai PBS reporters. Nawat Chevapruek, a pharmacist at a drug store in Huai Khwang district, said that the tourists are buying so much pain relief balm, plasters and other…
- Thai Law News
Thai police torture to continue, for now
Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas has written to the Ministry of Justice, asking for a delay in the enforcement of the Anti-Torture Act, claiming that his officers are not ready to give up police torture. The act was trailered in October last year, with the provision that it would come into force on February 22. The letter dated January 6 was…
- World News
‘Run Culture’ – China’s great leap outward
Real estate agents and visa experts in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand are swamped with inquiries from Chinese nationals trying to flee the motherland. They want to buy condos and they want to stay. Running away to Southeast Asia is a tantalising prospect after three years locked up or down, depending on your point of view. Many Chinese people are preparing…
- Expats
Bossware is coming to Thailand: Digital nomads, beware
Bossware is coming to Thailand to ruin the digital nomad lifestyle. The kingdom’s attempts to introduce digital nomad visas have been widely mocked and dismissed, but Thailand remains a big draw for digital nomads, even if they can only stay for a couple of months. Digital nomads looking for a more laid-back, less expensive option love Thailand. It offers a…
- Northern Thailand News
Drug traffickers killed in N Thailand gun battle
Five suspected drug traffickers were shot and almost 500,000 methamphetamine pills were seized after a skirmish in Chiang Rai province Thursday. A military patrol came across the suspected smugglers carrying backpacks in the early hours of Thursday in the area where the forested borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet, long a lucrative hub for the illegal drug trade. Refusing…
- Northern Thailand News
Community craft centre exploiting indigenous Karen weavers
Members of the Bang Kloi Karen community employed as weavers in a community craft centre have accused the centre of exploiting indigenous workers. The Karen workers claim they suffer poor working conditions and are paid less than the minimum wage. Activist Anchalee Ismanyee said weavers are paid much less than the official minimum wage in Phetchaburi province of 335 baht…
- Crime News
Tuhao’s wife dismissed from Royal Thai Police
Pol Col Wanthanaree Kornchayanant was dismissed from the Royal Thai Police Monday, along with five other officers suspected of illegal involvement with her husband Chaiyanat “Tuhao” Kornchayanant. Top cop Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas issued the dismissal orders himself, according to Bangkok Post. Wanthanaree was arrested three weeks ago on drug and money laundering charges and released on 2-million-baht bail the next…
- Tourism News
Google’s best beaches almost unknown in Thailand
Last year, both Thai and foreign tourists took to the virtual highways and byways – and often the real ones – searching for Thailand’s best beaches. As the pandemic receded, the vigilant eye of Google Maps was goggling at you, benignly recording your every move, or so the corporation claims. Google’s best beaches in Thailand are those with the most…
- Environment News
ExxonMobil sells interest in Esso Thailand
ExxonMobil is to sell its interest in Esso Thailand to Thai energy firm Bangchak in a deal valued at about 20 billion baht (US$600 million). The deal came on the day Exxon’s astonishingly accurate global-warming predictions came to light, and includes the Sriracha refinery and its network of filling stations. ExxonMobil Asia Holdings previously held 66% of Esso Thailand. The…
- Business News
Central Fraud Registry, coming soon to clean up Thai banking
Thailand‘s forthcoming Central Fraud Registry will be a new investigative authority, working alongside the Computer Emergency Response Team, a group of financial institutions focused on cybercrime in the banking industry. The new fraud registry will concentrate on financial fraud in the industry. Thai Banking Association (TBA) chairman Payong Srivanich did not set a time frame for setting up the registry.…
- Tourism News
China attacks Japan and South Korea over visa restrictions
Japan and South Korea defended public health restrictions on travellers from China attacks yesterday, one day after China stopped issuing visas in both countries in apparent retaliation. Chinese embassies stopped issuing visas for South Koreans and Japanese on Tuesday. It wasn’t immediately clear whether China would expand the visa suspensions to other countries that have imposed even stricter virus testing…
- World News
Myanmar strongman’s kids’ assets found in Bangkok drugs raid
Assets belonging to the children of Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing have been found in a Bangkok condominium. Documents were discovered during a September raid on the apartment of a Myanmar arms dealer charged with drug trafficking and money laundering. According to Bangkok Post, the assets found in Bangkok at the home of Tun Min Latt when he was…
- Economy News
Makro expects big investment funds to move in
Thailand’s leading wholesale and hypermarket operator Siam Makro Plc, is waiting for big investment funds to move in as company stock heads for a one-year high. Shares are now mature enough to attract the attention of global fund managers. Makro wants to be the biggest operation of its kind in Asia. In many parts of Thailand, Makro cash and carry…
- Hot News
Thailand’s Miss Universe 2022 contestant denies bias claims
Thailand’s Miss Universe 2022 contestant denied claims that new ownership of the brand would give her an unfair advantage. Anna Sueangam-iam, 24, laughed off the suggestion during an interview in the US with pageant analyst Brian Javier on Sunday. Anna is currently competing in New Orleans, where the 71st Miss Universe pageant will be held on Sunday, January 15. Asked…
- World News
After year of cryptocurrency turmoil, investors see long winter ahead
After a year of cryptocurrency turmoil, exchanges and investors are hoping for at least a rebound in 2023. Last year’s volatility tested even the truest of believers as exchanges and funds went into meltdown. Valuations collapsed, enterprises folded and thousands of people lost their jobs. Can the industry reemerge stronger than ever? Can it reemerge at all? After a cruel…
- Technology News
Volvo solar charging stations, charging free of charge
Volvo solar charging stations have been installed at four Volvo Car Thailand dealerships, where customers can charge their cars for free. As the number of electric vehicles (EVs) in Thailand is rising, however slowly, the demand for electricity from charging stations is growing along with it. More EVs means more power generation, which usually involves other fossil fuels that create…
- Thailand News
Princess Bajrakitiyabha remains unconscious 3 weeks after collapse
Princess Bajrakitiyabha remains unconscious for more than three weeks since she collapsed with a heart problem, according to a statement from the Bureau of the Royal Household on the health of the potential heir to the throne. Princess Bajrakitiyabha, King Vajiralongkorn’s eldest child, remains unconscious after she was hospitalised on Wednesday, December 14. The Princess, 44 years old, was reported…
- Crime News
Bangkok mother claims murder, dismisses ‘playing Russian roulette’
The Bangkok mother of the 16 year old boy who died “playing Russian roulette” last week has spoken out, claiming that her son may have been murdered. Waraporn Tumgen dismissed testimony given by six teens who witnessed her son’s death. Waraporn said… “Our family would like the police to consider all options, and not rule anything out.” Wongsatorn “Bee” Tumgen…
- Tourism News
Doi Kloselo tourist attractions threatened by hydropower dam
In Mae Hong Son province, Doi Kloselo tourist attractions are to be created in a desperate attempt by locals to stop a planned hydropower dam on the Salween River. The Salween is one of Asia’s last largely free-flowing rivers. About 3,300 kilometres long, the Salween flows from the Tibetan Plateau south into the Andaman Sea, primarily within southwest China and…
- Crime News
Fountain of wisdom – Chuwit’s leaking dismays cops
An unnamed senior police officer is believed to have leaked information on the Jinling nightclub case to supergrass Chuwit Kamolvisit. Chuwit’s leaking has been a source of great frustration to officers investigating Chinese organised crime in the kingdom, according to the Metropolitan Police Bureau. Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Thiti Saengsawang said on Friday that an investigation had begun after evidence…
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