Canada
- Business News
Canada-ASEAN free trade agreement expected by next year
A free trade agreement (FTA) between Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is anticipated to be finalised by next year, according to officials from Canada and Thailand involved in the discussions. Surin Thanalertkul, the Canadian embassy trade commissioner, along with Martin Sullivan, senior market development officer of the Canada Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO), discussed the…
- Thailand News
Thailand hosts key ASEAN-Canada trade talks in Bangkok
Thailand has taken significant steps forward in trade relations by hosting the eighth round of ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA) negotiations in Bangkok between yesterday and today. The meeting aimed to expedite various aspects of the agreement, to conclude discussions by 2025. Chotima Iamsawatigul, Director-General of the Department of Trade Negotiations, appointed Ratchawit Piyapramote, Deputy Director-General of the same department,…
- Thailand News
‘Jekyll and Hyde’ man’s rampage in Canada sparks public concern (video)
A man with conflicting behaviour resembling the iconic fictional character Jekyll and Hyde unleashed a series of seemingly unprovoked attacks in downtown Vancouver, Canada on Wednesday. The man has previous form from time in Thailand. The incidents prompted the mayor of Vancouver and the city’s police chief to address the public, despite an arrest being made in connection with the…
- World News
Thrill-seekers left hanging: Canandian Wonderland ride mishap chills visitors (video)
A chilling incident unfolded at Wonderland amusement park in Ontario, Canada, when a thrill ride malfunctioned, leaving numerous riders suspended in the air, upside down for nearly 30 minutes. While all riders were safely returned to the ground by park staff, two complained of chest pains, prompting an immediate medical examination. Fortunately, their conditions were minor and hospitalisation was not…
- Transport News
Air Canada to passengers: Sit in vomit-stained seats or be blacklisted
Air Canada publicly apologised following an incident where two passengers were forced to sit in seats contaminated with vomit from a previous flight. The flight in question journeyed from an airport in Las Vegas in the US to Montreal, Canada on August 26. Susan Benson, a passenger on the flight, shared the distressing ordeal on Facebook on August 29. Initially, they…
- Thailand News
Thailand among 13 countries eligible for Canada eTA, bypassing visa requirements
Canada now allows Thai tourists to enter without a visa, provided they have previously had a Canadian visa or hold a valid US visa. The Canadian government announced this change yesterday, extending its Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) programme to 13 countries, including Thailand. The Canadian government has revised its relocation and services programme to ensure greater efficiency and equality for…
- China News
Canada expels Chinese diplomat accused of bullying Canadian lawmaker, Beijing hits back
China refuted allegations that one of its diplomats in Canada had engaged in threatening, intimidating, and bullying behaviour toward a Canadian opposition legislator and interfering in the country’s internal affairs. Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced yesterday that the Canadian government had declared Zhao Wei as “persona non grata” and ordered him to leave the country immediately, despite Beijing’s denials. She…
- Hot News
Canada’s Prime Minister warns of China election interference
Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, is warning of election interference by China. Trudeau says that foreign interference in elections is a very serious issue and his country must be on guard against it. His statement comes after a media report detailing China’s intentions to influence the outcome of the 2021 election. Relations between the two countries have been increasingly strained…
- Phuket News
Big Joke says Canadian businessman didn’t murder Thai girlfriend in Phuket
UPDATE 2 Deputy national police chief “Big Joke,” says that a Canadian businessman did not murder his Thai girlfriend who was found hanged in her nail salon in Phuket, southern Thailand, on February 8. Landy came into the spotlight when the deceased’s elder brother Kriengsak accused him of murdering his younger sister Wanvisa Riewklang. Surachat “Big Joke” Hakparn said that…
- Events
Early Valentine’s Day Guinness World Record set for longest underwater smooch
Valentine’s Day did not go down without a record-breaking smooch. A couple sealed the holiday a bit earlier, on February 4, with an underwater kiss that broke the Guinness World Record for the longest underwater snog. The kiss lasted four minutes and six seconds, smashing the previous record by 42 seconds. An Italian couple held the previous record for the…
- Crime News
Thai man accuses Canadian man of murdering his sister in Phuket
A Thai man accuses a Canadian man of murdering his younger sister who was found hanged in a nail salon in Phuket, southern Thailand, last week. He says the Canadian assaulted, held hostage, drugged, and blackmailed his sister just days before her death. She reported him to the police three days prior to being found dead. The Canadian allegedly offered…
- Thailand News
Suspected Jimi Sandhu hitman in Canadian jail wants to face trial in Thailand
A Canadian man accused of being a hitman in the murder of Indian gangster Jimi Sandhu in Phuket last year said he wants to face trial in Thailand despite having to potentially face the death penalty. Canadian Forces veteran Matthew Dupre is one suspect accused of murdering Sandu in February last year on behalf of a Canadian-based gang. Sandu did not…
- Crime News
Two children killed in Canada after bus driver rams into daycare centre
Two children were killed near Montreal, Canada after a bus driver rammed into a daycare centre. Police arrested the driver after suspecting him of deliberately causing the accident. One child reportedly died at the scene and another while in the ambulance. Several children were trapped under the bus when it slammed into the building in the suburb of Laval at…
- Pattaya News
Canadian man’s luxury Pattaya villa gutted by fire
A fire gutted a Canadian man’s 20 million baht luxury villa in Pattaya, eastern Thailand, yesterday. Officers at Nong Prue Police Station were notified of a raging fire at a pool villa in Phu Thara village in Pattaya’s Bang Lamung district yesterday afternoon. Nong Prue Municipality firefighters deployed three fire engines and quickly got the flames under control. The fire…
- Thailand News
Body of Canadian man washes up on beach in southern Thailand
The body of a 63 year old Canadian man washed up on a beach on the mainland of Surat Thani province in southern Thailand yesterday evening. He went missing from Koh Pha Ngan island six days ago. At 8pm, officers from Khanom Police Station rushed to Khanom Beach after a decaying body was discovered on the shore in front of the…
- Hot News
Whale with broken spine makes last journey of 3,000 miles by performing breaststroke
A whale with a broken spine has apparently defied all odds after journeying 3,000 miles by performing the breaststroke. The humpback whale, nicknamed Moon, was spotted off the coast of British Columbia with a visibly crooked lower body that researchers say was caused by being hit by a boat. But, the whale persevered by doing the breaststroke for a whopping…
- Visa Information
E-visas now available in 38 cities, 23 countries
Travelling to Thailand just got a little bit easier. E-visa services have now been launched by the Royal Thai Embassy and Consulates-General in 23 different countries. Some 38 cities around the world are now able to process applications and grant electronic visas for people to enter Thailand. The service is available in 19 countries throughout Europe, as well as in…
- Phuket News
Canadian hitman in Phuket killing moves closer to extradition
The Canadian hitman accused of killing a Vancouver gangster in Phuket is one step closer to extradition after a ruling from an Alberta judge. Matthew Dupre was committed to extradition Friday, to be surrendered to Thailand to be tried for his involvement in the death of Jimi Singh Sandhu. Dupre was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan…
- Thailand News
Air Canada to launch direct flights to Thailand next month
Air Canada will launch direct flights to Thailand next month. A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will service the route, flying between Bangkok and Vancouver four days per week. It will be the first direct service linking North America and Thailand in 10 years. Canada’s flag carrier will fly between Vancouver International Airport and Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.…
- Universities
Foreign students accuse Canadian government of exploiting them for cheap labour
Studying in Canada is one thing, but doing labour for low pay is another. Some foreign students in Canada, in fact, are accusing the Canadian government of using them for cheap labour and getting rid of them afterwards. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government allowed about 50,000 foreign exchange students into the country last year as a way to “help more…
- World News
China’s ‘secret police stations’ anger Canada, Netherlands
Canada is investigating reports that secret Chinese “police stations” are operating in Toronto, amid reports of a global network used to target overseas dissidents. The Royal Canada Mounted Police is investigating “reports of criminal activity about the so-called police stations.” The revelations come days after the Dutch government said it was investigating two suspected stations. The news is also hot…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s Central Group finalises acquisition of luxury retail chain Selfridges
Thailand’s Central Group and Signa Holding have finalised their deal to acquire luxury retailer Selfridges Group from the Canadian Weston family. Selfridges is famous for its iconic luxury department store on London’s Oxford Street. The Central Group has been operating for 75 years and is owned by the billionaire Chirathivat family, who sits at No.5 on Forbes Thailand’s 50 Richest…
- World News
Canada launches vaccine campaign against monkeypox
Quebec is the first Canadian province to launch a vaccine campaign against monkeypox, specifically aimed at ‘high-risk’ people who have been exposed to the virus. Over 800 Quebecers have been vaccinated with the Imvamune smallpox vaccine so far, which can build immunity against monkeypox, according to Canadian public health officials. So far, 90 cases of monkeypox have been recorded in…
- World News
G7 countries commit to phasing out imports of Russian oil
In a virtual meeting yesterday, the Group of Seven nations gave an undertaking to phase out imports of Russian oil. It’s the latest move aimed at punishing Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine, with the US also unveiling sanctions against executives at Gazprombank and a number of other businesses. According to a Reuters report, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy,…
- World News
Alleged hitman in Phuket murder of Jimi Sandhu dies in plane crash in Canada
A fugitive wanted in relation to the assassination of a suspected gang member in Phuket has died in a plane crash in Canada. 36-year-old Gene Karl Lahrkamp was among 4 people who died when the small plane in which he was travelling crashed in Ontario, according to a Vancouver Sun report. Lahrkamp has been on the run since February, managing…
- Crime News
Thai police ask Canadian court not to grant bail to Jimi Sandhu murder suspect
Police in Thailand are asking a Canadian court to refuse a bail application for a man wanted for murder on the southern island of Phuket. Canadian national Matthew Dupre is 1 of 2 suspects wanted for the murder of Indian gang member Jimi Singh Sandhu, who was gunned down outside his Rawai villa on February 4. Dupre and his alleged…
- Crime News
Phuket police have CCTV footage of fatal gangster shooting
Police investigating the murder of an Indian gangster shot dead in Phuket on Friday night say they have security camera footage of the incident. According to a Bangkok Post report, officers are reviewing CCTV footage of the moment 32-year-old Jimi Sandhu was gunned down outside his villa in Rawai, in the south of the island. His body was found in…
- World News
Canada bids farewell to Malaysia’s Supermax over alleged forced labour
Although Malaysia’s glove manufacturer, Supermax Corp, reported it would speed up the progress to meet the requirements of the International Labour Organisation two years ago, Canada cancelled its sourcing contract with the company over forced labour claims. Supermax came under fire for allegedly abusing foreign employees, who make up a large portion of the workforce, despite the Canadian government placing…