US

  • World NewsUS spits dummy out in China tit-for-tat airline row

    US spits dummy out in China tit-for-tat airline row

    The childish rattle-throwing, tit-for-tat games continue between the United States and China with the US declaring it is banning 26 flights to China in response to the mainland suspending some US flights for importing Covid-19. The US spat its dummy out in objection to China revising its Covid policies. The mainland stated on August 7 that if 4% of passengers…

  • Thailand NewsUS upgrades Thailand to Tier 2 in human trafficking report, but…

    US upgrades Thailand to Tier 2 in human trafficking report, but…

    The US has promoted Thailand from the “Tier 2 Watch List” up to “Tier 2” in their annual Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Report, as confidently predicted by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan back in May. However, Thailand still has a long way to go, according to the report. The report praised Thailand’s “significant efforts” to eliminate human trafficking, which include…

  • Technology NewsChina may take over the moon, warns head of NASA

    China may take over the moon, warns head of NASA

    NASA warns that, while the sky may not be falling, the moon may be falling… into China’s hands. The head of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration said in an interview that China has plans in place and a partnership with Russia for a lunar base by 2035 and he fears it may be a bid to assert ownership…

  • Thailand NewsWalmart didn’t ban Thai coconut milk, says Ministry of Commerce

    Walmart didn’t ban Thai coconut milk, says Ministry of Commerce

    Walmart allegedly took Chaokoh coconut milk off their shelves in response to PETA’s claims that the Thai brand uses monkey labour in the production of their famous coconut milk. Today, Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce said Walmart “hasn’t banned Thai coconut milk,” but didn’t mention any specific brands. The US animal rights non-profit organisation PETA conducted an investigation into monkey labour…

  • World NewsUnited States CDC says over 700 cases of monkeypox worldwide

    United States CDC says over 700 cases of monkeypox worldwide

    The United State’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announced yesterday that it knew of over 700 cases of monkeypox worldwide. The CDC said there were 21 cases in the US. Today the number of cases, worldwide has reached nearly 900. Although 14 of the cases in the US are thought to be travel-linked, CDC officials say that at least…

  • World NewsShooting in Oklahoma kills 4

    Shooting in Oklahoma kills 4

    After a school shooting in Texas rocked global headlines last week and destroyed the lives of the victim’s families in Uvalde, Texas, there’s been another shooting in the neighbouring state of Oklahoma in the US. The shooter shot and killed 4 people in a medical building on a hospital campus in Tulsa yesterday before shooting himself dead. Tulsa Police Department…

  • World NewsUS sends advanced weapons to Ukraine, as Kyiv promises not to target inside Russia

    US sends advanced weapons to Ukraine, as Kyiv promises not to target inside Russia

    The US Secretary of State says Ukraine has given an undertaking not to use long-range rocket systems to target inside Russia. Antony Blinken was addressing a news conference with NATO chief, Jens Stoltenberg, after the US agreed to supply Ukraine with the weapons. “The Ukrainians have given us assurances that they will not use these systems against targets on Russian…

  • World NewsJohnny Depp awarded over US million in defamation case victory against ex-wife

    Johnny Depp awarded over US$10 million in defamation case victory against ex-wife

    Hollywood actor Johnny Depp has won a near-total victory in a defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard. After a trial that lasted 6 weeks, with detailed testimony of the toxic nature of the marriage, the 7-person jury ruled in Depp’s favour for the most part, although it ruled in Heard’s favour on one counter-claim. According to a Reuters report, Depp…

  • World News19 children, 2 teachers killed as gunman opens fire at primary school in Texas

    19 children, 2 teachers killed as gunman opens fire at primary school in Texas

    The death toll in this tragic mass shooting may rise. We will update the story through the day. 19 young children and 2 teachers have been shot dead at another school shooting in the US, this time at a primary school in the state of Texas. According to an AFP report, an 18 year old gunman entered the school, in…

  • China NewsThe QUAD Summit in Tokyo – what is QUAD, who’s attending and what are they talking about?

    The QUAD Summit in Tokyo – what is QUAD, who’s attending and what are they talking about?

    Leaders of the US, Australia, Japan and India are meeting today at the QUAD Summit 2022 in Tokyo to discuss the ever-growing economic influence of China in the region, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and India’s ongoing trade war and relationship with Russia. US President Joe Biden yesterday stoked regional political fires, prior to today’s summit, during a media conference with…

  • Crime NewsThailand defends human trafficking record

    Thailand defends human trafficking record

    Thailand yesterday defended its human trafficking record and hit back at US accusations that the illegal transportation of people is a critical national problem. A Thai delegation, led by Chettaphan Maksamphan, director-general of the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs, met with US Department of State officials in Washington last week to discuss the matter ahead of the 2022…

  • World NewsThailand won’t take sides in Russia – Ukraine war, says PM Prayut

    Thailand won’t take sides in Russia – Ukraine war, says PM Prayut

    Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says that his upcoming visit to Washington for the US – ASEAN summit on Friday does not mean Thailand will choose sides in the Russia – Ukraine war. He says the purpose of the summit is to discuss economy, trade and investment in the region. However, Ukraine has requested that Southeast Asian nations suspend dialogue…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Update | Trucker protests return & Thailand Pass to End?

    Thailand News Update | Trucker protests return & Thailand Pass to End?

    The cancellation of Thailand Pass registration could take place as early as June 1, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry. With Thailand Pass gone tourists would go back to using their TM6 immigration arrival forms for vaccine declaration. Earlier projected dates of July 1 to drop the much-debated Thailand Pass could happen a month earlier if the CCSA accept…

  • World NewsEuropean airlines assess mask rules for flights to United States

    European airlines assess mask rules for flights to United States

    After US airlines stopped requiring people to wear masks on domestic flights last week, European airlines are assessing their mask rules for flights to the US. European carriers are now divided over policies on trans-Atlantic flights. British Airways told customers that the requirement to wear masks onboard depends on restrictions in the arrival destination. KLM, a Dutch airline, told passengers…

  • World NewsPilots announce end of US mask mandate mid-flight, passengers divided

    Pilots announce end of US mask mandate mid-flight, passengers divided

    Midway through a flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles on Monday night, the pilot announced the end of America’s requirement to wear face masks on public transport, including on planes. The sound of cheering resonated through the plane and around one third of passengers instantly took off their masks, according to a witness. However, some passengers were outraged and scolded…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand removed from US ‘Do Not Travel’ list, in travel advisory reshuffle

    Thailand removed from US ‘Do Not Travel’ list, in travel advisory reshuffle

    Thailand is no longer a dangerous place to travel to — for fully vaccinated travellers. That’s according to the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — or CDC — which removed Thailand its “Do Not Travel” list for Covid-19 on Monday. The move comes as the US reshuffles its travel advisory categories of which countries pose a risk…

  • World NewsUS arrests 3 Thais, yakuza chief for planning to supply missiles to Burmese rebels

    US arrests 3 Thais, yakuza chief for planning to supply missiles to Burmese rebels

    US authorities revealed yesterday that they have arrested three Thai men and a Japanese yakuza organised crime leader in New York City on April 4 – 5. The men are accused of trafficking heroin and methamphetamine, as well as attempting to acquire surface-to-air missiles for rebel groups in Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Takeshi Ebizawa, Sompak Raksaranee, Somphop Sigsiri and Suksan…

  • World NewsGlobal oil prices hit 14-year high as Western nations consider import ban on Russian oil

    Global oil prices hit 14-year high as Western nations consider import ban on Russian oil

    Global oil prices have risen more than 6%, surging to the highest prices since 2008 on Monday, as the US and European allies consider an import ban on Russian oil. Meanwhile, fears of a global oil supply shortage are being further compounded by the delay of Iranian crude’s potential return to global markets, as the Kremlin demands a guarantee that…

  • World NewsChina asked Russia not to invade Ukraine — until after the Olympics, Biden officials say

    China asked Russia not to invade Ukraine — until after the Olympics, Biden officials say

    In early February, China asked Russia to delay its invasion of Ukraine until after the Winter Olympics in Beijing, according to a New York Times report, which quoted a European official and officials from the Biden administration, who cited a report from a Western intelligence agency. The intelligence report showed that high-level Chinese officials had some degree of knowledge regarding…

  • Thailand NewsThick smog in Mae Hong Son causes pilot carrying acting US ambassador to detour

    Thick smog in Mae Hong Son causes pilot carrying acting US ambassador to detour

    Due to poor visibility caused by haze above Mae Hong Son airport in nothern Thailand, a private plane flying the acting US ambassador this morning cancelled a landing and returned to Chiang Mai International Airport. Smog has been a longstanding problem in northern Thailand and kicks up every year during burning season from February to April. Today, the local air…

  • World NewsIs Russia invading Ukraine? Biden says so

    Is Russia invading Ukraine? Biden says so

    US President Joe Biden has called out Russia’s Vladimir Putin for claiming two sections of land in eastern Ukraine under the guise of new “sovereign” states and for sending so called peacekeeping troops to the region. In a televised statement on Monday, Putin confirmed his recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk — 2 breakaway areas in the Donbas region of eastern…

  • Thailand NewsThailand will purchase stealth jets if United States okays

    Thailand will purchase stealth jets if United States okays

    Thailand will purchase Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth jets if the United States approves it. In January, Thailand set aside US$413 million for four jets, but one Thai air marshal said Thailand wants to buy as many as eight. A US State Department spokesperson said the department doesn’t confirm or comment on proposed transfers or sales until congress has been formally…

  • World NewsFormer Goldman partner says greed, ambition motivated bribery for 1MDB fund

    Former Goldman partner says greed, ambition motivated bribery for 1MDB fund

    An ex-Goldman Sachs banker testified in federal court on Wednesday that greed and ambition motivated his participation in a massive bribery scheme that stole billions of dollars from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. The former chief of Goldman’s Southeast Asia operation — Tim Leissner — is the high profile witness in the criminal trial of Roger Ng, former head…

  • World NewsPrince Andrew reaches settlement with accuser in New York, Queen to help pay

    Prince Andrew reaches settlement with accuser in New York, Queen to help pay

    Prince Andrew has settled the US civil sexual assault case filed against him by accuser Virginia Giuffre. The woman was suing the Duke of York for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was 17, which the prince has repeatedly denied. In a joint letter to the US district court in New York on Tuesday, their lawyers wrote that the prince…

  • World News5G causes airlines to cancel or rearrange flights to the US

    5G causes airlines to cancel or rearrange flights to the US

    Fear of 5G interference around American airports is spurring airlines from around the world to cancel or reschedule flights to the US. At least 25 flights to the US were cancelled today with many airlines saying they will cancel more as they scrambled to change the type of aircraft used to avoid interference as AT&T and Verizon Communications roll out…

  • Thailand NewsHuawei reportedly working with Thai government for 5G

    Huawei reportedly working with Thai government for 5G

    Thailand has taken the next step in the 5G scene by joining hands with Huawei Technologies, although the Chinese tech giant remains on the blacklist of the US government’s cyber-security list. Last year, Huawei Thailand CEO Abel Deng was seen attending the inauguration event of Siriraj World Class 5G Smart Hospital with PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, a month after the prime…

  • World NewsUS CDC’s travel advisory changed to “level 4” after Covid situation considered “unknown”

    US CDC’s travel advisory changed to “level 4” after Covid situation considered “unknown”

    The US’s CDC may have stirred another controversy, at least for Singapore, following its declaration of the Southeast Asian country as an “unknown” threat level, advising Americans not to travel to the country. The travel advisory is now at a level 4: Do not travel. But the “unknown” parked concern and reports say Singapore was in talks with the US…

  • Covid-19 NewsUS Omicron cases skyrocket, but Fauci says South Africa situation offers hope

    US Omicron cases skyrocket, but Fauci says South Africa situation offers hope

    The top pandemic expert in the US, Dr Anthony Fauci, says that while the current surge in Omicron cases is unprecedented, recent developments in South Africa offer hope. He says the peak for the US may be just weeks away, but acknowledges that what’s happening now is, “almost a vertical increase”. “We are definitely in the middle of a very…

  • World NewsRohingya accuse Facebook of promoting hate speech in US0 billion lawsuit

    Rohingya accuse Facebook of promoting hate speech in US$150 billion lawsuit

    Facebook is being sued in a California court by Rohingya refugees, who accuse the social media platform of failing to combat hate speech. In a US$150 billion lawsuit, court documents allege Facebook is powered by algorithms that allow the seeds of disinformation and extremism to grow and cross over into real-life violence. “Facebook is like a robot programmed with a…

  • Politics NewsUS Republican Party senator Bob Dole passes away at 98

    US Republican Party senator Bob Dole passes away at 98

    Former US senator Bob Dole, a Republican Party member and presidential hopeful, has passed away at the age of 98. The war hero was riddled with lung cancer and succumbed to the illness early this morning in his sleep. Dole had served in various roles for America for 79 years. His reputation was that of one of Washington’s most recognisable…