Aircraft manufacturers looks to Southeast Asia

Boeing Co. of the United States and other major international aircraft makers are moving to build manufacturing bases in Southeast Asia. 

Thailand and Malaysia are eager to attract industries from overseas, in the hope of developing their economies. This is presenting opportunities for small and midsized Japanese companies that manufacture airplane parts or provide other services to start operations in the region. 

.

.

On-site inspection

Representatives of 30 small and midsized companies from Japan gathered in Bangkok on Feb. 12 to explore the possibility of starting business there. They listened to Thai government officials discuss investment plans and inspected local companies. 

“There are issues with the infrastructure environment and other things, but we hope to incorporate the vigor of this growth market,” said Tomaru Nakamura, managing director of Kyoto-based Asahi Kinzoku Kogyo Inc., which provides such services as special surface processing for airplane parts.

Thailand is planning to build a base for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of aircraft in a special economic zone. Demand for MRO services is growing due to an increase in the number of airplanes flying in the region.

Europe’s Airbus has already decided to start operations in the zone, with Boeing Co., Rolls-Royce of Britain and other companies also considering investments there. 

The Thai government hopes Japanese companies will help set up a center for the aircraft industry the way they did for the auto industry, a factor contributing to Thailand’s economic development. 

“The Japanese automobile makers who started business in Southeast Asia before others led the growth of auto manufacturing there,” said a vice secretary general in charge of special zone projects. “In aircraft manufacturing as well, we want to learn from Japan’s advanced technological skills, its ability to train personnel who maintain quality levels and other attributes.”

Topping N. America, Europe

The volume of airline passenger transportation in the Asia-Pacific region surpassed that in North America and Europe in 2017, according to the Japan Aircraft Development Corporation. Airbus and others believe about 40,000 airplanes will be needed in the next 20 years, most of which will be supplied to the Asia-Pacific region. 

While this could be a boon for parts makers, airplane parts must comply with strict safety standards. The need to obtain safety certifications for all parts is a major barrier to entry. 

Japanese companies hope to meet these demands by quickly building a parts supply network that utilizes the area’s cost-competitiveness.

Other nations as well

.

.

Other Southeast Asian nations are also trying to draw aircraft-related businesses from overseas, a move resulting in fierce competition with rivals in the region. 

Singapore has been a leader in attracting foreign capital in the MRO field, with its hub airport that sees more than 65 million users annually.

Malaysia and Indonesia are actively trying to increase investments from overseas by highlighting their advantages, such as preferential treatment for foreign investments and low labor costs. 

Asia’s largest low-cost carrier, AirAsia Group Bhd., is headquartered in Malaysia. 

“MRO businesses have helped to grow related industries such as parts manufacturing and to create jobs,” said an official from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority.

Source - TheJakartaPost 

#Bangkok - Police seize sex toys, ‘Viagra’ worth Bt2m in Nana raid

Sex toys, aphrodisiacs and fake Viagra worth Bt2 million were seized on Tuesday night from 10 stalls operating in Bangkok’s Nana area. 

The raid was conducted by a team of police officers and members of the Army and protection services following several public complaints about street vendors selling illegal items in the Sukhumvit Soi 3/1 area. 

The vendors had already been warned by the public protection service to clear out by the end of last year, but to no avail. The team said some of the pills sold on the street could be harmful to health and that the sale of obscene items could affect the Kingdom’s reputation. 

.

.

The vendors have been charged with possessing and distributing drugs without a licence as well as selling restricted items. The haul was put on public display outside Lumphini Police Station.

Source - TheNation / Thaiger

#Bangkok - Researchers find city air full of toxic heavy metals

BANGKOK’S AIR is full of toxic heavy metals, researchers have discovered, and it is contributing to year-round hazardous threats to public health.

Now is the time for Thai authorities to set out the standards for controlling the emissions of every hazardous heavy metal found in the air, media were told yesterday by the director of the NIDA Centre for Research and Development of Disaster Prevention and Management.

Siwatt Pongpiachan said his studies have found that Bangkok air contained harmful levels of cadmium, tungsten, arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

His two academic studies of the capital’s air pollution in Bangkok revealed that within the very fine PM2.5 dust particles were at least 51 kinds of heavy metals, of which three – cadmium, tungsten and arsenic – were found at unsafe levels, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.

“Right now, Thailand has set a safe emission standard only for lead. Even though we have detected lead in the air, its concentration is still within the safe level, thanks to the authorities’ measures to get rid of lead from vehicle fuels and control the emissions of lead into the environment,” he said.

“We need a similar set of safe-emission standards for other kinds of heavy metals, as many of these hazardous substances present very serious threats to human health in both the short- and long-term.”

The studies by Greenpeace also noted another threat to health from the toxic heavy metals found within PM2.5 particles. Greenpeace noted that the PM2.5 dust particles are contaminated with toxic environmental substances. The tiny particles (it takes three of them to equal the width of a human hair) can pass through the body’s dust protection system found in the respiratory tract, enter the bloodstream and reach our internal organs, delivering the toxic particles directly into our bodies.

.

.

 Pollution from local sources

  Siwatt noted that studies found concentrations of these airborne toxic substances did not change much week-to-week throughout the year, indicating the majority of pollution sources were from local areas of Bangkok.

“Even though weather patterns during this time of the year and the transboundary haze are partially contributing to the serious smog problem, the research studies indicate that the exhaust from traffic, factories, and crematories are the true major sources of air pollution in Bangkok,” he said.

He noted that the transport sector emits pollution in many ways, as the incomplete burning of fuel in the vehicles, especially those that use diesel oil, emits a large amount of PAH. These PAH can cause cancer, while the city’s traffic congestion also causes the level of tungsten in the air to rise significantly as drivers apply their car brakes where the heavy metal serves as a brake lining. Tungsten-contaminated PM2.5 are thus released into the air.

Meanwhile, cremation is a major source of air pollution and heavy metals, Siwatt said. Many parts of the human body contain heavy metals, such as prostheses and tooth fillings, and they are released into the environment when burned.

“There are so many temples in Bangkok that cremate human bodies every day. Even though many of these temples’ crematories have installed pollution filtering systems, not 100 per cent of heavy metals are filtered,” he said.

Source - TheNation

 

#Thailand - Taxis biggest problem for tourist police

Taxi problems were the biggest issue for tourist police last year among thousands of arrests, the Tourist Police Bureau said on Wednesday. 

Tourist and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said that from January to October last year, tourist police cracked down on thousands of crimes ranging from overcharging taxis, to illegal entertainment venues.

Last year tourist police beefed up crackdowns on unruly taxis and unlawful tour guides. He said in 2018, police arrested 12,679 taxi drivers - including over 5,668 drivers who refused to pick up passengers, 3,408 drivers who refuse to use meters, and 1,659 drivers who overcharged - up from 1,681, 255, and 120 driver arrests during the same period a year earlier.

.

.

 Police also arrested 1,581 unauthorised tour guides, and 390 so-called “sitting guides”, who use their licenses to accompany an unauthorised guide who can speak foreign languages. The number was up from 132 and nine guides arrested in 2017.

Tourist police also arrested 6,333 low-quality tour operators, 26 vendors who offered overpriced products to tourists, and raided 35 illegal entertainment venues. They also found 1,406 cases of illicit drugs at tourist venues and there were also 161 cases of “influential people” carrying firearms in tourist areas and 9,533 cases where tourists were affected.

Source TheNation

Police arrest 8, seize over 2,000 fake goods in #Bangkok raid

Police searched Bangkok’s Sampheng area and arrested six Thais and two foreigners for selling goods in violation of copyright, and seized over 2,000 counterfeit products on Wednesday night.

Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakpal, deputy tourist police chief, held a press conference at 2.30am in front of the Grand China Hotel on Yaowarat Road.

Surachet said police searched 10 spots in Sampheng, made the arrests and seized products including mobile speakers, handbags and hats.

He sales of the fake items caused damages estimated at over Bt5million.

 .

 FOR THE BEST GLOBAL HOTEL & FLIGHT BOOKINGS

 .

Representatives of Balenciaga and Gucci brands were present at the raids. Surachet said a knock-off of a Balenciaga bag was selling at Sampheng for Bt75, whereas a genuine bag normally sells for Bt5,000.

Surachet said the operation was an example of the cooperation between Thailand and the US to crack down on violations of copyrights and intellectual property.

The crackdown occurred after the vendors openly advertised their fake goods on social networks.

Surachet said police had earlier cracked down on fake goods in Pattaya.

Source - TheNation

Thai Police announce all Nigerians in #Thailand will be investigated

Bangkok - Police on Friday said they will target ALL Nigerians in Thailand for investigation in a move a top UN human rights official warns could amount to illegal and discriminatory policing.

Tourist Police chief Maj. Gen. Surachet Hakpal made the announcement while displaying people rounded up in the latest mass arrests of 72 foreign nationals from 75 locations nationwide, including Khaosan Road. He said arrests were also made at 18 schools where the foreign nationals were working without work permits.

Eleven foreigners were arrested for overstaying their visas, 46 for illegal entry and 15 for petty crimes. Among them were Russians, Indians, Laotians, Ugandans and Nigerians.

Surachet said the campaign has seen more than 2,000 foreigners permanently banned from entering Thailand.

“This doesn’t mean all Nigerians are bad people,” he said. “Our crackdown so far is to separate the bad guys from the good ones.”

He said the roughly 1,400 Nigerians currently residing in Thailand and recorded by Immigration  will be investigated next week and questioned about their income to prevent further crimes committed by foreigners.

A member of the National Human Rights Commission associated with the UN warned that indiscriminately investigating all Nigerians without evidence of wrongdoing or probable cause could be against the law and is discriminating against Nigerian citizens.

“They should not randomly investigate people just because they’re Nigerians, because it will become a discrimination against their race.” Angkhana Neelaphaijit said, adding that those arrested have the right to legal defense and to file a complaint if their rights have been violated.

Online commentators and individuals responded quickly to the remarks stating that Nigerians are not a race and are a nationality and when the vast majority of foreigners arrested for overstay and crimes since Operation X Ray began were Nigerian it should be permissible to check on every one residing in the country. Those residing legally, not on overstay and with proper permits if working should be allowed to stay the commentators said.

Source - ThePattayaNews

#Thailand - BMA to ask Prayut to intervene in Khaosan spat over stalls

BANGKOK METROPOLITAN ADMINISTRATION (BMA) may ask Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to intervene in their bid to restrict footpath stalls in one of the city’s most famous streets.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Sakoltee Phattiyakul said yesterday that he plans to discuss the matter with vendors and various other relevant authorities tomorrow or on Friday.

“We may also submit our conclusion to the prime minister because Khaosan is a famous attraction,” he said.

The ban took effect on August 1. 

Located in the capital’s Phra Nakhon district, Khaosan Road’s longstanding street-fair atmosphere is hugely popular among Thais and tourists.

The BMA, however, has resolved to strictly regulate street stalls there to ensure orderliness but vendors are still calling for the ban to be lifted. 

“We are working on three models to present to the BMA. One of the models is to let stalls run in the morning hours too and in return, we will make sure street stalls are tidier,” said Chonnapha Teansawang, a long-time vendor on Khaosan Road.

BMA’s recent restriction allows stalls to operate on the road next to footpath only between 6pm and midnight. 

Chonnapha said vendors operating stalls in the morning usually had tour groups as customers. 

“We are adversely affected. When the news came out, tour-group organisers cancelled their plan to come to Khaosan Road,” she |said. 

Chonnapha has sold cell phones and bags for more than two decades. 

“I think Khaosan stalls are attractive because of the diverse rang of products in the area,” she said. 

Chonnapha said her group was now holding discussions with vendors in a bid to get a solid proposal to be submitted to the BMA for consideration. It is estimated that Khaosan Road has about 300 vendors. 

According to the deputy governor, “As of now, about 230 vendors have come forward to register with the BMA.” 

xHe said he recognised that Khaosan vendors had plied their trade for a long time and contributed to Khaosan’s reputation as an interesting tourist place. “But what they do is illegal,” he said. 

Sourse - TheNation

 

 Ps. It go look like, the hate Tourists (Foreigners)

#Google Thailand offers free public Wi-Fi

GOOGLE Thailand yesterday launched a series of initiatives, including free high-speed public Wi-Fi, to enable more Thai consumers and businesses to participate in the growth of the digital economy.

The initiatives were announced at the first Google for Thailand event, held in Bangkok under the theme “Leave no Thai behind”, aimed at promoting equality of digital access.

Ben King, country director of Google Thailand, said at the event that the Google’s initiatives would span across the four pillars: access, education, content and products and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

“They were designed to ensure that all Thais would have opportunities and know-how to access technology and use it to build livelihoods,” he said.

.

FOR THE BEST GLOBAL HOTEL & FLIGHT BOOKINGS

.

King said Thailand is rapidly growing digital economy. He showed a projection of digital economic opportunity in Thailand worth US$37 billion, while the opportunity in Southeast Asia is US$200 billion.

Moreover, Thailand is No 5 for average peak connection speed, or 106 MB per second. Ranking first is Singapore, followed by Hong Kong, South Korea, and Qatar, according to Akamai Technologies, a content delivery network and cloud service provider. 

Thailand is second for highest mobile Internet adoption in Asean, having 90 per cent of 3G/4G coverage across the country.

The event was also attended by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, who delivered a speech on the vital role that digital technology will play in achieving the government’s 20-year national strategic plan. However, he urged netizens to learn how to use the benefits of digital technology but not be used by it.

One of the highlights launched yesterday was Google Station, a high-speed public Wi-Fi programme undertaken in Thailand, in partnership with CAT Telecom, sponsored by Unilever.

 Google Station will start in 10 venues across Bangkok and in two provinces, Pichit and Loei, and will be expanded to other parts of the country in the coming months, allowing more Thais to access a free and reliable Internet connection, said Anjali Joshi, vice president of product management.

Currently, locations available for the free Wi-Fi services in Bangkok include Hualamphong train station and Megabangna shopping mall. To register, people should go to @FreeGoogleStation-CAT Wi-Fi system and enter their mobile number and name. 

Thailand is the fourth country to have Google Station, after India, Indonesia and Mexico.

King also announced the construction of the Academy Bangkok – A Google Space, a digital skills training facility at True Digital Park in Bangkok.

It will open later this year and will be a new training venue for participants of the Google Ignite programme, a two-month digital marketing training course that prepares university students for careers in Thai companies.

Google also introduced a new feature, Motorbike Mode, for Google Maps in Thailand.

Krish Vitaldevara, product lead for Google Maps, said the new feature will help Thailand’s 20 million motorcyclists to plan routes taking into account shortcuts and narrow roads that only motorbikes and scooters can take and offers more accurate travel times that reflect motorbike speed.

To support Thailand’s ever-growing YouTube community, Mukpim Anantachai, head of YouTube partnership, YouTube Thailand, said the company would relaunch the YouTube Pop-Up Space in Bangkok in November to give Thai creators access to state-of-the-art production facilities.

During the announcement, Mukpim also unveiled a new data plan in partnership with AIS. It will offer unlimited data packs at Bt59 per month for YouTube Go, an app that allows viewers in Thailand to watch and share YouTube videos even with slow or no Internet connection.

Lastly, Google Thailand announced collaboration with Siam Commercial Bank to allow SMEs to sign up and be verified for Google My Business, a free business listing on Google Search and Google Maps, through SCB personnel who will visit SMEs at their stores.

Source - TheNation

Air Pollution in #Bangkok PM2.5 levels worse than in North

AIR POLLUTION in Bangkok was worse than in any northern province yesterday, as the level of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in the capital and nearby provinces rebounded to a harmful level.

Data from Pollution Control Department (PCD) monitoring stations in Bangkok showed that air quality in the city was very unhealthy yesterday morning. PM2.5 levels increased to more than 100 micrograms per cubic metre of air at all of the capital’s monitoring stations.

The highest record of hourly PM2.5 level in Bangkok was in Thon Buri district at 6am of 120.92mg, while the country’s highest PM2.5 level of the day was measured at Samut Sakhon at its peak of 175.17 mg at 9am.

The levels of pollution in Bangkok were considered to be very harmful, as the measurement at every station was far higher than the country’s PM2.5 daily average safe limit at 50 micrograms.

.

.

 According to PM2.5 daily average level from the PCD, air quality at Thon Buri district was the poorest in Bangkok at 103.49 micrograms, following by Pathumwan District (88.08 micrograms), Wang Thonglang District (85.23 micrograms), and Bang Na District (84.99 micrograms).

However, it was noticed that the PM2.5 daily average in Bangkok as reported on the PCD’s official Facebook page was lower than the real-time air quality data from PCD website at aqmthai.com/public_report.php, because the PM2.5 level as of 8am at every air-monitoring station was in the range of 64 to 79 micrograms.

The PCD informed that the higher levels of air pollution in Bangkok were the result of calm winds and high moisture in the air, which caused an accumulation of particulate matter to the dangerous level. Vulnerable people, including patients with respiratory diseases, old people and children, were advised to avoid going outside during this period.

Meanwhile, the smog problem in the Northern region has lessened, even though the PM2.5 level of many Northern provinces was still higher than the recommended safe standard.

The highest PM2.5 daily average record in the North was at Lampang’s Mae Mo district at 72.64 micrograms, following by Tak’s Mae Sot district at 64.29 micrograms, and Chiang Mai at 55.15 micrograms.

The PM2.5 daily average in Samut Sakhon (116.98 micrograms), Samut Prakan (94.23 micrograms), Ratchaburi (86.67 micrograms), Kanchanaburi (65.03 micrograms), and Prachinburi (64.4 micrograms) were also found to have broken the safe limit.

Source - TheNation 

 

More flight options between Bangkok and Tokyo

Thai AirAsia X affirms its commitment to the Japanese market by increasing its frequency of flights from Bangkok (Don Mueang) to Tokyo (Narita) from two to three flights per day, allowing travellers to fly in the morning, afternoon and at night just in time for Sakura season.

Nadda Buranasiri, chief executive officer of Thai AirAsia X, said Tokyo is the number one destination for Thai travellers to Japan and predicts that the number will grow as this year continues. The city has high potential for repeat visits, group tours and Fully Independent Travellers (FIT) as it serves as a jump off point to the World Heritage City of Nikko and the natural splendour of Nagano, both of which are becoming increasingly popular. The trend unlocks new travel opportunities, indicating that Japan truly offers boundless tourism experiences.

“Meanwhile, Thailand has also grown its popularity among Japanese visitors. According to 2017 statistics, the number of Japanese travellers to Thailand rose seven per cent from the previous year and we believe we can contribute more to the growing proportion of both Japanese and foreign travellers. As a leading low-cost airline in the region, we are proud to be supporting the growth of tourism and the economies of both Thailand and Japan.

 .

.

 “We are committed to improving our services and maintaining our record set last year of being consistently reliable in terms of On-Time Performance, averaging as high as 92 per cent on all the routes combined. This accomplishment signifies our strength beyond being a low-cost carrier but demonstrating high quality services which helps us grow constantly,” Nadda said.

The AirAsia brand is becoming better received in the Japanese market and Thai AirAsia X is determined to continually promote its routes from Don Mueang to Tokyo, Osaka and the newly added Sapporo. The airline is supported by flights from its fellow AirAsia group members operating out of Kuala Lumpur, Bali and Hawaii as well as AirAsia Japan which operates domestic flights in the country.

The new XJ602 flight will depart from Don Mueang at 5.05 am in the morning and arrive at Tokyo (Narita) at 1.10pm while flight XJ603 will depart Tokyo (Narita) at 2.25 pm to arrive in Don Mueang at 7.10 pm. The route will be serviced by an Airbus A330-300 and is being introduced with promotional fares starting at Bt3,333 one way (for the added flight). Bookings can be made from now until February 4 for travel from March 25 to October 27. Details and booking are available at www.AirAsia.com

 

Source - TheNation

Bangkok - Floods cause morning peak-hour traffic delays

Bang Na hardest hit with 138mm rainfall

The Bang Na district was the hardest hit by freak rainfall early on Wednesday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s drainage and sewerage department reported.

At 10.30am, the department said Bang Na district had accumulated rainfall of 138 millimetres from rains that started at about 5am.

The department said variable rainfall happened in Yannawa, Klong Toei, Vadhana, Phayathai, Ratchathevi, Huay Kwang, Din Daeng, Wang Thong Lang, Bang Kapi, Saphan Sung, Suan Luang, Phra Khanon, Prawet and Bang Na districts.

The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rainfalls this week as a harbinger of another sharp drop in temperature. Forecasters attribute this to a high pressure mass that has moved down from China into Vietnam and Thailand.

 .

 Floods cause morning peak-hour traffic delays

 Several Bangkok roads suffered minor flooding after the capital was hit with freak rains early on Wednesday, worsening traffic congestions during the morning rush hours.

The rains started at about 5am in several districts, including Bang Khun Thian, Thung Khuru, Phra Khanong, Bang Na, Prawet, Suang Luang, Klong Toei, and Vadhana, resulting in floods in many parts of the capital.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Drainage and Sewerage Department reported that Bang Na was the worst hit, with rainfall of 115.5 millimetres.

Among the flooded roads was Sukhumvit Road inbound near the Bearing BTS station. It was under 10 to 15 centimetres of water and vehicles were tailed-back for about 100 metres.

At 7.15 am, flooding affected Sri Nakharin outbound at the Bearings Intersection, causing severe congestion, with vehicles tailed-back to the Sri Thepha intersection.

Source - TheNation

 

#Thailand - Huge crowds at Mother Earth statue for Royal Cremation

A huge number of people were waiting in the queue at the screening point near the Mother Earth statue at Sanam Luang, hoping to get the closest position at the Royal Cremation ceremonial ground.

By 7am, almost 4,000 people were allowed to enter via the screening point while numerous others waited patiently for their turn.

The mourners who pass this checkpoint in front of the Shrine of the City Spirit and in front of the Supreme Court will be seated closest to the Royal Crematorium.

By 7.30am, the queue of people extended all the way to Democracy Monument. At 11pm on Tuesday, the long queue had already stretched all the way to the Golden Mountain of Wat Saket.

Each mourner is given a sticker for identification after they show their identity card to officials. They are required to walk past a metal scanner and then open their bags for the authorities to check before being allowed inside.

Source - TheNation

#Bangkok - Huge crowds arrive for final dress rehearsal of Royal Cremation

A huge crowd turned out around Sanam Luang on Saturday to watch the final dress rehearsal of the historic Royal Cremation Ceremony for His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Many of them had arrived at 9pm on Friday and camped out to reserve vantage viewing positions for the dress rehearsal of the royal processions for the Royal Cremation Ceremony. The Royal Cremation is scheduled next week.

Mourners who wanted to get access to the prime zone, where some 40,000 people can gather, had to go past nine checkpoints that opened at 5am on Saturday.

The three processions that will take place on the cremation day on October 26 will be rehearsed on Saturday.

The first procession will see the transfer of the Royal Urn to the Palanquin with Three Poles, or Phra Yannamas Sa Lam Khan, from Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace to the Great Victory Chariot or Phra Maha Phichai Ratcharot in front of the Elevated Royal Pavilion on the eastern side of Wat Phra Chetuphon or Wat Pho.

The second procession will involve placing the Royal Urn on the Great Victory Chariot by the Naga Conveyor or Kroen Bandai Nak and then proceed to the Royal Crematorium at Sanam Luang.

The third procession will see the Royal Urn being transferred to the Royal Gun-carriage, or Rajarot Puen Yai, which will circumambulate three rounds counter-clockwise around the Royal Crematorium before taking the Royal Urn up to the funeral pyre or Phra Chittakathan.

Source - TheNation

#BANGKOK - NOT SO TASTY COFFEE AT MCDONALD

Thai man finds what believed to be cockroach legs in McDonald’s coffee.

 In what was a horrifying moment for all of us who take guilty pleasure in a Happy Meal, a Thai man has found what he insists are the spiny, long legs of a cockroach stuck inside his cup of McDonald’s coffee.

In a post that has already generated more than 2,800 comments, Facebook user Nastalgic Eik shared his story on the page of McDonald’s Thailand, after he found the mysterious “legs” in his coffee at the Lotus Rama IV branch in Bangkok this week.

“Yesterday, I went to eat at the Lotus Rama IV branch. I bought a coffee and I felt terrible about what I found. I thought the cockroach legs were from the cups, so I went to the employees and asked for a new coffee,” he wrote on Tuesday. 

“But when the employees poured another cup, it seemed that they found more cockroach legs in the coffee. I felt even more terrible. I expected McDonald’s to have high operation standards and clean your equipment… but nothing! At least when they prepared a coffee for customers, they should have seen the contamination inside.”

FOR THE BEST GLOBAL HOTEL & FLIGHT BOOKINGS

Eik later said that a representative from McDonald’s has called him, and they’re investigating.

McDonald’s Thailand this morning confirmed to Coconuts Bangkok that that was the case.

“We have sent a team to inspect the aforementioned branch and brought in the coffee machine for further investigation. We have also ordered the staff to clean all kitchen tools and all areas in the store,” a company statement reads.

“We apologize for the incident at that branch, and we have ensured thatall employees will follow the company’s food safety standards.”

This is not the first time a Bangkokian has alleged to have found a cockroach in their McDonald’s meal. In 2014, a woman claimed to have found a cockroach in her soft-serve sundae. 

The company, however, denied the allegation, saying their store was not the source of the cockroach.

Source - Coconuts.co

.

.

#Thailand - Last day to pay respects to late King in Dusit Maha Prasat Hall.

TODAY is the last day that mourners will be allowed to pay final respects to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the beloved late King of the Chakri Dynasty, inside the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall.

Tens of thousands have flocked to the throne hall in the final week as the public has been allowed to pay respects to the late King since October 29.

King Bhumibol passed away on October 13 at Siriraj Hospital after a long illness during which he received medical treatment for many years. He was in his 89th year.

The gate for mourners will close today at midnight to allow for the preparation for the Royal Cremation that is scheduled from October 25 to 29 inside Sanam Luang’s main grounds. The official cremation will be on October 26. 

Mourners attending the Throne Hall will pay final homage before the Royal Urn placed in front of the King’s coffin.

As the final day draws nearer, more and more people have headed to the Grand Palace to pay final farewells to the late King.

At first, the daily closing hours for the mourners was 9pm and the initial closure day was scheduled for last Saturday. However, because of the increasing number of the mourners, HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn on September 26 had the deadline extended to midnight today.

During the extended period, the gates have remained open for mourners around the clock. 

Everyone who is already at the scene before midnight today will be allowed to pay final respects.

Yesterday an estimated 40,000 people queued with one line stretching from Democracy Monument to a screening point near the Rattanakosin Hotel and another from Mon Bridge to the Ror Dor roundabout, where screening also took place

Some mourners had been in the queue the previous night but had not made it inside the palace, so they were back to try again yesterday.

The Royal Household Bureau yesterday reported that 12,532,492 mourners had viewed the Royal Urn in the past 335 days. 

Donations received to make merit for the late King totalled Bt876,090,282, the bureau said. On Tuesday, 88,602 mourners visited the throne hall and donated Bt5,712,411.25, with the final visitors admitted at 3.50am yesterday. 

The highest records for visitations were set on October 1 at 90,300 mourners, Tuesday at 88,602, Monday at 78,948 and September 26 at 73,889.

Source - TheNation

 

#Thailand - Prayut ignored report on Yingluck’s UK asylum bid

PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha did not pay attention to report that former premier Yingluck Shinawatra would seek asylum overseas because it was a personal matter, Government spokesperson Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

Sansern said Prayut showed no interest in the matter because he was focused on his obligation to legal enforcement, which in this case involved attempts to have the fugitive ex-leader extradited to serve her prison time under the Thai justice system. Concerned agencies, Sansern added, have been working within local and international law to proceed with the case.

Sansern confirmed that the Foreign Affairs Ministry had unofficially acknowledged that Yingluck had travelled to the United Kingdom, but whether she would seek asylum there was her personal business. 

Criteria for asylum seeking in the destination country would be taken into consideration in her case, the spokesperson said.

Yingluck was sentenced in absentia on Wednesday to five years’ imprisonment for malfeasance involving her administration’s fraudulent government-to-government rice deals. 

She disappeared from public view in the days before August 25, when the verdict in her case was first due to be read.

On Thursday, Prayut said that Yingluck was in Dubai, where her brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, has reportedly been living in self-exile.

FOR THE BEST GLOBAL HOTEL & FLIGHT BOOKINGS

Some international news outlets, including CNN, said she was in London and seeking political asylum in the UK, citing their source as her Pheu Thai Party.

The British Embassy in Thailand, told The Nation that “the [UK] Home Office does not comment on whether an individual is in the UK or not”. 

Thaksin and his family are said to be staying in London in a house worth Bt260-million. None of the family has so far have indicated whether Yingluck is also in the UK capital. 

A legal source had told The Nation that an individual has full rights to seek political asylum in a destination country with which he or she has some connection. The host country might take diplomatic relations into consideration, he said, noting that it has the full authority to grant or reject any application. 

Thaksin’s eldest daughter Pintongta on Friday posted on her Instagram account, showing her twin daughters asking her why they never met their grandpa Thaksin in Thailand. She was apparently posting from London, saying she had made the right decision to make a trip to be with her father at a difficult time.

Thaksin’s daughters have been posting family photos along with morale-booting messages since mid-September before the court verdict was eventually issued against Yingluck.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry has received a letter from the Royal Thai Police requesting it to revoke Yingluck’s passport.

The ministry is now considering the matter following its regulations concerning passport issuance, according to Busadee Santipitaks, the ministry’s spokesperson and chief of the Department of Information.

Meanwhile, the Suan Dusit Poll has surveyed opinions of around 1,000 respondents nationwide on the impacts of the court verdict on Thai politics and reconciliation.

Around 33 per cent, the highest share, said the verdict had quite an effect on reconciliation efforts as major parties and their members would not give their cooperation in future political activities. About 24 per cent viewed that it would greatly affect reconciliation efforts, as the rift among groups would be widened. Around 21 percent viewed that it would not have much impact because the government could control the situation and this was a personal matter, while the people just wanted to see peace and order.

Around 37 per cent viewed that the verdict would have quite an effect on politics because different groups would use the issue to attack one another. Around 27 per cent viewed that it would greatly affect politics as it has directly impacted on politicians’ credibility, and politics from now on would be under close watch. Only 19 per cent viewed that it would not affect politics much and the government could control the situation.

Source - TheNation

#Thailand - Will Shinawatras stir the political pot from abroad?

SIBLINGS Thaksin and Yingluck, fugitives from justice, will reunite somewhere abroad. But will they join hands to turn the world against Thailand, or emerge as a threat to the junta? Jintana Panyaarvudh and Kasamakorn Chanwanpen analyse the possibilities.

THE DUST has yet to settle on the dramatic escape of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra late last month and the whole speculation about her whereabouts. All leads point to the former PM joining her brother in exile in either Dubai or London.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha revealed on Thursday that according to information he had received Yingluck was in Dubai. 

Dubbed “The City of Superlatives”, Dubai was not a surprise choice for Yingluck to escape the Thai justice system. Her brother, former PM Thaksin, has a villa in the Gulf city whose stunning growth from a sleepy port to a world-famous business crossroads within a single generation has been a spectacular success story.

Thaksin chose Dubai as his home base in 2008 because of its convenience, Isra News Agency quoted from “Conversations with Thaksin”, a book written by American Tom Plate, who interviewed him in 2010.

Thaksin was sentenced in absentia to two years in jail in 2008 for conflict of interest during his five years in office. 

 The residence is located in the exclusive Emirates Hills, a gated community in Dubai named after Beverly Hills. Emirates Hills is largely home to the expatriate community of Dubai, as it consists of the first freehold properties that were sold in the city.

 

The 68-year-old former PM told the author he likes Dubai as he feel like he is at the centre of the world. From there, he can travel around the world and as it is not too far from Thailand, his families and friends can also visit him.

The book described his house as a seven-bedroom, two-storey-plus-basement villa with adequate room to accommodate the occasional visiting relative.

During the past decade, Thaksin has always welcomed visits from his family, many of his former MPs and supporters at his villa. 

If government information is to be believed, this is the second time the Shinawatra siblings had reunited after his sister was toppled by the coup in May 2014.

The elder brother and sister reunited in July 2014 for the first time in Paris for Thaksin’s 65th birthday celebrations. Yingluck was permitted by the junta to go on a 20-day trip to Europe. 

But it is believed Thailand’s first female prime minister may not be too comfortable in the heat of the Gulf country where temperatures fluctuate between 10 degrees Celsius in winter to 48 degrees in the scorching summer. Yingluck may prefer to spend her time in London, which has a climate very different from Dubai.

CNN and Reuters reported that Yingluck is now in London and seeking asylum there, although the government contradicted that report. Speculation that Yingluck may choose the UK for life in exile makes sense, as Thaksin owns a manor in Surrey, near London, worth more than Bt260 million.

 FOR THE BEST GLOBAL HOTEL & FLIGHT BOOKINGS

Recently, Thaksin’s daughters Pintongta and Paetongtarn posted their photos with their father in London since September 15 on social media. However, there is still no sign of Yingluck.

Irrespective of which city the two siblings set up their base in, their political future appears dim. 

The door for a political comeback seems to have been almost shut on the two siblings after a new organic law on the criminal procedures for political office holders came into effect last Friday.

If the 50-year-old Yingluck wants to appeal against her five-year imprisonment sentence for negligence in preventing corruption and irregularities in her government rice-pledging scheme, she will be required to appear in court in person. An arrest warrant has been issued for her after her conviction.

The law also affects Thaksin as it allows the prosecution to ask the court to bring four cases related to him for trial in the court in absentia and there would also be no statute of limitations for the cases.

Irrespective of whether they choose Dubai or London, the real question is whether the Shinawatra siblings, who lie at the centre of Thailand’s political conflict, would together make active political moves from abroad. Thaksin used the strategy of “turning the world against Thailand” in his initial years in self-exile.

Critics believe the two siblings have limitations in making moves to attack the junta.

Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of the Faculty of Political Science at Ubon Ratchathani University, said that the recent remarks of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan seemed to suggest there was a deal between the Shinawatras and the military under which Yingluck would not to make any political moves.

“In the current political circumstances, the power and influence of the Shinawatras are limited by the military and the ongoing anti-Shinawatra sentiment, especially among the Thai middle class,” Titipol said.

Chamnan Chanruang, a Chiang-Mai-based political scientist, said Yingluck may avoid being as direct and hard as her brother, as she might be seeking asylum.

Usually, the country providing political asylum would bar involvement in political activity during stay in that country.

“Yingluck has been very much loved thanks to her sweetness and humility,” he said.

Only a slight move on the social network could draw a lot of sympathy for her, which would be uncomfortable for the coup-installed regime, Chamnan added.

Thaksin had once confirmed that he had applied for asylum in Britain, but dropped the plan as it would have restricted his freedom to speak out. Aside from that, Chamnan also pointed to the Krung Thai Bank money laundering case involving Thaksin’s son Panthongtae. The fact that Thaksin’s son was currently being probed could deter the siblings from attacking the junta, he said.

However, Titipol said the Shinawatras would continue to maintain their relations with their international allies in order to pressure Thailand to return to democracy, despite the alteration of US foreign policy stance under the Trump administration.

“I don’t think the Shinawatras will fade away from Thai politics in the long term. Once democracy is resumed, there will be room for the Shinawatras to make their political moves,” Titipol said.

A top Pheu Thai Party figure, who is a close aide of Yingluck, told The Nation that Yingluck could end up anywhere. “International leaders love her. Her image [when she travelled abroad for international meeting] in their eyes is a strong person,” he said.

“There are more people who love PM Yingluck than those who hate her. She does not have to go along with Khun Thaksin. Both can travel separately,” the source said.

Her supporters are waiting for her first remarks. “I think once she settles down, she would explain her decision. She is a former prime minister, so she cannot disappear forever,” the Pheu Thai figure said.

Source - TheNation

Apple starts recruiting staff for #Bangkok shop

Apple Thailand on Wednesday started recruitment for 13 positions at the first Apple Store in the country, which will open in Bangkok soon.

It announced the vacancies on its website. Available posts include a manager, market leader, shop leader and education development executive.

An Apple public relations officer told The Nation that the location of the shop and its opening date is still confidential.

FOR THE BEST GLOBAL HOTEL & FLIGHT BOOKINGS

 “We’re excited to begin hiring the team that will open our first Apple Store in Thailand. Bangkok is one of Asia’s leading cultural and tourism centers, with a vibrant design and architectural scene.

“We look forward to providing customers an amazing space to experience all of our great products, services and inspiring educational programs that are loved by Apple customers around the world,” a statement on the Apple Thailand website says.

 Read also: Apple opens first store in Taiwan

This article appeared on The Nation newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post

Yingluck's Judgement Day (Live updates)

(Click on link ) LIVE UPDATES

 

Please stay tuned for our live update throughout the day.

9:45 am: Nation TV reports the Supreme Court issues an arrest warrant against Yingluck. The court postponed the verdict reading to September 27. Her lawyers told the court at 9:37 am that Yingluck is  not well and cannot come to the court but the court does not believe the claim at is not backed by a medical certificate. The court ordered the seizure of the bail guarantee of Bt30 million.

 

9.40 am: if Yingluck is in the court room right now here are what she will be heard  

 

10:00 am: Nation TV reports that the Supreme Court has started reading the verdict in the case against Boonsong.

 

10:35 am: Nation TV reports most supporters of Yingluck remain at the Government Complex. The supporters say they would stay put until police are witndrawn from the court because they believe Yingluck might later show up. The people remain calm and peaceful.

 

Nobody can confirm the whereabouts of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra since 9 am so we decided to suspend our live update for now. If there is an urgent movement, the live report will be resumed.