King, Queen Donate Equipment to Prison Hospital
BANGKOK — Their Majesties the King and Queen paid a visit to a prison hospital today in Bangkok, where they donated medical equipment and other necessities.
Driver Takes Down 12 Utility Poles, Injuring 7
SAMUT PRAKAN — Seven people were wounded after a pickup truck driver crashed into a utility pole Friday, causing widespread damage and cutting off electricity at a busy stretch of road in Samut Prakan.
Free Stuff for New Year’s: Tollway, (Some) BTS Rides, and Plant Seeds
BANGKOK — To ring in 2020, the Thai government is waiving fees for some tollways, BTS rides, and national parks.
Thonglor Cops Fired for Extorting 245,000 Baht From Frenchman
BANGKOK — Police on Friday said three police officers were expelled and placed under investigation for allegedly arresting and extorting a French man in downtown Bangkok.
Japan OKs Divisive Plan to Send Naval Troops to Mideast
TOKYO (AP) — Japan on Friday approved a contentious plan to send its naval troops to the Middle East to ensure the safety of Japanese ships transporting oil to the energy-poor country that heavily depends on imports from the region.
Man Robs Colorado Bank, Throws Cash, Says ‘Merry Christmas’
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A 65-year-old Colorado man is jailed after witnesses say he robbed a bank in Colorado Springs, walked outside and threw money out of the bag and then said “Merry Christmas.”
China to Complete Beidou Competitor to GPS With New Launches
BEIJING (AP) — China said Friday its Beidou Navigation Satellite System that emulates the U.S. Global Positioning System will be competed with the launch of its final two satellites in the first half of next year.
NHK Sends Erroneous Alert About N. Korean Missile Launch
TOKYO (Kyodo) —Public broadcaster NHK sent an erroneous report saying a missile from North Korea appeared to have fallen into the sea off Japan's Hokkaido early Friday but quickly corrected it, saying the message was posted on its website by accident.
New 10 Siberian Tiger Cubs Born in China’s National Park
HARBIN (Xinhua) — The China National Park for Siberian Tigers and Amur Leopards in northeast Heilongjiang Province has seen its wild tiger population increase.
At Each End of Pacific, Skepticism Over China Farm Purchases
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — President Donald Trump likes to joke that America’s farmers have a nice problem on their hands: They’re going to need bigger tractors to keep up with surging Chinese demand for their soybeans and other agricultural goods under a preliminary deal between the world’s two largest economies.
