CHIANG MAI – The first accident occurred in the midst of Chiang Mai city, caused by a drunk driver after the government extended the hours for nightlife venues to open until 4 a.m.
Witnesses saw a car come very fast and crash into a group of workers putting a cable in the ground in front of the Lai Thai Guesthouse building, Kotchasan Road, along the city moat, Mueang Chiang Mai District. Muang Chiang Mai Police Station at 4:00 a.m. on December 16.
A male worker died at the scene in front of a white automobile with Chiang Mai Province registration. The car’s front part was entirely wrecked.
The driver was a Ghanaian man. The police detained him in order to test his blood alcohol level. It was shown to be as high as 121 milligrammes per percent, which was more than the legal limit. As a result, he was charged with drunk driving. as well as careless driving, which causes injury and death to others.
Two injured people received first aid.A female worker was transported to Chiang Mai Bangkok Hospital, while the other male worker was transported to Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital.
These victims were Sinyotha Company workers who were putting underground cables on Kotchasan Road.
Two of 16 pieces of artwork at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York will return to Cambodia and Thailand. (Metropolitan Museum of Art via AP)
PHNOM PENH — Cambodia has welcomed the announcement that New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art will return more than a dozen pieces of ancient artwork to Cambodia and Thailand that were tied to an art dealer and collector accused of running a huge antiquities trafficking network out of Southeast Asia.
This most recent repatriation of artwork comes as many museums in the United States and Europe reckon with collections that contain objects looted from Asia, Africa and other places during centuries of colonialism or in times of upheaval.
Fourteen Khmer sculptures will be returned to Cambodia and two will be returned to Thailand, the Manhattan museum announced Friday, though no specific timeline was given.
A late 10th to early 11th century sculpture titled “The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Seated in Royal Ease” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. (Metropolitan Museum of Art via AP)
“We appreciate this first step in the right direction,” said a statement issued by Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. “We look forward to further returns and acknowledgements of the truth regarding our lost national treasures, taken from Cambodia in the time of war and genocide.”
Cambodia suffered from war and the brutal rule of the communist Khmer Rouge in the 1970s and 1980s, causing disorder that opened the opportunity for its archaeological treasures to be looted.
The repatriation of the ancient pieces was linked to well-known art dealer Douglas Latchford, who was indicted in 2019 for allegedly orchestrating a multiyear scheme to sell looted Cambodian antiquities on the international art market. Latchford, who died the following year, had denied any involvement in smuggling.
The museum initially cooperated with the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan and the New York office of Homeland Security Investigations on the return of 13 sculptures tied to Latchford before determining there were three more that should be repatriated.
This December 2005 photo shows a 7th century sculpture titled “Head of Buddha” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. (Metropolitan Museum of Art via AP)
“As demonstrated with today’s announcement, pieces linked to the investigation of Douglas Latchford continue to reveal themselves,” HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said in a statement Friday. “The Metropolitan Museum of Art has not only recognized the significance of these 13 Khmer artifacts, which were shamelessly stolen, but has also volunteered to return them, as part of their ongoing cooperation, to their rightful owners: the People of Cambodia.”
This isn’t the first time the museum has repatriated art linked to Latchford. In 2013, it returned two objects to Cambodia.
The Latchford family also had a load of centuries-old Cambodian jewelry in their possession that they later returned to Cambodia. In February, 77 pieces of jewelry made of gold and other precious metal pieces, including items such as crowns, necklaces and earrings were returned to their homeland. Other stone and bronze artifacts were returned in September 2021.
The bronze sculpture, which is about 900 years old, will be returned to Thailand.
The latest works being returned from the Metropolitan Museum of Art were made between the ninth and 14th centuries in the Angkorian period and reflect the Hindu and Buddhist religious systems prominent during that time, according to the museum.
Angkor in the ninth to the 15th centuries was a powerful kingdom in the area of present-day Cambodia. Tourists can see relics of that past at the Angkor Wat temple complex in the country’s northwest.
Among the pieces being returned include a bronze sculpture called “The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Seated in Royal Ease” made some time between the late 10th century and early 11th century. Another piece of art, made of stone in the seventh century and named “Head of Buddha” will also be returned. Those pieces are part of 10 that can still be viewed in the museum’s galleries while arrangements are being made for their return.
There is no specific timeline for when the pieces will be returned, the museum said.
This March 2007 photo shows a bronze sculpture titled “Standing Shiva” or “Golden Boy” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. (Metropolitan Museum of Art via AP)
This isn’t the first time the museum has repatriated art linked to Latchford. In 2013, it returned two objects to Cambodia.
The Latchford family also had a load of centuries-old Cambodian jewelry in their possession that they later returned to Cambodia. In February, 77 pieces of jewelry made of gold and other precious metal pieces — including items such as crowns, necklaces and earrings — were returned to their homeland. Other stone and bronze artifacts were returned in September 2021.
Pieces being returned include a bronze sculpture called The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Seated in Royal Ease, made sometime between the late 10th century and early 11th century. Another piece of art, made of stone in the seventh century and named Head of Buddha, will also be returned. Those pieces are part of 10 that can still be viewed in the museum’s galleries while arrangements are made for their return.
“These returns contribute to the reconciliation and healing of the Cambodian people who went through decades of civil war and suffered tremendously from the tragedy of the Khmer Rouge genocide, and to a greater strengthening of our relationship with the United States,” Cambodia’s Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, Phoeurng Sackona, said in her agency’s statement.
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Sopheung Cheang reported from Phnom Penh. Associated Press writer Maysoon Khan in Albany, New York, contributed to this report. Khan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative.
FILE - Prince Harry leaves the High Court after giving evidence in London, on June 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)
LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry won his historic phone hacking lawsuit Friday against the publisher of the Daily Mirror and was awarded over 140,000 pounds ($180,000) in the first of several lawsuits against British tabloids to go to trial in his battles with the press.
Justice Timothy Fancourt in the High Court found phone hacking was “widespread and habitual” at Mirror Group Newspapers over many years and private investigators “were an integral part of the system” to gather information unlawfully on Harry and his associates. He said executives at the papers were aware of the practice and covered it up.
Fancourt found the newspapers had invaded the Duke of Sussex’s privacy by using unlawful information gathering to produce 15 of the 33 newspaper articles examined at trial as a representative sampling from nearly 150 Harry cited.
A general view of the Royal Courts of Justice where Justice Timothy Fancourt gave his ruling in the Prince Harry phone hacking lawsuit in London, Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Harry said the ruling was “vindicating and affirming” and should serve as a warning to other news media that used similar practices, an overt reference to two tabloid publishers that face upcoming trials in lawsuits that make nearly identical allegations.
“Today is a great day for truth, as well as accountability,” Harry said in a statement read by his lawyer outside court. “I’ve been told that slaying dragons will get you burned. But in light of today’s victory and the importance of doing what is needed for a free and honest press, it is a worthwhile price to pay. The mission continues.”
Fancourt awarded the duke damages for the distress he suffered and a further sum for aggravated damages to “reflect the particular hurt and sense of outrage” over the fact that two directors at Trinity Mirror knew about the activity and didn’t stop it.
“Instead of doing so, they turned a blind eye to what was going on and positively concealed it,” Fancourt said. “Had the illegal conduct been stopped, the misuse of the duke’s private information would have ended much sooner.”
Harry, the estranged younger son of King Charles III, had sought 440,000 pounds ($560,000) as part of a crusade against the British media that bucked his family’s longstanding aversion to litigation and made him the first senior member of the royal family to testify in court in over a century.
His appearance in the witness box over two days in June created a spectacle as he lobbed allegations that Mirror Group Newspapers had employed journalists who eavesdropped on voicemails and hired private investigators to use deception and unlawful means to learn about him and other family members.
“I believe that phone hacking was at an industrial scale across at least three of the papers at the time,” Harry asserted in the High Court. “That is beyond any doubt.”
FILE – Prince Harry leaves the High Court after giving evidence in London, on June 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)
Harry had a tendency in his testimony “to assume that everything published was the product of voicemail interception,” which was not the case, the judge said. He said Mirror Group was “not responsible for all of the unlawful activity directed at the duke.”
Mirror Group welcomed the judgment for providing the “necessary clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago.”
“Where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologize unreservedly, have taken full responsibility and paid appropriate compensation,” the company said in statement.
The case is the first of three lawsuits Harry has brought to court against the tabloids over allegations of phone hacking or some form of unlawful information gathering. They form the front line of attack in what he says is his life’s mission to reform the media.
Harry’s beef with the news media runs deep and is cited throughout his memoir, “Spare.” He blames paparazzi for causing the car crash that killed his mother, Princess Diana, and he said intrusions by journalists led him and his wife, Meghan, to leave royal life for the U.S. in 2020.
Harry alleged that Mirror Group Newspapers used unlawful means to produce nearly 150 stories on his early life between 1996 and 2010, including his romances, injuries and alleged drug use. The reporting caused great emotional distress, he said, but was hard to prove because the newspapers destroyed records.
Of the 33 articles at the center of the trial, Mirror denied using unlawful reporting methods for 28 and made no admissions concerning the remaining five.
Fancourt previously tossed out Harry’s hacking claims against the publisher of The Sun. He is allowing Harry and actor Hugh Grant, who has similar claims, to proceed to trial on allegations that News Group Newspapers journalists used other unlawful methods to snoop on them.
Journalists and TV cameras outside the Royal Courts of Justice, Rolls Building, where Justice Timothy Fancourt gave his ruling in the Prince Harry phone hacking lawsuit in London, Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Another judge recently gave Harry the go-ahead to take a similar case to trial against the publisher of the Daily Mail, rejecting the newspaper’s efforts to throw out the lawsuit.
Phone hacking by British newspapers dates back more than two decades to a time when unethical journalists used an unsophisticated method of phoning the numbers of royals, celebrities, politicians and sports stars and, when prompted to leave a message, punched in default passcodes to eavesdrop on voicemails.
The practice erupted into a full-blown scandal in 2011 when Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World was revealed to have intercepted messages of a murdered girl, relatives of deceased British soldiers and victims of a bombing. Murdoch closed the paper.
Newspapers were later found to have used more intrusive means such as phone tapping, home bugging and obtaining flight information and medical records.
Mirror Group Newspapers said it has paid more than 100 million pounds ($128 million) in other phone hacking lawsuits over the years, but denied wrongdoing in Harry’s case. It said it used legitimate reporting methods to get information on the prince.
In one instance, Mirror Group apologized “unreservedly” for hiring a private investigator for a story about Harry partying at a nightclub in February 2004. Although the article, headlined “Sex on the beach with Harry,” wasn’t among those at issue in the trial, Mirror Group said he should be compensated 500 pounds ($637).
BANGKOK – Oramon Sapthaweetham, Director-General of the Department of Business Development, revealed on December 15 that for the fiscal year 2024 (September 2023-October 2024), the Department has laid out a plan to prevent nominee businesses that use Thais as shareholders to avoid obtaining a business license under the Foreign Business Act.
Initially, the Department is preparing to inspect businesses with a foreign ownership ratio of over 40 percent, totaling 25,000 businesses, to determine if they are in violation of the law.
The target business groups to be inspected include tourism and related businesses, real estate businesses, and hotel and resort businesses, in 9 target provinces: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Surat Thani, Chonburi, Rayong, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, and Bangkok.
Both Thai and foreign tourists visited Chiang Mai during long holiday.
“The goal of inspecting nominees for the fiscal year 2023/24 of 25,000 businesses is higher than the previous fiscal year of 15,000 businesses, because businesses in the tourism sector have a growth rate of up to 64 percent, resulting in a large increase in the number of new businesses established by foreign companies in the tourism sector,” Oramon said.
As for the results of the inspection of foreign businesses in 2022/23, 400 businesses were found to be nominee businesses. When the details were examined in depth, there were 8 businesses that committed nominee offenses that had to be sent to the police for prosecution.
Most of these businesses were in the tourism sector in tourist provinces such as Phuket. The foreign shareholders in the nominee companies that were prosecuted were mostly from China, Russia, and Europe.
Thailand Economic Monitor.
The offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to 3 years or a fine of 100,000 -1 million baht or both, and a daily fine of 10,000-50,000 baht until the violation is stopped.
The Director-General said that the inspection will select high-risk groups with indications that they may be engaged in businesses on the back of the list by using Thais as nominees to avoid obtaining a license under the Foreign Business Act, such as businesses in which foreigners hold less than 50 percent of the shares, businesses in which foreigners are the authorized persons, and businesses that give foreigners more rights than Thais, including the right to vote, the right to receive dividends, and the right to receive capital repayment when the business is dissolved.
Bangkok – UOB Thailand today launched five co-branded credit cards, expanding its offerings to meet customers’ unique lifestyle needs and preferences. The co-branded cards are designed in collaboration with leading domestic and global brands: Grab, Lazada, Makro, Mercedes-Benz and Thai Royal Orchid Plus.
With the completion of UOB’s acquisition of Citigroup’s consumer business in the four markets in ASEAN, the Bank currently serve close to eight million retail customers across the region. With UOB’s unrivalled ASEAN footprint, these partnerships pave the way for the Bank’s enlarged customer base to enjoy even more perks and privileges suited to individual profiles.
Ms Suporntip Pongsachamnankit, Head of Card Business, UOB Thailand, said, “As UOB’s footprint continues to expand, we are thrilled to establish new and exclusive partnerships, providing a diverse suite of offerings and perks to cater to the different lifestyles and interests of our growing customer base. Our wide partnership network enables us to provide tailored solutions and services that extend beyond borders and stand out in the marketplace.”
The launch of these co-branded cards signifies UOB Thailand’s commitment to integrate living with banking. Each card is designed to resonate with distinct customer segments, offering exclusive privileges and benefits that align with their lifestyle.
UOB Grab card for urban living
The UOB Grab card is designed for the modern urbanite, capitalising the widespread use of smartphones for various purposes such as on-demand ride hailing, food ordering and payment. With UOB Thailand cardholders clocking nearly a million transactions on Grab each month , this card offers customers special privileges, additional rewards such as more rewards points for Grab services as well as coupons and vouchers for other services, and greater convenience.
UOB Lazada card for savvy shoppers
With the significant shift to online shopping post-COVID 19, the UOB Lazada card caters to the savvy e-commerce consumers. UOB cardholders’ credit card spending on online retail purchases has grown 37 per cent year on year in 2023. This collaboration with Lazada Thailand, a leading e-commerce platform in Thailand, reflects UOB’s focus on personalised banking solutions and offers enhanced rewards for online purchases. UOB Lazada cardholders will enjoy 10 times more reward points on Lazada purchases and 30 times bonus points during their birthday month and the best offers during Lazada’s mega campaigns.
UOB Makro card for value-maximising consumers
Based on UOB’s 2023 ASEAN Consumer Sentiment Study , 30 per cent of Thai consumers are most worried about their ability to afford essential items. The UOB Makro card is ideal for both the business owners and individual customers focused on optimising every dollar spent. This card addresses the growing concern over the affordability of everyday supplies for their business and daily needs, offering reward points for every purchase, which can be redeemed for Makro vouchers or cashback on spending at Makro.
UOB Mercedes card for luxury lovers
With affluent customers contributing more than 40 per cent of UOB’s credit card spending, the UOB Mercedes card is tailored to those who appreciate commuting in luxurious vehicles. This card offers discounts at authorised Mercedes-Benz dealers, the first ever in the market, and the opportunity to get eight times rewards points on new car deposit payment and two times rewards points on other spending in both local and foreign currencies.
UOB Thai Royal Orchid Plus card (UOB ROP) for veteran travellers
With the return of travelling post pandemic, spending on flight tickets accounted for 37 per cent of all spending made on UOB Thailand credit and debit cards in 2023. The UOB Thai Royal Orchid Plus card is specially curated for frequent travellers, offering exceptional benefits, like a fast track to Gold status in the Royal Orchid Plus programme and the ability to convert spending into airline miles.
These five co-branded credit cards add to the five core UOB credit cards specially curated to the discerning preferences of UOB’s customers, elevating customers’ experiences with customised rewards and privileges.
ICONSIAM named Leading Brand in Iconic Shopping Mall of the Year at ASEAN Outstanding Business Awards 2023
ICONSIAM, the world-class landmark by the Chao Phraya River and one of Siam Piwat’s global destinations, has been honored with the Leading Brand in Iconic Shopping Mall of the Year Award at the ASEAN Outstanding Business Awards 2023.
This international recognition from Malaysia underscores ICONSIAM’s success as a global destination that not only boasts outstanding business performance but also serves as a tourist magnet that puts Thailand on the world map, enabling it to win the hearts of people across the globe.
Mr. Supoj Chaiwatsirikul, Managing Director of ICONSIAM Co., Ltd., stated, “We are truly honored and proud to have been named the Leading Brand in Iconic Shopping Mall of the Year by a reputable international institution. The recognition reflects our business success and commitment to bringing together the best of Thailand and the best of the world. We strive to showcase every positive aspect of Thainess and bring to Thailand the wonders from every corner of the world in order to create a phenomenon in Bangkok and become a game changer that plays a pivotal role in bolstering the Thai economy. Today, ICONSIAM is acclaimed by Thai and international visitors alike as a new global destination, truly living up to its name as the Icon of Prosperity by the Chao Phraya River.”
Celebrating its fifth anniversary in November 2023, ICONSIAM has received over 25 awards from premier international institutions. The accolades attest to the success of its Co-creation and Shared Value strategies, which have fostered sustainable growth for all parties involved, created positive impacts on society, communities, and the environment, and played a key role in placing ICONSIAM on the global stage.
The ASEAN Outstanding Business Awards 2023, organized by the ASEAN Franchise Federation, aims to recognize companies or organizations that have demonstrated excellence in business development within the ASEAN region. The award program was first introduced in 2010, and this year’s ceremony took place on December 12, 2023, at Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
KHON KAEN – Police in Khon Kaen, Thailand, have arrested a Thai roti seller for stabbing a Canadian man and his Thai wife to death after being insulted with the term: “_UCK YOU”
On December 15, 2023, the Ban Phae Ped Station in Khon Kaen Province canceled a plan to take Kajornsak Panyadee, a 36-year-old Thai roti seller from Chaiyaphum Province, to the scene of the crime to reenact his confession. The police were concerned that a mob might attack Kajornsak.
The dog stared at the two victims that had been stabbed to death in front of the house around 00.30 a.m. on December 15.
The suspect had stabbed a Canadian man and his Thai wife to death in front of their rental home in Ban Muang, Ban Phae District, Khon Kaen City, on the night of 14 December. The victims were Michael, 54, and Arunrak, 47. The two men had a history of arguing, as Michael was often accused of parking his car in Kajornsak’s driveway.
On the night of the murder, Kajornsak returned home from selling roti to find Michael and his friends drinking outside. After the friends left, Michael began to shout at Kraicharsak, using the English profanity “_UCK YOU.”
Kajornsak Panyadee, a 36-year-old Thai roti seller from Chaiyaphum Province was arrested.
Enraged, Kraicharsak went to buy a beer and drink it in his room. When he heard Michael shouting again, he grabbed a knife and went to find him. Arunrak came out of the house first, and the two began to argue. Michael joined in, shouting at Kajornsak again. Kajornsak stabbed Arunrak, and when Michael did not stop shouting, he stabbed him multiple times as well.
After killing the two victims, Kajornsak called his brother-in-law and confessed to the crime. His brother-in-law called the police, who arrested Kajornsak. He has been charged with murder and is being held in custody.
MADRID TURISMO by IFEMA Madrid recently announced the launch of its global creative campaign “Only in Madrid,” the Bangkok (Thailand) program of which kicked off with an evening of wines and tapas hosted at Uno Mas, Centara Grand on December 7th, 2023.
The launch event welcomed esteemed media guests from Thailand, as well as around 25 Thai trade guests who run independent businesses serving Thailand’s outbound long-haul consumer travel market.
They included many of the top operators in their field who joined as guests at the “Only in Madrid” evening of wines and tapas, a night of relaxed fun, and a journey of discovery for everyone seeking to learn more about one of the world’s most sought-after, recently emerged hot new travel destinations – “Only in Madrid!”
The campaign, which is represented in Asia by global agency Connecting Travel and Select Holding, aims to promote the city and the greater region to a global audience, establishing it as a must-visit travel destination.
Janel Kok, who leads Marketing and Communications for Asia, said: “It is finally Madrid’s time to shine, and the launch of our campaign is designed to showcase the unique juxtaposition of art, history, culture, cuisine, fashion and sport that you can only find in Madrid. It is truly a city that you can never tire of, a city where you can feel special and slip into like a local.”
Janel Kok,, Marketing and Communications for Asia
She hosted an in-depth presentation which explained many of Madrid’s magnificent attractions and great reasons to visit the city and its surround locale to Thai travellers seeking new European luxury and experiential touring opportunities.
The city is home to the largest Royal Palace in the world and other beautiful landmarks such as Plaza Mayor, El Prado Museum and Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium. Each neighbourhood of Madrid is distinct and unique, from funky-alternative Malasaña to chic and high-end Salamanca where visitors can indulge in the glamorous world of shopping, dining and Flamenco. Just a short drive away, lush countryside steeped in history and culture is where quaint medieval towns, picture-perfect wineries and scenic parks are a welcome change from city life.
To an inspired backdrop of the Bangkok city skyline, as can readily be enjoyed at Uno Mas, guests benefited from seeing a presentation which demonstrated ways in which “Only in Madrid” is garnering widespread global attention, enhancing long-haul inbound visitor numbers to Madrid and Spain more widely.
The event showcased the fact that the Area of Greater Madrid is also home of the UNESCO heritage triangle of Alcalá de Henares, San Lorenzo de El Escorial and Aranjuez, located less than an hour’s drive from the city centre. Also within only 30 minutes from the city is the equally stunning rural beauty of Patones, Chinchón and the vineyards of San Martín de Valdeiglesias.
During the event, an authentic music performance allowed media guests to get a taste of what food in Madrid is all about! Following the Only in Madrid presentation, wines flowed freely, including a tasting opportunity for guests to try Tinto De Verano, a traditional and much-loved Spanish summer drink, as well as relaxed networking among the delicious tapas presentations created by chefs at Uno Mas.
Home to the world’s most luxe labels and fast fashion – from Loewe, Balenciaga and Manolo Blahnik to Zara and H&M – these foundations and their history make Madrid one of the most influential international fashion capitals in the world. Even for those who prefer to veer away from the glitz of high fashion, shoppers can still expect to find locally produced garments and articles in Madrid’s atelier routes of extraordinary quality that are relatively affordable compared to international brands.
As much as Madrid is synonymous with fashion, it is gastronomy and cuisine which permeates all aspects of culture and life.
Only in Madrid can you eat at the world’s oldest restaurant, Restaurant Botin, a historic gem that dates back to 1725. It serves what is arguably the city’s finest roast suckling pig, cochinillo asado, and melt-in-your-mouth roast lamb, cordero asado. The city’s classic dish of caracoles or Spanish escargot (snails) is also one not to be missed.
During the first year of the campaign launch, promotional actions have been implemented in 16 countries, including Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Korea and Japan.
The project includes; major B2B and B2C digital marketing campaigns, campaign sites in 11 languages, the development of branded content pieces in major general and economic media, co-marketing actions with paid media and TTOOs, key opinion leaders (KOLs) and influencer marketing campaigns, presentations at the long-haul inbound markets, and the production and generation of content for the #onlyinmadrid campaign – all aiming to fortify Madrid’s presence as a top tourism destination for Asian travellers.
About MADRID TURISMO by IFEMA MADRID: MADRID TURISMO by IFEMA MADRID is a public-private venture created by the Regional Government of Madrid, Madrid City Council and IFEMA Madrid. It is managed by the Experts in Tourism Panel from the main tourism associations in Madrid. Its purpose is to promote Madrid internationally through efficient collaboration between public and private tourism entities in Madrid.
About Connecting Travel: Connecting Travel is a leading platform that bridges the gap between travel destinations and industry professionals in the Middle East. Through a network of events, conferences, and collaborations, Connecting Travel facilitates meaningful connections that drive the growth of the travel and tourism sector in the region.
About Select Holding: Select Holding is an international holding group with offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, London, Bali and Rome that specialises in travel marketing and communications consultancy in the travel B2G, B2B and B2C sectors. Select Holding has a special focus in China outbound travel as Select Holding is the selected partner of the China Tourism Academy, appointed as the sole issuer of the Welcome Chinese certification based on Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism standard. Select Holding was incorporated in Hong Kong in 2011.
Siam Piwat – a leading real estate and retail developer, the owner and operator of world-renowned properties like Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery, and a joint venture partner of ICONSIAM and Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok – launches ONESIAM Drinking Water to further solidify its position as a sustainability-minded developer of world-class destinations. This eco-friendly drinking water is packaged in 100% recyclable aluminum cans, which not only feature a modern and distinctive design created by an award-winning Thai designer but can also be further transformed into safe and hygienic cans again. This new product, which will be made available for purchase first in Siam Piwat group’s shopping centers, is in line with Siam Piwat’s 360° waste management approach and reflects the group’s commitment to becoming a zero-waste organization, creating net-positive impact, and achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Ms. Naratipe Ruttapradid, Chief Operating Officer, Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., stated, “Siam Piwat is ready to launch into the year 2024 with ONESIAM Drinking Water. This is another initiative under our 360° waste management policy and part of our mission to become a zero-waste organization. The drinking water comes in aluminum cans with exclusive patterns that lend themselves to closed-loop recycling and resource recirculation, thus cutting down on the use of new materials and reducing the amount of energy otherwise consumed in the production of new raw aluminum by 95%. The packaging also helps decrease greenhouse gas emissions as each kilogram of aluminum recycled contributes 9.13 kgCO2eq in avoided emissions. The cans are also easy to crush and make compact, further aiding in storage efficiency for recycling.”
ONESIAM Drinking Water marks another important step forward for Siam Piwat in attaining its goals of cutting the amount of operational waste destined for landfills in half by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. In addition to increasing recycling efficiency and reducing landfilling systematically, this switch to aluminum cans will help save the energy and resources otherwise required for the production of new cans from virgin materials.
The ONESIAM Drinking Water cans are designed by Mr. Somchana Kangwarnjit, Executive Creative Director of Prompt Design, a designer with over 200 world-class awards. Representing a “Single Planet” concept, the design embodies the essence of ONESIAM and combines its unique brand of confidence, enthusiasm, and wonder with diverse lines and patterns that evoke a sense of fun and creativity. The distinctive and engaging design of the can is also set to fascinate and delight everyone thanks to a printing technique that reveals the natural color of the aluminum can and creates a fun embossed effect on the can.
ONESIAM Drinking Water is manufactured by Greenery Water, Thailand’s first manufacturer of aluminum canned drinking water, with a mission to reduce the amount of plastic bottle waste in Thailand by 6,000 million bottles a year. Utilizing aluminum with a recycling content of no less than 70%, the production contributes to a circular economy by creating an endless recirculation of materials and minimizing the use of new resources. The aluminum cans also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as decrease the amount of waste making its way into the ecosystem, as they are retrieved for recycling into new cans that adhere fully to international health safety standards.
To help restore the environment and create a better world for all, customers and the general public can bring used aluminum cans to the can crushers stationed in Siam Piwat’s shopping centers or deposit sorted cans at the Recycle Collection Center (RCC) or the RCC Drive-Thru at the tour bus
parking lot next to the North Zone on G Floor or at Exit 4 on G Floor at Siam Paragon, with an additional drop-off point to be launched at ICONSIAM in early 2024.
ONESIAM Drinking Water is available for purchase starting December 13, 2023 at Loft on the 2nd Floor of Siam Discovery and on the 3rd Floor of ICONSIAM, Grab & Go on the 4th Floor of Siam Discovery, and on ONESIAM SuperApp. The drinking water will also be made available for purchase through automated vending machines in Siam Paragon and Siam Center in early 2024.
From December 29–31, Siam Paragon rings in the new year with full-on three-Day Countdown Entertainment, the first to feature sensational K-Pop artist Youngjae at Siam Paragon. The First Stage in Thailand: “Do It with Youngjae”
Siam Paragon, the ‘World-Class Shopping Destination’ and the top-of-mind destination for Thai and international tourists, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Kasikorn Bank, presents an extraordinary experience as a special gift for the festive season – “Siam Paragon the Glorious Countdown Celebration 2024.”
The New Year countdown will kick off in full swing on with world’s renowned K-Pop sensation Choi Young Jae or Young Jae of GOT7on 29 December 2023. The year-end celebration also promises a full entertainment experience, with a lineup of famous artists, spanning three full days from December 29 to 31, 2023, at Parc Paragon, M Floor, Siam Paragon. Admission is free.
Lineup of the popular Thai artists include Sweezdream, SLAPKISS, Ice Paris, Tilly Birds, ATLAS, ALLY, PLAMY, Three Man Down, 4EVE, NONT TANONT, Sarah Salola, GEMINI FOURTH NANON, MEAN, BUS because of you i shine, and URBOYTJ. The festivity is organized under safety measures. On New Year’s Eve, Siam Paragon will extend its operating hours from 09.30 to 24.00 hrs.
At Siam Paragon, extraordinary festive experience awaits throughout December at Siam Paragon. For more details, please contact tel. 02-610-8000 or follow updates on Facebook: Siam Paragon and ONESIAM SuperApp.
