Hino donates solar panel to Ban Lan Ueang School, Sukhothai as part of Hino Solar Powering a Sustainable Tomorrow campaign
Hino Motors Sales (Thailand) Ltd., led by HMST’s president Mr. Ken Iwamoto, executives, and Newman Co.,Ltd. (Sukhothai), jointly donated a solar panel for Ban Lan Ueang School in Ban Nam Phu, Ban Dan Lan Hoi District, Sukhothai.
The donation was part of the Hino We Care project under the concept of “Hino Solar Powering a Sustainable Tomorrow” in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), recognizing the importance of clean, sustainable energy while incorporating community engagement and creating social value into business operations.
A social panel of “Hino Solar Powering a Sustainable Tomorrow” can give more than a light to an underserved community. Apart from generating electric power from clean energy, it can effectively lower energy bills by an average of 2,000 baht per month, or approximately 24,000 baht per year, allowing the school to use the saved-up fund in other operations.
Ms. Wanphen Tuamnak, acting director of Ban Lan Ueang School, thanked Hino for this charitable project. “We have Hino to thank for solar panel donation,” she said.
“Currently, the school has online classes, so there is more electricity usage. Besides cost-effective electric bills, the solar panel gives us so many benefits including clean energy while the remaining fund can be used in teaching equipment purchases and scholarships. Thank you, Hino, for recognizing the importance of children who are becoming future generations.
Hino’s solar panel donation is an ongoing activity. By all means, clean energy should be distributed to various communities in Thailand to help sustain the ecosystem, promote a green society and use of clean energy. The project is taken as the first step to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to climate change while effectively achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
There will be more socially concerned activities under the Hino We Care project to continuously delight Thai society and to ensure the protection of the planet for future generations and environment as long as possible.
For more information, activities and latest updates, please visit www.hinothailand.com, Facebook: Hino Thailand Fan Club, Line: @hinoth, YouTube: Hino Thailand Official, and TikTok: @hinoth
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), headed by CIB Commander Pol. Lt. Gen. Jirapop Phuridech, announced the arrest of Ms. Ai Xiaoliu, 48 years old, Mr. Long Huapiao, 38 years old, both Chinese nationals, and Ms. Sakuna Jansuk, 44 years old. They worked together to create fake social media pages to trick people into trading stocks. A total of 23 people were involved in this operation.
In raids at 21 locations in 8 provinces, police seized bitcoin cash worth 28 million baht, 23 account books, 21 mobile phones, 19 SIM cards, laptops and 20 other items with a total value of 30.9 million baht.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Jirapop Phuridech (centre) held a press conference on the arrest of Chinese and Thai scam networks.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Jirapop mentioned that this gang circulated more than 1.2 billion baht by deceiving victims through a fake Aurora Gold Shop Facebook page to create credibility. They also spent money on advertising on Facebook and misled many victims into believing they were investing in stock trading. They offered various investment packages and guaranteed high profits of 20 to 30 percent in just 5 to 20 minutes.
In the early stages, victims were able to withdraw their profits, which encouraged them to invest even more. Some victims invested large sums because they believed they would make a quick profit. However, the more they invested, the more impossible it became for them to withdraw their money because the scammers imposed various conditions, such as the payment of advisory or tax fees, so that they were ultimately unable to withdraw their invested funds.
a fake Aurora Gold Shop Facebook page
The CIB conducted a thorough investigation, identified the culprits and gathered evidence to issue arrest warrants for all 50 people involved. They have already arrested 26 of the suspects, including 4 Chinese ringleaders who frequently traveled in and out of Thailand. Most of the Thai participants were accountants, employees and agents of various companies.
Typically, call center gangs operate from neighboring countries to evade law enforcement and mainly use telephones for their operations. However, this gang was based in Thailand and used three different money laundering methods: buying foreign products and selling them in Cambodia and Laos to convert them into cash, converting funds into digital cryptocurrencies and finally converting them into various real estate properties. Three nominee companies were involved in managing these transactions.
Some of the suspects denied part of the involvement, while others denied all of it, leading to further investigations and court proceedings.
Chiangmai – Summit Green Valley Chiangmai Country Club has proactively designed its integrated golf services by working with Thailand’s top insurance firm Navakij Insurance to provide all golfers both locals and internationals with daily golf insurance for maximum safety from all possible risks while on golf course.
Mr. Akkaraphong Jurangkool, the Managing Director of the golf course emphasized that Summit Green Valley Chiangmai’s commitments are to provide maximum safety while on the golf course hence creative golf insurance program has been designed to offer to all golfers, besides others improvements projects which are in progress and have been completed to meet the international golf course standards.
“We are continuously working hard to create new products and services with our professional insurance partner Navakij Insurance to include the insurance coverage for every of our customers. This collaborative innovation in the golf industry in Thailand expects to draw all golfers to not only come to our Summit Green Valley Chiangmai Country Club but to Chiangmai and Thailand as a whole”, added Mr. Akkaraphong.
The golfer insurance package is part of the normal green fee the golf course has to offer to all golfers throughout 2024 and 2025 to start on 1st November 2023.
Executive Vice President of Navakij Insurance, Dr. Saran Wanglee added that this initiative is designed on the Safety & Happy Golf Campaign which Navakij has actively worked with Summit Green Valley since the launch of Hole-In-One Big Prize campaign to award the hole-in-one winner with 15,000 Baht cash prize in their tournament as well as full protection of all personal risks while on the course, on top of Summit Green Valley’s regular 25,000 Baht prize value for all hole-in-one winners.
Summit Green Valley is a 18 holes golf course, fully equipped with club house, catering, functions services. The golf course is surrounded with the green Suthep-Pui mountains of Chiangmai. It is the destination for all golfers with its unique design and layout, just 30 minutes from Chiangmai International Airport.
The special golf insurance is inclusively part of the normal green fee with insurance policy coverage of 500,000 Baht maximum for personal juries, loss and damage of property, as well as the third party liability for both local and in international customers, starting on 1st November 2023 throughout the years of 2023 to 2025.
In addition to the daily insurance package inclusively designed for all of its customers, Summit Green Valley also partnered with the country’s top brands to award the hole-in-one winners for their tournaments starting with 30 golfers with generous prizes as well as the motorcycles and luxury cars worth 1,250,000 Baht for the tournaments starting from 70 to 210 players when they can make the hole in one at its Par 3 Hole 16.
Summit Green Valley Chiangmai Country Club is not only the destination for all golfers to experience the unique golf course design but also to challenge their golf skills and capabilities. Chiangmai is also the destination for all visitors to experience the beauty of its cultures, foods, and to expose to 750 years old Chiangmai in the modern days, concluded Mr. Narongridh Sukchaiprakarn, the General Manager of Summit Green Valley Chiangmai. Interested golfers and tournaments organisers can contact its customer service team at telephone +053 298 222, or Line Official at : @summitgreenvalley or via www.summitgreenvalley.com
GENEVA (AP) — Saudi Arabia is all but certain to host the men’s 2034 World Cup after the Australian soccer federation decided not to enter the bidding contest, which had been widely seen as shaped by FIFA to suit the oil-rich kingdom.
FIFA had set Tuesday as the deadline for its member federations in Asia and Oceania to formally declare interest in hosting the tournament, and it later confirmed that only Saudi Arabia was in.
Australia’s decision not to enter the race left Saudi Arabia alone as a declared candidate — to the dismay of many human rights activists.
“We have explored the opportunity to bid to host the FIFA World Cup and — having taken all factors into consideration — we have reached the conclusion not to do so for the 2034 competition,” Football Australia said in a statement.
FIFA still needs to rubber stamp Saudi Arabia as the host — a decision that is likely to be made late next year — but that now seems a formality.
It would be the culmination of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious drive to become a major player in global sports, having already spent massive amounts on bringing in dozens of star soccer players to its domestic league, buying English soccer club Newcastle, launching the breakaway LIV Golf tour and hosting major boxing fights.
But FIFA’s seeming eagerness to pave the way for Saudi Arabia to host its marquee event has drawn widespread criticism from activists who say it exposes the governing body’s human rights commitments as “a sham.”
Saudi Arabia’s sports spending program approved by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been described as sportswashing to soften a national image often associated with its record on women’s rights and the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
When FIFA made a deal this month to have just one host bid for the 2030 World Cup — uniting Spain, Portugal and Morocco with three games placed in South America — it also fast-tracked the 2034 hosting race with only member federations in Asia and Oceania eligible to bid.
The tight deadline gave them less than four weeks to enter the race by Tuesday and just one month more to sign a bidding agreement with government support for staging 104 games over nearly six weeks.
The timetable “was a little bit of a surprise,” Australian soccer federation leader James Johnson acknowledged Tuesday, adding “we’re adults and we just try to roll with it and deal with the cards that we have been given.”
Within hours of the FIFA announcement on Oct. 4, the Saudi soccer federation said it was in and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) — which includes Australia — said it was backing the kingdom to bring the World Cup back to the Middle East after neighboring Qatar hosted the 2022 edition.
Qatar hosted in November and December, in the heart of the European club soccer season, to avoid extreme heat in the summer months and a Saudi tournament likely also will be moved from the traditional June-July period.
Australia will instead attempt to secure hosting the 2029 Club World Cup — which will relaunch in 2025 playing every four years in a new format with 32 teams qualifying — and the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup. Saudi Arabia also is bidding for the women’s Asian championship.
“I think there will be some goodwill created by not going for 2034,” Johnson told reporters in an online call, accepting that the resources of a government-backed Saudi bid “is difficult to compete with.”
Australia and New Zealand successfully co-hosted the Women’s World Cup in July and August. Brisbane, Queensland state, is due to become the third Australian city to host the Olympics when it stages the 2032 Summer Games.
Saudi Arabia also will host the men’s Asian Cup in 2027 and has started a widespread construction program to build and renovate stadiums that likely will be used for the World Cup. FIFA’s bidding documents say 14 stadiums are needed at the 48-team tournament.
Qatar’s World Cup was dogged by years-long allegations of rights abuses of migrant workers needed to build its stadiums.
“FIFA’s failure in 2010 to insist on human rights protections when it awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar is a major reason why serious reforms were so delayed, and so often weakly implemented and enforced,” Football Supporters Europe executive director Ronan Evain said Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia’s preparation should face some of the same scrutiny in the next decade.
“With Saudi Arabia’s estimated 13.4 million migrant workers, inadequate labor and heat protections and no unions, no independent human rights monitors, and no press freedom, there is every reason to fear for the lives of those who would build and service stadiums, transit, hotels, and other hosting infrastructure in Saudi Arabia,” Human Rights Watch director of global initiatives Minky Worden said in a recent statement.
“The possibility that FIFA could award Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup despite its appalling human rights record and closed door to any monitoring exposes FIFA’s commitments to human rights as a sham,” Worden said.
FIFA’s own World Cup bidding documents push potential hosts toward “respecting internationally recognized human rights,” though limits the remit to tournament operations rather than in wider society.
“FIFA must now make clear how it expects hosts to comply with its human rights policies,” Amnesty International official Steve Cockburn said in a statement Tuesday. “It must also be prepared to halt the bidding process if serious human rights risks are not credibly addressed.”
Aiming to stress the rigor of its bid evaluation processes, FIFA said in a statement later Tuesday its staff will assess the Saudi bid for “event vision and key metrics, infrastructure, services, commercial, and sustainability and human rights.”
The 2034 winner looked immediately clear even if the result is not officially final for one more year.
Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in central Israel, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen issued a video statement on Tuesday claiming to have fired ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, saying it was the third such operation. They threatened to carry out more strikes “until the Israeli aggression stops.”
The claims by the Houthis draw Iran closer into the ongoing Israel-Hamas war as Tehran remains a main sponsor.
Earlier this month, a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Red Sea intercepted three cruise missiles and several drones launched toward Israel by the Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, including its capital, Sanaa. Mysterious projectiles have also struck inside Egypt, near the Israeli border.
An Israeli Apache helicopter fires flares over the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
A U.N. arms embargo has prohibited weapons transfers to the Houthis since 2014, when Yemen’s civil war erupted.
There also has been at least one attack that the Houthis claimed where suspicion later fell fully on Iran. In 2019, cruise missiles and drones successfully penetrated Saudi Arabia and struck the heart of its oil industry in Abqaiq. That attack temporarily halved the kingdom’s production and spiked global energy prices by the biggest percentage since the 1991 Gulf War.
While the Houthis claimed the Abqaiq attack, the U.S., Saudi Arabia and analysts blamed Iran. U.N. experts similarly said it was “unlikely” the Houthis carried out the assault, though Tehran denied being involved.
ISRAELI GROUND FORCES ATTACK HAMAS TARGETS IN NORTH AS WARPLANES STRIKE ACROSS GAZA
A deluge of Israeli airstrikes Tuesday on a refugee camp near Gaza City demolished apartment buildings, leaving gaping holes where they once stood, while ground troops battled Hamas militants across northern Gaza. Buoyed by the first successful rescue of a captive held by Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls for a cease-fire and again vowed to crush the militant group’s ability to govern Gaza or threaten Israel.
Though more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians have fled their homes, several hundred thousand remain in the north, where Israeli troops and tanks have reportedly advanced on multiple sides of Gaza City.
The Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war has reached 8,525, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, more than 122 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids.
More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, most of them civilians slain in the initial Hamas rampage that started the fighting Oct. 7. In addition, 240 hostages were taken from Israel into Gaza by the militant group. One of the captives, a female Israeli soldier, was rescued in a special forces operation.
Palestinians look for survivors following Israeli airstrike in Nusseirat refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Doaa AlBaz)
GAZA HEALTH MINISTRY SAYS 219 PEOPLE DIED IN THE PAST DAY, BRINGING TOTAL TO 8,525
CAIRO — The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza said Tuesday it registered the deaths of at least 219 people in the past day, bringing the death toll to 8,525 since the war began.
Spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra said in a televised news conference that the fatalities include 3,542 children and 2,187 women.
He said the main power generator in the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia, north of Gaza, has stopped working due to a lack of fuel.
He warned that more hospitals could go out of service in the coming days if fuel isn’t allowed into the besieged territory.
FBI DIRECTOR WARNS OF INCREASED RISK OF TERROR ATTACKS IN WAKE OF ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
WASHINGTON — FBI Director Christopher Wray said Tuesday that multiple foreign extremist groups have called for attacks against Americans and the West in the past few weeks and suggested Hamas’ attack on Israel could inspire threats like those motivated by the Islamic State group years ago.
“We assess that the actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration the likes of which we haven’t seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate years ago,” Wray testified before a U.S. Senate committee.
Wray said the FBI isn’t currently tracking an “organized threat” in the U.S., but law enforcement is concerned about the war unfolding in the Middle East inspiring individual people or small groups to attack Americans in their daily lives.
The FBI expects cyber targeting of American interests and infrastructure, as well as the threat of other attacks, to get worse as the conflict expands, he said.
“It is a time to be concerned. We are in a dangerous period,” Wray said. “We shouldn’t stop going out but should be vigilant.”
Israeli artillery fires near the border with the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
NATO CHIEF WARNS AGAINST ESCALATION OF MIDEAST TENSIONS
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday said that Iran, Hezbollah and other groups must not abuse the current situation and escalate the tensions in the Middle East.
“It is also important that this war does not escalate into a major regional conflict,” Stoltenberg said in Oslo, where he attended the annual meeting of the Nordic Council.
“The suffering we have seen in recent weeks reminds us once again that we must not give up the work for a lasting, peaceful political solution to the conflict,” he said.
The eight-member regional grouping includes Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, as well as the autonomous areas of the Aland islands, the Faeroe Islands and Greenland.
Palestinians look for survivors under the rubble of a destroyed building following Israeli airstrikes in Nusseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Mohammed Dahman)
WAR RAISES FEARS FOR ISRAEL’S FARMING FUTURE
ASHKELON, Israel — The soldiers guarding Avi Chivivian’s organic vegetable farm in southern Israel must first scour every corner of his fields for militants before they give him the all clear: He has six hours to work.
It’s potato planting season for the farms of southern Israel, a region near the Gaza border that the Agriculture Ministry calls the country’s “vegetable barn” because it supplies at least a third of Israel’s vegetables. But Chivivian, one of the few remaining farmers in the area since the brutal Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas militants, no longer lives by the harvest cycle. He’s on the military’s timetable.
The Israel-Hamas war has plunged Israel’s agricultural heartlands, located around the Gaza Strip and in the north near the Lebanese and Syrian borders, into crisis. Israeli airstrikes, ground operations and a siege have also upendedall manner of lifein Gaza.
Near Gaza, the military has banned all farming within 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of the border fence and tightly monitors farmers whose lands lie just outside the no-go zone.
In the north, entire communities have been evacuated because of rocket fire from Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group. As foreign laborers flee and farming towns have emptied out, the country has begun importing more vegetables. The few remaining farmers fret for the future of Israeli agriculture.
Srettha Thavisin meets Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, in Vientiane on October 29, 2023.
“Laos is a neighbouring country that is of primary importance to Thailand. Lao-Thai people are like family and close relatives and friends who have a strong, long-lasting relationship,” Srettha Thavisin, Thailand’s Prime Minister, posted the message about visiting Laos on the weekend.
He paid an official visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) on October 29 at the invitation of Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR.
Beside having a discussion with the Sonexay, PM Srettha also met Thongloun Sisoulith, President of the Lao PDR and General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, and Xaysompone Phomvihane, President of the National Assembly of the Lao PDR.
PM Srettha Thavisin also meets Thongloun Sisoulith, President of the Lao PDR, on October 29, 2023.
The official visit reflected the special relationship between Thailand and the Lao PDR as neighbours that enjoy cultural similarities and close bonds at the people level. The visit also emphasized the importance of the Strategic Partnership for Growth and Sustainable Development between the two countries.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to working closely to advance their bilateral cooperation in all dimensions. There would be regular exchange of high-level visits between the two countries, and both sides will strengthen cooperation in security, economic, development, and people aspects.
On economic cooperation, they will strive to achieve the bilateral trade target of 11 billion US dollars by 2025 through various measures, such as better trade facilitation, expansion of cross-border networks of SMEs, and promotion of economic activities between border provinces of both countries.
Both sides agreed to expedite the process to start the construction of a new railway bridge over Mekong River at Nong Khai – Vientiane border crossing as early as possible by 2026 to support the cross-border rail freight growth between Thailand – Laos – China.
During this visit, the two Prime Ministers presided over the opening ceremony of the Vientiane Train Station (Khamsavath), which is a cooperation project between the two Governments, through Thailand’s Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA), to better connect the two countries’ rail systems.
The inaugural train service from Nong Khai station to the newly built Vientiane (Khamsavath) Station in inner Vientiane will start in 2024 to promote more cross-border tourism.
They were also pleased with the progress of the construction of the 5th Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge (Bueng Kan – Bolikhamxai), which is now almost 90 percent completed. The construction is expected to be completed and the bridge will be opened in the near future.
According to Thai foreign ministry, Thai and Laos looked forward to more projects in the pipeline to enhance better connectivity between the two countries and the region, including the construction of the 6th Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge (Ubon Ratchathani – Salavan) and the improvement of the National Road No. 12 (R12) from Thai – Lao border at Nakhon Phanom – Thakek to Lao – Viet Nam border at Na Phao – Cha Lo.
On transportation and logistics, both sides will work together to increase the efficiency of road and rail transshipment to boost bilateral and regional trade. Both sides will also expedite the establishment of Common Control Areas (CCA) to reduce customs procedures for cross-border transportation at the 2nd Thai – Lao Friendship Bridge (Mukdahan – Savannakhet), which is a major transport route between Thailand – Laos –Viet Nam.
On tourism, both sides will conclude a Joint Plan of Action to promote cross-border tourism and make joint activities to attract tourists, in conjunction with the 2024 Visit Laos Year.
Security agencies of the two countries will cooperate closely to maintain peace and stability along the border, and effectively tackle transnational crimes, especially drug trafficking and online scams. The updated Agreement on Cooperation in Border Security between Thailand and the Lao PDR is scheduled to be signed by the end of this year.
Both leaders agreed to work even more closely on the issue of transboundary haze, and tasked their relevant agencies to conclude the trilateral Joint Plan of Action – CLEAR Sky Strategy between Thailand, Lao PDR and Myanmar by the end of this year. Thailand will support the development of Lao PDR’s fire risk map and capacity building programmes on the control of forest fire and crop burning.
After their bilateral discussion, the two Prime Ministers presided over the handover ceremonies and witnessed the signing of documents as follows:
(1) Handover of the Learning Centre for the Development of Sustainable Agriculture based on the Application of Sufficiency Economy Philosophy at the Attapeu Integrated Vocational Education and Technical School;
(2) Handover of the Friendship Arboretum in Commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of Thai – Lao Diplomatic Relations;
(3) Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Exchange between the Ministry of Culture of Thailand and the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Lao PDR; and
(4) Signing of the Record of Discussion between NEDA and the Lao National Railway for Technical Assistance for Capacity Building for Locomotive Driving and Ticketing System and Development of a Business Model for the Lao National Railway.
Bangkok, Thailand- – ONYX Hospitality Group, a reputable force in Southeast Asia’s hospitality industry with over five decades of hospitality management experience, is thrilled to announce that its esteemed Amari Brand has been recognised with several prestigious awards at the recent Luxe Global Awards 2023, held at Amari Bangkok (formerly Amari Watergate Bangkok) in Thailand on Saturday, September 30.
These accolades celebrate Amari’s unwavering dedication to excellence in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry and its commitment to conducting business with a strong focus on environmental responsibility. Simultaneously, the Shama Brand Services Apartment has also garnered awards highlighting its dominance in the service apartment sector.
The awards received by Amari Brand fall into two significant categories. Firstly, Amari has been honoured for its outstanding contributions to the MICE industry, where it has consistently set benchmarks for excellence. Additionally, the brand was lauded for its commitment to conducting business with a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility, reflecting its dedication to sustainable practices.
Not to be outdone, the Shama Brand has asserted its prominence in the competitive service apartment landscape of the APAC region. These accolades reaffirm ONYX Hospitality Group’s commitment to providing exceptional service and accommodations to its valued guests.
Looking forward to the future, ONYX Hospitality Group is excited to announce ambitious plans for the Shama Portfolio. In 2024, the group is gearing up to expand its presence by adding five more locations, with a special focus on Malaysia and China. This strategic expansion reflects their confidence in the Shama Brand’s growth potential and their commitment to offering top-tier service apartments in new and exciting destinations.
The remarkable achievements of Amari Brand, the Shama Brand, and Oriental Residence Bangkok were unveiled and celebrated at the prestigious ITB Asia 2023 event. The awards received by Amari Brand include: Amari Bangkok: Best Luxury MICE Hotel (Global), Best Luxury Sustainable Hotel (Global) Amari Don Muang Airport Bangkok: Best Luxury Conference and Event Hotel (Regional), Best Luxury Eco/Green Hotel (Continent), Best Luxury Airport Hotel (Global)
Oriental Residence Bangkok has received the following awards: Best Authentic Experience Hotel (Continent), Best Prime Location (Global), Best Luxury City Escape (Global), Best Luxury Private Residence (Global)
Meanwhile, the Shama Brand was recognised with the following awards: Shama Lakeview Asoke Bangkok: Best Luxury City Serviced Apartments (Continent), Best Luxury Business Serviced Apartments (Global), Best Luxury Hotel Residence (Global)
These awards showcase ONYX Hospitality Group’s commitment to excellence, sustainability, and delivering exceptional experiences to guests across the globe. ONYX has been the proud recipient of many prestigious awards that underscore the group’s commitment to excellence and its ability to cater to diverse market segments and demands. For more information about ONYX Hospitality Group and its brands, please visit www.onyx-hospitality.com
Bansha Asarairat, Chairman of the Nong Khai Provincial Tourism Industry Council, told Prachachat ฺBusiness that a major Chinese investor, Tencent, the leading IT company in China and owner of WeChat, is currently very interested in investing heavily in the Nong Khai Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
This special economic zone covers an area of 718 rai and includes various projects with a total value of several billion baht. These projects include the construction of a logistics center, the establishment of a university and much more.
As for the university project, Tencent is in preliminary negotiations with Dhurakij Pundit University to invest in a degree program focusing on mechanical engineering that will train professionals who can support the railway system. As for the tourism aspect, the plan is to create a tourist attraction similar to an “ancient city” with duty-free shops and amusement parks.
Dhurakij Pundit University
There are also plans to build the world’s largest Vessavana statue, which will be linked to the world’s largest Guanyin statue in Kunming, marking the beginning of the China-Laos Railway Project. There is also a plan to build the world’s largest Naga in Laos. The aim is to create a tourist route connecting three countries.
Bansha said that about 4,500 Chinese tourists entered Thailand through Nong Khai in September and the number is expected to increase every month after the Tourism Industry Council of Nong Khai and the Promotion Association signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese government in Kunming to bring one million tourists to the country. There are plans to increase the number of train services from Kunming to Vientiane from the current two per day to five or six per day.
Two women pose for photos with the bullet train at the China-Laos railway Vientiane station in the Lao capital Vientiane, Oct 16, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]“If we stick to the plans outlined in the MOU, the number of Chinese visitors to Nong Khai will increase, estimated at 2,000 to 3,000 people per day, especially during festivals such as the annual Naga Fireball Festival festival on October 29. It was observed that about 4,000-5,000 Chinese tourists booked accommodation in the area on that day,” said Bansha.
However, this project faces infrastructural challenges, particularly with regard to road access to the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge to connect with the future China-Laos high-speed rail project, which covers a distance of 13 kilometers.
The Department of Highways has not yet allocated a budget for the construction, which led to a request for urgent action during Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s visited Nong Khai on October 29.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin visited Nong Khai on October 29, 2023.
❖No.1 Developer of Global Landmark Destination:Achieving traffic of over 100 million visitors across all shopping malls in 2023 and reigning as the No.1 destinations for Thai and international tourists.
❖No.1 Creator of Holiday Season Experiences: Delivering global experience through over 40 iconic events in the final quarter of the year.
❖No. 1 Countdown Landmark:#1 Delivering a spectacular celebration as a Global Countdown Destination
(Bangkok – October 31, 2023) As part of its efforts to reinforce its leadership in global destination development, Siam Piwat Group, a leading real estate and retail developer, the owner and operator of Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery, and a joint venture partner of ICONSIAM, ICS, and Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok, is joining forces with global partners to launch a series of world-class events all through the last two months of 2023. The objectives are to strengthen the position of Siam Piwat’s shopping centers as the world’s best celebration venues, exponentially boost the traffic of each mall, stimulate the tourism economy, as well as solidify Thailand’s reputation as a premier destination to attract tourists from across the globe.
Mr. Supoj Chaiwatsirikul, Managing Director, ICONSIAM Co., Ltd., stated, “ICONSIAM is recognized by Thai and international visitors from across the world as a global destination and Thailand’s landmark by the Chao Phraya River. Over the past three years, we have achieved the record number of visitors, with a remarkable 70% year-over-year growth in the first half of 2023. During weekends, we are seeing exceptional traffic, with daily visitors numbering between 120,000 to 140,000, and we are confident that in the final quarter of this year, we will be able to increase the number of visitors by over 70%.”
ICONSIAM is launching the “World Collaboration” project in collaboration with five world-class partners from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, and France, who are coming together to deliver a series of world-class entertainment events, leveraging soft power to stimulate the economy in the final stretch of the year.
The 5th Anniversary of The ICON Unrivaled – A magnificent celebration by the Chao Phraya River featuring a full lineup of Thai and international artists, to be held on November 9-11, 2023
Bangkok Illumination 2023 – The annual spectacular lighting festival by the Chao Phraya River featuring a colorful and breathtaking display and a unique Thai-style Christmas tree, to be held from November 1, 2023 – January 5, 2024and “ICONSIAM UNRIVALED WORLD OF ILLUMINATION 2023”, to be held on December 1-31, at River Park, ICONSIAM
ICONSIAM CHAO PHRAYA RIVER OF ETERNAL PROSPERITY – A grand Loy Krathong celebration with a dazzling light and sound display and an array of Thai cultural activities from SookSiam, to be held on November 27, 2023
Amazing Thailand Countdown 2024 – A majestic global-scale New Year’s Eve countdown by the Chao Phraya River at Thailand’s most magnificent landmark recognized worldwide as a global countdown destination, with a full-scale entertainment extravaganza and concerts by top Thai and international artists, to be held from December 29-31, 2023 at River Park, ICONSIAM
Ms. Saruntorn Asaves, First Executive Vice President, Head of Shopping Center Business Division, Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., stated, “Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery are joining hands with global partners to launch a more spectacular and colorful celebration than ever before, transcend all limits of entertainment with world-class iconic events featuring top Global Artists, as well as inspire and dazzle all with beloved Global Characters, with the goal of solidifying Thailand’s position as “THE WORLD’s BEST FESTIVE DESTINATION” and creating a Global Experience of happiness that will bring people from all around the world to join in the celebration.”
Siam Paragon is reaffirming its position as one of the world’s best luxury destinations by collaborating with the globally renowned luxury brand “Bvlgari” to create a unique Christmas celebration under the theme “Magnificent Wonders” to offer a luxury experience for all from November 30, 2023, to January 16, 2024.
Furthermore, Siam Paragon will also transform itself into “The Grand Stage of the World” with a grand celebration featuring World-class Iconic Events that will bring joy to everyone and exceed all expectations – a series of spectacular weekly international shows throughout December at Parc Paragon.
Siam Paragon Magical Balloon Wonderland: Orchestra of the Skies – Enjoy a spectacular balloon festival by Plasticiens Volants from France featuring a full 360-degree immersive light and sound show, complete with a world-class orchestra performance, taking place from December 8-11.
Siam Paragon Carnival International Show – Experience the exclusive performances “Le Dame e La Serva” & Pappagalli from the Netherlands,” which will immerse you in a dazzling world beyond the bounds of imagination featuring many fantastical characters, to be held from December 15-17.
Siam Paragon Christmas Celebration – Enjoy the Amorous Ballad from France, a performance promising to immerse you in Christmas festivities and deliver smiles, music, and special surprises for everyone, to be held from December 22-25.
Siam Paragon Festive Celebration & Countdown – Bid farewell to the year 2022 with a full-scale concert featuring a spectacular lineup of top artists on December 30-31 and a countdown to the New Year that promises to impress and delight all visitors.
Siam Center, the Ideapolis, is actively promoting creativity and cultural diversity in support of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Colorful Bangkok 2023 policy. As part of this effort, Siam Center is partnering with XEVA or Yoo Seung-Baik, a renowned female street artist from South Korea who has worked with various world-class brands, to bring her signature vibrant graffiti artworks to Siam Center’s venue of festivities under the concept “Cosmic Playground,” with the Thai idol group 789 contributing their youthful energy to this project. Siam Center presents XEVA X 789 COSMIC PLAYGROUND will be on display from November 14, 2023 to January 7, 2024.
Siam Discovery, the Exploratorium, is also delivering a unique and innovative Christmas experience. To celebrate the holiday season while meeting sustainability goals of the future in all dimensions, Siam Discovery is collaborating with PTT Global Chemicals Public Company Limited (GC) and Bellygom to create the Sustainable Living X’mas Tree 2023, made from discarded HDPE (high-density polyethylene) plastic bottles, known for their flexibility, strength, and toughness.
This event will feature the renowned pink teddy bear Bellygom from South Korea as well as Bellygom-themed wrapping paper. In addition to the Christmas tree, a full range of entertainment activities by artists and singers will also be hosted throughout December to offer an exciting and joyful experience for everyone, to be held from November 17,2023 to January 14,2024.
In addition, ICONSIAM, Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery are hosting an exclusive promotion campaign through the last two months of 2023. In celebration of the one-of-a-kind experience that exceeds all expectations on ONESIAM SuperApp, the “VIZ Member Day 2023” campaign will also be hosted on November 7-9, 2023 to offer a full range of privileges and benefits to VIZ members.
During this campaign, members can receive double the VIZ Coins when shopping and accumulating them through Snap & Collect and earn 10 times the VIZ Coins when making purchases in the Digital Mall category. In addition, they will spend VIZ Coins, they will receive the same amount of VIZ Coins in return.
Additionally, members can transfer and convert points from participating credit cards into VIZ Coins. This is not to mention an array of many other privileges and benefits that will be offered to both Thai and international shoppers to deliver happiness and enhance their shopping experience on this special occasion.
Siam Piwat Group believes that this grand celebration on a global scale will not only deliver moments of joy and memorable experiences but will also serve a significant driver of the economy and help to enhance Thailand’s tourism industry sustainably.
Tankhun Jitissara, Chairman of the Human Rights and Gender Equality Promotion Committee, Democrat Party (center), joins the protest against sexual harassment.
The Move Forward Party (MFP ), which was the most popular party in May’s general election, now faces a credibility problem after its members allegedly sexually harassed women. This has raised concerns about the party’s handling of the situation, with the party leadership in particular being criticized for not acting quickly enough.
Critics of the MFP, organized under a Facebook fan page titled “What is the MFP lying today?”, held an event at the Thai Summit Tower to call on the party to speed up investigations into the alleged sexual harassment of a party member.
Protesters held an event against sexual harassment at the Thai Summit Tower, where the MFP headquarter is located, on October 31, 2023.
Notable figures from both the Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirts were present at the event, including Niyom Nopparat and Tankhun Jitissara, Chairman of the Human Rights and Gender Equality Promotion Committee, Democrat Party
Niyom accused the Move Forward Party of not sending representatives to receive their petition, implying that the party does not seem interested in listening to their concerns. He stressed the need for the party to be clear and transparent, especially because the alleged victims are those who volunteered and supported the party by helping it gain a voice.
Niyom Nopparat (center) the red shirt member
In addition, Niyom questioned the lack of response to the issue by the National Human Rights Commission and wondered whether these organizations are biased.
Tankhun also commented on how men in higher positions in society, such as in politics or among their own supporters, could silence the victims and compound the trauma by making the allegations appear untrue. He stressed the need for the party to be thoroughly investigated or given a fair trial by parliament.
Speaking about the event, he also said that it was a good chance for the yellow and red shirts to work together to fight the orange fandoms of the MFP.
Chairman of the Special Working Group to Solve the Problem of Sexual Violence of the MFP, Bencha Saengchantra, confirmed that there will be a discussion within the party on the two cases of alleged harassment and sexual misconduct. This discussion will take place during a meeting with the party leadership on 1 November at 5:00 pm. She assured that the party takes the matter seriously and will handle it appropriately.
