BANGKOK (The Nation Thailand/ANN): The Thai government thanks The White Lotus and Lisa from Blackpink for boosting the country's serene island Koh Samui’s popularity. The series has driven a 65% surge in US tourist interest and a rise in luxury hotel bookings, contributing to Thailand’s growing appeal as a filming destination. In a media release, the government...
JAKARTA (Xinhua): The Indonesian government plans to purchase more rice from farmers in 2025 to enhance their welfare and ensure food security, a minister has announced. Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said that the volume of rice purchases would increase from 2 million tons this year to 2.5 million tons next year. The rice will...
BEIJING (Bloomberg): China said that it doesn’t teach its people to detest Japan, comments that came after diplomats from the two nations met to discuss the stabbing death of a Japanese child. "There is no so-called Japan-hating education in China,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Monday at a regular press briefing in Beijing. "We advocate learning...
DHAKA (Bloomberg): Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned Monday after weeks of deadly protests, while the nation’s army chief announced he would help form an interim government. Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman made the announcement in a televised address, saying he’d invited political leaders to a meeting and will also meet with President Mohammed Shahabuddin on the matter....
BANGKOK (AP): Thailand's prime minister sannounced Monday that eligible businesses and individuals can register from August for digital cash handouts, a controversial programme that will cost billions of dollars and is meant to boost the lagging economy. The government announced in April the widely criticized ambitious plan, named the "Digital Wallet,” meant to give 10,000 baht...
BANGKOK (Reuters): Thailand's cabinet on Tuesday agreed to extend a waiver on operating fees for hoteliers for two more years to support the recovery of the country's tourism sector, and also approved a subsidy for rice farmers. The exemption of the annual fee of 40 baht (US$1.1) per hotel room from July 2024 to June 2026...
