(Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya)The cabinet has approved tax cuts on alcoholic beverages, with wine prices set to fall significantly, in order to boost tourism. As well, the excise tax on entertainment venues would be halved to 5% of gross revenue to help operators still feeling the after-effects of the pandemic. The figure included 64.17 billion baht from alcoholic beverages, 86.5 billion from beer and 26.95 billion baht from other beverages. The current excise tax structure is divided into two tiers. However, excise tax is also applied to the volume and degree of alcohol.

At least 30 people were killed after a powerful earthquake hit Japan on New Year's Day, with rescue teams on Tuesday (January 2) struggling to reach isolated areas where buildings had been toppled, roads wrecked and power cut to tens of thousands of homes.

A powerful earthquake struck central Japan on Monday, triggering warnings for residents to evacuate some coastal areas, knocking out power to thousands of homes and disrupting flights.

But 2023 ended up at around +1.4°C, with huge wildfires, massive floods and storms, killer heat waves -- and Dr Hansen says 2024, with the El Niño boost, will be much worse. Then after the El Niño finishes, it will drop back -- but it's not going to drop all the way back to 1.2°. Dr Mann responded to Dr Hansen's paper within a few days of its publication in November. Neither is very optimistic about our ability to deal with the climate threat: even Dr Mann, dismissing Dr Hansen's arguments, says "It's bad enough already." Dr Hansen has been kind enough to give us a tool.

Malaysians and Chinese top foreign arrivals in 2023Thais and Malaysians worship deities in Hat Yai district of Songkhla during the Vegetarian Festival in October. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)Thailand welcomed more than 27 million visitors this year with Malaysians forming the biggest group, followed by those from China, according to a government spokesman. Spokesman Chai Wacharonke said that from Jan 1 to Dec 24, there were 27.25 million visitors. The figure met the government's target of 25-28 million visitors for 2023. Next year the government intends to raise revenue to 3.5 trillion baht with tourism stimulus measures nationwide.

NGV prices capped for up to 2 yearsProtesters hold up a sign bemoaning the price of natural gas for public transport vehicles. Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga wrote on Facebook on Sunday that the measure came in response to a petition from truck, bus and taxi drivers last month asking for help as market prices for natural gas for vehicles (NGV) exceeded 20 baht per kilogramme. For buses in other provinces, PTT's NGV price will be 18.59 baht/kg until Dec 31, 2025. The state-run company is to cap sales of NGV at 12,000 baht per month for taxis and 10,000-40,000 baht per month for buses of different sizes. For other vehicles, the NGV price will be capped at 19.59 baht/kg from Jan 1 to May 15, 2024.

Flooding in a railway tunnel near London forced the cancellation of more than a dozen trains linking Britain with the European mainland early on Saturday (December 30), international rail operator Eurostar said. Daniel, a passenger travelling to Paris said not many information has been given while they wait at London's St. - REUTERS

(Photo: Prasit Tangprasert)Thirty-four people were killed and 335 injured in road accidents nationwide on Friday, the first day of the government’s road safety campaign. A total of 339 road accidents were reported on Friday, said Chotenarin Kerdsom, deputy permanent secretary for the Ministry of Interior, citing figures from the Road Safety Directing Centre. Those aged 20 to 29 accounted for the highest number of injuries or deaths by age group. Khon Kaen in the Northeast registered the highest number of road accidents at 24 and the highest number of injuries at 23. During the “seven dangerous days” between Dec 29, 2022 and Jan 4, 2023, a total of 2,440 road accidents were reported, with 317 dead and 2,437 injured.

Flooding disaster death toll rises to 12Railway officials send a vehicle to evacuate villagers at flood-hit Balo village in Raman district, Yala on Thursday. (Photo: Assawin Pakkawan)The death toll from the floods in three deep South provinces has risen to at least 12. Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew has received a report saying the death toll has reached 12, with eight people dead in Narathiwat, three in Yala and one in Pattani. Eleven public health service centres in Narathiwat, 12 in Yala and 11 in Pattani have been closed due to the floods. In Pattani, the flood situation is still critical, with overflow from the Pattani and Sai Buri rivers inundating Pattani town on Friday.

Broken societies and dysfunctional political systems have undermined the appeal of democracy and led to structural polarisation and visceral social divisions. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is headed for a third straight win. Imran Khan, the cricket icon who entered politics and became prime minister, was removed from office in a no-confidence vote in April last year. In the United Kingdom, such a movement came forth in the late 1990s under former prime minister Tony Blair. With very few exceptions, when all is said and done, there is no exit from elections and democracy.

Who had it bad and who had it good across the Indo-Pacific? Worst Year: Asia's ForgottenIn 2023, Asia's most vulnerable -- often displaced by armed conflict -- remained too often for the most part forgotten. The most significant escalation in hostilities in Myanmar since the 2021 coup, for example, worsened an ongoing humanitarian crisis in 2023. Bad Year: China's Property MarketFor millions of Chinese citizens still waiting for homes they put down payments on but might never be built, 2023 was a particularly bad year for China's property market. And for that reason and for uplifting spirits and bringing a bit of hope and joy in a tough year, ISRO wins "Best Year in Asia 2023."

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin chairs a meeting on the national strategy at Government House on Wednesday. Mr Srettha told a national strategy committee meeting on Wednesday he does not believe in planning too far ahead, especially for a national pathway that hinges on an outlook spanning 20 years. The meeting at Government House was also attended by House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, Senate Speaker Pornpetch Wichitcholchai and senior officials, including the defence permanent secretary. The strategy is guided by the sufficiency principle set out by the late King Rama IX. "We don't want future generations in the next 20 years to be tied to the ideas of older people.

How not to hit the roadTomorrow, millions of holiday makers will hit the road to celebrate New Year. Every year, the government and its various ministries roll out the so-called "Seven Dangerous Days" campaign to reduce traffic accidents. For this year, the government has set a target to cut the number of road accidents during the festive period by 5%. According to the Command Centre for the Prevention of Road Accidents under the Interior Ministry, the number of casualties from road accidents during the so-called "Seven Dangerous Days" campaign during the festive holidays in the last three years has been steadily dropping. Despite doubts, it is likely that authorities can do better if they properly address the cause of traffic accidents.

Former red shirt leader Jatuporn believes ex-PM will follow the same path as her brother in 2024Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra is seen at an unknown location in a photo posted on her Instagram account on Dec 26. (@pouyingluck_shin Instagram)Fugitive former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra could return to Thailand next year following in the footsteps of her brother, jailed ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, according to political activist Jatuporn Prompan. If Yingluck decided to return from her self-imposed exile, she would have to go through the judicial system before seeking a royal pardon, just like her older brother, said Mr Wissanu. “Based on the practice in Thaksin’s case, the procedure for Yingluck would be the same. In an interview in June when Thaksin’s homecoming was announced, Yingluck, 56, expressed her desire to return home and said: “But it’s up to fate.

A voter casts a ballot at a polling station in Bangkok’s Dusit district in the referendum vote on the draft constitution in 2016. (Bangkok Post file photo)The government committee drafting new guidelines on holding a referendum to find common ground on how the 2017 constitution should be amended has decided to ask only one question in the first of three referenda to be conducted on the charter amendment. The committee is gauging public opinion on the wording in an attempt to defuse social and political conflicts related to another round of changes to the charter. The committee also approved a proposal to hold three proposed referenda on the charter amendment, he said. Mr Somchai suggested that a more suitable referendum question would be whether the public agrees with the government's proposal to rewrite the charter with an elected charter drafting assembly.