According to AirlineRatings’ website, the rankings were judged by seven editors with more than 200 years of industry experience between them, combined with major safety and government audits and based on 12 key criteria including fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, investment rating, product offerings, and staff relations.

The Best 10 Airlines 2020 are as follows:

1. Air New Zealand

2. Singapore Airlines

3. All Nippon Airways

4. Qantas

5. Cathay Pacific Airways

6. Emirates

7. Virgin Atlantic

8. EVA Air

9. Qatar Airways

10. Virgin Australia

“Magic paper is basically blotter paper with drops of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD or acid), which is a type-one narcotic substance with hallucinogenic effects,” he said. “It will be cut into small pieces like postal stamps, decorated with various patterns and colors, and consumed by placing it under the tongue. The drug will take effect within 30-90 minutes and lasts 8-12 hours.”

According to Manus, users of magic paper will experience dilated pupils, rises in body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate, loss of appetite, sweating and shaking. The drug will also cause hallucinations and paranoia, which could lead to self-harm or attacks on others and, in severe cases, suicide.

Dr Sarayut Boonchaipanichwattana, director of The Princess Mother National Institute on Drug Abuse Treatment (PMNIDAT), added that while there are as yet no reports of widespread use in Thailand, magic papers are occasionally found among foreign tourists visiting the country. “We do however feel it necessary to warn other parties and raise their level of understanding. Parents need not to be panic yet, but should keep a close eye on their children’s behavior,” he added. “If you have any questions regarding drug abuse, please contact drug hotline 1165 or visit our website: www.pmindat.go.th.”

Ships are advised to proceed with caution. Run-off from downpours will drain slowly and flash flooding on the Gulf side of the coast is likely.

The moderate high pressure system keeps upper Thailand dry but cool with minimum temperatures of 15-21 °C and frost in some parts. It will be cold to very cold on mountaintops with minimum temperatures of 5-15 °C.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is as follows:

Northern region: Cool in the morning, temperature lows of 16-20 degrees and highs of 31-35 degrees Celsius. Temperature likely to drop to 5-12 degrees on hilltops with frost in parts.

Northeastern region: Cool and foggy in the morning, lows 17-22 degrees and highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius. Temperature likely to drop to 9-15 degrees on hilltops.

Central region: Cool in the morning; lows of 20-23 degrees, highs 32-35 degrees Celsius.

Eastern region: Cool in the morning; lows 21-25 degrees, highs 34-36 degree Celsius; wave height 1-2 metres.

Southern region (east coast): Cloudy with thunder showers in 60 per cent of the area and heavy rain in parts; lows of 23-26 degrees, high 29-33 degrees Celsius; wave height 2-3 metres, increasing to 3 metres during storms.

Southern region (west coast): Cloudy with thunder showers in 40 per cent of the area and heavy rain in parts; lows 23-24 degrees, highs 32-34 degree Celsius; wave height 1-2 metres, increasing to 2 metres during storms.

Bangkok and surrounding area: Partly cloudy; lows 23-25 degrees, highs 33-36 degrees Celsius.

A study has found that between 2004 and 2018, Asean countries imported seven times the amount of products it had imported previously from China, valued at US$277 billion (Bt6.85 trillion), while exports to the Asian giant were 4.1 times higher and worth $194.53 billion during the period, said Aat Pisanwanich, director of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s Centre for International Trade Studies.

Exports within Asean itself dropped, especially to the CLMV bloc. The CLMV export rate to China was 22.3 times higher, valued at $58.21 billion, while imports were 17.6 times higher, valued at $95.37 billion, he said.

China currently enjoys the highest market share in the CLMV, which can pose a risk to Thai exports in the next five years.

In five years, Thailand could see a loss of market share in Vietnam for thread, woven clothes, synthetic fibre, lobster, shrimp, wood products, steel, corn, leather, household tools, travelling bags, tea, coffee, lead plates, shells, electric containers, dried fruit, chemicals, concrete, sugar, cassava, batteries, sparkler products and matches, Aat said.

In Myanmar, the loss might occur for such products as liquor, sauces, seasonings, powder, clothes, grain, tyres, paper, utensils, fish products, spoons and forks. In Laos, it could be cereals, flour, synthetic rubber, sugar, blankets, artificial flowers, artificial leaves, artificial fruit and carpets, while Thailand could see decreasing exports of sugar, lime, cement and fabrics for industrial use to Cambodia.

Foreign direct investment from China in 2018 expanded 124 per cent from 2011 – most of it going to Cambodia – while Chinese investment in Thailand expanded by $497 million, Aat said.

To avoid business risks, Thailand needs to sell more products to Laos as it’s a neighbouring country or make that nation a production base for exporting goods to other countries, he advised.

Moreover, the provinces located near the China-Laos Railway need to find opportunities for businesses building distribution centres for products made in Thailand, he said, adding that Thai businesses must increasingly open outlets at Chinese hotels and shopping centres so that more Thai goods can be sold in China.

The draft requires that:

1. The Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development provide training and jobs for teenage mothers;

2. The Department of Children and Youth seek volunteers to provide care for children in case teenage mothers become incapacitated; and

3. Counselling services or advice centres be opened for teenagers and families. The centres should also provide suitable and safe accommodation and coordinate with relevant departments to provide appropriate education for teen mothers.

The draft also set a proactive approach by supporting the Children and Youth Council of Thailand, which can help in the prevention, remedy or monitoring of adolescent pregnancies.

In the first half of the year, there were 6,500 units available for sale at these locations, and 88 per cent of them were snapped up. This compares to around 80 per cent in the past three years.

“The 88 per cent of sales was outstanding. It was higher than the 83 per cent average in Bangkok, showing that Bang Na-Trad Road and nearby areas are interesting locations,” she said.

Moreover, new supply increased in these areas – from 1,200 to 1,800 units per year – while yearly demand rose.

“Also, the average absorption rate in the first half of this year was 3.68 houses per month – higher than the total market average of 2.82 houses per month,” Suwannee said.

The most popular price range for houses in these locations was Bt5 million to Bt7 million. In the first half, approximately 1,800 units were launched, with a sales rate of 95 per cent and an absorption rate of 5.41 houses per month.

“This absorption rate was higher than 3.33 houses per month of the total single-house projects with the same price rate in locations across Bangkok,” she said.

Other locations along Bang Na-Trad Road, such as the Si Waree Noi area, were also notable. Plus Property found that there were new Bang Na-Suvarnabhumi projects that were launched in the areas.

Along the highway, numerous mixed-use and shopping mall projects were also developed.

They were Central Village, Market Village, King Power Srivaree, golf courts and hospitals, making the areas more lively compared to the past, when people needed to go into the city for working or shopping.

Thanathorn lost his MP status after a November 20 verdict by the Constitutional Court after charges that he registered to run in the March election while still holding shares in V Luck Media, in violation of the law.

Isara said the sticker was removed after the officers discussed the issue with the Parliament president.

“The officers respect all MPs and parties. However, the House felt that as a government building, no form of writing or drawing should be allowed on the wall.

“They should respect the place and others,” Isara added.

“The rumour is completely groundless,” he said.

“It is not true that the SLF will remit the debt of borrowers who convert to Islam. Religion has no influence on the loan application or conditions. Borrowers should refrain from believing unverified information and contact the SLF office if they have any inquiry,” he said.

“The SLF is an affiliate of the Finance Ministry, which assigned two banks under its supervision to handle loan applications – Krungthai Bank and the Islamic Bank of Thailand. Borrowers can freely choose to apply for a loan at either of these two banks.”

Chainarong said Krungthai Bank had been assigned to manage the SLF’s applications since 1996, and in 2010 the Finance Ministry decided to add the Islamic Bank to the campaign to increase its service channels for borrowers.

“The SLF currently has 5.7 million borrowers, 97 per cent of them applied via Krung Thai Bank, and 3 per cent through the Islamic Bank,” he said.

“I really appreciate the film. It shows how difficult was it to bring children and their coach out of the cave. Like everyone else, I really didn’t think it would be that hard at the beginning but it was only when I was there, in front of the cave, that I fully appreciated the difficulties involved. And the thousands of people who amassed in the area certainly didn’t make it any easier. But the movie does not mention our four-part action plan, namely to pump out as much water as a diver needs to help the children out; to explore the top of the hill to find an alternative entrance; to find the path of the water that flows into the cave; and identify the thinnest part of the cave wall to find where the children were and then drill,” he said. He also felt uneasy about the assault on the Thai government officers shown in the movie.

Waller said the film shows the rescue of the children from the cave by the team who participated in the real event. “I wasn’t there so my information comes from those who had interesting stories including one about a person who wanted to help but didn’t know who to contact and someone else who had to submit the ID card to receive a visitor’s pass. I wanted a balanced movie, not one that is biased. There were many elements in this movie”

Waller later posted on his Facebook page: “Last night, I went to the premiere of The Cave and fortunately met the governor. In the first 20 minutes, he told me off for using false information in the trailer. He said it shouldn’t be claimed as being based on a true story. He was so busy that he didn’t introduce himself to Jim Warny. I don’t want him to criticise the movie for the wrong information since he didn’t even watch the whole film. I admit there were changes but it’s a film.”