- Bangkok News
Thai traditional dress set to be listed on UNESCO
The Ministry of Culture is gearing up to propose the inclusion of Thai traditional dress in UNESCO‘s prestigious intangible cultural heritage listings. The visionary behind this move is none other than Kowit Pakamart, the director-general of the Department of Cultural Promotion. To pave the way for this historic proposal, the department recently orchestrated a vibrant brainstorming session at the Thailand…
- Thailand News
Social media meltdown: X and X Pro crash
All around the globe, social media behemoths X and X Pro plunged into darkness, leaving millions in the dark. The cyber realm descended into chaos early today, December 21, as Downdetector.com sounded the alarm, uncovering a vast outage on the platforms that left users stranded and bewildered. Formerly the avatars of tweets and trends, X (formerly Twitter) and X Pro…
- Phuket News
Unexpected algae bloom hits Patong beach due to premature seaweed growth
Yesterday, employees from the Public Health and Environment Division of Patong Municipality were hard at work on Patong Beach, clearing off algae that washed ashore. This unexpected event came as a result of an algae bloom and has yet to be formally addressed by Patong Municipality. The purpose of this timely response was primarily to retain the aesthetic appeal of Patong…
- Thailand News
Nonthaburi police nab Indian man for illegal money lending and visa overstay
Nonthaburi Immigration Police apprehended an Indian man yesterday, accused of illegal money lending and found to have overstayed his visa by more than six years. The 39 year old man was apprehended outside a rented accommodation in Moo 3 village, located in Tambon Bang Rak Noi of Mueang district. The detention was a result of an investigation into foreign nationals…
- Thailand News
Government to shoulder Covid-19 insurance claims as insurers buckle under 60 billion baht payouts
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat has revealed that the Thai government may have to step in to assist with the hefty burden arising from Covid-19 insurance claims. The grim situation has seen total payouts skyrocket to almost 60 billion baht, leaving non-life insurance companies in shambles and prompting the closure of those unable to meet the financial demands. Julapun disclosed…
- Phuket News
Endangered leatherback turtle nest discovered on Phuket beach
Phuket woke up to a delightful surprise on December 18 when a nest of a leatherback turtle was discovered at Tha Sai Beach in the Na Toei area of Thai Mueang District, Phang Nga, situated north of Phuket. The find, reported by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), marks another significant milestone in the conservation efforts for this…
- Thailand News
Will the 2024 fiscal year save the Thai economy?
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat revealed that Thailand‘s eagerly awaited 3.48 trillion baht budget for the 2024 fiscal year won’t see the light until early May. Originally set to kick off on October 1, the budget got tangled in the web of politics, with May’s election and the lengthy government formation process pushing the official start to September 5. According…
- Thailand News
Thailand government expands Red Line electric train to Ayutthaya and Nakhon Pathom
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has received a directive from the government to broaden the Red Line electric train system to include Ayutthaya and Nakhon Pathom. Surapong Piyachote, Deputy Transport Minister, on Wednesday disclosed that the existing 8.8 kilometer stretch from Rangsit to Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus will be extended to Ayutthaya. In a similar vein, the 14.8 kilometer…
- Thailand News
Thai health charter chairman advocates for cannabis in wellness tourism
Dr Kampon Sriwatanakul, chairman of the Thailand National Charter of Health, has called for the adoption of a holistic wellness technique to leverage the potential of cannabis in bolstering the nation‘s tourism. He delivered these remarks at the 4th CISW MedCann Investment Summit 2023, which took place yesterday, December 20. The chairman advocated for a wellness tourism model revolving around…
- Thailand News
Thai worker returns to Israeli farm amidst conflict to support family
A 33 year old man from Buri Ram has opted to return to his job on an Israeli farm, notwithstanding the ongoing conflict in the region. He had initially returned to Thailand as part of the government’s repatriation initiative that brought thousands of Thai workers home from Israel. With mounting debts and a family to support, Tom Prongjit found the…
- Thailand News
Bangladesh on the brink: Opposition calls for general election boycott amidst political turmoil
Bangladesh‘s political landscape is teetering on the edge as the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), intensifies its calls for a boycott of the upcoming January 7 general election. The stakes are high, with the BNP warning of a one-sided dummy election unless Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina steps down. Struggling with key leaders either imprisoned or in exile,…
- Thailand News
Survey reveals half of Thai workers unprepared for retirement
In a startling revelation, a recent survey conducted by the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy at Chulalongkorn University has unveiled a concerning truth – a staggering 50% of working-age Thais are not financially equipped for retirement. The implications are dire, as experts warn of the impending challenges faced by the nation’s ageing population. The survey, involving 2,400 participants nationwide, disclosed…
- Thailand News
Young firefighter steals hearts and extinguishes flames
Capturing the internet’s attention, six year old Peerapat, a kindergarten student at Wat U-Tapao Kindergarten in Chon Buri, has become a viral sensation after a video of him extinguishing a forest fire alongside adult firefighters surfaced on social media. The video, shared on Thai social media on December 18, has amassed over 2 million views, turning Peerapat into a symbol…
- Thailand News
Explosive growth in Thai insurance industry predicted for 2024
The Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA) has foreseen an unprecedented surge in the insurance industry, with premiums expected to skyrocket to 303 billion baht in 2024. The TGIA president, Somporn Suebthawilkul, revealed the industry’s trajectory, unveiling that premiums for the initial nine months of this year already hit a whopping 210 billion baht, marking a staggering 5.2% rise from the…
- Phuket News
Illegal labour crackdown in Phuket ensnares 30 Chinese men
Yesterday in Tambon Thepkrasattri, an enclave in Phuket, Thailand, police apprehended 30 Chinese men on charges of illegal labour. The detained, aged between 24 and 59 years old, were caught in the act, with 12 of them arrested at a construction site in Baan Pa Khlok Cheep, and the remaining 18 along Wong Chalerm Village Road. Now, further investigations are…
- Crime News
Thai police warn about rise in deepfake AI related crime
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has issued a public warning about the potential rise in crime related to advanced deepfake AI technology. This technology, capable of swapping faces and mimicking voices, is feared to be the next tool for scammers in the coming year. The warning stemmed from the national police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol’s concerns, which were communicated…
- Thailand News
Thai military launches early retirement scheme funded by 600 million baht
The Defence Ministry is advancing with an initiative to streamline the Thai military, proposing the allocation of 600 million baht from the central budget to facilitate an early retirement scheme over the next three years. Defence Minister, Sutin Klungsang, unveiled the strategy as a crucial part of the plan to reduce and optimise the military force, with the initial phase…
- Thailand News
Thailand and Cambodia to resume talks over disputed Gulf region
February will see the reignition of talks between Thailand and Cambodia regarding a disputed region in the Gulf of Thailand, spanning 26,000 square kilometres. This area, rich in energy resources, is a matter of contention as both nations lay claim to it. Experts suggest that the discussions should primarily concentrate on the mutual development of energy resources in the Overlapping…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s tripartite committee to reconsider new minimum daily wage
A pivotal meeting is set to take place on Tuesday, led by the tripartite committee on minimum daily wages in Thailand. The discussion is centred around the possibility of revising the new daily wage rate that was established on December 8. This comes in the wake of comments made by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin criticising the newly determined rate as…
- Thailand News
The hidden struggle of Thailand’s overlooked workforce
Thailand’s National Statistical Office (NSO) Director, Piyanut Wuthison, has exposed the stark reality of the nation’s labour force where 21 million workers in the informal sector constitute a staggering 52.3% of Thailand‘s workforce. “Our annual survey sheds light on the silent warriors of the informal labour sector, a staggering 21 million strong. These workers, often grappling with irregular hours and…
- Phuket News
Man disrupts tranquillity on Soi Ta-iad, Phuket with knife
Late in the afternoon yesterday, an unusual spectacle unfolded on Soi Ta-iad in Chalong, Phuket. A visibly agitated, physically imposing man was seen storming down the street, brandishing a nine-inch knife. The sight served as a jarring interruption to the tranquillity typically enjoyed by the fitness enthusiasts and athletes training in Muay Thai and MMA on this street. The local…
- Thailand News
EEC water miracle: Government’s plan ensures businesses swim through summer
The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) can breathe a sigh of relief as the government swoops in to address concerns over looming water shortages, promising a well-hydrated future until the summer of next year. The EEC, a flagship special economic zone spanning Rayong, Chon Buri, and Chachoengsao, faced imminent water crises, raising alarms within the community. Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin…
- Politics News
Cambodia’s prime minister to discuss cross-border trade in Thailand
Hun Manet, the prime minister of Cambodia, has plans to visit Thailand in February to participate in a joint Thai-Cambodian cabinet meeting. The primary focus of this meeting will be to discuss and enhance bilateral cooperation, particularly concerning cross-border trade between the two nations. This was revealed by Thailand’s prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, during a media interaction on Monday. The…
- Phuket News
British man found dead at Phuket hospital after suspected fall
A tragic incident unfolded in the early morning hours yesterday (December 18), when a 69 year old British man was discovered lifeless at Thalang Hospital in Phuket. The circumstances surrounding his death suggest he plunged from the fourth floor of the building, landing near the hospital staff dormitory. Thalang Hospital staff promptly reported the incident to Pol Lt Col Patthipat…
- Thailand News
Huawei Cloud Thailand partners with MDES to boost AI tech development
A partnership has been forged between Huawei Cloud Thailand and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES), aimed at propelling the development of cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) technology. This collaboration is part of a broader vision to establish Thailand as a prominent hub for AI in the region. The partnership was formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU)…
- Thailand News
Doctoral student falls to death after confrontation with drunk man
A tragic incident unfolded at an apartment complex in the Chokchai Si area, where a doctoral student fell to her death after a confrontation with an intoxicated man. The 27 year old student, known only as Arphaporn, was driven to leap from her sixth-floor apartment at 4am when a drunk man began pounding on her door. The incident has prompted…
- Environment News
Successful rainmaking operations drastically reduce Bangkok’s pollution levels
Pollution levels across Bangkok and neighbouring areas nosedived yesterday as a result of successful rainmaking operations carried out east of the capital. The operations saw a significant reduction in the concentration of ultra-fine pollutants in the air, bringing it back within the safety threshold. Supis Pitakham, the director-general of the Department of Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, confirmed that the cloud-seeding…
- Thailand News
Thai government plans 50-year concession for Land Bridge megaproject
The Thai government is contemplating a 50-year concession for the successful bidder of the Land Bridge megaproject, a venture worth one trillion baht and projected to break even within 24 years. This was revealed by Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit during the Thailand Landbridge Roadshow event in Tokyo, Japan, where he and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin sought to attract Japanese investors.…
- Economy News
Pork price crash in Thailand due to rampant smuggling
A nationwide crash in pork prices, sparked by rampant smuggling, is wreaking havoc on the livelihoods of hog farmers throughout Thailand. The illegal import of pork not only undermines local farmers but also poses a significant public health risk due to the potential for contamination. The Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, Chaiya Phromma, addressed the issue in a conversation with…
- Thailand News
Thai government considers extending nightlife hours
The Thai government is currently contemplating the extension of operating hours for bars, clubs and other entertainment hubs until 4am, in more provinces as a means to stimulate the economy, as reported by Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The minister shared this information following a late-night inspection of Khao San Road nightspots on Saturday. This marked the second night clubs and…
