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Rotary Club 14th Amateur Charity Golf/Find healthcare services in Thailand/PM assures Mae Sai flood victims/Mekong overflows in northeast/Landslide Claims 4 Lives/Phuket on high alert/The greatest challenge/Elderly Man Killed by Elephant/Global media sensation/Overhaul of public health system/Three years over anti-monarchy speech/Foreigners behaving badly/Economy: The Thai economy in 2025/Local focus key to growth/Needy to get first Bt10,000/Payment platform for digital wallet scrapped/’Net win’ for neutral Thailand/Top 10 provinces for second-hand property sales/SME shift to e-commerce/2.4k Unauthorized Products Seized/Tourism: 5-20 Year Visa Now Cheaper/Thailand expects 2 million South Koreans/Phuket gears up for tourism event/Climate Thailand: Bangkok joins Breathe Cities initiative/Electric vehicle industry to power commercial real estate/Energy ghost resurrected/ASEAN New Energy Vehicle Market/Hong Kong Firm Introduces Electric Bikes/International/Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

Rotary Club 14th Amateur Charity Golf Nov 29

The Rotary Club of Royal Hua Hin will hold its 14th Amateur Charity Golf Classic Friday, Nov. 29 at the Pineapple Valley Golf Club – formerly known as Banyan Golf Club.

The Rotary Club of Royal Hua Hin has been helping local and regional causes since the club was founded in 2010 and has raised millions of Thai baht to improve the quality of life for underprivileged communities in Thailand, as well as education projects in other developing countries.

The group’s flagship project is the Children’s Water Safety & Drowning Prevention program that has been running for the last three years, and has taught over 600 children from 10 schools in Hua Hin not only to swim, but also to recognize the dangers of water and how to rescue others who may need life-saving assistance. Another key project was the purchase of a much-needed ambulance for Hua Hin Hospital costing 2.5 million Thai baht.

If you wish to participate in the tournament, or would like to offer some form of sponsorship, then please visit our club website.

How can expats find healthcare services in Thailand

Moving to a new country can feel like a fresh start. It’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in a different culture, explore new places, and perhaps even reinvent parts of your life. But amid the excitement, you can’t overlook practical matters like healthcare.

While Thailand is globally renowned as a medical tourism destination, boasting some of the best hospitals in Asia, many expats find it challenging to get the right healthcare services, particularly when language differences come into play. Continued …

PM assures Mae Sai flood victims of government support

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra trudged along a muddy road and waded through floodwater yesterday to visit and comfort victims in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai, which is suffering the worst flooding for three decades.

During a visit to the first Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, to see the damage caused by the now receding floodwater, the prime minister was seen hugging an elderly woman and assuring her that flood victims will not be abandoned. Continued …

Mekong overflows in northeast, floods receding in Chiang Rai

As flood water steadily recedes in Chiang Rai province and flights by some airlines at the Mae Fah Luang airport have resumed, people living along the Mekong River in Loei, Nong Khai and Bueng Kan provinces were bracing for the river to overflow.

In Mae Sai district, several riverside communities, such as Koh Sai, are still submerged by overflows from the Sai River. A number of people remain trapped at home by strong currents and are awaiting help and food from relief workers. Continued …

Rain-induced landslide in Mae Fa Luang Claims 4 Lives

A deadly landslide yesterday struck the Mae Fa Luang district in Chiang Rai, claiming the lives of four people, including an 8-year-old girl. Over 150 houses were damaged , leaving the community in shock and grief.

The event occurred in the Maemao Village, Thoet Thai subdistrict, where a massive landslide engulfed homes, one of which belonged to the family of young Sunattha, a local child who tragically lost her life. Continued …

Phuket on high alert as heavy rains and flash floods loom

Phuket is bracing for a weather onslaught as officials sound the alarm over impending flash floods, mudslides, and hazardous sea conditions. A stark warning has been issued by Gov. Sophon Suwannarat, through the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Center, urging all local officials to prepare for extreme weather set to batter the island this week.

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) predicts torrential rain and fierce waves through next Tuesday, Sept. 17. With the southwest monsoon intensifying, waves in the Andaman Sea are expected to reach up to 3 meters, even higher during thunderstorms, posing serious risks for residents and tourists. Continued …

The greatest challenge

Flooding is a disaster, but it also brings out the ultimate human spirit. Thais are genuinely worried about their compatriots, trying to help them without wanting anything in return, and any difference or disagreement has been diluted, temporarily at least.

What northern Thais are going through is being felt and sympathized with wholeheartedly. It is shown in the faces of mainstream TV newscasters, YouTube influencers and Bangkok mall shoppers who rushed to bank branches to inquire about donation channels. Social media messages discussed ways to assist. Continued …

Elderly Man Killed in Encounter with Wild Elephant in Kanchanaburi

In a tragic incident yesteday, a 71-year-old man lost his life after a sudden encounter with a wild elephant while riding his motorcycle in Kanchanaburi. The incident occurred on Highway 3199, in the Sri Sawat District.

Phaitoon Intraboot, head of the Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary, reported that the incident took place in the early morning. Local residents alerted wildlife officials stationed at the Mae Lamun Protection Unit that a villager had been severely injured by a wild elephant. The accident happened near the foothills in Village 4, Dan Mae Chaleb subdistrict. Continued …

Moo Deng a global media sensation

Moo Deng, the two-month-old pygmy hippopotamus at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri, is becoming a global media sensation and drawing a growing legion of international fans.

Time magazine on Friday published a glowing tribute, saying Moo Deng had captured the hearts of millions of internet users who had watched videos of her playful nature when being sprayed with water, carried by zookeepers or simply just lying in the sun. Continued …

Ministry unveils new polices as part of overhaul of public health system

Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has announced plans to overhaul its public health system, focusing on three key areas while adjusting targets to improve service levels and boost economic potential.

Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, unveiled the new policies during the opening ceremony of the Ministry of Public Health Academic Conference Project 2024, titled “Innovation in Sustainable Health Management to Improve Public Health Services in the Digital Era”. Continued …

Thai dissident jailed for three years over anti-monarchy speech

A Thai court yesterday sentenced one of the kingdom’s leading pro-democracy activists to three years in prison for defaming the monarchy, a human rights lawyers’ group said.

Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattararaksa was found guilty of violating Thailand’s royal defamation law, or Section 112 of the Criminal Code, over an anti-monarchy speech he gave in his hometown in Chaiyaphum province in 2021, northeast of the capital Bangkok. Continued …

Australian rape suspect arrested on Koh Phangan – Continued …
Visa Overstay Leads to Arrest of Maldivian East Coast Gang – Continued …

The Thai economy in 2025 with fading key growth drivers

The global economy is expected to slow in the latter half of this year following robust growth in the first half. Overall, global growth for 2024 is projected at 2.7%, with a slight uptick to 2.8% in 2025, indicating a soft landing.

However, concerns over a potential hard landing, particularly in the U.S., are resurfacing due to the rapidly rising unemployment rate, triggering recession warning indicators. Continued …

Bank of Thailand chief says local focus key to growth

Domestic resilience and the strength of the local economy will be key to sustaining Thailand’s economic growth in the long term, especially amid a slowdown in foreign direct investment (FDI), according to the Bank of Thailand chief.

Speaking on Friday at a seminar hosted by Thai Publica, central bank Gov. Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput said FDI in Thailand has steadily declined during the last 20 years compared with positive growth among regional peers. Continued …

Needy to get first Bt10,000 handouts from Sept 25

The government will begin offering stimulus handouts to 14.5 million needy people starting from Sept. 25, which is expected to help lift economic growth to 3% this year, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The first recipients will include 12.4 million people with state welfare cards and 2.1 million disabled individuals, with each receiving 10,000 baht, Lavaron Sangsnit, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said on Friday. Continued …

Payment platform development for digital wallet scheme scrapped

The Digital Government Development Agency (DGA) has called off its plan to develop a payment platform for the “digital wallet” scheme, after no one expressed interested in bidding bid for the project.

There was previous a report that three companies were interested, but none of them entered the bidding, prompting the DGA’s cancellation of the plan. The Finance Ministry has already changed the payments to cash, a standard bank transaction, for about 14.2 million disabled and vulnerable Thais, starting on Sept. 25. Continued …

US-China trade war ‘net win’ for neutral Thailand

The China-U.S. trade war will create more opportunities for Thailand, Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said on Friday. Pichai mentioned in a government policy statement that the new administration will benefit from the ongoing trade war between the two superpowers, both of which are allies of Thailand.

He said 150 billion baht has been invested in the nation’s printed circuit board (PCB) industry over the past year. He expects that number will rise to hundreds of billions of baht, or even a trillion baht, which would attract several PCB firms to the country. Continued …

Top 10 provinces for second-hand property sales identified

The Real Estate Information Center (REIC) of Thailand’s Government Housing Bank has compiled data on second-hand properties across Thailand from various private sector websites.

The data includes properties listed by financial institutions, public and private asset management companies, and the Legal Execution Department through platforms like the Second-Hand Home Market website. Continued …

Department of Business Development bolsters SME shift to e-commerce

The Department of Business Development is stepping up efforts to support e-commerce adoption by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with growth of e-commerce expected to reach 750 billion baht in 2025.

Auramon Supthaweethum, director-general of the department, said Thailand’s e-commerce market is expected to reach nearly 700 billion baht in 2024, up from 634 billion last year, driven by a significant increase in business registrations and consumer adoption of technology for retail purchases. Continued …

2.4k Unauthorized Products Seized in Bangkok Chinese Supermarkets

Yesterday, the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), in collaboration with officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), launched the second phase of their “Clearing Chinese Supermarkets in Bangkok” operation.

They inspected seven stores suspected of illegally importing and selling goods from China without proper authorization. The operation resulted in the seizure of 97 different types of products, totaling over 2,411 items. Continued …

Thailand’s 5-20 Year Visa Now Bt50,000 Cheaper

The Thai Privilege Visa (TPV), previously known as the Elite Visa, has recently suspended its 50,000 baht (approximately US$1,500) registration fee that was used for background checks of applicants.

This fee waiver is available for applications submitted from the beginning of September to the end of 2024. The TPV offers various visa options ranging from 5 to 20 years, each featuring unique perks and bonuses, with current prices spanning from 900,000 baht to over 2 million baht. Continued …

Thailand expects 2 million South Korean tourists for Chuseok holidays

Thailand is preparing to welcome around 2 million South Korean tourists during the Chuseok holidays this year (Sept. 15-18), driven by a mix of cultural appeal and strategic initiatives.

According to Guy Llewellyn, assistant professor at EHL Hospitality Business School Singapore Campus, Thailand’s culinary similarities with South Korea and the popularity of K-pop have played a significant role. Continued …

Phuket gears up for international tourism event

The Joint Public and Private Sector Committee for Economic Development of Phuket Province met Thursday to fine-tune plans for the upcoming International Tourism Island City Conference (ITICC).

The Pullman Phuket Karon Beach Resort will host this prestigious event from Sept. 24-27, drawing industry heavyweights, experts, and government officials from around the world. Continued …

Bangkok joins Breathe Cities initiative to cut air pollution

Bangkok has become the 12th city to join the Breathe Cities initiative, a global network dedicated to improving air quality. The Thai capital is aiming to reduce air pollution by up to 30% by 2030, and through the partnership will receive support for gathering air quality data, capacity-building and community engagement.

In 2023, 10 million people in Thailand sought treatment for pollution-related illnesses and Bangkok endured some of the worst impacts of poor air quality in the country, with over 5,000 premature deaths. Pollution was also blamed for economic losses in the country’s tourism industry. Continued …

Thailand’s electric vehicle industry to power commercial real estate

Thailand is well positioned to become Southeast Asia’s leading market for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing and innovation, which will have implications for the country’s commercial real estate industry.

According to JLL, the potential for sustained growth in Thailand’s EV industry, backed by government policies and foreign investment, will create a real estate market of least $6.5 billion (THB220 billion) by 2030, to support the country’s emergence as a regional manufacturing and innovation leader in the space. Continued …

Energy ghost resurrected

Each new government must apparently now have its own “flagship” energy policy. For newly installed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, this concerns the development of natural gas in an overlapping maritime jurisdiction claimed by both Thailand and Cambodia.

According to her vision, natural gas exploration will help the government control or reduce the price of electricity. It is worth noting that 60% of the country’s electricity is derived from natural gas. Continued …

Outlook on ASEAN New Energy Vehicle Market

Great Wall Motor (Thailand), one of the leaders in the new energy vehicle industry, showcased its vision at the 2nd International NEV Summit 2024.

Charnsak Laicharoenchokchai, product strategy director, Great Wall Motor (Thailand), delivered a presentation on the topic “Insights into the NEVs Market in Southeast Asia,” highlighting the movements in the new energy vehicle industry by reflecting on both past and future developments. Continued …

Hong Kong Firm Introduces Electric Bikes to the Thai Market

Hong Kong’s Yadea, a leading electric two-wheeler brand, officially opened three flagship stores in Thailand on Friday, marking the company’s entry into the Thai electric two-wheeler market.

Since its establishment in 2001, Yadea has been a global leader in smart emobility solutions for medium and short-distance travel. The company is dedicated to the research, production, sales, and service of electric motorcycles, electric bicycles, and even energy supply, including Yadea TTFAR graphene batteries and sodium-ion batteries. Continued …

Vietnam Typhoon Death Toll Rises to 233 as More Bodies Found

The death toll in the aftermath of a typhoon in Vietnam climbed to 233 on Friday as rescue workers recovered more bodies from areas hit by landslides and flash floods, state media reported. Continued …

Russia expels 6 British diplomats it accuses of spying

Russia on Friday accused six British diplomats of spying and said it decided to expel them. The U.K. said the “completely baseless” move came weeks ago and was linked to its action in May to revoke the credentials of an attaché at the Russian Embassy and limit Moscow’s diplomatic activities in London. Continued …

Sweden will offer migrants $34,000 to go home

Sweden, a nation long known for its open-arms policy toward migrants, plans to drastically increase its cash offer — by 35 times, to more than US$34,000 — to those who agree to go home. Continued …