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Today’s news: Ministries to clamp down on crop burning/Plan to cut PM2.5/Bus driver was asleep at wheel/Cold wave hits Thailand/Thailand suspends issuance of gun licenses/Thai cities’ link to water/Butter cookies in red tins/An emerging Covid-19 variant/Death after tooth extraction/China-built power transmission line/Gordon Ramsay’s first restaurant in Thailand/Economy: 2.37% minimum wage increase upheld/Will the 2024 fiscal year save the Thai economy?/Changing global trade trends/Explosive growth in Thai insurance industry/Transforming Thailand/Tourism: The year travelers came back/Time for dithering to stop/Cools on visitor insurance/Cannabis in wellness tourism/Axing duty-free stores/TAT partners with Saudia Airlines/Thailand Experience: Mango sticky rice/Bring home from Thailand/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

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Ministries to clamp down on crop burning as pollution levels rise

In a move to fight air pollution, the ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, and Agriculture and Cooperatives jointly declared war on crop burning, vowing to crack down on one of the main sources of PM2.5 fine dust.

PM2.5 is fine particulate matter that is 2.5 microns or less in diameter and can be inhaled, boosting the risk of health problems like heart disease and asthma. Continued …

Rapid response plan to cut PM2.5 in the works

Some 11 urgent measures were unveiled by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on Tuesday to address the PM2.5 smog problem, with a focus on quickly adjusting actions to ensure effective results.

The measures will aim to rapidly tackle forest fires and smog to minimize environmental impacts and safeguard public health, Jatuporn Buruspat, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, told a press conference. Continued …

Bus driver in fatal PKK cash was asleep at wheel

The driver of a bus that crashed in Prachuap Khiri Khan, killing 15 people, has confessed to falling asleep at the wheel, leading to a charge of reckless driving.

The accident, which occurred on Dec. 5, involved a tour bus enroute from Bangkok to Na Thawi, which veered off the road and collided with a large tree along Phetkasem Road in Thap Sakae near Wanakorn National Park. In addition to the fatalities, more than 30 passengers were injured in the crash. Continued …

Cold wave from China hits Thailand: Significant temperature drop and heavy rain forecast

Thailand is currently under the influence of a new surge of high-pressure area or cold air mass from China, as declared by the Thai Meteorological Department.

This has resulted in a drop in temperature across the country, with the northeastern region experiencing a decrease of 5 to 8 degrees Celsius, and the capital city, Bangkok, seeing a drop of 5 degrees. The department also warns of a heavy to very heavy rain forecast for the southern region today. Continued …

Thailand suspends issuance of gun licenses until Dec 19, 2024

The prime minister and interior minister have released a joint directive suspending the issuing of gun licenses for one year to prevent more shooting tragedies.

Traisulee Traisoranakul, deputy government spokesperson, said the directive was published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday and went into effect on Wednesday. The issuing of licenses for firearms will be suspended until Dec. 19, 2024. Continued …

Rethinking Thai cities’ link to water

Water holds special symbolic significance in Thai culture, from Loy Krathong to Songkran festivals. But as much as we respect the value of water, we must also recognize that failure to care for our water resources puts our lives and well-being at risk.

Over the last four decades, we have transformed the natural landscape of Thailand. As the country has become rapidly urbanized and industrialized, we have filled much of the floodplains, wetlands and even canals to turn water into land, so that we can build and expand our towns, cities and industrial parks. Continued …

Thailand’s New Year tradition: Butter cookies in red tins spark joy and symbolism

As the New Year approaches, one popular gift takes the spotlight in Thailand – Danish butter cookies in a distinctive red tin. But why are these cookies so sought after and what is the story behind this red tin?

Two major players in this cookie phenomenon are Arsenal and Imperial, both sharing strikingly similar packaging. Many mistakenly assume they come from the same company, but, in reality, they are produced by two completely different entities. Continued …

JN.1: An emerging Covid-19 variant of concern in 2024

As the specter of the Covid-19 pandemic continues, a new strain has emerged on the global stage – JN.1 – which is expected to take center stage in 2024.

The Medical Genomics Center at Mahidol University recently shed light on this variant, which was born from the Omicron BA.2.86 and is expected to mutate further. Continued …

Unexplained death after tooth extraction sparks controversy in Phetchaburi

A 25-year-old woman‘s mysterious death following two tooth extractions has led to her distraught family seeking answers.

The woman experienced severe facial swelling and pain after the dental procedure at a hospital in Phetchaburi. Despite later diagnoses of leukemia and further tests, her death remains unexplained and has sparked controversy. Continued …

China-built power transmission line inaugurated in S. Thailand

A China-built power transmission line project was inaugurated on Tuesday in Thailand’s southern Phatthalung province after two years of construction.

The Thung Song-Songkhla 500kV transmission line project, known as the Thung Song Project, is the first 500kV transmission line in southern Thailand. The contracted section was undertaken by Henan Electric Power Transmission & Transformation Construction, spanning 105 kilometers from Nakhon Si Thammarat Province in southern Thailand to Phatthalung Province. Continued …

Gordon Ramsay’s first restaurant in Thailand opens today

Although British chef Gordon Ramsay wasn’t physically in Bangkok for the launch of Bread Street Kitchen & Bar at Emsphere, in a short video, he said he couldn’t wait for us to taste his beef Wellington, fish and chips, and sticky toffee pudding.

Ramsay is the latest internationally celebrated chef with Michelin-starred restaurants to open an outpost in Bangkok, following the likes of Côte by Mauro Colagreco and Blue By Alain Ducasse. Gordon Ramsay Restaurants was founded in 1997 and has been awarded 17 Michelin stars overall and currently holds seven. Continued …

Thai wage committee upholds 2.37% minimum wage increase

Yesterday, a senior government official announced that the tripartite wage committee has decided to uphold their previously agreed-upon plan to increase the average daily minimum wage by 2.37%.

The committee, consisting of representatives from the government, employers, and employees, has agreed to uplift the pay threshold range to 330 to 370 baht, starting in January. This was confirmed by Pairoj Chotikasathien, the permanent secretary of labor. Continued …

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 Oct. 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 Sept. 5. According to Julapun, this delay means no government budget until May, posing a real threat to state investment spending. Continued …

‘Changing global trade trends pose new challenges, need new approaches’

Thailand will follow the new global trading trends, but at its own pace so that no parties are left behind, while maintaining the country’s competitiveness, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Ministry Phumtham Wechayachai said on Wednesday.

Speaking on the topic of “Exploring the Dynamic of the New World Trade”, he emphasized the importance of the country’s public and private sectors transforming their operational processes to meet the new robust global trade criteria. Continued …

Explosive growth in Thai insurance industry predicted for 2024

The Thai General Insurance Assn. (TGIA) has foreseen an unprecedented surge in the insurance industry, with premiums expected to skyrocket to 303 billion baht in 2024.

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 5.2% rise from the same period last year. The projections for the full year anticipate a robust 4% to 5% growth, amassing 285 billion baht in premiums. Continued …

Transforming Thailand into a Low-Carbon Economy and Society

Thailand is facing twin challenges of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change. While Thailand contributes less than 1% of global emissions, it is ranked as the ninth most at-risk country from climate-change impacts.

External pressures, such as the Paris Agreement and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, as well as supply chain leaders, foreign direct investment, and activists, are pushing Thailand to reduce its emissions. However, Thailand’s late target for achieving net-zero emissions by 2065 could harm its global image and competitiveness. Continued …

The year travelers came back

Upon the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit, Covid-19 became a seasonal virus and the world was full of hope again as borders reopened and travelers longed to indulge their wanderlust. This lit the torch for tourism to bounce back.

Based on data gathered from January to May, Agoda’s research of booking data ranks Thailand as the second most popular destination behind Japan, with Bangkok being the most popular city. After the U.S., Japan and Malaysia, Agoda also found that Thailand had the fourth-highest number of domestic travelers. Continued …

Time for dithering on tourist insurance to stop

The Thai cabinet on Tuesday finally shelved the long-running plan for a foreign tourism levy. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, however, rejected a stop-gap measure to replace it. He ordered the introduction of automatic insurance cover for all foreign tourists to be provided through the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

How fast will this happen? We do not yet know. For the sake of Thailand’s tourism industry, let’s hope it is fast. The dithering on the issue must stop. Continued …

Minister cools on visitor insurance

The Tourism and Sports Ministry says a universal insurance plan for tourists may not be necessary, as the compensation sum for healthcare in the past was much lower than the expenses anticipated for an expansive insurance plan.

Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said the Foreign Tourists Assistance Fund, which compensated tourists for health accidents in the past, only disbursed around 10 billion baht per year. Continued …

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.

The chairman advocated for a wellness tourism model revolving around physical and mental fitness, incorporating spirituality. In his view, cannabis is versatile and advantageous because it can be harnessed for both medicinal and recreational purposes. Continued …

Exploring the effort to ax duty-free stores

Thailand is a well-known tropical destination with cheaper prices for accommodation, meals, transport and activities than in most Western countries.

Slightly less than 40 million foreign tourists visited Thailand in 2019, generating income for the country that accounted for 12% of GDP. Continued …

TAT partners with Saudia Airlines to spur Saudi tourism

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is joining forces with Saudia Airlines to boost tourism ties with Saudi Arabia and achieve its ambitious target of 300,000 arrivals and 27.68 billion baht in revenue.

TAT Gov. Thapanee Kiatphaibool said on Wednesday that she recently met the management of the Middle Eastern airline in Riyadh and engaged in discussions on boosting tourism. Continued …

Mango sticky rice – from local dessert to international craze

Long a firm summer favorite in Thailand, the ubiquitous mango served with sticky rice and a dash of coconut cream has gained traction around the world ever since young Thai rapper Milli tucked into a dish while performing at the Coachella music festival.

Now rated and ranked in fourth place as the best pudding in the world by TasteAtlas, khao nieow mamuang, as it is called in Thai, has become a must-order for every tourist. Continued …

8 things you need to bring home from Thailand

From Bangkok supermalls to a beachside 7-Eleven, here are the best things to pick up and pack in your suitcase on your next Thailand holiday.

Thai silk

After forming the Thai Silk Co. in 1951, the American businessman Jim Thompson became famous for helping to put Thai silk on the international map. A visit to the Jim Thompson House Museum can provide a history lesson into the silk trade, and will change the way you see all of the clothing, accessories, handbags and more in all of the Jim Thompson stores. Continued …

‘Dying every two hours’: Afghan women risk life to give birth

Zubaida traveled from the rural outskirts of Khost in eastern Afghanistan to give birth at a maternity hospital specializing in complicated cases, fearing a fate all too common among pregnant Afghan women — her death or her child’s. Continued …