Proposal for special budget to ease household power charges denied/
‘Cyanide killer’: Traces of lethal poison found in suspect’s car/
Use of Solar Panels on the Roof this year nearly equals 2022 total/
SCG’s solar unit predicts sales of Bt1 billion/
SPI and EGAT to develop charging stations, aim at driving Thailand’s EV ecosystem/
Tourism: Tourism likely to disappoint during next week’s holiday/Massive 4-Meter-Long King Cobra Seeks Refuge from Heat at Resort/CPN, Klook to offer Bangkok-Pattaya tourist bus service/
Thailand Experience: Surin elephant festival May 2-4/
International: Consumers hold recession fears at bay
Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers
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Holidays coming up, government offices closed
Immigration and many government offices will be closed next week: Monday, May 1, is Labor Day; Thursday, May 4, is Coronation Day; and Friday, May 5, is an additional holiday.
Power bills set to fall in September
Electricity bills are likely to decline during the last four months of this year, with the power tariff expected to reach 4.3 or 4.4 baht per kilowatt-hour (unit), according to the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO). Continued …
Summer storms to sweep across Thailand to Monday
Summer storms will sweep across the whole country through Monday, according to the Thai Meteorological Department. Many areas will see strong wind, hail and lightning, it added.
The storms are being stirred by a high-pressure front from China, which will spread over upper Thailand and bring stronger southerly and southeasterly winds laden with moisture from the Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea, the TMD said. Continued …
Proposal for special budget to ease household power charges denied
The Election Commission (EC) has rejected the government’s proposal to use about 11 billion baht of a special budget to ease household electricity charges, on the grounds that the proposal was not approved by the Cabinet.
The proposal was submitted to the EC on Tuesday by the Office of the Secretary-General of the cabinet, on behalf of the Ministry of Energy. The EC discovered, however, that the Office of the Secretary-General had failed to mention the cabinet’s approval for the use of the special budget. Continued …
‘Cyanide killer’: Traces of lethal poison found in suspect’s car
Traces of cyanide have been found inside a car belonging to the 36-year-old woman police suspect murdered 18 people with the lethal poison to avoid repaying debts she owed them, a forensics expert said on Friday.
More than 20 samples were collected from the car of suspected murderer Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn. Continued …
Use of Solar Panels on the Roof this year nearly equals 2022 total
According to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) office, between January and March 21, 2023, 1,020 people applied to participate in the public solar project, representing a total capacity of 5,492.38 kilowatts. The figure was almost equal to the total number of 1,287 applications in 2022, representing a total capacity of 7,195 kilowatts.
Phuwadon Suntornwipart, president of the Thai Photovoltaic Industries Assn. (TPVA), said the trend of rooftop solar panels “has increased sharply”. The market is also expected to be two to three times larger in 2023 than last year. Continued …
SCG’s solar unit predicts sales of Bt1 billion
Construction materials producer SCG Cement-Building Materials aims to achieve sales of more than 1 billion baht in solar roof solutions this year, double the tally recorded last year, based on rapidly increasing demand.
Wachirachai Koonamwattana, head of smart system solution business at the company, said alternative energy sources are increasingly popular, driving the growth of the solar rooftop market. Continued …
SPI and EGAT to develop charging stations, aim at driving Thailand’s EV ecosystem
Saha Group, through Saha Pathana Inter-Holding, signed an agreement with EGAT to jointly develop EV charging stations in Saha Group’s affiliated areas, further promoting the electric vehicle ecosystem in Thailand.
Vichai Kulsomphob, president and CEO of Saha Pathana Inter-Holding Plc. (SPI), said the cooperation aim of promoting sustainable electric vehicle development across all Saha Group’s properties, including the development and installation of EV charging stations (EleX by EGAT). Continued …
Tourism likely to disappoint during next week’s holiday
With a long holiday slated for next week, Pattaya and Rayong tourism operators do not expect an influx of domestic tourists, as people’s purchasing power has dried up since the Songkran festival.
Sanpech Supabowornsthian, president of the Thai Hotels Assn.’s eastern chapter, forecast the occupancy rate in Pattaya would hover around 65%-70% during the upcoming holidays, comprising Labor Day on May 1 and Coronation Day on May 4. Continued …
Massive 4-Meter-Long King Cobra Seeks Refuge from Heat at Resort
A large king cobra measuring 4.2 meters in length and weighing 7.6 kilograms was found hiding in a resort in Dan Chang District, Suphanburi Province. A local resident discovered the snake while inspecting the resort’s premises and alerted the Suphanburi Rescue Foundation for assistance. The king cobra was believed to have been living in the nearby forest and ventured into the resort area due to the dry season’s high temperatures and difficulty in finding food. (Siam Rath)
CPN, Klook to offer Bangkok-Pattaya tourist bus service
Central Pattana plc. is joining hands with KLOOK, a leading travel e-commerce platform, to continue boosting tourism by launching the “City Bus Transfer” to provide a shuttle bus service from Bangkok to Pattaya to facilitate and fulfill the needs of foreign tourists. Continued …
Surin elephant festival May 2-4
Lots of color, smiles, elaborate costumes, fanfare and, of course, a herd of elephants will enchant visitors to Surin in northeast Thailand, as the country’s oldest mahout community celebrates the Buad Nak Chang Festival in early May.
Also known as the Elephant Ordination Festival, this rare celebration is a mass monk ordination procession that takes place on elephant back. Continued …
Consumers hold recession fears at bay
Heightened worries about the strength of consumers and the global economy have been put on hold – at least for now – after some of the world’s best-known companies delivered a slew of better-than expected numbers. Continued …
The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank.
Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day
Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departing from Pattaya at 8am and 4pm. Tickets are 473 THB.
Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets
Hua Hin-Chaing Mai flight schedule through October
The World’s Most (and Least) Powerful Passports in 2023/World Bank: Recession a looming threat for global economy/Casino project to be reviewed tomorrow/SRT suspends scandal-hit signboard project at Bangkok’s central station/Banpu NEXT continues to provide solar power to electricity-deprived schools/Super-resistant mosquitoes in Asia pose growing threat/Friendship Bridge to Myanmar now ready for reopening/List of top herbs eyed for export/ID soon required to buy cannabis buds/
Tourism: Compulsory health insurance now not required/Krungthai Compass predicts 22.5M foreign arrivals in 2023/May 5 Announced as Special Public Holiday/Chinese heading to Phuket, Chiang Mai/
Thailand Experience: Fancy Thai desserts with odd names/7 must-see festivals in Thailand you don’t want to miss/Ghosts in Thailand: some eerie sites to explore/
Covid: Thailand’s Covid-19 numbers drop in first week of 2023/China targets Korea, Japan over Covid curbs/Mainland Chinese citizens are eager to travel — for the West’s mRNA Covid vaccines/
International: French pension reforms potentially explosive/Extreme weather caused $165 billion in US damage in 2022/NATO, EU vow more support for Ukraine/Russia hits Ukraine’s Kharkiv after German minister visits
Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas
Click on image above for more information or email us at aim@hhexpatnews.com
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The World’s Most (and Least) Powerful Passports in 2023
As we enter the new year, the latest results from the Henley Passport Index provide fascinating insights into a world characterized by extraordinary upheaval and offer a revealing look at what lies ahead.
For the fifth year running, Japan crowns the index, which is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Assn. (IATA) and ranks all the world’s 199 passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
Japanese citizens can now visit an astonishing 193 destinations out of 227 visa-free, while those of South Korea and Singapore, which are tied in second place, enjoy a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 192. Continued …
World Bank: Recession a looming threat for global economy
The global economy will come “perilously close” to a recession this year, led by weaker growth in all the world’s top economies — the United States, Europe and China, the World Bank warned on Tuesday.
In an annual report, the World Bank, which lends money to poorer countries for development projects, said it had slashed its forecast for global growth this year by nearly half, to just 1.7%, from its previous projection of 3%.
If that forecast proves accurate, it would be the third-weakest annual expansion in three decades, behind only the deep recessions that resulted from the 2008 global financial crisis and the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Continued …
Casino project to be reviewed tomorrow
A report by a special House committee studying the feasibility of allowing an entertainment complex to be built that includes legal casinos is expected to be deliberated tomorow, a member of the committee said yesterday.
Aimed at raising tax revenue from legalizing gambling businesses in a yet-to-be-designated area, the project has been studied by the House committee since late last year, added the source.
If approved, the report will be forwarded to the government for consideration, the person said. Continued …
SRT suspends scandal-hit signboard project at Bangkok’s central station
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) abruptly suspended the scandal-hit 33-million-baht project to change signboards at Bangkok’s Bang Sue Grand Station on Tuesday.
SRT Gov. Nirut Maneephan signed the order to suspend the project, which includes changing the main signboard at Thailand’s new rail hub to “Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal”, the official name granted by His Majesty the King in September last year.
The order was addressed to the managing director of Unique Engineering and Construction Plc, which won the contract bidding with a proposed price of 33.16 million baht. The SET-listed company signed the contract with SRT on Dec. 29. Continued …
Banpu NEXT continues to provide solar power to electricity-deprived schools
With a belief that “Learning is the Power of Change and Development”, Banpu NEXT is making continuous progress in its “Light & Learn” project by bringing solar power systems to electricity-deprived schools in remote areas to help light up learning opportunities and benefit the children.
Most recently, the company took its employees on a field visit to join forces with highland teaching volunteers on the solar power system and storage battery installation for Ban Po Por Kee HACLC in Tak Province and hold edutainment activities for the children, which creatively taught them to appreciate nature and clean energy.
Over the past five years, it has already installed solar power systems for 73 schools in Tak, Mae Hong Son, and Kanchanaburi provinces. Continued …
Super-resistant mosquitoes in Asia pose growing threat
Mosquitoes that transmit dengue and other viruses have evolved growing resistance to insecticides in parts of Asia, and novel ways to control them are desperately needed, new research warns.
Health authorities commonly fog mosquito-infested areas with clouds of insecticide, and resistance has long been a concern, but the scale of the problem was not well understood.
Japanese scientist Shinji Kasai and his team examined mosquitoes from several countries in Asia, as well as Ghana, and found a series of mutations had made some virtually impervious to popular pyrethroid-based chemicals like permethrin. Continued …
Friendship Bridge to Myanmar now ready for reopening
The Friendship Bridge linking Thailand and Myanmar reopens tomorrow, much to the delight of eager traders who have waited three years for the resumption of border trade stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Provincial authorities held a meeting yesterday to prepare for the reopening of the bridge, which crosses the Moei River at Ban Rim Moei in Mae Sot district opposite Myawaddy in Myanmar.
Surapol Wongsukpisal, Tak deputy governor, led the meeting, also attended by Somchai Traithipchartsakul, Mae Sot district chief, and heads of the security and administrative agencies. Continued …
List of top herbs eyed for export
The Public Health Ministry has unveiled its list of so-called “herbal champions”, but cannabis, hemp and kratom have been omitted, according to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine.
Dr. Thongchai Lertwilairattanapong, the department chief, said yesterday the government plans to promote local herbs under the list and ideally develop them for export. Herbs on the list include turmeric, krachai dam or black galingal, and fah talai jone or green chiretta.
He said cannabis, hemp and kratom have not yet made the cut after a policy committee on national herbs led by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul agreed recently that their use must be limited, adding further research and development is required. Continued …
ID soon required to buy cannabis buds
Thai nationals seeking to purchase cannabis buds will soon have to show their ID cards, with sales information recorded on a government database, according to the Department for the Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM).
Thongchai Lertwilairattanapong, the department’s director-general, said he had signed the directive and it would take effect as soon as it is published in the Royal Gazette.
It is not known whether foreigners seeking to buy cannabis buds will have to show ID such as a passport. A recent health ministry publication, “10 Things Tourists Need to Know about Cannabis in Thailand”, makes no mention of any requirement. Continued …
Compulsory health insurance now not required
The public health minister, via the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, has canceled the requirement for foreign arrivals, from countries which require PCR tests on return, to have at least US$10,000 health insurance coverage for the duration of their holiday, plus seven days.
The requirement for proof of Covid vaccinations, to present while checking in for your flight to Thailand, has also been scrapped. It was in response to complaints from Thai tourism associations, foreign embassies and travel groups who say the measures, originally imposed on Jan. 7, would discourage many people from visiting Thailand.
Social media has been full of people being turned away at check-in, concerned travelers canceling trips and people just confused about the original regulations and then the sudden reversal of policy. Continued …
Krungthai Compass predicts 22.5M foreign arrivals in 2023
Krungthai Compass, a research unit under Krungthai Bank, expects foreign tourist arrivals in 2023 to more than double the number recorded last year, estimating it will take two years to return to the level posted in 2019.
The research house forecasts foreign arrivals this year to tally 22.5 million, up from 10.2 million expected for 2022.
Of the total, Krungthai Compass anticipates 4.8 million visitors will be Chinese nationals, a 20% increase from its previous forecast of 4 million, attributed to China’s reopening since Jan. 8 this year, said chief economist Patcharaphot Nuntramas. Continued …
May 5 Announced as Special Public Holiday
The government has announced May 5 as a special public holiday, creating a 4-day weekend break. The government hopes the long holiday will help boost the economy through various tourism activities.
During their weekly meeting, Cabinet members approved the decision to bridge the holiday gap between Coronation Day on Thursday, May 4, and the weekend.
Government spokesperson Traisuree Traisaranakul said the combined 4-day break is expected to help push forward economic activities, particularly in the business and tourism sectors. Continued …
Chinese heading to Phuket, Chiang Mai
Both Chiang Mai and Phuket are expecting to see a significant rise in air travel on direct flights from China from Jan. 18, according to local airport authorities.
There will be one direct flight daily from China to Chiang Mai and three a day to Phuket, with non-stop air links to keep rising between the two countries.
A flight between Shanghai and Chiang Mai is due to begin operating on Jan. 18, with another from Guangzhou to Chiang Mai to start two days later, Wichit Kaeosaithiam, the director of Chiang Mai airport, said yesterday. Continued …
Fancy Thai desserts with odd names
If you like unnecessarily posh names, you’ll love Ban Nong Bua, an old community in Thailand’s East.
The canal-side village in Chanthaburi province is drawing visitors and those with a sweet tooth for its desserts with strange names, including “Monkey Willy” (a mung bean rice crepe in a phallic shape). It’s a funny but tasty sweet that will have you searching for more idiosyncrasies of old-school cooks.
Located 10 kilometers south of Chanthaburi, the village of Ban Nong Bua has been home to Hainanese descendants for over 200 years. Their forefathers, seafarers, sailed from Hainan Island in Southern China to the horizon and eventually settled down along the mouth of the Chanthaburi River. Continued …
7 must-see festivals in Thailand you don’t want to miss
Songkran, Loi Krathong, Yi Peng, Loy Krathong Yipeng, Chak Phra and Rocket Festivals are some of the most popular traditional festivals celebrated in Thailand. Each festival has its own unique history and meaning and is celebrated with much enthusiasm and joy by both locals and tourists.
From the water fights of Songkran to the magical sight of sky lanterns during Yi Peng, each festival offers something special and memorable. At the Rocket Festival, the launching of handmade rockets is a symbol of asking the gods for bountiful rains and a good harvest. Celebrate the culture of Thailand and join in the festivities of these traditional festivals.
Songkran Festival
The Songkran Festival is an important event in Thailand and is celebrated with great enthusiasm by locals and tourists alike. The festival marks the start of the traditional Thai New Year and is celebrated with a variety of activities. Continued …
Ghosts in Thailand: some eerie sites to explore
Thailand is known for its beautiful beaches, delicious food, and rich culture, but it also has a dark side. Thai culture has long believed in ghosts, some good, some bad.
A large percentage of people in modern life are still afraid of ghosts in Thailand and, as such, the country has some infamously haunted and eerie places. Here are a few of the ghostliest places in Thailand, where you might catch a glimpse of a phantom apparition:
The Old Phuket Town Ghost House
Located in the Old Phuket Town area, this abandoned house is said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman who committed suicide there. Visitors to the house have reported strange noises, unexplained movements, and even the feeling of being watched. Some have even claimed to have seen the ghost herself, often described as a woman with long, flowing hair and a sad expression on her face. Continued …
Thailand’s Covid-19 numbers drop in first week of 2023
Thailand’s Covid-19 situation appears to have improved, with the number of hospitalizations during the first week of this year falling by half from the previous week.
Dr. Tares Krassanairawiwong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), said on Tuesday that 997 Covid patients had been hospitalized in the first week of January, averaging at about 142 per day. He said this was half the daily average compared to the last week of 2022, without elaborating.
As of press time, 382 Covid patients were in hospital for lung infections, while 242 of them were on ventilators. However, Tares said the number of lung infections and patients requiring ventilators has dropped by 28% and 30%, respectively, compared to the previous week. Continued …
China targets South Korea, Japan over Covid curbs
China has suspended issuing some visas for South Korea and Japan in Beijing’s first retaliation against Covid-related curbs on Chinese travelers.
Chinese consulates in South Korea will stop issuing short-term visas for visits, business, tourism, medical care, transit and personal matters from Tuesday, the Chinese Embassy in Seoul said in a statement.
The suspension will be adjusted if South Korea removes its “discriminative inbound restrictive measures” targeting China, it added. Continued …
Mainland Chinese citizens are eager to travel — for the West’s mRNA Covid vaccines
Mainland China’s move away from its zero-Covid policy has led to a sharp surge in infections, and the resumption of travel means some are looking farther afield for vaccines.
In mid-December, China’s full Covid vaccination rate stood near 87%, with 54% boosted. The main Covid vaccines approved for use in China are from Sinovac and Sinopharm.
Mainlanders have been flocking to Macao in recent months for Western mRNA vaccines, which are widely administered around the world but not endorsed by China. Continued …
French pension reforms potentially explosive
The French government is set to announce its proposals for overhauling the pension system on Tuesday, in a potentially explosive reform fraught with danger for President Emmanuel Macron. Continued …
Extreme weather caused $165 billion in US damage in 2022
Major hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, drought and a fierce winter storm caused more than $165 billion in damage in the United States last year, with climate change “supercharging” some extreme weather, a government report said Tuesday. Continued …
NATO, EU vow more support for Ukraine
NATO and the EU vowed Tuesday to bolster their backing for Ukraine to fight off Russia’s invasion and ramp up cooperation between Europe and the U.S.-led alliance. Continued …
Russia hits Ukraine’s Kharkiv after German minister visits
Russian strikes hit eastern Ukraine’s city of Kharkiv late Tuesday, the regional governor said, just hours after a surprise visit by the German foreign minister with her Ukrainian counterpart. Continued …
Click on imge above for more information
Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule
The VIP bus service schedule from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has been updated. In addition, a new Cha Am boarding location has been added in front of Government Savings Bank. The one-way fare is 325 baht.
Holidays coming up, government offices closed
Power bills set to fall in September
Summer storms to sweep across Thailand to Monday
Use of Solar Panels on the Roof this year nearly equals 2022 total
SCG’s solar unit predicts sales of Bt1 billion
SPI and EGAT to develop charging stations, aim at driving Thailand’s EV ecosystem
Surin elephant festival May 2-4
Consumers hold recession fears at bay
The World’s Most (and Least) Powerful Passports in 2023
Casino project to be reviewed tomorrow
SRT suspends scandal-hit signboard project at Bangkok’s central station
Super-resistant mosquitoes in Asia pose growing threat
List of top herbs eyed for export
ID soon required to buy cannabis buds
China targets South Korea, Japan over Covid curbs
Mainland Chinese citizens are eager to travel — for the West’s mRNA Covid vaccines
French pension reforms potentially explosive
Extreme weather caused $165 billion in US damage in 2022
NATO, EU vow more support for Ukraine
Russia hits Ukraine’s Kharkiv after German minister visits
