King Narai’s Reign Festival -

Today’s news: Summer begins in February/Over 13,000 SIM cards suspended/More fuel subsidies/Environmentally friendly transportation/Teachers pierce lips of 36 kids/Phatthalung Suffers Worst Flooding/Thai Woman Charged Over Lion Cub/Two lion cubs seized/Economy: New business registrations/Career preferences of Thai Gen Z/HomePro expansion drive/Tourism: China market dents tourism income/Garbage hell if not addressed/Thailand travel insurance/Thailand Experience: King Narai’s Reign Festival/Ayutthaya night tour of temples/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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Summer begins in Thailand at end of February, with hottest spell in March

Thailand will officially enter the summer season at the end of February and it would last until May, the Thailand Meteorological Department said today.

Temperatures could reach up to 44.5 degrees Celsius in some provinces, and up to 41 degrees Celsius in the capital in the hottest periods, the department forecast. Continued …

Over 13,000 SIM cards used to make 100-plus calls daily suspended

In a bid to tackle online scams using mobile phones, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has suspended the services of more than 13,000 SIM cards used to make over 100 calls per day.

Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Chantararuangthong said on Thursday that the SIM service suspension began on Jan. 20 as a new measure adopted by the ministry to deal with the worsening problem. Continued …

Overcoming obstacles for environmentally friendly transportation

Thailand, in alignment with global climate objectives, pledged a 40% reduction in greenhouse gases from land transportation within a decade. Now, it must demonstrate whether its actions can match its lofty promises.

Transportation contributes 30% of Thailand’s carbon emissions, exceeding 80 million metric tons annually. Without intervention, emissions could escalate to 110 million tons by 2030 and may double 2.5 times by 2050. Continued …

Thai teachers pierce lips of 36 kids over gum mischief

A committee is probing a case where a Thai teacher subjected 36 seven-to-eight-year-olds to a punishment of using a safety pin to pierce the inner lips of every child in the primary 3 class at Wat Dan Samrong School in Mueang district, Samut Prakan.

The act unfolded when a 27-year-old Thai teacher, distressed by a chewing gum mishap, sought assistance from her 50-year-old colleague. Continued …

Phatthalung Suffers Worst Flooding in 43 Years

Phatthalung has suffered its worst flooding in 43 years, said local residents.

After heavy rain for many hours on Thursday, flash floods from the Banthat mountain range hit Phatthalung. Seven villages and many animal farms have been flooded. Continued …

Thai Woman Charged Over Lion Cub Riding In Bentley

A Thai woman has been charged with illegal possession of a lion cub, police said yesterday, after a video of the animal cruising in a Bentley went viral online.

The police ordered an investigation after a video showing a lion cub riding around the raucous Thai resort town of Pattaya in a white Bentley gained more than 2.6 million views online. Continued …

Two lion cubs seized, moved to wildlife breeding center

The owner of two cubs was forced yesterday to surrender the animals to authorities, who also charged her with illegally keeping them.

Huay Yai Police Col. Atthapol Inthayophakul used a search warrant approved by the Pattaya Provincial Court to enter the house of Saowapha in tambon Huay Yai in Bang Lamung district to relocate her young lions to the Wildlife Breeding Center in the same district on a large lorry. Continued …

New business registrations hit a 10-year high

A total of 85,300 companies registered as new businesses in 2023, the highest number in a decade, with combined registered capital of over 560 billion baht, the Department of Business Development said.

In its “2023 Thailand Investment Report” published yesterday, the department cited data from its DataWarehouse+ platform that 29% of new businesses were set up in Bangkok (25,120 companies), while the rest 71% (60,180 companies) were in other provinces. Continued …

Top 10 career preferences of Thai Gen Z in 2024

Network security was the top choice as a profession of Gen Z, according to a survey conducted by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

The poll surveyed 802 respondents nationwide, outlining the top 10 prominent career choices of Gen Z individuals in 2024. The most coveted professions are: Continued …

HomePro allots Bt30 billion for expansion drive

Home Product Center, the operator of home decor and improvement store HomePro, plans to spend 30 billion baht from 2024-2028 to open 50 new branches and improve technology, aiming to achieve 100 billion baht in sales by 2028.

Managing Director Weerapun Ungsumalee said the sales growth target of 47%, from an expected 68 billion baht in 2023, is mainly from its physical stores, totaling 127 locations nationwide and seven in Malaysia. Continued …

China market dents 2023 tourism income

Slower growth of Thai tourism receipts in 2023 compared with Asian peers is attributed to the sluggish Chinese market, which flocked to other countries, as well as Thai hotels’ inability to adjust their prices.

Tourism revenue from foreign markets tallied 1.2 trillion baht, recovering to only 60% of the 1.9 trillion baht posted in 2019. Continued …

Pita warns Phuket may become a garbage hell if not addressed

Taking to the floor of parliament for the first time in six months, Move Forward party-list MP Pita Limjaroenrat talked about the garbage problems in Phuket and Samut Prakan provinces, with a stern warning that Phuket could be renamed one day by tourists as “a haven full of garbage” if the problem cannot be resolved quickly and effectively.

The former Move Forward party leader said he spent quite some time during his hiatus from parliament studying the garbage problems in the two provinces and met with locals to listen to their views. Continued …

Top 10 reasons why Thailand travel insurance is a must-have

Picture it now — you’ve just arrived in Bangkok, Thailand’s bustling capital. As the sweet aroma of street food tickles your nose and tuk-tuks whizz past, you already know this trip is going to be special. You make your way from the airport to your hostel, excited for the Thai adventures that await.

But just as you start dreaming of blissful beach days and parties that never end, a worrying thought hits you – what if something goes wrong? What if I get injured, or my bags get stolen? How will I pay these medical bills? Continued …

Royal Spectacle: King Natai’s Reign Festival in Lop Buri

Located in the heart of Thailand, where history seamlessly intertwines with the present, is the city of Lop Buri. Renowned for its rich cultural heritage, this province serves as a treasure trove of stories waiting to be unveiled.

One such tale comes to life during the celebration of King Narai’s Reign Festival — an annual extravaganza that transports visitors back to the glorious era of King Narai the Great in the 17th century. Continued …

Ayutthaya night tour of temples reopens from Feb 2 to April 30

Following its remarkable success, the Fine Arts Department is bringing back the night tour program of ancient temples in Ayutthaya province from February until April.

The program will also be given an official English name, “Ayutthaya Sundown 2024” to attract foreign visitors who are interested in Thai history, said department Director-general Phanombut Chantarachot on Friday. Continued …

Trump ordered to pay $83.3M in defamation case

A jury awarded $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll yesterday in a stinging and expensive rebuke to former U.S. President Donald Trump for his continued social media attacks against the longtime advice columnist over her claims that he sexually assaulted her in a Manhattan department store. Continued …

All eyes on global monetary policy

The global economic and investment picture at the beginning of 2024 appears to offer a different outlook than in 2023. Every market seems to be more volatile, notably Hong Kong, South Korea, China, Singapore, Thailand, and even the U.S. and Europe. Continued …