Koh Jik solar -

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Today’s news: ‘Land-based border run’/Elderly care in Thailand/Thailand braces for 38-degree heatwave/Improving quality of living of Thais/Thai-US mission launched/5,000 Nurses To Be Trained/Prehistoric animal fossils unearthed/‘No’ to gender recognition/Many cops in serious debt/Ban on recreational cannabis by year-end/Changing the cannabis culture in Thailand/Economy: PM outlines his vision/Businesses complain about minimum wage hike/150,000-strong work force for EV industry/Tax incentives for electric commercial vehicles/Tourism: Thai airlines ask for more flights/Southern Thailand room revenue surge/Phuket: “a resort town on the Black Sea’/Environment: Accelerate green energy transition/Thai island powered almost 100% by solar/Chiang Mai songthaew goes cool/International news/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

Want to make a ‘land-based border run’?

Lately, on social media, there have been a number of inquiries about “land-based border runs” from Hua Hin. Ranong, and a brief trip to Myanmar, is probably the closest to Hun Hin, although one could also go to northern Thailand to exit to Myanmar or Laos.

As a public service (this company is not a current sponsor of Expat News), we offer this border run service.

Do you need elderly care and want to retire in Thailand? A real life scenario

Craig McAvenue lives in Pattaya and Bangkok and is the wealth management director of Tenzing Pacific Services, providing financial services, insurance, pensions and advice. In this video, he shares his experience of bringing his father to Thailand to be cared for in a Thai care home. Video

Thailand braces for 38-degree heatwave with potential thunderstorms

Thailand faces a scorching day, with temperatures peaking at 38 degrees Celsius, and scattered thunderstorms in some areas, the Meteorological Department warns. The latest weather forecast anticipates strong southerly and southeasterly winds affecting the northeastern, lower central, and eastern regions of the country, creating the potential for thunderstorms in these areas.

In the period from Feb. 24-26, a high-pressure system or cool air mass from China is expected to extend over Vietnam and the South China Sea. Meanwhile, upper Thailand will experience hot weather in many areas. Continued …

Government shortlists measures to improve quality of living of Thais

The Social Development and Human Security Ministry aims to offer more privileges to newborns, children, the elderly and people with disabilities in a bid to improve the quality of life of Thai citizens.

Social Development and Human Security Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said the ministry’s subcommittee for state welfare promotion approved four measures during the meeting on Wednesday: Continued …

Thai-US mission launched to find remains of missing HTMS Sukhothai crew

The Thai and U.S. navies launched a joint operation today to search for the remains of five crew missing from the sunken HTMS Sukhothai corvette, to salvage some weaponry and to disable some U.S.-made military equipment.

A U.S. Navy ship, the “Ocean Valor”, from the U.S. naval base in Hawaii, and a flotilla of Royal Thai Navy (RTN) vessels, including the Rattanakosin, two mine sweepers, two frigates and one mid-sized troop carrier, 17 American and 40 Thai divers are involved in the operation. Continued …

5,000 Nurses To Be Trained In 2 Years Amid Severe Shortage

Amid a critical shortage of 50,000 nurses nationwide, the Public Health Ministry is now launching an urgent course to train 2,500 of them a year over two years for a total of 5,000 starting next year.

Public Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew said senior officials had approved a proposal from Praboromarajchanok Institute and the Nursing and Midwifery Council to quickly train more nurses. Continued …

Three distinct prehistoric animal fossils unearthed in Khon Kaen

A new discovery has surfaced in the Tambon Muang Wan region of Nam Phong district, Khon Kaen, as fossils of three different prehistoric animals have been unearthed. This comes as an addition to the previous findings in the same area.

The analysis of the collected fossils is being undertaken by a team led by Sasa-On Khansubha, a palaeontologist affiliated with the Sirindhorn Dinosaur Museum in Kalasin. Preliminary results hint that the fossils could belong to a carnivorous dinosaur with a diet consisting of fish, a herbivorous dinosaur, and a marine species. Continued …

MPs say ‘no’ to gender recognition bill

Parliament on Wednesday rejected the draft bill for legal gender recognition, title, and protection of gender-diverse people, with 154 votes in favor, 257 against, one abstention, and one vote not cast.

The bill was proposed by Move Forward party-listed MP Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat and his associates on the basis that currently there is no specific law to recognize and protect the human dignity, rights, freedom, and equality of gender-diverse people. Continued …

Many cops in serious debt

Many police have fallen into debt totaling some 300 billion baht and most are on the verge of bankruptcy, said National Police Chief Torsak Sukvimol.

He was commenting in response to questions posed by the House committee reviewing the 2024 annual budget expenditure bill. Continued …

Health ministry wants ban on recreational cannabis by year-end

The government wants to ban recreational use of cannabis by the end of this year, Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew said on Wednesday, threatening to put thousands of marijuana shops and farms that have sprung up around the country since a decriminalization drive two years ago out of business.

Thailand will seek to get a new cannabis bill — which will explicitly outlaw recreational use of cannabis — approved by lawmakers in the lower house by the end of October, before parliament goes into recess, Dr. Cholnan said in Bangkok. That will follow a review by the cabinet next month, he said. Continued …

How High Times wants to change the cannabis culture in Thailand

Cannabis has been legal in Thailand for almost two years now. However, many still see the plant in a negative light. High Times, a weed dispensary in Bangkok, is on a mission to change this negative perception.

Founded by Canadians, they seek to bring the positive changes witnessed by cannabis legalization in their home country to Thailand. They say that by helping people understand the health benefits of cannabis, they can help break down the stigma associated with it. Continued …

PM outlines his vision for Thailand’s development

Continued …

Businesses complain – again – about minimum wage hike

Continued …

Higher education ministry vows to prepare 150,000-strong work force for EV industry

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation intends to prepare a work force of at least 150,000 people to work in the electric vehicle industry within five years. The workforce development plan is part of the ministry’s comprehensive strategy to support Thailand’s EV ecosystem.

The ministry announced that the strategy was aimed at helping the kingdom reach its goal of making 30% of vehicle production in the country zero-emission vehicles by 2030. Continued …

Businesses given new tax incentives for using electric commercial vehicles

The National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee (EV Board) has agreed to grant tax concessions to businesses that procure electric buses and trucks, an official said.

Narit Therdsteerasukdi, secretary-general of the office of the EV Board, said on Wednesday that the board has also given the go-ahead to new measures promoting the use of e-buses and e-trucks in a bid to reduce carbon emissions and help Thailand achieve its net-zero goal. Continued …

After public outcry over domestic rates, Thai airlines ask for more flights

Six Thai airlines have asked for authorization to expand domestic flight operations during peak holiday periods, responding to widespread public fury over exorbitant airfares.

Representatives from Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air, and Thai Vietjet convened with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) yesterday to delve into strategies for curbing fare hikes. Continued …

Southern Thailand sees room revenue surge due to European visitors

The southern provinces of Thailand are experiencing a boost in room revenue in the first quarter, thanks to extended stays by European visitors. This increase has occurred despite the lesser number of tourists from China. Room rates have reached a new high.

Hotels in Phangnga Province, particularly in Khao Lak, are charging higher room rates, between 6,000 and 10,000 baht (US$167 and 278) per night, surpassing the average of 5,000 baht (US$139) in 2019, a peak tourism year for Thailand. Continued …

Phuket turning into ‘something resembling ‘a resort town on the Black Sea’

“War, huh, yeah, what is it good for …” asked Edwin Starr in 1970, as fighting raged in Vietnam. The answer, according to the chart-topping song, is “absolutely nothing” – but that’s not completely true.

War is great for those who don’t have to fight it but do benefit from owning shares in weapons manufacturers. And in the case of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, in particular, it’s good for the tourism industries in countries such as Thailand and North Korea. Continued …

Industries must accelerate green energy transition: FTI

Thai industries should accelerate the transition to green energy, as it can only be to the country’s advantage to attract green, future and sustainable investors, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) Chairman Kriengkrai Thiennukul, told the Thailand Energy Executive Forum in Bangkok.

As the industrial sector is among the largest emitters of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, the sector is calling for clean energy at an affordable price to reduce operational costs, mitigate impacts on the environment and boost trade competitiveness. Continued …

This Thai island is powered almost 100% by solar

Koh Jik, a small island, has successfully transitioned to solar. And has won several awards as one of the most sustainable villages in the region. Video

Chiang Mai songthaew goes cool with air-con and PM2.5 filters

In a novel move to revolutionize local transport, a Chiang Mai songthaew driver has transformed the iconic red car into an air-conditioned oasis, complete with a PM2.5 filter system. This innovative service has become a hit among both Thai and international tourists, leading to a significant booking queue.

The traditional songthaew, a ubiquitous sight in Chiang Mai, has long been a favorite mode of transportation for its ease of use and availability. Continued …

2023, the warmest year on record

2023 was the warmest year on record. The latest Copernicus Climate Change Service highlights that February 2023 to January 2024 was the first time that we experienced 12 consecutive months of temperatures 1.5 degrees hotter than the pre-industrial era. Continued …

Malaysian currency at lowest level since 1998 crisis

The Malaysian ringgit continues to trade near its lowest level since the 1998 Asian financial crisis, prompting the central bank to say it does not reflect the improving outlook for the economy. Continued …