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Today’s news: Hua Hin has a new night market/Retirement in Thailand/Rocky start for alcohol tax reform/Chiang Mai world’s most polluted/Marijuana oil to fight drug addiction/Taxi drivers seek fare increase/Thailand to introduce digital lottery outlets/Fifth Lao-Thai Mekong bridge/Eating snake is better for the environment/Economy: Economy remains fragile/US investments in Thailand/Russians control Phuket residential segment/CPN to invest Bt121 billion/Tourism: Hua Hin Songkran/Visa-free policies/Songkran bookings surge/Passion for Thai food/Foreigners behaving badly/Environment: Thousands more chemicals in plastic/Clean energy’s short-term promise/Water reserves at 62%/International news/Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Hua Hin train schedule/Market Village bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

Hua Hin has a new night market

The Patio Old Town Night Market offers a nice mix of Thai and international cuisine, live music, and a variety of goods from local vendors. Positioned conveniently next to Chatsila and the iconic Hua Hin Night Market, this market provides a unique, chilled atmosphere for visitors.

Access to the market is made easy through a dedicated walkway on Petchkasem Road, directly opposite the Hua Hin Clock Tower. Continued …

A Comprehensive Guide to Retirement in Thailand

With its stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, vibrant culture, and relatively affordable cost of living, Thailand has emerged as one of the world’s leading retirement destinations. On top of the warmth of its people, retirees are also attracted to the country’s welcoming atmosphere and the diverse lifestyle options it offers.

Retirees can tailor their daily activities to suit their preferences, from peaceful mornings spent on sun-drenched beaches to afternoons exploring bustling marketplaces and serene temples. Continued …

Rocky start for Thailand’s latest alcohol tax reform

Thailand has decided to cut its prohibitive alcohol taxes. The tax changes were announced earlier this year, and took effect from March 1. The cabinet proposed an alcohol tax slash at three levels.

First, the import duties of 54% will be reduced to 0%. Second, the excise tax will drop from 10% to 5%. Another excise tax, which applies to the volume and percentage of alcohol and calculated at 1,500 baht (£32.84) per liter for every 100 degrees of alcohol content, will now come down to 1,000 baht. Continued …

Chiang Mai’s atmosphere the world’s most polluted today

Chiang Mai is top of the world’s 10 cities with the highest levels of air pollution, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) readings today.

According to the IQAir website, the AQI reading in Chiang Mai is 200, followed by Tashkent in Uzbekistan at 193, 154 in Lahore in Pakistan, 160 in Beijing, 157 in Wuhan, 155 in Yangon, 154 in New Delhi, 154 in Dubai, 153 in Hang Zhou and 151 in Calcutta. Continued …

Thailand tries CBD-infused Marijuana oil to fight drug addiction

The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) has initiated a pioneering program utilizing marijuana oil infused with high levels of CBD to combat drug dependency. The innovative prescription, named Karun Osoth, a concoction of coconut oil and CBD meticulously balanced to 10 milligrams of CBD per milliliter of coconut oil.

This therapy not only addresses the cravings for drugs but also alleviates withdrawal symptoms, including insomnia and muscle pains, offering a glimmer of hope to individuals grappling with addiction. Continued …

Mo Chit 2 taxi drivers seek fare increase

A request for an increase in the starting taxi fare at Mo Chit 2 to 50 Thai baht (US$1.40) was presented to the Transport Ministry by the Professional Association of Public Taxi Motorists on Thursday. The association simultaneously appealed for the resolution of the persistent issue of the illegal taxis operation in the area.

Khanesuan Gamkhuntod, the president of the association, highlighted the longstanding struggle against ‘mafia’ taxis at Mo Chit 2. This situation has been causing inconvenience for both legal taxi services and passengers for many years. Continued …

Thailand to introduce digital lottery outlets Sunday

The Government Lottery Office (GLO) is set to launch the sale of digital lottery tickets through registered lottery dealers on Sunday, providing buyers with an additional channel to purchase tickets at the controlled price of 80 baht.

GLO Director Nhun Sansanakom announced that lottery dealers with contracts will receive a quota of digital tickets for sale through the GLO’s website, www.glolotteryshop.com, starting March 17 for the April 1 drawing. Continued …

Fifth Lao-Thai Mekong bridge on track for completion by year end

Work on the fifth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, which connects the two countries across the Mekong River between Borikhamxay province in Laos and Bueng Kan province in Thailand, is progressing on schedule, and the bridge could be open to traffic at the end of this year.

The new 1,350-meter bridge will boost travel between Laos and Thailand and spur trade with other countries in the Greater Mekong subregion. Continued …

Eating snake is better for the environment than eating beef or chicken, study claims

They’re capable of a powerful bite that can cause nasty injuries. And now scientists say that pythons should be on the menu – at least for those of us wanting to do our bit to help save the planet.

Experts from Macquarie University in Sydney claim that eating snake is better for the environment than eating beef, chicken, or even fish. Continued …

Thailand’s economy remains fragile due to failure to restructure

Thailand’s manufacturing sector must urgently work on digital transformation, as well as keep pace with emerging sustainability trends, or risk lamenting “lost decades”, Siam Commercial Bank’s chief economist and chief strategy officer has warned.

Speaking during the release of the bank’s economic outlook for the first quarter of this year on Thursday, Somprawin Manprasert pointed out that while the country’s economy appeared to be doing well on the surface, it was extremely fragile and weak in terms of long-term growth. Continued …

US Commerce secretary promises investments in Thailand to make semiconductors

Visiting U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has promised to increase U.S. investment in Thailand for the manufacture of semiconductors to cope with the growing global demand.

She said Thailand stood to gain from a move by the United States to diversify semiconductor production, adding that American firms were ready to “supercharge” investments into the kingdom. Continued …

Russians control residential leasehold segment in Phuket

The value of residential units in Phuket leased long-term by the top 10 foreign nationalities almost tripled to 12.8 billion baht in 2023, mainly driven by Russian buyers fleeing the conflict in Europe, as the foreign quota for condos was filled in many areas of the island.

Phattanan Phisutvimol, a former president of the Phuket Real Estate Assn., said residential demand in Phuket among foreigners has been overwhelming since 2022 and reached a peak last year, thanks to the revival of the tourism market. Continued …

CPN rolls out Bt121 billion for store investment

Retail and property developer Central Pattana Plc (CPN), the operator of Central shopping centers, plans to invest 121 billion baht over five years for store renovation and to open two new projects, as customer purchasing power increases and foreign tourist arrivals grow.

The purchasing power of Thai customers has recovered to pre-pandemic levels since last year, says Wallaya Chirathivat, president and chief executive of CPN. Continued …

Hua Hin Songkran to feature ‘Wicker Basket Flower Shirt’ festival

Hua Hin is gearing up for a larger-than-ever Songkran festival, which will take place between April 11-13.

This year’s main organized public celebrations, dubbed the “Songkran Wicker Basket Flower Shirt” festival, are set to take place at the Pae Mai floating market along the khlong irrigation canal road, marking a continuation of the nation’s popular new traditions, which last year earned global recognition. Continued …

Visa-free policies boost international travel and economies

The international travel industry experienced a significant rebound last year, following the implementation of visa-free policies by various governments. These policies aimed to rejuvenate their ailing economies through the influx of spending by foreign tourists.

Thailand, for instance, witnessed 28 million arrivals in 2023 largely due to the strong performance in the last quarter. This surge was precipitated by visa exemptions extended to citizens of China, India, Taiwan, and Kazakhstan. An extended stay period of 90 days granted to Russian nationals also contributed significantly to this upturn. Continued …

Klook sees Songkran bookings surge

Foreign tourists are extending their stays in April, as the government is lengthening Songkran festivities this year to 21 days, according to online travel agent Klook.

Michelle Ho, general manager of Klook in Thailand and the Philippines, said the platform is working with tourism operators to offer packages for the whole month. Continued …

State leverages passion for Thai food

The Commerce Ministry is collaborating with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to launch the “Travel, Taste, Eat Thai SELECT” campaign as part of the government’s soft power policy.

Deputy Commerce Minister Napintorn Srisunpang said the goal is leveraging the power of Thai food to expand business opportunities for Thai restaurants, both locally and abroad, particularly those with “Thai SELECT” certification, which is meant to guarantee professionalism, high standards, hygiene and Thai authenticity. Continued …

Phuket businesses probed over potential labor law evasion – Continued …
Briton selling cannabis arrested in Chiang Mai – Continued …
Russian Prostitute Arrested in Patong, Third in About a Week – Continued …

Thousands more chemicals in plastic than previously thought

At least 3,000 more chemicals are present in plastics — from food packaging to children’s toys to medical devices — than previously estimated by international environment agencies, a report published on Thursday found.

While the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and other institutions had previously identified 13,000 plastic chemicals, the report by a team of European scientists found more than 16,000 chemicals — a quarter of which are thought to be hazardous to human health and the environment. Continued …

Clean energy holds short-term promise

The government is being urged to make Thailand the regional front-runner for clean energy, promoting the sector as a new economic growth engine.

Burin Adulwattana, managing director and chief economist of Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research), said this issue should be a top priority for the government to ensure Thailand has clean energy at competitive prices. Continued …

Water reserves decline to 62%, govt confident rainfall will come in time

The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) is confident that there will be enough water for farming and consumption this year, even though reservoir levels nationwide have dropped to 62%.

Following an ONWR meeting on Thursday, the office’s Deputy Director-general Paitoon Kengkarnchang said that an assessment of the water situation had found that 51.42 billion cubic meters remained in all reservoirs nationwide. Continued …

Would you eat this lab-grown ‘beef rice’?

South Korean researchers have succeeded in growing beef cells in rice grains in what they say is a major step toward achieving a sustainable and affordable source of protein that could potentially replace farming cattle for meat. Would you eat this bowl of “beef rice”? Continued …

US lawmakers pass bill to force TikTok sale

The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a bill that would give the Chinese owner of TikTok about six months to divest the U.S. assets of the short-video app used by 170 million Americans or face a ban. Continued …

Bitcoin retreats from record high as ‘bubble’ talk grows louder

Bitcoin retreated from its latest record high amid an intensifying debate about whether the latest bull run in cryptocurrencies is evidence of speculative froth in global markets. Continued …