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Today’s news: December Hua Hin-Chiang Mai flight schedule/PKK records lowest English proficiency/Crack down on Makro/Lantern blamed for burning market/Temperature to rise/Nearly 640,000 krathongs in Bangkok/Violence against women and children/COVID is Not Fully Gone/Economy: Vietnam approves 15% tax on multinationals/True Corp. spearheads AI utilization/Civil servants to receive 20% salary increase/Salary hike to pressure SMEs/Tourism: Thai Airways reinstates nine routes/Cabinet green-lights 4am/25 million visitors in 2023/Doubts over 8.2 million Chinese visitors in 2024/Chinese airlines did not cancel flights/Thailand’s duty-free dream/Thailand Experience: Rising sea levels slowly destroy temple murals/PEA transforms Ayutthaya/Thai street food soars in popularity/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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December Hua Hin-Chiang Mai flight schedule

Prachuap Khiri Khan records lowest English proficiency in Thailand

In the latest EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) reported yesterday, Thailand’s grasp of the English language has been categorized as “very low proficiency,” ranking 101st out of 113 non-native English-speaking countries.

Prachuap Khiri Khan recorded the lowest score of the Thai provinces included in the survey. With a score of just 299, Prachuap Khiri Khan’s proficiency level is markedly lower than other provinces, such as Chiang Mai, which top-scored with 464, followed by Bangkok (457), Phuket (456), and Songkhla (437). – HHT

Thai investigators crack down on Makro for shady swine supplies

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) raided Makro, a popular cash-and-carry store warehouse in Thailand after discovering the store ordered illegal pork products from a company previously indicted for illicit imports.

DSI Director Suriya Singhakamon said officers conducted a raid on Wealthy & Healthy Foods, which illegally imported pork into Thailand, and discovered that the company supplied some frozen pork and pork livers to a cash-and-carry store called Siam Makro. Continued …

Lantern blamed for burning Chiang Mai market

A fire broke out at nine buildings within Rim Ping Flower Market in the northern province of Chiang Mai at 3am yesterday. A witness claimed the blaze was triggered when a lantern from the Loy Krathong and Yi Peng Lantern Festival fell onto the buildings.

According to initial investigations, approximately 1,400 square meters were affected, including nine buildings in the market and some parts of nearby buildings. These include residential buildings, a Chinese shrine and the Thailand Post Museum. Continued …

Temperature to rise in Thailand as cold air pressure decreases

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) reports a decrease in cold air pressure, resulting in a rise in temperature by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius. Southern regions are experiencing heavy rainfall, with eight provinces affected as of 5am today.

The forecast for the next 24 hours indicates that the high-pressure area or cold air mass covering the upper part of Thailand is weakening. Continued …

Nearly 640,000 krathongs, mostly biodegradable, floated in Bangkok

As many as 639,828 krathongs were floated on Bangkok’s myriad canals for Loy Krathong this year, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported on Tuesday.

Statistics gathered by the BMA’s Environment Department revealed that the number of krathongs floated on Bangkok canals this year increased by 11% compared to 572,602 last year. Continued …

Violence against women and children in Thailand triples in 2022

The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and Woman and Men Progressive Movement Foundation (WMP) reported that violence against women and children in Thailand tripled in 2022 compared to the previous year.

ThaiHealth and WMP held a seminar to promote the campaign to end violence against women and children under the theme, Stop Violence as Signals Appear Before They Make Headlines. The talk highlighted the signs of violence before an assault occurs and urged the public to pay attention to these signs and not to ignore them. Continued …

We May Be Post-COVID Era, But COVID is Not Fully Gone

At a recent media roundtable on the evolving landscape of respiratory disease management in the Asia Pacific region held in Singapore and organized by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, Dr. Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious disease specialist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, was quick to declare it is just a matter of time when the next COVID pandemic, with new and deadly mutation, breaks out.

“It’s a certainty – like life, death, and taxes,” Leong told reporters from half a dozen countries in the region. Continued …

Vietnam approves 15% tax on multinationals, Thailand to follow

Vietnam today raised its corporate tax on multinational companies to 15%, effective from January, in a move that may deter foreign investment.

Vietnam’s parliament approved the global minimum tax (GMT) as part of an agreement by 140 countries, including Thailand, to impose a minimum 15% tax on multinationals from 2024. Continued …

True Corp. spearheads AI utilization for automation

True Corp., led by Deputy Chief Executive Sharad Mehrotra, is positioning itself at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) utilization, with ambitious plans for widespread automation and paperless operations. The company’s recent hybrid conference, AI Gets Good, highlighted the critical need for an integrated approach that blends technology, people, and ethics.

Accenture research indicates that language-based AI could augment around 40% of all working hours, prompting True to employ machine learning in customer services. This implementation not only reduces errors but also safeguards customer data. Continued …

Thailand’s civil servants to receive 20% salary increase over two years

Newly recruited civil servants in Thailand are set to receive a salary increase of 20% over the next two years. The decision, approved by the Cabinet, was announced by Danucha Pichayanan, the secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council.

The proposed plan by the Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC) is to increase salaries by 10% annually in the fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Continued …

State salary hike to put pressure on SMEs

The cabinet resolution to approve a 10% increase in state officials’ salaries is likely to cause businesses to consider increasing wages accordingly to attract talented individuals, says Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

New state employees are set to receive 16,500 baht monthly in their first year, rising to 18,000 baht in their second year. Continued …

Thai Airways reinstates nine cool-season routes for domestic trips

Thai Airways International reinstated nine domestic routes for the cool season, previously provided by its former affiliate, Thai Smile Airways. The services, which will run until March 30, utilize Airbus A320 planes from the airline’s former subsidiary, Thai Smile.

The re-established routes offer daily flights from Bangkok to nine destinations – Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Narathiwat, Phuket, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani. Phuket is set to have 56 services each week, while Chiang Mai will have 35 and Khon Kaen 28. Continued …

Cabinet green-lights 4am extended hours for tourist hotspots

The Thai Cabinet has given the green light to a draft regulation set forth by the Interior Ministry, permitting extended hours until 4am at entertainment venues in prominent tourist hotspots. The affected areas include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Koh Samui, and Phuket.

Aiming to stimulate the country’s tourism sector, the Interior Ministry is at the helm of this initiative. The spokesperson for the ministry, Traisuree Taisaranakul, announced this development. The extended operating hours also encompass entertainment establishments within hotels governed by the hotel law. Continued …

Thailand on target to meet 25 million visitors in 2023

A total of 24,081,613 foreign tourists entered Thailand between Jan. 1 and Nov. 25 this year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced on Tuesday, adding foreign arrivals in November alone amounted to 100,059 people.

The authority expects that total foreign arrivals this year will exceed its target of 25 million people, TAT Gov. Thapanee Kiatphaibool said. Continued …

Doubts over Thai target of 8.2 million Chinese visitors in 2024

Analysts have expressed doubts over the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) ambitious target of attracting 8.2 million Chinese visitors next year. This comes as predictions for overall foreign arrivals next year have been down-scaled, amid concerns over a sluggish global economy.

Kasem Prunratanamala, who leads research at CGS-CIMB Securities in Thailand, stated that while the firm has kept its estimation of 27 million arrivals for this year, the prediction for next year has been reduced from 36 million to 32 million. This is in spite of a visa exemption scheme for Chinese visitors, which has been in effect since Sept. 25 this year and will continue until Feb. 29 next year. Continued …

TAT says Chinese airlines just returned extra time slots, did not cancel flights

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s governor said on Tuesday that Chinese airlines simply chose to return the extra time slots allocated to them.

TAT Gov. Thapanee Kiatphaibool was referring to reports carried by several Thai news websites that 10 Chinese airlines had cancelled flights to Thailand for the months of December and January due to lower-than-expected bookings. Continued …

Thailand’s duty-free dream: Five-pronged plan to woo tourists and shoppers

In a move to transform Thailand into an irresistible haven for tourists and shoppers alike, the government has unleashed a five-pronged plan that could turn the Land of Smiles into a duty-free paradise.

Say farewell to arrival duty-free shops as Thailand aims to redefine its status as the ultimate destination for globetrotters and shopaholics. Continued …

History fades as rising sea levels slowly destroy Thailand’s temple murals

If you look closely, you can just about see the characters and scenes that once stretched across the walls of Wat Prasat, a temple in Nonthaburi. There’s the dark shape of an elephant’s head, a figure slouching on its back; outlines of swords pointing upwards to the center of the display; patches of curved roofs.

“The mural used to be more vivid,” says Phra Maha Natee, the abbot of Wat Prasat. Even when he was a novice monk, 20 years ago, the image – which shows one of the jātakas stories that recall the Buddha’s past lives – was easier to understand. “The color was brighter and sharper,” he says. Continued …

PEA transforms ancient capital Ayutthaya into a golden city of lights

In a collaborative effort, the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and the Fine Arts Department have illuminated the historical city of Ayutthaya, turning it into a mesmerizing golden city at night.

Thousands of energy-efficient LED bulbs in orange and yellow hues now illuminate the ruins, enhancing their spectacular beauty. A recently released drone-captured bird’s-eye view showed the ancient capital covered in radiant hues against a backdrop of darkness. Continued …

Thai street food soars in popularity thanks to Blackpink Lisa

Khai jiao (Thai-style omelet rice) has been witnessing a surge in demand in Thailand after Lisa of Blackpink introduced how to cook the dish to her followers.

In a special video uploaded to Spotify’s YouTube channel on Nov. 16 to celebrate her song “Money” reaching 1 billion streams on the music platform, the Blackpink star introduced to the viewers how to cook several specialties from her home country Thailand, including khai jiao. Continued …

41 Workers Rescued After Being Trapped In Collapsed Tunnel In India

India’s transportation minister says all 41 construction workers who were trapped in a collapsed mountain tunnel in the country’s north for more than two weeks have been pulled out after rescuers reached them on Tuesday. Continued …

Finland To Close Last Remaining Road Border With Russia

Finland will close its last remaining road border with Russia due to concerns over migration, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Tuesday, accusing Moscow of undermining Finland’s national security. Continued …

New study suggests dinosaurs were killed off by more than an asteroid

It’s been 66 million years since dinosaurs roamed the Earth, and many may blame an asteroid’s explosive collision with our planet for the end of the creatures’ reign. But for years, scientists have debated whether the meteorite alone is responsible for one of the most infamous mass extinction events in history, or whether other more earthly forces played a part, as well. Continued …