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Today’s news: Hua Hin in global spotlight/Prachuap Khiri Khan governor has died/Political will to stop smog problem?/Mass transit to zap pollution/Covid-19 among three major pandemic threats/‘Wai’ as Thailand’s national identity//Forbidden From Drying Rice On Roads/Mixed reactions to proposed cannabis law/Public opinion on recreational cannabis use/Economy: Raising minimum wage as Songkran gift/Farmers to be granted title deeds/Tourism: Thailand to boost tourism/Thailand Experience: Blessed Are The Cheese Makers/Thailand’s best-kept secret/20 Best Thai Side Dishes/Best restaurants and bars in Chiang Mai/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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Hua Hin in global spotlight as tennis stars head for Thailand Open 2024

The much-anticipated Thailand Open 2024 arrives later this month, promising world-class tennis served up with Thailand’s unique cultural flair.

This premier WTA International Series tournament, held in picturesque Hua Hin, is the largest and most prestigious tennis event in Southeast Asia. Now in its fourth year, it has consistently attracted top-ranked players and captivated fans with thrilling matches. Continued …

Prachuap Khiri Khan’s recently appointed governor has died

Niti Vivatvanich, the recently appointed governor of Prachuap Khiri Khan, has passed away due to a sudden heart attack. Vivatvanich, who had assumed office less than a month ago, was 54 years old.

Sources confirmed yesterday that Wivatvanich had been undergoing treatment in a Bangkok hospital since the New Year holiday and had not resumed his duties in the province at the time of his passing. Continued …

Will Srettha’s administration have the political will to stop smog problem?

Bangkok, a city famed for its cultural vibrancy and bustling street life, is now grappling with a persistent and dangerous environmental crisis: severe air pollution. At the heart of this crisis is the PM2.5 particulate matter, tiny particles that pose serious health risks due to their ability to penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream.

The smog in Bangkok, characterized by high levels of PM2.5, is a complex issue, with agricultural burning to support large-scale corporate agricultural operations being a significant contributing factor. With the new government under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in power, there’s a pressing question: Will this administration confront the corporations that are implicated in these unhealthy practices? Continued …

Electric mass transit pledge to zap pollution in Chiang Mai

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin pledged to foster the development of electric mass transit systems as a solution to the persistent air pollution issues plaguing the northern province. The Thai prime minister noted that the fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) levels had considerably decreased since his visit last year.

(Editor note: While Expat News is “all in” on electric vehicles – as long as the energy is supplied by renewable sources – the PM seems to be missing the boat on this decision. The main cause of the relentless smog is not fossil fuel-powered vehicles, it’s the burning of farm fields and waste. Is he, as the previous article suggests, avoiding the real problem because of corporate interests?)

The air quality has indeed improved since April of the previous year when the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) detected 302 hotspots, thereby escalating the situation to a critical level. The air pollution problem has adversely affected tourism in Chiang Mai, deterring both local and international tourists due to potential health risks. Continued …

Covid-19 named among three major pandemic threats this year

Three major diseases — Covid-19, influenza, and dengue fever — could spread to the level of a pandemic this year, according to the Thai Department of Disease Control (DDC), which named 12 seasonal and group-specific diseases as under surveillance.

Department Director-general Dr. Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn said on Wednesday that they had compiled estimates of the communicable disease situation in Thailand for 2024 based on current patients, mortality and spreading rates, in a bid to plan and implement suitable disease-control policies. Continued …

‘Wai’ to be officially designated as Thailand’s national identity

The National Identity Committee resolved on Thursday to designate the “wai” – the Thai way of greeting or paying respects – as a national identity, Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said.

Somsak, who chaired the committee’s meeting on Thursday, said that he would later seek a Cabinet endorsement to the resolution so that the “wai” would become Thailand’s official national identity. Continued …

Farmers Now Forbidden From Drying Rice On Roads

Rice farmers are no longer allowed to put their product to dry on the surface of rural roads anywhere or else they could be immediately arrested, a government official confirmed yesterday.

The Rural Roads Department has issued a regulation to terminate the common practice of strewing the newly harvested rice on the surface of the road, albeit only those with more than one lane, to dry in the sun. Continued …

Mixed reactions to Thailand’s proposed cannabis law from tourism industry

The recent draft law on cannabis and hemp, targeting to limit recreational use, is garnering mixed reactions from Thailand’s tourism industry. While it could potentially lead to the closure of several dispensaries, industry insiders feel it wouldn’t have a significant impact on the overall tourism landscape, as cannabis and hemp aren’t primary attractions for international visitors.

The bill, endorsed by Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew, aims to restrict the recreational consumption of cannabis and hemp, focusing primarily on medical use. The draft bill is awaiting Cabinet approval before being presented to the House of Representatives for review. Continued …

Thailand seeks public opinion on draft to end recreational cannabis use

Thailand is canvassing public opinion on a draft bill outlawing recreational use of cannabis after more than a year in which marijuana-related businesses flourished following legalization and insufficient regulation.

The first Southeast Asian nation to decriminalize cannabis in 2021, Thailand spawned an industry worth up to a projected $1.2 billion in the next few years, as thousands of dispensaries sprang up, along with spas, restaurants and festivals. Continued …

Labor Ministry considers raising minimum wage as Songkran gift

The Labor Ministry, headed by Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, is considering raising the minimum wage for certain professions as a Songkran festival gift. The announcement is expected to take place within a year, covering the entire country.

Additionally, the Cabinet is looking into providing a full monthly salary for maternity leave of 98 days. This was discussed at a meeting of the House of Representatives today, chaired by Wan Muhammad Noor Matha, the House speaker. Continued …

Thai farmers to be granted 25,000 title deeds

Agriculture Minister Thamanat Prompow confirmed the distribution of 25,000 land title deeds to farmers across the nation.

During the much-anticipated launch, 1,000 title deeds will be handed out, and the remaining 24,000 will be dispensed at Pirunraj Agricultural Centers nationwide. This initiative is a crucial part of the government’s policy to convert Sor Por Kor 4-01 documents into agricultural land title deeds, promising a cascade of benefits for farmers who hold rights to government-owned land. Continued …

Thailand to boost tourism to drive economic growth

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is on a mission to stimulate tourism, focusing on boosting revenue in 55 secondary provinces by 20%, aiming for a grand total of 91 million trips this year. This ambitious goal, however, falls short of the mark for key provinces.

For the first nine months of the previous year, the 55 secondary tourism provinces attracted 73 million trips out of a total of 185 million. These journeys raked in revenue of 169 billion baht, contributing to the projected domestic revenue for the full year, set at 900 billion baht. Continued …

Blessed Are The Cheese Makers

Collaborating with the crème de la crème of the hospitality industry, including 5-star hotels and Michelin-star-rated restaurants, VIVIN Grocery’s Thai Cheese Tour is set to elevate the profile of Thai artisanal cheeses to new heights.

With the participation of celebrated local producers like Jartisann Cheeserie and Chiang Rai Cheese, each stop on the tour will offer a symphony of flavors paired with the finest wines from the award-winning GranMonte team. This epicurean journey will not only highlight the exceptional quality of Thai charcuterie from VIVIN Grocery and the craftsmanship of local bakers, but also aims to forge a new appreciation for the art of cheese and wine making in Thailand. Continued …

This winery is Thailand’s best-kept secret

It’s the annual mid-year break and I want to visit a new wine region. My wife, Georgie, is desperate for the warmer climate of Asia and the kids just want access to theme parks because they are teenagers and on a verbal hiatus for the next six years.

Well, as they say, you can’t have your cake and eat it, too. Unless, of course, your cake is in Thailand – the country where accessibility to, well almost anything, provides an incredible skeleton-key getaway. You see, it turns out that Red Bull gives you wines, as well as wings. That’s not entirely accurate but Thai billionaire Chalerm Yoovidhya, an heir to the Red Bull fortune, is behind one of his nation’s burgeoning wineries, Monsoon Valley. Continued …

The 20 BEST Thai Side Dishes

Are you tired of preparing the same old side dishes that accompany your Thai meals? Don’t worry, because we are going to spice up your kitchen with a variety of delicious Thai side dishes that will transport you straight to the bustling streets of Bangkok.

From the fiery heat of som tam salad to the sweetness of pineapple fried rice, we will explore a range of dishes that will complement any Thai main course and leave your guests asking for seconds. Continued …

The best restaurants and bars in Chiang Mai

The mountainous city of Chiang Mai has long been known for its picturesque scenery, beautiful architecture, and moreish food. But if you’re looking for an authoritative guide to eateries, bars and restaurants in the city, look no further.

For chef Thitid Tassanakajohn, more popularly known as chef Ton, Chiang Mai holds deep personal meaning. The city is home to suppliers of his famed Bangkok restaurants Le Du (Asia’s No. 1 Restaurant in 2023) and Nusara, and the chef-owner makes it a point to visit several times a year, charmed by its ingredients and culinary culture. Continued …

World’s renewable power capacity grew 50% in 2023

The world’s new renewable power capacity grew by 50% last year and should keep breaking records this decade on the back of a surge in cheaper solar panels, particularly in China. Continued …

US, UK forces strike Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen

The U.S. and British militaries bombed more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Thursday, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets, U.S. officials said. The military targets included logistical hubs, air defense systems, and weapons storage and launching locations, they said. Continued …

South Africa Tells UN Top Court Israel Is Committing Genocide in Gaza

A continent away from the war in Gaza, South Africa accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians and pleaded with the United Nations’ top court on Thursday to urgently order a halt to the country’s military operation. Israel has vehemently denied the allegations. Continued …