Surat Thani, a top-tier tourist destination in Thailand, is home to the beautiful and bustling island of Koh Samui. The island’s economy largely depends on its main economic crop, the coconut, as well as other plants like banana. Recognizing the potential of these resources in transforming the island’s souvenir industry, the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) has stepped in to fund two research projects focusing on souvenir development. NRCT executive director, Wiparat De-ong, shared that one of these studies was conducted by the Faculty of Science and Technology at Thammasat University, while the other supported local communities by establishing a Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Centre. Both studies aimed to enhance the quality of souvenirs and increase the island’s revenue using scientific and technological knowledge. Additionally, the second study specifically centered on building a network of souvenir providers on the island and creating learning centers for entrepreneurs to showcase the production…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has partnered with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in a collective effort to lower carbon emissions from air travel, aiming to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. This announcement was made by CAAT director Suthipong Kongpool, following the 2023 ICAO Environmental Regional Seminar for the Asia Pacific Region, which took place recently in Bangkok. The CAAT intends to collaborate with ICAO’s member countries across the Asia Pacific region, as they work towards the goal of reducing CO² emissions, as certified by the 41st Session of the ICAO Assembly in October last year. Over 200 staff members from various agencies in each country in the region have participated in the initiative, according to Mr. Suthipong. Since last year, the CAAT has implemented ICAO’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), a policy tool designed to achieve environmental objectives at a lower cost…
The future of cannabis in Thailand is at a crucial juncture as the government prepares to revisit the legal status of the plant next month. A groundswell of public support has rallied behind a petition aimed at maintaining the current legal status of cannabis as a medicinal and economic resource. The petition, organized by the Phuket Cannabis Association (PCA), has already gathered over 2,000 signatures within 24 hours from Thai citizens, businesses, farms, expats, and tourists. If you believe in the economic, health, and social benefits that cannabis has brought to Thailand since its decriminalization, sign the petition here. Time is of the essence as we have until May 31st to show our collective support. It takes less than two minutes to add your voice to this pivotal cause. The letter of intent attached to the petition emphasizes the importance of maintaining cannabis’ status as an herbal plant under the…
The unofficial results from the Election Commission (EC) are now in, revealing a highly engaging contest amongst the leading parties: The Move Forward Party has managed to secure a remarkable 152 seats, comprised of 112 constituencies and 39 party-list seats. With such a strong showing, there is no doubt that this party has been gaining momentum and attracting many supporters. Not far behind and providing a worthy challenge is the Pheu Thai Party, which has managed to rack up 141 seats in total, with 112 in constituencies and 29 in the party-list category. Their impressive performance has certainly bolstered the position of the party in the eyes of the public. The Bhumjaithai Party has also proven to be rather formidable, accumulating 71 seats (68 constituencies and 3 party-list). This result highlights their commitment to making an impact in the political landscape and attracting voters across the nation. The Palang Pracharath…
Wannathida Chaisiha, a 33-year-old entrepreneur, and Mongkol Komkla, aged 27, are the proud proprietors of Loey Ma Na Tum Na Napa restaurant. The duo recently took to Facebook to make a remarkable promise to their loyal patrons. They revealed that if the Move Forward political party ascends to power, customers could enjoy their wildly popular “som tam pu pra la” dish at a discounted rate of 31 baht for one entire month. The announcement quickly became the talk of the town, with curious patrons flocking to the restaurant to support their favorite political party and feast on this delectable salad for a fraction of the original price. Wannathida and Mongkol confessed to Nation TV that they were fervent followers of Future Forward even before its dissolution in 2020, thereafter transforming into Move Forward. The pair were drawn to the party due to its focus on ushering in a new era…
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party, revealed on Monday the plan to create a coalition government consisting of five former opposition parties and a new party, bringing their total number of MPs to 309, with Pita himself as the prime minister. The announcement followed the Election Commission’s declaration of the Move Forward Party as the winner in Sunday’s general election with a total of 151 MPs – 112 representing constituencies and 39 from the party list. Pita regarded the victory as a public mandate for his party to act as the central force in the formation of the upcoming government. He mentioned speaking with Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the leader of the Pheu Thai Family, to congratulate her on her persistence throughout the campaign and invite her party to join the coalition. In return, Paetongtarn expressed her congratulations to Move Forward and emphasized the importance of transparency in their…
Election Commission Chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong announced the unofficial outcomes of the general election on Monday, with the Move Forward Party emerging as the winner with the largest number of seats. United States Ambassador Robert Godec congratulated Thailand on a successful election, stating that as a longstanding friend and ally of the nation, the U.S. eagerly anticipates the final results. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb) Ittiporn Boonpracong informed that 99% of the ballots had been tallied, and the Move Forward Party secured victory. The election saw a record voter turnout of 39,293,867, or 75.22%, out of the 52,238,594 eligible voters. This surpassed the 75.03% turnout in 2011 and was higher than the turnout during the 2019 polls, which stood at 74.87%. Thailand witnessed tens of millions of people participating in the election as observers, poll workers, media members, candidates, and most importantly, as voters. The energy and enthusiasm displayed by the people of…
As Covid-19 cases continue to rise, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) has issued a stark warning to the public about the importance of remaining vigilant and protecting themselves from the virus. Dr. Tares Krassanairawiwong, the director-general, shared alarming statistics indicating that over the last week, the number of Covid-19 inpatients increased by 39%, reaching a total of 2,356. Moreover, he revealed that the number of patients suffering from lung inflammation and relying on ventilators had surged by approximately 45%. The death toll related to the virus also doubled on a weekly basis. Among the most recent fatalities, 55% were vulnerable and unvaccinated individuals, while the rest had experienced a significant drop in Covid-19 antibody count after being vaccinated or infected more than six months ago. Dr. Tares emphasized the need for people to take a proactive approach in receiving both Covid-19 and influenza vaccines simultaneously, as doing so would…
At the Bangkok headquarters of the Move Forward Party, leader Pita Limjaroenrat faced questions from reporters about his stance towards the monarchy. Two senators have declared their intention not to support Pita as the new prime minister, questioning his commitment to the constitutional monarchy. Senator Jadet Insawang expressed his concerns on Monday, stating that upon taking office, he pledged to uphold the current constitution, which includes Sections 6 and 50, requiring everyone to protect the constitutional monarchy. However, the Move Forward Party and its leader, Pita, have announced plans to repeal Section 112, which pertains to lese majeste law under the Criminal Code and is designed to protect the image of His Majesty the King. According to Senator Jadet, this move could lead to discrediting the royal institution, which he deems unacceptable. He firmly declared, “If Mr. Pita is nominated [for prime minister], I will reject it because I will…
In a shocking turn of events, rescue workers recently discovered the body of a murdered Ukrainian woman in a condominium located in Bang Kolaem district, Bangkok. The grisly discovery led to the arrest of a 25-year-old Polish man, identified as Jan Filippow, who allegedly murdered his girlfriend and attempted to dismember her body in their highrise condominium. As the story unfolds, police reported that Filippow hastily hailed a taxi at the condominium building on Monday afternoon, which raised suspicions of the taxi driver due to his hurried demeanor. The driver attempted to stall Filippow by asking him to wait, before notifying the condominium staff about his unusual behavior. Despite the driver’s efforts, Filippow demanded to be taken away from the building immediately. The alerted condominium staff then contacted the room owner, who later discovered the 27-year-old Ukrainian woman’s body lying face-up in her bed on the 32nd floor. The scene…