The previous politician and renowned massage-parlor entrepreneur asserts that political parties are allocating between 1,000 and 3,000 baht per person, with the specific amount varying based on the province. For example, the highest expenditure is expected to occur in the southern regions of the country. In Phuket, it is anticipated that a staggering 3,000 baht will be disbursed per person in exchange for their votes. “This election is set to mark a new record in the total amount of money used for vote-buying in Thailand’s political landscape,” he proclaimed. Additionally, village volunteers are expected to play a pivotal role in this process, serving as intermediaries between local residents and chief election campaign organizers, ultimately becoming the ones to distribute the funds. Chuwit estimates that the entire process of vote-buying will unfold in four distinct phases, which are as follows: 1. An initial payment of 300-500 baht will be made to…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
Forest fires are a significant contributor to PM2.5, the fine dust particles present in the air that easily enter human lungs and cause severe complications for those with chronic heart and lung issues. This growing environmental and health concern has been a topic of discussion among various stakeholders, including government officials, local farmers, and environmentalists. On a recent Sunday, Minister Varawut Silpa-archa held a meeting with Chiang Rai Governor Puttipong Sirimat, provincial forest office representatives, disaster prevention and mitigation department chiefs, and local farming community members to address the pressing issue of forest fires and the resulting air pollution. After an insightful discussion, the minister and his team embarked on a helicopter tour to inspect the current conditions of forests that had been ablaze over the past week in Mae Sai, Mae Chan, Muang, and Mae Sa-ruai districts. Minister Varawut noted that forest fires in Chiang Rai had been successfully…
A motorcycle courier discovered a bag of ketamine hidden inside an allegedly “empty phone box” he was supposed to deliver from Samut Prakan to the Ramkhamhaeng area. The incident, which took place early on Monday, was quickly reported to local police. (Photo: Sutthiwit Chayutworakan) In Samut Prakan, a motorcycle delivery driver contacted the police after discovering that a package he was transporting contained an illegal sachet of ketamine. The incident occurred at approximately 2 a.m. on Monday, when the driver received a delivery request through his employer’s service system. The client asked him to pick up a package from Soi Si Dan 5 in tambon Samrong Nua, Muang district. For confidentiality reasons, authorities did not disclose the name of the delivery driver. The customer provided him with the package, stating it contained an empty mobile phone box, and asked for it to be delivered to a condominium in the Ramkhamhaeng…
Eligible Thai citizens residing overseas are able to cast their votes from April 25 to May 5, prior to the May 14 election. The exact date for voting will be determined by the Thai embassy and consulate in each respective country, according to Election Commission (EC) secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee. Mr. Sawaeng mentioned that the EC has received word from the Foreign Ministry that there might be complications with the overseas voting in Sudan, a northeastern African country currently experiencing a civil war. With collaboration between the EC, Thailand Post, the Foreign Ministry’s Department of Consular Affairs, Airports of Thailand, and Thai Airways International, the overseas ballot papers will be securely delivered in diplomatic pouches or directly handed over by embassy officials to the EC by May 9. The ballot papers will subsequently be sent separately to each of the 400 constituencies according to the registered location of each voter. They…
Maj Gen Sirichan Ngathong, deputy spokeswoman of the army, recently announced that an unidentified army soldier is under investigation following allegations of physical abuse towards a man he met through a dating app while on a trip in the South. The incident allegedly took place at a luxury hotel in Sadao, Songkhla. As a result of the accusations, the soldier has been temporarily transferred to a central unit while an army panel is established to look into the matter. If the complaint is found to be valid, the soldier will face disciplinary action, according to Maj Gen Sirichan. Additionally, if it is proven that the soldier did physically abuse the man, this would also need to be validated through the justice system. The deputy spokeswoman emphasized that the incident was a personal matter and not related to any official operation or policy. The soldier’s identity and rank were not disclosed…
At the Nonthaburi Green Market 2023, visitors eagerly examined bongs as local farmers, growers, and other cannabis-related businesses displayed their products in the Pakkret district last week (Photo: Chanat Katanyu). However, not everyone is thrilled with the government’s decision to legalize cannabis – a network of doctors, academics, and civil groups recently published their seventh open letter opposing the move. In this latest letter, the group urges the public to vote for political parties that do not support removing cannabis from the list of narcotics or promoting its cultivation as a cash crop. There has reportedly been a significant increase in accidents and adverse reactions on mental and physical health since cannabis consumption was liberalized last year. Back on June 9 of the previous year, the Bhumjaithai Party successfully removed cannabis from the list of Type 5 narcotics. As a result, most parts of the plant can now be used,…
Recently, critics have questioned the content of a Thai-language textbook for grade 5 students, claiming that the book appears to accept malnutrition among young children. However, the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) has responded that the critics have misinterpreted the material. Obec Secretary-General Amporn Pinasa explained that the section in question is in the ninth chapter of the “Pasa Patee” textbook, which focuses on the value of life. In this chapter, an orphaned schoolgirl, Khaopoon, takes her classmate, Yaibua, to her orphanage, where the children live happily and are well-taught, despite having limited food choices – rice, half a boiled egg, and fish sauce. The purpose of the story is actually to teach children that happiness in life is based on having a happy mind, not material possessions. Critics who solely emphasize the low-quality meals or inequality issues are misunderstanding the book’s objective, Amporn said. Furthermore, Amporn emphasized…
As the hot season in Thailand begins to wind down, residents and visitors are finding creative ways to protect themselves from the intense sunlight in Bang Na district, Bangkok. Jackets and hoods have become popular choices to shield from the strong rays, particularly in early April. The Thai Meteorological Department’s deputy director-general, Thanasit Iam-ananchai, has announced that the country is now transitioning to the rainy season, which is expected to officially start in mid-May. Thanasit also serves as the department’s spokesperson and shared that the hot season in Thailand reached its apex on April 15, with temperatures hitting a sweltering 44.6°C in Tak province. The end of summer and the beginning of the rainy season is predicted to be declared in the middle of next month. As the head of the department’s technical affairs, Thanasit has forecasted high daily heat indices, or apparent temperatures, in certain areas during this weekend,…
In the second week of April, a thorough survey was conducted by The Nation Group, collecting opinions from 39,687 voters across eight regional zones and 33 constituencies in Bangkok. This comprehensive survey addressed various topics, such as the respondents’ preferred political party, prime minister candidates, and both constituency and party-list MP candidates. Kriengsak, a renowned professor and president of the Nation-Building Institute, offered his insights on the survey process on Friday. He expressed skepticism over the reliability of opinion surveys conducted through telephones, as pollsters often rely on data from previous polls to cut costs. According to Kriengsak, this practice results in sample groups that lack the necessary diversity and breadth. He emphasized the importance of a methodology that involves reaching respondents directly at their homes, ensuring that the sample is truly random, diverse, and distributed across the target area. Kriengsak praised Nation Poll’s choice to adopt such a method,…
Phantawat “Nott” Nakwisut, a prominent figure in the lottery industry, found himself entangled in a high-stakes money-laundering case as he was one of the 41 persons indicted on such charges. The case revolves around Phantawat reportedly providing Atthakarn (surname withheld) with winning lottery tickets worth a staggering 53 million baht. Atthakarn then allegedly deposited this large sum of money into the CEO’s bank account. Currently, Atthakarn has fled from the situation and is evading capture. Out of the 41 accused, Phantawat and 16 other individuals appeared in court on Friday to face the allegations, while 20 individuals remain at large and four are already imprisoned. During the court proceedings, the CEO recounted his side of the story, stating that he had met Atthakarn only once via an intermediary agency when he enlisted his services to claim winnings from the Government Lottery Office. This was allegedly for unspecified “business reasons.” Phanthawat…