FEED Validator

for Atom and RSS and KML

Sorry

This feed does not validate.

line 42, column 2: Undefined item element: figure (100 occurrences) [help]

		<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WEB-6 ...
  ^

In addition, interoperability with the widest range of feed readers could be improved by implementing the following recommendations.

line 12, column 94: Self reference doesn't match document location [help]

... rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
                                             ^

line 144, column 0: content:encoded should not contain sizes attribute (42 occurrences) [help]
```
<figure id="attachment_332600" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignn ...
```
line 214, column 0: content:encoded should not contain iframe tag (3 occurrences) [help]
```
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<iframe width="604" height="340" src="https ...
```

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThaiPbsWorld

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
>
<channel>
<title>Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</title>
<atom:link href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com</link>
<description>Access the latest Thai and World News in English and find in-depth information on politics, business, lifestyles and ‎the Coronavirus Outbreak Update, provided by ThaiPBSWorld, Thailand’s only independent public service broadcaster.</description>
<lastBuildDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 18:22:49 +0000</lastBuildDate>
<language>en-US</language>
<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.25</generator>
<item>
<title>Deputy National Police Chief suspended</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/deputy-national-police-chief-suspended/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 18:12:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clare Patchimanon (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Royal Thai Police]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[บิ๊กโจ๊ก]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[พล.ต.อ.สุรเชษฐ์ หักพาล]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[รองผู้บัญชาการตำรวจแห่งชาติ]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332619</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Pol Gen Kitrat Panphet, the acting national police chief, has signed the order to suspend deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn and four more police officers accused of...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/deputy-national-police-chief-suspended/" target="_blank">Deputy National Police Chief suspended</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Pol Gen Kitrat Panphet, the acting national police chief, has signed the order to suspend deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn and four more police officers accused of being involved in money laundering in relation to an online gambling network.
The order takes affect immediately on April 18. The other four police officers are: Pol Col Kittichai Sangkhathaworn, Pol Lt Col Krit Pariyaket, Pol Sgt Natthawut Wadwaew and Pol Sgt Natthanan Chuchak.
Pol Gen Kitrat confirms that everything is being done in due process of the law and the police investigation.
He also emphasises that, while he is currently the acting police chief, he has full authority.
Pol Gen Kitrat said he had informed the prime minister so that Pol Gen Surachate can be transferred from his inactive post at the Office of the Prime Minister back to the Royal Thai Police headquarters as the disciplinary investigation continues.
He cited that the suspension order is issued as the investigation could require a considerable amount of time, during which, the five accused police officers still has the right to appeal.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/deputy-national-police-chief-suspended/" target="_blank">Deputy National Police Chief suspended</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WEB-600x338.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Thai cabinet approves 1.8 billion baht for road maintenance in Laos</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-cabinet-approves-1-8-billion-baht-for-road-maintenance-in-laos/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 11:41:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Neeranuch Kunakorn]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332615</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Thai cabinet approved 1.8 billion baht in financial assistance to the Lao government today, for the maintenance and improvement of the R12 highway, which will shorten the journey time...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-cabinet-approves-1-8-billion-baht-for-road-maintenance-in-laos/" target="_blank">Thai cabinet approves 1.8 billion baht for road maintenance in Laos</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Thai cabinet approved 1.8 billion baht in financial assistance to the Lao government today, for the maintenance and improvement of the R12 highway, which will shorten the journey time from Thailand’s Nakhon Phanom province, through Laos, to the Vietnamese border in Quang Binh province.
According to Deputy Government Spokesperson Kaenika Oonchit, the R12 highway starts in Thakhek, the capital of Khammouane province in Laos, at the junction with the R13 highway, which is about 17km from the border checkpoint in Thailand’s Nakhon Phanom. It runs through Laos and ends in the Vietnamese border town of Quang Binh, covering a total distance of 147km and forming an integral part of the Asian Highway.
Kaenika said that the money will also be used to upgrade cargo terminals, storage facilities, lighting at intersections, public utilities, the drainage systems in communities and the improvement of tourist attractions along the route.
The R12 highway will enhance road communication and logistics linking Thailand with Laos, Vietnam and China and shorten the transit time from ten to just four hours and reduce customs procedures from five to just two checkpoints.
The R12 is considered as the shortest route, compared to R8 or R9, along the East-West Economic Corridor.
Kaenika said that the amount of goods transported from Nakhon Phanom into Laos via R12, after the completion of maintenance works, is anticipated to increase by about 50%.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-cabinet-approves-1-8-billion-baht-for-road-maintenance-in-laos/" target="_blank">Thai cabinet approves 1.8 billion baht for road maintenance in Laos</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/R12_highway-600x345.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>345</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Company executive claims foul play over cadmium controversy</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/company-executive-claims-foul-play-over-cadmium-controversy/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 11:15:47 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Neeranuch Kunakorn]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[cadmium]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[แคดเมียม]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332612</guid>
<description><![CDATA[An executive of J&B Metal Company has claimed that his purchase, through auction, of cadmium slag from Bound and Beyond Plc, a company in Tak province, and the transport of...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/company-executive-claims-foul-play-over-cadmium-controversy/" target="_blank">Company executive claims foul play over cadmium controversy</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[An executive of J&B Metal Company has claimed that his purchase, through auction, of cadmium slag from Bound and Beyond Plc, a company in Tak province, and the transport of the slag to Samut Sakhon were legitimate and that he might be a victim of foul play by his competitors.
Jesada Kengrungruangchai reported to the Natural Resources and Environment Crime Division (NRECD) today, to acknowledge the charges against him.
Pol Maj-Gen Watcharin Phusit, commander of the NRECD, said that Jesada was charged with illegal possession of toxic materials, because the company’s warehouse in Bang Na Jeod sub-district does not have a license to store them.
A warehouse in Krathum Baen district, belonging to others, where cadmium slag was stored, as well as the warehouse of Lor Loha Thai Metal in Bang Sue district of Bangkok, in which Jesada is a shareholder, have no licenses to store toxic materials either, said the police officer.
Jesada claims that he bought 13,800 tonnes of slag, which contained about 38% cadmium slag, for about 8 million baht for the purpose of separating the zinc content, which can fetch up to 300 baht per kilogram.
He claimed that he did not want the cadmium slag, adding that the cadmium had already been neutralised at its source.
He said that he actually received only 12,000 tonnes of the slag.
Jesada also claimed that he kept the slag at various warehouses, because his warehouse did not have enough space to store all of it. He said that he sold some of it because he was short of cash, adding that he is in the process of selling some more of it to a buyer in Laos, who operates a separation facility.
He said he believes that he is a victim of foul play by someone who lost in the initial auction of the slag.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/company-executive-claims-foul-play-over-cadmium-controversy/" target="_blank">Company executive claims foul play over cadmium controversy</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Capture-5-600x323.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>323</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Transport minister promises 20-baht fares on all electric trains by September next year</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/transport-minister-promises-20-baht-fares-on-all-electric-trains-by-september-next-year/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 09:35:30 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Franc Han Shih]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Business & Economy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[20 baht]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[BTS]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[electric train]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[fare]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRT)]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332610</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit has insisted that, by September next year, the maximum fare on all electric train services in Bangkok and its vicinity will be capped at 20 baht....
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/transport-minister-promises-20-baht-fares-on-all-electric-trains-by-september-next-year/" target="_blank">Transport minister promises 20-baht fares on all electric trains by September next year</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit has insisted that, by September next year, the maximum fare on all electric train services in Bangkok and its vicinity will be capped at 20 baht.
Currently, the 20-baht train fare for an entire trip has been in effect on only two services, the Purple Line between Taopoon and Bang Phai and the suburban Red Line between Bang Sue and Rangsit since October 16th, because the two lines are under the supervision of the Transport Ministry.
Suriya said he disagrees with the recent comment by Move Forward MP Surachet Pravinvongvuth that the 20-baht fare is impractical and should not be undertaken, adding that it is a good policy and is increasingly popular, as more people switch from private cars to electric train services, which helps to ease the problem of PM2.5 and the rising cost of living.
The minister vowed to continue with the policy, which he expects to be accomplished by September next year, when the maximum train fare will also be capped on the Green, Blue, Pink and Yellow lines.
He claimed that ongoing talks with the operators of those lines are progressing, adding that a common ticket, which can be used on all train services, is also being developed, as well as the creation of a fund to compensate the train operators.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/transport-minister-promises-20-baht-fares-on-all-electric-trains-by-september-next-year/" target="_blank">Transport minister promises 20-baht fares on all electric trains by September next year</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bts-600x338.jpeg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>287 killed, 2,060 injured on Thailand’s roads over Songkran</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/287-killed-2060-injured-on-thailands-roads-over-songkran/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 09:06:28 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Neeranuch Kunakorn]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran 2024]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[สงกรานต์ 2567]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[อุบัติเหตุ]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332607</guid>
<description><![CDATA[287 people were killed and 2,060 others were injured in 2,044 road accidents during this year’s Songkran period, including 28 deaths and 287 injuries yesterday, Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/287-killed-2060-injured-on-thailands-roads-over-songkran/" target="_blank">287 killed, 2,060 injured on Thailand’s roads over Songkran</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[287 people were killed and 2,060 others were injured in 2,044 road accidents during this year’s Songkran period, including 28 deaths and 287 injuries yesterday, Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told a news conference today.
The main causes of the accidents were speeding, followed by drunk driving and cutting in, he said, adding that casualties were fewer than last year, but the number of accidents increased slightly.
Motorcycles were involved in most of the accidents and most of the victims were not wearing crash helmets.
Anutin said that the command centre for road safety has been assigned to conduct an in-depth study of all the information related to the accidents and to come up with recommendations for submission to the cabinet.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/287-killed-2060-injured-on-thailands-roads-over-songkran/" target="_blank">287 killed, 2,060 injured on Thailand’s roads over Songkran</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Capture-4-600x332.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>332</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Suvarnabhumi Airport moves up 10 places to 58th in Skytrax ranking</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/suvarnabhumi-airport-moves-up-10-places-to-58th-in-skytrax-ranking/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 08:41:25 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clare Patchimanon (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332599</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is ranked at 58 in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2024, an improvement from last year’s 68th placing. The international airport ranking website places Doha Hamad Airport...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/suvarnabhumi-airport-moves-up-10-places-to-58th-in-skytrax-ranking/" target="_blank">Suvarnabhumi Airport moves up 10 places to 58th in Skytrax ranking</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is ranked at 58 in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2024, an improvement from last year’s 68th placing.
The international airport ranking website places Doha Hamad Airport at the top of the list. Singapore Changi, last year’s winner, dropped to second place this year.
Airports of Thailand (AOT) adds that their satellite terminal one (SAT-1) received 4 stars this year, for the architecture, cleanliness, overall atmosphere, facilities and automation.
These automatic systems include check-ins terminals, bag drop, self-boarding gates and the passenger validation system.
While Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is aiming for Thailand to become a regional aviation hub, the current per-passenger duration for international in-bound processing at Suvarnabhumi Airport is 26 minutes and 37 minutes per out-bound passenger.
Meanwhile, the time taken for domestic arrivals is 15 minutes per passenger and 25 minutes per passenger for departures.
<figure id="attachment_332600" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-332600" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DMK1-600x400.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DMK1-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DMK1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DMK1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DMK1.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Don Mueang International Airport</figcaption></figure>
Don Mueang International Airport is ranked tenth among the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline Terminals. The rankings are based on traveller questionnaires conducted from August 2023 to March 2024.
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332602" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/skytrax-600x338.png" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/skytrax-600x338.png 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/skytrax-768x432.png 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/skytrax-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/skytrax.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/suvarnabhumi-airport-moves-up-10-places-to-58th-in-skytrax-ranking/" target="_blank">Suvarnabhumi Airport moves up 10 places to 58th in Skytrax ranking</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BKK_Suvarnabhumi-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Ocean warming driving dugongs to find new feeding grounds</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/ocean-warming-driving-dugongs-to-find-new-feeding-grounds/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 06:35:39 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Neeranuch Kunakorn]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Andaman Sea]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[climate change]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Dr. Thon Thamrongnawasawat]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dugongs]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[global warming]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Gulf of Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[streamed grass phenomenon]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332594</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The warming of the water in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea has resulted in a rare phenomenon, being described as “steamed” grass, meaning seagrass, the main food...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/ocean-warming-driving-dugongs-to-find-new-feeding-grounds/" target="_blank">Ocean warming driving dugongs to find new feeding grounds</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The warming of the water in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea has resulted in a rare phenomenon, being described as “steamed” grass, meaning seagrass, the main food source for dugongs, is not surviving the rise in sea temperatures.
This, in turn, is forcing mammals to stray from their habitats to seek new feeding grounds, according to Dr. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, vice dean of the Faculty of Fisheries at Kasetsart University.
A marine expert, Dr. Thon said that a recent study of sea grass in the Gulf and the Andaman, conducted by a research unit from the Faculty of Fisheries and the sea grass crisis committee, shows that sea grass in the Andaman Sea, off Trang and Krabi provinces and parts of Satun, are being seriously affected by global warming, resulting in unusually low tides and warmer seas.
Similar problems have also been detected in Phang-nga and Trat provinces, although sea grass in the Gulf, off Prachuap Khiri Khan down to Pattani, remains mostly healthy, he said.
He explained that rising sea temperatures lead to the warming of the sea bed, resulting in the “steamed” grass phenomenon, which is new to Thailand.
He also said that the survey shows dugongs are tending to scatter, instead of feeding together in a large herd, to seek new feeding grounds where sea grass is aplenty, such as around Phuket.
Dr. Thon said that this is a problem which cannot be tackled easily, because the seas are getting warmer every day and the problem is getting worse due to global warming, although authorities concerned are trying to rehabilitate the sea grass.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/ocean-warming-driving-dugongs-to-find-new-feeding-grounds/" target="_blank">Ocean warming driving dugongs to find new feeding grounds</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/feature-7-1-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Over 100 injured by exposure to ammonia in Chon Buri</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/over-100-injured-by-exposure-to-ammonia-in-chon-buri/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 04:17:25 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Neeranuch Kunakorn]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ammonia gas leak]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bang Lamung]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Chonburi province]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[explosion]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ice factory]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332591</guid>
<description><![CDATA[More than 100 people suffered eye, throat and skin irritations after being exposed to a high concentration of ammonia, following an explosion at an ice factory in Bang Lamung district...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/over-100-injured-by-exposure-to-ammonia-in-chon-buri/" target="_blank">Over 100 injured by exposure to ammonia in Chon Buri</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[More than 100 people suffered eye, throat and skin irritations after being exposed to a high concentration of ammonia, following an explosion at an ice factory in Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri late Wednesday night.
Emergency officials said that some of the victims fainted after inhaling ammonia and were given first aid treatment at the scene, before being taken to several hospitals in Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha and Laem Chabang.
The explosion at the ice factory in Nong Prue sub-district caused ammonia, which was stored at the facility, to leak into the atmosphere and spread over a one kilometre radius of the factory.
The ammonia gas spread into a neighbourhood opposite the factory, affecting many people who suffered skin, throat and eye irritations. District officials and emergency workers helped to evacuate residents to safety, more than a kilometre from the ice factory.
Local officials then cordoned off areas within a one kilometre radius of the factory, as firemen wearing gas masks tried to stop the ammonia leak.
With the help of factory workers, it took them about three hours to stop the leak.
District health officials later advised people in the neighbourhood of the factory not to consume food which might have been exposed to ammonia and to see a doctor or a health official immediately if they develop breathing problems, eye or skin irritations.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/over-100-injured-by-exposure-to-ammonia-in-chon-buri/" target="_blank">Over 100 injured by exposure to ammonia in Chon Buri</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/feature-6-1-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Indonesian startup fosters links between consumers and green funding (Video)</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/indonesian-startup-fosters-links-between-consumers-and-green-funding-video/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 02:43:55 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Franc Han Shih]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thai PBS World Exclusive]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[carbon dioxide]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[carbon offset]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Franc Han Shih]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[startup]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[The Wave]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332587</guid>
<description><![CDATA[When you shop at a supermarket, would you consider contributing a small amount of money to mitigate climate change? While every country is making an effort to achieve carbon neutrality,...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/indonesian-startup-fosters-links-between-consumers-and-green-funding-video/" target="_blank">Indonesian startup fosters links between consumers and green funding (Video)</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<iframe width="604" height="340" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qzHctXPrs7Q?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen title="Indonesian startup fosters links between consumers and green funding"></iframe>
When you shop at a supermarket, would you consider contributing a small amount of money to mitigate climate change? While every country is making an effort to achieve carbon neutrality, an Indonesian start-up aims to offset CO2 emissions through partnerships with corporations, communities and government.
In an interview with Thai PBS World, CEO and Founder of Carbon Addons, Mohammad Naufal, said that his micro financing scheme combines personal finance and the reduction of CO2 emissions.
By Franc Han Shih, Thai PBS WorldThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/indonesian-startup-fosters-links-between-consumers-and-green-funding-video/" target="_blank">Indonesian startup fosters links between consumers and green funding (Video)</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-1-600x338.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>‘Doi Suthep forest fires now under control’ – Chiang Mai Governor</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/doi-suthep-forest-fires-now-under-control-chiang-mai-governor/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 18:19:40 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clare Patchimanon (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332582</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Forest fires broke out at two main spots on Doi Suthep, a famous tourist destination in Chiang Mai.The blaze can clearly be seen from a distance. According to social media...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/doi-suthep-forest-fires-now-under-control-chiang-mai-governor/" target="_blank">‘Doi Suthep forest fires now under control’ - Chiang Mai Governor</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Forest fires broke out at two main spots on Doi Suthep, a famous tourist destination in Chiang Mai.The blaze can clearly be seen from a distance.
According to social media post by Nirat Pongsitthaworn, Chiang Mai Governor, the fires started at around 21:20 at the back of Nong Ho Buddha Dhamma Temple.
Three hours later (00:20), the governor posted that 50 fire fighters were dispatched and the fire is now 100 percent under control, while the damage assessment will be reported later during the day.
It is also reported that this is the first time in 3 years since wild fires broke out in these spots.
Forest fire season in Thailand usually lasts from February to May. Apart from wild fires, Chiang Mai is also one of the provinces that currently suffers from air pollution problem.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/doi-suthep-forest-fires-now-under-control-chiang-mai-governor/" target="_blank">‘Doi Suthep forest fires now under control’ - Chiang Mai Governor</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__4792403-600x450.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>450</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Some 6.5 million people travelled by train during Songkran holidays</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/some-6-5-million-people-travelled-by-train-during-songkran-holidays/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 11:56:19 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kitipat Chuensukjit]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Tourism]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Maha Songkran festival]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran festival]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[The Department of Rail Transport]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[the State Railway of Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Train]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332575</guid>
<description><![CDATA[About 6.55 million people used trains to travel around Bangkok, to other destinations and back to the capital during the six-day Songkran period, an increase of 21.22% percent over the...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/some-6-5-million-people-travelled-by-train-during-songkran-holidays/" target="_blank">Some 6.5 million people travelled by train during Songkran holidays</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[About 6.55 million people used trains to travel around Bangkok, to other destinations and back to the capital during the six-day Songkran period, an increase of 21.22% percent over the same period last year, according to the Department of Rail Transport.
793,018 people used trains yesterday, the last day of the Songkran long holidays, but this was 10.55% below projections.
6,071,358 used electric trains in Bangkok and its suburbs, on the Green, Blue, Gold, Yellow, Pink, Red and Purple lines, as well as the Airport Link, while 485,323 people used the services of the State Railway of Thailand.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/some-6-5-million-people-travelled-by-train-during-songkran-holidays/" target="_blank">Some 6.5 million people travelled by train during Songkran holidays</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/World-Cover-1-1-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Appointment of Thailand’s next Attorney General approved</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/appointment-of-thailands-next-attorney-general-approved/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 11:23:22 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clare Patchimanon (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[attorney-general]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Office of the Attorney-General]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332573</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Public Prosecutor Commission has unanimously approved appointment of Phairach Pornsomboonsiri as the next Attorney- General. He will be replacing Amnat Jedcharoenruk, whose term will end on September 30th this...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/appointment-of-thailands-next-attorney-general-approved/" target="_blank">Appointment of Thailand’s next Attorney General approved</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Public Prosecutor Commission has unanimously approved appointment of Phairach Pornsomboonsiri as the next Attorney- General. He will be replacing Amnat Jedcharoenruk, whose term will end on September 30th this year.
Phairach is currently the most senior Deputy Attorney-General. His appointment would mean he becomes the 19th Attorney-General of Thailand.
Next, the Office of the Attorney General will seek senate approval, as required by the Public Prosecution Organisation and Public Prosecutors Act B.E.2553 (2010) section 10. If approved, the appointment will be passed to the Palace for Royal assent.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/appointment-of-thailands-next-attorney-general-approved/" target="_blank">Appointment of Thailand’s next Attorney General approved</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AGen-600x338.jpeg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Move Forward party given until May 3rd to submit charter court defence</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/move-forward-party-given-until-may-3rd-to-submit-charter-court-defence/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 10:56:40 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clare Patchimanon (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Constitutional Court]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[lèse majesté]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Move Forward Party]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[party dissolution]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thai politics]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332565</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Constitutional Court has agreed to give the Move Forward party another 15 days to present evidence in its defence against an application, by the Election Commission, seeking the dissolution...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/move-forward-party-given-until-may-3rd-to-submit-charter-court-defence/" target="_blank">Move Forward party given until May 3rd to submit charter court defence</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Constitutional Court has agreed to give the Move Forward party another 15 days to present evidence in its defence against an application, by the Election Commission, seeking the dissolution of the party and banishment of its executive committee members from politics for 10 years, on charges of attempting to overthrow the country’s Constitutional Monarchy.
Earlier, the court gave until April 18 for the presentation of its defence, but the party asked for an extension to May 3.
The Constitutional Court has already found the party guilty of attempting to overthrow Constitutional Monarchy for its election campaign to amend Article 112 of the Criminal Code, more commonly called the lèse majesté law.
Besides the presentation of evidence, the Move Forward party hopes that the court will conduct an enquiry, which would allow the party to present witnesses to support its case.
Move Forward has denied that it has a new party in reserve, in case it is dissolved by the court, so that its MPs, who are not executive committee members, can join the new party without having to seek shelter in rival parties.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/move-forward-party-given-until-may-3rd-to-submit-charter-court-defence/" target="_blank">Move Forward party given until May 3rd to submit charter court defence</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/World-Cover-1-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Chinese companies keen to open EV battery production facilities in Thailand</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/chinese-companies-keen-to-open-ev-battery-production-facilities-in-thailand/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 09:02:29 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clare Patchimanon (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332550</guid>
<description><![CDATA[At least two major electric vehicle battery producers in China are showing keen interest in the production of power cells in Thailand, with a potential combined investment in the first...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/chinese-companies-keen-to-open-ev-battery-production-facilities-in-thailand/" target="_blank">Chinese companies keen to open EV battery production facilities in Thailand</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[At least two major electric vehicle battery producers in China are showing keen interest in the production of power cells in Thailand, with a potential combined investment in the first phase estimated at over 30 billion baht, according to Narit Therdsteerasukdi, secretary-general of the Board of Investment (BoI).
Narit led a delegation on a visit to seven manufacturers of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), namely CATL, CALB, IBT, Eve Energy, Gotion High-tech, Sunwoda and SVOLT Energy Technology in Fujian and Canton provinces from April 7th to 10th.
In separate talks with the executives of the producers, Narit said that all see business potential in Thailand and have expressed interest in the BoI’s promotional privileges for investment in EV power cells and energy storage systems, which require high levels of technical knowhow and investment.
The promotional privileges range from corporate tax and import tariff exemptions on machinery and raw materials, to financial support from the Fund to Increase Thailand’s Competitiveness and subsidies for human resource development, said the BoI chief.
Due to the rapid expansion of the circular energy sector in Thailand, Narit said that there is an increased need for energy storage and Thailand has the basic infrastructure for the development of energy storage systems.
He noted that Thailand has succeeded in attracting foreign investment in the production of electric vehicles in the country adding, however, that the EV industry will not be fully integrated without power cells, a crucial component for the EV industry.
He believes that, in the next two years, Thailand will have major factories producing battery cells, which will be another major step in completing the EV supply chain in the country.
Currently, China is the world’s leading producer of power cells, with over 60% of global market share, including a 37% share by CATL alone.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/chinese-companies-keen-to-open-ev-battery-production-facilities-in-thailand/" target="_blank">Chinese companies keen to open EV battery production facilities in Thailand</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__3375120-600x338.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>A guide to Thailand’s next Senate and ‘the most complicated election in the world’</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/a-guide-to-thailands-next-senate-and-the-most-complicated-election-in-the-world/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 07:52:34 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clare Patchimanon (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thai Politics Explained]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Election Commission]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thai politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thai Senate]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[กกต]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[การเมือง]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[สมาชิกวุฒิสภา]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332543</guid>
<description><![CDATA[After the 250 junta-appointed senators complete their five-year term on May 10, they will be replaced by a 200-member Senate elected from thousands of candidates via a complex voting system...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/a-guide-to-thailands-next-senate-and-the-most-complicated-election-in-the-world/" target="_blank">A guide to Thailand’s next Senate and ‘the most complicated election in the world’</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[After the 250 junta-appointed senators complete their five-year term on May 10, they will be replaced by a 200-member Senate elected from thousands of candidates via a complex voting system that excludes full public participation.
Over 210,000 people have informed the Election Commission (EC) that they wish to run for election to the Senate, and the EC expects at least 100,000 candidates to contest.
However, the six rounds of voting required – two each at the district, provincial and national levels – means all 200 seats in the Upper House will not be filled until mid-July.
Critics describe the selection system as defined in the 2018 Organic Act on the Acquisition of Senators as “the most complicated in the world”. They say that without a national election by all eligible voters, the system will end up selecting senators who represent the applicants rather than the respective occupational groups as intended by the Constitution drafters.
In the interim, the current senators – who are prohibited by the Constitution from seeking another term – will take caretaker roles after their term expires, although they can no longer vote with MPs to select a new prime minister.
Under the current Constitution, in force since April 2017, the Senate consists of 200 members selected by and among “persons having the knowledge, expertise, experience, profession, or characteristics or common interests or working or having worked in varied areas of the society”. However, the charter’s transitory provisions state that during the first five years of the first Parliament, the Senate shall comprise 250 members appointed by the King upon the advice of the junta National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
Tentative schedule
The process to acquire 200 new senators is set to start immediately after the current Senate’s term ends, with a royal decree announcing the senatorial selection expected as early as May 11. That will be followed by an EC declaration on candidate applications and voting dates. Applications will be open between late May and early June.
As per the tentative EC schedule, voting at the district level will be held no later than June 22, followed by the provincial voting a week later, and the national voting by July 9.
The EC is expected to announce the names of the new senators in the Royal Gazette around mid-July.
 
Who can apply?
Candidates must be Thai nationals by birth, at least 40 years old at the time of application, and have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in the field they wish to represent. They must also have some connection with the district where they apply to contest, either having been born there or studied, stayed, or worked there for at least two consecutive years.
The application fee is 2,500 baht.
There is a long list of 26 kinds of people who are banned from becoming senatorial candidates, including political party members, public officials, senators under the current charter, former MPs, former government ministers, former local administrators, or former political party executives who vacated their seats less than five years ago.
Also prohibited from contesting are parents, spouses and children of senatorial candidates, MPs, senators, political appointees, local administrators, and officials of the Constitutional Court and independent organisations.
Like their predecessors in the current Senate, the new set of senators can only serve one term of five years.
 
Complicated process
As per the charter, the applicants will vote among themselves over six rounds to eventually select 10 senators from each of the 20 eligible groups, with a reserve list of five candidates for each group.
Among the eligible fields are law and justice, education, public health, agriculture, science and technology, mass communication, employees or workers, business owners, tourism-related professions, industrialists, artists or athletes, independent professionals, women, and elderly, disabled or ethnic groups.
At the district level, candidates will vote within their group. The five people with the most votes will proceed to an inter-group voting round, in which they select their favourite candidates from other randomised groups.
At this stage, the candidates from each professional group will be cut down to three – or 60 for all the 20 groups from every district.
These shortlisted candidates – 55,680 from 928 districts nationwide – will proceed to the provincial race. At the provincial level, two winners will be acquired for each group – 40 for each of the country’s 77 provinces.
That will result in 3,080 senatorial candidates contesting at the national level, where they will repeat the intra-group and inter-group voting to get 10 winners for each of the 20 groups. These 200 final winners will become new senators.
 
 A first for Thailand
This complicated voting system will be used for the first time in Thai political history, which has seen 12 sets of senators.
The country’s first senate, installed in 1946, was selected through an indirect election by MPs. The six following sets of senators were all appointed. The eighth and ninth senates were directly elected in national votes, while the latter two comprised members who were elected or appointed. The current Senate was appointed by the NCPO.
The new Upper House will have the same duties and power as its predecessor, except for the right to select a new prime minister with the Lower House. The major powers of senators are approving nominations for independent organisations, voting with MPs on constitutional amendments, deliberating bills of law, and scrutinising the government through interpellations and motions for a general debate on its performance or policies.
 
Concerns of manipulation
There is concern that the new voting system will benefit those already in power and also wealthy and politically connected individuals, despite the original intention of the charter drafters, which was apparently a Senate comprised of nonpartisan experts in their fields.
In response to such worries, EC secretary-general Sawang Boonmee has acknowledged the potential for lobbying and vote-buying but said his agency would set up a network to monitor senatorial candidates with the help of the public and mass media. He called for public participation to help ensure that new senators are experts who truly represent their respective fields.
Civil society groups are also campaigning to attract as many qualified Thai citizens to apply and take part in the senatorial voting, regardless of whether they intend to become senators. They believe that a large number of applicants/voters will increase scrutiny and transparency, making it more difficult and costly to manipulate the voting results.
By Thai PBS World’s Political DeskThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/a-guide-to-thailands-next-senate-and-the-most-complicated-election-in-the-world/" target="_blank">A guide to Thailand’s next Senate and ‘the most complicated election in the world’</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/paliament-600x338.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>The Charm of Chai Nat (Part II)</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/the-charm-of-chai-nat-part-ii/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 06:45:54 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[jeerapas@thaipbs.or.th]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Thai PBS World Exclusive]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Video]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Chai Nat]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Sapphaya]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332540</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode, we’ll visit Chai Nat’s Landmark, the historic Sapphaya Old Police Station, and enjoy a stroll through the Sapphaya Green Market.  
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/the-charm-of-chai-nat-part-ii/" target="_blank">The Charm of Chai Nat (Part II)</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[In this episode, we’ll visit Chai Nat’s Landmark, the historic Sapphaya Old Police Station, and enjoy a stroll through the Sapphaya Green Market.
 The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/the-charm-of-chai-nat-part-ii/" target="_blank">The Charm of Chai Nat (Part II)</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Thailand-Vibes-600x338.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>TAT claims “Maha Songkran World Water Festival” is a great success</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tat-claims-maha-songkran-world-water-festival-is-a-great-success/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 06:08:51 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kitipat Chuensukjit]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Business & Economy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Tourism]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran 2024]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran festival]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thapanee Kiatphaibool]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[The Tourism Authority of Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332536</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) claims that the “Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024”, held at Sanam Luang and Ratchadamnoen Avenue between April 11th and 15th, was a great...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tat-claims-maha-songkran-world-water-festival-is-a-great-success/" target="_blank">TAT claims “Maha Songkran World Water Festival” is a great success</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) claims that the “Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024”, held at Sanam Luang and Ratchadamnoen Avenue between April 11th and 15th, was a great success in terms of visitors and revenue.
TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said that the five-day festive event, featuring various forms of entertainment, street food and a parade, among others, attracted over 780,000 visitors, including about 81,000 foreign tourists.
She claimed that this event alone had injected about 2.8 billion baht into the economic system, including about 742 million baht in tax revenue.
Most of the visitors learned about the event from social media, word of mouth or television, she said, adding that, according to an opinion survey of <a name="_GoBack"></a>those who attended, most of the Thai visitors were impressed with the sound and light exhibition, while most foreign visitors were impressed with the facilities at the event, the parade and the choice of shops at the site.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tat-claims-maha-songkran-world-water-festival-is-a-great-success/" target="_blank">TAT claims “Maha Songkran World Water Festival” is a great success</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/World-Cover-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Myanmar air force bombs their rebel occupied army camp in Myawaddy</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/myanmar-air-force-bombs-their-rebel-occupied-army-camp-in-myawaddy/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 05:03:32 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clare Patchimanon (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[civil war]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[conflict]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Myawaddy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand border]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332531</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Myanmar government launched an air strike on its former army camp on the outskirts of Myawaddy township yesterday. Karen National Union (KNU) sources say that one MiG-29 fighter carried...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/myanmar-air-force-bombs-their-rebel-occupied-army-camp-in-myawaddy/" target="_blank">Myanmar air force bombs their rebel occupied army camp in Myawaddy</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Myanmar government launched an air strike on its former army camp on the outskirts of Myawaddy township yesterday.
Karen National Union (KNU) sources say that one MiG-29 fighter carried out the air strike against rebel positions in the Pa Song camp of the 275th infantry battalion, which was captured by their forces a few days ago. The rebels removed the government flag in the camp and replaced it with the KNU flag.
The bombing set fire to some buildings in the camp, but it is not known how many Karen rebels were killed or injured, as most of them had entered the bomb shelters prior to the raid.
After the seizure of the camp and Myawaddy township, Karen rebels erected a sign urging ethnic Karens to join the KNU force, with an offer of 5,000 baht monthly salaries.
Myanmar troop reinforcements, sent to assist the besieged troops at Pa Song camp, have been repelled by rebel forces and have been forced to retreat, with heavy casualties, according to rebel sources, which also claim that a Myanmar army general was injured in rebel drone attacks and was admitted to hospital in Yangon, the former capital.
Some Myanmar troops from the 275th infantry battalion, who were withdrawn from the Pa Song camp, are now regrouping near the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge.
Thai troops from the Ratchamanu Task Force have been placed on alert along the mostly porous border between Thailand’s Mae Sot district in Tak province and Myawaddy township, a major trading hub through which billions of baht in goods from Thailand are traded into Myanmar on a monthly basis.
Thai traders in Mae Sot district say that the current fighting in Myanmar has not affected border trade significantly, although the number of trucks entering Myanmar across the first Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge has reduced slightly due to safety concerns.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/myanmar-air-force-bombs-their-rebel-occupied-army-camp-in-myawaddy/" target="_blank">Myanmar air force bombs their rebel occupied army camp in Myawaddy</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-15T132727Z_1_LOP506214042024RP1_RTRMADP_BASEIMAGE-960X540_THAILAND-MYANMAR-BORDER-600x338.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Songkran revellers left behind more than 100 tonnes of garbage on Silom and Khao San roads</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/songkran-revellers-left-behind-more-than-100-tonnes-of-garbage-on-silom-and-khao-san-roads/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2024 11:41:26 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clare Patchimanon (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bang Saen beach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[songkran2024]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[สงกรานต์ 2567]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[สงกรานต์วันไหล]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332523</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The three-day Songkran water splashing on Khao San road was over on Monday night and left behind about 116 tonnes of garbage, mostly drinking water bottles, plastic bags, water guns,...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/songkran-revellers-left-behind-more-than-100-tonnes-of-garbage-on-silom-and-khao-san-roads/" target="_blank">Songkran revellers left behind more than 100 tonnes of garbage on Silom and Khao San roads</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The three-day Songkran water splashing on Khao San road was over on Monday night and left behind about 116 tonnes of garbage, mostly drinking water bottles, plastic bags, water guns, plastic buckets and traces of white clay flour, to be collected by city collectors.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt supervised about 250 city workers in the cleanup of Khao Sarn road this morning. About 200,000 Songkran revelers were estimated to visit the area yesterday and last night, which was the last day of the Songkran celebrations there.
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332528" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__23330833-600x337.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="337" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__23330833-600x337.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__23330833-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__23330833-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__23330833.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
According to city officials, a total of 116 tonnes of garbage were collected from Khao San and its vicinity for the first three days from April 12. The amount of garbage left behind by the revellers last night was not estimated yet.
For Silom road, about 33 tonnes of garbage were collected on April 13-14. The number of revellers there was estimated at about 58,000 and 79,000 respectively.
As the celebrations were over in Bangkok and most of the country, the Lai Bang Saen, a unique Songkran celebration for the people in Bang Saen resort town of Chon Buri province kicked off today.
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332529" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2567-04-16-at-18.30.55-600x337.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="337" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2567-04-16-at-18.30.55-600x337.jpeg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2567-04-16-at-18.30.55-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2567-04-16-at-18.30.55-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2567-04-16-at-18.30.55.jpeg 1085w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
The celebration is confined to the two-km Khao Lam road, the Bang Saen beach road and Bang Saen Soi 2 which were clogged with pick-up trucks, loaded with revellers and water drums.
The Songkran celebration here will not be complete without the ritual to create sand castles on the Bang Saen beach today and tomorrow. Several cultural activities are held on the beach.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/songkran-revellers-left-behind-more-than-100-tonnes-of-garbage-on-silom-and-khao-san-roads/" target="_blank">Songkran revellers left behind more than 100 tonnes of garbage on Silom and Khao San roads</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/547747-600x338.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Tourist boat catches fire while on river sight-seeing in Ayutthaya</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tourist-boat-catches-fire-while-on-river-sight-seeing-in-ayutthaya/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2024 10:40:25 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clare Patchimanon (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Ayutthaya]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[boat accident]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332519</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A tourist boat caught fire as it was bringing 24 Thai tourists for a sight-seeing tour of the Chao Phraya river in Muang district of Ayutthaya province this afternoon. All the...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tourist-boat-catches-fire-while-on-river-sight-seeing-in-ayutthaya/" target="_blank">Tourist boat catches fire while on river sight-seeing in Ayutthaya</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[A tourist boat caught fire as it was bringing 24 Thai tourists for a sight-seeing tour of the Chao Phraya river in Muang district of Ayutthaya province this afternoon. All the tourists were, however, safely evacuated to another passing tourist boat. 
No one was harmed in the incident, but the boat was completely damaged by the fire.
<figure id="attachment_332520" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-332520" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/burnt_boat-600x276.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="276" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/burnt_boat-600x276.jpeg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/burnt_boat-768x353.jpeg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/burnt_boat-1024x471.jpeg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Photo: Facebook page บรรเทาภัยเอเชีย หน่วยกู้ภัยอยุธยา จุดรวมใจเอเชีย</figcaption></figure>
A tourist boat operator, Ms Natnicha Sorndee, said that the boat was about four years old and had insurance coverage for all the passengers.
It was reported that the tourists were having lunch on board the boat when fire started, emitting black smoke, causing panic among some of them.
Fortunately, another tourist boat passed by and all of them were evacuated on to it.
Local police and officials of the Marine Department are investigating the cause of the fire.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tourist-boat-catches-fire-while-on-river-sight-seeing-in-ayutthaya/" target="_blank">Tourist boat catches fire while on river sight-seeing in Ayutthaya</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ayuthaya_boat-600x450.jpeg</url><width>600</width><height>450</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Songkran revellers head back to Bangkok as the long holidays come to an end</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/songkran-revellers-head-back-to-bangkok-as-the-long-holidays-come-to-an-end/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2024 07:35:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clare Patchimanon (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran 2024]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran traffic]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332515</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Songkran revellers are returning to Bangkok and Eastern Economic Corridor provinces in droves today, the last day of the long holiday, to report back to work on Wednesday. The Friendship...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/songkran-revellers-head-back-to-bangkok-as-the-long-holidays-come-to-an-end/" target="_blank">Songkran revellers head back to Bangkok as the long holidays come to an end</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Songkran revellers are returning to Bangkok and Eastern Economic Corridor provinces in droves today, the last day of the long holiday, to report back to work on Wednesday.
The Friendship Highway, the main route linking Bangkok with north-eastern provinces, is reported to be congested with private cars and public transport vehicles heading for Bangkok. Traffic is moving slowly and police anticipate increased traffic later today and into the night.
Highway police say that a special lane will be open on the in-bound Phahonyothin Road to facilitate traffic flow.
The Mor Chit 2 bus terminal has been packed with passengers returning from northern and north-eastern provinces since this morning and it is expected to remain so until late at night.
Suthipong Harnchieu, an official of the Transport Company at the bus terminal, said that eight public buses from the Bangkok Mass Transit Company have been arranged to provide shuttle services to the BTS train station at Mor Chit, from 4am until 7am, as the number of taxies are not sufficient to cope with number of arrivals.
Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew reports that the death toll from road accidents during the past five days has risen to 206 and 1,593 others were injured.
301 road accidents were reported yesterday, resulting in 39 killed and 314 injured. The main cause of the accidents was speeding, accounting for 43.19% of the accidents, followed by drunk driving and cutting in.
According to the Probation Department, 3,973 drunk driving cases have been recorded in the past five days, representing a 32.3% drop from last year.
Bangkok alone recorded 446 cases of drunk driving, the highest in the country, followed by 238 cases in Nonthaburi and 214 in Samut Prakan.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/songkran-revellers-head-back-to-bangkok-as-the-long-holidays-come-to-an-end/" target="_blank">Songkran revellers head back to Bangkok as the long holidays come to an end</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2567-04-16-at-14.24.14-600x337.jpeg</url><width>600</width><height>337</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Surachate Hakparn: The rollercoaster career of Thailand’s most famous policeman</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/surachate-hakparn-the-rollercoaster-career-of-thailands-most-famous-policeman/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2024 06:39:01 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clare Patchimanon (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Highlights of the week]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Profiles]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332506</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Deputy National Police chief Pol General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn sounds surprisingly cheerful given that his high-flying career has just plunged into another crisis. It’s as if he were trying...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/surachate-hakparn-the-rollercoaster-career-of-thailands-most-famous-policeman/" target="_blank">Surachate Hakparn: The rollercoaster career of Thailand’s most famous policeman</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Deputy National Police chief Pol General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn sounds surprisingly cheerful given that his high-flying career has just plunged into another crisis.
It’s as if he were trying to prove he is the proverbial cat with nine lives.
“I wish everyone a safe return to their home provinces for happy meals with their family during Songkran … Happy Thai New Year,” he wrote recently on Facebook.
Last month, Surachate was transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister along with National Police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol after a dispute erupted between Thailand’s top two cops. The transfer order, signed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin last month, declared that their hostility threatened to escalate and undermine public trust in the police force.
 
Turning point
The conflict has been escalating since last September when Torsak beat competition from the more senior Surachate (counting from the number of years since becoming a superintendent) to be named the new national police chief
Surachate had been a strong contender for the top post in the Royal Thai Police (RTP). But just days before the appointment was made, armed policemen raided Surachate’s house in Bangkok over online gambling allegations.
Many observers believe the raid was timed to shatter Surachate’s chance of rising to the top.
 
Once a shining star
Born to a junior policeman, Surachate grew up in the deep South province of Songkhla. As a teenager, he enrolled in the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School’s Class 31 where his name was inscribed on the school’s plaque for impeccable behavior and sports performances.
After graduating, he joined the Royal Police Cadet Academy’s (RPCA) Class 47. Surachate was the shining star of RPCA Class 47 alumni, rising quickly through the police ranks.
After being appointed deputy inspector at the age of just 24, he rose to inspector at 30, deputy superintendent at 34 and superintendent at 38. Aged 42, he became the deputy commander of Songkhla police.
He simultaneously led a forward command overseeing four insurgency-hit border districts, which earned him bonus years on his service record – a privilege preserved for officers in the insurgency-hit southern border provinces. The extra years of service helped secure his meteoric rise at a relatively young age.
Surachate had not even celebrated his 45th birthday when he won a promotion to the rank of major general. Then in 2018, at the age of 48, he was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed chief of the Immigration Bureau.
He also doubled as head of the Police Cyber Taskforce, handing him the authority to investigate cases across Thailand. High-profile cases and the press conferences that accompanied them saw Surachate quickly rise to national prominence.
 
Survivor of bitter crisis
His recent transfer, however, is not the first blow he has suffered. Surachate has experienced similar if not worse setbacks in his career before. Back in 2019, then-prime minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha not only removed him from his police role but also shunted Surachate from the force altogether, transferring him into the civil service.
Surachate filed a complaint against Prayut’s transfer order with the Central Administrative Court but lost the case. Many believed back then that his police career was over, but he defied expectations by returning to the RTP in grand style in 2021.
Three years ago, Surachate was appointed to a new post on the same level as assistant national police chief that seemed created especially for his return.
He managed to rebuild his police and public profile effectively and was promoted to the post of deputy national police chief, apparently on track for the top job. But disaster struck when he was implicated in an online gambling scandal.
On April 2, the Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Surachate over his alleged involvement in money laundering.
Not everyone thought this spelt the end of his career, however.
The president of the Inquiry Official Association of Thailand, Pol Maj-General Pairot Kuchiraphan, told reporters that he believed Surachate would restore his reputation and shine once more.
“I still think he has a chance of becoming the National Police chief,” he said.
Supporting that view is Surachate’s relatively young age.
Now 54, he still has six years ahead of him before his mandatory retirement from the force.
By Thai PBS World’s General DeskThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/surachate-hakparn-the-rollercoaster-career-of-thailands-most-famous-policeman/" target="_blank">Surachate Hakparn: The rollercoaster career of Thailand’s most famous policeman</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/พล.ต.อ.-สุรเชษฐ์-หักพาล-600x400.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>400</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>PM Srettha visits Thaksin for Songkran water blessings</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-srettha-visits-thaksin-for-songkran-water-blessings/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2024 04:54:48 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clare Patchimanon (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[former PM Thaksin Shinawatra]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[PM Srettha Thavisin]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran 2024]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thai politics]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332499</guid>
<description><![CDATA[PM Srettha Thavisin spent the morning of the final day of official Songkran public holidays visiting Thaksin Shinawatra at Chan Song La mansion. He offered parolee and former prime minister Thaksin...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-srettha-visits-thaksin-for-songkran-water-blessings/" target="_blank">PM Srettha visits Thaksin for Songkran water blessings</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[PM Srettha Thavisin spent the morning of the final day of official Songkran public holidays visiting Thaksin Shinawatra at Chan Song La mansion. 
He offered parolee and former prime minister Thaksin a traditional Songkran water blessing, a deed associated with the Thai New Year in which people pour scented water on the hands of their elders’ and exchange good wishes.
The caption on PM Srettha’s X post reads, “I am here to wish PM Thaksin a Happy New Year’.
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332504" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FADF9938-7FA4-4C80-A966-DA4387F95DB3-1-600x553.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="553" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FADF9938-7FA4-4C80-A966-DA4387F95DB3-1-600x553.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FADF9938-7FA4-4C80-A966-DA4387F95DB3-1-768x708.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FADF9938-7FA4-4C80-A966-DA4387F95DB3-1-1024x944.jpg 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FADF9938-7FA4-4C80-A966-DA4387F95DB3-1.jpg 1284w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Srettha also alighted from his vehicle to greet members of the press in front of the mansion, amid speculation of a cabinet reshuffle.
Reports indicate that the PM and Thaksin had a private conversation after the blessing ceremony and the taking of pictures.
There were also a number of other visitors to the mansion this morning.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-srettha-visits-thaksin-for-songkran-water-blessings/" target="_blank">PM Srettha visits Thaksin for Songkran water blessings</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1693971-600x450.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>450</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>As geopolitical tensions rock the world, gold gains in value</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/as-geopolitical-tensions-rock-the-world-gold-gains-in-value/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2024 00:30:48 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clare Patchimanon (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[gold price]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[gold reserve]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[investing]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Israel conflict]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thai baht]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[US - China tensions]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332486</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The world bullion market is on its toes, so to speak. When Israel launched strikes on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, the capital of Syria, on April 1, the price of...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/as-geopolitical-tensions-rock-the-world-gold-gains-in-value/" target="_blank">As geopolitical tensions rock the world, gold gains in value</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The world bullion market is on its toes, so to speak. When Israel launched strikes on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, the capital of Syria, on April 1, the price of gold shot up to $2,300 per ounce. 
And now with Iran retaliating on Saturday night, firing over 200 drones and missiles, the oil and gold markets will be on tenterhooks.
“Israel’s bombing of the Iran consulate drove the price of gold past $2,300 per ounce, or about 40,000 baht per baht [15.244 grams] in Thailand. We used to think that such a high level is likely to be achieved only after the US Federal Reserve starts to cut interest rates, or late in the year — November or December,” said Kritcharat Hiranyasiri, president of MTS Gold, one of Bangkok’s leading gold traders.
The outbreak of hostilities has caused investors to opt for gold as a safe-haven asset. He was bullish about the strength of the yellow precious metal, saying the rise would continue for a long time.
 
US-China tensions 
The tensions in relations between the United States and China, the two largest economies, have been viewed as among key factors driving up the price of gold.
The two countries have engaged in a trade and technology war after former president Donald Trump got tough with Beijing. Current President Joe Biden is continuing Trump’s policies related to China.
This has led to changes in the global supply chain as the West, led by the US, is trying to reduce too much reliance on China. Western companies have divested their investments in China or moved part of their production facilities to India, ASEAN countries or Mexico. Even Chinese firms are moving their investments to other countries, including Thailand, to avoid US trade restrictions on goods made in China.
Observers are often discussing de-risking, de-coupling and de-globalization.
The world is riven with other trade and territorial conflicts too, such between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and now Israel and Iran.
The US and its allies — European Union and Japan — have imposed economic sanctions against Russia. The US and the EU have seized Russian-owned assets, including those of the Russian central bank.
It is a wake-up call for countries that have sour relations with the US and its allies.
To play safe, many central banks have turned to building up gold reserves and reducing their holdings in dollar-denominated assets, including US government bonds.
For example, the People’s Bank of China has accumulated large gold reserves, a move seen as wanting to avoid the predicament of the Russian central bank.
“Geopolitics is only one of the factors boosting gold price,” said Nada Chunsom, director at the National Institute of Development Administration’s master of economics program in financial economics.
Buying sprees by many central banks have pushed up the price of gold. Some analysts predict that it will reach $2,600 per ounce by the end of this year, or as high as $5,000 next year from around $2,300 at present.
 
Alternative investment
Gold has been historically seen as a hedge against economic woes and currency depreciation.
There was increased demand for gold in 2023 from Chinese investors and householders, according to the World Gold Council.
People in China have turned to gold as an investment tool as they have suffered from the property bubble and stock market plunge in their country.
In Thailand, consumers are investing in gold as the domestic economy has been a laggard for many years, raising doubts about the outlook for the future. In addition, low bank deposit rates also drive depositors to seek alternative investments that could offer higher returns.
The baht’s depreciation has further pushed up the domestic price of gold. Foreign investors have dumped Thai government bonds for higher returns from US bonds or other markets due to higher interest rates there.
The baht, currently at over 36 to the US dollar, is likely to weaken for some time. Even the Bank of Thailand admits that the baht has weakened far more than other regional currencies against the US dollar. The weakening of the baht is also attributed to the wide gap between the BOT’s policy rate of 2.5 per cent and the US policy rate of 5.25-5.5 per cent.
Kobsidthi Silpachai, head of capital markets research at Kasikornbank, attributed the weakening of the baht also to dividend payments to foreign investors who own stocks in SET-listed companies, totalling around 82 billion baht, from mid-April to May-end.
 
How high will gold go? 
Some analysts see gold rising even higher from the current level, as the market has worries about the geopolitical situation and structural factors. Some investors are betting on the US central bank lowering interest rates this year, which could give the price of gold another thrust.
Juerg Kiener, chief investment officer at Swiss Asia Capital, told CNBC’s Street Signs Asia recently that gold could reach US$2,600 per ounce by the end of this year due to a lot of pent-up demand. He expressed concern that an inventory collapse in the gold market is putting a lot of derivatives structures at risk.
But Nada said gold price could fall if major investment funds sold them for profit-taking.
By Thai PBS World’s Business DeskThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/as-geopolitical-tensions-rock-the-world-gold-gains-in-value/" target="_blank">As geopolitical tensions rock the world, gold gains in value</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ทองรูปพรรณ-600x400.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>400</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>4-day Songkran festival brought 500m Baht to Khaosan Road</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/4-day-songkran-festival-brought-500m-baht-to-khaosan-road/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2024 19:42:52 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clare Patchimanon (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Tourism]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Khaosan Road]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran 2024]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ถนนข้าวสาร]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[สงกรานต์ 2567]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332490</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The 4-day festival, which is held from April 12 to 15, injected around 500m to 600m baht into circulation for businesses on Khaosan Road, according to Sanga Ruangwattanakul, president of...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/4-day-songkran-festival-brought-500m-baht-to-khaosan-road/" target="_blank">4-day Songkran festival brought 500m Baht to Khaosan Road</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The 4-day festival, which is held from April 12 to 15, injected around 500m to 600m baht into circulation for businesses on Khaosan Road, according to Sanga Ruangwattanakul, president of the Khaosan Road Business Association.
He said that this year’s revenue growth can be attributed to an increase in the number of international tourists and the fact that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) organised events in both on Khaosan Road and Sanam Luang.
On Khaosan Road alone, there were 600 street vendors throughout the festival and the total number of visitors is estimated at 400,000 for the 4-day period, according to Sanga.
Thousands of revellers on Khaosan Road and the surrounding areas send off the last night of Songkran festival with water fights, music and dancing.
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332491" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__4431990-600x400.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__4431990-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__4431990-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__4431990-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__4431990.jpg 1567w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
As Songkran celebration in Khaosan Road comes to a close at 24:00, a team of more than 30 cleaners from Phra Nakhon District Office were assembled to help clear the road off plastic bottles, packaging and rubbish.
The road surface was later sprayed with water to wash off the white scented power used in the water fights.
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332494" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__4432048-600x366.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="366" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__4432048-600x366.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__4432048-768x469.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__4432048-1024x625.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Accroding to Pol Maj Gen Atthaporn Wongsiripreeda, the number of party goers between 18:00 and 22:30 reached 90,000 on the police AI detection system and the number kept increasing as the night wore on.
Pol Col Sanong Saengmanee of Chanasongkram police station said that no additional revellers are allowed to enter Khaosan Road from 24:00 onwards to avoid overcrowding. Those who are already in the area will be permitted to party on until pubs closing time.
 
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/4-day-songkran-festival-brought-500m-baht-to-khaosan-road/" target="_blank">4-day Songkran festival brought 500m Baht to Khaosan Road</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__4431986-600x400.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>400</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Singapore PM Lee to step down, deputy to take over May 15</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/singapore-pm-lee-to-step-down-deputy-to-take-over-may-15/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2024 12:59:55 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nad Bunnag]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[ASEAN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Lawrence Wong]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Lee Hsien Loong]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Singapore]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332481</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will step down next month and his deputy Lawrence Wong will take over, the second non-member of the Lee family to lead the wealthy...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/singapore-pm-lee-to-step-down-deputy-to-take-over-may-15/" target="_blank">Singapore PM Lee to step down, deputy to take over May 15</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will step down next month and his deputy Lawrence Wong will take over, the second non-member of the Lee family to lead the wealthy nation.
“I will relinquish my role as Prime Minister on 15 May 2024 and DPM (Deputy Prime Minister) Lawrence Wong will be sworn in as the next Prime Minister on the same day,” Lee said on social media on Monday.
“I ask all Singaporeans to give Lawrence and his team your full support, and work with them to create a brighter future for Singapore.”
Wong, who is also the finance minister, was chosen as Lee’s heir-apparent in 2022 from a new generation of lawmakers from the People’s Action Party (PAP) which has ruled uninterrupted since independence in 1965.
“I accept this responsibility with humility and a deep sense of duty. I pledge to give you my all in this undertaking,” Wong said on social media.
The 51-year-old, US-educated economist is widely seen as a social media-savvy stalwart who effectively handled the Covid-19 crisis when he oversaw the government’s pandemic taskforce.
The city-state was one of the first in Asia to quickly get back in the saddle as the pandemic eased in 2022, with business and tourism numbers picking up.
Mustafa Izzuddin, a political analyst with consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore, said Wong was already well known in Southeast Asia and to the two major powers most important to the city-state, China and the United States.
“I think he brings a style of leadership that’s more attuned to a different generation. I think the core principle of what Singapore is about will remain because it is a system that has worked for many years,” he said.
“But I think his style may be maybe slightly different because he comes from a different generation.”
Outgoing Premier Lee’s father, Lee Kuan Yew, was Singapore’s first prime minister when it became a sovereign nation after a brief, unsuccessful union with Malaysia.
In 1990, the elder Lee handed power to his deputy, former shipping executive Goh Chok Tong, who was initially considered a “seat-warmer” for the patriarch’s son.
Goh, however, stayed on for 14 years before the younger Lee took over in 2004.
A general election has to be called by November 2025 but there is speculation it could take place this year.
In the previous election in 2020, the opposition showed its strongest performance since independence but hardly made a dent in parliament as 83 out of the 93 seats were won by the PAP.
The PAP’s squeaky clean image was recently stained by scandals which saw two lawmakers resign and a minister charged with graft.
The Workers’ Party, Singapore’s main opposition party, has also suffered from scandals with two members resigning and its leader charged for giving false testimony before a parliamentary committee.
By Agence France-PresseThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/singapore-pm-lee-to-step-down-deputy-to-take-over-may-15/" target="_blank">Singapore PM Lee to step down, deputy to take over May 15</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_8757-600x338.jpeg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Pita vows Move Forward will return stronger after charter court verdict</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pita-vows-move-forward-will-return-stronger-after-charter-court-verdict/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2024 10:54:27 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nad Bunnag]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pita Limjaroenrat]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332477</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Former Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat told his supporters in the north-eastern province of Khon Kaen today that this Songkran may be his last as a member of parliament,...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pita-vows-move-forward-will-return-stronger-after-charter-court-verdict/" target="_blank">Pita vows Move Forward will return stronger after charter court verdict</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Former Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat told his supporters in the north-eastern province of Khon Kaen today that this Songkran may be his last as a member of parliament, because of the grim prospect that the party may be dissolved by the Constitutional Court.
He said that about a month from now will be the most difficult period for the party and himself, but he vowed that the new party, to be formed should the verdict go against them, will win a landslide in the next election.
Pita has been on a campaign tour in Nong Khai, Udon Thani and Khon Kaen for the past three days, including today, to meet with party’s supporters and to join their Songkran celebrations.
He told them that the last two days and today among the north-eastern people are his happiest time.
He thanked the north-eastern people for their moral support, as manifested in their tying of threads to his wrists, the wrapping of “khao ma” loincloths around his waist and the presentation of leis.
He told his supporters that he will return in the next three years, probably as the next prime minister of Thailand.
The Election Commission has sought a Constitutional Court ruling as to whether the Move Forward party should be dissolved on charges of attempting to overthrow the Constitutional Monarchy, through its election campaign promise to seek amendments to the lèse majesté law. It also seeks to banish the party’s executive committee members from politics for ten years.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pita-vows-move-forward-will-return-stronger-after-charter-court-verdict/" target="_blank">Pita vows Move Forward will return stronger after charter court verdict</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/7819E3DC-99B4-4156-93FE-11814DC1DD05-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Thailand expects to increase rice exports to the Philippines this year</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-expects-to-increase-rice-exports-to-the-philippines-this-year/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2024 10:52:17 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nad Bunnag]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Business & Economy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Philippines]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[rice exports]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332474</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Thailand sees a prospect of increasing Thai rice’s market share in the Philippines, as the country is expected to import about 4.1 million tonnes, an increase of about 200,000 tonnes,...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-expects-to-increase-rice-exports-to-the-philippines-this-year/" target="_blank">Thailand expects to increase rice exports to the Philippines this year</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Thailand sees a prospect of increasing Thai rice’s market share in the Philippines, as the country is expected to import about 4.1 million tonnes, an increase of about 200,000 tonnes, or 5% more than the February projection of 3.9 million tonnes, due to domestic production shortfall.
Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said today that the new projection for the Philippines’ demand, an increase of 14% from the 3.6 million tonnes of imports in 2023, will make the Philippines the largest rice importer, followed by Indonesia, China and European Union.
The increased demand this year offers a good opportunity for Thailand to increase rice exports, said Phumtham, adding that he has instructed the Foreign Trade Department and the commercial attachés in the Philippines to explore the prospect of increasing the Thai market share.
Last year, the Philippines imported about 2.97 million tonnes of rice from Vietnam, accounting for 82.23% of all rice imports, about 342,000 tonnes of rice from Thailand, representing 9.46% and about 156,000 tonnes, or 4.33%, from Myanmar.
Phumtham said that the Philippines consumes about 16 million tonnes of rice, the staple of the Philippine people, but domestic rice yield is projected at only 12 million tonnes due to natural disasters, the latest being the effects of El Niño.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-expects-to-increase-rice-exports-to-the-philippines-this-year/" target="_blank">Thailand expects to increase rice exports to the Philippines this year</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/918B41D9-F61D-4D90-B85D-A14A59DF861C-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>162 people killed, 1,279 injured in road accidents in past four days</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/162-people-killed-1279-injured-in-road-accidents-in-past-four-days/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2024 09:49:56 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nad Bunnag]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[road accidents]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332470</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Another 38 people were killed and 311 others were injured in 317 road accidents on Sunday, bringing total death toll for four days since April 11th to 162. Altogether 1,279...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/162-people-killed-1279-injured-in-road-accidents-in-past-four-days/" target="_blank">162 people killed, 1,279 injured in road accidents in past four days</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Another 38 people were killed and 311 others were injured in 317 road accidents on Sunday, bringing total death toll for four days since April 11th to 162. Altogether 1,279 people were injured.
Bangkok and Roi-et recorded the most fatalities, at 10 each, while Nakhon Si Thammarat has the most road accidents and injuries, at 50 and 54 respectively.
Speeding accounted for 37.22% of road accidents yesterday, drunk driving, 25.87% and poor visibility, 15.46%. Motorcycles were involved in 87.51% of the road accidents.
Meanwhile, 2,136 traffic violators were put on probation by the courts yesterday, most of them found guilty of drunk driving.
In the past four days, 3,890 people have been put on probation, about 96% of them were found guilty of drunk driving. Bangkok has the most cases of drunk driving, at 399, followed by 227 cases in Nonthaburi and 214 cases in Samut Prakan.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/162-people-killed-1279-injured-in-road-accidents-in-past-four-days/" target="_blank">162 people killed, 1,279 injured in road accidents in past four days</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/700DBAB2-ACE9-40EE-9B14-DAE9172EA179-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Police probe killer’s targeting of women in Sydney mall attack</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/police-probe-killers-targeting-of-women-in-sydney-mall-attack/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2024 07:40:17 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nad Bunnag]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Australia]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Sydney]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332463</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Australian police said Monday they are investigating why a 40-year-old man with mental illness appeared to target women as he roamed a Sydney shopping mall with a large knife, killing...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/police-probe-killers-targeting-of-women-in-sydney-mall-attack/" target="_blank">Police probe killer's targeting of women in Sydney mall attack</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Australian police said Monday they are investigating why a 40-year-old man with mental illness appeared to target women as he roamed a Sydney shopping mall with a large knife, killing six people and injuring a dozen more.
Videos shared on social media showed unshaven itinerant Joel Cauchi pursuing mostly female victims as he rampaged through the vast, crowded Westfield shopping complex in Bondi Junction on Saturday afternoon.
Five of the six victims killed were women, as were most of those wounded.
“The videos speak for themselves don’t they, and that’s certainly a line of inquiry for us,” New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb said.
“That’s obvious to me, it’s obvious to detectives, that that seems to be an area of interest — that the offender had focused on women and avoided men,” she told national broadcaster ABC.
Webb stressed that police could not know what was in the mind of the attacker, who was shot dead by a police officer.
“That’s why it’s important now that detectives spend so much time interviewing those who know him.”
Cauchi’s Facebook profile said he came from Toowoomba, near Brisbane, and had attended a local high school and university.
His parents say he had suffered from mental health issues since he was a teenager.
<h2>– ‘Loving a monster’ –</h2>
Andrew Cauchi, the father, told local media he was “heartbroken” and did not know what drove his son to kill.
“This is so horrendous, I can’t even explain it,” he told reporters outside his Queensland home. “I made myself a servant to my son when I found out he had a mental illness.”
“I did everything in my power to help my son,” said the visibly distressed father. “I’m sorry, there’s nothing I can do or say to bring back the dead.”
Andrew said he believed his son primarily attacked women because “he wanted a girlfriend, he’s got no social skills and he was frustrated”.
“He is my son, and I am loving a monster. To you he is a monster, to me, he was a very sick boy.”
The last of Cauchi’s six victims to be identified was Yixuan Cheng, a young Chinese woman who was a student at the University of Sydney.
The other women killed were a designer, a volunteer surf lifesaver, the daughter of an entrepreneur, and a new mother whose wounded nine-month-old baby is in hospital.
The mother, 38-year-old Ashlee Good, handed her bleeding baby girl to strangers in desperation before being rushed to hospital where she died of her injuries.
Her baby, named Harriet, is in a serious condition in a Sydney hospital but is expected to improve, health authorities said.
The only man killed was 30-year-old Pakistani Faraz Tahir, who had been working as a security guard when he was stabbed.
<h2>– ‘Very traumatic’ –</h2>
A total of eight people wounded in the assault remain in hospital — some in critical condition — after four were released in the past 24 hours, officials said.
Cauchi’s assault, which lasted about half an hour, was brought to an end when solo police inspector Amy Scott tracked him down and shot him dead.
Scott — hailed as a hero by police and political leaders — was spending time with her family to deal with the “very traumatic matter”, the state police chief said.
Cauchi is believed to have travelled to Sydney about a month ago and hired a small storage unit in the city, according to police. It contained personal belongings, including a boogie board.
He had been living in a vehicle and hostels, and was only in sporadic contact with his family via text messages, his parents said.
A mound of flowers grew outside the Bondi shopping centre as people paid their respects to the victims.
Flags across the country flew at half-mast in mourning.
The Sydney Opera House is to be lit up with black ribbon in the evening.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had spoken to the families of some victims.
“The gender break-down is of course concerning — each and every victim here is mourned,” he told ABC radio, promising a “comprehensive” police investigation.
A public coronial inquiry will be held into the attack, New South Wales state premier Chris Minns told reporters.
It will look into the police response and criminal investigation, but also the killer’s past interactions with state health authorities, he said.
By Agence France-PresseThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/police-probe-killers-targeting-of-women-in-sydney-mall-attack/" target="_blank">Police probe killer's targeting of women in Sydney mall attack</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_8698-600x338.jpeg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Israel vows to press on in Gaza after Iran attack</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/israel-vows-to-press-on-in-gaza-after-iran-attack/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2024 07:38:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nad Bunnag]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Iran]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Israel]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332459</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Israel launched dozens of air strikes on Gaza overnight, Hamas said Monday, as the army said it will not be distracted from the war after Iran’s unprecedented attack heightened fears...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/israel-vows-to-press-on-in-gaza-after-iran-attack/" target="_blank">Israel vows to press on in Gaza after Iran attack</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Israel launched dozens of air strikes on Gaza overnight, Hamas said Monday, as the army said it will not be distracted from the war after Iran’s unprecedented attack heightened fears of wider conflict.
World powers have urged restraint after Iran late Saturday launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel, though the Israeli military has said the vast majority were intercepted.
Tehran’s first direct assault on Israel, in retaliation for a deadly strike in Damascus earlier this month, followed months of violence across the region involving Iranian proxies who say they act in support of Palestinians in the war-battered Gaza Strip.
“Even while under attack from Iran, we have not lost sight, not for one moment, of our critical mission in Gaza to rescue our hostages from the hands of Iran’s proxy Hamas,” Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said late Sunday.
As mediators eye a deal to halt the fighting, triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack, fears grew over Israeli plans to send troops into Rafah, a far-southern city where the majority of Gaza’s 2.4 million people have taken refuge.
“Hamas is still holding our hostages in Gaza,” Hagari said of the roughly 130 people, including 34 presumed dead, who Israel says remain in the hands of Palestinian militants since the Hamas attack.
“We also have hostages in Rafah, and we will do everything we can to bring them back home,” the military spokesman told a briefing.
The army said it was “calling up approximately two reserve brigades for operational activities on the Gazan front”, about a week after withdrawing most ground troops from the territory.
The Hamas government media office said Israeli aircraft launched “dozens” of strikes overnight on central Gaza.
Rumours of a reopened Israeli checkpoint on the coastal road from the besieged territory’s south to Gaza City send thousands of Palestinians heading north on Sunday, despite Israel denying it was open.
An AFP journalist saw mothers holding their children’s hands and families piling onto donkey carts with their luggage as they made the journey.
Hoping to reunite with his wife who has been in the southern city of Khan Yunis, Palestinian man Mahmoud Awdeh said, “she told me over the phone that people are leaving… she’s waiting at the checkpoint until the army agrees to let her head to the north”.
The Israeli army however told AFP that reports the route was open were “not true”.
<h2>– Retaliation fears –</h2>
The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting Sunday following the Iranian attack, where Israel pressed for new sanctions against Tehran and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the region was “on the brink” of war.
“Neither the region nor the world can afford more war,” the UN chief said.
“Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate.”
Iran’s UN envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, insisted the Islamic republic was exercising its “inherent right to self-defence” to respond to the April 1 strike on Terhan’s consular building in Damascus which has been widely attributed to Israel.
He insisted Iran did “not seek escalation or war”.
In his briefing, Hagari said Israel was “still on high alert and assessing the situation”.
G7 leaders also condemned Iran’s attack and called for “restraint” on all sides, European Council President Charles Michel wrote on X after a video conference on Sunday.
“Ending the crisis in Gaza as soon as possible, notably through an immediate ceasefire, will make a difference,” he said.
Israel’s top ally the United States also urged caution and calm.
“We don’t want to see this escalate,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told NBC.
After the attack, Joe Biden reaffirmed the United States’ “ironclad” support for Israel, but a senior US official said the president had also told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington would not offer military support for any retaliation on Iran.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday cautioned Israel against a “reckless” retaliation, warning it would spark “a decisive and much stronger response”.
Word of the impending attack prompted Israel to close schools and announce restrictions on public gatherings, with the army saying early Monday that those measures were being lifted for most of the country.
<h2>– Truce deal ‘on the table’ –</h2>
Hostilities between Israel and Iran’s regional allies have flared since the outbreak of the war in Gaza.
Hamas’s October 7 attack that sparked the fighting resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,729 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Attempting the journey back to northern Gaza, displaced resident Basma Salman said, “even if it (my house) was destroyed, I want to go there. I couldn’t stay in the south.”
“It’s overcrowded. We couldn’t even take a fresh breath of air there. It was completely terrible.”
Late Saturday, Hamas said it had submitted its response to a truce plan presented by US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators at talks that started in Cairo on April 7.
Hamas said it was sticking to its previous demands, insisting on “a permanent ceasefire” and the withdrawal of the Israeli army.
Israel’s Mossad spy agency called this a rejection of the proposal, accusing Hamas of “continuing to exploit the tension with Iran” and aiming for “a general escalation in the region”.
But the United States said mediation efforts continue.
“We’re not considering diplomacy dead there,” said the National Security Council’s Kirby.
“There’s a new deal on the table… It is a good deal” that would see some hostages released, fighting halted and more humanitarian relief into Gaza, Kirby said.
By Agence France-PresseThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/israel-vows-to-press-on-in-gaza-after-iran-attack/" target="_blank">Israel vows to press on in Gaza after Iran attack</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_8697-600x338.jpeg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>PM to discuss possible cabinet shakeup with coalition parties</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-to-discuss-possible-cabinet-shakeup-with-coalition-parties/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2024 07:18:39 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nad Bunnag]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[cabinet reshuffle]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Srettha Thavisin]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand Politics]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332452</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will hold talks with leaders of coalition parties to discuss a cabinet reshuffle, noting that it is necessary to make adjustments in line with the changing...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-to-discuss-possible-cabinet-shakeup-with-coalition-parties/" target="_blank">PM to discuss possible cabinet shakeup with coalition parties</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will hold talks with leaders of coalition parties to discuss a cabinet reshuffle, noting that it is necessary to make adjustments in line with the changing situation after about seven months in office and to make sure that the right people are in the right jobs.
The prime minister said that there is no fixed timeframe as towhen the cabinet reshuffle will take place, adding that all coalition parties will be consulted and treated with respect.
He also said that, at this stage, it remains unknown whether the shakeup will be limited or extensive, which depends on several factors, such as the performance of each minister overthe past 7-8 months and the opinions of the public.
The prime minister admitted that he was not sure whether a cabinet reshuffle involving the ministers of Pheu Thai will cause an uproar in the party, especially those who would be affected, adding that he hopes they will understand the need for adjustments.
Periodic cabinet reshuffles are normal, he said, adding that ministers who are replaced can be re-appointed in the future.
He dismissed speculation that the opposition Democrat party may be invited to join the government, saying that he has never spoken with any Democrats about the matter.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-to-discuss-possible-cabinet-shakeup-with-coalition-parties/" target="_blank">PM to discuss possible cabinet shakeup with coalition parties</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/B3D1148B-195C-4492-BFEF-67AB0B76E22F-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>BAAC labour union against planned lending to fund “digital wallet”</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/baac-labour-union-against-planned-lending-to-fund-digital-wallet/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2024 07:17:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nad Bunnag]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Business & Economy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[BAAC]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[digital wallet scheme]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332450</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The labour union of the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) has voiced opposition to the government’s plan to borrow about 172 billion baht from the bank to fund...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/baac-labour-union-against-planned-lending-to-fund-digital-wallet/" target="_blank">BAAC labour union against planned lending to fund “digital wallet”</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The labour union of the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) has voiced opposition to the government’s plan to borrow about 172 billion baht from the bank to fund the “digital wallet” scheme.
Prayat Thammakhan, secretary-general of BAAC union, said bank’s employees are concerned that such a staggering amount of lending by the bank may affect depositorconfidence and the stability of the bank.
Moreover, he said the employees are afraid that the plan may repeat the mistake of about a decade ago, when the BAAC board was pressured by the then government of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to lend the government about 50 billion baht to fund the infamous rice pledging scheme, resulting in tremendous loss for the state and the lending bank.
He said that the union disagrees with the opinions of Council of State and legal advisors of the Finance Ministry, that the government can borrow money from BAAC to fund the digital wallet scheme, and will submit protest notes to both agencies challenging their opinions.
According to BAAC, the government’s legal advisors have interpreted a provision of the BAAC Act, pertaining to projects or programmes promoting agriculture and farmers’ livelihoods, in a way beneficial to digital wallet scheme.
The BAAC labour union cited a recent opinion by former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij, claiming that the BAAC law does not provide leeway for the bank’s money to be used to stimulate the economy or to be used for endeavours not conducive to the objectives of state enterprises.
Korn also pointed out that seeking to borrowing from the BAAC to fund digital wallet scheme is a violation of fiscal discipline.
Former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, meanwhile, said that he has read through the BAAC Act several times and didn’t find any provision that would allow the government to borrowing from the bank to fund the scheme “unless the bank’s board agrees to the government’s wish at their own risk of imprisonment.”
The government plans to start distributing 10,000 baht “digital money” each into the accounts of about 50 million Thais who are eligible for the benefit in the fourth quarter of this year.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/baac-labour-union-against-planned-lending-to-fund-digital-wallet/" target="_blank">BAAC labour union against planned lending to fund “digital wallet”</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/A471FF03-5244-47ED-8D5F-C6C118837E3D-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Thaksin quips enough ministers at his dinner party for a cabinet meeting</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thaksin-quips-enough-ministers-at-his-dinner-party-for-a-cabinet-meeting/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Apr 2024 14:32:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Franc Han Shih]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Chiang Mai]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thaksin Shinawatra]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332447</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra jokingly told Pheu Thai party’s ministers that he could hold a cabinet meeting in Chiang Mai today, because there were 18 of them attending a...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thaksin-quips-enough-ministers-at-his-dinner-party-for-a-cabinet-meeting/" target="_blank">Thaksin quips enough ministers at his dinner party for a cabinet meeting</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra jokingly told Pheu Thai party’s ministers that he could hold a cabinet meeting in Chiang Mai today, because there were 18 of them attending a dinner with him.
Among the Pheu Thai ministers in attendance this evening were Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Deputy Transport Ministers Manaporn Charoensri and Surapong Piyachote, Deputy Agriculture Minister Chaiya Promma. Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, PM’s Office Minister Puangpetch Chunla-iad, Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang, Deputy Interior Minister Kriang Kaltinan, Culture Minister Sermsak Pongpanich and Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat.
They were also joined by former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin’s brother Payap, sister Yaowapa and several Pheu Thai MPs.
Greeting the Pheu Thai ministers, the former prime minister, who is currently out of prison on parole, asked whether they should hold a cabinet meeting as there are 18 ministers present.
Thaksin explained that 18 means more than half of the cabinet, which are enough to make a quorum for cabinet meeting.
Nevertheless, he said he had no right to hold a cabinet meeting, despite there being a quorum.
Earlier, Thaksin visited Phra That Doi Suthep Temple, to pay respects to the Buddha image there and to make merit at Songkran.
He told reporters that his health has improved steadily after spending time at home on parole, which is in contrast to the period when he was in the Police General Hospital, when he didn’t feel like doing anything.
He said he is not worried about the criticism that he pretended to be seriously ill when he was in the hospital, adding that when they become sick, they would like to recover like him.
Asked by reporters about his sister, former prime minister Yingluck is still living in exile abroad, Thaksin said he hopes she will be able to return home to celebrate the next Songkran.
He said he has no idea through which channel Yingluck could return home, adding that her legal case is not as complicated as his.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thaksin-quips-enough-ministers-at-his-dinner-party-for-a-cabinet-meeting/" target="_blank">Thaksin quips enough ministers at his dinner party for a cabinet meeting</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-23-1-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>PM tours Hua Hin morning market</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-tours-hua-hin-morning-market/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Apr 2024 08:50:39 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Franc Han Shih]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Hua Hin]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[PM Srettha Thavisin]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332442</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Accompanied by his wife and a few ministers, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin toured the Hua Hin market this morning, greeting vendors and morning shoppers. The prime minister and his group,...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-tours-hua-hin-morning-market/" target="_blank">PM tours Hua Hin morning market</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Accompanied by his wife and a few ministers, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin toured the Hua Hin market this morning, greeting vendors and morning shoppers.
The prime minister and his group, including Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, also presented alms to nine monks on Thailand’s Family Day, which falls on April 14th annually.
Greeting a grilled pork skewer vendor and asking him about his business, the prime minister was told that business is good this year because there are more tourists.
Srettha promised the vendors that their businesses would be even better next year, as his government will introduce more activities to the resort town to attract more tourists.
During the tour on foot, he was approached by a woman who asked him when she will get the 10,000 baht from the “digital wallet” scheme. He quickly responded “in the fourth quarter madam”.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-tours-hua-hin-morning-market/" target="_blank">PM tours Hua Hin morning market</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-22-1-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>48 killed and 411 injured in road accidents on Songkran Day</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/48-killed-and-411-injured-in-road-accidents-on-songkran-day/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Apr 2024 08:19:17 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Franc Han Shih]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[car accident]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332437</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Forty-eight people were killed and 411 others were injured in road accidents on Saturday, bringing the total dead and injured for three days of Songkran to 116 and 968 respectively...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/48-killed-and-411-injured-in-road-accidents-on-songkran-day/" target="_blank">48 killed and 411 injured in road accidents on Songkran Day</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Forty-eight people were killed and 411 others were injured in road accidents on Saturday, bringing the total dead and injured for three days of Songkran to 116 and 968 respectively in 936 road accidents.
40.05% of the accidents were caused by speeding, 27.81% involved drunk driving and 16.84% were caused by cutting in. 85.50% of the accidents involved motorcycles and 81.63% occurred on straight routes.
Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla provinces recorded the highest number of road accidents in three days, at 19 each. Bangkok had the highest death toll in the three days, with eight, while Songkhla had 45 injured.
Chaiwat Chuntirapong, director-general of the Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said today that officials had adjusted preventive measures, to correspond with the realities on the ground, by focusing on secondary roads and communities, where motorcyclists tend to engage in speeding, without wearing crash helmets and after drinking alcohol.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/48-killed-and-411-injured-in-road-accidents-on-songkran-day/" target="_blank">48 killed and 411 injured in road accidents on Songkran Day</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-21-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Biden says US helped Israel down nearly all Iran attacks</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/biden-says-us-helped-israel-down-nearly-all-iran-attacks/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Apr 2024 06:20:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[allies]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Biden]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[drones]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Iran]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Israel]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332430</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Washington, United States – President Joe Biden said US forces helped Israel shoot down nearly all the drones and missiles fired by Iran Saturday, but appeared to guide the key US...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/biden-says-us-helped-israel-down-nearly-all-iran-attacks/" target="_blank">Biden says US helped Israel down nearly all Iran attacks</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Washington, United States – President Joe Biden said US forces helped Israel shoot down nearly all the drones and missiles fired by Iran Saturday, but appeared to guide the key US ally away from retaliating against Tehran by saying Israel had now shown its strength.
Biden added that he was convening fellow G7 leaders on Sunday to coordinate a diplomatic response against Tehran, in another sign that he is trying to avoid any further military escalation that could ignite a wider Middle East conflict.
The US president said he had called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reaffirm Washington’s “ironclad” support for Israel, after recent tense relations over Israel’s war in Gaza.
“I told him that Israel demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks — sending a clear message to its foes that they cannot effectively threaten the security of Israel,” he said.
He said he had ordered US military aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the Middle East in recent days, as the likely threat following a presumed Israeli strike on Iranians in Damascus became clear.
“Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our servicemembers, we helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles,” Biden said.
Biden said he would on Sunday “convene my fellow G7 leaders to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack.”
His comments hinted at the US balancing act between supporting its ally and wanting to deescalate tensions, amid fears of Washington being dragged into another Middle East war.
Those fears have mounted ever since a presumed Israeli strike on April 1 leveled an Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus, killing seven members of the elite Revolutionary Guards including two generals.
After launching the drone strikes, Tehran warned the United States Sunday to “stay away” from its conflict with Israel.
– De-escalation –
News outlet Axios said Biden had told Netanyahu that he would oppose an Israeli counterattack against Iran and that he should “take the win”. NBC said he had privately expressed concerns to others that Netanyahu was trying to drag the United States more deeply into a broader conflict.
Earlier Saturday, Biden had cut short a weekend trip to the Delaware coast and flew back to Washington for an emergency meeting at the White House with his top national security officials.
He posted a picture of the meeting in the White House Situation Room with officials including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and CIA Director Bill Burns.
Biden’s handling of the Middle East conflict will also be under scrutiny in a US presidential election year.
Former US president Donald Trump, Biden’s rival in November’s election, said the Democratic incumbent was showing “weakness.”
“God bless the people of Israel. They are under attack right now. That’s because we show great weakness,” Republican Trump said at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
Tensions had ratcheted up earlier in the day when Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized a container ship near the Strait of Hormuz that was “related to the Zionist regime,” the term it uses for Israel, state media reported.
The White House condemned the seizure of the British-owned vessel as an “act of piracy.”
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Gulf with the Indian Ocean and, according to the US Energy Information Administration, more than a fifth of global oil consumption passes through it each year.
Agence France-PresseThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/biden-says-us-helped-israel-down-nearly-all-iran-attacks/" target="_blank">Biden says US helped Israel down nearly all Iran attacks</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/000_34PC9E9-600x400.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>400</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Army officer on holiday in Pattani shot dead by insurgents</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/army-officer-on-holiday-in-pattani-shot-dead-by-insurgents/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Apr 2024 05:15:41 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Franc Han Shih]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332426</guid>
<description><![CDATA[An army officer, on his Songkran break visiting his family in the southern province of Pattani, was shot dead by insurgents in front of his family home in Panare district...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/army-officer-on-holiday-in-pattani-shot-dead-by-insurgents/" target="_blank">Army officer on holiday in Pattani shot dead by insurgents</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[An army officer, on his Songkran break visiting his family in the southern province of Pattani, was shot dead by insurgents in front of his family home in Panare district on Saturday.
The 4th special force regiment, based in Phitsanuloke province, expressed condolences to the family of the victim, Sgt-Maj (first class) Ruslan Doloh, a member of the regiment, yesterday in a Facebook post.
According to the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) of the Fourth Region’s Forward Command, 37-yearold Ruslan refereed at a soccer match in Panare’s municipal area yesterday afternoon.
After the match, Ruslan rode back to the house on a motorcycle. As he arrived at the door, insurgents emerged from their hiding place in the compound and opened fire, killing him at the scene.
Police found several spent 9mm and 7.62mm shells.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/army-officer-on-holiday-in-pattani-shot-dead-by-insurgents/" target="_blank">Army officer on holiday in Pattani shot dead by insurgents</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-27-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Sydney mall attacker identified, ‘nothing’ to suggest terror motive</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/sydney-mall-attacker-identified-nothing-to-suggest-terror-motive/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Apr 2024 03:40:40 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Crime]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Baby]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bondi Junction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Joel Cauchi]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[knife attack]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[six dead]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[syney]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332422</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Sydney, Australia – Australian police have identified a 40-year-old man who suffered from mental illness as the perpetrator of a Sydney shopping centre stabbing rampage that killed six people and hospitalised 12 more....
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/sydney-mall-attacker-identified-nothing-to-suggest-terror-motive/" target="_blank">Sydney mall attacker identified, 'nothing' to suggest terror motive</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Sydney, Australia – Australian police have identified a 40-year-old man who suffered from mental illness as the perpetrator of a Sydney shopping centre stabbing rampage that killed six people and hospitalised 12 more.
New South Wales police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke said Sunday the man had come from the northeast state of Queensland and was known to law enforcement.
“There is still to this point nothing that we have, no information we have received, no evidence we have recovered, no intelligence that we have gathered that would suggest that this was driven by any particular motivation, ideology or otherwise,” said Cooke.
“We know that the offender in the matter suffered from, suffers from, mental health.”
The 40-year-old man — who was shot dead by a senior police officer at the scene Saturday — was named as Joel Cauchi.
Five women and one man, a security guard, were killed in his attack, leading police to say they were investigating whether women were specifically targeted.
A Facebook profile said Cauchi came from Toowoomba, near Brisbane, and had attended a local high school and university.
A distinctive grey, red and yellow dragon tattoo on his right arm was used to help identify him.
He is believed to have travelled to Sydney about a month ago and hired a small storage unit in the city. It contained personal belongings, including a boogie board.
Saturday’s attack took place in a bustling shopping centre in Sydney’s Bondi Junction neighbourhood, not far from the famed beach.
Among those seriously wounded was a nine-month-old baby girl named Harriet who was said to be in a “serious but stable condition in hospital” with stabbing injuries.
– ‘Beyond comprehension’ –
The baby’s mother Ashlee Good succumbed to her injuries after desperately passing the child to two strangers in the hope they could save the infant’s life.
Good’s family described her as “a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, all round outstanding human and so much more”.
“To the two men who held and cared for our baby when Ashlee could not — words cannot express our gratitude”, they said in a statement to Australian media.
Two of the victims are said to have no family in Australia and attempts are being made to contact relatives overseas.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australians — who are largely unaccustomed to incidents of violent crime — were struggling to understand an “unspeakable” attack that is “really just beyond comprehension”.
“People going about their Saturday afternoon shopping should be safe, shouldn’t be at risk. But tragically, we saw a loss of life, and people will be grieving for loved ones today,” he said.
“We also know there are many people still in hospital dealing with recovery, and our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
Albanese said he had received messages from US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon among others.
He again hailed the officer, Amy Scott, who shot Cauchi dead as a hero.
The “wonderful inspector”, he said “ran into danger by herself… without thinking about the risks to herself.”
Outside the shopping centre early on Sunday, a collection of flowers started to build.
One white ribbon wrapped around a bunch of flowers simply said “RIP” with a heart drawn in black marker.
Families embraced as they lay flowers. One man stood silently and wiped away tears, before moving on.
Sydney resident Paul Hoolahan said he came to pay his respects to those who died at the shopping centre, where he often has coffee with his grandchildren.
“It is emotional,” Hoolahan told AFP. “It shouldn’t happen. It hit here,” he said pointing to his chest.
New South Wales premier Chris Minns flew back from Japan on news of the attack.
At the scene on Sunday he said it had been “incredible to see complete strangers jump in, run towards the danger for their own lives in harm’s way to save someone that they’ve never met before.”
“We’ve got some wonderful people in our city,” he said.
Agence France-PresseThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/sydney-mall-attacker-identified-nothing-to-suggest-terror-motive/" target="_blank">Sydney mall attacker identified, 'nothing' to suggest terror motive</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/000_34PC33T-600x400.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>400</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Thaksin in Chiang Mai again</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thaksin-in-chiang-mai-again/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Apr 2024 03:21:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Chiang Mai]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[parole]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thaksin Shinawatra]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332418</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will provide an opportunity for those who wish to meet him and offer him Songkran blessings tomorrow in Chiang Mai. Thaksin, who was freed...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thaksin-in-chiang-mai-again/" target="_blank">Thaksin in Chiang Mai again</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will provide an opportunity for those who wish to meet him and offer him Songkran blessings tomorrow in Chiang Mai.
Thaksin, who was freed on parole from a prison sentence he was serving for corruption, travelled by private jet to his hometown of Chiang Mai yesterday.
Tomorrow’s event will take place at the residence of Yaowaret Shinawatra, his younger sister.
This visit to the province is his second since being granted parole on February 19. The Corrections Department approved his release, finding that he met the parole criteria, specifically relating to old age and serious illnesses.
Thaksin had left the Police General Hospital, where he had stayed for six months, wearing a neck support and an arm sling, and appeared at an event in a wheelchair.
Yesterday, however, he appeared fine and greeted people happily and without any apparent discomfort.
After arriving in Chiang Mai, he and his close relatives had lunch at Kiet-ocha, a Hainanese chicken rice restaurant.
Later, he celebrated Songkran day with his family and senior members of the Pheu Thai party at his residence.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thaksin-in-chiang-mai-again/" target="_blank">Thaksin in Chiang Mai again</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/437701283_873654581476966_7568788650171058253_n-600x338.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Iran launches unprecedented strikes on Israel, risking wider conflict</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/iran-launches-unprecedented-strikes-on-israel-risking-wider-conflict/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Apr 2024 02:19:30 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Iran]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Israel]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[strikes]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332413</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Jerusalem, Undefined – Iran launched more than 200 drones and missiles on Israel in an unprecedented attack late Saturday, the Israeli army announced, in a major escalation of the long-running covert war...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/iran-launches-unprecedented-strikes-on-israel-risking-wider-conflict/" target="_blank">Iran launches unprecedented strikes on Israel, risking wider conflict</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Jerusalem, Undefined – Iran launched more than 200 drones and missiles on Israel in an unprecedented attack late Saturday, the Israeli army announced, in a major escalation of the long-running covert war between the regional foes.
Iran’s proxies and allies also carried out coordinated attacks on Israeli positions as sirens sounded in many places and AFP correspondents heard blasts in the skies above Jerusalem early Sunday.
Iran had repeatedly threatened to strike Israel in retaliation for a deadly April 1 air strike on its Damascus consular annexe and Washington had warned repeatedly in recent days that the reprisals were imminent.
“Iran launched UAVs from its territory towards the territory of the state of Israel,” military spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a televised statement.
“We are working in close cooperation with the United States and our partners in the region in order to act against the launches and intercept them,” Rear Admiral Hagari said.
People in Jerusalem sought cover, as residents also stockpiled water.
“As you can see it’s empty, everybody is running home,” said Eliyahu Barakat, a 49-year-old grocery shop owner in Jerusalem’s Mamilla neighbourhood.
US President Joe Biden vowed Washington’s “ironclad” support for Israel after an urgent meeting with his top security officials on the spiralling crisis.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed a drone and missile attack was launched against Israel in retaliation for the Damascus strike which killed seven Guards, two of them generals.
The Guards said its ballistic missiles were fired almost an hour after the slower moving drones.
Hundreds of Iranians gathered in Tehran’s Palestine Square waving Iranian and Palestinian flags to celebrate the unprecedented military action against Israel.
The Israeli army said Iran had launched a “massive swarm of over 200 killer drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles”.
“So far, we’ve intercepted the vast majority of incoming missiles,” Hagari said.
The army said it had scrambled dozens of fighter jets to intercept “all aerial threats”.
Iran’s allies in the region joined the attack with Yemen’s Huthi rebels also launching drones at Israel, according to security agency Ambrey, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement announcing rocket fire at Israeli positions in the annexed Golan Heights.
The official IRNA news agency said the attack had dealt “heavy blows” to an air base in the Negev desert, but the Israeli army said there had only been minor damage.
– ‘Unfolding’ attack –
The White House said it expected the attack — which comes against the backdrop of the six-month Israel-Hamas war in Gaza — to “unfold over a number of hours”.
The Iranian mission to the United Nations warned Washington to keep out of Iran’s conflict with Israel.
“It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!” it said.
It added that it hoped its action to punish the strike on its diplomatic mission would lead to no further escalation and “the matter can be deemed concluded.”
But a Pentagon official said US forces were shooting down drones which had been aimed at Israel.
Early Sunday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had spoken with Biden.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned Iran’s “reckless” action and pledged his government would “continue to stand up for Israel’s security”.
The defence ministry said it had moved several additional fighter jets to the region which stood ready to “intercept any airborne attack within range”.
France echoed the commitment to Israel’s security. “In deciding to take this unprecedented action, Iran has reached a new level of destabilisation,” Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said.
Egypt, which regularly acts as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians, said it was in “direct contact with all sides to the conflict to try to contain the situation”.
The UN Security Council was to meet at around 2000 GMT Sunday to discuss the crisis at Israel’s request, its current president Malta said.
– Israel ‘prepared’ –
Shortly before the launches, Netanyahu said Israel was prepared for a “direct attack from Iran”.
“Our defence systems are deployed, we are prepared for any scenario, both in defence and attack,” the Israeli premier said.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had already seized an Israeli-linked container vessel in the Gulf earlier on Saturday, putting the whole region on alert.
Israel said it was closing schools nationwide while Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon announced they were temporarily closing their airspace.
Israel said it was closing its own airspace from 2130 GMT.
The Israeli military warned Iran it would suffer the “consequences for choosing to escalate the situation any further”.
The April 1 strike in Damascus, which killed 16 people, including two Iranian generals, had been widely blamed on Israel. Iran had repeatedly vowed to hit back, but had not specified how.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized a container ship “related” to Israel in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, which was heading towards Iranian waters, Iranian state media reported.
The ship’s operator, the Italian-Swiss group MSC, said it was working with the relevant authorities to ensure the wellbeing of the 25 crew onboard.
Both Israel and the United States denounced the seizure as piracy, with Israel also demanding the Guards be declared a “terrorist organisation” by the European Union.
– Gaza truce stalemate –
The Gaza war began with the unprecedented October 7 attack by Palestinian militants Hamas against Israel which resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,686 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Israel’s military said Saturday it had struck more than 30 Hamas targets across Gaza.
In the main central city of Deir al-Balah, fire burned in the rubble of a destroyed mosque.
Israel’s military “demanded that the whole area be evacuated” before it was “wiped out in minutes”, said Abdullah Baraka, a witness.
Hamas said it had submitted its response to a Gaza truce plan presented by US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators at talks in Cairo this week.
The Palestinian militant group said it was sticking to its previous demands, insisting on “a permanent ceasefire” and the “withdrawal of the occupation army from the entire Gaza Strip”.
About 28,000 Thai nationals working in Israel have been advised to stay abreast of announcements by the Israeli government and their respective local authorities and to call the Thai embassy if they need help, government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said today.
He also said that Thai workers there must strictly follow the orders of Israeli local authorities.
Chai disclosed that there are also about 300 Thais living in Iran and none of them, either in Iran or Israel, were affected by the drone and missile attacks on Israel by Iran last night.
The Thai embassy in Tel Aviv has issued safety guidelines for Thai nationals to observe, including avoiding public assemblies of more than 1,000 people anywhere in Israel and 
assemblies of more than 30 people in combat zones. Only work places which have bomb shelters are open and all educational institutes are closed.
The Israeli government has also closed its air space and suspended all flights from today until further notice.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/iran-launches-unprecedented-strikes-on-israel-risking-wider-conflict/" target="_blank">Iran launches unprecedented strikes on Israel, risking wider conflict</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/missile-600x345.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>345</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Thailand sees 146% rise in foreign arrivals over same period last year</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-sees-146-rise-in-foreign-arrivals-over-same-period-last-year/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 12:34:42 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nad Bunnag]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Tourism]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332405</guid>
<description><![CDATA[About 10 million foreign tourists, including 1.9 million Chinese, visited Thailand between the beginning of this year and April 9th, a 146% increase from the same period last year, Government...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-sees-146-rise-in-foreign-arrivals-over-same-period-last-year/" target="_blank">Thailand sees 146% rise in foreign arrivals over same period last year</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[About 10 million foreign tourists, including 1.9 million Chinese, visited Thailand between the beginning of this year and April 9th, a 146% increase from the same period last year, Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said today.
He said that more tourists are expected to arrive during the long Songkran holiday, especially from Muslim countries following the end of the Ramadan.
According to the Immigration Bureau, of the 10,168,745 foreign arrivals in Thailand by April 9th this year, 1,920,039 were Chinese, 1,274,528 Malaysian, 670,233 Russian, 595,705 South Korean and 519,878 were Indian.
Chai attributed the increase to the government’s pre-travel visa free policy for a number nationalities and convenient immigration procedures.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has projected that foreign and local tourists are expected to spend about 100 billion baht during the Songkran break.
16,307 incoming and outgoing flights are expected at airports across the country from April 11th to 17th, averaging 2,330 flights a day, according to Aeronautical Radio of Thailand.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-sees-146-rise-in-foreign-arrivals-over-same-period-last-year/" target="_blank">Thailand sees 146% rise in foreign arrivals over same period last year</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/957D7C0E-4638-434E-84FC-1EEC664B20D2-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>PM Srettha joins the water splashing fun in Hua Hin</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-srettha-joins-the-water-splashing-fun-in-hua-hin/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 12:32:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nad Bunnag]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Hua Hin]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Srettha Thavisin]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332402</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Sporting a colourful shirt and shorts and carrying a water gun, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin joined locals and tourists in the resort town of Hua Hin in celebrating Songkran in...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-srettha-joins-the-water-splashing-fun-in-hua-hin/" target="_blank">PM Srettha joins the water splashing fun in Hua Hin</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Sporting a colourful shirt and shorts and carrying a water gun, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin joined locals and tourists in the resort town of Hua Hin in celebrating Songkran in Pone Kingpetch Park, at an event arranged by the Hua Hin municipality.
In his Facebook post, the prime minister wrote that he hailed a “Kapor” (a four-wheel public transport vehicle, slightly largerthan tuk-tuk) to the park to participate in the Songkran celebrations.
He also said that he had poured water on the Phra Phuttha Sihing Buddha image, as a gesture for blessings on the traditional Thai New Year’s Day, and performed a “rod nam dum hua” ceremony to ask for blessings for elderly people participating in the event.
He wished for the Thai people to enjoy the festive activities in safety and good health.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-srettha-joins-the-water-splashing-fun-in-hua-hin/" target="_blank">PM Srettha joins the water splashing fun in Hua Hin</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BBBC5A5F-91CF-4A10-9CA9-7DE1EE9D17B5-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>PM dismisses rumours of imminent cabinet reshuffle</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-pm-dismisses-rumours-of-imminent-cabinet-reshuffle/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 08:48:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Neeranuch Kunakorn]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[PM Srettha Thavisin]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[นายกเศรษฐา]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ปรับครม]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332396</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has refuted yesterday’s rumour of a cabinet shakeup after the Songkran break, claiming that it was pure speculation. At least two mainstream print media reported, without...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-pm-dismisses-rumours-of-imminent-cabinet-reshuffle/" target="_blank">PM dismisses rumours of imminent cabinet reshuffle</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has refuted yesterday’s rumour of a cabinet shakeup after the Songkran break, claiming that it was pure speculation.
At least two mainstream print media reported, without citing credible sources, that the prime minister would reshuffle Pheu Thai party cabinet portfolios, to the effect that both Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang and Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew would be removed, with the prime minister taking over as defence minister.
Asked by reporters today about a cabinet reshuffle on April 17, the prime minister retorted asking the media whether they were now speaking on behalf of the prime minister and whether their speculation is correct.
He said that the rumour had caused some ministers, whose names were mentioned in the reporting, discomfort and to call him, adding that he told them that there was to be no cabinet reshuffle as speculated.
He said that a cabinet reshuffle depends on numerous factors, one of which is whether the incumbent ministers are the right people in the right jobs after about seven months in their offices.
The prime minister also said that there is still a vacant cabinet post, which belongs to the Palang Pracharath party, adding that it is a decision for the party as to whom they nominate to fill the post.
Regarding speculation that he may take the defence portfolio, in place of Sutin Klungsang, the prime minister said that he is still the finance minister and he is not interested in taking on the defence portfolio.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-pm-dismisses-rumours-of-imminent-cabinet-reshuffle/" target="_blank">PM dismisses rumours of imminent cabinet reshuffle</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1689188-600x338.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>63 killed, 550 injured on roads during first two days of Songkran break</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/63-killed-550-injured-on-roads-during-first-two-days-of-songkran-break/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 07:31:32 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Neeranuch Kunakorn]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran 2024]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[สงกรานต์ 2567]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[อุบัติเหตุรถยนต์]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332393</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Casualties from road accidents in the first two days of the long Songkran holiday have risen to 63 dead and 550 injured in 541 accidents, according to the Command Centre...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/63-killed-550-injured-on-roads-during-first-two-days-of-songkran-break/" target="_blank">63 killed, 550 injured on roads during first two days of Songkran break</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Casualties from road accidents in the first two days of the long Songkran holiday have risen to 63 dead and 550 injured in 541 accidents, according to the Command Centre for the Prevention and Reduction of Road Accidents during the Songkran Festival.
307 road accidents were recorded on Friday, resulting in 38 fatalities and 299 people injured. 41.37% of the accidents were caused by speeding, 21.17% by drunk driving and 20.20% by cutting in. 84.91% of the accidents involved motorcycles.
Most of the accidents occurred between 4pm and 5pm and between 7pm and 8pm. Phayao province recorded the highest number of road accidents yesterday, at 15. Three people died each in Nakhon Ratchasima, Roi-et and Chiang Rai.
For the past two days, Chiang Rai and Prachuap Khiri Khan recorded the highest number of road accidents, at 21 each. Roi-et had the highest death toll at five, while Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla have the highest number of injured, at 22 each.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/63-killed-550-injured-on-roads-during-first-two-days-of-songkran-break/" target="_blank">63 killed, 550 injured on roads during first two days of Songkran break</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Capture-3-600x295.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>295</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Rebels in Myanmar launch drone attacks against government troops near 2nd friendship bridge</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/rebels-in-myanmar-launch-drone-attacks-against-government-troops-near-2nd-friendship-bridge/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 07:22:17 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Neeranuch Kunakorn]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332389</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Karen rebel forces launched air attacks, using drones to bomb Myanmar government troops taking refuge near the second Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge in Mae Sot district of Tak province last night....
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/rebels-in-myanmar-launch-drone-attacks-against-government-troops-near-2nd-friendship-bridge/" target="_blank">Rebels in Myanmar launch drone attacks against government troops near 2nd friendship bridge</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Karen rebel forces launched air attacks, using drones to bomb Myanmar government troops taking refuge near the second Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge in Mae Sot district of Tak province last night.
Thai troops, deployed at the bridge to prevent a possible spill-over of fighting onto Thai territory, immediately ordered members of the media to leave the area for their safety.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Myawaddy township, fighting continued throughout Friday night, despite the fall of the both township and the last Myanmar government military camp.
Myanmar government troops have retreated from the barracks of the 275th infantry battalion, which was captured by the combined forces of the Karen National Union and People’s Defence force.
Spokesman for the Myanmar troops, Zaw Minh Tun, told local media that troops had to abandon the camp and retreat toward the Thai-Myanmar second friendship bridge for the safety of their families.
Meanwhile, it is reported that, since the start of the battle for Myawaddy township last Saturday, the number of civilians from Myanmar applying for border passes to enter Thailand’s Mae Sot at the border checkpoint has risen from 3,000 to 4,000 per day.
The border passes allow Myanmar citizens to stay in Thailand for a maximum of seven days. Most stay with relatives living in Mae Sot, while others stay in the district’s hotels.
It is reported, however, that a number arrived in Mae Sot yesterday to celebrate the Songkran festival.
According to the Thai Real Estate Association, purchases of condominium units in Thailand by wealthy Myanmar citizens have increased significantly since last year, especially since February, when the Myanmar junta imposed mandatory military conscription for men aged 18-32 and women aged 18-27.
Myanmar citizens now own 564 condominium units in Thailand, worth a combined 3.7 billion baht.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/rebels-in-myanmar-launch-drone-attacks-against-government-troops-near-2nd-friendship-bridge/" target="_blank">Rebels in Myanmar launch drone attacks against government troops near 2nd friendship bridge</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__332709891-600x338.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>What is Songkran festival? (in Chinese)</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/what-is-songkran-festival-in-chinese/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 06:08:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[celebrate]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Chinese]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332370</guid>
<description><![CDATA[你好朋友们！ Thai PBS World 为你收集了泰国人传统方式过宋干节，祝大家新年万事吉祥！Hello friends! Here’s how Thai people traditionally celebrate the Songkran festival, best wishes for this new year from Thai PBS World. “
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/what-is-songkran-festival-in-chinese/" target="_blank">What is Songkran festival? (in Chinese)</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a"></div>
<div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a">
<div dir="auto">你好朋友们！ 
Thai PBS World 为你收集了泰国人传统方式过宋干节，祝大家新年万事吉祥！Hello friends! 
Here’s how Thai people traditionally celebrate the Songkran festival, best wishes for this new year from Thai PBS World.</div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
</div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto">“<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5KgxYladXBg?si=EzAGa9ktaHt24nGX" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/what-is-songkran-festival-in-chinese/" target="_blank">What is Songkran festival? (in Chinese)</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/435011401_950456149821681_1042564757799297846_n-476x600.jpg</url><width>476</width><height>600</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>This Week – TPSO predicts Bt47bn spending during Songkran</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/this-week-tpso-predicts-bt47bn-spending-during-songkran/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 02:39:30 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332356</guid>
<description><![CDATA[This year, the Trade Policy and Strategy Office predicted that tourism spending would reach Bt47 billion during the “World Songkran festival”. That includes travel expenses, accommodation and food. A portion...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/this-week-tpso-predicts-bt47bn-spending-during-songkran/" target="_blank">This Week - TPSO predicts Bt47bn spending during Songkran</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332360" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/437976962_300456269810497_223816759498096792_n-600x328.png" alt="" width="600" height="328" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/437976962_300456269810497_223816759498096792_n-600x328.png 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/437976962_300456269810497_223816759498096792_n-768x420.png 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/437976962_300456269810497_223816759498096792_n-1024x560.png 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/437976962_300456269810497_223816759498096792_n.png 1043w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
This year, the Trade Policy and Strategy Office predicted that tourism spending would reach Bt47 billion during the “World Songkran festival”.
That includes travel expenses, accommodation and food. A portion of that spending will also go on Songkran related items.
TPSO reported that most people will celebrate Songkran out of Bangkok, in places like Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Khon Kean and Phuket.
The report also indicates that the percentage of people who spend over 10,000 baht will increase during the Songkran holiday.
 
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X-Zy0IDGa90?si=5qqlBYOX3Hux82CI" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
 The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/this-week-tpso-predicts-bt47bn-spending-during-songkran/" target="_blank">This Week - TPSO predicts Bt47bn spending during Songkran</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/437976962_300456269810497_223816759498096792_n-600x328.png</url><width>600</width><height>328</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>No-man’s land bootleggers ‘open as usual’ despite Myanmar clashes</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/no-mans-land-bootleggers-open-as-usual-despite-myanmar-clashes/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 02:02:56 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[ASEAN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[bootlegged whisky]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[border]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Chinese aphrodisiacs]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Mywaddy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332351</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Mae sot – Fighting near the Myanmar-Thai border has sent thousands fleeing into Thailand but hasn’t closed a lane of ramshackle shops in no-man’s land offering bootlegged whisky, Chinese aphrodisiacs and...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/no-mans-land-bootleggers-open-as-usual-despite-myanmar-clashes/" target="_blank">No-man's land bootleggers 'open as usual' despite Myanmar clashes</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Mae sot – Fighting near the Myanmar-Thai border has sent thousands fleeing into Thailand but hasn’t closed a lane of ramshackle shops in no-man’s land offering bootlegged whisky, Chinese aphrodisiacs and Burmese cigarettes. 
Kyaung Thet’s stall serves dozens of customers a day who buy Johnnie Walker Red Label for 380 baht ($10), handing the cash over barbed wire that runs between the towns of Mae Sot in Thailand and Myawaddy in Myanmar.
Clashes rocked Myawaddy this week, with the deep boom of shelling and the drone of Myanmar military jets in the skies heard over the border in Mae Sot.
Kyaung Thet said he had been “scared” by the sounds but he and his wife had to earn a living selling their wares, which they said all came from Myanmar.
“Every day we’ve been open,” he told AFP.
Racier fare was to be had further along the raised concrete walkway.
One small box contained pleasure-enhancing “Sex Drops” made with “USA technology”, which were to be mixed with coffee, juice or wine 15 minutes before bed.
A disclaimer on the back read: “It is a herb product, it may not work for everyone.”
Another box of tablets promised to restore a man’s “prestige in a short time”.
Included in its list of ingredients list were Tibetan donkey kidneys and yak testicles.
Also on offer was “Myanmar Beer”, which has attained illicit status in many parts of Myanmar since the military’s 2021 coup because it is brewed by a military-owned company.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the coup, with rights groups accusing the junta of widespread atrocities as it struggles to crush opposition to its rule.
Thailand’s foreign minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara visited Mae Sot on Friday.
He inspected a “Friendship Bridge” linking the town to Myanmar, across which thousands have fled in recent days seeking safety in Thailand.
A stone’s throw away in no-man’s land, the bigger concern was that the fighting would scare away those from Thailand looking for alcohol, dried fish and Burmese cigarettes.
One stall owner, who did not want to give his name, said the number of Thai customers had been down in recent days.
He said 100 people from Myanmar had come into the no-man’s land to take shelter there on Thursday night.
Everyone working in the street was used to the sounds of conflict, he said.
“Fighting has been going on so long we don’t care,” he said.
“Open as usual.”
Agence France-PresseThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/no-mans-land-bootleggers-open-as-usual-despite-myanmar-clashes/" target="_blank">No-man's land bootleggers 'open as usual' despite Myanmar clashes</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/000_34PA6ZD-600x400.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>400</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Time banks: Are they the solution to Thailand’s aging crisis?</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/time-banks-are-they-the-solution-to-thailands-aging-crisis/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 01:48:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[aging society]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[time banking communities]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332346</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The millions of Thais heading back to their home provinces to visit elderly parents over Songkran underlines the harsh reality that many of these seniors spend most of the year...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/time-banks-are-they-the-solution-to-thailands-aging-crisis/" target="_blank">Time banks: Are they the solution to Thailand’s aging crisis?</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The millions of Thais heading back to their home provinces to visit elderly parents over Songkran underlines the harsh reality that many of these seniors spend most of the year all alone.
Research by Mahidol University’s Institute for Population and Social Research shows the percentage of elderly couples living alone rose from 16.9% in 2011 to 20.6% in 2017. And that figure is on course to climb to 23% by 2050.
This is on top of the percentage of single seniors living alone, which soared from 8.6% in 2011 to 10.8% in 2017 and is expected to jump to 15% in 2050.
The epidemic of old people living alone coincides with a downward trend in extended families, where three or four generations live together. Such living arrangements are no longer that common in Thailand.
Moreover, Thailand is officially an aged society – and on course to become “super-aged” in the next decade. Senior citizens accounted for 20.17% of its total population as of 2023, according to Statista.com.
The country must therefore prepare infrastructure, facilities and initiatives to support its graying population. However, public and private sector budget to fund these preparations is limited – meaning millions of seniors without young relatives or carers could be left to suffer alone in their final years.
One potentially game-changing solution to this brewing crisis is time-banking.
“We are experimenting with the time-banking concept to deal with the country’s growing elderly population,” said Asst Prof Dr Nate Hongkrailert, who works at Siam University’s Research Center for Community Development and heads the Time Bank in Bangkok’s Phasi Charoen district.
What is time banking?
Time banking is a way of exchanging skills and services that uses time rather than money as its currency. A person who offers their service for one hour to another person in the time-banking community earns one credit in their account.
Likewise, the person who receives the service must reciprocate by supplying an hour of their own service. Services can be anything from teaching a language to mending an air conditioner.
Every hour of time is generally valued the same, regardless of the service rendered.
Time banks have already been established in many countries across the world, including the United States, Switzerland, Britain, New Zealand, China, and Singapore.
Thailand began experimenting with time banking about five years ago. Currently, around 80 time banks are operating across the kingdom since the concept was introduced here in 2018.
Time-banking communities in Bangkok
Nate revealed that at least seven communities in Bangkok’s Phasi Charoen district operate time banks with support from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and its network.
“As time banking is still a relatively new concept in Thailand, we need to promote awareness and understanding first,” he said.
Varavan Boonton runs the Poon Bampen Community Time Bank under the guidance of Nate. About 10% of the community’s nearly 800 residents have used the bank.
“Although not all locals have joined up as members, the concept has already caught on. I think this idea will work well in the end,” Varavan said.
She explained that while members were initially unsure what they could offer, the range of services they now provide is diverse. The long list includes driving, household chores, gardening, hairdressing, and feeding bedridden patients.
“About 40 of our 80 members are currently active. As they exchange services, they establish bonds of trust among each other. They have directly experienced what our time bank can offer,” she said.
Orn-anong Thongduan, the youngest board member of the Poon Bampen Community Time Bank, said she had been reluctant to seek help from neighbors in the past. But as a member of the time bank, she can claim what she is entitled to.
“I provide my services and in return, I can be served,” the 42-year-old said.
As someone who lives alone, her recent bout of recovering from surgery could have been difficult, she added. But thanks to the time bank, she received the support and assistance she needed to regain her strength.
“I had accumulated credits before the surgery. So, after I underwent the operation, I could use my credits,” she said.
Anyone who applies to be a member of the time bank must list three skills they can provide. When another member requests a service relevant to their skills, the bank will contact them and arrange for the service to be delivered.
The Poon Bampen Community Time Bank was established in 2019. But Nate said it operated more like a volunteer foundation until services were systematized in 2022.
“Now, its time-banking services have also become more tangible,” he said.
Varavan said her time bank has also brought the community closer together. In the past, many locals were reserved and reluctant even to greet their neighbors. But after being invited to join the time bank and getting to know other locals, they connected and began doing activities together.
“I feel good when I see community ties get stronger,” she said.
Varavan also appreciates the time bank’s concept of treating all members as equals. No matter what services they provide, they get credits based on the time they serve.
“So, our members are really treated as equals,” she said proudly.
How sustainable are time banks?
While time banks have proved useful in many communities, not all have been successful. Some have had to shut down because they lacked members or an efficient system.
Addressing this concern, Nate said he was now preparing mechanisms to sustain time banks in Phasi Charoen before their eventual handover to another organization – possibly the local Bangkok Metropolitan Administration office.
“The district office is interested in taking over,” Nate said. “We hope the time banks we have developed will become models for other communities too.”
The sustainability of time banks depends greatly on the dedication of their community leaders and members, he added.
“It’s about helping one another in ‘the family’ by using the skills one has. The ultimate goal of a time bank is to sustain and strengthen society.”
Varavan said she never tires of inviting more people to join her time bank because she was convinced of its benefits and knew that the time-banking concept is still not widely known.
“We don’t expect to be able to persuade everyone to join. But at least we have sent out invitations and started familiarizing locals with the concept,” she said.
By Thai PBS World’s General DeskThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/time-banks-are-they-the-solution-to-thailands-aging-crisis/" target="_blank">Time banks: Are they the solution to Thailand’s aging crisis?</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bangsaen2-600x400.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>400</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Thailand and Vietnam to announce CSP in June</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-and-vietnam-to-announce-csp-in-june/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 01:36:45 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[ASEAN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ACMECS]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[the Ayawaddy-Chaophraya-Mekong-Economic-Cooperation-Strategy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Vietnam]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332334</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Thailand and Vietnam have agreed to elevate their relations to comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP), according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry’s press release said yesterday that both countries...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-and-vietnam-to-announce-csp-in-june/" target="_blank">Thailand and Vietnam to announce CSP in June</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Thailand and Vietnam have agreed to elevate their relations to comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP), according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministry’s press release said yesterday that both countries would announce their upgraded ties in June when their leaders are scheduled to hold a joint cabinet retreat in Hanoi.
Vietnam has established the CSP with seven countries including China, Russia, India South Korea, the US, Japan and Australia. In June, Thailand will be the eighth CSP member and the first Asean country.
During his three-day visit, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son held a bilateral meeting with Thai counterpart Parnpree Bahidhra-Nukara and co-chaired the 5th Meeting of Thailand – Viet Nam Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC).
The meeting was attended by representatives from relevant agencies of both countries to follow up on progress and discuss future steps for Thailand – Vietnam bilateral cooperation.
Both leaders were pleased with the positive trajectory of the partnership in all areas of cooperation. They also shared the same commitment to ensure that Thailand and Vietnam will continue to grow and prosper together, as close neighbors and strategic partners.
During the visit, Son was granted a royal audience with Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
Sretha expressed appreciation with the dynamism of Thailand-Vietnan relations, especially the work under the Ayawaddy-Chaophraya-Mekong-Economic-Cooperation-Strategy (ACMECS) framework.
He added that as two major regional economies, both countries should work closely to drive further peace and stability and economic integration in the Mekong sub-region.
In addition, both sides discussed ways to promote three main areas of bilateral cooperation including trade and investment, tourism and infrastructure.
On trade and investment, Sretha asked Vietnam to facilitate Thailand’s goods in transit, especially fruits, at the Vietnam-China border checkpoints.
On tourism, both sides agreed to increase flight connections between the two Congress and support the “Six Countries, One Destination” scheme. On the infrastructure development, they agreed to work together to improve the infrastructure, particularly in connecting the road between Thailand, and Laos to boost trade and investment and people-to-people exchanges.
Sretha is scheduled to visit Hanoi and take part in the 4th Joint Cabinet Retreat in June.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-and-vietnam-to-announce-csp-in-june/" target="_blank">Thailand and Vietnam to announce CSP in June</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__82052083_0-600x400.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>400</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>2475: Dawn of Revolution: Royalist propaganda or the truth about Siamese Revolution?</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/2475-dawn-of-revolution-royalist-propaganda-or-the-truth-about-siamese-revolution/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 01:33:50 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[2475: Dawn of Revolution]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Khana Ratsadon leaders]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Nakraphiwat Co]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pridi Banomyong]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332340</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Wivat Jirotgul’s depiction of the 1932 Siamese Revolution has upset many fans of Khana Ratsadon (the People’s Party) and its founder Pridi Banomyong. Wivat is the director and producer of...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/2475-dawn-of-revolution-royalist-propaganda-or-the-truth-about-siamese-revolution/" target="_blank">2475: Dawn of Revolution: Royalist propaganda or the truth about Siamese Revolution?</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Wivat Jirotgul’s depiction of the 1932 Siamese Revolution has upset many fans of Khana Ratsadon (the People’s Party) and its founder Pridi Banomyong.
Wivat is the director and producer of the feature-length animated film, “2475: Dawn of Revolution”, which has drawn praise and criticism in equal measure.
Critics claim that the two-dimensional animation distorts the reality of the Siamese Revolution, giving it a royalist-nationalist spin. Supporters, however, say the film is based on records and the personal memoirs of those involved, pointing to a list of over 80 references in the end credits.
The 46-year-old filmmaker says his animation aims to present a picture that is fair to all sides involved, particularly King Rama VII, who he says has been unfairly portrayed in Thai history despite his attempts to avert a bloody revolution and ensure a smooth transition from absolute to constitutional monarchy.
“Many history books belittle the sacrifices King Rama VII made. I just want to restore justice to him. I want Thais to know that he did his best to ensure changes to the political system were as smooth as possible,” the director said.
1 million views on YouTube
After premiering on YouTube on March 13, the two-hour-plus animated film had recorded over 1 million views, drawing nearly 50,000 likes and over 8,500 comments as of Thursday.
Many commenters also left “thank-you” donations to its creators ranging from as little as 40 baht to 10,000 baht. Donations made in US and Australian dollars, British pounds and Swiss francs among other foreign currencies suggested many viewers live overseas.
The film tells the story of the 1932 Siamese Revolution in a modern-day setting, through conversations between a middle-aged librarian and three university students researching Thai democracy since the first Constitution was written in 1932.
The film portrays King Rama VII as the driving force behind Thailand’s political reform, with plans for a constitution to prepare the mostly uneducated population for democratic rule.
On the other hand, it depicts Khana Ratsadon leaders, especially Pridi – late prime minister and founder of Thammasat University – in a negative light.
Pridi’s character in the animation is often depicted with an octopus in the background – a metaphor for the spread of Soviet communism.
Under ‘fascist rule’
The film concludes with the abdication of King Prajadhipok (King Rama VII) and the appointment of his successor, King Ananda Mahidol, at the age of nine.
The animation also delves into what happened after that, including the fight for power among Khana Ratsadon leaders in the early years of Thai democracy.
It blames the new rulers for the suicides of certain princes whose assets were confiscated by the new government.
The film claims the new leaders managed to pass a law to set up a special court that allowed them to “get rid” of their political foes, leading to mass arrests, the execution of 18 individuals and the exile of many political figures, some of whom were fellow Khana Ratsadon leaders.
Many political prisoners, including noblemen and scholars, were sent to the remote Tarutao island in the South of Thailand. “Thailand was under fascist rule for a period of time,” reads a subtitle just before the end of the film.
Filmmaker’s links with the Army
Wivat was born in the southern province of Krabi, where he completed his secondary education before attending Bangkok University in the capital.
His Facebook page lists him as the managing director of Nakraphiwat Co Ltd, a creative production house, and president of Pegasus Creative, a marketing and branding consultancy.
Nakraphiwat Co, whose Nakra Studio produced the animation, was involved in the production of a music video for the song “Duay Rak Lae Phakdi” (With Love and Loyalty) in honor of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn on his 70th birthday in 2022.
The video was made in collaboration with the Royal Thai Army Band and numerous Thai corporations.
Online media outlet Prachatai reported last month that Nakraphiwat Co was paid almost 4 million baht by the Army between 2020 and 2022.
Wivat dismissed the report as a move to discredit the film, saying that about half of the 10-million-baht budget for the film came from his own pocket, much of it borrowed from his relatives and friends.
“I’m happy this project was completed, and though I’m now in debt and may even go bankrupt, I just wanted to get this work done,” he said.
In a recent Facebook post, Wivat insisted that the film had not been funded by the Army or by taxpayer money from any government agency.
He said he was not worried about “distorted reports” as they were untrue. He said he did care, however, about the reputation of colleagues who were involved in the project and was considering legal action against Prachatai.
As for being labeled a conservative, Wivat said he believes that most people have “hybrid” political beliefs that are not totally conservative or liberal – something that also applied to him.
“And if you’re genuinely liberal, you should listen to views that are different from yours,” he said.
Thai PBS World’s Political DeskThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/2475-dawn-of-revolution-royalist-propaganda-or-the-truth-about-siamese-revolution/" target="_blank">2475: Dawn of Revolution: Royalist propaganda or the truth about Siamese Revolution?</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-600x338.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>25 killed, 248 injured in road accidents on first day of Songkran travel</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/25-killed-248-injured-in-road-accidents-on-first-day-of-songkran-travel/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 11:45:51 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Franc Han Shih]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[road accident]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332328</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Twenty-five people were killed and 248 others injured in 234 road accidents across the country on Thursday, Chaiwat Chuntirapong, director-general of the Department of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, told...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/25-killed-248-injured-in-road-accidents-on-first-day-of-songkran-travel/" target="_blank">25 killed, 248 injured in road accidents on first day of Songkran travel</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Twenty-five people were killed and 248 others injured in 234 road accidents across the country on Thursday, Chaiwat Chuntirapong, director-general of the Department of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, told a press conference today.
44.02% of the accidents were caused by speeding, 20.94% by cutting in and 16.67% by drunk driving. 86% of the accidents involved motorcycles and 85.90% took place on straight roads, 47.01% on main roads and
23.50% on secondary roads. Most of the accidents took place between 4pm and 5pm. 
Songkhla province saw most accidents, recording 11 involving 13 injuries. Bangkok had the most fatalities, with three.
Chaiwat said that, since tomorrow is when more people are expected engage in water splashing and in other festive activities, officials have been instructed to increase patrols on secondary roads in communities and to warn motorists and motorcyclists against speeding or drunk driving and to wear crash helmets in the case of those on motorcycles.
Deputy Interior Permanent Secretary Chotnarin Kerdsom, meanwhile, said that stores selling alcohol are warned not to sell to people who are under 20 and to observe liquor sales hours strictly.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/25-killed-248-injured-in-road-accidents-on-first-day-of-songkran-travel/" target="_blank">25 killed, 248 injured in road accidents on first day of Songkran travel</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-26-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Neighbours of cadmium store in Samut Sakhon have high cadmium levels</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/neighbours-of-cadmium-store-in-samut-sakhon-have-high-cadmium-levels/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 08:53:16 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Franc Han Shih]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[cadmium]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Samut Sakhon]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332325</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Sixteen people living in the vicinity of the J&B Metal warehouse in Samut Sakhon’s Bang Nam Jerd sub-district have been found to have high levels of cadmium in their bodies...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/neighbours-of-cadmium-store-in-samut-sakhon-have-high-cadmium-levels/" target="_blank">Neighbours of cadmium store in Samut Sakhon have high cadmium levels</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Sixteen people living in the vicinity of the J&B Metal warehouse in Samut Sakhon’s Bang Nam Jerd sub-district have been found to have high levels of cadmium in their bodies and have been treated at the provincial hospital, according to the Provincial Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office.
Health officials tested urine samples from 34 people living near the warehouse, where cadmium slag, illegally sent from Tak province, is being stored. 16 of showed high levels. 
At the provincial hospital, four of them were found to be suffering from skin rashes, but their conditions are not life-threatening.
Thirteen employees at another company, Chin Hong Choeng Intertrade (2008), also in Bang Nam Jerd sub-district, where 1,034 tonnes of cadmium slag were found, were tested as well, but nothing unusual was found.
Earlier, urine samples were taken from 21 employees of the J&B Metal Company and seven were found to contain high levels of cadmium, with four also suffering from mild anaemia, although none of them fall sick. They were advised to get medical check-ups periodically.
About 15,000 tonnes of cadmium slag have been illegally removed from a landfill in Tak province and taken to the warehouse of J&B Metal Company in Samut Sakhon since late last year. Some of the hazardous material was later distributed to other warehouses in the province, in Chon Buri and Bang Sue district of Bangkok.
At the J&B Metal warehouse, 6,491 tonnes of cadmium slag were found and impounded. 1,034 tonnes were found in the Chin Hong Choen Intertrade warehouse in Bang Nam Jerd sub-district and 468 tonnes were found in a warehouse, allegedly belonging to Korn Watcharaphol, in Krathum Baen district of Samut Sakhon.
About 150 tonnes, not 300 tonnes as previously reported, were found at a warehouse in Bangkok’s Bang Sue district. 
All the impounded cadmium slag found in Samut Sakhon is to be sent back to the landfill in Tak province by the end of May.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/neighbours-of-cadmium-store-in-samut-sakhon-have-high-cadmium-levels/" target="_blank">Neighbours of cadmium store in Samut Sakhon have high cadmium levels</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-24-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Hong Kong-Thai woman stabbed to death in her luxurious house in London</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/hong-kong-thai-woman-stabbed-to-death-in-her-luxurious-house-in-london/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 05:22:40 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Franc Han Shih]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Crime]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Hong Kong]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[LONDON]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[THAI]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332313</guid>
<description><![CDATA[London’s Metropolitan Police have launched a manhunt for the person who stabbed to death a 27-year-old Hong Kong-Thai woman in her expensive property on the edge of Hyde Park in...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/hong-kong-thai-woman-stabbed-to-death-in-her-luxurious-house-in-london/" target="_blank">Hong Kong-Thai woman stabbed to death in her luxurious house in London</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[London’s Metropolitan Police have launched a manhunt for the person who stabbed to death a 27-year-old Hong Kong-Thai woman in her expensive property on the edge of Hyde Park in the capital.
The body of Kamonnan Thiamphanit was discovered by police after they forced entry to her property on Monday.
The police were contacted on Sunday by the victim’s friends who were concerned about her welfare. Officers entered the property 13 hours later.
Neighbours told Daily Mail online that they heard high-pitched screams and then a worrying silence hours before her body was found. It is thought that Kamonnan may have known her attacker, as the five-storey building has a video entry system on the front door and there was no sign of forced entry before police officers entered on Monday morning.
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Clifton, who is leading the investigation, said that his team continues to work tirelessly to piece together the events that led up to the murder. He appealed to anyone who has information that could assist his investigation, “no matter how insignificant you think that may be”, to come forward and to speak to the investigators.
The flat near Hyde Park was still sealed off by police yesterday as the murder investigation entered a fourth day. Uniformed officers patrol the scene while several forensics vans remain parked outside as a scenes of crime teams continue to process the flat.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/hong-kong-thai-woman-stabbed-to-death-in-her-luxurious-house-in-london/" target="_blank">Hong Kong-Thai woman stabbed to death in her luxurious house in London</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-23-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>When does “artificial” stop being so?</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/when-does-artificial-stop-being-so/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 04:52:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highlights of the week]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Aitana Lopez]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Elon Musk]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Tesla]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332303</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Many months are still to go for 2024, but perhaps the understatement of the year should go to the one made by Elon Musk, who has predicted a few days...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/when-does-artificial-stop-being-so/" target="_blank">When does “artificial” stop being so?</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Many months are still to go for 2024, but perhaps the understatement of the year should go to the one made by Elon Musk, who has predicted a few days ago that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be smarter than any human by the end of next year.
The Tesla CEO and X owner, who is a curious mixture of AI proponent and AI alarmist, has apparently discarded the fact that, for so long now, no human has been able to calculate faster than a simple calculator that anyone would throw into a trash can nowadays, and that a supercomputer can win a chess match against any world champion.
In short, AI is “already” smarter than any human. We just don’t realise it yet or we simply refuse to accept the proud fact that human beings are the only species known to have created something smarter than themselves.
The “next year” prediction more or less envisages AI in some kind of definite shape, form or network, not in an omnipresent state like electricity, which is disappearing into walls or underground.
Once in a while people get excited by AI-generated “deepfakes”, superfast “chatbots”, or writing or translation marvels, but that is just the greatest trick AI has ever pulled.
It’s a lot more than that. AI makes people afraid of big advances while at the same time unable to live without small, relatively-unnoticeable developments added into new mobile phones or other devices every day.
It doesn’t matter if we are anxious, astounded, enthusiastic or downright fearful. It’s inevitable. Computers’ computing power doubles every 18 months according to scientists’ estimates made many years back. (Meaning the doubling rate can be considerably faster now.)
The most-informed technological experts have been more or less wrong about the speed of advancement, with almost every single one of them underestimating how quickly technology will move forward.
Thai-created AI beat chess players at www.playok.com for fun with stunning moves that few human beings could have anticipated.
This is despite the belief that there could be more possible variations of chess games than there are atoms in the observable universe.
Renowned physicist Michio Kaku years ago said that a “singing card”, which would sing “Happy Birthday to You” to the recipient, contained a computer chip more powerful than the whole World War II allied forces’ computing powers combined.
“Hitler and Eisenhower would kill to have that chip,” he said. “What do we do with the chip now? We throw it into the dustbin.”
Jules Verne, the most scientifically-imaginative author of his time and was even considered the father of science fictions, once said basically that it would take only “weeks” to travel across America by something that floated in the air.
The moral of the above comments is simply that nobody has a clue of what has been transpiring.
Not even Musk. He seemed to base his prediction on human competition, like between the United States and China or between his tech empire and OpenAI.
But his own forecast seems to render the human competition irrelevant. To put it into perspective, do men ever worry about smart dogs?
If Musk is right, or if he’s predicting something that already has happened, we are dogs in AI’s eyes, and it does not matter what we do.
As long as the world remains divided politically and everyone is competing economically, AI evolution will continue to be fast and furious. Phone makers will seek to ensure that their products are smarter than their rivals’.
The same goes for the producers of other devices, or vehicles, or weapons. Every status quo feeds the unbelievably-speedy development.
The Clueless, a Barcelona-based company, has created Aitana Lopez who has more than 300,000 Instagram followers although she’s not real. She (or it) is part of a mission to redefine the world of influencers, now dominated by human beings who have been using AI with wild abandon.
What a project manager said about the Aitana phenomenon might have escaped most people’s attention.
“Virtual models, being digital, present a more economical alternative,” she explained a few days ago, while pointing out the “rising costs” associated with human influencers.
Smartness shall not be quantified. That human beings still “control” a lot of things shall never be taken to mean that AI is still not smarter. AI may just try to make us believe, for its own good, that we are still in charge.
There is one theory, though, that can upend all of the above.
Are we AI ourselves? The fact that we humans can cry, or love, or feel pain, does nothing to the possibility that we are actually a higher form of what we are in awe of.
This seemingly-spiritual theory has it that human beings may be something generated by highly-advanced AI.
In other words, AI actually gave birth to itself by creating human beings first, programming them to evolve in a way that they would one day create something so smart that it would eliminate impossibilities one by one and get smarter and smarter in the process.
It sounds like a science-fiction time-travelling loop, and many, particularly the advocates of mainstream religions, will frown at this, but don’t count the theory out completely. As they say, any sufficiently-advanced technology is indistinguishable from divinity.
Tulsathit TaptiimThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/when-does-artificial-stop-being-so/" target="_blank">When does “artificial” stop being so?</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/img_29844_ima1-1000x625-600x375.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>375</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Asia-Pacific gets new weapon in fight against drug-resistant TB</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/asia-pacific-gets-new-weapon-in-fight-against-drug-resistant-tb/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 02:51:47 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Franc Han Shih]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Asia-Pacific]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[tuberculosis]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332300</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A faster and vastly more effective treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis is being rolled out in the Asia-Pacific region, raising hopes of a “new era” in tackling one of the world’s...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/asia-pacific-gets-new-weapon-in-fight-against-drug-resistant-tb/" target="_blank">Asia-Pacific gets new weapon in fight against drug-resistant TB</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[A faster and vastly more effective treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis is being rolled out in the Asia-Pacific region, raising hopes of a “new era” in tackling one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.
The region had most of the world’s estimated 10.6 million new TB cases in 2022, and more than half of the 1.3 million deaths, World Health Organization (WHO) figures show.
While TB can be successfully treated with antibiotics, more than three percent of new TB patients are resistant to commonly prescribed drugs.
Until recently, treatment for these patients involved daily painful injections or a fistful of pills for 18 months or longer, while some endured severe side effects such as nausea and, in extreme cases, blindness.
Many people prematurely quit their treatment, which had a success rate of 63 percent or lower.
Now, a new drug regimen involving fewer pills and side effects is being rolled out in the Asia-Pacific, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia, where trials have shown a more than 90 percent cure rate after six months.
The treatment, known as BPaL, combines the antibiotics bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid, and has received regulatory approval in more than 60 countries since 2019, according to the non-profit TB Alliance, which developed it.
The WHO updated its guidelines in 2022 to allow BPaL to be used with or without a fourth antibiotic called moxifloxacin.
BPaL has been life-changing for Filipino cook Efifanio Brillante, who was diagnosed with drug-resistant TB in June 2022 and initially went on an older form of treatment.
Brillante, 57, was swallowing 20 tablets a day, but it left him feeling so nauseous that he couldn’t work or eat.
He stopped the medication after two weeks even though he knew the decision could be fatal.
“It’s very difficult. You’re always in bed,” Brillante told AFP about his experience of having TB.
“Sometimes I couldn’t even breathe.”
The following month, Brillante joined a BPaL trial at the Jose B Lingad Memorial General Hospital in Pampanga province, north of the Philippine capital Manila.
He took between three and seven pills a day and was cured after six months.
“I’m very thankful that I was healed,” Brillante told AFP in his home.
“If I didn’t take that BPaL, I might already be buried in the cemetery.”
– ‘A curable disease’ – 
TB, once called consumption, is caused by a bacteria that primarily attacks the lungs and is transmitted through the air by infected people, for example by coughing.
While it is found in every country, poorer people living and working in overcrowded conditions are at higher risk of the disease.
Eight countries accounted for two-thirds of new TB cases in 2022: India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
One of the biggest challenges of treating drug-resistant TB has been getting patients to take the full course of their medication.
Even in countries where treatment is free, patients face crippling travel costs to hospitals and loss of income, or even their job, due to the illness and side-effects of the drugs, leading many to stop taking their pills.
In Vietnam, most people diagnosed with TB are from low-income families, Hoang Thi Thanh Thuy from the Vietnam National Tuberculosis Program told AFP.
Nearly everyone with drug-resistant TB endured “catastrophic” expenses over the period of their treatment, she said.
“All of these difficulties can affect patient compliance and lead to poor treatment and increasing drug resistance,” Thuy said.
Identifying people with TB is also a challenge.
In Indonesia, some healthcare facilities are still not able to properly diagnose the disease, said Imran Pambudi of the health ministry.
Fear of social stigma from a positive diagnosis is also common.
“We’re trying to educate them that TB is a curable disease,” said Irene Flores, who led the BPaL trial at the Jose B Lingad Memorial General Hospital in the Philippines.
“If they come early, we can prevent complications.”
– More investment needed – 
After years of decline, the number of people falling ill with TB and drug-resistant tuberculosis began increasing during the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted diagnosis and treatment, the WHO said previously.
After gargantuan global efforts to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus, the WHO has called for increased funding to fight TB.
“As TB stopped being a high income-country problem, motivation to invest in research and development for new TB drugs dried up,” said Sandeep Juneja, senior vice president of market access at the TB Alliance.
To help accelerate the rollout of BPaL, with or without moxifloxacin, the TB Alliance has set up a “knowledge hub” in Manila to provide training and assistance to other countries.
In India, where BPaL has been approved, there is growing impatience for it to be introduced into health clinics given the country’s world-beating caseload.
“BPaL should be rolled out soon because it will spare patients a lot of headaches and provide psychological relief too, besides reducing cost of treatment in the long run,” said Ravikant Singh, founder of advocacy group Doctors For You.
Juneja said the new regimen meant treating drug-resistant TB was no longer a guessing game of whether a patient would survive or not.
But more is needed to be done, he added.
“I hope this is… just the beginning of a new era of TB treatment where they will be even simpler, even shorter.”
By Agence France-PresseThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/asia-pacific-gets-new-weapon-in-fight-against-drug-resistant-tb/" target="_blank">Asia-Pacific gets new weapon in fight against drug-resistant TB</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-22-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Julie Bishop’s new Myanmar challenges</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/julie-bishops-new-myanmar-challenges/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 02:05:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ASEAN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[former Australian foreign minister]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Julie Bishop]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[UN Secretary General Antonio Guterrd]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[UN Special Envoy to Myanmar]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[United Nations]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332285</guid>
<description><![CDATA[After several months of vacancy, former Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop has been appointed by the UN Secretary General as the UN special envoy on Myanmar. She will be the...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/julie-bishops-new-myanmar-challenges/" target="_blank">Julie Bishop’s new Myanmar challenges</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[After several months of vacancy, former Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop has been appointed by the UN Secretary General as the UN special envoy on Myanmar.
She will be the third woman to serve in this position, following in the footsteps of Christine Schraner Burgener of Switzerland who served from April 2018 to October 2021 and Singaporean Noeleen Heyzer, whose tenure ran from October 2021 to November 2023.
Bishop’s appointment was announced weeks after the Asean special envoy on Myanmar, Alounkeo Kittikhoun, briefed the UN Security Council on the situation in Myanmar in early February. He urged the UN Secretary General Antonio Guteres to appoint a special envoy to succeed Heyzer.
Bishop’s appointment comes at the most critical time due to the fast-changing security environments inside Myanmar between the Tatmadaw and the resistance forces.
Since October last year, the resistance forces, alliances of various armed ethnic groups, have increased their attacks and gained control of nearly 60 townships throughout the country.
At the end of January, Naypyidaw decided to send a non-political officer to attend the Asean foreign ministerial retreat, marking the first time in almost three years that the regime participated in an Asean meeting.
After the coup on February 1, 2021, Asean banned senior Myanmar officials from attending major Asean meetings.
At the April summit in Jakarta 2021, the Five Point Consensus was adopted by the Asean leaders as a pathway to resolve the conflict in Myanmar.
As the conflict enters its fourth year, there has been only little progress in the peace process. Recently, Thailand and Myanmar organized a bilateral humanitarian assistance programme for 20,000 affected villagers inside Myanmar.
Over the past years, the previous UN envoys have been unable to do much because of limited access to as well as cooperation by the regime in Naypyidaw.
According to UN press release, throughout her career, Bishop has strengthened engagement with regional partners and led international negotiation efforts, including the first-ever United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
It is hoped that Bishop will be able to make progress on the UN’s role in resolving the Myanmar crisis.
In 2017, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution on Myanmar mandating a position to work in close partnership with all stakeholders including Asean, regional countries and UN members.
In the coming days, Bishop will have the opportunity to meet up with her former Asean counterparts to get updates on the latest situation in Myanmar and the ongoing Asean efforts to implement the peace process.
She will have an insurmountable task in implementing the UN mandate and coordinating with the Asean efforts to bring peace to Myanmar.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/julie-bishops-new-myanmar-challenges/" target="_blank">Julie Bishop’s new Myanmar challenges</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/000_1838AA-600x410.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>410</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>OJ Simpson, former US football star acquitted of murder, dies aged 76</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/oj-simpson-former-us-football-star-acquitted-of-murder-dies-aged-76/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 01:58:20 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Nicole Brown Simpson]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[OJ Simpson]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[prison]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Ronald Goldman]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332291</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Las Vegas – O.J. Simpson, the football star and Hollywood actor acquitted of charges he killed his former wife and her friend in a trial that mesmerized the public and...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/oj-simpson-former-us-football-star-acquitted-of-murder-dies-aged-76/" target="_blank">OJ Simpson, former US football star acquitted of murder, dies aged 76</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Las Vegas – O.J. Simpson, the football star and Hollywood actor acquitted of charges he killed his former wife and her friend in a trial that mesmerized the public and exposed divisions on race and policing in America, has died. He was 76.
The family announced on Simpson’s official X account that he died Wednesday of prostate cancer. He died in Las Vegas, officials there said Thursday.
Simpson earned fame, fortune and adulation through football and show business, but his legacy was forever changed by the June 1994 knife slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman in Los Angeles.
He was later found liable for the deaths in a separate civil case, and then served nine years in prison on unrelated charges.
Goldman’s father, Fred, and his sister, Kim, released a statement acknowledging that “the hope for true accountability has ended.”
“The news of Ron’s killer passing away is a mixed bag of complicated emotions and reminds us that the journey through grief is not linear,” they wrote.
Live TV coverage of Simpson’s arrest after a famous slow-speed chase marked a stunning fall from grace.
Legendary athlete, actor and millionaire: O.J. Simpson’s murder trial lost him the American dream
Where are they now? Key players in the murder trial of O.J. Simpson
The OJ Simpson saga was a unique American moment. 3 decades on, we’re still wondering what it means
He had seemed to transcend racial barriers as the star tailback for college football’s powerful University of Southern California Trojans in the late 1960s, as a rental-car ad pitchman rushing through airports in the late 1970s, and as the husband of a blond and blue-eyed high school homecoming queen in the 1980s.
“I’m not Black, I’m O.J.,” he liked to tell friends.
His trial captured America’s attention on live TV. The case sparked debates on race, gender, domestic abuse, celebrity justice and police misconduct.
Evidence found at the scene seemed overwhelmingly against Simpson. Blood drops, bloody footprints and a glove were there. Another glove, smeared with blood, was found at his home.
Simpson didn’t testify, but the prosecution asked him to try on the gloves in court. He struggled to squeeze them onto his hands and spoke his only three words of the trial: “They’re too small.”
His attorney Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. told the jurors, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”
The jury found him not guilty of murder in 1995, but a separate civil trial jury found him liable in 1997 for the deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million to relatives of Brown and Goldman.
A decade later, still shadowed by the California wrongful death judgment, Simpson led five men he barely knew into a confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers in a cramped Las Vegas hotel room. Two men with Simpson had guns. A jury convicted Simpson of armed robbery and other felonies.
Imprisoned at 61, he served nine years in a remote Nevada lockup, including a stint as a gym janitor. He wasn’t contrite when he was released on parole in October 2017.
The parole board heard him insist yet again that he was only trying to retrieve memorabilia and heirlooms stolen from him after his Los Angeles criminal trial.
“I’ve basically spent a conflict-free life, you know,” said Simpson, whose parole ended in late 2021.
Public fascination with Simpson never faded. Many debated whether he had been punished in Las Vegas for his acquittal in Los Angeles. In 2016, he was the subject of an FX miniseries and a five-part ESPN documentary.
“I don’t think most of America believes I did it,” Simpson told The New York Times in 1995, a week after a jury determined he did not kill Brown and Goldman. “I’ve gotten thousands of letters and telegrams from people supporting me.”
Twelve years later, following an outpouring of public outrage, Rupert Murdoch canceled a planned book by the News Corp.-owned HarperCollins in which Simpson offered his hypothetical account of the killings. It was to be titled “If I Did It.”
Goldman’s family, still doggedly pursuing the multimillion-dollar wrongful death judgment, won control of the manuscript. They retitled the book “If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.”
“It’s all blood money, and unfortunately I had to join the jackals,” Simpson told The Associated Press at the time. He collected $880,000 in advance money for the book, paid through a third party.
“It helped me get out of debt and secure my homestead,” he said.
Less than two months after losing rights to the book, Simpson was arrested in Las Vegas.
Simpson played 11 NFL seasons, nine of them with the Buffalo Bills, where he became known as “The Juice” and ran behind an offensive line known as “The Electric Company.”
He won four NFL rushing titles, rushed for 11,236 yards in his career, scored 76 touchdowns and played in five Pro Bowls. His best season was 1973, when he ran for 2,003 yards — the first running back to break the 2,000-yard rushing mark.
“I was part of the history of the game,” he said years later. “If I did nothing else in my life, I’d made my mark.”
Simpson’s football rise happened simultaneously with a television career. He signed a contract with ABC Sports the night he won the Heisman Trophy in 1968. That same year, he appeared on the NBC series “Dragnet” and “Ironside.” During his pro career, Simpson was a color commentator for a decade on ABC followed by a stint on NBC. In 1983, he joined ABC’s “Monday Night Football.”
Simpson became a charismatic pitchman. In 1975, Hertz made him the first Black man hired for a corporate national ad campaign. The commercials, featuring Simpson running through airports toward the Hertz desk and young girls chanting “Go, O.J., go!” were ubiquitous.
Simpson made his big-screen debut in 1974’s “The Klansman,” an exploitation film in which he starred alongside Lee Marvin and Richard Burton. The film flopped, but Simpson would go on to appear in several dozen films and TV series, including 1974’s “The Towering Inferno,” 1976’s “The Cassandra Crossing,” 1977’s “Roots” and 1977’s “Capricorn One.”
Most notable, perhaps, was 1988’s “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad” and two sequels. Simpson played Detective Nordberg in the slapstick films, opposite Leslie Nielsen.
Of course, Simpson went on to other fame.
One of the artifacts of his murder trial, the tailored tan suit he wore when acquitted, was donated and displayed at the Newseum in Washington. Simpson had been told the suit would be in the hotel room in Las Vegas, but it wasn’t there.
Orenthal James Simpson was born July 9, 1947, in San Francisco, where he grew up in government-subsidized housing.
After graduating from high school, he enrolled at City College of San Francisco for a year and a half before transferring to the University of Southern California for the spring 1967 semester.
He married his first wife, Marguerite Whitley, on June 24, 1967, moving her to Los Angeles the next day so he could begin preparing for his first season with USC — which, in large part because of Simpson, won that year’s national championship.
On the day he accepted the Heisman Trophy, his first child, Arnelle, was born.
He had two sons, Jason and Aaren, with his first wife; one of those boys, Aaren, drowned as a toddler in a swimming pool accident in 1979, the same year he and Whitley divorced.
Simpson and Brown were married in 1985. They had two children, Justin and Sydney, and divorced in 1992. Two years later, Nicole Brown Simpson was found dead.
“We don’t need to go back and relive the worst day of our lives,” he told AP 25 years after the double slayings. “The subject of the moment is the subject I will never revisit again. My family and I have moved on to what we call the ‘no negative zone.’ We focus on the positives.”
Associated PressThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/oj-simpson-former-us-football-star-acquitted-of-murder-dies-aged-76/" target="_blank">OJ Simpson, former US football star acquitted of murder, dies aged 76</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/OJ_Simpsonphoto.jpg</url><width>560</width><height>386</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>21 days of Songkran: festivity highlights</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/21-days-of-songkran-festivity-highlights/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 01:42:21 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clare Patchimanon (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Food, Travel and Lifestyle]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ThailandTourism]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[waterfights]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[สงกรานต์]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[เล่นน้ำสงกรานต์]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332252</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Songkran in Thailand will last 21 days this year. The Ministry of Tourism and Sport has announced extended festivities to celebrate UNESCO’s inscription of the holiday on the prestigious Intangible...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/21-days-of-songkran-festivity-highlights/" target="_blank">21 days of Songkran: festivity highlights</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Songkran in Thailand will last 21 days this year. The Ministry of Tourism and Sport has announced extended festivities to celebrate UNESCO’s inscription of the holiday on the prestigious Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List.
While the main celebrations and water fights usually last from April 13 to 15, there are many more events throughout the country to explore. We compile a list of places and dates below.
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332316" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_bkk-600x338.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_bkk-600x338.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_bkk-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_bkk-1024x577.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Central region
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332317" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_central-600x338.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_central-600x338.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_central-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_central-1024x577.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Northern region
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332321" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_north-600x338.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_north-600x338.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_north-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_north-1024x577.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Northeastern region
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332320" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_ne-600x338.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_ne-600x338.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_ne-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_ne-1024x576.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Eastern region
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332319" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_east-600x338.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_east-600x338.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_east-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_east-1024x576.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Southern region
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332322" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_south-600x338.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_south-600x338.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_south-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_south-1024x577.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
The word ‘Songkran’ comes from Sanskrit language. It means “to move up or to move”. This refers to the period when the sun transits into Aries. While the festival is celebrated from April 13 to 15, the actual new year’s day is 13.
 The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/21-days-of-songkran-festivity-highlights/" target="_blank">21 days of Songkran: festivity highlights</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sk_169_cover-600x338.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Culture, traditions and lots and lots of water</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/culture-traditions-and-lots-and-lots-of-water/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:28:39 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Food, Travel and Lifestyle]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Tourism]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Water]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332269</guid>
<description><![CDATA[From water fights to cultural delights, Bangkok’s Songkran celebration has it all. In the heart of the Thai capital, as the scorching sun transitions into the Aries constellation, Songkran—the Thai...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/culture-traditions-and-lots-and-lots-of-water/" target="_blank">Culture, traditions and lots and lots of water</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[From water fights to cultural delights, Bangkok’s Songkran celebration has it all.
In the heart of the Thai capital, as the scorching sun transitions into the Aries constellation, Songkran—the Thai New Year festival—takes centre stage.
Sanam Luang, a city square located in Bangkok’s heritage site, becomes the epicentre of the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024 from April 11 to 15 and is all set to witness cultural performances, live concerts, and captivating Songkran parades, drawing both locals and tourists into the heart of Thailand’s rich cultural tapestry.
At the forefront of the festivities is the grand parade, set to take place on April 11, along Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue. Leading the procession is the revered Buddha image, symbolizing the spiritual essence of Songkran and guiding the way for the elaborate displays to follow.
<figure id="attachment_332280" style="width: 400px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-332280" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK006-400x600.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="600" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK006-400x600.jpg 400w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK006-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK006-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK006.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">The revered Buddha image leads the Songkran procession, embodying the spiritual essence of Songkran and guiding the way for the elaborate displays ahead.//Photo: Wat Pho</figcaption></figure>
<img class="size-medium wp-image-332273" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK02-600x329.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="329" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK02-600x329.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK02-768x421.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK02-1024x561.jpg 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK02.jpg 1400w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
The grand Songkran procession, scheduled for April 11, will grace the grand Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue in Bangkok.//Photo: Tourism Authority of ThailandFollowing closely behind is the procession of Mahodhara Devi, the esteemed Nang Songkran goddess of 2024, presented by Anntonia Porsild, Miss Thailand Universe, and Miss Universe runner-up.
Commencing from the Phan Fa Lilat Bridge and culminating at the historic grounds of Sanam Luang, the parade promises to be a spectacle of unparalleled grandeur and cultural richness.
Among the parade highlights are the processions showcasing the distinctive Songkran traditions of 16 provinces across Thailand, such as Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Chon Buri, Samut Prakan, and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
From intricate rituals to colourful costumes and traditional performances, each procession offers a glimpse into the unique cultural heritage of its respective province, mesmerizing audiences with its beauty and grace.
<figure id="attachment_332274" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-332274" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK03-600x400.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK03-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK03-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK03-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK03.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">A foreign tourist engages in traditional Thai games for a playful experience during the Songkran festival at Wat Pho temple in Bangkok.//Photo: Wat Pho</figcaption></figure>
Beyond the grand parade, Sanam Luang becomes the epicentre for festivities and celebration—where cultural performances, ranging from traditional Khon dances to electronic dance music (EDM) to Muay Thai boxing performances, take turns to enthral festival-goers.
<figure id="attachment_332278" style="width: 438px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="wp-image-332278 size-medium" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK005-438x600.jpg" alt="" width="438" height="600" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK005-438x600.jpg 438w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK005-768x1051.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK005-748x1024.jpg 748w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK005.jpg 1096w" sizes="(max-width: 438px) 100vw, 438px" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">A tourist joins in the joyous dance alongside locals to celebrate Thai New Year at Wat Pho.//Photo: Wat Pho</figcaption></figure>
The Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024 celebration also extends beyond Sanam Luang. The Thai traditional New Year celebration is set to take place along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.
These sites include five famous temples: Wat Pho, Wat Rakhang Kositaram, Wat Arun, Wat Kalayanamit, and Wat Prayurawongsawat, as well as popular riverside attractions, Yodpiman River Walk, Tha Maharaj, Lhong 1919, and Asiatique The Riverfront Destination.
<figure id="attachment_332276" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-332276" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK004-600x400.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK004-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK004-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK004-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK004.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Thai women don traditional attire to celebrate the traditional Thai New Year.//Photo: Wat Pho</figcaption></figure>
Just a short walk from the Grand Palace, Wat Pho hosts the grand Songkran Festival to celebrate Thai New Year, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The festival showcases the ultimate Thai traditions of the country, including “Tod Pha Pa Loi Fa” (hanging wall of offerings), building sand pagodas, Thai massage and Muay Thai showcases, a Phi Ta Khon Mask parade, and Manora Dance shows.
A series of long-lost and fun activities will take turns entertaining the temple visitors—especially children—during the Songkran festival.
You can’t claim to have celebrated Songkran in Bangkok and return to your hotel dry as a bone.
Khao San Road, just a short walk from Sanam Luang, transforms into a waterlogged wonderland during Songkran, where the streets become splash zones and the air echoes with laughter and the occasional water balloon ambush.
Picture this: colourful water guns in every hand, buckets brimming with water strategically placed along the sidewalks, and a constant chorus of joyful screams as water splashes from every direction.
Khao San Road becomes a vibrant playground where locals and travellers converge to celebrate Songkran in the most spirited way possible.
Amidst the water fights, makeshift stages host lively music performances, traditional Thai dancers enthral the crowd, and vendors line the streets selling an array of street food delights and refreshing drinks to keep energy levels high.
<figure id="attachment_332283" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-332283" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK008-600x321.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="321" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK008-600x321.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK008-768x411.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK008-1024x547.jpg 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK008.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Thai people offer Songkran bathing to Buddhist monks, marking the beginning of the Thai New Year.//Photo: Wat Pho</figcaption></figure>
Meanwhile, in Silom, Bangkok’s bustling business district, the streets transform into aquatic battlegrounds, and laughter reverberates off the skyscrapers.
But the festivities in Silom aren’t solely about getting soaked; they’re also a celebration of community and culture.
With traditional Thai music filling the air and crowds of locals and expats immersed in the water battle, Silom’s Songkran scene sets itself apart from the touristy scene of Khao San and the traditional showcase in Sanam Luang.
<figure id="attachment_332281" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-332281" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK007-600x348.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="348" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK007-600x348.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK007-768x445.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK007-1024x594.jpg 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK007.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">A mother and child engage in the traditional ritual of bathing a Buddha image, symbolizing a blissful beginning, during Thai New Year celebrations.//Photo: Wat Pho</figcaption></figure>
For those who wish to experience Thai New Year festivities without getting drenched, the mega malls are likely the only viable option.
Along the Chao Phraya River, IconSiam’s “THAICONIC Songkran Celebration 2024” blends traditional Thai customs with contemporary festivities.
The riverside mall has brought in a replica of Phra Phuttha Sihing from Wat Phra Singh Woramahaviharn, Chiang Mai, for the water sprinkling ceremony.
For the ultimate fun, IconSiam transforms the River Park area into a Water Splash Landmark featuring a Giant Water Tower amidst the beautiful scenery of the Chao Phraya River.
In the heart of Bangkok, CentralWorld presents Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios in the Thai Rhythm Carnival parade on April 13 and 14.
Taking centre stage at the Rajprasong Intersection, the celebration promises festival-goers a fun Songkran Water Festival with its first-ever Songkran Flow Day.
Thai PBS World Feature DeskThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/culture-traditions-and-lots-and-lots-of-water/" target="_blank">Culture, traditions and lots and lots of water</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SKBKK01-600x366.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>366</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Paetongtarn spending Songkran in Hong Kong raises eyebrows</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/paetongtarn-spending-songkran-in-hong-kong-raises-eyebrows/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 10:45:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Hong Kong]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Paetongtarn Shinawatra]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thaksin]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332263</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Many Thai netizens are criticising Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the chairwoman of the national panel in charge of promoting the Songkran festival, for her plans to celebrate the festival with her children...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/paetongtarn-spending-songkran-in-hong-kong-raises-eyebrows/" target="_blank">Paetongtarn spending Songkran in Hong Kong raises eyebrows</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Many Thai netizens are criticising Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the chairwoman of the national panel in charge of promoting the Songkran festival, for her plans to celebrate the festival with her children in Hong Kong.
They argue that Paetongtarn could visit Hong Kong any time, yet she has chosen to travel during the Thai New Year water-splashing festival, when she should have stayed in Thailand.
Paetongtarn, who is also the leader of the ruling Pheu Thai party, was actually discussing her father Thaksin’s plans for the festival with reporters when she unexpectedly revealed that she would be taking her three-year-old and nine-month-old on a sightseeing trip to Hong Kong.
Some Thai netizens argue that Paetongtarn’s children are too young to enjoy the trip to Hong Kong.
Others, however, defended her, suggesting that she might have planned the trip a long time ago and could not change her schedule.
As chair of the national panel, Paetongtarn has campaigned for both Thais and foreigners to celebrate the festival in Thailand. The government of Srettha Thavisin, who was her Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial candidate, has already allocated more than Bt100 million for campaigns and activities for the festival.
Thaksin, who was recently released on parole from a prison term for corruption citing old age and serious ailments, appeared healthy and strong post-release, sparking criticism and doubts about his illness.
If Paetongtarn goes to Hong Kong, she will miss the first opportunity to celebrate Songkran with her father since his return to Thailand last year, after nearly two decades of living in self-imposed exile abroad.
She mentioned that her father might travel to his home province of Chiang Mai again, but the schedule has not yet been finalised.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/paetongtarn-spending-songkran-in-hong-kong-raises-eyebrows/" target="_blank">Paetongtarn spending Songkran in Hong Kong raises eyebrows</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-17-1-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>As foreign investors exit bond market, Thai government faces fund-raising challenge</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/as-foreign-investors-exit-bond-market-thai-government-faces-fund-raising-challenge/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 08:38:52 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Business & Economy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[advisor to Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Group]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[bond market]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[debts.]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[high rate policy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[president of the ThaiBMA]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Somjin Sornpaisarn]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Supavud Saicheua]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332229</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Thai government may find itself bearing a higher cost of borrowing due to unfavorable conditions in the local debt market. More 34.3 billion baht of capital has flown out...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/as-foreign-investors-exit-bond-market-thai-government-faces-fund-raising-challenge/" target="_blank">As foreign investors exit bond market, Thai government faces fund-raising challenge</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Thai government may find itself bearing a higher cost of borrowing due to unfavorable conditions in the local debt market.
More 34.3 billion baht of capital has flown out of the Thai bond market in the first quarter this year as foreign investors sold government bonds. Outstanding government bonds held by foreign investors dropped to 900 billion baht, just 5.3 per cent of the total outstanding 17 trillion baht, according to the Thai Bond Market Association (ThaiBMA).
The wide gap between local and US rates is one of the factors making Thai government bonds less appealing. The Bank of Thailand has set the policy rate at 2.5 per cent against the US’s 5.25-5.5 per cent. The temptation of far higher returns in US government bonds has led to foreign investors leaving the Thai bond market. For example, a 2-year Thai government bond yield is 2.15 per cent, while the yield on US government bonds is more than double at 4.59 per cent at the end of the first quarter.
Borrowing cost 
The weakening of the baht has also precipitated capital outflows as investors worry about depreciation in the value of Thai assets if the baht continues to weaken. The baht has fallen to nearly 37 against the dollar. The uncertainty over a US rate cut also complicates the market. The longer the US persists with its high interest rate policy, the stronger the dollar, and correspondingly weaker the baht.
The high rate policy pursued by the US and European countries translates into higher cost of borrowing in global markets.
“In turn, it also makes the cost of borrowing higher in Thailand,” Supavud Saicheua, advisor to Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Group, warns. The government needs to borrow 693 billion baht to finance its budget deficit for this fiscal year after setting government expenditure at 3.48 trillion baht.
The additional borrowing is expected to impact liquidity in the local market, as the government will end up competing with private firms to raise funds. The state has an upper hand as government bonds are considered almost risk-free. However, as foreign investors sell government bonds in secondary markets, a new batch of government bonds may be less appealing unless it offers a higher coupon rate.
Large firms with higher credit ratings, such as an AAA, would not have difficulty raising funds via bond issuance, but those with lower credit ratings may find the going tough.
“The bond data in the first quarter suggested that investors opted for quality,” Somjin Sornpaisarn, president of the ThaiBMA, said, referring to investors subscribing to bonds with a higher credit rating rather than high-yield bonds. For instance, junk bonds offer a higher coupon rate.
The yield curve of 5-year corporate bonds with top AAA to A ratings dropped by 15-21 basis points from the end of last year. Yield of AAA-rated bonds was at 2.9 per cent, AA at 3.17 per cent, and A at 3.44 per cent at the end of the first quarter. By comparison, yields of corporate bonds with BBB+ and BBB rose to 4.68 per cent and 5.46 per cent respectively.
Bond yield moves opposite to the bond price — a high yield means investors are dumping bonds due to worries about the bleak market outlook.
Ample liquidity
Somjin was optimistic that the government and Thai firms could raise funds via the local market due to ample liquidity. He said corporate bond issuance of 900 billion baht to 1 trillion baht had been forecast for this year. Corporate bond issuance in the first quarter of 2024 totaled 207.13 billion baht.
Outstanding bonds at the end of the first quarter stood at 17 trillion baht, a 3 per cent rise from the end of last year. Newly issued government bonds and by the Bank of Thailand largely contributed to the rise.
Among corporate bonds, most of them were investment grade — AAA to BBB- — ratings. The top three industries that raised funds via the bond market were: real estate, finance and securities, and food and beverage.
Emerging India’s bonds
Other factors investors are paying more attention to is the emergence of India as an alternative investment destination for those diversifying their investment out of China. India achieved an economic growth rate of 7.2 per cent last year compared to China’s 5.2 per cent.
US-based banker JPMorgan has said it would be adding India’s bonds to the JPMorgan Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets (GBI-EM) in June.
It would be India’s first-ever inclusion in a global bond index.
Bloomberg Index Services also announced it would be adding Indian government bonds to its Emerging Market Local Currency Government Index from January 31, 2025.
“These have impacted other bond markets, including Thailand,” said Somjin.
He, however, said the local market was resilient and working hand in hand with banks and the stock market, the key institutions allocating funds to drive the economy.
He said he was still optimistic about the role of the local bond market, as lessons had been learned with the evolving market, he added.
Thai PBS World’s Business DeskThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/as-foreign-investors-exit-bond-market-thai-government-faces-fund-raising-challenge/" target="_blank">As foreign investors exit bond market, Thai government faces fund-raising challenge</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Thailand-Stock-market-politics_web-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>‘Sadness’ as Australian court rules against ‘women only’ art exhibit</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/sadness-as-australian-court-rules-against-women-only-art-exhibit/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 08:33:59 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Tourism]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Anti-Discrimination Act]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[court]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[museum]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Tasmania]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[women only]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332244</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Sydney, Australia – An artist who banned men from seeing her Australian museum exhibit said Thursday she was “saddened” by a court decision forcing her to admit “persons who do not...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/sadness-as-australian-court-rules-against-women-only-art-exhibit/" target="_blank">'Sadness' as Australian court rules against 'women only' art exhibit</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Sydney, Australia – An artist who banned men from seeing her Australian museum exhibit said Thursday she was “saddened” by a court decision forcing her to admit “persons who do not identify as ladies”.
Kirsha Kaechele set up the “Ladies Lounge” at Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), in part as a protest against discrimination and men’s only social clubs, which existed for centuries virtually unchecked.
A male visitor launched a discrimination case last year after being denied entry to the marble-floored lounge, which features work by leading artists and a collection of antiquities.
A court this week agreed that because he had paid the museum’s Aus$35 ($23) entry fee he should be able to access all areas of the museum, including the Ladies Lounge.
The court said the museum had violated Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act and gave it 28 days to “cease refusing entry” to “persons who do not identify as ladies”.
MONA did not dispute that the lounge is discriminatory, but argued the point of the “participatory installation” was that men were not there.
Kaechele had described the exhibit as a response to the experience of women being forbidden from entering certain spaces throughout history.
Its name is a nod to the time before 1970s when women were denied entry to public bars and had to sit in ladies lounges.
“I am deeply saddened by the court’s ruling,” Kaechele said in a statement posted on Instagram.
“I have been granted a 28 day period. This allows me space to absorb the situation, seek counsel and compose myself” she added.
Agence France-PresseThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/sadness-as-australian-court-rules-against-women-only-art-exhibit/" target="_blank">'Sadness' as Australian court rules against 'women only' art exhibit</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Staircase_MONA-600x401.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>401</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Part of Bangkok’s Bang Sue declared Hazmat zone</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/part-of-bangkoks-bang-sue-declared-a-hazmat-zone/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 07:57:25 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[cadmium]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[J & B Metal Co.]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Ltd]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Nattapol Rangsitpol]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[permanent secretary]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[toxic]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332238</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Bang Sue district in Bangkok has declared the area where the latest 300 tonnes of toxic cadmium slag were found a Hazmat (hazardous materials) zone. The slag was discovered...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/part-of-bangkoks-bang-sue-declared-a-hazmat-zone/" target="_blank">Part of Bangkok’s Bang Sue declared Hazmat zone</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Bang Sue district in Bangkok has declared the area where the latest 300 tonnes of toxic cadmium slag were found a Hazmat (hazardous materials) zone.
The slag was discovered stored in 190 bags in the warehouse of Lor Loha Thai Metal Company, located in Soi Riang Preecha off Pracharat Road.
Entry to the area is now prohibited and all activities are banned. A hazmat team has been dispatched to work with officials from the Departments of Industrial Works and Health.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, along with Industry Minister Pimpatra Wichaikul, visited the warehouse today.
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332241" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-16-1-600x338.png" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-16-1-600x338.png 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-16-1-768x432.png 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-16-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-16-1.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
The Bang Sue district will officially declare the area a “disaster zone” under the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act, BE 2550 (2007), the governor announced.
The Bangkok company shares ownership with J&B Metal Company in the Bang Nam Jerd sub-district of Samut Sakhon, where cadmium slag, originally from Tak province, was previously found.
The owners, Jessada and Wanna Kengrungruengchai, have been charged with storing a dangerous substance without a permit, and the 300 tonnes of cadmium slag have been impounded, albeit in situ for now.
Meanwhile, the Industry Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Nattapol Rangsitpol, stated that there is additional cadmium waste, stored in bags, which has not yet been weighed at the warehouses of J & B Metal Co., Ltd.
The bags were found both inside and outside the warehouses, Nattapol mentioned yesterday.
This re-inspection at the warehouses occurred after officials cross-referenced their findings with the inventory list seized during the initial inspection.
Officials are currently investigating possible routes by which the slag could have been shipped and are now checking warehouses in Sa Kaew province.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/part-of-bangkoks-bang-sue-declared-a-hazmat-zone/" target="_blank">Part of Bangkok’s Bang Sue declared Hazmat zone</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-15-1-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Songkran revellers begin their journeys home from Bangkok</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/songkran-revellers-begin-their-journeys-home-from-bangkok/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 07:03:45 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[exodus]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkran]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[TRAFFIC]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332234</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Increased road traffic is reported on the main arterial routes to northern and north-eastern provinces today, as people begin their journeys home a day ahead of the long official Songkran...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/songkran-revellers-begin-their-journeys-home-from-bangkok/" target="_blank">Songkran revellers begin their journeys home from Bangkok</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Increased road traffic is reported on the main arterial routes to northern and north-eastern provinces today, as people begin their journeys home a day ahead of the long official Songkran holidays, which last from tomorrow until Tuesday.
The major exodus will start tomorrow.
At Government House today, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin presided over a merit-making ceremony ahead of the Songkran festival by paying respects to the Brahma shrine, attending a religious ceremony and receiving blessings from a senior monk.
Then, the prime minister expressed his good wishes to cabinet ministers and officials before allowing his ministers, officials and reporters to perform a “rod nam dum hua” water-pouring ritual, by pouring scented water on the palms of his hands.
Buddha amulets were later presented to officials and reporters by the prime minister as mementos.
The Highways Department has been providing information on main and alternative routes from Bangkok to all regions during the long holidays. Motorists can call the department’s 1586 hotline or the highways police at 1193 around the clock for information about the routes or to report accidents.
Before their journeys, motorists are advised to check their cars to make sure they are in good working condition, such as the battery, tyres, brakes, engine, gear and clutch fluids, the lighting system, the horn and so on.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/songkran-revellers-begin-their-journeys-home-from-bangkok/" target="_blank">Songkran revellers begin their journeys home from Bangkok</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/traffic-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>300 tonnes of cadmium slag found in Bangkok</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/300-tonnes-of-cadmium-slag-found-in-bangkok/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 04:38:34 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bangkok.]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bangsue district]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[cadmium]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Samut Sakhon]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Tak]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332223</guid>
<description><![CDATA[About 300 tonnes of cadmium slag were found in a warehouse in Bangkok’s Bang Sue district on Wednesday, by officers from the Natural Resources and Environment Crime Division. The officers...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/300-tonnes-of-cadmium-slag-found-in-bangkok/" target="_blank">300 tonnes of cadmium slag found in Bangkok</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[About 300 tonnes of cadmium slag were found in a warehouse in Bangkok’s Bang Sue district on Wednesday, by officers from the Natural Resources and Environment Crime Division.
The officers searched the warehouse of the Lor Loha Thai Metal company, located in Soi Riang Preecha off Pracharat Road, and found the cadmium slag stored in 190 large bags.
A woman, only identified as “Wanna”, claimed that she and her husband “Jessada” own the company. Jessada is a partner in the J&B Metal company in Bang Nam Jerd sub-district of Samut Sakhon, where cadmium slag, originally from Tak province, was found.
Both Wanna and Jessada have been charged with storing a dangerous substance without a permit and the 300 tonnes of cadmium slag were impounded.
Industry Minister Pimpatra Wichaikul and Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt later visited the warehouse in Bang Sue and ordered officials to check the drainage system around the warehouse, to make sure that waste water from the premises is not discharged into a nearby canal.
The minister assured residents living in the neighbourhoods of the warehouses in Samut Sakhon, Chon Buri and Bangkok’s Bang Sue district not to panic, saying that none the impounded cadmium slag will be moved from the premises without permission from the authorities.
All the impounded material will be transported back to the landfill in Tak province this month and buried by mid-May.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/300-tonnes-of-cadmium-slag-found-in-bangkok/" target="_blank">300 tonnes of cadmium slag found in Bangkok</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-14-1-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Myanmar troops withdraw from border town following clashes: ethnic armed group</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/last-state-army-camp-in-myawaddy-captured/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 04:25:30 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[ASEAN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[anti-junta rebel forces]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Myawaddy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332219</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Myanmar junta troops stationed in an embattled border town have withdrawn from their positions, a spokesman for a Myanmar ethnic armed group and a Thai official told AFP on Thursday....
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/last-state-army-camp-in-myawaddy-captured/" target="_blank">Myanmar troops withdraw from border town following clashes: ethnic armed group</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Myanmar junta troops stationed in an embattled border town have withdrawn from their positions, a spokesman for a Myanmar ethnic armed group and a Thai official told AFP on Thursday.
“We took [Myanmar military battalion] 275 at 10 pm last night,” Padoh Saw Taw Nee, a spokesman for the Karen National Union told AFP, adding 200 or so soldiers had withdrawn to a bridge that connects Myawaddy to the Thai border town of Mae Sot.
A Thai border official told AFP the town of Myawaddy had “fallen” on Wednesday night, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to the media.
Days of fighting around the trade hub of Myawaddy near the Myanmar-Thailand border saw hundreds of people queuing on Wednesday to cross into the kingdom, with many expressing fears over the clashes.
AFP reporters at the border heard a thudding sound over the border in Myanmar after a plane flew over around 10:30 am local time (0330 GMT) Thursday.
Residents earlier told AFP fighting started around Myawaddy on Tuesday, but people in the town said on Thursday there had been no sounds of clashes overnight.
“Fighting has stopped since around 8 pm last night,” one Myawaddy resident told AFP.
“KNU have not entered the town yet, although we saw the news that they got local military command 275 on Facebook. We are still hiding at home,” the resident said, requesting anonymity for security reasons.
The border hub is vital for the cash-strapped junta, with an estimated $1.1 billion worth of trade passing through Myawaddy in the 12 months to April, according to the Myanmar commerce ministry.
Myanmar’s military — which took power in a 2021 coup — is reeling from a series of defeats in the north and west of the country, leading some of its opponents to believe it can one day be toppled.
Agence France-PresseThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/last-state-army-camp-in-myawaddy-captured/" target="_blank">Myanmar troops withdraw from border town following clashes: ethnic armed group</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/S__12927040-600x398.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>398</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Echoes of Time: Inscriptions of Siam</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/echoes-of-time-inscriptions-of-siam/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 04:06:36 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332198</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Step into the Bangkok National Museum and take a journey through the ages with the captivating “Precious Siam Inscriptions and Documents” exhibition. The Bangkok National Museum beckons travellers and history...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/echoes-of-time-inscriptions-of-siam/" target="_blank">Echoes of Time: Inscriptions of Siam</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Step into the Bangkok National Museum and take a journey through the ages with the captivating “Precious Siam Inscriptions and Documents” exhibition.
The Bangkok National Museum beckons travellers and history enthusiasts alike with its latest offering. A mesmerizing collection of historic inscriptions spanning various epochs, from nineteenth-century stone stelae to traditional palm-leaf manuscripts and early printed documents in Thailand, the new exhibition promises an immersive exploration of the nation’s rich heritage.
As visitors enter the exhibition hall, they are transported back in time by the Siamese Chronicles section, serving as a gateway to bygone eras.
<figure id="attachment_332201" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="wp-image-332201 size-medium" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET01-600x400.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET01-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET01-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET01.jpg 960w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">The Luang Prasoet Chronicle of Ayutthaya (1681 CE) was written on a traditional palm-leaf folding book with orpiment ink.//Photo: Fine Arts Department</figcaption></figure>
Featuring ancient documents and timeless literature recorded on stone inscriptions, Thai manuscripts, and palm-leaf manuscripts, this section offers profound insights into Thailand’s historical landscape from the Sukhothai period to the pre-reformation era under the reign of King Rama IV.
<figure id="attachment_332208" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-332208" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET06-600x400.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET06-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET06-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET06.jpg 960w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">“The Ancient Folklore” (Nithan Boran Khadee) by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab was reprinted as a tribute to the prince’s funeral in 1944.//Photo: Fine Arts Department</figcaption></figure>
Transitioning seamlessly from antiquity to spirituality, visitors are invited to delve into the “Traibhumikatha” and the “Nanthopananthasut Kham Luang” inscriptions. Here, the earliest Thai cosmological concepts and Buddhist teachings come to life through exquisite verses and religious works, providing a deeper understanding of Thailand’s cultural and spiritual legacy.
<figure id="attachment_332202" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-332202" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET02-600x400.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET02-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET02-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET02.jpg 960w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">A palm-leaf manuscript, distinguished by its unique style of writing and language, provides a window into the diverse literary and artistic traditions of Thai history.//Photo: Fine Arts Department</figcaption></figure>
Continuing the journey, visitors encounter the “Map of the Land” showcase, offering not only historical insights into geographical knowledge but also artistic and aesthetic appreciation.
<figure id="attachment_332204" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-332204" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET03-600x400.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET03-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET03-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET03.jpg 960w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">A historic map offers insights into Thailand’s past perceptions of geography, politics, and culture.//Photo: Fine Arts Department</figcaption></figure>
With intricate illustrations, elaborate decorations, and vibrant colours, these maps reveal how people perceived and understood the kingdom and its surroundings through the skillful craftsmanship of the cartographers.
Some maps of Siam were even crafted by intrepid explorers and adventurers, adding an element of adventure and discovery to the exhibition.
For those intrigued by Thailand’s legal history, the Legal Chronicles section presents fascinating tales of punishment, criminology, free trade, and freedom through historic legal documents and international relations.
From the Three-Seal Law to the Bowring Treaty, visitors gain valuable insights into the evolution of legal systems, laws, and jurisprudence, culminating in the landmark Slavery Abolition Act of 1905, a significant milestone in Thai human rights development.
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332207" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET05-600x400.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET05-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET05-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET05.jpg 960w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Transitioning from legal discourse to technological progress, “When Printing Emerged” showcases the shift from traditional recording methods to Western-style print technology. Featuring letter books, the Bangkok Recorder, and treatises on various subjects, this section illustrates the changing landscape of communication and knowledge dissemination in Thai society.
Continuing the voyage through time and space, “The Blueprint of City Creation: Tales of Architectural Mastery” unveils design and construction plans for iconic landmarks like Phya Thai Palace and the Victory Monument, reflecting Western architectural influence and Thailand’s pursuit of modernization.
<figure id="attachment_332206" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-332206" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET04-600x463.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="463" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET04-600x463.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET04-768x593.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET04.jpg 815w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">A draft of Phya Thai Palace’s interior design showcases intricate illustrations and elaborate decorations from the early twentieth-century Thailand.//Photo: Fine Arts Department</figcaption></figure>
Lastly, “With Beautiful Memories and Thoughtful Reflections” evokes nostalgia with cherished memorabilia, showcasing how Western culture has shaped everyday life in Thai society. Through letters, postcards, and personal artefacts, visitors gain a deeper appreciation of the fusion of tradition and modernity in Thai culture.
In essence, the “Precious Siam Inscriptions and Documents” exhibition at the Bangkok National Museum offers a captivating odyssey through Thailand’s rich tapestry of history, culture, and legal heritage. Whether you’re a seasoned traveller, a history aficionado, or simply curious about Thai society, this exhibition promises an unforgettable voyage into the heart of Thailand’s past and present.
VISITING THE EXHIBITION
The Bangkok National Museum is situated in the historic district of Bangkok, near the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew. It can be reached by taxi, public bus, Chao Phraya Express boat, tuk-tuk, or the MRT Blue Line. It’s open Wednesday to Sunday from 8.30am to 4pm.
By Thai PBS World Feature Desk The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/echoes-of-time-inscriptions-of-siam/" target="_blank">Echoes of Time: Inscriptions of Siam</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ET07-600x400.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>400</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Summonses issued to partners in company where cadmium slag was found</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/summonses-issued-to-partners-in-company-where-cadmium-slag-was-found/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 11:32:36 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[cadmium waste]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Samut Sakhon]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Tak]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332215</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Police have issued summonses for the partners in the company in Samut Sakhon province, on whose premises carcinogenic cadmium waste was initially discovered, Industry Minister Pimpatra Wichaikul said today. The...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/summonses-issued-to-partners-in-company-where-cadmium-slag-was-found/" target="_blank">Summonses issued to partners in company where cadmium slag was found</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Police have issued summonses for the partners in the company in Samut Sakhon province, on whose premises carcinogenic cadmium waste was initially discovered, Industry Minister Pimpatra Wichaikul said today.
The partners in J & B Metal Co., Ltd., identified only as “Jessada” and “Wanna”, are scheduled to meet with officers of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division tomorrow at 9am, she said.
Both partners will be questioned regarding the storage of approximately 3,040 tonnes of cadmium waste in their company’s warehouses. The police want to determine if similar waste has also been stored at other locations,” added the minister.
It has been confirmed that about 15,000 tonnes of the cadmium waste discovered at their warehouses originated from a factory in the border province of Tak.
Initial investigations have revealed that the firm in Tak holds a license to transfer the waste to Samut Sakhon, while the company in Samut Sakhon has obtained permits to conduct its business.
As of today, 3,040 tonnes of cadmium waste have been found at J & B Metal, 4,400 tonnes at a factory in the Ban Bueng district of Chon Buri province, 1,034 tonnes at Cin Hong Cheng Inter Tech (2008) and 500 tonnes at a factory in the Kathum Baen district of Samut Sakhon.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/summonses-issued-to-partners-in-company-where-cadmium-slag-was-found/" target="_blank">Summonses issued to partners in company where cadmium slag was found</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-600x338.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>PM announces official launch of digital wallet scheme</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-announces-official-launch-of-digital-wallet-scheme/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 11:18:39 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Business & Economy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[digital wallet]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Srettha Thavisin]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332211</guid>
<description><![CDATA[After months of delay, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced the official launch of the “digital wallet” scheme today, saying that the estimated 50 million Thai citizens aged 16 and older...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-announces-official-launch-of-digital-wallet-scheme/" target="_blank">PM announces official launch of digital wallet scheme</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[After months of delay, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced the official launch of the “digital wallet” scheme today, saying that the estimated 50 million Thai citizens aged 16 and older will be able to register in the third quarter of this year and the 10,000 baht will be wired to their accounts in the fourth.
Billed as the flagship policy of this government, the prime minister said that they have fulfilled their election promise to the Thai people to deliver a policy which will improve their livelihoods and stimulate growth in the sluggish economy of as much as 1.6%.
He offered an assurance that the scheme will maintain financial discipline, is in compliance with the Constitution and relevant laws and regulations and will be operated transparently, cautiously and honestly to ensure the greatest benefit to the nation.
Meanwhile, Finance Permanent Secretary Lawaron Saengsanit, disclosed the eligibility criteria for the scheme. Registrants must be 16 years old or over, with assessable income of not more than 840,000 baht per annum, or combined cash deposits in bank accounts of not more than 500,000 baht.
The money can only be used in stores in their respective districts which are registered with the Commerce Ministry. Stores which participate in the scheme cannot withdraw cash immediately after a customer completes a purchase and will have to wait until the next settlement round.
Lawaron said that the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and the Office of Digital Development will develop a “super app” to be used for transaction using the digital money.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-announces-official-launch-of-digital-wallet-scheme/" target="_blank">PM announces official launch of digital wallet scheme</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/435484680_367976452902532_6090823221422916823_n-600x383.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>383</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Move Forward may get more time for defence in charter court</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/move-forward-may-get-more-time-for-defence-in-charter-court/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 09:03:38 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Constitutional Court]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dissolution]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Move Forward Party]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332191</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Constitutional Court is unlikely to issue a ruling on the fate of the opposition Move Forward party this month and has given the party more time to present additional...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/move-forward-may-get-more-time-for-defence-in-charter-court/" target="_blank">Move Forward may get more time for defence in charter court</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Constitutional Court is unlikely to issue a ruling on the fate of the opposition Move Forward party this month and has given the party more time to present additional defense evidence against an application for the dissolution of the party, Constitutional Court president Nakharin Mektrairat said today.
The court accepted for consideration the Election Commission’s petition and application, seeking to have the party dissolved and the executive committee members banished from politics for ten years, on charges of attempting to overthrow the Constitutional Monarchy by calling for amendment of lèse majesté law (Criminal Code §112).
The court gave the party until April 17 to produce evidence to the court in its defence.
Nakharin said, today though, that the court may extend the 15-day deadline, as requested by the Move Forward party, if its explanation for the extension is reasonable.
He also said that it is not yet clear yet whether the party will ask for an enquiry to be conducted before there is a ruling from the court, adding that the court is open to explanation from the party regarding the need for an enquiry, during which witnesses can be summoned to testify in person or in writing.
The Constitutional Court president denied that the judges have already reached a decision on the fate of the party, saying that, at this stage, dissolution of the party is just a speculation.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/move-forward-may-get-more-time-for-defence-in-charter-court/" target="_blank">Move Forward may get more time for defence in charter court</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/271bae12-58b5-477c-a7f3-cfb77450f764-600x400.jpeg</url><width>600</width><height>400</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>IN PICTURES – Eid al-Fitr prayer said at Bangkok’s historic Tonson Mosque</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/in-pictures-eid-al-fitr-prayer-said-at-bangkoks-historic-tonson-mosque/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 07:58:22 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kitipat Chuensukjit]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Food, Travel and Lifestyle]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Tourism]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Walk-A-Tif]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bangkok.]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Eid al Fitr]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Eidul Fitri]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Islam in Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Muslim in Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Tonson Masjid]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332172</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As Muslims around the world gather to mark the end of Ramadan, the Thailand’s Islamic community at the historic Tonson Mosque joined the Eid al-Fitr prayer during the early hours...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/in-pictures-eid-al-fitr-prayer-said-at-bangkoks-historic-tonson-mosque/" target="_blank">IN PICTURES - Eid al-Fitr prayer said at Bangkok’s historic Tonson Mosque</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[As Muslims around the world gather to mark the end of Ramadan, the Thailand’s Islamic community at the historic Tonson Mosque joined the Eid al-Fitr prayer during the early hours of this morning.
Tonson Mosque is the oldest mosque in Bangkok. 
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-332160" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/86A7DC03-B7C2-44A5-91AD-85534E502655.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/86A7DC03-B7C2-44A5-91AD-85534E502655.png 2000w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/86A7DC03-B7C2-44A5-91AD-85534E502655-600x338.png 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/86A7DC03-B7C2-44A5-91AD-85534E502655-768x432.png 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/86A7DC03-B7C2-44A5-91AD-85534E502655-1024x576.png 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-332162" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5445D68E-37A1-4CCC-B5B7-CA37E87B6417.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5445D68E-37A1-4CCC-B5B7-CA37E87B6417.png 2000w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5445D68E-37A1-4CCC-B5B7-CA37E87B6417-600x338.png 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5445D68E-37A1-4CCC-B5B7-CA37E87B6417-768x432.png 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5445D68E-37A1-4CCC-B5B7-CA37E87B6417-1024x576.png 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />
This significant event drew attendees to the mosque and its community in Thonburi district of Bangkok, symbolising a communal embrace of peace, gratitude, and renewal.
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-332161" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2B2181B3-92B7-47D2-8322-B5AE38C00DA5.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2B2181B3-92B7-47D2-8322-B5AE38C00DA5.png 2000w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2B2181B3-92B7-47D2-8322-B5AE38C00DA5-600x338.png 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2B2181B3-92B7-47D2-8322-B5AE38C00DA5-768x432.png 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2B2181B3-92B7-47D2-8322-B5AE38C00DA5-1024x576.png 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />
As the sun began to rise, entire families, dressed in vibrant traditional attire, arrived together, reflecting the diverse tapestry of Bangkok’s Muslim community. 
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-332166" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4A2DBD38-EF91-4124-9AEC-64AC15B8E240.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4A2DBD38-EF91-4124-9AEC-64AC15B8E240.png 2000w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4A2DBD38-EF91-4124-9AEC-64AC15B8E240-600x338.png 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4A2DBD38-EF91-4124-9AEC-64AC15B8E240-768x432.png 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4A2DBD38-EF91-4124-9AEC-64AC15B8E240-1024x576.png 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-332167" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/C1427C51-BD79-46C5-948D-961F8A698888.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/C1427C51-BD79-46C5-948D-961F8A698888.png 2000w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/C1427C51-BD79-46C5-948D-961F8A698888-600x338.png 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/C1427C51-BD79-46C5-948D-961F8A698888-768x432.png 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/C1427C51-BD79-46C5-948D-961F8A698888-1024x576.png 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />
Visiting the cemetery serves as a moment of contemplation, a bridge connecting the living with those who have passed. Families and individuals make their way to the resting places of their loved ones, often carrying flowers and small offerings. They clean the graves, recite prayers, and reflect on the impermanence of life.
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-332163" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/084C67EA-336A-4CCB-B246-215ACF7F6BFA.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/084C67EA-336A-4CCB-B246-215ACF7F6BFA.png 2000w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/084C67EA-336A-4CCB-B246-215ACF7F6BFA-600x338.png 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/084C67EA-336A-4CCB-B246-215ACF7F6BFA-768x432.png 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/084C67EA-336A-4CCB-B246-215ACF7F6BFA-1024x576.png 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />
Eid al-Fitr, often simply called Eid, is a day of immense joy, communal prayer, and festive gatherings. However, at its core, Eid is about community and family, an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of kinship and express love and appreciation for one another. 
By Kitipat ChuensukjitThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/in-pictures-eid-al-fitr-prayer-said-at-bangkoks-historic-tonson-mosque/" target="_blank">IN PICTURES - Eid al-Fitr prayer said at Bangkok’s historic Tonson Mosque</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/B4423F5D-6C34-489E-87BB-9FFB12AA54BD-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>PM assures digital wallet benefit distribution in last quarter of year</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-assures-digital-wallet-benefit-distribution-in-last-quarter-of-year/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 07:41:32 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Business & Economy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[digital wallet scheme]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[PM Srettha Thavisin]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332156</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin reiterated today that the “digital wallet” scheme will go ahead as planned and that about 50 million eligible people will receive the Bt10,000 state benefit in...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-assures-digital-wallet-benefit-distribution-in-last-quarter-of-year/" target="_blank">PM assures digital wallet benefit distribution in last quarter of year</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin reiterated today that the “digital wallet” scheme will go ahead as planned and that about 50 million eligible people will receive the Bt10,000 state benefit in the fourth quarter of this year.
Before chairing a meeting of the scheme’s policy committee this morning, the prime minister inquired about the whereabouts of the governor of Bank of Thailand, Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, who had not shown up for the meeting.
Ronadol Numnonda, the deputy governor of the central bank, representing it in place of the governor, reportedly told the prime minister that Sethaput was engaged in a meeting of the monetary policy committee.
The prime minister responded, saying “no problem, we can talk later.”
At that meeting, the monetary policy committee is widely expected to cut the policy rate by 25 basis points to 2.25% to stimulate the weak economy, as sought by the government and the private sector.
At the first meeting this year in February, the committee resolved by a majority to maintain the policy rate at 2.5%, which is the highest in ten years.
Finance Permanent Secretary Krisada Chinavicharana said that the 500 billion baht needed to the digital wallet scheme will come from the national budgets for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.
He explained that the 500 billion baht is split into:
<ul>
<li>152.7 billion baht from the 2025 budget, the size of which has been increased to 3.752 trillion baht, as approved by the cabinet on Tuesday.</li>
<li>172.3 billion baht from the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, which will take care about 17 million farmers eligible to receive the benefit.</li>
<li>175 billion baht from the 2024 budget plus the Central Fund.</li>
</ul>The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-assures-digital-wallet-benefit-distribution-in-last-quarter-of-year/" target="_blank">PM assures digital wallet benefit distribution in last quarter of year</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/feature-5-1-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Thailand’s university football match spotlights fierce battle over kingdom’s future</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-university-football-match-spotlights-fierce-battle-over-kingdoms-future/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 07:06:15 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Assoc Prof Dr Jessada Denduangboripant]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Chulalongkorn University]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Faculty of Science]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thammasat University]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332152</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The recent football match between Chulalongkorn and Thammasat universities may have looked like an edition of the traditional sporting event held almost every year since 1934. But in reality, it...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-university-football-match-spotlights-fierce-battle-over-kingdoms-future/" target="_blank">Thailand’s university football match spotlights fierce battle over kingdom’s future</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The recent football match between Chulalongkorn and Thammasat universities may have looked like an edition of the traditional sporting event held almost every year since 1934. But in reality, it was no such thing.
“No, the recent event was not the Chula–Thammasat Traditional Football Match,” Assoc Prof Dr Jessada Denduangboripant, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Science, explained on social media as he sought to quell public uproar over the parade held for the match.
Outcry and explanation
Several alumni of Chulalongkorn University – aka Chula or CU – have expressed dismay and anger over how the emblem of their esteemed institute was carried into Bangkok’s Supachalasai National Stadium on March 31.
The parade broke with tradition by dispensing with a palanquin carried by students and using a humble electric golf cart to bear the royal emblem.
Even casual observers expressed surprise that CU, with its many faculties and talents, had been unable to present the emblem in a better way.
Some said that at first glance, the emblem – which symbolizes both the university and the king it is named after – appeared as if it had been placed amid a pile of rubbish.
The controversy came three years after the Chulalongkorn University Student Council voted unanimously to abolish the practice of students bearing the royal emblem during the parade, calling it a remnant of feudalism that encourages inequality. The 2021 vote came amid anti-establishment student protests that called for reform and transparency of the monarchy.
Named Phra Kieo, the emblem represents a coronet worn by Thai princes and princesses. It is associated with King Chulalongkorn the Great (King Rama V), the founder of a school that was upgraded into CU in the reign of King Rama VI. Critics were quick to accuse the students of deliberately disrespecting the symbol in a demonstration of their liberal opposition to Thailand’s royalist and hierarchical establishment.
However, the parade’s organizers denied any anti-royalist agenda and explained that the students had a positive intention and concept for the CU emblem parade. The event was inspired by the growing trend for sustainability, with symbols used to represent different fields of study. At the foot of the tray carrying the Phra Kieo were placed replicas of dumbbells, to represent sports science; gears, to symbolize engineering; and a needle as an emblem of medical knowledge, etc.
Why was CU-TU Unity Football Match 2024 held?
Jessada explained that CU and Thammasat students had decided to organize the match and parade after the traditional football match between the two universities was suspended during the COVID pandemic.
Plans emerged last year to resume the tradition in 2024 but they collapsed due to a scheduling clash.
“CU-TU Unity Football Match 2024 was relatively small in scale,” the lecturer said.
Long history of traditional matches
The first traditional football match between CU and Thammasat was held in 1934 under the initiative of Suankularb Witthayalai School alumni who wanted their universities to establish strong ties. CU is regarded as a conservative institution in contrast with Thammasat’s more progressive ethos, and students from the two biggest universities sometimes clash in meetings. 
The founders of the traditional football match hoped sporting ties would help bring students from the two varsities closer together. Their plan was inspired by the traditional Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge universities in England, but football was chosen since it was the sport favored by the founders.
The result was the annual Chula–Thammasat or Thammasat-Chula Traditional Football Match, with the name reflecting the fact that each university takes turns to host the match.
The traditional sporting event raises funds for charitable causes. Money raised at the inaugural edition in 1934 went to an association fighting tuberculosis, which was back then a deadly disease.
Over time, the traditional football match evolved and expanded in scale. Added to the event were parades, cheerleaders, card stunts, and more. Media coverage has also grown, with much attention paid to political messages the parades present each year.
The football matches have been held almost every year, suspended only during times of turmoil. Widescale flooding saw the event cancelled in 1942, while World War II and its fallout led to the match’s suspension from 1943 to 1948. The event was also called off during domestic political unrest between 1972 and 1975. The last traditional football match between Chula and Thammasat was held in early 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Thai PBS World’s Political DeskThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-university-football-match-spotlights-fierce-battle-over-kingdoms-future/" target="_blank">Thailand’s university football match spotlights fierce battle over kingdom’s future</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/baka-600x401.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>401</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Myanmar border hub residents flee to Thailand amid gunfire, explosions</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/myanmar-border-hub-residents-flee-to-thailand-amid-gunfire-explosions/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 06:33:01 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[ASEAN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[KNU]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Mae Sot]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[residents]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thingannyinaung]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332149</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Yangon, Myanmar – Residents of a Myanmar trade hub fled across the border to Thailand on Tuesday amid the sounds of explosions and after an ethnic minority armed group said they had seized...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/myanmar-border-hub-residents-flee-to-thailand-amid-gunfire-explosions/" target="_blank">Myanmar border hub residents flee to Thailand amid gunfire, explosions</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Yangon, Myanmar – Residents of a Myanmar trade hub fled across the border to Thailand on Tuesday amid the sounds of explosions and after an ethnic minority armed group said they had seized a key military base nearby, locals told AFP.
Fighters from the Karen National Union (KNU) said Saturday that they had seized a military base around 10 kilometres (6 miles) west of Myawaddy and that more than 600 soldiers, police and their families had surrendered.
Contacted by AFP on Tuesday, residents said they could hear gunfire and explosions.
“Some people fled already, especially those staying around the police station,” one resident told AFP, requesting anonymity for security reasons.
“We are hearing gunfire and explosions at this moment. We heard planes flying over.”
They said it did not appear KNU fighters were inside the town and that a bridge connecting Myawaddy to the Thai town of Mae Sot just over the border was still open.
“I heard two loud explosions”, another resident of Myawaddy told AFP, also asking to remain anonymous for security reasons.
“Most of the shops are closed today and locals are leaving for Thailand.”
Myanmar mobile phone services were not working, they said, adding that residents were using Thai SIM cards.
The junta has not responded to requests for comment on the KNU claim of the surrenders at the base at Thingannyinaung.
AFP has asked the KNU for comment.
A resident of Thingannyinaung said she had fled her home weeks ago following previous clashes and was now sheltering at the Thai border.
“Many IDPs are now staying near the river between Thailand and Myanmar,” she said, referring to internally displaced people.
“We can see thousands of people from villages are coming to cross the border every day,” added the resident, who requested anonymity.
Thailand’s foreign minister said on Tuesday the country was prepared to accept 100,000 people fleeing Myanmar, as reports of clashes emerged.
Thailand shares a 2,400-kilometre (1,490-mile) border with Myanmar, which has been embroiled in a civil war since the junta overthrew the democratically elected government in 2021.
Myawaddy sits on the Asia Highway that runs from the Thai border to Myanmar’s biggest city Yangon.
It passes through Karen state, which has been riven by decades of fighting between the military and the KNU, which says it is seeking autonomy for the Karen population.
Since the military’s 2021 coup, the KNU has given shelter to political opponents of the junta and trained newer “People’s Defence Forces” battling to overthrow the military’s rule.
Over $1.1 billion worth of trade passed through Myawaddy from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024, according to the junta’s commerce ministry.
The Karen State Border Guard Force, a local military-aligned militia that controls much of Myawaddy town, announced this year that it would no longer take orders from the junta.
Analysts said the move would further weaken the military’s position in Karen state.
Agence France-PresseThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/myanmar-border-hub-residents-flee-to-thailand-amid-gunfire-explosions/" target="_blank">Myanmar border hub residents flee to Thailand amid gunfire, explosions</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/mya-600x337.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>337</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Legal action in the lèse majesté against Thaksin stalls again</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/legal-action-in-the-lese-majeste-against-thaksin-stalls-again/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 06:12:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[former prime minister]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[health investigators]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[investigators]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[lèse majesté]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Office of the Attorney-General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[postpoine]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thaksin Shinawatra]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332144</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The prosecution of the lèse majesté case against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been postponed again, as investigators have not yet submitted additional findings requested by the Office of...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/legal-action-in-the-lese-majeste-against-thaksin-stalls-again/" target="_blank">Legal action in the lèse majesté against Thaksin stalls again</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The prosecution of the lèse majesté case against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been postponed again, as investigators have not yet submitted additional findings requested by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
Prayut Bejraguna, an OAG spokesman, announced in a press conference today that the Attorney General will announce its decision on whether to proceed to court with the case on May 29.
Thaksin is accused of making remarks deemed offensive to the monarchy during an interview with South Korean media in Seoul on May 21, 2015.
Thaksin had appealed for justice regarding the allegation, prompting the OAG to order further enquiries to be made, with the findings be submitted by today. The OAG has not yet received the additional information requested, the spokesman said.
Thaksin did not appear at the hearing.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/legal-action-in-the-lese-majeste-against-thaksin-stalls-again/" target="_blank">Legal action in the lèse majesté against Thaksin stalls again</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-10-130330-600x397.png</url><width>600</width><height>397</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Former captain of sunken HTMS Sukhothai tenders resignation</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/former-captain-of-sunken-htms-sukhothai-tenders-resignation/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 06:02:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Crime]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[a Rattanakosin-class corvette]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Commander Pichitchai Thuennadee]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[HTMS Sukhothai]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332138</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The former captain of the ill-fated HTMS Sukhothai, a Rattanakosin-class corvette, has offered his resignation, which will take effect as soon as he completes the 15 day detention, imposed by...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/former-captain-of-sunken-htms-sukhothai-tenders-resignation/" target="_blank">Former captain of sunken HTMS Sukhothai tenders resignation</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The former captain of the ill-fated HTMS Sukhothai, a Rattanakosin-class corvette, has offered his resignation, which will take effect as soon as he completes the 15 day detention, imposed by the Navy for the sinking of the vessel in rough seas in the Gulf of Thailand on the night of December 18, 2022.
Twenty-four of the ship’s complement died and five others are still unaccounted for.
Commander Pichitchai Thuennadee, the former captain, offered his deep condolences, once again, to the families of those who died or are still missing, as soon the results of the RTN’s year-long investigation into the loss of the vessel were published at a press conference held Tuesday.
Commander Pichitchai said that he would like to reiterate that this was a tragic accident and every member of the crew, including himself, had tried their utmost in an extreme situation, which went beyond their control.
In his capacity as the captain of the vessel, Pichitchai said that he had assessed the situation on the night of December 18 and made the decision to order the vessel to head back to Sattahip naval base, because the ship was under control at that time.
He claimed, however, that the weather and sea conditions changed for the worse very quickly which, in hindsight, means he may not have been cautious enough.
On Tuesday, the Navy blamed the sinking on a sudden charge in the weather and sea conditions, resulting in waves as high as six metres, making it impossible to control the vessel which, eventually, took on water and began to list and then sink.
Pichitchai said that he takes full responsibility for the tragic incident and will accept any consequences his superiors decide are appropriate. When everything is settled, he said he will leave naval service.
He maintains that he has decided to quit of his own free will, without pressure, and that the Navy’s findings on the tragic loss are transparent.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/former-captain-of-sunken-htms-sukhothai-tenders-resignation/" target="_blank">Former captain of sunken HTMS Sukhothai tenders resignation</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-3-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>A panel set up to solve cadmium slag problem</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/a-panel-set-up-to-to-solve-cadmium-slag-problem/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 04:52:41 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Neeranuch Kunakorn]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[cadmium]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[carcinogenic cadmium waste]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[PM Srettha Thavisin]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Samut Sakhon province]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Tak province]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332132</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The premier has ordered the setting up of an ad hoc committee, comprising the authorities concerned to handle the problem of cadmium slag which is believed to be scattered across...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/a-panel-set-up-to-to-solve-cadmium-slag-problem/" target="_blank">A panel set up to solve cadmium slag problem</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The premier has ordered the setting up of an ad hoc committee, comprising the authorities concerned to handle the problem of cadmium slag which is believed to be scattered across several provinces.
The committee will comprise representatives from ministries of Industry, Interior, Public Health and Natural Resources and Environment ministries as well as police and the Department of Special Investigation.
About 13,000 tonnes of the material, previously buried in a landfill in Tak province, had been recovered and illegally sent to Samut Sakhon, among other provinces, reportedly to be smelted down.
Most of it has now been recovered from warehouses in Samut Sakhon and Chon Buri provinces, leaving some 4,000 tonnes still unaccounted for.
The prime minister wants the committee to work to recover the remaining 4,000 tonnes and have all of it sent back to its original location in Tak province for proper disposal.
More than 8,000 tonnes of cadmium slag have, so far, been recovered and impounded at warehouses in Samut Sakhon and Chon Buri provinces.
Police from the Natural Resources and Environment Crime Division searched a factory in an industrial estate in Kabin Buri district of Prachin Buri, but found only about 500 tonnes of zinc slag.
According to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, most of the cadmium produced today is obtained from zinc byproducts and recovered from spent nickel-cadmium batteries and is extremely hazardous to human health.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/a-panel-set-up-to-to-solve-cadmium-slag-problem/" target="_blank">A panel set up to solve cadmium slag problem</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/feature-3-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Songkhla Lake and its settlements to be proposed as UNESCO World Heritage site</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/songkhla-lake-and-its-settlements-to-be-proposed-as-unesco-world-heritage-site/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 04:22:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Neeranuch Kunakorn]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Deputy government spokesperson Kaenika Oonchit]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkhla]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Songkhla Lake]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Unesco]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[UNESCO World Heritage site]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332129</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Thai cabinet has approved a proposal from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to nominate Songkhla and its associated lagoon settlements for UNESCO World Heritage Site listing. Deputy...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/songkhla-lake-and-its-settlements-to-be-proposed-as-unesco-world-heritage-site/" target="_blank">Songkhla Lake and its settlements to be proposed as UNESCO World Heritage site</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Thai cabinet has approved a proposal from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to nominate Songkhla and its associated lagoon settlements for UNESCO World Heritage Site listing.
Deputy government spokesperson Kaenika Oonchit said that Songkhla and its associated lagoon settlements, which are located in four districts of the province, namely Ranot, Sathing Phra, Singhanakhon and Muang, have unique characteristics worthy of listing.
Songkhla Lake is a lagoon which is connected to the Gulf of Thailand and is the only inland lake in Thailand with brackish (slightly saline) water. This produces a unique and diverse ecological system. The lake is also surrounded by historic human settlements, including the four ancient towns of Pakoh and Seeyung, Sathing Phra, Singgora fort and Bo Yang.
Kenika said that the current World Cultural Heritage sites does not include a site which has a lagoon surrounded by human settlements dating back many generations.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/songkhla-lake-and-its-settlements-to-be-proposed-as-unesco-world-heritage-site/" target="_blank">Songkhla Lake and its settlements to be proposed as UNESCO World Heritage site</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/feature-1-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Sudden change in sea conditions blamed for foundering of HTMS Sukhothai</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/sudden-change-in-sea-conditions-now-blamed-for-foundering-of-rtn-sukhothai-corvette/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 11:48:19 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Neeranuch Kunakorn]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[เรือหลวงสุโขทัย]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332122</guid>
<description><![CDATA[More than a year after the sinking of HTMS Sukhothai, a Rattanakosin-class corvette, in the Gulf of Thailand off Prachuap Khiri Khan province on the night of December 18, 2022,...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/sudden-change-in-sea-conditions-now-blamed-for-foundering-of-rtn-sukhothai-corvette/" target="_blank">Sudden change in sea conditions blamed for foundering of HTMS Sukhothai</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[More than a year after the sinking of HTMS Sukhothai, a Rattanakosin-class corvette, in the Gulf of Thailand off Prachuap Khiri Khan province on the night of December 18, 2022, the Thai Navy has blamed a sudden, unexpected and extreme change in weather and sea conditions for the foundering of the vessel and the deaths of 24 officers and men. Five are still unaccounted for.
The Sukhothai was only rated for navigating in seas of up to a maximum of 4 meters,” he said, adding that the 6-meter waves made it impossible for the captain to control the vessel, eventually resulting in its sinking.
He claimed that six other vessels, including a 2,123-tonne cargo freighter, also sank in the Gulf on that night and early next morning.
Admiral Adoong said that the crew on board Sukhothai were unable to perform their duties as normal in such conditions and it was dark with poor visibility, which hampered rescue operations. He added heavy seas would have scattered the crew over a wide area, making it difficult for them to survive under such extreme weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Apirom Ngernbumroong, chief of the Naval Science Department, disclosed that, after the sinking of the Sukhothai, the Thai Navy conducted four diving operations to survey the wreck, the last one being in cooperation with US Navy.
He said the fourth diving operation did not find any trace of the five missing crew, but did discover that water leaked into vessel through the hull, causing the vessel to list.
He also reported that a steel plate, intended to protect the vessel against waves, was severely damaged.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/sudden-change-in-sea-conditions-now-blamed-for-foundering-of-rtn-sukhothai-corvette/" target="_blank">Sudden change in sea conditions blamed for foundering of HTMS Sukhothai</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Capture-1-600x345.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>345</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Paetongtarn apologises but vows to continue posting</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/paetongtarn-apologises-but-vows-to-continue-posting/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 11:36:44 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Corrections Department]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[health]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Paetongtarn Shinawatra]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thaksin Shinawatra]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332118</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Paetongtarn Shinawatra has apologised to those who were unhappy with her Instagram post, showing her father, Thaksin, playing with her children in a swimming pool. She claimed she just wanted...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/paetongtarn-apologises-but-vows-to-continue-posting/" target="_blank">Paetongtarn apologises but vows to continue posting</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Paetongtarn Shinawatra has apologised to those who were unhappy with her Instagram post, showing her father, Thaksin, playing with her children in a swimming pool.
She claimed she just wanted to show the happiness of Thaksin and his grandchildren, adding “I did not mean to offend anybody with my post. I apologise.” She then insisted that she will continue posting.
The post featured Thaksin, who is released on parole from a prison sentence he was serving for corruption, in a swimming pool at his Chan Song La residence with Paetongtarn’s children.
Many people expressed doubts about Thaksin’s true health condition, as he was paroled due to old age and “serious illness”.
The Corrections Department’s parole regulations stipulate that a prisoner must be over 70 and meet criteria for sickness, including being unable to perform daily tasks without assistance.
A successful candidate for parole must be unable to eat, use the restroom, wash, or walk without help and be incontinent.
The image posted of Thaksin is apparently of an unimpaired, healthy 74-year-old man and it has led many to question whether he is sick enough to justify parole, or at all.
Many Thai netizens wrote that Paetongtarn’s photo has confirmed that her father has received special treatment from authorities since the moment he set foot back in Thailand, after his self-imposed exile in August last year.
Some said it was because his youngest daughter, Paetongtarn, leads the ruling Pheu Thai party and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was the successful Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/paetongtarn-apologises-but-vows-to-continue-posting/" target="_blank">Paetongtarn apologises but vows to continue posting</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/11-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Cabinet agrees to Bt235Bn to fund health Gold Card scheme next fiscal year</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/cabinet-agrees-to-bt235bn-to-fund-health-gold-card-scheme-next-fiscal-year/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 11:04:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Deputy government spokesman Karom Pholpornklang]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Gold card scheme]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332111</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The cabinet approved a Bt235 billion budget for 2025 fiscal year today, to fund the universal health security scheme (Gold Card) for the Thai population, under which each citizen will...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/cabinet-agrees-to-bt235bn-to-fund-health-gold-card-scheme-next-fiscal-year/" target="_blank">Cabinet agrees to Bt235Bn to fund health Gold Card scheme next fiscal year</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The cabinet approved a Bt235 billion budget for 2025 fiscal year today, to fund the universal health security scheme (Gold Card) for the Thai population, under which each citizen will be entitled to medical coverage worth an average of Bt3,844.55.
Deputy government spokesman Karom Pholpornklang said that the new health security budget is an increase of 9.53% over the 2024.
The bulk of the money, about 181 billion baht, will go to the universal health security scheme for about 47 million Thais.
About 3.5 billion baht is for medical services for HIV/Aids patients and 689 million baht is for the prevention of HIV infection. 13.5 billion baht is to cover patients with chronic kidney disease, up 5.46% from the previous budget.
About 1.16 billion baht will be for the prevention and treatment of diabetes and hypertension, Bt78 million for patients with chronic psychiatric problem and 51 million baht for asthma patients.
Karom said that health service expenditure in southern border provinces and in other arid areas has been increased by about 1.4 billion baht next fiscal year.
 The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/cabinet-agrees-to-bt235bn-to-fund-health-gold-card-scheme-next-fiscal-year/" target="_blank">Cabinet agrees to Bt235Bn to fund health Gold Card scheme next fiscal year</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-17-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Two Estonians fined for smoking on Finnair flight into Bangkok</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/two-estonians-fined-for-smoking-on-finnair-flight-into-bangkok/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 10:53:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[e-cigarette]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Finland]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Smoking]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332107</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Two Estonian siblings were arrested and fined at Suvarnabhumi International Airport today after they were found smoking on a flight, despite cabin crew telling them that it is illegal. Meanwhile,...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/two-estonians-fined-for-smoking-on-finnair-flight-into-bangkok/" target="_blank">Two Estonians fined for smoking on Finnair flight into Bangkok</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Two Estonian siblings were arrested and fined at Suvarnabhumi International Airport today after they were found smoking on a flight, despite cabin crew telling them that it is illegal.
Meanwhile, Thai police are trying to locate a woman who was caught on camera vaping during a flight from Mae Fah Luang airport.
After the airline touched down in Bangkok, the Finnair crew reported to Suvarnabhumi Airport officials that the two siblings had smoked in the aircraft’s bathroom during the flight to Bangkok.
The cabin crew told them to stop, but they smoked again on five separate occasions. Consequently, they were each fined 20,000 Baht.
In a separate case, a viral video shows a woman smoking e-cigarettes during the flight. The nationality of the woman in question is not yet known.
Somchanok Tiamtiabrat, director of Mae Fah Luang International Airport, stated that the passenger and baggage search process usually identifies hazardous items in airports adding, though, that some e-cigarettes are made of plastic, which could be missed.
According to the Tobacco Product Control Act 2017, smoking on planes is prohibited and offenders face imprisonment not exceeding one year and/or a fine not exceeding 40,000 baht on conviction.
After the video went viral, netizens questioned how the airport authorities had allowed these e-cigarettes to pass through to the aircraft.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/two-estonians-fined-for-smoking-on-finnair-flight-into-bangkok/" target="_blank">Two Estonians fined for smoking on Finnair flight into Bangkok</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-2-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>“Kamnan Nok” imprisoned for two years following murder of police officer at his house</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/kamnan-nok-imprisoned-for-two-years-following-murder-of-police-officer-at-his-house/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 10:20:59 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Neeranuch Kunakorn]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Crime]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Kamnan Nok]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Nakhon Pathom]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332102</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Praween Chanklai, aka “Kamnan Nok”, who allegedly ordered the killing of a highway police officer during a party at his house in Nakhon Pathom on September 6th last year, in...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/kamnan-nok-imprisoned-for-two-years-following-murder-of-police-officer-at-his-house/" target="_blank">“Kamnan Nok” imprisoned for two years following murder of police officer at his house</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Praween Chanklai, aka “Kamnan Nok”, who allegedly ordered the killing of a highway police officer during a party at his house in Nakhon Pathom on September 6th last year, in front of over a dozen other police officers, was sentenced to two years in prison today.
Fifteen officers who partied at the house at the time of the shooting and did not intervene to stop the shooting, allegedly by a body guard of Chanklai, were sentenced to serve jail terms of 16 months to two years without suspension by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases.
Chanklai was found guilty of attempted murder and of ordering the shooting of Pol Maj Siwakorn Saibua, an inspector of Highway Police Sub-division 2 at the party. The officer had, reportedly, denied Chanklai’s request that his nephew be promoted, resulting in a quarrel between the two men and the shooting to death of the officer.
The court found all the 15 police officers, with the ranks from a major down to master sergeant, guilty of malfeasance in office and dereliction of duty. One officer, MSgt Apirak Rotepuang was, however, acquitted.
One civilian, an aide of Chanklai, Chatri Khieutap, was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison.
Five other defendants, who are all civilians, were given suspended sentences.
The gunman, Nong Thapha, was shot dead by the police in Kanchanaburi province the day after the murder.
The police investigation of the case was led by then the deputy national police chief, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/kamnan-nok-imprisoned-for-two-years-following-murder-of-police-officer-at-his-house/" target="_blank">“Kamnan Nok” imprisoned for two years following murder of police officer at his house</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/feature-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Thailand maintains neutral stand over conflict in Myanmar : Panpree</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-maintains-neutral-stand-over-conflict-in-myanmar-panpree/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 09:33:30 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[ASEAN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[civil war]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Mywaddy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332097</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Thailand is committed to remaining neutral concerning, what is in effect, a civil war in Myanmar, and will help as required restore peace in the country, said Thai Foreign Minister...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-maintains-neutral-stand-over-conflict-in-myanmar-panpree/" target="_blank">Thailand maintains neutral stand over conflict in Myanmar : Panpree</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Thailand is committed to remaining neutral concerning, what is in effect, a civil war in Myanmar, and will help as required restore peace in the country, said Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara today.
“We wish to see an end to the conflict and all conflicting parties start negotiations. Thailand, as a close neighbour, has previously shouldered the impacts of the domestic problems of Myanmar,” he said.
Parnpree was speaking at a press conference after attending a special meeting, hosted by the prime minister, following the seizure of Myawaddy township by rebel forces
Based on past experience, he said an influx of displaced people is expected to seek shelter on Thai soil.
The maximum number of immigrants Thailand can accommodate is 100,000. If the number exceeds that, Thailand will seek assistance from the international community, he said.
He said he has put measures in place to ensure that Thai authorities will not place conflicting Myanmar nationals together. Parnpree said the military will be responsible for strengthening security along the border and The military has already increased manpower there.
He called on Myanmar’s neighbours, India, China, Laos, and Bangladesh, to play their part in the resolving issues, as they are also affected.
After the fall of Myawaddy, Myanmar requested permission for its aircraft collect officers and their family members who fled into Thailand over the last three days.
Only one aircraft landed at an airport in Tak province on Sunday night and Myanmar cancelled the request for permission for further flights to land in Thailand.
People were seen loading boxes onto the aircraft, but no Myanmar nationals boarded the flight. Rumours spread that inside the boxes was money and gold from Myawaddy. Parnpree denied those rumours, stating that Myanmar did not request to use the aircraft to transfer such items.
He clarified that the aircraft that landed on Thai soil was not military, as rumoured.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-maintains-neutral-stand-over-conflict-in-myanmar-panpree/" target="_blank">Thailand maintains neutral stand over conflict in Myanmar : Panpree</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-09-162236-600x288.png</url><width>600</width><height>288</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Tourists unfazed by air pollution in Chiang Mai, hotels 70% booked</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tourists-unfazed-by-air-pollution-in-chiang-mai-hotels-70-booked/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 09:03:29 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Business & Economy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[air pollution]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Chiang Mai]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[haze]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332092</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Hotels rooms in Chiang Mai are currently about 70% booked, many of them by foreign tourists, despite the worsening PM2.5 problem, according to Patsin Sawetrat, director of the Tourism Authority...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tourists-unfazed-by-air-pollution-in-chiang-mai-hotels-70-booked/" target="_blank">Tourists unfazed by air pollution in Chiang Mai, hotels 70% booked</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Hotels rooms in Chiang Mai are currently about 70% booked, many of them by foreign tourists, despite the worsening PM2.5 problem, according to Patsin Sawetrat, director of the Tourism Authority Authority’s Chiang Mai office.
While admitting that the smoke from forest fires may affect tourism, she said that it occurs during the dry season every year and she expects increased hotel occupancy during the Songkran festival, from April 12 to April 16.
Expected revenue from tourism during Songkran in Chiang Mai is estimated at about 1.2 billion baht, she said, adding that the TAT office has performed a “sacred” water ceremony at nine temples to bless the city and its people.
The “sacred” water will fill 17,728 bottles, to be distributed to people in the city as an auspicious item. A similar ceremony has been held in the province for the last four years.
Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Patcharawat Wongsuwan called an urgent meeting of a high-level committee to address the PM2.5 problem in Chiang Mai after the regular cabinet meeting today.
In Chiang Mai, Governor Nirat Pongsitthithavorn ordered all local administrative organisations to make available at least three clean air rooms at each organisation. Similar facilities will be made available in all hospitals.
He said that health officials have been told to give special attention to more than 400,000 people regarded as “fragile” and at high risk from PM2.5 pollution.
These include more than 100,000 children under five, over 3,000 pregnant women, over 6,000 bed-ridden patients, more than 4,000 patients with asthma, about 250,000 disabled and elderly people and about 1,600 people with heart disease.
People have been advised to wear face masks when they are outdoors and stay indoors as much as possible until Thursday.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tourists-unfazed-by-air-pollution-in-chiang-mai-hotels-70-booked/" target="_blank">Tourists unfazed by air pollution in Chiang Mai, hotels 70% booked</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-09-155342-600x321.png</url><width>600</width><height>321</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Chiang Mai records world’s most polluted air today; staying indoors advised</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/chiang-mai-records-worlds-most-polluted-air-today-staying-indoors-advised/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 05:16:38 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Tourism]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Weather]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[air pollution]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Chiang Mai]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[PM2.5 levels]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332088</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Chiang Mai again ranks as the city with the worst air pollution in the world again today, as the provincial administration urges the public and private sectors to allow their...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/chiang-mai-records-worlds-most-polluted-air-today-staying-indoors-advised/" target="_blank">Chiang Mai records world's most polluted air today; staying indoors advised</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Chiang Mai again ranks as the city with the worst air pollution in the world again today, as the provincial administration urges the public and private sectors to allow their staff to work from home and tourists to avoid outdoor sight-seeing or other activities until Thursday, due to high levels of PM2.5 in the atmosphere.
Chiang Mai Governor Nirat Pongsitthithavorn said, today, that the announcement is necessary for the health of tourists and locals alike, noting that there is still a communication gap between the authorities and the public regarding the PM2.5 problem caused by forest fires.
He said that officials have tried all necessary means to prevent forest fires, including rewards being offered for the arrest of arsonists, but they continue unabated. He disclosed that, some days, more than 500 hotspots are detected and, since the beginning of April, over 6,000 hotspots were detected in Thailand’s neighbouring countries.
Fang and Prao districts of Chiang Mai were declared public disaster zones last Thursday, due to the worsening smoke problem from raging forest fires.
From last Thursday until today, PM2.5 levels have been between 84.1µg/m³-224.3µg/m³ throughout the day and night and these levels are considered a threat to health. For public safety, the governor said that all government agencies in the province have been instructed to adopt work from home measures for staff not dealing directly with the public and to use tele conferencing for meetings.
Restaurants and other entertainment venues are advised to arrange for air-conditioned rooms for customers.
All outdoor activities in public parks are suspended from today until Thursday, as members of the public are advised to wear face mask every time they go outdoors.
According to the AQI readings at 7am today, Chiang Mai had the worst air quality, at 194 , followed by Kathmandu in Nepal at 193, New Delhi, 186, Lahore in Pakistan, 183, Dakar in Senegal, 166, Kuwait City, 166, Yangon in Myanmar, 164, Dhaka in Bangladesh, 159; Shanghai, 152 and Kuala Lumpur,146.
For most of the northern region today, PM2.5 readings exceed the 37.5µg/m³ threshold level, ranging from 35µg/m³-192.7µg/m³. PM2.5 in 18 areas have reached the red level today.
The situation in the north-eastern region is as bad, with PM2.5 levels, ranging from 30.5µg/m³ to 83.8µg/m³. Only four areas in the central and western regions have excessive PM2.5, while air quality in the southern and eastern regions is considered as good.
Air quality in and around Bangkok is regarded as very good, with the levels of PM2.5 measured at 9.1µg/m³ to 24.9µg/m³, below the 37.5µg/m³ threshold.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/chiang-mai-records-worlds-most-polluted-air-today-staying-indoors-advised/" target="_blank">Chiang Mai records world's most polluted air today; staying indoors advised</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-16-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Son of Spanish actor goes on trial over Thai island murder</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/son-of-spanish-actor-goes-on-trial-over-thai-island-murder/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 04:35:43 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Chef Daniel Sancho Bronchalo]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rodolfo Sancho]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Samui]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332079</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Koh Samui – The murder trial of a famous Spanish actor’s son opened Tuesday on a popular Thai tourist island, where he will face charges of killing another foreigner. Chef...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/son-of-spanish-actor-goes-on-trial-over-thai-island-murder/" target="_blank">Son of Spanish actor goes on trial over Thai island murder</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Koh Samui – The murder trial of a famous Spanish actor’s son opened Tuesday on a popular Thai tourist island, where he will face charges of killing another foreigner.
Chef Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, 29, pleaded not guilty at a hearing in November to the murder of 44-year-old Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga on the nearby Koh Pha Ngan island.
The trial opened Tuesday on the honeymoon isle of Koh Samui, with scores of Spanish reporters flying in — despite being barred from the tiny courtroom.
Sancho’s father, well-known Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho, arrived at court shortly after 8:30 am (0130 GMT).
“He is fine,” he said, declining to answer any further questions.
<figure id="attachment_332081" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-332081" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/actor-600x400.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/actor-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/actor-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/actor.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho (C) arrives at court to attend the trial of his son Daniel Sancho Bronchalo.//AFP</figcaption></figure>
Lawyer Juan Gonzalo Ospina Serrano, representing Arrieta’s family, said outside court ahead of the trial they hoped that “Thai law will be forceful, that the truth can be told”.
“We hope that the family can close this painful stage of their life and that they can begin their mourning,” he said.
Sancho has been in pre-trial detention in Thailand since August, after police said he had admitted to the murder.
Under Thai law, premeditated murder convictions carry the death penalty. However, Arrieta’s family previously said they would not seek the death penalty.
Sancho has admitted to hiding Arrieta’s body — which carries up to a year in jail — but he denies the second charge of destroying the Colombian’s passport.
 
Sancho’s lawyer Apichart Srinual confirmed that his client would appear in court, but declined to answer reporters’ questions.
The Thai public prosecutor who filed the case against Sancho also declined to speak to the media at the court.
The trial is expected to last until mid-May, with scores of witnesses due to appear in court.
Sancho and Arrieta were reported by Spanish media to have connected on Instagram in 2022, with Sancho travelling to Thailand on July 31 as a tourist, where he met the surgeon.
Police found body parts that are believed to belong to Arrieta in early August at a rubbish dump in Koh Pha Ngan.
CCTV footage obtained by local media showed Sancho and the victim on a motorcycle together shortly before the remains were discovered.
Police said in August Sancho’s motive for the killing was unclear.
Koh Pha Ngan is famed for its white sandy beaches and draws thousands of backpackers to its notoriously wild “full moon” parties.
In 2017, another Spaniard, Artur Segarra, was convicted of murdering a businessman in Bangkok and discarding dismembered body parts into the Chao Phraya River.
Agence France-PresseThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/son-of-spanish-actor-goes-on-trial-over-thai-island-murder/" target="_blank">Son of Spanish actor goes on trial over Thai island murder</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/skynews-daniel-sancho-bronchalo_6244330-600x338.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>NZ PM Luxon visits Thailand next week</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/nz-pm-luxon-visits-thailand-next-week/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 04:13:20 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[New Zealand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332074</guid>
<description><![CDATA[New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is scheduled to make a three-day official visit to Thailand next week, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Luxon will become the first...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/nz-pm-luxon-visits-thailand-next-week/" target="_blank">NZ PM Luxon visits Thailand next week</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is scheduled to make a three-day official visit to Thailand next week, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Luxon will become the first New Zealand Prime Minister to visit Thailand in 11 years. For his 16-18 April trip, he will be accompanied by Simon Watts, Minister for Climate Change, and Paulo Garcia, a Member of Parliament, including concerned officials and representatives from the private sector.
During his visit, Luxon will hold a bilateral meeting with his Thai counterpart, Srettha Thavisin. Both countries are expected to sign a series of memorandums of understanding to further strengthen their relations and cooperation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Luxon’s visit provides an opportunity for both countries to deepen mutual cooperation in all areas, especially in defense and security, economy, clean energy, innovation, education, culture, and people-to-people cooperation.
Last year, the trade volume between the two countries was valued at around US$2.2 billion. Thailand imports mainly dairy products, fruits, and vegetables, while New Zealand imports air conditioners, auto and computer parts, and rubber.
The total value of New Zealand’s investment in Thailand amounted to only US$175 million. Currently, there are no major Thai investment projects there.
Nearly 90,000 tourists from New Zealand visited Thailand last year, but only 8,000 Thais visited New Zealand. Currently, there are 13,000 Thais residing in New Zealand as blue-collar workers and laborers. Among them, 3,000 are students.
Thai PBS WorldThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/nz-pm-luxon-visits-thailand-next-week/" target="_blank">NZ PM Luxon visits Thailand next week</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/000_348G4NU-600x400.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>400</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>‘I cried a little’: from Texas to Canada, the awe and beauty</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/i-cried-a-little-from-texas-to-canada-the-awe-and-beauty-of-solar-eclipse/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 03:57:01 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Ingram]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[solar eclipse]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Texas]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332070</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Ingram, United States – The day died and was reborn a few minutes later Monday in the southern United States. There were hugs, tears and gasping as people watched the Moon...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/i-cried-a-little-from-texas-to-canada-the-awe-and-beauty-of-solar-eclipse/" target="_blank">'I cried a little': from Texas to Canada, the awe and beauty</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Ingram, United States – The day died and was reborn a few minutes later Monday in the southern United States. 
There were hugs, tears and gasping as people watched the Moon fully eclipse the Sun and briefly plunge the world into darkness.
About 2,000 people flocked to Ingram in the southern US state of Texas, a small city in the “path of totality” where the solar eclipse could be observed in its entirety.
Spread on mattresses on the grass, sipping wine comfortably from folding chairs or peering into large telescopes, the viewers, their eyes covered by special protective glasses, celebrated each time the gray clouds parted, letting them enjoy the wonder.
“Three, two, one!” a man shouted.
And there was the Moon, a black orb completely covering the Sun, with only tiny slivers of light escaping from the edges. It was 1:32 pm local time.
Mary Elizabeth Fernandez, a 43-year-old librarian, said she came to Ingram because she wanted to observe the eclipse from Stonehenge II, a replica of the prehistoric stone monument the town is famous for.
“It was just so moving and spectacular. I tried to get pictures with my camera,” said Fernandez, who was accompanied by her boyfriend.
“I cried a little bit because it’s just so beautiful. And I’m just really glad that I was able to be a part of this with everybody here. It was really wonderful.”
A few meters away, a large family shared drinks and snacks.
Mary McClintock, a 77-year-old retired teacher, said her relatives converged on Ingram from three different states: California, Florida and Illinois.
“We were so happy to see the different stages that we got to see even though it was cloudy,” McClintock told AFP. “And we wanted to be together. And so we thought even if it’s cloudy, we’re happy to be here as a family and we’re going to enjoy every minute we have.”
– Light conquers darkness –
Meanwhile Jeni Lyn Hunter, 60, and her 57-year-old husband Charles Guillory gazed skyward, with large sorcerer’s hats balanced precariously on their heads.
“It means a lot to me because I have stage 4 cancer. But I’m not giving up, this is a rebirth of the Sun of life,” Hunter said.
“It’s the cycle between life and death and life again, and I’m going to live for him, and for me and because I don’t want to go anywhere.”
Guillory was by his wife’s side. “My hopes are for her to stay with me,” he said.
Further away, under the replicas of moai statues — the enormous stone human figures on Easter Island — Gary Christensen and his wife Elizabeth took photos as they celebrated her husband’s 62nd birthday.
“For a year and a half, this is the only present we’ve given each other every Christmas, every Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthday, ‘Oh, we’re going to the eclipse’.”
And then there was Robb Guzman, 31, wearing a mask of a green extraterrestrial with large elongated eyes. “I thought the aliens were going to come this time,” he said. “But it was still fantastic.”
– Spiritual meaning –
More than 1,400 miles (2,250 kilometers) away at Niagara Falls, Canada, crowds of people observed the eclipse under the cries of gulls and the roar of the famous waterfall.
Debi Flamand, a member of Canada’s Manawan First Nations community, said witnessing a total solar eclipse “is very spiritual for us, because the sun for us is the grandfather and the moon is our grandmother.”
For several minutes, the skies above the waterfalls and Toronto’s distant silhouette grew dark as spectators shouted in excitement.
Madison, a young woman who made the trip from Boston, could not believe her eyes. “Those things that feel so impossible in this vast universe and it is happening just here,” she said.
Agence France-PresseThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/i-cried-a-little-from-texas-to-canada-the-awe-and-beauty-of-solar-eclipse/" target="_blank">'I cried a little': from Texas to Canada, the awe and beauty</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/solar-600x400.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>400</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>PM to host special meeting on Myanmar situation on Tuesday</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-to-host-special-meeting-on-myanmar-situation-on-tuesday/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Apr 2024 13:45:49 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[ASEAN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[border]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[deputy spokesman of the Foreign Ministry]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[fled]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Mywaddy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thanawat Sirikul]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332052</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will host a special meeting today to discuss the situation in Myanmar, particularly in Myawaddy Township, which has fallen into the hands of rebel forces. Participants...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-to-host-special-meeting-on-myanmar-situation-on-tuesday/" target="_blank">PM to host special meeting on Myanmar situation on Tuesday</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will host a special meeting today to discuss the situation in Myanmar, particularly in Myawaddy Township, which has fallen into the hands of rebel forces.
Participants in the meeting, scheduled after the weekly cabinet meeting, will include the foreign minister, military commanders in chief, and senior officials from the National Security Council.
Myawaddy is located near Mae Sot district in Tak province, Thailand, connected by the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge and checkpoints.
The district has been affected by Myanmar’s internal fighting multiple times, especially having to provide shelters for an influx of displaced persons from Myanmar.
Meanwhile Thanawat Sirikul, deputy spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said today that Myanmar’s ambassador in Bangkok submitted a request to the Foreign Ministry on Saturday asking for permission for three commercial flights to land in Mae Sot on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, to pick up Myanmar government officials and their belongings.
Permission has been granted on humanitarian grounds, he said, adding that only one commercial flight landed yesterday and the remaining two flights were later cancelled.
Thanawat said that it has been normal practice between Thailand and Myanmar to grant permission for such requests on humanitarian grounds, on the condition that no weapons are allowed on Thai soil by Myanmar government officials.
Regarding the possibility of an influx of evacuated civilians from Myanmar, if the fighting escalates, Thanawat said he believes that Thai security officers are fully aware of the possibility and have plans to cope with the eventuality.
Anti-government rebel forces from the Karen National Union and People’s Defence Force captured Myawaddy township, opposite Mae Sot district of Tak province, over the weekend from government forces, following four days of fierce fighting.
The rebels also captured several Myanmar troops and a large cache of weapons and ammunition.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-to-host-special-meeting-on-myanmar-situation-on-tuesday/" target="_blank">PM to host special meeting on Myanmar situation on Tuesday</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-1-1-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Chaichanok Chidchob: Heir of political ‘kingmaker’ Newin stakes claim in Bhumjaithai</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/chaichanok-chidchob-heir-of-political-kingmaker-newin-stakes-claim-in-bhumjaithai/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Apr 2024 13:25:58 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Profiles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bhumjaithai]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Buriram]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Chaichanok Chidchob]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Newin Chidchob]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332056</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The resignation of Saksayam Chidchob, brother of political heavyweight Newin Chidchob, as secretary-general of the coalition Bhumjaithai Party has triggered upheaval in its executive board and the appointment of his...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/chaichanok-chidchob-heir-of-political-kingmaker-newin-stakes-claim-in-bhumjaithai/" target="_blank">Chaichanok Chidchob: Heir of political ‘kingmaker’ Newin stakes claim in Bhumjaithai</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The resignation of Saksayam Chidchob, brother of political heavyweight Newin Chidchob, as secretary-general of the coalition Bhumjaithai Party has triggered upheaval in its executive board and the appointment of his son Chaichanok in the key party seat.
Chaichanok, 33, was elected the new secretary-general at a party general meeting late last month, replacing his uncle Saksayam, who stepped down in January after the Constitutional Court found him guilty of concealing his shares and ownership of a construction company that won contracts worth billions from the government.
Anutin Charnvirakul, the interior minister, managed to retain his seat as Bhumjaithai leader, while Newin’s eldest son and several other young politicians from provincial political clans were appointed to the party’s executive board.
Newin, a former Prime Minister’s Office minister and onetime political “kingmaker”, is a Bhumjaithai co-founder and thought to be the party’s de facto leader.
He claims to have washed his hands of politics in 2012 to set up Buriram United football club in his native province, serving as its chairman ever since.
A political heir
A widespread perception that the secretary-general’s post was reserved for a Chidchob family member was not disputed by Chaichanok.
Quizzed by reporters following his appointment, he acknowledged his family name may have outweighed his lack of political experience.
But lessons he had learned from his father and grandfather, both politicians, should give him a head start in his new party post, he said.
“Being a political heir is a big plus. And I am ready to prove my worth and be judged by the party’s supporters and members,” Chaichanok said.
He added that the party’s major changes and decisions stemmed from careful consideration by its senior figures and former executives.
“It’s because we work as a team,” he said.
His late grandfather, Chai Chidchob, served as the House of Representatives speaker and Parliament president from 2008 to 2011. Both Newin and Chai were MPs for the northeastern province of Buri Ram.
A debutant MP
Born on July 14, 1990, in Buri Ram, Chaichanok was sent to study in England when he was eight. He attended Millfield School in Glastonbury before going on to study economics and finance at a London university.
After 17 years in England, he returned to Thailand at the age of 25 and applied to serve in the military – an experience he described as “life-changing” and “eye-opening”.
Chaichanok was elected as an MP for the first time in last year’s general election, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather by representing his native province.
Buri Ram has long been the political stronghold of the Chidchobs, even before the birth of Bhumjaithai in 2008.
Despite his junior status as a debutant MP, Chaichanok has played a prominent part in Bhumjaithai and joined last August’s meeting with Pheu Thai to create an alliance to form the coalition government.
Bhumjaithai is the third-largest party in Parliament, winning 71 MPs to Pheu Thai’s 141 in last year’s election.
Unmarried, Chaichanok is worth 161.6 million baht, according to his assets declaration filed with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) after becoming an MP.
According to an NACC announcement published last September, his assets include 50.5 million baht in bank deposits, 12.9 million in investments, seven land plots valued at 24.1 million, and seven vehicles worth 14.5 million including a Bentley Continental GT priced at 8 million baht.
Former gaming addict
Before entering politics, Chaichanok worked in senior executive posts for his family business, Buriram United, and its Chang International Circuit motorsports arena.
He also served as the chief executive of Buriram United E-sports, which he founded at the age of 29, inspired by his love of electronic sports based on video games.
“It’s a sport almost without boundaries. Competitors can be guys, girls, young, old. You could lose a limb and still become a professional e-sport player. That’s the charm for me,” Chaichanok told lifestyle media website PrestigeOnline.com three years ago.
Once viewed as a gaming addict, the young politician said he was proud that the success of Buriram United E-sports in international competitions helped change society’s negative perception of e-sports.
Chaichanok resigned all his executive posts in his family-run businesses last year, two weeks before the May 14 general election.
By Thai PBS World’s Political DeskThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/chaichanok-chidchob-heir-of-political-kingmaker-newin-stakes-claim-in-bhumjaithai/" target="_blank">Chaichanok Chidchob: Heir of political ‘kingmaker’ Newin stakes claim in Bhumjaithai</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/434162639_401052312675580_4725194653161578447_n-600x337.jpg</url><width>600</width><height>337</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Six months of bloodshed: the Gaza war in numbers</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/six-months-of-bloodshed-the-gaza-war-in-numbers/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Apr 2024 10:47:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kitipat Chuensukjit]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Gaza]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Hezbollah]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Israel]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Lebanon]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Palestine]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Syria]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332046</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The bloodiest ever war in Gaza that broke out exactly six months ago has taken an appalling human toll. At least 33,175 people have been killed in the besieged Palestinian...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/six-months-of-bloodshed-the-gaza-war-in-numbers/" target="_blank">Six months of bloodshed: the Gaza war in numbers</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The bloodiest ever war in Gaza that broke out exactly six months ago has taken an appalling human toll.
At least 33,175 people have been killed in the besieged Palestinian territory in Israel’s campaign of retaliation for the October 7 attack, according to Hamas-run Gaza’s health ministry.
The unprecedented Hamas raid on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,170 Israelis and foreigners, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
While Hamas has refused to say how many fighters it has lost, Israel claims to have killed more than 12,000.
Like many of the casualty figures from the war, this is impossible to confirm independently.
<h2>– Israel losses –</h2>
More than a third of those killed in Israel on October 7 and in the two subsequent days of violence were members of the security forces — 306 soldiers, 60 police officers and 10 members of the Shin Bet internal security service, Israel said.
Seventy-six of those killed during the attack were foreigners.
The Israeli army says some 604 troops have died since the war began, 20 of those in friendly fire. Of those, 260 have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its ground operations in the territory on October 27, the army said on Sunday.
Seventeen Israelis — soldiers and civilians including Jewish settlers — have been killed in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Eight civilians and 10 Israeli soldiers have died in the north in Hezbollah rocket and missile attacks from Lebanon, with tens of thousands of people displaced.
Of the around 250 Israeli and foreign hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7, 129 remain in Gaza, of which the military says 34 are dead.
Dozens were release from Gaza during a one-week truce in November, and the bodies of 12 hostages have been returned to Israel.
The Israel military said 9,100 rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza since October 7.
It has called up 300,000 reservists, 17 percent of them women.
<h2>– Palestinian losses –</h2>
Most of the 33,175 people who have been killed in Gaza in Israel’s retaliatory campaign have been women and children, according to the territory’s health ministry.
The Israeli military claims to have “eliminated” 12,000 enemy fighters there, including five brigade commanders and 20 battalion commanders.
At least another 459 Palestinians have been killed in violence in the occupied West Bank, according to the Ramallah-based health ministry.
The Israeli military claims to have “eliminated 420 terrorists” in its West Bank operations.
Israel says it has struck 32,000 targets in Gaza from the air since the war began.
<h2>– Lebanon and Syria –</h2>
Israeli fire since October has killed at least 363 people in Lebanon, mostly Hezbollah fighters, but also including at least 70 civilians have also died, according to an AFP tally.
The cross-border fire has displaced tens of thousands of people in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.
Fighters from other groups in Lebanon including Hamas and the Hezbollah-allied Amal movement are also included in the total.
At least 23 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in Israeli strikes in Syria, according to an AFP tally, with seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards killed in a strike on Damascus last week.
Israel says it has struck 1,400 targets from air in Lebanon and 3,300 with artillery, rockets and tanks.
Its military said 3,100 rockets have been fired over the border from Lebanon and 35 from Syria.
By AFPThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/six-months-of-bloodshed-the-gaza-war-in-numbers/" target="_blank">Six months of bloodshed: the Gaza war in numbers</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-2-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Two rangers killed, 8 injured in Narathiwat ambush</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/two-rangers-killed-8-injured-in-narathiwat-ambush/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Apr 2024 04:46:48 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Crime]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[hospitals]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Narathiwat]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[rangers]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[south violence]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332040</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Two para-military rangers were killed and eight others were injured in an ambush by southern insurgents in Rue So district of the southern Thai province of Narathiwat on Sunday. It...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/two-rangers-killed-8-injured-in-narathiwat-ambush/" target="_blank">Two rangers killed, 8 injured in Narathiwat ambush</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Two para-military rangers were killed and eight others were injured in an ambush by southern insurgents in Rue So district of the southern Thai province of Narathiwat on Sunday.
It is reported that a 10-man ranger unit, led by Captain Chaiyuth Sukbu, was on its way to visit villagers building an arch, to celebrate the end of Ramadan, when they came under attack from insurgents hiding in roadside bushes in Batong sub-district.
Rangers Prakong Sudthanang and Wittaya Bua-ngam died in the exchange of gunfire.
Police and troop reinforcements were rushed to the scene and took all ten rangers to the provincial hospital, but two of them were pronounced dead on arrival.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/two-rangers-killed-8-injured-in-narathiwat-ambush/" target="_blank">Two rangers killed, 8 injured in Narathiwat ambush</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Search continues for 5,000 tonnes of missing cadmium slag</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/search-continues-for-5000-tonnes-of-missing-cadmium-slag/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Apr 2024 04:30:24 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Crime]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[cadmium]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Sakut Sakhon]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332036</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Officials from the Industrial Works Department and police from the Natural Resources and Environment Crime Division are trying to locate about 5,000 tonnes of cadmium slag, which remain unaccounted for....
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/search-continues-for-5000-tonnes-of-missing-cadmium-slag/" target="_blank">Search continues for 5,000 tonnes of missing cadmium slag</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Officials from the Industrial Works Department and police from the Natural Resources and Environment Crime Division are trying to locate about 5,000 tonnes of cadmium slag, which remain unaccounted for.
13,832 tonnes of slag were illegally moved from a landfill in Tak province to Samut Sakhon last August, and stored in warehouses in Bang Nam Jerd and Khlong Kio sub-districts in Chon Buri, reportedly awaiting smelting. 8,474 tonnes have, so far, been recovered and impounded, while waiting to be sent back to Tak province.
The owner of the warehouses in Samut Sakhon, a Taiwanese businessman, claimed that he did not own the cadmium slag, but simply took delivery of cadmium and zinc slag for safe keeping, on behalf of a company in Samut Sakhon, not knowing whether the materials were toxic.
According to Samut Sakhon Governor Phol Damtham, provincial health officials took urine samples last Thursday from 11 workers at warehouses where cadmium slag was being stored.
Lab tests show eight of them have high levels of cadmium in their bodies, although none of them have developed any symptoms. All are now being treated at the provincial hospital.
Officials from the Medical Science and Health departments have collected water and food samples for testing from households in the neighbourhood of the warehouses.
Public Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Opart Karnkawinpong said that residents in the neighbourhood of the warehouses have been asked to get medical check-ups at the provincial hospital, to determine the cadmium levels in their bodies.
In Khlong Kio sub-district of Chon Buri, officials from the disease control office have collected blood and urine samples from 20 Thais and four Myanmar nationals for lab tests. N95 face masks have also been sent to Ban Bueng district, for distribution to people in the neighbourhood of the warehouse where cadmium slag was found.
Consuming food or drink contaminated with high levels of cadmium can cause stomach irritation, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Headaches and flu-like symptoms, swelling of the throat and tingling in the hands can also occur.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/search-continues-for-5000-tonnes-of-missing-cadmium-slag/" target="_blank">Search continues for 5,000 tonnes of missing cadmium slag</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/432519021_715348944003777_2370109367902942721_n.png</url><width>547</width><height>308</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Fighting overweight and obesity </title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/fighting-overweight-and-obesity/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Apr 2024 01:52:41 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Food, Travel and Lifestyle]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[adolescents]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[fighting]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[obesity]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=331916</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Obesity is a major public health problem, both internationally and in Thailand. In 2022, according to the World Health Organization, 1 in 8 people in the world were living with...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/fighting-overweight-and-obesity/" target="_blank">Fighting overweight and obesity </a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Obesity is a major public health problem, both internationally and in Thailand.
In 2022, according to the World Health Organization, 1 in 8 people in the world were living with obesity. Between 1990 and 2022, the obesity rate more than doubled among adults and quadrupled among children and adolescents worldwide. 
In Thailand, obesity is continuing to rise. A study in 2022 revealed the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the country had reached 47.8%, increasing from 34.7% in 2016. Thailand had the second highest proportion of overweight and obesity in ASEAN after Malaysia. And the number of people who are overweight or obese increases every year.
When it comes to losing weight, many people don’t understand the importance of nutrition, making it difficult to attain their goals. Some are confused about eating less to lose weight and what constitutes proper nutrition. To help them lose weight in a healthy and sustainable way, Thai PBS World talked to Assoc. Prof. Chaowanee Chupeerach, deputy director of Mahidol University’s Institute of Nutrition about the benefits of good nutrition and how it can help people lose weight.
Good nutrition supports weight loss, she stressed. The first step is for people to find out if they are a healthy weight. One of the most common ways to measure obesity is the body mass index (BMI), a value derived from the weight and height of a person.
According to the BMI score for Asia, normal weight is between 18.5-22.9, overweight is between 23-24.9 and obese is over 25.
“If your BMI reading falls into the overweight category, that means you have an energy imbalance,” Chaowanee said, adding that the imbalance is generated by unhealthy dietary consumption and inadequate levels of physical activity.
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-331927" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Eating-less-and-exercising-more-can-be-effective-for-weight-loss-in-the-short-term-1-1-600x400.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Eating-less-and-exercising-more-can-be-effective-for-weight-loss-in-the-short-term-1-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Eating-less-and-exercising-more-can-be-effective-for-weight-loss-in-the-short-term-1-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Eating-less-and-exercising-more-can-be-effective-for-weight-loss-in-the-short-term-1-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Weight decreases happen when the number of calories burned by the body exceeds the number of calories consumed over a period of time.
“The key to losing weight is to burn more calories than you take in. This cannot be achieved if you don’t change your eating habits,” she said.
Asked what good nutrition means in practical terms, she explained that it involves eating a wide variety of foods to get all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals we need to be energetic as well as healthy both physically and emotionally.
“It also means staying away from added sugar, foods with high amounts of salt and sodium and processed foods and limiting your consumption of these foods,” she said.
According to her, the main nutrients the body uses for energy are carbohydrates, fats and protein. “Be mindful of what you eat. Meals must be balanced and include a good source of protein, carbs and healthy fat to meet your dietary needs,” she said, urging everyone to eat in moderation and maintain variety, balance and adequacy in their diets, as this can help with weight loss, weight control and staying healthy.
Eating less and exercising more can be effective for weight loss in the short term but in the longer term, it can leave people feeling hungry and have a negative impact on their health, she said.
Chaowanee noted that proper nutrition can help people lose weight as foods that are high in nutrients will help them feel full and satisfied. When they are not satisfied with the food they’ve eaten, they will often keep on eating even if they are not hungry.
Whole foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals, she noted. “Fiber fills you up and helps you feel fuller for longer throughout the day. Your body needs vitamins and minerals for energy,” she said.
The expert also encourages people to arm themselves with health literacy skills. “With these skills, you should be able to understand the concept of BMI, the nutritional labels and make proper decisions related to health, the adverse impacts of excess weight and why you need to lose weight,” she said.
Losing weight is not easy 
Many people blame obesity on unhealthy eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle but it’s not that simple. Other factors can affect body weight and obesity, some of which are out of our hands.
Speaking at a seminar to mark World Obesity Day last month held by a leading healthcare company, Dr. Olarik Musigavong, obstetrician, gynecologist, and reproductive medicine specialist at Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, said 40-70% of variations in body size are due to genetic factors, citing studies. He added that stress can also have a significant impact on eating habits.
Medication is associated with increasing the risk of obesity. Environmental factors and a sedentary lifestyle also contribute to weight gain.
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-331928" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Whole-food-and-fibre-rich-food-are-recommended-600x400.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Whole-food-and-fibre-rich-food-are-recommended-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Whole-food-and-fibre-rich-food-are-recommended-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Whole-food-and-fibre-rich-food-are-recommended-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Whole-food-and-fibre-rich-food-are-recommended.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Obesity is associated with emotional problems including depression. People with excess weight have a 55% higher risk of developing depression over time, Dr. Smith Arayaskul, an anti-aging specialist at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital said, citing studies. Children and adolescents with obesity are more likely to experience bullying, he added.
Dr. Pimpanit Condee, a psychologist and behavioral expert from Nudge Thailand noted that behavior modification contributes to weight loss and weight management. She suggested people who want shed extra kilograms control their home environment.
“For example, you may put your running shoes and gym clothes next to your bed. It’s a reminder that you have to go to gym. Fill your fridge with health foods and drinks. Or keep tempting foods out of sight. And have low-calorie snacks ready to eat,” she said.
Assoc. Prof Dr. Petch Rod-aree, president of the Thai NCD Network Association, noted that obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, diabetes, liver disease, sleep apnea, chronic back pain, sexual dysfunction and certain cancers. Treating obesity, obesity-related conditions and their complications costs more than a billion baht a year. Annual medical care expenditure ranges from 134,000 to 421,000 for a patient with cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney disease.
A report by BMJ Global Health predicts that Thailand’s economic impact of overweight and obesity will grow to 4.9% of the country’s GDP on average (around 853 billion baht) by 2060 if the prevention and treatment measures it has implemented do not improve.
Dr. Petch has called on the government to take more action to tackle obesity and urges people to make healthier choices which can help reduce pressures on the healthcare system and healthcare costs.
By Thai PBS World Feature DeskThe post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/fighting-overweight-and-obesity/" target="_blank">Fighting overweight and obesity </a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/obese-600x400.jpeg</url><width>600</width><height>400</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Myanmar seeks permission to land aircraft after fall of Myawaddy</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/myanmar-seeks-permission-to-land-aircraft-in-tak/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Apr 2024 01:40:31 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Marisa Chimprabha (World)]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Around Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ASEAN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[KNU]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Mywaddy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[PDF]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332018</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Myanmar government has requested permission from the Thai government for its aircraft to land at an airport in Tak province to pick up its senior military officers, who escaped...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/myanmar-seeks-permission-to-land-aircraft-in-tak/" target="_blank">Myanmar seeks permission to land aircraft after fall of Myawaddy</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Myanmar government has requested permission from the Thai government for its aircraft to land at an airport in Tak province to pick up its senior military officers, who escaped from Myawaddy, which was seized by the opposition last night.
Myawaddy, which was the largest government-controlled military camp in Myanmar, is located across the border from Mae Sot district in Thailand.
The request for landing permission, tentatively scheduled from April 7 to 9, was made through the Thai Foreign Ministry.
If granted, 617 Myanmar nationals, including 67 military officers, 410 non-commissioned officers and 81 family members, will board the aircraft back to the capital.
The group is waiting at the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, pending permission to enter Tak.
It is reported that a Myanmar commercial airline aircraft landed at Tak airport last night, and later departed. There were no Myanmar nationals at the airport at the time.
The Myanmar opposition, which includes soldiers from the Karen National Union (KNU) and the People’s Defence Force (PDF), has seized Myawaddy after about four days of fierce fighting.
Meanwhile, Tak Governor Somchai Kitcharoenrungroj has ordered authorities to monitor the situation at the border closely, in case Myanmar nationals attempt to flee the internal conflict into Tak.
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332028" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/dcbe8cb5-1de5-419c-929c-369eb5d0d036-600x337.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="337" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/dcbe8cb5-1de5-419c-929c-369eb5d0d036-600x337.jpg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/dcbe8cb5-1de5-419c-929c-369eb5d0d036-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/dcbe8cb5-1de5-419c-929c-369eb5d0d036-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/dcbe8cb5-1de5-419c-929c-369eb5d0d036.jpg 1257w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
So far, border trade continues as normal, he said.
Earlier : <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/myanmars-myawaddy-township-falls-to-rebel-forces/">Myanmar’s Myawaddy township falls to rebel forces</a>The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/myanmar-seeks-permission-to-land-aircraft-in-tak/" target="_blank">Myanmar seeks permission to land aircraft after fall of Myawaddy</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/main-1-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>PM Srettha greenlights cruise ship terminal project on Samui Island</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-srettha-greenlights-cruise-ship-terminal-project-on-samui-island/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Apr 2024 10:24:01 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nad Bunnag]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Highlight]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Srettha Thavisin]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332012</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin gave his approval today to a cruise ship terminal project on Samui Island, which will be able to accommodate up to 120 cruise ships annually and...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-srettha-greenlights-cruise-ship-terminal-project-on-samui-island/" target="_blank">PM Srettha greenlights cruise ship terminal project on Samui Island</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin gave his approval today to a cruise ship terminal project on Samui Island, which will be able to accommodate up to 120 cruise ships annually and generate about eight billion baht in revenue.
He also instructed the Transport Ministry to coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Surat Thani provincial administration in formulating a detailed plan for the project, for submission to the cabinet this year.
The prime minister visited Samui Island today to inspect the proposed site for the terminal and to discuss the major problems of the island, like waste management, with business operators and local officials, as part of his 3-day inspection trip to Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces.
Srettha said that Samui Island is one of ten locations in Asia visited by cruise ships, but a number of them do not visit the island because it does not have an appropriately largeterminal. This has prompted the idea of building a terminal in Laem Hin Khom of Taling Ngam sub-district on the island.
The project, estimated to cost 12 billion baht, would enablecruise ships to visit and bring in more high-spending tourists, said the prime minister.
During the visit to the island, he was served Kaeng Tai Pla, one of the traditional southern dishes which was recently voted the world’s worst dish by the TasteAtlas online platform.
<figure id="attachment_332016" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-332016" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6265-600x400.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6265-600x400.jpeg 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6265-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6265-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6265.jpeg 1567w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Image Courtesy: PM Srettha’s X post</figcaption></figure>
He said in his <a href="https://x.com/thavisin/status/1776855658987471088?s=46&t=PJGnwj_EpoP_RxyPDDILnw">“X” post</a> today that he liked the dish, which he described as “very delicious”, adding, however, that it is likely that some foreigners will dislike the dish, for which they should not be blamed.
The dish is described as being a thick and aromatic fish curry, prepared with fermented fish entrails and a spicy curry paste, consisting of chili peppers, galangal, shrimp paste, turmeric, shallots and lemongrass.The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-srettha-greenlights-cruise-ship-terminal-project-on-samui-island/" target="_blank">PM Srettha greenlights cruise ship terminal project on Samui Island</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/F75E2CED-BC4A-4DB9-A84F-5C53162BD8B4-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
<item>
<title>Myanmar’s Myawaddy township falls to rebel forces</title>
<link>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/myanmars-myawaddy-township-falls-to-rebel-forces/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Apr 2024 09:23:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nad Bunnag]]></dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[ASEAN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Myawaddy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thaipbsworld.com/?p=332005</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Rebel forces have captured seven army camps and a government command centre in Myawaddy province of Myanmar, after about four days of fierce fighting, according to rebel sources. Myanmar jet...
The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/myanmars-myawaddy-township-falls-to-rebel-forces/" target="_blank">Myanmar’s Myawaddy township falls to rebel forces</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Rebel forces have captured seven army camps and a government command centre in Myawaddy province of Myanmar, after about four days of fierce fighting, according to rebel sources.
Myanmar jet fighters carried out bombing raids against the rebels of the Karen National Union (KNU) and People’s Defence Force (PDF), but failed to stop their advance, said the sources.
The rebels had seized a large cache of weapons, including howitzers, mortars, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, hundreds of assault rifles and ammunition left behind by the retreating government troops.
Rebel sources claim hundreds of Myanmar troops of the 275th battalion, from the main barracks in Myawaddy province, surrendered to the rebel forces yesterday, giving rebel forces full control of Myawaddy township, an important border town across the border from Mae Sot district of Thailand’s Tak province.
<img class="size-medium wp-image-332007 aligncenter" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Thai-PBS-World-logo-2-600x338.png" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Thai-PBS-World-logo-2-600x338.png 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Thai-PBS-World-logo-2-768x432.png 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Thai-PBS-World-logo-2-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Thai-PBS-World-logo-2.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Leaders of the rebel forces will meet to discuss the administration of the township and the possibility of replacing the Myanmar flag with that of the KNU, which has been fighting the government for several decades.
Thai security forces along the border have been put on alert as a precaution against a possible influx of civilians from Myanmar.
Gunfire and the sound of shells exploding fell silent today, said the sources.
The PDF is the armed wing of the opposition National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar. It was formed by the NUG from youths and pro-democracy activists in May 2021, in response to the coup d’état by the military junta and their armed wing, the Tatmadaw.
<img class="size-medium wp-image-332008 aligncenter" src="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Thai-PBS-World-logo-3-600x338.png" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Thai-PBS-World-logo-3-600x338.png 600w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Thai-PBS-World-logo-3-768x432.png 768w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Thai-PBS-World-logo-3-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Thai-PBS-World-logo-3.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />The post <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/myanmars-myawaddy-township-falls-to-rebel-forces/" target="_blank">Myanmar’s Myawaddy township falls to rebel forces</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/" target="_blank">Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world</a>.]]></content:encoded>
<figure><url>https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Thai-PBS-World-logo-1-600x338.png</url><width>600</width><height>338</height></figure> </item>
</channel>
</rss>

Home · About · News · Docs · Terms