The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has shortlisted 180 “Talad Thong Chom” or must-visit markets across Thailand for people to visit during the four-day New Year break.
Wattanasak Sur-iam, DIT’s director-general, said these markets showcase community art, culture and tradition and also offer unique souvenirs for people to pick up.
Here are some outstanding ones people can add to their itinerary:
• Talad Phlu, Thonburi, Bangkok: Known for its garlic chives steamed cakes
• Bueng Phraya Floating Market, Klong Sam Wa, Bangkok: Offers a first-hand experience of authentic riverside lifestyle
• San Chao Rong Thong Market, Ang Thong: Chinese-style architecture and street food
• Phikulthong Community Market, Singburi: Signature dishes including sun-dried snakehead fish
• Khlong Khang Pier Market, Nakhon Sawan: Unique desserts like exploding “khanom krok” and ice cream in a jar
• Old Town Market, Phuket: Location of Phuket Thai Hua Museum and province’s first Chinese language school.
All Thai airport weighing scales calibrated ahead of New Year holidays
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2022
The Commerce Ministry inspected the weighing scales at 33 airports across the country to ensure travellers are not unfairly hit with excess baggage charges during the New Year holidays.
Jakkra Yodmanee, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said on Friday that since many people are expected to fly during the holiday season, he personally inspected the 200 weighing scales in Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport.
He also instructed his staff members to closely examine the weighing scales in all airports across the country.
“The [Internal Trade] Department has always regulated airport weighing scales, and the Airport Department and Airports of Thailand have always cooperated,” he said.
He said the weighing scales were certified every two years by the Central Bureau of Weights and Measures.
According to Article 79 of the Measurement Act, “whoever, knowing that a measurement gauge has an inaccuracy of more than the contingency rate set under Section 26, uses or possesses such measurement gauges for use in business under Section 25 Paragraph 1 shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of not exceeding six months, or a fine not exceeding 20,000 baht or both.”
False weighing scales can also be reported via the 1569 hotline.
New Year festivities aim to restore ‘happiness and hope’
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2022
New Year countdowns are being held nationwide this year as part of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s efforts to revitalise tourism.
Yuthasak Supasorn, the agency’s governor, said on Friday that it is working with private-sector associations to ensure the “Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023” in Bangkok and other provinces will “bring back happiness and hope to Thai people”.
He thanked all those who are welcoming tourists from around the world and wished them a healthy and happy New Year.
The tourism agency provided the following list of countdown and related festivals in Thailand:
• Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 1 at Wat Phra Chetuphon pier in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok
• Neon Countdown 2022 December 30 to January 1 at Wonder World Extreme Park in Khan Na Yao district, Bangkok
• Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023 @ ICONSIAM December 31 to January 1 at Iconsiam in Bangkok
• Centralworld Bangkok Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 1 at Centralworld in Bangkok
• The Ratchaprasong Light of Fortune 2022 December 8 to January 8 at the Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok
• Light Up Christmas Tree 2023 November 18 to January 1 at Centralworld in Bangkok
• Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023 @ Hatyai December 29 to January 1 in Hat Yai district, Songkhla
• Amazing Mae Klong Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 1 at Wat Paknam bridge in Samut Songkhram
• Countdown Sea Sand Nights @Hatchaosamran December 30 to January 1 at Chao Samran Mai beach in Phetchaburi
• Countdown Party Happy New Year 2023 December 31 to January 1 at Klong Thap Sakae in Prachuap Khiri Khan
• Hua Hin Beach Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 1 in InterContinental Hua Hin Resort
• Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023 Gift Box @Ratchaburi December 29 to January 1 at Pracha Phatthana Dam in Ratchaburi
• Suanphueng Highland Countdown Festival 2023 December 30 to January 1 at Suanphung Highland in Ratchaburi
• Kanchanaburi Countdown Festival 2023 December 29 to January 1 at River Kwai Bridge in Kanchanaburi
• Suphanburi Festival 2023 December 30 to January 1 at Chalerm Patthara Rachini Park in Suphan Buri
• Amazing Chiang Mai Countdown 2023 December 30 to January 1 at Chaloem Phrakiat Park in Chiang Mai
• Chiang Rai Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 1 at Clock Tower Chiang Rai
• Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023 @Uthaithani December 29 to January 1 at Clock Tower Circle in Uthai Thani
• Sukhothai Countdown 2023 December 29 to January 1 at Sukhothai Seagrass Field in Uthai Thani
• Nakhon Sawan Lantern Festival December 22 to January 2 at Utthayan Sawan in Nakhon Sawan
• Balloon and Illumination Festival 2023 December 30 to January 1 at BN Farm in Khao Kho district, Phetchabun
• Music in the garden and Countdown Party 2023 December 25 to January 1 at Phetbura park in Phetchabun
• Khao Kho Countdown 2023 December 30 to January 1 at Khao Kho Viewpoint in Phetchabun
• Buriram Countdown 2023 December 24 to January 1 at Chang Arena in Buriram
• Si Sa Ket New Year Festival December 26 to January 4 at Si Sa Ket Provincial Hall
• Korat Countdown 2023 December 28 to January 1 at Central Korat in Nakhon Ratchasima
• Khon Kaen Soft Power Countdown 2023 December 29 to January 1 at Khon Kaen Provincial Hall
• 101 in love Countdown 2023 December 29 to January 1 at Roi Et Tower in Roi Et
• UD Town Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 1 at UD Town in Udon Thani
• Nakhon Phanom Winter Festival 2023 December 26 to January 1 at the Vietnamese Memorial Clock Tower in Nakhon Phanom
• Amnat Charoen 2023 Happy New Year Time Countdown December 29 to January 1 at the clock tower in Amnat Charoen
• Amazing Grand Sand Dune Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 2 at Grand Sand Dune in Chumphon
• Trang City Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 1 at the clock tower in Trang
• Patong Countdown 2023 December 29 to January 1 at Patong Bay Hill in Kathu district, Phuket
• Pattaya Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 1 at Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya
• Rayong Countdown 2023 December 28 to January 3 at Rayong Provincial Stadium
• Trat Countdown 2023 December 28 to January 3 at Chao Mae Thapthim Shrine in Trat
Govt to launch 14 development projects in southern border provinces
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2022
The government has 14 projects in the pipeline that will be “New Year presents” for residents of the deep South, deputy government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said on Saturday.
She said the “big projects” can be implemented immediately to help form a sustainable foundation for the region’s economy.
The projects are aimed at improving the quality of life of the region’s residents, Rachada said, adding that they will be implemented by relevant state agencies in collaboration with the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre.
Rachada said that four of the projects are part of an effort to turn the southern border provinces into a “metropolis of halal food and services for the world market”. They include increasing the number of dairy cows by at least 50,000 and the number of goats by at least 20,000 to ensure there is a sufficient supply of ingredients to make halal food products.
Other projects include increased farming of crabs and expanding plantations for fruit and biofuel by at least 50,000 rai (8,000 hectares).
Rachada was speaking in her capacity as a special government representative tasked with tackling the problems faced by residents of the southern border provinces.
Four other projects directly address the urgent needs of local residents, she said. These include improving maternal and child nutrition, providing free lunches to about 170,000 students at 1,875 religious schools, teaching foreign languages, and lifting at least 1,200 households out of poverty.
Other projects will encourage greater participation of local residents in government and strengthen pluralism, Rachada said.
Six new Covid-19 variants have replaced BA.5 as the most dominant globally, with the BQ.1.x variant being the most prevalent of them, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In its Covid-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update issued on Wednesday, the WHO reported that six new Omicron variants account for 72.9% of the prevalence and are replacing BA.5 descendent lineages, which account for 68.4%.
Among these six variants, BQ.1.x is the most prevalent with 42.5%.
“Based on current evidence, there is no indication of increased severity associated with these variants under monitoring compared to the former Omicron lineages,” the WHO said.
Assoc Prof Dr Thira Woratanarat, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, warned that global Covid-19 outbreaks are continuing and remain fatal.
“In Thailand, there are many infections every day and we need to protect ourselves carefully,” he wrote on Facebook. “Covid can cause illness and death, and patients risk long-term illness.”
Thira called for people to take precautions to avoid Covid-19, particularly at festivities where the risk of infection is high.
Many countries are underreporting Covid-19 cases, which makes it difficult to accurately assess the global situation, Thira said.
Free food, water served in hospital to well-wishers of Princess Bajrakitiyabha
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2022
Food and water has been made available for people visiting King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital to wish Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati a speedy recovery.
His Majesty the King has graciously made arrangements for lunch, snacks and bottled water to be served to well-wishers and people seeking medical services at the hospital complex’s Bhumisiri Mangkhalanusorn Building. Lunchboxes are distributed at 11am and snacks at 1pm every day.
Well-wishers can write their messages in provided books at the building from 8am to 6pm every day.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the daughter of His Majesty the King and HRH Princess Soamsawali, is being treated at the hospital for a heart-related health issue after fainting in Nakhon Ratchasima province last week, according to the Royal Household Bureau.
Govt urged to increase financial aid to students from impoverished families
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
The government should increase financial aid for the more than 1.3 million students living in extreme poverty so that they do not remain trapped in poverty for the rest of their lives, Equitable Education Fund managing director Kraiyos Patrawart said.
Kraiyos told a press conference on Friday that investing a small amount of money to educate children and youths from poor families can free them from the cycle of poverty.
The number of poor students rose by nearly 50% over the last three years, from 900,000 to 1.3 million, as household incomes fell by 5%, according to the Equitable Education Fund.
It cited data from the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council that said more than 2.5 million children and youths live in poverty, with household monthly incomes of less than 2,762 baht.
More than 1 million students live in extreme poverty, with household incomes of less than 34 baht per day or 1,044 baht per month, Kraiyos said.
The government should provide enough financial support to students living daily in extreme poverty to cover the cost of living as well as the cost of education, Kraiyos said.
Kraiyos Patrawart
Providing financial assistance to extremely poor students will reduce the school drop-out rate, he said.
“Sending children to school incurs some cost, so giving a bit more money to parents will encourage them to send their children to school,” Kraiyos explained.
Pumsaran Tongliemnak, an education economist at Equitable Education Research Institute, said inflation was making it more difficult for children and youths from impoverished families to attend school.
Higher inflation makes it more difficult for poor families to afford necessities and can force parents to choose between feeding their children and sending them to school, Pumsaran said.
The government should increase monthly financial aid to poor students from 1,000 baht to 1,190 baht at the elementary level and from 3,000 baht to 3,300 baht at the secondary level to prevent them from dropping out, a report by the Equitable Education Fund recommended.
Pumsaran Tongliemnak
Pumsaran cited data from Unicef that said the cost of 500,000 students dropping out of school was equivalent to US$ 6.52 billion, or 1.7% of GDP. The data was compiled by the UN agency in 2015. If every student in Thailand receives basic education, GDP will rise by 5.5% during this century, Pumsaran said, citing a study from 2020.
Kraiyos also called on the government to work with his organisation to create a national database on students, saying it would help Equitable Education and its partners determine the exact number of students requiring financial assistance.
Government officials should also find creative ways for the private sector to help students from impoverished families to reduce the costs to the government, he said.
Kraiyos said youths from impoverished families are most likely to drop out during middle school.
Financial assistance for higher secondary school grades will help them remain in school until they finish high school, Kraiyos said.
He said that research by the Equitable Education Fund found that financial aid for students in impoverished families had a 700% return on investment.
“This means that investing in education is always worthwhile,” Kraiyos said. Equity in education will ensure Thailand does not fall into the middle-income trap, he said, adding that Thailand will become a high-income country faster if more young people complete higher education.
If the 2.5 million young people from poor and extremely poor households are able to pay taxes when they are older the number of taxpayers will rise from 11 million to 13.5 million, according to research from the Equitable Education Fund.
6 bodies retrieved from HTMS Sukhothai wreckage site on Saturday
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2022
As many as six bodies had been found at the HTMS Sukhothai wreckage site as of 1.30pm on Saturday, the Royal Thai Navy said in its latest Twitter feed.
All six bodies have been transported to hospitals for identification and autopsy. The navy reckons it will take three to four days to complete DNA tests and confirm the bodies belong to the 22 sailors declared missing.
Navy personnel and volunteers launched the search mission after HTMS Sukhothai, a Rattanakosin-class corvette, capsized during stormy weather with 105 crew onboard on Sunday night.
The ship sank some 20 nautical miles (32 kilometres) off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Bang Saphan district.
Before Saturday, the search and rescue mission discovered seven bodies since Monday, and all have been confirmed to be Sukhothai’s crew members.
Navy spokesman Admiral Pokkrong Monthatphalin said that six navy ships have been dispatched to carry out the search mission on Saturday, namely Taksin, Naresuan, Kraburi, Narathiwat, T.114 and T.270. They were also joined by volunteer search teams and divers.
8th HTMS Sukhothai body found as rescuers suspect more trapped under wreckage
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2022
Rescuers found another body in the Gulf of Thailand that they believe may be of a sailor from the sunken HTMS Sukhothai warship.
The body was sighted at about 8.30am on Saturday morning and retrieved shortly after 10am. The body has been taken to shore for autopsy and identification.
If confirmed, this will be the eighth victim from the warship’s sinking, with 21 Royal Thai Navy sailors still missing.
The Rattanakosin-class corvette, with 105 people on board, capsized on Sunday night some 20 nautical miles (32 kilometres) off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Bang Saphan district. It was patrolling the area in rough weather.
Rescuers believe there could be more bodies trapped in the warship’s wreckage. Of the 76 crew who have been rescued, 19 are in hospitals while 57 have been allowed to go home.
The Navy has deployed an underwater SeaFox drone to examine the wreck with cameras ahead of a possible salvage mission.
Kraiyos Patrawart
Pumsaran Tongliemnak
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