NATIONAL NEWS from Surf 102.5 FM - Wednesday 15 March 2023

Prime ministers Prayut’s government yesterday approved a budget and funding  for government departments and infrastructure projects for the next year, this in addition to salary increases for government officials, an income guarantee program,  and low interest loans for farmers plus other financial programs, the total budget for next year is 3.35 trillion baht or 97 billion dollars.

A special branch police inspector fired several gunshots into the air on Monday, startling neighbors. Police arrived and tried to calm the man down, but he remained very agitated and fired more shots.

No one was injured, police had cordoned off the area yesterday and were waiting for the former cop to give himself up. 

A former national police chief has denied pressuring police investigators or agreeing to act as a witness in criminal cases connected to a senator allegedly involved in drug trafficking and money laundering. 

The case revolves around the arrest of a wealthy Myanmar national, on a drug-related charge last  September during which he implicated the senator.

EMPLOYEES of the bts skytrain, threatened to stop work unless   Prime Minister Prayut’s  Government settles almost 50 billion baht in debts mounted on the Green Line skytrain extension.

The courts ordered the government to repay the debt 4 years ago, but the government has appealed to the supreme court. The employees were also concerned that interest on the debt continues to grow at 8 million baht a day. 

The Thai cabinet will extend the 5-baht per litre excise tax cut on diesel fuel, from May 21st for another 3 months until July 20th

The tax cut is intended to prevent the retail price of diesel from increasing , as global oil prices fluctuate. 

A cylinder containing cesium 137 a ‘radio active isotope’ attached to a steam power station has been reported missing by an employee of the station in Prachinburi.

Authorities are concerned that someone could be contaminated and fall sick if they came into contact with the cylinder.

A reward was offered and police asked locals, but the missing cylinder remains a mystery. 

The Region:

Indonesia’s Tourism Minister has urged the governor of  Bali to reconsider a plan to ban foreigners from renting motorbikes in an attempt to curb bad behavior from tourists.

The minister said the ban would damage the tourist industry. As motorbike rental offers employment and work opportunities to locals.

The weather: 

Chiang Mai:  Sunny Partly cloudy 33

Bangkok:  Sunny Partly cloudy 32

Pattaya: Sunny becoming cloudy this afternoon , 30  

Phuket and the far south: Sunny, partly cloudy 32C                                                                                                            

Here in Hua Hin : Bright & Sunny with a little more cloud this afternoon. 30C

The air quality index:  orange  moderate

Credits: Bangkok Post, The Nation, Asean Now, Khaosod English,  Hua Hin Today, Royal Coast Review, Kulsawek Sawekwannakorn, Thainewsroom.com, The Pattaya News,

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