NATIONAL NEWS from Surf 102.5 FM - Friday 7 April 2023

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An academic from the National Institute of Political & Development Strategies warned that a proposal by the Pua Thai party to offer a 10 thousand baht digital wallet to adults if they won the election, may backfire and could probably worsen the countries debt and economic conditions. 

Adding the government would need an estimated 540 billion baht to cover their the digital wallet for some 54 million recipients aged 16 years and over throughout the country.

Anti corruption officials and police found nearly 7 million baht in cash and a list of suspected bribe takers during a search at the house of a senior official in Bangkok.

The 57 year old was charged with demanding a 3.2 million baht bribe from a property company, he also allegedly offered to remove a 40 million baht tax bill due on the land and property in Nonthaburi. He was released on bail of 400 thousand baht.

 

Prime minister Prayut has instructed the ministry of transport to carry out a 5 point plan aimed at reducing airfares that have increased substantially since the pandemic.

The plan includes relaxing rules for airlines arriving at airports and considering a subsidy which may incentivise airlines to fly to less popular destinations.

96 Rohingya migrants were apprehended at a cassava plantation in Kanchanaburi yesterday . Four Thai men who were scheduled to pick them up and take them to the south were also arrested. The Thai men said they were being paid 100,000 baht by a female job broker to transport the Rohingya to Hat Yai in Songkhla. Some of the migrants had originated from Rakhine state and paid around 120,000 baht each to make their way through Thailand to find work in Malaysia.

 

A further 1,000 or more Myanmar villagers fled into Mae Sot and surrounding areas  yesterday while mortars, rockets and Grenades could be heard as fighting continued between Myanmar troops and Karen fighters.

Most of the villagers were women and children who managed to cross the thai friendship bridge, so far around 8,000 people have crossed the border and taken shelter in Thailand.

 

Chiang Mai’s Governor Khun Nirat Pong-sittha-worn has requested people "work from home" today to the severe air pollution across the region.

 
Around the region….
Japan’s coastguard says  rescue efforts were underway to locate any survivors after one of its military helicopters carrying 10 people crashed in the sea near the southern Miyako island.

The aircraft was patrolling the waters during an aerial reconnaissance mission when it disappeared from radar.

The weather: 

Chiang Mai and the north:  Sunny, hot at 40 degrees
The Air quality index is still red, purple and brown, air quality could be hazardous across much of the north. 
Bangkok:  Sunny,..partly cloudy  hot 36 degrees. 
Much the same in Pattaya and Phuket, with temperatures around 33 degrees                                                   
and.. ‘Hua Hin’ : Sunny,  some cloud this afternoon,   34 degrees.

 

The air quality index:  yellow to orange  - moderate

Credits: Bangkok Post, The Nation, Asean Now, Khaosod English,  Hua Hin Today, Royal Coast Review, Kulsawek Sawekwannakorn, Thainewsroom.com, The Pattaya News, Phuket News, Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times. The Irrawaddy. Windy.com. Wunderground.com

 

 

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