Stories from Thailand

Thailand is experiencing severe heatwaves with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in recent weeks. Long-term weather alerts are in effect for southern Thailand, warning of thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds. Localized heavy downpours are expected in some areas. The Meteorological Department forecasts increased rainfall from June to August, with localized heavy downpours possible. Increased rainfall is expected to continue through the period of June to August. The report noted that these weather patterns have been persisting for an extended period. Temperatures in Thailand have reached extreme levels, with warnings issued for temperatures starting at 52 degrees Celsius. Residents are advised to avoid going out and to use fans to stay cool. Local officials are responding to reports of water issues in villages, with villagers collecting water from reservoirs for testing.

A new 90-kilometer land corridor project is being discussed to connect the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea. The project aims to provide alternatives for countries lacking direct maritime access.

Law enforcement authorities have frozen $580 million in cryptocurrency linked to scam networks operating in Southeast Asia.

Thai authorities arrested six suspects in connection with a corruption and fraud investigation. The arrests were carried out following warrants issued by relevant agencies.

A bank has launched support for Thailand's national Thai-QR system to facilitate payments for Russian tourists. This allows travelers to make purchases directly via smartphone using QR codes.

Thai authorities are investigating water contamination in the Kok River in northern Thailand. The pollution has caused skin rashes and other health issues among residents. Officials are considering the possibility of cross-border pollution originating from Myanmar.

Environmental scientists and students from Chiang Mai University have identified water contamination affecting regional crops. The source reported that half of the crops have died due to the water quality issues.

The Thai government has tasked agencies to finalize a new electricity pricing design for residential solar rooftop users by June. The policy aims to promote efficient and economical electricity use from solar energy. The design must comply with existing energy business laws and policies. Officials will present the study results to the Energy Regulatory Commission soon. The mandate includes a mechanism for the state to purchase excess electricity generated by these systems. This measure aims to support the expansion of solar energy usage among households. This decision follows a resolution to facilitate the sale of surplus power back to the grid. The measure aims to support renewable energy production and fundamental energy stability.

A major software upgrade to One UI 8.5 is expected to be released early next month. The update will reportedly include several new features similar to the recent S26 release. The announcement was made during a broadcast in Thailand.

A Buddhist temple in central Thailand was defrocked after testing positive for methamphetamine. Police recovered more than 4 million methamphetamine pills from a car and a monastery.