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The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has assigned the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) to work with the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) to put an end to financial crimes and sexual misconduct by monks. Read Bangkok Post: CIB mulls temple fund investigations for additional information! An investigation in 2017 already found fund fraud at several hundred temples: Bangkok Post: Fund fraud found at several hundred more temples.

Sun, the owner of Phet Lam Khong, a three-year-old water buffalo weighing 1'400 kg that has won numerous awards, appeared at the 6th Muang Song Kwae Giant Buffalo Fair at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna in Phitsanulok, to sell the handsome buffalo. He is asking a whopping 50 million baht for the animal, making it the most expensive buffalo in Thailand.

Pattaya's resourceful tourist police have banned sex workers from selling services on Pattaya beach. Tourist Police and officials from Pattaya City police station told the ladies and ladyboys - known as Coconut Ghosts - last month that from now on they would no longer be allowed to stand on the beach and sell sex services to tourists. If the police find them there again, they will be heavily fined, warned Pol. Col. Somchai Thiraphatphaisarn, adding that the crackdown on prostitution at the beach was carried out on the instructions of deputy police chief Surachate Big Joke Hakparn to more strictly prevent crimes.

Updated (June 5th, 2023): Obviously, the whole action was just a joke by the police to be in the media spotlight once again. The Coconut Ghosts are still on the beach promenade every afternoon and evening to advertise their services.

Residents of Ban Sub Hin Kaew, a remote village in Tambon Chanthuek in Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Chong district, have lived without electricity since their village was established 70 years ago, The Nation reports. During the election campaign Wirat Warisorlangkarn, a Palang Pracharath Party candidate for constituency 4 in Nakhon Ratchasima, became aware of this problem and said he would try to solve it. Let's hope that the dear man in the new government remembers his promise, otherwise the residents will have to keep hoping for a fairy godmother....

The Pattaya Eastern National Sports Stadium site on Soi Chaiyapruek, started by former Pattaya mayor Ittiphol Kunplome in 2008 has become Pattaya's biggest laughingstock. The sports complex, originally budgeted at 774 million baht, was to include 12 different sports fields, a swimming pool, a tennis court, 12 main and secondary sports stadiums and a car park for 500 vehicles. The first phase of the 254-hectare project was completed in September 2010. Construction of the 15,000-seat grandstand was to begin the same year, with completion scheduled for the end of 2012. After six years of stalemate, the military, which overthrew the legitimate government in a coup d'etat in 2014, was finally tasked with completing the third phase of construction, which was allegedly hampered by underground rocks and stones. In 2018, Chonburi Province received 398 million baht in funding for the 2018-2020 period and contracted Rama 2-HT Joint Venture Co. to carry out the work, but it was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting shortage of migrant workers in 2020. This prompted the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to intervene, which was bombarded with complaints about Pattaya's ineptitude in managing public funds. On April 26th, 2023, Pattaya's new mayor Poramet Ngampichet, also a member of the Kunplome clan, announced that another 400 million baht would be invested in the project to complete it by 2025. Originally, the city had promised that work would be completed by July this year to host the Southeast Asian Games.

TrueVision, a major satellite and cable TV provider in Thailand, has blocked the broadcasts of several foreign news agencies about the Thai elections. The latest case is a BBC News Channel interview with Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat.

For additional information please read:

• Prachatai: Foreign news coverage of Thai election blocked on TrueVisions
• Khaosod Opinion: Censorship and Loyalty to the Thai Monarchy

The Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) is calling on the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to retroactively verify the assets of all active and retired police commanders, especially highway patrol commanders.

For additional information please read:

• Thai PBS World Corruption watchdog should check the assets and bank accounts of all police commanders
• Bangkok Post Highway bribery long entrenched, police chief admits
• Bangkok Post MFP urged to end graft in logistics

The Royal Thai Armed Forces have more than 1'700 active flag officers (generals and admirals), i.e. about one general for every 212 soldiers - a bloated number for a military of its size.

For additional information please read:

• Nikkei Asia Thailand: Land of a thousand generals
• Bangkok Post Council gives nod to cull top brass

Simply keep the purchase price below 500'000 baht to avoid triggering an e-bidding process!

For additional information please read Bangkok Post: Video of councillor calling out graft goes viral.

In a small village near Chachoengsao, only about 125 km from Pattaya, the only teacher in a micro-school has to take on several roles as caretaker, cleaner, cook and administrator. The story shows once again how much Thailand neglects education in rural areas.

Please read the full story on Bangkok Post: Teacher left to run school alone finally gets some help.

An apparently abandoned dog has been waiting for its owner for 2 months. It shows once again that dogs are the better humans.

Please read the full story on Khaosod: An Abandoned Dog Has Been Waiting for Her Owner for 2 Months.

If you run an SME or a small business that doesn't have enough power, you may have to pay bribes in Thailand, says the former chairman of the Thai National Shippers' Council (TNSC).

According to Bangkok Post the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) and representatives from the Thai Sang Thai Party have urged the new government to establish the country as a destination for retirees, while calling for the removal of regulatory barriers pertaining to supply development.

The Pattaya News reports that the Chonburi Provincial Police Commander is being accused of allegedly extorting 140 million baht from victims over online gambling websites.

Bangkok Post Chon Buri police chief moved pending B140m extortion probe

Bangkok Post Cops seek 3 over extortion

Bangkok Post 10 police charged in B140m extortion case

Khaosod New Thai Police Scandal "How Deep Is Your Love, Pay to Show"

The Pattaya News Chonburi Police Officers Accused in 140-million-baht Extortion Case Cry Foul Over Alleged Unfair Treatment

Bangkok Post Suspect cops petition OAG over probe

The public is directly questioning the reliability of the Thai government after the story of a 4-year-old girl who has to take care of her one-eye blind grandmother went viral. The scandal occurred in Buriram, the political home of Thai Public Health Minister and cannabis advocate Anutin Charnvirakul. For additional information please read: Khaosod: A Girl and Her Blind Grandma Need the Spotlight Before Getting Help Bangkok Post: Donors raise B5.9m for 4-year-old girl and blind grandma

Bangkok Post 'Superpimp'-turned-whistleblower won't give up fight

Prachatai MFP unveils trucks' Easy Pass stickers involving corruption

Bangkok Post Police chief seeks bribe claim truth

Bangkok Post Highway cop boss shunted in bribe saga

Bangkok Post Highway bribery long entrenched, police chief admits

Bangkok Post MFP urged to end graft in logistics

Bangkok Post Highway cops to report on bribery

Bangkok Post 6 more officers embroiled in lorry 'sticker' scandal

Bangkok Post 40 police transferred over 'bribe stickers'

Bangkok Post 12 officers charged in truck sticker bribery case

Bangkok Post Chinese couple arrested for alleged B10bn fraud

The Pattaya News Loan Shark Gang in Pattaya Threatens Reporter

The Pattaya News Wanted Chinese Man Arrested in Pattaya, Accused of Major Call Center Scam

The Pattaya News Restaurant Employee Murdered by her Husband While Serving Food at Work in Pattaya

The Phuket Express Five Senior Kathu Police Transferred After Two Illegal Nightclubs Raided

Bangkok Post Aem Cyanide case nearly ready for prosecutors

The Thaiger National Park predator arrested for attempted rape of Lithuanian tourist

Bangkok Post Drunken provincial councillor fires into police booth

Bangkok Post Foreign man attacked, seriously injured in Pattaya

Bangkok Post Nun arrested for B1.3bn online fraud

Bangkok Post Tour fraudsters arrested in Surat Thani

Bangkok Post HPD to probe oil tanker bribe

Bangkok Post Prosecutors under fire over bribery case

Bangkok Post Suspicion over police promotion

Khaosod The New Stars of "Captain Cat" That Spark Thai Police Scandal

Bangkok Post Meddling claim sparks excise probe

Bangkok Post DLT targets licence vendors

Bangkok Post Chuan's son faces NFT fraud claims worth B15m

Bangkok Post 12 officers charged in truck sticker bribery case

Bangkok Post Quick police promotion spurs action

Khaosod Thai cyber police arrest Koh Kong boss' right-hand scammer

Bangkok Post Clock ticking for Suwichak

Bangkok Post Senior officials arrested for sale of seized frozen fish

Bangkok Post Excise director axed for supporting oil smuggling

Bangkok Post Bureau chief tied to illegal oil incident

Bangkok Post NACC ordered to disclose all details of Prawit watch probe

The Pattaya News Chonburi Police Commander Accused of Allegedly Extorting 140 Million Baht From Victims Over Online Gambling

Bangkok Post Chon Buri police chief moved pending B140m extortion probe

Bangkok Post Cops seek 3 over extortion

Bangkok Post 3 in hot water over B30m 'pink ID' case

Bangkok Post 10 police charged in B140m extortion case

Khaosod New Thai Police Scandal "How Deep Is Your Love, Pay to Show"

Bangkok Post Cops accused of extorting B300k from drug dealer

Prachatai Victims of Pegasus spyware sue government over unlawful operation

Bangkok Post Deputy police chief's classmate arrested for running online gambling

Bangkok Post NSB top brass among 9 held over online gambling sites

Bangkok Post Prosecutors indict 'Mek Rama' for online gambling

Bangkok Post Major Chinese scam gang busted

Khaosod Street Food Vendors Are Targets of Extortion by Thai Officers

Bangkok Post Vendor 'extortion' police surrender

Bangkok Post NACC brass call in on delayed visitor centre

Bangkok Post Navy faces 15% kickback claim over B440m AV deal

Bangkok Post 3 arrested in crackdown on kidnapping-for-ransom gang

Bangkok Post 10m criminal records removed

Bangkok Post Inquiry into allegation judges demanded B175m bribe

Obesity, defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that poses a risk to health, is considered a serious health problem in Thailand. According to the latest Ministry of Health report, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults was 47.8% in 2022, up from 34.75% in 2016. This is in line with the Ministry of Nutrition's 2020 report, which showed that obesity rates were 46.4% for women and 37.8% for men, compared to rates of 41.8% and 32.9%, respectively, in 2014. The Bureau of Nutrition's report further showed that 13.3% of children aged 6-14 years and 9.07% of children under five years were obese. Obesity weakens the immune system and leads to metabolic disorders such as high blood sugar and high blood pressure, as well as inflammation that increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer. A few years ago, Thailand's prime minister, dictator, songwriter and man of many words Prayut Chan-o-cha seriously claimed that American fast food chains like KFC and McDonald's were responsible for Thailand's obesity problem. He forgot that many overweight people live in rural areas that are not served by these chains. The problem lies elsewhere. 1) The Thai population eats too much sugar. Not only are the sweets offered here far too sweet, but sugar is added to every dish and sauce. Even so-called European sausage specialities taste like donuts here. The "original" Japanese tea drinks offered by Oishi and other manufacturers in Thailand are not drunk by most Japanese because they are far too sweet! 2) Thai food, as it is offered here in restaurants and kitchens or is made by the people themselves, may be tasty - but it is not healthy. Thais eat far too many carbohydrates - i.e. rice - but hardly any salads and vegetables and if they do, then in quantities that are disproportionate to the rice, meat and fish eaten. In addition, as already mentioned, every meal is loaded with sugar. 3) Thais consume vast quantities of potato, rice and corn chips, which are true calorie bombs and spike blood sugar levels. 4) Lack of mobility: Whenever possible, Thais of all ages use a wheeled vehicle. Even the only 20 metres or so to the next 7/11 are covered by motorbike .... If the diet in Thailand is not radically changed and follows the latest scientific findings, a reduction of the overweight population is out of question. Diabetes, circulatory diseases and heart attacks will therefore continue to increase.

Updated (June 2nd, 2023): Thai PBS World Over 40% of working Thais are overweight and risk of developing associated diseases 42.4% of working Thai people, aged from 15 years and up, are overweight and at risk of developing non-communicable diseases, because of their lifestyle involves frequent consumption of fast food, insufficient exercise and socialising in eateries.

Thailand's Department of Disease Control (DDC) reports that it has opened an emergency centre to reduce the number of dengue patients after more than 15'000 people were diagnosed with dengue fever in the first five months of this year alone. This means that there have been 5.4 times more cases in Thailand so far than in the same period last year. The DDC also reports that there have already been 13 deaths this year due to Denge fever. Most mosquito larvae or dengue carriers are found in temples, but schools, offices and factories also provide favourable conditions for the spread of the disease, with children aged five and over forming the largest group of sufferers, the DDC reports. According to the DDC, Nan, Trat, Chumphon, Chanthaburi and Tak provinces are currently the worst affected. The Thai Department of Disease Control recommends that people with these symptoms should see a doctor immediately and not buy over-the-counter medicines.

Updated (June 9th, 2023): Thai PBS World Dengue fever on the rise, more elderly people being infected Dengue fever cases are steadily rising and not only among children. 18'000 elderly people have caught the disease in the first five months of this year, according to Dr. Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, director-general of the Medical Services Department.

Updated (June 13th, 2023): Bangkok Post Dengue cases this year pass 19'000 Thailand has seen an alarming rise in dengue fever cases, with more than 19'000 infections and 17 deaths recorded since January 1st, deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said.