Monday’s news-Nov 18 -

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Thunderstorms possible tomorrow/Lax Law Enforcement Cited/Facebook scams cost 718 million/500,000 krathong floats collected/Pattaya authorities ollect debris/Miss Thailand in Miss Universe pageant/A healthcare revolution in Thailand/Escaped Monkeys Cause Mayhem/Curing loneliness/Wat Chaiwatthanaram restoration/ECONOMY: Stimulus package slated for year-end/Q3 GDP up 3% y/y/Trade imbalances an opportunity for Thailand/China Trade with Thailand/High-value agriculture/Like bamboo swaying in the wind/TOURISM: Immigration System Overhaul Underway/Airlines to add 73,000 seats/Full Moon Party/Phuket hails off-season tourist boom/THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Thousands of lanterns light up sky/Rich History of Bangkok’s Canals/Michelin Guide Thailand adds 10/To renovate Talad Plu Market/CLIMATE THAILAND: Euro 6 standard on petrol engines/Issues hindering Thai EV industry/Act now to meet climate goals/Fly larvae used on prison waste/INTERNATIONAL/LINKS: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

Thunderstorms possible tomorrow

The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a weather forecast for tomorrow, warning of thunderstorms and heavy rain in certain areas. Bangkok and central regions are expected to experience the most severe conditions, affecting 22 provinces in total.

In the southern region (eastern coast), thunderstorms are expected in 30% of the area, with heavy rain, particularly in Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces. Temperatures will range from 23 to 26°C to highs of 31 to 34°C. Easterly winds will blow at speeds of 10 to 30 km/h. The sea will have waves lower than 1 meter, but thunderstorms may cause waves to exceed 2 meters. Continued …

Lax Law Enforcement Cited for Alarming Road Fatalities in Thailand

Advocates are raising concerns about insufficient enforcement of road safety laws, which they believe is significantly contributing to Thailand’s staggering road fatality rate. On average, the country registers around 48 road deaths daily.

Speaking at a recent event marking the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, advocates pressed for immediate improvements in law enforcement. The event, supported by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation at the Bangkok Art and Cultural Center, threw light on Thailand’s grim statistics. Last year alone, 17,498 people lost their lives in traffic accidents, illustrating a dire need for changes to road safety regulations. Continued …

Facebook scams cost 718 million baht in Thailand last year

Facebook scams and fraudulent activities have inflicted significant financial damage, totaling 718 million baht over the past year, according to the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister, Prasert Jantararuangtong.

Highlighting the efforts of the Anti-Online Scam Operation Center (AOC) during a recent briefing, Prasert revealed the center’s impact from Nov. 1 last year to Nov. 14 this year, during which it received over 1.17 million complaints via the 1441 hotline. Continued …

500,000 krathong floats collected in Bangkok waterways

A total of 514,590 krathong floats were collected from Bangkok waterways after Friday’s Loy Krathong festival, down 19.6% from last year. Lat Krabang district saw the highest number of floats.

On Saturday, officials from the Department of Environment, the Department of Drainage and Sewerage and all 50 district offices completed the collection and sorting of the floats around 5am Saturday, having started at 8pm Friday. Continued …

Pattaya authorities and fishermen collect debris after Loy Krathong Festival

Officials from the Pattaya Environmental Department, along with local fishermen, launched a clean-up operation along the Pattaya Beach at 3 M on Nov. 16. The team worked together to collect krathong (floating lantern) debris along a 5-kilometer stretch of the beach, including Jomtien Beach.

The clean-up effort came in the aftermath of the Loy Krathong Festival, celebrated on the full moon of the 12th lunar month, when both Thai and international tourists participated in the traditional ritual of floating krathongs to pay respects to the goddess of water, Phra Mae Khongkha. Continued …

Miss Thailand places 4th in Miss Universe pageant

Though Miss Thailand, Suchata “Opal” Chuangsri, won fourth place in Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico on Sunday, several fans in Thailand praised her for her achievement in the final round. A 21-year-old Phuket native, her family runs a hotel in the southern island province. She is currently studying in Thammasat University’s Faculty of Political Science. Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig was crowned Miss Universe 2024 at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City, besting 125 other contestants from around the world. (The Nation)

How the Rural Doctors Movement started a healthcare revolution in Thailand

For Dr. Vichai Chokevivat, the harsh reality of healthcare in rural Thailand wasn’t something he studied; it was something he lived. As a young doctor, he witnessed families, already on the brink of poverty, forced to sell their land, or in some cases, even their children, just to pay for basic medical treatment.

“It was such a painful and bitter experience,” he says. “We dreamed of providing free medical care to the sick.” That dream, shared by many of his colleagues, didn’t take shape in boardrooms but in the remote, underserved corners of the country. Continued …

Escaped Monkeys Cause Mayhem at Thai Police Station in Lop Buri

In a bizarre turn of events, approximately 200 monkeys broke free from their enclosure at the Pho Khao Ton monkey nursery, located in Lop Buri’s Muang district, and made their way to the nearby Tha Hin police station. The incident unfolded on Saturday evening, causing significant commotion and surprising both residents and law enforcement officers.

The nursery, which houses about 300 monkeys captured from Lop Buri’s streets, faced an unforeseen challenge when the cage structure failed to contain its inhabitants. According to police reports, the monkeys managed to rock the cage with such intensity that it ultimately gave way, paving the path for their great escape. Continued …

Curing loneliness

Studies have shown that loneliness and isolation can have a negative health impact, comparable to risks associated with smoking up to 15 cigarettes or drinking six glasses of alcohol per day.

According to a report by the National Economic and Social Development Council, the number of Thais who received mental health services increased from 1.3 million in 2015 to 2.9 million in 2023. Between Oct. 1, 2023, and April 22, 2024, it was found that 17.2% of Thais were at risk of depression, 15.5% experienced high levels of stress and 10.6% were at risk of suicide. Continued …

Ayutthaya’s Wat Chaiwatthanaram restoration completed

The U.S. Embassy in Thailand celebrated the completion of a landmark 12-year restoration project at Wat Chaiwatthanaram on Loy Krathong Day, marking one of the largest cultural preservation initiatives ever undertaken by the U.S. government in Thailand.

The U.S. Embassy in Thailand, in collaboration with the Fine Arts Department and the World Monuments Fund (WMF), held a closing ceremony for the Wat Chaiwatthanaram restoration project to celebrate its success. The ceremony took place at Wat Chaiwatthanaram in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province on Nov. 15, coinciding with Loy Krathong Day. Continued …

Stimulus package slated for year-end

The government is poised to introduce an economic booster package at year-end, extending into 2025. According to Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, the economic stimulus committee chaired by the prime minister is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to propose a major stimulus package starting around the end of 2024.

A timeline is needed, while the stimulus measures are expected to involve various ministries to utilize several different mechanisms to drive the economy. Continued …

Q3 GDP up 3% y/y, above forecast

The Thai economy expanded 3% in the third quarter from a year earlier, official data showed today, beating the median forecast of 2.6% growth in a Reuters poll of analysts.

On a quarterly basis, Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy grew a seasonally adjusted 1.2% in the July-September quarter, data from the National Economic and Social Development Council showed, above the poll forecast of 0.8% growth. Continued …

US, China and India trade imbalances an opportunity for Thailand

With President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January likely to intensify global trade wars, Thailand would do well to find ways to increase its trade with India, according to Att Pisalvanich, advisor to Intelligent Research Consultant (IRC) Co.

India, he added, is playing an increasingly interesting role on the global stage, so it is important to monitor how the subcontinent is positioning itself amid these ongoing trade wars and geopolitical conflicts. India now has the largest population in the world, with 1.42 billion people in 2023, compared to China’s 1.41 billion. This makes India a larger consumer market than China. Continued …

China Trade with Thailand: A Growing Economic Partnership

In 2023, China emerged as Thailand’s largest foreign investor, underscoring rising economic ties. This development highlights China’s substantial economic role in Thailand, reinforcing Thailand’s strategic position as a crucial manufacturing and investment hub in Asia.

Notably, bilateral trade reached US$126.3 billion. For the 11th consecutive year, China continued to be both Thailand’s largest trading partner and investor, showcasing a consistent and deep relationship. Continued …

High-value agriculture to be enhanced next year

The Department of Agricultural Extension plans to develop high-value agriculture further next year, as the department has witnessed a 1.5-times increase in Thai farmers’ income this year.

The department’s deputy director general, Weerasak Boonchern, said on Sunday that this achievement was part of a project to promote high-value agriculture in 500 subdistricts and triple farmers’ income by 2027. Continued …

Like bamboo swaying in the wind

When a powerful country comes courting, a smaller country is wise not to reject the courtship out of hand, even if it isn’t fully swayed or convinced. The lesser of the two powers may appear to be an eager, willing and ready partner, but there may well be a measure of ambiguity behind the ready acquiescence and responsive smile.

Beijing has repeatedly urged Bangkok to inject some speed into a delay-ridden rail project designed to connect Thailand to China via Laos by high-speed train. As Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi put it to the Thais earlier this year, “The two sides should speed up the development of the China-Thailand Railway and push for an early realization of the China-Laos-Thailand connectivity development corridor”. Continued …

Immigration System Overhaul Underway at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Thailand’s Immigration Bureau (IB) announced plans to enhance services at Suvarnabhumi Airport, aiming to strike a balance between streamlined efficiency and national security. The changes will be driven by the development of the Thailand Immigration System (TIS), which aims to modernize the immigration process with advanced technology.

Discussing this initiative, Police Maj. Gen. Choengron Rimpadee, head of Immigration Division 2, emphasized the importance of integrating faster services for the anticipated influx of passengers. Continued …

Airlines to add 73,000 seats over New Year’s

Six airlines have agreed to add over 73,000 seats over the New Year period to ensure prices don’t surge out of control during the end-of-year holiday season.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said the ministry has asked Thai Airways International (THAI), as well as carriers under the Airlines Association of Thailand (AAT) – namely Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air, and Thai Vietjet Air – to boost the number of seats available between Bangkok and 14 key destinations, including Chiang Mai, Phuket and Udon Thani, during the New Year period. Continued …

Full Moon Party attracts over 9,000 tourists

The popular full moon party and the Loy Krathong festival on Koh Phangan drew more than 9,000 tourists on Friday night, with the situation returning to normal by morning despite rumors of a possible threat to Israeli tourists on the island.

Haad Rin, a peninsular beach area on Koh Phangan and the venue of the full moon party, was packed with Thai and foreign travelers, about 90% of whom were foreigners. Activities also took place to celebrate the annual Loy Krathong festival. Continued …

Phuket hails off-season tourist boom

Phuket’s tourism earnings could reach 500 billion baht this year, as the island attracts more visitors during the off-season by promoting sports tourism, says the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) Phuket office.

TAT Phuket director Lertchai Wangtrakuldee said the island’s tourism really had no “low season” (usually from May to October) because Phuket has many sport-related activities that lure visitors. They also dramatically increase income. Continued …

Thousands of lanterns light up Thailand’s sky for full moon festival

Thousands of lanterns lit up the sky of Thai tourist hotspot Chiang Mai as the northern city celebrated the traditional Yi Peng festival. Video …

Here’s How the Rich History pf Bangkok’s Canals Connects to the Forward-thinking City

Bangkok’s first boundary was described in water. When King Rama I established the capital in 1782, it was on an island his predecessor had made by cutting a canal across a peninsula in the Chao Phraya River. But when I drift through the city today, it’s easy for me to forget this defining relationship between land and water.

Easy to be lost among malls with names that signal their preeminence (Paragon, Centralworld) or their sparkle (Palladium, Platinum). But then, when I cross a bridge over the Saen Saep Canal, my attention is drawn to the brown water and the commuter boat passing beneath me. I imagine following the boat upriver, past stilt homes, open-air markets, and temples, before it enters another neighborhood: my childhood. Continued …

Michelin Guide Thailand adds 10 new eateries

Michelin Guide Thailand recently added 10 new establishments in the October 2024 edition of the restaurant guide, covering recommended spots to dine in several cities in Thailand.

These new additions have a chance to win Michelin’s iconic titles of Bib Gourmands, Michelin Stars and Michelin Green Star, which will be announced at the end of the year. The 10 new eateries worth checking out are: Continued …

Bangkok to renovate Talad Plu Market as new tourist destination

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will renovate the old Talad Plu Market in Bangkok’s Thonburi district as a new tourist destination, with a new bridge built and its riverfront renovated, the BMA governor and his deputy said on Saturday.

Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt and Sanon Wangsrangboon unveiled the renovation of Talad Plu Market while visiting the market and other key locations in Thonburi district, as part of the “BMA governor mobile meetings Season 2” measures to hear issues first-hand from residents. Continued …

Environment board to enforce Euro 6 standard on petrol engines

The National Environment Board has resolved to enforce the Euro 6 standards for petrol internal combustion engines (ICE) from Jan. 1 next year, Industry Minister Akanat Promphan said on Sunday.

During its third meeting for this year on Friday, the NEB had emission standards for ICE engines on its agenda, Akanat said. He said the NEB resolved to enforce Euro 6 standards next year, with a goal to reduce emission of particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller (PM2.5). Continued …

Raft of issues hindering Thai EV industry

Sluggish domestic car sales could have a negative impact on the country’s fledging electric vehicle (EV) industry, despite an upward trend in EV usage.

EV manufacturers, particularly Chinese companies, are monitoring EV sales in Thailand, which are encountering several problems, ranging from slow economic growth and high household debt to the EV price war. Continued …

Act now to drive sustainability and meet climate goals

The floods in northern Thailand in 2024 had a widespread and crippling effect, impacting 8.6 million rai of land and causing an estimated economic loss of between Bt30 to 40 billion.

However, a more comprehensive analysis by Krungsri Research paints a far grimmer picture, projecting total losses of up to Bt46.5 billion, including a staggering Bt43.4 billion in agricultural output and Bt3.1 billion in property damage. Continued …

Fly larvae used as solution to mounting prison waste

The Department of Corrections (DoC) has partnered with the Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE) to implement the “Green Prison” initiative, which involves the use of black soldier fly larvae to dispose of organic waste in jail.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by both agencies with the aim of extending the initiative to 143 correctional facilities across the country. Continued …

Nuclear power development projects in Vietnam to restart

Nuclear power can provide a stable electricity supply and a green, sustainable power source for energy security, according to a recent report from the Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT). The Politburo has agreed to restart nuclear power development in Vietnam, according to the ministry. Continued …

Typhoon lashes Philippines, causing tidal surges and mass displacement

A powerful typhoon wrecked houses, caused towering tidal surges and forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee to emergency shelters as it cut across the northern Philippines on Sunday in the sixth major storm to hit the country in less than a month. Continued …