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Phuket officials are paving the way for a new visa category, aimed specifically at parents of children studying in international schools. However, this new visa provision is not without its safeguarding measures. The approval process will include a thorough criminal background check, an effort to keep individuals with a criminal past from residing in Phuket under the guise of their children’s enrolment in international schools. This new visa initiative was unveiled during a meeting held last Friday, under the stewardship of Phuket’s Vice Governor, Amnuay Pinsuwan. The meeting served as a platform to discuss potential solutions to the issue of individuals with criminal backgrounds exploiting the education system to gain residence in Phuket. The gathering brought together representatives from both the governmental and private sectors. The primary aim was to recommend the government greenlight visas for parents whose children are studying in Phuket, positioning the province as the pioneer of this new visa initiative. The broader objective is to enhance education and sustainably drive the economy. Currently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not offer a specific visa for foreign parents of children studying in Thailand. Nonetheless, the Immigration Bureau has, for some time, endorsed one-year stay permits for such parents, contingent on their children’s continued enrolment in the school. By Mitch Connor Caption: Photo: PR Phuket Full story: The Thaiger 2023-11-27 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Surin Beach sunbeds mysteriously vanish, sparking tourist speculation in Phuket Picture courtesy of @ghostofphuket A sudden and unexplained removal of sunbeds from the popular Surin Beach in Phuket has left tourists and locals alike perplexed. The event occurred last week, with only one operator, the Surin Beach Club, left unaffected, leading to a surge in inquiries and speculation. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1312752-surin-beach-sunbeds-mysteriously-vanish-sparking-tourist-speculation-in-phuket/

A sudden and unexplained removal of sunbeds from the popular Surin Beach in Phuket has left tourists and locals alike perplexed. The event occurred last week, with only one operator, the Surin Beach Club, left unaffected, leading to a surge in inquiries and speculation. The mystery deepens as the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (Cherng Talay OrBorTor), the local government body, has yet to release any statement regarding the removal. With no official explanation, numerous theories have cropped up among the tourists and beachgoers, many of whom are left without the comforts they are accustomed to on the sandy shores. This unexpected clearout came hot on the heels of the high-profile ceremony earlier this month that marked the commencement of construction on the Glass Terrace at Surin Beach. This event offered officials and observers an elevated view of the beach, showcasing the long lines of sunbeds and umbrellas, a sight that would be significantly altered just weeks later. The sunbed removal at Surin Beach is not an isolated incident. It echoes a similar event led by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat at Kata Beach. There, three sunbed and umbrella operators were arrested for illegal operations. By Mitch Connor Caption: Picture courtesy of @ghostofphuket Full story: The Thaiger 2023-11-27 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Job-jitters in Thailand: Employment growth hits five-quarter low Photo: Freepik The state planning agency of Thailand revealed today that the country’s employment growth has slowed to a five-quarter low of 1.3% year-on-year in the third quarter amid a sluggish economy and weak demand for exports. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1312751-job-jitters-in-thailand-employment-growth-hits-five-quarter-low/

The state planning agency of Thailand revealed today that the country’s employment growth has slowed to a five-quarter low of 1.3% year-on-year in the third quarter amid a sluggish economy and weak demand for exports. This comes as Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy recorded a meagre growth of 1.5% in the July-September period, marking the slowest pace witnessed this year. The decline has been attributed to a decrease in exports and government spending. According to the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), the primary contributor to the third quarter’s job growth was the tourism sector. However, this growth in Thailand’s employment rate was less than the 1.7% increase observed in the previous quarter. Conversely, the export-oriented manufacturing sector experienced a decrease in employment in the third quarter. The country’s unemployment rate for the July-September period was reported at 0.99% in comparison to the 1.06% in the April-June quarter. By Alex Morgan Caption: Photo: Freepik Full story: [source name + source link] 2023-11-27 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Media neutrality questioned by Thai citizens, NIDA Poll reveals Photo: Freepik A recent public opinion survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), shed light on the perceptions of Thai citizens regarding media neutrality. The survey carried out from November 21 to November 24 amongst individuals aged 18 years and older across various regions, education backgrounds, professions and income levels, gathered responses from a total of 1,310 participants. The results revealed fascinating insights. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1312750-media-neutrality-questioned-by-thai-citizens-nida-poll-reveals/

A recent public opinion survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), shed light on the perceptions of Thai citizens regarding media neutrality. The survey carried out from November 21 to November 24 amongst individuals aged 18 years and older across various regions, education backgrounds, professions and income levels, gathered responses from a total of 1,310 participants. The results revealed fascinating insights. In terms of Thai media’s news reporting, 38.93% of the respondents believed that Thai media tends to create hype or drama. Following closely, 33.59% felt that the media reports news with a bias, while 30.69% held the view that news is often reported without adequate fact-checking. Interestingly, 30.23% of the respondents indicated that the Thai media reports news for the benefit of their own business organisations. On the other hand, only 25.34% felt that the Thai media reports news for the benefit of the public, and a mere 21.83% believed that the media reports news impartially. When it comes to freedom in news reporting, 39.08% of the respondents felt that Thai media has relative freedom in news reporting. However, 28.86% believed that the media enjoys a high degree of freedom, while 24.73% held the view that there is little freedom. A small percentage of 6.11% believed that there is no freedom at all, and 1.22% responded that they did not know, did not answer, or were not interested. By Samantha Rose Caption: Photo: Freepik Full story: The Thaiger 2023-11-27 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Russian arrested in Satun for illegal financial transactions PHOTO: Siam Rath A Russian man has been arrested in southern Thailand for alleged involvement in illegal online financial transactions. According to a Phuket Express report, the transactions generated over a billion baht. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1312749-russian-arrested-in-satun-for-illegal-financial-transactions/

A Russian man has been arrested in southern Thailand for alleged involvement in illegal online financial transactions. According to a Phuket Express report, the transactions generated over a billion baht. It’s understood the man had also overstayed his visa, although police have not specified by how long, and that he was being sought under an Interpol Red Notice. Officers from Thailand’s Immigration Bureau say the man, named only as 32-year-old Mr Nagoro, was detained in a car at a border checkpoint in the Khuan Don district. By Peter Roche Caption: PHOTO: Siam Rath Full story: Phuket GO 2023-11-27 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Russian MMA brothers cleared of all charges after violent robbery in Phuket PHOTO: Instagram A Russian MMA fighter and his brother have had all charges against them dropped, after they were arrested in connection with a violent burglary in north Phuket back in September. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1312748-russian-mma-brothers-cleared-of-all-charges-after-violent-robbery-in-phuket/

A Russian MMA fighter and his brother have had all charges against them dropped, after they were arrested in connection with a violent burglary in north Phuket back in September. Khusein Askhabov and his twin brother Khasan were arrested on September 3, suspected of being involved in a brutal attack on an Italian national in the Thalang district. However, the Phuket News reports that the brothers have now been released, with all charges dropped. By Peter Roche Caption: PHOTO: Instagram Full story: Phuket GO 2023-11-27 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Thailand ranks bottom of the pile with ASEAN English score PHOTO: Reddit Thailand has fared poorly in the English Proficiency Index 2023 from EF, the global English teaching institute. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1312747-thailand-ranks-bottom-of-the-pile-with-asean-english-score/

Thailand has fared poorly in the English Proficiency Index 2023 from EF, the global English teaching institute. The index is compiled by testing 2.2 million adults across 113 countries and regions. There are five levels of English proficiency according to the EF rankings – very high, high, moderate, low and very low. Guess where Thailand ranked… The test examined English proficiency across ASEAN nations and worldwide, and Thailand has been ranked “very low”, faring the worst of all ASEAN countries included in the test. By Peter Roche Caption: PHOTO: Reddit Full story: Phuket GO 2023-11-27 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Thai-Malaysia Leaders Jointly Explore New Border Crossing Point SONGKHLA, Nov 27 (TNA) – Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, joined by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has visited Sadao district to inspect the development of the Thai-Malaysian border area. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1312746-thai-malaysia-leaders-jointly-explore-new-border-crossing-point/

SONGKHLA, Nov 27 (TNA) – Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, joined by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has visited Sadao district to inspect the development of the Thai-Malaysian border area. The two leaders on Monday met at the new Sadao Customs Office in Songkhla province to discuss cooperation in trade, investment, and economic collaboration. They also discussed the progress of the construction project linking the new Sadao-Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint and the current trade and tourism situations along the border of both countries. Full story: Thai News Agency 2023-11-27 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

SET joins hands with SGX Group to move forward the Thailand-Singapore DR Linkage project BANGKOK (SET) - The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX Group) have further strengthened investment links, expanding opportunities for investors to access securities of both countries via depositary receipt (DR), under the collaborative project called Thailand-Singapore DR Linkage. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1312745-set-joins-hands-with-sgx-group-to-move-forward-the-thailand-singapore-dr-linkage-project/

BANGKOK (SET) - The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX Group) have further strengthened investment links, expanding opportunities for investors to access securities of both countries via depositary receipt (DR), under the collaborative project called Thailand-Singapore DR Linkage. SET President Pakorn Peetathawatchai said: “The Thailand-Singapore DR Linkage is the first exchange-level DR cooperation in ASEAN, facilitating Thai investors to access Singapore securities directly via Thai stock exchange in local currency using their existing trading accounts, and vice versa. This marks the first milestone in our journey towards a more integrated and accessible ASEAN exchange market, enabling investors to trade ASEAN stocks via DR seamlessly across the entire region. We will continue to foster bilateral relationships with other exchanges in ASEAN to support the development of DR linkage.” SGX Group Chief Executive Officer Loh Boon Chye said: “We are delighted that our DR Link with SET has successfully seen three SET-listed underlying DRs and one SGX-listed underlying DR introduced on SGX and SET respectively, with more to come in the pipeline. Collaboration between ASEAN exchanges amplifies the competitiveness of the region which is essential for its sustained growth. The DR Link is a significant milestone that reflects the commitment between SGX Group and SET to enhance synergies between our markets. I look forward to deepening our relationship with SET and unveiling more products through this link so we can unlock more opportunities for investors.” Full story: NNT 2023-11-27 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Chinese beggars arrested in Bangkok working the region An investigation into the six Chinese beggars recently arrested in Bangkok has revealed that some had previously worked as beggars in Malaysia and Singapore, according to a senior Thai immigration police official on Monday. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1312744-chinese-beggars-arrested-in-bangkok-working-the-region/

An investigation into the six Chinese beggars recently arrested in Bangkok has revealed that some had previously worked as beggars in Malaysia and Singapore, according to a senior Thai immigration police official on Monday. Deputy Immigration Police Commissioner Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nuchanart also stated that there was no connection found between the Chinese group and a Thai woman who was found acting as their translator. The arrests occurred at a Pinklao shopping complex and in crowded tourist venues. The police confiscated a bag containing Thai banknotes, totalling about Bt10,000. Many Thai netizens noted that their reported incomes were much higher than theirs. Full story: Thai PBS 2023-11-27 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Thailand launches no smoking or drinking campaign on parliament grounds The Parliament has decided to ban the smoking of cigarettes, vaping and alcoholic drinks on parliament grounds in a campaign to make parliament a permanent non-smoking area. The announcement coincides with National Public Health Day today. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1312743-thailand-launches-no-smoking-or-drinking-campaign-on-parliament-grounds/

The Parliament has decided to ban the smoking of cigarettes, vaping and alcoholic drinks on parliament grounds in a campaign to make parliament a permanent non-smoking area. The announcement coincides with National Public Health Day today. House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said he received a petition from the Federation of Thai Medical Students, calling for parliament to be free from cigarettes and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), in line with the Act Controlling Tobacco Products. The ban will set an example for Thai youth who are increasingly turning to vaping. According to the federation and the Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Centre (TRC), vaping among Thai youth, especially female students, has increased by 30.5% since the previous survey. Full story: Thai PBS 2023-11-27 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Digital options for floating your krathong Today is Loy Krathong Day. For those who are unable to visit places to celebrate, some agencies are offering the option to float krathongs (festive baskets) online Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1312742-digital-options-for-floating-your-krathong/

Today is Loy Krathong Day. For those who are unable to visit places to celebrate, some agencies are offering the option to float krathongs (festive baskets) online. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA): https://loykratong-ongang.web.app Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt mentioned that all the krathongs floated via the app will be displayed on a projector set up at Ong Ang Canal tonight. People can join the festival with the BMA from 5pm today. Full story: Thai PBS 2023-11-27 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Thailand’s “crazy man who loves planting trees” dies, aged 77 Pol Sub-Lt Vichai Sureeyut Pol Sub-Lt Vichai Sureeyut, a former police officer who was affectionately called a “crazy man who loves planting trees” and was responsible for planting more than three million trees since 1988 in his home district of Prang Gu, in the north-eastern province of Si Sa Ket, died last Saturday night at the age of 77. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1312740-thailand’s-“crazy-man-who-loves-planting-trees”-dies-aged-77/

Pol Sub-Lt Vichai Sureeyut, a former police officer who was affectionately called a “crazy man who loves planting trees” and was responsible for planting more than three million trees since 1988 in his home district of Prang Gu, in the north-eastern province of Si Sa Ket, died last Saturday night at the age of 77. Vichai began his police career in 1968 in Mueang district of Si Sa Ket, after his graduation from a police academy in Nakhon Ratchasima. Two years later, he was transferred to Prang Ku district, until his retirement in 2006 at the rank of sub-lieutenant. According to 1997 data from the Ministry of Interior, Si Sa Ket was the poorest province in Thailand and Prang Ku district was the poorest district in Si Sa Ket. It was also the most arid. Caption: Pol Sub-Lt Vichai Sureeyut Full story: Thai PBS 2023-11-27 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe