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The Thai government has established the “Department of Climate Change and Environment” to fulfill its commitment to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2065. “Relevant government agencies are taking action in various dimensions to address the changing climate and global warming issues,” said Trisulee Traisoranaku, the government spokesperson. The new Department of Climate Change and Environment is taken care of by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment led by minister Varawut Silpa-archa. Its mission is to “enable Thailand to achieve its goal of being carbon neutral by 2050 and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2065” according to Trisulee. Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/12/21/thai-government-sets-up-new-department-to-battle-climate-change/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-12-21 - 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. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Daily 50,000 Bus Passengers Expected during New Year BANGKOK, Dec 21 (TNA) – State-run Transport Co expects about 50,000 people will board inter-provincial buses per day during the New Year holiday. The traffic will rise because the situation of the two-year COVID-19 pandemic improves. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1281263-daily-50000-bus-passengers-expected-during-new-year/

BANGKOK, Dec 21 (TNA) – State-run Transport Co expects about 50,000 people will board inter-provincial buses per day during the New Year holiday. The traffic will rise because the situation of the two-year COVID-19 pandemic improves. Transport Co chairman Sorapong Paitoonpong said that 50,000 people would board inter-provincial buses a day on Dec 28 and the exodus traffic would rise to 55,000 a day on Dec 29. Full Story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-1080526 -- © Copyright Thai News Agency 2022-12-21 - 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. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Car fuel up to ฿40k can claimed as income tax deduction in New Year Car fuel expenses can be claimed as income tax deductions under the government’s “Shop Dee Mee Kuen” economic stimulus scheme, from January 1st until February 15th. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1281262-car-fuel-up-to-฿40k-can-claimed-as-income-tax-deduction-in-new-year/

Car fuel expenses can be claimed as income tax deductions under the government’s “Shop Dee Mee Kuen” economic stimulus scheme, from January 1st until February 15th. According to Revenue Department Director-General Lawaron Saengsanit, motorists and motorcyclists can use fuel purchase receipts, issued by registered gas stations, up to a maximum of 40,000 baht as tax deductibles. He said that this measure will help encourage travel during the New Year, which will boost the domestic tourism sector. Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/car-fuel-up-to-฿40k-can-claimed-as-income-tax-deduction-in-new-year/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-12-21 - 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. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Parliament votes to remove contentious Section 3 of Cannabis Bill The House of Representatives voted 119:0 with 31 abstentions today (Wednesday) to delete the Section 3 of the Cannabis Bill in its entirety. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1281261-parliament-votes-to-remove-contentious-section-3-of-cannabis-bill/

The House of Representatives voted 119:0 with 31 abstentions today (Wednesday) to delete the Section 3 of the Cannabis Bill in its entirety. In essence, Section 3 of the Cannabis Bill stipulated that cannabis is not a narcotic drug. Suphachai Jaisamut, party-list MP from the Bhumjaithai Party and chairman of the House committee scrutinising the Cannabis Bill, had said previously that the deletion of Section 3 from the bill will not make cannabis a narcotic drug, because an edict from the Ministry of Public Health, issued in June, has already removed cannabis from the Category 5 drugs list and designated it as a controlled herb. Dr. Paisarn Dunkum, secretary-general of the Thai Food and Drug Administration (TFDA), disclosed that they have already accepted registration of about 2,200 food supplements, cosmetics and herbal medicines containing cannabis. The deletion of Section 3 will pave the way for the passage of the bill to decriminalise cannabis and hemp. Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/parliament-votes-to-remove-contentious-section-3-of-cannabis-bill/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-12-21 - 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. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Vehicles are stuck in traffic in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Chieu Ineffective and unsustainable transport policies have led to traffic congestion that causes Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City billions of dollars in losses every year, a World Bank representative said. The representative told a Monday conference on public transport and public-private partnerships in Ho Chi Minh City that the southern hub must prioritize making urban transport sustainable and effective, local media reported. HCMC loses billions of U.S. dollars a year due to traffic congestion, while Hanoi loses $1.2 billion a year due to clogged arteries, the representative added. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/hanoi-loses-1-2b-every-year-to-traffic-jams-4550619.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-12-21

General Party Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at a national military-political conference on December 20, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Manh Hung Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has exhorted the military to be prepared for high-tech wars. At a national military-political conference Tuesday, he said the use of high-tech weapons and remote wars are becoming common, bringing new and urgent defense requirements. He called for innovations and improvements in training to respond to new combat situations, bolstering the use of technology and developing a modern military industry that is capable of designing and making high-tech weapons and equipment. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/defense-ministry-to-develop-responses-for-hi-tech-war-party-chief-requests-4550679.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-12-21

Around 100 passengers joined the first test run of HCMC’s metro line No.1 in Thu Duc City on Wednesday morning. Metro Line No.1 goes on a test run on elevated tracks in Thu Duc City. The train departed at 10 a.m. from Suoi Tien Station and then passed through three other stations before making its final stop at Binh Thai Station. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/photo/news/saigonese-get-first-experience-of-metro-line-4550929.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-12-21

A land lot that is intended to become a parking lot near Tan Son Nhat Airport of HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Ha Giang A land lot spanning 3,500 m2 near HCMC's Tan Son Nhat airport will become a parking lot during Tet, when the airport is expected to receive more than 120,000 visitors a day. Tran Quang Lam, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, said on Tuesday that the parking lot is next to the entry into the international terminal of the airport, and also next to the corner of the Bach Dang-Truong Son-Hong Ha streets in the Tan Binh District. HCMC authorities have instructed the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment to look into procedures to make the parking lot a reality. The transport department said it would invite relevant units to conduct surveys regarding the plan, and that it would propose to the city that it make the land lot a temporary parking place for taxis and ride-hailing vehicles to relieve the parking shortage during Tet. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/hcmc-to-construct-parking-lot-for-taxis-ride-hailing-vehicles-near-tan-son-nhat-4550970.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-12-21

Suspended Bureau of Corrections director general Gerald Bantag. STAR / Russell Palma MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice has issued an immigration lookout order against suspended Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag and former BuCor deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta who are accused of masterminding the killings of broadcaster Percy Lapid and inmate Jun Villamor. In issuing the lookout order, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said there is a “strong possibility” that Bantag and Zulueta will flee the country “considering the gravity of the offense charged” against them. “Thus, this Department deems the issuance of an ILBO against the above-subject individuals prudent in order to at least monitor the itineraries of their light, travel, and/or whereabouts,” Remulla said in a memorandum dated December 7, but only released to the media on Tuesday, December 20. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/21/2232342/immigration-lookout-order-vs-bantag-zulueta-out -- © Copyright Philstar 2022-12-21

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shows a copy of the 2023 national budget after signing it on December 16, 2022. Release / Office of Speaker Martin Romualdez MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoed three provisions in the 2023 national budget which he said are not related to the new appropriations and could amend other laws, according to Malacañang. Among the provisions Marcos rejected was the establishment of a revolving fund for the Department of Education’s TV-based instruction initiative DepEd TV. “There is no law authorizing the DepEd to establish a revolving fund for the purpose,” the Office of the Press Secretary said Wednesday in a release. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/21/2232352/marcos-rejects-three-provisions-2023-budget -- © Copyright Philstar 2022-12-21

Supporters and employees of ABS-CBN, the country's largest broadcast network, hold placards as they join a protest in front of the ABS-CBN building in Manila on Feb. 21, 2020. AFP / Basilio Sepe MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights called on lawmakers to act on a bill to decriminalize libel as it expressed concern on how the country’s libel laws have been used to clamp down on press freedom. In a statement Wednesday, the CHR stressed that the Philippine government, as a State party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), has the obligation to protect people’s rights to freedom of opinion and expression. “When these rights are compromised, especially for journalists and critics, the government also cripples one of its informal feedback mechanisms that serve to inform and improve government policies and decisions,” the commission said. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/21/2232371/chr-pushes-decriminalization-libel -- © Copyright Philstar 2022-12-21

This file photo shows the Commission on Elections office in Intramuros, Manila. Philstar.com / AJ Bolando, file MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections is calling on the public to register early ahead of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections next year and the 2025 midyear elections. Voter registration kicked off last week, December 12, and will be open until the end of January 2023. The poll body also opened its “Register Anywhere Program” (RAP) so the public can also go through the process conveniently in malls. So far, there are only 150,817 applicants who signed up for voter registration via local Comelec offices while only 611 applicants made use of RAP sites across eight malls, namely Robinsons Galleria, SM Southmall, Robinsons Manila, SM City Fairview, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Tacloban, SM City Legazpi, and Robinsons Naga. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/21/2232383/comelec-low-voter-registration-so-far-150817 -- © Copyright Philstar 2022-12-21

This handout satellite image taken on November 4, 2022 by Maxar Technologies shows a land formation (C) at Eldad Reef in the Spratly Islands, in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippines said on December 21, 2022 it was "seriously concerned" over a report that China has started reclaiming several unoccupied land features in the disputed South China Sea. Handout / Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies / AFP MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines said it is verifying a report that detailed how China is ramping up construction of artificial islands in unoccupied features of the Spratly Islands. “We are seriously concerned as such activities contravene the Declaration of Conduct on the South China Sea’s undertaking on self-restraint and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement sent to reporters late Tuesday evening. “We have asked relevant Philippine agencies to verify and validate the contents of this report.” Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/21/2232369/philippines-concerned-over-report-chinas-construction-activities-spratlys -- © Copyright Philstar 2022-12-21

All roads lead to Patong – new 4 kilometre expressway approved New Phuket expressway A 4 kilometre section of the Patong Tunnel project has been approved. The newly approved section of road would link the actual tunnel to the new 30 kilometre-long Mueang Mai (around the Phuket Airport) – Koh Kaew – Kathu tollway, which has already been approved last July. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1281248-all-roads-lead-to-patong-–-new-4-kilometre-expressway-approved/

New Phuket expressway A 4 kilometre section of the Patong Tunnel project has been approved. The newly approved section of road would link the actual tunnel to the new 30 kilometre-long Mueang Mai (around the Phuket Airport) – Koh Kaew – Kathu tollway, which has already been approved last July. The new Mueang Mai – Koh Kaew tollway will run approximately parallel with the currently over-worked Thepkasattri Road. The new road will be mostly elevated and has a budget of 13.4 billion baht, including land acquisitions. The new 4.2 kilometre section that was approved yesterday will navigate some new territory and transfer traffic from the tunnel along the back of Patong Hill, and then past the Loch Palm Golf Course to continue through the middle of the island to pick up the expressway route in the hinterland between Koh Kaew and Kathu. The new stretch of road will include five interchanges where traffic can join or leave the expressway traffic. Bidding for construction of the new section of road will open the day after Christmas and a tender selected by March next year. Motorbikes won’t be able to use the new expressways. The much-discussed Patong-Kathu tunnel, running under Patong Hill, is yet to have its budget approved but it was hoped yesterday that the new roads, all the way from the airport to Patong, including the tunnel, will be ready by 2028. Meanwhile, the repaired Patong Hill Road, including winder sections of road and removal of some of the tighter curves, is now fully open in both directions for all traffic. Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/phuket-news/all-roads-lead-to-patong-new-4-kilometre-expressway-approved/ -- © Copyright Phuket GO 2022-12-21 - 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. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Alleged burglars who robbed Chinese owner of a luxury Pattaya home arrested Pattaya police nabbed a group of alleged burglars who robbed a Chinese luxurious house owner of almost two million baht. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1281247-alleged-burglars-who-robbed-chinese-owner-of-a-luxury-pattaya-home-arrested/

Pattaya police nabbed a group of alleged burglars who robbed a Chinese luxurious house owner of almost two million baht. Pol. Lt. Gen. Itthipol Itthisarnchai, commander of Police Region 2, held a press conference today, December 21st, after arresting seven alleged burglars. The officer said the suspects broke into the house of an unidentified Chinese national on December 11th and robbed him of 700,000 baht in cash and gold jewelry worth more than one million baht. Pol. Lt. Gen. Itthipol disclosed the suspects’ names as follows: Mr. Soranan “Ketch” Pratuang Mr. Suthep “Lek” Thuphom Mr. Ekachai “A” Nimanong Mr. Patthawat “Ruj” Thammarak Krisada “Oh” Meethom Mr. Naruenat “Kluay” Chujit Mr. Akarapan “Fang” Phupha Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/12/21/alleged-burglars-who-robbed-chinese-owner-of-a-luxury-pattaya-home-arrested/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-12-21 - 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. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

EC: No Signs of House Dissolution BANGKOK, Dec 21 (TNA) – There was not a sign of House dissolution for an early general election but the commission was ready for any political accident, said the chairman of the Election Commission. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1281246-ec-no-signs-of-house-dissolution/

BANGKOK, Dec 21 (TNA) – There was not a sign of House dissolution for an early general election but the commission was ready for any political accident, said the chairman of the Election Commission. EC chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong said that there was not a sign of House dissolution or any early general election. However, the EC was already prepared to organize the next general election. Full Story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-1080345 -- © Copyright Thai News Agency 2022-12-21 - 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. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

TAT Inks Agreements With Korean Tourism Operators BANGKOK (NNT) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has signed agreements with tourism operators from South Korea to expand tourism cooperation between the two nations. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1281245-tat-inks-agreements-with-korean-tourism-operators/

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has signed agreements with tourism operators from South Korea to expand tourism cooperation between the two nations. The agreements were inked during TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn’s recent visit to Seoul, South Korea, on December 19, 2022. The authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Korea Association of Travel Agents (KATA) to exchange information, encourage visitor traffic, establish new emerging market sectors and provide assistance for both parties. The TAT and SOOBAK meanwhile signed an MoU to promote Thailand’s tourism products and services through the use of NFTs. Various incentives and deals will be offered in line with the kingdom’s goal of utilizing new technology and establishing a ’tourism ecosystem’ for a more sustainable industry. The TAT also inked a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with Korean Air to expand the airline’s flight services to Thailand, including launching new routes to more destinations in the country. Additionally, the agreement aims to provide more options for American travelers visiting Thailand by using Korean Air’s route network. The TAT Governor said these agreements, which come ahead of the Visit Thailand-Korea Year 2023-2024, will benefit Thai tourism and help market the kingdom as an all-year-round destination for Korean travelers. TAT predicts that the number of Korean tourists visiting Thailand would reach at least 1.1 million in 2023. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221221124743261 -- © Copyright NNT 2022-12-21 - 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. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

BOT Says Rates to Continue Rising Until Economy Reaches Full Potential BANGKOK (NNT) - The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has confirmed that key interest rates will continue to rise until the economy grows at its full potential and inflation returns to target, with gradual policy normalization still appropriate. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1281244-bot-says-rates-to-continue-rising-until-economy-reaches-full-potential/