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Locals gather during a search for a teenage boy who fell off a cliff in the central province of Khanh Hoa. Photo by VnExpress/Tran Huu A secondary school student died after slipping and falling off a cliff during a Saturday excursion to the Ganh Nhay stream in the central Khanh Hoa Province. The unnamed boy was part of a group of four 7th and 8th graders from the Ham Nghi secondary school who went to the Ganh Nhay stream in Ninh Phuoc Commune on a Saturday excursion. The student lost his footing and fell off a cliff after he and his friends climbed it to jump into the water, Nguyen Ngoc Hoang, chairman of the Ninh Phuoc People's Committee, said Sunday. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/middle-school-student-dies-after-falling-off-cliff-near-central-vietnam-stream-4541136.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-11-28

Former AIC chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan. Photo by Vietnam News Agency The trial of former top officials of the southern Dong Nai Province and ex chairwoman of the AIC real estate company in a major medical bribery case will start December 21. Tran Dinh Thanh, former Party Secretary of the province, and Dinh Quoc Thai, its former chairman, are accused of receiving bribes, while former director of the Dong Nai Department of Health, Phan Huy Anh Vu, is charged with receiving bribes and committing bidding violations. The indictment said they received a total of VND43.8 billion (US$1.77 million) over many years. Absconding former president of AIC, Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, 53, is accused of giving bribes and committing bidding violations. She will be tried in absentia. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/medical-corruption-trial-involving-former-aic-dong-nai-officials-to-begin-next-month-4541161.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-11-28

Members of the English club of the Foreign Trade University. Photo courtesy of the Foreign Trade University's English club All high schools, colleges and universities in Vietnam must have at least one foreign language and global integration club by 2030, the Vietnamese government mandates. A decision to this effect was signed Friday by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, according to the government news portal. It aims that at least 10 million people aged 6-30 learn foreign languages and global integration skills by 2030. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/mandatory-foreign-language-clubs-for-high-schools-universities-by-2030-4541175.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-11-28

A stone stuck in the esophageal of a 70-year-old woman in Bac Giang Province as seen in an endoscopic photo provided by Bac Giang General Hospital. A 70-year-old woman in northern Vietnam was taken to hospital after she swallowed a stone advertised to be able to cure all diseases. Doctors at the General Hospital of Bac Giang Province said Monday that she was admitted in a state of panic and scared. Her family said she had suffered from coughing for many days, so she had bought a stone advertised to help people "cure any diseases" by keeping it in their mouth alone. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/woman-hospitalized-after-swallowing-stone-advertised-as-panacea-4541457.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-11-28

A bucket is used as a drum as Saigonese storm the street to celebrate a SEA Games football victory, May 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran A survey on Covid-19 herd immunity conducted among 839 random people in Ho Chi Minh City has found more than 98% carry antibodies. The survey was carried out by the city's Center for Disease Control in collaboration with the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) in September, director of the municipal Health Department, Tang Chi Thuong, said Monday. It was conducted among nine different age groups from 12 to 70s. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/most-hcmc-residents-have-covid-antibodies-survey-4541398.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-11-28

In this file photo during the 2020 Taal volcano eruption, customers at a pharmacy line up for face masks, which are out of stock. The STAR / Edd Gumban, File MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Lito Lapid has filed a bill to create a Drug Overdose Reporting and Awareness system that would require the Department of Health to publish information on nationwide drug overdose trends twice a year to keep track of overdoses, especially those that lead to deaths. In filing Senate Bill No. 1498, Lapid argued that the information gathered on drug overdose will lead to better strategies to address the problem of overdoses. "Whether the drug overdose is accidental or intentional, I believe we can handle its side effects and the danger to life that drug overdose can cause," he said, adding the DOH should also provide important information like how to help people who have overdosed and how to reach emergency services. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/11/28/2227023/senate-bill-seeks-tighter-monitoring-info-drive-drug-overdoses -- © Copyright Philstar 2022-11-28

Slow-moving traffic and congestion on EDSA, a main thoroughfare across Metro Manila, as seen in January 2022, the second year of the pandemic. Philstar.com / Deejae Dumlao MANILA, Philippines — The office of Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. is studying the feasibility of raising salaries for government employees in response to calls by public sector unions to increase the minimum salary of state workers to P33,000 a month. The minimum wage for non-agricultural work in the National Capital Region is P537 a day or P10,740 for a 20-day work month. Government workers led by the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) and Kawani Laban sa Kontraktwalisasyon held a rally at the Department of Budget and Management in Manila last week to appeal for higher wages. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/11/28/2227025/revilla-asks-dbm-feasibility-hiking-pay-government-workers -- © Copyright Philstar 2022-11-28

MANILA, Philippines — Tensions rose at a hearing of the Senate Public Information and Mass Media panel on Monday when Sen. Raffy Tulfo, himself a former broadcaster, brought up his earlier campaign and said he is now considering retaining libel as a crime for extortionists pretending to be journalists. The hearing was on measures to prevent the spread of disinformation and misinformation but touched on libel as representatives of press groups raised the issue. The call to decriminalize libel is decades old and press freedom and freedom of expression advocates have long pointed out that libel and cyberliber are commonly used to silence criticism and dissent. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/11/28/2227054/tulfo-backs-decriminalization-libel-only-legit-journalists -- © Copyright Philstar 2022-11-28

Chiang Mai’s cabbage growers appeal for government assistance Growers of Chinese cabbage in Chiang Mai Province are seeking help from the government after the ex-farm prices of their produce plunged to only two baht per kilogram, while their costs are estimated at 4-5 baht/kg. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1279091-chiang-mai’s-cabbage-growers-appeal-for-government-assistance/

Growers of Chinese cabbage in Chiang Mai Province are seeking help from the government after the ex-farm prices of their produce plunged to only two baht per kilogram, while their costs are estimated at 4-5 baht/kg. One of the growers, Suchon Natehathai of Mae Taeng District, told Thai PBS reporters that he had invested more than 40,000 baht to grow Chinese cabbage on his land, hoping to make some profit to support his family. He said, however, that middlemen offered him only two baht per kilogramme and he had little choice but to sell to them at that price, otherwise the cabbage would rot. Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/chiang-mais-cabbage-growers-appeal-for-government-assistance/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-11-28 - 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 to Deliver Third Rate Hike BANGKOK (NNT) - The Bank of Thailand (BOT) is set to raise interest rates by another quarter-point on Wednesday (30 Nov) for a third straight meeting amid fragile growth and signs of easing inflation has started to ease. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1279090-bot-to-deliver-third-rate-hike/

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Bank of Thailand (BOT) is set to raise interest rates by another quarter-point on Wednesday (30 Nov) for a third straight meeting amid fragile growth and signs of easing inflation has started to ease. The widely-expected move to raise the benchmark one-day repurchase rate by 25 basis points would bring it to a modest 1.25%. Thailand’s economy is not expected to return to pre-pandemic levels until early next year as its vital tourism sector, which makes up about 12% of output, begins gradually rebounding. With the slowest pace of inflation in six months in October, helped by government measures to ease the cost of living, BOT Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput said it is not necessary to aggressively increase rates to manage inflation like in other countries. The U.S. Federal Reserve has increased rates by 375 basis points so far in this cycle, with 75 basis point moves at the last four meetings and another 50 due in December. Despite the wide interest rate gap, the baht has been one of the top performers in emerging market currencies, depreciating only about 7% so far this year. External pressure on the BOT to be more assertive with rate hikes has also eased after the recent retreat in the dollar. Capital inflows have meanwhile returned to its domestic bond and equity markets in the month-to-date, with the decline in foreign exchange reserves starting to reverse. A weak currency is generally considered positive for the tourism-dependent Thailand economy. The government hopes to see tourism next year reach 80% of pre-pandemic levels. 40 million tourists visited Thailand in 2019. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221128134700828 -- © Copyright NNT 2022-11-28 - 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!

AOT to Add Personnel as International Arrivals Surge BANGKOK (NNT) - Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob recently inspected Suvarnabhumi Airport to assess its readiness to accommodate incoming travelers during the high tourism season. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1279089-aot-to-add-personnel-as-international-arrivals-surge/

BANGKOK (NNT) - Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob recently inspected Suvarnabhumi Airport to assess its readiness to accommodate incoming travelers during the high tourism season. The minister revealed that the airport has been facilitating 115,000 daily passengers this month, with this figure expected to reach 130,000 in December. Minister Saksayam explained that foreign visitors will be traveling in greater numbers amid the high season, with Chinese tourists also expected to return to Thailand sometime during the first quarter of 2023 and no later than March. Passport procedures have meanwhile been successfully streamlined, bringing the average queue time at immigration down to 15 minutes per traveler. Immigration officials now take an average of only 1 minute to process each traveler entering the kingdom, allowing the passport control area to process 3,000 passengers in just 20 minutes. The transport minister also stressed the need to ensure that all luggage arrives at the baggage claim belt within 30 minutes at the latest. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221128140653841 -- © Copyright NNT 2022-11-28 - 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!

How military-backed parties have ruled Thai politics for decades Thailand’s modern political history is littered with examples of parties set up, led or supported by governing military figures to serve as a democratic vehicle to legitimize their stay in power. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1279088-how-military-backed-parties-have-ruled-thai-politics-for-decades/

Thailand’s modern political history is littered with examples of parties set up, led or supported by governing military figures to serve as a democratic vehicle to legitimize their stay in power. The current ruling Palang Pracharath Party was described as one of these “pro-military” parties when it was established in March 2018, just a year before the 2019 general election, although virtually all of its top executives were civilians. The party was led by former ministers from the post-coup government of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, and it later nominated him as its sole prime minister candidate for the 2019 election. At that time, Prayut was heading the junta-led administration formed after the military coup that he led in May 2014. Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/how-military-backed-parties-have-ruled-thai-politics-for-decades/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-11-28 - 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 beach chair “mafia” threatens speedboat operators for reportedly stealing customers A Pattaya speedboat operator filed a police complaint after his beach chair rival allegedly gave him a bullet, threatening he would be hurt if he kept stealing his customers. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1278890-alleged-beach-chair-“mafia”-threatens-speedboat-operators-for-reportedly-stealing-customers/

A Pattaya speedboat operator filed a police complaint after his beach chair rival allegedly gave him a bullet, threatening he would be hurt if he kept stealing his customers. The victim, Mr. Pongsakorn Anunahong, 21, reported a terrifying incident to Pattaya police on Thursday, November 24th, alleging he had been threatened by his unnamed business rival. Pongsakorn told police he was a speedboat operator in Pattaya, and his rival was a beach chair vendor. Earlier this week, the suspect allegedly walked up to his friend, Supawit Nongyai, 20, and handed him a bullet, saying “Give it to your friend,” which he meant Pongsakorn. Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/11/25/alleged-beach-chair-mafia-in-pattaya-threatens-speedboat-operators-for-reportedly-stealing-customers/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-11-25 - 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!

COVID surge just a “new wave” which will gradually fade after the New Year Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has instructed all state hospitals to provide free vaccinations to members of the public, in the wake of a resurgence in COVID-19 infections, which they describe as a predictable “new wave.” Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1278889-covid-surge-just-a-“new-wave”-which-will-gradually-fade-after-the-new-year/

Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has instructed all state hospitals to provide free vaccinations to members of the public, in the wake of a resurgence in COVID-19 infections, which they describe as a predictable “new wave.” Public Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Opart Karnkawinpong said today (Friday) that the increase in infections will gradually subside after the New Year and most of the cases are not serious and do not require hospitalisation. Additional measures are not necessary at this stage, he said, adding that the number of patients requiring hospital admission has only increased slightly, while the fatality rate averages not more than ten a day, which was anticipated. Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/covid-surge-just-a-new-wave-which-will-gradually-fade-after-the-new-year/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-11-25 - 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!

Michelin Guide Thailand 2023 demonstrates culinary strength Starred chefs and award recipients at Michelin Star Revelation 2023 That famous “little red book”, the Michelin Guide, has just revealed 441 entries in the sixth edition of its Michelin Guide Thailand 2023 with the addition of five restaurants given one star and 59 in the Bib Gourmand category, further underlining the flavorful and vigorous Thai culinary scene despite the problems caused by the pandemic and the economic decline. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1278881-michelin-guide-thailand-2023-demonstrates-culinary-strength/

Starred chefs and award recipients at Michelin Star Revelation 2023 That famous “little red book”, the Michelin Guide, has just revealed 441 entries in the sixth edition of its Michelin Guide Thailand 2023 with the addition of five restaurants given one star and 59 in the Bib Gourmand category, further underlining the flavorful and vigorous Thai culinary scene despite the problems caused by the pandemic and the economic decline. The present edition also marks the first time the Michelin Guide Thailand has covered all regions, with the Northeast (or Isan) extension sporting eateries in Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Ratchathani, Udon Thani and Khon Kaen. The restaurants and food venues have demonstrated their strong performance in terms of service during the past difficult years. All six two-Michelin Star restaurants – Chef’s Table, Le Normandie by Alain Roux, Mezzaluna, R-Haan, Sorn, and Sühring – have retained their status. The Michelin Guide Thailand 2023 also welcomes five new entries in the one-Michelin Star category. They are Baan Tepa, Haoma, Maison Dunand and Potong, as well as Signature, promoted from a recommended entry in the last edition. Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/michelin-guide-thailand-2023-demonstrates-culinary-strength/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-11-25 - 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!

An astray of cigarette butts. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen The average price of a cigarette pack in Vietnam is a third of the world’s and among the world’s lowest, a factor in the nation’s high smoking rate, experts say. Dao The Son, an economist and instructor at the Vietnam Commercial University in Hanoi, said Wednesday that the price of cigarettes in Vietnam was roughly the same as in Cambodia and Laos, and much lower than in Singapore, Malaysia and other countries in the region. "Cheap cigarettes make them more accessible and affordable for young and poor people in Vietnam," he said, adding that this was a main factor behind Vietnam’s high smoking rate. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/tobacco-prices-in-vietnam-among-lowest-in-the-world-4540164.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-11-25

Police in the central Quang Nam Province have arrested a local man for trading explosives, detonators, and bullets. Ninh Van Hoat, 34, a resident in Tam Ky Town, and five accomplices are now under investigation for "illegally storing, transporting, using, and trading explosive materials," police said Thursday. Hoat is believed to be in charge of a ring that smuggled almost one ton of explosives, more than 7,780 detonators and 431 bullets. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/man-arrested-for-smuggling-explosive-ordnances-4540396.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-11-25

Nguyen Vo Quynh Trang and her fiancé Nguyen Kim Trung Thai at the HCMC People's Court on November 25, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Diep Nguyen Prosecutors proposed death sentence against a woman who had beaten her fiancé's daughter to death while they lived together in HCMC last year. According to HCMC People's Procuracy, Nguyen Vo Quynh Trang's behavior was dangerous, causing particularly serious consequences, and must be dealt with severely. Therefore, it suggested that the jury grants her the death sentence, as heard at a trial in HCMC on Friday. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/death-sentence-sought-for-saigon-woman-abusing-8-year-old-girl-to-death-4540497.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-11-25