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Lunar eclipse will occur on Loy Krathong night in Thailand The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand revealed that on Loy Krathong day (8 November 2022), a “lunar eclipse” shall occur. Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse can be seen with the naked eye, without protection. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276566-lunar-eclipse-will-occur-on-loy-krathong-night-in-thailand/

The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand revealed that on Loy Krathong day (8 November 2022), a “lunar eclipse” shall occur. Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse can be seen with the naked eye, without protection. This year, the lunar eclipse will occur from 15.02 to 20.56 hr (Thailand time), but during the first part, it will be below the eastern horizon. The moon will emerge from the horizon at 17.44 hr, which is the beginning of the total eclipse when the moon will appear brick red. The maximum eclipse will end at about 18.44 hr, but the moon will still be in the Earth’s shadow for a couple of hours. Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/11/02/lunar-eclipse-will-occur-on-loy-krathong-night-in-thailand/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-11-02 - 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!

World Cup season approaches in Thailand, Deputy PM says all games will be aired live on Thai TV Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has told Thai football fans that they will be able to enjoy all World Cup games on Thai television as the Thai government will purchase the rights to do so. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276565-world-cup-season-approaches-in-thailand-deputy-pm-says-all-games-will-be-aired-live-on-thai-tv/

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has told Thai football fans that they will be able to enjoy all World Cup games on Thai television as the Thai government will purchase the rights to do so. The World Cup begins on November 20th, 2022, and will last until December 18th as 32 teams compete for glory. Thai fans had been nervous previously due to the fact that no broadcasters had yet secured the rights for the games on television, which could have made watching the games more difficult for many viewers. Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/11/02/world-cup-season-approaches-in-thailand-deputy-pm-says-all-games-will-be-aired-live-on-thai-tv/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-11-02 - 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!

Marine Department Prepares Safety Measures for Loy Krathong Festival BANGKOK, Nov 2 (TNA) – The Marine Department will deploy its officials to seriously implement public safety measures in the Loy Krathong festival on Nov 8. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276564-marine-department-prepares-safety-measures-for-loy-krathong-festival/

BANGKOK, Nov 2 (TNA) – The Marine Department will deploy its officials to seriously implement public safety measures in the Loy Krathong festival on Nov 8. The department held a meeting to discuss public safety along waterways and at main piers where people were expected to gather during the Loy Krathong (the floating of lotus-shaped receptacles) festival. Targeted piers included those at the Memorial Bridge, Si Phraya area and ICONSIAM and Asiatique shopping malls. Full Story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-1049712 -- © Copyright Thai News Agency 2022-11-02 - 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!

Assets Worth Nearly B2bn Impounded from Myanmar Drug Cartel BANGKOK, Nov 2 (TNA) – Authorities impounded assets worth nearly 2 billion baht from a drug cartel of a Myanmar businessman and planned to suspend the import and export of sodium cyanide which was a drug precursor, said Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276563-assets-worth-nearly-b2bn-impounded-from-myanmar-drug-cartel/

BANGKOK, Nov 2 (TNA) – Authorities impounded assets worth nearly 2 billion baht from a drug cartel of a Myanmar businessman and planned to suspend the import and export of sodium cyanide which was a drug precursor, said Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin. Mr Somsak said that the assets were impounded in six provinces. They were believed to be connected with the drug cartel of Myanmar businessman Tun Min Latt and their combined value was estimated at 1.86 billion baht. Full Story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-1049578 -- © Copyright Thai News Agency 2022-11-02 - 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!

Food for Thought: Highlights from the APEC Food Security Roundtable As the world is hurtled from crisis to crisis, the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will continue to fall further out of reach. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276560-food-for-thought-highlights-from-the-apec-food-security-roundtable/

As the world is hurtled from crisis to crisis, the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will continue to fall further out of reach. As the 2022 APEC host economy, Thailand has seized the opportunity to focus on a growing precarious food security situation (SDG Indicator 2.1.2) at its eighth and final APEC Media Focus Group (AMF) held in late September at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL). The eighth AMF Group, “APEC and Food Security: Sustainability beyond global uncertainties,” was joined by a multi-sectoral panel of government officials, academia, youth leaders, as well as foreign diplomats on behalf of the previous and incoming APEC host economies New Zealand and the United States, respectively. Left to right: Dr. Nattha Komolvadhim, Director of Thai PBS World, Thai PBS (moderator); Prinat Apirat, Deputy Director-General, Department of International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Pasinee Napombejra, Senior Policy and Plan Analyst, Office of Agricultural Economics, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naphatrapi Luangsakul, Dean of School of Food Industry, KMITL; Sirichet Chiraphongwatthana, CEO, MANTRA Plant-Based Seafood; Panu Wongcha-um, Senior Correspondent for Reuters and President of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT); Thanyasinee Rattanapol, Student of Culinary Science and Foodservice Management Program, KMITL; Pichaya Pichaironarongsongkram, Student of Faculty of Medicine, KMITL; H.E. Mr. Jonathan Kings, Ambassador of New Zealand to Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia; Dr. Steve Olive, Director, USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia, Embassy of the United States of America to Thailand. In opening remarks, MFA Director-General of the Department of Information Tanee Sangrat set the tone, underscoring how climate change and the COVID-19 crisis have threatened food security. “At the core, food remains a matter of human and community survival,” Mr. Tanee said. “Within the international economy, the path from the fields and waters to our shops and tables is an increasingly complex supply chain which involves and affects many throughout our region and beyond.” A roadmap for the region Left to right: Dr. Nattha Komolvadhim, Director of Thai PBS World, Thai PBS (moderator); Prinat Apirat, Deputy Director-General, Department of International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Pasinee Napombejra, Senior Policy and Plan Analyst, Office of Agricultural Economics, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative. Moderated by Thai PBS Director Dr. Nattha Komolvadhin, discussions were kicked off with representatives from the Thai government. Pasinee Napombejra, Senior Policy and Plan Analyst of the Office of Agricultural Economics, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, affirmed that Thailand is committed to carrying forward the APEC Food Security Roadmap Towards 2030 drafted the previous year, with 21 APEC economies taking the lead on one of 27 actions as outlined in the roadmap. She also extolled the role of technology in developing precision agriculture. “The Ministry of Agriculture [and Cooperatives] stands beside the farmers,” Pasinee stated. “We are trying to improve their livelihoods, to educate them, and ask them to be ‘Smart Farmers,’ to use technology and innovation in their practices.” Prinat Apirat, Deputy Director-General, Department of International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, drew a direct line between food security and food waste. “The issue of sustainability and balance is key to our food security conversation in APEC,” Prinat asserted. “How do we conserve our natural resources and the biodiversity of our environment? How do we address sustainable waste management to head towards zero waste?” According to Prinat, solving the issue of food waste, and by extension food security, is just one facet of APEC’s theme, “Open. Connect. Balance.” Creating and sharing knowledge Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naphatrapi Luangsakul, Dean of School of Food Industry, KMITL. Where policymakers took a systems approach to food security, representatives from the faculty and students of KMITL focused on the creation, development, and sharing of knowledge to empower solutions for better nutrition and less food waste. Speaking on behalf of KMITL, Dean of School of Food Industry Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naphatrapi Luangsakul said the university has been tackling research clusters relevant to food security such as innovative food packaging and food process engineering, highlighting the role of academia in promoting food for sustainability and future generations. “We have committed to making an impact on the food world, through science, technology and innovation research, and community service,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naphatrapi. Her sentiments were echoed by Pichaya Pichaironarongsongkram, a student from the Faculty of Medicine. Pichaya, who specializes in prebiotics and probiotics, added that sharing food research could support innovations for better health. Thanyasinee Rattanapol, a student of the Culinary Science and Foodservice Management Program, said her experience in food service opened her eyes to how much of the food waste that occurs is preventable, chalking it up to a lack of awareness. “I think the best way to [reduce food waste] is to encourage people to learn how to utilize ingredients, like every bit,” she suggested, such as by using peels and roots to make soup stocks, in order to minimize waste. Narratives around food security Panu Wongcha-um, Senior Correspondent for Reuters and President of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT); Thanyasinee Rattanapol, Student of Culinary Science and Foodservice Management Program, KMITL Is food security “sexy enough”? Amid geopolitical tensions and the fallout of the COVID-19 crisis, moderator Dr. Nattha asked Panu Wongcha-um, Senior Correspondent for Reuters and President of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT), whether food security issues would garner the media attention it deserved. “Well, my respect to the officials in the room,” Panu prefaced, “I think it will be difficult to make food security the primary focus of the media, with everything else going on around the world. But at the same time […] I think that disruption to trade, prices of commodities, those are things that get consistent media focus.” In fact, given the severity of COVID-19 and the current geopolitical tensions, he argued that food security is a much more severe concern than it was when Thailand served as APEC host economy 19 years ago. For the CEO of MANTRA Plant-Based Seafood, Sirichet Chiraphongwatthana, the story is a bit more personal. Sirichet explained how he grew up living near rivers that were now polluted due to industrial seafood processing. He pointed out that while most people talk about using plant-based substitutes for beef, pork, and poultry, many APEC economies are heavily reliant on seafood. Rather than replace animal meat and seafood entirely, Sirichet said he hopes that people will incorporate more plant-based alternatives into their diet. Food security in the APEC agenda Representing the previous APEC host economy, Ambassador of New Zealand to Thailand H.E. Jonathan Kings gave tangible examples of how crises like the COVID-19 pandemic have put food security front and center. “Last year during Covid, the system ground to a halt,” said H.E. Kings. “In New Zealand, it meant we didn’t have the labor to pick the crops that had been produced last year. In New Zealand, it meant we didn’t have the ships or the planes to get the food that we did produce to the markets.” Reinforcing points made by the other panelists, he stated that the key challenge of the food security issue will be capturing media attention and raising awareness in the public. Representing the incoming APEC host economy, Dr. Steve Olive, Director of the USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia at the U.S. Embassy to Thailand, spoke in hard figures. While there are 190 million people worldwide who are food insecure, he pointed out that the World Food Programme estimates that a further 70 million will become food insecure within this year. He raised the Russia-Ukraine conflict as an important driver of this insecurity. In response, U.S. President Joe Biden announced at the 77th U.N. General Assembly in New York that the U.S. government will provide another US$2.9 billion to address food insecurity on top of the existing budget of US$6.9 billion. Next year, the United States expects to put food security at the top of the 2023 APEC agenda, during which the U.S. Department of Agriculture is expected to formally announce how its Food for Progress Program will invest US$22 million into “climate smart agriculture” projects in Thailand. Source: https://www.thailandnow.in.th/current-affairs/food-for-thought-highlights-from-the-apec-food-security-roundtable/ -- © Copyright THAILAND NOW 2022-11-02 - 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!

Labor minister tells SSO to pay family of Thai woman killed in Itaewon stampede accordingly BANGKOK (NNT) - One Thai citizen was among those who perished in the October 29 tragedy in South Korea’s capital city Seoul. As the deceased had been making contributions to the Social Security Fund, the appropriate payout will be delivered to her family. The labor minister is seeing that all benefits entitled to the family are duly paid. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276558-labor-minister-tells-sso-to-pay-family-of-thai-woman-killed-in-itaewon-stampede-accordingly/

BANGKOK (NNT) - One Thai citizen was among those who perished in the October 29 tragedy in South Korea’s capital city Seoul. As the deceased had been making contributions to the Social Security Fund, the appropriate payout will be delivered to her family. The labor minister is seeing that all benefits entitled to the family are duly paid. Labor minister Suchart Chomklin revealed progress on addressing the death of a Thai citizen who perished in the October 29 tragedy in Seoul, South Korea. The Thai woman was among at least 150 people who died in the stampede in the Itaewon area of the Republic of Korea’s capital city. Mr. Suchart said he has ordered Ministry of Labor agencies to quickly inspect the details of the deceased Thai citizen. According to information from the Ministry of Labor agencies in Phetchabun, the deceased was a 27 years old woman who was a local of Phetchabun province. The deceased was making contributions to the Social Security Fund under Section 33 of the SSO law up until June this year. Mr. Suchart said he ordered the Social Security Office to quickly deliver benefits entitled to the family of the deceased. The benefits include 50,000 baht for funeral expenses and 15,500 baht of the deceased’s lump sum old age payout. 65,500 baht will be paid out in total. Ministry of Labor agencies in Phetchabun has already informed the family of the deceased. The labor minister also visited the family of the deceased today (1 November) to provide moral support and discuss future assistance. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221102090541364 -- © Copyright NNT 2022-11-02 - 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!

Gov’t showcases dishes from Plate to Planet competition BANGKOK (NNT) - The government has showcased selected dishes from the final round of the Plate to Planet competition. Winning teams will have their dishes served to Asia-Pacific leaders participating in the APEC Leaders’ Week this month. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276557-gov’t-showcases-dishes-from-plate-to-planet-competition/

BANGKOK (NNT) - The government has showcased selected dishes from the final round of the Plate to Planet competition. Winning teams will have their dishes served to Asia-Pacific leaders participating in the APEC Leaders’ Week this month. Mr. Anucha Nakasai, a Minister attached to the Office of the Prime Minister, and Michelin Star chef Chumpol Jangprai presented the sample dishes to the Prime Minister at the government house. The contest, held as part of the APEC Future Food for Sustainability campaign, is searching for inventive Thai dishes that represent Thai cuisine and sustainability. The contest has reached its final round with 21 finalists who have come up with innovative dishes such as flourless noodles made from egg white protein, high protein and vitamin B-rich ice cream bar, and the reinvention of traditional Khanom Chan dessert with 40% less sugar and naturally extracted coloring from dragon fruit. Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said these innovations will help increase the value of Thai products. The Thai government will be hosting a gala dinner for Asia-Pacific economic leaders on 18 November at the Royal Thai Navy Convention Center in Bangkok. Chef Chumpol Jangprai said the entire menu will only use locally sourced ingredients, and will represent the Bio-Circular-Green economic model. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221102102259392 -- © Copyright NNT 2022-11-02 - 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!

Thailand’s private sector ready to host APEC CEO Summit 2022 BANGKOK (NNT) - Another major event to be taking place in parallel with the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week (AELW) is the APEC CEO Summit, where businesses and leaders across the region convene to discuss economic matters. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276555-thailand’s-private-sector-ready-to-host-apec-ceo-summit-2022/

BANGKOK (NNT) - Another major event to be taking place in parallel with the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week (AELW) is the APEC CEO Summit, where businesses and leaders across the region convene to discuss economic matters. The APEC CEO Summit 2022 is scheduled to take place on 16-18 November in Bangkok. Mr. Poj Aramwattananont, Chair of the APEC CEO Summit 2022, said delegates from 9 countries have formally accepted the invitation, namely Peru, Chile, Vietnam, the Philippines, New Zealand, Indonesia, Canada, the United States, and China. Chinese President Xi Jingping will deliver a speech at this event. Mr. Sanan Angubolkul, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the event will allow Thailand to boast its potential in trade, investment, and tourism, while allowing business leaders to share their thoughts on obstacles and challenges. The APEC CEO Summit 2022 is considered one of the first major in-person meetings during a period where many economies are facing leadership changes. This meeting will serve as a platform for discussion on post-pandemic economic recovery, as countries started to fully reopen their borders. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221102095712379 -- © Copyright NNT 2022-11-02 - 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!

COSMEX 2022 Presents Opportunities for Beauty Industry BANGKOK (NNT) - The COSMEX 2022 and In-cosmetics Asia exhibitions are currently being held in Bangkok. The regional-scaled cosmetic events aim to bring new business opportunities and innovations to Thailand’s beauty industry, as well as those in neighboring countries. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276554-cosmex-2022-presents-opportunities-for-beauty-industry/

BANGKOK (NNT) - The COSMEX 2022 and In-cosmetics Asia exhibitions are currently being held in Bangkok. The regional-scaled cosmetic events aim to bring new business opportunities and innovations to Thailand’s beauty industry, as well as those in neighboring countries. COSMEX, an ASEAN-scaled cosmetic industry exhibition, is being held in conjunction with In-cosmetics Asia, an Asia Pacific event for personal care ingredients. The two events are being organized by RX Tradex, ASEAN’s leading exhibition organizer and a member of RX, the world’s leading events organizer. RX arranges high profile, targeted industry events where buyers and suppliers come together to do business. RX Tradex Managing Director Varaporn Dhamcharee revealed that this year’s exhibition was held under the concept of ‘Beauty Beyond Boundaries’. Citing the highly competitive nature of the beauty industry, organizers said they hoped such events would provide smaller cosmetic enterprises with more opportunities to grow. The exhibitions therefore cater to business matchmaking as well as seminars. The COSMEX 2022 exhibition features all segments of the beauty industry from more than 500 exhibitors, showcasing the latest innovations, business trends and dietary supplements. Eco-friendly and non-toxic ingredients are also being presented at the event to support sustainable economic development or “clean beauty” standards, which will be the overriding trend in 2023. The exhibition will continue until November 3 at BITEC Exhibition Hall in Bangkok. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221102111134411 -- © Copyright NNT 2022-11-02 - 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!

Loy Krathong Festival to Emphasize Sustainability Image: Google BANGKOK (NNT) - Spectacular Loy Krathong celebrations are set to take place nationwide next Tuesday (8 Nov). The government recently unveiled its national campaign for this year’s festivities to help preserve and pass on Thai traditions, as well as promote sustainability. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276553-loy-krathong-festival-to-emphasize-sustainability/

Image: Google BANGKOK (NNT) - Spectacular Loy Krathong celebrations are set to take place nationwide next Tuesday (8 Nov). The government recently unveiled its national campaign for this year’s festivities to help preserve and pass on Thai traditions, as well as promote sustainability. Loy Krathong is a traditional festival observed in Thailand and neighboring countries to pay homage to the Goddess of Water. During the festival, krathongs - or traditional floating flower baskets - will be released into waterways. Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has urged Thais to help promote the nation’s identity and heritage during the APEC Leaders’ Week, as well as convey the meaning and value behind Thai traditions to foreign nationals. The national campaign aims to educate foreign visitors about the history of the festival and promote local soft power. Traditional and folk performances, along with other local recreational activities, will be held at Loy Krathong events, while the general public is encouraged to join the events wearing traditional costumes. The ministry has received much cooperation from government agencies and private firms this year to ensure adequate disease prevention measures. Alcoholic drinks will also be banned at celebration venues, along with the use of firecrackers. Observers are meanwhile encouraged to use krathongs made from natural and biodegradable materials. Additionally, those celebrating the occasion in groups are encouraged to share krathong baskets in order to limit waste. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221102124209441 -- © Copyright NNT 2022-11-02 - 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!

China will cooperate with Thailand in crackdown on transnational crime The Chinese government is willing to cooperate with their Thai counterparts in the crackdown on transnational criminal activities in Thailand, according to the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok in its Facebook post. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276552-china-will-cooperate-with-thailand-in-crackdown-on-transnational-crime/

The Chinese government is willing to cooperate with their Thai counterparts in the crackdown on transnational criminal activities in Thailand, according to the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok in its Facebook post. The embassy said that it has acknowledged several criminal cases subject to Thai police investigations, adding that the Chinese government places importance on law enforcement and the suppression illegal gambling, illegal narcotics and indecent acts. The embassy said that China has promoted cooperation in the enforcement of international laws regarding such crimes, adding that China and Thailand have long enjoyed a high level of cooperation in law enforcement. Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/china-will-cooperate-with-thailand-in-crackdown-on-transnational-crime/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-11-02 - 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!

Senate endorses Student Loan Fund Bill with reductions in interest rate and fines The Senate voted 179:4 today (Tuesday) in support of the Student Loan Fund for Education Bill, earlier approved by the House, which seeks to exempt interest on loans and fines in case of repayment defaults. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276469-senate-endorses-student-loan-fund-bill-with-reductions-in-interest-rate-and-fines/

The Senate voted 179:4 today (Tuesday) in support of the Student Loan Fund for Education Bill, earlier approved by the House, which seeks to exempt interest on loans and fines in case of repayment defaults. A 27-member panel was set up to scrutinise the bill before it moves on to its second reading. During the debate today, most senators agreed with the principle of student loans to enable disadvantaged students to further their studies, but opposed the idea of not charging interest on the loans granted or exempting fines for students who default on loan repayments, for fear that this may lead to a breakdown of financial discipline among the borrowers and depletion of loan fund for students in the future. Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/senate-endorses-student-loan-fund-bill-with-reductions-in-interest-rate-and-fines/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-11-01 - 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!

Health Ministry Readies Ebola-Testing Labs BANGKOK, Nov 1 (TNA) – The Department of Medical Sciences has readied its laboratories to conduct tests for Ebola around the clock as the disease is spreading in Uganda. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276464-health-ministry-readies-ebola-testing-labs/