KEY ISSUES AT A GLANCE
- Large amount of illegal narcotics seized at border checkpoint in Nong Khai. Thai police and customs officials arrested a truck driver and seized illegal narcotics, worth about 100 million baht hidden in oil drums, at a border checkpoint in the north-eastern province of Nong Khai today (Wednesday). Officials became suspicious that oil drums were being brought into Thailand from Laos and had all of them examined using an X-ray machine, which revealed something unusual in some of the drums. Source: Thai PBS World, Khaosod
- Oil Crisis weighs down on economy. PTT Group forecasts that global crude oil price will drop down to USD85-95 per barrel in 2023 as global economic recovery is hindered by rising oil and energy prices; conditions which are exacerbated by low oil supply from Russia as Europe imposes full sanction on oil import from the country. Energy Ministry and Bank of Thailand are joining forces to focus on rolling out green energy policies. Sources: Krungthep Turakij Print Edition, Bangkok Post
AUSTRALIA IN THE NEWS
- 4 recipients win this year’s prize. Four recipients from the US and Australia have been named as winners of the Prince Mahidol Award this year in the fields of medicine and public health, the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation announced on Wednesday. This year’s Prince Mahidol Award in the field of medicine goes to Prof Ralph A DeFronzo, from the US. Three other medical professionals awarded in the field of public health were Dr Douglas R Lowy from the US, Dr John T Schiller, from the US, and Prof Ian H Frazer, from Australia. The award was announced at Siriraj Hospital on Wednesday by Prof Vicharn Panich, chairman of the foundation’s International Award Committee. Source: Bangkok Post Print Edition
GENERAL
- Chinese businessman surrenders to Thai police to face drugs charges. A Chinese businessman, who is suspected of being involved in “grey business” in Thailand, surrendered to the Thai police, at the Police Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Highway today (Wednesday), to acknowledge charges filed against him. The businessman, Chaiyanat Kornchayanant, aka “Tu Hao”, was charged with trafficking in narcotics with more than two other people. He denied the charges, saying that his lawyers will explain to the police on his behalf. Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said last month that Tu Hao had donated about three million baht to the Palang Pracharath Party a year ago, but he insisted that the donation was legal. He alleges that Chinese businessmen have taken control of several night entertainment venues in the Ratchadapisek and Huai Khwang areas, including a pub in Yannawa district, which was raided by the police last month. Source: Thai PBS World, Thai News Agency, Nation Thailand
- Doctors, Nurses Deserve Overtime Rise: Public Health Minister. Doctors and nurses deserved an increase in their overtime because they had heavy work loads and their overtime had been unchanged for 13 years, said Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, deputy permanent secretary for public health, said overtime would rise by 8% and the allowance for afternoon and night shifts which had impacts on life would go up by 50%. The rise would cost the operational funds of hospitals about 3 billion baht. The Public Health Ministry would propose the pay increase to the Finance Ministry in a month, he said. Source: Thai News Agency, The Standard
- Suspect in trafficking of illegal migrants from Myanmar arrested in Songkhla. A Thai man, alleged to be a key coordinator in the commercial trafficking of illegal migrants from Myanmar into southern Thailand, has been apprehended by immigration officials in the southern province of Songkhla. 28-year-old “Arnat”, was charged with providing shelter, aid and facilitation in the smuggling of illegal migrant workers into Thailand, working with a human trafficking gang in Myanmar. Songkhla immigration officials said that Arnat’s arrest follows months of investigation, following the capture of 50 undocumented migrant workers from Myanmar and three Thai guides in Hat Yai District on October 19th and after a previous arrest in January. Source: Thai PBS World,
POLITICS
- Prayut mulls move to UTN. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he is considering a move to join the newly-established United Thai Nation Party (UTN) or Ruam Thai Sang Chart. He opened up about the matter for the first time on Wednesday as the rumour mill went into overdrive about his move to the party. Asked by reporters whether he had applied for party membership, Gen Prayut said: “I am still considering it.” He refused to comment when pressed for an answer on his political future. He only said: “It will become clear next year.” Source: Bangkok Post, Thairath, Dailynews
- Charter Court rules Bill amending Political Parties Act constitutional. The 9 judges of the Thai Constitutional Court has ruled unanimously that a Bill to amend the Political Parties Act is constitutional. A petition challenging the constitutionality of certain provisions in the Bill was submitted to Parliament President Chuan Leekpai by Senator Somjate Boonthanom in August. The senator maintained that several amendments to the Act, which have passed the House and the Senate, may not have been constitutional. The Constitutional Court is also scheduled to rule at the end of this month on the constitutionality of a Bill to emend the MPs Election Act, which has also been endorsed by the House and the Senate. Source: Thai PBS World, Prachachart
ECONOMICS
- The Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi) overseen by National Science and Technology Development Agency was officially launched on 16 November. Included was an open house event for the Sustainable Manufacturing Centre, which is part of the Aripolis in the EECi. Some 300 entrepreneurs from industrial sector joined the open house event, among them Nalab company from Taiwan that aims to use EECi’s facilities to test its autonomous driving technology. EECi offers R&D and testing facilities investors in the EEC, and will also develop basic infrastructure essential for Thailand to progress its New S Curve and Thailand 4.0 industries. Source: Thansettakij Print Edition
- Banks and big corporations are laying off staff en masse as global economies are sending clear signals of an imminent recession. The world’s leading banks and corporations, from Credit Suisse and Deutschbank to Twitter and Tesla have collectively laid off over 100,000 employees in a bid to reduce costs as they face a downturn. The moves send clear signals that the global economy will enter into a recession for the remainder of this year and well into next year. Source: Krungthep Turakij Print Edition
- AIS joins forces with SCG to implement BCG policies to promote autonomous driving using 5G technologies. AIS together with SCG and Huawei are developing a logistics platform to pioneer the use to EV autonomous driving trucks at SCG’s industrial estate in Saraburi province. This is in line with BCG Goals agreed at APEC. Source: Thansettakij Print Edition, Prachachart Turakij
For further information please see the embassy’s Facebook Page ‘Australian Embassy, Thailand’ or the Ambassador’s Twitter Page https://twitter.com/AusAmbBKK
