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From the BBC How a boy from Vietnam became a slave on a UK cannabis farm It was a horrifying death for the 39 Vietnamese nationals found in the back of a trailer in an industrial park in Essex, in October last year. The story shone a light on the subterranean world of people smuggling and human trafficking, reports Cat McShane, specifically the thriving route between Vietnam and the UK. Ba is slight for 18. His body shrinks into a neat package as he recalls his experiences. We're sitting in a brightly lit kitchen, a Jack Russell dog darting between us under the table. Ba's foster mum fusses in the background, making lunch and occasionally interjecting to clarify or add some detail to his account of his journey here from Vietnam. She wants to make sure his story is understood. Ba's lived here for nearly a year. He was placed with his foster parents after being found wandering, confused and scared, around a train station in the North of England, with just the clothes he was wearing. "You feel safe now though, don't you?" his foster mum asks, needing affirmation that the mental and physical scars Ba wears will heal with enough care. His story is one both extraordinary, and typical of the growing number of Vietnamese men and women recognised as being potential victims of trafficking in the UK. For several years, Vietnamese have been one of the top three nationalities featured in modern slavery cases referred to the National Crime Agency, with 702 cases in 2018. The Salvation Army, which supports all adult victims of modern slavery in the UK, says the number of Vietnamese nationals referred to them over the last five years has more than doubled. It's estimated 18,000 people make the journey from Vietnam to Europe each year. Ba believes it was a Chinese gang that trafficked him to the UK. He was kidnapped off the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, where he was a street child, an orphan who slept in the bend of a sewage pipe. He sold lottery tickets for money, although older men sometimes beat him and grabbed his takings. A 2017 Unicef report described Ho Chi Minh City as "a source location, place of transition and destination of child trafficking". And a 2018 report by anti-trafficking charities said numerous trafficked Vietnamese children had reported being abducted while living on the streets. That's what happened to Ba. "An older man told me that if I came with him, he could help me earn a lot of money. But when I said no, he put a bag over my head. I couldn't believe what was happening," he says. He was then bundled into a small van, bound as well as blindfolded, his shouts stifled. Somewhere along the way, Ba's captors changed, and now he couldn't understand the language they spoke. When they finally came to a standstill and the bag was removed, Ba found himself in a large, empty, windowless warehouse in China, and was told to wait. "I knew they were preparing to send me somewhere to work," he says. During the months that Ba was held there, a guard regularly beat him. "I don't know why," Ba says with a shrug, "there was no reason." When he was caught trying to escape, his punishment was far worse than kicks and punches - the guard poured scalding water over his chest and arms. "It was agony. I was shouting at him to stop but he didn't listen," he says. Ba became unconscious with the pain. "I just lay still for days. I couldn't walk. It was painful for a very long time." His foster mum adds that his scarred skin is tight all over his body, and a permanent reminder of what happened to him. Ba was then moved to the UK in a succession of trucks. He remembers the silence of the final container, where the human cargo hid among boxes. The quiet was broken only by the rustling of cardboard being ripped up, to be used as insulation from the gnawing cold. His long-sleeved top offered little protection. "I was always scared on the journey, and very tired. I couldn't sleep because I was so worried. I didn't know what was happening to me. I wasn't told anything about where I was going." In fact, Ba was destined to work as a "gardener" in the UK's illegal cannabis trade - which is valued at around £2.6bn a year. In an abandoned two-storey house surrounded by woodland, he was locked-up and told to look after the plants that grew on every available surface. It was a mundane vigil of switching lights on and off over the plants at set times and watering them every few hours. But it was also punctuated by violence. When a plant failed, Ba was starved and kicked by a Chinese boss, who would aim for the burns on his chest. Ba never received any payment for his work, and wasn't told he was earning to pay off his fare to the UK. He was a slave. "How did I keep going? I kept telling myself to keep eating, keep working and to wait for the opportunity to run away," he says. He finally escaped by smashing an upstairs window, and jumping to the ground. Then he ran for as long as he could. Continues at https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-51176958

From Bangkok Post City Hall has ordered about 20,000 personnel to start work at 10am instead of 8am and suspended classes at its 437 schools on Wednesday in its fight against unhealthy smog levels. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) came up with four urgent measures to deal with the hazardous ultra-fine dust levels in the air in the capital, said spokesman Pongsakorn Kwanmuang. The measures are the introduction of staggered working hours of 20,000 BMA personnel at City Hall in Sao Chingcha area and the BMA City Hall Tower 2 in Din Daeng, suspension of classes at all 437 BMA-run schools, distribution of face masks and campaigns to promote their use, said Pol Capt Pongsakorn. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1840579/city-hall-orders-staggered-hours-in-fight-against-smog

NOTE -- Although Coconuts Bangkok has since posted an article, citing a government official who claims that the British man does not have the virus associated with the Wuhan variant, it also seems directed at downplaying the issue . The spokesman says the public shouldn't be alarmed because there's no indication that the man traveled to Wuhan. That suggests that that the virus can only be acquired within that city. The second article below from the South China Morning Post presents a more dire scenario. From Coconuts Bangkok As Wuhan virus fever takes hold of the public’s imagination, Thai health officials said Tuesday afternoon that a 32-year-old British tourist who fell ill on the resort island of Phi Phi does not have the potentially fatal disease. Ash Shorley, who reportedly fell ill after arriving in Thailand in late December, has been the subject of breathless reports indicating he might have been infected with the virus that has killed at least four people since it emerged in Wuhan, China last month. Phuket’s top public health official, Thanit Sermkaew, told the Phuket News today that Shorley did not have the disease. Disease Control Department Director Sophon Iamsirithavorn today said no record could be found indicating Shorley had traveled to Wuhan. He said the public shouldn’t be alarmed. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/british-tourist-recovering-in-bangkok/ ============================================================== From South China Morning Post Wuhan coronavirus: 20 other cities in China affected by outbreak, Hong Kong academics say The model developed by Hong Kong University suggests coronavirus outbreak worse than officially reported Model, which used travel and other data to map out the likely spread of the virus, estimated 1,343 people had been infected in Wuhan The Wuhan coronavirus has already spread to 20 other cities in China, according to a study from the University of Hong Kong that suggests the outbreak is worse than officially reported. A model developed by HKU’s infectious disease experts found the virus would have taken hold across swathes of mainland China between January 1 and 17. The analysis by the university’s WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control was unveiled on Tuesday, when health authorities reported 21 cases in six mainland cities other than Wuhan, the source of the outbreak. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3047022/wuhan-coronavirus-20-other-cities-china-affected

From MSN A British backpacker is fighting for his life in a Thailand hospital after it is feared he contracted the deadly Chinese flu virus which has already infected more than 100 people. Ashley Shorley had to be taken to hospital by a specialised seaplane because the high altitude was too much for his lungs while he was visiting Koh Phi Phi island. The 32-year-old's symptoms appear to be consistent with the Chinese coronvirus which has officially been contracted by at least 139 people while three deaths have been reported, sparking fears of a pandemic. But with Ashley's parents by his bedside while he relies on a ventilator to breathe, there are concerns the Chinese authorities are keeping the true scale of the issue under wraps, reports the Sun . He is understood to be the first Brit to have contracted the virus. China's National Health Commission said in a statement on January 19 the source of the virus hasn't been found and that its transmission path has not been fully mapped. Phuket doctors drained 2kg of liquid from Ashley's lungs and his dad Chris said his son was "two days from death", adding: "If he wasn’t so fit, he wouldn’t be with us now. “We are now waiting on tests. It is very serious.” https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/fears-brit-backpacker-struck-down-with-deadly-flu-like-chinese-virus-in-thailand/ar-BBZ8qHY?li=BBoPWjQ

From Bangkok Post Chao Phraya dam water critically low CHAI NAT: The water in the Chao Phraya dam reservoir in Sapphaya district is at a critically low level due to the unrelenting and spreading drought, and the rate of discharge is again being reduced. As of Monday morning, the water level on the northern side of the dam was at only 13.45 metres, below the standard retention level of 16.50m. This indicates this year's drought is more serious than last year's, when the water level on Jan 20 was 15.60m. If there is no fresh inflow from the North, the amount of water would fall below the operating level in four months, local reports said. The Chao Phraya dam is currently discharging water at the limited rate of 75 million cubic metres per second - only enough to maintain the ecological system and push back the salty water in the Chao Phraya river. Officials said water must be kept at an operating level for as long as possible as the dry season is unlikely to end soon. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1839744/chao-phraya-dam-water-critically-low

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — A well-designed chair, public transport station, and green spaces are the keys to better living in Thailand – at least, that’s the message of the upcoming art festival. Bangkok Design Week 2020, under the theme of “Resilience: New Potential for Living,” will be held Feb. 1 to 9 this year, showcasing dozens of events ranging from exhibitions, design, workshops, markets, and more in events mostly in the Charoen Krung area as well as citywide. See what a “safe zone” from PM 2.5 looks (and smells) like at one of their exhibitions running all week at the Grand Postal Building. A workshop about designing your own boat stations will be held by popular public transpo advocacy page Mayday to highlight the need for wheelchair access in Bangkok’s mass transit system. Get to know the people of the area better through photo exhibitions of Charoenkrung family portraits. Watch indie films outdoors about Bangkokian’s lives in yesteryear at the Kenkoon Thong Lor Showroom. Most Bangkok Design Week 2020 events are concentrated in Charoen Krung Area, but the dozens of events are held all throughout the city – check their website for full details of the venues and schedule. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/2020/01/17/eco-design-art-workshops-collide-at-bangkok-design-week-2020/ Map of venues https://www.bangkokdesignweek.com/en/guide/venues

From Bangkok Post Bangkok and nearby provinces remained blanketed in smog, with PM2.5 dust exceeding safe levels at 37 air-quality monitoring stations on Saturday morning. The Pollution Control Department (PCD) said hazardous particle levels in the air in Greater Bangkok ranged between 39 and 79 microgrammes per cubic metre in the morning, with the results in 37 areas exceeding the safety standard of 50 microgrammes per cubic metre. The unhealthy smog on Saturday worsened in most areas of the capital from Friday, when the levels were 28-55mcg/cm, with fine dust exceeding safe levels at 10 monitoring stations. The affected areas in Bangkok on Saturday include parts of Hiranrujee in Thon Buri district, Kanchanaphisek Road in Bang Khun Thian district, Bang Na district, Din Daeng area of Din Daeng district, Rama IV Road in Pathumwan district, Intharapitak Road in Thon Buri, Lat Phrao Road in Wang Thong Lang district, Din Daeng Road in Din Daeng district and the Phlab Phla area in Wang Thong Lang district. Among the affected areas in surrounding provinces were parts of Bang Kruai district and tambon Bang Phud in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi, tambon Khlong Nueng in Khlong Luang district of Pathum Thani, tambon Song Khanong in Phra Pradaeng district and tambon Pak Nam in Muang district of Samut Prakan, and tambon Om Noi in Krathum Baen district of Samut Sakhon. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1838564/dust-exceeds-safe-levels-in-37-greater-bangkok-areas#cxrecs_s

From BBC Dating app Grindr and a Twitter-owned advertising-tech firm have been accused of unlawfully sharing users' data. It is part of a wider investigation by the Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC) into the "out of control" advertising industry and profiling of customers. Along with four other ad-tech companies, they face huge fines if found to be in breach of EU data laws. Grindr said it was changing its consent platform while Twitter has temporarily disabled the relevant account. "We are currently investigating this issue to understand the sufficiency of Grindr's consent mechanism. In the meantime, we have disabled Grindr's MoPub account," Twitter told BBC News. Grindr and its advertising partners are accused of sharing details such as location, age, gender and sexuality, in breach of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). Continues at https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51106357

From Pattaya One Vietjet launches direct route from Ho Chi Minh City to Pattaya / U-tapao VIETNAM (VOV)- The low-cost carrier Vietjet Air have recently opened a direct air route connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Pattaya in Thailand, with four return flights per week. The Ho Chi Minh City – Pattaya air route came into operation from December 23, with flights departing on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.The duration of each flight is one hour and 30 minutes, with departures from Ho Chi Minh City taking place at 13:25 before arrival at U-tapao International Airport in Pattaya at 14:40. Return flights will see departures from U-tapao International Airport at 11:25 before arriving back in Ho Chi Minh City at 12:55. https://thepattayanews.com/2020/01/15/vietjet-air-launches-direct-route-from-ho-chi-minh-city-to-pattaya/

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — Fully legal brothels should be introduced to combat sex crimes, a government coalition lawmaker said Wednesday. Thai Civilized Party leader Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, who also chairs the House Committee on sexual violence, said brothels and sex shops would help potential offenders “release their manhood. But the director of an organization that asists rape victims criticized Mongkolkit’s remark as ignorant and misleading. “We must understand that humans are born to procreate. The laws and prohibitions came after. Morality came after,” Mongkolkit said. “Most rape cases occurred because men have no venue for release of manhood.” Apart from his proposal to legalize brothels and sex shops, the 38-year-old politician said male bed-ridden patients should be given sexual services that would release their libido. He also said decriminalizing brothels would help eliminate the culture of bribery within the law enforcement. Mongkolkit backed his argument by citing Switzerland’s liberal policies on prostitution as a successful model to reduce sexual crimes. His proposal came after years of campaigning by several NGOs, including a sex worker advocate group, to decriminalize and regulate Thailand’s notorious sex industry, which remains illegal despite its global reputation. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2020/01/16/mp-calls-for-legalizing-brothels-to-reduce-rape/

From Reuters Thailand's 2020 rice exports forecast to fall to lowest in seven years BANGKOK, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Thailand's rice exports in 2020 are forecast to drop to their lowest in seven year, the country's rice exporters group said on Thursday, as the strong baht reduces the competitiveness against other shippers. Exports from Thailand, the world's second-biggest exporter of the commodity after India, are expected to drop to 7.5 million tonnes this year, the Thai Rice Exporters Association said. That would be the lowest volume since Thailand exported 6.6 million tonnes of rice in 2013. The grim forecast came after Thailand fell short of its initial 2019 target by exporting 7.8 million tonnes of rice last year. Thai rice export volumes have declined for two consecutive years since hitting a record 11.60 million tonnes in 2017. "We're being optimistic when we give the 7.5 million tonnes forecast," Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the exporters association, told Reuters. "This year looks worse than the last, because of even more apparent price differences." Thai benchmark 5% broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1 prices have remained high well into 2020, after trading significantly higher than the Vietnamese variety throughout 2019 mainly because the baht rose in value relative to other currencies. Thai prices were about $75 a tonne higher than Vietnamese cargoes last week. Drought - which has been declared in 18 provinces in the central, northern and northeastern farming regions - also threatens to reduce supply in 2020, driving up local rice prices. Thailand's dry season started in November and usually lasts through April, although authorities said it could go on through June this year. https://in.investing.com/news/thailands-2020-rice-exports-forecast-to-fall-to-lowest-in-seven-years-2101505

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — Skytrain officials on Wednesday hinted that the long-delayed plan to expand a popular station close to Taksin Bridge may be implemented within the “beginning of this year.” After years of lengthy discussions and uncertainty concerning the fate of BTS Saphan Taksin station, the rail operator said the station will be closed for expansion works for 40 months and construction will likely begin later this year, though they gave no precise time frame. “We’re currently discussing the plan with relevant agencies,” BTS public relations officer Patchaneeya Sukcharoen said. “No dates have been set, but the plan should begin within the beginning of this year.” The station, located on the east end of Taksin Bridge, has long been a bottleneck of the system due to its single track layout where only one train can stop at the station at a time. Congestion at BTS Taksin Bridge worsened in recent years as more commuters and tourists relied on the station as a link to the nearby river boats and ferries. The new plan will add a second set of tracks and platform at the station to ease congestion, according to the operator. “The service will operate as usual, but trains will not stop at Saphan Taksin,” BTS CEO Surapong Laoha-Unya said. “We will provide shuttle buses from Surasak and Krung Thon Buri stations for passengers during that period.” He added, “When it’s done, trains will arrive every two minutes, shorter than the current wait time of three minutes.” The CEO said the company will invest in the 1.1 billion baht project, which also includes the addition of traffic lanes on Taksin Bridge. Surapong expected the works to be completed within the end of 2022. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/transpo/2020/01/15/bts-again-floats-plan-to-close-rebuild-saphan-taksin-station/

Point well taken. If you look at the pics that Divine Madman posted above you'll notice that few are wearing safety goggles. Ordinary eye glasses offer scant protection against a high-pressure water jet. The stream could easily dislodge them.. Goggles should fit snugly to the face so try them on before purchasing.

NOTE -- He's not a household name, politician or celebrity, but when Larry Fink talks world leaders and investors listen. With nearly seven trillion dollars under management, Larry Fink heads up the world's largest investment house. In this interview he predicts a major shift in investment capital allocation in response to one of the most significant events in his 40 years of money management: climate change. Extracted from CNBC Climate crisis is about to trigger ‘a fundamental reshaping of finance’ In an annual letter to CEOs published Tuesday, BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink said: “Climate change has become a defining factor in companies’ long-term prospects. “But awareness is rapidly changing, and I believe we are on the edge of a fundamental reshaping of finance,” he added. BlackRock’s assets under management totaled almost $7 trillion in the third quarter of 2019. The chief of the world’s largest money manager believes the intensifying climate crisis will bring about a fundamental reshaping of finance, with a significant reallocation of capital set to take place “sooner than most anticipate.” In an annual letter to CEOs published Tuesday, BlackRock Chief Executive Larry Fink said: “Climate change has become a defining factor in companies’ long-term prospects … But awareness is rapidly changing, and I believe we are on the edge of a fundamental reshaping of finance.” Fink’s comments come as business leaders, policymakers and investors prepare to travel to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum next week. The theme at this year’s January get-together, which is often criticized for being out of touch with the real world, has been designated as “Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World.” “Climate change is almost invariably the top issue that clients around the world raise with BlackRock. From Europe to Australia, South America to China, Florida to Oregon, investors are asking how they should modify their portfolios,” Fink continued. “And because capital markets pull future risk forward, we will see changes in capital allocation more quickly than we see changes to the climate itself.” “In the near future — and sooner than most anticipate — there will be a significant reallocation of capital,” he added. Alongside 20 other young climate activists, Sweden’s Greta Thunberg has called on all of those attending the World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alps to stop the “madness” of ongoing investments in fossil fuel exploration and extraction and “completely divest” from fossil fuels. In an op-ed for The Guardian, published Friday, Thunberg — who was catapulted to fame for skipping school every Friday to hold a weekly vigil outside Swedish parliament in 2018 — said global leaders must also “end all fossil fuel subsidies.” “Over the 40 years of my career in finance, I have witnessed a number of financial crises and challenges — the inflation spikes of the 1970s and early 1980s, the Asian currency crisis in 1997, the dot-com bubble, and the global financial crisis,” BlackRock’s Fink said. “Even when these episodes lasted for many years, they were all, in the broad scheme of things, short-term in nature. Climate change is different.” “Even if only a fraction of the projected impacts is realized, this is a much more structural, long-term crisis. Companies, investors, and governments must prepare for a significant reallocation of capital,” he added. Continues with video https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/14/blackrock-ceo-larry-fink-says-climate-change-will-soon-reshape-markets.html

Yes, agreed. But increasing the size of your font doesn't make your argument any more persuasive.

I don't think Greta is a running for Miss Congeniality. She wants to scare the shit of us in the same way Act Up activists sought to do 30+ years ago when young men were dying of AIDS in alarming numbers. They didn't want us to like them but they did want us to listen. To their everlasting credit, many did. The messenger isn't the problem. History repeatedly reminds us that it was our reluctance to hear the message. The headlines in the media are frequently dominated by people demonstrating for one cause or another. Whether it's the cost of healthcare, threats to the environment, lack of political freedom or human rights, nuclear proliferation or a myriad of other issues, it's always easier to defend the status quo than to give their arguments their do. Speaking truth to power is rarely a risk-free activity. It invariably makes the comfortable uncomfortable.

From MSN British families are sending elderly relatives with dementia overseas to Thailand in a small but growing trend. Researchers visiting private care homes in Chiang Mai have found eight homes where guests from the UK are living thousands of miles away from their families, because suitable care in their home country was impossible to find or afford. “Thailand already has a long history of medical tourism and it’s now setting itself up as an international hub for dementia care,” said Dr Caleb Johnston, a senior lecturer in human geography at Newcastle University. Some of the facilities are British-run; some are Thai-run but with substantial investment from British citizens; and some are Swiss-run. All have the backing and support of the Thai government. “The government and private investors are very active in cultivating this as part of their economic development,” Johnston added. There are an estimated 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK. Local authority residential care costs up to £700 a week, with private care around £1,000. There are no prescribed staff-to-guest ratios in the UK but, with annual staff turnover exceeding 30% and 122,000 job vacancies, levels in state and private facilities tend to be around 1:6. In Thailand, in contrast, 1:1 around-the-clock residential care with fully-qualified staff – in award-winning facilities that look like four-star hotels – costs around £750 a week. Johnston spent nine weeks in Thailand along with Prof Geraldine Pratt, head of geography at the University of British Columbia, interviewing families and staff in residential care homes. Paul Edwards, the director of clinical services at Dementia UK, said: “I can well understand people choosing this option, given the state of anxiety about care in the UK. “It’s an emerging market that I can see becoming more popular because our failing and ailing system – which no politician is even trying to find a solution for – causes fear for those whose loved ones have to use it.” “It’s an emerging market that I can see becoming more popular because our failing and ailing system – which no politician is even trying to find a solution for – causes fear for those whose loved ones have to use it.” Nonetheless, those who take their loved ones abroad talk of the distress in having to choose between the physical, emotional and financial hardships of caring for them in the UK and outsourcing their care to the other side of the world. Continues at https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/families-sending-relatives-with-dementia-to-thailand-for-care/ar-BBYT7lT?li=BBoPRmx

Excerpted from South China Morning Post Cathay Pacific to scrap many JFK flights Cathay Pacific is poised to offer unpaid leave to staff as it struggles to cope with the financial damage caused by more than seven months of anti-government protests in Hong Kong and a boycott by mainland Chinese customers. As it stands, the measure is voluntarily but some employees are being encouraged to take up to a month of no-pay leave, with Cathay Dragon pilots among the first, the South China Morning Post reported. Flights to New York's John F. Kennedy (JFK) airport appear to be set for some of the biggest cuts, according to Cathay's booking schedules. From late October, it would fly only 11 times a week from Hong Kong. In the summer peak, it operates as many as 28. In recent months, Cathay deferred delivery of new aircraft this year and planned to accelerate the retirement of older planes, froze hiring of non-essential staff, deferred non-critical spending and scrapped its annual 13th-month companywide bonus. Tourist arrivals into Hong Kong for November, the most recent figures, fell by the most in 16 years — by 55.9%. There have been double-digit falls in visitor numbers since August. To shore up its collapsing customer base with transit passengers Cathay has been cutting its fares. It has also filled up planes by giving away economy class travel to its employees for almost nothing. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3045605/rise-chinese-only-prostitution-catches-philippines-surprise

Thanks for your fine reporting. You enjoyed a good introduction to the city and acquitted yourself well. The above experience caught my attention. I'd never feel obliged to pick up on an off's suggestion to visit another venue. It's one thing if you asked him what he wanted to do but when a guy volunteers plans for your evening I'd be a bit suspect of his intentions which should be to concentrate on you. Taking him to some place to eat, I agree, is a good practice but if you aren't in agreement on his choice feel free to select someplace predictable like Foodland where you'll both be comfortable and well fed at reasonable cost.

From Bloomberg News Thailand to Ease Capital Outflow Rules Again, Governor Says Thailand’s central bank will take further steps to ease restrictions on capital outflows in coming months as it tries to curb gains in the baht, Governor Veerathai Santiprabhob said. The Bank of Thailand plans to increase the amount of proceeds exporters can hold overseas, liberalize foreign-currency deposit accounts and take steps to enable insurance companies to invest more abroad, Veerathai said in an interview Wednesday at his Bangkok office. The Bank of Thailand has been struggling to rein in the baht after it gained almost 6% against the dollar over the past year, making it the best performer among Asian currencies. The appreciation has hurt exports and curbed tourism, denting two key industries in the trade-reliant economy. The baht weakened immediately after the governor’s comments Wednesday, and was up 0.1% against the dollar at 30.314 as of 8:40 a.m. Thursday in Bangkok. “All in all, we think the baht has appreciated too much,” the governor said. “People might say it has been the best-performing currency, but in Thailand we’re not happy about it. When the baht is not moving in line with fundamentals of the economy, it should not be considered the best performer.” The central bank already has taken several measures to counter the baht’s gains: It cut interest rates to a record low last year, imposed measures in July to counter short-term inflows, and in November relaxed rules to spur outflows. “It seems that the Bank of Thailand is able to control the baht now,” said Jitipol Puksamatanan, chief strategist at Krung Thai Bank Pcl in Bangkok. “I believe that it would restore the relationship between the baht and other Asian currencies, to support exports.” Veerathai outlined additional steps that will be taken: in the next 1-2 months, increase the amount of proceeds exporters can hold overseas to $1 million per lading bill, from the current $200,000 cap, a step that will cover about 80% of Thailand’s exports in the first half of the year, liberalize the foreign-currency deposit account framework so individuals and local companies can keep foreign currency in Thailand relax rules so insurance companies can invest abroad more easily https://finance.yahoo.com/news/thailand-ease-capital-outflow-rules-103127485.html

Forget about Greta and start worrying about Lilly Meet Thailand's answer to Greta Thunberg. She's only 12, but her passion is already paying off https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-01/meet-thailands-answer-to-greta-thunberg/11817228

From Coconuts Bangkok Bangkok’s water supply is likely to continue tasting and smelling nasty for another four months, but is completely safe to drink, officials said The brackish water that’s been flowing in Bangkok for about one week due to severe drought conditions is still within acceptable water quality standards, according to Health Department Director Panpimol Wipulakorn. According to Panpimol, the sodium levels of Bangkok’s water supply – ranging from 100 milligrams to 150 milligrams per liter – are still below the 200 milligrams considered acceptable for drinking by the World Health Organization. Bangkok’s surprisingly potable tap water took a foul turn just before the New Year due to higher salt content. The drought ravaging the kingdom means lower water flow and increased salinity in the Chao Phraya River. The Health Department warned people to reduce their salt and sodium intake in the meantime. Those with kidney problems and high blood pressure should be exceptionally cautious about consuming the salty tap water. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/bangkoks-tap-water-to-remain-stanky-until-may/

From Reuters BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand opened its first full-time clinic specialising in traditional and alternative cannabis-based medicine on Monday, as part of a move by the government towards developing a medicinal cannabis industry. "This is a pilot clinic, because we cannot produce enough doctors with expertise in cannabis," Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, told reporters at the opening ceremony in Bangkok. Patients will receive treatment free of charge for the first two weeks, he added. Thailand, which has a tradition of using cannabis to relieve pain and fatigue, legalized marijuana for medical use and research in 2017 to boost agricultural income. There are already around 25 cannabis clinics attached to general hospitals around the country but, unlike the newly-launched pilot clinic, they operate for just a few days a week due to a lack of specialised staff. The largest producer of medicinal cannabis is currently the health ministry's Government Pharmaceutical Organization. Kasetsart University's director of medical cannabis research, Natakorn Thasnas, told Reuters that the university would supply 2,200 kilograms of cannabis leaf to the ministry. Cannabis production, cultivation and sale has been limited to licensed Thai producers for the next four years to protect the domestic industry. Currently, only hospitals and research facilities are allowed to apply for cannabis production and extraction licenses, but the government is reviewing regulations to enable Thai businesses to apply for permits. Last year, Thailand dropped cannabis and hemp extracts from its narcotics list and proposed a draft law that would allow each household to grow six cannabis plants. Four types of drugs, containing different combinations of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psycho-active ingredient in cannabis, were given to patients to treat migraine, insomnia, neck pain and muscle stiffness, the ministry said in a statement. https://news.yahoo.com/thailand-rolls-cannabis-clinic-based-073519777.html

NOTE -- This article takes a comprehensive look at many factors that will affect Thailand's economy in the new year, including banking, tourism and housing. It may be of greater interest to expats and long-stay visitors. One thing that stood out for me was the remarks about the banking industry. I interpret this to mean higher user fees in all categories, a trend that has expanded in the past few years. Excerpted from Bangkok Post Even though the chief executives of top Thai companies expect the country's 2020 economy to continue to be stuck in the slow lane, they are optimistic that the growth pace will improve from last year, albeit at a muted canter. Banthoon Lamsam, Kasikornbank's chief executive, paints a bleak outlook for Thailand's economy and banking industry in 2020. "Given the likelihood of low growth everywhere, including Thailand, there is no growth story to sell to potential investors," he said at a recent analyst meeting. "Banks' ability to make a profit is weaker than 20 years ago. Things are getting tougher, such as making loans and gaining fee income -- the sorts of things we've enjoyed over the past couple of decades." Non-interest income growth is shrinking, and financial institutions have struggled to find replacements in recent years. Net fee and non-interest income used to be big items in the income pile but have dwindled every year, Mr Banthoon said. KBank predicts the Thai economy to expand by 2.7% this year, up from 2.5% projected for 2019. Both years' growth, if the forecasts hold, are below growth potential of 3.5-4%. Aswin Techajareonvikul, chief executive of Big C Supercenter Plc, the operator of Big C hypermarkets, said that although Thailand's GDP is below that of many regional peers like Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, the group remains confident in the economy's long-term ability to recover to healthy growth and become a leader again. Big C is expanding via small retail outlets (Mini Big C) to better reach customers in Bangkok and major cities nationwide, as well as investing in IT facilities and big data to better understand consumer lifestyles and varying needs. Preecha Ekkunagul, chief executive of Central Pattana Plc, the SET-listed property and retail developer under Central Group, said economic prospects for 2020 are stronger than in 2019 because there are no additional negative risks this year. Supattra Paopiamsap, chief executive of residential developer Pruksa Real Estate Plc, said the best the property market can hope for in 2020 is flat growth. The market slowdown could continue as many volatile factors remain. "Several negative factors are still present this year. The main one is negative sentiment," she said. "In reality, the situation is unlikely to be as bad as people imagine, but they are not confident." The number of international tourist arrivals in 2020 is expected to grow by 5-7% regardless of external factors, said Chairat Trirattanajarasporn, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand. To reach this target, the industry must find effective solutions to maintain positive momentum and support the overall economy. One is attracting quality tourists who spend more while travelling, Mr Chairat said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1829659/vision-from-on-high#cxrecs_s

Here's the surf-and-turf special at a high-end NYC steak house that goes for $175 (which exceeds the 5,000 bht Babe gets for a few hours) Here's Babe I leave it up to each reader to determine which memory will linger longer