Jonathan Fairfield

Bangkok City Hall has started its road safety campaign for this year’s holiday season, with speeding and drunk driving being the main concerns. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Friday launched its road safety campaign, as people prepare to travel abroad for the upcoming holidays. City Hall is calling for cooperation from motorists to comply with traffic regulations such as speed limits and other road safety rules, including refraining from driving under the influence. The BMA has been running its holiday season road safety campaign for two consecutive years and reported a 10% reduction in road accidents during the 2020-2021 campaign. The city has also identified 174 accident hotspots, with fixes already implemented for 152 locations. For this year, each of the 50 district offices will be conducting inspections at restaurants and bars to ensure compliance with the alcohol serving age limit, while also promoting its Drink Don’t Drive initiative. -- © Copyright NNT 2021-12-26 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Bangkok city hall partially opens the Chong Nonsi floating park to the public Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) opened an exhibition today (Saturday), to showcase the transformation of Chong Nonsi Canal, in Bangkok’s Sathorn district, into a new kind of park, floating on the canal. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244413-bangkok-city-hall-partially-opens-the-chong-nonsi-floating-park-to-the-public/

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) opened an exhibition today (Saturday), to showcase the transformation of Chong Nonsi Canal, in Bangkok’s Sathorn district, into a new kind of park, floating on the canal. The exhibition, which features music shows, a model of the park project, the story of the rehabilitation of the canal and light-decorated trees, will last until January 5th. BMA Spokesman Pongsakorn Kwanmuang said that the public space is just a fraction of the project to change the landscape of the canal into another landmark, to beautify the city and to provide another recreation area. The project is consists of the activity and skywalk zones and a third zone to connect the park with the BRT bus service system, which runs parallel to the canal. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/bangkok-city-hall-partially-opens-the-chong-nonsi-floating-park-to-the-public/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-12-26 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Utility pole in footbridge in Sattahip district finally removed Workers from the local electricity authority and a construction company removed a utility pole from a footbridge under construction today (Saturday), in front of a shopping mall in the Sattahip district of Thailand’s Chon Buri province. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244412-utility-pole-in-footbridge-in-sattahip-district-finally-removed/

Workers from the local electricity authority and a construction company removed a utility pole from a footbridge under construction today (Saturday), in front of a shopping mall in the Sattahip district of Thailand’s Chon Buri province. The workers used a concrete cutting saw to cut the pole at its base and a crane was employed to lift the pole from the footbridge. The work took about three hours. Officials said that workers will now remove all the cables from the pedestrian bridge, which is expected to be completed and reopened to the public in March or April. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/utility-pole-in-footbridge-in-sattahip-district-finally-removed/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-12-26 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thailand demands ฿1.8bn from company for toxic waste discharge Thailand’s Pollution Control Department (PCD) is demanding 1.8 billion baht in compensation from a private company for environmental damage allegedly caused by toxic chemicals discharged from its factory, located at the 304 Industrial Park in Phanom Sarakham district of the eastern province of Chachoengsao. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244411-thailand-demands-฿18bn-from-company-for-toxic-waste-discharge/

Thailand’s Pollution Control Department (PCD) is demanding 1.8 billion baht in compensation from a private company for environmental damage allegedly caused by toxic chemicals discharged from its factory, located at the 304 Industrial Park in Phanom Sarakham district of the eastern province of Chachoengsao. According to PCD Director-General Atthaphol Charoenchansa, officials from the Royal Irrigation and Ground Water Resources departments, the Chon Buri-based environment office and the Chachoengsao-based natural resources and environment office conducted an extensive investigation into complaints of chemical pollutants being discharged into the Nam Jone reservoir, in the industrial park, allegedly from the factory of THH Molyprocessing Company. Samples from the reservoir and of ground water around the factory were sent to laboratories of relevant agencies for tests. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-demands-฿1-8bn-from-company-for-toxic-waste-discharge/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-12-26 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Suspected insurgents killed by Thai government forces in Pattani province Two suspected southern insurgents were shot dead by Thai government forces during a siege at a house in Thung Yang Daeng district of the restive southern province of Pattani on Friday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244410-suspected-insurgents-killed-by-thai-government-forces-in-pattani-province/

Two suspected southern insurgents were shot dead by Thai government forces during a siege at a house in Thung Yang Daeng district of the restive southern province of Pattani on Friday. A combined force of army troops, police and paramilitary rangers was rushed to Village 3 in Paku sub-district, after they received a tipoff that a small group of suspected insurgents were sheltering in a house there. The government forces laid siege to the house and brought with them community and religious leaders, to try to convince the suspected insurgents to surrender and avoid bloodshed. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/suspected-insurgents-killed-by-thai-government-forces-in-pattani-province/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-12-26 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Pheu Thai leader urges Thai PM to dissolve parliament to avoid more trouble Pheu Thai Party leader Chonlanan Srikaew called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha today (Saturday) to dissolve parliament and hold a general election to pave the way for a peaceful transfer of power to a new government elected through fully democratic means. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244409-pheu-thai-leader-urges-thai-pm-to-dissolve-parliament-to-avoid-more-trouble/

Pheu Thai Party leader Chonlanan Srikaew called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha today (Saturday) to dissolve parliament and hold a general election to pave the way for a peaceful transfer of power to a new government elected through fully democratic means. He predicted that the coming year will be a rough ride for the government politically, economically and socially, which will shake its stability to the core, citing its inability to hold parliamentary meetings due to lack of quora, despite the fact that the government commands the majority in the House of Representatives. If an important piece of legislation, such as the loan bill, is to be debated in the House and the government cannot control its MPs to ensure there is a quorum for the meeting, the chance is that the government will be held accountable if the meeting collapses, said Chonlanan. At a press conference today (Saturday), the Pheu Thai party listed five other destabilising factors to be confronted by the government next year. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pheu-thai-leader-urges-thai-pm-to-dissolve-parliament-to-avoid-more-trouble/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-12-26 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thailand Live Sunday 26 Dec: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244407-thailand-live-sunday-26-dec-2021/

CCSA warns of heightened risk catching Covid on flights due to Omicron variant An expert with the International Air Transport Association says air travelers now face double or triple the risk of catching Covid on flights, because of the prevalence of the Omicron coronavirus variant. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1244293-ccsa-warns-of-heightened-risk-catching-covid-on-flights-due-to-omicron-variant/

Download the ASEAN NOW 2022 Calendar here. All no alcohol days listed! A big thank you to everyone who submitted images to the photography forum over the past year. There were some amazing photos submitted during 2021. The calendar also includes all Thai and other significant holidays, including no alcohol days. You can download the ASEAN NOW 2022 Calendar here: https://aseannow.com/files/file/796-asean-now-calendar-2022/

Israeli tourist who spent four days on the run after testing positive for COVID arrested in Koh Samui An Israeli man who spent four days on the run after escaping from quarantine in Bangkok was arrested in Koh Samui on Wednesday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1243965-israeli-tourist-who-spent-four-days-on-the-run-after-testing-positive-for-covid-arrested-in-koh-samui/

An Israeli man who spent four days on the run after escaping from quarantine in Bangkok was arrested in Koh Samui on Wednesday. The man who had been staying in a hotel in Sukhumvit in Bangkok had also travelled to Pattaya before travelling my mini van to Koh Samui. Police said the man arrived in Thailand on December 17 and was placed in quarantine at a hotel in the Sukhumvit area. He took an RT-PCR test which came back positive for COVID-19 but the strain has yet to be determined. The patient then refused treatment before escaping the quarantine facility. Police said the man then hailed a taxi and travelled to Pattaya where he tried to check in to a hotel but was refused entry as he was unable to provide any travel documentation. He stayed in Pattaya until December 19 where he rented a mini van and travelled to Chumphon. Police then picked him up on CCTV in Chumpon and discovered he was travelling to Koh Samui. On Wednesday, police tracked the man down to a restaurant at Naithon Beach. Police said the man will be sent to hospital and will be charged with breaching the Communicable Disease Act. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-12-22 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Thai PM orders immediate suspension of new Test & Go registrations Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-O-Cha has ordered the immediate suspension of new registrations for the Test & Go program due to fears over the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1243857-thai-pm-orders-immediate-suspension-of-new-test-go-registrations/

Thailand has suspended its ‘Thailand Pass’ and ‘Test & Go’ schemes due to fears over the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-O-Cha has ordered the immediate suspension of new registrations for Thailand Pass and at the same reinstated mandatory quarantine effective immediately. The PM announced on Tuesday afternoon that Test & Go will be put on hold until at least January 4, 2022. The so-called ‘Sandbox’ programs will also be suspended. "After Dec. 21, there will be no new registrations for 'Test and Go', only quarantine or Phuket sandbox," said deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhanadirek. However, those who had already registered and are due to travel will still be able to enter the country, but they will be required to take a second RT-PCR test. When the test is required was not clear at the time of posting. The PM took the decision following a meeting with the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on Tuesday morning. This is a developing story. This post will be updated without warning. This post was updated at 16.44 -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-12-21 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

A big thank you to everyone who submitted images to the photography forum over the past year. There were some amazing photos submitted during 2021. The calendar also includes all Thai and other significant holidays, including no alcohol days. You can download the ASEAN NOW 2022 Calendar here: https://aseannow.com/files/file/796-asean-now-calendar-2022/

A big thank you to everyone who submitted images to the photography forum over the past year. There were some amazing photos submitted during 2021. The calendar also includes all Thai and other significant holidays, including no alcohol days. You can download the ASEAN NOW 2022 Calendar here: https://aseannow.com/files/file/796-asean-now-calendar-2022/

Thailand's new COVID-19 cases hit six month low Image: Reuters file photo Thailand on Sunday (Dec 19) recorded 2,899 new COVID-19 cases, 4,389 recoveries and 22 deaths. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1243586-thailands-new-covid-19-cases-hit-six-month-low/

Image: Reuters file photo Thailand on Sunday (Dec 19) recorded 2,899 new COVID-19 cases, 4,389 recoveries and 22 deaths. Sunday's caseload is the lowest reported in Thailand more than than six months. Since April 1, the start of the so-called third wave, Thailand has reported 2,162,665 cases and 2,100,932 recoveries. Meanwhile, vaccinations in Thailand continue to be administered at a significant rate. As of Friday (Dec 17), 99.38 million vaccine doses had been administered in Thailand. To date, approximately 70 percent of the population have received one dose of a vaccine, while 61.4 percent of the population have received two vaccine doses. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-12-19 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Omicron impacts tourist numbers PHUKET: The Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Yuthasak Supasorn has admitted that the number of tourist bookings to Thailand has slowed down with the latest COVID-19 strain of Omicron believed to be the chief factor. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1243582-omicron-impacts-tourist-numbers/

PHUKET: The Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Yuthasak Supasorn has admitted that the number of tourist bookings to Thailand has slowed down with the latest COVID-19 strain of Omicron believed to be the chief factor. Yuthasak said that there were on avergae 5 to 6,000 international tourists arriving in the Kingdom per day prior to the Omicron outbreak but that figure has fallen to less than 3,000 per day since Dec 8. He added that on Dec 15 it was reported a total of 2,584 tourists entered the country and that many were now postponing their booking to the New Year in the hope the Omicron strain can be better understood and contained. Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/omicron-impacts-tourist-numbers-82428.php -- © Copyright Phuket News 2021-12-19 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Over 2,500 Karen refugees housed in a school in Thailand’s Mae Sot district More than 2,500 Karen refugees are taking refuge in a temporary shelter in the compound of a school in Mae Sot district of Thailand’s western province of Tak, while 77 others have returned to Myanmar. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1243581-over-2500-karen-refugees-housed-in-a-school-in-thailand’s-mae-sot-district/