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Soldiers Seize Meth Pills After Clash with Drug Smugglers CHIANG MAI, Feb 2 (TNA) – Soldiers seized 19 rucksacks after a clash with drug smugglers in the forest in the northern province of Chiang Mai. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1285319-soldiers-seize-meth-pills-after-clash-with-drug-smugglers/

CHIANG MAI, Feb 2 (TNA) – Soldiers seized 19 rucksacks after a clash with drug smugglers in the forest in the northern province of Chiang Mai. An army patrol near the Thai-Myanmar border in Chiang Dao district spotted about 20 men, carrying sacks from the Myanmar side. They sent those men a signal to stop for a search but they opened fire at officials, leading to a clash, which lasted about 5-10 minutes. Full Story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-1107278 -- © Copyright Thai News Agency 2023-02-02 - 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. The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

Two people read recruitment information at Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone in HCMC's District 7, January 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Le Tuyet After the Tet holiday, many factories in HCMC have boosted recruitment efforts to make up for the shortage of staff as orders have recovered. Tai Viet Camping Products Industries Co. in the Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone in District 7 is recruiting 100 laborers to increase its staff to 700. Newcomers are offered a basic salary of VND5.2 million (US$220) per month in addition to allowances to support their children. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/hcmc-factories-have-higher-demand-for-recruitment-4565644.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2023-02-02

Police officers raid the New Phuong Duong Club in Hai Chau District, Da Nang on January 31, 2023. Photo courtesy of the police Police raided the New Phuong Dong Club in Da Nang, the largest nightclub in central Vietnam, Tuesday and caught 64 drug users red-handed. When officers from the Hai Chau District police went into the club on Dong Da Street at midnight, there were hundreds of customers, many high on drugs. The police found Vo Ngoc Phi, 30, Phan Van Kiem, 23, and some others sitting at three tables and possessing 30.5 tablets of ecstasy and two packs of ketamine. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/da-nang-police-raid-nightclub-catch-drug-pushers-users-in-the-act-4565895.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2023-02-02

Traffic jam on National Highway 13 in HCMC's Thu Duc City, January 29, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Gia Minh HCMC wants to upgrade national highways and routes linking it with other localities under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) method, according to a proposal made by the Department of Transport. The city currently only uses the BOT method to build new road projects. As proposed by the Transport Department to the Department of Planning and Investment, the BOT method will be applied to renovate three highway sections. The projects include the VND12.2-trillion (US$523.67-million) expansion of National Highway 13 in Thu Duc City from 19 meters wide to 40-60 meters wide, a VND12.9-trillion project to enlarge National Highway 1 that links the city with the Mekong Delta from 19 to 52 meters wide, and a VND1.2 trillion project to upgrade National Highway 22 near its northwestern gateway to the industrial hub of Binh Duong Province. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/hcmc-wants-private-investors-to-renovate-road-traffic-system-4565971.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2023-02-02

A man clears snow in front of a shrine amid heavy snowfall in Tottori, Japan in this photo provided by Kyodo on January 25, 2023. Photo handout via Reuters Vietnamese families in South Korea and Japan are struggling as water pipes freeze and heating costs skyrocket amid some of the worst cold spells to ever hit Northeastern Asia. "Blizzards caused several flights to be canceled, and vehicles have to constantly keep their lights on and move at very slow speed, because visibility is less than a meter long," said 28-year-old Nguyen Thi Bich Ngan, who lives in the northern city of Sapporo, famous for its Japanese beer brand. Chaos befell traffic across Japan last week, when temperatures in 46 out of 47 localities dropped below zero on January 25. Flight and train schedules were disrupted due to the weather. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/vietnamese-battle-unprecedented-cold-in-japan-south-korea-4565688.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2023-02-02

A still image from a video shared online shows a man and a woman arriving at a primary school in Vinh Long Province where they beat two boys on January 16, 2023. A married couple entered a primary school in southern Vietnam and beat two students, whom they believed had bullied their son. Social media users on Wednesday shared a video showing a man and a woman entering the campus of Tan An Thanh 2 Primary School in Binh Tan District of Vinh Long Province and beating two schoolboys playing in the schoolyard. The video, which lasted about two minutes, showed the woman driving a motorbike into the school, carrying her son with her. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/parents-accuse-boys-of-bullying-their-child-beat-them-at-school-4566032.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2023-02-02

A quake hit New Bataan town in Davao de Oro on Feb. 2, 2023 Phivolcs MANILA, Philippines — Minor injuries and damaged houses were reported after a magnitude 6 earthquake struck Mindanao on Wednesday evening, according to the country’s disaster agency. The Office of the Civil Defense spokesperson Rafaelito Alejandro on Thursday said the agency’s regional offices and local disaster risk reduction and management offices are currently conducting assessment and monitoring after a quake hit New Bataan town in Davao de Oro. “Only minor damage were reported as of reporting time, the majority were residential houses,” the OCD said, adding that several minor injuries were logged. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/02/2242040/minor-injuries-damage-houses-reported-after-davao-de-oro-quake -- © Copyright Philstar 2023-02-02

In a bid to get global recognition The Philippines recognized the mangrove forest of Del Carmen in the island of Siargao as a “wetland of international importance” on February 2023. Philstar.com / Martin Ramos DEL CARMEN, Surigao del Norte — The Philippines recognized Thursday the mangrove forest of Del Carmen in the island of Siargao as a “wetland of international importance” in a bid to get global recognition under a 52-year-old treaty on the conservation and use of these areas. Environment officials expect Manila’s recognition of Del Carmen’s mangrove forest on World Wetlands Day to be a “precursor” to its formal listing as the country’s ninth wetland of international importance under the 1971 Ramsar Convention. “We’re going to put Siargao Island into the global map of wetland conservation,” said Anson Tagtag, officer-in-charge of the Biodiversity Management Bureau’s Caves, Wetlands and Other Ecosystems Division. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/climate-and-environment/2023/02/02/2242041/phl-declares-siargao-towns-mangrove-forest-wetland-international-importance -- © Copyright Philstar 2023-02-02

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:26 p.m.) — The Philippines and the United States have agreed to expand its military partnership by designating four new sites “in strategic areas” under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The agreement allows US military to access facilities in Philippine military bases and camps. “The EDCA is a key pillar of the US-Philippines alliance, which supports combined training, exercises, and interoperability between our forces,” a joint statement between the US Department of Defense and the Philippine Department of National Defense read. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/02/2242054/philippines-us-announce-designation-four-new-edca-sites -- © Copyright Philstar 2023-02-02

People queue to receive COVID-19 vaccine at a drugstore along Bayan-Bayan Ave. in Marikina City during the pilot implementation of the government’s “Resbakuna sa mga Botika”. The STAR / Walter Bollozos MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health on Thursday said it will prioritize the healthcare workers, senior citizens and individuals with comorbidities in the rollout of bivalent jabs. The move to prioritize the vulnerable groups is in line with the conditions set by the COVAX facility, which will donate around one million doses of Pfizer’s bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. The donated jabs are expected to arrive in the country by end-March. A bivalent vaccine targets both the original strain of the virus the causes COVID-19 and Omicron subvariants. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/02/2242076/doh-vulnerable-groups-be-prioritized-rollout-bivalent-jabs -- © Copyright Philstar 2023-02-02

This photo taken on February 25, 2017 shows an aerial shot of the mining site in Loreto town in Dinagat island. AFP/Erwin Mascarinas CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines — The country’s environment chief on Thursday said her agency is engaging with different stakeholders — including those in the mining sector and communities — to balance the need for minerals with environmental, social and economic considerations. Revitalizing the mining sector — even though the industry only accounts for less than one percent of the country’s gross domestic product — is a priority of the Marcos administration. However, environmental groups and host communities have pointed out that the extraction of minerals is driving deforestation and the climate crisis, as it also threatens water sources and displaces people. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/climate-and-environment/2023/02/02/2242074/denr-engaging-various-stakeholders-mining-concerns -- © Copyright Philstar 2023-02-02

Foreign tourist still missing after jumping from ferry near Koh Phan Ngan Stock photo: Tripadvisor A search operation is underway for a German tourist who has gone missing after jumping from a ferry near Koh Phan Ngan in the Gulf of Thailand. According to a Phuket Express report, the man, who has been named as 35 year old Florian Storz, jumped from the Racha 8 ferry around 15 minutes after it departed from the Surat Thani island at 7pm on Tuesday evening. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1285151-german-man-missing-after-jumping-from-ferry-near-phangan-island/?do=findComment&comment=17878764

Foreign tourist still missing after jumping from ferry near Koh Phan Ngan Stock photo: Tripadvisor A search operation is underway for a German tourist who has gone missing after jumping from a ferry near Koh Phan Ngan in the Gulf of Thailand. According to a Phuket Express report, the man, who has been named as 35 year old Florian Storz, jumped from the Racha 8 ferry around 15 minutes after it departed from the Surat Thani island at 7pm on Tuesday evening. When other passengers saw the man jump, they shouted to alert the ferry crew and the vessel was stopped. The captain turned the boat around to search for the German man and the crew alerted officers from the Royal Thai Navy. Shortly before 9pm, a search operation was launched by Surat Thani Marine Police, rescue divers, and the Phang Ngan Marine Office. The search continued until around 10pm, when it was aborted due to 2 metre high waves, before resuming the following morning. The man remains missing at this time. Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/islands/foreign-tourist-still-missing-after-jumping-from-ferry-near-koh-phan-ngan/ -- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-02-02 - 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. The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

Phuket taxi drivers are revolting – protesting at Phuket provincial office Today, the operators of registered taxis and public transport vehicles in Phuket took to the streets to protest against the operation of unregistered taxis and outside vehicles offering services on the resort island. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1285307-phuket-taxi-drivers-are-revolting-–-protesting-at-phuket-provincial-office/

Today, the operators of registered taxis and public transport vehicles in Phuket took to the streets to protest against the operation of unregistered taxis and outside vehicles offering services on the resort island. Over 100 drivers of taxis, passenger vans, and tuk-tuks gathered in front of the Phuket provincial hall in Phuket Town to submit a letter to the Phuket governor Narong Woonciew, seeking his intervention to address the problem of unregistered competition. The letter presented to the governor highlighted the adverse impact that unregistered taxis have had on the business of registered taxis, passenger vans, and tuk-tuk vehicles that provide public transport services on the island. The drivers took turns airing their grievances and frustrations over the operation of unregistered taxis that have been stealing their customers. To be clear, Phuket’s taxis are the most expensive in Thailand and have enjoyed a wretched reputation and been the subject of thousands of annual complaints about expensive fares, poor service and occasional violence. Vice Governor Anupao Yodkhwan accepted the letter from the protesting driver and assured the protesters that the provincial authorities would look into the points raised in the letter and take appropriate action. Adcha Buachan, Chief of the Phuket transport office, also made a similar promise to tackle the problem. After the letter was submitted and their voices heard, the protesters dispersed, satisfied with the response from the governor and the transport office. Recent years has seen a rise in diversification in app-based transport services, like Grab and Bolt. For tourists, from the moment they walk out of the domestic or international terminals in Phuket, they’re faced with the machinery of a well-oiled, airport-endorsed, taxi fare rip off. Sadly this is the first and last impression many tourists will have of their visit to the island. As Phuket continues to recover from nearly 3 years of restrictions, the island’s transport cartels and ‘taxi mafia’ are the biggest challenge to a sustained recovery and improved reputation. Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/phuket-news/phuket-taxi-drivers-are-revolting-protesting-at-phuket-provincial-office/ -- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-02-02 - 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. The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

Pattaya Passport Office Relocated to Central Pattaya PHOTO: กรมการกงสุล กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ The Pattaya Passport Office will be relocated to Central Pattaya (Room No. 449/2, 4th floor next to the Parking Entrance). Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1285306-pattaya-passport-office-relocated-to-central-pattaya/

PHOTO: กรมการกงสุล กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ The Pattaya Passport Office will be relocated to Central Pattaya (Room No. 449/2, 4th floor next to the Parking Entrance). From 6th February 2023 onward Working hours: 9.00–17.00 hrs. Monday–Friday (except official holidays). Tel. 095 364 2837, 038 422 438 The office will also provide legalization services. Legalization Office Tel. 038 119 638 Please contact the Department of Consular Affairs for more information Source: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/02/02/pattaya-passport-office-relocated-to-central-pattaya/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-02-02 - 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. The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

Intoxicated Man Stabs Himself in Sri Racha in Front of Shocked Crowd A man went wild and stabbed himself four times after drinking alcohol in Chonburi’s Sri Racha district yesterday, February 1st. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1285305-intoxicated-man-stabs-himself-in-sri-racha-in-front-of-shocked-crowd/

A man went wild and stabbed himself four times after drinking alcohol in Chonburi’s Sri Racha district yesterday, February 1st. Sri Racha rescue workers rushed to the incident scene in Soi Khao Taeng On to help the victim, identified as Mr. Somchai S., who was reported to have stabbed himself. The 54-year-old victim sustained four stab wounds in his abdomen, the rescuers stated, adding he was also heavily intoxicated. The rescuers provided first aid to the victim and rushed him to Somdech Phra Boromarajatewi Na Sri Racha Hospital. Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/02/02/intoxicated-man-stabs-himself-in-sri-racha-in-front-of-shocked-crowd/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-02-02 - 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. The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

Thailand Sets Rice Export Target at 7.5 Million Tons For 2023 BANGKOK (NNT) - The government has set its 2023 rice export target to 7.5 million tons in alignment with strong demands and the volatility of the Baht currency. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1285304-thailand-sets-rice-export-target-at-75-million-tons-for-2023/

BANGKOK (NNT) - The government has set its 2023 rice export target to 7.5 million tons in alignment with strong demands and the volatility of the Baht currency. Foreign Trade Department Director-General Ronnarong Phoolpipat stated that the rice export target for this year was made following consultation with the Thai Rice Exporters Association. Although demand for Thai rice remains strong this year, the instability of the Thai currency could make Thai rice more expensive than its competitors. This prompts the ministry to set this year’s target at 7.5 million tons, which is lowered than the 7.69 million tons exported last year. The director-general added that the Commerce Ministry will continue to promote Thai rice through events and forums, as well as make trade visits with major partners such as China, Vietnam, Australia, and Germany. According to reports from the department, the 2023 target of 7.5 million tons represents a 22% increase from 6.3 million tons of Thai rice exported in 2021. The largest Thai rice importer last year was Iraq with 1.6 million tons, followed by South Africa (775,000), China (750,000), the United States (650,000), and Benin (321,000), respectively. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230202143721501 -- © Copyright NNT 2023-02-02 - 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. The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

Thai Workers Benefit from Thai-South Korean Labor Deal BANGKOK (NNT) - A labor cooperation deal signed between Thailand and South Korea is offering opportunities for skilled Thai workers to work in South Korea for well-paid positions. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1285303-thai-workers-benefit-from-thai-south-korean-labor-deal/

BANGKOK (NNT) - A labor cooperation deal signed between Thailand and South Korea is offering opportunities for skilled Thai workers to work in South Korea for well-paid positions. Under the cooperation deal reached last year, the Department of Employment will secure 5,000 skilled Thai workers for the Korea Offshore and Shipbuilding Association (Koshipa) just for 2023 alone. The department reported that recruitment companies contracted to this labor cooperation have recruited 1,275 skilled workers, including 970 welders, 205 spray painters, and 100 electrical mechanics. According to DoE Director-General Pairoj Chotikasatien, the first group of 65 welders has already traveled to South Korea, while a second group of 49 workers has just followed recently. These workers will be working at Hyundai Heavy Industries. These skilled workers are guaranteed a fair salary and fringe benefits, with pay starting at 2,430 baht per day, plus overtime and a two-month bonus every year. They will be working eight hours per day for five days a week. Welders and electrical mechanics are in high demand in South Korea as the South Korean shipyard is a key player in the global shipbuilding industry. The DoE is now inviting skilled workers who are looking for opportunities or well-paying jobs to explore this possibility. Interested workers can visit the department’s website at www.doe.go.th. for more employment information. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230202112928411 -- © Copyright NNT 2023-02-02 - 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. The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

Thailand’s Corruption Ranking Improves in 2022 BANGKOK (NNT) - According to the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International, Thailand’s corruption standing improved by 9 places to 101st out of 180 countries, compared to 110th in 2021. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1285302-thailand’s-corruption-ranking-improves-in-2022/